Billy Merideth - Manchester United And Wales

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Introduction
Billy Meredith or the Welsh Wizard as he was also known is one of the most colourful characters to ever have graced the game of football.

Incredibly the controversial Welshman's career spanned the best part of 30 years in which he played for his home town club of Chirk, helping them to lift the Welsh F.A. Cup in 1890 & 1892, Northwich Victoria, Manchester City, who he won his first F.A. Cup medal with in 1904, Manchester United, where he added another F.A. Cup winners medal in 1909 and two League Championship winning medals in 1908 and 1911 and finally Wales, scoring 11 goals in 48 appearances.

Early Career
After he had plied his trade with the likes of Chirk and Northwich Victoria Meredith signed for Manchester City in 1894 for an unknown fee. He made his debut in City's 5-4 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United in October 1894.

On 3 November 1894 the Welsh Wizard scored two goals in Manchester City's 5-2 win over Newton Heath at Bank Street. and doing so set himself on the road into becoming a Manchester footballing legend.

On 23 April 1904, it can be argued that he sealed his legacy as a Manchester City great, when his team took on Lancashire rivals Bolton Wanderers in the F.A. Cup final at Crystal Palace. Wearing the Captain's armband, Meredith danced through the opposition's defence to score the only goal of the game and take the cup back to their Hyde Road ground.

A year after the proudest moment of his career up to that point, came his lowest point. in 1905 he was handed a 3 year suspension for allegedly trying to bribe an Aston Villa player into throwing a game, and then for illegally trying to obtain payment from Manchester City while under suspension. So severe was his punishment, he wasn't even allowed to visit any football ground.

Manchester United Career
In May 1906 Manchester United manager Ernest Mangnall signed Billy Meredith for £500, even though he still had 11 months of his ban remaining. However, luckily for the forward and Manchester United, the F.A. reduced his ban by 3 months, in order to fit in with the suspensions given to his former collegues at Hyde Road.

On New Years Day 1907 in front of a 40,000 strong Bank Street crowd Billy Meredith made his Manchester United debut ironically against Aston Villa, with Sandy Turnbull scoring the only goal of the game.

Just a year after he had signed for The Reds he helped inspire the team to win the Championship for the first time in the club's history by scoring ten goals in thirty-seven matches and as well as setting up many goalscoring opportunites for his team mates.

One year on a 34 year old Billy Meredith had the chance to add to his two Welsh Cup, one F.A. Cup and One League Championship winning medals when Manchester United took on underdogs, Bristol City in the F.A. Cup final on 24 April 1909 at Crystal Palace. On the fine Spring day the Welsh Wizard stole the show with an man-of-the-match winning performance as The Reds ran out 1-0 winners, with Sandy Turnbull grabbing the solitary goal.

In 1911 and now at the age of 36 many players would be thinking of hanging up their boots, but not the enigmatic Meredith. His insatiable appetite for football and all the joys that came with it drove him on and on, and it was this drive that helped Manchester United pick up their second League title within the space of four seasons, when they pipped Aston Villa to the crown by one point, after they hammered 3rd placed Sunderland 5-1 in their last game of the season.

After the 1911 title winning season Billy Meredith went on to play a further 166 times for Manchester United and bagging himself 10 goals. In 1921 he returned to Manchester City at the grand old age of 46 and played a further 32 games for them until he retired, just a few months shy of his 50th birthday.

The charasmatic Meredith holds the distinction of being the oldest player to have ever appeared for both Manchester United and Manchester City and is also one of the oldest players to have scored in the F.A. Cup, doing so in a 3rd round tie against Brighton and Hove Albion on 23 February 1924 aged 49 years 208 days.

Billy Meredith Honours

Chirk
Welsh Cup: 1892, 1894

Manchester City
F.A. Cup: 1904

Manchester United
F.A. Cup: 1909
First Division: 1908, 1911

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Carlos Tevez Decided To Leave Manchester United Two Weeks Ago

The Daily Mirror claims Carlos Tevez will complete his £25.5 million move in the coming days, but had decided to leave Old Trafford over two weeks ago based on his belief that Sir Alex Ferguson did not rate him enough to make him a first choice player.

