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?
- Irresponsible Media Stir Up Another Storm
- United Win and Some Non-game Thoughts
- Anyone With Knowledge of Spanish, Kindly Translate
- Rants Returns to Regular Service
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (485)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (348)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Grognard: I can’t be bothered to reply to such an intelligent post…clearly you’ve shown those vocabulary skills you were talking about earlier, kudos! But anyway, ranting over and over, typing in caps as much does not change anything…you’ll just have to wait, but if you’d have read my post, you’d have seen the crux of my post was in reply in grogified user number 2 Gabriel, who said something about voicing out opinions and keeping the manager and others on their toes, my point was that whatever you rave and rant about on here from dusk to dawn clearly has no effect whatsoever on Fergie’s decisions, hope you get it now… 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
@Gabriel: Ever thought maybe Fergie might be waiting to see how some youngsters turn out before splashing money on a “Nani replacement”
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My thoughts.
1. If we cannot get Berbatov and are unwilling to buy Huntelaar or someone like that instead then RONALDO not Campbell for me is our third striker.
2. That could leave us a bit short on the wings as Giggs cannot play every game and Park is injured a fair deal.
3. Therefore a third winger is needed. Ramsey or Dos Santos would have been perfect but we screwed up on those deals. Also they will have a season to settle so that when Giggs retires and Ronaldo leaves it won’t be such a problem.
4. If we do not go with this then I think Hargreaves should play on the right when Ronaldo is out or is made to play up front when we have injuries.
5. We should also look into giving Anderson a few run outs on the left. We seem to have made him our midfield enforcer but that could be limiting his development especially as he was supposed to be an attacking midfielder.
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@colver: Ramsey is a central midfielder and we never showed any interest in dos santos. Ronaldo won’t play up front too much as that limits the team’s penetration. He is the main runner from deep and his drive and explosive running is important to our play.
Anderson has played there before and could probably do a good job for us there but only as cover when nothing else is available. He is not our midfield enforcer, he is a central midfielder of the attacking variety and this is the position he plays for us. He has been brought in to replace scholes in the team. He is an attacking midfielder playing in an attacking midfield position so i do not see howhis development is being hindered.
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@Rd: Now i’m ‘grogified user number 2′
lol!!! mate, i was just voicing my opinions and they coincided with Grognards, no need to patronise!! Besides, this is supposed to be a ManUtd blog; I know Fergie doesn’t read it, but as a fan, I think i’m obliged to air my opinions, even if it’s not as part of the 76,000 chanting at OT or in a newspaper or TV phone-in. I wish i could communicate my views through those channels but I can’t, so I opt for a United Blog, where United fans can discuss all things Unite, positive or negative. If i’m at fault, lemme kno…
On the winger case, how many young wingers do we have in the reserves? Lee martin? Gimme a break, he might be good, but at 21, if he hasn’t reached a certain level, he’s never gonna cut it for United (he is the same age as nani). Apart from him, I see no one who could push for a place in the 1st team setup this comin year…
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I wonder how many guys on here (especially Mr G) actually have watched the pre-season games? While not a true indication of what the season will go these games are a good indication of what kind of form the players are in. I’ve heard rave reviews about Tevez but has anybody not noticed that Scholes is in sublime form? The team is also playing some neat football which is nice to watch even if the opposition hasn’t been top notch. I didn’t watch the Posh encounter but it seems that the doom and gloom stems from the fact that we haven’t made any high profile signings. The team is intact (despite injuries and the Ronaldo fiasco) with some exciting prospective talent coming though like Possebon, Cleverly and the Silva twins. If Ronaldo does play I think the striker panic is a moot point because Mr R is basically a striker posing as a winger…if he doesn’t I’m optimistic that btwn Tevez, Giggs, Nani, Campbell (maybe Manucho if he gets clearance) we’ll get some goals…
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@tevez: No, it just means that it was easier to scout Nani in Argentina than to go all the way to Argentina to scout Sanchez. And all though Messi or Aguero would be ideal, I think they are unrealistic targets and I think it will get progressively more difficult to buy great players from abroad as the day gets closer when Fergie retires. Players want to play for us because of Fergie’s legacy of success. When he goes there will be a curtain of uncertainty surrounding the team. I mean how do you replace the great man?
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@Traverse: “What you are doing however is stomping your feet like a 12 year old who dropped their ice cream in to a puddle, and moaning about debt that you have no evidence to hold your argument together”. “I’d try and ignore you (and have done to a large extent), but it’s every other comment on here!”
Sorry pal but call that an attack on me and it has nothing to do with football. Bite me! FINISHED!
