Comments on: The Battle of Ankles Deep and the Dark Forces of Madrid http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/ Manchester United Blog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:17:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: R http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-30657 R Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:17:25 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-30657 Testing.. please moderate Testing.. please moderate

]]> By: jstar7 http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-21959 jstar7 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:08:15 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-21959 @<a href="#comment-21867" rel="nofollow">Grognard</a>: dry yer eyes @Grognard: dry yer eyes

]]> By: Red Ranter http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-21869 Red Ranter Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:50:54 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-21869 @<a href="#comment-21867" rel="nofollow">Grognard</a>: I was not suggesting that you are being thick. But actually getting you to realise that everyone is being stubborn. Just like you. @Grognard: I was not suggesting that you are being thick. But actually getting you to realise that everyone is being stubborn. Just like you.

]]> By: Grognard http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-21867 Grognard Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:43:58 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-21867 @<a href="#comment-21857" rel="nofollow">Red Ranter</a>: I wouldn't call it being thick as much as my stubbornness to let an injustice towards me go without reply. If you think it's me being thick, that's fine, i can see your point. But as hard as try, it's hard to avoid all this because it never ends. Perhaps the people who are really thick are the ones who constantly ignore your rules of behavior for this site and who continually break them by not getting the message that they cannot attack members with personal insults and try to enforce them to think in their preferred manner. Now that seems a lot more THICKY than someone whose pride won't allow him to not defend himself and his honor and reputation. :wink: :???: @Red Ranter: I wouldn’t call it being thick as much as my stubbornness to let an injustice towards me go without reply. If you think it’s me being thick, that’s fine, i can see your point. But as hard as try, it’s hard to avoid all this because it never ends. Perhaps the people who are really thick are the ones who constantly ignore your rules of behavior for this site and who continually break them by not getting the message that they cannot attack members with personal insults and try to enforce them to think in their preferred manner. Now that seems a lot more THICKY than someone whose pride won’t allow him to not defend himself and his honor and reputation. :wink: :???:

]]> By: Grognard http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-21864 Grognard Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:37:38 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-21864 @<a href="#comment-21856" rel="nofollow">Red Ranter</a>: The difference RR is that I never attacked others for the love of Carrick. He won me over because he improved as a player with his consistency. I have always been fair and always been willing to get off a player's back and start supporting him even if I was one of his largest critics. If that isn't humble, then I don't know what is? I have a problem with blind optimism. Being optimistic for the sake of being optimistic is just foolish. Be optimistic because you are knowledgeable and confident in the team we have and the players and manager we have. But being optimistic because we are United is just a whole lot of rubbish. The captain of the Titanic was optimistic and arrogant too remember. After all, the ship was unsinkable. Some seem to think that I'm this constant downer and that all I bring is negativity. That is far from the truth. When I have reason and proof to be optimisitc I am as loudly positive as anyone else. But I won't be called a hypocrite when I jump of the Happy Days bandwagon because I see something may be broken or something may be wrong with the team. Last season I made a habit of giving my post game player ratings. I had way more reason to be positive than negative based on the season the team just experienced. But you know something, ver rarely would anybody comment on my positive ratings and evaluation of a player or game. Instead, they would jump down my throat on those few occasion when the players or team lost or performed badly and I wasn't so generous with my grades. I ask you again, where were these people when I was being positive and complimentary? When I was on Carrick's back he deserved the criticism and you know it. I was the first to praise him when he would turn in a good performance and I was even willing to eat my HUMBLE PIE and admit I was wrong about him to Carrick advocates like JB and others when he turned his game around.. I did the same regarding Scholes as he clearly sucked early in the year too. The problem I have is when they sucked all the optimists couldn't see anything wrong with Carrick or Scholes but when they both improved their optimism and praise just increased and went over the top. I'm not like that and I refuse to be. I have no kids of my own but if my child does well in school I will reward him or her and tell them how proud I am as a parent. If he or she does poorly I will let them know that what they have done is unacceptable and I will either punish the child by taking some privilege away if it's due to lack of effort or bad attitude or I will seek to get them some assistance if there is a learning problem. An optimist would just see 40% on the report card as better than 30%. I on the other hand do not tolerate failure if failure can be prevented. I will do my best to see that the mark improves from 40% to at least a passing grade. It would be my responsibility as a loving and caring parent. I have the responsibility as a loving and loyal Man Utd supporter to cheer on the lads and praise them when they deserve praise. I will not praise them and I will scold them if they are not doing what I know they are capable of. I never expect more from a player or team than what I feel or know they can offer. So forgive me for feeling that if things stay the same, I feel United will fall closer to the pack due to it's lack of new signings (so far), coupled with the improvement of our opponents, the Ronaldo situations uncertainty and the tough schedule. I think it is my right to see things a little more darker than some. I know you don't have a problem with that but please RR, do not think me a hypocrite or a person who does not show humility when I'm wrong or when I jump the gun? Because I might add that on numerous occasions when I have had arguments with certain members on this site, I have always been willing to apologize for my part in it even when I think I'm right. I can think of a number of them who have not returned that sentiment. Some of them no longer participate on this blog due to their intolerance and short tempers. Now if that's not humble, then I don't know the meaning of the word. I hope you see my point as it is intended with as much humility as I can presently muster? :smile: @Red Ranter: The difference RR is that I never attacked others for the love of Carrick. He won me over because he improved as a player with his consistency. I have always been fair and always been willing to get off a player’s back and start supporting him even if I was one of his largest critics. If that isn’t humble, then I don’t know what is? I have a problem with blind optimism. Being optimistic for the sake of being optimistic is just foolish. Be optimistic because you are knowledgeable and confident in the team we have and the players and manager we have. But being optimistic because we are United is just a whole lot of rubbish. The captain of the Titanic was optimistic and arrogant too remember. After all, the ship was unsinkable.

