What the MUG?

New Season, New Heroes?

2009-07-28T15:27:00.003+01:00

Tevez gone. Ronaldo gone. It would appear to us mere fans that suitable replacements have yet to be sourced, and given the noises coming from the club, none will be.

Reminds me of summer 2006, Ruud out. The same Ruud that scored 44 goals in 52 games in the 02/03 season. The same Ruud who scored 150 goals in 219 games for the Reds including 38 in Europe! We all knew it was coming given the turbulence surrounding him at the end of the 05/06 season. I'm sure we all remember the League Cup Final day... One of our most prolific goalscorers of all time, benched, and on his way out.

So 18million Euros later and he's wearing the white of Madrid, and though we are quite rightly sad to see him leave (especially as all the blame for the bust up was directed at Ronaldo, the same Ronaldo who couldn't cross a ball, score much and used to tackle himself on a regular basis) we understood the manager had to make the decision. We all thought he made the wrong one by selling Ruud and keeping Ronaldo... He proved us wrong... Yet again.

The next question on everyone's mind was "Who do we bring in to replace Ruud?". The answer was Michael Carrick. "Yeah, ok, great" we said, "but who do we bring in to replace Ruud?" Still the only answer and outfield player we got was Michael Carrick.... Eyebrows were raised!

First game of the season, Fulham at Old Trafford, 16 minutes into the game, United are 4-0 up.... Eyebrows were raised even higher! We went to the top of the league and never really dropped off the top. Since the summer of 2006 we have not failed to win the league (the hardest in the world according to most), we have not failed to get on the last 4 of the Champions League winning it in the process (incase you were in some sort of coma in 2008).

This was undoubtably down to the progression of Ronaldo. He stepped straight into Ruud's boots and this was no accident. Just because we didn't predict it doesn't mean Fergie didn't, I'm 100% sure he knew exactly how it would pan out, and I don't see this season being any different.

Be it Valencia, Owen, Berbatov, Rooney, Macheda or even a combination of all of them Fergie must know that there's plenty of goals and room for improvement from those players. It might even be hat trick hero Giggs ;-)

Stay calm Muggers!

Cristiano Ronaldo: A Tale of Love

2009-01-14T15:05:00.006Z

Love is a word that is often banded around willy nilly these days. "I love coffee", "I love cats" etc etc, but love is much more than that; love is a consuming feeling. In fact, it's more than a feeling, it's almost impossible to describe, perhaps that's why it's so alluring?

Take yourselves back to Wednesday 21st May, 2008 (as if you could forget). Ryan Giggs has just booted home the winning penalty for Manchester United in the Champions League Final; you've done it, you've won the trophy that cements your club's position as Europe's best, but it wasn't all plain sailing. You missed your penalty, despite all the hype, all the pre-match talk, all the goals and celebrations, you missed your penalty when the pressure was on. (for the second time). Ryan Giggs just saved your ass.

You collapse in a heap as your emotions get the better of you, and you cry a little. You compose yourself and are interviewed; the journalists ask about your future, where do you go now? "I stay" you say without hesitation in your often ambiguous broken English, there's no room for ambiguity here, your immediate response was adamant.

Fast forward now to the European Championships. Moscow is behind you now, you're concentrating on Portugal and, as is the norm for you, looking to win. Rumours that first emerged even before the Champions League final in May are abound that Spanish giants Real Madrid are interested in your services; in fact your club have already reported them to FIFA for attempting to tap you up, but you're intrigued. Away from the glare of your club manager and your team-mates (Nani aside), you contemplate the move; it could be the best thing for you. After all, where did you dream of when you were kicking the ball around on the Madeira beaches; rainy Manchester? No, sunny, beautiful, alluring Madrid. Being away from your club has given you time to think, time to justify the move. You've never made it a secret that you'd like to play in Spain one day, perhaps the time is right?

June has barely begun however, when your club boss, the ever outspoken Alex Ferguson, issues a strong worded statement: The club would rather put Cristiano Ronaldo in the stands than sell him to Real Madrid.

You're confused. 5 days later you make your first mistake. You should have ignored the rumours, taken the ego boost of being strongly linked with Madrid and just accepted that the time is not right. Instead, you issue a statement so glorious in its ambiguity, that a politician couldn't have said it better.

""I'd like to play for Real Madrid but only if it's true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them," he told respected Brazilian website Terra.

"However, it does not depend on me," said the Portuguese midfielder.

"I'll only talk about this again after the European Championship," added Ronaldo. "Don't ask me any questions because I won't answer."

