Two stories coming out of Manchester today couldn’t be more opposite. The blue half will garner an incredible amount of respect and praise for its plans to spend an obscene amount of money to redevelop the area around the City of Manchester Stadium. The red half, meanwhile, is using some heavy-handed tactics to try to suppress the rising tide of interest and support for the green and gold brigade and their support of the Red Knights campaign to take over Manchester United.
Here are the two stories in more detail with links to the source articles from The Guardian:
Manchester United comes down hard on green and gold support. Several weeks ago we led with the story about Manchester United banning its players from using social media sites. Now it seems that the club has banned its...
And so it begins in earnest. After months of pressure being to filter through from fan groups, the last few weeks have seen Manchester United fans begin to turn up the pressure on the Glazer family. Do not be fooled by people giving this anti-American slant, this is not about such trivial matters as nationality. Manchester United fans do not disagree about the club being owned by Americans, they disagree with how the club is being run, seemingly as a piggy bank for the Glazer family.
It seems astounding to consider that Manchester United are now saddled with a £712 million debt, which regardless of how much spin comes out of the United PR department, is growing year on year. The Love United Hate Glazer campaign is growing in strength, a group of potential benefactors known as the Red...
I accept that this is not necessarily the most obvious topic for a blog posting, but stick with me here, I'll get to the point soon...
For Liberal Democrats, there is no obvious link to any Premier League team (unless you're conditioned to do what Sara Bedford tells you to do). And, given the uncanny ability of Ipswich Town to draw their games (draw number 17 of the season at the weekend), leading Liberal Democrat donor, Marcus Evans, who owns the club, is unlikely to be visiting the directors' box at the Emirates or Old Trafford for a league fixture any time soon (go on boys, prove us wrong!).
However, that may be about to change. The Red Knights consortium, currently considering a bid for Manchester United, includes amongst its supporters, Paul Marshall, leading hedge fund manager...
• Group of wealthy fans called Red Knights met in London• Red Knights working on proposal to be put to Glazer FamilyThe group of wealthy and well-connected Manchester United fans known as the Red Knights today confirmed that they are putting together a bid for Manchester United."Following the intense media speculation overnight, we can confirm that a group of high net worth individuals, who support Manchester United (known as the "Red Knights"), met in London yesterday. This group is supportive of current management but are looking at the feasibility of putting together a proposal to be put to the Glazer Family regarding the ownership of Manchester United," it said in a statement. "These discussions are in early stages and no contact has been made with the Glazer Family."• The key...
If you can’t beat them, buy them. That has often been Manchester United’s strategy when the club has lost pivotal league games against smaller English clubs and/or have been embarrassed by Premier League players who display incredible raw skill. United has often gone on to purchase many of those footballers.
Examples include Everton (Wayne Rooney), Fulham (Louis Saha – after he scored against United and later joined them, and Edwin van der Sar), Tottenham (Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Carrick) and Wigan (Antonio Valencia). It’s a smart transfer strategy because you make sure the smaller clubs will never break into the Big Four. But it also prevents those players being bought by rival clubs, and makes sure that those players won’t embarrass United again....
Will Manchester United Win the Champions League?(polls)
It was a textbook Manchester United performance. The Red Devils entered the San Siro with the pressure of performing against some of the top footballers in the world such as Pato, Beckham, Ronaldinho, Seedorf, Nesta, Pirlo, Ambrosini and Huntelaar. And despite being outplayed in the first half of the match, United managed to go into the changing room level at 1-1 at the half after a fluke goal by Paul Scholes that hit his standing leg and bobbled into the far corner of the net.
At halftime, Sir Alex Ferguson must have lit into his players because Manchester United’s second half performance was significantly improved. And United got what they deserved from all of their hard work with two exquisite headers from Wayne Rooney,...
It sounds too simple, but the difference between Arsenal and Manchester United on Sunday was finishing. Both teams had several chances in front of goal. Manchester United scored most of them. Arsenal missed all of them.
There were several shots from Arsenal that skimmed past the post or straight at Edwin van der Sar. Andrei Arshavin and Alexandre Song had plenty of chances. So too did Cesc Fabregas and others wearing red and white.
