summerof69

We have no doubts. We all love Ben Arfa I know, but for someone who have seen a lot of ben arfa and sessegnon games in France, to read that they are practically the same players is quite shocking ... If Sunderland fans think that Sessegnon is better, good for them but if Ben arfa recovers well, you'll see the difference between an average player and a genius. Though your posts fill me with hope, i have heard the point about him being inconsisstent a few times before, which other than his recovery is my main worry for him. Any idea why this may be ?

No way. That's pitiful, even by Talksport's standards. Not to mention completely illogical. That's insane, literally. The man needs to be checked out. I find it hard to believe, that he believes a lot of the things he says, on talksport.

Unfortunately i think it will stay as it is, but hopefully Blackpool will some how escape.

We all have read and seen Mourinho whining after the games against Barcelona lately. He shouted conspiracy all over the place. He said "I would've been ashamed to win like you [barcelona] have!" Well hold your horses Mr. Mourinho, because you're not that much better yourself! Jacinto Paixão, one of the referees involved in an investigation that was opened in 2004 in Portugal after discovering a huge web of corruption in Portuguese football, reappeared last week to confess. Apparently, FC Porto used to "take care" of the referees, paying them, inviting them to travels and they were offered high quality prostitutes or any type of gift they wanted (what a bunch of knobheads ). Perhaps quite a few of you already have heard of this or remember the scandal in Portugal (seasons 2002-2003 and 2003-2004), which didn't really end up in any mayor disciplinary procedures. However this is the confession that Jacinto Paixão made in 2004 just in case anything would happen to himself or his family, which he hadn't released until last week (it is in Portuguese): Source (in Spanish): http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/resto-del-mundo/20110514/corrupcion-oporto-que-entrenaba-mourinho/1004994.shtml

That'd nark me big time as a genuine city fan like You have to take in to account that is the thing manchester city fans have been dead against for aslong as i can remember now, whtat with their nearest rivals being the epitomy of gloryhunters.

I actually think he is better at managing the squad than Hughton, and if he can prove in the summer that he can bring good players in then as far as i am concerned Pardew is a better manager. As seen on the other page he has a similar win percentage to Hughton and this is without Carroll and some injury problems.

At the minute, no. We have some real quality in our team, who also have a lot of premier league experience. If we bring in a couple of good stikers we should be aimin for top half, especially with Ben Arfa back adding creativity. Of coure if some of our quality players leave, SSS is a possibility.

I think he is trying to say that even after they sold bent they still have a achance to finish above us, obviousely not bringing in to it the fact that we sold Carroll.

Unbelievable.

Sir Matt Busby's family incensed over TV portrayal of iconic Manchester United manager The family of iconic Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby have criticised a new BBC film depicting the story of the 1958 Munich air disaster in which eight of the Busby Babes were killed. The feature-length drama, titled United, stars Dougray Scott as Sir Matt and former Doctor Who David Tennant as his assistant Jimmy Murphy, and is, according to Busby's family, riddled with inaccuracies. The 90-minute film, which will be shown on BBC Two on Sunday, centres around Manchester United first-team coach Murphy and how he rebuilt the team while Sir Matt recuperated from his injuries, and also how 20-year-old Bobby Charlton coped with his grief following the accident. But the dramatisation has angered Sir Matt's relatives, from the clothes he wears to the way his character is portrayed. "The film-makers have put my dad in an overcoat and a trilby hat," Sir Matt's son Sandy told the Mirror. "He looks more like a gangster than a football manager. "In the film he never appears in a tracksuit, which is ridiculous, given he was the first 'tracksuit' manager of his generation. "And the way he’s played, with head constantly to one side, is all wrong. My father was a proud man, proud of his fitness and of the way he carried himself. "They’ve also got his character all wrong. In one scene, my dad is talking to Alan Hardaker [former Football League secretary] and speaks to him in a manner and in a tone my father would never have used. "I wasn’t consulted about this film and, after seeing it, I’m glad I had nothing to do with it. "The film-makers said they would protect the feelings of those relatives affected by the Munich disaster. But I was very upset watching the scene involving the third [and fatal] take-off of the aeroplane and had to leave the room." Harry Gregg, the former United goalkeeper, who pulled Sir Matt and several team-mates - including Charlton - out of the wreckage, was also critical. "Sir Matt had an aura about him and everyone respected him. But he certainly didn’t walk about in a trilby and a camel hair coat, as he does in the film. "The film portrays us as a pub team. To me that is a terrible insult to the great footballers of that generation, the likes of Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor. "If that’s the way the United team of that time is portrayed, what does it say about other great players of that era, like Billy Wright, Dave MacKay or Danny and Jackie Blanchflower? "The film gives a totally false picture of football at that time, which is what angered me the most. In the film, Mark Jones [united defender who died in Munich] is smoking a pipe in the tunnel before a game. I know there’s poetic licence, but that’s ridiculous." Sandy added: "My dad appointed a loyal staff including Joe [Armstrong], who was chief scout and responsible for discovering many of the Busby Babes. But there is no mention of him in the film." United secretary Walter Crickmer and coach Bert Whalley are also barely mentioned, while the eight journalists who were killed in the tragedy are omitted from the film. United's director James Strong, said: "We’ve made every endeavour to be as accurate and truthful as possible in spirit and intention. "We want this to be a fitting and appropriate memory of these amazing players, this amazing team and this amazing story that a lot of people are aware of." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8468244/Sir-Matt-Busbys-family-incensed-over-TV-portrayal-of-iconic-Manchester-United-manager.html

