Aug 05
United beat Posh + Media Froth As Ronaldo Returns (Apparently)
Fergie faced off with Fergie junior, in what looks like an annual affair of family reunions, as United’s boys beat Peterborough 2-0. I must first say a big, big sorry for not being here when the club paid its tribute to one of United’s — and the modern era’s — greatest professionals in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. I have never hidden my love for players of his kind. And we all know it’s not just the injury time winner against Bayern that makes us love him so much.
But back to yesterday’s game United eased past Peterborough, but not before being given a good workout by the opposition.
I really don’t think I should go into too much detail on pre-season friendlies, but my interest was piqued when I heard the da Silva twins were expected to feature. And it must be said, they didn’t disappoint. Rafael more so.
The right back stormed up and down the wing and threw himself about quite well showing that he wasn’t shy to shirk from challenges. His ambition, moving forward did leave spaces at the back, but then we forget that he’s just 18 and he’ll have lot to learn before making it to the first team. Of course, to gain some perspective, it’s just one pre-season game and whilst he did make a good first impression, we mustn’t be creaming over him.
I have been impressed with Carlos Tevez though. He has been a man on a mission throughout pre-season and I think we will see the real Carlos Tevez this season because he’s had a good rest in the summer. He admitted once that he has been playing continuously for the past two years without much break. And so we think this summer might have done him a world of good.
Rio and Brown were solid while they were there, Possebon showed some good touches, Gibson scored a cracker, and Campbell disappointed.
And that’s all I want to read into yesterday’s friendly.
* * *
Tomorrow we face Juventus at home. It should be a tasty encounter. Also there will be a presentation of the trophies, but such has been the hurt in the summer that all of this will seem like a Pyrrhic victory. The man who helped cause, both, said hurt and ecstasy, Mr. Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly returns to Old Trafford. Now I don’t know if the Guardian took ideas from this post, but I see, at the end of the story a possible dialogue between Ronaldo and Ferguson. It must be said that the “conversation” wasn’t nearly as funny as the one penned by yours truly, but one must concede that hacks from the mainstream media can also have a little fun.
But my concern is not about this alleged idea-stealing — it’s about how they make it sound so dramatic; like Calderon, Ronaldo and Ferguson were going to have some sort of a Mexican standoff. I don’t know how the Telegraph and the Guardian (as examples) infer that there is still a major major doubt about Ronaldo staying, but I suggest everyone to read the piece by Tim Stannard (of the La Liga Loca column in Four Four Two) to get a good (and humorous) perspective on the happenings in the Iberian peninsula.
Yes, I am not having another rant against the evil that’s Madrid.
I am that tired, and I am off for now.
Meanwhile, in my travels around the world wide web, I found something worth sharing with you all. I think it is rather thought provoking in the context of people spending time proving a point on internet chatrooms — i.e., blokes like us. I will leave the image speak for itself.
[source xkcd.com]
Related items from Red Rants:
- Possebon Loan ‘Cancelled’; Returns to United?
- United Win and Some Non-game Thoughts
- Irresponsible Media Stir Up Another Storm
- Rants Returns to Regular Service
- Anyone With Knowledge of Spanish, Kindly Translate
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (542)
Stephen (500)
RedDevilEddy (463)
Craig Mc (349)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Stephen: Yeah probably closer to carrick than scholes, but he’s closer to scholes than anderson is, which was my point.
The kitty is healthy as the intentions are to bring in a forward and if we were strapped for cash we would not attempt to bring in a young midfielder for 5 million. We did not sign him but it was fergie’s intention to sign him. If we were worried about how much money we had to bid for a striker we would not use some of it to bid for ramsey would we?
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If you’re looking for something distracting and United related to occupy your time, try this:
http://www.skysports.com/fun_games/missingmen/0,20922,15135_3935628,00.html
Took me 6 minutes to get all 11.
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@tevez: You never know mate, but the lack of transfer activity is a worry mate, it will be interesrting if we do get Berbatov, if we do great!! if we don’t then we have problems.
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@Brian Lomax: I think this is SAF’s way of beating the Spurs into submission concerning the sale of Berbatov. And given how much Ramos seems to want one of (if not both) Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko, I think Levy will be forced to give in and sell the Deadly Angel for a very reasonable price. Have some faith, everyone, have some faith!
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@Stephen: Actually, if we don’t then we have rooney and tevez who we won the league with last year so not really a huge problem.
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@tevez: What happens if one or even worse both get long term injuries?
We are short, well in both sense of the words up front and we should not kid ourselves.