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@Liam: That’s not true. I only throw a hissy fit when assholes get personal with me or when they stop talking football and start telling me how I should think and how I should act. Find one quote where I have told somebody to shut up that wasn’t attacking me personally. Come on, I dare you! You think you are tired of this. Fuck, I’m so fed up with the bunch of you always letting me have it over my views just because you see me as the villain. I doubt many of you would be so bold if RR was actually around to monitor this garbage but it’s obvious the guy is busy with other things because he would tell us both to stop right now. So you know what, I’ll help him out. I’ll stop because this is not worth it. What the fuck do I care what you think of me and why do I give a damn? I just think back to his cartoon in his post today that says it all. Why I allow myself to get sucked in by fascists on a blog is beyond me. I finished with arguing. If you and others don’t like or agree with what I say from now on, I couldn’t give a fuck. Pathetic little people who have to control the minds and freedom of others. This is the last time I argue with anyone on this blog. Like Ronaldo, my detractors are dead to me. I will just ignore them and nothing they say that;s negative will be replied so have your fun if you get your jollies with that kind of stuff. Truly pathetic.
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@Krishnan: OK you win. Now go have a beer and do your girlfriend.
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@Rd: Not very nice and rather mean spirited. But that’s OK. You’re not worth the effort. I’m turning over a new leaf and you are one that’s not worth the effort because you have made things personal. Your jibes about my personal like are out of line. I’d caution you to remember RR’s policy about personal attacks. Have a nice day.
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@Gabriel: If all the people on this blog were as liberal minded and as fair as you, there would be no problems. To some here we are expected to be a form of cheerleaders who sing and chant and offer our stupid predictions base on only positive energy and happy demeanor. And if you are not one of the “Happy people” Gabriel, you are considered a harbinger of bad karma and fear monger. A black cloud that must be eradicated by the use of their only deadly weapon, their pea sized an right wing conservative hatred to alternative thinking. If it was up to some of the ass clowns, you and I would be burned at the sake for witchcraft. They are nothing more than cyber hooligans and you should never underestimate the hatred of a closed minded individual who doesn’t like it when you rock their little insignificant world.
You don’t need to justify yourself mate and you see things in a very open and logical way. You are every bit the fan they are and in fact you are better because you are not a blind sheep that stupidly follows the trail all the way to the meat packing plant. Consider yourself a rebel stallion that roams in the hills and pisses on all the conformists not because they conform, but because they shun people like us who don’t.
I for one am overjoyed that an intelligent like minded United fan is on this blog and so you and I can at least exchange thoughts on our favorite subject. And as for the hate mongers, I don’t hate them. I pity them and I just plan to ignore them before they piss me off to the point where Red Ranter has no choice but to boot me off. There are other pleasant and decent blokes on this blog to converse with so I want to stick around. I hope you do. Now I must go because I have to stir my cauldron. Cheers!
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@Don: Trust me Mr D, the doom and gloom has more to do with the Ronaldo situation and our financial uncertainty, which of course shows itself to be precarious by the lack of spending we are doing. And I have only been able to watch one pre season game so I realize that is not much of a gauge to judge anybody on but I will go out on a limb and say, that we still need a world class striker ans some foreign youth with skill and flair on the wing to cover both Nani and Ronaldo. I don’t think I am being unreasonable in my request.
And frankly if you saw positives in the way we play in that Posh game then you are truly a very optimistic guy. Other than the twins and Tevez I saw a team that wasn’t Coca Cola league capable. But I also know that was a C team and it was a pre season game so I don’t really put a lot of stock in it. What I ma most concerned is our injuries and our early schedule being so severe that we could be ten points behind before we are at full strength. One thing I do know about Chelsea is that they are fantastic front runners. They are not Arsenal. If they get ahead of us by more than 5 points, they will be hard to catch. Perhaps we will look a lot better by the time we play Newcastle. But we really need Berbatov now more than ever. If we can get Berbatov and survive the first month without too much damage and points lost, then I will be very optimistic when Ronaldo returns and we then turn it up a gear for the League and CL. If I’m being negative it’s not my heart but my mind. My heart hopes and wishes for the best. But my mind tells me things based on evidence and observation as well as experience from watching and analyzing this game for over 30 years. I won’t dismiss my mind or my gut instincts because frankly, they haven’t betrayed me much in 49 years of life. United is a great team but they do have issues that are not being dealt with to my satisfaction. I don’t profess to know more than Fergie but that should not mean that blokes like myself and Gabriel should not question things and wonder if there is something wrong. God gave us a mind and sense to observe our surroundings. What I see coming out of OT is making me sick to the stomach. Hopefully it’s only a 24 hour flu.
