Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Man Utd are in for Michael Owen....

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Nah

Im not having that one.. Too old , too injury prone

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

And peaked quite a while back IIRC

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

During the 1998 World Cup.

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:redcard:

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although not the greatest signing, he's free and is a proven Prem League goal scorer so is a better prospect than Wellbeck. If he can't cut it any more we can just cancel the deal or offload him to Hull later

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I was waiting for that.

Michael won't want to play for anyone more than an hour or so from his first love - his stables. Manu fit the bill perfectly. He'd probably be happy to play on a rolling contract basis as well.

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I said Owen a few pages and weeks back. We would be absolute mugs to (at least) not get him in for a medical and a chat. Free and with low wages, we will sell enough Owen shirts to cancel him out. Not as a Tevez replacement, someone to add to what we have and who we get.

One paper already reported Benzema was going nowhere but Real and UTD never actually bid for him, that would mean (Paper talk n all) we are still negotiating with whomever it is we are after.

He has to buy, Rooney and Berbatov is fine, but a couple of 17 year old kids is no backup, he has no choice, he has to buy someone. And I think we need a Central Midfielder that can score 10+ goals.

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If we don't expand on Rooney and Donkey there's no way we'll take the premiership, simple as that. And by expand I mean expand BIG. We need a proven goalscorer or I can't see us finishing top two.

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Darius Vassell has joined Turkey's MKE Ankaragücü.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXCtsxzXBKg

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/07/38.jpg

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/07/39.jpg

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/07/40.jpg

Am i being unfair, or is this taking celebrating mediocrity to whole new levels?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Just when you think Scottish football couldn't sink any further...

In the Europa Cup qualifying Motherwell are currently 1-0 down at home to the giants of international football that are Llanelli.

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Bwahahahahahaha!! Made even worse by the thought of turks dancing in the streets of Saucepanland singing "we're on the our way to europe" :D

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They'll be mistaking him for the reincarnation of Darius the Great... :erm:

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He will last a max of 3 games before getting a injury that will put him out for the best part of the season

I wanna word with the guys who put his brochure together i mean if thay Can trick a club like man U in to takeing a player who's so injury prone and past his best.it makes red rum look good god only knows what great Stuff thay could line up for me.

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Turkish people going crazy for a black English person? What is going on?!

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All over the papers now, remember who told you first :) I should have phoned The Sun instead of posting it here though :(

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/8131801.stm

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City bid for Terry rejected:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ea/8131944.stm

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This is just too painful to imagine: if Rooney takes a long term injury that would give us Donkey and Owen up front...we'll be out of the title race by Christmas.

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Do you seriously think this will be our last transfer before the season starts? We've got about £100m to spend, we've only spent £16m. Fergie's been back not even a week and there's no rush to buy players. You need to have a little faith not just jump to stupid conclusions. "Out of the title race by Christmas" :rolleyes:

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For me not to be pessimistic about the new season SAF should have signed someone with a proven track record. Villa, Beznema, no chance of those now. All the available proven names are passing us by. Ribery doesn't look like happening either. OK Huntelaar has been mentioned but he impresses me as much as Donkey did at Spurs.

We don't just need a striker, we need someone we can count on to bang them in. If Liverpool have another season like last year they'll overtake us in no time. City are upping their game, we need to raise ours too. Remember Arsenal before Henry left?

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i've worried about next season for some time. We have an aging goal keeper who is prone to mistake and is getting worse all the time. We have no wingers at all and only one player up front who can score and he isn't known for being prolific either.

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I think teh 50% tax band is putting a lot of players currently playing abroad signing for the Premiership.

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You can't sign players that don't want to play for you, it's clear Villa, Benzema and Ribery don't want to play in England. As i've said, i seriously doubt Owen will be our last signing. There's still plenty of time to sign players, pre-season hasn't even started yet. You need to stop worrying Russ :)

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Sherer sums it up - it's not just a striker we need. VDS has his moments of brilliance but is worryingly error-prone. OK we've got one of the best backlines in the league but they can only take so much. Unless SAF can pull a rabbit out of the hat like he did with Ronnie, it's looking bleak. Even with a few mistakes we took the title last year with the best player in the world. We weren't a one-man team but Liverpool pushed us all the way, they aren't going to let up. I'm not yet convinced about City yet but they'll fancy their chances.

