Theatre Of Dreams #23 - Theatre Of Football!

[Rupert G]

Salam.

Sambung sini Red-Devils!!!

[Mayamulisha]

I'm happy at Blackburn,' claims Duff

Blackburn Rovers winger Damien Duff has shrugged off speculation that he wants to leave Ewood Park.

The Republic of Ireland international has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United since impressing in the World Cup last summer.

And newspaper reports over the weekend suggested that he was unhappy with the size of the transfer fee that Blackburn were said to be demanding for him.

But Duff told the Irish Examiner: 'Anything I say now there is an angle on it. I made one small comment and it was twisted out of all proportion, blown all over the papers and television.

'I am truly in the dark about what might be happening. I think the player is always the last to know. At the moment I just consider it paper talk.

'I haven't talked to the gaffer about it. I am happy where I am at the minute and that's a Blackburn Rovers player.'

[Rupert G]

Ronaldinho hint

Rumoured United target Ronaldinho has dropped a huge hint about his future.

The Brazilian superstar has suggested that this weekend's French Cup Final will be his last game for Paris St Germain, whom he joined in July 2001, and United are said to have already requested talks with the Stade de France club.

"I can't wait for the cup final especially as I feel really good at the moment," said Ronaldinho, in the build-up to the match against Auxerre which Sir Alex is expected to attend.

"I have been happy here and Paris has been an experience I'll never forget."

Francis Graille, the new president of PSG, has revealed that United have shown an interest in the 23-year-old forward - but has refused talks until after the Cup Final.

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36368

[Rupert G]

What The Papers Say: Wednesday 28 May

Ruud begs Fergie to match Robson
Ruud van Nistelrooy wants Alex Ferguson to do a Bobby Robson. Manchester United boss Fergie, 61 – who landed his eighth Premiership title this season – signed a three-year contract in 2002 after doing a U-turn over retirement plans. But he is nine years younger than Newcastle chief Robson – and van Nistelrooy insists Ferguson should keep working too.
Sports staff, The Sun

Charlton: adapt or we’ll fail
Bobby Charlton has conceded Manchester United may never conquer Europe again unless they change their whole approach. Charlton, a winner with United in 1968, will be the most frustrated man in town tonight when Juventus and AC Milan meet at Old Trafford in the European Cup final. United beat Juve in the tournament this season yet crashed out to Real Madrid in the last eight despite putting FIVE goals past them over the two legs. Now Sir Bobby reckons Alex Ferguson’s men must drop the gung-ho approach and adopt a more defensive style if they are to repeat their 1999 win.
Phil Thomas, The Sun

We don't want Beckham
AC Milan are the latest European giant to deliver a stinging snub to David Beckham. The England skipper was linked to Real Madrid until the Spanish club insisted they had no interest in signing him. Italian big guns Milan have also been monitoring his position at Manchester United and were rumoured to have leapt to the head of the queue. Milan star Rui Costa exclusively told SunSport yesterday that Becks should give it a go in Italy. But on the eve of their all-Italian European Cup final against Juventus - at United's own Old Trafford stadium - AC officially turned their back on Becks. Their manager Carlo Ancelotti made sweeping changes last year after finishing fourth in Serie A - and those have paid off with their march to tonight's final. Now he does not intend to make too many more in the summer.
Phil Thomas, The Sun

Fergie: We must defend like Italians
The accent of the Old Trafford evening will be very Italian - but it is time for Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson to look and learn. When Juventus and AC Milan walk out tonight the United boss and his players must identify their own shortcomings, rather than think about what might have been. There is surely no chance of the Champions League final coming remotely close to the last European game at Old Trafford in terms of excitement, attacking football and sheer exhilaration. United's exit at the hands of Real Madrid was a glorious night as the two sides threw everything at each other. But football is about winning as well as style. Madrid were too good for United, but picked off by the coldly clinical and calculating Juventus in the semis. And for all the thrills Fergie's team are capable of producing, he knows that Juve and Milan already have the defensive solidity he must install in his own troops. Ferguson said: "I honestly believe that we are very close now to where we want to be in the Champions League."
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror

Wenger turns down Real job
Arsene Wenger has rejected the advance of Real Madrid and committed himself to Arsenal for at least the next two years. The Arsenal manager admitted meeting Madrid officials in Paris last week but said he had no intention of walking out. 'I met everyone on Friday,' Wenger told L'Equipe. 'But I've got two years left on my contract at Arsenal and I'll see that out.'
Matt Lawton, Daily Mail

Goal-shy Paul, man of mystery
Paul Scholes is well aware he has an anniversary looming - and it is not one he will be celebrating wildly. When England play Slovakia on June 11 in the Euro 2004 qualifier they have to win, Scholes will be looking back on two years of international football in which he has failed to score a single goal. In all, he has played 55 matches for his country, which makes him the most capped player in the squad preparing for England's final two games of the season, and he has scored 13 goals, second only in this party to Michael Owen.
Steve Curry, Daily Mail

Theatre workshop
Old Trafford received a timely name change yesterday when the stadium Manchester United call their theatre of dreams was described as the Theatre of Football by the organisers of this evening's Champions League final. It was probably something that was lost in translation when Uefa produced the official programmes and posters for the all-Italian contest between Juventus and AC Milan, but for Sir Alex Ferguson and everyone at the host club, it somehow seemed appropriate. For Manchester United's manager, tonight's game represents a lesson in European football that will be played out in the luxury of his own backyard.
Matt Lawton, Daily Mail

Fergie in Boro raid
Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to make a final move to sign Gareth Southgate from Middlesbrough. The Manchester United manager wants to add an experienced defender to his squad as he launches a concerted effort to win the Champions League. Ferguson almost signed Southgate when he was at Aston Villa but the player was not interested in the one-year contract offer. Now Ferguson believes a two-year deal will tempt the England centre-half, who has recently spoken of his frustration at not playing European football.
Martin Hardy, Daily Mail

Milan move for Becks
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister and the nation's richest man, has authorised a move by his club AC Milan, for David Beckham. The England captain will not be at Old Trafford tonight to see Milan play Juventus in the European Cup final. Instead Beckham, wife Victoria and their two sons, are on a family holiday in the United States. He has been made aware of two firm approaches for his services - one from Milan and another from a multi-millionaire bidding to take control of Barcelona. United are ready to cash in on any offers of more than £30million.
Harry Harris, Daily Express

Milan don't want Becks
AC Milan have played down a £30million move for David Beckham as they prepare to take on Juventus in tonight's Champions League final at Old Trafford. Milan have been linked with Beckham since Real Madrid insisted they would not be making a summer bid for the England captain. But coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "I admire the technical ability of a number of Manchester United players, but we have great players here and this Milan side will stay together. Milan doesn't need to be rebuilt and there will be no big changes."
Brian Woolnough, Daily Star

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=36361&itype=466&icategoryid=0

[Rupert G]

Hairy no-frills airline ad makes Beckham snippy: press

LONDON, May 29 (AFP) - David Beckham has asked budget airline easyJet to donate several thousand dollars to a children's charity after it used a photograph of him sporting plaited hair without permission, a British daily newspaper said Thursday.
Beckham asked Easyjet to make a 10,000 pound (16,000 dollar, 14,000 euro) donation after it used a photograph of the famed England football captain with "cornrow" plaits, The Independent said.

The tagline for the easyJet advert stated "Hair today, Gone Tomorrow," the newspaper said.

An easyJet spokesman, quoted in the article, confirmed that the footballer's management company, SFX, had written to the airline complaining about the use of the picture without its permission.

