Manchester United's army of loyal fans can feel rightly aggrieved by the club's stance on the distribution of Champions League final tickets.
OK, they only get 25,000 from a total of 86,000 for the clash with Barca at Wembley at the end of the month.
But surely they could have allocated them more fairly?
My understanding is that 8,000 of the 25,000 were immediately handed over to 'corporate fans' - ie the lucky buggers who can afford £50k a season for an 'exec' season ticket.
Surely it would have been fairer to have lumped the 8,000 tickets into a ballot with the remaining 17,000? ie put all 25,000 into a one-off ballot?
Just because the blokes in the boxes have more money doesn't mean they are any more loyal to the club than the bloke who has a £500 season ticket in the Stretford End. Well, does it?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
How an Arsenal fan came to revere Sir Alex Ferguson
Thanks to Frank Scicluna of Man Utd website TrulyReds for the following review on my book on Sir Alex Ferguson...
How an Arsenal fan came to revere Sir Alex
By: Frank Scicluna on 13 February 2011
If you are anything like me, reading a good book on a lazy Sunday is one of the most enjoyable times of the week – unless you have a game to watch which in this day and age happens more often than I would like. Call me an old fart if you want but a 3pm kick off on a Saturday afternoon is what I grew up with and freely admit that I yearn for the return of those long gone days. For those who may feel the same way, Truly Reds will therefore attempt to review one of the many Manchester United related books each Sunday which may tempt you to go out an get for a relaxing weekend read.
One you may have missed is Walking in a Fergie Wonderland: The Biography by Frank Worrall simply because most of the focus in 2010 was on Football – Bloody Hell!: The Biography of Alex Ferguson by Patrick Barclay. It’s a great pity because Wonderland is a wonderful read in its own right. The author is a journalist who writes regularly for the Sunday Times and the Sun. He is also the author of number one bestseller Roy Keane: Red Man Walking, and countless football books including Rooney: Wayne’s World, Giggsy and The Magnificent Sevens.
As Arsenal supporter Ben Felsenburg explained on Amazon.co.uk after coming across the book by sheer chance “I’ll confess: I’m an Arsenal fan, and I wouldn’t ordinarily think of reading a biography of Alex Ferguson. But staying round at a friend’s house who is a lifelong United supporter, I grabbed his newly purchased copy of Walking In A Fergie Wonderland more or less at random as a bedtime read and found it so hard to put down it was only four hours later, having got to the end, that I could turn the light out.
As Worrall makes clear, Ferguson is the definitive manager of the last 30 years, the man who straddles the game in the manner of Paisley, Clough and Busby and the other titans of old, a figure of adoration for Manchester United fans and for the rest of us the worthiest of foes. Worrall outlines Ferguson’s copious achievements – multiple domestic and European glory on both sides of the border – with the full, incisive analysis they merit, spiced up with telling anecdotes of Robson, Giggs, Cantona, Rooney and the United boss’s other loyal troops.
This is a proper football book, focused on the game and the players’ activities on the pitch because true fans don’t want any of that peripheral celebrity gossip. It’s clear that Worrall has the insider’s connections and expert insight and he tells Ferguson’s incredible story with compelling simplicity and an empathetic feel for the Scotsman’s extraordinary character.
In short, it’s an unmissable read for Manchester United fans but there’s also plenty here to interest anyone with the slightest interest in football in the modern age. It won’t stop me cheering Arsenal on just as loudly next time they play Ferguson’s men, but I’ll understand the reverence United fans feel for their hero and saviour much more.”
It’s certainly refreshing to find a fan of one of United’s fiercest rivals being so fulsome in his acclaim for Sir Alex so it may say something about his story as told by the author. Who knows, I may come across a similar biography of Arsene Wenger one day which may prompt me to acquire the same admiration for him.
Is it really so difficult to show your admiration for a rival player or manager?
How an Arsenal fan came to revere Sir Alex
By: Frank Scicluna on 13 February 2011
If you are anything like me, reading a good book on a lazy Sunday is one of the most enjoyable times of the week – unless you have a game to watch which in this day and age happens more often than I would like. Call me an old fart if you want but a 3pm kick off on a Saturday afternoon is what I grew up with and freely admit that I yearn for the return of those long gone days. For those who may feel the same way, Truly Reds will therefore attempt to review one of the many Manchester United related books each Sunday which may tempt you to go out an get for a relaxing weekend read.