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@Stephen:
Fergie talked to Ramsey and his Family on the phone and Ramsey was given a tour of the club by the club captain. This isn’t exactly not trying, maybe he could have flown back to meet him personally but Fergie wasn’t at the Euros so he couldnt compete with Wenger on that if that was the deciding factor. What infact was probably the main factor was the first team opportunities, something which our bid made it clear he wasn’t getting this season.
As for the debt, yes the banks will want it back at some point but the money is there and while the money may not be able to be liquid immediately when the banks want it (or which is more likely when the loans are due to be repayed) the money can be made liquid
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@Tomas: In the past you and I have had some heated debates regarding football and we certainly don’t always agree with each other. Therefore, it is very important to point that out and then thank you for your posts supporting my right to express my feelings. Unlike some others, you actually get it and you do appreciate other viewpoints as well as people’s rights to speak their minds without being attacked. I greatly appreciate your comments and as far as some of the criticisms, I have accepted those in the way they were intended and I will work on my weaknesses. It certainly is difficult to debate with an individual who talks about Huntelaar and calls him shite while having watched him once. I on the other hand have made the point many times that I have seen him play over 50 times. From where I come from that clearly places me in the know and my experience in knowing that player I have always assumed should count for something. Obviously I put the true definition of the word debate to it’s test. Still, I am wrong when I overpower some people who come to a gunfight with a stick. And then you have individuals like Wakey who clearly don’t register anything you say to them because they are so set in their own opinion that they completely dismiss things you tell them as rumors, innuendo and total crap.
I try very hard to base my feelings on logical thought and in most case viable and proper truths. I never quote sites like Tribal Football or even NewsNow without mentioning the fact it’s probably bullshit and I am certainly not a rookie when it comes to financial dealings. I have worked as an executive assistant to the Minister of Labor in Alberta Canada where I dealt with far more complex money management issues as well as Unions so understanding the mess the Glazer’s find themselves in, is not rocket science to me. So of course I get hot under the collar when people who have zero experience in these matters and who don’t have my years of experience talk to me and tell me I am full of shit. And when Wakey actually thinks that he has won a debate with me without giving me a well thought out argument, only rants on how much smarter he is, then I just have to laugh. I laugh , oh how I laugh. Let him believe if it helps him sleep better. After all, the proof is in the pudding. Never underestimate people’s delusions of grandeur. God knows I’ve had a few of my own.
Right now my frustration is at an all time high because I am not sure I can continue on here without being allowed or tolerated in being myself. Putting shackles on my passions, my beliefs and my way of communicating is really not very fair to me as I have never intentionally attacked anyone who never attacked me first. For those that I have attacked without realizing it, I offer my apologies. I’m not perfect or infallible. I completely admit to being an elitist on certain things but it’s only because I honestly believe I know a lot about certain issues pertaining to the great game. I have closely watched and monitored the game for 30 years, have hundreds of books, yearbooks etc and thousands and thousands of hours of games on tape and dvd. I do consider myself a student of the game even though I sucked playing it when I was younger. I really should have more passion for US football, basketball and golf as I was very good at all three. So unfortunately I do have a problem when someone argues a point with me and cannot back it up with hard facts. I’m wrong in letting him have it but I’m right in the fact that it is an unfair battle to begin with.
Contrary to what many might think, I am very friendly to many on this site even if we disagree on a point. I have always stated that it really has more to do with how a person disagrees with me rather than if they do. I don’t like it when it becomes personal and when somebody enforces themselves on me by saying this is how it will be and this is how I should think. People always calling me negative and then some telling me I am fear or hate monger crosses the line with me. At least there are those and Tomas you are one of them, that presents an alternative argument that whether I agree with it or not, at east has merit and on occasion actually helps me rethink my stance. I respect that and above all, I appreciate that you respect my stance too, even if you don’t agree with it. So thanks again for the fair support you showed today. It shows your class and you fairness and you’ll always have my respect regardless of whether we agree on things or not. Apologies for the long post. Cheers mate.
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@Brian Lomax:
As others have said I wouldn’t read a massive amount into it. If you look desperate for a player you add millions to everyone’s price tag. Many of our targets already have price tags that tbh are on the high side without adding more to it needlessly. Also with Spurs still throwing a hissy fit over the ‘tapping’ up it probably makes sense to play transfers down.