"They wrote us a very polite, friendly letter asking us to consider a donation," said the spokesman, Toby Nichol, according to The Independent.

Nichol said that the advertisement was a play on rumours about Beckham's possible move from Manchester United to European Champions Real Madrid, adding that there was "absolutely no threat of legal action."

But a spokesman for the footballer's management company told the paper they took a very serious view of such matters.

"We have a standard process of taking legal action when companies use images of our clients without our express position," the spokesman said.

easyJet has run a variety of satirical topical ads featuring many celebrities -- none have been asked for permission -- the newspaper said.

sumber: http://www.totalsportsasia.com/afp/english/topics/fblpremier/030529010555.n5k510ho.html

[Rupert G]

Salam.

Veron mendahului dalam SportsCenter Best Goal Of The Season - Champions League!!! Untuk mengundi sila ke : http://www.espnstar.com/jsp/cda/studio/sportscenter_chl_poll.jsp



Poll Result

Best Goals

Pablo Aimar 21 %
Clarence Seedorf 3 %
Juan Sebastian Veron 49 %
Roy Makaay 3 %
Ronaldo 24 %

[Rupert G]

RUUD'S GOT ME ROCKIN'


Patrick Kluivert tells The Sun that Ruud van Nistelrooy has been pestering him to leave Barcelona and join him at Manchester United. The Dutch striker said: "If it had been down to Ruud, I would have signed for United a long time ago. I have had various calls from Ruud, at lesat three. We've also chatted when we've been together with the Holland team. I don't know whether he's joking or not, but he's told me lots of times that, sooner or later, I'll end up playing for United."

sumber: http://www.4thegame.com//features/feature/129976//

[Rupert G]

Salam.

Best save: Barthez di tmp kedua...untuk mengundi sila ke:

http://www.espnstar.com/jsp/cda/studio/sportscenter_chl_poll.jsp

Poll Result

Best Saves

Gianluigi Buffon (1) 58 %
Fabien Barthez 26 %
Francesco Toldo 14 %
Gianluigi Buffon (2) 2 %
Roberto Bonato 0 %

[Rupert G]

Beckham would get no time - Lineker

David Beckham has been warned he would be given no time at all to settle in if he joined Real Madrid at some stage in his career.

BBC television presenter Gary Lineker - a former England captain who was a hit in Spain as a player with Barcelona - believes Beckham would have to prove himself instantly if he did move.

"Clubs like Real and Barcelona are used to buying great players of the world so you have got to live up to it and live up to it quick," said Lineker. "That doesn't happen so much in this country because we are not used to buying the best in the world and we still don't. We might stumble across one or two by getting them early, like Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy, but we don't go out there and buy Ronaldo and Rivaldo at their prime and people like that. We don't spend that lunatic money."

England captain and Manchester United midfielder Beckham has been linked with a move to the Spanish giants, although the club and player have both insisted his future is at Old Trafford.

Lineker's views are shared by his BBC colleague Alan Hansen, who said: "It would be a big test for Beckham. He is a class player and a quality player, but because of the status he has got he wouldn't be given long to settle in.

"When foreigners come to English clubs they are given maybe nine to 12 months to settle in - I think Beckham would have nine minutes. If, for example, he went to Real and started badly it would be catastrophic for him."

Despite the warning, Lineker believes Beckham would enjoy the challenge of playing for a club such as Real at some stage.

He said: "If it is a big club like Barcelona, Milan or Real then you have to think about it. If you have played in this country for a number of years and fancy a fresh challenge, it can't do any harm and it is great for your game.

"It is not about money, it is about the challenge. Don't forget that nowadays the top players in this country are paid as much as their European counterparts, whereas when I played there was a massive difference in salary if you played for a big European club, so that doesn't come into the equation."

sumber: http://www.4thegame.com/news/breakingnews/10018

[Mayamulisha]

Kiriman asal oleh Rupert G
RUUD'S GOT ME ROCKIN'

Patrick Kluivert tells The Sun that Ruud van Nistelrooy has been pestering him to leave Barcelona and join him at Manchester United. The Dutch striker said: "If it had been down to Ruud, I would have signed for United a long time ago. I have had various calls from Ruud, at lesat three. We've also chatted when we've been together with the Holland team. I don't know whether he's joking or not, but he's told me lots of times that, sooner or later, I'll end up playing for United."



roxx on!! wa ingat peluang utk tengok kluivert beraksi utk MU dah terpadam, tapi lepas baca news ko ... boleh buat wa tersenyum balik..

[Rupert G]

Salam.

Apa kata lepas ni kita pasang cita-cita gi Old Trafford...:D

[Rupert G]

Stats back Roy

Anyone doubting Roy Keane’s future should perhaps review their evaluation of the Irishman’s abilities.

ManUtd.com has uncovered statistics that suggest Roy Keane is still very much on top of his game.
Despite having his season heavily disrupted by a career-threatening hip injury, Roy returned to something like his best in the final few weeks of the season.

Keane’s ability to break up opposition attacks and spark counters for United is one of his greatest attributes. Yet even in a season where he is considered not to have come close to his best form, the United skipper has excelled.

Keane was crucial to United’s exemplary defence record with 71% of his tackles being successful. However, it is his amazing passing accuracy that makes him stand head and shoulders above the rest. No other Premiership midfielder bettered Keane’s passing accuracy of 89%.

The United captain has the best record in all three areas of the field as well. 94% of his defensive passes found their mark, while only 8% of his passes in the centre of the park went astray. And in attack Keane was just as deadly - 80% of his passes reached their intended target.

Whilst statistics can be overplayed and over-analysed, these figures clearly show Keane’s importance in Fergie’s side.

Roy will be looking forward to a full summer of rest before returning to captain United next season – something many of his harshest critics thought he would never achieve.

Keane was barracked in some quarters for his lacklustre performances after returning from hip surgery late in December last year, and the Irishman never really showed his true potential arguably until April and May.

But Keane himself has acknowledged that it took five months to fully recover from his knee ligament injury picked up in the infamous tussle with Alf Inge Haaland in 1997/98. So, it came as no surprise then that, after an injury that threatens to cause him so many problems later on in life - a hip replacement at the age of 45 isn’t an unrealistic proposition – it would take him four months to show signs of getting back to his best.

The statistics back it up, but anybody who saw some of Keane’s performances at first hand in April and May will know his United career is far from over.

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36379

[Rupert G]

Gunners to go down?

Reds fans could be tempted to go for a cheeky double next season, with United to win the League and Arsenal to be relegated after the 2003/04 Premiership odds were released.
Manchester United have been installed as favourites for the 2003/04 Premiership title, with Ladbrokes offering even money on the Reds winning back-to-back Championships. £10 on that would win you a total of £20 - so it's further down the field that you have to look to make big money.

Runners-up Arsenal suffered a spectacular crisis of confidence towards the end of the season, and if you reckon it will carry on into next season and they'll be relegated you can get odds of 1000/1 on them going down to Division One. That, combined with United's ninth title in twelve seasons, would give you an incredible win of £15,730 from just a £10 stake.

United are a huge 1500/1 to go down for the first time since the mid-1970s, while Liverpool are a less generous 250/1.

The Anfield outfit are 6/1 to claim the title, with Newcastle at 7/1 and Chelsea further out at 16/1.

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36427

[Rupert G]

Beckham rumours resurface

Barcelona are reported to have joined the chase to sign Manchester United midfielder David Beckham.

The Times newspaper claims that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is prepared to sanction the sale of England captain Beckham if a club comes in with a £30m bid.