I don't know, i haven't seen it before. He was a big part of that team so i imagine he will play some part.

At 9:00 PM, United starts on BBC 2 a programme about the Busby Babes and Munich disaster.

http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20110423/nottingham-forest-u18s-1-nufc-u18s-0_2281670_2345552

Is football focus on i player ?

I had a look on rawk and noticed they started a thread for a new Carroll song. As i read i realised that most people on there associated the Blaydon races with Manchester United, is it possible that most people now associate that as a Manchester United song ? http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=273803.0

jonas !!! great run

FIFA should put some sort of legislation in place to prevent this type of thing happening.

The squad realy seem to like kuqi. So even if he doesn't do much on the pitch atleast he is adding to the spirit of the squad.

http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/liverpools-andy-carroll-broke-my-newcastle-heart/ REPORTAGE | Football & Sport Liverpool’s Andy Carroll Broke My Newcastle Heart By Andrew Nagy Posted: 15 April 2011 Tags: football, Liverpool, newcastle united Rate This Article: He was supposed to be a hero, a legend, a Geordie monster truck that mixed his drinks and didn't give a monkey's about any team but Newcastle. Now he's at Liverpool, saluting the Kop. Oh how it hurts... 'Heard the one about Mike Ashely Kenny?' He was supposed to be a hero, a legend, a Geordie monster truck that mixed his drinks and didn’t give a monkey’s about any team but Newcastle. Now he’s at Liverpool, saluting the Kop. Oh how it hurts… Before we go any further, I’d just like to point out that I’ve never had a relationship with Andy Carroll, and nor have I ever wanted to – I mean just look at his hair. Yes I’d admired him from a distance – from about halfway up the Gallowgate End to be exact – and we’d shared some special moments, but I was never in love with him. At least that’s what I thought until he swanned off to Liverpool. Since then it’s been a confusing time to say the least. He sent a lot of mixed messages if I’m being honest. “All I’ve ever wanted to do was wear the number nine shirt for Newcastle.” That’s what he said, just before he left. Perhaps he’d whispered the words “for about six months,” under his breath at the press conference, but I didn’t hear him, and the Newcastle Evening Chronicle didn’t report it. I was sold. Pain isn’t an unusual emotion for me where football is concerned. Twenty-eight years of supporting Newcastle United has obviously offered more misery than joy. Two relegations, countless seasons of mediocrity and roughly five years of happiness sandwiched in-between – suspiciously just the right amount to raise expectations and heap further misery on the generations to come. Then came Carroll. I’ll be honest; I wasn’t impressed when I first saw him. “Here’s another six-foot-something-clogger,” I thought. “Division One striker, nothing more.” And even after he bagged 19 in our promotion season, I still wasn’t convinced of his top flight credentials. He would see out his career here, and when Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger came knocking, he would politely tell them to jog on as he was going down the Bigg Market for a pint. But he stepped up, and Newcastle fans, for the first time in a long time, had something to cling to. A barnstorming striker who had long hair, fights in pubs, and a penchant for the occasional threesome (his catchphrase is allegedly, “Ride me, ride me,” incidentally). Oh, and he could play a bit too. What’s not to like? After years of being the Comedy Club, the papers and pundits were full of platitudes and plaudits. Here stood the future of English football, and he was ours. No more years of meekly surrendering at Old Trafford, Anfield, and Highbury. Although he wasn’t the finished article, nobody was going to fancy marking Carroll. There was a good chance he’d eat them. The best thing about him, for me at least, was that as a local lad he loved Newcastle and wanted nothing more than