tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85963917078120513422024-03-13T13:52:40.625-07:00RossobianchiYou've read it. You can't unread it.Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-15247578570916498652010-07-28T09:28:00.001-07:002010-07-28T09:31:16.167-07:00Moving!I've decided to move the blog over to <a href="http://rossobianchi.blogspot.com/">Rossobianchi.blogspot.com</a> because that's much better and easier to remember than what it is right now. So, I've switched everything (comments included). I've not idea what that does for RSS feeds or anything like that so they may need updating.<br /><br />New post after the friendly tonight/tomorrow morning! Involving cups of milk, MLS "All-Stars", Wizard of Oz refrences and usual bad jokes.<br /><br />Also, I'm on twitter! Holla: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/FilippoInzaghi">@FilippoInzaghi</a>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-63163132693026410392010-07-19T10:12:00.000-07:002010-07-19T11:36:42.324-07:00#38 - Return<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.profiledesigninc.com/images/OMOS-SO/Reach4theStars/Red-Giant.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 173px;" src="http://www.profiledesigninc.com/images/OMOS-SO/Reach4theStars/Red-Giant.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">What the? What the god damn hell is this? A blog?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So what's happened since I last posted (pictured)? Well it would take a very long to go through it all, especially since I've already forgotten most of what has happened so I'll try anyway:</span></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:75%;" ><br /><i><br />UnitedtrashedACMilan4-0athomeandallwerehappythengoodthingskepthappeninguntilwe<br />lostawaytoBayernMunichathometoChelsea(wronged)andwonBayernathomebutloston<br />goaldifference.Goaldifferenceisastupidruleanyway.Thingswerestilllookinggoodforthe<br />leaguethoughuntilwedrewawaytoBlackburn.Blackburnisastupidplaceanyway.Thenwe<br />wontherestofthegamestotheendoftheseasonbutendedupfinishingsecond.ThenIwas<br />boredforagesbecausetherewasnogoodfootball.BenFosterleftforBirminghamandZoran<br />TosicleftforCSKA.Sixpeopleweresurprised.JackShephardmanagedtosavethecastof<br />LOSTitwasquitesad.ThentheworldcupstartedandonceagainEnglandwererubbish.<br />JohnTerrycontinuedtomakeanidiotoutofhimselfandsomehowCapellogotblamedfor<br />havingshitplayers.WayneRooneyalsogotblamedbutthatwasprobablyaninjurything.<br />ThenallTVpunditstotallyforgotthatDiegoForlanhadwontheGoldenBoottwicesincehe<br />leftOldTraffordandweretotallybemudbythefacthewasbrilliant.ThenSpainwonthe<br />WorldCupbecausethey'rethebestinternationalteamI'veeverseen.Unitedthenputina<br />bidforSneidjerwhichwaspitifulbuthenallofasuddensuchabiddidnotevenhappen.Owen<br />Hargreavesgotinjuredandweallgotabittearyforawhile.Thenwewereboredforabitand<br />theUnitedfinallyplayedagaininafriendlymatchandbeatCelticlikealways.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"></i><br><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And that's how it will always be remembered. Now back to the present day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mario Ballotelli is being constantly linked with a move to a club in Manchester. Whether it's ourselves or City is another thing entirely. Hopefully he'll go to City where he can continue his role as constant thorn in the side of squad harmony. He was stopped in Milan by police for showing a cap gun out his car window. He'll soon learn about what a gun is if he tries that in any of the rough areas (most of the areas) near Eastlands.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">More rumours ahoy, of course, and the usual suspects continue.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In fact, here's a shortlist of players we have been linked with because people are bored, and who we will not sign because we have no money:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mario Ballotelli, Wesley Sneidjer, Luis Fabiano*, Joe Cole (obviously), Angel di Maria (obviously), Joao Moutinho (obviously), Raul, Jack Rodwell, Steven Jovetic, Raul Meireles, David de Gea, Alexis Sanchez, Bruno Alves, Mesut Ozil, Philip Lahm, Thomas Muller, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Manuel Neuer, David Hasselhoff, Franz Beckenbauer, and Herr Deutchsland o Bratwurst und Deutsch verschiedenen Stereotypen.</span><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >*who started his own rumours then signed for Sevilla and was proud of himself for crushing the rumours.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Matty James has unsurprisingly gone on loan to Preston North End. Where absolutely every other United reserve will soon be heading on loan until Ole Gunnar is left managing some 8 year olds. Except Danny Welbeck who seems to be going on loan to Sunderland where he'll sit on a bench waiting for Bent or Jones to get injured.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Of course there's even more fun into be had in rumours of players leaving Old Trafford. Nemanja Vidic, who was going to leave in 2007 is still being linked with a move away. Unlike Ronaldo when we all knew it was his dream to move to Real Madrid. All anyone really knows about Vidic's so called "desire to leave" is that his wife might not like Manchester all that much. Not sure why - Manchester is brilliant, we've got... er... Old Trafford, and er... er... a Hard Rock Cafe, and er... er... that's not the point!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sky Sports produced a major lack of pun fun when running Danny Drinkwater's quotes about wanting to prove himself at United and nowhere mentioning that he was "thirsty for success".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So that's my post done, and part of my public service over.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >This blog has been brought you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">5 months of reader anticipation.</span></li><li style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Honey Loops<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Lack of real football.</span></span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-17413525077045070282010-03-05T07:25:00.000-08:002010-03-05T08:34:31.724-08:00#37 - Bumper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://diplomatdc.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/amity-shlaes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 346px;" src="http://diplomatdc.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/amity-shlaes.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Dear readers (all 8 of you) I apologise for my laziness, but it's chronic. It's a disability really. Unfortunately people have little sympathy for it, espcially when it comes to giving out cash. So, with that out of the way, time to write. So, in optimistic fashion. Let's start with good news:<br /><br />Owen Hargreaves (pictured) could be finally closer to to a return to reserves for his first game since 1984 for the Reserves against Mancester City Reserves. For those of you who don't remember Owen Hargreaves he was a catalyst in the 07-08 season as was capable of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7hoyiBfbQE">this</a>. Also, he has the permission to shag many, many men's wives.<br /><br />And the bad news, Michael Owen has been confirmed to be out for the rest of the season after his hamstring injury. He joins Anderson and John O'Shea who will also be missing over our most important period. Fortunately for Owen he's scored against City and in a League Cup final. Which is pretty good for a freebie who everyone expected to totally flop.<br /><br />There's been some blame given to the pitch at Wembley stadium for the damage done to Mickey Owen. The pitch has declined to comment.<br /><br />But, to go back to good news now and mess with your emotional stability. Kiko "Hard Bastard" Macheda could be back shortly too. The angular-faced italian will always be loved for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm-lDpCpjKw&feature=fvw">this</a>. With Welbeck out on loan and Owen out now, Macheda has only Diouf to compete with to get on the bench if Rooney and Berbatov are to start. This could will be the time for the little italian to show what he's made of.<br /><br />So, how about last weekend then ey? Many people blame the Glazers for the ridiculous amount of debt but perhaps the price of silver polish and trophy cabinets are much more than we can imagine. As another League Cup is picked up and added to the list. For those who are counting, we are now 3 domestic trophies ahead of Liverpool and 39 ahead of Manchester City. That's a nice stat. You don't hear that on Match of the Day.<br /><br />So. Is it time to start claiming that Wayne Rooney is the best striker in the world? Or has he been for some time?<br /><br />For those interested in that kind of stuff, there was international football midweek. International friendlies even, to add to the tedium of it all. I can never get the spirit to talk about it. I do enjoy them and I do watch them, but like 90% of US sitcoms, my mind is entirely blank afterwards.<br /><br />Nani has recommended Miguel Veloso for United sign. Unlike many other people who would recommend him, Nani has actually seen him play and didn't just sign him once on Football Manager. Sporting Clube de Portugal have been rather dire this season (despite their 3-0 wins over Porto and Everton recently) and now if anytime would be the best time to swoop for their players. Joao Moutinho is still excellent too. Then again, with Sporting recently becoming City's feeder club, would they be ok with selling players to us?<br /><br />Oh, for those of you wanting to hear something about the Red Knights/MUST vs. Glazers confrontation. I couldn't tell you. I'm financially dyslexic. That's why I'm poor.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> This sadly has leg to the non-Sport members of the press to try and come up with football related puns to sound cool and hip with the normally uninterested football fans who will now be following. And embarassing like a Dad who tries to talk like Fresh Prince in front of his son's friends.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This blog was brought to you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Playing Heavy Rain.</span></li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Looking forward to Final Fantasy XIII.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Having no John Terry jokes to tell because everyone's already said them all.</span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-85026477688517477882010-03-03T15:27:00.000-08:002010-03-03T15:28:44.559-08:00Almost<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_04/coffin2MEN0111_468x361.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 192px;" src="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_04/coffin2MEN0111_468x361.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Super-mega-duper-awesom-o post, coming tomorrow. I just want to you all know that I am not dead.</span></span>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-39201465712246365512010-02-17T04:56:00.000-08:002010-02-17T06:09:43.501-08:00#36 - Ginger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/h1/h9436.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/h1/h9436.