A year after Eric Cantona made his leap into history with his amazing kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace in January 1995 he still had an extraordinary hold on the public imagination. One of my colleagues at the BBC came into work soon after New Year in 1996 with her 7-year-old son who spotted a little Cantona figurine on my desk, prompting him gleefully to trot out the little playground rhyme,
‘Ooh aah Cantona, show us your tits, show us your bra!’
The giggling little lad probably didn’t know that I was still smarting from Manchester United’s humiliating 4-1 New Year’s Day defeat at Tottenham, which I had attended with my Spurs-supporting brother, who called it ‘One of the great White Hart Lane nights’. By that time some of the euphoria over King Eric’s epic return in the autumn after his 8-month ban had faded, especially when the Reds had a pre-Christmas spell of five games without a win. Cantona’s own form had been patchy as he played within himself, as if chastened by the tumultuous events of the previous season, while Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United confidently stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League, only pegged back briefly when United beat them 2-0 straight after Christmas.
My little Babe
None of this stopped my ten-year-old daughter Katherine insisting that I take her to see United some day. She had grown up all her life in a United household and she even used to sleep in my old Busby Babes’ v-neck jersey from the ’50s and still wears T-shirts emblazoned with pictures of Eric, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham. For some reason she also had a soft-spot for Gary Neville, perhaps for his rather endearing earnestness and insistent lack of glamour. We used to chuckle together at a story told by one of United’s more senior players, Brian McClair, who took an almost paternal interest in the brood of ‘kids’ coming through the youth system, such as Gary and his younger brother Philip. According to ‘Choccy’s Diary’ in the official club magazine, one of these young players was invited round to meet his girl-friend’s parents for the first time one Sunday. When he was offered a tuna sandwich the un-named young player replied, ‘I don’t like tuna, it smells too much like fish…’ Rightly or wrongly we always assumed that was Gary Nev.
My get-out-of-jail tickets
My workload at the BBC at that time as the head of a small documentary department was relentless, however exciting and satisfying it could be. It was one of the most intense periods I’d ever known, full of exhilarating highs and gut-wrenching lows from day to day, sometimes minute to minute. Few would have been unaware of my support for United and some also knew I was desperate to take Kath to a game. I was thus very chuffed when a programme contributor, ‘Shotgun Jack’, came up with the goods. He was an ex-offender from the East End who had made a ‘Video Diary’ and was now working towards a BBC2 magazine series called ‘Prison Weekly’, which would contain items from different perspectives – prisoners, ‘screws’ , probation officers, governors – about life in jail. From our very different backgrounds we got on well and as a West Ham season-ticket holder he could get me a couple of tickets for United’s match there at the end of January. I couldn’t wait to tell Kath, or Kat, as she was known to friends.
Cuts that hurt
This nice little distraction would be very welcome, particularly in that month as we were completing the final stages of a very painful redundancy process.However hard it was for some to grasp it was completely unavoidable in the face of relentless cuts and ‘efficiency savings’. As an old union hand I was determined to make the process as fair and open as possible, but there was one particularly embittered producer who was appealing against compulsory redundancy, trying to make his case with an almost daily volley of letters, often full of recriminations, directed at me or my executive producers, all of us still union members. I remember a senior personnel manager asking me whether, given my strong Union views, did I regret accepting the job of head of department at a time when cuts were utterly predictable. I replied that far from having regrets it was a chance to put into practice my vision of how the BBC should be run, in however small a way.Nevertheless I constantly asked myself, were we being fair, was there really ‘no alternative’, questions that kept me awake at night. I would mull things over with my wife, and with Kat, knowing she had a strongly developed sense of injustice, even at the age of ten.
Equally, I never stopped worrying about morale in the department, trying to ensure it didn’t affect programme quality or the flow of new ideas(or there would be yet more redundancies hurtling towards us down the turnpike). Fortunately we had several successes and good reviews around that time, which gave everyone a huge boost. But in the background I knew we had to keep our eyes on what was going on in the world, whether it be atrocities in the Balkans, elections in the Palestinian territories or the rise of Tony Blair’s New Labour.
Coke? Just a line he made up…
One of the producers who had taken voluntary redundancy and was already lining up work elsewhere came to see me with an interesting story he was trying to sell as a one-off documentary. He’d got to know Eric Hall, one of the new breed of rather brazen wheeler-dealer football agents who was linked to Arsenal’s Paul Merson. He’d do almost anything to get publicity, good or bad, and he claimed that Merson had made up his recent tabloid confessions of cocaine addiction in order to push up the market value of his story. He’d evidently got half a million pounds, a hundred grand more than the original asking price, which he allegedly needed to pay his gambling debts. To this day I have no idea if that was true.
Peace-making TV and ‘just say no’
Also pressing on my mind was a very exciting possibility.We were just at that moment trying to set up a version of our Video Nation project with Israel TV and the Palestinian Authority, whereby ordinary people from all areas in the region, of all political views and religious affiliations would be trained to use camcorders to record their lives and express their own points of view in two-minute ‘shorts’, like the ones we did at home on BBC2. We hoped the un-fettered voicing of diverse Israeli and Palestinian opinions would somehow contribute to greater understanding in the region, and make fascinating viewing here in Britain. We were setting up a series of meetings in Jerusalem and Nablus which would be of critical importance to the whole thing. However, much though I wanted to fly out to Israel at such a historic moment, I was getting a little nervous in case the dates clashed with taking Kat to West Ham.
Just as things were working out perfectly, I was hit with a referral to the Broadcasting Standards Council, the statutory body who dealt with viewers’ complaints, about drug taking in a documentary series called ‘My Secret Life’ involving a high-flying – in every sense – civil servant. It had been seen and approved by everyone, the controller of BBC2, the head of editorial policy, the head of presentation and so on, yet instead of a vigorous defence of the film as an honest attempt to explore the complexity of the drug problem beyond ‘just say no’ rhetoric, the sniffy official in the BBC dealing with it was blithely planning to cave in, which would almost certainly lead to an embarrassing on-screen apology. I had furious arguments with the relevant department, which seemed to operate as a branch of the Daily Mail, wilfully ignoring what’s going on in the world. I was angrily determined to do everything I could to uphold the honour of the producers involved in the Secret Life series, which I strongly believed in.
Of course the whole issue of drugs was very much on my mind as I worried about how Kat would handle it when she started getting offered certain substances, as she surely would. She was only ten but in some ways she was already a trainee teen-ager despite still playing with her Barbie dolls and teddy-bears (nothing wrong with that – I still have my childhood teddy, plus younger ones in United gear). As parents we continually tried to help her find her own way in the world while protecting her soon-to-disappear childhood, sometimes with mixed success.
