Random Wednesday Live Chat
By: Taylor Rockwell |
6 Comments
Category: Manchester United
I Officially Already Like Antonio Valencia More Than Slave
By: Taylor Rockwell | 5 Comments
It’s being reported (and now confirmed by the official site) that United have sealed the transfer of Wigan winger Antonio Valencia for a fee believed to be around £16 million. The Ecuadorian international has long been linked with Old Trafford, but that pursuit now seems to be at an end.
“Joining Manchester United is a dream come true for me,” stated Valencia. “I have enjoyed my time at Wigan, but I am thrilled to have the chance to challenge for the biggest honors in club football here. Playing in front of 76,000 fans alongside players like Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs will be an amazing experience. I can’t wait to get started.” Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Manchester UnitedA LiveChat to Start the Week Off Right
By: Taylor Rockwell | 8 Comments
Not a whole lot of news coming out of Old Trafford in the past week, save for new kits and a whole bunch of rumor. When we started getting linked with Henry again, I decided it was time to stop refreshing Soccernet every ten minutes.
Regardless, the summer lull is making it very difficult for me to get my fix of all things United… so I’m wondering if there’s any interest in doing another live chat sometime this week. I think this one would be best if it were an open forum… United conversation is encouraged, but any/all footy related talk is more than welcome. Anyway, let me know and if there’s a decent amount of interest, we’ll get this thing scheduled.
Category: Manchester UnitedSeinfeld: The Only Way to Make Sense of the Transfer Season
By: Taylor Rockwell | 9 Comments
I am a firm believer that Seinfeld was one of the greatest television programs of all time. As such, I try to work it into every possible situation, regardless of whether or not the reference is valid. However, in looking at the state of Manchester United, a Seinfeld analogy seems incredibly apt.
In the season eight episode “The Van Buren Boys” Jerry is dating a woman (named Ellen) who is, on the surface, perfect. She is smart, funny, and gorgeous. Yet everyone who comes in contact with her finds something decidedly off. His friends question his mental health and the state of his career, and Jerry begins to worry that he’s dating a loser. In the end, he flies his parents in to get their impression of Ellen. Once he sees that his parents both love Ellen, Jerry begins to see the light; reasoning that if they like her, then there must be something very wrong. Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Manchester UnitedTevez Decides Success Isn’t His Thing
By: Wayne Farry | 22 Comments
News just out of United today that Tevez is definitely leaving the club.
Apparently he thinks a five year deal that makes him one of the highest earners at the club simply isn’t good enough. Apparently the club agreed to pay the option price of £25M to Kia and co. but Tevez rejected the contract.
So Tevez has all but left United, he has ruled out Liverpool but wants to stay in England. So Chelsea it is then? Seems an inevitability really. He’d be foolish to go to City if he wants immediate success and Chelsea could be quite the worrying prospect under Ancho. Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Transfer SpeculationSir Alex Ferguson Not Going Anywhere, Apparently Hates Old People
By: Taylor Rockwell | 12 Comments
About two weeks ago, I was all set to post an article criticizing Sir Alex Ferguson for sacrificing the long term stability of Manchester United in favor of his short term goal of becoming the “greatest manager in the history of English football.” My general theory was that, in the past, Fergie had made a habit of getting rid of players who had begun to value themselves over the club. Stam. Becks. Even Keane. They became too big to exist under Fergie, and so off they went. The short term ramifications didn’t matter, as the longevity and stability of the club were preserved.