Before your statement, Madrid had all but given up hope of signing you this summer, but you woke up the dragon. "For Madrid it is an honour to know that a player like him thinks that playing at Real would be good," he told Spanish newspaper AS.

"We are proud to know that he would like to be with us."

Shit has now officially hit the fan. The fans are in uproar, why won't you commit to United? The club who've nurtured you for 5 years and helped turn your potential into a reality. The silence is deafening, the Manchester Evening News reports that "the groundswell of opinion is moving away from all-out determination to keep their 42-goal hero at Old Trafford, to frustration and annoyance that he steadfastly refuses to nail his colours to the Red mast."

Manchester United fans are a fickle bunch who demand 100% loyalty from their players, homegrown or not, or at least an apparent loyalty, what actually goes on in their heads is by-the-by as long as the player demonstrates a love for his club either through his words or his football. You've really upset them.

Fast forward now to July, a full 6 weeks after this fiasco began. By now you've completely marred what should've been a glorious summer for Manchester United fans. Instead of the joyous fallout of an incredible double and a first European success since 1999, all they've been doing is view the putrid 'will he, won't he' saga you've helped to create. Above all else, the fans are disappointed that you haven't once come out publicly to just put the rumours to bed and commit to your club, even if it's just for the next season. They feel let down, they feel betrayed, they think you're ungrateful, some have even begun to hate you.

Only days previously, Madrid president Roman Calderon announced that "His [Ronaldo] declarations have provoked a lot of expectation," Calderon said of the Madeira-born player. "If it was me, it would make me proud that the big clubs were asking about our players. But it is not up to the player, or Madrid. Manchester do not want to sell him. It seems that Ronaldo has become a bit of a hot potato," he added."

You met with Alex Ferguson in July, you talked. “We did a lot of stocking up last summer, buying four players of good ages as part of a policy of bringing in footballers whom we thought we could develop,” Ferguson said.

“We think there is further progress in this squad. We had 23 players in Moscow for the European Cup final and they will all be there for this season.”

By July 21st however, your broken English served up another howler, less than a week after your meeting with Ferguson and an assertion from the Scot that "Ronaldo will be a Manchester United player next season"; "I have had hundreds of questions about Manchester United and Real Madrid," he said. "What do you want me to say? That I am staying or that I am going? I don't know about the future - only God knows that. Great players are always hunted by great clubs, it is a normal situation. I want to be happy regardless of where I play. I can be happy anywhere if I am with people I like or if I am motivated."

What does that mean? From behind United-tinted glasses it reads well, "stop asking me about my future because I'm not a fortune teller"; but it does the same from a Madrid perspective; "come and get me, I'm not committing and I'm not in the right frame of mind to stay."

If you'd just committed to United, none of this would have happened; but the saga rolled on.

To August now, and you've had the surgery on an ankle injury that fortunately didn't do you any damage the previous season; yet the rumours about Madrid still refuse to go away. "Ronaldo is reluctant to return to Manchester at all, and will try and force United's hand by staying away from Old Trafford as long as possible" claim some media sources, but the transfer deadline came and went, and you were still a United player. So what now?

The season starts and you're less than impressive. Your diving antics, forgiven by most fans last season, are resoundly abhorred this season. You're not tearing opponents apart, you just don't look like yourself.

To top it off, you're sent off against Manchester City for a ridiculous handball and a second yellow card, the gloves are off and fans are furious.

Move on to the new year, to 2009, your side have just hammered Chelsea, last year's runners up and Champions League finalists, 3-0. You didn't score in that game, but you played with that Ronaldo guise so sorely missed in the early part of the season. But right when the fans are just starting to forgive you (they're all fickle really), Madrid pop up again: "Spanish journalist Guilem Balague claimed on his website Tuesday that a verbal agreement has been reached between Ronaldo's agent and the Spanish champions for a summer transfer.

Madrid is prepared to spend up to 115 million euros (C$186 million) on the transfer, Balague said, adding that United will command a higher fee due to the plummeting value of the pound and strength of the euro."

However, amid desparate groans of "here we go again" from Manchester Untied fans all over the world, you, fresh from a potentially horrific car crash, and with epiphany like timing, release your latest statement to the press:
"I intend to win as many trophies as I can with this club for as long as possible," he said.

"We are a young team and the future is good.

"I want to be here and be part of the success that lies ahead. It is great to be part of such a fantastic club.

"I intend to be here for years and years."

Bravo sir, bravo.