The other United – in Chesham
To prepare Kat for going to Premiership football I had a couple of years before taken her to see the team I used to watch as a kid, Chesham United , who’d just clinched the title as Diadora League Champions in 1993. I’d been pleased to see my old friend Ted, a team-mate and centre half from my 1960s North Watford Sunday League team, Amersham Ravers FC. He was still selling programmes in the stand. To maintain Kat’s interest we had a £1 bet on whether Chesham would score five. They managed it with the last kick of the match.
This was all intended as ‘nursery slopes’ training for Kat, just like I’d had at her age. I decided Kath could skip watching my other childhood local team, Amersham Town FC. They were somewhat on the staid side, my main memory of attending matches at The Meadow being told with my mates to ‘pipe down , you’re making too much noise’. Hardly preparation for Manchester United at Upton Park on a cold January night with Eric Cantona.
The big day at last
When the day of the big match arrived I was nervous throughout. Before I left for work Kat was undecided whether to wear her wellies or normal shoes for the match. When I arrived at work I saw an old boss of mine, Mike, a veteran West Ham supporter, and I told him that for once in my life I didn’t care if United won, as long as Kat had a good time. Knowing how frothingly foul-mouthed and aggressive West Ham fans can be I would have preferred Kat’s premiership baptism to be somewhere a little less confrontational. I had particularly painful memories of what they had been like on the last day of the previous season, when United’s failure to win lost them the league title to Blackburn Rovers. At least now Paul Ince had left United some of the racist edge would perhaps be softened.
I had endless meetings all day, about finance, about legal matters, about staffing issues and – best of all – about programmes, the thing that really kept my boat afloat. But all the time Upton Park was on my mind.
At long last, the last memo completed, it was time to go. My wife, Hilary, who had no interest in going herself, brought Kat to meet me at Hammersmith ready to head East on the Underground, grabbing food for the journey. Kat was decked out in new jeans plus tights and leggings, it being a miserably cold, wintry night. I could tell she was a little nervous, but excited, covering it with chatter much of the way. She told me how she holds ‘conversations’ with Ra, one of our cats, getting his ‘advice’. When I asked what sort of problems she looked superior and tapped her nose. She claimed Ra wanted to come to the game, a bit unlikely as he hardly leaves his spot on the sofa.
Upton Park
When we got to Upton Park and joined the milling crowds outside the stadium I wondered and worried how she’d react. This was the first big test, a cold night, a crush of boisterous fans, mainly bullet-headed men with tatts and beer-guts shoving their way through. Then somewhere in the damp distance we heard for the first time the swelling sound of ‘Ooh aah Cantona!’ and it immediately made her feel among friends. There are people who will march towards gunfire and those who beat a hasty retreat, and Kat was the former. She seemed happy, it was exciting, not frightening, so I felt able to get a cop to keep an eye on her as I went to a toilet .When I came out I found them chatting away, him a true laughing policemen. We spotted the usual stalls and I got the obligatory badges and fanzines while she insisted I get her a United scarf (£5), although she had to hide it when we went in as we’d be among Hammers.
Embarrassing Dad
She was impressed to see people giving generously to charity collectors with their cans for the homeless and cancer reserach. As we walked round to our entrance and I took a wrong turning in one of the mean side streets she witheringly told me not to ‘embarrass’ her, but was entirely relaxed in the deepening crush. We eventually found our seats in the lower section of the of the Centenary Stand, behind the goal at the North End (not that far from where I first saw United at West Ham, in 1960). It was actually a magic moment for me seeing the look on Kat’s face as we walked up the stairs to find the brilliantly floodlit arena in front of her eyes. She’d never experienced a sight like that, or an illuminated expanse on such a scale before. With the damp night air creating atmosphere there was a palpable mood of excitement in the crowd. United supporters were penned into the far corner of our stand and there was already a healthy wave of chanting, ‘Ferguson’s Red & White Army!’, ‘Ooh Aah, Cantona!’ etc. There were quite a few children near us, including some brave souls in United scarves, which was good to see. For all their dread reputation, I have to say on this occasion the West Ham fans were great – loud, passionate, partisan, unfair, infuriated, angry, foul-mouthed – but never nasty, at least not near us. For whatever reason there was none of the visceral hatred towards United that there had been the previous April. And that wasn’t because the match was cool.
Tuna Army
As the players warmed up Kat already looked tired and I wondered how she’d cope with another two or three hours before we’d even begin to go home. We looked out for the players she knew, Andy Cole, Giggs, ‘Michael/ Schmeichel’ as she used to call the Great Dane goalkeeper, Eric the King, and of course the tuna man, Gary Nev, looking very focussed with a furrowed brow.
When at last the players came out for real and the whole stadium was suddenly up on their feet Kath looked surprised, not to say affronted as though she was in the theatre and her view was being blocked. But she instantly got the hang of it, and as soon as the game got under way she was leaping up with everyone else.
Monday January 22, 1996: West Ham 0 Man United 1
It was actually a terrific, incident-packed game, with West Ham nearly taking the lead in the first few minutes when Tony Cottee burst through and thwacked one against United’s crossbar with the big man beaten. But United looked very strong and purposive and didn’t cave in, taking the game to the Hammers, passing the ball at pace with mercurial inter-changing up front. They swung the ball about in great sweeping movements of breathtaking speed and precision, with Kat keeping up her own running commentary, with many a mention of Gary.
Ryan Giggs, who was for once playing on the right wing to accomodate Lee Sharpe on the left, bamboozled the Hammers’ skin-head left back Julian Dicks, slipping past him like an eel, exchanging exquisitely weighted passes with Andy Cole before fizzing the ball across the penalty area, where Eric Cantona was waiting a few yards out some way beyond the far post, seemingly at an impossible angle. He met the ball side-footed on the half-volley and sent a rip-snorting shot high into the roof of the net, a stunning piece of virtuosity. It all happened at the far end and for a moment I was wasn’t sure if he really had scored, but when the United fans to our right erupted we knew United were one up, and the King had scored. A great moment for one’s first United match.
I could tell Kath was enjoying the match, asking questions, commenting, making jokes, even trying out loud scornful comments, such as ‘this is supposed to be football, not netball’, when the West Ham goalkeeper kept indecisively bouncing the ball before kicking out.
United looked completely different from the shambolic lot who’d collapsed so feebly against Spurs. Cantona was at the heart of everything, orchestrating his young charges, playing them in, setting the high tempo for attack after attack, passing long and short, displaying all his old flicks and back-heels, always available to get a team-mate out of trouble.