News that Tevez would not return for United's pre-season training broke over the weekend after the club announced he had rejected the offer of a five-year contract. City meanwhile are thought to have tabled a deal worth over £100,000-a-week over five years.

It is also being reported that Ferguson was aware of Tevez's decision to go and as such has been on the hunt for a suitable replacement ever since. So far, United have been linked with signing Wigan's Antonio Valencia, Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery this summer using the £80m generated through the almost complete sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Tevez's arrival at City stands to cast a degree of doubt over the future of Robinho, who, after one season in the Premier League, may find himself as Mark Hughes' third choice striker behind the Argentine and Craig Bellamy.

Chelsea And Manchester City Join The Race To Sign Tevez

Chelsea and Manchester City have joined Real Madrid in the scramble for the services of Carlos Tévez if the Manchester United forward prices himself out of a long-term contract at Old Trafford.

United are currently negotiating to sign Tévez permanentlyonce their two-year lease arrangement expires in June, but progress has been slow with Kia Joorabchian, head of the companies that own the player’s economic rights, maintaining that they must pay a fee of £22 million in addition to the downpayments of about £10 million that have already been made and a salary well in excess of £100,000 a week. Other clubs have been alerted to the impasse and while Real’s interest is well-known, Chelsea and City have also made clear their desire to be kept informed of developments.

The Argentina forward has expressed a preference to stay with United but, as well as the financial complications, he has been frustrated at times this season by his demotion to third choice behind Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney. Madrid would be his preferred destination if he were to leave United, but Chelsea and City would offer alternatives.

City officials have discussed the feasibility of such a coup with Mark Hughes, the manager, since the failed bid to sign Kaká, the Brazil forward, from AC Milan this month. The fee would be £32 million, but Chelsea appear to be willing to match that valuation in the summer while also bidding to sign Luis Fabiano, the Brazil forward, from Seville.....Back To Home Page...

Back patting

Since I saw Thaicrisis give himself a pat on the back for some accurate forecasts this week, I though it might the time to do the same for myself. Hey, nobody else is going to do it!

1) The class war, it’s escalation and the fallout of the Thaksin feud was predicted by yours truly back on my old blog, which is now deleted.

2) The fallout of the constitutional referendum and predictions for the previous election were called by myself.

3) As you know, the end result of Thaksin’s Man City bid were called by me.

4) And I saw the judicial coup coming early on.

Admittedly, none of these evnts required a huge amount of astuteness.

It just goes to show: even a broken clock can be right twice a day :-)

Fergie 'v' Wenger Round 196

Fergie and Arsene Wenger are at it again. The Manchester United manager has said Arsenal are a club in disarray after William Gallas had his out burst, followed by The Arse getting kicked 3-0 by Al-City. Naturally Wenger is having none of that from Fergie, though by now I would have thought he would be used to it.

Fergie, who is preparing his side to face City this weekend, believes title rivals Arsenal are not currently in good shape and that City caught them on a good day last week.

"Maybe City got Arsenal on the right day last Saturday because there seems to be a lot of disarray in the Arsenal camp with the carry-on with one of their players," said Ferguson. But you can only do what you are supposed to do and City did that very convincingly."

Wenger has angrily rejected Ferguson's claims as he looks to get his side back in the title hunt against Chelsea on Sunday.

"I don't feel we are in disarray, I feel that Manchester City are a good side and Manchester United will maybe see that on Sunday. We had a few bad results and with the pace set by Liverpool and Chelsea, that made us drop off, but the quality is there and what happened to us can happen to them. If this team beats Chelsea after having beaten Manchester United, I believe they will go from strength to strength. You just have to believe, and I know we can beat them."

Personally, I'd rather be Fergie right now than Wenger. I fear for Arsenal going into this game and it could really bury their season. A loss for Manchester United with Chelsea and Liverpool both winning will make it hard for us too, but when the going gets tough, the tough get going as they say.....Back To Home Page...

Manchester City And Their Annual One Match Sell Out

I woke up this morning at 4am having gone to bed too early and no one was around so boredom set in and I had a quick look at the Manchester City Official Club Site. The new City badge (left) is impressive, I love the logo underneath. This City site does make me laugh and cheers me up no end. How happy are they right now, it's their once annually 'sell out', the game with Manchester United has SOLD OUT!