It wasn't until December when I finally came to terms with the fact that Ronaldo would not be at Man Utd forever. After the City game, I was angry, I believed that the Ronaldo of 2007-08 was gone, and in his place was the wantaway Ronaldo of 2008-09. I wrote on December 1st, "my reverence of Cristiano Ronaldo peaked at the Champions League Final. I cried with him. Yesterday, I laughed at him."

So where do I stand now?

Love is a word banded around too much, and with too much ease, but I love Manchester United. To me, it's more than just words, more than just a feeling; I live and breathe it every day of my life. In my love for my club, I developed a love for Cristiano Ronaldo, the most complete football player I've ever been lucky enough to witness in my lifetime. At the time I thought this was a love of Ronaldo, rather than a love by proxy of my love for my club. With this in mind, I admire and deeply respect Cristiano Ronaldo not only for his ability, but for his will to win and his overwhelming desire to be the best.

Cristiano Ronaldo's summer saga is a tale of love, not a love of Ronaldo, but a love of Manchester United.

A Summary So Far

2008-09-30T23:06:00.004+01:00

It's still early days in the season. The Champions League has only just kicked off, the FA Cup hasn't even started for the top divisions and the Premiership is just beginning to get interesting. Despite a slow start to the season our awful fixture list puts the results in some perspective; Liverpool, Chelsea and Portsmouth away certainly aren't pushovers.

Thus far United have looked disjointed and less than inspiring. But again, when you look at the fact that our leading scorer from last year (and the world's best player) has been injured, along with a less than optimal preseason for Wayne Rooney and a host of other injuries, we have done what we could with what we had. Today against Aalborg, Sir Alex had his full compliment of forwards to chose from and went with Rooney, Berbatov up front, Nani and Ronaldo on the wings, O'Shea and Scholes in the middle and the ever dependable back five, though young Rafael Da Silva was given a start ahead of Gary Neville (who didn't travel with the squad) and Wes Brown.

I have to say that I will not be sad to see Ronaldo go next year. Yes, I'm treating his transfer to Madrid as an eventuality. Why? Because he is the world's best player and biggest name and to not cash in on him while we can would be stupid. I won't be sad to see him not because of what he brings to the team (IMO irreplaceable qualities), but because of what he doesn't bring to the team. Even the staunchest Ronaldo fan must admit that he doesn't track back, doesn't work hard, dives perhaps a little too often and often mopes around on an off day.

Well, it seems that we now have two Ronaldo's in our side. Yes I'm talking about our new striker, Dimitar Berbatov. Don't get me wrong here, Dimi is class; his two finishes today showed that. But the same complaints of Ronaldo can be made of Berbatov. Against the Danish champions we can have to players working less than 100%. But against Bayern Munich? Chelsea? Liverpool? Juve? I don't think so. Ronaldo's less than stellar workrate was offset last year by the constant harrying by Tevez and Rooney as well as his goal tally; this year unless Ferguson benches our new buy, that combination will be few and far between.

This is not a bad thing. It will force our midfield to work harder yes, but we have the legs in players like Fletcher, Hargreaves and Carrick, and the experience in players like Giggs and Scholes to make up for it.

Two passages of play caught my eye today, both in the second half. Neither led to a goal, but both led to chances. The first was that cutting counterattack that moved the ball from Ronaldo's foot at the edge of our box to Nani's chip in the Aalborg area in less than 10 seconds. Absolutely stunning, and if not for a dodgy call by the linesman, certainly a goal by Tevez coming in for the rebound. The second was the smooth passing and vision that saw Giggs in on goal at a thin angle, his shot saved by the keeper. Both exhibited the great vision and passing and quickness that United teams of the past exemplified. For the first time this year, it felt like the boys were on their game, that everything was clicking, which is essential for a good run of wins.