Hey I love being proven wrong but unless we get some big names (ie proven names) soon, I'll stay worrying.

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Apparently according to an ITK (with a proven track record) on Red Cafe, United are in for Modric and Kenwe Jones. Red Cafe is down ATM, so I can't double check.

If United lure Modric to them, I swear i'll burn down Old Trafford with Ferguson and Kenyon inside it.

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You might have to go to Stamford Bridge to get Kenyon, but if you find him please do burn him :)

Modric would be a pretty good buy actually.

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I meant Gill oops:

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I wouldn't mind Modric but don't really think Jones is any better than any of the kids we have in the reserves

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I was hoping it was a cruel joke but Owen is at Carrington as we speak :erm:

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Why? He's a free transfer on a pay-as-you-play deal. Its not like you have much to risk is there?

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What if he turns out to be a liability like donkey? He's rubbish in the air like Rooney and if SAF ends up putting those 2 out in a game.....

I seriously hope to be proven wrong. I hope donkey gets his first dodgy season out of the way and turns in to a real £30m player and Owen gets his second wind. I just can't see it happening.

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Sir AF knows what he is doing, I was really surprised but maybe he thinks that a Injury free Owen with decent delivery can recapture this former glory. It's not a massive risk and Owen has the right attitude.

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How can a free player on a pay-as-you-play player be a liability?

You said it yourself, you need a proven EPL goalscorer. His record clearly says he is. If isn't fit, he doesn't play and doesn't cost anything.

Whilst I admit Ferguson has signed some dross in his life, I find your lack of faith in him and his record quite shocking.

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I hope man utd get Owen as it would be one less wage bill for Newcastle :)

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He's a free agent now so won't cost Newcastle anything anyway.

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Donkey's a liability - nothing to do with the cost - when SAF put him on ahead of Tevez and proceeded to do everything bar be a decent player, that made him a liabilty. I'm hoping Owen will be used in the same way as Henrikson, as a stop-gap in case of injuries or suspensions.

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I think that Fergie, is an idiot by signing (if he does pass all the medicals tec), Owen.

That is why no one else wants him, he is passed it, injury prone, and did he save Newcastle NO. Sorry Fergie, he is no replacement for Ronaldo, and to me down the pecking order for a striker.:mad:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I think Owen will be a good signing and if any of the other top clubs had signed him we would all be saying why did we miss out. Sure he is older and we all know the injury problems but it's better than putting some kid on the bench Fergie will never bring on as they aren't experienced.

If it doesn't work out we will be no worse off. Now all we need is a left winger, a right back and prob a right winger too.

Any ideas where Valencia is meant to fit into the team ?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Last I heard he can play on either flank.

---------- Post added at 13:35 ---------- Previous post was at 13:34 ----------

No-one is suggesting he's a Ronnie-replacement.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Oh aye I forgot about that :erm:

Still never rated him anyway and he never did much for us but hopefully he will have a better time at Man Utd.

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It's a fair point but surely there are ways of " working around " the tax situation? as in " perks "

In the absence of the big names materialising I think united have been left with no other options, if he can stay fit it could be a good move but I still feel that Liverpool had the best out of him, whether there's anything left in the tank the coming season should be interesting.

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thanks for that. I thought he played more through the middle for Wigan. I can see us going back a bit to the Beckham style with proper balls in from the wing with Berba in the centre to knock them in.

Still leaves us with Park on the other wing and he has never been good enough for us

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I agree about Owen, i was suprised to see he is only 29, footballers are supposed to be in their prime at that age, as long as he stays injury free i reckon he could do really well for us. Having him on a pay as play contract is definately the right way to go.

