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Tell him to call Nomar Garciaparra--they can compare notes. Nomar's a BIG soccer fan.

FC United given League go-ahead
By Chris Bevan

The new football club set up by disillusioned Manchester United fans has been accepted into the North West Counties League for next season.
FC United of Manchester will join the Second Division of the competition and play at Droylsden FC's Butcher's Arms Ground, subject to council approval.
The Conference North side have a stadium with a capacity of 3,500.
FC United are currently interviewing potential managers and will hold an open trial for players on 26 June.
More than 2,600 Manchester United fans fighting Malcolm Glazer's takeover have already pledged money and help to FC United.
Droylsden's owner and manager, Dave Pace, is a lifelong Red Devils fan who was keen to help his fellow supporters.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 640087.stm

Manchester United's new owners have pledged to spend big on new players.

Joel Glazer, son of billionnaire Malcolm, gave his first interview since arriving in England to MUTV, the club's own television channel.

In it he said: "We are there to provide the manager with what he needs to compete and win at the highest level."

He added: "Nobody was more excited when the club signed Wayne Rooney than us. If that situation arises again, we will go after that player."....

.....He claimed no players would have to be sold, with extra cash to keep the likes of Rio Ferdinand - whose negotiations he said the brothers were taking a personal interest in.

"When I read about hands being tied it is very frustrating," Joel said.

"It is absolutely not true. We are there to provide the manager with what he needs to compete at the highest and win at the highest level. You can't have caps. Situations arise and things change.

"We would not get involved with this unless we could compete at the highest level not having our hands tied, so when you read about that, you get very upset and want to let people know it is not the case.

"It is not a bottomless pit but the way this club has been operating in the past is going to be the way it's going to operate in the future."

seems to be good news. I do wish the fans hadn't reacted quite so harshly to the Glazers earlier in the week. I can understand their fears regarding all the borrowed money involved, but chanting "Die Glazer Die!" is a little unfair.

And if they don't want their season tickets, there are plenty of people who do I'm prepared to give the guys a chance.

Don't expect to win any silverware in the near future! :P

The reality is that Manchester United is a club with a big worldwide image. That image allows the club to market itself and bring in a lot of revenue from sources outside of just the league or England. But in order to continue in that mode of business, the club has to have success on the pitch. To do so, they need quality players, quality training, etc. That does not mean that the club has to go after every hot player du jour. But it also means that it cannot rest on its laurels. If the Glazers realize this, then there should be no problem.

Maybe my relationship with Stevie is here and my wife is higher. Maybe I need to bring the one with Stevie up a little to my wife's!
Liverpool's Rafa Benitez

I saw the Manchester United players and manager go for a lap of honour after losing to us in their last home game. In Portugal if you do this, they throw bottles at you!
Chelsea's Jose Mourinho

Thank you Sirs for frivolous distraction.

Ali

How do I change my profile ?

nevermind...

How do I change my profile ?

I can do it for you again if you like.

If you want to load a pic it has to be less than 100 X 100 pixels and less than 24kb. You can adjust the size in photoshop if you've got an image that's larger, if you don't have photoshop or similar post the pic here and I'll adjust it for you.

Mourinho has a point, or he would have if the reason the players did a lap of honour was BECAUSE they lost. Truth is, that's something the United players do after the last home game of every season for as long as I can remember. It's just a ritual to thank the fans for their support over the year, whether every trophy known to mankind has been won or nothing has.

Anyway, I'm disappointed with the reaction of our fans toward Rio Ferdinand in our last two pre-season games. He hasn't signed a new contract, but his current deal runs until 2007 and he's entitled to ask for wages which reflect his status at the club. I do hope the supporters do not force him out as he's the only world class defender we have.

On a positive note, Guiseppe Rossi scored in a pre-season friendly and if he can keep up his improvement, perhaps he can challenge for a first-team place in the not-too-distant future?

Kleberson looks to be off to Celta Vigo. It's a shame that he couldn't produce his best football in his two years here, and that he perhaps didn't get the chances he deserved in the first-team. Either way it should be a good deal for both the player and the clubs concerned.