That would give Ferguson the funds to strengthen his squad over the summer and boost United's chances of winning next season's Champions League.

Ferguson is keen to buy a world-class goalkeeper, defender and striker as he looks to win a ninth Premiership title in 12 years next season.

European Cup winners AC Milan and city rivals Inter Milan are also likely to be interested in signing Beckham if they can raise the funds to prise him away from Old Trafford.

Beckham played down the transfer talk by stating he intends to remain a Manchester United player, but Ferguson has grown tired of the midfielder's massive celebrity status.

United chief executive Peter Kenyon told the BBC on 11 May that he would seriously consider any offer for Beckham that topped £30m.

"It would be remiss of us not to," Kenyon said.

"That is the case for David Beckham and anyone else in the squad. David is a critical part of the team but things change.

"Ultimately players retire, so for any key figure in the team there is a life-span.

"Even if David sees out the rest of the career at United there will be a time when we have to replace him."

Meanwhile, reports suggest that United are closing in on deals to sign keeper Tom Howard from the New York/New Jersey Metrostars and Paris Saint-Germain forward Ronaldinho.

sumber: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2949100.stm

[Rupert G]

UEFA delighted with final

UEFA have told United that they are delighted with the way in which the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final was hosted on Wednesday evening.

AC Milan's win on penalties was the culmination of a year and a half's work for many of the club's staff, and European football's governing body have told officials that the night couldn't have gone better.

"The staff have done fantastically well. UEFA are very happy with the way it all went," Assistant secretary Ken Ramsden said the day after the final.

"The best bit of the whole occasion was the meeting this morning when UEFA told us they were absolutely delighted. That was always a worry for me - I wondered how I could face UEFA the day after the game if they had a list of things that they didn't like.

"But they told us at a party that they were happy, and if they were made up then we certainly were."

40,000 fans made the trip from Italy to Manchester for the biggest match of the season, with every single one of them enjoying the atmosphere and not spoiling the fun for everyone else.

"There were people who were disappointed that two teams from the same country were coming, but they had nothing to worry about. They came to town, took over the town and behaved impeccably," Ken continued.

"62,000 fans here - not one arrest. There were five people ejected but that was for not having tickets. There was nobody hurt, no pitch incursions, no streakers. Our security staff and stewards were absolutely brilliant.

"There's no such thing as an average game for us, but the funny thing is that this was one of the smallest attendances of the season at Old Trafford. The eyes of the football world were on us last night, that was great for us."

Congratulations to everyone involved in staging the match.

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36444

[Rupert G]

Ferdinand set for Friday check-up

LONDON, May 29 (AFP) - Rio Ferdinand's injured knee will be examined by Manchester United medical staff on Friday after England's flight back from their training camp at La Manga, Spain, was delayed.
There is no news yet but an assessment will now take place on Friday," a United spokesman said Thursday.

Ferdinand sustained the injury in Durban during last week's friendly win over South Africa. United are anxious to know just how serious is the damage to their 29 million pounds (46m dollars) centre-half.

And England will want to find out if Ferdinand is ready for Tuesday's friendly with Serbia-Montenegro and the Euro 2004 qualifier with Slovakia on June 11.

Following the unseemly tug-of-war between Everton and the Football Association (FA) over England striker Wayne Rooney, both sides will want to avoid another 'club v country' row over Ferdinand.

And that makes it likely that the FA will accept the United verdict on Ferdinand's fitness.

sumber: http://www.totalsportsasia.com/afp/english/topics/fblpremier/030529174340.dr2bzvzj.html

[Rupert G]

What The Papers Say: Friday 30 May

£40m Van raid
Ruud van Nistelrooy has become a £40million target for Barcelona. And that could see him team up with Dutch pal Patrick Kluivert. Spanish giants Barca will be holding elections for a new president next month. And several contenders have put the Manchester United hitman top of their shopping list. Ex-Barcelona vice-president Josep Martinez-Rovira, who is in the running, admitted: "We have spoken to Ruud's agent and we believe the player is very interested in joining our project to make us great again. He is interested in the proposal we have made to him."
Ross Gregory, The Sun

Time to listen to Becks
The chair sailed straight through the front window of the Belgian high street cafe. The women and children inside cowered as their afternoon tea was disrupted by a shower of broken glass. Outside a group of England "fans" lurched against each other, laughing raucously in the time-honoured tradition of the moron. Stripped to the waist in the early summer sunshine that had accompanied the start of Euro 2000, they revealed themselves in all their glory. Slovenly, overweight, shaven-headed, tattooed and three sheets to the wind at four o'clock. And all fully-paid up members of Combat 18, the National Front and those other neo-Nazi organisations who were doing their damnedest to get England ejected from the tournament. They didn't succeed but, from that moment, England's hopes of staging World Cup 2006 were dead in the water.
Steven Howard, The Sun

Sven's got back ache
England boss Sven Goran Eriksson has a centre-back crisis on his hands now Rio Ferdinand is facing a knee operation. Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, Jonathan Woodgate and Wes Brown are ALL out of the June 11 Euro 2004 qualifier with Slovakia in Middlesbrough. Manchester United star Ferdinand has been struggling with the injury for six weeks and FA medics now believe he needs surgery. Ferdinand will be checked over by United's doctors today but it is expected they will confirm the FA diagnosis.
Shaun Custis, The Sun

Decision day for crocked Rio
Manchester United will decide today whether to send Rio Ferdinand for surgery on his injured knee. An operation on the long-standing problem, which was aggravated playing for England in South Africa last week, will rule him out for six weeks. It would be a huge blow for Ferdinand, who will definitely miss England's friendly with Serbia on Tuesday and the Euro 2004 qualifier with Slovakia on June 11. He would also struggle to be ready for United's pre-season preparations and four-game tour of America at the end of July.
John Cross, Daily Mirror

Serie A or Serie Aaargghh
The celebrations in Milan went on long into the night, but there was little joy elsewhere in Europe as Italy's football renaissance bored the continent into submission. AC Milan's Champions League Final triumph over Juventus allowed Carlo Ancelotti and his side to call themselves the best in Europe, even if opposite number Marcelo Lippi publicly doubted their right to brag. If the ultimate result is all- important, then Milan will point to the return of the Cup with the "Big Ears" to the San Siro for the sixth time as justification for the game they played. The fact of an all-Italian final demonstrated that Serie A has clawed itself back from the self-doubt that had begun to eat away at the national consciousness over the past four seasons. Yet the carping from Madrid of Ronaldo, whose spell in Milan with Inter was decidedly unsuccessful, will have struck more of a chord than any Italian delight. He dismissed both the game and the two finalists as he delivered a withering put-down. Real's Brazilian ace said: "It was obviously no great spectacle. We all saw that it was a very ugly and boring final."
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror

Bored by Italians? Juve got it wrong
The European Cup final was the most fascinating, exciting and intriguing game that I have seen this season. That people would say it was a boring goalless contest is wrong as the superb duel between Juventus and AC Milan was a stunning exhibition of top-class European football and a great advert for the Champions League. Furthermore, it raised questions as to whether our best teams, Arsenal and Manchester United, could cope at the highest level in the Champions League and in all honesty the two Italian giants showed that they are still a notch above the best that the Premiership has to offer. The first half was played at a terrific pace, the second half was a bit more of a tactical battle but AC Milan finished extra-time with three strikers so both teams were determined to win without the lottery of penalties. It was a far cry from a typical Italian match and it may sound stupid but both teams were determined to put on a different and exciting exhibition of football because they were in a foreign country. If you analyse the first half, that was played at an electric pace with the sort of speed that the Premiership is famous for. However, when our teams play at that sort of pace in the Premiership it induces so many mistakes, bad passing and players conceding possession very cheaply. In stark contrast, the likes of Edgar Davids and Clarence Seedorf were magnificent in midfield.
Mark Lawrenson, Daily Mirror

