Day-Trippers New Fashion Accessory

A day-tripper is a person who visits a tourist destination or visitor attraction from his/her home and returns home on the same day.

Dual Scarf At The Manchester Derby

This seasons must have fashion accessory for the Old Trafford day-trippers, is an item I find disgusting and utterly offencive. The new must have item to go with other stand out day-tripper wear, like the Megastore bag, official Manchester United tracksuit or official shirt, and long lens camera, ladies and gentleman, I present to you ..............The Dual Football Scarf.

For anybody who is unsure what a Dual Football Scarf is, let me explain, a Dual Football Scarf Is a scarf that is half one football team, complete with team crest, and half another team with team crest.

Dual Scarves have been around for a long time on the continent, and I can fully understand why a supporter travelling away on a Champions League trip would purchase, let's say for arguments sake, a Dual Scarf which is half Manchester United and half Bayern Munich. The scarf would be a nice keeps sake, a souvenir, something to remind you of your journey and the game. I would have no problem wearing a scarf that was half United, half Bayern Munich as they are not a local rival.

So imagine when to my amazement,  I stumbled across a group of United day-trippers at Old Trafford this year for the Manchester Derby, who were all wearing Dual United/City scarves. At first glance I thought it was a United fan with a Manchester City scarf on, so you can imagine my confusion. This was until I noticed that when he turned around the other half of his scarf had the United colours and club crest on it.

I was that angered and embarrassed by them, that I took the photograph for this article with my Iphone so that I could show it to other United supporters and get their views on it (see picture above). I was absolutely staggered that somebody would buy a Dual United/City scarf, it just goes to show that the people purchasing these scarfs do not have a clue about rivalry. A high majority of supporters will understand football rivalry, it's common knowledge that if you decided to go and watch a Barcelona v Real Madrid game at the Nou Camp, you would probably avoid buying a dual scarf and wearing it in the home end.

Personally, I would never wear a scarf that had the club crest of a Premier League rival on it. You could not imagine your hardcore Mancunian United supporter, who follows his team home and away, turning up at Anfield with a Dual United/Liverpool scarf could you? Which tells a story in itself. The people that are purchasing these scarfs are people who are attending Old Trafford for the first time, or using Old Trafford as a tourist attraction, a day out. They see the Dual Scarf as a souvenir to bring home with them, they obviously have no idea or clue about United's history, or rivalry with certain clubs, otherwise they would not buy them.

Dual-Scarves are a sign of how football has changed so dramatically over the years. You definitely could not imagine a Dual Scarf knocking about in the 60s, 70s or 80s. These were days when supporters of football club's were mostly local people who were attached, and supported their club because of where they come from. Being a successful team means that people from all over the world will be drawn to you like a magnet.

I have no problem with this, it's what makes Manchester United's global brand and support so strong compared to others. I just wish that people claiming to support United would do their homework before coming to Old Trafford, and embarrassing us Mancunian's in the process by wearing Dual Scarves that have rival teams crests visible on them.

Keane Still Bitter Over United Exit

Ferguson & Keane's Friendship Is Over

Two people who certainly will not be exchanging Christmas cards this year are Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane. Sundays eye opening two page spread in a national news paper by Keane, had the ramblings of a bitter old man written all over it.

Keane is still evidently licking his wounds from 2005 when by "mutual consent", Keane and Manchester United, decided to part company.

A scathing negative rant about United's 2005 crop of players on their in house TV channel MUTV was what ended Keane's United career.

Keane has repeatedly criticised United and how the club is run in the press, he displays the views of a man who is finding retirement and two failed attempts at management with Sunderland and Ipswich, difficult to accept.

The only person to blame for Keane's departure from Old Trafford, is himself. Keane was told to try and remain positive when giving his thoughts on a match United had been well beaten in, what did Keane do? The complete opposite, he was ruthless in his assessment of the team,  he even questioned if the players who played were good enough to play for United.

The club and the manager were stunned and outraged by Keane's comments, they acted swiftly to make sure the programme did not go out on air. Like any school pupil who is a disruption to the class, he was effectively expelled from the United School.

So it hardly come as a surprise when Keane, now working as a pundit for ITV Champions League games, was highly critical of United's exit to Basle at the group stages. Keane firmly set the cat amongst the pigeons with his assessment of United, comments that obviously touched a nerve with Sir Alex, who made a comment in reply to his sides dressing down by questioning Keane's managerial record, which was a bit of a cheap shot on the United manager's behalf.

Both Keane and Ferguson were correct, but it is the nature of the jibes that are being thrown back and forward that suggests that there is more to this than just Keane being bitter about leaving United on bad terms. What Keane should realise, is that he started the fall out back in 2005.

The friendship between Keane and Ferguson is strained beyond repair, both men are strong, stubborn characters, who will not back down. A recent snub by Keane to attend a dinner party to celebrate Ferguson being in charge of United for twenty five years proves this. Keane claims he turned down the chance to attend because he would not have been able to stand up and clap Ferguson.

What Keane should realise is that United made him the player he was, no player is bigger than the club. Other players have left United on bad terms, Japp Stam, Rudd van Nistelrooy and David Beckham, all of whom, made up with Ferguson years after their departure, so why can't Keane? If everybody held a grudge against Keane then he would not be welcome back into his home country, following his decision to walk out on his nations national side during the 2002 world cup, following a disagreement with Mick McCarthy, who was the Republic of Ireland manager at that time.

Something else that Keane said in his article was that Ferguson's managerial record was down to players like him, well it works both ways Roy. Would Keane have been so decelerated as a player if he had joined another club instead of signing for United? Old Trafford handed Keane the platform he craved to help him fulfil his potential and become a legend and a success, Ferguson moulded him into the quality player he turned out to be .

Keane also said that United never stood by him? Is he being serious? Keane missed the whole of the 1997-98 season because of a cruciate ligament injury, caused by an attempt to kick and injure Leeds United player Alf-Inge Haaland. Manchester United rehabilitated him, and I assume Keane would have picked up his weekly wage during this time? He also threatened to leave United in 1999 if they did not pay him what he thought he was worth, the club gave in to his demands and quite rightly paid him the money he wanted, reported to be around £50,000 per week.

Roy Keane is without a doubt a Manchester United legend, but he is seriously beginning to affect his own status at Old Trafford. Keane needs to realise that Ferguson is the leader at United and is a far more influential figure than Keane ever was, and ever will be. Whilst Keane gives his views on the game as a pundit, Ferguson will continue to manage the most successful English football team in history, and the empire that he created.


@KevinAshford7

Crisis At United ? What Crisis ?

Following Manchester United's exit from the Carling Cup and Champions League respectively, the media and a number of supporters were quick stating their view that  United were a club in crisis.

It's not the first and will certainty not be last time that word will be associated with United, it's part and parcel of being successful and arguably the biggest club side in the world.

The media love to print stories about United for one main reason, it sells papers. The morning after United crashed out of the Champions League the back pages were awash with the usual "Fergie Past It" headlines, but the word "crisis" was used by the majority of the media to sum up United's cup exits. The definition of the word crisis can be loosely used to describe a "testing time".