We badly need to buy a new midfielder. Giggs, Keane and Scholes are all 30+ and having sold Djemba and Butt, with Kleberson likely to follow them through the exit door, there is a worrying lack of back-up.

The summer transfers so far amount to an ageing Dutchman for a GK and an unheralded Korean for a midfielder. We do need another one, and I hope the Glazers put up the cash otherwise it shall be another disappointing season. I'd like to see at least 1 major signing before the summer is out.

The tiny group of fans that jeered Ferdinand have been blown out of all proportion.

Is he entitled to request 120k a week? Loyalty doesn't exist from either side in football these days but his case isn't typical. He's quickly moving into the "twat" category, people would respect him more if he were to just come out and be honest. Would I hesistate if I was earning a million a week and somewhere else they offered me a million and a bit more? Obviously, but I'd make a decision a little more quickly. That's where he's making a mess of things.

he's the only world class defender we have

I'm sorry? Did Heinze leave?

Anyway, I like AFs idea of Smith taking the role Keane has occupied. He's more than capable and it'd be great to see him in the team a little more often.

VDS is a fine keeper and will be a great addition. His age isn't important as he has at least two good years left in him. By which time it'll be clear whether Howard can meet expectations. If not the little lad we signed and sent off to the Conference will be old enough to get a shot at the position.

With you on Rossi, he's been screaming for a chance for a year.

Aha! There is life on this thread after all.

Ali wrote:Is he entitled to request 120k a week? Loyalty doesn't exist from either side in football these days but his case isn't typical.

Has Rio definitely requested 120k a week? I don't really read the tabloids, even though they probably have more extensive football coverage on rumours and the like, so I don't know for sure. I certainly haven't seen an official statement from either the club or the player saying that's what he's asking for.

If true, that DOES seem excessive. He's not that bloody great. Agree about the lack of decision too. He should decide one way or another, but perhaps further negotations are expected as he still has two years to run on his current deal. No hurry.

Ali wrote:He's quickly moving into the "twat" category

That's OK. I was getting kinda lonely all on my own.

Disagree about Heinze being "world class", as good a season as he has had. He's not quite there yet IMO.

VDS is a fine keeper, I was just exaggerating. I don't understand why we bought the GK from Stoke. He hasn't even played a first team game for THEM. How great is Stoke's first team GK that this man we've bought (and he's already 22, no youth prospect at all) can't get a game there?

Still maintain we need at least one quality signing. I'd like Ballack but I won't get what I want (he's staying until 2006 at least) so I'll make sulky posts for now :P

Yes, Rio wants 120k a week and the current offer is 100k. He, and most other class players looking to renew contracts, has the club over a barrel.

Either offer him the 20k extra or lose him and have to shell out 30M plus wages on another quality defender.

Important as both our opinions are I think the Man Utd players voting Heinze players player of the year give validity to my opinion that he's world class. For one reason and another he's gained almost cult status at OT, nice to see a South American player prosper with Man Utd.

As for Foster sure he's 22 but that's young for a keeper and the initial fee was only 1M. Everyone says he has the potential and if he doesn't it won't be hard to get 1M back for him if he's sold.

He didn't play a game for Stoke because he was out on loan to Wrexham.

Ali, sorry not to take your word for it, but do you have any evidence that he's definitely asking for 120k and the club absolutely offered 100k?

Apologies for being picky, but you know, it's a private club now so I wonder if such things are disclosed? Even when it was public, the only information available was the total wage bill, which included non-playing staff.

'It may be reflecting badly on Rio, but not with me it isn't,' Gill told the club's official website.

'It is a big commitment he is making. Yes, it is a lot of money by any stretch of the imagination but it is still a big commitment.

'I know people would snap your hands off if you are offered that kind of money, but it does have to be right.

'You have to think about your worth and all that. I respect him for that and he has to get the right advice.

'It is easy from the outside to say it is a hell of a lot of money and that you would sign without thinking.

Can't find it now but I'm sure I saw a quote from Gil that mentioned numbers. He also mentioned that it was the best paid contract ever offered to a player at the club.

Besides, be it 120k or 1200k the crux is he's asking for more money, that's never been denied.