There was something imperious about Cantona that night at West Ham, but also something different. He played with controlled passion and intensity, but there was no longer the dangerous whiff of sulphur about him, no feeling that something weird might suddenly kick off . And as if to prove the point his greatest test yet since his post-ban comeback in October came when Julian Dicks kicked Andy Cole up in the air with an appalling two-footed, studs-up lunge. The referee did nothing, just as he’d done nothing to protect Eric from earlier heavy tackles, so Nicky Butt threw himself into a shuddering tackle on Dicks moments later. He cleanly won the ball, but with the clear intention of getting in a bit of retaliation too. The ref instantly issued a yellow card, Butt’s second of the night which meant his dismissal was inevitable. The United players were furious, led by the incandescent Andy Cole, closely followed by the always-combustible Roy Keane and even the normally wise old head, skipper Steve Bruce. It could have all got very nasty, with some United players on the edge of losing control, with the West Ham faithful in uproar and baying for blood, screaming ‘you fucking cunt’, and other local pleasanteries. But then who should stride forward and place calming hands on his team-mates , pulling them gently back from the brink, none other than the Kung-fu King himself, Eric Cantona. This was something new, this was Cantona the peace-maker, which had a pleasing symmetry about it, coming almost exactly a year after his explosive reaction to poor refereeing and racist abuse at Crystal Palace. His calm and dignity in the fiery Upton Park helped steady the ship, as ten-man United held West Ham at bay and won the match.
The King’s Inner Calm
I’m not sure even now how much people realise what a turning point this match at Upton Park represented. Certainly all the press the next day were full of praise for Eric, acclaiming him a Peace Maker, applauding his Man of the Match performance. The papers also correctly declared that United’s title challenge was back on track, as they leap-frogged above Liverpool to go into second place, but they were still nine points behind Newcastle, who also had a game in hand. But what gave United real hope was the way Eric Cantona had got his game back as the most inspirational figure in British football. With him in the mood, now with a new steely resolve and sense of discipline it felt like no-one could stop United. He’d taken the team to the first league title in 26 years in 1992-93, capped that with the glorious League & FA Cup Double of 1993-94, and it suddenly felt like he could do something similar again in ’95-96. Nine points behind? No problem!
Kat and I had had our usual £1 bet, that United would win, and I was never happier to dish out a quid. I hadn’t told her the odds were somewhat against United, as they had only won twice at Upton Park twice in 22 years.
She’s really enjoyed herself and was untroubled by the hour-long queue to get back into Upton Park station, by now proudly wearing her scarf. On the Tube going back she insisted on playing ‘Make You Laugh’ games, inevitably involving references to tuna. When I phoned home Kat insisted on talking to her Mum, eager to tell her the most urgent thing, that I had ‘embarrassed’ her by going to the wrong entrance at the match. We got home at 11.30 and she went to bed happily, saying she wanted to see United again.
The next day I took her into school where she was due to appear in a series of drama sketches on the theme of two points of view. I’d helped her learn her part and taught her to project her voice by standing at the front door while she spoke her lines from the top of the house. I was delighted that the night’s exertions and late hours hadn’t affected her performance, which was delivered with aplomb and she looked very happy. I set off for work in an excellent mood, ready for rows about drugs or more angry redundancy appeal letters.
When I got to my office I found a note on my door. It simply said, ‘Ooh Aah!’
Man Utd News 24/7
Brilliant Giles!
another brilliant article well done mate
Thank you Giles.
I hope you will write a book ,preserve all this for future generations of United fans.
Also if others like u do the same.
Brilliant Giles.Tq.
Always a great read from you Giles…Brilliant
Eric clearly has cut his name in United’s hearts. What a man, what a player.
Tik a bow Giles.
Loved reading every bit of this article…. Brilliant as always Giles and I concur with Dave Malaysia, you should consider putting these excellent writings in a book…
Awesome….could be made into a short film…..awesome stuff…..Ooh Aah Cantona! from India
hahahahahaha… I don’t like tuna, it smells too much like fish…’
fabulous article. Thank you for posting it, Scott
When Eric left the game, grown men wept. They knew something special had passed. Something beyond words that would shift United’s strength into another paradigm entirely.
I still have fond sadness for the man who stood arched straight with a gaze that seemed to dare the gods, dare the fates and dare destiny.
His presence was an elemental one. It’s was following Eric that I came to believe in something intangible as magic. And that it is real. And for the most steadfast of dreamers and imaginative among us, impossibile is never such.
If Old Trafford is the theatre of dreams, then surely Eric has to be the Captain of Dreams.
Believe.
Fantastic Giles!
an absolute pleasure to read as always giles. thankyou.
I almost cried while watching this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bke3tAmmuXM&feature=fvw
agreeing with everyone here, a brilliant read indeed Giles!
another classic read from Mr. Oakley…. you should honestly think about publishing a book with these articles.
just read this on my break at work.gave me ‘that friday feeling’. loved it!
Thanks for that Giles loved it. Has any one heard that Torres has asked Liverpoo to concider Chelsea’s offer . Could any one picture Torres and Berbatov up front. Pace and skill and power
thanks Giles, that was a quality read indeed!
Your Daughter will never forget that special day with her Dad! That was some goal!
…and if the weather was anything like todays, Ra had the right idea mate!
ITS FLIPPIN FREEZING !!!
Oooh Ah !
Fantastic work, great job, Giles!
I don’t know why you decided to write this out, and I didn’t really know the point while I was reading through it but I’m glad I did. Great read, thanks.
great read mate.
Eric was more than just a player.
He was an enigma who will be in our hearts and heads forever!!
Long Live the King!!
Read a couple of paragraph n it forced me to write what a great start to another masterpiece from Mr Oakly!!!! RESPECT.
Now reading the rest!!! .
A pleasure to read Giles
From Texas with love
GILES LEGEND!! hahaha love this guy.
Great read.Your retention of details of events is first rate.
:’-)
Awesome piece Sir… Great job.
say what you will – but that kick was a great moment in football history (not the goal, the palace fan) Cantona, Greatest Premiership Player To Do It !!! (Zidane gets 2nd place for World Cup Head Butt)
Sorry Giles of topic, Liverpool have agreed a fee with Ajax for Suarez. Dalglish says, he hopes Suarez will add some bite to Liverpool’s attack.
Suarez…can he cut it in the big time?
here goes the teeth jokes…….l heard suarez is a cannibal…
wonderful piece again Giles. Christ 15 years ago, I feel old! 95-96 wasa an amazing season, I remember a 4-0 away win at Forrest that year with a Becks chipped beauty and the King at his mercurial best. HAPPY DAYS
Giles- Sir you rule. That is all. How is your health?
Giles, you are the best. Moooo
Giles Fantastic!
Mike Tyson makes his “dream move” to the premier league
King Cantona!
only a bit disappointeed Suarez goes to the scousers as I thought we may sign him!! But his behaviour at the WC (sending off then the celebration when they beat Ghana) always made me a bit unsure!!
Now he’s a Scouser I can happily hate him & look forward to him getting sent off within a few games & accumulating long bans!!
He will turn into a Bellamy type figure!!
thank you Giles for that insight into your family life…bless them…..
I too was at that game but with the United fans….