They have dedicated a whole page to tell the world the 47,000 tickets are now all gone, unless you want to shell out an arm and a leg to sit in the 'Council House' or 'Wastelands' (as United fans affectionately know Eastlands by) Hospitality Area.

I quote:

The Club's Box Office has confirmed that Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United at the City of Manchester Stadium has now sold out.

The only chance for those without tickets to see the eagerly awaited fixture against our near neighbours is to take advantage of the few remaining hospitality places left -

The Box Office has advised everyone attending the derby on Sunday that on the day the Club DO NOT:

• Upgrade tickets
• Duplicate tickets for home or away supporters
• Reprint Season/City/L4C/Accesscards if lost, stolen or forgotten.
• Open Box Office South
• Open Box Office post match

Hurrah for Al-City, the massive club. This is the annual 'sell-out' the only time they ever run out of tickets so we should all be impressed with them. Of course it could happen again, I know this, I'm not too naive to acknowledge it..........they might draw United in the FA Cup you see.

I wont mention the fact that Manchester United sell 76,000 tickets week in week out every season as that would seem like I am boasting. Ooooops I said it.

The Hospitality suites are a treat to saviour at Wastelands, here we see one of the waitresses having a smoke break, they have them regularly so they can run down and feed their kids and change their nappies whenever they get a minute to spare. Most work cash-in-hand and any tips will be gratefully received. It is advisable to tip them as they have been known to wrestle customers to the floor in their pursuit of suitable tipping.

It is also advisable to try the traditional 'Wastelands menu, reflecting the meals these people have been eating for years. It's quite cheap, reasonably well presented and very, very nourishing. A particular favourite being the 'Rat Kebab' served on a bed of crispy Iceburg lettuce with a selection of dips and chutneys. Chips are optional.

Watch out for those rat teeth, they can chip your own teeth and cause havoc with your bowel movements.

Once you have washed your meal down with a nice tin of Carlsberg Special Brew you are taken out and dragged off to see the game. It's a bit nerve racking as you are dragged feet first to the edge of the roof but once you are strapped into place by your beautiful hostess it gets easier to watch the match from up there. The added bonus of course is the half time entertainment. From up on high you can piss on the City fans below which is fun, fun, fun. Roll on Derby Day, I can't wait......Back To Home Page...

Manchester United Are The Kings Of Manchester

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has turned up the heat ahead of Sunday's match with Manchester City. Talking to the Manchester Evening News he threw a few taunts at Al-City just to let them know we mean business and to inform them that MANCHESTER UNITED ARE THE KINGS OF MANCHESTER!

“It will be nice to show them who are the Kings of Manchester, it doesn’t irritate us that City are getting all this publicity. If they were winning trophies it would irritate me but while they are still lingering in mid-table I am not really too bothered about it. We owe the fans a derby win even though we did win two trophies last season. Losing both games was extremely disappointing. Sunday is a massive game for the players, the fans and the club especially after what has happened at City with the takeover.”

City have been the headline makers this season due to Sheikh Mansour’s dramatic takeover in August. They immediately became the richest club in the world, breaking the British transfer record and stunning world football with the £32.5m signing of Robinho.

All this jibber-jabber from Al-City fans about how much money they have and how they will buy Ronaldo, Kaka, Messi and every other half decent player on the planet makes me laugh my butt right off. When Abramobitch turned up at Chelsea we heard it all.....5 years later they have 2 titles and an FA Cup, hardly world beating stuff is it?

Money is handy to have of course, it enables you to buy plenty of good players but you need more than that. You need history and passion, a manager with the ability to pull it all together for you and most of all you need players who understand the fans and understand the club and all that has gone before them which inspires a will to win within them.......and money can't buy you that, no matter how much of it you have !!! .....Back To Home Page...

Forget The Premier League And Champions League, Patrice Wants To Go Shopping

Manchester United fullback Patrice Evra has his own reasons for wanting to beat Manchester City in the Manchester derby this Sunday and it has nothing to do with the Premier League or the Champions League. Speaking to the Daily Mail he revealed the real reason he wants to win:

"I remember when we lost against City last year I was in a petrol station and a woman took the Mickey out of me, I was a little bit angry at the time but that was fine, it was just a joke. But I hope to win on Sunday so that when I go to the petrol station this time I can go in with a big smile! It is a big game for us. We lost six points to City last year and we need to change that. We drew against Villa last Saturday and now we need to get back to winning ways."

