On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Atila Reincarnate]

So Le Boss thinks working for Real Madrid would be an interesting project. I wonder how interesting he will find it working for a club where the manager doesn't always pick the 11 players to start a match or the players signed to the club. I can't see it myslef but we are approaching the end of the season and the tabloid hacks have got column inches to fill.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

I thought only Millwall fans were "proper" people, at least that's what they used to tell me when I moved to East Street Market in the middle 60's.

Atila, in my eyes, at least, you have become the most proper of all peoples.(tu)

East Street Market!!!

p.s. To avoid boring others, I'll pm you after this revelation...:)-D

[matthew123]

Think Wenger has floated the Madrid idea as a bargaining chip to win more funds for team building this summer

[pablogrande]

Of course scousers fought in the war, those panza tracks didn't steal themselves you know.;-)

Anna will you be cheering Sami off at the weekend

[matthew123]

"I have said so many times and I repeat it, we should have won more trophies in Europe," said Ferguson.

I find that quite an arrogant statement even from Ferguson, for me it shows disrespect to other clubs who could equally shout the odds. As an example closer to home, Chelsea have been in 5 Champions League semi finals in the last 6 years, but even they have enough class to remain silent.

What years does Ferguson actually think United should have won more European trophies? If anything, Ferguson should show some humility and admit they were lucky in both 99 and last year to win the Final after being outplayed by both Bayern and Chelsea.

[Sandperson]

hahahahahah, hilarious as usual. You weren't lucky in 2005 of course.

I think you should have a look at the interview video. He doesn't say it in a blustering way at all. Anyway, mid 90's, the restriction on numbers of homegrown/naturalised players hurt United. And who knows where English teams would be without a certain European ban?

[Keef]

I was about to tell Matthew to change the record, then I read

And who knows where English teams would be without a certain European ban?

And now feel less inclined to tell Matthew to shut up, and more inclined to answer the question.

The answer is SP, that Liverpool would more than likely have even more cups than they already do, being that they missed out on 3 European cup places, and one cup winners cup place. Man U missed out one one cup winners cup place, so there!

The ban sucked, and ys, Liverpool fans played a huge part, but bringing it up there was low, and the kind of thing that would make you throw your toys out of the pram.

RE: Ferguson, I agree, it is surprising that United haven't won more European cups in his time, given what they've won at home. If anything Matthew, can't you take pleasure in that?

Honestly, you kids.

[red devil]

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs011.snc1/4190_83499983189_509723189_1778857_1744050_n.jpg

Ok, thanks for the invite, it would be rude not to, see you next season.

Lots of love, your Manc cousins xx

PS. shall we bring a bottle?...

[Annasfield]

My Grandad (from Liverpool) met my Nan in Greece whilst serving in the British Army when Athens was under German occupation. So they most definitely did (fight in the war that is, not pinch tanks).

Anyhoo, back to football. Yes, Pablo I will be giving Sami a big send off on Sunday. Gutted to see him go, he has been fantastic for us but understand his reasons for leaving. Reckon he may well come back one day in a coaching capacity.

As the rumour mill is well under way re transfers, heard a belter last night. A mate, who claims his mate works at Melwood reckons that Alonso is off to Real Madrid (might have been another club, but I'd had a few bevies) for ?18m. This would be a travesty and I for one will be absolutely gutted if he goes. The second part is that Silva is signing from Valencia and following the sale of Xabi and other "fringe" players, we'd have some half decent cash for a striker. You heard it here first.

Liking the idea of Silva but gutted about Alonso if it's true. So (td) and (tu)

[Keef]

I'll second that, hope Alonso doesn't go anywhere!

Red Devil, the fact you remembered a sign from, what, 12 years ago? is, well you know, a bit weird.

[matthew123]

There were some great European teams during the 90s, such as Milan and Cruyff's Barcelona. But what is not often mentioned is the Red Star Belgrade team that toppled Milan but was quickly broken up due to the Balkans war. Ferguson and SP can gripe all they want.. but spare a thought to Ajax! If it were not for the Bosman ruling I think Ajax would have totally dominated European football for the next 10 years - remember the likes of Jari Litmannen, Edgar Davids, Seedoff, De Boer brothers, Kanu, Overmars, Van Der Saar... yes they all played for Ajax and won the Champions League as kids and that team would only have got better if they stayed together at Ajax.

Was Peter Schmeichal not playing playing at the Nou Camp and other places, really the difference between the 'great' Manchester United losing 4-0 at the Nou Camp and conquering Europe?

That is the reason why Ferguson is being arrogant with his claims about United with total disrespect for other clubs. Fergie may have not been shouting his head off about it but he doesn't need to when he knows full well large chunks of the media put it straight into print as fact. Hilarious!