I for one do not see this as a testing time, but more as a transitional stage in rebuilding a team that has lost Edwin Van Der Sar, Gary Neville, and Paul Scholes, who have all been great, important players for the club, and are almost individually impossible to replace.

In 2005 United went out of the Champions League at the same stage they did this year. The team that went out at Benfica that evening featured young players like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher, John Oshea & Alan Smith. These were all players relatively young and looking to establish themselves at United. Fast forward six years to that defeat in Basle and you would have seen David De Gea, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Ashley Young all trudging off the pitch with their heads sunk into their chests.

It's a similar situation as 2005 in my opinion, this team is trying to establish itself, and Sir Alex is trying to decide how best to use certain players, like Phil Jones for instance. It will take time for these player to form an understanding between each other.

Also take into account the crippling injuries United have had to deal with this season, currently nine senior players are sidelined, and the fact that they are only two points behind league leaders Manchester City, who effectively won the lottery the day that Sheik Mansour purchased the club, and things don't seem too bad do they? United are currently five points better off than they were at the same stage last season, which just goes to show how impressive City's start to the season has been.

City have been labelled the "Barcelona of English football" by many, following their best ever start to a league campaign, United are only two points behind them. Lets just say that if City had not won the lottery, and we take them out of the equation and assume that they would be lingering around mid-table, currently United would be five points clear of Chelsea in the Premier League title chase, hardly a crisis is it?

United cannot compete with City financially and probably never will be in a position to flex their muscle like City can, but for United to be only two points behind City leading into the busy Christmas period, suggests to me that there is no crisis at Old Trafford.

Traditionally, history suggests United find another gear in the second half of the season, and despite the injuries that threaten to hinder their title chances, you would not bet against them making it a twentieth league title this season. The Premier League, in terms of a race is a marathon, not a sprint. City have set the pace so far, it's up to United to maintain the pace and try and overtake its Mancunian rival.

It's Thursday Night Football For United

As Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League at the first hurdle against Basle, most notably the happiest people excluding the anti-United football fans, would have been the TV executives of Channel 5 and ITV4, who would have thrown clenched fists into the air in celebration of securing their new blockbuster programme called the Europa League, to be aired on Thursday evenings in February 2012.

On paper, United's group was set up for last years finalists to advance to the knockout stage. It spectacularly backfired against Basle as the English champions trudged off the field of play at full time following a 2-1 defeat, heads transfixed to the turf, as it started to sink in that Manchester United, will now be entering unfamiliar territory in February next year, when they will compete in the dreaded Europa League, a Competition that the majority of Europe's elite clubs would rather not be associated with or involved in.

United only have themselves to blame for this seasons early Champions League exit, but it was the manner of the defeat against Basle that was alarming. Supporters also seem certain to be heading for a direct head on collision with Man Utd owners the Glazer's over ticket prices for the Europa League games. Rumours are surfacing that they intend to keep ticket prices the same for the Europa League as they would have been for the Champions League.

The Glazers could also even infuriate supporters further more, by increasing ticket prices to try and make up for the unexpected financial losses in lost Champions League revenue, believed to be in the region of £20million for failing to qualify for the knockout stage. If his is true then United supporters who are against the Glazer ownership will simply use these matches as demonstrations against the Americans by not buying tickets for the Europa League games.

So United will now be playing in a European competition early next year that will not involve the Uefa Champions League anthem being blared out on the Old Trafford PA system. The last time United failed to make the knockout stage was 2005, but a least that year, they were that bad they did not qualify to drop in to the Europa League basement.

It makes you wonder if Sir Alex would have preferred to finish bottom of the Champions League group this year and avoid the dreaded Europa League? One thing is for sure, Television executives will welcome Manchester United's early exit with open arms, as United will guarantee extraordinary TV ratings that they will never have experienced before. TV insiders say that a similar previous Europa show involving Liverpool was "ok" for viewing figures, but they expect the Man Utd viewing figures to be in a different league all together to their Liverpudlian rivals.

Supporter's United Over Ticket Price's



Empty Seats Were Clearly Visible

Manchester United supporters sent out a clear statement to their American owners during the Carling Cup quarter final against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening at Old Trafford.

It is estimated that Utd were roughly 22,376 spectators short of a full house, their lowest attendance figure for a competitive match at the Theatre of dreams in just over six years.

The statement was clear and could be seen by the viewing public who tuned in to watch the reds cup clash in the form of the amount of empty upturned seats clearly visible to the human eye. Prior to the match Utd refused to lower the price of tickets, and it is believed that adult tickets were around £42.

It is absolutely scandalous and outrageous to charge such an amount for what was a Carling Cup game against championship opposition. Perhaps the happiest people that evening would have been the ones who would have been sat watching the match at home or in their local drinking establishment with the green and gold scarf around their neck, fully backing the "Anti-Glazer" agenda. The match can now be looked back on as a demonstration by supporters, venting their anger at the Glazer family for pricing fans out of going to watch the working mans game.

Utd must have known at the start of the week that they had 22,376 tickets to sell, so why did they not offer them to local schools or youth clubs? These local schools and youth club's are where the next generation of reds will come from and Utd need to realise that they need to attract younger supporters to come to Old Trafford.

Even if they offered them for free to children it still  surly would have made business sense. How many of them children would have visited the mega-store or made a food or beverage purchase inside the ground? This would have been money that would have gone into the Glazers back pocket, so it is their loss.

If tickets had become more affordable and realistic Old Trafford would have been full, but the worrying thing is as a Utd supporter is the Glazers do not actually seem interested or intent on acting upon the scene of them empty seats. They should take notice and could learn a few things from Manchester City, who's owners have impressed me on the commercial and ticketing side of the game.

Glazers Need To Review Ticket Pricing

The evening before United's quarter final cup game, Arsenal played Manchester City at the Emirates and all tickets including the away teams were set at a reasonable £10. So it was no surprise to see that the Emirates was almost packed to the rafters. £10 to go and watch two premier league teams play in a cup quarter final, why could Utd not have done something similar?

Do the Glazers not realise a global recession is now kicking in on the football side of things as supporters start to give up season tickets that they can no longer afford to keep, and also stop going to football grounds because it has become far too expensive for a family or the average working-class person to attend? If ticket prices for a cup competition that is fourth on the list of season priorities remain the same then expect more Old Trafford demonstrations, or empty seats as the majority of other supporters will view it as.

Manchester United are arguably the most famous and best supported football club side on the planet, Wednesday evening has taught the Glazers a lesson, they need to stop taking supporters for granted.


@KevinAshford7

A Tragic & Sad Loss For Football

On the 27th of November 2011, a statement from the Football Association of Wales read that their manager Gary Speed had died at the age 42. It was news that shocked the world of football as tributes from players, pundits, and supporters flooded in for a player turned manager who was a well respected figure within the game.

Speed had appeared publicly as a guest on BBC Ones Football Focus only hours before his death, and presenter Dan Walker described Speed being in "fine form". After filming Speed then joined former team-mate Alan Shearer to watch the Manchester United versus Newcastle United.