Bless him......Back To Home Page...

A Carling Cup Headache

Manchester United and Blackburn have yet to resolve the dilemma over when to play their Carling Cup quarter-final tie. As I have said before the Prem fixture list is unforgiving. The game is scheduled to take place during week commencing December 1. The problem is Manchester United United tackle Manchester City at Eastlands on Sunday, November 30, with Blackburn facing the more geographically challenging trip to Portsmouth on the same day, the Carling Cup tie would normally be scheduled for Wednesday, December 3.

However, that situation is complicated because Manchester City are in UEFA Cup action against Paris St Germain that evening and local police prefer both their major clubs not to play at the same time. I think Al-City should give way personally as they have no hope of actually winning the UEFA Cup, why would they win it, they've won nothing for 33 years after all. But I am a little biased.

With United due to play a Champions League tie against Aalborg the following week before flying to Japan for the World Club Cup, there is little opportunity for the Carling Cup tie to be played at a later date as the semi-finals should take place at the beginning on January. Discussions with Greater Manchester Police are continuing, with the likelihood remaining that Blackburn will travel to Old Trafford on December 3......Back To Home Page.....

Sir Alex 'Chuffed' With Welbeck's Goal Against Stoke City

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was pleased to see Danny Welbeck hit his first goal for the club in yesterday's 5-0 trouncing of Stoke City. "He is a very sensible young man," said Ferguson I am sure the other players will soon bring him down to earth, if they have not already done so."

Born in Longsight, Manchester, to Ghananian parents, Welbeck joined Manchester United during the 2005–06 season, making his debut for the club's Under-18 side on 8 April 2006 in a league match against Sunderland. He then came on as a substitute in the next game, before being named as an unused substitute in the team's last two games of the season. The following season, he made a further 28 appearances for the Under-18s, scoring nine goals, including eight appearances and one goal in the FA Youth Cup, in which he helped the team to reach the final, despite being two years younger than some of the other players.

Welbeck signed his first trainee contract in July 2007, and started the 2007–08 season in the Under-18 side, but was quickly promoted to the Reserve team, making a number of substitute appearances. Then, in January 2008, he was called up to the first team for the trip to Saudi Arabia to play Al-Hilal in Sami Al-Jaber's testimonial. Welbeck made his debut in that game on 21 January 2008, coming on as a 65th-minute substitute for Anderson. Welbeck had the chance to snatch a draw for United when he was brought down in the penalty area in the final minute, but he put the penalty kick over the bar.

On 25 January 2008, Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that Welbeck would be considered a first team squad member for the rest of the season. On 9 February 2008, Alex Ferguson revealed that Welbeck would be involved in the matchday squad for the Manchester derby the following day. He also hinted that Welbeck may be involved from the start of the game. This did not come to pass however, as he was left out of the team entirely.

Welbeck made his competitive debut for the Manchester United first team on 23 September 2008, starting up front in the team's League Cup Third Round match at home to Middlesboro. United won the game 3–1, but Welbeck did not manage to get on the scoresheet despite going close in the third minute......Back To Home Page

Axel Witsel

Bolton Wanderers thought they had found a future super star and crept in to buy him while no one else noticed. The player in question is Axel Witsel of Standard Liege.

On 17th September 2006 a 17 year old Witsel made his debut in a competitive game against FC Brussels when he replaced Steven Defour in the 89th minute. Eleven days later he made his European debut as a substitute against Chorley Fc.

During the 2007-2008 season, at 18 years of age, he was a key member in the team that won the Belgian League title. During this year, he formed the very young midfield together with other Belgian talents such as Marouane Fellaini (19 at the time, and now of Premier League club Everton) and Steven Defour (also 19 at the time).

He is named after Axl Rose, the musician from Guns n Roses. His father, a former footballer himself, is a huge fan of the rock group and named his son, whose full name is Axel Sweet Child O' Mine Witsel, after the hard-rocking frontman.