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ronaldinho is a very skillful player. He's scored brilliant goals</span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;" > <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbVfBg364vw&feature=related">[1]</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpVu7fAvxNc">[2]</a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;">[etc]</span>, and for some time was the greatest player on the planet. He almost even signed for Manchester United, the lucky lucky man. Unforunately he didn't. Fortunately we still have Paul Scholes (pictured). Who performed the most convincing trick that would make anyone has ever witnessed. He convinced many that he was actually trying to score with his right foot. In fact he shaped up his left peg at the most perfect angle to slip it past Dida's right hand post to score the equaliser. It was a world class dummy. The world doesn't even know it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Don't tell me anything different.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Of course, that wasn't the full story of the match. Ronaldinho himself opened the scoring after it took a fortunate deflection off Carrick (or if you heard Andy Gray without watching the replays, Jonny Evans - several times - he almost made it sound like Ronaldinho intended it. Ronaldinho is not Scholes). From that point on our defence was as shaky as some shaky things doing the shaky-shaky during some sort of earthquake. Jonny Evans clearly looked quite intimidated by the San Siro. The even more intimidated by Sir Alex after quite the ear bashing and with more mentions of the word "fuck" than almost any episode of the brilliant </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRC0qQ8zA-E">The Thick of It</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Then, the Ginger Ninja pounced!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So it stayed until half-time, in which hair dryers were turned on. There were short blackouts reported throughout Milan. Then came the second half. Wayne Rooney has pretty much turned into the complete package of a striker this season. Improving on an already brilliant template. Antonio Valencia came on for Nani, who although he didn't shine as he has done recently, didn't really get enough chances to run at Giuseppe Favalli, 103. Valencia it was who only a few minutes after he came off the bench dinked in a beautiful cross for Wayne Rooney to head it looping over Dida. Dinked is a real word, possibly. Then it was "big-game" or as I prefer to say "any-game" Darren Fletcher who as well as continuing to be a formidable engine in the middle put in a lovely ball for Rooney's second. From then on, with us playing incredibly better the game seemed like a formality. Even the second leg. That was until late on when Clarence Seedorf, 158, scored with a cheeky flick - though not as cheeky as Scholes. Late on Carrick was sent off for a second yellow on the grounds of pure pedanticalness. It probably was a second yellow, but it was also unnecessary. 3-2 the final score. Which would have all wanted before the match, but afterwards, sort of feel a bit annoyed about now. Still. We're in the driving seat now, and we know how to beat them. The stigma of the San Siro has ended.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Of course, many people will be wondering what happened to our second striker, Own Goal. Who wasn't playing last night. Which is especially surprising given his excellent run of form. His equaliser against Aston Villa was his 10th of the season. Eat your heart out, Dimitar.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Villa match, a sort-of preview but-not-really of the upcoming League Cup final should have been our path to first place after Louis Saha scored twice to sink Chelsea. Alas, possibly due to Nani's stupid sending off (although we continued to be the better side) it only finished as a draw. Chelsea though, are definitely there for the taking. Especially with Ashley "</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/02/13/cheryl-cole-s-fury-at-ashley-s-phone-sex-photos-115875-22039072/">phone</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">" Cole out until possibly the end of the season.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In bizarre transfer news Mark Davies, the relatively competent Bolton midfielder is apparently being tracked by United and Liverpool. Considering he's not even good enough for Liverpool this is probably baloney. I imagine an agent has been wink-winking the press in hope of his player (and from that himself) getting a better contract. Or maybe it's the fact that it's his birthday tomorrow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This blog has been brought to you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Trying to do the "Scholes flick"/"Ninja dummy".</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Thinking Moho is the best place for small gigs in Manchester.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Charlie Brooker's Newswipe.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Being surprised that "pedanticalness" is the adjective form of "pedantic".<br /></span></span></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-10152710990565008482010-02-09T03:52:00.000-08:002010-02-09T04:26:01.234-08:00#35 - O.G.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.strangefamousrecords.com/store/images/large/CDs/icet_og_LRG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 301px;" src="http://www.strangefamousrecords.com/store/images/large/CDs/icet_og_LRG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sir Alex has a wonderful eye for talent. None more so than this years latest signing Mr. O. Goal (pictured), we don't know much about this mysterious player other than his recent form is quite exceptional. After scoring the opener against Arsenal, O.G. went on to net a hat-trick against helpless Portsmouth. Portsmouth, who are managed by </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://lwtc247.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/baron-silas-greenback.jpg">Baron Silas Greenback</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> who, inspite of what his team may doing on the pitch, is not shy of </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/59329,people,news,avram-grant-brothel-visit-exposed-as-portsmouth-changes-hands-balram-chainrai">scoring himself</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mr. Goal has now scored more goals than any other player this season bar Wayne Rooney. Of course, the mysterious underground illumnati new world order group that is the Dubious Goals Panel may take some away from him. Some would claim that Michael Carrick's shot was going on target before it took a quite spectacular deflection. The Dubious Goal Committee (a.k.a. Dubious Goals Skull and Bones Society) is a cult full of bizarre and degrading initiation rituals. They dwell in a medieval room under a church and sit around a round table in candle light. They can't know each others identity in case they discuss goals with each other so they have to wear horse masks for all their meetings. Someone please tell </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Jones_%28radio_host%29">Alex Jones</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. And wait patiently for Dan Brown's next book The Da Vinci Goal.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After that revelaing insight, I think they'll come after me now. And take my hard earned goals away. Well they would, if it wasn't for my professional record of 0 appearances and 0 goals. Which cuts me at a ratio of a goal of game, sort of.<br /><br />So next up is our future League Cup final opponents, Aston Villa. Away at Villa Park is usually a guarenteed result but Aston Villa did beat us earlier this season at home. Unfortunately for them, this is our time of the season to steam roll as quickly as possible to the title. Judging by their negative performance against Tottenham Hotspur we may well see a recreation of the style of match we had against Portsmouth. Defence vs. Attack.<br /><br />Then comes the big one in the San Siro, David Beckham's AC Milan. AC Milan have got over their bit of good form lately and are back to being their under performing selves. Though recently this may have been due to the abscene of Alessandro Nesta. Who I'm pretty sure has another good 30 years to go before he needs to retire.<br /><br />Beck's though has been heaping praise on the club and the fans lately. He clearly wants us not to boo him. We won't, we still love you, David.<br /><br />In our last piece of news-worthy news our kid Matty James has gone on loan to... no, you guess. Go on. Who do you think? Yep, you're right, the new Royal Antwerp - Preston North End. Sir Alex must really be close with their manager, eh?<br /><br />So, Google Analytics is a very useful tool for seeing how people get to this blog. Usually it's through the excellent <a href="http://therepublikofmancunia.com/">Repulik of Mancunia</a> blog but sometimes strange google searches seem to pop us up as a result. Here's a few examples of what people have searched to get here: "edwin var sars favourite colour", "djemba djemba transfer rumours 2009", and the champion of all bizarre searches to get here - "kaka licking sucking michael owen his cock". Lovely stuff. What sort of weird internet porn is that? Go on, which one of you was it?<br /><br />This blog has been brought to you by;<br /></span></span><ul><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Wanting to watch Danger Mouse again.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The brilliant new Crime in Stereo album "I Was Going to Describe You to Someone."</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Frosties.</span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-47911513466178523612010-02-01T05:01:00.001-08:002010-02-01T05:43:00.323-08:00#34 - Well<span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/1/13839/01_2008/nanny%20one.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 333px;" src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/1/13839/01_2008/nanny%20one.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">According to reports on the 23rd January 2010 we signed Nani. Who's been excellent in his first 3 games for the club, and much more promising than our previous Nani who we must have sold or thrown in the skip. That is a bit harsh on Nani who in the past few years hasn't been able to get a run of games and only had a brilliant game for about every 1 in 7 or so.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The boy though, seems to have become a man. And whilst we should not get ahead of ourselves like many were on praising Obertan after a ridiculously short amount of time on the pitch the future does look bright for Nani as he plays on the right wing instead of his usual favoured left. This of course, means Antonio Valencia will need to have his right leg surgicially switched with his left to be in the first team.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now then. Where to start? It would make sense to start at the beginning but maybe I want to do it like LOST and have flashbacks. Probably not right now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On Nani's debut against Hull City, Manchester United after being robbed by Mike Dean who unsurprisingly is from Mersyside they bounced back. Most people who have been robbed report it to the police or go on Crimewatch, not us though, oh no! The surprise start of new signing Nani against Hull City was a huge breath of fresh air, and inevitably comparisons to Crisitano Ronaldo were made. We were rampant against Hull City - but then we were always going to be - we were playing Hull City. Wayne Rooney decided scoring 4 goals is good for a laugh.