Speed, was found by his wife, Louise, in the garage of their home in the village of Huntington, near Chester, shortly after 7am on Sunday. Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious. The couple lived in Huntington with their two teenage sons, and Speed was said to have been a devoted family man.

Speed was a gentleman, a success and a popular terrace favourite at the teams he represented at club level. He started his career at Leeds United as a raw 19 year old back in 1988, he was the midfield engine of the team in 1992 that won the Football League First Division championship title. Speed was quick, strong and had a great vision for making passes, he was also versatile and this showed in his early years at Leeds as he was played in nine different outfield positions. He would finally end up playing his best and most effective football on the left side of midfield.

He was clearly a player who wore his heart on his sleeve and was passionate about the beautiful game. In theory he is the complete opposite to the majority of modern day footballers in today's game. By that i mean players who refuse to warm up or take to the field, hold clubs to ransom by demanding pay increases or a transfer, and stagger out of night-clubs at 5am in the morning with a WAG wannabe on each arm. I could not Imagine Speed ticking any of the above boxes, he was a respected role model, a professional and the type of player that youngsters should look up to.

Speed went on to play for Everton, Newcastle,Bolton and Sheffield United. It was at the age of 40 that Speed decided to hang up his boots and admitted that his playing days were over, Sheffield United were soon to offer him his first managerial job after they sacked Kevin Blackwell. Speed jumped at the chance and on the 14th of December 2010, after only just a month in charge at Sheffield he agreed to take the job as Wales manager, with the blessing of his club side.

They say it is only when somebody has gone that you look back and appreciate what they did, and personally I have to agree with that as i started to watch the news and hear the moving and touching tributes flooding in from supporters of the clubs he had represented, and even those he had no connection with. It seems that everybody has only kind words, and a strong respect towards Gary Speed. He was evidently a player who enjoyed his time in the game and always put in a shift on the football field.

We might not ever find out the reason for this sad and tragic death. One thing is for sure, Gary Speed will forever be remembered in the world of football for what he did in a football shirt, by the players who played with him, played against him, and by the supporters who watched him from the terraces. It is just a shame we will now never know if he could have taken Wales to a major tournament as a manager. It would be a fitting tribute to Gary Speed if the current crop of Welsh players could make the next World Cup finals in his memory.

Alan Would Have Been Shear Magic At United

Looking back over the years that have past, there are a number of transfer targets who realistically could have ended up playing their trade under the floodlights at the Theatre of Dreams. Names like Batistuta, Zidane, Ronaldinho & Robben were all linked with a move but one player springs to mind who was very close to making the switch -Ex Newcastle and England legend Alan Shearer.

In the summer of 1996 the nation was fully behind an England team who was playing in their home county in a major tournament in the form of the European championship or "Euro96" as it will be remembered.

Leading that team that come so close to winning the tournament was Alan Shearer who at the time was playing his club football for Blackburn Rovers. In the 94/95 season he was responsible, almost single handedly for bringing the Premier League crown to Ewood Park scoring 34 goals. No disrespect to Blackburn but this is something that I can't see happening again which starts to explain just how good a player Shearer was. 

That summer of 1996 represented United's last realistic chance of acquiring the services of a player who previously turned them down in 1992 in favour of a £3.3million switch from Southampton to Blackburn, Shearer, at the time said United were taking too long to get the money together for the transfer, obviously nothing to do with the money that Chairman Jack Walker was offering him then?

It was the summer of 1996 and during that tournament the media exploded into a Shearer frenzy predicting that he would finally end up at Manchester United for a fee in the region of £15million, which seems like small change in today's game when you take into account that clubs have billionaire owners who throw money at clubs like confetti. Figures in the media started to drool over the thought of Shearer playing in a team that looked set to dominate the domestic league for years to come.

One thing is for sure that the interest from United that summer is evident and was serious. Shearer himself has gone on record to back it up saying that he spoke with Sir Alex Ferguson about making the move. It is was even reported that when Sir Alex spoke with Shearer and he asked him if he had any questions regarding life in Manchester or to do with the club Shearer responded with two questions, "can I have the number nine shirt?" he said, and his last question was "can I take the penalties?". If this is true then Sir Alex must have been confident that he could pencil Shearer in along side Eric Cantona for the 96/97 football season.

It is also Well documented that the Blackburn owner at the time Jack Walker said "over my dead body" when asked about the chances of Shearer ending up at Old Trafford. Walker then offered Shearer to Newcastle for £15million but said that Manchester United would have to pay £20million?

It was after the Euro96 tournament that Shearer informed us all of his decision and that he had chosen to join the club he supported as a child - Newcastle United. Manager at the time Kevin Keegan had won the race to sign the hottest property arguably in world football at the time and even claimed he signed Shearer for "the good of English football" as he pointed out the reds would have been unstoppable had Shearer opted for a switch to Old Trafford.

Was this another slap in the face for Sir Alex? Shearer had chosen to turn United down for a second time in his career, not many players are offered an opportunity to play for United but this time it was certain to be his last chance considering his age and the length of contract that Newcastle offered him. 

It is debatable if United would have been anymore successful than what they were from 1996 onwards. Shearer's first season in the black and white of Newcastle United ended with no silverware and it was the United of Manchester who were crowned champions. Shearer would soon become acclaimed to not winning silverware following his move as Newcastle threatened but failed to land any domestic trophies following his world record transfer fee. It is something Sir Alex must look at with a hint of smugness on his face, you can imagine him thinking "I told you Old Trafford was the club for you to fulfil your ambition of winning trophies".

At the time Shearer would have partnered Cantona in attack, he would have had Scholes,Keane,Beckham and Giggs behind him, it's a frightening thought as to what could have been and something United fans can only continue Speculating and debating about. What I will say is that I feel United would have had more success in Europe with Shearer in the team. 

One thing is worth bearing in mind, you could also say that if Shearer had signed then United would not have signed Ole Gunnar Solskjær that summer and that magnificent moment in the Nou Camp in 1999 would not have been written into the history books.

We would not have that spine tingling moment to relive when the commentator famously said "Beckham, into Sheringham, and Solskjær has won it" ! Quite possibly the only person deep down who regrets the move is Shearer himself, but would he ever actually admit that he was wrong to turn down Manchester United?

When asked by their grandchildren "what medals did you win?" Shearer will not take long rooting out his championship winning medal he won with Blackburn and explaining his answer. Where as on the other hand Solskjær will reply "how long have you got?" as he proceeds to open his treasure chest and explain the embarrassment of medals he won in a successful and illustrious career with the reds that earned him a legendary status.

Clown Blatter Should Leave The FIFA Circus

I was absolutely astonished and equally appalled at the comments made by the most powerful figure in football FIFA president Sepp Blatter on the subject of racism in the game, taking into consideration the recent serious racial accusations being made against Chelsea's John Terry and Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

The sensational comments were made by Blatter when he responded to a question asked by a CNN news presenter on the subject of racism in football by saying:


"I would deny it, There is no racism, there is maybe one of the players towards another, he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one, but also the one who is affected by that, he should say that this is a game". He continued to say "We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands, and this can happen. On the field of play sometimes you say something that is not very correct, but then at the end of the game you have the next game where you can behave better". He finished the interview by claiming that "During a match you may say something to somebody who is not exactly looking like you, But at the end... it's forgotten".