Always thought that was the catalyst for the King to go on and be a legend…..
off topic…anyone know who the footballer is in the front page on the Sun today…..been cughrt going twosup on some totty and got filmed doing the buisness…… papers wont name him though as he has a gagging order….. any ideas or thoughts……
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3376317/Premier-League-football-stars-4-in-a-bed-orgy-with-team-mate-and-two-brunettes.html
just so you can all read it
Only became a BEPL fan in 2003 wish I would have seen this guy play. He evokes so much emotions from the Man Utd fans.
Super stuff Giles friend. Love your stories and tales of old. “the tuna man” and “Michael Schemical” . Ha. Great stuff. Remember the game and Eric’s finish. Typical Butty clattering dipper Dicks. I know I keep saying it but I loved Nicky Butt. One of the old school hard cases but could bloody play as well.
Interesting about Merson as well. Could it all have been a publicity stunt? He did look like an alky but too fat for a coke head. Anyway enough of that horrible bastard.
Sorry to hear you haven’t been too good I noticed on an earlier thread Giles. Look after yourself mate. Take care.
Err. I wouldn’t want that cheating, biting cunt Suarez anywhere near united. We most certainly don’t need strikers at this club. Not one like him. Bet you a pound to a penny he does fuck all over here.
Manchuchu – Great post at 13.49 mate.
Tonybee – Bet its a fucking Rentboy player mate.
King Eric – He’s a good player mate, but he’ll need time to adjust to the premiership. We don’t need another forward, you’re right there.
So Ji Sung Park has retired international football then. Good news for United!
*from*
torres 38 million, dzeko 27 million, chico 7 million.
theres a difference, between the lazy scouts at the council house and london, and the scouts doing their job at OT
FITB – Value, if you look for it, eh?
Wonderful as always, sir. I am with Dave on this one- you really should write a book.
thank you
willierednut – torres 38 million what a joke. It does make you wonder, why did he ever go to liverpool. Yea he snubs united for liverpool in summer 2007 good move torres LOL. Listening to talksport, torres is a liverpool fan and hearing tony evans almost crying HAHAHAHAHA it is hilerious
hiya King Eric agree on that…..just got curious…
that man Giles certainly writes dome decent prose don’t he……
as to you other musings….who would you buy ….assuming off course you was SAF…….
Park Quits
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6706431,00.html
Shit wrong link!!!! sorry
Park Quits in this one
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6707265,00.html
Sorry again lads…
yep park quits, fergie will get park a medal for just retiring
Cant wait for the book to come out Giles! Keep up the good work!!!
First off, fantastic read once again Giles.
Off topic, Torres has reportedly asked for a deal to be agreed with Chelsea. Yeah, he is Liverpool for life…
Costas – are you listening to talksport, these liverpool fans are a joke. And that idiot jurno buying into such a joke of the theory that liverpool is in his heart. The last time I checked he was an atletico madrid fan
hearing tony evans cry like a little girl is priceless.
Nice one Park and well done mate. You’ve done your country proud and you’ve done us proud. Good decission because those flights halfway around the world for international fixtures and friendlies (let alone the tournaments) really can fuck you up big time. Top player, just gets on with it.
Torres is a slimey little shirt lifter, he just looks like a completely untrustworthy wanker. You know those faces that just look back at you and you cant help knifing it. The pretty boy who would fuck your missus whilst your helping him out of a fix. He is a fucking rust patch on a discarded jam rag the slimey girly looking haemaphrodite Id love to nail the cunt down and shove souness up his arse. Cunt. Chelsea or the dippers who gives a rats arse, concentrate on our own play and we’ll win the league, let the wannabes spend their billions fighting over second place.
“fergie is the boss says:
torres 38 million, dzeko 27 million, chico 7 million.”
Yeah spot on fella. Why do we need the Glazers to prove there is money, surely instead we should behold the magnificance that is Sir Alex once again. Because looking at that lot who would you want and how much would you want to pay. CHICO
Great, great piece. Well written and very interesting. Keep up the good work, Giles!
@ Giles
doth of the cap
excellent and insightful read as always.
Joe Dudgeon off on loan to Carlisle. Get some games Joe!
Reserves starting to look thin!
@FITB
I’ve heard Liverpool fans call him a true red ever since he joined them. That he has a YNWA tattoo or something like that. Remember when he put on Atletico’s scarf after Spain won the world cup? That should have opened their eyes…
Evening Goat…..fuck me m8 take it you dont like Torres then…lol
costas…. the tattoo meant ‘YOU’LL NEVER WANK ALONE’ and it was on his dick
HARDY HAR HAR
As we proceed, to make scousers bleed! Fuck Suarez, he got nowt Hernandez, smack him on the head, he be dead like Pablo!!
Costas – look at united, ronaldo not a united fan, rooney not a united fan, nani not a united fan, berbatov is not a united fan, ferdinand is not a united fan, they are pro players not fans of the club. This media bandwagan that torres has taken liverpool to heart, and they broke promises in summer 2007, what made torres think liverpool would beat united to the title, when united were champions already had in their ranks, the best backline in the buisness, the midfield was strengthened added more punch into united’s attack with tevez and sthe worlds best player at the time in ronaldo. He should have grown a brain and moved to united, not go to a club declining
On Torres…..Couldn’t give 2 bits if Chelski think a new squad of old and busted will replace the old squad of old and busted. Hope nothing ever comes of the rumors that we were interested in him. We got our own young turks who I like just fine. Torres just wants new alleys to prowl he won’t fix Chelsies problems, which are deep. They really screwed themselves up and it is a hoot to watch.
Torres is just old an busted for me. Injuries, never first choice for spain, not a United player.
but thank christ he did not grow a brain.
GoatinaUnitedShirt – sometimes you need to spend big when it is needed, but if there is a gem on the market snap him up. and why are liverpool fan suprised he is leaving, they should have been shocked he moved there in the first place
TonyBee No I bloody dont like Torres. Im old school, if I dont like a face then I dont like the person I dont give a flying spunking fuck if I shoot in the eye of political correctness. Others I dont like include Anelka and the king of wank bags El Hadji Diouf – which in Senagalese means of “man who pissed on goat whilst being ridden by a resus monkey carrying the aids virus”. Im sure youve also met people or seen people who just get on your goat by just existing in your presence. Torres is one of those.
The Torres chant “with ronaldos body and the head of Britney Spears” just about sums up that fucking pillow biter. Dont get me wrong Im not anti shirt lifter or anything each to there own but when he bites the pillow the lipstick is a bastard to get off. Cunt.
@FITB
Exactly. And you know, this reminds me of another player that chose Liverpool instead of United (although I don’t know how interested we REALLY were), due to the fact that Liverpool were on the up. Remember Harry Kewel? I think he is at Galatasaray now…
@TonyBee
Lol, I agree that that’s what YNWA means, bur I don’t know if Torres’ organ is long enough to fit the first word.
