Republik Of Mancunia

“We know that it’s something between the player and Manchester United,” Ramon Calderon said yesterday, trying to fan the flames yet again. “If the player continues to insist that he wants to come and if United will consider letting him go, then we’ll ask. If the price is right and everyone’s happy, then it won’t turn sour. I prefer not to talk much about him because he is a United player. We are in this situation as passive spectators.”

FIFA have turned down our complaint over tapping up and technically, considering that as far as we know, Real Madrid haven’t spoken to Ronaldo directly, the footballing body were right to do so.

However, Real’s constant talk of supposed problems between the player and our club, their constant insisting that they are friends with United, and now claims that they are just spectators in this farce, is entirely infuriating.

Passive spectators? My arse!

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June 27th, 2008
Categories: Transfer Rumours . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 20 Comments

“Can Manchester United score? They always score,” are the infamous words which epitomised our 1998-1999 season.

However, throughout our recent history, spanning over a period of 15 years or so, United are well known for being the team who don’t know when they’re beaten.

This has been both a blessing and a curse for United. Whilst late goals, particularly those against rivals or in crucial games, provide you with more happiness than can be described in words, we are at times left feeling the heartache of defeat more strongly than most fans. We always believe we’ll score that late goal that guides us through to the next stage of the cup or the one that will give us bragging rights over rival fans. Of course, this can’t always happen.

However, the times when they do are truly magical. So sit back and watch 6 whole minutes of the goals that gave you greater pleasure than any other.

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June 27th, 2008
Categories: Video . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 12 Comments

“If it was me, it would make me proud that the big clubs were asking about our players,” said Real Madrid rat Calderon yesterday.

I’ll address the possibility of this being a dig at the size of United as a club later. First, it’s important to state that United don’t have any problem with other big clubs showing an interest in our players. Of course it’s a compliment that a successful club feels as though your players are good enough to cut it for them. It’s not telling us anything we don’t know though, obviously, as Ronaldo could walk in to any side in the World.

However, if Calderon had merely come out saying “Cristiano Ronaldo is a brilliant player,” then there’d be no problem. But that’s not what has happened. We’ve been hounded, on a daily basis, with comments from this man and Real Madrid.

“We are in this situation as passive spectators,” Calderon continued, which is possibly the most ridiculous statement I’ve ever heard. Passive spectators are the hordes of fans who show up at Wimbledon every season, politely clapping the points.

Real Madrid are taking the piss out of us and making mugs of themselves whilst doing so. It appears though, sadly, as though they are entirely shameless in their efforts to sign the player they want, which is bad news for United.

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June 27th, 2008
Categories: Transfer Rumours . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 13 Comments

According to Match of the Day, Wayne Rooney claimed the goal of the season last year, for the second time in three years, for the great goal scored against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford.

This year, Arsenal’s Adebayor claimed the award for his effort against Spurs.

But which goal did the RoM forum vote as our greatest of the season?

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June 26th, 2008
Categories: Current Players . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 14 Comments

Wayne Rooney got married to childhood sweetheart, Colleen McLoughlin, a fortnight ago, and is currently enjoying his honeymoon in Las Vegas.

There were talks of a rift between Rooney and Ferdinand following Rio’s late decline of a wedding invitation, although I’m sure this is nothing more than paper talk.

What I’m more concerned with is the fact Rooney has been smoking cigarettes during his time away, which obviously isn’t what you’d be expecting from a professional athlete.

I’m one of those who’d be happier if the smoking ban hadn’t come in place (the smell of piss and vomit, coupled with having to shiver outside in the winter months sway me) so don’t take this as an anti-smoking campaign. But what the fuck is Rooney thinking about??

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June 26th, 2008
Categories: Poll, Rants, Current Players . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 19 Comments

For the final third of the 2005-2006 season, Ryan Giggs and John O’Shea proved to be the best central midfield pairing we had. Our team was ravaged by injuries, meaning even the likes of Richardson had a stint in the centre of our midfield. It was painful.

Times have changed vastly since then, with Sir Alex Ferguson being spoilt for choice when it comes to our midfield options.

In a season where United were crowned Champions of England and Europe, Ferguson rotated the midfield positions frequently, and our best combination has still not been decided upon.

So what does Scholes make of his competition?

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June 26th, 2008
Categories: Current Players . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 11 Comments

An Arsenal fan with too much time on his hands…

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June 25th, 2008
Categories: Transfer Rumours, Video . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 19 Comments

To guarantee an argument which will last all night, put a Manchester United and Liverpool fan in a room and get them to discuss which club is the greatest.

“Have you ever won the Treble?” “We’ve won it five times,” “18 years,” and “18 vs 17 titles,” would probably be the phrases that appeared most often.

Whilst I hate Liverpool most passionately, you’d be an idiot to ignore their great history. Sadly for them though, that’s all they’ve got to cling on to these days, as whatever success a cup competition brings you, the biggest and best clubs want to win the league. What does Stevie Me call it? The bread and butter, and he’s not wrong.

Liverpool resent United being called the biggest club in the World, despite arguments to support it. However, their own players aren’t doing their club any justice when resorting to such a small club mentality, as Alvaro Arbeloa did yesterday.

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June 25th, 2008
Categories: Transfer Rumours, Rivals . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 26 Comments

Ole Gunnar Solsjaer’s place in our history books was cemented when scored against Bayern Munich during injury time in the European Cup final to win us the trophy, however our love for him runs much deeper than that.

The guy is a class act, one of the few United players who is respected by all (apart from Arsenal fans). He is a model professional who has dedicated much of his footballing career to our club.

In the 2001-2002 season, Solskjaer finished the 6th highest scorer in the league, finding the back of the net 17 times in 30 league games.

In the following season, when United were crowned Champions, Solskjaer played for us more than any other player, missing just one league game. He’d really started to establish himself in our team, filling in for an out of favour David Beckham.

However, disaster struck in the next season when Solskjaer’s injury troubles really begun to take effect. He featured in just 13 league games with an injury in September ruling him out until February.

He missed all of the 2004-2005 season, then made a half an hour appearance on the final day of the 2005-2006 season after a couple of games around Christmas.

Solskjaer’s future with the club had all but been written off, with even the player coming close to admitting defeat at times. However, he cited the fans support as the reason he never gave up.

Aged 33-years-old, Solskjaer was ready to make his come back, but critics doubted he’d have much effect on our season. Everyone was surprised, except probably Ole himself, when he ended the season with 11 goals and a Premier League winners medal.

So what could Solskjaer possibly have done now to boost my already incredibly high opinion of him?

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June 25th, 2008
Categories: Stats, Legends . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 23 Comments

In a season where your team wins the league and European Cup, it is incredibly difficult to decide on which games shines out from the rest, and is worthy of the “Best Match of the Season” title.

For me, the greatest game has to tick the boxes in several categories. The opposition has to be one you really like to see your team beat. The result has to be one that is both deserved and impressive. Exciting and beautiful football has to be on display. Finally, the result has to mean something, whether that’s getting one step closer to the title or progressing in a cup.

In terms of importance alone, no game can measure up to the European Cup final vs Chelsea or our final game of the season against Wigan that saw us crowned Champions. However, if we are to find a game that measures up against all criteria, we have to be a little less obvious.

So, as voted for by members of the RoM forum, here is United’s match of the 07-08 season.

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June 25th, 2008
Categories: Manchester United News . Author: Scott the Red . Comments: 23 Comments