Oct 07
United related links
Some links to get you through the day:
1. Ferguson is in a row with Foster, apparently. No quotes to back it up, but it’s quite possible Ferguson might have been annoyed with the way Kenwyne Jones’ goal was conceded. He was angry at many things following the Sunderland game, he would have picked a fight with a priest. I’m sure hot words may have been exchanged, but ‘bust-ups’, ‘row’ etc are not the exact kind of words here.
2. Meanwhile, some over the top guff from the union of referees, calling for Fergie to be ‘kicked out’ of management. Detailed commentary on this will follow in an upcoming post, but for now, just wallow in the ridiculousness of it all.
3. An article in the Mail, about Carrick’s return to the England fold; Capello has seemingly declared he will start either against Ukraine or Belarus.
Related items from Red Rants:- New Links Feature
- For Your Reading Pleasure…
- Some Reading Material Ahead of Grand Slam Sunday
- Short Thursday Roundup
- Links of the Day
Tags: News Snippets
October 7th, 2009 at 3:54
Regarding Fergie’s row with Foster,
It appears somebody very high up in the club’s hierarchy (like the manager) is echoing the words of the Grognard for Ben to hear. Nothing quite like being a correct as always pompous ass.
October 7th, 2009 at 3:57
On another note, perhaps Fergie will get the striker of his dreams sooner rather than later after all. It appears Monsieur Benzema is unhappy at Madrid.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/10/06/1544073/karim-benzema-outburst-causes-real-madrid-rift-report
October 7th, 2009 at 4:06
@Grognard: It’s a great feeling to be proved right (of course, only time will tell, even though it’s quite apparent that Foster’s on borrowed time) but I’m sure no one likes to come across as a pompous ass.
On an unrelated note, I happened to watch some baseball today and I must say the game between Minnesota and Detroit was insane.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:19
@Red Ranter:
Baseball games can never be “insane”; there are too many breaks, commercials, and time wasting between pitches. It’s only fun to go to the ballparks for the atmosphere and $5 hot dogs/$6 Pepsi.
On a better note,
” then, I would love to speak with him/her. Keeping Foster in goal is like playing hot potato with an unpinned hand-grenade…He sucks, he is not united quality and we are lucky not to have lost more games.
If there is any United fan that still says that “we should give Foster time; he is a united player…boo-hoo
How many clean sheets have we had this year??
Secondly,
How can the Referee Association argue that Wiley is fit??
@Grognard:
Except for this weekend, Madrid has dominated. Benzema is a drama-queen which is why we don’t need him.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:47
@Lars: I’m not a baseball fan, despite that I found today’s game gripping.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:42
@Lars: Madrid have had it VERY easy as of late. Not a single quality opponent in the league nor the ECL. Sevilla gave Madrid a lesson on how to dismantle a defense. Was it not for a sublime Casillas the score would have been 3+ – 0. And I am not exaggerating.
I also noticed that Madrid’s galaticos started arguing after going 2-1 down and with Karim’s outburst, I can only imagine what happens if they lose next game.
Madrid will fall — galacticos is not the way to do it. Unfortunately, Pelligrini will be found at fault and Mourinho installed. MARK MY WORDS —this will happen by next season.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:46
@Grognard: Benzema is dead to me. I am starting to like Fabiano (despite age) and have always been a fan of Kanoute.
Realistically, I would like Dzeko after seeing his performance against us. Of course, Aguero would do it too
October 7th, 2009 at 7:46
I call bullshit on this “row,” there are no quotes, it makes no sense as foster most likely new he was at fault(even though in my eyes it was a foul anyway), and its from the lowest rag of them all, the star! Utter bullshit.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:49
@Grognard: I’ve always given Ben a chance to prove that he can come good @ United, but after what i,ve seen, even the most fanatic fans of foster are having second thoughts.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:14
@Man Utd Jaluo: Except one of them all…..
October 7th, 2009 at 8:27
Karim karim, already throwing tantrums,
like a 4 year old kid missin his mum.
him and rooney can’t play on the same side,Both kids, both immature,it doesn’t make sense, it’s like having two rooney’s in a side, nobody needs that kind of drama, especially not fergie at his age.
He does however have a point, no matter how much real love raul, he isn’t the player he was 6-7 years ago, karim shouldn’t have to bear the blunt of accommodating a has been like Raul.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:01
Watched the reserves last night against Everton, pretty dire stuff to be honest. Everton played 10 men behind the ball and barely threatened to even attack, much less score. So couldn’t really tell how sharp VDS was. His kicking and touch were fine though, and he was as chill as you like.
Macheda scored a decent team goal, and looked the most dangerous player on the pitch, but only by comparison. Good little pass from Eirkem, who looks a decent bet. Only player on the pitch spraying passes around.
Anyway, all of that was overshadowed for me by the news that Rafael and Mickey are already back in training, and that Owen Hargreaves and Gabriel Obertan are expected to make their debuts/comebacks within the next couple of weeks in the reserves. Finally!
That Foster row things sounds like bullsh*t to me, nothing in there quoted or even a mysterious source. I spit in the media’s general direction.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:35
Well, to those who are always right, give yourself a pat on the back. Fair play to you!
October 7th, 2009 at 9:50
@Phoenix Red: had a problem getting my palm to face upwards but I have finally managed by stretching my right hand between my torso and left hand, and gave myself three quick taps on the back.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:59
Dont believe the Foster row, although Fergies’ had enough reason, generally he likes to keep criticism indoors. Also with a row, it generally depends on both parties having differing yet valid points, Foster doesn’t have a leg to stand on there!!!
Anyway i think enough has been debated on that particular subject. Bottom line, buy a VDS replacement, sooner rather that later, but wait, we’re BROKE, anyone know any bargain basement keeper sales! 
There’s plenty of gaping holes, at least performance wise at the moment, its up to the players we have (and those returning from injury) to up their performances and bring some panache and style back to our play. We still miss a leader on the pitch. Its WAKE UP time Fergie, if your favs aren’t performing, and they are not, bring in De Laet, Gibson, give Rooney a short break on the bench (he needs it) and play either Berba and Owen or Berba and Welbeck up front. Give the younger lads a chance to shine! Back to your roots Fergie. Pls!
October 7th, 2009 at 10:00
@spizzy: @Phoenix Red: I, on the other hand, face no such problems. Been doing that on a daily basis.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:14
@ RR, @ Spizzy, been thinking of patenting a Self Back Patter, along the lines of a back scratcher! Like a back scratcher it can reach those parts that most egos cant stretch to!
October 7th, 2009 at 11:11
Say for the sake of argument, that Hargo returns fit, wouldn’t he be a good choice for Captain? He’s a leader, albeit a quiet one, but a leader non the less.
October 7th, 2009 at 13:09
@Grognard: “according to reports in the Daily Star”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Oh man, you are truly vindicated! The Daily Star! hahahaha.
October 7th, 2009 at 13:16
@Onkar: and that should be you dude
October 7th, 2009 at 16:09
@Phoenix Red: Personally mate he needs firstly to get fit, and if Giggs or Gary Nev are not fit then Rio is the captain no doubt.
October 7th, 2009 at 17:41
@Red Ranter: it was an insane game. as was MNF (vikings/packers)!
October 7th, 2009 at 17:59
Some glowing reviews for the FIFA 10 UK version of the game. Very encouraging indeed for all of us hard core gamer types.
http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/fifasoccer10/review.html?tag=topslot;title;1
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/102/1028164p1.html
October 7th, 2009 at 18:02
@Lars: I’m not saying we do need Benzema. My point was strictly that it may open the door for Fergie to finally get his man. I personally hope he stays and rots in Madrid as I can’t stand the prick.
October 7th, 2009 at 18:11
@Lars: Also Lars, do you live in America? Have you gone to baseball games with the intent of actually watching the game as opposed to eating the junk food? Although baseball does not have the kind of passion and fanatical obsession and emotional response from it’s fans that footy does, it still is a deeply involving game and a game that has many aspects to it that are obsessively interesting and dynamic. I love baseball and it is a tremendous sport with great skill and a thinking man’s game to boot. It’s not a sport for the knuckle dragging sector of fandom because it asks a lot of fans from an intellectual point of view as well as from a perspective of patience. The game can be slow but exciting also as well as rewarding.
With a name like Lars I am guessing you are not living in North America. If I am wrong I stand corrected. It is not a problem for me if all on this prefer footy to baseball as I would be shocked if it were the other way around, but please, do not put down a sport simply because you don’t understand it or personally enjoy it. I personally don’t much care for rugby but I do understand and appreciate it’s popularity and support. Baseball is a way of life and a sociological phenomenon in America. It has deep rooted history and the same kind of passionate support from supporters of it’s historically great clubs as United, Arsenal and Liverpool have. Baseball is awesome.
October 7th, 2009 at 18:12
Leighton must be insane. before he makes noise about SAF’s staement to Wiley, has asked himself whether what Fergie said was actually true. Testing refs once a year is not enough when they are going to be involved in high voltage games every other weekend or fortnight and running with people who train on a daily basis.
Football has now become a business, so a small mistake by a referee can cost you millions of pounds late alone the trophy. When players under perform or are un fit, they get stick for that, when a team looses a game, the manager gets stick, so why should referees always be exempted an get away with their sins as though they are not part of the game.
I know all this is coming in the name of RESPECT, but why respect someone who makes kindergarten errors every other time? they are the same bustards who are suspended for a 1 or 2 games after blundering and the victim team loosing the points.
Imagine, Maloney handled the ball just infront of the ref and on the same line as the assistant ref but no one seemed to see it, penalty should have been given, and at the end of the day when they are called unfit, some fool raises dust. Maybe physically they were fit but mentally not? Otherwise how do you explain all that time lag between the time a foul would be committed and when the ref signalled for a free kick to be taken?
October 7th, 2009 at 18:13
@Dan:
October 7th, 2009 at 18:13
@Man Utd Jaluo: I’d ask Dan to confirm with you before you include him in that group.
October 7th, 2009 at 18:23
the guy is old, and when you get to that point you gotta expect these kinds of comments to be dished out. So much fuss shouldn’t be made about it, gotta let these things slide.
October 7th, 2009 at 18:32
The foster debate is officially over, capello not selecting him was the final straw. The whole world knows and admits he isn’t good enough. He only has one supporter left, and we all know who that is.
October 7th, 2009 at 18:40
Didn’t Prozone proof that Wiley’s fitness is fine? The real controversy is fergies tactics in the game and fosters horendous goalkeeping on the second goal. And trying to say he was fouled is a joke. And smacks of desperation.
October 7th, 2009 at 18:52
@spizzy: This is a symptom of the stupidity, naiveté and selfish arrogance the modern day star player. They all suffer from the infamous wanting their cake and eating it also syndrome. Today’s player is all about me and about winning personal awards and championships while being presented to the world on the greatest stage. Today star players demand three things. They demand to be starters all the time, they demand that they play for a top championship calibre team that is also playing in the Champions League and they want all the money they can get. These demands are not as unreasonable as they may sound but they are weighed down by greed, naivitee and just plain ignorance and stupidity towards the better understanding of the modern game.
The modern game is a game where seasons for top clubs are over 60 matches long (ie; 38 EPL games, max 13 games in the CL, max 7 games in the FA Cup and max 7 Games in the League Cup). If a top team is going to have to play over 60 matches in order to give itself a maximum shot at all the silverware available, they will have to pick and choose their battles carefully and a squad rotation system will have to be introduced. I just mentioned the biggest swear word in all of football, ROTATION. Yes we are aware of Rafa the Rotator and his psychotic use of the system and even now we are beginning to show frustration and are getting increasingly fed up with Fergie’s own rotational system, but the reality of the modern game is that it is a necessary evil. Players today are faster and in better physical condition than in the days of George Best or even Bryan Robson. But it’s incredibly hard to expect your starting eleven to go 60 games without massive fatigue and increased stress and threat of injury. Starters need to be rested and so it’s the manager’s job to carefully select where and when they will be rested.
You add another bogey to the modern day football that causes many young starters grief when they join a super team and where they expect to be starting every game. That bogey is simply seniority and the pecking order. Since he is the topic of discussion today, lets bring up Karim Benzema as a prime example. Benzema was top dog while he played for Lyon. He was a starter and for the most part he played nearly every game but a handful because he was so necessary to their success as well, they never had the budget to have a truly impressive and deep bench like a Madrid or United have. So Benzema is sold and gets his dream move to Madrid. Yipee for him. Now what are his expectations and dreams? Well he has always wanted to play for Madrid and emulate the accomplishments of his idol Zidane. He wants to win the Champions League, he wants to win La Liga and of course he wants to be top scorer in La Liga because as a striker, that is what is expected of him. Now all of a sudden the season starts and Benzema is not playing or starting every game. Higher priced talent like Ronaldo and Kaka are playing more and getting to build their dream but he finds himself in a fight for playing time due to something called the “PECKING ORDER”. At Real Madrid their is a seniority issue but there is also a very strong and powerful clique within the team that requires that a pecking order is followed. It should be no surprise to many who have covered or followed the team for the past decade but the fact remains that Raul is the king of Real Madrid and he gets his way over the managers as well as the fans. Raul is looked at like a God by the fans there but even the President’s and the executives revere him and comply to his every demand. It’s rather sick to be honest. If Raul doesn’t want you to play, you won’t. Many of the Dutch players who have shown up in Madrid have had issues and problems with Raul and as we now see, most of them were benched and eventually sold off. Huntelaar could not get a fair chance to show his stuff there because Raul preferred Higuain. It’s a cultural and racial bias but it’s prevalent. To deny it’s existence is to be naive and completely dead to the facts. Fact is Raul is a fascist at heart and he has been holding the team hostage for years. Manager after manager have failed to reach expectations over there because they have to take a back seat to Raul. Raul makes demands to the President, and those demands are met. No defenders are bought, no role players, just bring creative players to the team who can help them score goals and give Raul more chances to score himself. That is the present atmosphere at Real Madrid. This is not just me saying this, it’s been widely published in the past in numerous sites and magazines.
So Benzema’s dream is crashing all around him like it did for numerous other players who came there with dreams of accomplishing all their greedy to do’s. But instead they have walked into a political thunderstorm and have also had to contend with the rotation system that massive clubs need to use in order to win. Franck Ribery would be wise to reconsider his move to Madrid because frankly Franck, where are you to play and do you expect to start every game? He is better off staying at Bayern where he is King and where he can still have a shot at matching all his ambitions short of kissing Zinedine Zidanes over kissed ass.
Star players who end up like Benzema deserve it for one reason. Not because they are ambitious, selfish or greedy, but because they are fucking stupid. It amazes me that I a fan living in Canada knows more about what a player has to expect by going to a team then that player or his agent. I knew that Huntelaar for example was making a massive mistake going to Milan because Milan is also a team with a pecking order and a team that already had three quality strikers with tenure there. SO what happens. Huntelaar is now playing sparingly and struggling to fit in to a clique and a team that really didn’t need or want him. He should have gone to Stuttgart where he would have played every day and been top scorer in Germany at the end of the year. But we all need to have our cake and eat it too. I love seeing modern player with IQ’s lower than common house plants suffer the indignities of playing for teams that operate like a crew of wiseguys. Serves them right. Was Wesley Sneijder not good enough for Madrid? His recent form for Inter tells me a different story. But whereas Inter needed him, Madrid didn’t. And they never needed Huntelaar or van der Vaart or other players who have come and gone or who live on the bench asking themselves what exactly was so appealing about me signing for this team? I absolutely hate today’s mercenary. And frankly, when things do not work out for them, it’s exactly what they deserve. Fergie is spot on about going after players who want to play for us and who cherish being a part of the team.
October 7th, 2009 at 19:02
@Phoenix Red: He’s captain material but I’n not sure his teammates even recognize him anymore. You need to be more present than he has been the past two seasons. Before last year I would have said yes based on his first season with the club. Although Rio deserves it I still disagree with Fergie and believe that giving the captaincy to Wayne Rooney would not just be best for the club , but would make Wayne a man and force him to grow up and take more responsibility for his actions as well as the team’s.
October 7th, 2009 at 19:03
@Grognard: Some sources are reporting that Man Utd are going to offer 14 millionfor Julio Cesar…
But Mourinho wants to give 10 million + Cesaar and Take Foster..
October 7th, 2009 at 19:05
@owen: We are going to make a bid for Maicon…If it happens,then that will mean the end of Rafael whom i like a lot
October 7th, 2009 at 19:08
@Traverse: The reports could be coming from the cleanup crew for all I care. It’s not like the story hasn’t got a believability factor to it. It’s just there is the camp of those who want to believe it and there is that sad camp of those who don’t want to believe it. I personally don’t care anymore because EVDS is back and my agony is over. Party hardy.
October 7th, 2009 at 19:16
@Jay Jay: It’s got nothing to do with whether Fergie’s allegations are true. Fergie was incredibly rude and disrespectful towards Wiley and the profession. We can all whisper under our breaths and say well done Fergie and even agree with him but for me, this was a bone head move by Fergie where I see no benefit coming to him or to the team.
Instead he faces a lengthy ban and a fine as well, he will get less respect and consideration from refs as well, Wiley will never make a 50/50 call to benefit United again. As far as I am concerned, Fergie royally shot himself in the foot with his big mouth. This was not gamesmanship, or head games designed to get refs to be intimidated and more focused on having the Gaffer get his way in the future. Instead he crossed the line and basically spat at the man by insulting him and his fitness. You just don’t do that. Would Fergie like it if a young opposing manager just beats him in a game and then he tells the media the reason United lost the match is he doesn’t believe their manager is young enough or strong enough to cope with the rigors of the Premier league. Would Fergie appreciate that? I love Fergie but this was a blatant and very disrespectful move onhis part and he will pay for his crime. Most importantly, United will pay too. The good news is he will probably get a touchline ban. Well Fergie hasn’t stepped foot on the touchline in two years, so no harm done really.
October 7th, 2009 at 19:17
@Johnsom33: Ye sI agree. I think his chest injury was his heart officially being borken.
Oh I’m so happy. 
October 7th, 2009 at 19:19
@owen: I say go for it. Cesar is a quality keeper and has great ability at shot stopping and reflexes. If Mourinho wants Foster, let the Special One have him. I don’t believe a word of it.
October 7th, 2009 at 19:21
@owen: I like Rafael a lot too but Maicon is frakken fantastic mate. He is everything we can only pray that Rafael could come to with 50% of achieving. Maicon is awesome. Still, I kind of like De Laet. Call me crazy but that boy can play.
October 7th, 2009 at 19:23
@Grognard: what is the age of Maicon???
And i just joked that Inter want Foster…
when Dan will buy any club,then Foster will be playing there
October 7th, 2009 at 19:31
Does anyone know how much Mandanda would cost?
October 7th, 2009 at 19:42
@Johnsom33: They will give us 10 mill + Mandanda and will take Foster
October 7th, 2009 at 19:57
@Grognard:
I do live in America and I follow my local baseball team for the first few months of the season since they’re usually 10 games behind come July. So, yes I follow baseball, but I am no way obsessed with it and never will be. It’s more of a “picnic” sport to me…
October 7th, 2009 at 20:13
@aron84: I CANT BELIEVE A MUPPET LIKE YOU IS ALLOWED TO POST ON THIS SITE! WORST POSTER EVER!!!!!!!!
See what i did there?
October 7th, 2009 at 20:18
@Johnsom33: Why dont you fuck off you stupid prat! You know shit all, and you contribute shit all to this blog other then mindless sniped. You’re a stupid sheep and know shit all about most subjects.
It feels good telling you how i really feel.
@Grognard: Funny, when it was carrick and anderson, im pretty sure you like other fans thought it was bullshit, because it was. But when its foster, you conveniently belive, even though its the lowest rag of them all, the bloody star. Typical.
October 7th, 2009 at 20:18
@Dan: I agree with You as he is good but He seriously needs to do some confidence building classes…
then also,if he will not perform then he will be really bad…
but these all seems not to happen as Fergie is totally unhappy with him and will definately buy some one…
and then Foster will play in some other club and will proove like Howard
October 7th, 2009 at 20:25
@owen: Thats honestly the smartest post ive seen in weeks on this site. The truth.
October 7th, 2009 at 20:28
@Dan: your the muppet!!! one that is in denial. He just aint good enough for united and thats a fact. Lets have a look at his strengths ……………………………………………………………………………. And that about it!!! YOU NEED TO WIPE THE SHIT FROM YOUR EYES and see what 99% of us on this blog see in YOUR BELOVED FOSTER!!!!
October 7th, 2009 at 20:34
@aron84: One, ive already said foster is probably not good enough for united, which brings me to number 2.
Two, this blog? You havent been here for 2 minutes so dont you dare start align your self with anybody on this blog.
three, you are either 12 or have trouble seeing smaller font. Dont type in pure capitals.
October 7th, 2009 at 20:35
@aron84: What do you mean by ” not good enough for United”.can you tell how many players are good enough to be in starting eleven of United?
1> Carrick : Xavi made him looked like a student getting learned by a Professor
2> Nani : who was supposed to score 10 goals but does everything usually which are not required
3> Andy : As much good as Lucas of pools
4 > Oshea: Half of goals we have conceded due to him
5 > Scholes : can pass very well except in vertical directions..