But when Manchester United pushed forward and had a chance in front of goal, you had the feeling that something was going to happen, that they would make Almunia work hard, and that they did.
The other differentiating factor in today’s game was the combination of Nani and Wayne Rooney both of whom were on fire in the first half.
Finally, finally, finally...
League Cup Man City 2 Man Utd 1 : 1st leg semi final at EastlandsRoberto Mancini's Manchester City took the 1st leg to the Premier League champions Manchester United, winning 2-1 at Eastlands.BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner Ryan Giggs scored early on in the 17th minute, shooting from close range placing the ball into the centre of the goal.Carlos Tevez looked sharp, the Argentinian scored a well struck penalty to equalise and then shortly after the break he got his brace in the 65th minute, scoring with his head. Shortly after that Tevez was substiuted but got BBC man of the match which was well deserved.Manchester United finished strongly but they couldn't quite get the equaliser, setting up a great second leg at Old...
Manchester United posted an announcement on its website Friday that said that none of its players maintain personal profiles on social networking sites.
“The club wishes to make it clear that no Manchester United players maintain personal profiles on social networking websites,” said the note posted on ManUtd.com. “Fans encountering any web pages purporting to be written by United players should treat them with extreme scepticism. Any official news relating to Manchester United or its players will be communicated via ManUtd.com.”
However what the announcement failed to mention is that several Manchester United footballers used to have accounts on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook accounts, but they have either been shut down or the contents on...
Manchester United is for sale and is the subject of a takeover at a bargain price of £1.2 million according to The Daily Express. Except that it isn’t £1.2 million, it’s £1.2 billion (they flubbed the headline). And if The Daily Express can’t get the headline correct, how trustworthy is the actual story itself?
You can see the headline flub here (until they correct their mistake).
As for the story itself, the article contains no quotes from anyone about a supposed Manchester United takeover and there’s no attribution about the supposed story of United putting feelers out to Middle East buyers. Typical Express rubbish....
It seems the sky is begin to fall at Old Trafford as of late, supporters are beginning to wonder where the goals will come from as their beloved surge down the stretch in second place with teams on either side of them each having a game in hand. Every new day brings sour news of financial woes as an oddly bearded old man smiles reluctantly with his offspring. The hopes of shoring up the Manchester United front line during the January transfer window are now as certain as the Togo international team winning the most recent installment of the African Cup of Nations.
What Do We Know?
A financial wizard I am not so I’ll attempt to explain the Glazers actions in simple terms. It doesn’t take a wall street expert to realize that borrowing money to pay for something based on how...
Listening to the BBC Radio Five Live commentary last Sunday of the match between Manchester United and Leeds United, I was taken aback by a statement that the commentator made at the onset of the program. I’m paraphrasing, but the commentator said that in the interests of simplicity, whenever he mentioned “United” in the commentary, he would mean Manchester United, not Leeds United.
While I realize and understand that if you said “United” to ten soccer fans and asked them which team you were talking about, nine of the ten would answer “Manchester United, of course” while some smart arse would mention “Scunthorpe United, up the Iron!”
But to me, I find it a bit condescending and demeaning to a team that is snubbed. If you’re a...
In a football world full of foreign fans, which have never once traveled to England, Manchester United is the flavor of the millennium. But those of us, who love and appreciate the English game, and its history and passion, felt liberated today.
Leeds United, one of the giant clubs of the last forty years in English football signaled its return to relevance with a fantastic 1-0 victory at Old Trafford. The War of The Roses Rivalry, which is one of the biggest in England, was on display for the newer Red Devils fans today.
Manchester United has for years profited at Leeds expense. Gordon McQueen Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith, just to name a few. Leeds once was fortunate enough to sign Johnny Giles from Manchester United, and that transfer changed history! Throughout the late...
That sound you hear is United's stuttering attack.