His comments have shaken the world of football all the way down to the foundations that the game is built upon. It's also a huge slap in the face for the football associations who put so much work into the "kick racism out of football" campaign. Personally when I first heard about the comments I thought that Blatter had been misquoted, how wrong was I when to my utter disbelief I watched the actual interview.

The best thing clown Blatter can do now is accept that his spell in charge of the FIFA circus is over after his controversial comments. The public outcry and backlash  is for him to hand in his resignation immediately but the worrying thing is that Blatter does not seem to think that he has spoken out of turn and that racial issues in football can simply be sorted by shaking hands at the end of the game? So Mr Blatter, when I go into work tomorrow in your opinion it is quite alright for me to racially abuse any of my work colleagues as long as I offer them my hand at the end of my working shift?

Blatter is no stranger to controversy and in the past has made comments that would see the average man suspended from work pending an enquiry. In 2004, the FIFA president said women players should "wear tighter shorts and low cut shirts... to create a more female aesthetic". His comments obviously won him no female support across the globe as he was labeled sexist.

When Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup recently he was asked about the illegality of homosexuality and responded saying "I would say they (gay fans) should refrain from any sexual activities". 

Blatter also sensationally claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo was treated like a "slave" by Manchester United when the player wanted a move to Real Madrid, he said "I think in football there’s too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere".

Blatter stepping down from his powerful and lucrative position at FIFA seems the best option for him at the moment but don't expect for a single second that this will become a reality. It will be a big climb down for Blatter and will also show that he is admitting that his comments were wrong, following the interview he has since said that he has been "misunderstood". Maybe Blatter has accepted defeat in his world fight against racism in football and his ideal scenario to deal with any racial allegations is to shake hands on the matter?

Dimitar Is Guilty Of Being A Berbaflop

The rumour mill has started as we approach January and the latest player being linked with a move away from Manchester United is Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov who has attracted interest from clubs in France and Turkey.

The sulky Bulgarian moved to Manchester United on the 1st of September 2008, a transfer that cost the reds £30.75 million. At the time he joined United already had Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez in the strikers department and many wondered why we actually needed a player of Berbatov's stature at the club. Ex players and pundits even made comparisons between the Bulgarian and United legend Eric Cantona. 

Berbatov should have taken United to a new level like Juan Sebastian Veron should have. Both players were signed for massive amounts of money and in my opinion have failed at a club they should have excelled at on the big stage.

I think supporters were a bit harsh in judging Berbatov against the performances of Rooney and Tevez who have completely different styles of play. Rooney and Tevez are similar, they can play upfront on their own and have a tenacious work ethic chasing down defenders and lost causes for ninety minutes. Berbatov is the complete opposite and I think it was unfair that in his first season in 2008 supporters were expecting Berbatov to change his style of play to be more like Rooney and Tevez.

The reality is that Berbatov has always come across as a sulky figure on the pitch who can produce moments of breathtaking skill in a split second if he feels like he can be bothered, and it is a bit unfair as Berbatov has always played the same way and supporters would have known this from his days at Tottenham before his move to Old Trafford.

Berbatov has been a bit like the luxury food item on your weekly shopping list. You are not sure if you actually need the item, but you buy it anyway. You are happy you made the purchase but looking back you think "did I actually need that"? Could you have survived without it? It basically flatters to deceive.

In Berbatov's defence he had his most productive season last year when United  claimed a record 19th league title ending up as both his club's and the league's most prolific scorer. The jury would probably argue that the goals he scored we're against the so called "bottom half" teams and that he never posed much of a threat in the big games against better opposition. Berbatov will be best remembered for his stunning hat trick against Liverpool last season in the premier league fixture at Old Trafford, you could also  argue that it was against a team who did not finish in the top and have lost their way.

If you could bottle up Berbatov you would definitely stick a marmite sticker on the front of it because supporters either love him or hate him. Berbatov can be simply breathtaking, unstoppable and play football from a different planet on his rare day, but can be equally as frustrating and disappointing, his body language also gives off the wrong impression and he has never really had a connection with the supporters who have been reluctant to sing his name.

We will not know know until January where Berbatov's future actually lies but I suspect that it will not be at the theatre of dreams. It leaves me asking the question, if the curtain does come down on his disappointing and lacklustre career with United ......... Will we remember him as Berbatov or Berbaflop ?

On the evidence that I have witnessed and taking into consideration the money United paid Tottenham for his services! and the countless number of big matches he went missing in I would have to say that i find Mr Berbatov guilty of being a flop and not displaying his natural talents on a consistent basis. Supporters will all obviously remember him for his beautiful elegant hat trick against Liverpool, but we should have had so many more great memories of his time at United especially when people claimed that he could be as important a player as Cantona was.

Parker Could Have Been Utd's New Keano

Manchester United  have been linked with many big name star's in my lifetime but one player I am surprised Sir Alex never showed a strong serious interest in is Tottenham's Scott Parker before he made his switch to White Hart lane in August this year. This is a player who was voted the football writer's player of the year award last season for his outstanding performances playing for West Ham who were relegated from the premier league.

I see so much of the same attributes in Scott Parker as i did when watching Man Utd legend Roy Keane. Both players play (or played in Keane's case) with their heart on their sleeve, always give 100% effort, are natural leaders on the field of play, and have a tenacious tough tackling style of play. Utd have never replaced Keane after he left the club under controversial circumstances in 2005 with a player that ticks all the boxes like Scott Parker does. 

Although at the time I subscribed to the fact that Utd did not need to replace Keane with a tough tackling central midfielder as the game has evolved and teams tend to use creative midfielders in the modern game, it does make me wonder just what Scott Parker could have done for Man Utd in a central role doing a job that Roy Keane did so successfully? And at £5.5 million it was hardly a financial risk to purchase a player who has proven premiership quality was it? The money that Tottenham paid West Ham to secure the services of Parker was a bargain In today's crazy transfer market.

If you look at Utd's current crop of central midfielders think to yourself who would Parker get in front of if Sir Alex had of brought him to Old Trafford?

Would you pick Parker ahead of £20.4million misfit Anderson?
Would you pick him ahead of Carrick?
Would you pick him ahead of Gibson?
Would you choose him ahead of Park?
Would you choose him ahead of Fletcher?
I am guessing that the running trend of the answers to them questions is "Yes"? With the exception of Cleverely, I would choose Parker over any other Central midfielder at Utd on current form.

Parker cold have filled a void left by the departed Roy Keane, he could have been the closest thing to replacing the Cork born Irish legend, but now I guess I can only speculate about what could have happened if Sir Alex had have showed an interest in Parker who I am sure would have been a sensation given the chance to pull on the red shirt at Old Trafford.

Is Anderson Better Than Kleberson?

Anderson, is he better than Kleberson? Is he really our midfield magician? Is he class with the brass? And does anybody actually believe that he "shits on Fabregas"?