There is the Manucho issue too. Its another option for us (Not ideal mind you) if he gets his work permit and as fergie says the squad is a pretty strong one so theres no point in looking to desperate
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@tevez: Some good points. Surely United do have a scouting system in South America but unfortunately teams like Barca and Real have far greater and much more influence in that region of the world. It’s actually fighting a losing battle but if we can occasionally spring a Da Silva, Possebon or Anderson out of there, it is certainly worth their effort. As you know I have reservations about signing any player from that region because my paranoid heart refuses to believe that they won’t eventually tire of life in Northern England and won’t want to move to a dream side in Spain. It’s the risk that United and Fergie seem to be willing to take but proof is there this off season that it may be a mistake. Ronaldo may be from Portugal but his motivations and upbringing mirrors those of Brazilians in language and culture. The thought that an English side can honestly defeat a Spanish side for the hearts and minds of very easily seduced young Spanish or Portuguese players is naive at best. But I’d love nothing more than to see Nani, Anderson, the twins and Possebon prove me wrong. I know that in the age of the mercenary it is very unrealistic to expect players to stay with a club for very long. That is why I feel we should possibly be looking for players who are a little older. By the time the twins and Possebon as well as Nani and Ronaldo reach their prime, they will probably be off to Spain. Those teams will benefit from them at their highest form. It’s a risk and I think and believe that my argument and concerns are valid ones, yet I do concede that I could also be a bit too cautious and paranoid. But certainly Ronaldo’s actions this summer have given me reason to be concerned. Still, I’d love an Aguero or a Sanchez on our side.
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@Krishnan: Thanks for the support and I’ll try and work on my weaknesses. I appreciate the fair appraisal.
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@Brian Lomax: Many thanks Brian. I appreciate that. And sorry if I have offended you in the past.
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@scoop: in fact, i expect Nani and Ando to grow massively as players this season. Nani was brilliant at the Euros and this season, as they get more outings, we will actually see how good they are and can be!
One person who WILL be affected by second season syndrome is Ronaldo, its virtually impossible to repeat on his last season’s heroics, atleast goal-scoring wise. But as its apparent that he will be staying here at OT, he will have as much of a task proving himself to the fans and critics as he had to after 2006 WC incident
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@Stephen: Well said. Do you realize that had I said the very same thing (and I actually have many times) a fire storm would erupt and I would get everyone’s tempers boiling. Fortunately you don’t bring out the worst in some. Consider yourself fortunate.
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@tevez: Unless we get an injury to one of them if not both. Then we would be in a world of shite and the transfer window closed. It’s insanity to go into this season without another proven class striker. I’ve got to believe that it just won’t happen. We have to get Berbatov. He is vital to our team’s future success and security. Rooney and Tevez cannot go it alone. Without Ronaldo we are not prolific enough as goal scoring team and both those forwards for all their quality and brilliance simply don’t score enough for my liking. When Ronaldo is around, then it’s not that vital, but without him we will be in dire straits. We need another striker and another striker who offers a variation as well as deviation on what we are presently doing. Somebody with aerial presence and a hunger for the 18 yard box. Berbatov is not my ideal choice but he will certainly do. And honestly, does Fergie think that stupid little mind games are going to work with Levy? Anybody with an IQ higher than Beckham’s can tell that is an amateurish way of getting Levy to act sooner rather than later. I just hope he has a Plan B if Berbatov doesn’t work out in the final our of the transfer deadline. He probably does but he sure know how to put many of his supporters through the ringer in the process.
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@Grognard: @Grognard: ” I have worked as an executive assistant to the Minister of Labor in Alberta Canada where I dealt with far more complex money management issues as well as Unions so understanding the mess the Glazer’s find themselves in, is not rocket science to me.”
What “mess” are you talking about? I trust you when you say that you have more financial expeirence than me, and because of that I am shocked you keep going on and on about the debt. You said so yourself that United are hated for there success, and while we are winning the media have to attack us somewhere. SO the debt is an easy target.
We can all agree that the Glazers are not fans of the beautiful game or United but business men. From there vast wealth I assume they are pretty good ones at that. The british media speak of them and there debt as if they are teenage girls who are in over there heads with credit card debt.
Forgive me for being naive, but I have a hard time the Glazers secured a loan of that size without doing there due diligence on United and everything else football. I also have a hard time believing the banks would just hand them a loan of that size unless they were presented with a detailed and convincing plan on repayment.
Now obviously this is just my opinion and I have no facts or numbers to support this, But I now challenge you to explain what you are seeing to to think that something has gone horribly wrong? I personally dont believe a lack of transfer activity is an indication either. Fergie wants Berbatov, but as a matter of principle he isnt going to pay the outrageous sum of 30 million.
