MUFC - For The Love, Not The Money

Sir Alex Ferguson has been out defending the Glazer family after the latest financial statement from Manchester United's parent company revealed debts of almost £650m. According to some fans, this is a sign of a club in crisis but that seems a little excessive to me personally.

However, Ferguson has never had any complaints about the Americans, who have backed him in the transfer market and have stayed out of the spotlight and, while he accepts debt was a major factor in the Glazer buyout almost four years ago, the United boss does not feel anything is likely to change as a result of Thursday's announcement.

''Their support has never changed, 'I do not know what these figures tell you. 'There has always been debt since Malcolm Glazer took over the club. Most buyouts are like that. But there is no change as far as I am concerned.''

For all the criticism their financial structure has attracted, the Glazer family have never given any indication they are concerned at the amount of debt hanging over United. They still return vast profits on their business dealings, with wages still well under 50% of turnover.

I'm still waiting for this 'crisis' some fans go on about. I don't see it happening any time soon and this is right in the middle of a credit crunch. Malcolm Glazer began his business career with a van and $300 in his arse pocket and is now worth well in excess of $1 billion so I would assume from that he has a rough idea of what he is doing. Some fans just need something to moan about maybe. Or one day they might be proved to be right, in which case I'll eat some humble pie. But for now, enjoy what is and we'll see what the future holds....Back To Home Page...

Manchester United Wage Bill Is Now Huge

If you want the best in football then you must invest plenty of cash and no one can accuse Manchester United of not doing that, their wage bill is now a stunning £121 million.

The Sun says United's wage bill has increased from £92 million per year last year to £121 million now. This is an increase of 30%.

The rise comes after improved deals for Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

United’s Premier League and Champions League Double last season saw them splash £13.3m in bonuses, compared to £8.6m the previous year and now Chief executive David Gill is United’s best-paid non-playing or non-coaching employee on £1.7m a year.

The champions are still second in the big spenders table with Chelsea’s bill at £148m — a rise of 12 per cent.....

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Fergie: Two More Champions Leagues Then I Quit

Alex Ferguson has won everything, several times over, but what he most craves now is more European glory. He has now stated that that he will almost certainly retire as manager of Manchester United should he lead the club to the Champions League trophy in 2009 and 2010.

Speaking with CNN he said:

"I'd love the club to win more European trophies than they have done and I think I've made this point a few times over the years. I don't think we've won the number we should have won. There have been years when we've been unlucky and years we've been disappointed, and there've been years when we've thrown games away, and that sort of gives a kaleidoscope of what football's like. If we could win a couple more European trophies I then would definitely quit.".....Back To Home Page...

The day that never was

I don't like public speaking, in fact I get quite nervous when doing so, but I still volunteer whenever my school needs sometime to address parents or other public figures. I figure it's good practice for when I return home and enter politics.

Still, when my school told me yesterday that I was to literally take the stage alone and address all parents about the Songkran festival I was distinctly concerned, despite the hidden compliment. Firstly, although my vertigo has greatly subsided, it was not totally cleared up and a little stage fright could make it worse. More importantly though, the English in my statement had several faults and I was forbidden to correct it. This may seem strange to those who have never worked in Thailand but the rest will be neither surprised or lost for a guess as to how this could happen. Finally, I am always anxious about teaching Thai adults about their own customs.



I needn't have worried. Last night PM Aphisit declared today (Friday) a holiday to clear out the red shirt protests in Bangkok. The teachers in my school arrived for work anyway, but the students were not daft enough to pass up the chance for an extra holiday and those with a choice did not arrive. School - and my speech - were cancelled.



But this could be the beginning of something big. Thaksin's comments last night seem to have passed over as another rant. In fact, I found them to be the most blunt and revealing so far. Thaksin has already broken a key taboo by attacking a privy councillor but yesterday's remarks seemed even more surprising.

It's a truly compelling deadlock. The reds lack the support of elite institutions that so transparently aided the yellow shirts during their rampage that climaxed with the takeover of Bangkok airport, but the sheer number of red shirt protesters has clearly shaken the government. Whilst it remains unspoken, the reds have been notably lacking in certain accouterments that are usually obligatory in any gathering of Thais. There seems to have been a real change in the political thinking of some northern Thais and it's just possible that another military crackdown may not be able to quash the problem this time. Once freedom has been found, it can never be forgotten.