Manchester City and Manchester United have now joined the battle for Witsel after Bolton Wanderers were linked with a £6 million offer for the teenager last week. However, Belgian sources say both Manchester clubs have intimated they're willing to pay £9 million to bring Witsel to England in January.....Back To Home Page

Manchester United Legends - Billy Meredith

Full name: William Henry Meredith

Birthplace: 30.7.1874. Chirk, Denbighshire, Wales
Height: 5ft 9
Weight: 12st 3lb's
Position: Winger/Forward
Nickname: The Welsh Wizard
Played: 670 games Goals 181
Wales: played 48 goals 11

Teams played for:

• Chirk
• Northwich Victoria
• Manchester City
• Manchester United
• Manchester City

Meredith is often named as the first football superstar, he had the attitude of a Cantona combined with the playing style reminiscent of a George Best or Ryan Giggs. His bursts of speed and mazy runs down the wing coupled with his deadly crosses earned him the title the "Welsh Wizard" and made him the undoubted star of the team and a hero with fans. Meredith was also nicknamed "Old Skinny" for his lean, slim, frame.

Billy joined Manchester City in October 1984 after playing for Northwich Victoria and Wrexham. He became a firm crowd favourite. At City he won the Second Division title twice in 1899 and 1903 and captained the team to an F.A. Cup Final victory in 1904. In 1904 Umpire magazine run a competition to discover the most popular player in the League. Meredith won and became arguably, the first genuine football superstar. Hundreds if not thousands would turn out at the public events he attended.

Everything was going so well then in 1905 a bribery scandal erupted - the FA accused him of bribing an Aston Villa player. Meredith denied the charge but the Football Association banned him for 18 months along with other City players. The scandal was to play a critical role in the development of Manchester United.

1907 was the year that Manchester United finally took centre stage as a major force in the footballing world. The attacking nature of the club can be traced back to this period. The exciting lineup and playing a brand of football that was to become a hallmark at the club. The heart of the team had made the short journey from their rivals Man City after the scandal had erupted. Players were all supposed to be on a fixed wage of 4 pounds per game, however it was discovered that City had been paying 6 or 7 pounds a week per player. The FA were furious and dismissed five of the Man City directors and banned 17 of its players from ever appearing in a blue shirt again. Mangnall the United manager managed first of all to sign Billy Meredith (in 1906) later adding four other City players.

Meredith had also been involved in a bribe fiasco and it is said he was lucky not to be banned from the game for life. Even though the players were signed in 1906, they all had to serve the FA mandated suspensions, consequently they did not make their debuts until 1907.

Questions were asked whether Meredith could regain his touch after his personal problems and such a long lay off about the player's, these questions were answered on his debut against Aston Villa. Meredith dazzled and tourmented the Villa defense all afternoon, finally pllaying the killer cross for Turnball to tutn into the net.

United finished 8^th, but their unique brand of attacking football with Meredith at the heart of most attacking moves became the talk of footballBy the end of the season United had climbed to 8th place and their brand of football. Moreover they were on the brink of the major breakthrough, the Championship !

Along with the manager Ernest Mangall, Meredith was instrumental in helping United to achieve their first major trophies He won two League Championship medals in 1908 and 1911, and an FA Cup winners' medal in 1909. Meredith along with others fought the FA rule that outlawed Unions, they were known as "The Outcasts FC" and finally the FA relented in 1910

World War One broke out and by the time Meredith returned to United he had lost critical parts of his game, he was sold back to Manchester City in 1921 where he continued to play until his last match was against Newcastle in the semi-finals at the age of 49 years and 245 days, making him the oldest player ever to play in the FA Cup.

Merdedith held the record until recently as the oldest international soccer player when he played for Wales v England at Highbury, London, England, on March 15, 1920, aged 45 years 229 days.

The Professional Footballers Association, the Welsh FA, Manchester United and Manchester City, joined forces and agreed to pay for a new headstone and to up keep of the grave after learning about the unmarked grave which had gone unattended for many years. This should help understand how highly many in the game perceive his influence to have been.