Sorry for the long rant but it wasn’t aimed at you but everyone who seems to have a problem with my thoughts. And that wasn’t arguing, that was explaining.
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@Grognard: “I just think back to his cartoon in his post today that says it all. Why I allow myself to get sucked in by fascists on a blog is beyond me.”
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahha, When ever red ranter gets quiet I can always count on Grogs to amuse me. I love it when he gets frustrated. Keep it up, you almost single handedly carry this site.
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Ok, I’ve decided to break my silence now that the arguments have run its course. My opinion? Most of you, and I say this with much pain, have either been over-sensitive or have whined like small children. I am pretty sure the one’s I am referring to know who they are. And I am disappointed extremely.
It’s more so especially considering I put that cartoon up and no one, I repeat, no one (including the commenter who pointed it out) has managed to get the point.
Oh well, tomorrow’s another day, and I hope some of you learn to find the fine line between banter and reasonably logical arguments. And sometimes, one can learn to grow a thick skin and ignore sly digs too. There is no loss in dignity if you lose a war in the comment section of a blog — and if you think your ego gets a battering then you are terribly mistaken.
FFS!
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we should start looking at ronaldo replacments (messi) or sanchez also sign berbatov we need to get new players quick if i was SAF i would say to madrid 70mil next year for ron then get messi sign tevez and get huntelaar any money spare look fo giggs,scholes,ferdinand replacments. team in 5 years foster,rafael,richards,vidic,fabio
messi, possebon,anderson,nani
tevez,rooney
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@Red Ranter: You are absolutely right and I should know better. I got sucked in yet again. But watch me from now on. I’m not an elephant and my skin is not thick. I do get hurt easily even if it’s by people I don’t know or even care to know. Still, I come on this blog with good intentions to share my passion for the game and for United and instead I am continually deluged with hatred and a lack of tolerance that would make a 3rd world dictator shiver. I am not a computer geek and I don’t prescribe to the computer culture that the cartoon targets. I am just a supporter trying to have conversations and debates on a site without constantly being attacked for my views and then being called over sensitive, thin skinned, and idiot and a hypocrite. Frankly it’s not worth it and it’s hurting my mental health because unlike some of the jerks on this site, I am older and I come from a generation that treats people with more respect. Just because we hide behind a computer does not mean we need to separate ourselves from our humanity and our common decency. No one has a right to call me an idiot or a hypocrite without getting to know me. Agree with me or disagree with me, but don’t make it personal and don’t talk to me like I have to conform to a specific mindset. I play to my own drummer and I think and act according to my mindset and my moral and ethical code. And I’ll be damned if I will sit here and tolerate people’s abuse of myself and my beliefs just because they suffer from such mental illness that they cannot handle a little bad news or negativity sometimes.
One remark especially upset me today and I think it’s worth noting. “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.”
I’m supposed to ignore that kind of a cruel tirade on my being without telling that person where he can stick his backhanded comment on my personal life and I’m expected to have a thick skin too. Well, I’m sorry but I don’t think so. That comment was extremely hurtful and incredibly rude and callous. It had nothing to do with football and less to do with disagreeing with my theories. It was putting me down and degrading me as a human being. Yet I am expected to put up with it and I am now being called a whining child because of it. Well perhaps I am but I often wonder what the Hell is going to become of all of us when we let people openly bully and forcibly run somebody out of town only because the rest are to blind and ignorant to see the injustice and the cruelty of simple words. It amazes me that others never came to my defense over such a terrible and mean spirited attack. Obviously many do not see the harm in demeaning another fellow blogger by questioning his character and and the strength of his relationships and friendships.
I am not leaving this blog but I will no longer bother to offer as much as I used to nor will I respond to any of the cruel and unfair replies. My love for the game and for United keeps me from leaving all together. Frankly, I don’t have the guts because I love conversing about the team and the game. But clearly I am not welcome or appreciated by many for my contributions and the the ones that do appreciate what I bring are not loud enough to back me up in times like these. That’s fine too. I can fight my own battles.
To Johnsom33, it has never been my intention to get frustrated nor to amuse anyone. To quote Joe Pesci, “I’m not a clown and I am not here to amuse”. And it has never been my intention to carry the site even though I realize I do post an awful lot. To those who think I’m a loser, I say to you, perhaps I am but all I know is I am a man who’s currently living with a disability and awaiting surgery for his back. My condition does not allow me to work so I spend a lot of my free time on the computer and I’m always checking in to the blog as right now, United is one of my biggest passions and interests. I’m not asking for pity nor do I ask for understanding. I’m just clarifying to some who I am and what I am going through so that insulting comments like the one RD gave me are put into a proper context. Some people should be ashamed of themselves and I too am ashamed for allowing myself to yet again get dragged into an argument that started yet again over people’s need to bully and tell others what they should be like and how they should act. If I was positive, I will say that many on this site have placed me in a very foul mood and I wonder really, if it’s worth all the pain? Because in the end, even this long heart felt rant is going to be dissected and shit upon by many of you and by RR himself because nobody seems to get it.