Yes Liverpool were a little lucky to come from 3-0 down to win the Champions League in 2005 but they were unlucky 2 years later when the boot was on the other foot in Athens against Milan. Keef is right no English club suffered more from the European ban than Liverpool and when you consider the 86 Double team or the Barnes, Beardsley, Aldridge team never played in Europe.

[red devil]

Don't worry Keef, that's been flying around the internet all week, surprised you haven't come across it already, but then again you do live in Sydenham...;-)

[matthew123]

Alonso wants to stay at Liverpool and based on his renaissance this season I'd say it would take a lot more than ?18m to prize him away with 3 years left on his contract. I hear that the rumour has eminated from Spain and has no foundation.. at least according to Guillem Balague.

David Silva is a fine player but looks too lightweight for the PL, I might be wrong but I'd prefer the money went on Antonio Valencia of Wigan for a few more million. Also would like to see Tevez at Anfield, who'd be a useful addition.

I just hope Rafa does not spread his money too thinly - and end up with junk like Gareth Barry and Stewart Downing because he signs new full backs (again). Time for Rafa to show trust in the kids rather than spending good money on crap, like Dossena, to beef up the squad. Rather save the money for players who can improve first XI.

[Keef]

Don't worry Keef, that's been flying around the internet all week, surprised you haven't come across it already, but then again you do live in Sydenham...;-)

Perhaps, but just as you originally hail from Manchester, and have a load of Johnny come latelys supporting your team, I actually hail from ED, and have a load of you living in my yard! ;-)

Hadn't seen the banner to be honest, but was only messin. I do remember I famous one from sometime in the latter 90s, when the mancs held up a "we won the title on Merseyside" banner, that one hit a few nerves.

[Sandperson]

Sandperson Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> And

> who knows where English teams would be without a

> certain European ban?

Sorry to quote myself Keef but I said the above, I didn't say who knows where UNITED would be without the ban. Actually, we missed out on two Uefa cup places too, but you seem to have missed those. Surely it was how much it set English teams back when they finally got back into Europe and didn't have the experience needed to compete and we didn't get all our places back for another five years. Everton were big losers, they weren't allowed to compete in Europe and lost a great manager like Howard Kendall in the process.

So, Fergie is being arrogant for being quoted in the press and Peter Schmeichel would have made no difference to a United side. Yet again, your points are laughable and totally unprovable. Fergie can't help that the press hang on his every word (and so do you by the seems of it) Schmeichel was a match winner for us and a dominant force indefensive terms. You only have to look at our performances on occaision with keepers like Barthez and Bosnich. And as for Ajax dominating European football? Maybe, but as they probably wouldn't have been able to keep the team together, I doubt it.

And finally, Keef, you are telling me your wouldn't bring up an equivalent banner if the shoes was on the other foot? ;-)

[red devil]

It's the 'wall fans I feel sorry for, (sorry Quids, Jah, Atila et al, you're all foreigners round these parts too), having to put up with our bickering...

[Atila Reincarnate]

red devil Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> >

> It's the 'wall fans I feel sorry for, (sorry

> Quids, Jah, Atila et al, you're all foreigners

> round these parts too), having to put up with our

> bickering...

Eh, who, what, when??? What's been going on in my absence??

[Keef]

SP, I was joking about the banner, thought I made that clear. Apologies for missing the 2 UEFA places, I'm no encyclopedia, I just looked it up, and they weren't mentioned. My point was just that you may not be so close to "knocking Liverpool off their perch" had it not been for the ban.

[????]

we missed a UEFA spot 'cos of the ban :(

[Keef]

I feel sorry for all the clubs that missed out on Europe due to the ban, but it gets to me when United harp on about it, like Liverpool cost them so much.

[matthew123]

The European ban was not solely based on Heysel it was a culmination of violence carried out by various English clubs in the years that preceded Heyel - Heysel was quite rightly the straw that broke the camels back. For instance Man United were banned by UEFA from playing at Old Trafford hence why they had to play at Anfield.

Similarly, such was the violence in English football during the 70s that both Man United and Chelsea were banned from having domestic Away support for one season.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

The problem was that Clubs that got involved in "naughty" things in Europe dragged down the good names of Teams like Leeds, West Ham, Cardiff and Millwall who might have been able to play in European competition....

[????]

;-)

[Mick Mac]

The European ban resulted in Rangers winning lots of titles as they had half the English international team playing for them under Graeme Souness. I was very glad when the ban ended - it took about 5 mins for the English players to get to the departure lounge at Glasgow airport to return home, never to show their faces in Glasgow again. What a loyal bunch.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Player loyalty? In football? You're joking, right?