Jul 17
United touchdown in Malaysia, dodge potential disaster
Update: United cancel Indonesia visit. Club working on revised itinerary outside Indonesia.
Every now and then we get hit by news that brings us down to reality. At the time of writing, nine people were killed in bombings of two luxury hotels in Indonesia.
It’s more shocking if you realize United were scheduled to stay at the Ritz in Jakarta. The cause, people behind these attacks aren’t yet known, so we’ll have to wait for further details to be revealed.
Whether United would tour Indonesia is also up in the air.
A spokesman for the Indonesian organizers, Souraiya Farina, told AFP they had not had any information yet from the team on whether they would cancel their visit. ‘We have had no confirmation of what they might be doing and noone has indicated to us that they will cancel their visit,’ she said. ‘They may move to another hotel,’ she added, citing the Pacific Hotel as an alternative.[link]
Meanwhile, United kick off pre-season in Malaysia with a match on Saturday. We will hopefully have mini-reports of the preseason friendlies.
Travelling squad: Edwin van der Sar, Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Foster; Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, John O’Shea, Fabio da Silva; Nani, Zoran Tosic, Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs; Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov, Federico Macheda, Wayne Rooney.
We will look to update this post as an when we get to hear about United’s plans to tour Indonesia. Watch this space.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd Headlines 27 May 2007
- Man Utd Stories of the Day
- Manchester United’s Munich tribute on 6 Feb 2008
- Busby Babes RIP
- We’re on the Telegraph’s Top 10 Man Utd Websites
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (487)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (348)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
I hope they (Gill & co.) can manage a way to ensure the team’s security while not leaving Indonesia disappointed… It seems, however, to be an impossible task.
Being a Muslim, I must say I am quite saddened to hear of this development. Jemaah Islamiyah (which I can roughly translate from Arabic as “community/nation/brotherhood of Islam”), if indeed they are the ones who did it, are severely misguided and mistaken if they believe that they are still in the fold of Islam or that they did God or anyone else a service. No doubt, they will have their recompense in due time.
Note: I hope that I don’t offend anyone here with my words.
Like?
0 
0
Game’s been canceled.
Like?
0 
0
Thank God nothing happened to the team! It is a sin to kill in any religion so obviously J.I. is not representing Islam but is merely a political organization hiding under the banner of Islam to perform their actions of terrorizing the public in hopes of forcing the public minds to follow their ideals which have little to do what Islam truly represents.
Like?
0 
0
Told you!
Although, its not the guy from my team but I think I know him. Unless he is just yanking my chain, or really knows the dude that goes to United.
Like?
0 
0
@RedDevilEddy: What position does he play?
Like?
0 
0
I bet its either “Mos” Abdellaoue, Per Ciljan Skjelbred or Mame Biram Diouf. I bet its the latter though, he scored 4 goals this weekend. Striker, can score in every way and comes from Senegal. He is also 21 years old, the others are 20 and 22. Although, Mos is 21 in August… Who knows, but Im realy exited about this!
Like?
0 
0
@Karl: Striker, plays for Vålerenga. Names Mustafa Abdellaoue, AKA “Mos”. He went to my school, 20 year old striker and gets 21 in August. He is the brother of Moa Abdellaoue, a guy we were linked with in the Spring. But this guy is younger, and a real talent at Futsal! Hope its him, then I have an insider…
Like?
0 
0
To all those who lived in the glimmer of hope that there will be “one more signing”. Sorry.
Hesure weren’t when he allowed us to be priced out of a silly financial market that he had a big part in.
Fergie confirmed. No more. I know there were those who thought Fergie was using pshyche to get prices down…I don’t think he’s that clever.
I’m laughing, but its sad actually. Not the signings, but the whole situation and moreso, the hypocrisy. People say that this will be the year for the youngsters…I doubt it. I think we’ll see an over-extended run of Scholes, Giggs, Neville, and Rooney, Berbatov and Owen.
What I actually find hurtful during this entire off-season, was the fact that it became very apparent that United don’t really give a fuck about their supporters anymore (at least not the way Real or Barca does). To United, we’re just stupid cows that’s there for the milking. Nothing more. They don’t even have enough respect for us than to bother to properly filter out the PR that gets fed to us. Blatant lies and bullshit.
