28 Mar 2012

Refs Decision Has Not Handed United Title

Many people are voicing their opinion that a decision by referee Michael Oliver, not to award Fulham a penalty at Old Trafford when Danny Murphy went down in the penalty area in the final minute, following a challenge by Manchester United's Michael Carrick, as the main turning point in the title race, and the reason why United will turn 19 into 20 league title wins, Why ?

Will it not have anything to do with the fact United have taken six points off Tottenham and Arsenal, and four points off Chelsea and Liverpool? Will it not be United's ability to win when not playing well? Will it not be because of moments like the Ryan Giggs injury time winner against Norwich? Will fighting back from three goals down at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea to earn a valuable point, not be a contributing factor?

I suppose rival supporters who despise United with a passion, can use this incident as a kind of scapegoat, if the reds, as the bookmakers currently believe, go on to clinch the Premier League crown from under the noses of their Manchester rivals.

I am not totally blind to the fact, United seem to have had decision's at Old Trafford go their way that they might not have got at another stadium, but the decision against Fulham was not a conspiracy as many other supporters would like to believe. Its quite simply a decision that could not be made because the referee was not 100% sure about it. Could anybody hand on heart say that they were sure it was a penalty from the moment they seen it? When I first seen the incident in real time, I thought it looked a close call, but the fact the ball had changed direction, made me believe that Carrick had touched the ball and I therefore thought that Murphy had dived.

So when I then had the facility to watch the incident back in slow motion and from different angles, it became very clear that it should have actually been a penalty and a sending off for Carrick. The decision not to award the penalty basically strengthens the call for video technology in football. If teams had three calls a half each, to dispute a refereeing decision, or an incident, then Martin Jol could have disputed it, and with a quick glance at a pitch side monitor, could have clearly seen the incident again and acted upon it. Video technology is a debate for another day, but lets not forget the referee does have a linesman who could have flagged for a penalty, but he failed to do so strengthening the claim that in real time motion it was a tough call to be sure of.

So why has this incident handed the title to United? I am of the opinion that over the season the best team who deserves the trophy will lift it in May? The table does not lie does it? If the penalty had been given, there was no guarantee Fulham would have dispatched the resulting spot kick, but the odds would have been in their favour. If they had scored, and the match ended 1-1, United would be top by a point and probably missing Michael Carrick for three matches. Both teams would know winning their remaining fixtures would guarantee success.

Many will subscribe to the fact that what goes around, comes around. Its swings and roundabouts, and I agree. If you look back at a perfectly well timed and good challenge by Rio Ferdinand at Old Trafford this season against Newcastle, then the penalty claim the other night has evened itself out. United drew the match against Newcastle and lost two points due to an outrageous call be the referee, rival supporters seem to forget incidents like this.

The destiny of the Premier League trophy is still controlled by what both Manchester clubs do in their final games. The match at the Ethihad Stadium next month could go a long way to deciding which team will be crowned champions, whoever wins the title, will fully deserve it.

21 Mar 2012

Singing Section Could Revive Old Trafford Atmosphere

Supporter clubs and fanzines of Manchester United, are currently in negotiations with the Old Trafford hierarchy to try and implement a singing section into the stadium to improve the match day atmosphere, that has sadly been on a worrying decline for the last ten years.

It's news that I am sure will be backed and welcomed by the majority of United supporters who want to try and help recapture the atmosphere that has at times, been disgracefully subdued over recent years, even in the so called "big games".

I am surprised it has taken so long for this proposal to be put forward to the club, but it seems that finally supporters of United have go together to voice their opinions on the matter, and have proceeded to put the wheels in motion. Singing sections have generally been introduced to clubs, that have in recent years moved to a new stadium like Manchester City. It doesn't really come as any surprise to me that United are open to the idea that supporter clubs are currently discussing with them.

Its a no brainier in my opinion and something that should have been looked at years ago. The proposal will see the singing section implemented into the East Lower – Blocks EL133, 134, 135, 136, 137 and 138. East Lower is currently one of the more vocal areas within Old Trafford, its the stand where the away supporters currently take up their ticket allocation. This would see away supporters moved into tier three of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand. This will be tested for the first time in United's Premier League home clash against Aston Villa on Sunday April the 15th.
 