I have observed Anderson now for the four years he has been at Old Trafford and have been genuinely disappointed by a player that joined United with so many glowing references and potential, he was dubbed the "new Ronaldinho".

All the top European clubs were supposedly interested in him in 2007 when United swooped to secure his services for a whooping transfer fee of £20.4million from Portuguese outfit Porto.

One word sums up Anderson in my opinion, disappointing. So much hype was made of Anderson that in his first season at United he unexpectedly was thrust into the first team due to first team injuries and excelled. Supporters were delighted at the way he fitted into the team and held his own against opposition players like Fabregas, Gerrard & Lampard. It seemed money well spent at the time and Anderson soon became a fans favourite.

Following that impressive first season Anderson has sadly failed to live up to the hype and has failed to nail down a first team place in the three years that followed his first season. So is Anderson actually better than Kleberson? Both players are Brazilian and have represented United. Kleberson's two season's at United were disrupted by injury and he only made 30 appearances for the reds scoring 2 goals. Anderson has played 140 games scoring 7 goals.

The thing with Anderson is that fans keep reiterating the point that "Anderson will come good he is only young" or that at the start of every season "this will be Anderson's season". I am not usually disillusioned with players who play for the club I support but Anderson is certainty an exception as he continues to frustrate and disappoint me. I would actually go as far as to say I don't know who I would choose if I was asked the question "who was the better player for Man Utd, Kleberson or Anderson"? And that in itself Sums up Anderson's career at the theatre of dreams.

Is he our midfield magician?
The definition of the word "magician" is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means. These feats are called magic tricks, effects, or illusions. Can any United fan actually say that Anderson has staged any seemingly impossible tricks or illusions in his time playing for United? I somehow doubt it.

Is he class with the brass?
He can certainty afford it considering the wages he has picked up during his career at United, but it remains uncertain if he is "class" !!

Does he "shit on Fabregas"?
In one word ........ No! Fabregas was a sensation in the premier league and has took his impressive consistent form with him to Spain playing for Barcelona, something that Anderson has failed miserably in ever doing, performing to a high standard consistently. Fabregas has also always had goals in him, something that Anderson has and never really looks like he will ever add to his game as he posses no threat in front of goal. Fabregas also has an impressive assist to games ratio and is a play maker, could you say the same about Anderson?

I have honestly never seen a player given such a run of game at United who fails to impress. I suspect if United had paid £1million for him that he would have been shown the door a long time ago. Also people say he is still only young and will come good, but I ask you this, how long can Anderson keep under performing at one of the biggest, if not the biggest club in the world before the manager accepts he is just not up to the task and decides to offload him like he did with another expensive flop Juan Sebastian Veron?

Anderson could just be slightly better than Kleberson, he is definitely not out midfield magician, it remains unconfirmed that he is class with the brass, and their is not a chance that he shits on Fabregas!

"Show Sir Alex The Exit Door Now"

And before the onslaught of abuse gathers momentum and is aimed in my direction please let me explain that the headline of this article is actually a quote by a so called Manchester United supporter in response to the 6-1 defeat in the Manchester derby on Sunday at Old Trafford.

I was absolutely astonished and ashamed by people claiming to be Utd fans taking to social networking site twitter to vent their anger towards the man responsible for the majority of Utd's past and present achievements and success. Who do these people think they are? I suspect they have a limited knowledge of football and Manchester United's history because Sir Alex has earned the right to manage Utd until he decides the time is right for him to call it a day. The day will come when Sir Alex will know its time to leave and he will have the best interests of the club at heart when he does make that decision.

I wrote an article about the Manchester derby result for the united website www.weallfollowunited.com in which I tried to be as honest as I possibly could about the result being a Man Utd supporter, and to my amazement I found this response in reference to what I had said by somebody called John Tring:


"Haha, what a disgrace. As Utd fans globally we seem to feel more humiliation than those who caused this trauma. SAF seems to blame eveyone except himself. I thought the buck must stop with him. He bought players at wrong positions ( Young as a winger but we need a CM ), his tactics and selections are just crazy. And finally he seriously thinks Evans, Fletcher, Park, Carrick, Ferdinand et el are Utd-class players. These all point to one thing: the exit door at Utd. Yes, the truth sometimes will hurt but SAF's time's up. He should go. Now and Here".

 I was staggered that somebody would have such a delusional knee jerk reaction to a result. Yes, it was an embarrassing and humiliating result against our Manchester rivals, but to suggest that the most successful manager in English football should "call it a day" just goes to show how fickle football fans can be. I  responded to his comment on the website saying:


"Your comment does not suprise me in the slightest. It sounds to me that this message has been left by a person who has no understanding of Manchester United and what Sir Alex has done for the club.

For you to suggest that he (Sir Alex) should be shown the exit door shows your stupidly and ignorance. The team he picked against Man City was good enough to get something out of that game but the players he selected let him down by not performing.

It's "fans" like you that give Utd a bad name. I bet leading into Sunday's game you were delighted with our best start to a premier league season? Just goes to show how fickle some fans can be".


My response to the comment was backed up by Utd supporter Vincent Jones who also responded saying:

"Kev, I totally agree

John, I can't believe you actually reckon Sir Alex should go. That's the biggest load of rubbish I have heard from a fellow red in some time. Yes, we were well beaten on Sunday, but to call for SAF's head is madness. He is the greatest manager in the history of English club football. He has done so much for Manchester United. City were better on the day, but the league isn't over yet. Let's see where we are in May. Remember these words: "Keep the red flag flying high, because Man United will never die." We will bounce back."

It's these so called "fans" that sit in armchairs or their local pub watching games who seem to have the most outrageous and strongly opinionated theories on football and the team they supposedly follow, when in reality they do not have a clue. They contribute nothing to football and the teams they claim to follow, people who show ignorance and disrespect towards a legendary figure like Sir Alex Ferguson make me sick.

City's Old Trafford Masterclass Silences The Champions.

Sunday the 23rd of October 2011 has secured its place in the history books as Manchester City left Old Trafford with three points after a historic 6-1 derby victory over arch rivals Manchester United which left the red half shocked and humiliated.

It's a result that has sent shock waves through world football as City sent out real statement of intent at the home of the premier league champions. This was billed as Citys first real test of the season and they passed it with flying colours.

Prior to this game Utd had gone 18 months without defeat at the theatre of dreams which just goes to show how much of a huge and impressive result this was for City. Its a result that has seen City installed as the bookies favourite to win the premier league title in May next year.

City were devastatingly ruthless in front of goal and controlled large parts of the game with clever intelligent possession. But it will be the manner of the defeat that will have upset and angered the majority of the red half of Manchester. Utd were lacklustre, sloppy in possession and outplayed in the centre of the park where Fletcher and the constant disappointment that is Anderson were played off the park and left chasing shadows at times.

