What's Happening With The Rags?

[Im_Spartacus]

Im surprised nobody mentioned ferdinands press conference contribution from the other day.

Wheeled out to tell the fans that they dont need to sign anybody, only the day after moyes did the same.

Its starting to sound like they have thrown the fucking towel in over their targets and are going to launch a brainwashing offensive on the fans to make them think that relying on youth, the odd everton signing and finishing top 4 for a few years is just a transitional period......until the thick cunts realise they've been had by the glazers and they have turned into arsenal mk2, albeit with an inferior manager at the helm.

[Nigels Tackle]

Im surprised nobody mentioned ferdinands press conference contribution from the other day.

Wheeled out to tell the fans that they dont need to sign anybody, only the day after moyes did the same.

Its starting to sound like they have thrown the fucking towel in over their targets and are going to launch a brainwashing offensive on the fans to make them think that relying on youth, the odd everton signing and finishing top 4 for a few years is just a transitional period......until the thick cunts realise they've been had by the glazers and they have turned into arsenal mk2, albeit with an inferior manager at the helm.

was he wearing one of his 'no.5' caps?

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Im surprised nobody mentioned ferdinands press conference contribution from the other day.

Wheeled out to tell the fans that they dont need to sign anybody, only the day after moyes did the same.

Its starting to sound like they have thrown the fucking towel in over their targets and are going to launch a brainwashing offensive on the fans to make them think that relying on youth, the odd everton signing and finishing top 4 for a few years is just a transitional period......until the thick cunts realise they've been had by the glazers and they have turned into arsenal mk2, albeit with an inferior manager at the helm.

was he wearing one of his 'no.5' caps?

Apparently he said: 'We, the players, will do our best to help him (Moyes) bed-in. We'll teach him some of the styles we have used that made us successful....'
So, the words 'asylum', 'lunatics' and 'running' spring to mind.

[Beefymcfc]

I learnt many years ago not to get too giddy when there are problems at the swamp as invariably it just comes back and bites me on the arse. This season I will just concentrate on us and not bother what they get up to (or don't get up to morelike)

this is certainly the best approach, I am right with you Chinners

It's a great approach but do you honestly think you can get through a season without giving a fuck what they do?

I await the first dodgy decision ;-)

[Beefymcfc]

I learnt many years ago not to get too giddy when there are problems at the swamp as invariably it just comes back and bites me on the arse. This season I will just concentrate on us and not bother what they get up to (or don't get up to morelike)

this is certainly the best approach, I am right with you Chinners

And this was my point exactly. I was simply pointing out that a thread asking "What's Happening With The Rags?" is possibly suggesting there are big problems a little prematurely.

It's not that atall mate, it's more a look at all aspects of their operation at the moment. I've mainly tried to concentrate on their PR campaign and why they have to be constantly in the public eye. Beckham became the face of United and now United have now done the exact same thing, touting their faces to anybody who will look and constantly producing PR and spin.

The question is, why are they so over the top at the moment? Everything I see or read has something to do with United on it. Fair enough, they have been there or thereabouts for many years but I've never seen it this bad.

We all know they will be there this season, even if they are down to a 11 youth players and 4 officials, but what is telling for me is the lack of action so far without their former top men.

[patrickblue]

I learnt many years ago not to get too giddy when there are problems at the swamp as invariably it just comes back and bites me on the arse. This season I will just concentrate on us and not bother what they get up to (or don't get up to morelike)

this is certainly the best approach, I am right with you Chinners

And this was my point exactly. I was simply pointing out that a thread asking "What's Happening With The Rags?" is possibly suggesting there are big problems a little prematurely.

It's not that atall mate, it's more a look at all aspects of their operation at the moment. I've mainly tried to concentrate on their PR campaign and why they have to be constantly in the public eye. Beckham became the face of United and now United have now done the exact same thing, touting their faces to anybody who will look and constantly producing PR and spin.

The question is, why are they so over the top at the moment? Everything I see or read has something to do with United on it. Fair enough, they have been there or thereabouts for many years but I've never seen it this bad.

We all know they will be there this season, even if they are down to a 11 youth players and 4 officials, but what is telling for me is the lack of action so far without their former top men.

As you say, there's been an extraordinary amout of media presence and advertising going on. For instance the ever present ads for their pre season tour, something that has never been particularily promoted in the past. It's like they think that their status as the worlds favourite football team is under serious threat.
I seriously think that they are aware that they have been seriously overperforming for the last few seasons, mainly due to taggart's presence, and are expecting to struggle this season (by their standards) and are worried about their halo slipping.

[Chopper]

I hope that David Moyes is the breath of fresh air that they need. I wish him the success of Brian Clough.






































































































































At Leeds.

[Beefymcfc]

Feck me, Rags playing AIK tonight in Sweden and Sky have just given their apologies for the lack of a crowd. Apparently they are charging 5 times the price of a normal ticket for the game and fans are staying away because AIK have already started their season.

On top of that, MUTV (which is a pay-per-view) have a one off payment to watch the game on their channel. Just £5.95 on top of your normal subscription.

Nothing going on though, all is good in Rag Land.

[Beefymcfc]

Just to let you know, United won 1-1.

[gillie]

Just to let you know, United won 1-1.

Beefers mate the rag result was up in the cage a good 20 mins before you posted it.See the cage is the cutting edge mate:)

[Blue Oli]

You mean #thecage is #whereitsat surely ?

[Beefymcfc]

Just to let you know, United won 1-1.