October 7th, 2009 at 20:45
@Dan: Ive been following this blog for a while now and although I do not often post comments I have been following your obsession for Foster for a while now LOL. I was just wondering if Dan is your real name or is there possibility that you are really Foster in disguise????
October 7th, 2009 at 20:45
@aron84: Fuck off you muppet.
@Dan: Dont tell him to fuck off, that is my job!
@aron84: When the fuck did you and Grognard become 99% of this site. I for one still think Foster has the qualities, attributes, but its people like you who discust me. What the fuck does a guy need to do to get some fucking support?!
@owen: Anderson just as good as Lucas?!
Please dont make me tell you do go and do things to yourself, I like you mate. 
Dont wanan be cruel to you, so if you want to be alive dont you dare say that again! 
October 7th, 2009 at 20:46
@Grognard: Sorry mate, but right now you discust me…
October 7th, 2009 at 20:47
@aron84: Funny guy
@Footy4Eddy: You know what to do
October 7th, 2009 at 20:53
@Footy4Eddy: sorry mate….i was just blaming him due to his harsh comments on Fosty….
Andy at 21 is as good as Gerrard and at 25 will surpass Ronaldinho at his peak and at 27 will be better than Zidane….
he will be throughout United and will take the place of Cantona in our heart…
Now happy mate
October 7th, 2009 at 20:56
@Dan: Myself I think you have had shit in your eyes for a long time mate, but these last few weeks its dissapeared slowly…
I dont wanna say I believe in you as much as Foster, because some of the things you say are frankly way over the top. But because of what other people say about Foster as well, I will back you up because some of the shitheads on here think they know everything about everything, not letting other people getting their views in. Some are alright, but waaaaay to many comments are over the top. I like Foster, I really do! But he is far away from being one of my favorite players. But, he is not as bad as some people say he is, actually far off. He may never be one of the best goalkeepers in the world, because he lacks the mental strengh. And no fuckign way is he gonna get that improved if the fans of his OWN TEAM say they are happy if his heart is broken. Sorry Grog, but right there and then you just made me want to have you in front of me so I could kick your fucking ass!!! 
Practically threw up, its like watching your girlfriend make out with you best friend. Now ex, but current girlfriend. Jeez, people on here are some seriously big twats… 
Not saying you are right either, you have been bloody mindless when it comes to Foster at times! I will say that, and that is not me trying to upset you are anything, just giving my totally honest opinion right now. BUT, you can excuse yourself for being that way because at least you can truly call yourself a bloody supporter, not some cheap bastard wanting to fuck up your own player.
October 7th, 2009 at 20:57
@owen: I know that may have been sarcastic, but I truly believe so, so Yeah! Im pretty pleased!
October 7th, 2009 at 21:01
@Footy4Eddy: Andy is long race horce…
5 match continuous run and they will forget Fabregas,gerrard,arshavin and ………………..
October 7th, 2009 at 21:05
To everybody on here talking like theyve got nothing but shit and air between their ears.
Players read blogs. Fucks sake, of cource they do! They wanna keep up with what happens, what people think of them and some even comment. I will promise you that. Im not telling you to never say your true opinion, but saying you feel happy when your own player is heartbroken or suffering from major confidence loss, ITS NOT FUCKING HELPING TO BE A BLOODY MORON!
You guys fucking discust me! Players, like people, need support. Its hard enough to try to perform your best in front of 70 odd thousand watching from teh stands, millions on TV, coaches and such following your every step. But if you fuck up, the last thing you want is to go home and check out the net and notice that nobody fucking loves you. Everybody fucking hates you, and even when you do something right you dont get credited for it! Only the fuck ups, only the negatives, only talking about why and how shit its possible to be! Is that supportive? Is that human? Is that actually something you would do to somebody you know? NO FUCKING WAY YOU WOULD! 
Fucking discusts me, it really does….
October 7th, 2009 at 21:05
Well when RR says “no personal insults” I assume that includes everyone but this -> @Dan: commentator.
If it’s open season for this kind of thing, I’ll load my weapons!!,
October 7th, 2009 at 21:07
@owen: Anderson is God mate, he can do no wrong! When Anderson has retired, nobody will even remember who Ronaldo, Messi, Torres, Xavi or Iniesta was. They will only be names and memories in a world which has fallen in love with the might of Anderson Abreu.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:09
@Footy4Eddy: I said this countless times already. Im not even a big foster fan, but i believe all players should be treated fairly. The reason i kept backing foster because, if im honest, grognard and his mindless sheep kept making him out as if hes the worst keeper that ever lived if there was even a sniff of a conceded goal. Stuff like that pisses me off to the max. He may not be good enough to uniteds No1, but hes a lot, lot better then people give him credit for, and until people give him the little credit he deserves i will continue to back him.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:09
@Footy4Eddy: And the worst thing is that when Foster saved from Persie ,someone told that other goalkeepers would also have saved it and when he conceded,the sameone told that no other goalkeeper would have done it…
what is this….till the last point upto which Foster will remain Man Utd player,i will stand with him not due to his name but bcoz he is from Man Utd
October 7th, 2009 at 21:10
@owen: I agree with your comments to a certain extent. My problem with Foster is that his shaky moments have a negative effect on our defenders. Last season I lost count the amount of times that we would often play the ball back to the keeper. This would frustrate the hell at of me but at least with van der sar in goal we had a cool and confident keeper that our defence could rely on. With Foster his lack of confidence has rubbed of on our defenders hence the sloppyness amongst our keeper and the back four.
Although he has put in a great service for us I do beleive that the ginger ninja needs to hang up his boots now no doubt!!
O’Shea is a decent stand in player and has come up with some important goals in the past but his lack of pace makes him a liability especially against the top teams in Europe.
Carrick is another good squad player and he can have some very good game but he often goes missing and is very inconsistent. He doesn’t have that velocity to his game or the tackling ability that flecth has and IMO.
Nani and Anderson can be very frustrating to watch at times but there is no denying in their abilities. They are two rough diamonds that given a regular run in the team will be immense!!!!!
October 7th, 2009 at 21:10
@Redrich: Its war right now mate, and you gotta pick a side. The side which wants the best peace, or a destructing reign of terror. Ive picked my side, Ive loaded my weapons, I am ready to die for this cause!
October 7th, 2009 at 21:12
@Redrich: He had that coming to him after he told me to fuck off a few weeks back. And if anything, at least i came straight out and insulted him, not like his you know who you are stance.
Ive been called a lot over the past few weeks and i havent complained once.
Its fucking typical that when i bite back its against the rules.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:15
@Dan: True mate, and I agree with you. I see your point, and its where I stand with you. Some fucking dickheads on here cant think for themselves, and keep saying shit which personally would be very hard for me to deal with if I was Foster. Fucks sake, the man is only a human being in the end!!! For me, the name on the front means more than the name of the back, and if somebody says they are happy to see Foster suffer, they mean they are happy to see a UNITED PLAYER suffer. Discuts me, absolutely discusts me. Yes Grog, I am talking about you because Im getting pretty bored and pissed at this sharade, and you know what? I dont fucking care anymore, cause if you are gonna keep behacing like you want the worst for Foster(United), then I will tell you to fuck off! Sorry mate, principles before friends…
United
Kids
Wife
In that fucking order!
October 7th, 2009 at 21:15
@aron84: Foster was the player of the year for a botom club.remember this…there he used to be the most busy person on the pitch and his team mates used to show a lot of confidence in him and he proved them by doing miracles there…
samething is required here…then also he performs like this,then OK.go somewhere else
October 7th, 2009 at 21:16
@owen: This annoys the fuck out of me to. That save, his benitez save, and his roddellga save all kept us in our respective matches, but hardly a whisper about that. The odd kick and hes not even championship material.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:16
@Dan: Couldnt care less about the rules mate, its gone as far now that Ive got to pick a famous quote to counter RedRanters babysitting.
“Everything is allowed in Love and War”
Respect.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:20
@Dan: Ok Dan I’ve had enough. Over this past week you’ve not given a damn and resorted to insults. When I say not personal attacks I mean it. I;ve had it now with you. I’m sure you could care less too.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:21
@Footy4Eddy:
October 7th, 2009 at 21:22
@Footy4Eddy: And if you want to be banned too then try stepping over the line now. If you couldn’t care less, that’s what is going to happen. Baby sitting or not, you need to have regard for the rules.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:24
@Red Ranter: I am always within the rules
October 7th, 2009 at 21:25
@Red Ranter: Im sorry, being called pathetic, a moron, in need of theropy, and sad constantly has that effect on me.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:29
@Red Ranter: Mate, Im not trying to come with any personal attack and you know my history pretty well mate, Ive never offended anyone before. Its just that Im getting pretty sick of this, and right now I speak as a player, not as a person. If you feel I should be banned, then ban me because I trust your desicion is the correct one. I dont wanna say anything more about this debate right now, as its making me sick and uncomfortable. Each time I visit this site its Foster this and Foster that. Just wanted to have my final say, so people may see my angle. It may have been harsh, but I felt it was necesarry.
Im sad it had to go this far…
Do what you want mate, its your blog and if this doesnt stop transforming into the “Anti-Fosterforum.com” I may not care as much if Im getting banned or not. But Id rather you dont, because you know I like this place and when things are normal again, I will enjoy commenting here.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:32
Its all about expectations really. Some people have higher expectations than others, and when players/the team doesn’t play to these expectations, people get upset. Some more than others.
Believe, now thats a word that has been with United for awhile. Some of us are just finding it a bit hard to “Believe” than others.It takes all sorts, some people are looked upon as naive,with inordinate support for certain players,while some are seen as over critical, even arrogant. What we all share is love of Manchester United FC.
No matter what crop of players wears the shirt, i’ll always hold out and believe, keep the red flag flying high, Man United will never die! Even if we only manage 2nd or 3rd this season?!
October 7th, 2009 at 21:32
@owen: Thankfully you are always onside!
October 7th, 2009 at 21:34
@Footy4Eddy: If you feel sick of the place take a break. Walk around, go shopping, play footy etc. Come back in a few weeks. Do something that takes your mind off this. I haven’t chained you to this. As long as you’re here, follow the rules.
October 7th, 2009 at 21:38
@Red Ranter: Ive actually been quite bust these last few weeks, havent been on this site too much. But every time I come back here its always talk about Foster, and even though people keep saying the debate is over, it starts again! Its bloody tireing mate, and I know you feel the same way. Ive always followed the rules, Ive rarely come with personal attacks and even though you have not chained me, you have cast a spell over me which doesnt let me leave this place!
So you know, I didnt wanna do what I did. But if that is what I had to do to get this Foster debate finished, then I dont regret anything. Sorry… 
October 7th, 2009 at 21:38
@Footy4Eddy: I am with you always mate
October 7th, 2009 at 21:42
@owen: Playing for a newly promoted side in Watford compared to united is a massive step up. He did have a great season that year but lets be honest he didn’t have that much pressure on him. Fergi has always had high expectations of his players and that is something that has been instilled in the players. I really wanted Foster to do well and everytime he has continued to flop. In my opinion he just doesnt cut it. Yes its a shame and he hasn’t had the best of luck with injuries but the underlying factor is that his blunders and hesitancy in the united jersey will keep having a detrimental effect on our team.
October 7th, 2009 at 22:05
@Grognard: I take your point about the fact that its now possibly unlikely we will get our fair share of controversial decisions in the near future. I think the muppets officiating may try to exact some sort of revenge. I can understand Fergie’s frustration, after the Shitty game the Abu’s had a field day accusing us of “cheating” which is their way of ensuring we don’t receive any 50/50 decisions for a while but Fergie should have kept his own counsel this time.
October 8th, 2009 at 0:16
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8296082.stm
United in clear over Pogba case. Suck on that, Le Harve.
October 8th, 2009 at 2:12
@Traverse: …zzzzz!! What a snooze.
How many more cheap youngsters do we really need to stagnate in the reserves or go out on loan to some obscure foreign team??
Wake me when we sign someone of import!!
October 8th, 2009 at 2:26
@Cyclops-Red: It’s a passionate game, involving passionate people.
SAF might come a cropper over this, but it does show that his appetite for competition is still there!
If he said the ref was unfit, what do you think he said to Foster??
The last game or two has given us little to gleam over, but SAF reaction is a little spark of bright light on my horizon!!
October 8th, 2009 at 3:01
@Footy4Eddy: The “sides” you talk about are pure fantasy!!
All we are doing is being critical of poor play and rewarding good play. Calling Fosters performances good is about as contrary as calling Fletcher’s poor.
The point is, that when things don’t go the way you expect, it’s time to fuss up and move on!!
Of course, most examples of immaturity will show a stubbornness that doesn’t allow you to do this. A closed mind is.. shall we say closed!! It’s something you learn and it’s something you have to do a few times. If you can’t admit your wrong, you’re simply not operating like a human being!!
And to resort to insults as your next weapon of choice can only be described as loutish, and in real life this would lead to a violent confrontation, which would, in turn, lead to someone spending some time behind bars.
Humility in a fine thing, young man, and I hope you find it in yourself.
But to continue, as if you have embedded yourself in some political doctrine, is not only OTT, but unworthy of someone with your potential!
October 8th, 2009 at 3:48
@dan your way to protective of foster. People would leave you alone if you swallowed your stubborn pride avd admitted foster has been a disaster. But know, you keep on running your mouth about he needs to get a fair shake. He has, and he has blown it. We are all wrong at certain times on this site, I myself admitted I was wrong about giggs this season. But you refuse to concede that you were wrong in your valuation of foster.
I’m done talking about foster, he obviously isn’t good enough do if you want to keep banging on about him then go ahead. But please don’t get sensitive when people mock your faith in a failure.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:55
@eddy your young so I’ll forgive your reckless outburst. Calling people dickheads because they don’t share your youthful enthusiasm is a bit harsh we all have different opninions on this site and that’s what makes it so appealing. So I suggest you take a few steps back and chill out
October 8th, 2009 at 4:15
More reason for concern!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1218910/Former-Manchester-United-chairman-Martin-Edwards-reveals-debt-fear-club.html
Does anybody know what happened to the Ronaldo 80m? Did it go to pay down the debt, or did it go in their pockets?
I’m getting very edgy about all this stuff!!
October 8th, 2009 at 4:23
@Johnsom: Braeking News: That only Foster Supporter’s name is definitely not ONKAR….
October 8th, 2009 at 4:36
@Onkar: It’s truly time to quit all this!!
The issue is all but settled, so just move on, humbly, and lets all try to find common ground again!!
And for all you that are crowing over Foster’s demise – it was obvious as early as the Charity game -so don’t get so smug people!!
All you late comers don’t deserve it!
October 8th, 2009 at 5:41
@Redrich: I know I was late.. But common bro don’t say late commers don’t deserve and all. Infact I was 1 of very few who preffred but staying away from all this Foster Brawl… I for one don’t care wheather its finished and not but I was just having fun and was reosponding to Johnson. Secondly, I live in different time slot so thats the reason I am late on and normally my time to come is your time to leave, thats not my mistake…
But anyway, I posted because I was responding to johnason (as I said already) and its due to my habbit that I read all the comment and respond to them as and when I come across one. So thats why I wasn’t aware what was the progress on the issue….
But still i maintain.. Just because I live in diferent time zone you can’t say I am late and not deserving given that I am a regular no matter where I live…
October 8th, 2009 at 5:46
@Redrich:
Just to add further, you asked me to quit this topic…But, I think you need to check into all my previous comments as well not only in this thread but previously as well. Like I said, I was the one who was staying away from all this and I was consistently asking others to chuck this topic off and move on.. As could easily see that this was neverending…
And see what has happened.. Now you are asking me to quit this topic but whats the result of whole of this fight
…..
So like GROG says I was proven
October 8th, 2009 at 6:15
@Redrich: I’m just guessing but he may have said; “why didn’t you effing punch the effing living daylights out of the effing ball”
October 8th, 2009 at 6:42
@Redrich: Yeah its really worrying… Some one who has searved Man UTD for such a long time and who has played instrumental role in Man UTD’s success is saying. Secodly, Even after may be the most successfull period in the recent history of the club if the Debts Have actually increased then I really fear what would be the situation if fell to achieve anything for year or two… Not looking great for sure…
I am worried… 
October 8th, 2009 at 7:51
@owen: He’s 28. We can benefit from him for three years and by that time Rafael will be very ready to take over. And don’t joke about things like another team wanting Foster. I believed you even though it sounded absurd simply because I take Mourinho for a much more intelligent man.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:52
@owen: Is it true that every team in Europe is now asking for Foster?
October 8th, 2009 at 7:54
When is the expected date of return for OBERTAN and Hargo??
October 8th, 2009 at 7:55
@Dan: Sorry mate , I got sucked in because frankly I hate the mother fucker so much I would personally buy his ticket out of England. Is that any clearer for you?
October 8th, 2009 at 8:01
@Dan: Dan my man, why are you getting all upset and loosing it? Is that fuckup of a keeper worth being booted off this blog for? I don’t think so. I suggest you stop taking our dissatisfaction with him so personally, grow up a bit and man up. Learn to take it like a man as nobody here has insulted you. You are way out of line here with Johnsom33 and this new member Aron84. They have a right to voice their feelings on Foster and they are only echoing what 98.9% of Mancunia is already feeling. You are so outnumbered since the 2-2- tie that you are fighting a hopeless and futile battle and making an ass of yourself in the process. And I say this to you because I like you despite our numerous disagreements.
Don’t chuck it all in the toilet over a worthless piece of crap like Foster. You are worth far more than he is.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:08
@Dan: If you also agree that he is not good enough for united, then why why why Dan would you jeopardize your standing on this blog and get into royal fights with all of us on here over that player? It speaks of stupidity and complete disregard for reality and common sense. I think you are better than that and i think you some on this blog an apology because the bottom line is, disagreeing with you is not a fucking crime and you are not the gate keeper. Disagree with people but respect their right to their opinion. Hell I can be condescending and pompous but I still respect yours and others rights to voice your opinions, even if I think they are wrong and I say so. But calling people names and insulting them isn’t kosher mate. Like I said earlier, who the hell made you the gate keeper on this blog and what makes you feel you have the right to call people names and insult them just because they speak their mind and above all, speak the truth?
Bad form mate, bad form. 
October 8th, 2009 at 8:10
@aron84: Ouch! No wonder he is out because of chest injury. That was a dagger blow to the heart mate.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:12
@Footy4Eddy: Not half as disgusted and disillusioned as I am with you. I have no fucking idea what the fuck you are on about? Grow up Eddy and stop acting like a little prat, make some sense and stop insulting the friends you have on the blog for no apparent reason. WTF????????
October 8th, 2009 at 8:14
@Footy4Eddy: No it’s not your job to tell anyone on this blog to fuck off. You disagree with him, say so and leave it at that. What the Hell is going on here and how the Hell did you get involved in Dan’s mess and why the hell am I being targeted for your abuse?
I disgust you? You better take that back mate or you are officially fucking dead to me. What are you, the thought police? I can’t tell a joke?
October 8th, 2009 at 8:32
@Footy4Eddy: Oh BOOO FUCKING HOOO! Grow the fuck up. Poor little fucking players, the grognard and some other big meanies insulted and hurt their feelings on the Internet today. Are you listening to yourself or are you high on weed? I give rats ass what the players as they give a rats ass what I think? I’m going to cry for the injustices and words that are thrown at a useless millionaires like Foster while people like myself have struggled to make ends meet in a tough world? Take your spoilt Norwegian teenage ass and go out a work a real job where you get abused and shit on all day and get paid squat. Then and only then will you truly understand ho immature, naive and incredibly stupid you just sounded to me and many others who are reading your shit tonight. Grow up and stop acting like a fucking brat and show me and others on this blog a Hell of a lot more respect. PLayers, managers and teams are fair game on this blog and any other one. The members on this blog are not fair game and you have no right to judge me or threaten me with your laughable threats. I honestly cannot believe I have read these things from you tonight. I swear you are high on something and if so, you better get straight soon and give me and others a sincere apology or I will make some demands of Red Ranter, and I am not joking. What you said and did tonight did not take guts mate, it was cowardice and i for one am disgusted with you and ashamed to have ever bothered giving you the time of day. I am in serious disbelief
October 8th, 2009 at 8:35
@Footy4Eddy: You are the peace advocate. You little fucker. I stopped yesterday talking about Foster and you brought him back up again and starting throwing insults and threats to us who do not care for the player. And what exactly is wrong with that? I never knew this was the Third Reich and that we all had to be loyal blindly faithful party members. Christ you have lost your fucking mind.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:37
@Dan: You haven’t been called anything that was hostile rude or profane mate. People just disagreed with you and perhaps some made fun of your Foster love. Man up and take it because it is not worth telling people to fuck off or to get yourself banned. For what? It’s not worth it. Christ, this is a blog, we can’t all agree, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:47
@Cyclops-Red: His comments about Wiley were way out of order (even if they were true). He should know that he would get nothing out of this but a ban and a fine. The one that really gets me is he was gifted a lot of extra time vs City and it gave us a win and the following week he had the gaul to complain to the refs about not getting enough injury time. Fergie is one of a kind and that mould is borken forever. You gotta love him though.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:48
@Traverse: Great news indeed. I always suspected they were innocent because unlike Chelsea, we never had Peter Kenyon working behind the scenes.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:50
@Redrich: In his case had he said those things to me in purpose, he wouldn’t be spending time behind bars, I would. For putting an underaged brat in hospital and in traction.