Wayne Rooney or the story of a boy who can't seem to do anything right

2008-09-01T04:31:00.000+01:00

"We have to define Rooney's role a bit better for us."He sacrificed himself for the team a lot last season. We played him wide and in other positions at times."I think I have to take a bit of responsibility for that. He never complained about it, which says a lot for the lad.“It does indeed, Sir Alex. Where other players would moan and bitch, Rooney went out last year and did what was asked of him, no complaining, no whining, giving 100%People are quick to jump on his back now that he has had a couple of bad games for us at the beginning of the season. I don’t want to make excuses as i know he should have played better, but am i the only one who thinks that coming back from some sort of weird foreign virus might have influenced his health and play just a tiny little bit?But anyway. Back to people claiming he is „useless“ and needs to be sold because he does’t score goals.Wayne Rooney scored 18 goals for us last season in the premiere league, that is only 1 less than Carlos Tevez and he had 12 assists and so shares top spot with Nani when it comes to that.I am pretty sure Rooney himself isn’t happy with his performance this year, because as every player, or at least every committed player, all he wants to do is help the team win and do the best he can.We have seen a tired and out of spirits Wayne Rooney so far but i don’t think that fans and critics equally getting on his back every single time he doesn’t score in a game will help him build his confidence. People have told me that they think Rooney doesn’t get criticised enough because he is english and he is appreciated more than other players. Now i ask where are these people every time Rooney misses a chance and comments of „how could he miss that? A world class striker would have put it in the net“ or „rooney and his missed chance lost us the game“ or „Rooney has been terrible and he is useless“ flood the wall?If anything, he has gotten a lot of criticism and been looked at a lot more closely because he was England’s golden boy and our star signing back in the day. And though people were constantly praising him during his first couple of seasons with us, they are now quick to jump at him because he doesn’t score 20+ goals a season. What they forget though, is that he has improved in every other aspect of his game. His passing, his tackling, his defending. He has tracked back and has more assists than any other player Critics are fans equally are getting on Rooney’s back and he gets made the scapegoat for a lot of things going wrong, especially in England games. Like Mark Kaba said: „Rooney is a trequartista. He's like Del Piero, he isn't a striker. Slot him in behind the strikers and he'll still average over 17 goals and 10 assists.“People need to learn that as a striker, you don’t HAVE to score 20+ goals to be useful to your team. 15 + goals will do if you contribute more to the game then just the goals. If Rooney was a player that only brought goals to the game, like an out and out striker, like, for example, Ruud Van Nistelrooy (no offence. He was a big asset to our team, but he simply was about goals and nothing more), then yes, it would indeed be worrying if he didn’t score more than 15 goals a season.But with everything that rooney does fort his team, frankly, people need to get off his back and quitt he fucking bitching.I hear people appreciate tevez’s work-rate and say what a committed player he is, yet some are quick to ignore this when it comes to rooney. He tracks back to get the ball, chases after every ball he loses and even helps out in defence as he feels it’s his job, like he mentioned in his book.People can never be satisfied as it looks.Last year, when Rooney was tracking back and chasing the balls back into our half, people said he should stay forward more often. And now that he does that people criticise that he doesn’t track back enough and that they miss it.Make up your minds people, you can’t have everything.People are blind if they don’t see what Rooney has done for us last season and are pathetic and stupid if they write him off after 3 games that he has played after suffering from a tropial virus for 2 weeks. I just want to remind people of the period when Rooney didn’t score in a couple of games for United and people, fans and reporters equally, were writing him off. He came back with a hat-trick and showed them that he can never be written off.Personally, i like a player who scores 18 goals and has 12 assists for us in the league and works his butt off to make sure the team and himself give his best.I believe in Wayne Rooney. And so should all of you if you want to call yourself a United fan.

By Alice C.

Reposted without permission. Mwhahahaha!

A Clear Case for Carrick

2008-08-18T23:14:00.002+01:00

Michael Carrick has always been a player that was going to get more than his fair share of stick from the United faithful. When he came from Tottenham two years ago, we'd just lost Roy Keane. Carrick was handed the number 16 shirt, that of our previous captain. And it seemed to many Reds that we paid over the odds for him. Two years and three trophies later, most of us have taken a liking to Carrick, with the odd request that he chip in with a few more goals each year.

When Carrick came to United, we were all wondering what he would bring to the team. And at first glance, to the casual observer, it's not much. He doesn't have many assists, his freekicks aren't too special, he doesn't weigh in with too many goals and he has a long, lanky frame not suited for defensive work. But what he does do is pass. And he passes about as well as anyone in England. From the simple ten yard passes with Rio and Nemanja, to the 60 yard bomb to the foot of a sprinting Giggs or Evra or Ronaldo or Rooney. Carrick truly makes our midfield tick.

While many fans have been aware of this fact for quite some time, I think any who aren't need only look at the result of yesterday's match. The first half saw us unlucky and wasteful in front of goal. We created a decent number of chances, just couldn't put them away. Now think of the second half. I don't remember too many chances coming, and I think that we can put that down to Carrick's exceptional ability to create for his fellow teammates (and the lack of it as the game progressed).

Now if only the boy could get some goals!

"World-Class" or "World-ASS"?

2008-08-04T03:46:00.002+01:00

To be a "world-class" player is a tag for players who have top skill and reputation in the sport world-wide. Footballers today, especially today, have really been showing a trend towards something the sport has not really seen in its history. Since when did players sell out to play for "bigger clubs" when all it really was about was more money? It seems today, more often than ever before, young and old, are more concerned about making their bank accounts as absurdly big as possible than playing for the true reasons of the sport: passion, love, and heart.