Question: How much exactly did the supporters feature during the sale of our hero Ronaldo? And all the chants of “Fergie sign him up”? How did the club remedy the loss of 2 fan favourites (never mind best footballer in the world)? In this, I am not advocating the signing of world-class players, but rather proper dialogue between United and their supporters regarding the ordeal. (And NO, I don’t mean questioning Paddy on MUTV).
I don’t care if we sign Ronaldinho or Kakaninho. I just for God’s sake hope we play some entertaining football this season.
Like?
0 
0
@RedDevilEddy: Thanks for the info. I hope you use this as a confirmation that it CAN happen to YOU too.
I also want an insider … to Anderson.
Like?
0 
0
@RedDevilEddy: I think its this kid. A striker from Molde called Mame Biram Diouf. Do you know him? I heard he’s a good header of the ball.
Like?
0 
0
Apparantly Mr Beckham does want a return to the prem but has stated that he would only consider US. I for one would love to see Beckham back at OT. even at 34 he still has unbelievable stamina and as we all know can score from freekicks and will provide glorious balls into our strikers!!
FERGIE FERGIE SIGN HIM UP!!!! FERGIE FERGIE SIGN HIM UP!!!!
he would probably buyout his own contract as well as he did put a clause in stating that after so long he could buy out to release himself. He loves United and we love him! He would become a great ambassador for our club going round poaching all the great uk talent too.
This guy makes every effort to come to our games even though he was effectively forced out due to Fergis not being happy with his “lifestyle” wife more like!! lol But should he return to our Legendary club he would be sure to sell a shit load of shirts and merchandise. We would have our media poster boy!!
I know i’m dreaming but hey after all our ground isn’t called the theatre of dreams for nothing!!
Like?
0 
0
Its official! MANCHESTER UNTIED HAVE SIGNED MAME BIRAM DIOUF FROM MOLDE!!!
Molde was the club that Ole came from, and about at the same age as Mame. I gotta tell, you, this is a realy good deal! This guy scored a hat-trick before it was played 10 minutes against the in-form team in the Norwegian Premier League, Brann, this Sunday. He ended up with 4 goals in the match, two deadly Ole-esque finishes and a bullet header. The other was a deflected piledriver. I think this will turn out to be a great signing, and really one for the future. He is 21.
Lets look forward to a Norwegian parade in the future!
Mame, Eikrem, King… Eddy(?) 
Like?
0 
0
@RDJ: Yeah, its him. Read comment 12 for more info.
Like?
0 
0
Mame Biram Diouf will stay at Molde until January, and will then join United.
What does this mean for Danny and Kiko?
I dont think this transfer will have a big incluence on them, but Berbatov will be different matters. When Mame arrives he will be 30, same as Owen. They will probably have a few more years to play, but with Kiko, Welbeck and now Biram coming through this may mean farewell to one of them. My bet is one Berba, because he was somehow freezed out by the United team come the end of the season. And with Owen getting the number 7 shirt…
Is this the downfall of the Dimi?
Like?
0 
0
In other news, we will not see Obertan in a United shirt until October because of an injury. Probably thats why the medical took such a long time…
And Vidic and Tony will be playing in the Audi cup.
Like?
0 
0
Its because of Mame Biram that Rosenborg havent sailed away with the Norwegian Championship. His goals have saved their asses…
Like?
0 
0
MAME BIRAM
Like?
0 
0
And here are his goals from the weekend. Link
Like?
0 
0
That failed…
Link
Like?
0 
0
@RedDevilEddy: more like the end for Manucho
Like?
0 
0
Hargreaves to return end september. great news. like a new signing!!!
Like?
0 
0
@United legend: where did u get that from?
Like?
0 
0
@fuzzy: Thank God.
Like?
0 
0
@jos: Sky Sports News said it, apparently was said in press conference on tour by SAF. Eddy looks really excited about this Senagalese youngster. Videos look promising although i have noticed that the goalkeepers arn’t too good…
Like?
0 
0
Like?
0 
0
@Will: hopefully this Diouf is better than the Diouf that turned up at Anfield
Like?
0 
0
@jos: its on almost every web site. just check out http://www.newsnow.co.uk go manutd page.
Like?
0 
0
@fuzzy: it sounds like Fergie didn’t want to move for him until at least january but other clubs, apparently Spurs were putting in bids so SAF decided to grab him, thats why he’ll be loaned back to Molde, sounds promising.