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I expect anderson to stay long term, ronaldo to leave either next summer or the summer after, and then that would leave me clueless about nani as he is best friends with ronaldo. Ronnie leaving may well affect nani. I expect tevez to stay for about 5 years and then ask to go back to boca, even if madrid come in for him before then. Hopefully possebon and the twins grow to love the club. Same with nani and anderson. In the end, it is always a gamble but madrid aren’t exactly going to be coming in for all our players. They have a great squad themselves with plenty of young talent, and in the end it’s not just the south americans at our club who will develop into great players. There will always be a constant stream of brazilians coming through for madrid to snap up. Also, the trend of bringing in portuguese and brazilian players is already underway here. We have a fair few of them now, and i think that can only help in convincing other prospects in south america now that united is a great place to be. If our young brazilians are successful here you may well see more of them wanting to play here. Also, ronaldo i take as a special case – he is at one of the top teams in the world and he thinks he is better than the club. He thinks he is bigger. He is a prick. The majority of south american players who come here and do well will stay.
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@Grognard: But we’ve got campbell and manucho…
…ok we need another striker. I also agree that berbatov is not ideal (says my head, not my heart) and while a huntelaar-type player would be more suitable and complimentary to the forwards we’ve got, i still feel someone like samuel eto’o would be better.
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@johnsom33: The Glazer’s simply over extended themselves at a time when they got fair interest rates. With the dive of the American dollar and the loss of many of their assets in other investment circles due to America’s faltering economy, the Glazer’s have been hit hard and are feeling the pinch. Add to that the fact that they are fish out of water doing business in the UK and owning a team in a sport where they can’t possibly understand all the machinations and complexities involved. Yes I think they are committed to the team but they are first and foremost businessmen and they will not continue to handle such a massive debt unless they can cut team spending and a turn in the economy helps them with their own personal economic portfolio. They are not the first millionaires to be zapped by the changing and volatile economic and world climate presently being bullied and driven by oil. They are not oil men or I would have more faith in their capacity to outperform their debt.
I am more than willing to admit that I could be wrong about this. I obviously do not have a key to their offices and I am not privileged to see their books but I do see and recognize the signs of financial stress and restraint. If I’m proven wrong then I will be the first to come out and say that my paranoia got the better of me. But why not also consider the possibility that although slim, that I might actually be on to something, rather than completely dismissing my comments as delusional and misinformed rants? Just maybe my experience and gut instinct is correct on this. I dealt with many corporations in Alberta that claimed to be under stable financial ground only to find out after they were sacking 50% of their workforce that things were indeed not as wonderful as they claimed. United are not in that kind of trouble but they will have to deal with that awful debt. I think that will lead them to have tighter purse strings when it comes to buying players and I also think that it may eventually force the sale of Ronaldo by next summer because frankly, they could need the money. If not to pay of debt, to be their upcoming transfer kitty because the Glazer’s will not release more funds from their own purse. I also feel that it may lead Fergie to retire quicker than he has even declared. Why should he hang around if he isn’t going to be given the money to build the team he feels is needed to compete at the very top? Who know? I’m just stating my opinion for those who want to hear it. For those who don’t, just dismiss it and move on.
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@Grognard: I don’t think there is a lot wrong with what you say. But there may be faults in how you put it. You and I say the same things at times, but get different reactions. It’s how you frame your thoughts into writing that makes a difference, I think. You have a penchant for the extremes, either we are going under and broke, or we are the greatest since sliced bread. Again there is little wrong in saying what you say, but then since you put things in that way you are always going to get people who’ll feel put off. I know you like to be accepted (everyone does). I’d be lying if I said I don’t care what people think of how or what I write, because at the end of the day that’s precisely why someone would inhabit the comment threads for a good part of their day.
But from experience, everything in moderation helps more than you think. Yes free speech is everything, but then, calling the Pope Hitler’s second coming in the Vatican is also free speech and bad timing.
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@johnsom33: Johnson33, the banks give out loans to thousands of companies everyday and half of those companies are going to default on those loans. It’s the risk of doing business and that is why interest rates are so high. So just because loans were given does not mean that the Glazer’s are going to be able to live up to their bargain.
Bottom line is that United as an organization, an asset and successful footballing franchise are worth a ton of money regardless of the stability of the present owners. One thing a group like the Glazer’s know in the world of big business is that when possible, you never use your own money. Instead you borrow against it. So in a worse case scenario the Glazer’s would be forced to pay the loan out of their own pockets. But that won’t happen either. They are too smart for that. They will sell the team at an inflated price to cover the debt and to make a profit before that ever happens. But what does that mean for the team? It is possible but unlikely that we end up in a similar boat like Liverpool. Where the Glazer’s want to sell and some Arab consortium from Dubai comes in and offers to buy. Again, who knows. All I know is we are fielding a team full of injuries and very thin up front and on the wings. And we have a manager in all his wisdom that thinks we are fine. He talks like a champion which he is but he is also way to over confident. It’s as if we won the EPL buy 15 points and won the Champions League final by a score of 6-0. We barely won both and almost ended up with nothing at all. If that is not reason enough to try to improve by adding some (not a lot) of new blood, then I am sadly out of place in this world.