First, take a look at these five players: Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Alessandro Del Piero, Raul Gonzalez, and David Beckham. All players are not hansomly paid by their clubs (compared to these "high profile" wages these days), and they have been at primarily ONE club their whole career.

Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, we know these players like our family members. Giggs started at Manchester United in 1990, coming right out of their youth program. Scholes started at United in 1993, also coming right out of the youth program. These players have never been the highest paid players, nor have they been the "spotlight/highlight" player of United. They have been a loyal, loving, and respectful players since the day they walked on the pitch of their first game. They have done nothing but play for the badge on their chest. One might ask, "why didn't they leave for more money from another club? Why didn't they ask for a large increase in their contracts?" The answer is simple, and has been said from Giggsy and Scholesy: I want to give back to football what football has given me. And in a sense, they are giving back to Manchester United what Manchester United has given to them.

The same can be said about Del Piero and Raul. They had been linked several places throughout their illustrious careers. Yet both players have stuck with the team they've supported all their lives. Del Piero has played at Juventus since 1993, capping 417 appearances and scoring 176 goals. He had been rumored to multiple moves throughout his career (one to Manchester United). However, Del Piero stuck with the team he had supported since childhood. In fact, Juventus decided to name their mascot after the striker. He was never a top-paid player for the team, and produced big game after big game for the Italian side. Raul has 483 appearances with 205 goals at Madrid, and amazing accomplishment for any striker. Ever since 1994, Raul has been banging in goals for Real Madrid, and captaining his team since 2003. He has never been the highest paid player for his club for his worth. He's been the most productive player in their history perhaps.

David Beckham played for his childhood team, Manchester United for ten seasons, appearing in 265 games and scoring 61 goals. Perhaps the best young talent to come out of the youth program (the same as Giggs and Scholes). However, after ten years, decided to make a move to Real Madrid after terms went up in Manchester. Then, after four years at Madrid, Becks decided to take his game to the Los Angeles, USA. However, despite being one of the world's richest athletes, one can say he has done more good for the sport than many of the players in the game today. He has reached the sport at an international level that many athletes have yet to accomplish. Beckham has sparked a soccer (football) revolution in the US, and has taken the country by storm. His passion, dedication, and determination for the sport has seen millions of fans become dedicated supporters of players and clubs around the world. Sure, he's one of the wealthiest footballers on the planet, but that is because he's earned it. He is purely giving back to football, what football has given him.

These are examples of "World-Class" players. They are not the players who have won the most titles at their clubs, nor won personal accolades such as the "Balon 'd Or", or the "Golden Boot". They are the true class heroes who have set an example for why the sport is played: for passion, love, and heart.

Now, lets take another few players: Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry. Both players have been recognized at some point in their careers as "the best in the world" and "world-class footballers". I beg to differ.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been in the middle of, perhaps, the biggest crossfire between clubs in recent history. However, he has decided to deal with it in the most "world-classless" way. A true professional stays dedicated to the team he is under contract with, and has provided you nothing but respect, honor, and education. As a young player after coming from Lisbon, Cristiano showed his youth. Silly antics on the field (diving, whining, simulation, selfishness, faking injury, and much much more youthful ignorance) was shown. However, he has developed to (almost) rid himself of such immaturity. Now, he is telling the team that has made him a global superstar, and pays him one of the leagues highest salaries, is telling the team he is under contract with that he is done with the club, and wants to leave for Madrid. This is a "world class ASS"! Thierry Henry, a prolific goalscorer for Arsenal, and talisman of France. He had spent years bouncing between youth clubs and senior clubs such as AS Monaco and Juventus. Then he came to Arsenal and reeled off 369 appearances scoring 226 goals. An astonishing feat. Then, after clearly stating that he was not leaving Arsenal, he packs his bags, leaving his family and fans, for Barcelona. Selling out is one thing, but saying one thing, and doing another after giving your word is another poor example of a classless, arrogant fool. His career has since been dismal, barely breaking into regular first team experience. Now, he has been linked to a move to other clubs (including Manchester United).

Now, you tell me, who are the real "world-class footballers"?