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now then came the second leg against our former City rivals who have now been replaced with a toy for a super-billionaire. It's sort of like supporting someone who's cheating on Football Manger. Of course most City fans will clog their eyes and shout "la-la-la" whilst trying to cover up the "Stockport" part of their address and claiming to live exactly in the very centre of Manchester. United played the this-blogger-approved 4-5-1 system. Many people who don't watch any football outside of England assume that 4-4-2 is the only formation that exists. They also assume it is attacking. It is not. Formations are neutral. You can play 6-4-0 and still be an attacking team. Anyway. The atmosphere was excellent and the Green and Gold campaign was getting noticed. Which is helpful as it's a bright colour. The black coats campaign wouldn't be very visible.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Scholesy, Carrick and an injury time winner by Wayne Rooney put us through to yet another final. We may as well just have our own changing room in Wembley Stadium now. Some scruffy looking Argentine fella scored for City but that's entirely irrelevant. Spirits were high, as club in debt beat club with the classic </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_Park_%28video_game%29">"Bovine" cheat</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. In retaliation Manchester City will probably sign 17 new players by the transfer deadline in a few hours.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Then came a far bigger match against Arsenal. Our league form in the first half of the season had been sloppy - but then again, isn't it always? Our record against the big four teams in the Premier League was very poor in recent games but in what may have caused many Arsenal fans flashbacks to the Champions League semi-final we cruised to victory. </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://xs.to/image-FC7B_4B65D763.gif">Nani's superb bit of skill</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> resulted in a harsly awarded Manuel Almunia own goal. Although personally I would have given the goal to Nani, just 'cause I say so. Minutes later, Rooney made it to in a goal which was scored in the exact same amount of time as </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-b2We0-gKQ">Cristiano Ronaldo's beautiful counter attack</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> in the Champions League last season. Ji-Sung Park rounded off the scoring as he always likes to do against Arsenal. This hopefully, becoming the boost for our 2nd half plunder of the Premiership to win it for a record 19th time, and a record 4th time in a row.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That's not all, oh no.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.kbuckmaster.co.uk/jesterjapan/images/MagKeithHarris.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 246px;" src="http://www.kbuckmaster.co.uk/jesterjapan/images/MagKeithHarris.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">News on Keith Harris (</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Harris">apparently not pictured</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> with Orville) is gathering some sort of group of Red Knights to take over the club from the Glazers. It all sounds very promising but would the Glazers who are succesfully raping our club of many millions of pounds want to sell such a get-richer-quicker scheme?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Red Knights name though is interesting. If they are succesful in taking over the club they could all sit around a King Artuhur-esque Round Table and rename Old Trafford to Camelot. Not to be confused with the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camelot_Theme_Park">crappy theme park</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> of the same name in Chorley.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hopefully then all good news, everywhere. Unless you're Wayne Bridge.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And for those watching Sky Sports News on Transfer Deadline Day. Nothing is going to happen. Unless it does, in which case I look like an idiot. Hurrah.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This blog has been brought you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Milka Chocolate</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cockiness</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Team Teamwork's excellent mash-up album of hip-hop and Final Fantasy VII. </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://teamteamwork.bandcamp.com/album/vinyl-fantasy-7">Vinyl Fantasy 7</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-47706477834279317332010-01-20T06:44:00.000-08:002010-01-20T09:41:12.720-08:00#33 - Burned<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.crossfiteastbay.com/2009/07/06/captain-caveman1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 333px;" src="http://www.crossfiteastbay.com/2009/07/06/captain-caveman1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Imagine the scene. You and your child are walking down the street. It's a nice day outside. There's birds singing folk songs with remarkable skill. Your child then tugs on a tattooed man's arm for a bit because he was wondering what it was, until he realises if he tugs it any longer he may get in trouble. Then out of nowhere an evil bald man shouts at your child, steals his favourite toy and gives it to a nearby cave dweller (pictured). The cave dweller then steals another of your childs toys and shows off the size of his ears at your face. You put up your middle finger. A group of idiots watch this on CCTV, fine you, ban you, take you to prison and then hang you in the street whilst shouting Nazi slogans.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It sounds ridiculous, but it happened last night. Of course in the film version, the child is played by Rafael, the tattooed man is Bellamy, the evil bald man is Mike Dean (know owner of 5 palaces in Abu Dhabi) and the cave dweller is Carlos Tevez. The group of idiots are the FA. The person who plays you is Gary Neville. The metaphor may not be perfect, in fact I thought of it last night whilst my rage blinded my creativity.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The point remains true. Although it is only half time (someone should have told the City fans that at the end of the match) the penalty totally swung the tie. Mike Dean overall had a rather shocking game and refused to book Bellamy for smashing into Valencia's face after a bad foul on Rafael. As well as Tevez for going rather high on Wesley Brown. The next leg should be quite something.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Before that though was a comfortable-ish win over Burnley. Fortunately for us Burnley don't have any good strikers and they don't have Owne Coyle anymore - but we improved. Which is something we've been slowly doing (and will continue to do) after all our players decided being injured was hip.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Diouf who scored against Burnley and had a good chance against City certainly looks a promising prospect. Already 16x times better than Manucho (and if you know your maths right that makes him 96x better than Dong Fangzhou [yes, he did really play for us]) and with a spring for headers similar to that of Paddy Evra we may have a very good signing on our hands.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looking before the second leg though is a home match against Hull City. Who are still managed by Phil Brown, so we will win. Yes we will. We will, honest.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I also want to say how much I agree with the current Green and Gold until the Glazers are out campaign. I needed to say I agree with it or they might change their minds, yes I believe I'm that influential in my head. I'll probably change the blog to such colours at some point (possibly it will be green and gold as you read this) depending on my laziness levels and how easy it is to do on Blogger. And yes I understand the irony that the blog is called Rossobianchi but I'm not going to rename it Verdeoro, as it's more effort.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I admit freely to being a dunce at anything finacial. The entire subject confuses, irritates and bores me. I don't like people talking about money unless it precedes them giving it to me. At which point I will waste (or invest) it on booze. So, from what I hear the Glazers are doing bad things. Which doesn't surprise me anyway, but I have no interesting insight at all. Just read the Guardian's site for that.<br /><br />According to the press, we're interesting in a bunch of players... but we're skint anyway so there's no point speculating.<br /><br />This blog has been brought to you by;<br /></span></span><ul><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Blind rage.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Trying to not think of my favourite James Bond when bonds are mentioned with our finances.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >More blind rage!</span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-32471520325937367012010-01-08T09:25:00.000-08:002010-01-08T10:08:30.127-08:00#32 - Hypothetical<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/SubMarcosHorse.jpg/391px-SubMarcosHorse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 393px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/SubMarcosHorse.jpg/391px-SubMarcosHorse.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">With news (well, rumours) of our great captain, leader, revolutionary, hero and facial-haired legend Gary Neville (</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcomandante_Marcos">pictured</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">) possible calling it quits at the end of the year. Is it time to start examining who could vill the void as the capitano?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Ryan Giggs</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: Vice captain, sports personality of the year, living legend, </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2010/01/07/freedom-of-the-city-for-ryan-giggs-91466-25547399/">has the abilty to go into your house at night and watch you sleep if you live in Salford</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: Surely one of the strong contendors for those who think "</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ0rsclJnxw&feature=PlayList&p=21018DBC75C38C95&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4">change is not good</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">". There is a feeling among some fans (myself excluded) that Ryan Giggs isn't "captain-material" this though tends to just mean he doesn't shout at everyone constantly. Understandably good point is that he doesn't play every game and thus his impact as captain would be muted.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Wayne Rooney</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: Above mentioned "captain-material" but certainly a driving force. Can </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gkyqz1t-h4">swear</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> like Roy Keane could. Scary like Roy Keane was. Likes dogs as much as Roy Keane does. Still though, there are some doubts about his temperment (this is from football pundits who have not watched football for years yet continue to be on television) but there is no question that he is committed to the cause. Sir Alex thinks he could be a future captain... could he be next season?