Billy Meredith Trivia

Billy Meredith's trademark was a toothpick he chewed while playing; he believed it assisted his concentration. He originally used chewing tobacco, however the cleaners refused to wash the spit off his shirts! In 1926 Meredith starred in a film portraying himself as a trainer ...Back To Home Page

Owen Off To Barca ?

Manchester United have had enough of Owen Hargreave's consistent injury problems. Fergie didn't say that, Owen Hargreaves didn't say it neither did anyone at Old Trafford but the News of the World did, so it must be true.

I'm not too patient with injury prone players, I spent two years pulling out my hair waiting for Fergie to offload Louis Sahahahahaha, which eventually, he did.

According to the same news paper both Man City and Barcelona would be interested, however it is difficult to see United selling to City now that City have a real prospect of becoming a top 4 team.

Barcelona would not have to pay anywhere the £18 million that Manchester United paid Bayern Munich and would probably get the player for about half that amount if he were for sale. Fair enough, Hargreaves has struggled to find his form since his move from Bayern and has been sidelined with injuries since his arrival but he would be loathe to move on. Fergie is not one for sentimentality however and if rumours about David Villa are to be believed, then things might change. But for now OH is a red and we should be on his side........Back To Home Page

Jack Sampson Being Pursued By Both City And United

Manchester United and Manchester City are leading the chase for Bolton starlet Jack Sampson, according to a Sky Sports report. The 15-year-old striker - who stands over 6ft - is one of the brightest prospects in English football and a host of clubs are battling to land him.

Bolton are obviously keen to keep their home-grown star, but it now seems Sampson is set to depart The Reebok Stadium. Sampson is not due to leave school until next summer, but his future is set to be decided over the next few weeks. City have been leading the chase for Sampson and have been monitoring him for more than a year, although they are not the only top-flight club keen to secure his services.

Manchester United have also entered the chase and are ready to offer Sampson the chance of a move to Old Trafford and are hopeful of beating their city rivals to the England youth international. Tottenham and Newcastle are also attempting to land Sampson, who will soon decide on where he will begin his professional career....Back To Home Page

AIG Still On The Brink Of Collapse But Glazers Insist All Is Well

Manchester United's American owners insist the club will not be affected by the credit crunch. The financial meltdown currently affecting the global economy has already begun to infiltrate the football world, with clubs feeling the pinch after years of over-spending. Billionaire chiefs such as Chelsea's Roman Abramovich and Manchester City's Abu Dhabi United Group can handle the cash catastrophe, but there were fears that United may struggle.

The club remains £660million in debt following the Glazers' 2005 takeover, but continue to generate enormous revenue around the world. A refinancing package in 2006 has helped the club to manage their debt and a spokesman for the Glazer family has played down concerns regarding the club's financial health.

Growth

"The credit crunch is not having a negative bearing on United," they said. "We continue to benefit from the sell-out of Old Trafford and the growth in commercial operations. We refinanced back in 2006 and that structure provides long-term stability. The debt continues to be comfortably serviced by the club's strong growth in cash flow."

United's shirt sponsors, AIG, have been hit by the credit crunch in the States, with their future remaining unclear. In fact, having received a loan of $85 Billion recently, they were granted a further $38 Billion only yesterday to keep them afloat. However, United insist the £14million-a-year deal with the American Insurance Group represents only a small percentage of their revenue stream.

Manchester United remain confident that they could strike a lucrative deal elsewhere should the AIG contract fall through, while they have recently struck a commercial deal with Saudi Telecom and extended their link with Budweiser...Back To Home Page.

Why The Delay Over The Tevez Transfer ?

Carlos Tevez is now into the second year of his two year loan deal at Manchester United and none of us have heard any word of him being signed permanently, have we ? No, I didn't think so. So what is going on ? Surely we're not going to kick our hells, talk, talk and then talk some more only to suddenly realise Manchester City of Chelsea have nipped in through the back door, done a nice deal with Kia Joorabchian and our star man is off to play for somebody else.

Manchester United have denied there is any delay to their plans to sign Argentina frontman Carlos Tevez on a permanent deal. Tevez has expressed a desire to commit himself to the Old Trafford club, with his advisor Kia Joorabchian recently rejecting any interest in overtures from Manchester City but we all know things can change very quickly !

