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.
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Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
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Moscow is my heaven (272)
Now I only lack 1 minute of goals/tricks for the Aguero video to be finished. Would have been finished right now, and Grog would have female orgasms, had it not been for a 4 1/2 minute song. Thanks Grog!
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Fuck David beckham, I can’t stand that greedy pretty boy. He sold his soul when he went to that football wasteland MLS. Now all of a sudden he realizes what he did and wants his soul back. Fergie was right to sell him years ago and I would be furious if he took him back.
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@Natzca: The “cr9″ trademarking thing was common knowledge.
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@Natzca: I know all that about Asia. They are very passionate fans. What I’m saying is in order for United to increase their global appeal they should occasionally also visit the US before other European powers corner the market on this side of the pond. Like it or not, Americans love to spend and tickets will be way more pricier than in Asia. So ROI won’t be a problem. I do understand United’s priorities with regards to Asia, but it’s just a wish that they come here again.
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Owen has scored more goals then ronaldo, benzema and kaka combined, beat that
MO7>galticos
But more over…
MO7>CR9
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@Dan: That statement would have been true about 5 years ago and even I was of that impression. The American footy fan is far more sophisticated than people give them credit for. I have seen so much involvement among Americans here over grass roots football. There is such big ‘ultra’ groups formed around local second division football clubs (yes, there is a second division here which actually have no chance of being in the top division of MLS) that it’s hard to ignore the passion of some of these supporters. I would not call them “casual” anymore.
I had the same mindset about Americans regarding their attitude towards footy — and I have to say it won’t compare with American football etc — but there is a far more noticeable change in attitude over footy here. Declining interest in mainstream sports like Baseball and Hockey have contributed to it. The confed cup tv ratings was on par (or better) with hockey games. And MLS attendances are in some cases better than basketball or hockey. Lot of people recognise that the passion and atmosphere in football is unmatched.
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@jamie lee: fuck maradona that pygmy volleyball player. Roony is the white Pele.
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@Johnsom33: glad to see you come around about ronny mate. hahahaha
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@Red Ranter: i think that is probably the reason they dont come they already have a large chunk of the market share here in the states and are looking for asia and its emerging wealth.
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@Natzca: we did know that. it was in all the rags that he had done it.
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@gator: It’ll be India we tour next…. A Billion people? They’ll want some of that.
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@Traverse: They are probably thinking off it. Its a major sport there, and its not like they arent ranked high enough(they are 10 places above malaysia)…
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@Grognard: You know Grog, I don’t have an economic mind, which I’m working to correct, but Real Madrids ownership structure represents a good model improperly used, if not abused. I’m a man of prudence and pragmatism so though I envy the existence of accountability that RM’s sporting model affords, theirs is an example of how not to waste a good thing. Their board and fans stare in the mirror too long, butnever with an intent of (much needed) introspection. the fans fail to hold the club accountable concerning matters of morality and professionalism. What is to be said of them? the same lot that invite reckless spending in a global recession and who remain silent when their elected officials persue players in a manner that completely disrespects and disregards their european counterparts. they arrogance, snobbery, and false sense of entitlement that enamates from them is naseuating. It is better we envy the potential of their system than how they’ve actually executed in the past decade.
As for the Glazers, I first interpreted their silence as their fulfilling the promise to remain behind the scenes and support the management in the ways SAF and co’ needed. But it now seems a well designed machination against the fans. Earn some amount of trust and reduce visibility as much as possible, but jack up prices everywhere, sell our best assets (with the intention of keeping the funds), use our beloved manager to keep spouting lies and half truths and convert us all to the growing mass of mindless drones.
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@Johnsom33: Check this out, from my local rag.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/18/SP5I18QTDC.DTL
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@Roge9: Cannot help myself for butting in here in a comment addressed to Grognard. I just find something very ironic with your first paragraph. I’ve actually read that before (a couple of times). Perhaps not the exact wording, but all the points mentioned. Only, the name “Real Madrid” were substituted with “Manchester United”.
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Pompey have FOURTEEN players available in total for their whole senior squad!
I say lend them a few of our youths, they would gwedefinitely get PL experience.
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COCKS OUT!!!, cause the Aguero video is finished!
I feel so proud, cause Grog gave me a heck of a time with the long tune. 
Aguero is a class player, that I can say. But Atletico are shite in the game, no fucking speed compared to Barca, Real and Valencia. Argentina were also a good team to play with, but their defense was slower than fuck! 
Look forward to the vid, it will be on Youtube tomorrow. Just gotta make some last adjustements, so Grog can get the orgasm I guaranteed him! 
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Oh, and Riquelmes through balls gave me a hard cock each time!
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45m Euros and Eto’o for Ibrahimovic? Am I missing something? I may be the only one on this site who actually rates Zlatan, but there is no way in hell that he is worth all that. They must be out of their minds over there at Barca. They couldnt have gotten Villa for around that price, and they could have sold Eto for 10-20m depending on the buyer. Something is definately fishy about that deal…
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@johnsom33:
That values him at around 70m euros. The market has gone mad.
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@johnsom33: I do rate Zlatan actually, but I think Eto’o is being made to look a third the player he really is. Right now, he’s much like Dwight Yorke at his peak, if only he didn’t have that shitty attitude.
What’s with African players and unrealistic wage demands these days? Adebayor apprently wants 170,000 £ a week! And his agents touted him to us thinking we would want him…
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@Red Ranter: The want that South East Asian market for licensing. It’s lucrative and also highly populated. Also, United are number one there and they don’t have to compete hard for their market share. I personally hate these trips as i feel the fatigue players and create jet lag before the season has even started. I say send them up to Scotland for 4 or 5 games and that is enough for me. Problem is they are doing it out of greediness to make money, not because it helps them in the pre season preparation.