Some seem to think that I’m this constant downer and that all I bring is negativity. That is far from the truth. When I have reason and proof to be optimisitc I am as loudly positive as anyone else. But I won’t be called a hypocrite when I jump of the Happy Days bandwagon because I see something may be broken or something may be wrong with the team. Last season I made a habit of giving my post game player ratings. I had way more reason to be positive than negative based on the season the team just experienced. But you know something, ver rarely would anybody comment on my positive ratings and evaluation of a player or game. Instead, they would jump down my throat on those few occasion when the players or team lost or performed badly and I wasn’t so generous with my grades. I ask you again, where were these people when I was being positive and complimentary? When I was on Carrick’s back he deserved the criticism and you know it. I was the first to praise him when he would turn in a good performance and I was even willing to eat my HUMBLE PIE and admit I was wrong about him to Carrick advocates like JB and others when he turned his game around.. I did the same regarding Scholes as he clearly sucked early in the year too.

The problem I have is when they sucked all the optimists couldn’t see anything wrong with Carrick or Scholes but when they both improved their optimism and praise just increased and went over the top. I’m not like that and I refuse to be. I have no kids of my own but if my child does well in school I will reward him or her and tell them how proud I am as a parent. If he or she does poorly I will let them know that what they have done is unacceptable and I will either punish the child by taking some privilege away if it’s due to lack of effort or bad attitude or I will seek to get them some assistance if there is a learning problem. An optimist would just see 40% on the report card as better than 30%. I on the other hand do not tolerate failure if failure can be prevented. I will do my best to see that the mark improves from 40% to at least a passing grade. It would be my responsibility as a loving and caring parent. I have the responsibility as a loving and loyal Man Utd supporter to cheer on the lads and praise them when they deserve praise. I will not praise them and I will scold them if they are not doing what I know they are capable of. I never expect more from a player or team than what I feel or know they can offer. So forgive me for feeling that if things stay the same, I feel United will fall closer to the pack due to it’s lack of new signings (so far), coupled with the improvement of our opponents, the Ronaldo situations uncertainty and the tough schedule. I think it is my right to see things a little more darker than some. I know you don’t have a problem with that but please RR, do not think me a hypocrite or a person who does not show humility when I’m wrong or when I jump the gun? Because I might add that on numerous occasions when I have had arguments with certain members on this site, I have always been willing to apologize for my part in it even when I think I’m right. I can think of a number of them who have not returned that sentiment. Some of them no longer participate on this blog due to their intolerance and short tempers. Now if that’s not humble, then I don’t know the meaning of the word. I hope you see my point as it is intended with as much humility as I can presently muster? :smile:

]]> By: Red Ranter http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-21857 Red Ranter Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:26:28 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-21857 @<a href="#comment-21853" rel="nofollow">Grognard</a>: Yes when you respond it grows. And what did I tell you about restraint? So should I call you thick because you didn't listen to me despite telling you a million times? No, I think you wouldn't like that would you? Did you see the smiley conveying something said in jest? Also it wasn't a knock on you. @Grognard: Yes when you respond it grows. And what did I tell you about restraint? So should I call you thick because you didn’t listen to me despite telling you a million times? No, I think you wouldn’t like that would you?