I have finally realized after months and months of getting my head bashed in verbally, that one cannot hold an honest and friendly debate on this site because everybody knows everything and too many of you seem to think that we all must be sheep ready to cheer and praise United without ever criticizing them. Truthfully, I am tired of the Mancunian Inquisition and so I refuse to ever fight or argue with any of you who don’t see eye with my views. And your unwillingness to just debate me and disagree with me in a friendly way is so abstract and foreign in many of you that I doubt I will reply to many at all. For the several of you out there that are a pleasure to converse with (and you know who you are) fear not, as I will be happy to reply to your theories and concerns, even if they are contrary to mine. Until then, it’s good night to all, and may we all get a long tomorrow. (I’m so sure, like totally you know) Sorry for the Valley Girl speak. I couldn’t help myself.
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@Red Ranter: Well Put! and@Grognard: Take it easy mate! You got high blood pressure or something?
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What the fuck is wrong with you people lol, i have nice sleep for about nine hours, i come back and all hell breaks loose! You people need to learn to chill out, if someone has a different view to yours dont go in guns blazing, just discuss it i mean, isnt it ironic that you guys have a day like this, when that cartoon is up? c’mon argue as much you want but dont try a bring people down if they dont agree with you, respect their opinion(even if it is pure shite
)
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@Grognard:
So you know better than the Glazers and Finacial Experts do you Grog. No you don’t. Its common business practice to have loans against a company and investing the money to pay that loan off elsewhere to make a return that more than covers the interest payments
@Grognard:
So because the media outlets decided that was the case it must be right must it? No it doesn’t. United didnt say he was due back, they have stated he isnt due back until AFTER his doctors appointment in Holland this week where the outcome will decide when he is due back to training
@Grognard: @Gabriel:
You are calling for panic buys though, you are calling for Fergie to buy players for the sake of buying players rather than them being the the right players. Whats the point in paying over the odds for a player who at this point would be 3rd choice on either wing. Unless your chelsea with finite resources you don’t go out to waste money but want a deal that makes sense, its why united arent doing what you want them to do and throwing stupid amounts for Berba because for every million over the odds they pay thats a million less that they have to spend on someone else later on. I’m sure if theres a young winger out there with potential who is at a club that are willing to sell him and sell him for a reasonable figure then they would buy him. We need a striker now and if one isnt bought before the transfer window closes that will be disappointing but a winger can certainly wait till the right deal comes around, as can a scholes replacement (in fact a Scholes replacement I don’t think is even needed)
Oh and I didnt call you an idiot, I said it would be idiotic for the club to panic buy just because we have a couple of injuries at this very moment as panic buying is never ends well.
@Grognard:
You take almost every comment that doesnt agree with you as a personal attack. You go through the posts picking out random words and twist it into an attack on you. Then you complain about it while attacking people in the same way you complained about
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@Grognard: I was indeed surprised by the personal digs that have been thrown around today, and the personal jibe at you that pointed out was indeed mean, but the fact is that you have been no different. One of your comments to Krishnan was: “And don’t challenge me to an argument mate because trust me you don’t have the wit nor the vocabulary to defeat me”
How is this any different than the issues you have raised about not judging people personally and keeping things restricted to football?
My point is, as RR has mentioned, none of the people involved in today’s melee have been saints, and hence it doesn’t make sense defending any of the bloggers out here against anyone else.
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In an attempt to quell all this drama, I’m going to put down on electronic paper some of my ideas/thoughts/ramblings about the youth. First, I wish to pose a question. I’m hoping someone can clarify British rules in regards to recruiting players for the Academy. Do specific guidelines exist capping the number of foreign players? I’ve also heard that certain quotas exist regarding local talent, but in all honesty I’m a bit in the dark. I’m hoping someone can shine a light.