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@Natzca: We knew about this four days ago mate.
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@Cyclops-Red: well he did show up ronaldo in that old joga bonita commercial with king erick. so maby he is worth MORE
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@RedDevilEddy: I like it like that.
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@gator:
It makes Ronaldos’ fee look like a friggin’ bargain
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@Roge9: Too true, on all counts. Well said.
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@RedDevilEddy: OK, so where is it? I’m dying to see it and you are teasing me to death here mate. I want to experience my Aguero/Riquelme video orgasm already.
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@johnsom33: Absolute brain damage. I thought Inter were getting a good deal in a one for one deal but getting 45 million too, well that’s just incredible business by the Special One. Zlatan is the most overrated footballer in the world. He’s even more overrated by Kaka by a cou8ntry mile. Barca just took out 357 Magnum and whacked themselves.
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@Grognard: It will be on tomorrow. Gonna try to make Aguero kiss the United badge first… I always try to hold my promise.
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All I can say is Mourinho come to United! That is one helluva deal he pulled off. He spent the year saying how amazing Ibrahovitch was and then flogged him!
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@colver:
Yeah, the guy can sell sand to an arab.
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When your name is Rafa Benitez, you dont disagree with facts. Facts disagree with you!
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RAFA RANT
Good `ol days…
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@RedDevilEddy:
I like this one;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZHosq1fxSM&feature=related
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@colver: that would be amazing, he is the best candidate for a successor at united
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@RedDevilEddy: is it just for grog or will i be able to see it on youtube?
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@NicoQB: I think he got it, didn’t he??
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Anybody thought about the citeh pecking order for their front line??
Robinho, Adeybayor, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Bellamy, Benjami and Bojinov will all vie for the 2, maybe 3 starting roles in their line up.
Can’t wait ’til Tevez has a bad streak of form and he has to spell Bellamy or Robinho off the bench.
Maybe we can get him back on a loan deal in January, after Owen is injured and Berbatov needs to take a breather!!
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@Anthony Los: Everybody gets to see it mate.
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WTF Beckham in News of the World tipping Chelsea for the title because of Ancelotti then raving about how amazing Ancelotti is.
Load of rubbish. If Chelsea win the title it is because they have a good squad and we’ve been weakened and Liverpool still have too thin a squad. Hell Chelsea almost won everything with Grant in charge. Ancelotti will make little difference to Chelsea and will probably go the way of all the other managers.
Still I believe if we somehow manage to keep Hargreaves and Owen fit for most of the season I think we can win the Premier League. But I think in Europe we will be outmatched by Barca, Chelsea or even Liverpool…because our first XI is significantly weakened with Ronaldo gone even if our squad still has admirable depth.
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I reckon City will use Robinho as a winger and will play Santa Cruz and Adebayor when fit with Tevez as third striker. Lucky for Tevez Santa Cruz is injury prone and he’ll get a fair amount of games.
Given-Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Bridge-Wright Philips, Barry, Ireland, Robinho-Adebayor, Santa Cruz
It is not a bad team but outside their first XI they are pretty thin, their defence is a bit dodgy and I question the commitment of some of their players such as Adebayor and Robinho. I reckon they will finish 5th or 6th.
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@Grognard: yeah, so i’ve been told by a few people already. looks like i’m not on the ball as I thought i was
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@Johnsom33: I must’ve missed it earlier in the year, guess I’m confused that people were surprised by the move if he had done that. but who cares now anyway, it’s all done. no need to waste more time talking about it.
sorry i brought it up again guys.
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@Grognard: I dunno about it being greed. It is business after all, and thy are trying to make the most of it. Since we are riding in debt, I wouldn’t blame them in looking to get as much $$ value for the United brand as possible.
@Red Ranter: If I was in the US, i’d want United to do a tour there as well, and the market is more than large enough to be fruitful for them. guess we can’t really know how their marketing dept. determine the best place to tour. Hell I’m in Australia, I wish they toured here, the last time they came was a one stop on their asia tour back in ’99…
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@Karl: you would have to direct me to the authors. if i have plagerized, it was unintentional as those are my seeds of thought. perhaps, i should avoid generic-heavy posts (of which i’m guilty) in the future.
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@colver: Hargreaves and Owen does not equal the loss of Ronaldo and Tevez mate. We had those players last year and barely won the whole thing. What makes you think we can lose the best player in the world and continue to win is beyond me. We have not made the kind of impact signings that are going to keep us at the top. And Chelsea are a very good and Ancelotti isn’t exactly a slouch by reputation. I expect him to be very successful and very no nonsense because he is perfect for a very veteran side. I think you are being far too optimistic regarding a team that has lost so much but that may have gained the two Cripple Twins known as Owen.
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@Natzca: It’s a necessary evil. All the top clubs do it, and we must do it to consolidate and grow our revenue. It’s more business than greed, as you say. I read that we stand to gain about £80m from our business deals with companies in Asia alone this time. Hence making these Asian visits are necessary as a part of good PR.
I’d much rather United play the pre-season friendlies abroad rather than have them do it during the regular season — ie, the ’39th game’.
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Well Grog, I told you I would be finished on Sunday. I told you I would get many assists for Riquelme! I told you I would make Aguero look like a fucking monster player! And I told you that I wanted to make myself look great as well!
Well, you can get your cock out of your fucking pants and get many boxes of tissues because the Aguero video is on Youtube! 
I did all I promised to do, and like I said, orgasm is guaranteed for watchers. 
Enjoy mate, enjoy…
*This video can be viewn by everybody who wants to.*
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