Ambush!
Manchester United plan to pinch Republic of Ireland ace Steve Finnan from under the noses of arch-rivals Liverpool. Sir Alex Ferguson is lining up a shock move for the Fulham defender - even though Finnan appeared to be earmarked for Anfield. Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier targeted Finnan to fill his problem right-back position several months ago. And a £4m deal to take the 27-year-old to Anfield has been widely reported.Now, Houllier may be out-manoeuvred by Ferguson - just as he was when French star Mikael Silvestre opted for Old Trafford four years ago.
Bill Thornton, Daily Star

Keep on the attack
Manchester United and Arsenal must not betray their commitment to attack in a desperate bid to win the Champions League, insists former Newcastle striker Jon-Dahl Tomasson. Danish international Tomasson was part of the AC Milan squad which triumphed in the final at Old Trafford, although he was forced to watch from the sidelines with a shoulder injury. Tomasson, 26, said: "Manchester United have done reallt well for many years, so I think they should remain true to their strengths."
George Scott, Daily Star

If only could do Italian job
At £30m, Rio Ferdinand is not just the costliest, he should also be THE outstanding central defender in European football. He isn't. Not yet. Manchester United's hugely talented signing still has a lot to learn about the art of dominating the best forwards around. That was so obvious when AC Milan and Juventus treated us to a wonderful exhibition of protecting what is theirs during Wednesday's European Cup final at Old Trafford. The Italians view defending as we in England boast about our goalscorers. We like a shoot-out, they enjoy a shut-out just as much.
Brian Woolnough, Daily Star

Nev set to Phil gap
Sven Goran Eriksson is ready to solve his shock midfield crisis with a shock switch for Phil Neville. The absence of Neville's Manchester United team-mate David Beckham through injury and suspension has left Eriksson with a major problem for next week's friendly against Serbia and the Euro 2004 qualifier against Solvakia on June 11. With Beckham absent, Eriksson is considering moving Steven Gerrard out to the right. He will then use Neville in the middle along with Paul Scholes.
David Woods, Daily Star

I would love to manage Madrid - Wenger will decide future in two weeks
Arsene Wenger reopened the row over his talks with Real Madrid last night by admitting he would love to coach the Spanish giants. Wenger stunned Arsenal this week when he revealed that he had had talks with Real president Florentino Perez in Paris last Friday. The Gunners manaer has since said he will see out the remaining two years on his contract.
Tony Banks, Daily Express

Ferdinand facing knee operation
Rio Ferdinand is out of England's vital Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia and may have to undergo surgery on his knee. The £29million defender flew home from La Manga yesterday, where he had been staying with the England squad sinec last Friday, and headed straight for Manchester. United will assess his condition this morning in a bid to get him fit for the club's tour of America in July.
David Hytner, Daily Express

Becks keeps options open
David Beckham is reconsidering his decision to stay at Old Trafford because it is increasingly "difficult to live a normal life" in England. Beckham made a definitive statement pledging he will remaining at Manchester United following speculation over a move to Real Madrid.
Harry Harris, Daily Express

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=36500&itype=466&icategoryid=365

[Man_United]

Assalamualaikum ..

sekali lagi aku ulangi bahawa aku setuju amat ..
jika Ronaldinho bermain untuk Manchester United .. :D

[kaZam]

hmm.. cilakak nyer barca.. nak election, guna nama pemain utd nak dapat vote..cilakak².. xder idea lain ka??..

[delete]

Kiriman asal oleh Rupert G
Salam.

Apa kata lepas ni kita pasang cita-cita gi Old Trafford...:D

Jangan lupakan saya ngan Madd yek... Kami pon nak pegi.


- Rilek arr kaZam, ko kan dah ucap selamat jalan untuk David. Jangan sedih sangat, enjoy ppl. heheheheh

[Rupert G]

Salam.

Jangan risau, nanti Aku, Maya dan mungkin Carlos pergi Old Trafford, kita akan pastikan kita beli sticker MU untuk ko...:D

[Rupert G]

Ferguson set to reign on

Sir Alex Ferguson says he could be Manchester United manager for the next 10 years.
And record signing Rio Ferdinand could keep him company after declaring he would be happy to play out his career at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's Premiership win has renewed the appetite of Ferguson who is currently halfway through a two-year contract extension.

Ferguson has clearly enjoyed his joust with Arsenal and his victory in the mind games withGunners' boss Arsene Wenger.

Such is Ferguson's renewed vigour that the 61-year-old Scotsman has not ruled out emulating Newcastle's 70-year-old boss Sir Bobby Robson.

Ferguson said: "Would I want to be doing the job at Bobby's age? Would I want to be a manager at 70? I couldn't rule it out.

"This year I have felt terrific. I have never felt so fit.

"When you've been in this job as long as I have, you thrive on the sort of challenge Arsene provides. I was really up for it.

"Maybe the confidence Arsenal were showing got my hackles up and the old adrenaline flowing. I enjoyed the battle.

"You have no idea how important it was to me to win the title back, I feel winning it justified my desire to stay on."

The prospect of Ferguson prolonging his Old Trafford career was increased by the solid backing of his most expensive signing.

England defender Ferdinand has enjoyed a successful first season since his £30m move from Leeds United and said: "I can see myself playing here for the rest of my career.

"I'm playing alongside some of the greatest players in the world and playing for one of the best managers ever - you don't let that go easily.

"Before I came to United there was a possbility I could have moved abroad in terms of my football education.

"I don't think you could move to a big club abrouad without having won anything in England.

"But now I want to stay at United. I can't see myself anywhere else."

sumber: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2953816.stm

[lonewarrior]

wz up semua
n mcmmana dgn life korg
so wht the new in manchester
ade pemain baru ker
chow

[Rupert G]

Barcelona 'bid for Beckham'


Barcelona have made a verbal offer of £30m to bring England captain David Beckham to Spain, according to reports in a number of Sunday's newspapers.
Manchester United are said to have accepted the offer in principle after preliminary talks with Barca representatives.

The Catalan giants cannot make a firm bid for Beckham until the new club president is unveiled after the club's elections on 15 June, the reports say.

Prospective Barca president Joan Laporta told the Sunday Express newspaper: "I view this as a great price for Beckham.

"He is one of the few players in the world capable of earning the money back for you in commercial revenue alone."

AC Milan are reported to be willing to match Barca's offer while Inter Milan, Roma and Real Madrid have also been linked with the 28-year-old England skipper.

United chief executive Peter Kenyon has already confirmed that the club would listen to offers of £30m-plus for the midfielder.

That would give Sir Alex Ferguson the funds to strengthen his squad over the summer and boost United's chances of winning next season's Champions League.

Beckham, who is on holiday in America with his family, has stated that he wants to stay at Old Trafford.

Both the Mail on Sunday and the Independent on Sunday newspapers claim that United have lined up a potential replacement for Beckham - Brazilian forward Ronaldinho.

"The idea of joining Manchester United makes me dream, because they are a big, successful club and play my kind of football," Ronaldinho told the Independent on Sunday.