I think it is fair to say that the hype surrounding the twins has reached near fever pitch. I also think it is fair to say that this response is justifiable. To think that our starting fullbacks in a couple years could very well be full Brazilian internationals is an intoxicating thought. I don’t hesitate to say that the most exciting fullbacks over the past 10 years or so have been Brazilian. Their (Brazilian) defensive prowess may be questioned at times, but in terms of sheer technique, ability to get forward, shooting, crossing…you get the picture. I know some people may say that it is far to early, and they are right, but I for one think the twins have already shown enough to be deemed the most exciting prospects at the club. I exclude Andy and Nani as I feel they have already demonstrated the ability to play with the big boys. The only other Reserve player that I rate highly is Rodrigo. I think the comparisons made between him and Scholesy are much more warranted than between Andy and Scholes. Anderson has yet to show an ability to shoot long range (or close range for that matter), a skill which Paul has displayed numerous times over the years. Another glaring contrast is in tackling. Paul is one of the greats, but his tackling has always been…how do I put it gently…TERRIBLE. Anderson on the other hand has been pleasantly adept at the slide. Back to Rodrigo, in the Reserve matches I have watched he has consistently been in the running for MOM. He is composed on the ball, rarely gives it away, and has an eye for the cracker, traits much more in line with the ginger prince. I suppose I should also mention Campbell in the same breath as Rodrigo, but I am a bit hesitant. Whereas the aforementioned players (twins and Rodrigo) will push for starting berths in years to come if they stick around, I’m not convinced Campbell will ever be able to lead the line. Touch is something you have or don’t have. It’s as simple as that. The boy has excellent speed and his finishing seems fine, but I’ve seen a fair share of first touches that were straight out of the pub leagues. I love having him as a peripheral player that can come in during an injury crisis, (which seems to be a running problem at the club,) but I think it is laughable to suggest he is a legitimate 3rd striker at Manchester United. Hopefully in a few weeks, Campbell and Manucho will be battling it out for the 4th spot behind Rooney, Tevez, and Berbatov. For my own mental health, I’ve decided it is simply a matter of time until he joins. I’ve come to enjoy watching Spurs play over the years, mainly because I love it when they beat Chelski or Arse’nal. During that time, Berbatov has convinced me that he is one the best players in the world. His ability is breathtaking. When we get him, this summer of crap will finally be flushed. I seriously get goosebumps thinking about him linking up with Rooney or Tevez, or even at the same time which just might be an indication of the Apocalypse. It is going to blow the trousers off of many teams in this league.
That’s my longest post yet. Hope it saves from ennui!
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So this has become a blog for debating how other people are wrong, has it?
I have deliberately not involved myself in this, because frankly, it’s way out of hand. But I feel, it’s time we got some overall perspective on this. I don’t take sides… I merely try to make an objective comment (as if that’s possible).
Grognard is a sensitive contributor to this site, but that’s what I like about him. He’s shows his feelings, when he comments. That doesn’t mean, he thinks he knows more than the people in the club or people employed to run the club. It means, he hopes for the best. And when things look shaky to the Grogster, he voices his opinion on it. The debates get heated, because things might not look as shaky to others (like me).
The way Grognard writes can be seen as if he thinks he knows better. He doesn’t write “in my opinion” as much as others, but as he always claims, it can never be anything other than his opinion, even if he doesn’t write so. That’s a very important step in the direction of understanding him imo.
Putting up personal attacks like the one about slidding the wrists or claiming to be smarter and more knowledgable than others and that sort of thing is simply not cool. It doesn’t matter who voices these things, they do not belong here.
I’ve had my own disputes with Grognard, but the only thing I’ve ever been really annoyed by is that he sometimes disregards other people’s opinions and claims he knows more, because he does watch a lot of football from certain leagues that some might not follow. As RR says, even people not watching these leagues are entitled to an opinion about them and the players in them, but Grognard sometimes doesn’t agree with this, and that has angered me a few times.
Other than that, most of his comments are simply out of frustration of what he sees as dire straits for the club these days. Some (as me) may not see these worrying tendencies, but then we should argue in stead of claiming that he doesn’t know anything about finances or whatever it may be. Argue your way out of it, and don’t do it based on other people’s comments. Gather your own information and make an opinion based on that… that’s my opinion. In my world, the best way to debate is to have knowledge to back up an argument. If people go into an argument without knowledge about the subject, it becomes a mud slinging contest in a matter of seconds, because people simply want to be right. Of course, as I wrote, people are more than welcome to voice an opinion without actual knowledge… they should just be ready to be asked to clearify. If you can’t clearify, then shut up and accept “defeat” or go find that knowledge you need and reply.
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@Tomas:
The Clarify bit though is the part that Grog falls down on everytime. He makes comments on rumours without taking any time to actually find out the source and the accuracy and even at times seems to ignore the facts so he can rant like a crazy man. If you ask him to clarify he just keeps spewing the same deluded beliefs without backing it up with anything. As such you cant debate with him as “he is always right even when the facts don’t back him up”. If he wants to rant then fine but he crosses the line all too often in that his his rants are little more than flames and trolling as he is basically making up things to rant about rather than ranting on actual events.