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@tevez: You are probably right on all counts. And I’ll even add that I truly believe that Ronaldo loves thclub as well and has a lot of respect and love for his teammates and Fergie too. But United is not strong enough or culturally relevant enough to keep a person away from a team and country that offers him more in the way of his culture, family tie, and religion. Spain will always be the driving destination of players who speak those two languages, regardless of their love and respect for our club. We just don’t have the cultural, religious and personal things that can tie a player to us unless of course they come from the UK and other countries that have more in common with the English way of life, language and customs. These players are called mercenaries but honestly, once they make it to Barca or Real, very few leave. They only leave when they are not being used or if they have been disrespected by the club. Ronaldinho is an example of that.
And I wouldn’t have much complaint if we got Etoo.
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@Red Ranter: Understood but then again, being anything but honest and true to one’s self is also criminal. If I was to change the way I write to appease the pc crowd I would be doing an incredible injustice to myself because I would not be writing as myself but as someone who is being careful and concerned with others thoughts. Yes I want to be accepted and liked but why does my differing view on something mean that I have to be attacked. Really, at the end of the day if you and I disagree on a player, does that make the world stop? Do we both avoid eating dinner and go and sulk in our rooms? Of course not. Too many people have a complex (and I am occasionally guilty of this as well) where they want others to agree with them and they get upset when they don’t. Yes I’m guilty of this but only in those cases mentioned where I have knowledge and experience about a team or player that others don’t have because I have watched the for man many hours. Some cannot simply handle the fact that they have been bettered in a debate because i had more facts and i could back up my claims with evidence and experienced man hours of watching the team, the player and reading about both. That’s fair competition and I was taught and trained to be like this in school. It should not come as surprise to many but I was on my junior high and senior high debate teams. I was far from a geek but I still had the gift of the gab.
For one who has the gift of the gab and who has had moderate success in my professional life (before my disability) and has many good and close friends, it amazes me and totally depresses me the kind of negativity my views get on this site. I have never written anything nor have I ever devulged anything of my personality and personal life that allows a person to say something like the following;
“No offense, but your posts are really sad, i hope the way you post and the manner with which you address people doesn’t reflect what kinda person you are in real life, if not i feel for people close to you. Judging from your posts it seems you’d be the one slashing your wrists and probably tying a noose if Fergie doesn’t sign anyone.”
And what bothers me even more is that they got away with it. And then you wonder why I get so paranoid and defensive. Because any human being with a heart and a soul would take such comments as a stab in the back and and an insult worthy of a fist fight.
I’m just explaining to you that I am not always guilty here and quite often I do not and should not deserve the kind of uncalled for, personal and judgmental attacks that have been leveled upon me by ignorant and very small and pathetic people who have nothing better to do than to attack a fellow blogger. Rather than correcting the way I write, perhaps they should correct their reading comprehension and their ability to respond in a respectful manner. Even if they vehemently disagree. It’s all about manners and respect for someone’s right to express their feelings, no matter how controversial or radical they may be. Instead, I have to deal with the high court of asshole opinion that declares I be placed in a Gulag where I won’t trouble their virgin minds any longer.
At a time when one of the great writers for freedom, reform and democracy Alexander Solzhenitsyn has passed away, I think it’s important to put a little proper perspective on the importance and relevance of Manchester United blog into context. Why should be people be so upset over the rants of a football blogger when people die and suffer everyday due to the cruelties of individuals who have no sense of tolerance, respect or belief in freedom of action and expression. Am I really worth all that hate and disdain in the overall picture. I’m just as bloody football fan and this is a rant site for that purpose. Lets stop sniping and just accept people for their differing opinions, whether they are right or wrong.
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Yes you have unfairly been targeted but you must accept that you haven’t been exactly a saint here either. You may call it retaliatory but a wrong is a wrong.
Feel free to express yourselves, but if you are controversial you will have to learn to grow a thick skin. I will try as much as I can to protect the wronged as I have done in the past, but there is only so much I can do.
And regarding the negativity you are getting here, trust me, try going to some other United forums — it’s a lot worse. And you might actually get a coronary attack.
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Comment deleted. Ishaq you have been warned.
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@Grognard: Is it common for banks to loan out over a 1 billion US? Ill admit that this is when my ignorance comes into play. I really dont know the answer. I just figured with numbers that high the banks would make sure the money would come back.
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@Grognard: Cheers mate. Just wantto keep the site in a decent tone
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