Other newspapers link United with Real Sociedad star Xabi Alonso.



sumber: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2953426.stm

[Rupert G]

Ronaldinho stakes Man Utd claims

Ronaldinho has reiterated his desire to join Manchester United from Paris St Germain.
The Brazilian star has already said it would be a "tremendous honour" to move to Old Trafford and that he would welcome the switch if the two clubs can agree a deal.

And he now seems further set on a move to England after talking to fellow countryman Gilberto Silva who plays for Arsenal.

"I admire Manchester United," said Ronaldinho, in an interview with the Independent on Sunday.

"And I love watching them play. Of course I would like to be at a great club like that - anybody would.

"The idea of joining Manchester United makes me dream, because they are a big, successful club and play my kind of football.

"I have a burning desire to be involved with a club that plays big games all the time."

Gilberto moved to Arsenal in summer 2002 and has been singing the praises of the Premiership to Ronaldinho.

"I often watch my great friend Gilberto Silva on TV and I'm really proud of him, because he has proved that Brazilian players can adapt to the rigours of the Premier League," added Ronaldinho.

"When I see him with Brazil, he tells me of all the great times he is having in England."

Ronaldinho has three years left on his PSG contract and is likely to cost United about £15m.

United would also have to sort out the issue of Ronaldinho's image rights in any transfer.

But the prospect of playing in the Champions League is another bargaining chip United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has in his favour, especially considering Ronaldinho's desire to play in the competition.

He said: "I must admit that I look at that competition and it makes me desperate to get involved. It's like being a kid in a pool: you just want to jump in."

sumber: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2953934.stm

[Rupert G]

Kiriman asal oleh lonewarrior
wz up semua
n mcmmana dgn life korg
so wht the new in manchester
ade pemain baru ker
chow


Salam.

life kitaorang bz giler ni
bersiap nak gi OT
soal pemain baru MUFC
sekarang baru kita tahu
orang UK lah yang telah membawa budaya gossip kat m'sia
so tunggu sajalah siapa pemain baru
atau pemain lama yang blah
so amacam?
nak ikot gi OT?
Kalau nak...
sediakan duitnya banyakkkk...banyak...:D

[Rupert G]

Lamar urges Reds to hold on to Fabien

Former French number one Bernard Lamar has urged Manchester United to keep hold of Fabien Barthez.

If rumours are to be believed, the Frenchman is heading out of Old Trafford, but Fabien’s French international predecessor says United should give him another chance.

“Fabien is one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Lamar told SkySports.

The former French international says if United were to let Barthez go, there are only a few goalkeepers in the world who could replace his fellow countryman.

”In the market at the moment, who do you have?"asked Lamar. "There is Toldo and Buffon, but who are the others?”

Having briefly been with West Ham, Lamar knows what it takes to play in the top flight in England and he believes the Reds should hang on to their enigmatic shot-stopper.

”Manchester United have to give him another chance,” Lamar said.

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36507

[Rupert G]

Ferdinand hits back at brawl claims

England defender Rio Ferdinand cannot believe the fuss caused by a late-night incident involving hotel maintenance staff in La Manga.

The Manchester United player and Chelsea's John Terry were reported to have been playing pool in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the Spanish resort at about 3.30am when an alleged dispute took place with two members of the hotel staff.


However, Ferdinand told The Sun: 'Stories of this so-called incident leave a little bit of a sour taste. But I can hold my head up high, as I know the truth of it.

'I cannot believe the fuss. It was all a misunderstanding and settled straight away.'

Ferdinand, in Monte Carlo yesterday watching the Monaco Grand Prix, claimed it was a language barrier that left the England players snookered.

'We were playing pool and challenged two of the hotel staff to a game. We said 'let's have a match, England v Spain'. But they did not seem to understand what we were talking about. When we asked them again, they called in these other blokes.

'It was ridiculous. We only wanted to play them in a friendly match and suddenly they got upset.

'I can only put it down to the fact they did not speak very good English. I don't know what they thought we wanted but I can tell you we simply wanted to play them in a game. It has all been blown up out of proportion and was settled straight away before we even went to bed.

'They were quite happy and we were quite happy by the end of it. There were no hard feelings and no problems.

'There has been such a big deal made out of something so minor. I can't believe it. The trip was a great success for all of us and we had an excellent relationship with all the staff.'

sumber: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=268810&cc=4716

[Rupert G]

Sven would support Becks-Barca move

Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted that Barcelona's impending absence from the Champions League next season would not necessarily prevent David Beckham from moving to the Spanish club.

However, despite fresh reports linking the midfielder with a possible move to the Nou Camp, Eriksson is realistic enough to predict that speculation over Beckham's future is probably not over just yet.


Eriksson is certainly keen that his players should gain the experience of regularly testing their skills against the leading teams in Europe.

However, while he would possibly caution Beckham against moving to a club regularly outside the Champions League, he does not believe that Barcelona's absence from the competition will last too long.

Eriksson said: 'It's important to be playing in the Champions League, but I am sure that a team like Barcelona will only be out of the Champions League for one season.

'I doubt it will be for any longer. So I don't think that would be a problem for David Beckham, absolutely not.'

Manchester United and Beckham have insisted that he is staying put at Old Trafford, while Barcelona's interest depends on which candidate wins the race to become their next president.

It is also not as if Eriksson is urging Beckham to move abroad to further his career.

'A couple of weeks ago, he was going to Real Madrid, according to some reports. Now it's Barcelona and I am sure, before it is finished, he will be at AC Milan, Inter Milan or maybe Juventus,' added the England coach.

'Then, in the end, he might stay at Old Trafford. So I don't know. It doesn't really matter where he plays football, as long as you talk about a big team. I don't know whether playing abroad would be any better for him, but it certainly wouldn't be any worse.'

Beckham is missing from England's build-up to their Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia on June 11 as he is suspended after picking up two bookings during previous group games.

That will be the first time Eriksson has been without his captain in 15 competitive fixtures, but he insists the team can cope in his absence.

'It's always good to have him around but we have to accept it and have to perform without him,' he said.

As it is, Beckham would have been ruled out of Tuesday's friendly against Serbia-Montenegro in any case with the broken bone in his wrist that he sustained in South Africa.

'Maybe it is the first time that we have had to think about who else should take the free-kicks and corners,' added Eriksson. 'I have discussed that with the coaching staff already. David Beckham is also the captain but those are the rules, he is suspended and that is it.'

sumber: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=268812&cc=4716

[Rupert G]

Bring me Beckham - Capello

Roma have become the latest major European club to show their interest in Manchester United star David Beckham with coach Fabio Capello urging club president Franco Sensi to make a bid for the England captain.

Roma have had a disappointing season, finishing eighth in Serie A which for a club that won the 2001 Scudetto and were runners-up on the last day of the 2002 season to Juventus is far from satisfactory.

Sensi recently suggested there could be a parting of the ways with his coach as he considered his relationship with Capello "like lovers rather than the relationship between a husband and wife which is more serious".

Asked to react to that comment by his septuagenarian president, Capello said in remarks reported by Gazzetta dello Sport: "As far as lovers are concerned, I would rather have a younger one.

"Because of the way I was brought up and the respect I have towards other people I will not respond to him via the press.