Prior to kick off I was informed of the team selections and was instantly surprised to see Welbeck in ahead of Hernandez. I also then tried to compare the two midfield line up's and could identify that this was where the game was going to be won and that City looked stronger in that department. It's worrying  to think how strong a squad that City have constructed because the two midfielders on City's bench, De Jong & Nasri would have walked straight into Man Utd's first team in that fixture. Utd are crying out for creativity in the centre of the field, something that City have an embarrassment of.

Utd controlled the first 20 minutes of the game without really testing Joe Hart, but like any good team City went ahead totally against the run of play through the impressive Italian Mario Balotelli. The blues went in at half time a goal to the good and had ended the half showing signs of a improved performance and tempo to their game.

It's the second half where the game was spectacularly turned on its head as Evans was shown a straight red card for pulling back Balotelli who was through on goal. Some Utd fans suggested the Italian had dived but TV replays clearly show Evans was correctly given his marching orders. This was always going to be a tough game for Utd and the fact they found themselves a goal down and a man down made it a difficult game to try and get something out of as City made the extra man advantage work to devastating effect.

With 60 minutes on the clock Balotelli made it 2-0 with a simple tap in as Utd started to lose the midfield battle and it was 9 minutes later that City found themselves 3-0 up. With 9 minutes left Fletcher claimed a consolation goal but with 90 minutes up City inflicted more pain on their rivals by scoring three goals in quick succession to claim a 6-1 victory in a game that will forever be remembered by the blue half, and will want to be forgotten quickly by the red half.

It's the manner in which Utd concealed them late goals which will have annoyed and angered Utd fans and the manager. Sir Alex did not deserve for his players to let him down on such an occasion like a Manchester derby.With the result at 3-1 Utd were still trying to push forward for a goal that would have give them hope, I suppose it's the Utd way but when you are in that position a man down and the 90 minutes are up you simply have to accept that you will not get anything out of the game. The reality of it is that City had this contest won when Balotelli scored to make it 2-0, if this was a boxing fight the ref would have stopped it when Aguero made it 3-0. This fixture could have ended with City hitting double figures as they were a constant threat in the second half, Manchini's game plan worked perfectly.

A backlash against Fergie's team selection has been evident on social networking sites and on today talksport radio phone in.  Who do these people think they are ringing into a talk show to vent their anger at a manager who has built and installed success for the last 25 years of his life at Old Trafford? Nobody should question Sir Alex, he choose that team and the players who played let him down.

This victory for City claimed them three points and the bragging rights of the city until the next chapter in this titanic fixture. With that in mind City I am sure will not get carried away with this result as no trophy has been won on the strength of this result and you would be mad to rule out Manchester United coming back from this stronger. This could be the wake up call the reds need, Utd will be like a wounded animal at the moment, an animal attacked in its own back yard. They need to quickly pick themselves up as they look ahead to a tricky looking fixture against Everton at Goodison park on Saturday.

For every action there is a reaction and I fully expect Utd will respond positively to this humiliating defeat. City for the time being sit at the summit of English footballs premier league division five points clear of Man Utd and currently have the momentum and confidence to achieve great things this season.

The Most Eagerly-Awaited Derby Fixture Ever

This Sunday the theatre of dreams will stage the most eagerly awaited Manchester derby fixture the city has ever witnessed. Local bragging rights are up for grabs, and a place at the summit of English footballs premier league for that team that is victorious. 

The mind games have already started and Sir Alex Ferguson this week implied that Utd had already played the so called "top four" teams which ruled City out as a major threat, obviously a tongue in cheek comment!

I regard this as the most eagerly awaited derby fixture because this is the first time in my lifetime I have witnessed City two points clear of Utd going into a derby fixture. Labelled as "noisy neighbours" by Sir Alex, City are now living up to that tag because of the football they are playing and the position they occupy.

Both Utd & City have started the league in sincelating fashion scoring goals for fun and both teams remain unbeaten, I definitely see one teams unbeaten tag leaving them this weekend as I would bet against it being a draw with the embarrassment of world class players on show.

The teams have already played once this Year in the seasons curtain opener in the community shield, Utd two nil down at half time staged an incredible comeback to win the game 3-2 but like many Utd supporters you would have to say that you cannot read to much into that result as following that game City have hit the floor running in the premier league, but Sunday represents their first real test against the champions.

I wrote an article before the season started claiming that City would be our main threat to a 20th league title and that tree looks like it will bear fruit come the end of the season. Excitement is building in Manchester ahead of the game, let's just hope we get the game that we have all come to expect and are predicting.

A win for Utd would put them top and a point ahead of City, a win for City would put them top and five points ahead of their Mancunian rivals, it's all to play for and should be an electrifying passionate atmosphere at Old Trafford.



Form guide:                                
Man Utd: WWWDWD
Man City: WWDWWW

Opta stats: There have been five 90th minute or later goals scored in the last eight matches in all competitions between City and United, three of them to win the match for United.

Possible starting XIs
Manchester United: De Gea, Smalling, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Giggs, Fletcher, Young, Rooney, Hernandez.

Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Lescott, Kompany, Clichy, Y Toure, De Jong, Silva, Nasri, Balotelli, Aguero.

The Mancunian Bird Sit's Proudly On It's Perch

Saturday see's Liverpool take on Manchester United at Anfield in a match that has a bitter intense rivalry stretching back years, but I think that this is now a bigger game for Liverpool supporters than it is for Man Utd's followers.

As it stands the Liverpool liver bird lie's on it's back at the bottom of the bird cage amongst the paper cuttings looking enviously up towards the mancunian bird who sits proudly with it's chest stuck out after knocking it's Liverpudlian rival off it's perch.

I am basing my theory that it is a bigger game for Liverpool on the fact that like many supporters for the first time I have one eye on next weeks fixture against our Manchester rivals City. I have always considered Liverpool to be the stand out fixture due to both teams consistent domestic and European triumphs but I see the game next Sunday at Old Trafford as a bigger attraction than a trip to Anfield to play a team who will struggle to achieve a champions league place this season.

Its a clear sign that the times are changing and that Liverpool no longer offer a genuine threat to Man Utd's domestic dominance in the English league. Looking long term it will be Man City who will be the main threat, something I am sure many Liverpool fans will disagree with me on but they need to face up to the reality that they are no longer a "top four" club.

Utd will walk into Anfield tomorrow with nothing to fear knowing that they have overtaken Liverpool's eighteen titles, something Liverpool supporters find hard to accept but the kop will be in full voice reminding Utd that they have won five European cups.

The last few seasons at Anfield Utd have not turned up in this fixture. I accept that Liverpool were better, hungrier and wanted the result more, but it shows that this fixture in a sense is their cup final and means everything to them.

The hatred and bad blood between the two teams will be clearly evident in this gladiator like battle at Anfield. Utd unlike Liverpool have a bigger rival to look forward to playing next weekend, the Manchester derby can now become a proper city rivalry.

Rooney Deserved His Three Match Ban

The FA and a personal letter by Wayne Rooney have both failed to overturn his three match ban for kicking Miodrag Dzudovic during England's 2-2 draw in Podgorcia against Montenegro last Friday evening.

A three match ban will rule him out of all of England's group games in Poland and the Ukraine for next summers Euro 2012 tournament.