Sir Alex Ferguson also wants the deal done, believing Tevez to be part of his long-term plans for United. However, with no conclusion in sight, reports have emerged that Tevez is getting frustrated by the situation and is wondering why United are taking so long, it can't be a nice situation for him.

The Glazers have already said the cash for this deal, which should be around £30m is not a problem, despite the rather bleak financial outlook in the States.

Apparently United have denied there is any delay and that the original plan was to conclude the deal this year. A spokesman said: "The Chief executive David Gill told the papers in South Africa in July that we would hope to conclude a deal with Carlos before the new year. That is still our aim. The clocks haven't even gone back yet, so to talk of delays is nonsense. Both the club and Carlos are relaxed about the situation."

Well, let's hope they're right !!

Rio On MUTV Being Asked Questions About Manchester United, Life, etc etc

Rio Ferdinand appeared on MUTV this week, chatting and answering questions from children and from viewers on the phone.

It was quite interesting really to hear his views but they limited it to 5 or 6 questions that's all, which was a bit annoying to say the least.

Here is what they showed but I'm sure there was more.

If you weren’t a footballer, what job would you be doing now? (Stephen, Sale)
I’d probably be working in the communities in Peckham, where I grew up. I’d be helping out in youth centres or football coaching for kids.

What do you say to your team-mates when they score? (Lee, Gateshead)
I can’t really say because there are normally swear words involved! Usually it’s along the lines of ‘well done’.

What’s it like to walk out at a packed Old Trafford before a big match? (Mark)
When you walk out and the crowd’s going crazy, it’s an amazing feeling - the best.

Did you ever imagine captaining United in a Champions League final?
(Steve, Manchester)
Never. I thought we’d have a chance of making the final but to lead the side out was like a dream. And to go on and win it and get our hands on the trophy was brilliant.

Which team-mates have you played against at international level?
(Paula, Runcorn)
I’ve played against Giggsy, Ronaldo and Nani. Ronny’s quite competitive and Portugal have been lucky to beat us on penalties twice. He’s always got that to throw at us when there are arguments about England and penalties. Next I’d like to play against Sheasy or Fletch.

Blackburn Rovers 'v' Manchester United Match Preview

Venue: Ewood Park

Date: Saturday, 4 October

Kick-off: 1730 BST

Blackburn look to continue their good form against
champions Manchester United. United have won only
one of their last eight league visits to Blackburn.

Both teams are in good form with Blackburn lying
seventh and United having won their last three
games. But United have been dealt a huge blow
as Rooney, and Scholes who is out for 10 weeks will
not play. To add to that United are already without
Hargreaves and Carrick in the heart of midfield.

Blackburn Likely Line up (4-4-2)

Brown

Simpson - Samba - Nelson - Warnock

Emerton - Olsson - Kerimoglu - Villanueva

Santa Cruz - Derbyshire

'V'

Manchester United Likely Line-up (4-4-2)

Van Der Sar

Neville - Vidic - Ferdinand(c) - Evra

Ronaldo - Fletcher - Anderson - Park

Berbatov - Tevez


Talking Tactics: Blackburn will play be a threat up front
with Matt Derbyshire and Santa Cruz so they will play
high balls as they are both 6ft. Also centre back Samba
is very tall so he will be a threat in corners.

PREDICTION: 1-3: United have too much power in their
team and should beat Blackburn but Rovers will put up
a fight. Ronaldo will cause too many problems for Warnock.
Berbatov is now off the mark, that takes a lot of pressure off
him, so now we could see him open up and go on a great scoring run.

Harry Gregg - Reluctant Hero But A REAL Hero !

Last weekend I was browsing the TV channels and saw a program called 'The Pride of Britain'. I thought it sounded interesting and settled back to watch it. All the acts of bravery by so many people was impressive as they one by one came up to collect their awards. They had all been 'heroes' over the past 12 months and to be honest the program is quite superficial and they use the word 'hero' a bit too liberally for my liking. I didn't pay that much attention until the very end when I heard the name Harry Gregg. Harry who ? I hear many people ask. I'll tell you Harry who, right here right now !!


Harry Gregg has always been a reluctant hero.