"As for hopes, well I have mine too: I want Sensi to buy Beckham."

sumber: http://www.4thegame.com/news/breakingnews/21358

[Rupert G]

What The Papers Say: Monday 2 June


Rio: I'm no yob
Rio Ferdinand last night insisted he is no bar-room brawler. Manchester United's £30million defender was accused of manhandling two members of staff at a five-star hotel in La Manga. It followed a game of pool at 3.30am on the first day of England's sunshine break in Spain. Ferdinand said: "I cannot believe the fuss. It was all a misunderstanding and settled straight away."
Shaun Custis, The Sun

Sven: I trust my stars
Sven Goran Eriksson last night refused to clamp down on his England players as he insisted they had never abused his trust. England's preparations for tomorrow's friendly with Serbia and Montenegro were overshadowed by allegations that Rio Ferdinand and John Terry attacked hotel staff during their La Manga sunshine break. But as the FA "strongly refuted" any claims of a "brawl" involving the two defenders, Eriksson made clear that he saw no reason to impose a rigid disciplinary code. Ferdinand was accused of grabbing a hotel maintenance man in a bearhug when he refused to fix a pool table in the early hours of the morning. The FA were said to have apologised over the incident. Ferdinand said: "It has been taken out of proportion."
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror

Sven calls last orders on England
It's a measure of the near-impeccable behaviour of the England squad on their La Manga break that even the most minor misdemeanour prompted lurid headlines. While Rio Ferdinand and John Terry may care to explain just what they were doing playing pool at 3.30 in the morning, when both were supposed to be recovering from injuries, we are hardly talking about an international incident. Given the hyped-up stories that spoke of more "England disgrace," you might have imagined that Sven Goran Eriksson's team had been unmasked as a bunch of street muggers who indulge in grievous bodily harm in their spare time after blowing every penny they own on wine, women and song. But nothing could be further from the truth, and while Eriksson's determination to stand by his players may not always be palatable to the moralists of Middle England, the reality is that this squad are pussycats compared to their predecessors.
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror

Sven: Beckham to stay skipper
Davie Beckham has been assured he will not lose the England captaincy if he moves abroad. England boss Sven Goran Eriksson insists Becks will remain his main man, whether he is playing in the Premiership or in Spain or Italy next season. And as the Manchester United midfielder contemplated Barcelona's bid to snatch him, Eriksson declared: "It doesn't matter where he plays, he won't become worse as a footballer if he moves on." Joan Laporta, who is standing for election as Barcelona president, insists he has a £30million agreement with United to take Beckham to the Nou Camp. And even the Spanish giants' failure to qualify for Europe next season would not be a stumbling block. Eriksson added: "Of course it is important for my players to be in the Champions League but I'm sure a team like Barcelona will only be out for one year. Being out of the Champions League for a year would not be a problem for Beckham. Absolutely not. But a couple of weeks ago everyone was saying he's going to Real Madrid. Now it's Barcelona. And I'm sure he'll be with Milan, Inter and Juventus in the next few weeks. And then again, he might stay with Manchester United."
Mark Irwin, The Sun

Man Utd better than Milan
Sven Goran Eriksson yawned through the Champions League final and said: "Nobody can convince me Milan and Juventus are better than Arsenal and Manchester United." The England boss was underwhelmed by last week's no-score bore between the Italian giants, settled in AC's favour by a penalty shootout. And he refuses to accept that the Premiership is in any way inferior to the game in Spain or Italy. Only one English team has reached the European Cup final in 18 years yet Eriksson said: "The only reason we don't have more teams there is because we play too much football. We are the only country in Europe where teams can play on a Saturday and again on a Monday night. Ee play at Christmas, New Year and Easter because it is traditional but the risk of injury becomes bigger. I spoke to people in Italy and they have only one player missing from their squad through injury. We have nine, as well as David Beckham, who is suspended."
Mark Irwin, The Sun

Fergie thanks Arsene
Alex Ferguson wants more help from Arsene Wenger next season to fire Manchester United to another title. Fergie has revealed that United's late charge to the top of the Premiership was inspired by his feud with Arsenal boss Wenger. Ferguson said: "When you've been in this job as long as I have, you thrive on the sort of challenge Arsene provides. I was really up for it. Maybe the confidence Arsenal were showing got my hackles up and the old adrenaline flowing. I enjoyed the battle. I was back to being what Alex Ferguson is really all about as a manager."
Sports Reporter, The Sun

Posh and Becks take Hollywood
Glitzy Posh and Becks took Hollywood by storm yesterday as they outshone all other stars at the MTV Movie Awards. They wore matching white designer outfits and Becks was dripping in £75,000-worth of rap-style jewellery - including two crucifixes. He wore a silky white Dolce & Gabbana suit while Posh squeezed into a £15,000 corset-style gown by the same Italian designer. Afterwards big showbiz names lined up to pay tribute to England skipper David Beckham and singer wife Victoria - who hopes to break into movies. Actor Samuel L Jackson said: “He’s the best footballer in the world and she’s really beautiful.” Singer Beyonce said: “The guy’s my hero. I think he’s absolutely gorgeous. Everyone is smitten with Becks and Posh.” Movie legend Harrison Ford - there with girlfriend Calista Flockhart - said: “They’re a nice couple and he’s so talented.”
Antonella Lazzeri, The Sun

Nosh and Becks
They may be busy conquering America but it's good to see David and Victoria Beckham are keeping their feet on the ground. The couple looked the embodiment of refinement at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday night as they presented a gong to Colin Farrell. But it was a different story a few hours later at the actor's dinner party over at the exclusive Chateau Marmont hotel. After one too many glasses of bubbly, wobbly Victoria felt peckish and let her Posh halo slip. For instead of feasting on a sumptuous meal at the five-star hotel, she asked her sister to get her and Becks... a McDonald's meal. As they left around midnight, the couple met Louise, her husband Hayden and her brother Christian and munched burgers and fries on their way to rapper P Diddy's after-show bash. Earlier in the night, Victoria, 29, and David, 28, dazzled an adoring crowd at the Shrine Auditorium. Posh read out the list of nominees for Best Transatlantic Breakthrough - including Jude Law, Orlando Bloom and Rosamund Pike - saying: "This is going to be tough." Shy Becks stood by and only uttered: "And the nominees are..." The couple, who later this week appear on Jay Leno's hit Tonight show, left the ceremony early to head for the Marmont.
News Reporter, Daily Mirror

And finally...

Paul's Man U Nodded
Soccer star Paul Scholes found himself in the land of Nod when he took his family to see a pageant in Manchester. The Man United ace was out with wife Claire, 27, son Aaron, three, and 23-month-old daughter Alicia when the kiddies’ favourite passed by. Noddy gave them a big thumbs-up - and Aaron grinned as Paul, 28, picked out other characters in the parade. The star had just returned from England’s training camp ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Serbia and Montenegro.
News Reporter, The Sun


sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=36638&itype=466&icategoryid=365

[Mayamulisha]

Fergie: I want to sign Xabi Alonso

Sir Alex Ferguson wants to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Alonso.

But he expects to lose out to Real Madrid in the hunt for the highly-rated 21-year-old.

Alonso has been in fine form in Sociedad's surprise challenge for the Spanish title and he has impressed both the Premiership champions and their main rivals in La Liga.

But Ferguson believes Real Madrid's willingness to let Alonso stay with the Basque club for a further season and their £10 million advance payment makes them favourites to sign him.

'His contract runs until 2007 but we have been told there is a £20m buy-out clause,' Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News.

'But we understand Madrid have offered a down payment of £10m and that they are prepared to let him stay at Sociedad next season.'

[The Peacemaker]

ramainya nk rebutkan si Beckham ni......yg terbaru aku dengar Barca & AC Milan pun berminat gak......si Beckham ni dh sinonim dgn MU.....can u all imagine MU without Beckham?.....pelik rasenya.....Real Madrid lak berminat nk ambil Arsene Wenger jadi manager.....mcm2...well, we'll see what will happen.......