I can see it now, Owen scoring a 90th minute winner infront of the kop, that would be nice :D

For me we need another winger and possibly another striker. I disagree about needing a right back, for me Rafael is one of the most promising youngsters in the league at the moment and with Brown fit again we will be alright in that position.

---------- Post added at 14:36 ---------- Previous post was at 14:33 ----------

Hardly a liability seeing we won the league and got to the champions league final with him featuring throughout...

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Rafael is great at bombing forwards but when you actually need someone to defend then he is left wanting. I think he would be better as a winger than a right back

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I was sceptical at the start citing fitness issues but he's passed a couple of stringent fitness tests at Carrington ( i should nip down as its less than 4 minutes way from my gaff ) but its tipping down so i wont.

Currently at a private hospital having a medical.. Loosk it it could be on. Im quite excited now as the fitness test will have been tough , United wont arse about with it , so as am impact sub he could be useful.

And as has been mentioned , its not like rooney and him dont play well together

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How often did we need him to do something...ANYTHING and he failed to produce? I can think of 2 occasions where he got subbed, Tevez came on and won the game for us. I realise for £30m SAF had to play him but when it became obvious he couldn't hit a cow's rear end with a banjo Tevez should have been given priority.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Michael Owen signs two-year deal at Man Utd according to 5 live

---------- Post added at 18:55 ---------- Previous post was at 18:54 ----------

Confirmed - Link

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Better than a kick in the butt I guess.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Sturridge gone to Chelsea

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ea/8067000.stm

He won't get much first team football there, at least initially, but he'll get paid what he thinks he deserves... :erm:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Just found out Owen was the 2001 European footballer of the year :erm:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Signed - 2 Years - at least I wasn't the only person that thought this was a no brainer.

They read a statement from him (MUTV).

Sounds like he is over the moon.

---------- Post added at 18:39 ---------- Previous post was at 18:37 ----------

Agbonlahor next.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I don't think so, can anyone else see Owen being your final signing this season

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I cant no...but then i cant see us signing agbonlahor either..

Id have ashley young though.. He'd do well , and with tosic coming through then a couple of fast wingers would do well

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

No. Agbonlahor would be perfect for us.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Maybe, can't see you getting him though, way I see it what's the point of spending the cash for the sake of it, give some of those youngsters a go.

Anyway moving on, this made me laugh

Argentine striker Carlos Tevez has vowed he will shout in Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's face if he scores against the Red Devils next season. (Daily Mirror)

If it makes you feel better son go right ahead, personally I'd have thought scoring would have been point enough but there you go

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Was thinking of it as more of a good investment, if Rooney or Berbatov get injured (and based on the opinion of 95% of the www, Owen will be injured all season) having to stick a 17 year old in and hope for the best, not sure I like the idea of that.

And the way Blatter is starting to Huff n Puff we need to get as many Englishmen as we can.

Regrdless of what happened, all UTD fault, all his fault or 50/50 (which it was) he needs to rise above it and stop gobbing off. Maybe he isn't the Class Act us UTD fans thought he was, and we are seeing what Ferguson has been putting up with. Maybe he is just a sulking brat?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Arsenal have bid for Felipe Melo according to SS and Yahoo, but Fiorentina want Eboue as part of the deal.

I think he'd be a decent signing for us, add some fire to midfield.....although his yellow/red card stats are pretty poor, but we need someone like that.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

According to BBC Sport

Samuel Eto'o will drop his wage demands to join Manchester Utd for £25m

now that could be interesting

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Eto'o, he's another player that the media seem to love but hasn't really done anything to justify it. Ok he's a good player but I haven't seen anything from him yet that backs up his reputation.

Plus he's rubbish on FM2009 :D

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Err, 108 goals in 145 games in la liga is not enough justification? He got 30 goals in 36 la liga games last season. He's a class player, i'd love to see him play for us.

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I didn't say he wasn't good, just that I don't see him being the star that the spanish press make him out to be.