I can't see many supporters looking at this negatively. Away supporters have always taken up what I consider to be one of the best views at Old Trafford. Think about how other away teams treat United with regards to ticket allocations and prices, the away supporters section at Newcastle United's stadium springs to mind, stuck up in the gods where you can't be heard and the home support can drown you out easily. The current away support at Old Trafford can generate a lot of noise as they are pitch side, they can have the effect of an extra man and lift their team.

My only concern, if you could call it a concern, would be that moving the away supporters so far away from the home crowd, would almost instantly kill the banter that fans have had being sat so close to each other. Supporters who I know that sit near the away fans are a bit apprehensive and sceptical of the proposal because they enjoy the banter so much on match days.

The match day atmosphere at Old Trafford has been killed by the corporate seats, and the day-trippers reluctance to sing and join in with people who want to create an atmosphere. By offering supporters the chance to switch seats to a singing section will ensure they can sing, and not be told to sit down by the person behind them at times of attacking play or flash points in the game. I have even heard stories of United fans, being told to sit down by fellow supporters sat behind them, so that they can see the players celebrating the goal that has just been scored!

The singing section is an interesting idea and proposal that I hope to see implemented so that we can see if it can function and be a Sucess. I imagine that demand for seats in it will be high, as die hard reds will be able to almost experience an away day atmosphere at Old Trafford, at every home match.

Further information and updates regarding the news of this proposal, including the actual proposal itself, can be found at www.stretfordendflags.com .

13 Mar 2012

Rooney Considering Man City Move Is Unforgivable

In October 2010 Wayne Rooney stunned Manchester United and it's supporters by officially handing in a written transfer request. Within a few days Rooney made a spectacular U-turn on his decision to leave Old Trafford and signed a new contract with the reds that put speculation regarding his future to bed.

Just over a year ago since that transfer request and I find myself asking United supporters, have you forgiven and forgotten about what Wayne Rooney was actually preparing to do when he tried to engineer a move away from the club and swap the red of Manchester United for the Blue of Manchester City?

His transfer request rocked the foundations that Manchester United was built upon, more so because we all know the team that he was preparing to join. Look at it this way, it would be like your wife or partner sitting you down and telling you that she is leaving you for your noisy next door neighbour who has recently won the lottery.

This is the neighbour that you have never really seen eye to eye with, but your other half is ready to throw everything away that she has with you to be with him, because she thinks the grass is greener on the other side. Then a couple of days later she tells you she wants to stay with you. Would you ever look at her or trust her the same as you did before?

Any United supporter who believes that Rooney was not considering a move to the blue half of Manchester is deluded and clearly trying to distance themselves from entertaining the thought. A deal was in place with his agent to take him to Manchester City which would have made him the worlds highest paid player.

Many supporters and manager Sir Alex Ferguson pointed the finger at Rooney's agent Paul Stretford for his sudden bombshell request to leave United, but lets not forget that it takes two to tango. Rooney carefully choose his parting words in a statement that was read out to the worlds media which indicated his reasons for wanting to leave arguably the worlds biggest football club.

As Rooney's statement was read out, Sir Alex Ferguson must have felt like a son of his was piercing a dagger through his heart. Rooney stated that his reasons for leaving were that the squad at the time was not strong enough to be challenging for honours, which was basically questioning the managers squad of players that he had assembled. After the comments he made at the time, I never imagined I would see Rooney pull on the red shirt again and represent the club.

Many will say that a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and that everybody deserves a second chance. The thing that worries me about Rooney is that this could easily be a situation that occurs again in the not so distant future if he decides to climb up onto his high horse again.

Rooney was quick to walk away from Everton who he claims to be his "boyhood team". He once even revealed a t-shirt with the slogan "once a blue always a blue" when celebrating a goal while playing for them. I know since that move the Everton supporters have given him stick, but Rooney has responded to his fellow Evertonian's by kissing the United badge in front of them. Its something I have never quite fully understood about Rooney.