Love you Red, you are always the calm voice of reason. I really respect that about you mate.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:54
@Redrich: It’s in the Glazer’s back pocket as they plan to take it with them when they finally crash and have to run out of Manchester and out of England. The more i think of it, the more I feel they never even put the money towards the debt. Will we ever know for sure though?
October 8th, 2009 at 9:03
Are we still talking about Foster? Can we move on? EVDS is back, so the topic won’t be rearing it’s ugly head for another few months until transfer season.
Pogba, Petrucci, Fornasier, Macheda – what are we doing? Is this just a money making exercise? I kind of see it that way. Rossi and Pique alone probably paid for the whole academy for a few seasons. It’s quite clever in a way, as long as they’re not being developped at the expense of the local game.
Fergie has spoken a lot about trust in young players during the offseason, but we’ve not seen much of that trust on the pitch yet. Other than Welbeck, and we saw how that went. Giggs and Scholes still being two of our better players in their roles is an indictment of the quality of our youth. Remember that Fergie brought those two through the ranks, are his standards slipping? Does he just not get the foreign kids? I’m not sure, but all this promise means nothing at all until they’re out performing for the firs team.
Two years ago everyone was on about big Dave Jones. Now he’s at Preston North End (right?) and never in with a shout for playing for us. I just don’t get hte point of our reserves at the moment.
Speaking of reserves, why the hell did we play Welbeck over Tosic? I don’t deny Welbeck’s potential, but he’s a striker and clearly had no idea what he was doing out on the left. Tosic is a full international, left sided midfielder. If you don’t give him a chance then, when are you going to?
October 8th, 2009 at 9:19
@Beachryan: I think that the problem is that a number of the young players have not progressed this season as well as Fergie and the team were hoping. Add to that the fact the main team is going through a major transition this season, it really isn’t an ideal to blood the youngsters because it would outrage many fans like myself after we have just lost Ronaldo and even Tevez. I think all those kids will get Carling Cup action but seriously, how can Fergie risk playing them a lot when we aren’t even in first? It’s about balancing the need for experience with the demand for expectations. A tough balancing act for the gaffer.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:39
@Beachryan: i too feel that tosic could have been played, unless he is injured, also playing welbeck invariably pushes Rooney out as Welbeck stays central and stays in box for crosses from otherside, so unless we are looking for 4-3-3 we should play Tosic, We paid too much for him..
October 8th, 2009 at 9:42
@Grognard: Ya thats correct, but dont we have too many youngsters for Reserves and according to SAF’s words in the pre season he was going to look into them, also i think according to what we heard of de-leat’s interview it seemed that we might see the youngsters later on in the season, even the Simpson’s interview on the official site meant the same.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:00
WTF was up with me last night…
Fucks sake, I wasnt really well. Sorry guys, shouldnt have said what I did. I apologise. 
Fucks sake I was hammered…
October 8th, 2009 at 11:04
@Grognard: Shit, I seriously did something wrong last night. Reading my comments again, I admit I was a little fucker.
Dickhead, bad words I said about people should actually have been directed at me. Sorry again guys, dunno what the fuck that was?! 
October 8th, 2009 at 11:34
There is a good read in Manchester evening news an Interview with Martin Edwards…
The link for the same is
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1160684_why_united_were_sold
Have to say I wasn’t aware that manchester was subject to bid from Sky as well….
Given the size of sky today its begs one question that “was Martin Edwords right to recomend that???”
If anyone here has any idea about the whole thing that happened with that bid please share.. It would some knoweldge gained for me…
October 8th, 2009 at 12:33
@Onkar: Yeah, that wrinkly fuck tried to buy United, and we were going to sell it to him, but the monopolies commission refused to let him pass go or us to collect £623mil…..
£623mil!! In 1998 money!
October 8th, 2009 at 13:00
Yesterday was a bit crazy and I didn’t come on here to get into any verbal confrontations with anyone but simply to express my views and have my say. I have been following this blog for quite some time now and although I do not often leave comments I thought I had to have my say on the Foster fiasco. I responded to Dan’s comments that I thought were unjust and personal but I’m a grown man and I will just take them on the chin!!! I have always enjoyed reading peoples posts on here and respected peoples opinions.
October 8th, 2009 at 13:02
@Footy4Eddy:
, Eddi mi man, you will have to stop getting hammered mate, because otherwise you will get to be as bad as me with my AFTERGAME BOOZE UP RANTS, and you don’t want that – do you? 
. So not like you at all Eddi, it’s too funny mate really!
October 8th, 2009 at 13:06
@aron84: Very wise decision yesterday mate, but do keep commenting on the blog, because we need a few sensible grown ups to counteract some of the kindergarten-isms
.
October 8th, 2009 at 13:07
@Grognard: thanks for your support mate I have always enjoyed reading your interesting posts!!!
October 8th, 2009 at 13:10
@CraigMc: I will try as much as possible mate. Wanted to ask you what do you think about the last few performances of our superstar Nani?????
October 8th, 2009 at 13:29
@Traverse: But I think we would have not ended as debt laden club like we are currently… Is it right???
October 8th, 2009 at 13:33
@CraigMc:
October 8th, 2009 at 13:41
I hate international weeks. Can these week fly quickly
October 8th, 2009 at 13:47
@CraigMc: Or should I say superstar in the making providing he gets a good run of games.
October 8th, 2009 at 13:51
@aron84: Aaaah mi man Nani – in the Stoke game his final ball was missing, but not in his other games, or the last one against Sunderland, where he kept getting that ball into the area, and was unlucky not to get two assists. Not everybody agrees about Nani, not with my view anyway, but that’s nothing unusual
. Viva Nani – he is the greatest! 
October 8th, 2009 at 13:53
@Onkar:
I know too funny eh mate?
October 8th, 2009 at 13:59
@Man Utd Jaluo: I dont know but these weeks really suck and even i have more work in office somehow.
October 8th, 2009 at 14:02
@CraigMc: I really liked them, atleast he is trying to take people on, i hate when everyone in ESPN keeps telling that he goes with the ball with his head down, i feel how long is he gonna do the same, but then he comes up with the through ball like he did for Owen… He is absolute mystery..
October 8th, 2009 at 14:03
@CraigMc: Why the hell every good player is suddenly linked to us in last few weeks, is it just smoke or there is fire somewhere hidden…
October 8th, 2009 at 14:05
@Onkar:
October 8th, 2009 at 17:30
@Footy4Eddy: thats true mate a high school buddy of mine was the place kicker for Florida State and missed a field goal to beat Miami and was all but ran out of town on a rail and it took him quite a while to get his life back together. im not a fan of bashing players and foster is getting it by the truckload right now. that pic of him after the second goal… he looked lost in the world and i hope he is able to get some swagger back because he may not turn out to be United class but he is going to be a great keeper for some club.
October 8th, 2009 at 17:38
@gator: There is a big, big difference between being hounded out in public in front of everyone, and comments on blogs. If someone booed Foster during a match in the stadium, I would call it a disgrace. No one’s done that. All that said, players are public figures and have to take criticism on the chin. Booing players for poor performances the stands is different because it is counterproductive to fans, as players don’t expect public humiliation during the game from their own fans.
At the moment, all that matters — or rather should matter — to Foster is the confidence the manager and coaching staff have in him. He should only look up to the staff and players in the squad around him for support. If he doesn’t get even that, then you can guarantee his confidence will take a beating. It’s a question of how Ferguson will handle his confidence. Will he forgive him? Will he hang him out to dry? We shall see…
October 8th, 2009 at 18:11
@despicable who are we being linked with now? Frankly I don’t belive any of it.
October 8th, 2009 at 18:13
@aron84: My pleasure. You didn’t deserve that and I felt that you deserved the right to express your views without somebody getting all personal and territorial on you.
October 8th, 2009 at 18:31
No one can ever accuse this blog for lacking passion
October 8th, 2009 at 18:42
@Red Ranter: I agree. For me a blog is where anyone can make his comments on a team or players whether they are positive or negative. The Internet is loaded with movie review sites where people openly talk and review films and either comment positively or negatively about every movie being made. If a director and actor were to worry about all the bad reviews, no movie would ever get made.
I have taken some flak on here of late regarding my views on he who shall remain nameless. Fact is, the player deserved what he got due to his consistently poor performances but also, it was my right to be able to talk about the games and the players. Many of us went on a on about this player for weeks because frankly, he went on and on with his continually bad performances. The player was terrible out there and 99% of the English footballing world could see it.
What really got me though was this growing sentiment by some that because he was a Manchester United player and because he was young that we needed to get off his back and be more supportive of him. Well I say HELL NO to that. Manchester United is my team and i want them to win more than anything. Fergie wants them to win more than anything and he will do what has to be done to ensure that eventuality. I am fan of the club but I am also a consumer, a paying customer and I do not like paying for rubbish. The player in question was bringing down the whole team and his performances were lacking the quality we are used to seeing as well, his performances and lack of confidence was creating problems with our defense and that had to stop.
Many times I came on here and gave detailed clinical breakdowns of why he wasn’t good enough for this club. I compared him to others that play his position and I gave numerous examples and tried to show why it was I disliked this lad as a player, not as a person. He was fundamentally challenged at his position. But all my efforts fell on many deaf ears and after a while it just caused me to come across like a professor and like an arrogant pompous ass. Well I am an arrogant pompous ass quite often when I know and feel I am right, and for that I offer no apologies. I do apologize to all for one thing. Not giving up easily on my crusade. My crusade was simple, get this player sent to the reserves or bench, but just get him out of the starting lineup. I just could not stomach watching him play for us.
So now we are moving into yet another boring, long and miserable international break. What will we talk about? I for one claimed to have stopped talking about the subject that has caused all the controversy a couple of days ago. But others would continually bring it up and then yesterday I was viciously attacked and called everything under the sun because of my right to not like or tolerate a player being in our starting eleven. Has it really come to this? There is something seriously wrong here when individuals come on here and talk football and offer their feelings about the game and about players only to be bullied and threatened by gate keepers who feel it is their god given right to tell all how to think and how best to show their loyalty and respect to the team.
Last night I felt hated and had forcefully entered the Twilight Zone and had become a fan of an official Nazi Party football club during the Third Reich. I’m still upset because things were said to me and a few others that I feel were not just OTT, way out of line, they were rude, abrasive, incredibly vicious and above all, bordering on psychosis. I lost respect for a few people last night, and I remain the same today. And over what? I lost two friends, two Internet buddies last night because they chose to snap and cross the line of good taste, proper conduct and because they viciously attacked myself and a few others with a barrage of mean spirited and hateful comments that virtually made me snap with rage. All because some of us can’t handle our consumption of liquor or drugs. I hope it was worth it, because I am forever shocked and appalled and will remain that way because those are the actions that are hard to forgive in my world. When did offering one’s views on a game tunr into a scene from “the Clockwork Orange” or “Mein Kampf”?
October 8th, 2009 at 18:45
@Johnsom33: Yes unfortunately it is often misguided and misplaced and often too much of it comes from being stoned or inebriated. Some need to get better control of themselves when they come on here.
October 8th, 2009 at 18:53
@Grognard: You’ll be surprised. I’m sure most of the attacks are from people in perfectly sober states. That’s what rage (and the internet) can do to people — even the bright ones.
October 8th, 2009 at 18:56
@despicable: He is a mystery all right, but I like solving mysteries, so shame I am not his coach. He has my support, and I believe he has a lot of skill, and yes many people complain he plays with his head down – but I would give him a neck brace to shut all the snipers up
.
October 8th, 2009 at 18:58
@despicable: Its players agents trying to up their clients prospects by saying Man United are interested in them. If other clubs think United are interested in a player, it suddenly ups their profile. Its all salemanship mate
.
October 8th, 2009 at 19:05
Red Ranter – I want to make a STRONG OBJECTION mate – I refuse to have my after match inebriations censored. I demand that you sort it pronto!
– just jesting RR, it is all too funny. Next time I visit the blog having had a few bevies, I have some very high explosive grenades to cause the biggest on blog rumpus you ever saw. So get your banning order ready eh? 
.
October 8th, 2009 at 19:07
@Red Ranter: Agreed but when it comes from an unexpected source, it is quite easy to come up with the theory that they are on something because it was so way out of character.
October 8th, 2009 at 19:08
Red Ranter – Verbal greandes that is. Np need to incinerate your very good blog other than verbal is there?
October 8th, 2009 at 19:09
@CraigMc: Hey mate, there are angry and nasty drunks, and their are teddy bear cuddly drunks. You are the latter.
October 8th, 2009 at 19:16
At the request of RR, i would like to tell you lot two very important things.
Im not going to lie to you lot, we all know that if i start posting here again, anyone that talks to me out of line, i will bite back, but what i will promise is that i
wont insult them as i had done yesterday with johnsom. I wont be that harsh, and that rude, but i will certainly bite back.
Also, im staying away from foster debates in definitely, ill ignore all the snipes and snide remarks people make about me, because i will blow my
top as i have done in the last week or so.
This is an open apology to those who i may have offended. Next time, i promise ill bite my tongue.
October 8th, 2009 at 19:23
@Grognard: Glad to hear you say that Bro
. Well until I go on a Nani rant with all guns blazing, I think others might agree with you. Don’t know about the teddy bear bit though, sounds a bit girlish for a Ranting Manc macho Terrace banterer 
.
October 8th, 2009 at 19:26
@Dan: Your still the man Dan!
October 8th, 2009 at 19:32
@CraigMc: Would you prefer a cuddly T-Rex?
As long as we feed you, you’re bite isn’t that harsh
October 8th, 2009 at 19:33
It’s too much to handle really! Red Dave has censored and ruled no expletives, Grognard wants a board of SOBER headed bloggers, and no doubt somebody will soon censor pre match love ins with our Missuses. Didn’t know joining a football blog would take the fun out of our lives
.
October 8th, 2009 at 19:36
@Grognard:
, T rex’s are nasty little biters aren’t they Grog? 
.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:12
@Grognard: I read some where that Ancelloti preferred Mikel over Essien and told that he is much technical..hahaha….
A good source for hope???
October 8th, 2009 at 20:16
@CraigMc: What really takes the fun out of things, is when you’re hanging out with a bunch of louts who start hurling insults as soon as you say something they disagree with!
I stay away from them in my personal life and I’ll stay away from here too, if that’s what in devolves into!!!
October 8th, 2009 at 20:22
I wonder how the whole Foster debate ranks in the hisory of Redrants’ famous feuds…
I’ve heard about the Riquelme wars but was not there at the time, but surely we can christen this one as the “Foster Wars”!!
October 8th, 2009 at 20:28
@NicoQB: why was there debate on Riquelme,mate???he was immense and technically the best i have seen so far…when in mood,he was better than Zidane…….
October 8th, 2009 at 20:28
@NicoQB: The riquelme wars are even slightly before my time. I think i joined of the back of it.
But that was really between 2 commenters. The Foster war has included every commenter known to the rants. This probably edges it.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:30
@owen: It was a lad named JB, who has since left, and grognard. I think JB thought he was over-rated, and grognard thought he was one of the best in the world.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:30
@Redrich: Oh dear, now I’m scared! Bunch of louts is extremely OVEREACTIVE if you ask me, but then the over-reactives could well take over this blog. Us louts will go party elsewhere. Can’t stand boring shits anyway!
October 8th, 2009 at 20:30
@CraigMc: I don’t care if people are sober mate. I just want them to be civil and respectful of others. Also, if you need to be drunk to have fun in your life, I would suggest that something is missing in your life. Being drunk as a skunk is no way to have fun bro. I’ve been there believe me, and it wasn’t always pretty and I do not walk around talking about my drunken binges with any pride.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:32
@Dan: Really? I thought they were during your time. As far as I can recall you were on here before Grognard or JB.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:34
@CraigMc: Yes they are. They take nasty chunks out other’s arses to be sure.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:35
@owen: To be honest, Essien has been a shadow of his former self this season. I mean he has been invisible in games this season.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:36
@Grognard: Who was JB mate who used to tell that Riquelme was over rated….Its goog that he is not here now otherwise he would have told that Ronaldo is over rated
October 8th, 2009 at 20:38
@Redrich: I feel your pain and concern mate. It seems like disagreeing with certain people over their minority views has become a real crime on here. I wished I was more like you and was able to turn away and ignore the insults but i am too hot headed a Greek to take things lying down like that. Still, I admire those like you who can be like that because it shows greater courage and mental strength than I am able to muster at times.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:39
@Grognard: How can you say that??? Essien just made Pools play with 10 men as he took Gerrard out of the game and really this is not an easy task
October 8th, 2009 at 20:42
@Red Ranter: shitfucks? Really? I wasnt a frequent poster back in the early days so its possible that, that discussion pasted me right by.
Ive always been under the impression that grognard was here longer then me, i guess i was qrong
October 8th, 2009 at 20:46
@Dan: what is your age
October 8th, 2009 at 20:46
@NicoQB: I was at the center of the Riquelme wars (no surprise I’m sure) and as I remember it, it was hot and volatile but not nearly as one sided and as rude and nasty. Just me and a bloke named JB having a heated debate over the player. I had many battles with JB over many things but I always respected his take on things. I just didn’t like him much as a person for two reasons. First, he hated me as i rubbed him the wrong way (breaks my frakken heart really) and secondly, he had this Irish policemen mentality that he needed to control the contention this blog and the way people thought or expressed themselves. When the heat got too much for him he vacated, which told me a lot about him.
I hate thought police and the type of individual that feels it is their duty to hold court over others and tell them that they must follow some holy doctrine. I like a good debate and even an argument as long as it stays civil and doesn’t digress into personal jibes. But I would never tell somebody like Dan or Eddy to not hold to their beliefs. I would just debate them on their beliefs and make my case for why I think they are wrong. And somehow, that has become a real problem with certain individuals of late. Which is sad really.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:46
If I want to celebrate and have a good few bevvies after a game with my Salford Red friends – I live in a democracy and am free to do that. Being drunk as a skunk is something you have come up with, not me. Anyway this blog is fucked with all the over reactive wranglings, and people taking themselves so bloody seriously. So all you elderly patrons enjoy yourselves talking with your staid friends. I’ll be found down the pub with those who don’t take life so bloody seriously – THE FUNSTERS OF THIS WORLD. See ya!
October 8th, 2009 at 20:50
@owen: On here, well since the blog began i guess.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:50
@owen: Yes he was but JB so wanted to reduce Riquelme to nothing more than a malingering festering troublemaker who was immoral and selfish. And i wasn’t going to stand for it because frankly, I knew better than him. JB had this really nasty habit of always quoting useless statistics and offering links of articles that would strengthen his argument. Could he actually form an opinion of his own without this arsenal of written material? I seriously doubt it. Still, I found him intelligent and wise on many things but to me, he was a nasty son of a bitch that I had a hard time tolerating because it was his personal obsession to piss me off and to try to force me off of the blog. Well look who won. Had he been a man about things and shown a little Irish hospitality instead of Irish temper, he and I would have grown to respect each other more I believe. And I actually hope he is reading this because I do not like the idea of talking about somebody behind his back but others brought him up.
October 8th, 2009 at 20:57
@Dan: Actual age mate as i am 25
October 8th, 2009 at 20:58
@Dan: I’d say the Foster wars got way out of hand because he gave us ten games to get more and more insensed with his performance plus, you and a few others just couldn’t concede defeat on the matter even after you had admitted he was not good enough. And that’s what the whole debate was all about, him not being good enough. So tell me then, why couldn’t you just admit to being wrong about him and letting it go? Because we all suffer from ego’s and pride and some have a real problem dealing with failure or poor judgment. As you know, I have always liked youbut you are a very stubborn bloke Dan, and that stubbornness is often misplaced. I am not perfect either so don’t think I don’t know my own faults in all of this. In my attempts to make the case for the anti-Fosterites, I came across as pompous and arrogant but it was because I knew about certain things and I still stand by that. You on the other hand felt threatened and insulted by my knowledge so you had to insult it and get all angry rather than embrace it and say, perhaps Groggy does know something about goalkeeepers and who am I to tell him he doesn’t. You refuse to ever give me credit for knowing something despite the numerous times I have been proven correct. And that I find to be hurtful and insulting, but hey, water under the bridge and lets move on I guess.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:01
@Grognard: when Barthez was here ,what was your opinion about him as i was not aware of this site then
October 8th, 2009 at 21:03
@Grognard: Mate, I really hope you will accept my apology for last night. I have no fucking idea what got to me, I honestly do. Youve known me for more than 2 years on this blog now, and you know Im not the kind of guy to take a snipe at people without reason. I honestly wanna apologise to everybody on this blog for offending them, but especially you because I said your name and talked mostly about you. Again, Im sorry mate and I promise I wont do that again.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:05
@Dan: It wasn’t just that Dan. JB was basing his whole argument on one very one sided biased reporters article that looked at the Riquelme bust up with then Vilarreal manager Pelelgrini by claiming that Riquelme was lazy, undisciplined, selfish and everything under the sun. I argued that this was only one reporters one sided view of the story and nobody has bothered to report on Riquleme’s side or on the side of his followers who claimed another story entirely regarding those events. It was basing the story on cheesy journalism and bias and i was not into that knowing just how great Riquleme was and how much he had meant to the club before Pellegrini decided to screw with Riquleme. I have been vindicated since because of the way Riquelme has shown himself to be a model player for Boca and for Argentina when Basile was the manager. Once Maradona showed up, his personal rivalry and hatred for Riquleme (It all has to do with the #10 jersey) manifested itself and he dropped the great one from the national team. And look what has happened to Argentina ever since. Anyway, JB was way off base and very wrong and let him have it.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:06
@owen: Not gonna happen mate. Ive given out a lot of information about my self on this site, my name, my last name, where i live etc, the one thing i havent given out is my age. I dont know who looks at this site and i dont know where they are, i dont want to make it that easy for them to find me and chop my balls off.