One you may have missed is Walking in a Fergie Wonderland: The Biography by Frank Worrall simply because most of the focus in 2010 was on Football – Bloody Hell!: The Biography of Alex Ferguson by Patrick Barclay. It’s a great pity because Wonderland is a wonderful read in its own right. The author is a journalist who writes regularly for the Sunday Times and the Sun. He is also the author of number one bestseller Roy Keane: Red Man Walking, and countless football books including Rooney: Wayne’s World, Giggsy and The Magnificent Sevens.
As Arsenal supporter Ben Felsenburg explained on Amazon.co.uk after coming across the book by sheer chance “I’ll confess: I’m an Arsenal fan, and I wouldn’t ordinarily think of reading a biography of Alex Ferguson. But staying round at a friend’s house who is a lifelong United supporter, I grabbed his newly purchased copy of Walking In A Fergie Wonderland more or less at random as a bedtime read and found it so hard to put down it was only four hours later, having got to the end, that I could turn the light out.
As Worrall makes clear, Ferguson is the definitive manager of the last 30 years, the man who straddles the game in the manner of Paisley, Clough and Busby and the other titans of old, a figure of adoration for Manchester United fans and for the rest of us the worthiest of foes. Worrall outlines Ferguson’s copious achievements – multiple domestic and European glory on both sides of the border – with the full, incisive analysis they merit, spiced up with telling anecdotes of Robson, Giggs, Cantona, Rooney and the United boss’s other loyal troops.
This is a proper football book, focused on the game and the players’ activities on the pitch because true fans don’t want any of that peripheral celebrity gossip. It’s clear that Worrall has the insider’s connections and expert insight and he tells Ferguson’s incredible story with compelling simplicity and an empathetic feel for the Scotsman’s extraordinary character.
In short, it’s an unmissable read for Manchester United fans but there’s also plenty here to interest anyone with the slightest interest in football in the modern age. It won’t stop me cheering Arsenal on just as loudly next time they play Ferguson’s men, but I’ll understand the reverence United fans feel for their hero and saviour much more.”
It’s certainly refreshing to find a fan of one of United’s fiercest rivals being so fulsome in his acclaim for Sir Alex so it may say something about his story as told by the author. Who knows, I may come across a similar biography of Arsene Wenger one day which may prompt me to acquire the same admiration for him.
Is it really so difficult to show your admiration for a rival player or manager?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Guardiola Arsenal, Mourinho Man Utd, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Was disappointed that Barca won 2-0 at Madrid last night.
It means the final at Wembley will probably not be as exciting.
Man Utd v Real Madrid had lots of potential with two even teams.
Man Utd v Barca is likely to be a repeat of the 2009 final when Utd struggled to get the ball.
I think there is something in what Mourinho had to say about Barca and refs: They do seem to favour the Catalans. If, as likely, it is Utd v Barca at Wembley you're better off putting your money on which Utd player Alves and Co are likely to get sent off....probably in this order...1. Rafael (if he plays) 2. Rooney 3. Vidic. 4. Evra.
Barca are hard to play when it is 11 v 11. Hopefully the Wembley ref will have the guts to stand up to their play acting. Sure, they are a beautiful team but they are also no angels. Like Mourinho, they are masters of the dark arts - only they are more subtle in how they employ them.
Mourinho v Guardiola is shaping up into the next big battle of the bosses for the next decade.
Just as we had Ferguson v Wenger for many years, so the Mour/Pep rivalry could come to dominate English football for the next decade.
I can see Mourinho taking command at United and Pep continuing Wenger's good work at Arsenal.
It means the final at Wembley will probably not be as exciting.
Man Utd v Real Madrid had lots of potential with two even teams.
Man Utd v Barca is likely to be a repeat of the 2009 final when Utd struggled to get the ball.
I think there is something in what Mourinho had to say about Barca and refs: They do seem to favour the Catalans. If, as likely, it is Utd v Barca at Wembley you're better off putting your money on which Utd player Alves and Co are likely to get sent off....probably in this order...1. Rafael (if he plays) 2. Rooney 3. Vidic. 4. Evra.
Barca are hard to play when it is 11 v 11. Hopefully the Wembley ref will have the guts to stand up to their play acting. Sure, they are a beautiful team but they are also no angels. Like Mourinho, they are masters of the dark arts - only they are more subtle in how they employ them.
Mourinho v Guardiola is shaping up into the next big battle of the bosses for the next decade.
Just as we had Ferguson v Wenger for many years, so the Mour/Pep rivalry could come to dominate English football for the next decade.
I can see Mourinho taking command at United and Pep continuing Wenger's good work at Arsenal.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Brilliant Beatles book by Martin Creasy
If you're looking for a top-notch book to read why not try Beatlemania: The Real Story of The Beatles UK Tours by Martin Creasy.