Costas – oh yea I forgot to add, we already had sir alex ferguson has manager, yea great move torres chose benitez over fergie because he is spanish LOL. Has for kewell I always did doubt we were interested in kewell has we already had giggs, when becks left I was so sure united were after a right sided player and I was right, not in the way I expected it to happen.
I got to ask what is up with torres decision making on what clubs to go to. In 2007 he thought hey I will upgrade my career from atletico by going to liverpool because the stadium is has bad has liverpools. And then he realised hey, should go to a souless atmosphere and play for dads army, because they won the double that should never have happened
United didn’t go for Torres in 07. We went for Tevez. Fergie was keen on him for a while, but chose to for scarface.
goat …you pillock …you made me hurt me-sides laughing at the that fucking post…you crazy man…lol
costas …is was in very small writing…..
@FITB
He is probably desperate to play Ch.League football again. Liverpool can’t even guarantee that. To be honest, I eyed Torres as a potential replacement for Van Nistelrooy. But for his own reasons, he went to Liverpool and for 1-2 years, he was a real handful for us. But isn’t it weird how Torres, Drogba and Rooney’s form has been over the last 6 months? I’ve heard about WC hangovers, but nothing like this.
willierednut – yea and look what we won since 2007, so fergie was right again. 11 titles is a good reason hehe
Costas – yea rooney torrres drogba have all declined at the same time, very weird almost like the twighlight zone, it must be torresdrogba and rooney are shit, and berbatov is the top scorer. Is this opisite day
sorry the spelling is really bad 2night, more than usual
its the jerry seinfeld bizarro world everything is backwards
Yeah, feel like a bizarro world.. Top strikers misfiring, Berba with 20 goals by January, King Kenny managing a club…
Speaking Dogleash, it took him 2 weeks before he got Torres so fed up that he wants to leave.
@Costas yeah mate and don’t forget the age + year =111,all the wierd fucking weather,a lake full of dead fish,dead birds falling out of the sky,riots in the middle east for democracy all happening before the dreaded 2012 hits,they are all signs mate
back to football no way torres is staying another year there with no cl,dippers are fucked
If I was Torres, I’d stay at Liverpool. Chelsea are an aging team, who can’t seem to get players to join them. And, as much as we take the piss out of the dippers, they’re a far bigger club, than Chelsea.
@wayne
Worrying signs indeed. I guess you can say the end is at hand. I hope we have time to win title 19 before the aliens arrive, destroy us all and proclaim Tevez as their mascot, lol.
@Costas tevez isn’t their mascot he’s the leader no one that fucking ugly is human,didn’t you know men in black is based on fact lol
@Costas no worries about number 19 mate but the shit’s supposed to hit the fan 21st of december 2012 so number 20 is looking dodgy
Fitb. Ha ha. Hello pal. I certainly did listen to talkshite I even texted the cunts to say exactly what you said. Scouts doing their jobs right. Seven million for a striker that WILL be the best in the league in a couple of years I also said it was comedy classic listening to them tonight. Dippers proper giddy that they now have two top stikers. Loads of em coming on. Then tony evans comes and drops a great big shit on their happiness. Torres IS going. I don’t like evans but he knows his stuff on the vermin but even more so does tony barret who in fairness is a good journo and even he says its a done deal. Made my week listening to that tonight. Great move kenny. Selling the kops favourite striker.
Giles
That was such a tremendous read
Everyone – I am not into the flow of the blog today but 2012 was a crap film that I couldn’t stop laughing myself
@King Eric hi mate is that a fact? i thought the dippers had rejected the bid
just think….Terry and Torres ….a faggot and a fuckpig both in the same side….. who will be fucking who?
@MG hi mate yeah that director makes big budget shit movies.independence day,godzilla,10,000bc,day after tomorrow,2012, has been his last 5 movies in no particular order.
Not chronological then?
Sorry Giles, off topic a little.
Rooney,early 20s,has had a series of blunders,both personal and proffesional.
In the open for all to see.
We got angry and dissapointed with the contract issue,made worse when we saw Fergie ,in that press conference and what he had to say.The response was swift.
Seems Rooney made things right,seems his agent is the idiot behind all of this. Rooney and wife are this guy’s meal ticket,and he has them in his pocket. But seems clear Rooney got it resolved quickly after Fergie cornered him. I think Dela said it,we will know more one day from someones book or interviews.
Rooney is coming out of this period in his life,he will stay,he will score and he will be one of the reasons we win.I understand the anger but even freedom to rant needs to come with some logic.
He is most likely earning 110k a week ,thats above Manutd salary cap. Manutd do not do 250k.U want that ,they will tell u to kindly leave the club.
Whatever the amount is ,it will never buy u maturity. Lets hope he learns.
How wud we in the glare like he is react,or even in our own personal lives,how wud we react,are we always right,never srewed up in life?
Take STR, his article is ok ,his criticism is ok.
But some of u take the cake in yr postings.
Rooney is one of us,do what u must ,just do it properly like STR.
We are Manutd,we r different.
Willie. Yeah mate. I would stay at dippers. They are a much bigger club than the chavs. Chelsea could and I think will go into serious meltdown in the next couple of years. Aged players. Key players sold. Poor recent purchases. And despit they and the media peddle this shit about the youth not one of the fuckers is either good enough or ready enough yet. When they yet again fail to win the european cup roman will be on his bike. No structure or planning for the future. Its all quick fix. Doesn’t work. Meanwhile as I always say fergire is three years in advance and constantly evolving. Fucking genius.
@smartalex no mate had a few grey goose and vodka can’t be bothered
grey goose and water
Wayne. Evening pal. You ok? Well according to barret and evans who know their scouse shit and are both fans that have followed them all over say it will be all over papers tomorrow and sunday and deal will be done this window. Mind you we heard all that about rooney and judas but this definitely looks true.
Off topic – According to one of the reporters (James Ducker) of The Times
“Stekelenburg is indeed the ‘keeper who is at the top of our wanted list,” – Meulensteen
@King Eric yeah mate i’m fine feeling no pain right now,thanks for the info only thing i can find is the dippers turned down a 40 mill bid which would have been a british record,i’d fucking snap the hands off for 40mill he wants out anyway,wonder if the rentboys went higher
Arjic, Top find that, cheers. I think there are a group of top candidates. United are playing their cards very close to the chest. Hard to read the tea leaves on this one.
Well done FletchTHEMAN
“Stekelenburg is indeed the ‘keeper who is at the top of our wanted list,” Meulensteen said
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/70749.html
Say what happened to Costas and his exam?
arjic – Thought it would be between De Dea and Stekelenburg. Edwin would know about the lad, time will tell.
Hey Wayne. Ah yes, the friday goose-chase.
De Gea,Nuer,Skellenburg,Adler,Buffon.
