Fri, June 9th 2006
As more allegations on the Wayne Rooney metatarsal injury saga appear, it has become clear that the relationship between Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has deteriorated beyond repair. The fear for Rooney is, that so has his relationship with his club manager.
Thu, June 8th 2006
A powerless Manchester United were unable to stop Wayne Rooney rejoining the England camp in Germany last night as yesterday’s scan did not prove that the player was ‘definitely injured’.
Wed, June 7th 2006
The BBC is reporting that it appears that Rooney has been given the green light to rejoin the England World Cup squad.
The decision was made by a group including United doctor Tony Gill and physio Rob Swire, England team doctor Leif Sward and other specialists.
It is also thought that an independent consultant from Fifa was on hand should there have been any conflict between Rooney’s club and the FA - and it was reported that United lawyers were in attendance.
Rooney flew back to Germany earlier tonight.
Tue, March 28th 2006
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes football’s rules are loaded in favour of divers (BBC).
FIFA introduced rules to punish ‘professional’ fouls with a red card to introduce more exciting games (ie, more goals), but surely diving to gain penalties and to get opposition defenders sent-off is a worse offence.
Which is the more ‘professional’ foul - a defender who mistimes a last gasp tackle, or the attacker who dives to gain a goal scoring chance or to give his team a one-man advantage?
Mon, March 20th 2006
The G14 are a group of successful and rich European clubs that formed in September 2004 “to find a constructive way of reforming a system in which their voice was not heard and to establish for the clubs a meaningful executive role in the management of the international game.” (The G14 website)
Tue, February 28th 2006
Alex Ferguson has offered Trinidad & Tobago captain Dwight Yorke the opportunity to train with Manchester United prior to the World Cup.
Trinidad & Tobago will play England in the group stage on 15 June.
With Ferguson regularly playing two of England’s potential star players (Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney) out of position in midfield, could it be his deliberate intention to spoil England’s World Cup chances?
Mon, February 27th 2006
MANCHESTER UTD’s 4-nil win over Wigan in Sunday’s Carling Cup Final was Wigan manager Paul Jewell’s fourth 4-nil defeat by United.
Thu, February 23rd 2006
MANCHESTER UNITED and Liverpool have issued a joint statement condemning the fans who attacked the ambulance taking Alan Smith to hospital at the weekend.
“These people aren’t real fans of football,” United and Liverpool said in a joint statement. “Both clubs feel the mindless actions of a few idiots should not overshadow the efforts of all involved to make sure Alan received the best possible treatment as soon as possible.
From: icLiverpool
Reports in several newspapers on Thursday claimed the ambulance was surrounded by people who threw stones and bottles at it and even tried to rock it from side to side.
Related: Liverpool fans shame at Smith chants
Mon, February 20th 2006
It was a great shame to read reports of ‘Liverpool fans singing gleefully about Smith’s injury (Guardian)’ at Anfield yesterday.
Mon, January 9th 2006
While so many lower league teams raised their games and fans’ hopes, Manchester Utd once again treated the Cup with disdain.
Firstly, congratulations to all the teams who contributed to one the best 3rd rounds in recent history. From plucky efforts from the non league teams and a great giant killing by Leyton Orient, to some great perfomances from Championship teams against Premiership rivals, most notably Luton and Leicester.
While Burton rightly received enormous praise in the national media for their nil-nil draw with Manchester Utd, Alex Ferguson’s choice to field a team of nobodies (again, after Exeter last season) was a huge let down. Until Rooney and Ronaldo came on as subs in the second half, it was a team you’d have been disappointed to see in a pre-season friendly and while Burton will be delighted with money spinning replay it will be a shame for the Burton players not to have been able to compete against Utd’s international stars.
One has to wonder why Ferguson did it? Considering the are out of Europe and stand little chance in the Premiership, the FA Cup is their only chance for a major trophy. I cannot believe Ferguson is saving his players for the League Cup, so the depressing conclusion is that finish 2nd (or even 3rd or 4th) in the league is now more important than actually winning the FA Cup.
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