I am absolutely astonished that people are aggrieved and disappointed that a three match ban has been enforced for what I seen as a lack of temperament and basically an assault on an opposition player.

UEFA have punished him for what they class as "violent conduct". I know that people will  view the world "assault" as a harsh word to sum up Rooney's actions but if i was to do the same to somebody on the street or in my local pub I would have to deal with the consequences of my loss of temper.

Let's face it, Rooney has previous when it comes to a sudden loss of temper, but I would also agree that it is a while since I have seen the devil on his shoulder over power the angel on his other and convince him to perform an act of stupidity. Rooney has not been sent off for England in any European competition for six years previous to Friday evenings buckaroo kick.

Rooney has rightly been given the correct punishment for his actions and I am saying this as a Man Utd supporter before the anti Rooney slurs commence.

I have tried to listen to the people defending him but I have no sympathy for him. The fact the FA stood by him tickles me! Their defence for Rooney included a piece that he left the field of play and showed no dissent towards the referee or officials and left the field of play without any argument. Do me a favour !!

Rooney walked off the pitch offering no argument because he knew deep down he had nothing to argue about. The time he had to himself as he did the walk of shame would have given him time to sum up in his head his regrets over a moment of madness and he obviously knew he was going to miss the group stages of Euro 2012, that's the real reason he left the field of play offering no argument or outburst.

I tweeted ex footballer Jan Aage Fjortoft on Twitter saying:

"Rooney deserves his ban for a moment of madness",

To which he replied:

" Ban he deserves"

This is the opinion of an ex footballer now turned pundit.

Opinions are split on UEFA's decision to ban Rooney for three games, but I think the people that are arguing the Rooney corner were making a desperate plea to try and reduce the ban so that England's star player was available to give this nation it's best chance of winning a major tournament. The fact the FA fought Rooney's defence says it all, the same association that banned the same player last season for swearing which earned him a two game ban.

When you sum it up Rooney was given a two game ban by the FA for swearing on live TV (something that he apologised for immediately after the game), the same player was then given a three match ban for a straight red card for assaulting an opposition player (something he has not publically apologised for or offered an explanation for) and was backed and defended by the FA for his stupidity.

Rooney has got off lightly in my opinion. He will still be on the plane to the Euro 2012 championships regardless of his actions.

FA Defending Rooney Is Comical !

I was not the slightest bit surprised to hear that the FA will be appealing the three match ban that Wayne Rooney quite rightly deserved for his red card last Friday evening playing for England.

Rooney is by far the most important player that England and the FA have, England pin their hopes on him in all qualifying and tournament games, the FA need him because he is the most famous English man in the squad and commercially is worth a fortune through sponsorship to them.

After his straight red card on Friday for kicking an opposition player in sheer frustration the FA have decided to stand by Rooney and try to get his suspension overturned to a one match ban so he is available for all England's Euro 2012 games. This is the same FA that last season handed the same player (Rooney) a two match ban for swearing when celebrating a goal?

It is a total embarrassment by the FA and shows just how desperate they are for Rooney to represent them. If Rooney knew exactly how important and in high esteem he is held at the FA he probably could have had his two game ban for swearing overturned if he had stood up to the FA and told them he would never play again for England if they banned him, why not? Alan Shearer is reported to have done this when he was an England player after elbowing a player when playing for Newcastle.

I have recently heard stories about the FA and you take some comments with a pinch of salt but today's statement and decision to stand by a player that was rightly given a red card for a reckless lack of temperament challenge shows to me just how much of a joke the FA really are, it's almost cringe worthy to an extent because they know the value of Rooney's image rights to sponsors in a big tournament.

One person who will certainly will have not been the slightest bit surprised about the jesters at the FA standing by and defending Rooney will be Sir Alex Ferguson, a man that has had constant battles with an association who are only bothered about themselves and not the English domestic league. The same association that the late Sir Matt Busby had problems with.

It will be of real interest being a Man Utd supporter myself to see how the FA deal with any future incident's involving Rooney. If he scores the winner at the kop end of Anfield against Liverpool in injury time next Saturday and Swear's as he celebrates in pure ecstasy and delight, will the FA give him another two game ban?

Let's just wait and see, it will not be too long before Man Utd and the FA go head to head on a collision course again, what will be interesting will be how the FA decide to punish the incident especially if it involves a certain Mr Rooney.

Let's Scrap International Footbore !

I was interested to hear a lot of negative comments people have made about international football recently and it got me thinking, should we scrap it all together for the good of the domestic game?

Now I know that there would be some FA executive spitting out the froth of his cappuccino if he was to read that statement, but like many people I have been totally disillusioned with international tournaments and friendlies for the last ten years or so. World cups and European championships just do not live up to the hype and even the so called world class players constantly fail to perform at what is regarded as the highest level of football.

I supported England from being a child and enjoyed tournaments like Euro 96 and France 98, but at the start of the year 2000 I totally lost interest mainly because of the fickle fans that follow them. David Beckham was made the scapegoat for England's failed world cup campaign in 98 and was playing for Manchester United at the time, the team that I support. I was shocked and appalled at the abuse that was aimed at him, and just after that fans at England matches at the old Wembley started to jeer and sing degrading and disrespectful chants towards the England players who played club football for Manchester United, and that is when I called it a day supporting England. I would choose club over country every time I was asked the question.

I think the England team is supported by people who support championship teams or to be polite, the teams in the premier league who make up the numbers but will never achieve silverware. Watching England gives a chance for fans of unsuccessful and small clubs the chance to support and cheer players like Rooney and Gerrard. The majority of people I have spoken to support their club team and that's it, so is this just a problem in England or does it happen in every country? I suspect it is only England that has this problem, we are so obsessed with our club teams that we find it hard to support rival team players. Being a Man Utd supported I found it hard to try and get excited about a Steven Gerrard goal but that could just be me being stubborn and ignorant. My passion for club football and Man Utd has meant that I no longer care about my international team, some people will obviously not agree with the choice that I made.

The "club vs country" row is something that also proves how devalued international football has become. I suspect that the majority of clubs quite rightly would prefer for their players to rest for a weekend rather than play an international game and risk injury,these clubs pay the players wages. International footballers are now also paid to play when representing their country, when I was growing up playing for your country was considered the ultimate accolade but I wonder how many players now are 100% patriotic and honoured to pull on their countries colours ?

I personally think international football disrupts our domestic season, am I being selfish saying that? Or am I saying what the majority of people have been thinking for a while now? Let's face it, the last two world cups have been abysmal. Players playing on the world stage too frightened to perform because the fear of failure and the nations hopes and dreams on your shoulders, either way the media will be gathering like vulchers ready to crucify you as we love to have a scapegoat when it comes to making up excuses for England's failures.

Recent autobiography's by ex England internationals Gary Neville and Paul Scholes have slammed the England set up and have even claimed that a divide between players is clearly evident. Claims have also been made that players are put under so much pressure that the fear of failure affects the way they usually play for England compared to club level. Give me champions league football any day of the week, it's a better standard of football and the world class players all perform in it. Scholes quit the international scene to concentrate on club football and I can see this trend continuing in the future in the England squad because players seem more committed to the club side they play for.