If I left the club I was brought up and supported all my life, I would not disrespect that club by kissing another club crest when playing against them. I know football is a fickle and the majority of the people who support football clubs are, but if Rooney had of made the switch to Manchester City, I guarantee he would have responded to the taunts from furious United supporters by doing the same thing, kissing the badge.

I know quite a few people who support United, but not Wayne Rooney because of the way he disrespected the club, the manager and the supporters. I know that still to this day they find it difficult to chant and sing his name on the terraces, like me they think that Rooney even considering a switch to Manchester City is unforgivable.

Rooney remains the talismanic figure at Old Trafford that he was the day he stunned United with his request to leave the club. It still remains though, that some supporters including myself have not forgiven him or forgotten what he was trying to instigate in October 2010.


@KevinAshford7


6 Mar 2012

The Curious Case of Phil Jones

All aboard the Phil Jones bandwagon. The fare is free and its easy to climb aboard, good luck trying to locate a seat. Once aboard you will happily engage in conversation with other Manchester United supporters about how Phil Jones is the new Duncan Edwards, or the new Bryan Robson. Somebody will even go as far as to say that Jones is without doubt the future England and United captain,
Before long, you too will be a fully subscribed member to the most hyped up footballer in years.

Does any of this sound familiar to you ?

This is the curious case of Phil Jones, a player who is supposedly "that good" Sir Alex Ferguson does not even know where to play him, because apparently he can play anywhere! There is no doubting that he has potential, and at only 20 could develop into a good player, but I found the hype surrounding his switch to Old Trafford pretty baffling to be honest.

I am not comfortable with so many United fans agreeing with the media's perception of him, that he is the new Duncan Edwards or the new Bryan Robson. It's uncertain what the player makes of the comparisons that are being made, I imagine he is quietly flattered by them and maybe even embarrassed.

I don't think it's fair to create so much hype and put huge expectation on a young player who before signing for United, had actually only made 35 professional first team appearances for his previous club Blackburn Rovers. I must admit I had not heard much about Jones before he moved to United, but after signing him for a fee believed to be around £16million, and reading the kind and encouraging words the English press had to say about him, like many supporters I was excited.

Any player that is talked about and speculated as being a mixture of Duncan Edwards and Bryan Robson must be an amazing talent right?

The comparisons with the two United greats can only be compared with a few attributes Phil Jones has in my opinion. He has the physical presence and strength of a Duncan Edwards, and we have seen him make a few powerful, driving runs with the ball from deep inside his own half, something that Bryan Robson did so often for the reds, but I am afraid that they are the only things I have witnessed that would cause somebody to compare him to the two.

Jones has been tried and tested in a few positions already in his United career, and like many including Sir Alex Ferguson who brought him to the club, I am actually unsure and confused as to what  his best and strongest position in the side is.

He has looked shaky and lacking in confidence when playing in central defence, which is supposedly his preferred position, not very convincing at right back, and I do not see his long term place in the team being in the centre of midfield. So suddenly the best young English talent this country has to offer, does not actually have a position that he and the manager are confident of him excelling in.

We have all heard of players being hyped up in the past, and it seems to be predominately English players. Why? Because English players carry the weight and expectation for the national side who have continually failed at international level.

Not since Wayne Rooney have I heard of an English player being hyped up and speculated about so much. I remember the English press once labelled Joe Cole "The new Paul Gascoigne", Cole is currently playing in France on loan trying to revive his career after a disastrous spell at Liverpool, following the decision by Chelsea to let the player leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer. This is a clear example of the English media putting too much pressure on a young player, this can stifle a players promise and potential especially if that individual starts to believe his own hype. 

It's impossible to predict if Phil Jones will live up to all the hype that currently surrounds him. If he becomes anything like the players he has been compared to, he will retire a Manchester United legend.

I still believe that Edwards plus Robson does not equal Phil Jones, he carries the weight of expectation for both his club and his country on his shoulders and seems like a big enough personality to carry it. For the time being though, I remain apprehensive and slightly sceptical about a player who's best position in the team remains uncertain, and for that reason I will not be joining the large number of supporters who are already on the Phil Jones bandwagon.

@KevinAshford7