We don't need a striker, we've got Tevez

2008-08-04T02:12:00.005+01:00

Tevez enjoyed a spectacular first season with United. 19 goals, a League title, and a European Cup. He’s earned plenty of well-deserved praise from United fans for his hardwork, his dogged nature and his habit of chipping in with important, timely goals (Lille, Blackburn, Tottenham all come to mind).
I think Tevez deserves even more praise, because he brings something to our team that no other member of our forward line brings. While no one can doubt Ronaldo’s ability in front of goal, or Rooney’s tenacity or will to win, neither of them exhibit Tevez’s unique (in this United team), of getting onto the ball at just the right time to score a goal.
If we look at Tevez’s nineteen goals last year, eight of them were scored either by his head, or off his toe or foot as deflections. The rest were shots that were lined up by him in open play or by teammates. My point is that we don’t need a Ruud like so many pundits and new fans seem to think. We don’t need a fox in the box. We have one already. Tevez has the skills to play in our system, and the ability, as witnessed by his deflection into the roof of the net against Liverpool, the diving header against Chelsea, the cool finish at Lille, etc, etc, to finish with any part of his body.
So, to people who say that Berbatov, or KJH are the end of our problems need to think long and hard. Anyone who comes into our squad needs to have the qualities of this United team; the ability to run with the ball at pace consistently, the ability to counterattack quickly, the ability to finish and the impetus to work hard for the shirt and for their teammates. I have no doubt that Berbatov will allow Rooney and Tevez to work better in the system, to work off of a proper striker. But I expect more from any signing this summer than someone who can finish with their boot or their head. We’ve already got that.

ARGENTINA!! ARGENTINA!! ARGENTINA!!

Portsmouth VS Man United

2008-07-29T10:39:00.006+01:00

I revel in the light of our game against Portsmouth on Sunday. Despite the fact that Portsmouth came out full force, even had their new gangly addition Peter Crouch playing, we won in a cool calm Man United-esque way.

I love friendlies because I finally get to see players that Fergie would never play in the season. I would love to start by commenting on Campbell; Who was such a surprise for me. He has such potential as a striker. He played wonderfully well and has impressive pace. He more often than not, left Portsmouth defenders starring at his ass or sitting on theirs. It was a nice balance with Tevez's vision and experience. Tevez came out with his relentless game play like usual. He took a great first penalty shot but unfortunately, like too often in this game, Eagles had to ruin it for us. I finally understand why Eagles (now sporting a less emo haircut) never gets game time. He missed such a great opportunity to score that even a fluffy kitten with no concept of football whatsoever wouldn't have missed. Scholes and Carrick played so well as always. Scholes seem to have gained the ability to put a force field around the ball, which always went exactly where it was suppose to be at exactly the right time. Even his tackles weren't as disastrous as they usually are.

Silvestre made so many mistakes that I felt bad for poor Kuzzy, who was too often left in the net scrambling to save the day because of Silverstre's horrible decisions. Thankfully, Vidic played amazingly well, looking very confident, despite the fact that he was missing his defensive BFF Rio. Evans definitely played his cards right. No mistakes, no big saves, just a solid anonymous performance which I cannot complain about.

All and all, it was a great game that was filled with Tevez magic and complete with carnival music. I couldn't ask for more... well, except maybe a EPL game.

On another note, TEVEZ IS MINE NOW!!!! eh... I mean OURS NOW!!!!

SOUTH AFRICA AND 2010

2008-07-21T12:22:00.001+01:00

With the transfer season in to the swing of things a lot of talk has come about perhaps transferring the world cup to another country due to many hiccups being experienced here in South Africa.

While I live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, I am lucky enough not to experience a lot of the problems that are being spoken about all over Sky and BBC news as I fall within the top third of the income sector in my country.

To our credit we have awesome weather, we have a coastline of warm water and quite a few native attractions such as the game parks etc. (believe it or not we don’t walk around with the elephants and lions). And then of course we have our shit economy which makes you overseas travellers look like millionaires in our country (50p a pint!)

Although we have all the attractions and have hosted both the Cricket and Rugby World cups as well as the Afcon cup, without any disasters no other spectacle in the world compares to the Fifa World Cup.

No open eyed South African will tell you we don’t have problems. We are riddled with poverty (over 30% of the population is unemployed) crime is an everyday occurrence and is starting to get closer to home. I don’t think you will find 3 degrees of separation between crime and any South African citizen. We have an AIDS epidemic, yet the government want to legalize prostitution during the duration of the tournament. Workers at the stadium have cottoned on to how important it is that this world cup go off smoothly, and so strike and protests for increased wages are the headlines of our daily newspapers. Our transport system never runs on time nor does any person who can avoid it, ever travel on it due to its inefficiency and safety.
Now in saying all this I believe the tournament will go off smoothly and hassle free (barring 1 or 2 muggings when you care free holiday makers stumble into areas you should not be venturing into or stolen cameras and cell phones) as our government will be bringing in an extra 30,000 policeman just for the tournament and security will be tight in the main cities.

