UNITED’S FIRST EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE FANZINE
ISSUE
FOOTBALL UNITED FANZINE
15 May 2012
CRUNCH TIME What a difference a month makes 1
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
2
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
Football United Fanzine Issue 15 - May 2012 Managing Editor: Steph Doehler Deputy Editor: Rachel Turney Contributors: Vinnie Shaw, Brett Burgers, Harry Sherlock, Jack Harvey. A special thank to: Daniel Mason Designer: Steph Doehler Images: Micky Owen PI: Michael Kyeyune ________________ Email: editor.fub@live.co.uk
Football United Blogs
@footballUB
All material unless otherwise stated, is copyright to the Football United Fanzine. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editors. The Football United Fanzine is completely independent of Manchester United Football Club. The Football United Fanzine accepts no responsibility for services offered by advertisers.
3
editors’ notes United’s defeat to City was worrying for more than one reason. That defeat hurt. It really, really hurt. And as I write this none of us are any the wiser whether it will be blue or red ribbons on this season’s Premier League trophy. Pinning our own title hopes on Newcastle United, who last night secured three points at Stamford Bridge, either beating or drawing against City at the weekend is perhaps clutching at straws. I really don't like it not being in our hands any longer! What was most worry for me from Monday night’s top of the table clash was the sheer disinterest from most of United’s performers. This was their biggest match of the season. Realistically, it was make or break—win at Eastlands and we’ve all but won the title, lose and it’s advantage City. That was surely incentive enough for our players to run their arses into the ground and at least try to look as though they wanted to be playing in front of thousands of fans. Instead what us fans got was a half arsed attempt at getting back into a game that we simply needed to avoid defeat. Many have pointed to both the team selection and the tactics, and rightly so. I, myself, was shocked to see certain players started, and certain omissions also. But in many ways I would have actually preferred to lose by two or three goals, whilst taking the game by the scruff of the neck and actually going for broke. We didn't see that at all. And if City go on to win the league then fair play to them. No team has shone this season but it’s hard to say they’ve not played some of the best football. That said...c’mon Newcastle. Steph Doehler - Managing Editor
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
editors’ notes 2012, the year that football changed and not for the better. The once honest and much admired sport, dragged into a world of deceit. All of this down to one man and one alone, the evil villain known as Ashley Young. A game that was once free of play acting is suddenly riddled with it, or at least that’s what the media would have you think.
COMING UP THIS MONTH Sunday 6th May: United vs Swansea Premier League Kick off 4.00pm Sunday 13th April: Sunderland vs United Premier League Kick off 3.00pm
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like to see players exaggerating and going to ground easily but let’s not pretend it’s something new in our game. Let’s also not pretend that there wouldn’t have been half as much fuss if he was wearing any other shirt but United’s. Maybe I’m paranoid and turning into Dalglish with my conspiracy theories but it does seem we take more criticism than most over these kind of incidents. I don’t remember quite so much reaction and coverage when Young did similar things in a Villa shirt. For me there is a difference between diving and exaggerating. Neither is great for the game but feeling a touch and going down easily is a long way off diving from no contact. Young was theatrical no question but there was contact. Of course I’m biased but defenders can’t stick out a leg in the box, make no contact with the ball, and expect to get away with it anymore. There has been talk of retrospective action against those going down easily, but how can you really judge it? It’s usually a matter of opinion. With players running at speed it can be tough to call. To be honest, how many penalties are really given that are not controversial? Somebody can nearly always find a reason why it shouldn’t have been given. It’s not the way people want football to be known but there is no denying it’s become more common. It has however not happened over night or because of one individual or club. So hopefully we can go back to a little more media coverage about the other things going on within the game, like the goals for instance. We are running out of time to enjoy this season after all. Rachel Turney - Deputy Editor
4
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
Contents Issue 15, May 2012 O3 Editors’ Notes REGULAR FEATURES 06 On Our Radar 07 Editor’s View
22
08 Shaw Show 10 Micky Owen: PI 14 A Month In Football 20 Born & Red
12
SPECIAL FEATURES
16
12 United Heart 16 Off For Bigger & Better Things 22 You Can Stick Your Whistle Up Your Arse 24 The Emergence Of Jonny
24 5
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
On our Radar this month... Danny Graham: Swansea’s top goalscorer this season with 13 strikes will be one to keep an eye on when the Welsh club visit Old Trafford this weekend. Michel Vorm: Despite the FA believing Joe Hart has been the league’s best keeper this season, Vorm is undoubtedly up there in the top few. throughout.