to play for the club. Yes, the highly priced prima donnas would come and go, but this one was for keeps. He would see out his career here, and when Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger came knocking, he would politely tell them to jog on as he was going down the Bigg Market for a pint. Who knew that in the end, all it would take to turn his head would be a Boyzone gig, a posh house in Formby, and 80 grand a week? When it comes to pain, the brain doesn’t differentiate between the physical and emotional. But it does try to help us avoid it. However where Carroll is concerned I have a complete lack of nociception. A sadomasochistic streak that keeps me from turning away. Watching Liverpool against Man City the other night was like spying on an old girlfriend with her new bloke, all happy and bright. I won’t lie to you, I was confused. I wanted him to do well, was almost happy when he scored, but then tortured myself watching him celebrate with his new teammates. It was a bit like self harm. “All I’ve ever wanted to do was wear the number nine shirt for Newcastle.” That’s what he said, just before he left. Perhaps he’d whispered the words “for about six months,” under his breath at the press conference, but I didn’t hear him. The galling thing is that he does things with Liverpool that he used to do with us. Did you see that whole corner thing? Where Martin Skrtel acted as a buffer between him and Carroll’s marker, allowing the striker a better opportunity to get a header in on goal? Well he used to do that with Kevin Nolan at our corners. That hurt. Did nothing of what he did at Newcastle mean anything to him, were we that transferable? I guess what stings the most is knowing that Liverpool can offer him something we never could: a real chance of success. He’s already starting to show some form, his new side is steadily improving and they’ll no doubt pilfer a few more players in the summer – our full-back Jose Enrique very probably being one of them. Meanwhile we’ll struggle on in mid-table, if we’re lucky . Yes Carroll could have stayed, but he’d have only ended up resenting us. Let’s be honest, he probably did the right thing, the thing Shearer most likely wanted to do but was just too loyal to act upon. I know this all sounds like a bitter fan’s bile-soaked whining. And to an extent, it is. But I don’t remember feeling like this when Andy Cole turned into Andrew Cole and left for Old Trafford. I guess I’m hoping, above all else, that by explaining how I feel it’ll have some sort of cathartic effect, allowing me to move on, be the better man, and wish him all the best. But I doubt it. Football love is a tricky emotion. I suppose there’s always the chance that he could turn into a one season wonder of course. How good would that be? The ponytailed Michael Ricketts. What a perfectly justifiable slice of shadefraude. As ever unfortunately, it seems that the life of a Newcastle United fan is destined to be one of pure, unadulterated blind hope.

I am surprised, maintaining team spirit hasn't featured higher up on peoples lists. Surely, that is the most important thing we have at the minute it is a big reason as to why our good players are performing at the level they can and a lack of it played a big part in our relegation.

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/6525/3/newcastle-ready-swoop-sevilla-midfielder-romaric-cut-price-deal Sevilla are set to dump attacking midfielder Romaric after a row with the Ivory Coast international, and Newcastle are ready to snap up the player for a cut-price fee. As reported in Spanish daily Diario de Sevilla, the 27-year-old hit out at manager Gregorio Manzano after spending much of the season on the bench and Sevilla are now ready to let him go. The former Le Mans ace has been offered around, with Newcastle keen to boost their attacking prowess after losing striker Andy Carroll to Liverpool in January. Sevilla paid £7m for Romaric in 2008, but would be willing to accept a lower fee for the player to ship him out.

Aye, because there is no pressure at all being a newcastle number nine.