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Darren Fletcher</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: From "aw no not Fletcher again" to "bloody hell, we would have won that if Fletcher had played!". One of the most improved players in some time. He has many things going for him as a captain. Firstly, he's Scottish. It is a well known fact that Scottish people are loud. </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T0Ofr6VYMI&feature=related">They absolutely can fucking swear</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. Already the captain of Scotland on account of possibly being the only good Scottish player besides possibly... Ally McCoist. Still.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Patrice Evra</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: I'm moderately sure that Paddy Evra was the captain for a match recently. I've forgotten which one, but I'm almost certain it happened. Our most consistent player since 2007, and probably the best in the world in his position. Cheryl Cole will not doubt soon be Cheryl Evra. That's is she's Patrice's cup of tea that is. Many "purists" or "people with false pride who cling onto national history for the own self-worth" may want a british captain. Forgetting where Eric Cantona was from. Strong candidate, popular with fans, almost certainly popular with anyone worth a damn. And very funny. Plus he told Lampard to </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMOWi3PRDJM">suck his pussy</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. Something no other professional has said in the game that I know of yet.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Nemanja Vidic</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: Estimated that 15,000 opposition strikers have been killed by Nemanja Vidic in the last 200 years. It's an impressive death toll. But with so many more strikers unaccounted for, what's the true figure? There are many Vidicaust deniers like Nick Griffin who say people exaggurated the figures of how many strikers died. It doesn't matter really. Vidic kills. It's even a song - no more evidence is needed. Vidic has captained the club before, recently too if I remember (probably wrongly) in a match we probably won. Ok, I'm not sure. I'm not going to research, I don't get paid. Anyway. He seems to be leader material, he doesn't need to swear because he's hard as nails, if nails were Terminators. The only question is the lingering doubt of whether he's staying. Despite his agent, himself, myself, Jonathan Ross saying that he will definitely be staying when Real Madrid are concerned, there's always an element of doubt, because they're bastards. If he does stay, he's a contendor, for sure.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Edwin Van Der Sar</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: Not exactly a long term option, since Edwin Van Der Sar was goalkeeper for the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuju">first ever football match in Three Kingdoms era China</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> (something I'm a bit of a geek about). So experience is plentiful. </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY_AGlAqcm0&NR=1">He is known to swear too</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. And could be seen as a stand-in captain until someone like Rooney or Fletcher is old enough to take up the captaincy. For some reason young captains tend to be frowned upon by old men who used to watch football wearing flatcaps in the days where the world was black and white.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Rio Ferdinand</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: Has been captain many times before. So a very strong contender. The only problem with Rio Ferdinand lately is his fitness. His mystery back problem seems to be no better and of course we don't want a captain who doesn't play. If he is fully fit though, surely a favourite.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Michael Carrick</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: Some aren't fond of Carrick, I am. He passes the Daily Mail reader's test of being English, and has experience. But with our every changing midfield, will he play enough to warrant captaincy?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Park Ji-Sung</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: Was captain for about 8 minutes in an already won Champions League match back in 2005 I believe. Then played like a maniac for 8 minutes. So, giving him the armband all the time may send him in to total overdrive mode forever. Maybe we'll just make him believe he's captain instead.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Paul Scholes</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">: Does what ever he wants.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Other possibilities: John O'Shea, Wesley Brown, Owen Hargeaves.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Any thoughts?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This blog has been brought to you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Over exagguration.</span></li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Beer.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Still wanting to see </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/neville-scores-an-own-goal-over-work-on-16312m-house-769741.html">Gary Neville's house</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> (one of his neighbours [not Alan] sounds like a twat).</span></span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-21205748670318116612010-01-03T07:25:00.001-08:002010-01-03T07:26:23.176-08:00#31 - Ugh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://members.home.nl/budo/pics/seppuku1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 440px;" src="http://members.home.nl/budo/pics/seppuku1.JPG" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></a><div style="text-align: left; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">That is how I feel right now.<br /></span></div>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-43906803850859018912009-12-22T13:41:00.000-08:002009-12-22T14:05:27.563-08:00#30 - Rossobianchi Award 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8977/forblog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 247px;" src="http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8977/forblog.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So this blog has not been going enough to be a full year, but that doesn't mean we can't do end of year award. Everyone loves them. The internet loves lists. Not as much as it loves cats, sadly. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyway. I only have one award, having more than one is totally played out.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Rossobianchi Player of the Year 2009:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rossobianchi's Player of the Year didn't sign for Real Madrid, doesn't play for Barcelona (neither do 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th), didn't name their son "Kai Wayne", didn't sell access to the clubs training ground despite being captain of their club and country, didn't handball twice and after Paul McShane defended badly and whilst Shay Given was out of position, didn't blame Ireland's defence for the goal and join Ipswich Town as manager, is shockingly not called Filippo Inzaghi, isn't Xmas #1, would have done something at the Copenhagen summit, didn't turn on the Large Hardon Collider, and definitely did not die before his super sell out tour.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Of course. I'm talking of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Patrice Evra</span>. The most amusing player at United for a good long time. Evra has given us </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://therepublikofmancunia.com/category/patrice-evra/">magic moments</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> of comedy entertainment and consistently brilliant performances.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />We (just me) are sure this award will mean more to him more than any trophy ever could.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Don't worry though. Real blog coming post-Xmas. Probably after we lose 3-0 to Hull City as Bobby Zamora plays in disguise and de Laet, Evra and even Mike Phelan are injured by a falling satellite. Curiously a bSkyb one.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You heard it here first.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This half-arsed blog has been brought to you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Being so old that I now find Festivus far more exciting than Xmas.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Refusing to say Christmas because I'm a stubborn "militant" atheist.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Making excuses to constantly eat fast food.</span></span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-30927386787171213722009-12-08T06:55:00.000-08:002009-12-08T06:58:18.131-08:00Surprise!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://files.myopera.com/HaoYunng/albums/96435/singularity.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 244px;" src="http://files.myopera.com/HaoYunng/albums/96435/singularity.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Apologies of course, for the lack of updates. My little brain (pictured) has been making hard work of things and my chronic laziness has peaked. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I will get back to updating this again... when I think of something funny.<br /><br />Until then I'm going to avoid any sort of defending in case I get injured.</span></span>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-56620352559451059672009-11-12T09:40:00.000-08:002009-11-12T09:47:13.204-08:00#29 - Sense<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In a move of sheer laziness I'm just to link to another article to bring it to attention. This is from </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">the Guardian's (Manchester United supporting) Rob Smyth:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/nov/12/referees-closed-ranks-manchester-united">Have referees closed ranks against Manchester United?</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's a very good read. Interesting stuff! And hey... it counts as a new blog post so makes me feel like I actually do good work.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'm going to pat myself on the back from a while.</span></span>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-80068668556723659932009-11-12T06:24:00.000-08:002009-11-12T08:02:34.550-08:00#28 - Outbursts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://yatnis.com/blog/b2evolution/blogs/media/blogs/Cynthia/toilet-paper-over.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 196px;" src="http://yatnis.com/blog/b2evolution/blogs/media/blogs/Cynthia/toilet-paper-over.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Oh. Nani! Bless him. If he had a brain he'd be bloody brilliant. Unfortunately, he has not. His talent is frequently wasted with poor decisions. Then every now and then he'll do something absolutely superb. Like a true winger, really.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />If you're not big on news, but big on frequently unattractive females with big tits (that's what the 4th beer of the night is for), you probably read The Sun or something similar. Yes I realise I made fun of tabloids (pictured) in the last blog post but I may as well keep up a good rhythm. The Sun loves to sensationalise more than anyone.