He always insists he would like to be remembered as the man who was once described as the best goal keeper in the world and not as some sort of 'John Wayne'. After I watched the BBC Documentary "One Life: Harry Gregg Returns To Munich" - his wishes are likely to remain unfulfilled.

This was, without doubt, a portrait of a hero. To be honest John Wayne doesn't come into it, he merely acted the part in mythical fantasies on film.

In this TV program we had Harry Gregg - the cast-iron, copper bottomed, unimpeachable, straight-down-the-line genuine article, who did it in real life - HARRY GREGG, HERO !

There was lots written back in February about the Munich air disaster, it was, after all, 50 years since that tragic day this year. I also watched the brilliant Nation On Film program featuring Sir Bobby watching for the first time rare footage of the Babes in colour. But none of these things matched Harry's program for raw, emotional power. Harry, who is still a big man, was followed by the camera as he returned to places associated with the crash. It began with him walking down the run way that, submerged with slush, had been the last thing many of his friends had seen on 6th February 1958.

Just watching him on the tarmac, head bowed, dabbing his face with a handkerchief, had the tears flowing down my face ... and they didn't stop for the next 40 minutes.

What was so good about the programme was that stuff we have heard a thousand times sounded so fresh, so moving, so immediate coming from Harry's own
testimony. Liam Whelan's last words "if this is death, I'm ready"; Duncan Edwards asking from his hospital bed what time kick off was on Saturday; Gregg himself refusing to run from the scene as instructed by a member of the flight crew and instead heading back into the wreckage, yelling "there's people alive in here": with a master story-teller's timing, he gave it all an immediacy that was astonishing.

He had - as he admitted - told the story many times to those anxious to write his part in history. So, for him, the journey was not so much about laying ghosts as ensuring the memories he had imparted were correct. There has been so much hysteria and so much romance written about the crash said Harry - he just wanted to know he was right in his version of things.

The camera did not shirk from presenting him with the consequences of such memory. It took him everywhere, from the Belgrade pitch where the Babes' last game was played; "wouldn't it be great to be able to run out there once more ?" he said, surveying the pitch, to the Munich airport terminal where the plane stopped to refuel, now abandoned and empty.

"Because of what happened when we left this building, Manchester United changed from a football club into an institution," he said, as acute a summary of the part the accident's mythology has played in United history as you will ever hear.

He went from the crash site, to the hospital, to the hotel where he and Bill Foulkes stayed that night. "Oh yes, this is the place all right, I remember that lift". At times, it was too much for him, and he had to ask for a spot of privacy to compose himself away from the lens' unstinting gaze.

"Do me a favour," he said, as he entered the terminal building. "Forget the camera for a moment or two, just let me walk for a bit." Tough it may have been, but you sensed he was glad to return, to meet people who had actually been there that night, the rescuers, the doctors, the farmer who came running over his field to help. There can't be many of them left.

The most striking part of the film, though, was saved until the end. In Belgrade, Gregg went to the home of the Lukic family. Vera Lukic, the wife of the Yugoslav attaché in London, he had met before. He had not realised until much later that she was pregnant when he had dragged her and her baby from the shattered fuselage. With the camera in attendance, he was introduced for the first time to her son, Zoran, the unborn third member of the Lukic family whose life he had saved, now a 50-year-old man.

Gregg just sat on the family sofa, lost in thought, trying to get his head round the idea that a split-second decision not to run but to go back into the plane had been responsible for giving this man 50 years of life. "I don't know what to say," he said.

He didn't need to. Harry Gregg long ago proved that actions speak louder than words!

United's Style Has To Change To Accomodate Dimitar Berbatov !!

The way Manchester United attack opposition defences may change slightly if Alex Ferguson insists on picking Dimitar Berbatov to lead the line.

The big man wants the ball played into his feet and not to run onto.
I think just about all the current United team look for space and put the ball into it, knowing that one of our guys will run onto it and carry on the attack. Berbatov wont do that, no way ! He's never been a player like that. As Fergie said, you can just pass the ball right to his feet and he's happy with it. If he has one or two players marking him then that's fine too. He has a remarkable footballing brain, he knows exactly what's going on behind him and he has an exquisite first touch. Maybe they think it might put Berbatov into trouble passing to him like this but I can assure you it's the last thing on his mind, this is how he plays.