However, does this bring a true reflection of the country, I don’t think so, as after the cup has been lifted, and the foreigners have left, the security will be disbanded and we will be left with nothing but memories as our corrupt government officials would have had their hands in the cookie jar the whole way along and we South Africa will be sitting with a debt that makes the Glazer debt look like a school kids lunch money.

What of our youth system?

2008-07-18T03:12:00.004+01:00

Back in the 90's there was no better youth system than that of Man United. When Ferguson first came, he made it his priority to set in place a youth system that was going to create talent for the future, and the "kids" were the obvious result of his hard push and the club's will to move forward.

But what of it now? Chelsea's new reign of football and the demands it is putting on other clubs is surely a factor? Because Chelsea have a team of superstars, the same is required of every other club which want to compete with them, and let us not pretend United haven't followed suit:

If you calculate United's future line up, within I'd say about 1-2 years -

VDS - 2 mill
Brown - free
Rio - 30 mill
Vidic - 8 mill
Evra - 6 mill
Ronaldo - 12 mill
Carrick - 18 mill
Hargreaves - 18 mill
Nani - 17 mill
Tevez - 30 mill
Rooney - 30 mill

= £171 million

Chelsea's future line up..

Cech - 7 mill
Bosingwa - 16 m
Carvalho - 20m
Terry - free
A. Cole - £5m (+William Gallas, so let's call it £10m)
J. Cole - £6.5m
Essien - £25m
Ballack - Free
Lampard - £11m
Kalou - Undisc
Drogba - £24m

= £120m + Kalou's fee.

REMEMBER THESE TEAMS ARE 1-2 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE (hence no Giggs/Scholes/G Nev) I know that Chelsea have spent more in wasted transfer funds (Robben, Shevchenko, Bouhlarouz etc etc etc), but if you look at the value of the starting XIs - it doesn't make great reading as a United fan.

Are United just becoming a team full of superstars. Yes, we have home grown players - but they seem to have all come from the same batch of players that the "kids" did. Giggs, Scholes & G Neville are our home grown representatives, and since then, noone seems to have come out of our system (besides Wes Brown) that is a regular for United. It's a great shame, because teams like Everton (James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe) and City (SWP, Micah Richards) still seem to be producing players who are or one day will be, in my opinion, top class players.

United released five youngsters at the end of the last season, and 2 of those were names you will recognise as players who were tipped to "make it" - Kieran Lee & Ritchie Jones. I don't know, maybe it's just that times are changing and you have to move on to adapt to the competition. I know we still have an English core, but where is the satisfaction in buying someone else's rough work and perfecting it? Rooney, Carrick, Vidic, Evra, Anderson, Ronaldo, Nani & Tevez are all products of other clubs youth systems that we have bought (not at a cheap price) and perfected into the players that they are today. I know that the transfer market exists for that reason - so clubs can buy and sell players, but it still doesn't take away from the fact that Manchester United are more than capable of producing world class players through their systems - as Giggs, G Nev, Scholes and Beckham so aptly proved.

Which new players can you name from our system that are going to stand any chance of playing a Premier League game this year? Welbeck? Evans? Simpson? No chance for Simpson with Brown and G Nev ahead of him, neither for Evans with Vidic, Rio and Brown all ahead of him. Welbeck may get a chance if 3 out of Tevez, Rooney, Saha & Manucho all get injured. It's very unlikely. I know we have to keep up with the times, but at what cost? United has been about producing young home grown talent that are talented enough to one day be European champions - yet these days, it seems that it is only a distinct distant dream.

What do you guys honestly think? If I'm missing a point, or I'm talking out of my arse - I'm sure you'll all let me know.

"Ignorance is Bliss" - But Not If You're The One Being Ignored!

2008-07-16T12:18:00.004+01:00

More than 300 United fans on the unofficial Redcafe were asked their views on the Ronaldo "saga".

11.95% said he should not be sold
48.74% want him to be transferred
14.15% say he should be left to "rot in the stands"
and 25.16% argue that he is "young and learning" and may, in time, be forgiven

If the option was available to them, I wonder how many people out of the 300 would have clicked the button that says, "I don't give a shit, let's talk about Michael Carrick please"?

Now I don't know which z-list soap star Michael is 'hanging out the back of' at the moment. I don't know what his favourite Manchester night spot is, and I don't know what hair products he uses (probably Brylcream, not a hair out of place after the 90 is up), but I do know that he has been at Old Trafford 2 years and has won back-to-back League titles and a Champions League to boot....Amazing, A-MAZING!