Did you see the smiley conveying something said in jest? Also it wasn’t a knock on you.

]]> By: Red Ranter http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-21856 Red Ranter Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:23:24 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-21856 @<a href="#comment-21849" rel="nofollow">Grognard</a>: Humble pie? This is about humble pie? Did you eat one when Carrick turned out decent? Did you eat one when our season turned around when you were of the opinion that we are going to sink and I said we will start spanking teams because we have been dominating teams but for scoring goals? (As an aside did you remember that we actually played well but couldn't score?) No, all you said was that you are willing to come around and accept it when United play well or Carrick turns out to be good. The same will be with us, if United turn out shite -- which we will know half way or maybe in April we will accept it for the mistakes the team makes. To think that this will be about vindication or us eating humble pie would be rather silly. If you scoff at our optimism -- okay, at times it is misguided -- don't pass your pessimism off as reality. Because it's not from where I see it. Your pessimism is based on your assumption of a series of events that hasn't happened. Which is not reality. Now I am not speaking for all optimists here. I know a few would immediately turn on Fergie the moment we start losing. In fact I've seen a fair bit of United fans will actually start calling for Fergie's head. Feel free to be pessimistic but don't laugh off optimism and then expect people to not knock you for being pessimistic at the same time. When things go sour everyone will be worried in equal measure. Although I think you will be more worried going by the history of your passionate rants. :) @Grognard: Humble pie? This is about humble pie? Did you eat one when Carrick turned out decent? Did you eat one when our season turned around when you were of the opinion that we are going to sink and I said we will start spanking teams because we have been dominating teams but for scoring goals? (As an aside did you remember that we actually played well but couldn’t score?)

No, all you said was that you are willing to come around and accept it when United play well or Carrick turns out to be good. The same will be with us, if United turn out shite — which we will know half way or maybe in April we will accept it for the mistakes the team makes.

To think that this will be about vindication or us eating humble pie would be rather silly. If you scoff at our optimism — okay, at times it is misguided — don’t pass your pessimism off as reality. Because it’s not from where I see it. Your pessimism is based on your assumption of a series of events that hasn’t happened. Which is not reality.

Now I am not speaking for all optimists here. I know a few would immediately turn on Fergie the moment we start losing. In fact I’ve seen a fair bit of United fans will actually start calling for Fergie’s head.

Feel free to be pessimistic but don’t laugh off optimism and then expect people to not knock you for being pessimistic at the same time.

When things go sour everyone will be worried in equal measure. Although I think you will be more worried going by the history of your passionate rants. :)

]]> By: Grognard http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-21853 Grognard Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:16:31 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-21853 @<a href="#comment-21845" rel="nofollow">Red Ranter</a>: If it has little effect is that because the problem lyes with me? I think it's because others are so incredibly stubborn they are a little thick. and if I have stated it a million times it's because I have been unfairly criticized a million times. That seems to make perfect sense to me don't you think? I never let a personal dig go without my reply as you know. Wars are started by the one who fires the first shot. That has rarely been me. I will never be the one accused of signing the Treaty of Versailles because like Germany in WW1 I'm not guilty of starting things and I am not the one slinging the personal abuse therefore, I will not capitulate to the rude rants of others. So I say again, if I make the same comments a million times it's because their are a million individuals out there who need to know respect and tolerance for others. :cool: @Red Ranter: If it has little effect is that because the problem lyes with me? I think it’s because others are so incredibly stubborn they are a little thick. and if I have stated it a million times it’s because I have been unfairly criticized a million times. That seems to make perfect sense to me don’t you think? I never let a personal dig go without my reply as you know. Wars are started by the one who fires the first shot. That has rarely been me. I will never be the one accused of signing the Treaty of Versailles because like Germany in WW1 I’m not guilty of starting things and I am not the one slinging the personal abuse therefore, I will not capitulate to the rude rants of others. So I say again, if I make the same comments a million times it’s because their are a million individuals out there who need to know respect and tolerance for others. :cool:

]]> By: Red Ranter http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-21850 Red Ranter Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:03:35 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-21850 @<a href="#comment-21813" rel="nofollow">Jay</a>: <em>It’s relevant because all I see is Grognard moaning <strong>(within his rights of course)</strong> that Fergie is idle, complaining that he’s doing this wrong, or not doing that correctly.</em> You see the part I bolded in the quote above. That is the most important part. He is within his rights, so really no problem with that. @Jay:
It’s relevant because all I see is Grognard moaning (within his rights of course) that Fergie is idle, complaining that he’s doing this wrong, or not doing that correctly.