What i will say, is that, im older then eddy, and younger then you.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:09
@owen: The sad thing is he was a very intelligent and highly articulate bloke. I enjoyed reading many of his comments or views but he just had a real bug up his ass when it came to me or anybody who was slightly controversial or who didn’t tow the party line. So it is possible to respect and admire somebody yet intensely dislike and resent them too. I guess JB was my Arsene Wenger.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:10
@Grognard: I understand you frustration. I to hate it when players are treated unfairly, and you were right to debate with JB over the matter.
And on argentina, any side with tevez in the team are doomed to fail.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:11
@owen: That’s one play and one instant mate. Over this whole season he has been highly invisible and way off his normal form. This is a player I would die for at OT so when I say this, I do not say it lightly. Sure he still has his moments but overall, Ancelotti’s use of him is not conducive to utilizing his best assets and skills.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:12
@Grognard: I’m not quite sure. I think Riquelme’s attitude still stands up to scrutiny. He’s ok as long as he’s in his comfort zone in Argentina with family and favourable surroundings with fans who will worship him regardless of anything. I can’t fault him necessarily because a lot of South Americans have found difficult to adjust in Europe in terms of people/relationships and culture — even if the language is the same (cultures are quite different.)
October 8th, 2009 at 21:12
@Dan: I remember you being here when I showed up Dan.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:13
@owen: To be fair, in my opinion, essien hasnt been quite the same consistently since mourinho was there. He has had the odd games though where he does preform, like the liverpool game you mentioned.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:13
@CraigMc: Take care bro. Have one on me.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:15
@owen: Well there you go mate. You are exactly half as old as me so therefore, you know half a smuch as me too.
And just in case you aren’t sure, that was a joke. 
October 8th, 2009 at 21:16
@owen: He was among the most intelligent blokes here, I can tell you that. I’ve always enjoyed reading his views on United, and they were quite well thought out, and well informed. Contrary, to what Grognard might say, he backed up his argument with valid stats more often than not, and articles that helped back up his views. Because in a debate you can’t always make a point based on a gut feeling. You need to quote sources that lend credibility.
However, he did have a major flaw, which Grognard just explained in detail.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:17
@Dan: You had a weird handle then something like “Dan Unofficial liaison” or something — whatever that meant.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:17
@Red Ranter: but Riquelme performed very well in spain ( i think for Vilareal)
October 8th, 2009 at 21:18
@Grognard: Really? Well there we have it then, im the oldest member here(discluding RR). Cool
October 8th, 2009 at 21:20
@Grognard: You RedDave and RedRich are the three old codgers on this site. You should form a triple alliance (since you are the prince of darkness — hope you get the WW-I reference.)
I am of course kidding.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:20
@Red Ranter: Yeeaaaaa, i was hoping you wouldnt bring that up
I think i was called Dan, then i changed it to that, then i had a few variations, and now ive settled on just plain Dan.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:20
@Grognard: Actually football is not much popular in my country but I fell in love with it due to RVN,Scholes and Keane
October 8th, 2009 at 21:21
@owen: I clearly said adapting culturally and gelling with people. Not performance on the field. And he was a failure at Barcelona — and I think the problem was not ability, but had to do with getting along with people.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:23
@owen: I actually always liked Barthez even way before he showed up at OT and felt he was good keeper and an even greater character and flake. He was fun but he too could make some bone headed gaffs in a game that made you wonder what was going on. The difference is he also was technically superior to Foster and his gaffs might show up once every three games as opposed to one or two of them every half. See part of the real problem I have with FosteR IS i see major errors in his game even when he doesn’t give up a goal. Barthez wasn’t like that, but he was a bit of an adventure too. Where I rate Foster a 4/10 as a keeper, Barthez for me was a 6.5/10. Casillas, Neuer, Buffon are 9/10, Maier, Schmeichel and Schumacher are 10/10. And as much as that is hard for Foster fans to stomach, all I can say is that i am being completely honest and true to my feelings on this without trying to be nasty or unfair. Foster should take heart in the fact that I rate Almunia lower than him because that keeper although he doesn’t make as many gaffs, has no skill at all. At least Foster has some serious skills in shot stopping and reflexes. Almunia only true ability is the fact he can dye his hair blonde all by himself.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:29
@Red Ranter: He is a player who needs to be treated with kid gloves and given a little bit more freedom. I read today that according to Andy Cole, Cantona was the only player who never ever got a talking down to or the hairdryer treatment from Fergie during his time there. Even when Cantona would break dress code rules and other infractions. Fergie knew to give that man some space and comfort due to his eccentricity and demand for personal and artistic freedom. Well Riquleme was no different and Pellegrini just couldn’t get that. And how is this man supposed to get along with Ronaldo I ask? Trying times indeed for Real Madrid I think. Bottom line is some players have the hearts and minds of true artists. Those skills, and individual freedom of expression is what makes them great. To stifle and contain that does nobody good and only shows the shallow narrow minded will of a manager who needs to be a control freak and run everyone’s life equally.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:34
@Red Ranter: I am glad you said Triple Alliance because I always want to be affiliated with the Germans
and because they played Total Krieg and 4-3-3 on the battlefield, as opposed to Triple Entente who played boring 4-4-2 on the battle field. 
October 8th, 2009 at 21:38
@Grognard: I also read that some people earned the right from Fergie. Mainly because the one common thread that connects Cantona and Ronaldo was they were thorough professionals as far as work ethic went. Cantona would arrive before time for training, and in fact would do extra training after hours, and invite some of the team mates if they were interested. Same is to be said for Ronaldo, who despite his whinging attitude we see on the pitch, is known to be an obsessive trainer. Their work ethic in training sessions was without question. They weren’t slobs. You can’t say the same necessarily of Riquelme. Sorry, I know you like him and, but one thing that annoys me about players is slacking or resting on their laurels. Something we can never accuse Ronaldo or Cantona of. Cantona even retired rather than stay on when he didn’t enjoy the game anymore.
I think we cannot compare Riquelme, attitude-wise to Cantona or Ronaldo.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:38
@owen: What country are you from mate? For me it was Schmeichel, Cantona and Giggs that made me a bigger fan than I already was. Cantona especially just took my breath away and always had dreams that one day I would wake up and find out that he was German and not French because I would have loved watching him in the middle of the German attack. Even though I am not German, that has always been my national team of choice. Other than that awesome juggernaut and growing force known as Team Canada.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:39
@Grognard: They lost the war though. Twice!
October 8th, 2009 at 21:40
@Grognard: Ever heard of Dwayne de Rosario?
October 8th, 2009 at 21:40
@Red Ranter: Actually mate, it was the head games their manager was playing with him as well as playing him on the left wing. Riquleme is brilliant but he is not a winger and hasn’t got the pace or the left foot for that. He was completely wasted because of the old boys network that existed there.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:42
@Red Ranter: Fair enough but then again how many players do you know who can be forced to sit out an entire season and then all of a sudden suiot up for the national team after a lengthy period away from the game and score two incredible goals and command the game for 90 minutes? The man is a god.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:43
@Red Ranter: 0-2 but they promise tactical changes and are looking to buy a few more quality imports and annex a few nations to get strong again.
Unfortunately their battles never seemed to be one on one. Imagine meeting Brazil, Italy, France, England and Argentina all in one final. Tag team nations taking it to the Germans. That’s why they were 0-2.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:46
@Red Ranter: Yes I have. A decent player but past his best and very overrated in Canada simply because he is all we have besides the De Guzman borthers and that former Canuck known as Hargreaves. His return to Toronto was seen as the Messiah returning but the Messiah was really out of shape.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:49
@Grognard: I guess apart from all that whilst I like Riquelme, I have a problem with players of his ilk because the team becomes reliant on his form entirely. It’s not his fault entirely, because the manager should envisage a plan B. So if Riquelme has a stinker, it tends to affect the rest of the team. If he had pace, however, things would be different. Players who are brilliant creatively, can make up when they are marked out a game if they have the pace and use it to slip past their marker. That was a major flaw with Riquelme that perhaps explained why Argentina eventually crumbled against Germany in the world cup. Argentina didn’t have a plan B after subbing out Riquelme (which in itself was a retarded move from Pekerman.)
October 8th, 2009 at 21:50
@Grognard: Pellegrini will be there for not more than 2-3 months and Mourinho will replace…then it will a treat to watch how Mr Special treats Mr. God
October 8th, 2009 at 21:52
@Grognard: Vancouver is going to be an MLS club soon. If they even manage to get half the success Seattle is enjoying right now, I can see a very good rivalry brewing up there. I know you may not be a big fan of the MLS, but I always appreciate the chance to watch football if it’s in my neighbourhood. My two nearest destinations are Houston and Dallas, but they are too far for me to bother.
October 8th, 2009 at 21:54
@Grognard: As for me, and for Dan I’m sure too, the whole debate was not whether he was good enough – it was about not slating some guy before he was actually given his chance to prove himself. Beachryan, Eddy, heck even RR wanted to the boy to get sustained action so as to prove himself (or not).
I think I’ve been tryng to point this out in each of my posts, but people just don’t take heed or delibarately choose to ignore this.
So no, its not a matter of admitting defeat on an argument, I [personally] was questioning the very foundation of the whole argument. I know your stake on this matter (we are United we cannot afford the time, etc., etc.) and I respect it, but I ask you not to twist the outcome of the argument.
In any case, as it stands Foster may be proving you right (for the moment), but what I’m asking of you is to not make the amalgam of Foster being not good enough for us as proof of you being right on a matter of debate which was not, for me at least, the crux of the argument.
*well I did wanted him to succeed
but, I’m just clarifing. 
October 8th, 2009 at 21:57
@Grognard: I am from India where Cricket is a relion and tendulkar is god.
I am actually a very huge fan of Scholes as i think that he is the best mid fielder produced in England after 1995 ( when i started watching football)..And even zidane told that…it was really a pleasure watching him around 2000…he used to do everything…dictated the midfield,the game and scored from distances and more over he is very humble and polite
October 8th, 2009 at 22:00
@NicoQB: I will always stand with Foster as when ever i see him,naturally i develop some emotions for him…
October 8th, 2009 at 22:03
@Footy4Eddy: Although I want to accept your apology Eddy, I have some major problems that I need to deal with first. To start off with, I am still in shock over your unexpected and shocking attack directed primarily towards me. Secondly, although you are coming to me now with an apology, I have to ask myself if it is truly sincere, and here’s why. I too have my history of drunken binges and going overboard with the booze at nightclubs, bars or a at parties. In my college days I was a bloody fish on weekends as i used to regularly get pissed to the gills. What I remember most about those times when I was pissed or when my friends were pissed is that any remarks or comments made under the influence were always incredibly honest, direct and sincere. The booze takes away an individual’s inhibitions and more often than not, the truth and honesty of what one is thinking and feeling often comes out. So now can you see where my dilemma is? Do I believe your apology or do I go with my gut instinct and believe that your true feelings were actually expressed last night?
The other problem I have is that your comments so upset me last night that they forced me into saying a lot of nasty and terrible things to you under the influence of shock and rage. I meant every word of those things at the time because i was that pissed off. After a night’s sleep and having time to think it all over, I am not proud or happy about what I said and even more so, I honestly and sincerely didn’t mean any of the nasty things i said because they were said under the emotions of rage. So it’s a case of balancing your sincerity with mine that is causing me a lot of trouble right now. I want to believe you but my gut instinct and experience tells me not to trust you because the liquor never lies. But does a rampaging reply based on shock and rage also not have the same ramifications?
So let me say this to you with all honesty and sincerity. I ask you to forgive me for the mean and terrible things I said to you out of bitterness and hurt. If you can accept that as a sincere apology, that would be great. As for your apology, I want to accept it but I also need to know that this was a one time thing and that the relationship you and I have had on this blog is not going to be different. I’d like to say yes to you but the hurt is still there and that lingering doubt over your sincerity is in the back of my mind so please grant me some time to get over it. The fact is I do like you and always have admired you and your strong will to succeed. I just need time to get over the shock that I felt by your unexpected attack before I can feel trust again. I hope you can understand and respect that. Lets just say you are on probation with me and you need to earn back my faith and forgiveness. I’ve dealt with too many drunken friends who have hurt me in their moment of inebriated honesty.
October 8th, 2009 at 22:03
@owen: when ever i see him,naturally i develop some emotions for him…
No offence, but that sounds a bit… gay.
[No offence to gays too, for the PC-minded.]
October 8th, 2009 at 22:05
@Red Ranter: I have to echo your thoughts about JB.
He would usually write very pertinent things about United and I would read them and just simply reply with the odd “I agree”.
I used to call him “the voice of reason” as he was because he, more than any other poster, could not be accused of impatience or fickleness.
(note that this is not a sly dig at Grognard, just my sincere opinions of an ex-commentor)
October 8th, 2009 at 22:07
@owen: Honestly, with Ronaldo and Mourinho at Real, i might even become a closet fan of the team. I rather like Mourinho.
October 8th, 2009 at 22:18
@Red Ranter: No I am not a fan of MLS but I already have agreed to become a season ticket holder with an older Greek friend of mine who lives in the same building and who loves the MLS and is currently a season ticket holder of the Vancouver Whitecaps. It’s my chance to share my footy passion with someone else who likes it. I wouldn’t mind MLS as much if every team had one or two big name Europeans or South Americans on their club to add some spice and flare to the games. Unfortunately in Vancouver you take what you can get. As long as we turn out for the games and make money for the club, it is my hope they become contenders quickly. The Whitecaps as you must know had a very strong and successful history in the NASL. Hopefully they can rise to the occasion again and create a great rivalry with Seattle. I just wished the NY Cosmos were part of the schedule.
And I have very fond memories of being a three year season ticket holder of the NASL’s Edmonton Drillers in the early 80’s. A fun team but not much success even though we did bring some decent German and Dutch players to the team which made it a must see thing for me. We at least wore all orange. Also I have fantastic memories of having seen Best, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Pele, Neeskens, Euesebio, Mueller and many other greats live. All past their best but still a treat to watch having known what they had accomplished and how great they were. Somehow watching De Rosario, Landycakes and Brian Ching just doesn’t hold the smae appeal. But I’ll try to grow into it.
October 8th, 2009 at 22:19
@Grognard: For the first time then Morinho will tell truth that his player is the best in the world..other he told about Lampard and Ibrahimobitch,it was complete joke…
How everyone are saying are saying that Messi is the best???
he can only dribble better than CR07
October 8th, 2009 at 22:23
@NicoQB: I was more than fair to him but every game he gave me reason to doubt his ability. Also, I explained my reasoning and my MO as to how I judged him and why I was being as harsh many times. I mentioned that not only with me but with many others and many managers, goalkeepers were always going to be more under the microscope than other players. It’s the nature of the position. I also pointed out that at Man Utd, we do not have the liberty or luxury to give long auditions for players because of what this team is fighting for and what it stands to lose or sacrifice by being so generous. All valid and well thought out arguments against Foster but more so against the idea of not being fair. But this went right over all of your heads as you chose to ignore this argument and went on about my continually misunderstanding you.
October 8th, 2009 at 22:28
@NicoQB: We all wanted him to succeed. I admit in the back of my mind and in my heart I still wanted Fergie to open the checkbook and sign either Adler, Neuer or Boruc but that did not mean I never wanted Foster to do well. If he had been lights out brilliant none of you would have hear the names of Neuer or Adler again from me in regards to us signing them. But we all know what happened and for that, I take no joy in his failure. I might have shown joy at times as a cynical and sarcastic responses to a heated comment made to me, but it did not make me happy that a player we invested time and money into had not panned out. I do not like being proven wrong because I have an ego too, but I so often just pleaded to Foster through my tv to prove me wrong. An I even cam out after his one good performance this season and praised him, so the moniker of unfairness thrown at me was unjust and……UNFAIR.
October 8th, 2009 at 22:32
@owen: You and Red Ranter could talk for hours then on cricket because that is his passion too. For me it’s football, beautiful nude women and war movies in that order. I like Scholes but I honestly have to say he is not one of my favorites. i respect all he has done but his style of play although great was never my cup of tea. It’s not a lack of respect or appreciation but simply a difference in taste. Scholes honestly tended to bore me a bit. As far as midfielders go, for me it was always Giggsy and Beckham and also Keane. Each one for completely different reasons.
October 8th, 2009 at 22:34
@Grognard: Now Gud Night mate…catch you later
October 8th, 2009 at 22:35
@Grognard: First off mate, let me just say that I dont feel you need to apologise for the things you said last night because they were utterly true. I acted like a prick, an asshole, a fucker etc.etc. I know it pretty well reading these comments earlier today, to say that what I said and what I did fits well with your description so I will of course accept your apology, even though I feel you dont have to make it.
Second, I will not take back some of the things I said. Those things are my emotions about Foster, and the whole debate. Not towards you, but about me being tired of speaking about him. The names I called all the people on here were just a momentary laps of human behavior by my part and they were something I right now cant remeber why I wrote. My feelings towards you were really blown out of proportions, because what I meant to say was that it saddened me that you said you were oh so happy when a United player had broken his heart. I saddened me, because I cant even stand see a guy I may not know heartbroken, not least a United player! I overreacted, and while you didnt discust me I hope you understand why that made me sad.
Still, dont think bad about you but like I said there was just something last night which just blew everything out of order. Guess it was the alcohol, but I wont promise that as I didnt drink too much. Still, Im having a really stressful time right now(albeit not as difficult as before), and that mixed with the alcohol, hormones and just being pissed with what went on regarding Foster made me unusual. My direct feelings were not expressed, as they came out a lot more stronger than they actually should and how I feel. But as Ive said some of the thigns in there were true, and those were the thigns regarding Foster rather than the people surrounding.
Lastly, I just wanna tell you I respect you an awful lot and look at you as some kind of teacher or relative I can ask for advice. Most of the time I find your opinions interesting and fun to read, although some of them may annoy me they are usually correct.
My respect for you will always be there, and I hope that will go both ways. 
October 8th, 2009 at 22:45
@Grognard: I agree. Even though, it may not be the best football around, it’s still a good feeling to be a part of the community and grass roots level. Despite the corporatization of sport in North America, MLS players still seem approachable compared to NFL, MLB players. The reason is they don’t make fancy money yet, and they are the closest to an earlier era of football when players could be compared to normal folk. Hell, I’m sure a lot of MLS players make less yearly than me. They may not be the best, but it’s hard to beat watching decent football in the stands live. The atmosphere in Seattle this year has been amazing, as one of my friends in Seattle told me. They’ve sold out next year’s season tickets too with thousands in waiting list.
October 8th, 2009 at 23:14
@owen: Good night.
October 8th, 2009 at 23:37
@Footy4Eddy: Thanks for that mate, it means a lot. Although I do not sympathize with the alcohol part (because frankly a kid your age with a great future in football shouldn’t be drinking. Just ask Gaza), i do sympathize with the stress part. I know you have a lot on your plate right now with school, private life as well as your impending career and move to Rome. I am an expert on how stress can be bring out the worst in people. I too am guilty of coming onhere after a very stressful day and just being nasty or having a hairtrigger temper all because my stress level was out of whack. So based on that realization and the fact that it also reminded me of the times I acted like a prick because of being overly stressed, your apology is accepted and we can move on from this.
It’s ok about how you feel about Foster. But remember that it’s also ok how I feel about him to. My comment about his chest injury was nothing more than a cynical and sarcastic joke and it obviously had the impact I wanted to achieve, albeit not as negative an impact. It just seemed like a timely dig at hm when he had failed, had incurred an injury to the chest and then had been dropped by Capello. Sorry mate but i just could not resist and help myself. But as it was only meant in jest, I too cannot apologize for the comment but I do agree that in hindsight, it was a bit cold and cruel.
I honestly do not hate Ben Foster. I do not think he is nor will ever be a great keeper but even though I get mad at his performances, deep down inside I feel for the lad because he is one of our own. I am not as cold hearted a prick as many make me out to be or as I make myself out to be sometimes. But I am cursed with a serious case of perfectionism and incredible case of impatience. So poor Ben has always had to deal with that from me. I read today that louis Saha admitted to having almost quit the game during his time with United out of depression. Well those who were on this blog back then know that during that era of the team’s history, Saha was my #1 target for dissatisfaction, frustration and impatience. His injuries, inability to focus and play with a little pain and his seemingly evident lack of heart and guts just used to get on my nerves, and still does to this day. He is an always will be my least favorite Man Utd player because everything about that boy just rubbed me the wrong way. Anderson and Foster aren’t even close. But, even now, I feel bad to a popint because I have suffered from depression in the past and i know how terrible it is to deal with and right now a close friend of mine is dealing with it. I’d hate to see Foster or Andy get this problem simply because they became privy to the goings on in the media and the fan blogs over their poor play.
