Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

When Tevez missed that sitter in the first five minutes it looked as though it was going to be one of those games and when Styles missed that blatant hand ball on the line I feared the worst.

Friedel had a stormer of a game, a draw was a fair result and we still have the goal difference cushion.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Someone remind me how and why Rob Styles is a premiership referee - what a ****

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Was wondering the same thing myself. :confused:

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Congratulations to the newly-crowned Division 1 champions, Swansea City :)

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Rob Styles gets his just reward for his excellent performance on Saturday when he denied United two clear penalties, this weekend he is refereeing the League 2 game between Shrewsbury Town & Chester City.:D


Jim.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Liverpool defender Riise was arrested today by a traffic cop on the M62,


He was heading in the wrong direction.:D

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Someone sent me this and it made me laugh - Avrams song

:D

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Copied a pasted on another forum. :D

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Whatever your football loyalties, the very sad news that Pat Lampard, Franks mum has just passed away at the age of 58 is really tragic for all concerned.

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Seconded!

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Ronlado should've scored the penalty because they would've had a golden chance to win in old trafford

my mate came round and he supports man u but loves ronaldo He start crying coz he missed the pen

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Can't find a link to it but on the radio just now it said the Welsh national anthem will be played at the FA Cup final :)

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

well i live in Cardiff ;) i no the welsh national anthem ;) and im going to wembley ;)

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Big game this weekend Chelsea V Man U. I see it as draw as they will both not want key players hurt for the champs league and I dont think they will really go all out at it

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

If Iwas Avram Grant I'd save the big boys for wednesday. Even if we beat Man U tomorrow I cant see them losing their remaining 2 games. If we get to the final in Moscow WE WILL WIN IT

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I would possibly do that too but we also need to make Sure Man U dont win at the bridge. I know Raffa will put out half a team this weekend but Fergie wont he'll want a win

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7366141.stm

Would they want him back though?

---------- Post added at 10:24 ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 ----------

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ea/7365127.stm

Nice to see what Rafa had to say.

Hopefully this will bring out the best of Ballack.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

United don't need to win though. I wouldn't be surprised if SAF puts out a very defensive team and plays most of the game with 10 men behind the ball.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

We've been talking about this in the office. I was asked if we were to make the final who I would like to see getting the winner. I said Terry as if anyone deserves the glory it's him You dont get more Chelsea than Terry :)

---------- Post added at 10:34 ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 ----------

True but Fergie would like to break Chelsea's home record as if we were to meet them in the final it would be a bit of a Physiological boost for Man U

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I really can't see SAF being bothered about breaking a meaningless record when all he has to do is alter his tactics slightly and he's in with an excellent chance of retaining the title.

As for a psychological boost, I think beating Chelsea to the title will take care of that.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

We've still got Newcastle away right. I can see us beating Utd tomorrow but losing to Newcastle at St James Park.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I like to think we'd beat them up there

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I hear the Lampard's have asked Didier Drogba not to attend the funeral of Pat Lampard as a precaution, as he may dive in the box :disturbd:

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Spurs have signed Modric.

I don't really know him. Is he any good? Good signing for us? Apparently he plays left-midfield which is nice.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

This is absolutely pathetic. What the hell was SAF thinking by starting Ronaldo and Tevez on the bench? There's no way Chelsea would be 2-1 up if we'd had those on from the start.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Utd were poor and have been for the last few games, at least we're still top but with performances like this I wonder how long for :erm:

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

SAF knows more about this than me but surely you keep your biggest players for the biggest games?? So Darren Fletcher starts and Ronaldo's on the bench??

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Maybe because the game on Tuesday is x10 bigger than that game. Chelsea won, oh well, the league is still in our hands, i would still say we are big favourites to win it, this result just gives Chelsea a bit of hope. I thought a draw would have been a fair result and the penalty was very very questionable.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

At the very least we should have been settling for a draw today, and there's no way you'll get anything other than a loss at Stamford Bridge if you don't have players like Ronaldo on the pitch. You're right, we're still in the driving seat but this relies on us winning our last 2 games - and Steve Bruce has better display a measure of gratitude for his career on May 11th when he chooses his side.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Well, we were drawing until Ronaldo came on.