January is gonna be a fun time with Diouf and Adem coming in, Hargreaves is back september and Obertan October, its gonna be like 4 new signings. just hope we do well until then. at least we don’t have the World Club Championship to worry about (and it means we can loose those stupid shiny stickers)
Like?
0 
0
definatly last signing by the sounds of it. by the way where is Manucho?
Like?
0 
0
@Will: Hargreaves might be back on the doctor’s table by October. I used to be optimistic regarding footballers’ injuries, I even used to argue with my ABU friends about Saha(in the initial days of his injuries). His eventual injury record made me sort of a laughing stock amongst our group
Like?
0 
0
@Will: “definatly last signing by the sounds of it.” unless somebody else forces our hand again
Like?
0 
0
@fuzzy: true about saha (although i still think a lot of it was in his head) but surely will Knee transplants, or whatever he’s had, he will be more bionic man than glass man. either way, i think he’ll be kept for important European games, and games against the big four, just to keep him fit.
Like?
0 
0
Does no one have an opinion on Beckham wanting to come home??
I personally wish he would as he’d would fit right in and he would also command the midfield. Is no one else Seeing that a second coming of Sir David Beckham at OT would be just what we need for this coming season.
Thought this would put a smile on every Man Utd fans faces at least. Fergie should bring him home. I do suspect that he would ask becks to divorce the stick insect he calls a wife though
Oh and by the way i know i’m away with the fairies even contemplating his return but i do need to dream once in a while.
Like?
0 
0
@Monkwahhdo: would be more of a media nightmare for the club than a dream
Like?
0 
0
@fuzzy: How so fella?
Like?
0 
0
@Monkwahhdo: He is yesterdays news, we need to concentrate on the future and it will never happen due to his realtionship with the manager.
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: Beckham is everyday new mate, he would give US massive exposure again, as for his relationship with our beloved manager i agree that is why it is but a dream. To have him back at OT would solve the midfield commander problem out this season and to then move him onto an ambassador role or to training our current crop of midfielders we would only benefit from him. Beckham has always been a great motivator and we need a motivator on the pitch right now. Granted if he did come back it may undermine SAF’s hardline as too if your out your out! but Then again SAF’s does seem to becoming more sentimental in his old age and it’s not like Beckham has ever had a bad word to say about US.
Like?
0 
0
@Monkwahhdo: I personally think getting Beckham would be great. It will solve our marketing void, as well as act as ambassador the same wya Zidane does for Madrid.
Problem is though, what kind of message would that be sending out?
I mean, you lose the world’s no.1 player and a good player and fan favourite. Then, added to the team’s over-reliance on aged players like Giggs, Scholes, Neville, EVDS, we add an ‘over-the-top’ Owen and a ‘way-past-his-prime Beckham” as ‘replacements’ or strengthening. Will not make very good PR. Will give our club the impression that not only are we copying AC Milan’s playing tactics, we are also copying their strategic tactics. (Not that United care about PR to the supporters, but it will affect our attractibility of new good players to the club).
Like?
0 
0
@Karl: Attractability? If i was a player i would love nothing more than to have mentors in like of the aged players, Essentially i agree it would be copying AC milan’s tactics but only as a stop gap for the coming season covering our holes whilst we blood all the “talent” we have bought up.
Our young midfielders idolise Scholes as he is a truely commited player and other than his tackling skills (or lack of) has/had world class ball distribution. The major thing Schole has lacked is Leadership. Beckham is a leader (even with his squeeky voice)and the young lads could only benefit from his guidance especially Gibo or Fletchinio. He only wants to make it the World Cup and i Think although it may hinder the young lads getting into the team whilst he plays his heart out they would get opportunities in cc and fa cup games. come 2010/11 season these boys will be ready to become the new class of 1994.
Oh did i mention that Beckham is desparate to make it to one more world cup and would play like an 18 year old (energy wise)to get there. This lad will play like a DEVIL this season to get what he wants and i for one think we would be mad to miss this opportunity.
I just got all sentimental thinking of giggs scholes beckham and neville all back together for one last season.
My god i need to come back to reality
(but it’s so nice here!!) lol
Like?
0 
0
@Monkwahhdo: Agreed mate… I mean no matter if we look like AC and all… I mean just as a sentimental fan or emotional fool that i am regd Man UTD i would just love to see once they all are playing together.