<br /><br />Let's see how they took this:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Big headline - You’re screwing up my career (in capitals, of course)</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here's his actual quotes:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />"Ferguson is a very complicated man. He's tough. If things are all right, then they are all right. But when he thinks something is wrong, everything is screwed. He can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing you in a matter of minutes. Has it happened to me? Hell, yes! He'll say 'Nani, how could you miss this or this'?"</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Not exactly a revelation so far.</span> </span><div id="TixyyLink" style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none;font-family:trebuchet ms;color:transparent;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"He shouts at players in front of everyone. No one escapes, everybody is the same. Giggs and Neville suffer most, because they have more experience. It is 'Fuck' here and 'Fuck' there."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Old news.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"People expect more from me and it's not easy. But they are also not doing what they said they were going to. I know it would be better if I scored more goals. I can have a spectacular game but nobody guarantees me I will be starting the next match. It shatters your confidence. I did not play the important matches, against Liverpool, Manchester City or Tottenham. Not playing these games, I am a bit sad. But for now I am not considering leaving."<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Is his career being mismanaged? "As it is now, I think so."</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Well. Maybe if you played better then, Nani. Still not biggie. He has the right to complain about not getting a run of games, because he's not at all. None of our squad are. Whether that helps in the long run for a long season or hinders player development for now... is a matter for people who are getting paid to write about things like this. For free... this all you get from me.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Cutting out The Sun's keywords of "astonishing", "explosive", and of course "no-holds-barred". Which make it sound like a pretty good wrestling cage match.. really there's not much to see here.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If I ran a paper (I'll call it Gazzetta della Me) the headline would be "disgruntled player is disgruntled".</span></span>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-27836453187135186872009-11-08T16:01:00.000-08:002009-11-09T05:52:03.323-08:00#27 - Light Relief<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jawish.org/blog/uploads/penn-and-teller-bullshit.small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 229px;" src="http://www.jawish.org/blog/uploads/penn-and-teller-bullshit.small.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'll get back to today's (now technically - yesterday's) footballing incidents. Until then, let's laugh at the News at the World who think Barcelona will pay </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/587480/BARCELONA-PLAN-pound85M-BID-FOR-WAYNE-ROONEY.html">£85m for Wayne Rooney</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Ahahahahahhaahaha.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Ahahahah!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Hahahahahaa.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Hahaha..</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Ahh..ha..</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This is why I do not reading Tabloids.</span></span>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-70955472612800270522009-11-02T11:47:00.000-08:002009-11-03T03:57:55.191-08:00#26 - Castrol Rankings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.staffordu3a.org.uk/data/tower/towertalk/www.qsl.net/gm3woj/castrol2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 242px;" src="http://www.staffordu3a.org.uk/data/tower/towertalk/www.qsl.net/gm3woj/castrol2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've decided lately to reform the way do these blogs. Instead of essentially copying the excellent </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/series/thefiver">Guardian Fiver</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. I'll just do whatever the hell I want instead. Is it laziness? You betcha.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Today, I'm looking at the Castrol Rankings. I've no idea how these are worked out because stats.. are stats. So mean nothing really. Here's how our lads do and some of our ex-lads as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. Cristiano Ronaldo<br />4. Gerard Pique<br />12. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nemanja Vidic</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">31. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wayne Rooney</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">39. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dimitar Berbatov</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">43. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Edwin Van Der Sar</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">53. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Carrick</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">64. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ryan Giggs</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tied at 75. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rio Ferdinand</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jonathan Evans</span><br />80. Diego Forlan</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">92. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Patrice Evra</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">95. <span style="font-weight: bold;">John O'Shea</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">105. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Darren Fletcher</span><br />123. Giuseppe Rossi<br />147. Carlos Tevez</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">173. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ji-Sung Park</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">180. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Antonio Valencia</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">448. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paul Scholes</span><br />646. Phillip Bardsley</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">700. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anderson</span><br />770. Mikael Silvestre</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">885. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gary Neville</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">931.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Rafael</span><br />935. Louis Saha</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">967. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Owen</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1028. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nani</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1188. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ben Foster</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1371. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wes Brown</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1382. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gabriel Obertan</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1399. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomasz Kuszczak</span><br />1603. Ruud van Nistelrooy<br />1805. Fraizer Campbell</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1839. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ferderico Macheda</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1856. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Darron Gibson</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1948. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fabio</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2006. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Danny Welbeck</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2057. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ritchie de Laet</span><br />2164. Chris Eagles</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2205. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zoran Tosic</span> (with just 1 point)<br /></span>Unranked: David Beckham (possible due to time at MLS), Owen Hargreaves (obvious reasons), Rodrigo Possebon, Tom Cleverley, et cetera.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now then. That basically doesn't mean much. Alot of these are relative with some not playing enough games and others just being obviously wrong. Let's have a look at some more craziness before I continue.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thierry Henry is the best player in the world. He was probably, at one point back around 2003-2004. Rafael Marquez is the second best defender in the world. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our own Gerard Pique came out first. I have huge respect for Pique and would love him back, but is he the best centre back in the world? No. Although in time he could well be. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Florent Malouda is apparently better than Andres Iniesta. With Tim Cahill coming a good 21 places higher of, 85th best player in the world, Kaka. Yes, THAT Kaka. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Luca Toni and Claudio Pizarro are higher up than David Villa, Edin Dzeko, Wayne Rooney, Raul and Zlatan IbralookslikeZachBraffovic (My beloved Pippo Inzaghi is tied with Ibrahimovic and Grafite[d Grease]). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Christian Abbiati is the greatest goalkeeper in the world. Hertha Berlin's Jaroslav Droby is second. I admit to not knowing who he is either. Buffon, Cech and Casillas and way below the likes of.. *ahem*.. Robert Green, Thomas Sorensen and </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Heurelho Gomes</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So. What is the point of this post? Not much really. Except to emphasis the point (if it hasn't been enough already) that stats in football are meaningless and misleading. You can rack up your pass count, saves per shots ratio and goals per minutes. But it's meaningless. To be a top class player, you must first play for a top class team in which you are winning major trophies.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm unranked by the way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Peace!</span></span>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-43573167909759314032009-10-22T06:45:00.000-07:002009-10-22T07:15:58.536-07:00#25 - Bumper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cutebabyfix.com/images/2007/10/horrible_food.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 326px;" src="http://cutebabyfix.com/images/2007/10/horrible_food.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Your resident blogger apologises for the lateness of this bumper-ish edition post, but you'll just have to get over it. I'm not getting paid! So, where to start?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Manchester United (</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/21/manchester-united-champions-league-moscow">pictured</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">) will come back from Moscow very satisfied with what was in my opinion our best performance this new season. Excluding the first 70 minutes or so against Bolton Wanderers. Antonio Valencia has recently decided the upside to scoring goals and enjoying a rich bit of form. Nani has looked good, yes I just said that. Fabio was excellent on wednesday, and it's hard to pick out a bad performer. No Nemanja, put your hand down.