Thursday, October 28, 2010

George Best

So United finally got around to doing something right after I suggested they should have bought George Best's 1968 European Cup medal.

No, they didn't actually stump up the £156k for that one (which they should have done - and put it in the museum).

But, in a case of better late than never, they have at least bought Nobby Stiles' World Cup winning medal and some memorabilia for £160k.

A United spokesperson said: 'We’re delighted to have acquired these items, which possess tremendous historical significance for Manchester United and English football, and look forward to proudly displaying them in our museum.'

Fair enough...but wouldn't George's medal have meant even more given that he is arguably United's greatest ever player?

It is a major bollock dropped by the world's biggest football club.

John O'Shea - worth £16.5m deal?

Let's assume for a second that Rooney really did threaten to leave United because of the club's 'lack of ambition' rather than wanting more money himself.

If that was the case, he would surely now be thinking of doing a U-turn (again) and quitting the T of Dreams next summer if the club's ambition amounts to offering John O'Shea a £16.5million deal for the next four years?

The bloke is a journeyman footballer - on 'a modest 80k a week'....'modest'...Jeez, what is the game coming to? United would be better off letting him go and ploughing the £5million fee (probably from someone like Everton, who seem keen on Utd old boys) into buying real quality players...

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Roberto Mancini...the befuddled 'Bobby Manc'...

Questions are starting to be asked about the reign of the so-called 'Bobby Manc' at Manchester City.

Yes, Mancini.

What the hell was he doing playing Dedryck Boyata in the first place?

The Belgian youngster started in place of Joleon Lescott, who partnered John Terry in central defence for England against Montenegro a few weeks ago.

Why wasn't Lescott lining up with Kompany against Arsenal? He is a much better player and a better bet than Boyata - especially in such a big match.

It don't make any sense, Roberto...call yourself a true Manc?

Rooney, Fergie....the secret deal behind the deal

SO, are we all sitting happily?

Contented with the deal that keeps Rooney at OT "for five years" and shows Fergie is still the man in charge?

Well, I wouldn't get too comfy and contented if you are a United fan (or MUFC fan as Wayne would have it).

My information is that there is a secret deal behind the deal - one very similar to the one Cristiano forced through before joining Madrid.

Just as Ronaldo gave Utd one final season's service - so Rooney apparently is keen to do the same. He was shocked, bewildered and frightened by the reaction to his decision to seek a transfer - especially when the blokes in hoodies turned up outside his house.

So he instructed his agent to broker the new deal which, on paper, looks a facesaver all round.

But don't be surprised when he leaves in 8 or 20 months - in Rooney's eyes he will have now done the 'honourable' thing ie made sure that Fergie gets the proper transfer fee for his services - say £65m - rather than the the £25m Chelsea would have paid come January.

Both men are happy and live happily ever after...his new club then is likely to be Madrid or Man City (Chelsea will not now be able to finance a bigger money deal...their upper limit was £25m). City if he makes up with Coleen or Madrid if he needs a new career in a new town...

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Come on Rooney - forget the ambition scam, it's all about the readies

I felt disgusted last night when Wayne Rooney released his statement three hours before United's Champions League clash.

If we ever wondered how selfish he could be if pushed, this unacceptable move provided an answer. Three hours before his team-mates were due to play - throwing the club into yet more turmoil just before a vital match.

OK, of course we all know the statement wasn't actually from Roon - it was from his lawyers/agent but he knew about it and that it was going to be released, surely he could have held the wolves off for another day?

No, the Roon circus wanted to capture the limelight once again - even if it meant a situation that could have affected his team-mates.

As for the claim that Rooney wants to go because Utd lack ambition - hey, I thought we were in October, not April 1!

Pull the other one, mate.

No, that was merely a clever ploy to try to detract some of the abuse he is getting (and not enjoying) off himself - to feed the Glazers to the lions, yes, they are to blame for me wanting away. What a load of bullshit! Don't get me wrong, United would be much better off as a football club if the Glazers were gone and the likes of say Man City's owners took control.