Obviously a draw would have taken the pressure off, but in terms of the league we will have time to prepare for West Ham at home and Wigan away unlike this game. I still think theres a decent chance of Chelsea dropping points in the last two games as well.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

He is good, real potential there :tu:

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Well, another cracking Old Firm game. The first half a bit better than the second.

Pity the picture quality on Setanta is carp...

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

The Everton Villa game was another cracker today with 3 goals in 6 minutes at the end.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Only just watched highlights of yesterdays games.

Can anyone tell me why Michael Owen, who was doing an impersonation of Meadowlark Lemon in his own penalty area got away without conceding a penalty??

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

poor poor Derby.... are they going to have more then 11 points from this season?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Thankfully no, they really are woeful.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

So far so good! Can't help thinking we look very shaky at the back though. :erm:

Have to keep an eye on Deco, he's had a couple of sighters already.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

What a goal!!!!!! What a game!!!!!!!!!!!! We're going to MOSCOW!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS FAN FLIPPIN TASTIC :hyper: :hyper:

god knows what my blood pressure is like at the mo :erm:

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Brown, Ferdinand & Tevez were fantastic, great defensive performance.:cool::)

Jim.

PS. It looks like the other Ronaldo got his wires crossed.:D

OOPS

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Anyone else think Park had an unusually good game?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

i still wasn't impressed with him TBH. he may have had a few chance but that is more to do with the players around him rather than any movement he shows.

He's too weak to play anywhere really and spends more time on the floor

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I disagree there, he doesn't usually impress me but he seemed to be all over the pitch last night.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I've always thought Parks workrate is excellent. He is always making a nuisance of himself and he does a heck of a lot of running. In my opinion he was one of your better players yesterday.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I agree his workrate is superb and puts alot of players to shame but where as Tevez will run all over the shop too he has more purpose to his movement. Park just runs about with no idea what to do and whenever he gets the ball he falls over

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

it's not really fair to compare them though - Tevez's job is to attack the goal and assist Rooney, whereas Park's is to sell merchandise in Asia....

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

lol

i said to someone else awhile ago that if we have players who are only good enough against Derby and Fulham then they aren't really good enough for us.

Everyone who players as an attacker will get a chance now and again purely because of the quality in the rest of the team. Even I would have scored for us if I had had as many games as Park has.

the main thing is we are in the final. Would you believe it the first time I didn't apply for any tickets via the public sale is the time we get into the final

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I think Park is more suited to to the Champions league and i thought he was excellent last night and was one of our best players last week in Barcalona. It's usually his passing that makes him look bad but maybe Nani is making him look good because he can't pass at all. I thought Tevez had his best game in a United shirt last night but Rio and Wes Brown were both excellent.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Never mind an all English final, I'll be shouting for the Scousers tonight, just think about it, an all Lancashire final.:cool: :)

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Yes just think if Liverpool win the final :cool: :D

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I don't care if we need snipers in the crowd, we need to do EVERYTHING possible to make sure scouseland don't win in the final!

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Assuming they get there..........

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Squeaky bum time now for Chelsea. :D

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I think the ref should be booking more players, especially those who will miss the next game if they get booked :D

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

An exciting game for the neutrals, for the second time in less than a week Chelski get an iffy penalty then get away with one that should have been given.

Can't for the life of me think why Rafa took Torres off.:confused:

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Iffy penalty??? Are you sure? As for the dissallowed goal, how many times do we see a player in the same position as Drogba was, not being penalised for interfering with play.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

It was definately a penalty for Chelsea this time and the Liverpool one that wasn't given was a definate one as well, would have been intresting if that had been given as Liverpool would have had a bit more time to try and get another. Torres must have been injured, i can't believe he took him off tactically. The dissallowed goal was the right decision imo, Drogba was standing right in front of the keeper offside.