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@IBleedRed: Good post, and good on you for trying to move the post on from that infernal bickering.
I’m interested too in your views of our squad players, given that I rarely am able to watch reserve matches. Your description of Campbell reminds me of Diego Forlan….
As for the regs surrounding academy players, I wrote an article on this a while back here, and there is more in a Brian McClair interview which I link to in my article.
Happy to continue the discussion here.
And if you’ve watched a lot of reserve games, have you seen much of Danny Welbeck?
One last tip on writing long posts (and it was a very good post) – try and break them up into shorter paragraphs, it’ll make it a lot easier for people to digest and so a lot more people will read the whole thing.
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Can anyone imagine how heated this place would have been in the summer of 2006? Hehe.
It’s not the end of the world – so we’re starting the season a bit undermanned, so what, happens all the time. Maybe Fergie really has gone to every effort to get in Berba, but it just hasn’t worked out. Maybe Fergie also knows more than we do about the Ronaldo situation, and a year from now we’ll all fondly remember his ‘white uniform’ joke. Who knows. Not us.
As a fan we’re more than entitled to bitch all we want, that’s fine and healthy. Do I wish there was an exciting new signing playing tonight against Juve? Absolutely. Will I still watch and support the team with Dong Fanzhou leading the line? Yeah, I will.
We may have been the best team in Europe last year, but we can’t just go out and buy everyone we want, because it unsettles the team and is unecessary. I strongly believe we need a striker, but that’s it for me. Now that Ronaldo is staying, you can’t brign in a winger to play the first 2 months of the season than sit and watch the rest. Maybe you can do that in January once we know how the CL/FA/Carling cup runs have gone, but you don’t do it now. And you certianly don’t do it with a world class talent. It’s wasteful. Similarly, I think we all agree Berba would be a wonderful fit, but the fact is he’s relatively old, not on an incredibyl long contract and is unsettled. Therefore we shouldn’t get dragged over the coals for him. Hell, if he wants it so bad, get a transfer request in please. Then we can talk.
More important things – last preseason match, what team do you see starting?
——–Kuszcak———
-Wes—Rio–Vidic–Evra-
—Fletcher-Scholes—–
-Nani———–Gibson–
——–Tevez———–
——Campbell———-
?
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@wakey: That may be, but then it’s our job to inform him about the sources and argue, why it’s bullshit. We shouldn’t write that he’s this and that because he believes in the stories, he read. It’s his right to believe in the stories, and argue with him or not.
He may be stubborn, but he never refuses to argue, and he often put up solid arguments for his views… even if they are based on gossip that we may find rediculous. It is possible to put up plausible arguments based on almost any kind of information, but it is also possible to put up solid contraring arguments almost everytime.
Grognard – this summer – has chosen to react to almost every negative rumour out there, and it has made him look paranoid like a motherfucker. It has also made him hate our best player, and that’s his issue to deal with. He may be paranoid, but it’s his right to be.
The problem with the Internet is that it’s so easy spewing rediculously insulting comments without being held responsible for them. People use the Internet to act out their internal badass, and some people don’t deal with that well. Grognard is from a different generation, and in his younger days, every form of communication was verbal and not written (sorry Grognard, I’m making you look a 100 years old, which is obviously not the case). Being from that time (which I almost am myself), you’re not raised with these insults that are today considered normal. It’s a different language on the Internet, and even though a person like Grognard can probably say to himself that he shouldn’t react so much, it’s difficult when it’s not in your blood to do otherwise.
People don’t talk “Internet” IRL, and that is a tough barrier to get by, if your mind is set otherwise.
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@Beachryan:
I think Edwin will start, Foster on at Half time. I also wouldn’t be too surprised to see Rafael playing instead of Wes unless Neville is fit. With Nev’s fitness still in doubt and after his impressive first game it might be useful to see him again as we may need him as backup to wes.
Giggs will surely start on the left. Campbell will start up top as he needs the games. Fergie also didnt rule Hargreaves out on Monday so maybe Scholes and Hargo in the centre
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@most people, Please stop:
a) bickering
b) responding to bickering
c) discussing who is to blame for starting/contributing to bickering
d) conducting deep-seated cultural analyses regarding the tendency to bicker and the practice of bickering.
The vast majority of people here want to discuss football without having to sift through 10 bicker-posts for every one with real football content in. How many newcomers to this blog would read the comments to this post and think “I want to be involved in this blog”?
Apologies for commenting on the bickering, this will be my only post on the subject.