Stephane Sessegnon: The Beninese midfielder has been Sunderland’s talisman this season with a number of excellent performances. Certainly one to watch. Seb Larsson: Sunderland’s “other” influential playmaker will also need to be watched on the last day of the season as United face a tough trip to the Stadium of Light.
6
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
EDITOR’S VIEW Welcome to Hell Roy! As the FA appoint their new national team manager, opinion is split as to exactly what Roy Hodgson can achieve with England. Well I didn't see that one coming. Contrary to what us fans and the media thought, it turns out the FA weren’t courting ‘Arry after all, having been overlooked by West Brom’s Roy Hodgson. Opinion is split, some saying Hodgson already holds the international experience desired for our national team manager and his club management really only has one major blip in Liverpool. Others, of course, fear that he will once again become a media scapegoat for the undoubted future poor performances to come from England.
It think it’s important that we all remember, England will not win the Euros this summer. I have little belief that they could win the World Cup in a couple of years time and, let’s be real for a second, this generation of players will probably never win a major tournament. Perhaps it’s time we start to accept that and allow our new manager to move forward. The pressure of national team manager is gargantuan and our media really don't help matters. They might deny this, as one national football reporter stated
AGREE OR DISAGREE? We want to know what you think about anything you read in the magazine. You can email: editor.fub@live.co.uk or tweet us @footballUB
7
earlier this week, using the excuse that “if we do well the manage will win us over.” But what is the measurement for doing well? England aren't that great a footballing nation and yet our sports reporters seem to think we have this Godgiven right to be one. The fans can see it, why can’t they?! I wish Hodgson luck. No doubt in two years time he’ll have been metaphorically beaten over the head on numerous occasions by newspapers, magazines and on radio phone in shows but I hope he rises above it. Afterall Hodgson, it seems, is a likable guy (Liverpool association aside). Welcome to hell Roy!
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
THE SHAW SHOW Judging by the reaction of some people on Twitter, you would have thought that some fans genuinely believed that they had a divine right to a ticket.
Have you ever witnessed a Twitter meltdown? No? Well, let me explain to you what one of these is. If you can cast your mind back to the olden days before Twitter, Facebook and the Internet as a whole took off. You do not need to go back too far just maybe 2005 or 2006 there were these things called “newspapers”.
8
They enjoyed setting the agenda of the day and would whip their readership up into a frenzy something they would be quite happy to oblige. Most of the time these things would be over something completely trivial such as Posh Spice’s fake piercing and the papers would print all the faxes of their readers condemning
her for being so heartless as to not want to pierce her nose. (True story, that really did happen). Anyway as we trundle our way through 2012 Twitter has happily taken up the mantle becoming the place where people vent their rage over the most ridiculous of things. In the last week Manchester United announced the people who had been successful in the ballot to obtain tickets for the Manchester derby at the Council House. Now the bitters have kindly given United roughly four tickets to be distributed
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
amongst the eight zillion Manchester United supporters throughout the known universe. As you may understand it is impossible for United to please everybody here as quite a few of those United fans would want a ticket to the most eagerly anticipated derby match anybody as ever known. However, judging by the reaction of some people on Twitter, you would have thought that some fans genuinely believed that they had a divine right to a ticket and that nobody else should have been chosen over them. There was an unseemly clamour to type away their fury at being denied a ticket to the match of the season (oh, and on a quick aside, it really annoys to me have to say that a match against City is the game of the season as it builds them up to a level of importance that I have spent a lifetime happily denying as their usual uselessness meant they were a source of amusement rather than a genuine rival). Anyway back to my main rant, people raced to demand to know why they were not given a ticket. “I have been to every match since 1923”, they opined. “I have spent thousands upon thousands watching them. Where is the loyalty?” They cried. Well, I am sorry but there are plenty of United fans, myself included, who cannot go to the City match because we cannot afford to.