It is the No 1 Beatles book of the moment - both in chart placings and quality - and I can thoroughly recommend it.
Creasy delves behind the headlines to bring a wealth of minute detail and previously unknown facts about the Fab Four.
And the boy has certainly put in the leg work! I understand it took him THREE YEARS of interviews and research to get the book together and it shows. Meticulous, entertaining and definitely one of the best books of the year so far.
You can get it from -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatlemania-Real-Story-Beatles-Tours/dp/1849386595/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302784404&sr=1-1
It is the No 1 Beatles book of the moment - both in chart placings and quality - and I can thoroughly recommend it.
Creasy delves behind the headlines to bring a wealth of minute detail and previously unknown facts about the Fab Four.
And the boy has certainly put in the leg work! I understand it took him THREE YEARS of interviews and research to get the book together and it shows. Meticulous, entertaining and definitely one of the best books of the year so far.
You can get it from -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatlemania-Real-Story-Beatles-Tours/dp/1849386595/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302784404&sr=1-1
Giggs v Raul
The enduring talents of Ryan Giggs and Raul are likely to decide who faces Barcelona or Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Giggs, 37, and Raul, 35, have been the star men in both Manchester United's relative cruise to the semis and Schalke's surprise arrival there.
Looking at it on paper, you would say United were lucky - that they got the easiest route to the final with Schalke rather than Barca or Real.
But the Germans are no one's fools and could pull off another shock if Utd are not at their very best, or if Giggsy gets injured beforehand.
I still go for United to triumph with maybe a 2-1 win in Germany and a 1-1 draw at OT. United's record against German teams (apart from 1999 of course) does leave a lot to desire, and they will have to overcome that particular 'jinx' if they are to go on to Wembley.
In the other semi, I know Barca should win, but who can write off Mourinho? He has set up a disciplined, hard-to-beat and yet attacking force and they could just upset the odds.
Giggs, 37, and Raul, 35, have been the star men in both Manchester United's relative cruise to the semis and Schalke's surprise arrival there.
Looking at it on paper, you would say United were lucky - that they got the easiest route to the final with Schalke rather than Barca or Real.
But the Germans are no one's fools and could pull off another shock if Utd are not at their very best, or if Giggsy gets injured beforehand.
I still go for United to triumph with maybe a 2-1 win in Germany and a 1-1 draw at OT. United's record against German teams (apart from 1999 of course) does leave a lot to desire, and they will have to overcome that particular 'jinx' if they are to go on to Wembley.
In the other semi, I know Barca should win, but who can write off Mourinho? He has set up a disciplined, hard-to-beat and yet attacking force and they could just upset the odds.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Drop Wayne Rooney for Hernandez
That overhead super goal against Man City apart, Wayne Rooney has simply not justified his starting place in the Man United line-up this season.
He is out of form and seems to be suffering mentally. He needs to get some help from a therapist to overcome the problems that are clearly dogging his return to something like the Rooney we knew a year ago.
In the meantime, it is simply not right that the brilliant, in-form Chicarito stays sidelined on the bench while Rooney struggles. The Mexican boy should be in the team - he is the new Solskjaer.
He is out of form and seems to be suffering mentally. He needs to get some help from a therapist to overcome the problems that are clearly dogging his return to something like the Rooney we knew a year ago.
In the meantime, it is simply not right that the brilliant, in-form Chicarito stays sidelined on the bench while Rooney struggles. The Mexican boy should be in the team - he is the new Solskjaer.
ALEX McLEISH BIRMINGHAM 'SMALL CLUB' CLANGER
Congratulations to Birmingham City and their fans on that stunning Carling Cup win over much-fancied Arsenal.
Also to Alex McLeish for masterminding the victory - he has now staked his claim to be seen as a top manager in England as well as Scotland.
Just a word to the wise though, Alex, old chum...it is not a good way to endear yourself to Birmingham supporters by describing their football club as 'a small club' towards 'big club Arsenal'!
Check the history books - Brum haven't always been struggling at the bottom of the league, Alex. In England they are considered more than a small club - they are a club with a big history and good support!
Also to Alex McLeish for masterminding the victory - he has now staked his claim to be seen as a top manager in England as well as Scotland.
Just a word to the wise though, Alex, old chum...it is not a good way to endear yourself to Birmingham supporters by describing their football club as 'a small club' towards 'big club Arsenal'!
Check the history books - Brum haven't always been struggling at the bottom of the league, Alex. In England they are considered more than a small club - they are a club with a big history and good support!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