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Well if your logic is fair and balanced, there must only be a very tiny list of players throughout history you consider a star.

How can a man with 165 goals in 308 matches (108 in 145 for Barcelona - their 3rd highest goalscorer ever), 37 goals in 80 international caps, 2 Champions League medals (scored in both finals as well - you can hardly claim he's not a big game player), 3 La Liga titles, African Nations Cup twice, 3 time African Player of the Year etc etc etc etc, and still only 28 years old, ever NOT be considered a "star"?

Eto'o would be the top striker at Man United by a country mile.

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Scoring (on average) one in every other game is good, but not the standard I'd expect for someone the spanish media seem to worship.

Let's face it, he wouldn't have that much competition. Rooney's world class but he doesn't score massive amounts of goals, Owen is past his best IMO and don't get me started on donkey.

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Anyone who thinks eto'o isnt much cop hasnt been watching much la liga football over the past few years...

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Not surprisingly, you completely ignored his 108 goals in 145 for Barcelona, which he's been doing for the past 5 years. And 1 in 2 for international games is exceptional.

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What do you mean by 'not surprisingly'?

Um, how could I have ignored his Barcelona goals when I highlighted his total and even commented on it by saying "one in every other game is good"?

And as you know, the international game is different to the domestic game. Michael Owen is the highest scoring England player yet he's nothing special right now.

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Not surprisingly because i don't think your judgement is objective.

The last 5 years of 108 in 145 is a far higher ratio than 1 in 2. The full career total and his international total you highlighted are close to 1 in 2.

Yes, correct. While Eto'o is the current highest scoring Cameroon player, the current highest scoring Barcelona player, one of the current highest scoring La Liga players and is special right now.

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The spanish game is different to ours, that's why I went on his total career goals which while pretty good, is nothing special.

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Rooney is the lad to build UTD round now, if another striker does come in, I don't want Rooney shunted out left side again, cos if he gets naffed off and leaves, then we are in trouble, never mind this overated crap. Eto at 28 is going to want games, so either him or RussB fave ever player ;) is on the bench or it's Rooney on the wing.

Rooney was the best player in the Prem for the last few weeks of the season, he has really matured and next season he will start to show what he is about, I think people forget he is only 23, 26-28 when most players hit their peak, I think he is already there.

Not seen enough of Eto to judge, as long as Rooney is first choice, they can buy who they want.

Wonder what he gets paid? I know we have a wage structure at UTD, but the top earners are hardly poor. I assume some of them are on over £100,000? He can't be on much more than that at Barca.

---------- Post added at 13:38 ---------- Previous post was at 13:32 ----------

As a side, was just looking at goal ratios on Wiki.....

Rooney P49 S20. Berbatov P43 S14. Tevez P51 S15.

I think Carlos n Kia need to check some statistics before they make feeble excuses as to why they left us.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Eto is an out-and-out goal scorer.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Possibly something from Alan Nixon (Mirror journo - posts as Nicko on a Blackburn Rovers forum as an ITK)
Followed by this...

Trying to think what it can be. I presume "your club" is Blackburn. Can't see it being 6+5 as that would affect every club. It mentions something just over a month ago. The UCL final was just over a month ago. Maybe Barcelona might be disqualified? Someone found a rule they broke and they are arguing over the legalities?

Anyone else have any better ideas? He isn't known for being a WUM.

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It could only be one thing. Alex Ferguson is an alien. :erm:

The Barcelona thing sounds possible, other theories:

• Match Fixing - This has happened before however. Still not in the Premiership.

Actually that's all I can think off. Building on the Champions League theory, maybe it's related to the Chelsea/Barcelona semi?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I did hear a completely unsubstantiated rumour about a very big name Premiership star failing a drugs test.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Ooooo Very big name? Probably excludes Arsenal then :D Probably Chelsea. They can afford the premium drugs. Although that has happened before..

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It was a Man U player.