I'm no statician, and I don't have the time nor the inclanation to find any goal/assist stats on Carrick, but I know what I see, and I don't think there is a statistic available that highlights what this guy does on the pitch. As football fans are eyes are generally fixed on the ball, which is usually where all the action is, this is my theory as to why MC (yes, I just reffered to him as MC) hasn't/doesn't get the credit he rightfully deserves.

Next time he's in action and you're watching, be it at "the theatre of dreams" or on a 2kbps stream, I implore you to keep an eye on what Carrick does off the ball. Watch and be amazed of how he's 3 steps ahead of most others on the pitch, and be amazed that you never noticed it before!

In a world where the sports governing body believes that a 23 year old lad, who earns enough money to feed his own ego (just about) is treated like a "slave", and Wayne Rooney asks for 20 Richmonds Superkings, Michael Carrick shows us that proffesionalism does still exist in the game, just about. Carrick seems to have been ignored by many fans this Summer but I suspect he prefers it that way. I can't wait to see what he has to offer in 08-09!

DISCLAIMER: Rooney still da man!

Change Of The Guard

2008-07-15T02:20:00.003+01:00

As the 2008-09 season approaches, an on-going feud between rivals clubs has over taken the pre-season preparations, and has overshadowed the celebratory feeling of a historic double, featuring our record 10th Premiership title (17th overall English title) and our 3rd European Cup in dramatic fashion over Chelsea.

The rivals aren’t your typical run-of-the-mill rivals; instead they play rarely, in two different nations, with two different beliefs. The only thing they share is a taste for glory and success, and by any means necessary, one of these will obtain it.

Cristiano Ronaldo may not be on his way out, but the respect, admiration, and following may already be packed away in a suitcase for Madrid. Real have shown constant want for the future FIFA Player of the Year, and has gotten the backing of 2 of footballs most powerful men: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini.

With our backs up against the wall, we realise that footballers are fickle folks, using terms that have haunted the history of the growth and civilization of our planet to describe how owners and managers treat footballers (Term = slave). These comments have officially eliminated Ronaldo as the posterchild of United for the remainder of his stay. It seems since the departure of Roy Keane and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo has firmly grasped this title and has put the club on his back. He is the player all third party supporters look at and immediately associate with the club, the guy many thought would bring United to glory for years to come.

With his exit in the next few months/year inevitable, I’ve broken down the 5 men I think could, and should be in place as the new face of United, and you might be a bit surprised.

1. Wayne Rooney – Some would already say Wazza is the face of our club; a downright hard worker who loves the club and supporters, and constantly brings the best he can bring, even when he seems to be lacking in the finishing department. Rooney exemplifies the skipper to be, and even though he could have been the face and ultimate star on a Everton side poised for potential Champions League football, he came to united amongst a flurry of stars and legends and has made his case. Wayne Rooney will probably be the face of Manchester United, if the temper stays down.

2. Rio Ferdinand – Another one that people think is already the focus of the United trend. Hardnosed and faithful, and vocal on the pitch, Ferdinand is another player who’s desire to win and attitude on the pitch. The only flaw in naming him captain is his tough-guy drive, something that Roy Keane has done with class, and something Rio may need a repair on.

3. Michael Carrick – Still young from a footballers perspective, and is in the prime of his leadership. His signing was questioned because of the price range, but he is vocal and has a playing style that suits a leadership role. I for one would be all for Carrick being the face of United, and could certainly take over a captaincy role someday down the road.

4. Carlos Tevez – This one depends entirely on what we’ve been questioning when it came to Ron: Faith. Is Carlos’ faith enough to stick around with the club, and further more put up numbers and play the way he’s played to make him the most admired player in Red (and white, and blue)? One can only hope.

5. The ‘New Signing’ – Berbatov, Huntelaar, Aguero, Kaka, Messi, Whoever!!! ... This is the one I think that may come into play because THIS player will be the one who will be looked at once Ronaldo leaves as the guy we ‘bought with Ronaldo’s money’. This player will have a lot of pressure if he is indeed signed, and will have to fill the massive shoes Ronaldo will be leaving behind... I for one am looking forward to it

Welcome to WTMUG

2008-07-14T22:39:00.000+01:00

130 years ago our club was founded. 100 years ago we won the First Division, putting us into the Charity Shield which we won. The next year we won the FA Cup for the first time. 50 years ago we suffered the tragedy of the Munich Air Disaster, 10 years later we won England's first European Cup, only to repeat the feat 40 years later. And today, we start a new chapter in Manchester United history...What the MUG?