Hate Man Utd

If the 6-5 rule was implemented what would be the effect on the game? For clarification the rule means teams could only field 5 foreign players and  6 home national players at any one time.

Negatives: The potential problem is that “big teams” like Manchester United will be tempted to “rape and pillage” smaller teams home grown players so they have a large squad to call upon. It could also lead to a headache for refs when substitutions are made. Indeed it may force smaller clubs to have to buy home nationals to fill gaps in the event of long term injuries which will limit their options. I guess in these circumstances transfer window exceptions may have to be made????

Positives: From an England national team perspective this seems good to me. It will guarantee a high percentage of home grown players getting regular football in the top divisions. This can only improve the skill levels and choice of players for the national team. Clubs would almost cirtainly be inclined to step up their youth development schemes. There is a higher chance of English children growing up with an English role model.

Image details: Manchester United v Chelsea - UEFA Champions League Final served by picapp.com

Tevez sees fit to celebrate the Champions League victory for an English team wearing the Argentina national shirt.

Image details: Manchester United Trinity Statue Unveiled served by picapp.com

 Caption competition, we’ll decide and publish the best, no prizes!!!!

Well aren’t they well up their own backsides! The Guardian has a story that Scholes is the best Man Utd player as cited by an ugly bunch of ex-reds Robson, Cantona and Beckham and current player Ferdinand. This story is them superceded by Ronaldo being the Worlds best player (and by default Man Utds best player) as cited by a different current player; Giggs.

 V

Come on, who do you think is best whether you are a Man Utd fan or otherwise?

Sorry about the technical problem with the picture!

Leaving aside any discussion of “old pals acts” with 4 former reds managing teams in the same league in the season the title was won by Man Utd, lets examine how well those teams managed by reds performed:

• Blackburn (Useless Hughes) Pos 7, Won nothing, v Man Utd L1 D1.
• Wigan (Bruce) Pos 14, Won nothing, v Man Utd L2.
• Sunderland (Keane) Pos 15, Won nothing, v Man Utd L2.
• Reading (Croppell) Pos 18, Relegated, Won nothing, v Man Utd L1 D1.

In summary, if you want your team to win zip and not beat Man Utd, call an ex red.

If you are a Man Utd fan reading this please be sure to go to work, the pub, school, your friend house etc and declare “your team won the league”. Be sure to describe how you have travelled a considerable distance to your armchair to view several matches this season. Be especially sure to mention your victory to people who have travelled the length and breadth of the country to support their team. Don’t forget to renew your subscription to Sky and MUTV for next season.

A quick blog post today to draw attention to the potential of Man Utd winning nothing this season, a topic I’ve seen no mention of in the media. Wigan draw at home with Man utd on the last day of the season and Chelsea win against Bolton. Then Chelsea beat Man Utd in the Euro Cup final.

 The reporting of Manchester United games is often biased and is bound to be a topic frequently visited on this blog. It is particularly annoying to see Manchester United reffered to as “United” in match reports when they are playing another team with “United” in their name. Take for example the game against West Ham United, below are some quotes from the match reviews where the singular word ”United” is used in relation to Manchester United and not West Ham United.  

BBC website: ”The victory means United will retain the title with victory at Wigan next Sunday.

Sky Sports: ”The United midfielder head-butted Lucas Neill as the duo tangled on the edge of the West Ham box.”

The Guardian: “United found themselves numerically disadvantaged.”

News of the World: “The United faithful roared their approval and saluted skipper Rio Ferdinand and his side.”

Daily Mail: “United will wrap it up if they win at Wigan next Sunday.”

Telegraph: “Senseless piece of violence like the butt on Lucas Neill by Nani which condemned United to play with 10 men.”

I’d like to see comments from supporters of teams with United in their name!

The dictionary definition of United is: To join, combine, or incorporate so as to form a single whole or unit. As Manchester has another team (i.e. Manchester City) the team name of “Manchester United” when analysed makes no sense! 

Why is it Manchester United fans that don’t come from Manchester feel they can support Manchester United? It is mainly because they are insecure in some way and gain reassurance from being able to tell their friends that “their team won”. In so doing they have ignored their birth right to support their local team. This is fundamentally bad for the grassroots of football - essentially the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

 The individual misses out on going to games (99.9% of Man Utd fans have never been to Old Trafford) and the social benefits that go with it, preferring instead to sit and watch TV. Supporting your birth right team through thick and thin means that the emotional highs are higher than those of a Manchester United fan as they have no real association at an emotional level. For example, it would not be unreasonable to hear comments from a Man Utd fan along the lines of “We had a poor season, we only won the FA cup, came second in the league and lost in the semis of the Champions League”. Where as a supporter of a lower league team could gain more personal pleasure from winning in the 3rd round of the FA cup against Premier League opposition.