Has any International, top of their game players failed a drugs test before or has it always been people of lower standing or past their best?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Want to tell me who? I know there are libel laws so I suggest you name every player for which you didn't not hear a rumour about.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Well, Mutu was probably near his prime, and there's also Mark Bosnich. As a keeper, he was probably only just (technically) reaching his best years when Chelsea suspended him...

Mind you, it does beg the question 'what is it about Chelsea'? :D

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It could well be the punishment has never happened before..

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

<cough> Past History <cough> ;)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

What a pile of turd.


Missing a drugs test for being stupid doesnt meant youve actually taken anything does it

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Nope! This rumour is suggesting that the player, who ever that may be, has tested positive.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Funny you should say that.... I heard exactly the same thing in connection with this story.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Surely him saying that rules out drugs or match fixing though?

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The punishment would be my theory on this. Like a permanent ban from football, for life.

---------- Post added at 14:45 ---------- Previous post was at 14:44 ----------

The player who I believe it was has not been sold recently..I don't think they, with this information, could sell the player on without the other club knowing. That club is unlikely to wish to buy such a player..

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Have you heard this rumour before then (separately from Derek?)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Nope, but if it occurred a month ago. Then the player your suggesting would not have been sold imo. I googled to find the currently suggested player..

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Rio failed one in the past by not attending, he couldn't be thick enough to do it again could he? Well as much as I like the guy he is thick enough....

Maradonna, Mutu, Bosnich, Bowyer, guess there is a difference between performance enhancing and 'recreational' though

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Can't find anything online about this :shrug:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Surely if it was something really important it would have come out more than a month after it happened and it wouldn't just be one person on the internet who supposedly knows about it?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Presumably there would have been extensive dialogue between United and the FA. They may have waited for a re-test and for the FA to decide a punishment along with input/appeals from United.

Not saying it's true but it is quite feasible that it's been kept quiet for a month.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Who said it's anything to do with United?

;)

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I don't understand why people are assuming it's United as well?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

The rumour states it's United.

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Easy target i expect

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http://www.manutdtalk.com/forums/man...g-testing.html

Why is it that any time someone says something non-complimentary about United, the fans just assume people are picking on them?

---------- Post added at 16:40 ---------- Previous post was at 16:34 ----------

I can't find it publicly on google yet (its on registration-only sites), but there are references to Nicko about:

http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball....tid=28750&mid=

---------- Post added at 17:50 ---------- Previous post was at 16:40 ----------

A bit of an update. It seems the most concrete rumour is that it involves 4 players match fixing the FA cup final. Apparently the FA and police are aware.

Its from a private forum so I can't link or quote. However it seems that a couple of people are corroborating it. Still, anyone can say they have a high-placed source etc.

---------- Post added at 19:40 ---------- Previous post was at 17:50 ----------

In case anyone thinks i'm just making up random rubbish, here's another footie forum

http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?n...wtopic&t=53576

They don't really know either, but someone else brought up the United failed drug test allegation.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Why would 'they' (whoever) keep it quiet though? When one of the most famous defenders in Europe (maybe the world?) - Rio Ferdinand - slipped up and missed his drugs test, it was out in hours.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Nicko seemed to imply there were legal issues to be settled.

I wouldn't get too defensive, these are just rumours and theories. I would put more money on match fixing than failing a drug test.

I hope we find out and doesn't fizzle out. As VillaTalk said, Nicko has a very good track record and his credentials are proven.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I'm not being defensive, I just get annoyed when people say "I'd love to tell you about this really juicy story.....but I can't". Either 'lay a cable' or get off the toilet - either tell us the full story or say nothing at all.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Chelsea winning the final? They wouldn't have made much money doing that. The goals were all pretty good, none looked suspect. The site you linked too says the first goal, i just can't see how any of the match could have been fixed tbh. Were there rumours of this before this Nicko guy said anything or is it just something people have made up because of what he's said?

As i said before, he says it's not happened before, so surely that would rule out drugs and match fixing, which have made headlines many times before?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

If you don't like it or don't agree with it, then just ignore it.