I sat utterly bemused Saturday as I watched Manchester United altogether inept in front of goal away to their current bogey ground, Craven Cottage. Manchester United lost their second out of the last three matches and fifth league match of the year to Fulham 3-0, a scoreline that flatters the current champions as it could have easily been more. Fortunately for United supporters, top of the table Chelsea were unable to secure all three points at Upton Park on Sunday in what ended a 1-1 draw with the Hammers. Chelsea’s lead at the summit of the Premier League is now at a manageable 4 points.
Shocked I was though at United’s lack of any cohesion going forward. Wayne Rooney seems to still be trying to do way too much in a...
Owen, show us how close you are to a return.
It’s been a rough few months for Manchester United players as the rigors of competing in multiple competitions have taken their toll. Sir Alex Ferguson’s defensive dilemma has been well documented in recent weeks so weary eyes now turn to the almost 29-year-old Canadian born England and Manchester United midfielder, Owen Hargreaves. Seemingly vanished from existence, Hargreaves did in fact return to Old Trafford this past September from Vail, Colorado where he spent a few months in rehabilitation from career saving knee surgery that took place in November 2008 and January 2009. Renowned knee specialist Richard Steadman performed multiple operations on the midfielder and said Hargreaves condition was “one of the worst...
More ammunition for Red Devils
Manchester City executive chairman Garry Cook has offended the club’s supporters after referring to the club as “Manchester United” at a supporters’ club gala evening. Cook was announcing the evening’s special guest when he said: “I’d like to welcome Uwe Rosler into the Manchester United Hall of Fame.”
The blunder will be [...]...
With the international break nearly over, the excitement of the Premier League will be back with us and Manchester United will be looking to get back to winning ways against Everton at Old Trafford at the weekend.
Following the Chelsea defeat I began thinking about what the best Manchester United eleven actually is? You can name Chelsea’s best eleven fairly easily, as with Arsenal and Liverpool. But with United it proves more problematic.
Assuming everyone is fit and assuming Ben Foster does not have any more opportunities to show his ‘skills’ then Edwin van der Sar will be the goalkeeper of choice. Going along the back four it is one that picks itself, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic as the centre-back pairing, Patrice Evra at left-back and John O’Shea at right-back. A solid...
Manchester United and Chelsea both qualify the group stages and were in the last 16 of the Champions League. Manchester United scored late twice to draw 3-3 with CSKA...
United youngster Danny Welbeck and former Kop hero Michael Owen scored early in the second half to put Manchester United into the quarter finals of the Carling Cup. Barnsley played well but were unable to prevent a 0-2 loss in the hands of Manchester...
UEFA Chamions League News 30/09/2009Man Utd vs WolfsburgApoel Nicosia vs ChelseaThe Champions League is now warming up nicely, Chelsea and Manchester United are in action tonight. I'll be tuning into the Man Utd game tonight who are at home tonight against Wolfsburg. Although you'd expect Sir Alex's boys to deal with the Bundesliga champions, on Manutd.com there was an interesting quote from the Wolfsburg:"Old Trafford is a special ground and Manchester United is a very special club," he told his pre-match press conference. "They have played over 150 games in this competition and we have only had a couple."But we will not hide and I won't be losing any sleep thinking about it. It is impossible to say for certain whether the players will be inspired or afraid."But I do know...
Bellamy & Garrido – More amazing video clips are a click away
After one of the most exciting Manchester derbies ended yesterday, tempers flared again after an alleged Manchester United supporter ran on to the pitch and was then tackled by stewards. However, while the stewards held the offender, Manchester City’s Craig Bellamy walked over and punched him in the face.
Man United players immediately came up to Bellamy and expressed their disdain at the Welshman’s actions.
A close-up picture of the incident showing Bellamy throwing the punch can be seen here.
The video also shows Javier Garrido being struck by a coin thrown by a Manchester United supporter at half-time.
Thanks to 101 Great Goals for finding the video from Match Of The Day 2 regarding the above......
Shy, reserved Welshman reveals hidden violent streak
The pulsating Manchester derby is in danger of being overshadowed by this photograph, which appears to show Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy landing a punch on a Manchester United fan who is being restrained by stewards.
Normally we would not associate such a classless act with Bellamy, but the photo [...]...