<br /><br />For those who are in anyway visual impa<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ired, were obstructed by a large object or just fell asleep</span> whilst watching the television. Listening to the commentators on wednesday afternoon you would think you were watching Alan Titchmarsh's brand new show: "Blades of Grass". With far more talk about grass, bouncing of balls on grass and so forth football seemed to be on the back burner.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The win in a tough Moscow climate but's us more than comfortable in our Champions League group and it would take a cock up of freakish proportions to push us off it. Home games against CSKA and Besiktas still to come we're pretty much there. This cannot be said for Liverpool. Who still have to travel to Lyon and host Fiorentina. As we look ready to get our revenge for the taunts we had to suffer in 2005.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Liverpool will feature a few more times in this blog. Mainly because of the huge game coming up this Sunday, with question marks over the only two Liverpool players who actually are any good, this has all of us licking our lips unlike the baby pictured.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Of course. Liverpool lately are more associated with beach balls. With one Liverpool beach ball sold on on Ebay for </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Liverpool-Beach-Ball_W0QQitemZ120482899350QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_SportsMemorabilia_Football_Memorabilia_ET?hash=item1c0d572596">£43.</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Do I really need to say anything more over this subject? It's still hilarious. With the misfortunes of said Beach Ball and </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_balloon_incident">Ballon Boy</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> it is not a good time to be an inflatable object. Sammy Lee is said to be looking nervous.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rio Ferdinand is a hot topic right now. And this blogger has no idea why. Yes, he has certainly made mistakes lately, but this is always likely with Rio, we should expect that. Just because he's been in the form of his life for the past two seasons and only now has dipped slightly people think it's the end of the world. Yes, Jonny Evans is banging on the door for a first team spot, but that is only because he is an excellent prospect. And yes, Nemanja Vidic did have a few shaky moments in CSKA, but honestly he's been much better than that earlier on the season. A nice powerful tower-above-Jamie-Carragher header in front of the kop on sunday would be nice though.<br /><br />Since this blogger was too lazy to update on the weekend, last cast our minds back to the Bolton Wanderers match. A slowly improving (and unlucky not to be higher in the league) Bolton Wanderers side were the visitors. A 2-1 really did flatter Bolton, unless you only saw the last 15 minutes or so in which for some reason we decided to crawl up in to a ball and hope Bolton didn't score. With the old Bolton tactics of hoofing up as far as possible and hoping something happens always a threat, they were honestly unlucky not to equalise later on. Of course, they were also lucky not to be 6-0 down at half time.<br /><br />Oh. There was an international break before that.. oh.. ah... I'm still awake. No, I just can't handle it; I've lost my mojo now.<br /><br />This blog has been brought to you by;<br /></span></span><ul><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Shreddies.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">A very poor lack of self discipline.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The awesome sounds of Mariachi el Bronx.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The very excellent, Uncharted 2.<br /></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-54970332069151615832009-10-21T01:02:00.000-07:002009-10-21T01:10:19.912-07:00I've not forgotten you.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2009/10/bentbeachballG_450x270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 197px;" src="http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2009/10/bentbeachballG_450x270.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">New blog post coming Thursday! In which will be discussed: CSKA, Beach Balls, Silly-questions-getting-no-answers, Ballon d'ors, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Green the new Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Swine Flu vaccinations, Postal Strikes, Favourite Films A-C, Uncharted 2 and Dating.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I might not be able to get through all that, but we'll see.</span></span>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-90733358121876392462009-10-06T03:27:00.000-07:002009-10-22T07:14:57.653-07:00#24 - Brothers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mytwocents.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/embarrassed-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 216px;" src="http://mytwocents.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/embarrassed-2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Family. Brothers. Where would we be without them? In the case of Rio Ferdinand we would be one point worse off in the Premier League table. Similar to Phil Neville's own goal for us a few years ago when we came from behind to beat Everton 4-2. I couldn't find a video of Phil's own goal. So watch this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWAAUIWCmsc&feature=PlayList&p=C7203F7EDE233D97&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6">classic Phil Neville moment</a> instead.<br /><br />Despite rescuing a draw against Sunderland at home questions will no doubt be asked about Ben Foster (pictured). Questions that have already been asked this season but now people are just asking louder prodding until they get an answer. There is no doubt that Ben Foster has the potential to be fantastic, he just needs a bit of a head check. This reminds me of Tim Howard. We got rid of him and he went to Everton and turned out to be a very good goalkeeper indeed. Before Foster's error, Berbatov answered some of his critics with a superbly taken bicycle kick goal. And the points were saved when good old Anton Ferdinand helped us out. Cameras cut to Rio Ferdinand, who for some reason is not laughing.<br /><br />So what does this all mean? Are we actually terrible? Are we staring relegation in the face?<br /><br />Of course not. We have games like this in every season. 8 wins and 1 draw in 9 games is still championship form games like these serve as a kick up the back side. It also gives Sir Alex Ferguson a superb chance for some misdirection.<br /><br />Like a Las Vegas magician, Sir Alex distracted everyone's attention from our teams shortcomings in the match (heck, in the second half Nani was one of our better players) with a superb dig at Alan Wiley for being unhealthy. The crowd forgets about Ben Foster and the subpar match against Sunderland disappears. The crowd clap and cheer. David Copperfield burns with envy. FA's not covinced.<br /><br />Hell. Jeff Winter certainly wasn't impressed. Which almost certainly means Sir Alex is right. Jeff Winter says Sir Alex would never have called Alan Wiley fit to his face. What Jeff Winter is forgetting as that Sir Alex knows Nemanja Vidic. He can say what he wants to anyone and know nothing bad will happen. Oh. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOfbcsMWixI">Classic Soccer AM moment</a>. The MMS "sent in" afterwards is pure genius.<br /><br />Edin Dzeko liked it though. As he accepts Fergie's praise. Sir Alex no doubt buttering up the superb bosnian who could be the Benzema that he wanted this year... next year.<br /><br />Le Havre are still banging on about Paul Pogba. They know the player doesn't want to stay with them, they just want him back so they can wait a few years and sell him off for about £10,000,000 to another club. Is that selfish? yes! Is it savy? yes! Le Havre have talked alot about fake contracts, parents and sucking up to FIFA. But not once have they actually mentioned what Le player Le wants, Havre they?<br /><br />Ritchie de Laet has just now signed a new contract with us. De Laet has looked very promising for us in his first team appearances and you'd have to go to the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://manunitedyouth.wordpress.com/">United Youth</a> blog to find out how he is does in the Reserves. I heard he signed it quickly and the was no De-lae. Yes, I just don't stop with bad puns.<br /><br />So now what? International br.. zzzzz. We'll be back in action against Bolton Wanderers on the 17th. I may try and sneak in another blog post until then.<br /><br />This blog has been brought to you:<br /></span><ul><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">3 days late.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Full of Rice Krispies.</span></li><li style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">In the mood for some Hot Chocolate.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >International break? Noooooo!</span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-6692947898190526282009-10-01T04:31:00.000-07:002009-10-01T04:54:05.110-07:00#23 - Knight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://monachusbellator.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/knight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 225px;" src="http://monachusbellator.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/knight.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Cryogenics, Fountain of Youth, Being a Vampire. These things may keep you alive for a very long time, but obviously-soon-to-be-knighted (thus pictured) Ryan Giggs doesn't need any of it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In what will be one of our tougher games of the group stages (Wolfsburg and CSKA away probably being the toughest) we came back from behind to secure a valuable 2-1 win against the reigning Bundesliga champions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It didn't start off too well with a fairly average first half and (criminally underrated) Dzeko's goal giving the Germans the lead. Minutes later Ryan Giggs' deflected free kick and his 150th goal for Manchester United equalised. What made this free kick even more special was Anderson's stare at the goal keeper for the entire time. Looking like a warrior ready to pounce on him even if he flinched. See a picture of it in it's (low-res) glory </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2650/vlcsnap2009100112h29m13.png">here</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">"Under-fire" (from some critics and possibly naval air cannons) Michael Carrick who by far had his best game of the new season sealed the win with a delightful finish curling the ball into the top right corner. Very similar to his 2nd goal against AS Roma in our 7-1 mauling in 2007. We now top our group and are a few wins away from already being qualified. Which everyone sort of already knew we would anyway.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">On the down side Michael Owen was taken off early on in the match after injuring his groin. A problem that he had during training days earlier. Though even if he remains injured until the end of the season his goal against Manchester City is more than enough to mean it's perfectly acceptable.