Liverpool have had enough luck, not just in this game or this year but over the past few seasons in the champions league and i'm glad it's over, they are just a one trophy team, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal could all do what they do in just concentrate on one trophy each season and do well in it which is all they do, they are nothing special and if anyone thinks they are they are dillusional. When they start challenging for more than one trophy i may change my views but at the moment i think Liverpool deserve to win nothing.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

hear hear.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I don't think thats fair, you could say that United, or better yet Chelsea, have a massive amount of cash they can use to add depth and excellent players to their squad and completing at all against those teams is deserving of respect.

United have a habit of mixing a lot of products of their youth system with the occasional big spening. However, Chelsea are still a team and have reached their current high position because of the amount of money have came into. It's like playing Football Manager and cheating to get 150million to build a dream team.

Arsenal and Liverpool don't have anywhere near that money (or do, but don't) to spend on a star player in whichever position they are weakest. Liverpool have quite a good youth system, as do Arsenal who also have the ability to pick obsure but talented players.

I think a team that got to the semi-final of the Champions league, and 4th place in the Premiership is deserving of respect

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

People seem to forget that United have spent 70 odd million this season, yet Chelsea do it and they are accused of buying titles etc reeks of pots calling kettles black to me

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Sigh!

How many times must I post this.

There is a big difference between finding funds for players via solid business practices. Ticket sales, merchandising, sponsorship etc etc. and asking uncle Roman, to peel off another 50-100 million, from his back pocket.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I did say United but Chelsea did it a lot more when the team was first being built..

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Before you wheel that one out again, consider the following.

Where did United's money come from?

Where did Chelsea's come from?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

In your opinion there is, in most other peoples there isn't, it amounts to the same thing, what's up, don't like the fact there is some one with as much financial clout now?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

If you re-read your post enough times, you'll eventually realise how pathetic that sounds.

I have no problems with Aresenal or Liverpool, they conduct their business as it should be done. Not with a sugar daddy.

Remind me, how Blackburn have done since 1995? Very little investment since uncle Jack grew a pair of giant wings and left. They don't have the ticket sales, merchandising or sponsorship, so now shop at woolies instead of Harrods, unlike when uncle Jack was in charge. You need to smell the coffee matey!

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

People also forget how much Liverpool have spent since Benitez has been in charge.

In order to establish yourself as a big club/business/enterprise in today's day and age you need significant investment (thats what people forget). Roman has plied in his own money and so what. His business plan is to have chelsea being self financing within x years and he is working towards it by investing his own money.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

:rolleyes:

Was uncle Jack a multi billionaire? No he wasn't, he was a sick old man, bit like your current owner, incidently, you wondered what'll happen when he dies, if it's anything like what happend when his parents died it should be interesting. Say what you want about Roman, at least he appears to be a genuine fan, who has taken care of the clubs financial future should anything happen to him or he decides to walk away, where as your owner wouldn't give his own sisters the sweat of his substancial brow, I wonder who most people would rather have in charge of their club?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I would also add that Man U and Chelsea both now have a similar level of financial clout, irregardless of how they got to where they are now. Both teams can afford to pay, and have demonstrated to pay huge wages (if what we read about Ronaldo & Ferdinands new contracts are to be believed), so they are both playing on a level playing field.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Why is it that Chelsea fans simply never get the point about this?

No-one is denying Chelsea have one of the biggest financial backings in the world. Saying 'we don't like it' because someone is on the same level as United in that respect is pure ignorance.

What us United fans object to is when we (rightly) say Chelsea bought went out and bought success, and their fans say "Well United spent close to £60m on Rio and Rooney" as if it's the same thing!

It's not the same thing!

Our ability to spend that sort of money came from years of hard graft and many years of failure before that. Chelsea's ability to spend money, quite simply, came from a rich Russian throwing money about.

now if that's how a club is going to be run then fair enough, no-one is going to deny that sort of thing works and if a sugar daddy bought United out and spent hundreds of millions then I wouldn't complain.

But, Chelsea fans, please at least acknowledge your teams' rapid rise to success is purely down to Roman and his instant cash injection.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Leeds fail in their pts appeal...

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Malcolm Glazer? Please enlighten me, what happened, that I should be aware of?



Ah yes! So much of a fan, he hasn't attended a game at the bridge since the defeat to Spurs in the league cup final.