The latest video flashback takes us back to the second season of the Premier League for a massive match between Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United.
The video features the opening to Match Of The Day (MOTD) featuring presenter Des Lynam and pundits Alan Hansen and Trevor Brooking. After setting the scene, the BBC cameras descend on Ewood Park where half of the ground was bare due to the construction of what would later be known as the Jack Walker Stand.
On the pitch, there are plenty of British football legends strutting their stuff including Alan Shearer, Mark Hughes, Colin Hendry, Tim Flowers, Gary Pallister, Peter Schmeicel and others.
The video only shows the first ten minutes of the broadcast. The final score ended Blackburn 2-0 Manchester United.
Related posts:Leeds United v...
Sky has released a simple but effective advertisement to promote the benefits of watching its channel in HD, and Cristiano Ronaldo is the star of it. Well, not exactly.
Take a look at the above commercial (Arsenal fans may want to look away).
Source: 101 Great Goals.
Related posts:Why Manchester United Should Let Cristiano Ronaldo GoCristiano Ronaldo Before Manchester UnitedRonaldo Departure A Huge Blow To Manchester United...
• Fiorentina have made approach to Fifa about transfer• Centres on deal for Italian U16 captain Michele FornasierFiorentina are considering a formal complaint to Fifa over the signing of the teenage defender Michele Fornasier by Manchester United. The club have made initial contact with Fifa but no investigation has yet been launched.United are confident of their legal position – players aged under 18 are not legally permitted to sign contracts in Italy and Fornasier was not contracted to Fiorentina when he was signed by the Manchester club this year. But Fiorentina are furious at losing out on the 16-year-old.A Fifa spokesman said: "Fifa can confirm that we were contacted by Fiorentina with regard to the potential transfer of the player, Michele Fornasier, to Manchester...
• Amazon removes compilation that included a chant abusing Arsène Wenger• 'Defamatory' lyrics prompted removal of 'Manchester United Chants' says storeAmazon has withdrawn a CD of Manchester United chants from sale after Arsenal complained that it contained defamatory lyrics about Arsène Wenger.The unofficial "Manchester United Chants" album contains a song aimed at the Arsenal manager, who has been the subject of tasteless abuse from United fans in recent years.A statement from Amazon.co.uk reported that Arsenal had complained about the chants. It said: "Arsenal Football Club has provided us with formal notice that content within the album 'Manchester United Chants' is defamatory in nature and we have, therefore, removed this title from our website."We would not remove a product...
Related posts:Manchester City v Manchester United and Chelsea v Arsenal Live and OnlineBREAKING NEWS: Manchester United Match Manchester City’s Bid For Berbatov And Throw In CampbellManchester United In Trouble After Manchester City’s Berbatov Bid Is Accepted...
Manchester United beat Hangzhou Greentown by 8 goals and ended their Asia Tour in style! This is the most entertaining pre-season game because United kept attacking and gave Hangzhou no chance to fight back.The goal scorers for Manchester United:Ryan Giggs 3,Michael Owen 2,Nani, Zoran Tosic, Dimitar...
Park Ji-Sung was playing in a Manchester United shirt in Korea for the first time. When the Korean star took to the pitch on the 73th minute, he was given a rapturous welcome by the 80,000 fans who packed the Olympic Stadium. After the match ended, Park said: “I am pleased to stand before my Korean fans in the United shirt for the first time."Manchester United beat Seoul FC 3-2 in the...
UEFA will fine both Arsenal and Manchester United £5,000 respectively for fan incidents during last years Champions League semifinals. An Arsenal fan hit Nemanja Vidic with a plastic bottle. A Manchester United supporter hurled a smoke bomb onto the pitch. The actions were potentially serious. The fines are not.
UEFA functions like all bureaucracies. It continues actions without a hint of rational analysis, solely because it was policy beforehand. Has no one questioned the purpose of these penalties?
The sums under discussion are trivial. Both Manchester United and Arsenal measure turnover in the hundreds of millions. Five thousand pounds neither attracts attention nor deters future behavior. It is doubtful Arsenal will now institute a plastic bottle task force.
It...