Yes millionaire players are human beings too and we all should be conscious about that, but unfortunately they are all entertainers and a commodity that we as fans/consumers buy and expect our money’s worth. And that’s where I and many others loose our humanity once in a while. The team’s success and winning is all that matters and we lust over those who perform and loathe those who don’t. Human nature really, but then again, it is sobering to remember, that they are peole too, and even though Ben has been pretty bad, I and others have been too hard on him perhaps. And for that I am sorry. But I also have to end that even though I have been too hard on him, the fact remains, he is not the answer for our club as #1 keeper. Hopefully he improves and does well for somebody else or for us as #2. Although I have to be honest and truthful, I don’t want him as #2 either. I’m just too greedy when it comes to my team and I want somebody I can trust and feel secure with manning that position at all times. Anyway, I hope this helps you understand where I am coming from. Lets forget yesterday and move on and like before, remain friends.
October 8th, 2009 at 23:44
@Grognard: I rated Rosario highly a few seasons ago, but he is definately on the down slope of his career. It’s a shame he wasted his prime in the mls
October 8th, 2009 at 23:50
@Red Ranter: Absolutely. MLS is very much like the CFL in Canada. The Canadian Football League (like the NFL but with a bigger field, 12 players on the field and only three downs) where even today, players hold second jobs because the game doesn’t pay most of them very much. So they are generally more connected to the community and more open to the advances of fans and such.
Here in Vancouver, soccer is very popular and always has been because of a high amount of British culture and immigration into this area over the decades. Add to that the other ethnic immigrants like Italians, Greeks etc and you have a real soccer melting pot. I look forward to the MLS but I seriously would like more recognizable older European or South American stars playing for teams because today with all the tv coverage of European and SA league football as well as the Internet, many more North Americans recognize who these players are or were and there is more of a desire to pay money and go tot he park to see them play.
Back in 1980, very few really knew who Johann Cruyff or Franz Beckenbauer were. And when Fort Lauderdale came to Edmonton my friend tapped m on the shoulder and said “That Mueller guy is not too bad eh?”. I just wanted to kill him because he just didn’t know. “That Mueller guy”. Know way to describe my second favorite player of all time and the greatest goal scoring machine in the game’s history. The ignorance was irritating but then again, I couldn’t help but feel like a snob because nobody knew who these greats were. Today however, they do and a Del Piero, Totti, van Nistelrooy or Scholes or Giggs coming to America near the end of their career is going to get a lot more interest than 30 years ago. MLS needs to think about this. I am not asking them to litter each team with ten foreigners. A quota of two or three would be fantastic, don’t you think?
October 8th, 2009 at 23:52
@Red Ranter: Another real concern for me that really turns me off of MLS is the football grid fields and the fake grass. I just hate that mate. It drives me crazy as well, it shows no respect for the game or for the fans who come out to see it.
October 8th, 2009 at 23:54
@Johnsom33: Yes, but no. He was a great MLS player but seriously, I don’t think he was that advanced for top European leagues or teams. He was good but not great. At least that is my opinion of him.
October 9th, 2009 at 0:20
@Grognard: They need to do 2 things, to really be taken seriously:
1. Increase the wage cap which is currently ridiculously low
2. Have 2-3 Designated players slot.
Another idea, is to ditch markets like Columbus, OH. True they’ve won the MLS, but I think Miami would be a much better market.
October 9th, 2009 at 0:56
@Red Ranter: Dump the Crew? The Crew is my favorite name has the best team nickname in the league. I am also a big Schelotto fan. The Riquelme of MLS. And speaking of Riquelme, wouldn’t it be sweet if he came to MLS?
October 9th, 2009 at 1:03
@Red Ranter: I have to admit, he brings me to tears too!
October 9th, 2009 at 1:07
RR, I meant my favorite team and has the best nickname..
October 9th, 2009 at 1:24
@Red Ranter: In such a big market, fans will associate better with the players rather than the team.
Beckham’s arrival caused a major stir in the press, and gave the American public another glimpse of the potential of the sport here. His wranglings with AC Milan last winter also caused some more awareness that this stuff is newsworthy!
Not that any of this has yet to scratch through the surface, but a few more marquee type players will cause a similar reaction and, perhaps, one day, it will become irresistible to the curiosity of the general public.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:53
@Redrich: Also ESPN has a big role to play. FSC and Setanta have done a lot of good for football, but ESPN has a reach of 95 million households. In a country of 300million that’s a lot. They’ve already seen the importance of football, and if they do their marketing campaign right, the 2010 World Cup could be really big. Every world cup since USA ‘94 has seen a growth spurt in the US, and I think it will be significantly higher after 2010 especially because ESPN finally seems to give a crap about the game.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:56
@NicoQB: The issue for me was that Foster could be seen fallible as early as the the Charity game, then continued to show reason for concern in each successive game.
It was plain to see that he was struggling, except for those who.., couldn’t see it.
All attempts were made to illustrate his short comings, but the standard reply was “he needs more time, before we decide”. What these reply’s should have been saying is “I need more time, before I can decide”!
I sit on the fence about a lot of players, and will make observations one way or the other, until at some point the player gives me enough reason to support him or pan him!!
With a goalie though, I find it easy to assess the skill set and potential, because goalie’s just can’t make mistakes and lapses of concentration, the position is too vital to the success of the team.
This approach is common place in the game and SAF, himself, has a record of impatience when it comes to that position and unfortunately for Foster, it looks as if he will soon be another victim of this.
It’s fine to be well meaning for the players welfare, and to a point I feel sorry for the lad too, but the main issue is the team and if the team could do better elsewhere, this always must take precedence.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:08
@Red Ranter: I agree. It really is a big deal, especially if they could include a segment in they daily Sportscasts.
The sport stands on its own merits, it just need to get through to the NA conscience – and media coverage is the only way for that to happen!
October 9th, 2009 at 5:37
All of Man United Fans and Man UTD as club is very soon going to be in huge trouble. There is news in some daily which says and (I paste)
Saudi Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdullah (left) is in talks with Liverpool owner George Gillett (right) about a possible takeover bid at Anfield
If this happens then what??? I mean the Man SHitty is already with Arab and Then Loosepool will also have endless money.. I am already feel like crying….
October 9th, 2009 at 5:51
@Onkar: How does that have anything to do with us? We can stay sustainable as long as we finish in the top four and as long as Benitez is Liverpool’s manager they will stay shit. So get a grip, mate.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:19
@Red Ranter: Thats the point bro… Staying sustinable as long as we are top four. See the point here is we are Man UTD we are not here just to stay top 4 we are here to stay on top. Secondly, nop matter we like it or not but we are already seeing what that kind of ownership can do. We have our Shitty as the best example. And last but not the least we all know that we probably had best three years in clubs recent history and still what we ended with was Debt of GBP 699 mn as against GBP 550 mn (approx) at the time of take over.
I mean this model of leverage buy out is not always sustainable. What if those buggers are not in the position of serving debts and they say fuck of..enough is enough We don’t want to continue then we are finished bro with all this debt. And we all know what happened to Leeds UTd when they tried to chew more than what they could swallow. They ended from one club in Pl to am shit club (I think) in second divison.
More over I won’t ever be happy in my life to see Man SHittty and Looserpool two of our most hated rivals are buying players for fun with whole lot money and we are left with mediocrity. Worst nightmare i can ever imagine…
I think all these are reasons enough to have a loud cry (at least for me)…
But, one thing I agree as long as that Fat Spanish Waiter is there no matter how much money they get they will always be “So close yet so far club”. As with all the money in this world also he will buy Lucas and Aquillanis of this world… “Long Live FSW and always be at Dippers”…
October 9th, 2009 at 6:28
@Red Ranter: I’d also add GOLTV tot hat group. The Canadian version of GOL has plenty of local games and really is trying hard to push Toronto FC as well as do stories and hour long interviews with the players. And both they and Fox Sportsworld Canada show a lot of local games and women’s games too. To be honest, it is easier to find a footy game in Canada right now than an NHL hockey game and unless I want to pay over $200.00 a season, I cannot see all the NFL games and baseball has really gone down when it comes to selection. But if it’s footy and rugby you like, it’s a feast right now. Unfortunately RR, very little if any cricket to speak of.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:30
@Grognard: GOLTV is good apart from the annoying Ray Hudson. Otherwise, I have internet streams, if I don’t find a sport I want to watch. So it’s not that big a problem these days.
I heard MLB have a package to watch the entire season online for a decent fee.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:32
@Redrich: Beautifully put to rest mate. That is it 100% in a nutshell. It’s about the team, not the individual. Not that much different than every one of us and the workplace. It’s the company’s welfare that is most important to those of us who have employers, not our needs for patience and time. It’s a competitive dog eat dog world out there for us poor stiffs, why then wouldn’t e that for soccer players making millions off our hard earned sweat and dollars?
October 9th, 2009 at 6:36
@Red Ranter: The funny thing about Ray Hudson is two years ago I found him to be a breath of fresh air because of his incredible passion for the game. But the problem with him is that he is just a show pony. He performs the same schtick game after game and after a while, what you thought was a love for one specific player, you realize he throws his love around like a cheap tramp at sailors bar. Early on it was Riquleme, Messi and Ribery. Now the ball boys, the trainers and the laundry staff are receiving his high endorsement and love. So right now I find him to be a massive phony.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:39
@Grognard: I am so happy that there is very that you can and will speak about CRICKET. I am an Indian and Like OWEN said Cricket is like religion and Tendulkar is like God here. But, there is so much overdose of Cricket is happening that I feel running away from it. Now, since there is circusa tournament has started. They Call it as Chamipons League T-20. It really sucks. I am just fade of all this Cricket specially any Cricket which involves INDIA as a team….
The onlyt series I follow for years now is Ashes but nothing else.
@Red Ranter: BTW RR how do you think the chances are of and enligh club winning at least the so called Champions League of CRICKET…
October 9th, 2009 at 6:40
@Red Ranter: That’s in the the US. In Canada or at least in Western Canada (Toronto has always felt annexed by the US) the cable provider does not offer the package for baseball. All we get overdosed on is the slow torture of Toronto Blue Jays boreball. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!
At least we get to see all the post season action. It used to be a lot better but there has been a major cutback in games and options for baseball of late.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:46
@Redrich: Ialso think it’s a very good idea for North American teams to buy world players who not only speak English, but suit the region they are going to. Houston, Dallas, LA, San Diego have very high Latino speaking population, so Spanish or South American players are best suited for that market where in Canada, English, and French players are very suited to the culture and of course language bilingualism. Places like Chicago or the midwest have higher concentrations of Germans and the American east coast is also very English and very Irish and Scottish. A player like Beckham was much more suited to a team like New England or New York where a player like Raul or Riqulem would have been perfect for LA. it’s much better for marketing and maximizing the potential of the team to bring in fans.
I know that in Chicago the german team was adored and sold out for every game of the 94 World Cup and they have some aging players who speak very good English. Get a manager like Klinsmann and they will be a big draw.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:48
@Onkar: I don’t know. Personally I think T20 cricket is a breath of fresh air. They should do away with ODI cricket, and retain the 5 day Test cricket — after all that is the true test of a cricketer. I love a batter who can endure 8-12 hours of top quality bowling and come up with a double century, in sweltering heat/cold. Test cricket is the true test of endurance. However, I like the other extreme too. T20 is also good because it requires a different skill set and must be embraced. I’ll be more than happy if they ditch the One-dayers. Regarding English counties, I think Sussex are a decent club but with T20 you can never predict. I also think the Champions Trophy is revolutionary and great for the game. Too bad the ICC are run by incompetent fools who prefer to see bilateral tours instead of having windows for Twenty20. That’s the direction the game is moving, and it has to. My suggestion is for a world Test Championship where every team plays home and away over a year, instead of meaningless tours to Zimbabwe.
Anyway, enough cricket from my side.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:54
@Redrich: Yes and no. The fact reamains that soccer (I really hate that word) is by far the most popular team sport for young kids and teenagers in North America. More boys and girls play this game than baseball, hockey and US football combined. It has been promoted and encouraged by schools and communities for decades now. It’s when those kids get to an age where they have to decide whether to pursue it as a possible career where the breakdown begins but there are signs that is chasing because of two strong league on the continent and the increasing exposure of those leagues and the game on tv and in the media. Soccer is no longer seen as a six letter word, but a real sport and an alternative. I think it has a chance to become rather dynamic within ten years as more and more of those young teams break into the game and have a chance to elevate the continents level of play. The US has already made incredible gains in international football as they are able to beat anyone on a given day. Canada is lagging behind but that too will improve due the incredible popularity of the sport in the ethnic communities as well as the grass roots level.
Also, no other sports produce great looking soccer moms or MILFS. Soccer communities are filled with great looking cougars, and that’s a good thing.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:58
@Onkar: Benitez will always guarantee that they accomplish sweet fuck all mate. He is a muppet master and is the best in the business in spending millions and buying nothing. So he fluked off Torres, big deal. In Rafa we trust.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:01
@Red Ranter: Problem with Internet streams for me mate, is I hate watching a game, movie or tv program on my computer. Even though I spend a lot of time on my MAC and it’s a beautiful machine, my back can’t handle sitting through games or long programs. I’d rather watch it lying down or sitting on my couch in front of a big tv. But it is a viable option none the less.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:03
@Red Ranter: I would like add one point here. I would like see CRICKET is turning into a league like we have in i.e. PL, La Liga etc. I mean change the pattern from this useless bi lateral tournament. I mean why not change it to home and away Test and may be T-20 series contest. Make two Tier system. Tier of regular 8 teams and other of those minnows including Bangladesh and Zim. Then play series of games against each coutry in home and away format and at the end of the year who ever has max points will win and bottom two /one will relegate and somne one from Tier 25 should promote.
I know its a football rant site. So sorry for taking some of the CRICKET here. Just wanted to put my thoughts across. But its over from my side as well…..
I think this what happenes when you have footballless week end. nothing is happening so other things come in mind….
BIG SORRY for bringing CRICKET to FOOTBALL Rant site….
October 9th, 2009 at 7:04
@Onkar: Red Ranter has helped me learn a lot about cricket but until they star televising games here like they do footy and rugby, it’s not a game I can embrace because I hate watching anything on my computer. My back and my lack of patience with streaming sites forbids it.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:06
@Grognard: Which is why you need a laptop.
Trust me, you’ll never look back once you get one.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:08
@Onkar: That’s a great point mate. That is one of the major problems I have with the sport having been brought up on defined league structures. For me an outsider looking in, cricket often reminds me of a bunch of lads dressed in polo sweaters who get on a plane and then flip a coin as to where they will fly to find a five day gig. It has the essence and feel of exhibition games that mean nothing. At least that is how I see it. A league structure with a specific amount of teams would make it much more appealing to me.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:23
@Grognard: Well the problem is this. Cricket historically has two major rivalries. England-Australia (called the Ashes) are over 100 years old and India-Pakistan for obvious political reasons. Apart from that you have games against other teams. The problem is, with the commercialization there has been an overload in these bilateral series (best of 5 or 3) that context has been lost. In the 1970s when people thought Tese cricket was stagnant, One Day cricket (ODI) was invented which breathed fresh life into the game. And now the ODI’s have become stagnant so the ultra short Twenty20 format was created. But they did it right this time with the T20 — well sorta. It was done with franchises. Now the problem is the ICC (which is like the FIFA) is trying to balance the traditions with the modern upheaval. There is a lot of politics going on right now, the game is going through a major flux. T20 is fantastic, but it’s like if someone said, “baseball is too long, let’s cut it short to 3 innings, and then let’s limit the kind of pitches a pitcher can throw, and then, let’s broaden the bats.” So you’ll have lot of excitement, and close finishes. But, in such a compressed game it becomes random, and even mediocre teams can win. And the skill level required is reduced.
In Test cricket, it is almost impossible for a team to fluke a win. You need to be on top of your game for the best part of five days to win it. It’s strictly elitist and has absolutely no time for the pretenders. You can be brutally found out and exposed in test cricket which is what makes it so appealing for purists like me.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:52
@Grognard: Indian premier league? Thats basically the premier league of cricket. Im not even sure what the league is called over here, but there is one.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:57
@Red Ranter : Thats right bro.. Infact the introduction of IPL was the cause of my moving away from CRICKET. Or else I was a crazy CRICKET fan. Used to play CRICKET at University level as well. But, IPL was last straw for me.
And thats why I said the only series that I follow now and followed for years is Ashes. Its great. And I totally agree about the skill level and test matches as you said.
BTW that Baaseball analogy was a class act..Loved it….
October 9th, 2009 at 8:02
@Dan :I am an Indian but still I say “IPL that so called Indian Premier League” SUCKS big time..
It is going to kill CRICKET very soon…
Some blame goes down on me… 
So I apologies RR… Nuff of CRICKET… But then what else… No footy around this weekend…. 
It is not CRICKET it is an entertainment circus of three hrs nothing else..
By the way I feel that all the people who will tune into blog later will definitely going to feel that they are on a CRICKET blog and not a Footy Rant site..
October 9th, 2009 at 8:08
@Onkar: Despite the analigy, I actually like T20. I want to do away with ODIs. Keep Test cricket and T20s. I don’t have a problem with the IPL or any of the franchise systems, actually. It’s much better than the game run by country associations which are more politics. Privately owned clubs are more accountable and won’t tolerate bull shit.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:36
@Red Ranter: I see your point. Especially with five day cricket. If it is indeed the purest form, then it’s pretty hard to design a league around a sport that is like Lemans 24 hour races. But even leagues structure on one day matches would be nice in each of the cricket crazy countries. It beats this circus roadshow feel the sport has.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:37
@Dan: Now all that is needed is Cricket Champions League.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:37
@owen: I see a lot of Indians here and on other united forums. I guess after England, India is the place where most of the traffic comes from… may be…
So which IPL team do you support?
October 9th, 2009 at 8:39
@Onkar: I don’t mind talking about other sports or other interesting things once in a while as it breaks the monotony and helps us all get to know each other better. Also, it is the boring international break that needs to allow us to diverse into other subjects just to pass the time.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:45
@Red Ranter: I agree about the privatisation part. But, then in India we have 27 state team which participates in Ranji Trophy that is the domestic first class. They should have sold those as part of privatisation process. I mean to explain you Mumabi has its Ranji Team which is current Ranji Champion and traditionally it has produced amazing cricketers from the days of Wadekar, Solkar, Sunny Gavaskar even Sachin Tendulkar and all. But what they did they Created whole new team called as “Mumbai Indians” and then sold it to big business man who is ready to throw money around like crazy. And then what you find there are hardly any true Mumbaian in Team to represent Mumbai Indian.
I know we have two team with the name Manchester but they are formed over a period from indivusuals or group of players or fans. It wasn’t the case that FA came out and formed one club with all the first class games and then Formed second with alll the money was it??? Thats what has happend in India.
And then you get cases where NZ players came out and said they are not interested to play for country if the NZ international tours clashing with IPL. Freddie Flintoff your Ashes Hero was having some so called injury and then suddenly got fit to play for Chennai if I am not wrong. I mean thats what happens when you try to creat something with all the money you have and then it end up being a CIRCUS. I mean when T-20 started in England I was OK with it. Cause I knew all the players (or most of them) playing are English it has that local flavour. But, unforunately I have to say to print more “CURRENCY NOTES” out of Cricket BCCI has made mockery of sport.
Its name is only INDIAN but there is nothing INDIAN about it. I mean the biggest IRONY was this years’ INDIAN Premier League was held in South Africa. Can you Imagine EPL is being held in Australia… I think that says it all…. For me CRICKET is FINISHED… And I definitely feel SORRY for it…
October 9th, 2009 at 8:51
@AndyCR7: Where are you from??? Which is your favourite IPL team. I think my views about IPL are Pretty clear by now….
October 9th, 2009 at 8:55
@Grognard: So even in wake of such a boring week end when nothing is expected to happen you are still awake.. It must be very late in US/Canada…. You are one hake of an passionate addict….
October 9th, 2009 at 9:17
@AndyCR7: After England, it’s US traffic, then India. These three countries dominate traffic on most English language football websites from my experience in this field.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:22
@Grognard: That just kicked off yesterday. There is a piece about it in the Guardian. [I think the first paragraph will make sense to you because it has a footballing reference not sure about the rest of the article] They are comparing it with the football’s Champions league 50 yrs ago.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:44
@Onkar: I’m from India only… Well, for me IPL is just another form of entertainment… I like Kolkata Knight Riders. But, Mumbai Indians is my local team.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:48
@Red Ranter: I would not agree their matey that you cannot fluke a win in cricket, England in the last Ashes England got away with some poor umpiring and also the weather played its part to, like in the first test fourty overs were washed out with the Aussies requiring only one wicket, and in the second Australia were 260 ahead with seven wickets in hand and there were 3 days of play washed out, Australia also had six of the top seven batsman in the entire test, and the top three wicket takers without Brett Lee.
England did not win as many sessions but I suppose won the crucial ones, anyway who cares!!!