Beefers mate the rag result was up in the cage a good 20 mins before you posted it.See the cage is the cutting edge mate:)

I'm all over it mate but didn't think it'd have the game in though ;-)

[mcfc1632]

I am one of those desperate for the demise of the evil empire but was disappointed last night to see that they still get real interest overseas

I was in a Protaras (Cyprus) restaurant last night and counted 20 TVs in the bar opposite - of those 6 were showing the APOEL must win CL qualifier and the rest the scum game

[Luke11993]

This made me chuckle a little bit...


Another one bites the dust for David Moyes and Manchester United.

Cesc Fabregas became the latest player to snub the Premier League champions on Thursday when the midfielder confirmed he will stay at Barcelona next season.

In truth, United’s very public pursuit of Fabregas always looked doomed, despite the club’s willingness to pay up to €40 million to land the former Arsenal captain.

Moyes is desperate to secure a top-class central midfielder this summer. It has been a problem position in recent seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson and has become an even more pressing concern in light of Paul Scholes’ retirement and Darren Fletcher’s ongoing fitness problems.

Yes, United would not have launched successive bids for Fabregas had they not received at least some indication that he would be interested in a move to Old Trafford, but the word from the player’s camp - and the Camp Nou - all summer has been that the 26-year-old would stay for at least one more season.

United turned to Fabregas in the first place after missing out on his former Barcelona team-mate Thiago Alcantara, who rejected Moyes’ advances in favour of a switch to Bayern Munich, where he has been reunited with former boss Pep Guardiola.

But even beyond those two, United have endured four further failed pursuits of midfield targets this summer.

Firstly, a £35m enquiry for Real Madrid star Luka Modric was swiftly dismissed by the Spanish giants last month, while United have also made discreet approaches for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, as well as Juventus stars Claudio Marchisio and, astonishingly, Arturo Vidal.

United were given indications that the prodigious Italian starlet had his heart set on a move from Paris to Juventus which sent them in the direction of the Serie A champions to check on the availability of Vidal and Marchisio. Tentative enquiries were flatly rejected - the scattergun approach yielded no rewards.

Slowly but surely, United’s transfer window - dominated by speculation surrounding the future of Wayne Rooney - threatens to descend into a farce.

Now United will turn to Plan F.

Marouane Fellaini has always been the fall-back option for Moyes and it looks increasingly likely that the Belgian will follow his former manager’s journey from Everton to Old Trafford.

Moyes is an admirer of the 25-year-old, a versatile, physical midfielder proven in the Premier League, but if Fellaini was a priority for United they would have signed him two months ago.

After all, the £22m buyout clause in Fellaini’s contract, allowing him to join a side in the Champions League, expired on July 31, meaning United will be forced to negotiate with Everton to agree a deal for the player.

As it is, as revealed by Goal last month, the Premier League champions have been forced to turn to Fellaini following the failure of their other pursuits, rather than having identified the Everton man as their preferred option.

While Fellaini would be a reliable signing for Moyes, he is hardly the stellar name to mark a new era at the club following Ferguson’s retirement, nor does he satisfy the need for more creativity in the side.

Given Moyes’ public comments about United’s attempts to land Fabregas - and, indeed, his insistence that Rooney is not for sale - the club face something of a PR battle before the transfer window shuts on September 2.

It has been difficult for Moyes, while new executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has also floundered as the leader of transfer negotiations following David Gill’s resignation.

United cruised to the Premier League title last term but there is a sense that they have needed to make a statement signing before they start their title defence against Swansea on August 17.

So far, their transfer policy has lacked direction and strategy - although you can’t fault their ambition in chasing some of the best midfielders in Europe.

Fellaini should arrive in the coming weeks, but you have to wonder if this is now United’s place in the food chain in the Moyes era.

[Saul Goodman]

Just lost to Sevilla. Sure, RVP and Rooney hasnt been playing but they've looked awful in preseason. It's shocking that a manager can make that much of a difference if the players stay the same.

[CTID Hants]

Just lost to Sevilla. Sure, RVP and Rooney hasnt been playing but they've looked awful in preseason. It's shocking that a manager can make that much of a difference if the players stay the same.

In their case may be, in ours you only have to look at Dzeko to see the difference a manager can make?

Just read what John68 said in another thread and like him I was in the camp of WTF when Mancini got the elbow, but clearly things were far from right. In the Rags case, they have lost probably their most valuable asset in fergiscum and gollum is clearly feeling the pressure of filling his boots.

I don't see the rags falling that far and will prob still make top 4, BUT the best thing about tonight is that one of the most detestable wankers to ever play football in the last 10yrs or so has had 'his night' shat on massively :-)

Sorry it was Blue68 NOT john68 for clarification

[Equilibrista]

Just lost to Sevilla. Sure, RVP and Rooney hasnt been playing but they've looked awful in preseason. It's shocking that a manager can make that much of a difference if the players stay the same.

Well, we didn't have Navas and Negredo either and still won. I'm becoming more of a City supporter by the minute...

[maddog fenton]

<null>

Funny how SSN it's staying very quiet on this result not a mention of it anywhere

[Saul Goodman]

Funny how SSN it's staying very quiet on this result not a mention of it anywhere

It's on the Premier League home page on SSN...

In their case may be, in ours you only have to look at Dzeko to see the difference a manager can make?

What I really meant is how, with the same players, a squad could go from title-winning to rubbish under a new manager...a regression.

Whereas its very easy to see a new manager breathing life into the same crop of players...a progression.

[ant london]

Yes and no mate....I think most of us thought we knew full well that no other manager would have got the performances, results and league position out of THAT united squad that ferguson did.

It now just looks like we could well have been right

But let's wait and see when the serious business starts!