Secondly, whether any one agrees on not, he may not be able to fill the gap created by Ronaldo’s exit on field but i don’t think he will have any problems filing in for marketing purposes.
Moreover, as you have rightly pointed out today we need someone like Beckham to do the job of an Ambassador for the club.
I mean for today’s youngster, whatever Sir Bobby Charlton has achieved may not find him attractive as he may feel its a part of the history (thing of past), he may not even feel impressed by Ryan Giggs (although for me he is the best professional idol that anyone can dream of) but he may definitely get that appeal from Beckham because his lifestyle, superstars status etc…
So, I think we all should look into it think of a situation where in we are finding someone who will do ZZ’s job for us.
Like?
0 
0
You can have a lot worse than Beckham coming off the bench in the last 20mins when you need to find something. What with the Owen signing, literally anything is now possible. For all we know Viera will be playing for us by September
Like?
0 
0
@Monkwahhdo: I would rather have nani, valencia and obertan playing in the wide areas than beckham, and in centre midfield we have carrick and scholes as playmakers in the position he would play. He got on well in italy where the game is slow, but he would struggle in england now. Don’t get me wrong, he’s naturally fit and has looked after himself – he would perform admirably in a long-distance run where everything is one-paced, but football is not like that especially in england. We already have carrick and scholes struggling athletically in the middle of the park, no sense in adding beckham.
Like?
0 
0
@Onkar: He can be an ambassador for the club when he stops playing.
Like?
0 
0
@Monkwahhdo: Beckham wouldnt be a bad signing, his commercial appeal alone wouldnt be so bad and im sure we would sell massive amounts of beckham shirts again. He still is a decent player and as traverse said he would be good just to bring on in the final 20 minutes for his crossing ability and free kick ability also.
Problem is he is on a massive contract with LA galaxy and whilst im not too concerned about his wages as im sure he would lower them to play for us again, its negotiating releasing him from his contract in LA. I think hes on like £200k a week and im not completely sure but i thought i read somewhere when milan wanted to make the loan perminant it would cost something like £15m to do that. Whilst we would be making shit loads of money from him commercially ie shirts and the love he gets abroad as well as here, £15m for him is way too overpriced. If we can negotiate and get it right down to say £3/4m then fine but they will not let go of their only decent player who brings them millions in commercial deals for peanuts so nice thought but its very unlikely when you also consider his and the managers strained relationship.
Like?
0 
0
@Traverse: Oooohhh….. So, now Viera!!!
Grogy has already said in one of the post that he won’t mind Veron coming to Man UTD. Monkwahhdo advocating and dreaming Backs… Owen is already in…
Looks like English AC is in the making here
How about the midfield of Becks, Viera, Scholes and Giggsy. I mean lots of experience and trophies between them…
Like?
0 
0
@tevez: Yeah… He can be… I mean in my opinion he should be… But, if i can see things rightly he won’t be!!!
Like?
0 
0
@Matt: Yeah.. Thats precisely i wanted to say that when you look at it from other than footballing matters like commercial aspects, appointment as ambassador to attract more youngster then this deal doesn’t look that awful.. Does it???
I mean damn sure that even if he retires his marketing appeal will not diminish for few years after his retirement as well… Such is the phenomenon he is…
But, we all know what is gaffer is all about.. So, i really need to get out this dream.. no matter how much i am loving it….
Like?
0 
0
I Think i need the “GROG
” to drag me back to reality with his reasons why he thinks i’m as mad as cheese!! lol(Salfordian for being a crazy person)and why we dont need Beckham or shouldn’t sign him.
Like?
0 
0
@Monkwahhdo: Don’t worry bro he will do that job perfectly with lost of cold evidences too..
Just let him come back and he will have first fire on you to talk about Becks and on me for supporting you.. So be ready….
Like?
0 
0
I can’t see the point firstly of even debating Beckham because it will never happen and also most people on this site want rid of Scholes, Giggs and Neville so bringing in another 34 year old is a total waste of time.
I may sell a few shirts but on a footballing level is is pointless, he can’t get up and down the pitch anymore, I agree he can sling in the odd good ball, but so can Nani he is more interested in brand Beckham than football bar getting to play for England in the World Cup for personal gains.
Lets look to the future and not the past and that means Beckham, Tevez and Ronaldo.
Like?
0 
0