October 9th, 2009 at 9:49
@Onkar: I go to bed very late mate. I have been on Disability Benefits for a few years now because of a very bad back and so I reluctantly have a lot of free time on my hands. I generally go to bed between 2 to 3am and get up around 9am. When I am home I tend to do a lot of things but I always check in with e-mail and Red Rants every hour or so as football and Man Utd is my number one passion. People who say I should get a life don’t understand that I wouldn’t replace my passion for United for anything. Not even women. Unless of course the woman was a diehard United supporter.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:55
@Red Ranter: Very interesting indeed. So I was being a bit of a visionary without really knowing it. Hope it succeeds for the sake of the sport and it’s exposure and potential growth. Even thought the purist game is five days long, no sport really should be structured like that and if any sport really needed to modify itself to attract more people to it, it is cricket. That and getting rid of the gay polo style sweaters would be a nice start. Of course I am speaking as an outsider looking in and i know that my ideas are considered blasphemy by the purists. Still, I think I am right if the sport is to grow and become more of a money maker. A sport that last s more than 2 to 4 hours is really absurd to many. Shortening it would make it more marketable indeed.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:01
@Grognard: You should always make time for woman mate
October 9th, 2009 at 10:21
why does this always happen? whenever there is a stupidly long international break (friendlies should be banned by the way, i know its qualifications.. but still) but whenever theres diddly squat to talk about it always reverts to cricket! its like some kind of red rants oddity of which i cannot explain.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:22
So I was having a think about the old Foster end game. And here’s my conclusion:
We play him against Bolton. Even though EVDS is fit. And we put Edwin on the bench.
My logic is thus: if you immediately replace Foster with EVDS now that he’s fit, then he’s done, 100% sure never going to be our keeper. If you don’t replace him when EVDS is fit, even just for 1 game, it shows that you’re willing to stand by him and he will get a massive boost of confidence.
And that will have one of two outcomes:
1. He screws up again, fine we’ve made the decision au revoir taxi for one and so forth
2. He plays well and starts to improve – we have a viable bench option
But if you scrap him the second Edwin is back, then you’re ruining it completely.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:24
@AndyCR7: I would say Mumbai “Ranji Team” is my local team. As I am an Mumbaian as well. By the way, You like Kolkata so Shahrukh is your favourite star isn’t it??? Because, Kolakata is a shit team. Nothing to be liked about…
October 9th, 2009 at 10:34
@Grognard: I hope you get one who is United fan or believe me its better that you are alone. I know how bad it can be to a girl in your life who is die hard “Dipper Fan”. Its the worst nightmare that I am living and will have to leave all my life….
Its like I will be shreing my bed with the biggest ENEMY….
October 9th, 2009 at 11:07
@Beachryan: The Foster debate surely has been drawn out so much that it feels like Police Academy: Mission to Moscow.
My feelings is that he is a decent keeper who will forge a good Premiership career for himself and my well add to his two England caps but United are too big for him, he cannot handle the pressure which goes with being a United player, he isn’t first and certianly won’t be the last player to do so at our club.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:46
@AndyCR7: Mumbai Indians as i worship Sachin Tendulkar…
October 9th, 2009 at 11:47
@Onkar: Yeah Shahrukh is my favorite actor…
They are not playing well… but who care, I’m not that much into cricket actually… I don’t follow international cricket at all.. I don’t like the hype the Indian media gives the cricketers…
So do you know anything about the Sunil Chetri’s transfer to QPR… He was selected by QPR but FA didn’t give him work permit. They say your country has to be in top 70 in the football ranking to play in the England… Weird! I heard they are gonna apply in January again… It would be good to see the Indian boys performing there…
October 9th, 2009 at 11:48
@AndyCR7: Mumbai Indians is also my local team
October 9th, 2009 at 12:09
@AndyCR7: I wans’t awarw about the Chhetri story.. Poor lad.. I mean if FIFA wants to improve game then it should not such stupid filtering around it makes no sense what so ever. Let the lad go there and improve his skill level. earn bit of Name and fame for himself. I am sure it will spark some more of Football fandom around. I hope we will see some more around wearing United Jersey and cheering United around… Happy days those will be….
October 9th, 2009 at 12:12
@owen: Yeah! Any true Mumbaikar cricket lover will worship him. But, Player I loved and admired most was Prince of Trinidad… The One and only Brain LARA. He was awesome . He made batting looked easy… I mean I don’t have words to say for him…..
October 9th, 2009 at 13:03
@Onkar: its not FIFA but UK’s immigration laws. He didnt get a work permit automatically (has happened with some utd players as well but we are a very strong club so got around laws…)
October 9th, 2009 at 13:14
@ jos :Thanks bro… For valuable input.. Giving some info on it….
October 9th, 2009 at 16:06
The international break is seriously killing me, they should be banned simply because they ruin the entire 2 weeks for fans…
And since the Foster Wars have died down, and Red Rants is in danger of going the Cricket way, I just thought I will put in my 2 cents. I am also from India and I wish to go on record that I dislike Cricket, so much so that I do not watch even finals of major tournaments, even if India plays in them. I do support local football though and my local teams Viva Kerala and FC Kochin….
October 9th, 2009 at 16:07
@Onkar: No mate, you are wrong. To be in love with a dipper is not the worst that can happen, the worst case is being in love with someone who doesnt get football at all, or in her words “Dont like it because it makes no sense.”
My best mate is a dipper, and I find the banter and conversations interesting and fun. While, when talking to a girl that doesnt get football at all, I just wanna shoot her. 
Now that is a nightmare! 
October 9th, 2009 at 16:09
Cricket sucks! I dont understand it, I dont like it and I seriously dont wanna watch it! No offence to the Cricket fellas on here, but I find Basketball and Amercian football much more interesting.
But, in the end we all know that football is the best sport ever!
October 9th, 2009 at 16:15
…………………..
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international break sucks…..
October 9th, 2009 at 16:28
@Footy4Eddy: favourite all time utd XI (you can have subs if you really want) something to pass the
shitty internationals timeBig Pete
Nevster Bruce Vidic Irwin
Ronaldo Keane Scholes Giggs
Rooney Best
Stephney
Evra
Whiteside
Cantona
BeckhamBeckhams right footFletcher
Ole
October 9th, 2009 at 16:52
@Will: after 1995 ,best united x1
) Giggs
Vds
Neville Vida Ferdinand Evra
Beckham Keane Scholes(ANDY
Ronaldo RVN
sorry no place for Rooney
October 9th, 2009 at 17:17
The worst United 11 I have witnessed in my watching life give or take.
Taibi – Safe hands, had a decent debut at Anfield but will never forget Matt Le Tissier’s pee roller at OT, makes Foster look like Lev Yashin and we paid £4.4m for the Italian.
John Gidman – This guy was awful, a scouser to boot and when he left us he signed for City oh yes and got them relagated, so not all bad.
William Prunier – Looked tough but played like a poof, he was only signed by Fergie because he was Cantona’s friend and was so terrible in a game away at Spurs we lost 4-1 he never played again, thank God.
Laurent Blanc – Great player in his day, but his day had past about 7 years previous, after Stam was shipped off to Rome (this is so typical Fergie I must say) The manager had a bee in his bonnet about the Frenchman and being the Mounty that Saffy is he just had to have him, regardless of the fact he was 35 and had the pace of a sloth with no legs.
Ralph Milne – A must in any worst United all time lists, played left mid or left fullback but should have left back at Bristol.
David Bellion – This guy was shit, we tapped him up for about two seasons and even payed his mobile phone bill while a Sunderland, why oh why did we sign this buffoon, he couldn’t shoot, control the ball and had the awareness of Stevie Wonder probably the worst player to wear the shirt.
Eric Djemba Djemba – So shite they named him twice this guy is a United legend for all the wrong reasons, “Little Canto” was so bad I remember a guy sitting near me in a game actually laughing hysterically when his name was read out over the tannoy.
Kleberson – “Won the World Cup for Brazil” Fergie blurted out at a press confrence when intoducing him and an unkown Portuguese winger (What ever happened to him?) I personally only thought he was bought for a friend for Ronaldinho, so Fergie must have choked when Kenyon fucked the deal up and he signed for Barca.
Terry/Colin Gibson – Same name both shite, my sister actually knows Terry Gibson, how embarrassing, and both very odd Atkinson signings, both were terrible footballers.
Dong Fanzhou – T shirt as he was known as was signed simply for that, to sell shirts in China, enough said.
Jordi Cruyff – “Jordi” Never quite lived up to the reputation of the name, he struggled to play to be fair as their was quite a lot of competion for his positions was sent to Alaves where he did quite well and looked like the villian in Passenger 57.
Subs.
Goram
Forlan
Richardson
Darren Ferguson
Liam Miller
Anderson
October 9th, 2009 at 17:35
@Will: Favorite? Okey, then I dont count what I think would be the BEST United team, but my favorite players.
Da gr8 DANE!!!
Irwin Vidic Rio Evra
Ronaldo Keane Anderson Giggs
Rooney Cantona
Edwin
Smith
Beckham
Solskjær
Bruce
Brown
I wanna pick Fletcher, because of his last few years. He is making me gay!
October 9th, 2009 at 17:42
@Stephen: ANDERSON?!?!?!
I havent watched United as long as some of you, because I was born earlier so its difficult to me to find enough names to make a Worst XI United team. But I would defo count Taibi, Forlan, Richardson, Djemba-Djemba-Djemba-Djemba-Pumba-Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Bellion, Miller, Dong/Condom and that piece of shit that claims himself worthy of taking over for Ronaldo. He is portugeeze, looks like Michael Jackson and looks confused whenever he has the ball at his feet. Think his names started with Nan?
Just fucking with you Craig.
October 9th, 2009 at 17:43
@owen: ANDY!!!
October 9th, 2009 at 17:49
@Footy4Eddy: I am mot an Anderson fan mate
Nani like Anderson have a chance this season and need to take it as they like are in last chance saloon, personally I hope they do, but have my doubts but lets cross our fingers and pray.
October 9th, 2009 at 17:58
@Stephen: Ive noticed you are not an Anderson fan. I just have one question for you. How is that possible? How can you not be mesmorized by his greatness, his fantastic ability, his style and elegance, and last but definately not least, his dreadlocks?
I know many United fans are divided by Nani and Anderson, because they feel they have the ability but not the consistency, while others think they are just being used wrong by Ferguson. Craig thinks Nani is a right winger, not a left, while other think he is not given the freedom Ronaldo was given. People get pissed because Anderson gets deployed as a DM, while other think he is more of a left winger or a offensive midfielder, just behind the striker. Personally I think his best role is box-to-box, as he can tackle, pass and has great vision, and according to Fergie he CAN actually shoot!
Well, time will tell.
And I dont think its the last opportunity. Fergie gave Fletcher many chances, and look what happend to him. Took him more than 5 years to get respect from United fans, or at least the recognition. Brown, Evra and Cole are other players that needed time to get the correct recognition form United fans, so I doubt this season is the latin duos last chance…
October 9th, 2009 at 18:06
@Footy4Eddy: Brown was always liked (due to where he was born) evra only struggled when he first signed and with Cole he scored plenty of goals but did fuck all else and missed as many, I was not a big fan of his, neither was Cantona.
With Nani he has something no doubt, but I feel he is far too immature people say he is young but next month he will be 23, not that young. Personally he is for me a United player, bags of skill wants to take players on ect but his decision making is frustating to say the least, maybe that will come with more regualar games and age lets hope.
With the silly haired one, he his quite well liked which I find odd, for me I agree with you 100% he is an old fashioned box to box player, but for me he can’t shoot, can’t tackle and is so left footed it is unreal, but I hope he makes it and proves me wrong.
October 9th, 2009 at 18:53
Did Red just dump on Riquelme? Uh oh, a storm is a brewing…
October 9th, 2009 at 19:36
@Stephen: I don’t like the baggage that comes with them.
October 9th, 2009 at 19:40
@Will: Very easy really. Boredom is one factor and secondly, many of the lads on this site come from countries where cricket is number 1. What really gets me though (and I say this with a smile on my face so don’t take offense) is those people who will complain about yet don’t offer an alternative topic. Offer something to the proceedings mate, if the cricket bores you. Simplest way to get the topic moving on football. I don’t even watch or have never played cricket but I find reading all the views on the game very interesting indeed. Open your mind to other things mate. It’s a good thing.
October 9th, 2009 at 19:42
@Beachryan: He is never going to be our number I keeper anyway so lets ruin him completely. The team is more important than the individual. We cannot afford to drop points in order to be fair to any player who already has had more than enough of a chance to shine and instead has stunk the joint out. Sorry mate, no can do.
October 9th, 2009 at 19:45
@Onkar: Have you considered murder?
My God, sharing a bead with Dippers fan. For me that’s almost as repulsive as going to bed with Carlos Tevez. How do you do it mate? She must be good looking otherwise, you have seriously compromised yourself. Kidding of course. 
October 9th, 2009 at 19:46
@Stephen: Therefore, send him packing, wish him well and on we go. I agree.
October 9th, 2009 at 20:02
@Grognard: i refuse. but hey i tried the whole favorite XI thingy, that seems to have got rid of the wicket talk. don’t get me wrong i greatly admire the full length game.. patients skill and awareness etc… but when it comes to the 1 day and 20twenty, its esentially just see how hard you can smack a leather ball… which has hardly any technical nouse attached to it.
October 9th, 2009 at 20:07
@Footy4Eddy: When I was living in Edmonton I was dating a girl for a time that was originally from Calgary. These two cities are close to 1 million each in population and are 200 miles apart connected by a highway #2 which is basically a straight line to each city. They hate each other and they have always had a mean rivalry especially their sports teams which are always billed as the Battle of Alberta (Alberta being the province for those two cities for those of you who are geographically challenged).
Anyway, this girl was a die hard Calgary Flames fan while I bled Edmonton Oilers blue. I dated her for a month because frankly, she had an awesome milk maid’s rack on her but I could not stand her guts when we started talking sports. At the time the Oilers were finishing winning their fourth Stanley Cup in 5 years and the Eskimos (US Football) had just won their 6th Grey Cup in ten years. During this period Calgary had won sweet fuck all. In fact their hockey team had never won the cup up to that point and their football club hadn’t won since 1971. Yet this tramp would get in my face and argue how superior Calgary sports teams were and she would shout it at me with anger and passion. It all came to a boil on the night Wayne Gretzky scored a fantastic overtime goal to basically seal the fate of Calgary for yet another year. The Oilers went on to win the Cup but on that night, that girl (her name was Debbie), really got in my face and quite verbally abusive and then after they had lost she actually got a bit physical (in a bad way).
So on my last date with her you know what I did? Probably one of the meanest things I have ever done in my life but frankly, the bitch deserved it. I went to her place, fucked her brains out, told her to get dressed as I was taking her out for dinner and then instead of taking her to dinner drove her to “Welcome to Edmonton – City of Champions Sign on Highway 2, told her to get the fuck out of my car and pointed south and said, “Calgary is that way bitch”. Not one of my proudest moments but you know something, she deserved every bit of it because the rivalry turned her into a dislikable little douche bag. She deserved to freeze outside on the highway. It was only a few hundred yards to a number of gas stations and an inn so I wasn’t exactly worried she would freeze to death, but i think I made my point. When I got home I got the greatest surprise on my answering machine. She called and rather than throw every curse and expletive deletive at me, she was apologetic and was asking me to give her another chance. Typical for a Calgarian.. They give up easy and they are quitters but above all, they know when they are whipped. No fight in them at all. From that point on I didn’t ever want to date a girl who was a hard core sports fan, unless she liked all my teams and what is the chance of that?
October 9th, 2009 at 20:16
@Footy4Eddy: It’s amazing how many keep uttering that the international break sucks. Now do you think FIFA would get this message loudly. Nobody gives a rats ass about these games and FIFA is totally out of lunch if they think anybody really cares about their national team over their club team. It’s time they moved all international games to the end of the season and left the season alone. It would shorten the length of the season because you could then use all those lost days from international duty to tighten up the schedule. Most players would get more rest in the summer and there would still be plenty of time for a national team to get 5 or 6 games played over a three week period.
It’s these breaks in a schedule that make North Americans laugh at the game. You don’t see crap like that in North America. Once every four years the NHL shuts down for two weeks for the Olympics but that is it. No international baseball, basketball or hockey tournaments happen during the season. And really, is there anything more infuriating as having a star player get injured on international duty in the middle of a season when your team is fighting for their lives? I hear Torres is injured now so Rafa is probably in rage mode. Truthfully I don’t blame him because Spain has already qualified and it was not necessary to select him in a meaningless game. European football needs men with common sense running the show, not these senile old men with agenda’s who have such antiquated thinking that frustrates and confuses.
October 9th, 2009 at 20:23
@Will:
Schmeichel
Stam – Bruce – Vidic – Irwin (Stam played RB at Milan many times. I can’t stand Neville)
Ronaldo – Keane – Charlton – Giggs
Cantona – Best
Subs; Law, Scholes, Rio, Beckham, Buchan, EVDS, Robson
October 9th, 2009 at 20:34
Question for all of you to help pass the time;
Who is the greatest United player of all time, a: CANTONA, b: BEST, c: CHARLTON, d: RONALDO, e: KEANE, f: LAW, g: GIGGS
It’s a tough one for me because a part of me wants to pick with my heart and another wants to go with facts.
I’m just curious to know as well as bored. And Eddy, if you say Anderson, i will fly to Norway and personally scrog you.
And if Craig says Nani, I am cutting his liquor consumption off 
October 9th, 2009 at 20:46
@Grognard: RONALDO
October 9th, 2009 at 20:51
@grognard
For me it has to be CANTONA
No Robson on your list??
October 9th, 2009 at 21:41
@Grognard: I’m torn between Ronaldo and Best bro. But i gotta admit, seeing Ronaldo strut his stuff in United colours, always lead to very orgasmic moments for me. Giggs deserves a shout too though.
October 9th, 2009 at 22:19
@Grognard: The bitch deserved it!
Mate, you are a fucking God! 
Well done, well done. You fucked her over and did the right thing, I dont think I would have had the balls to do it to a woman I loved, but if it was juts fro the rack I guess I would have done the same. 
Brilliant mate, brilliant!
When woman get annoying like that, it sucks. But Ive been together with a Liverpool fan before, and there was just some banter. My best friend is a die hard Liverpool fan, but he is awesome and we have some banter. Of cource he reminds me of 4-1 and the double last season, but I just remind him of the last time they won the Premie… OH RIGHT, they havent won it!
Well, its some fun banter and we watch games together. Then I know some girls that support Chelsea, they are absolutely discusting! Think they are the best, and it absolutely reflects their behavior which is arrogant bitch! 
But, my last girlfriend was an Arsenal fan, and she was a delight. She bled for them, and although many of my best mates are absolute Arses(both things 
) she was really nice and while she didnt have respect for United, she wouldnt be a bitch when it came to football and watch a game with me and like to just talk about how well Arsenal play and such. When they won she got very happy, but when they beat us 2-1 in November she actually talked down on me and said they were the best team and United sucked. Did annoy me a little, but later she apologised and we just ended up talking football and got “cuddly”.
You see, for me Ive never had problems with my mates or girls concerning football rivalery. There is some banter, and yes I have been in some serious fights, but I find it fun. The girls especially are delightful to talk football with, because they get so fired up! Its rare you see a girl speak with so much confidence and passion as those moments, and I find it really cool!
Unless they become bitches, like yours did.
October 9th, 2009 at 22:34
@Grognard: Anderson!
No mate, to be serious I would say Giggsy. Probably not the best player of the lot, but when you think of one player that should be accosiated with Manchester United it is Ryan Giggs. The most appearances, the most trophies won by a single player in football history, he has played for nearly 20 years, and THAT goal against Arsenal is enough for him to be counted as one of the best players to play for United! Add the vital goal in Wigan that won us the title and the pealty in the CL final in 2008 and youve got the ultimate football legend! The loyalty has shown this club, and the magnificent moments he has given us as well… its just amazing, and for me he is the biggest ever Manchester United player!
Ronaldo gave me moments of joy that nobody else have given me, the dazzling and the thrills were exeptional and I bet we wont get that in a long, long time(If ever!). So if we count the best player to play for United, he would be my number one choice. I loved Ronny, and I feel he was a legend, but as a United player he will never be bigger than Giggs, Cantona or Keane for me…
October 9th, 2009 at 22:51
@Footy4Eddy: If this quwstion will come after 5 year,then half of us will be divided between Andy and Nani and Grog will vote for Andy
October 9th, 2009 at 23:01
I’ve only seen highlights and clips of Best, so I can’t really compare him. I want to go with Ronaldo, but it’s hard to discount giggs. I would have to give it to giggs, just because he was so dominant for so long.
October 9th, 2009 at 23:09
@Johnsom33: At the end , SAF will win ahead of all bcoz he has made everyone includind Ronaldo,Giggs,Beckham………………and at last Foster
October 10th, 2009 at 0:23
@Cyclops-Red: Robson was great but he was not that great. For me Giggs barely makes the list even though he is and has been a great player, it’s his longevity and consistency throughout that gives him greatness. Keane was truly magnificent but not everyone’s cup of tea and Law was a natural goal scorer but does that make him the greatest of all time, not in my books. Charlton is a true great and had great consistency and leadership skills. Always one to consider. But for me it’s between three truly great players and three truly world class superstars. Ronaldo, Cantona and Best. My heart wants to pick Cantona for obvious reasons, he was fantastic and woke this club up and helped elevate everyone’s game with his play and inspiration, not to mention genius. And everyone who has been on this blog long enough knows just how much I love and admire Ronaldo. But for me the greatest is George Best. I have watched enough of George Best to say that I would put him in the top 4 or 5 players to ever play this game, let alone best united player of all time. Ronaldo may yet exceed him before he is done, but as far as united is concerned, nobody beats Georgie in my books.