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Rumours circulating about possible transfer targets for January or Summer. Bolton's best player Gary Cahill who really deserves an England cap has been linked. This though seems unlikely with us having Vidic, Ferdinand, Evans, Brown and O'Shea who can all cover for centre back as well as James Chester who seems to have a bright future with us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Another quality young player Sporting Clube de Portugal Goalkeeper Rui Patricio is also one linked with us. We're apparently keeping tabs on him. I'm not sure what it's a tab of, but we have it. Surely though with Van Der Sar possibly staying in goal until the end of the world and Ben Foster with the potential to be one of the best.. is he really needed? Even Tomasz Kuszczak is looking good lately. With two good performances against Wolves and Wolfsburg. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Rosenborg's Anthony Annan is another one linked with us. Sky Sports describes him as "all-action". Although we can safely assume if he has a bad game who remain mostly Annanymous. Thank you, I'm here all week.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This has been brought to you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Terrible weather again.</span></li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Pretending to know about Norwegien football.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://s352.photobucket.com/albums/r324/Marcho55/Cactuar.gif">This picture</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">.</span></span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-9305749868121497702009-09-26T10:00:00.000-07:002009-09-26T10:41:13.741-07:00#22 - Immortal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/11/20/article-1087860-028AE2F5000005DC-54_468x409.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 290px;" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/11/20/article-1087860-028AE2F5000005DC-54_468x409.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So. Here's today's bumper (by my standards) edition of everyone's least favourite blog beginning with "Rossobianch". Mainly due to laziness of not writing one midweek. But enough of midweek already.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">United continued winning ways with a comfy looking 2-0 win against Stoke City. Stoke, who like to combine ugly football with ugly </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://images.sportinglife.com/09/07/330/Dean-Whitehead-v-Nottingham-Forest_2340238.jpg">footballers</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (<a href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44132000/jpg/_44132381_kitson_getty300.jpg">[2]</a> <a href="http://www.fussballportal.de/wm-2006/dfb/kader/images/robert_huth.jpg">[3]</a> <a href="http://img.skysports.com/08/01/218x298/Matthew_Etherington_629822.jpg">[4]</a>), weren't exactly full of attacking menace. At all. Ben Foster could have had an awful game but we really don't know.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The breakthroughs came when Ryan Giggs (pictured) came on for the disappointing Nani (sound familiar?). Giggs went on to add 2 assists to his 3 last week. The ones amongst you whose favourite Sesame Street character was the Count will know that this adds up to 5 assists in a row for the 20-ish year old left winger. Berbatov and John O'Shea the ones who managed to put it on the back of the net from that point onwards. Paul Scholes deserves special mention for having the ball so much in the match that I'm quite sure he brought his own separate one with him today.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With a surprise result of Wigan Athletic beating Chelsea 3-1. This puts us back up to the top of the table once more on goal difference. Or goals scored, depending which site you read.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But enough about today! Who cares about the present when there is the past? In our Carling Cup 3rd round tie against Wolves, it was an easy 1-0 thanks to Danny Welbeck's goal following a one-two with Michael Owen. Fabio da Silva was sent off early on but if you missed that bit and watched the match you would never realise this unless you were sad enough to count players. Or unless you were </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PLjNWOu-Zn0/SdKrsP1cpjI/AAAAAAAAAh4/rMLQ1Mu1sd4/s400/the+count.jpg">Dimitar Berbatov look-a-like</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Count von Count.. "nine players, ten players... AH AH AH!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On top of that today was the 4th round draw of the Cheap Lager Cup and the reserves will be playing away to Barnsley. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Is that it? No! Of course there's more news..</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of our club's ambassadors, Bryan Robson has decided to take his not-so-brilliant-as-he-was-a-player management skills to Thailand. Presumably because it's so far away and no one from home will ever watch it.<br /><br />If in the blue half of Manchester they're using their billions to create a time machine to go back to last weekend just to bitch, moan and be bitter about it then maybe here's something to get them thinking. They will complain of corruption, crazy conspiracies, and black helicopters. But maybe the (perfectly normal) extra added time was <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327232.400-winners-wear-red-how-colour-twists-your-mind.html">because of their colour</a>? It's a very interesting read.<br /><br />Now that's over. We need to look forward to our rather tough home game against Wolfsburg midweek. Grafite certainly, needs to be stopped from doing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO9_YRwYEQc">this</a>.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This blog has been brought to you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wondering if Sampdoria are good enough to challenge for Serie A.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yum-Yums.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wondering what other football players look like muppets. Mick McCarthy does look like Sam the Eagle.<br /></span></span></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-91924155584061326082009-09-20T16:28:00.000-07:002009-09-20T18:28:53.817-07:00#21 - Joy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n13/n67001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 388px;" src="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n13/n67001.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As the red half of Manchester will be falling asleep with a huge grin on itself and for the first time since the last derby win, actually looking forward to work. The blue half (pictured) will be having sleepless nights and shouting "it was only 4 minutes added time, ref!".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This I feel I need to address first. I have a feeling this will be the biggest argument heard from City fans for the next year. Now. Firstly, there's a reason the announcer always says "a minimum of x minutes added time". This a minimum. People hopefully don't believe that by some bizarre circumstance every time the referee adds on time during stoppages in the match it doesn't miraculously end up being an exact minute. This is just the minute they put on the boards. It could well have been 4 minutes, 59 seconds and was rounded down. We don't know. Now, I have that goal put down as 95:28. So, let's say by some strange coincidence it was exactly 4 minutes that the referee had as added time. That leaves 1 and 28 seconds. Bellamy's goal scored in the 89th minute, with play not resuming until the 91st minute as well as the substitution for Michael Carrick to come on (which correct me if I'm wrong, I believe adds 30 seconds) more than covers it. Phew. Let's carry on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The game itself was rather exciting. What was a pretty even first half with a dire Ben Foster mistake letting Carlos Tevez (with the way the commentators talked of his closing down it was as if no other play ever closes down, only Tevez does it. He invented closing down.) pass into Gareth Barry to score. In the first minute Rooney put us ahead. Second half was all United besides the two Bellamy goals. 79% possession and what should have been a Berbatov hatrick. Then in the 95th minute, sheer ecstasy as Michael Owen makes us completely forget he ever played for Liverpool (did he? Didn't someone just make that up as a joke?) by scoring a huge goal and celebrating like a nut. Quite a relief really. Especially since Sir Alex, Ben Foster and Nemanja Vidic this week all knocked City's title bid.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The good news doesn't stop there. Craig Bellamy, the essence of calm, was snapped punching or pushing very hard with his hand in a fist shape the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://therepublikofmancunia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/pic.jpg">face of a fan</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Mark Hughes (who seems to have become deluded with wealth) tried to defend the actions by comparing it something Brian Clough did with a fan many years earlier. Brian Clough also fired two tea ladies for laughing after a defeat. It does not mean Craig Bellamy can fire tea ladies either. Mark Hughes really is going a bit off the boil accusing life long Manchester United fan Gary Neville of "over celebrating". Hm. I wonder who's player has been in a row of celebrating lately, Mark? Sparky also invented a penalty claim of Patrice Evra apparently fouling Carlos Tevez.<br /><br />On a related note, did anyone see Patrice Evra boo as he <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/09/16/1505428/patrice-evra-i-will-boo-manchester-citys-carlos-tevez">promised</a>?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More good news! Book maker William Hill lost approximately £1,000,000 due to Michael Owen's late winner. They then issued a </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/8717564">statement</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> that makes them sound very bitter. How fitting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In less interesting (but still good) news...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Park Ji-Sung has extended his stay until 2012. Which if you're stupid, is apparently when the world will end. The Mayan calender is not a suitable use for determining the life expectancy of the world. These are the same people who tore out children's hearts as a sacrifice.</span><br /><br />Now then. Next up is the Reserves' Carling Cup 3rd round tie against <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/audio/2009/jan/28/mick-mccarthy-wolves-rant">Mick McCarthy</a>'s Wolves. And until then let's gloat.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This blog has been brought you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ignoring our shambolic defending.</span></li><li style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Finding every piece of Manchester United memorabilia I own and strapping it to myself to walk around Manchester with tomorrow.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The Michael Owen fan club.</span></span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-76256008356525232582009-09-17T03:43:00.000-07:002009-09-17T04:11:42.659-07:00#20 - Rage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://files.myopera.com/angel292005/blog/ShowLetter1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 198px;" src="http://files.myopera.com/angel292005/blog/ShowLetter1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After a match that didn't quite serve up entertainment like our match against Spurs. We left Besiktas with a win, and 3 very good points away from home in a very tough climate thanks to Paul Scholes' very clever headed finish.