Which one or which 2?
@willierednut & FletchTHEMAN
Seems very strange that any of the coaching staff would come out and name the contenders for the position. The same reporter has apparently got a quote from Phelan about Rui Patricio of Sporting Lisbon “He’s a young ‘keeper with enormous potential”.
wayne
I bet we could make a better 2012
utd have been linked with so many goalies,who fucking knows.with the way the transfer market works i’m convinced sir alex just puts out a bunch of red herrings,fuckheads like city and real seem to chase anyone utd are interested in.
arjic, Exactly mate. There is a list, it seems that several leaks have come out on who might be on that list. If you lads want to be slapping backs about picking Steklenberg, mmmmmmmm, not so sure myself. When have United EVER talked the press without a done deal. These reports are just sounding to good to be true. Think we are going to run around alot by the press. Think I will wait till we have footage of Fergie shaking the lads hand at OT. For me, it is still open.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/28/manchester-united-maarten-stekelenburg-ajax
Another big Dutch man?
Champions League Final 1999 Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich Subtitle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmjdVNLKcuY
Brilliant article Sir. Mr Giles Oakley as always you can feel the passion, the Unitedness in his words, the method in which he relates his love for his family and United. The togetherness.One of many reasons why I will always continue to “read” ROM.He wants the utmost best for United as we all do.
To me there are messages in the article,sadness and laughter and togetherness.
God bless Giles and your family, and thank you for sharing.
@MG no shit mate at least give it a bit of depth,don’t know if you ever saw a 1998 movie called last night,character study on how different people deal with the final hrs before the apocalypse.its a indy movie had a budget of 2mill compared to the 200mill budget of 2012 and its 10 times the movie.
Torres hands in transfer request at the dippers. They’ve rejected it apparently.
@shebangs if the rentboys offered 40 mill the dippers should take it and run
RedScot – Fair play on Stekelenburg, you did suggest the lad in the summer.
Would be good buisness for the scousers, if they don’t sell now, he’ll be gone in the summer. You can’t blame him, he won’t want to go 2 years with no CL football.
if a rumor gets 2 much press its probably wrong,think back on utds big signings over the last 5 yrs, don’t think utd telegraphed any big signings where the whole world knew,maybe hargo
why not rob green,i’m sure we can prise him away from west ham hopefully he will help them avoid the drop and that wiil strengthen his case to play for us.
Rob Green Rob Green, that doesnt even deserve an answer. NO
@shebangs dead right it would be good business,before i say this don’t want people jumping on my ass but if someone came in for a 40 mill bid for rooney i think that would be good business for utd
@parryheid never been a big fan makes to many mistakes,not sure he’s got the mental bottle
Al Green? Alan Green? What size Is chewbecca?
But why not he’s English and that has to be the next best thing to being foreign.
He’s shite for a start. I’d take Reina, before that clown.
Think fergie should bid 50 mil just to piss the murderers off
fucking al green love that guy,alan green,broadcaster,darts player,mayor of cleethorpes? the chewbecca reference is way over my head all i can think of is star wars
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/472437207?-11193
Berbatov set for a new deal.
wayne = For a player that can’t hit a barn doot at the moment, it’d be bloody good buisness. If he carries on in this form, he’ll only lose value, so it may be worth cashing now.
Okay Okay I’ll own up I know fuckall about goalkeepers me, just threw him in cause he’s an internatioal I would say in truth he’s shite but he’s not as good as that
Rob Green has great volume and is the best in the premier league at instructing defenders. Maybe not the quality of the instructions but volume is as you would want. Hes a fairly good shot stopper BUT what is a huge problem for him is he looks untidy. He looks like he makes mistakes because realistically hes forced into them. If youve got an opposing striker bearing down on goal and hes given a clear pop and his save rebounds into play again its easy to say it was an error by Green. Unfortunately his defenders dont really give him a chance. And because of this he is used to losing, hes come to terms with it and i think his shoulders drop too easily.
Had it have been a situation of given him the number 2 or 3 position in goal I would say why not, can this boy play at a top club, try him out. The problem is we have the PIG who I think will stay next year as 1 of 3 and we have Lindegaard. In my opinion hes not the big cheese we need between the sticks. (and fuck off smartalex not cheessticks).
King Eric – awesome mate thanks, did they read your text out. But that is exactly what I decided to type in tonight has I was out all day and seeing torres handing in a transfer request on skysports news made me think, chico costs us 7 million and dads army has to pay well over 40 million, for the most overrated striker in the world fernando buckeroo. He was good in 2007 but that was a while ago
Who was that clown who was the co presenter on talksport who is a jurno, the way he kept going on about how torres is a red NO. HE IS AN ATLETICO MADRID FAN, are they complete idiots. they should get the memo, yea gerrard is a great example he almost joint them twice good icon for the club lols.
FITB – Neil Ashton, you call the jurno. Liverpool have rejected the transfer request, looks like that’s It.
wow!! great read Mr. Oakley love the way it’s written. I think this is the first article of yours that I’ve read here. Looking forward to reading more in the future
As for Reina I wouldnt buy that prick for tupence. Fergie only mentioned his name because we were due to play Liverpool and he wanted to get under his skin before the match. Fergie does it every game. If you believed the things he says to wind up the opposition our team would consist of Given, Dunne, Ireland, Gerrard…….. and that is just fucking ridiculous.
IIf you forget about Reinas penalty saves in the champions league final then Im affraid its difficult to remember a single game where he made the absolute difference. Hes uncommanding, fat and hes a spaniard. No one when concerning keepers, keep to the Germanics not the latinos for goal keeping. Buffon and Casilas are exceptions as was Canizares but their league isnt as rough or as high tempo and I do believe Buffon and Casilas would look shite here. I would go for Neuer myself or Rene Adler.
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
Sniff! Sniff! Do I smell Chee…. Never mind.
@shebangs thanks we’re on the same page 40 mill for rooney i’d take it in a second.in regards to goalies i’m not even convinced utd are going to sign anyone else unless pig wants out
Cheesy bastards.
willierednut and Costas – One thing I will say berbatov has made me eat my own words, I doubted the guy but he has proven me wrong twice, first with fletcher and now berbatov. So I was one guy who doubted berbatovs ability to make it at united.
wow it really is oppisite day guys lol. This time last year on jan 29th 2010 liverpool fans and the media said torres was a scouser for life, rooney’s stock with the fans was at a all time high, and berbatov was seen has a complete failiure. One year later, torres wants to join chelsea, rooney is awful and allot of united fans want him gone, and berbatov is by far the premierships best striker how times have changed.