October 10th, 2009 at 0:31
@Grognard: What makes best a better player than the greasy one?
October 10th, 2009 at 0:31
@Footy4Eddy: What’s really amazing is that after I dropped her off on the outskirts of the city and pointed south to Calgary for her to follow, I would have thought that she would be so pissed that if she ran into me again, she would try to kill me. I ran into her at a restaurant while I was out with my fiancee. She came up to our table and was very polite and cordial. When my fiancee went to the powder room for a minute she made her way over to my table and told me that if I was open to it, she would love to hook up with me later. My jaw dropped. This time I was too shocked to be aggressive and so I said thanks but no thanks and nice to see you again. But i never did apologize for what I had done because in my heart, she deserved it. Amazing thing is I think she felt she deserved it too. Go figure!
October 10th, 2009 at 0:37
@Grognard:
October 10th, 2009 at 0:42
@Footy4Eddy: The problem that I have with Giggs is that although he is great, there were better players than him. The best comparison I can give to Giggs is baseball’s Cal Ripken Jr. The man who holds the ironman record for most games played consecutively 2632. A very good player, lots of hits, over 3000, home runs, rbi’s and very good defensively but he’s never really considered by many as the best because he wasn’t he was incredibly good and consistent but to rate him the best shortstop of all time is still stretching it. Giggs reminds me of him. Great but not so great that he was ever considered for European Player of the year or World player of the year. Cantona was often considered as was Beckham and of course Best and Ronaldo won the award.
People who haven’t seen videos of George Best play really need to do so. He takes your breath away with his speed quickness, burst of speed from a static position and his moves are all great but simple, no show pony stuff , but more direct elusiveness. And a damned good finIsher for a winger too. My favorite United player of all time is Cantona but the best of all time is Best by a nose over Ronaldo. One day everyone will look back to the Ronaldo era and remember just how amazing he was. The great thing that I can always take with me is the knowledge that i have every game from his last three seasons on dvd and about 175 games overall. So I will always be able to go back and watch him play, but man what I would give for even a half dozen games with George Best. I’d also kill for more Cantona games but at least I have a fair amount of those to satisfy me.
October 10th, 2009 at 0:48
@owen: Grognard’s five most despised Manchester United players of all time.
5. Nicky Butt
4. Gary Neville
3. Phil Neville
2. Ben Foster
1. Louis Saha
Honorable mention to Anderson, Andy Cole, Mickey Thomas, Paul Ince (for being a traitorous scum), JS Park
October 10th, 2009 at 0:49
@Grognard: It is easy. You said United player and not footballer. It is Giggs. Loyalty, Quality, Longevity. Hands down.
Cantona left too early. Best drank himself silly. Ronaldo left too early. Irwin did not have the skills as Giggs did nor the silverware. The rest did not bring the club the same success that Giggs has brought.
Giggs. 11.
October 10th, 2009 at 0:50
@Johnsom33: Problem with Giggs in my mind is that every year he was with us there was always a player or two on the club who were having better years. That plays on my mind when it comes to rating him the best.
October 10th, 2009 at 0:53
@Johnsom33: Read reply #327 for the answer. Brilliance through simplicity. Also, he was able to maintain his skill level on terrible turf in bad weather. Today’s ground’s are very well cared for but back then, I have seen games where the pitch was a disgrace and Georgie had to dribble through puddles of mud and loose earth etc. The ball would get wet and weigh a ton unlike today’s water proof ball and the footwear was certainly not high tech like today, yet Bestie prevailed.
October 10th, 2009 at 0:54
@Grognard: I never saw the holy trinity play but it was their myth handed down to me from older generations that was one of the reasons why I chose United over the blue nonsense.From the various clips, books, documentaries I’ve seen and read Best looked like a truly phenomenal player.
October 10th, 2009 at 0:55
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Loyalty and longevity are nice qualities but they are not criteria I use to judge the greatness of a player. Those are character traits, not physical traits.
October 10th, 2009 at 0:59
@Cyclops-Red: Last year I ordered a few books and a few videos about the man and learned to really love and appreciate what he did for United. His life was sad and his drinking was truly sad but he was always a nice bloke to everyone and for that, he is still endeared and well thought of. But for me my favorite is still the King. Cantona best suits my personality. He’s arrogant, pompous, cocky, confident, opinionated and above all intelligent and great.
Humble he isn’t and neither am I. Whenever you guys read my posts picture a guy who wears his collar up when he types. 
October 10th, 2009 at 1:12
@Grognard:
This is a silly, little list…
I don’t understand why the Neville brothers, Butt, and Saha are on that list…But I guess that is why they are YOUR least favorite.
October 10th, 2009 at 1:16
@Grognard: Yeah, he certainly was unique.
At the time I had never seen a player like him having become slightly disillusioned with the dour, turgid kick and rush stuff served up every week by the English league.
October 10th, 2009 at 1:25
@Grognard: I glad you gave an honorable mention to Mickey Thomas. Every time I hear that weasel-faced thief introduced as a former “United Legend” it makes me want to puke.
October 10th, 2009 at 2:33
Oh George Best! by a long way, is the greatest United player IMO. And for those who have never seen him play, here’s a great youtube video of him in action from a single game.
The action starts around the 2:10 mark.
October 10th, 2009 at 3:10
@Grognard: When I was a teenager, George Best, was my idol. He was not only a great, great player, but was like a rock star to his adoring public. His every move and quotation attracted a huge audience and after wowing the girls with his looks, influencing the guys with his sense of fashion, he’d show up on a Saturday and play the socks off everyone on the pitch.
He was so different to what we were used to back then, he stood out like a shining light. A little dip of the shoulder and a burst of speed and he was in on goal like a guided missile, very few could stop him. He didn’t need the step-overs or the diving or the attitude, he had all that he needed in sheer and utter genius for the game.
There has never been a player since that has exited me as much, and perhaps there never will be one in the future.
He’s responsible for the great, great years that United had in the late sixties, my introduction to this great team, and for generations of players that have tried, in vain, to emulate his mastery.
Without question George Best, #1!!
October 10th, 2009 at 7:30
@Grognard: But you said United Player. Player is judged as his contribution to the club and team, while a footballer is judged on an individual basis. Giggs is the best United player because he has put the team ahead of him at all times — he did not let alcoholism, fame, riches get to his head. He has given us moments of utter brilliance and magic, he has maintained his standard through age and injuries and has morphed into an outstanding intelligent footballer (adapted his game to fit in the team). He has been a true gentleman from the age of 17. He is still giving us reason to clap, smile, and scream in joy. He leads ANY medal chart for our team EVER.
Without (Sir) Ryan Giggs, United would have been something else. That is why he is my #1 United Player of all times.
Legends come and go. But Giggs is forever!
October 10th, 2009 at 8:08
@Lars: Why is it a silly list? Just a list of my least favorite players. We all have players that we just don’t care for but that happen to inhabit the team’s we love.
October 10th, 2009 at 8:10
@Cyclops-Red: Most on here don’t even know who he was but that chinless loser used to get on my nerves so much, it wasn’t funny. That man deserved to be a Dipper but instead God was cruel and he gave him for us to babysit.
October 10th, 2009 at 8:21
@Shami: This is the clip I like the best because it shows his technique on the ball and how he tried to evade tackles as opposed to today’s players who have no clue how to evade tackles and not go on the dive. I also just love the last 30 seconds which makes me want to cry. The man was an international treasure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeFIWJYg5BE&feature=related
October 10th, 2009 at 8:28
@Redrich: I so agree with your sentiments mate. The lack of step overs and dives is what puts him on top and over Ronaldo for me. There was nothing fake about his game and he was to footy what Joe Namath was to NFL football at the same time, but even a better player. Similar personalities and rock star status with the ability to party hardy and then destroy the opposition on the weekend. And both really had their careers end far too early. One to knee injuries and George to the booze. A real shame but still, we have those memories and I for one really enjoyed the books I read about him as well as the videos. For me Cantona is a God yet he has half the skill of George Best. The only players I arguably place in front of him and longevity has so much to do with this is Pele, Maradona, Beckenabuer and possibly Cruyff. Had he not ended his career the way he did and had he played to his full potential clean and sober, he’d have been #1 or #1 for sure.
October 10th, 2009 at 8:30
@[OPTI]Madschester United: I’m talking skill and ability on the pitch mate. You are adding all these other intangibles which are all fine, but are not the core criteria for comparing a player’s greatness. Skills and tools, not ethics and character.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:13
@Grognard: On pure skill on the field then I find Ronaldo unmatched (maybe Cantona) but surely none of the rest could match the strength/speed of Ronaldo or the finesse of the King.
October 10th, 2009 at 10:50
@Grognard: Here is my list:
1. Silvestre
2. Oshea
3. Ruud(yeah, surprisingly I never liked him)
4. Scholesy
5. Sheringham
October 10th, 2009 at 10:59
@Footy4Eddy: Mine
1)Tevez
2)ince
3)keane(hated him as a person, right cunt)
4)richardson
5)Evra(runs his mouth to much)
October 10th, 2009 at 11:17
@Dan: How the fuck could I forget Carla?! Maybe because Ive tried to forget the horrible image in my mind of him in a United shirt, ugliest creature in the world doesnt deserve to wear those magnificent clothes…
Okey, so I replace Oshea with Tevez, as he was gonna be number 5 and not 2.
My favorite players:
1. Roy Keane
2. Anderson
3. Ryan Giggs
4. David Beckham(then, and probably now as well)
5. Ole Solskjaer
Honorable mentions to Wazza, Vidic, Ronaldo, Irwin and Yorke. I just loved his smile!
Would have picked Cantona, but I was only 5 years on when he retired from football, so its difficult for me to judge him of how much I liked him then. I love the guy to guts, as Ive seen every game but its different when you see him live… So my direct feelings when a game is played, in the middle of the heat, are difficult to judge compared to videos and clips I have seen from him.
October 10th, 2009 at 12:03
My fave are:
)
1)Berba(Hes just so fucking cool!)
2)giggs
3)scholes
4)Cantona
5)Paul McGrath(He was born in the borough i grew up in
October 10th, 2009 at 13:03
@Footy4Eddy:
October 10th, 2009 at 13:18
@Grognard: Yeah i know bro.. But the issue was when we started of we both wasn’t giving it out that we are crazy footy fan but, then when we came to know it was too late. So have to live with it bro…..
October 10th, 2009 at 14:02
@Footy4Eddy: I see you share my love for Beckham and my hatred for Carlito.
My favourites:
1.Scholes
2.Beckham
3.RONALDO
4.Carrick
The ones I despise:
1.Ji Sung Park
2.Ben Foster(sometimes I just feel pity for him)
3.Carlos Tevez
The united person I ABSOLUTELY love the most, without an iota of doubt is no other than the man himself, Sir Alex Ferguson.
October 10th, 2009 at 15:24
I saw pogba play for us for the first time today. Mouth-watering prospect.
If you want a comparison for the player, look no further then essien
October 10th, 2009 at 15:40
Fergie has apologised but to be honest I hoped he wouldn’t of. I know he shouldn’t of given a critique of Wiley’s performance in the first place and it shows that he isn’t too stubborn to admit he was wrong but those bastard tabloids (and rival fans) will have a field day – ‘grovelling apology’ and such. It’l probably lessen his punishment but i wish he would of kept quiet over this and then remembered to keep his mouth shut in future.
October 10th, 2009 at 16:33
Zeiler is playing for Germany U20 against Brazil…
October 10th, 2009 at 17:04
@Footy4Eddy: pretty controversial choices mate. Scholes? I too am not a big Scholes fan but do you dislike him that much? And being only 16, you never got a chance to really watch him in his hey day when he was quite the player. Still, it’s your list and I respect it. Also, I liked Teddy Sheringham a lot and find it hard to understand how anybody could not like him, other than Andy Cole. And how could one not RVN. Goal scoring machine.
October 10th, 2009 at 17:06
@Dan: I too am not impressed with Keane the person but we are basing it on their playing ability, and on that basis, I have a really hard time not loving the man for his skill and intensity.
Interesting list though.
October 10th, 2009 at 17:11
@Footy4Eddy: My favorites are so numerous it’s hard to offer five so I will offer ten.
1. Cantona
2. Ronaldo
3. Best
4. Beckham
5. Schmeichel
6. Giggs
7. Keane
8. RVN
9. Stam
10. Bruce
and my apologies to Hargo, Pallister, Vidic, Rooney, Martin Buchan, Gordon McQueen, Norman Whiteside, Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson.
October 10th, 2009 at 17:15
WOW! Some great saves by Rene Adler in the German goal today so far in Moscow. Just great positioning and instinct to come out at the right time and cut off the angles like a veteran. Are you reading this Fergie?
October 10th, 2009 at 17:20
Jeez, these Ukraine fans are retards!!!
October 10th, 2009 at 17:27
@AndyCR7: any link for england match online???
October 10th, 2009 at 17:37
@owen: http://www.magedtv.net/ch1.html
October 10th, 2009 at 17:38
@Grognard: Ive never really liked Scholes. He is a great person, a model proffesional. I think he was a great player, but there just something with his tyle which rubs me the wrong way. Whether its the fact that he cant tackle, or that he is just so slow, I dont know, but Ive never really liked him. Great player, just not my cup of tea.
As for Teddy, I thought he was vastly overrated. Didnt like him at all when I watched him, only frustrated me. Scored some great and vital goals, didnt he become PFA Player of the year in 2000? Well, anyways I just didnt care for him. Just his style of play as a striker, same goes for Ruud. Always at the right time in the right place, but when you see my list of favorite United striker(personal choice, not how good I think they are) which is:
1. Eric Cantona
2. Wayne Rooney
3. Alan Smith
4. Ole Gunner Solskjær
5. Dwight Yorke
Theyve got that extra “spark” in their game which makes me like them. Hard to describe, just my personal opinion…
October 10th, 2009 at 17:41
@Grognard: So we can move to a new debate regarding goalkeepers,and because we are making lists right now, I think we could make one of the top 3 goalkeepers we think Fergie should go for next summer. Here is mine:
1. Neuer
2. Akinfeev
3. Frey
Time may not be over for Foster, but I stil think a new goalkeeper is a must when Edwin retires. Kuzzy worries me much more than even Oshea would…
October 10th, 2009 at 17:43
@owen: http://atdhe.net/9699/watch-ukraine-vs-england
October 10th, 2009 at 18:01
Brazilian under – 20 keeper Rafael is very good
and Douglas costa has got verygood shot from distances
October 10th, 2009 at 18:05
@Footy4Eddy: Teddy was Berba before Berba. Great first touch, very sublime distribution as he was quite the play maker with great finesse skills and oh so smart. I agree 100% on Scholes for all the reasons you gave although I still wouldn’t put him on my list of five least favorite. That is designated for players I consider to be useless or total scum.
October 10th, 2009 at 18:10
@Footy4Eddy: I have always been impressed and a big fan of Rene Adler but today he came so close to overtaking Manuel Neuer as not only my number choice for Man Utd, but for Germany as well. As it is, I think he won the Germany job tonight as he was beyond world class. Great shot stopping, positioning, recovery, instinct and I loved the way he was shouting and barking orders to his defenders. And to think this lad is a lifetime Man Utd fan.
But here is my list of goalkeepers I want most for Man Utd.
1. Manuel Neuer
2. Rene Adler
3. Igor Akinfeev
4. Artur Boruc
5. Sebastien Frey
October 10th, 2009 at 18:16
Based on the first half all I can say is that ENGLAND SUCKS! This club has got no chance for the World Cup so people need to stop fooling themselves. Germany goes in to a far more difficult environment and plays a far superior team and comes out 1-0 winners because they have the grit and determination as well as the ability to elevate their game when it counts. England has nothing to play for but they go into Ukraine and after one half they have laid a brick. Just awful. It’s these kind of games against good opponents on the road that will define their abilities. And frankly, they look wanting.
October 10th, 2009 at 18:25
@Grognard: How Carrick played???
October 10th, 2009 at 18:29
@Grognard: Grog, I hope you realise that England had gone a man down and the Ukranian goal was indeed a lucky deflection??! The environment is hostile and I have to give credit to the Ukranian fans for that but England have not performed anywhere near as bad as you indicate. All Capello has to do is take off Heskey for a speedy forward and presto, we might just have a belter in the 2nd half.
It’s unfair to criticize when we’ve gone a man down, playin in a hostile away staduim and without the match being over yet. Can you wait till the world cup before you totally write off our chances.
Jeez, top scorers in qualifying and eight consecutive victories isn’t enough to warrant some hope and belief anymore??? 
October 10th, 2009 at 18:38
@owen: Nothing to write home about.
October 10th, 2009 at 18:43
@Gabriel: I have eyes, I’m watching the game and they suck. Germany went a man down and won in mighty Russia. They also had two great scoring chances after they went down to ten men. They are resilient where England panics and folds. Yes they have improved greatly with Capello but come World Cup time, their English character will cost them as it always does. And any team that expects to win the World Cup by wasting good players on the bench and playing Emile Heskey is going nowhere fast. The other thing, although David James is not a bad keeper and today’s goal is not his fault, the difference for Germany today is the confidence they had that any good or half chance they gave to Russia was going to be taken care of by their keeper. They have always had this edge and it has gotten them into 7 World Cup finals. I’m just not jumping on the England bandwagon even though i’d love to see them do good.
And please, eight straight wins against complete and total minnows. Easiest group in the whole competition.
October 10th, 2009 at 18:57
@Grognard: you conveniently forget to mention that Germany went down to ten men in the 2nd half (69mins), after they had alreay been in control and in the lead since the 35th min!! All they had to do was close up shop for 20mins, besides, Russia had not been able to score so far, it wasn’t going to be a huge task stopping them in those final 20mins, one man down or not.
Btw, I am not jumping on a bandwagon. If England have been playing shit, I will be first to admit but they haven’t. We’ve been putting on incresingly solid performances ever since Capello took over and this at least warrants some recognition and deserves some praise.
In this match, it’s not like were even being steam-rolled, Ukraine’s goal was a deflection, we’re getting back control of the match and we look more like scoring. I just don’t know how one rocky first-half performance after going down to ten men away from home is an indication that a team performing the best in Europe right now has no chance at the World Cup??!!
October 10th, 2009 at 19:12
@Grognard: Besides, Germany’s group is not so tough either…
Group 4
Germany
Russia
Finland
Wales
Liechtenstein
Azerbaijan
Group 6
England
Croatia
Ukraine
Belarus
Kazakhstan
Andorra
Don’t really see the difference in overall difficulty/ease in either group. If anything, England’s group is a bit more difficult as Croatia and Ukraine have played in more international competitionss, hence more experienced than the likes of Russia, Wales or Finland.
October 10th, 2009 at 19:26
@Grognard: I agree about Adler, he looked great today.
Cat-like reflexes and very solid technique. He made the difference for the Krauts!!
October 10th, 2009 at 19:46
I’ve read that rio was at fault for the pen. I’d be interested to know how he played because we are leaking quite a few goals recently. I know he hasnt played often but he has been at fault for a few.
October 10th, 2009 at 19:58
@Grognard: Grog, just wanted to ask your opinion of Alex Teixeira who is currently playing for the Brazil Under 20s. Watching the lad in the last game against Uruguay and today against Germany just made my mouth water. I was screaming ”give the fucking ball to Teixeira” the whole match. Btw, Douglas Costa came off the bench and did quite well. Very impressive. His combo with Teixeira was something to behold. But I think as far as technique, ball control, swag and the wow factor goes,Teixeira is streets ahead of Costa. Fergie should DEFINITELY give the lad a look in.
October 10th, 2009 at 20:03
@Dan: Dan, is he not supposed to be a striker or forward??
October 10th, 2009 at 20:17
I am just hoping that Portugal win today…they are my favourite team and technically they are superior than Brazil also…
October 10th, 2009 at 20:26
I love my viritual pro!
October 10th, 2009 at 20:35
@WhiteY: No, who told you that? Hes was billed as CDM, but after todays performance, its safe to say hes box to box. Its to soon to judge, but if todays performance is anything to go by, lets just say, the scout that discovered him deserves a big, big pay rise.
October 10th, 2009 at 20:43
@Dan: My bad, I think I had the other lad Diouf in my head. Sorry, you are right. Good to know that for once, our scouts are getting it right. If this particular scout deserves a pay rise, then its only fair to ask what the scout(s) who ‘discovered’ the likes of Tosic deserve eh???
By the way, have you been watching the U 20s world cup? I truly truly feel the Brazil number seven, Alex Teixeira is going to be a world beater.
October 10th, 2009 at 20:47
@owen: Portugal technically more gifted than the Brazilian side? Hell no, and I don’t think in this life time at least. I’m almost certain the Portugal side are actually technically deficient. Oops Queiroz
October 10th, 2009 at 20:51
@owen: Anderson > Ronaldo
October 10th, 2009 at 20:56
@WhiteY: To be fair, the scout that discovered tosic, discovered ljajic, who if nurtured right and fulfils his potential, will become world player of the year one day.
And our scouts are world class, to say the least.
October 10th, 2009 at 20:56
@Footy4Eddy: Andy > Ronaldo ya but rest of portugal > rest of Brazil
October 10th, 2009 at 21:02
@Dan: We gotta give them credt. Just check this out:
Rafael
)
Fabio
Macheda
Ljajic
Pogba
King
Eikrem
Ohi(remember the name
Then there are many more, but those are for me the ones who stand out.