[Rupert G]

Fans pick their Juve favourite

United fans say that Gianluigi Buffon is the Juventus star they'd most like to see at Old Trafford.

The Juve keeper impressed during the Champions League Final last Wednesday, and of all the Turin-based players on show, he's the one that Reds want Fergie to buy. He wouldn't come cheap, though - at £32.6 million he's the most expensive goalie in the history of the game.

Alessandro del Piero came second in our poll, which only included the Juventus players who took part in the final - hence no Pavel Nedved who was suspended.

The striker won 24.7% of the vote to Buffon's 40.8%, with midfield terrier Edgar Davids coming in third with 15.1% of the vote.

Lilian Thuram was the only other man to get into double figures of votes, polling 12.3% of the total number.

Will Fergie take notice? Stay on ManUtd.com for all the latest transfer deals - the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36644

[Rupert G]

United star Butt arrested

England and Manchester United star Nicky Butt has been arrested by police over an alleged nightclub assault.
Police confirmed the 28-year-old player had been questioned following the allegations that were made by a woman.

Butt was arrested when he turned up at Wilmslow police station with his solicitor.

Cheshire Constabulary confirmed on Monday night a 28-year-old man, from Hale, Cheshire, had been arrested.

The Manchester United midfielder was then released on bail without charge, pending further inquiries.

A complaint of assault was made on Sunday, 4 May, following an incident at Brasingamen's nightclub in Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

sumber: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/2957984.stm

[Rupert G]

Salam.

Saja-saja...bacalah komen Robbo kat BBC...

Robbo's rundown

Robbo gives the alternative verdict on how the 20 Premiership clubs fared this season.

Man United
Their season finished with that abiding picture - Van Nistelrooy getting shot by a mystery sniper in the crowd and winning a penalty off a dopey ref.

Twelve penalties that lad's got this season! If there's been more I'd like to know when.

Still, when push came to shove, him and Scholesy delivered. I just hope they're not at the Riverside for the last game of next season.

I'd hate to think of Fergie jumping around on our turf all purple with glee.

Arsenal
No bottle. When the moment came they swooned like a gooey girl at a Gareth Gates gig.

And Wenger can stop grumbling into his boots about how they were the best team all season. You were the prettiest, Arsene. My missus could tell you that. Not the best.

Newcastle
Uncle Bobby's back in Europe. John Prescott take note. It isn't necessary to make sense when you open your mouth in order to gain respect.

We all love the Geordies' boss. Even me. I fear for Teesside next season. The Geordie bottlers could be the only obstacle to the Man U monopoly.

Chelsea
Apart from Zola, who gives a toss? They should be winning things, not scraping by.

Blues beware! If you can get past Hurgly-Burgly FC from Iceland's second division you might do okay in the Champs League.

But it's hard to get the Kings Road crew off the sun-loungers in July.

Liverpool
Awful. What the hell are they up to at Anfield? No width, no good signings and full of England internationals too.

Cheyrou, Traore, Diao, Diouf, Smicer and all the other blokes who sound like obscure foreign currencies should pack their little bags now.

Blackburn
Sourness has grumped his way through the year and somehow they're in the Uefa Cup.

As Graeme groaned, they could have finished even higher if they'd have turned up against the rubbish teams.

If they can keep hold of Duff, and get shot of Cole, they might get even better.

Everton
A great season in which they won precisely nowt and had their arses kicked by Shrewsbury. That's Shrewsbury.

The Rooney revivalist meetings stop here. Don't expect anything from these over-achievers next year.

Southampton
James Beattie was dead impressive. How Heskey can keep him out the England side is quite beyond me. Nice to see Strachan ripping the p*** out of post-match interviewers too. Long may he reign.

Man City
Ninth is good for a team whose defence was based on the fact that somewhere behind us is a huge scary white Dane who'll get the ball if we don't.

Without Schmeichel, who knows? I still have this very strong sense that Keegan tells his teams to go out there and give it 200% and then sits in his dug-out with his fingers crossed.

Maybe the end of Maine Road will change all that. I joke, of course.

Tottenham
Hoddle must go. Make Sheringham the boss. Make Eileen Bloody Drewery the boss. Make a brown paper bag the boss. They're a shambles, this team.

Half of them have pensions or sickness benefit to collect. I feel embarrassed for you...

Middlesbrough
A Judy Garland season - there's no place like home, there's no place like home...

Charlton
How Curbishley does it, I'll never know. I fear for them next season, mind. They've earmarked Luzhny as a buy. Enough said.

Birmingham
An alehouse team. I don't know whether to dislike 'em or loathe 'em. This could be entirely to do with the presence of Robbie Savage in their team.

Bruce is a good man, although every time I see him on the box, I'm sure the nose has moved again.

Fulham
Home wanted for troupe of French faffers. Tigana ran out of matches in the end, I suppose. A Harrods half-price sale should sort them out.

Leeds
Not so much a club, more a car-boot sale. Reidy's going to have to hire that perma-tanned prat David Dickinson.

"Here's £200 to spend, Peter - you've got two months, let's find a bargain." Lucky.

Aston Villa
The classic Big Club in waiting. It'll happen soon. The only problem is your chairman, your gaffer and your players.

Bolton
Sam Allardyce is working hard to prove that the United Nations can still work.

The on-loan mercenaries have been transformed into a fighting force. Okocha has outshone the likes of Henry and Zola in the last couple of months.

You're down next season, but for now, good on yer.

West Ham
They're just too nice, aren't they? With their lovely little home-grown English lads and that emotional Italian fella and sweet and clever Trevor who nearly saw them through.

They should stop singing about their dreams fading and dying. They should stop thinking that Moore, Peters and Hurst might turn up and help out any moment.

They should get some right hard, unforgiving b******s into the team today and they wouldn't have this problem. Romantic fools, the lot of yer.

West Brom
Easily the best fans in the League. Definitely the second worst team.

Sunderland
Oh dear.

sumber: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/robbo/3020197.stm

[Rupert G]

Rio plays down fracas

Rio Ferdinand says that the late-night incident at the England team hotel in La Manga as been blown out of all proportion.

Rio was accused of attacking two maintenance workers at the hotel, but the Reds defender says that nothing of the sort happened.

"Stories of this so-called incident leave a little bit of a sour taste. But I can hold my head up high, as I know the truth of it. I cannot believe the fuss. It was all a misunderstanding and settled straight away," he told The Sun on Monday.

Rio, at the Monaco Grand Prix as a guest of United sponsors Vodafone, says that it was a simple misunderstanding due to the language barrier.

"We were playing pool and challenged two of the hotel staff to a game. We said 'let's have a match, England v Spain'," he explained.

"But they did not seem to understand what we were talking about. When we asked them again, they called in these other blokes.

"It was ridiculous. We only wanted to play them in a friendly match and suddenly they got upset. I can only put it down to the fact they did not speak very good English.

"I don't know what they thought we wanted but I can tell you we simply wanted to play them in a game. It has all been blown up out of proportion and was settled straight away before we even went to bed. They were quite happy and we were quite happy by the end of it."

Now Rio just wants to put the whole episode behind him and prepare for the knee surgery that will keep him out of England's two matches this summer.

"There were no hard feelings and no problems. There has been such a big deal made out of something so minor. I can't believe it. The trip was a great success for all of us and we had an excellent relationship with all the staff."

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36646

[Rupert G]

Neville tipped for midfield role

Sven-Goran Eriksson could be about to reject Owen Hargreaves' claims for a return to the England side and use Phil Neville as his holding midfielder instead.

