Football Focus

[mockney piers]

The little ex-hammer, he was better for you guys than he was for us.

But probably not. I reckon the only first team player will be Chris Dickson.

[ratty]

Toddy will be injured! I am going to The Valley this afternoon as I manage a rehab next to it!

[Annasfield]

Apparently Ronnie is staying...

[mockney piers]

Rosenthal? Good stuff, though not one for long term is it.

[Keef]

Spurs have reported Liverpool & Man U to the league fr their interest in Berbatov & Keane. I'm not sure where I stand on this. On the one hand, it takes the absolute p!ss for Man U to moan about Real Madrid's interest in Ronaldo, and then go and blatantly claim that they expect Berbatov to join them!

On the other hand, if you want a player, why shouldn't you say so?

Wouldn't it be interesting if there were no transfer fees. Players signed to a club, and had to see out their entire contract, and then became free agents and either resigned or moved on. No fees involved... Would be a very different game!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

There's as much likelihood of achieving that as admitting only amateurs to the Olympics!

[Annasfield]

Fergie did a little more than admitting interest though. I didn't read his interview as it was in said paper which I will never read let alone mention, however from what I can gather he said they'd get him. Very hypocritical me thinks.

The whole rule is rather peculiar.

[Annasfield]

Annasfield Wrote:

---------------------- Voronin our pony-tailed

> warrior scored you know!!

========================

And he's scored again today. Woooo!!

[Sandperson]

Annasfield Wrote:

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

> Fergie did a little more than admitting interest

> though. I didn't read his interview as it was in

> said paper which I will never read let alone

> mention, however from what I can gather he said

> they'd get him. Very hypocritical me thinks.

>

> The whole rule is rather peculiar.

And Liverpool aren't? Spurs just reported them for a laugh, right?

[Jah Lush]

For Spurs to sell Berbatov and Keane would be showing a distinct lack of ambition. We need to hang on to our best players not bloody sell 'em to the highest bidder. They were also the top goal scoring front pairing of last season with 23 goals each. But enough losing Jermaine Defoe but now this....words fail me.

[Annasfield]

Sandperson Wrote:

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

> Annasfield Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> And Liverpool aren't? Spurs just reported them for

> a laugh, right?

No, but we didn't make complaint just 3 weeks ago about exactly the same thing. Being asked in a press conference if you're interested in a player and saying yes, is a slight bit different to conducting an interview with a player as the topic of discussion.

Like I've said, I've not read the interview I'm basing my opinion on what I've heard.

[Sandperson]

I can't find the interview on The Sun (I'm guessing this is the paper) so can't comment. But I wouldn't believe anything you read in that rag.

[Sharon_H]

Sandperson Wrote:

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

> Annasfield Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Fergie did a little more than admitting

> interest

> > though. I didn't read his interview as it was

> in

> > said paper which I will never read let alone

> > mention, however from what I can gather he said

> > they'd get him. Very hypocritical me thinks.

> >

> > The whole rule is rather peculiar.

>

> And Liverpool aren't? Spurs just reported them for

> a laugh, right?

I don't ever remember Liverpool complaining when Fergie was knocking on Robbie Fowler's door most weeks.

[Annasfield]

Here you go Sandperson

[Sandperson]

Come on Anna! How is that remotely like the Real Madrid/Ronaldo affair? So, we put in an official bid, negotiations are on-going and Fergie is confident that we'll get him. That's not the same as Real talking up the fact that Ronaldo is coming to them, wants to come to them, will deffo be a Real player and them not actually putting any money on the table or making any official approach. I think you are being a bit disingenuous.

The Real policy, much like Barcelona, is the same year in, year out. It's a systematic undermining of clubs and players and it's usually tied in with the club presidential elections and used as a tool to make the candidates more popular (usually through papers like Marca, which are effectively just a mouthpiece for the clubs). How many times over the last decade have we heard rumours about players that were going to be playing for both of these clubs, without a doubt, and the deal is never struck. It's brinksmanship.

[Annasfield]

Whether an offer has been made or not, it is quite hypocritical moaning about a club who is seen as unsettling a player and then doing something very similar not so long after.

Those in glass houses...

Fergie seems to think it's one rule for him and another for everyone else.

[Keef]

He claims that he made no such comments, and that Spurs will be embarrassed because they have put in a complaint based on a newspaper story. He also has a dig at the Spurs Chairman.

Story Here

[Sandperson]

Sorry Anna, but you are talking rubbish. The situation is not the same at all.

[Annasfield]

It is the same - how can you say it's not? The simple fact of the matter is that when clubs like Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid show an interest in a smaller (and by smaller I mean less successful/less money to spend) club's player then they will be accused of tapping up.

Harry was quoted as saying he'd love to sign SWP, however no big deal has been made as it's unlikely that Pompey could afford him and that he'd leave Chelsea.

Fergie is a hypocrite moaning about it being done to him one minute and then doing something similar the next.

[ratty]

Can we please remember and refer Clause 1 of the FA Rules, which is a sub section to all rules governing football which reads "Except Manchester Utd".

And, we can afford him actually! :p Mr Gaydamak Sr will just flog another load of weapons to Angolan Drug dealers to raise the cash.

[Sandperson]

Ok, ok, one rule for us etc etc. I see where this is going. Of course you are right Anna, forgive me for even arguing.

[Marmora Man]

There's still a Test Match or two to be played yet - I thought Football was in hiberbnation until the Autumn - some hopes!

[Annasfield]

Sandperson Wrote:

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

> Ok, ok, one rule for us etc etc. I see where this

> is going. Of course you are right Anna, forgive me

> for even arguing.

I'm glad you get my point and I accept your apology. ;-)

Marmora Man - last time I went to a test match I had to leave slightly early as our first game of the season was on telly. :)) They overlap ever so slightly.

[Sandperson]

Annasfield Wrote:

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

> Sandperson Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Ok, ok, one rule for us etc etc. I see where

> this

> > is going. Of course you are right Anna, forgive

> me

> > for even arguing.

>

>

> I'm glad you get my point and I accept your

> apology. ;-)

I'll have you know I have huffed off. I am, at this very moment in time, tying a red handkerchief with white polka dots onto a stick and will throw this over my shoulder and go off in search of a forum where everyone thinks Man Utd are great....so there!

[ratty]

Good luck in finding one! ;)

Seriously though, Ferguson is the ULTIMATE boy who cried Wolf. He squinnies away so many times when things do not go his way (Ronaldo tapped over by Sylvan Distin in the FA Cup Qtr final has him crying cheat at the referee) but goes totally blind when his players / club break rule after rule after rule. In fact he is worse for this than Wenger - and that's syaing something!

My FIL is a Man U ST Holder and he has the same blindness! Perhaps it is something they put in the water down in Guildford (can you see what I did there?)

Anyway - good luck in Nigeria and at Wembley! NOT! :p