9
This may sound as bitter as your average Stockport Blue but I wish I could afford to go to every single away match in the deepest and darkest corners of Eastern Europe but I can’t. I also know plenty more reds who cannot even afford to go to a home match such has been the scandalous increase in ticket prices over the years. I consider myself lucky to have a season ticket in the Stretford End. I am not going to whinge just because I have not got a ticket to one away match, no matter what may rest on it. I am sure that those who moaned about not getting a derby day ticket did not mean this but hearing and reading people explain how much money they spend following United and then complain because they will miss one game when I know people who wished they could go to just one match it just made them appear, for want of a better word, ungrateful. There were only so many tickets to give out and I understand the desire that United should show some loyalty towards people who have followed United everywhere but those same United fans should also realise that they also had a match that just so happened to be their first game they have not always attended every game for ten years. Besides what they should also realise is that watching it at home greatly reduces the
risk of being smacked in the face by some enraged Bluenose outside the Council House. I would like to finish this little article that, despite desperately wanting Chelsea to be completely smashed all over the park by Barcelona, I could not help but laugh at the thought of the Catalans being knocked out after this team, widely regaded as being the best the planet has ever seen, being found out to have no plan B. Pass, pass, pass, pass, occasional dive, pass, pass, pass. That is what they did over a total of 120 minutes and could not get through the stubborn Chelsea defence. I don’t want United to play that way but one could not help but admire the way Chelsea defended, especially when John “JT” Terry got himself sent off for a moment of complete knobbishness made it that little bit easier to admire. Now, where did I put my Bayern scarf?
By Vinnie Shaw @TheShaw2009
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
FICTION
MICKY OWEN: PI By Brett Burgers At Manchester United, without regular football as a distraction, (What is going on exactly? He was supposed to be back for the Crystal Palace match!) Micky Owen with the help of his trusty side-kick and personal punch-bag Berba provided the club and SAF with a couple of daylight crooks, who were bleeding the club dry. This whole investigative thing had gone so far Into the realms of the surreal that you could literally write anything and it would pass for an instalment *Light bulb* It was a typical midweek afternoon I’d just finished jumping off the train bridge round the back of my absolute massive mansion and under the on rushing train to my death. There was no light at the end of the tunnel or anything like they say, in fact it was all pretty straight forward and fairly disappointing if I’m honest. My step dad, Alan ‘Alan Shearer’ Shearer, called for a national day of mourning and Agent Linekar put on an extra solemn and crackly voice whilst introducing MOTD that weekend. He’d watched an episode of Friends, in preparation, where Joey explains how to make yourself cry by pulling a pube out or something like that. It was very good, I almost believed him. MOTD2 did one of those cartoon things in my honour. I ruddy love those cartoon things. My wife has compiled a tape of all of those back-toback for me to watch before bed, if I’ve done all my chores. If ever there was a case for rubbing my hands together like I used to do when I scored it’s when that compilation VHS is being loaded into the player. The minute silence around the ground was observed impeccably. Someone commented that silence was exactly the right way to
10
celebrate my time on the planet. I’m not sure what he meant by that exactly. It doesn’t really make sense in terms of the usual put down that Brett writes, so I’m going to take it as a positive, pointing towards how I carried myself with a quiet dignity. Finally, the Kop unveiled a full length picture of me, you know the ones, where they make it up out of bits of card that all the fans hold up? Yeah, well it was offensive my bum is not that massive! I was moving in the shadows, hiding in hedgerows, dodging taxi fares trying to keep the dark, dark secret entirely under wraps. Okay, okay the taxi bit I do all the time. I might be pretending to be dead, but I’m not paying someone ten quid to take me wherever I want. Yes … STOP THE PRESS! You guessed it, or possibly just read it, I staged my own death!! It was easy really. I nicked the ‘Michael Owen suit’ (regular readers, will note that reference from the previous case) from the kit room, stuffed it with a dead pony from my stable and then gave it a good shove when the 13:47 came past. The rest takes care of itself really when you’re as famous as I am.
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
I’ve been hiding out here in this derelict shed in this allotment for the past few weeks waiting for word from SAF as to what we do next. Berba’s been bringing me Gui … Goivatech … Guviiaatchhh … some foreign muck to keep my strength up and all the papers and that, so I can keep abreast of all the mourning and eulogising since my “passing”. I hope SAF does something and fast?! As I was re-reading the article on Carro’s ‘Tears for My One and Owenly’ I heard the familiar sound of the daily irritant, Eric. “Micky, Micky, Micky!!” “What now?” I replied. “Oh, nothing” said Eric laughing to himself. He’s such an idiot, that’s the umpteenth time he’s done that while I’ve been hiding out. Come to think of it Berba’s been doing the same. Muffling laughter, whispering with Eric, sharing in-jokes. Pah, it’s probably nothing. I mean what could be so funny that I hadn’t come out with. Two years passed and still no word, I’d started making some improvements to the old shed using garden tools and some things Berba had bought for me. I decided to give the place a lick of paint so began
11
laying down the newspapers, making sure not to use the ones about me. BUT WAIT A GODDAMNED FUCKING MINUTE! That newspaper article is just handwritten and SO IS THAT FUCKER. AARARARARARARARARAGGGHHHHHHHH HHH! They’re all hand-FUCKING-written! “You were blinded by your ego Micky” said Eric Smugly. FUCK OFF YOU BIG BASTARD!!! I told him and I burst out of the shed and ran towards Old Trafford. When I got there I saw Berba talking to SAF, and as Berba turned to see me he held up his hands in protest! *THE REST OF THIS IS CENSORED – IN CASE THERE ARE ANY CHILDREN PRESENT* To get the contract at the end of the season Berba had faked the whole sodding thing, there was no SAF message to pretend to kill myself, and he wrote all those fucking articles to keep up the elaborate rouse. No need to destroy this, I’ve instructed FUB not to publish it to save my embarrassment.