Do you honestly believe Roman is in it, for anything other than profit? Surely, if he was in it for the love of the game, he would have bought a club a couple of thousand miles further east.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Now that is a crying shame, :rolleyes: :D

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

When Malcolm’s mother Hannah died in 1980, she left an estate worth $1m. Litigation erupted soon after, the court battle over the will ensued, passing through six judges and has gone on for an incredible 24 years.

At one point when the opposing attorney left the room the stenographer recorded Glazer saying: “We have got to keep going until there is no money in this estate.� He has said he meant that his sisters were intent on running down the estate. In 1986 he was ordered to pay fees of $268,299 and a judge said his “intentional and prolonged non-compliance with the court’s reasonable orders� had cost his sisters.

That's the type of man he is, lets hope and I do genuinly mean it, that no such nonsense occurs when he dies.


Has Malcolm ever attended a match? Besides if I were a Chelsea fan I'd be more concerned if he weren't present at the first match of next season, big things are about to happen there for sure, whether they win a trophy this season or not

I thought his cash was proping up CSKA Moscow? And considering how much he has spent I can't see him ever getting a return on his investment so I say he weren't in it for the money.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

At the very least, you could have provided a link to the article in question, so we can judge not only the authenticity, but the credibility too.


Considering the bloke has had 2 strokes, I think we can forgive for his lack of attendance, don't you?


And this information comes from where? Or is this a 'gut' feeling?



Roman is a multi billionaire for a good reason, he's a shrewd business man, to suggest he won't get a return on his investment is dillusional on your part.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Well one Russian side are doing well, Zenit stuffing Bayern Munich in the first UEFA semi, second leg. Live on ITV4 ATM. Oliver Kahn has got a right cob on. :D

Hope the 'Gers can pull it off tonight.

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Well done Rangers, ironic that two English teams are going to Russia for one final and a Russian team is coming to Manchester for the other.


Zenit St Petersburg did look rather tasty as they thrashed Bayern Munich tonight.

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Link You might be interested to know that the Guardian had reason to call him a slum landlord as well, again lovely bloke :rolleyes:

How many had he had when the club was purchased? Zero weren't it so no I dont think it's forgivable, mind you he did say it was a 'great franchise' :rolleyes:

So why did he buy all those boats, to sell at a profit at a later date, why does Bill Gates donate tens of millions to charity every year, to make a profit, if you can't see that some times people do things for pleasure, I'd suggest it's you that is delusional

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Blimey, a United fan standind up for Glazer? How things change. Is he actually liked now?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

You may have noticed that United spent high, pre-Glazier?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

What are you saying, that you have always been partial to buying success?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Again, maybe you can tell us, you seem to know more about glazers appearances at old trafford than the rest of us.

I find it amusing, you tell us how appalling the owner is, and forget how the board from your own club tried screwing it's fans over with a bond scheme, charging supporters over a thousand quid for the "privilege" of buying a season ticket. What nice people you've had running your club in times gone by.

Nope, I'm completely impartial about the Glazers. But I do find it funny how low people will stoop to, to undermine the club. Success on the field, always brings people out to criticise where they can. You'd almost think there was some jealous buggers out there. ;)

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Yes, with money we earned by being successful, not from a sugar daddy.

See the difference?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I thought Glazer bought the club for his sons, particularly Joel. His sons are on the board and are at games alot.

I think this is an issue no one will agree on so this debate will just run and run

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Not rest of, just you it would seem

Some ex board members to be precise, speaking of screwing fans haven't your clubs ticket prices doubled since they took over? Oh and incidentally it was £500, get your facts right and these days I bet there are fans up and down the country who would more than willingly pay the equivalent of £50 a year the guarantee their season ticket for 10 years

---------- Post added at 10:41 ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 ----------

Not really

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

I wasn't being faecetious about it I am genuinely interested. Last I heard, Glazer was getting death threats, lifelong fans were forming breakaway-clubs Old Trafford was mortgaged to the hilt, and was about to be renamed the Budweiser-Nike stadium, and all the transfer money was going on the interest payments. Then it all suddenly died a death.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Oh! ONLY £500 was it. That makes it ok then. :rolleyes:

Why were your supporters so against it then?