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@Penguin: You’re absolutely right. My conduction of a deap-seated cultural analysis was merely an effort to calm people down and to make people realise that there’re always two sides to every story/debate.
I could be pissed at you for being condescending about my comments, but I’ll let it go.
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@Tomas: Yeah you are right! CAN ANYONE GIVE A STREAM FOR THE JUVE MATCH? Hopefully tonight will be the night when Fergie’s eyes open that Rooney and the first team and crying out for a NEW no.9!
And and to GROGNARD! No hard feelings mate! Just chill!
Oh and @Tomas: So you both are 40?
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back to the football, eh guys? Ok our team setup for tonite, what do you think it will be? with half the 1st team crocked, will the gaffer put out a full-strength side for Juve, when we have a cup final against Portsmouth on sunday and the opening game nxt saturday?
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@Red Ranter: Dont put these multi dimensional,rocket science cartoons in here ever again.
Do ya hear me.
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I think that the first team will be…. Subs are in the brackets!
——————————-EVDS(Foster)——————————–
Neville(R. Da Silva)—–Rio—————Vidic————Evra(The other Da Silva)
————————Flecther————Scholes——————————–
Nani—————————————————————–Giggs(Gibson)
———————————-Tevez——————————————-
———————————Campbell——————————————
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at what timn3e is the match ? UK time ??can somebdy help me with links as well ? am so desperate to see the reds back in action
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@Red Diablo: No, I’m just 30, but when I was a kid, there was nothing called Internet. As a matter of fact, we got our first computer, when I was around 10, and it sucked big time. Well not at the time, of course, but today it’s a relic of the past
– so I’ve seen both worlds as well.
I think, tonight’s lineup will be something like:
TK
Brown Rio Vidic (if fit?) Evra
Nani Fletcher Scholes Giggs
Campbell Tevez
So not that different from yours, really. But I do think that if the backline is fit, it’s time to start playing them. After all, it’s better to win the Community Shield than to loose it. Plus we may depend on them in the start of the season again, so it’ll be nice, if they’re ready to go come the first match against Newcastle.
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@Red Diablo: @Tomas: yeah, solid formation!! I don’t think he’ll risk playin them the whole game though; that is our strongest squad due to injuries, so he’ll let them rest as we have Portsmouth and Newcastle comin soon. Don’t you reckon that will be a wise option?
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@Tomas:
What you mean Vidic(if fit?) You hear something I’ve missed?
We loose any defenders especially Rio and Vidic and a tough start to the season is going to look like a fecking nightmare considering the injuries.
Solid enough team selection though.
@everyone: United we stand
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@scoop: No no, I didn’t hear anything about Vidic. He just wasn’t in the squad for the last game. Probably needed the rest. I think, he’s fine.
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@Tomas:
Phew!! Panic over.
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Not sure when this interview was so sorry if its old news but how relaxed does Fergie look considering all thats on his plate.
Either he’s got supreme confidence in the squad available or he know’s something we don’t!
Im not for doubting him Ive done that before in the past and got my fingers burn’t Fergies got it sorted.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7543747.stm
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@Grognard: I was dreaming when i talked about landing messi or aguero.
I disagree about scouting. Fergie would have known all about sanchez last year. We will ofcourse scout south america. We bought forlan from independiente. Sure, it didn’t work out but it shows we were looking. We have brought in possebon and the da silva twins from brazil, and the manager knew all about anderson and had followed him throughout his time at gremio. I do not think there are many places in the world where top teams do not have scouts and contacts, but certainly south america is not one of them with the amount of talent they produce. We have been linked with a host of other players from there too, with falcao and sanchez being recent rumours. His agent said that united bid for him about two months ago now, but did not match udinese’s valuation. He played in argentina last year and we seem to be interested in him, so i think it is likely that united have been watching him.
I still don’t think there’s anything wrong with the funds. I still think we’ll buy berbatov. The loan is being managed properly and all the people in the know came out early on and said money would be available to strengthen the team. The reason that i believe that our transfer kitty is healthy is because while it is quite clear that we have bid for berbatov and that fergie targeted a striker signing for this summer, we still went out early on and were prepared to pay 5 million for ramsey. It annoys me that he is not at united, but it shows that we are not short of cash. We would have paid the 5 million for him and then still went after berbatov now. If we were struggling for funds and had identified the need for a striker, would we have tried to sign ramsey? No. Also, if we did bid for sanchez then that also shows that we were not shy to spend if the right deal for the right player was there. Fergie identified the need for a striker early, but we continued to look into the possibility of other deals which would not be a back-up incase the berbatov deal fails, as sanchez and ramsey are not strikers. These players would have came in as well as a striker. Therefore, i think we have the money to spare.