I ment I doubted the guy but fergie has proven me wrong twice, first with fletcher and now berbatov. So I was one of many with reasonable points on why I was one of many who doubted berbatovs ability to make it at united.
no need for the murderers comment…no better than munich chants
so torres has had his written transfer request turned down, officially, by the club. damn, i wouldn’t like to see him at city, certainly not for the next few seasons when they can still get something out of their aging club. a strikeforce duo of him and drogba is going to give us some ridiculous problems. hope he continues to be hurtnando torres of the last 18 months and drogba’s age catches up with him quick.
Being a goat when i fondue myself i cumandbaa
now we have smartalex going into graduate tunes,tell you what thought i was smart but get lost sometimes on here so i’ll tip my hat.
Don’t take the bait willierednut, it’s a trap!
Cream of sum yum guy?
A taste of my own medicine. The blood rushes from my head and I get milk of amnesia
Before entering untethered territory, it is best to know your goat.
http://www.propartganda.com/pdf/knowyourgoat.pdf
smartalex – We’re going real deep.
no i speak the truth i’ll have to prey on weaker minds unless i get a opening
60 million for torres, would anyone pay 100 k for a ferrari missing 2 weels and a broken engine, that will need a completly new engine
I thought deep throat was a hoarse.
Anyway back to the matter at hand, who do we think is the best goatkeeper?
Did someone nick Torres’ car,lol
i’m going to get killed for this but sir alex has been a big fan of buffon for years,utd have been linked so many times to this guy,it wouldn’t surprise me if he is the next utd goalie
Rene Adler would be my first choice. I like a player who is not quite number one (a bit like when we had Saha), they try that little bit harder week in week out because they are just breaking through. That Neuer who is the second best option, is better for the most part but he does have the tendency to Grobelaar.
Gordon Banks.
wayne
i agree, Buffon is the target. I think it’s arranged and he will arrive in June.
@Goat i’d love to sign that guy he’s a red,fucking funny a german red but anyway getting a out clause that only involves utd and he’s been germany number 1 through the ranks.i just love players who love the club,to me its a big deal
gordon banks save against pele the greatest save ever
@ wayne
michael/schmeichel pulled off a similar save if memory serves, cant remember who the opposition was.
@ goatinaunitedshirt
reina wasn’t in nets for the dippers in champions league final mate.
I reckon we should stay Dutch or go for our first german I prefer Adler
Off topic again of course. I’m sorry Giles.
But Suarez and Scousers would make a perfect, cunt-ly partner. The Scouse fans are drooling at the thought of Torres-Suarez partnership while the former is asking Pool to seriously consider Chelsea’s bid. lol
But on a more serious note, maybe Torres should really stay at Liverpool. What do u think ? Will Torres make Chelsea erm, more threatening ?
@Jaandsdad hi mate to me gordon banks was the best thats ever lived,never seen anyone even close to his ability.greatest goal scored on him was by george best,.home internationals, northern island vs england
the goal was fucking awesome. best had figured out banks toss was to high..totally disinterested soon as banks tossed the ball up bestie darted in as fast as fuck and chipped the ball over the head of the greatest goalie that ever lived,made him look like a cunt.the goal was disallowed the worst decision ever,the greatest goal ever.
sorry to get so self indulgent,couple of joints and 2 many vodha’s
Massimo Taibi!
wait a minute.. didnt we…
Sorry if im a bit late but Torres wants to leave
Anyone give me a loserpool forum thread where I can go to take the fucking piss…..Torres asking to leave, Stevie -me left at club he has tried to leave twice before…..
buying 3rd rate strikers….in melt down …
with a biot of luck the dippers will drop another league cos Dogleash hasn’t inherited a strong team like he did last time……
Fucking magic hope the fucking cunts implode
they just bought suarez….decent player,but untested in a decent league……look at Huntelaar,great for |Ajax but anonymous for Milan.
On the This Is Anfield forum they are saying if our Ronaldo was worth 80 then Torres should be worth that.
Hey lads. Just dropping off my prediction for tonight before things get busy for me today:
Kuszczak – O’Shea, Smalling, Evans, Fabio – Obertan, Carrick, Scholes, Gibson, Rooney – Owen
Chicha and Berba to start together on Tuesday.
Morning all . Happy match day!
My guess for today
Kuszczak
O’Shea
Rio
Evans
Fabio
Fletcher
Scholes
Carrick
Obertan
Owen
Hernandez
Subs
Lindegaard
Smalling
Brown
Anderson
Gibson
Bebe
Rooney
Hello Costas.
I have Rio for back line experience, I would have put Smalling if Evra was playing.
You have Gibson, I also thought he might start as it is clear SAF wants him to progress, but I put Fletcher in on the right as I have gone 4-4-2.
I see you are working around Hernandez starting with Berbatov (agreed his best partner) against Villa, I have him to start today with Owen.
smartalex – Morning. Rio not travelled mate. Would have thought there would be some form of experience at centre half like Vida with either Smalling or Johnny. In view of West Ham anyway. But then Fergie likes to give them another chance. Watched Obertan the other night and he was poor and Bebe was subbed. Gotta put a reasonably strong team out as this will be no easy game. Gotta win this FA Cup.
@Karun, I’m glad you liked this article. It’s not actually the first and you might enjoy some of the others. If you click on Archives at the top you’ll see my name under Authors. (You’ll also see what an amazing number of posts Scott has done!) If you click on that you’ll find other things I have written on all sorts of United topics, including a sequence over time about Eric Cantona,starting with the famous kung-fu kick, which I witnessed. Some of the earlier ones are now in ‘Older posts’ I think, if you scroll down. When I started out in 2009 I hadn’t particularly intended to do a King Eric sequence as such, but that’s how it’s panned out and I hope to return to the theme , tracking the ’95/ 96 Double Season. (Then I guess I’ll have to backtrack for the first two seasons he was at United…)
Anyway, Karun and everyone else, thanks for the kind comments, especially RedScot.
As for which goalkeeper United should sign, I have to admit I don’t know. But you know me, I’m always available. I just need time to clean my boots when I get the call.
Hi smartalex. Yeah I took quite a few risks in my line up. I forgot that Gibson started on Tuesday. Maybe Fletch will get picked ahead of him. I saved Scholesy for Aston Villa, but Sir Alex might go with Carrick-Ando or Fletc-Ando for that one. Who knows? Plenty of choices at the moment. I feel that your line up will be closer than mine.
Morning King Eric. I see, so no Rio, I didn’t realize, there is nothing on ManUtd . com about that. In that case I would select Vidic, as I agree, we have to win it this year. Our 2 young CBs are good enough and it would be good for them to play together, but without Edwin, Evra or Nev, they could be rudderless. With regard to Obertan I had selected him against blackpool, and we missed a natural winger there until Giggs took over. With Park and Valencia due back, chances for Obi will be limited, so I’d like to give him this opportunity to shine.
smartalex – Oh yeah Obertan is definitely worth a shot. Like you say especially without Edwin and Evra as well we could be rudderless. Could Wesley play at centre back? Something tells me he won’t even get the near the fucking pitch again though! Yeah Rio has a groin injury, nothing serious I believe.