Linky

Doesn't quite look as straight forward as you suggest now does it?

And no, I don't know any supporters who would pay a supplement to guarantee a season ticket, prices are inflated enough as it is.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

We didn't like the idea of it and I was one of the supporters protesting

Actually is was, I had one, for about an hour, thanks mum

I think you are wrong, especially if the club in question has a waiting list for season tickets.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

How about "United were already the most successful club in the Premiership before Glazier came along, whereas Chelsea were annual also-rans before Roman turned up" - get it now?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Interesting, you weren't all that successful when you were breaking transfer records for the likes of Bryan Roson though were you?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Not really all that interesting, success came once SAF started bringing kids through the ranks - which, come to think about it, doesn't really require millions in transfer fees.

But going back to my question - get it now?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Didnt the arrival of Cantona prove to be a kickstart to the trophies?

And ROy Keane was pretty instrumental too wasnt he?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

There is nothing to 'get' Russ, you think it makes a difference were the cash comes from and I don't, you can harp on about being successful but we have already established your club was breaking transfer records for the likes of Robson and Pallister when you hadn't actually been that successful at all

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Yes as was Schmeichal and the 'kids'...in other words players SAF brought in.

Did we go on to almost dominate the league as soon as they came in? As you'll be aware - no we didn't. It took years of hard graft, not a sugar daddy's billions.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

The majority of your current team has been bought in. Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Nani, Ronaldo, VDS, Tevez, Carrick and definately not bought up through the ranks.

Looking at the latest revenue figures I see that Man Utd are not that far ahead of Chelsea in terms of revenue generated, a significant difference is you have a bigger overdraft, whislt Roman writes off ours. So in effect you are financing current transfers with the banks money, not your own, and hoping that future success pays itself off. Roman is using his own money to build future success, and he got immediate success as a bonus. the Glaziers are using bank overdrafts in the same way. Your spending is not limited to your revenue.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Is it really all that hard to understand? The majority of United’s first time at the moment were bought, no question about that but the money used was earned by the success of yesteryear’s teams! We dominated the 90s, this was due to an unbeatable youth policy and players bought at going rates and not (then) hyper-millions, which the few exceptions of Cole and Pallister.

Chelsea's current success is soley down to the Russian appearing from nowhere. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, just as long as the fact is acknowledged.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

didn't it take Chelsea 2-3 years to win the title even after Roman came in. First they had Ranieri and then he left before they bough in Jose. It's not just the money but also down to the manager too, although without both I don't think it is possible to win the title anymore.

I think what TheDaddy is trying to say that it doesn't really matter, from his point of view, where the money comes from the fact is we have used that to further our success

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

Thats another thing people seem to forget. It could also be argued that arguably the big name signings have not contributed to title success eg Sheva & Ballack. The manager should definately take credit for a lot of success, but then the Man U fans will say well Jose was bought too.

---------- Post added at 14:55 ---------- Previous post was at 14:53 ----------

No the money used for buying your current squad is got by extending your overdraft. And how much did you pay for Ferdinand and Veron? definately not the going rates at that time.

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

On the subject of Shev and Ballack (let's not forget Veron too...) Roman was like a child in a sweetshop, trying different sweets and throwing away the ones he didn't like. United have never had the luxury of working that way. As with Jose no-one will deny he is talented however I have a feeling the lure of all this newly aquired (and bought) talent, plus an almost 'open-chequebook' mentality probably played a big part in his deciding to take the job.

---------- Post added at 14:58 ---------- Previous post was at 14:57 ----------

And to a degree I will concur with that - however surely anyone can see that comparing where the money came from with United and Chelsea is unfair?

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

We have bought our fair share of duds and for alot of money too.

Bellion £2 m
Djemba - Djemba
Kleberson - £ 6.5 m
Veron £ 28
Forlan - £8 - although I think he could have worked out if we kept him

Even Saha at 12 isn't really a success.

Sure it isn't the same comparing our money to Chelsea but I can also see why fans of Charlon and West Ham or others don't care at all where our money comes from either

Re: Football : Season 2007/2008
 

What gave the bank confidence to give us an extension?

Was that the 90s?