Undubitably true. He's certainly asking for more money, and as I said, he's not THAT bloody good. But we wouldn't be able to easily replace him

I want to see cronaldo sign his new deal as well.

Although it's not going to be soon as he's been given leave because his Dad's ill.

Speaking of more money.....

Will Drogba ask for more money from Chelsea? Or has he been overpaid already! :P

Rio certainly isn't that good, he knows it and everyone else knows it. But he also knows about the dearth of truly great ones, so he thinks he can keep pulling Fergie's leg.

How many CEOs in Britain earn that kind of money? Not too many I guess.

Marko

Have you seen the video for Coldplay's 'Fix You' ? What stadium is that ?

<b>Pabs</b>

I think part of the video for "Fix You" was shot at the Reebok Stadium, in Bolton. I'm not sure though, only seen it a few times but it does look like it.

Just had a look at a pix of the stadium and did a search of the video. Indeed it is that stadium. I wonder though if the first part of the video with Chris Martin outside the stadium was shot at another time. Maybe not though as apparently they performed the song twice in succession.

Argh. Maybe I should do a search on a topic BEFOREHAND so I can find the answer on my own.

Nevermind. First part of was shot in London.

BTW Marko, as the season progresses, tell me what you think of Tottenham's new player Paul Staltieri. He's a Canadian International that played for Werder Bremen since his Youth Days. A big part of Bremen's Bundesliga title a couple of years ago. I see Edgar Davids has also joined. Look for Tottenham to get an additional 10 points from last year.

Pabs, Spurs started very positively today with an away win. I was actually wondering where Staltieri was from, as I didn't recognise the name when I saw the teamsheets after the match had finished.

Of course, I have no doubt Davids will enhance the team. I haven't seen Staltieri play yet, but I'll let you know when I do.

Spurs have never finished in the top 6 or below 16th in the PL.

Once a mediocre mid-table club always a mediocre mid-table club.

Davids is there for a pay check, nothing else.

4-1

I guess there is little interest in having dialogue about this spanking!

Oh sure go ahead rub it in:

Not sure it's that important, might even be a good thing.

If David James can be kept as far away from an England shirt as possible there's no reason to be less optimistic than we were before the game.

Interesting to note that Beckham and Rooney are wearing long-sleeved shirts, while Neville is wearing a short-sleeved one. I'm not sure if I've ever seen that before.

Thats Owens.

The trainer may have cut the sleeves for him. I remember watching a Sunday morning match on RAI International that featured Juventus. As the game was getting ready to start, the trainer for Juve was cutting the sleeve for Del Piero as the team was wearing long sleeves. Unlike our local Sunday leagues, where the kits may already be a few years old, these professionals likely have new kits each week. And then when we are talking international matches, definitely new kits each game.

Bineaz

you mean Owen, sans "s'

I saw Man U play Ashton Villa today. It was so nice to see my boys in action again.

Aston.

Beckham in kangaroo threat

August 16, 2005

David Beckham is being targeted by animal rights activists for wearing kangaroo skin boots.

The England captain has tightened security at his British and Spanish homes to protect his family as terror groups have threatened to take revenge.

Animal rights group Viva! claims thousands of baby kangaroos are being slaughtered to make football boots, including Adidas' Predator range, which Beckham endorses.

The sportsman - who has three children with former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham - has also been warned that more extreme organisations could take action against him, including the Animal Liberation Front, notorious for firebomb attacks.

A Viva! spokesperson said: "Most people don't realise that many of the most popular boots are made from kangaroo leather.

"It's appalling that the kangaroo, an icon of Australia, is being treated so shamefully."

Beckham said he will consider the evidence supplied by Viva!, while manufacturers Adidas insist they are opposed to kangaroos being killed in "an inhumane or unnecessarily cruel manner."

Fuquit wrote:Aston.

Just testing you guys out to see how sharp you all really are! hehehe

Kangaroo Skin Boots

Come on now, those types of boots have been around for so long. I guess it is OK to use leather from cows and not anything else. What do these people wear on their feet anyway? Most shoes are made of some kind of leather.

Exactly. Belts as well.

This is most definitely not a discussion for me since I cannot afford leather.hehehe I do own a leather skirt but I doubt it is real.