Football Focus

[red devil]

His head has obviously been turned during the summer, probably at the World Cup if not before, might explain why he was so poor at the WC, his mind was elsewhere, now we just have to wait to find out why.

I can't believe he would say he wanted to leave in Aug without having something lined up. My hunch is that it is Real Madrid, they probably need a year to get the deal financed properly. If it was Citeh, why wait, they've got the cash, they could've tied up a deal in days, well before the transfer deadline.

I think Fergie came out of the conference with his and the club's heads held high, metaphoricaly if not physically. The pressure is now on Rooney's 'representatives' to try and put some sort of positive spin on why he wants to leave, my guess is that they will cite the lack of investment in marquee signings, something which most Utd fans will sympathise with. Fergie had said during the previous summer that there was no value in the market, not so this summer with the likes of Ozil, Di Maria, Khedira, Van der Vaart, all moving for relatively conservative sums.

I hope for the sake of the club it doesn't get messy, and I hope for my sanity he doesn't end up at Citeh...

[Bluerevolution]

red devil Wrote:

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> His head has obviously been turned during the

> summer, probably at the World Cup if not before,

> might explain why he was so poor at the WC, his

> mind was elsewhere, now we just have to wait to

> find out why.

> I can't believe he would say he wanted to leave in

> Aug without having something lined up. My hunch is

> that it is Real Madrid, they probably need a year

> to get the deal financed properly. If it was

> Citeh, why wait, they've got the cash, they

> could've tied up a deal in days, well before the

> transfer deadline.

> I think Fergie came out of the conference with his

> and the club's heads held high, metaphoricaly if

> not physically. The pressure is now on Rooney's

> 'representatives' to try and put some sort of

> positive spin on why he wants to leave, my guess

> is that they will cite the lack of investment in

> marquee signings, something which most Utd fans

> will sympathise with. Fergie had said during the

> previous summer that there was no value in the

> market, not so this summer with the likes of Ozil,

> Di Maria, Khedira, Van der Vaart, all moving for

> relatively conservative sums.

> I hope for the sake of the club it doesn't get

> messy, and I hope for my sanity he doesn't end up

> at Citeh...

and mine,if we pay anywhere near ?50m it would be an outrage

[SeanMacGabhann]

Can't deny Fabregas had a lot on his mind at the World Cup as well - he and Wenger still behaved properly, and even if he had gone to Barcelona he would have done so with most fan's blessings

Rooney - different class. As in,none

[Sandperson]

I also wonder if Colleen is angling for a 'fresh start'. Rooney's probably thinking 'hmmm fresh tart'. ;-)

[red devil]

In what way did Fabregas behave properly, he openly courted a move to Barca, he told Arse in May that he wanted to leave, I don't recall him ever dispelling the stories...he didn't end up at Barca purely because they didn't meet Arse's ?50-60 million valuation...the only differenece I can see is that he still has 5 years left on his contract and that gives Arse a stronger bargaining tool...he turned up at Arse's pre-season open training session with his tail well and truly firmly between his legs...

[SeanMacGabhann]

Well for a start, he didn't fall out with his manager

For seconds he was honest about his reasons and I find them compelling. There is no question a kid from barcelona wouldn't want go go back after the best part of 10 years in England

[Narnia]

I think Rooney has gone from being an angry young man on the pitch to one who doesn't seem to care. Neither of which I liked. At some point he appears to have stopped enjoying playing football. Who knows why? He can buy out his contract for a year's salary which means that Man U may only get ?5M for him in the summer. Not a big return on a huge investment for someone still only 24.

What I wonder is could he really go and settle in Spain, for example. I suspect not. Though he speaks about as little English as Beckham, Beckham seemed to thrive on being a brand. Learning Spanish could be difficult for him as the way of life might be.

If he were to go to another English club,why would you buy him and pay him the wages he might demand? He has gone downhill. City would just for spite though.

Robbie Keane for Man U? He and Berbie did well in the past!

[red devil]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

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> Well for a start, he didn't fall out with his

> manager

>

> For seconds he was honest about his reasons and I

> find them compelling. There is no question a kid

> from barcelona wouldn't want go go back after the

> best part of 10 years in England

...and according to Fergie neither has Rooney.

Rooney hasn't explained his reason(s), so I don't think we can pass judgement on him until he does.