But don't be taken in by this scam by Roon - he wants to leave because he wants more money, the whole thing is about the readies.

He is jealous Ronaldo earns more than him and that the likes of Yaya Toure and Tevez at Man City also do - and he knows Chelsea, Real, Barca or City will all pay him more.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

ROONEY = KAKA PLUS £10M...FERGIE'S FACESAVER?

News reaches me from the bowels of Old Trafford and the Bernabeu that Jose Mourinho wants Rooney to join him, but he has a problem.

How can he keep good friends with Fergie and Utd if he takes the boy for what would probably be a knockdown £25m in January? Especially as Jose wants to be the next boss at Utd when Fergie retires..

How to find a solution to satisfy everyone? Easy, if your name is Mourinho. You do Fergie and Utd a favour!

You swop Rooney for Kaka and also give United £10m or the chance to take Diarra too.

That way Utd and Fergie get a world-class name to quell the fans' anger and Jose is a hero too for his fair treatment in effectively valuing Rooney at £65m.

The only hitch they would all have to settle? Persuading Kaka that United were still a side capable of winning the biggest honours...and not just a feeder club for Madrid! And persuading Roon to go to Madrid rather than Chelsea...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

STRACHAN

How refreshing to see Gordon Strachan refuse to take the million pound sweetener that was his by rights when he left Middlesbrough.

Most managers would have grabbed the money without a second thought.

It is especially positive because the wee man has not always been the easiest man to like in the game.

He has had frequent hissy fits and can be irritating as hell. Like the time one reporter mate of mine asked him if he could have a quick word as Strachan was leaving Celtic Park for a training session with the Hoops.

'Yeah, sure,' Strachan replied in a 'fuck-you, pal' voice. 'Velocity.'

ROONEY AND FERGUSON

So...what to make of the saga of the two Old Trafford key men a couple of days after it all blew up?

Well, I did the first ever book on Wayne in 2004 and found him a really good lad - sure, he had a side that marked him down as a loveable, likeable rogue, but he was also down-to-earth and easy to talk with.

Six years on, the boy has changed - and not for the better. If he was the equivalent of 11 or 12 in 2004 in true emotional terms, he is now like the stereotypical moody, miexd up, messed up teenager. Rebellious, troublesome and wrong in the way he thinks he is right.

He is not worth the £200k a week he is asking for at the moment - and he is not as good as he thinks he is right now. He needs someone to tell him to buckle down, work hard and get his form back.

Unfortunately, when Fergie did just that, he took it the wrong way - his head is too big and he won't listen to advice.

My understanding is that Fergie is backed by the board for taking a moral stance and, even more importantly, by Sir Bobby Charlton - who was very upset that the club's name was dragged through the mud with the prostitute allegations.

This is Fergie's last stand and a fight he has to win, he hopes with a public backdown from Rooney and a pledge to stay.

If not, he will let him go and try to build one final great team - and he will spend all the cash he gets for him to quell any fans' rebellion over the idea that the Glazers are using the money to fund their debts.

I also hear that if Rooney does leave, his preferred option is Chelsea and his old mate, John Terry.

On this one, I back Fergie - and hope Wayne comes to his senses, backs down and stays...

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Lisandro Lopez - another Cantona? Utd should sign him

I see from today's Daily Mail that Lyon's Lisandro Lopez is being eyed by Spurs and Liverpool (although I can't see how Liverpool can really be eyeing anyone at the moment with their nightmare off the pitch!)

I saw Lopez last year in the Champions League and thought he looked a class act - and he could also be a body double for Eric 'the King' Cantona. Lopez impressed me with his skill and raw determination - surely he would be a good signing for Man Utd?

If he made half the impression Cantona made at OT he would be worthwhile at around £14million...I hear he even has 'issues' like Eric had ie being a winner...and never wanting to lose...sounds good to me

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Get a driver, George Michael!

Just a quickie...re George Michael's freedom after his jail spell for crashing his car while under the influence...why not just get a driver, George? Surely you can afford one with all your millions, mate - it would save you a helluva lot of aggro!!