I know it’s unlikely, but I’d like to see Fergie experimenting with Rooney in more of an attacking midfield role today, playing behind Owen with dynamic support from Bebe and Obertan on the wings. Hoping for a lineup something like this:
Lindegaard (just because I want to see the lad play)
O’Shea–Vidic–Evans–Fabio
Fletcher–Gibson
Obertan–Rooney–Bebe
Owen
Would allow Rooney, Obertan and Bebe to swap around and hopefully give Soton a tough time, as well as helping us see what positions suit them all (I, for one, still have no idea where Bebe plays best!)
Jaandsdad
Hi mate, it was against Rapid Vienna in a European game in Austria and you are right it was identical to the Gordon Banks save….
Everton vs chelsea in 45 minutes. Really like a draw there, else a home win at Goodison. Other than that Torquay vs Crawley Town is the only tie of interest.
@ Giles
Haha, Sir Giles Oakley- United’s new no.1. It’s been a while since we had an English keeper, you know- unless you count the disaster that was Ben Foster.
@Costas
Morning mate. Interesting lineup. I just get the feeling Fergie might field a stronger team, given our not-so-impressive displays in the FA Cup in recent years.
I’ll go with
PIG- O’Shea- Vidic-Smalling- Fabio- Fletch- Carrick – Anderson- Obertan- Mr. Ambition- Owen
shh, sorry to wake you cedarsdevil. how’s the head? hungover, much…?
@ Giles
Haha, Sir Giles Oakley- United’s new no.1. It’s been a while since we had an English keeper, you know- unless you count the disaster that was Ben Foster.
@Costas
Morning mate. Interesting lineup. I just get the feeling Fergie might hand Anders his debut- its about time we got a look at the lad.
I’ll go with
Lindegaard- O’Shea- Vidic-Smalling- Fabio- Fletch- Carrick – Anderson- Obertan- Mr. Ambition- Owen
Yes, I changed my mind two minutes after the first post and couldn’t delete the first one. Stupid WordPress
@Costas: yo dude how was the mgmt exams ?
@Giles: From teamtalk to number 1 goalkeeper,wow,lol.
Hope ur well.and please write a book.
@CedarsDevil: yo mun , good moorrnning lebanaooon!
Yo dude? This isn’t high school lol.
Morning smartalex, Dave Malaysia and everyone else……
Head is fine but somehow I am still dabbling! lol
Bring on the match, C’Mon UNITED
Yo yo dude and dudettes
lol
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/28/manchester-united-maarten-stekelenburg-ajax
Interesting read considering its been a hot topic here……..
Looking forward to seeing the chamberlain lad.. What’s all the fuss about etc.. Might be a ronaldo case, he plays brilliant against us and fergie signs him on the back of it
Firstly,the Guardian ran that breaking news at 5.30 crap the other day and got blasted.
Now they say our coaches have named players!
Does it sound like something our coaches will do?
NO.
Totally awesome man! Bill and Ted excellent adventures!
Liverpool have had a stunning surprise with the signing of suarez,the amount involved is huge,something they thot their club cud not do these days
then it happened
the anfeild big shot hands in a transfer request, in spite of the new signing that shows intent.
I just think after all the crowing and shit they threw at us this summer and all season, the shit has turned around said ‘its karma bitch’ and headed to anfeild.
Wheres the ruddy umbreallas?how many bloody times did these guys throw shit at our fans in the stadium?
Ohhhh karma.
Off to watch the toffee men do the rent boys, see ya later dudes lol.
anyway on another note they must say no ,they dun have to worry cos its only 48 hours left for the window to close.
if they do that they give themselves a chance to do better the rest of the season.
We have to thank torres cos he has made them angry and dissapointed,and they will make it know to him. so a high and a low,he basically screwed a good thing that cud have lifted them for the remainder of the season.And now hes half burnt his bridges at anfeild,they will burn the rest for him if they behave as they always do. That means hes probaly off in the summer to barca.
And guys chelsea will be bitterly dissapointed they cud not lend any targets to lift them this window.
Let it stay that way.we want them as they are.
I hope Fergie picks the right team and right tactics and right jerseys for tonights battle.
Manchester United winning tonights battle.
Everton winnings tonight battle.
Huddersfeild winning thier battle tommorow.
Notts County winning thier battle tommorow.
looks like the ladyboy is going to join the cockneys from london.
Gary is watching Phil at Goodison.
@Dave
They are going just fine, dude. Thanks for asking bro, lol. I am finishing this Tuesday. In time for the Villa game.
@dela
If it was a home tie, I’d have gone with Lindegaard too. I just feel that he will go with Kus due to his exoerience. It could be a stronger team than we think…
@ Wayne
i remember thet goal Georgie scored, terrible decision to disallow it.
@ CedarDevil
cheers for the reminder.
I think today’s game needs to see Rooney starting to help him snap out of his shit spell.
Would be good to see hernandez getting a start as well.
Lindegaard to make his debut as well.
Hopefully cruise to a win 3 – 0
Hi guys, incase you hadn’t guessed from the name i am indeed Giles’ daughter.
Wow its weird reading about your childhood on a computer screen like this!
Just thought i’d add my 2 cents to this…. By the way Thanks Daddy dearest for sharing with the rest of the Red Army the fact that iv’e been know to talk to the cat. I should point out this must run in the family as iv’e seen you talk to both cats on many an occasion! Haha.
I have to admit i dont remember all the details from that night 15 odd years ago. What i do remember was an awesome first United match. Was a little disapointed not to have seen any real conflict between fans as was more than aware that there was a serious possibility it could end in violence and would have quite liked to see the crazyness in person. I’m sure my Dad was nothing but relieved though
I loved hearing the unified singing and chanting of all the old United songs, still one of my favourite parts of attending football matches today.
Football and United has never been quite the same for me since my beloved Cantona left the game im sorry to say. This makes it all the more special to me that i was lucky enough to have a Dad who took me to games while there was still time to see the Great King do his stuff in person.
Hi Kat? Your father is a legend on this blog, with his great stories of days gone by. I’m looking forward to his story on the great George Best, who was my fathers hero growing up.
Hi Mr Rednut
Yeah he’s always been a natural storyteller, you should hear some of the non football related storys haha. I have a fair few of my own concerning him, me and our trips out to watch the football. You can always be sure something odd will happen !
Maybe some day i’ll write them down and post them on here
To father and daughter, good health!
Hi Kat. As willie said, your father is a legend around these parts. We love his articles. All the best.
@Costas: Good to hear,now be a good poi,go study and put the remote down.
@Giles’ (not so baby) Kat: Did the cats talkback? cos i swear mine did………..
Giles Oakley, always a good read.
cantona the real king