Regarding my stance on anderson, when i say he is the replacement for scholes, i mean in terms of his position on the pitch. He will play in central midfield alongside a more disciplined holding player, with license to go forward as scholes has had throughout his career. In terms of playing styles, he is very different to scholes. I would compare his style of play more to that of steven gerrard – driven, energetic and inspirational. Scholes is more intelligent and skillful, with the closest player to him in the premiership being fabregas. I agree that possebon’s playing style is closer to scholes. He is neat and tidy on the ball, hardly ever giving it away. A future combination of him and anderson would be complimentary in styles.
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@tevez: Possebon in my view if you had to compare is nearer Carrick than Scholes.
We will now always probably play a three man cent midfield rather than a natrual 4-4-2.
I do not see your reasons behind “kitty is healthy” because we have made a bid for Berbatov? We have not signed him. With regards to Ramsey we really did not try our hardest to sign him, saying that it shows we are “not short of cash” is fallacy, as again we did not secure the player.
We are in debt, that is real, one day all banks the Glaziers have borrowed from, will ask us to repay the principal amount which currently stands at £666m.
The spending on players in my view will have to stop, or be more frugal, as we need to stop piling up more debt. We will continue to up season tickets (mine @ 7% or so this season) Keep the marketing or brand awareness of the club ( South Africa/Asia tours)
Most of all we need to keep winning, but if we can’t spend like before which is posibly the problem in my view, then we could be in big trouble long term.
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Is anyone else worried about Nani and Anderson and dreaded second season syndrome?
They both had great seasons last season especially impressed with Anderson myself but this season I would imagine Giggs and Scholes to be playing less and less which is going to heap alot of pressure on these yound lads.
If they don’t crack on from last year we could find ourselves squad wise in a bit of bother. Especially as well if Ronaldo throws a hissy fit because he’s somewhere where he doesnt want to be and doesnt get stuck in.
I hope we get Berb sorted!
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@Tomas: Good formataion! Dont worry! Youre not old!
I mean I am only half your age + 1 Yr! That means I am sixteen! HAHAHA!
@ANYONE: Can anyone post the streaming link for the Juve Match? Thanks a bunch!
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@scoop: I would not say they had great seasons last year, but promising ones, we do get (me especially) carried away sometimes.
They were good and especially Anderson against Arsenal/Liverpool and Nani league cup agianst Arsenal, but both players do need to improve on their consistency.
Nani was quite fustrating in games and Anderson did look lostin some games especially in Europe, but hopefully they both have the best in front of them
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@Stephen: link for the 666m figure? Mark my words one way or another the debt will be managed. Last season we spent about 60m (excluding the Tevez permanent fee) on players which at the time everyone said that we wouldn’t have to spend for another couple of seasons. All we need is a back up striker who we can depend on when our 2 30m strikers aren’t working.
@Gabriel I agree we could do with a backup player on the wings but only if they can play on both wings or can cover as a full back. Drenthe off Madrid would be good but no way in hell will Real do business with us now
Its wierd how Fabio is regarded as the more promising of the 2 twins and has suddenly become the “other Da Silva twin”
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@Stephen:
Fair point mate it is easy to get carried away promising would be a better description.
I just hope they keep moving in the right direction and like you say try and get a bit of consistency.
Nani did do my head in a few times last year but like you say hopefully for the both of them big futures ahead at OT.
On another point has anyone seen Fergies interview on the beeb website. How relaxed does the man look!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7543747.stm
@Red Ranter:
How do I load a picture up beside my name?
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@Grognard: If you remember I was one of those who called for you to keep posting more when you went missing for a while, a month back. The truth here is that nearly all the people read your posts. You’ve been a wonderful and passionate contributor. Every blog needs someone like that. I personally love your arguements but sometimes when people question your opinion you get pissed. I think thats what made people have a go at you. You’ve always maintained in your posts that you are level headed, so let this go and please keep posting as much as you’ve been.
Can someone post the link for today’s match??
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http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=560425&sec=england&cc=5901
Fergie says we may not buy anyone this summer….I’ll be a man about it…Apologies to Grognard.
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@Liam: “Mark my words one way or another the debt will be managed” How do you know that?
They are reliant on season ticket sales which have gone up, and we were forced to buy cup games with them, and champions league football for revenew, if we don’t have any success life could become uncomfortable.
Fergie will leave in 2 years then we will have a new manager in charge, god knows who, and how do we know that he will guarentee the success we we have become over the last 15 or so years?
The Glaziers are not fans, they are business people, and it is not hobby like Abramovich. They want to make money, and won’t keep spending vast sums every season.
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