Martin O'Neill In Hot Water

ASTON Villa coach Martin O'Neill has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his behaviour after his side's 3-2 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.

Not surprising really as too many managers these days seem to lose their heads and go charging out to the ref to complain about decisions that have already gone, we can't rewind the clock and change anything. Why oh why don't they bide their time and write about it in their many column inches they seem to have or voice their opinions in press conferences?

The charge relates to O'Neill's conduct towards referee Mike Riley following the final whistle in the Premier League game at Old Trafford. The Northern Irishman was angered by the amount of stoppage time that Riley added on at the end of the 90 minutes.

'What was it? Five minutes added time? I'm sure we wouldn't have got it at Villa Park,' he said after Federico Macheda's 93rd-minute winner.

O'Neill also complained about what he saw as an unpunished foul on Villa winger Ashley Young in the build-up to Macheda's goal, as well as several earlier decisions.

'The officials also got three offsides wrong,' he said.

O'Neill has until April 27 to respond to the charge.....Back To Home Page...

We Must BELIEVE And The Players Must BELIEVE!

Last month Sir Alex came out on several occessions and played down any talk of the quintuple saying it was a pipe dream. Many thought he was just playing it all down, trying to take the pressure off his players. At the time United were on a run of 26 games undefeated and another run of 15 games without conceding a goal, so I was a bit unhappy with his scepticism.

But watching United play over the last month, they look they have reached the 'wall' that marathon runners talk about. One minute they were running along at the the head of the field looking fine and then suddenly, WHAM, they hit the 'wall' and their legs have gone, their heads have dropped and they seem incapable of that explosive, quick fire football that enabled them to break records and go weeks without a hint of defeat.

Against Porto last night, they got caught out by the elctric start the Portugese made. Porto charged at them like men posessed and nicked an early goal. For 20 minutes I was praying for half time to come so Fergie could work his magic.

The game finished 2-2 and now United must break another record to advance further in the Champions League. No English team has beaten Porto away from home in 16 attempts but now that is the mission facing United.

It is not impossible, far from it, but it's going to be so very hard. For a start, we need our defence to be intact and we must field Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra and maybe, just maybe the golas will stop leaking in.

In midfield we need Anderson back, he has boundless energy, there are no goals from him yet but he can bully players and lend his stregth to the cause. Paul Scholes is a living legend, some say he is too old but still I have 100% fath in him, he too must play. Alongside these two guys must be Ryan Giggs, there are no more experienced players in the world than Giggsy and for this game we need his steadying influence. Ronaldo is an automatic choice, but please God someone tell him not to be so lazy like he was against Villa, he never once tracked back to help Neville who was being killed by Carew and Agbonlahor. Up front we NEED Berbatov, desperately. You can call him lazy, uninterested or whatever else you like but that's simply not true. He is as cool as cucumber under pressure. He can hold the ball up, he can make great innovative passes and he is agreat playmaker and he scores for fun!! Alongside him is the lovable Wayne Loony. This guy is my hero. No matter how lost the cause may seem, no matter how low the players around him are, he will always give 100% and will run and run and run.

Having wrote this now, I actually feel better myself. These guys are our heroes and we love them all. They NEVER let us down and this team I have selected here CAN and WILL go to Portugal and do what no other English team has ever done before them.

The tiredness and body language of the guys last night makes it seem impossible. But we must have faith and BELIEVE.

At the end of this season, no matter what United win, someone somewhere MUST look at the fixtures situation for the Prem League. As can be sen by the sudden demise of 'invincible' United, this fixture pile up is just not good enough. United are currently beginning a run of 5 games in 14 days. No one else in the Champions League is having to face that!!!

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AIS Robert T Withers PhD Scholar Award for physiologists

Talented sports physiologists recognised for excellence@AISTalented sports physiologists Nicola Bullock and Eileen Robertson from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) have been named joint winners of the inaugural AIS Robert T Withers PhD Scholar Award.‘Both of the PhD scholars are working at the forefront of sports science research and development and pushing the limits of scientific inquiry