Internationals are an old tradition and I don't think for one minute that it would ever be considered to scrap it altogether, obviously FIFA and the FA would not want it to happen. Let's face it, the FA have Wembley to pay for and will attempt to fill that ground at any given chance to pay back the money they owe on it.

I definitely get the strong impression that the majority of Man Utd fans will agree with everything I have said regarding England, we even sing about the fact we have won a world title once more than them to get under the skin of opposing teams supporters! Like many Utd fans I actually get nervous when our players go away on international duty in fear that they will return with an injury that will affect the team I watch every weekend and support financially.

It's an interesting debate and the club vs country row will continue to make headlines as long as international football is around and our domestic and champions league competitions get better and more competitive, it does make me wonder if anybody would be bothered if International football was axed? I suspect opinions will be divided on this.

@kevinashford7

Vile Football Chants Must Stop

One thing has sprung to my mind recently that has to be eradicated from our football terraces, it's the abysmal and sickening chants that people use against race, religion, and the deceased.

One name springs to mind recently who has felt the cruel harsh wrath of the terraces and that is Tottenham's on loan striker Emmanuel Adebayor. Now I am not Adebayor's biggest fan, but it's hard not to feel sorry for him when you hear the supporters that once sang his name singing that they wished he had died, in reference to when the Togo national team's bus came under a gunfire attack on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

In my opinion wishing somebody dead is wildly overstepping the mark massively. It also seems that from a supporters point of view it's perfectly fine to abuse a footballer for 90 minutes but when it comes to that same player giving a bit back, it's not acceptable and that player is guilty of inciting the crowd or even a riot.

In 2009 when playing for Manchester City against his old club Arsenal for the first time, Adebayor came in for 90 minutes of dogs abuse from his old supporters. They chanted songs about his family and booed his every touch, however he had the last laugh scoring a goal and then galloping the length of the pitch before falling to his knees to celebrate in front of the travelling fans who had sang the vile chants about him and his family. Adebayor was booked for his "over the top" celebration but I remember thinking "fair play to him", he answered them back by letting his football do the talking even if the celebration was a bit extravagant to say the least !

Being a Manchester United supporter I have grown up with the sickening slang terminology of being labelled a "Munich" by many Manchester City fans I know and communicate with through social network sites. The term "Munich" being a reference to the Munich air disaster in 1958 in which 23 lives were cruelly taken away. But this does not stop Man City fans using the term "Munich" flippantly when referring to Man Utd fans. In fact I would go as far as to say that you will hear these chants at the majority of City's games. It's a total lack of respect chanting about the deceased and shows a certain small club mentality. Apart from the FA cup final win last season this is the only thing City fans have had to sing about over the last thirty plus years, they sing it because they  know it will spark a reaction from the opposition supporters.

My examples of vulgar chants have come in the form of racial and singing about the deceased, but another form is sectarian. This is big in Glasgow between the big two clubs Celtic and Rangers. This actually covers religion, something that has nothing to do with football. Celtic fans wave Republic of Ireland flags and sing songs that agree with the actions of the IRA (Irish republican army) who have killed many innocent people. Rangers fans wave union jack flags and sing songs that show their support for unionist groups that have also killed innocent people, all of which has absolutely nothing to do with football in anyway at all.

It's up to the clubs to make a firm stand over these chants that are plaguing our terraces, the same terraces that have children who are the next generation of football supporters that will represent our club in the future both home and away. We have CCTV so let's use it and punish the culprits, in most cases I understand it is a small minority of people. The FA and FIFA also need to step up efforts to abolish these chants.

I am not naive enough to think these chants will just suddenly come to an end, but it is a football clubs duty to try and do everything they can to prevent or even reduce this behaviour for the good of football. Chants can be hilarious when used in the correct manner, but can also be so shocking and disrespectful that you would have to clean your eras out to make sure you are actually hearing what you know is being said.

At the end of the day these chants are nothing to do with football, they are simply aimed at the players and opposition supporters to get under their skin and provoke an angry retaliation. I am sure I speak for most people when I say that we do not want these chants in our family orientated stadiums.


@kevinashford7

Is It Time For Video Replay's In Football?

In the light of this weekends controversial sending off in the Merseyside derby I am wondering is it now finally time we looked at bringing in video replays to make sure we get the big decisions correct in football once and for all ?

This is a debate that has gripped the football nation for many years with opinions split as to how we could introduce a system that would not slow the game down but would improve the game overall.

I can totally understand both sides of the argument but surly to introduce a system that will guarantee that the big decisions get a second look if necessary now needs serious consideration to eradicate referees spoiling games by making rash on the spot decision's. 

How could we do this without appealing every single incident and slowing down the flow to our game? One idea that I propose is that before each game, teams have three chances in the game to call for a video replay and the chance for the referee to get a second look at an incident that the team dispute. 

By limiting teams to three chances to challenge a decision each game,  should not affect the game but would give the team who disputes the decision a chance for the referee to have a look at a pitch side video replay which would take roughly thirty seconds for him to either stick to his original decision or change his mind and overrule his first opinion on the incident. This is roughly the same amount of time players spend arguing with officials when a big decission goes against them if not longer.

Limiting teams to be able to challenge three referee decisions a game would also mean that the teams would have to use the chances to appeal very wisely as once the three calls have been made you are not entitled to dispute anymore in the match.

These disputed calls could be for any incidents like penalties or sending offs, generally decisions that referees can hastily make but get horribly wrong, as proved over the weekend when Jack Rodwell was sent off for Everton against Liverpool incorrectly with the score level at 0-0, a game that Everton went on to lose by two goals to nil in the end. If Everton had the chance to dispute that sending off and the referee had a second chance to look at the incident again then I am sure Rodwell would have stayed on the pitch and who knows what the outcome of the game would have been eleven men against eleven?

This system would also apply to something that I am sure will be in football within the next few years, goal line technology. Our game has been crying out for this for years with so many "goals that should have been" missed by officials that have seen teams lose out on silverware. 

Most recently on the big stage Frank Lampard scored for England against Germany in the world cup finals, but the officials failed to see the ball had crossed the line in the biggest tournament in world football and the goal that should have been was never credited to England. As with the Rodwell incident, if England boss Fabio Capello could have used an opportunity to challenge the referee in that game to take a second look at a monitor I am 100% sure the goal would have been given, everybody watching could see it was a goal !

A similar decision could have been overturned when Thiery Henry used his hand to keep a ball in that resulted in a goal that ended the Republic of Ireland's hopes of reaching the world cup finals in 2010. 

This is a debate that will surly rumble on with so many people for and against it. Some people even claim that human error is good because it gives us all something to discuss and debate, but I know that I would prefer the correct decision to be given over debating a goal that should have been, or a sending off that should not have been.

FIFA seem scared stiff by the thought of introducing goal line technology, it's time they realised that the correct outcome to an incident can be made in a matter of seconds and I am sure referees would warm to the idea as it gives them a second chance to see what they see in the blink of an eye and are expected to act upon.


@kevinashford7