I hear what you say about Fabregas's yearning for Barca, Ronaldo was similar, the club he supported as a boy, a strong Iberain connection, he was quite upfront about it, and most Utd fans although sad to see him go wished him well in the end.

['bout now]

Maybe he just wants a new challenge? Maybe he doesn't get along with Ferguson's all out affronting style, he wouldn't be the first. Maybe he's ambitious and his agent's/ playing friends/the press have convinced him that the crushing debt bestowed upon the club are drastically limiting the clubs future.

He informed them on August 14th, contract negotiation time having 18 months left. I don't see that as lacking class.

Cesc Fabregas is contracted to Arsenal until 2014 having signed an extension last year. That lacks class.

[SCSB79]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> gordon strachan resigns.

>

> I knew poor gordon had lost it when he signed kris

> boyd. :-)

Or McManus, MacDonald, Flood or Robson

>:D<

[Mick Mac]

SCSB79 Wrote:

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> Mick Mac Wrote:

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

> -----

> > gordon strachan resigns.

> >

> > I knew poor gordon had lost it when he signed

> kris

> > boyd. :-)

>

> Or McManus, MacDonald, Flood or Robson

> >:D<

Nope - it was Boyd that did it. That proved he was mad.

Anyway - first old firm game this weekend !! Celtic going for two in a row are we not. League decider number 1.

Where is PGC?

[Ladymuck]

How could he! (Rooney)

*massive sob*

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I'm here, just basking in goal difference! Two whisky macs says we'll win.

[Jah Lush]

Ladymuck Wrote:

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> How could he! (Rooney)

>

> *massive sob*

Because he's a selfish money grabbing little cunt.

[Jah Lush]

Rafa's bizarre message in a milk bottle. What the feck is he on?

Italians unable to halt Rafa's descent into madness

[mockney piers]

Do the big words Spoof and Satire provide some sort of hint perhaps?

[Jah Lush]

Of course. It's from Newsarse Piers. It's their take on his bizarre quotes from yesterday.

To quote Rafa - "If you want to ask again what was going on. It's simple.

"They changed something and, at the end, they changed everything.

"So, white liquid in a bottle: milk. You will know who is to blame.

White liquid in a bottle. If I see John the milkman in the Wirral, where I was living, with this bottle I'd say, "It's milk, sure."

WTF?

[Ted Max]

It's a variant on, "If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck..."

In other words - if all the evidence points to the new MD being the problem, then he must have been the problem.

[Annasfield]

If you read the whole transcript it makes sense.

[Jah Lush]

Hmmmmmmmm.......

Anyway I'm hoping for a Spurs win tonight against his Inter-Milan side but I'm not very confident considering the amount players we have out. Not having Ledley King at the back and with Gallas and Bassong as the two remaining centre-halves at our current disposal fills me with dread. I think Samuel Eto'o could have a field day.

[Brendan]

Soccer ball kickers

knobjockeys

[Annasfield]

Good job there are no soccer ball kickers in here then eh Brendan?

[SCSB79]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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

> SCSB79 Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Mick Mac Wrote:

> >

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

>

> > -----

> > > gordon strachan resigns.

> > >

> > > I knew poor gordon had lost it when he signed

> > kris

> > > boyd. :-)

> >

> > Or McManus, MacDonald, Flood or Robson

> > >:D

>

> Nope - it was Boyd that did it. That proved he was

> mad.

>

> Anyway - first old firm game this weekend !!

> Celtic going for two in a row are we not. League

> decider number 1.

>

> Where is PGC?

I am sure you mean two old firm wins in a row and not league titles as we both now who has recently won 2 in a row in that sense??!!

But yes, you are as you won the last (meaningless) one last season.

This one is very tough to call, I think we'll be the happier team with a point, so I'll take that now.

We win and it will be the beginning of TLB's, sorry, Neil Lennon's implosion.

PGC - do you have a family type car with Millwall FC and Rangers FC cushions in it?

[Sandperson]

Apparently United's future ambitions aren't enough for Rooney. (?)

The sooner we see the back of him the better as far as I can see now. Get some new blood in or put our faith in the players that are there already. Which ever the choice it's time to close the Rooney chapter and move on before it becomes too damaging.

[Bluerevolution]

http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss116/tueartsboots/rooney2.jpg