The England coach had been widely tipped to be contemplating using Bayern Munich's Hargreaves in Tuesday's friendly against Serbia & Montenegro at Leicester.

But now he is thought to be leaning towards Neville, who has played in midfield for Manchester United this season - particularly during Roy Keane's lengthy absence.

Sir Alex Ferguson is now said to consider it the 26-year-old's best position.

Eriksson is without captain David Beckham, who is carrying an injury but would have been excused from this game anyway because he is suspended for the Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia on 11 June.

Kieron Dyer, Nicky Butt and Danny Murphy are also out through injury and Trevor Sinclair is a doubt.

Steven Gerrard will move to the right of midfield to cover for Beckham, and Frank Lampard is said to have beaten off competition from Jermaine Jenas and Joe Cole for the left-side.

That left a place alongside Paul Scholes in the centre of midfield and Neville appears to have beaten off Hargreaves, who played for Bayern on Saturday in their German Cup final victory over Kaiserslautern.

The 22-year-old has not started an England game in almost one year.

Serbia & Montenegro have not enjoyed the ideal preparation for the game after a fire at their Leicester hotel forced the entire squad out of bed in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The hotel was evacuated as a precaution after a small fire in the kitchen before the incident was soon brought under control by the fire brigade.

They will be hoping to shrug off that disruption and give a good account of themselves against an England side severely disrupted by injury.

Eriksson is expected to continue with Emile Heskey - in the forward's home town of Leicester - as a partner for stand-in skipper Michael Owen.

In defence, Birmingham's Matthew Upson is set to partner Gareth Southgate of Middlesbrough in the absence of Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, Jonathan Woodgate and Wes Brown.

Danny Mills of Leeds will replace Manchester United's Gary Neville at right-back and first-choice left-back Ashley Cole will return to the side after missing the friendly in South Africa.

West Ham goalkeeper David James will keep his place despite the relegation of his club side from the Premiership.

Owen, taking the captain's armband from Beckham for the two June fixtures, is confident despite the lack of key players.

"We have a long injury list but I'm sure we can cope without them," said the Liverpool striker.

"We're playing against two good nations but nothing we should fear.

"With the players we've got I'd be disappointed if we didn't win on Tuesday and the following Wednesday."

sumber: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/england/2954284.stm

[Rupert G]

Beckham makes plea to fans

England captain David Beckham has made an unprecedented television appeal pleading with fans not to endanger England's chances of qualifying for Euro 2004.

Governing body Uefa has threatened to throw England out of the competition if there is any repeat of the pitch invasions that marred April's victory over Turkey at Sunderland.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's team take on Serbia & Montenegro in a friendly at Leicester on Tuesday and Slovakia in a Euro 2004 qualifier at Middlesbrough on 11 June.

"We are working as a team to reach the finals of this competition and hopefully fans are not going to spoil it," said Beckham, who will miss both June's games through injury and suspension.

"Respect has to be shown to the opposition. Booing the national anthem, racism, and jumping on the pitch has to stop. It's going to get us in a lot of trouble.

"England fans: just get behind the team and do it in a nice way, because we deserve it. We don't want to be eliminated from the competition."

Earlier, stand-in captain Michael Owen made his own plea to supporters.

"Everyone is hoping the fans go there to support the team," the Liverpool striker said.

"That's what the players are hoping for - let's hope everything goes according to plan and we can give them something to cheer.

"I'm sure it will have an effect on the fans if Uefa are threatening us with being kicked out of the tournament."

Superintendent Geoff Feavyour of Leicestershire Police said hooligans should "stay away".

He added: "Troublemakers are not welcome and anyone who does cause problems can expect to be dealt with very firmly."

Feavyour has written to 350 people currently serving football banning orders warning them of the consequences of coming to Leicester. He will deploy spotters from 20 different constabularies to identify potential troublemakers.

Leicester City secretary Andrew Neville told this website there would be large police and steward presence on the touchline to prevent pitch invasions.

"Unlike league games, where the police would be deployed with only visiting supporters, officers will be in every part of the ground," said Neville.

A spokesman for the England Members Club said the supporters group was planning to hold up cards in the shape of the St George cross featuring the message "No to Racism".

That is in response to racist abuse aimed at the Turkish fans in and around the Stadium of Light in April.

"This is an opportunity for fans to respond positively," Mark Perryman said.

"We need to identify ourselves as a peaceful majority."

The 700 Serbia & Montenegro fans travelling to the game will also be prevented from bringing flares into the ground.

The Football Association refused to disclose how much security arrangements were costing the governing body in the deployment of hundreds of officers to police the match.

sumber: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/england/2955812.stm

[Rupert G]

Fabien's summer over

Fabien Barthez and Mikael Silvestre have both been included in France's squaf for this summer's Confederations Cup which kicks off on 18 June.

The two Reds will meet up with the rest of Jacques Santini's party at Clairefontaine on June 11 ahead of the tournament, in which they will face Colombia, Japan and New Zealand in Group A, while Brazil take on Turkey, Cameroon and the United States in Group B.

Mikael has been openly critical about the competition, which spells the end of his summer. The final, to be held at the Stade de France, takes place on 29 June with the Reds due to fly out on the pre-season US Tour in mid-July.

Arsenal provide three players for the tournament - Robert Pires, Sylvain Wiltord and Thierry Henry - while Chelsea's Marcel Desailly and William Gallas are also included. Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane is omitted, however.

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36648

[Rupert G]

Football fans and legends raise funds for UNICEF

Football Aid’s annual fundraising event to help UNICEF ‘End Child Exploitation’

On Saturday 31st May football fans from across the UK experienced the dream of a lifetime by playing at Old Trafford in Football Aid’s annual fundraising event of the season. Some of the money raised from this year’s event will support UNICEF UK, Manchester United’s nominated charity, in its new three year campaign to End Child Exploitation.

As fans lined up at the Theatre of Dreams to play alongside footballing legends including Arthur Albiston, Gordon Hill and Mickey Thomas, they also pledged their support to raise much needed funds for UNICEF’s work to help the millions of children around the world exploited by adults who abuse their trust.

Last year, Football Aid donated almost £40,000 through Manchester United to support a UNICEF education project in West Bengal which focuses on delivering an alternative education programme for children in India. This donation, combined with money raised over the past three years through the United4UNICEF partnership, has made it possible for more than 350,000 boys and girls, living in some of the country’s most remote villages, to go to school for the first time.

“We are extremely grateful to Football Aid for the significant sum of money which was already been donated towards UNICEF’s education work in the remote villages of West Bengal,” said David Bull, UNICEF UK’s Executive Director. “The donation from this year’s event will go a long way to supporting our work in putting a stop to the exploitation of tens of millions of children worldwide."

Football Aid is an international Scottish-based charity working with the vast majority of the UK’s leading football clubs to award grants to charities supported by those clubs in addition to its own support for diabetes research projects. The organisation has generated over £1.25 million through its bidding activity to date.

Football Aid
2 June 2003

sumber: http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36665

[Mayamulisha]

apa daaa komen Robbo tu...buat delate panas jee....

hik hik hik

[delete]

Kiriman asal oleh Rupert G
Salam.

Jangan risau, nanti Aku, Maya dan mungkin Carlos pergi Old Trafford, kita akan pastikan kita beli sticker MU untuk ko...:D

Aikkk stiker jer ke ?? Bukan ke dah order baju yang mahal hari tu... Nanti saya bayo la kat auntie.

Saya dah termimpi² baju tu.