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If anyone at all is worried about Wayne Rooney (pictured) and his temperment then they shouldn't be. Although he has matured a huge amount since he joined us way-back-when he of course still has his hot streak. And giving some stick to Turkish fans (maybe it was polite conversation?) and throwing down his boot in anger next a very worried looking Fabio isn't really much but a refreshing display of passion. Thankfully, since Wayne Rooney is english we will not be getting any headlines like "Rooney wants out to Real Mardid". Every time Cristiano Ronaldo did a sulk it was essential the same thing but no one blew it over quite so easily.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In spite of our win for this week at least, we sit second in our group due to Wolfsburg's impressive 3-1 win over CSKA. Although essentially now if we get 3 home wins we're home and try and through to the last 16.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped Paul Scholes to continue to play forever. Which is good news of course. With Ryan Giggs also set to play until the end of time as well only AC Milan can look on in envy of our experienced stars. Expect a £50m bid from Milan for Ryan Giggs in about 3 years.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Patrice Evra (still, why not a chant for him?) has continued to be a legend again. Saying that he'd boo (</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0CiS8xtmFo">old best friend</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">) Carlos Tevez with the United fans. Paddy Evra probably has more love for this club than some of our homegrown players.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">David Silva is apparently going to leave Valencia sometime soon according to the press just because he said the ol' phrase "things can change in the future". But either way, we must be over that like flies over poo-poo. If not, I will start by own club and put in a bid for him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Craig Cathcart as joined Watford on loan until january. Nothing to see here...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Does anyone else find it strange that English international Owen Hargreaves will not be counted as a home grown player under the new Premier League rules? True he hasn't been trained in England but he is (essentially) English.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So. Most importantly next up is Manchester City at home this sunday. City may well be without Robinho, Tevez and Adebayor. We may well be without Rio Ferdinand. Ben Foster will still having ringing in his ears after "not being able to think" due to the noise in Turkey.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Besides that though, we've still got a great team in what will be one of the most hotly contested Mancunian derbies in years. I'm practically on the edge of my seat already. Or so Sky Sports would want me to be.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This blog has been brought you by;</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Thinking Flavio Briatore was just really clever for making Nelson Piquet Jr. crash in Singapore.</span></li><li style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Still not caring about the UEFA Cup... uh... Europa League.</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Trying to think of a catchy chant for Paddy Evra.</span></span><br /></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-38528452931633749982009-09-12T11:59:00.000-07:002009-09-12T12:36:55.680-07:00#19 - Entertainment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ccinsurance.com.au/images/Inside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 356px; float: right; height: 212px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://www.ccinsurance.com.au/images/Inside.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >After a dull week of international football. We've finally had some entertainment, as we usually get anytime we play Spurs.<br /><br />Rio Ferdinand (</span><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/09/10/multi-millionaire-footballer-rio-ferdinand-holidays-in-prestatyn-caravan-park-115875-21663218/"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >pictured</span></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >) returned in what was an excellent performance despite Jermaine Defoe's early over head kick. Excellent Ryan Giggs' free kick was a beauty to behold. Then in something that is less likely then </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Ty9bSG6cU"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Derren Brown</span></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > *actually* finding a system for the lottery numbers, Anderson scored his first official goal for us. Paul Scholes' classic style of tackling (i.e. not tackling) earnt him a yellow card, before doing nothing earnt him a second one. Still though, unless you take the delightful job in counting the players on the pitch then you wouldn't have noticed United were down to ten men at all. Except, annoyingly enough a small red blip under United's name on the ESPN scoreboard. Totally distracting and annoying, I hope you agree. United's dominace continued as Wayne Rooney rapped up the points in impressive style.<br /><br />A great win for us all especially with such a tough away fixture after an international break, putting us up in to second place. Although since it's not December yet, positions don't mean anything. Just ask Hull City this time last year.<br /><br />In other news, Le Havre are still piping on about Paul Pogba, FIFA and Mickey Mouse contracts. With blatant disregard for what superbly named Paul Pogba wants and the fact that really this media love-in for Under-18s moving club is a minor fad. In Florence, a city full of style they don't want to be behind with the fads and they too are jealous of United's pulling power and looking to complain to FIFA about us taking (poaching, stealing, whatever) also excellently named Michele Fornasier.<br /><br />Remember back in the ninties when everyone was crazy for enchroachment? Pass backs? Rules that hardly anyone tends to care about anymore. This happens alot in football. Much like bungs and tapping up, which everyone knows happens, but everyone just shushes about it and hopes Sepp Blatter continues devising new methods of getting the </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3402519.stm"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >womans' football teams</span></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > to strip for him personally.<br /><br />On other news, "What accent is that?" Owen Hargreaves is on his way back... probably. Given the nod (although this blogger imagines no nods were actually used in this transaction) in the Champions League squad ahead of de Laet and Tosic, Hargo could make the last 3 games. Presuming he does do, has no further set backs, and returns to his earlier form he could be a superb assest for the rest of the season.<br /><br />Ben Foster looked superb again today but don't tell Ignor Akinfeev, who wants to play for us. Definitely better than Tomasz Ku...sz....k Tomasz. The man who's name you wish you could use in scrabble. Though would he really be worth it with Edwin Van Der Sar seemingly the basis for Dorian Gray?<br /><br /><em>This blog has been brought you by;<br /></em></span><ul><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><em>Wondering if Anderson has ever really shat on Fabgras?</em></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><em>Trying to get within Derren Brown's circle of friends.</em></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><em>Looking forward to the Champions League.</em><br /></span></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596391707812051342.post-41800803113374225152009-08-30T10:47:00.000-07:002009-08-30T11:34:07.314-07:00#18 - Climbing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sOnKY2Xwog8/SQ0E2sUNBHI/AAAAAAAABAE/CYbQ9EypHnM/s320/keyhole-742659.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 220px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sOnKY2Xwog8/SQ0E2sUNBHI/AAAAAAAABAE/CYbQ9EypHnM/s320/keyhole-742659.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Despite being mostly the better team Arsene Wenger's (</span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/4391824.stm"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">pictured</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">) Arsenal were sent home with no points at all. Something </span><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hs6xUgd7BupEg2e_tsTzZJRu9j4Q"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">David Bentley</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> wouldn't mind. Although the performance wasn't exactly sensational the commentators favourite cliche of winning when you're not being at your best is certainly to quote another commentator cliche, is the hallmark of Champions. </span><a href="http://i29.tinypic.com/2rylsb4.gif"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Climbing around Old Trafford though</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">, Arsene, is the hallmark of stupidity. Still. 3 points in the bag against one of our main title contenders this season. There's not too much to complain about, but inevitably people will. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This becomes doubly annoying as the International... zzzz... zzzz... zzzz. Oh sorry. The tedious International Break<span class="Apple-style-span">™ <span class="Apple-style-span">is coming up next. Is it just me that doesn't really care about international football during the season? I'm all for it afterwards but.. stop interrupting the leagues, damnit!</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Also. Does anyone know what time exactly Darren Fletcher turned from pretty good into possible world beater? It's really outstanding how much he's improved over the seasons. Certainly now surely Roy Keane can understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Anyway. When we do come back after the international break the Champions League kicks back in again. We were given a draw of such equally sort-of-good teams that's actually quite tough. Especially Wolfsburg and CSKA Moscow. Besiktas though, who were humiliated by Liverpool 8-0 a couple of years ago.. surely we should be looking forward to a double figures victory?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Speaking of cup draws. Our Carling Cup draw of course faces us with a Premier League team, thankfully not a particularly tough one. <a href="http://iloapp.elizabethdarling.com/blog/diary?ShowFile&image=1244216023.jpg">Mick McCarthy's </a>Wolverhampton Wanderers will be our opponents for the reserves. Is it just me that really enjoys watching them?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">So no Manchester United for a few weeks... what to do... what to do?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>This blog has been brought to you by;</em></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>Absolutely hating the colour commentator for ESPN's coverage of Serie A. Who successfully got every player wrong in the Roma vs. Juventus match.</em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>Banana Milkshakes.</em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>Deciding which International team to support for a few weeks.</em></span></li></ul>Colour Me Obvioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649825188709655423noreply@blogger.com5