October 10th, 2009 at 21:03
@owen: The comment was made in jest mate
October 10th, 2009 at 21:05
@Footy4Eddy: Ohi? Im sorry mate, but not even i know who this guy is!
And you forgot the biggest one of them yet, De laet. Who ever discovered this man should be knighted.
October 10th, 2009 at 21:10
On a side note, i want evans starting next match over ferdinand.
October 10th, 2009 at 21:10
@WhiteY: why not??? compare the players…then you will find….Deco in form was the best attacking mid fielder in Europe and was far ahead of kaka who is much over rated..
October 10th, 2009 at 21:15
oh Ronaldo is out only after 20 minures…But Nani has come thats gud
October 10th, 2009 at 21:22
@owen: WHAT! How dare you call kaka over-rated!!
October 10th, 2009 at 21:26
@Dan: You dont know who that guy is- YET! You will know the name in a few years time, the absolutely best player I have ever played against in my life. Remember the name, because he will come really far at United.
October 10th, 2009 at 21:27
@Dan: why not???Remember Deco at his prime….how was he??? Arguably the best
October 10th, 2009 at 21:32
@owen: I wont budge on this. I have a fetish for players like kaka, who will beat guys for pure pace and close control, not fancy flicks and tricks(but he can that to!).
October 10th, 2009 at 21:39
@Dan: Kaka is good ,actually great no doubt but Portugal is a gud team and they play very attractive game and have some very good players like Ronnie,Carvalho,Simao,Nani, Deco,Veloso……………
October 10th, 2009 at 21:42
@owen: Portugal have played shit football right through the qualifiers.
October 10th, 2009 at 21:42
@owen: Brazil>protugal, dont even joke about that.
October 10th, 2009 at 21:48
Denmark are through!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We’re going to SA 2010!!
October 10th, 2009 at 21:55
@Dan: We will see in the world cup how much good Brazil is ????I think Spain is already yhe champion…Plz dont mention the confederation cup as it was just a bad day
October 10th, 2009 at 21:57
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Well done mate.
October 10th, 2009 at 21:58
@Red Ranter: I agree sir but i am saying that they have wonderful players in their squad…why they ARE STRUGGLING ,I dont know but they deseve to be in world cup( actually they are far better than France or THE SHIT Italy)
October 10th, 2009 at 22:00
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Congrates and You have given Portugal a great hope if they win today
October 10th, 2009 at 22:11
@owen: Italy, France and Portugal have all struggled. Portugal have struggled the most. On paper France and Italy have much better players than Portugal. By your logic of having good players, Italy and France deserve to be in the World Cup more than Portugal – although it doesn’t work that way. So, you tell me, apart from making the marketing people unhappy if Ronaldo misses the world cup, why does Portugal deserve to be in it? What have they done to lay a claim?
No mate, you want Portugal to go through to the world cup. You don’t think they deserve. And if you do, you make sure your argument makes sense.
They, as such, probably don’t deserve to be in it based on their performances and points.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:12
Jeez! Nani is dangerous for Portugal. Why the Hell can’t he find that form for us? Fergie needs to have a hard look at his tactics and the requirements he is putting on that boy because when he is allowed to play his game, he is fantastic to watch.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:13
@Gabriel: Russia had a full 25 minutes at home with the man advantage and never took advantage of it and that I put down to German resiliency and organization.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:16
@Gabriel: I didn’t say it was but Russia is a very strong foe and Germany mate, has made it to the World Cup every time since 1954. They are automatic no matter what the group is. They have also won it three times and been to the final seven times. Now try comparing that with the groups. It’s all about pride and pedigree. Germany have it while England is still looking for it.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:16
@Red Ranter: I want Portugal to qualify as they will knoch out England as i hate to imagine Terry ( player whom i hate most ) to lift the cup
October 10th, 2009 at 22:18
@Grognard: I completely agree…Germans play very well for their nation…i dont know how they manage
October 10th, 2009 at 22:18
@owen: Brazil aren’t the most attractive team under Dunga, but they are just fantastic. And I’m not talking about the Confed Cup. They’ve beaten teams in South America mixing technical skill and European grit. They have big athletic men as will as skillful players and cannot be intimidated. And they have qualified through the toughest continent. Brazil right now play like they know how to win. Spain are an excellent outfit but they can be out-muscled by teams. Brazil just bulldozed past Argentina in Argentina. More importantly Dunga has stamped out the fancy partying attitude out of the side that flopped so badly in Germany. You can see the desire in Brazil’s eyes.
You cannot even begin to compare Portugal with Brazil.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:27
It’s looking more and more like Portugal is going to find a back way into the World Cup. Good, because the tournament needs Ronaldo and England needs an opponent they can count on to knock them out in controversial fashion so they can make the same old excuses about losing.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:31
@Grognard: Just hope Argentiana does not qualify
October 10th, 2009 at 22:31
@Redrich: The big thing is that every chance the Russians had in the game Adler had the advantage because he claimed it with strong instinct and positioning. People will say that Russia squandered sure fire goal scoring chances but with a great goalkeeper, those are nothing more than half chances. He was very strong and very authoritative out there. I loved watching him scream at veterans like Friedrich and Mertesacker as if they were rookies. Now that’s what I am looking for in a keeper for Man Utd.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:37
@WhiteY: Only saw part of the game and truthfully, I don’t know much about Teixeira other than a little I’ve heard. South America is not my beat mate so I really can’t say but he did look very comfortable and composed on the ball and has great vision for a box to box player from the little I have seen. Costa is still a mystery to me because the few games I have watched him in he has done nothing. Where is our expert on Brazil Mr Muhozi when we need him?
October 10th, 2009 at 22:37
@Grognard: Bring him on!!
October 10th, 2009 at 22:38
@Grognard: I think Russia will be the surprise package in the world cup
October 10th, 2009 at 22:41
@Red Ranter: I’d blame Queiroz for that as he has tried to instill boring Fergie tactics to a team and nation that likes to play to a samba beat. They can’t adapt to that crap just like the way Nani hasn’t been able to adapt to Fergie.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:41
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Thanks to that knobhead Isaksson. He makes Foster look good.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:44
@owen: Brazil aren’t just strong, they are mentally strong. Look at the disaster of Argentina to better realize just how good Brazil is. Nobody marches in to Buenos Aires and beats them 3-1 convincingly. Yet they did that and for me they gained my respect if I didn’t have it already. Spain are good but even though they are European Champions, i think they are a soft side and can be beat. When it comes to the World Cup one must always consider Brazil the favorite and Germany or Italy strong contenders. Spain is right up there too.
October 10th, 2009 at 22:49
@Red Ranter: Spain are a complete unit… if you have to beat them,then Essien must be in your team who will take Xavi out of the game and have good left and right backs….they have so much possession on the ball and their passing is brilliant which never ends before opponents D area…Brazil is very good at Counter attacks but their defence is shaky a bit and more so,Diego needs to be in the playig x1 ahead of Elano
October 10th, 2009 at 22:56
@Grognard: Brazil will always be the favourites going into worls cups but that is due to past respect…Spain are the best team, Germany is mentally the toughest team and England is the best team on paper…Italians are always tough to concede as they are very organized…
more so,the international standard of team has declined so much that any one can beat any one..but then also I want portugal or Netherlands to be successfull as both of them are my favourite team…
I will like England if Captain is some one else than Terry and will dislike Germany if Captain is some one else than B allack
October 10th, 2009 at 22:59
@owen: Spain on their day are the best attacking unit. But I think their midfield can be bullied by a physical and good team. And their defence if well tested could crack. Puyol isn’t getting younger either. I like Spain, but I think they have their flaws if they don’t have the ball. Premiership experience to some of their stars like Fabregas and Torres has helped them however.
October 10th, 2009 at 23:04
@owen: Brazil were not the favourites going into ‘94. Nor were they favourites in 2002. In fact both Germany and Brazil were written off. I don’t think it’s past respect. Brazil have been the best team in South America. It is the toughest continent to qualify from, and I can’t see why they don’t deserve to be among the favourites.
I would say Germany, Brazil, Spain all look good. I am not convinced about England — and I’m sure a lot of England fans would give me stick for it. But I don’t see a champion side in England. They don’t have the spark of unpredictability in their side.
October 10th, 2009 at 23:06
@owen: You’ll see that if you reverse the order of the names in your post, you will be absolutely correct. Please do no for one second think that Kaka is over rated especially when its over 90% of the football following world that over rates him
Can so many be so wrong??????
October 10th, 2009 at 23:07
@Red Ranter: no, i dont think so…their midfiels consists of xavi,iniesta , alonso,fabregas… who are so much talented and very much adaptable..so it is almost impossible to keep them out of the match
October 10th, 2009 at 23:07
Just to follow on from a few things earlier in this thread about most celebrated and despised united players ever.
I don’t get enough time to visit this place every day so sorry if this is late or off topic.
How about, “Great United players we never saw enough of”
in no particular order…
1) Duncan Edwards (I could pick several from the munich disaster)
2) Norman Whiteside
3) Dion Dublin (it looked like he was going to be a goal machine for us before his injury)
4) Solskjaer (i think he counts through all that time out with injury)
5) Blanc (would liked to have had him at united a bit younger)
6) Cantona (what can I say hehe)
“Players who should never have played more than one minute for United”
1) Massimo Taibi
2) William Prunier (or was it really that he was good?)
cheers!
October 10th, 2009 at 23:10
@WhiteY: kaka is not so great in my view…i may be wrong but thats i think…
October 10th, 2009 at 23:13
@owen: And you are absolutely certain they wont have another bad day at the world cup? If you haven’t noticed mate, the world cup usually goes to teams who have experience in lifting it
October 10th, 2009 at 23:20
@Grognard: I haven’t seen too much of Costa either, but the few times I have, He does seem to be very comfortable and skilful on the ball. But then again, what do I know eh? Anderson too had rave reviews and he is at yet to light the world up. I really think Teixeira is something though.
October 10th, 2009 at 23:25
@Red Ranter: Exactly RR, Wayne Rooney about all England has in terms of unpredictability, something that you cant do without in a world cup. Exactly mate.
October 11th, 2009 at 0:28
@RedDave: Good point Dave, and to that first list, I guess we could add Owen Hargreaves.(hope that will be moot in a year so from now though)
October 11th, 2009 at 0:34
@Red Ranter: You won’t upset me, as long as you call it the way it really is!
England is as Wayne Rooney is, right now. Until they can find a way not to rely so much on his goal production, it’ll always be a struggle!
October 11th, 2009 at 0:41
@Grognard: Queiroz is probably not the man for that job.
But who in hell would want to turn that bunch of prima donna’s into a tight unit that could achieve anything other than self gratification!!!
October 11th, 2009 at 2:05
@Dan: Oh my god! Me and you actually have some sort of common ground. And that ground is called Kaka. I think because his game lacks the flair of others he is viewed as ordinary but kaka is a killer. I might not agree with his personal beliefs but on the pitch he is a nightmare to opponents. I still have nightmares about a makeshift united defense trying to contain him.
October 11th, 2009 at 2:16
@Red Ranter: Further to the talk about “Soccer” here in the US. The US will qualify if they win their game against Honduras tonight.
I am horrified to report that this game is not on TV at all. Further more, not one mention of the game in today’s newspaper (SF Chronicle).
We really do still have a long way to go!!
October 11th, 2009 at 2:18
@Grognard: while you make a valid point about Best playing on shocking pitches and horrble leather balls, you forget that the competition he played against was nowhere close to what it is now. Too me that more than negates the point about poor equipment. I mean if you looked at the average distance covered by players during Best time and compared them with now. You’ll see current players cover twice as much distance.
October 11th, 2009 at 2:25
@Johnsom33: This is the same argument offered in every sport. But you can only judge a player by his peers and not by those that came before of after.
In his day Best was second only to Pele, and at the time, most would say that was close placing.
As a player that stands out, head and shoulders above all others around him, Best had no equal!!
October 11th, 2009 at 2:52
@Red Ranter: The thing about many countries like Italy, France and Portugal is they have histories of struggling to get into the World Cup but then when they do, they usually do very well. Some of these teams peak just at the right time and they struggle in this long drawn out qualifying stages but do very well in groups where they play only 3 games and move on. Just because some struggle to make it, doesn’t mean I dismiss them as having no chance. Honestly, it’s England that has less chance than Portugal or Italy in my opinion. There is just something about that English team that makes me uneasy. Can’t really put my finger on it, but it’s there. I think it starts with Lampard and ends with Gerrard but for me, the biggest joke about that team is that a player like Heskey is on it.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:03
@owen: I do but that would take a book to explain and I am not going to bore you folks. Germany is my favorite country on the planet. I have studied it’s history, it’s people, it’s culture it’s psychology and it’s work ethic and sociological aspects and they are brilliant at so many things because of a number of key factors. They are always better as a whole as opposed to the individual parts. Their team’s are famous for grit, organization, guts, patience and above all, character. The Bundesliga is badly underrated because of a lack of success in Europe over the past ten years. Well folks, that’s not because the Germans in it are bad, that’s because the teams as a whole and the league as a whole are fiscally responsible and refuse to spend ridiculous amounts of money for foreigners. Therefore, in most cases they bring in the second tier of foreign talent as opposed to England, Italy and Spain. That second tier is not good enough to elevate them in Champions League but it also hides the fact that German players are pretty damned great and that most of them stay put in Germany despite the lack of Euro hardware. This also really helps prepare them for the international tournaments and creates a real sense of togetherness. When it’s all said and done they will be in the final four in South America again, despite the fact that only Ballack plays abroad.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:08
@owen: I’m torn about that. I like Argentine football and that team is gifted with so many great players but no midfield since the idiot in charge of the club continues to be spiteful towards Riquelme. Fact is that with Riquelme, I would love to see Argentina, but as long as he is not on that team and as long as the Drug Lord and criminal Maradona is in charge, I hope they rot in Hell. I feel bad for Messi and Aguero but am also elated for Tevez and Mascherano if they fail to make it.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:11
@owen: England is the best team on paper? I was eating when I read that and you almost made me choke. Are you frakken kidding me? Get a grip. They are a frakken joke as I wouldn’t rant them in the top 6 talent wise. To many old players and not enough really great young talent. And no goalkeepers of world class renown.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:19
@Redrich: Give them back to Big Phil. He has won the World Cup and has taken Portugal to the last four of the Euros as well as the World Cup. Their failings have never been a case of being primadonas. It’s because they have never had the strikers to carry them over the hump. Well here is the thing, with Nani playing well for them, move Ronaldo into the lone striker role and let him roam and pack a five man Portuguese midfield with some creative flair like Deco, Simao and Nani and i think this team can do well. Bosingwa, Pepe and Carvalho at the back aren’t bad mate. Queiroz in my opinion has done a poor job results wise but he may have instilled some patience and discipline in the team. Now if only he can figure a way to free up Ronaldo, they could still be formidable. Any team with Ronaldo firing on all cylinders has a chance. He’s that frakken great, that he can literally carry a team like Maradona in 86.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:21
@Redrich: Yet another case of Fox Soccer Channel dropping the ball with their useless coverage of the game. Instead they would rather bore us to death with hour long specials with Max Bretos smiling and offering verbal diarrhea.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:23
@Johnsom33: Fair enough but I’ve seen enough of him to know in my heart he could have been just as good in this era although he probably would have been mercilessly hacked down by the butchers of the modern game.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:24
@Redrich: Pele himself has said the best player he ever saw was George Best.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:53
@Redrich: I agree and this is what’s so hard about comparing players from different Era’s. I would look to Best’s work ethic. Talented and skilled players with a great work ethic would likely prosper in any era because they would be privy to modern diets and workouts, so the big jump in athleticism wouldn’t be an issue. I personally don’t know about how hard Best trained, so my last point has zero to do with Jim specifically.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:54
If anybody on this side of pond gives a shit;
Honduras 0-0 USA HT.
October 11th, 2009 at 4:09
@Johnsom33: TBH, I think Besty was probably hung over on the practice pitch.
).
It was an era when a lot of top players, shall we say, preferred to “play” rather than practice. Denis Law has a few stories to tell about all this.
Although not uncommon at that time, Besty did eventually go over the top here, and clearly shortened his career (and life
But from someone that saw him play for quite a few years, believe me, he was so, so, good, I just forget all this side chatter and just try to remember the greatness of this footballer!
October 11th, 2009 at 4:12
Update:
Honduras 1-0 USA – 47min.
October 11th, 2009 at 4:20
Update:
Honduras 1-1 USA – 55min.
October 11th, 2009 at 4:31
Update:
Honduras 1-2 USA – 66min.
Casey with his second!!
October 11th, 2009 at 4:36
Update:
Honduras 1-3 USA – 71min.
Donovan with a Ronaldo like free kick fronm 20 yards!!
October 11th, 2009 at 4:43
Update:
Honduras 2-3 USA – 77min.
October 11th, 2009 at 4:50
@Redrich: Thanks for the updates. I was embarrassed on behalf of football that the US did not show the game on ANY channel. A world cup clinching game and no coverage????? What is wrong with them? Is college football bigger than soccer? I think so.
@Anders: Yes, Isaksson was garbage and the game was very close. I found the game very close with both teams having good chances. I am just happy to be able to follow my national team in a world cup again.
October 11th, 2009 at 4:52
Update:
Honduras 2-3 USA – 86min.
Holden handled in the PA.
PK shot over the bar.
October 11th, 2009 at 4:56
@Redrich: Congrats on qualification!
October 11th, 2009 at 5:00
Update:
Honduras 2-3 USA – FT
US in the Finals, and no thanks to any US TV network or their uninterested fans!!
October 11th, 2009 at 5:06
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Just to clarify, I’m English, but my Family and close friends are American.
Happy to have all party’s become interested in next year’s finals.
But thanks for the thought mate.
October 11th, 2009 at 5:14
@Redrich: We can’t blame fans. I’ve seen the blogosphere/twitterverse livid with the mainstream media for their indifference. Today most of them watched it for free through online streams. And that says a lot about missed a opportunity for the broadcasters.
I saw the second half, and it was quite exciting. Honduras have themselves to blame blowing chance after chance. But congratulations to USA.
October 11th, 2009 at 5:26
@Red Ranter: Well you’re right, I can’t speak for the fans, but to degrade this game into what was basically an “underground” event, speaks volumes about the state of Soccer here.
When I just begin to think that it is taking a foothold, something like this occurs, and I feel we’re right back to “step #1″.
I hate conservatism!!
October 11th, 2009 at 5:29
@Redrich: TBH, “football-crazy” England were also not picked up by any English broadcaster today. Which itself is puzzling.
October 11th, 2009 at 5:49
@Red Ranter: I don’t think you can compare the importance of one with the other. England had already qualified and it was an opportunity to measure the interest in online broadcasting.
The US game was critical to their qualification and would have provided a perfect nail-bitter for existing and budding fans to get their curious teeth into.
Instead, most people will wake tomorrow with no knowledge or care. And truly, that is why football, in this country, is soccer!!
October 11th, 2009 at 6:29
@Grognard: I actually do think that Portugal, as a national team, has under performed because of an over-indulgence of individualism.
It’s a classic case of the sum of the parts not adding up to the whole!!
When you imagine that over the last few WC’s they’ve had names like, Figo, Costa, Ronaldo, Deco, Sinao, Carvalho, etc. (I’m sure I’m forgetiing a few), and you would certainly think that they could have achieved better things in the major competitions.
and will go hand in hand with their neighbors, down the yellow brick road of egotism, off to their own individual sunsets!! 
A Euro final appearence and a semi-final (gratis, England)in the WC is all that they have accomplished.
Similar in this respect is Spain, who have consistently under-achieved since the birth of man!
With a whip hand, it’s possible to achieve a team goal, but frankly, I’m not sure these players give a shit!!
October 11th, 2009 at 7:06
@Grognard: I was wondering what the heck that was spewing from his mouth!!!
October 11th, 2009 at 9:40
@Redrich: Notice how in all those names you mentioned, not one of them was a striker. I still feel they have underachieved primarily because they never had that go to go for goals in big tournaments. Nuno Gomez and Holger Postiga just don’t cut it mate. You cannot win a top tournament without one or two legit scoring threats up front. The country is obsessed with developing wingers and has too many of them meanwhile they have nothing up front. I do have to say the Brazilian they adopted Liedson, seems to have potential for me.
October 11th, 2009 at 9:46
@Redrich: Isn’t he just the most irritating SOB on the planet? I hate it when he takes over the Fox Soccer Report from time to time with his 10 minute tirade known as “Maximum Soccer”. I wrote Fox Soccer Report and told Jeremy St. Louis himself that we in Canada especially really can’t stand the know nothingness of Max and his Maximum Bullshit. I was told that Fox Soccer Report which is out of Winnipeg Canada unfortunately has no power and has to bow down to Max and his verbal diarrhea due to contractual commitments with Fox. Man that muppet really gets on my nerves. He’s everything I detest about American soccer broadcasters. More concerned about their image and getting time to elevate themselves rather than the game.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:46
@Grognard: They did have Pauleta, who had a very impressive scoring record both in France and for Portugal (47 goals in 88 internationals). But he failed to deliver when it really mattered.