You see the part I bolded in the quote above. That is the most important part. He is within his rights, so really no problem with that.

]]> By: Grognard http://redrants.com/the-battle-of-ankles-deep-and-the-dark-forces-of-madrid/comment-page-4/#comment-21849 Grognard Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:03:31 +0000 http://redrants.com/?p=615#comment-21849 @<a href="#comment-21841" rel="nofollow">Rd</a>: Last year we missed Rooney early on and Ronaldo was missing due to a suspension. We played like shite. So although we are not a one or two man team I'd say we were very dependent on those two. This year will be worse because we will be missing the best player in the world for four matches and the winger on the other side of the field for two. Giggs clearly cannot run the ship for us anymore so yes I'd say we are up the creek without a paddle, or two for a while. This team operates based on it's wide players. We don't have advanced central midfielders like a Lampard, Ballack, van der Vaart or Deco to help our offense out a bit. We work the ball up and attack with our focus clearly on Ronaldo and Nani. So please illuminate me on how those two players missing isn't going to hurt us? I'm dying to hear about it because it just sounds to me as nothing more than fan optimism and not anchored in reality. Four games from Hell if we don't have Ronaldo and two of those will be missing Nani too. That's to say that going into those games we don't suffer any other injuries to key players. Yes we are deep but no team can escape injuries to such key players without it affecting it's chemistry on the field as well as it's confidence. You make it sound like United are immune to bad runs of play or luck. Remember the bad run of play over 12 games before Fergie bought Cantona? How about when he was suspended for a year? Does anybody remember the garbage we served up last year to start the season off? And that was with a fairly easy schedule. This first half schedule is absolute murder because their are not enough home fixtures versus good teams to help us recover lost points. All our away games in the first half are against our top rivals and better teams. in all my years I have never run across a more brutal schedule than this. But none of you seem to care because optimism is so blinding. Fine be optimism but be prepared for Grognard's revenge if things go sour early. It may not happen in which I will more than be willing to eat humble pie. But some of you lack that humility which is so deeply submerged that it is drowning from all that optimism. If things go bad the optimists are the ones who will fall hard, not me. I'm prepared for the worst because for me, the writing is on the wall whether Ronaldo is dealt or whether he's not. :cool: @Rd: Last year we missed Rooney early on and Ronaldo was missing due to a suspension. We played like shite. So although we are not a one or two man team I’d say we were very dependent on those two. This year will be worse because we will be missing the best player in the world for four matches and the winger on the other side of the field for two. Giggs clearly cannot run the ship for us anymore so yes I’d say we are up the creek without a paddle, or two for a while. This team operates based on it’s wide players. We don’t have advanced central midfielders like a Lampard, Ballack, van der Vaart or Deco to help our offense out a bit. We work the ball up and attack with our focus clearly on Ronaldo and Nani. So please illuminate me on how those two players missing isn’t going to hurt us? I’m dying to hear about it because it just sounds to me as nothing more than fan optimism and not anchored in reality. Four games from Hell if we don’t have Ronaldo and two of those will be missing Nani too. That’s to say that going into those games we don’t suffer any other injuries to key players. Yes we are deep but no team can escape injuries to such key players without it affecting it’s chemistry on the field as well as it’s confidence. You make it sound like United are immune to bad runs of play or luck. Remember the bad run of play over 12 games before Fergie bought Cantona? How about when he was suspended for a year? Does anybody remember the garbage we served up last year to start the season off? And that was with a fairly easy schedule. This first half schedule is absolute murder because their are not enough home fixtures versus good teams to help us recover lost points. All our away games in the first half are against our top rivals and better teams. in all my years I have never run across a more brutal schedule than this. But none of you seem to care because optimism is so blinding. Fine be optimism but be prepared for Grognard’s revenge if things go sour early. It may not happen in which I will more than be willing to eat humble pie. But some of you lack that humility which is so deeply submerged that it is drowning from all that optimism. If things go bad the optimists are the ones who will fall hard, not me. I’m prepared for the worst because for me, the writing is on the wall whether Ronaldo is dealt or whether he’s not. :cool:

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