Then came Slave. He had bitched and moaned and complained and openly criticized the manager throughout the entire 2008-2009 campaign. And yet, Fergie never seemed to care. What could have been the reason for that? Complacency? Boys will be boys? No. Fergie, it seemed, was preparing for his retirement. The 67 year old had conquered all, but still wanted to go out on top, one title clear of Liverpool. However, he didn’t think he could do it without Slave, so he put up with antics that would have gotten any other player booted from the squad. In effect, I thought Fergie was ready to sacrifice the next five years to make sure that he and Slave got one more title. Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Manchester UnitedJune 16 - Transfer Rumors
By: Taylor Rockwell | 8 Comments
Bayern Munich are claiming that Chelsea, Manchester United, and Barcelona have all made offers for French international Franck Ribéry. According to Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the club were approached by Florentino Perez regarding the possibility of a transfer. He added, “We rejected the chance and we have no intention of selling Ribéry.” When asked if Franco FC had made an offer, he responded, “No but other clubs have done. Chelsea have lodged a bid, as have Manchester United and Barcelona. We are completely relaxed about it. The power lies with Bayern Munich.” So, just to clarify, Franck Ribery is totally not for sale. But if he were, Bayern would hold all the power. Also, he is for sale. How much do you have? That much? No. We want more. Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Manchester UnitedJune 15 – Transfer Rumors
By: Taylor Rockwell | 13 Comments
The Guardian is reporting that contract talks between Carlos Tevez and Manchester United are nearing an end, but not in a good way. Despite Fergie “interrupting his holiday” to twice ring him, the Argentinean goal scorer appears poised to join up with Citeh due, in large part, to an offered 75% pay raise. There’s also something about playing time and overall respect, but I couldn’t hear it over the sound of £140,000-a-week being thrown in Tevez’s direction.
So, it appears United are back in the market for a striker… and, according to Soccernet, they’re fully prepared to land one using their money from the Slave deal. Reports indicate that Fergie is preparing a British transfer record £45 million bid for the talented Valencia striker David Villa. I’m personally not putting a lot of stock in this one, as my guess is that when 1) Villa says he wants to remain in Spain and 2) one former Spanish giant is currently spending more money than Slave at an STD specialist’s clinic, he probably won’t be electing to uproot for the greater Manchester area.
Meanwhile those ever reputable sources over at Goal.com are indicating that United will bid on a Spanish striker, but one found a bit closer to home. The webpage sites a source who claims Manchester will soon launch a £40 million bid for Liverpool star Fernando Torres. Shortly after the bid is put in, hell will (apparently) get really, really cold.
Two players who won’t be going anywhere are Nemanja Vidic (awesome) and Gary Neville (no shit). Vidic’s name was being thrown around as the next Franco FC transfer target, and Neville was linked with a player-coach role at newly relegated Boro. Both men have come out and committed themselves to United for the coming campaign. So, Vidic is committed to playing nearly every match and Neville is content to try to repeat as a Carling Cup Champion.
Lastly, The Guardian’s Andy Hunter thinks that the Valencia bid could be a rather large gamble for United. Two important points to remember (as Hunter points out) is that 1) Valencia may inherit the title of best Manchester United-centric Michael Jackson lookalike and 2) he’s also £1 million cheaper than Michael Jackson Lookalike runner up Nani. Not sure what that last point indicates, but, for some reason, I’m afraid.
Category: Manchester UnitedAnd So We Begin… Finally…
By: Taylor Rockwell | 13 Comments
Well, that didn’t take long. I’ve been concerned about United’s lack of presence in the transfer market, but that problem has finally been addressed this afternoon. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has confirmed that Manchester United have made a bid for Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia.
No concrete figures to be had, but the best estimates indicate that Valencia could be a United player for around £15 million. Wigan are certainly not resigned to losing the talented 23 year old, especially since they’re still in the process of dealing with Steve Bruce’s departure for Sunderland. Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Manchester UnitedMinor Vindication
By: Taylor Rockwell | 7 Comments
Dear King Franco FC Fans,
Have you ever wondered what it was like to have a media liability on your squad? Well wonder no more! Because thanks to 80 million banknotes soon to be sent Manchester’s way, you now have one. I was reading some soccer related articles, when I was sent these photos from a celebrity gossip site. I would prefer if no one made a jump in logic there.
Anyway, apparently Slave was captured making out with Paris Hilton a while back. The pictures are a bit grainy, but there was definitely enough contact there for Slave to need to get checked for VD. Which seems only fitting, as now the hyperbolic claims that Fergie sold Franco FC a virus don’t seem so far fetched anymore.
Category: Manchester United
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