@bifurcated_mufc
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
UNITED HEART By Harry Sherlock Manchester United score a lot of goals in the dying minutes, right? But why? Some call it luck, some say they never give up. Harry offers his explanation... Manchester United are known for many things success, breeding fantastic young talent and, above all else, heart. Yes, Manchester United may have the greatest record in the Premier League when it comes to netting last minute winners. Everybody knows about that night in 1999, but there are some other notable examples. We don’t
12
even have to go that far back to find a vital 90th minute winner - Ryan Giggs’ 92nd minute goal at Carrow Road may yet prove decisive in this year’s title race. Then there’s Kiko Macheda’s dramatic last minute winner against Aston Villa and Michael Owen’s 96th minute winner against City. But when did it all start? This undying spirit that all of United’s players seem to
possess? Did it begin when Steve Bruce netted two lastgasp headers to sink Sheffield Wednesday and essentially win United the title in 1993? Was it when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put the ball in the Germans net in Barcelona? Or was it more recently, maybe when Michael Owen scored in that fantastic derby? Surely it had to begin after 1999. Of course, United were scoring last minute goals well before then, but that undying attitude, that belief that the fans hold that we will score had to come after that night in Spain. Of course, many will argue that it began after the tragedy of the Munich air disaster, when United’s mentality became us against the world, but it just wasn’t as evident back then. I mean, if
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
you had to count the memorable last-gasp winners between 1958 - 1999 you’d struggle to come up with five. Then count the memorable last-gasp winners between 2000 – 2012, I bet five pop into your head almost instantly. Obviously, our club isn’t the only big club in the Premier League with a history of last minute goals – Spurs delight in giving their White Hart Lane faithful something to cheer about in the dying seconds (how about that 4-4 draw with Arsenal a couple of years back?) and their opponents that day also seem to have a, rather irritating, knack of nabbing late goals at the Emirates. But this ‘heart’ as we’ve come to call it, it sets United apart. It gives them an edge over their rivals – as they always know that there’s going to be at least one chance for the Red Devils, they’re going to have one last opportunity. Sometimes it comes to nothing, see United’s recent defeat to Wigan for proof, but sometimes, on that miraculous occasion, it gives all us Reds something to shout about. Manchester City know all about it, so do Norwich City, so do Sunderland, so do Tottenham – actually, come to think about it, most teams in the Premier League know all about that knack that our beloved team seems to have.
13
The man that I would attribute to this would be none other than Sir Alex Ferguson. The tabloid press even coined a term for that injury time that seems to go on forever – ‘Fergie Time’. The Sun ran the headline of Fergie Time Strikes Again on their back page the day after ‘the greatest derby of all time’.
No United player wants to trudge back to the dressing room for a dressing down after dropping a point or, even worse, all three. But why would it come down to the manager – the man that can only watch on and hope for the best? Well, in this writer’s eyes, it’s his fiery temper. No United player wants to trudge back to the dressing room for a dressing down after dropping a point or, even worse, all three. So United keep going, they keep plugging away. Just a single look over at the touchline is motivation enough for any player in red. I’m sure that as the clock ticks over the 90 minute mark the likes of Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes think, “oh God, he’s
gonna slaughter us when we get into the dressing room.” And that’s why he’ll be so hard to replace, the legendary Scot, that’s why only the very best can take over the reins when the gaffer finally steps down. Mourinho is the choice of many, and he has that knack as well. Chelsea had it when he steered them to their consecutive league titles, Inter Milan had it when they won the Champions League, and Real Madrid have it now – their recent defeat to Bayern Munich notwithstanding. Guardiola is the favourite of some, but he doesn’t need the knack. He tends to have his games won by half time. But does it really matter who takes over? If that undying spirit really is undying it will never die right? So surely those blissful moments when the ball hits the back of the net right at the end of injury time will continue. And how good would that be, eh?
By Harry Sherlock
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
A MONTH IN FOOTBALL
14
PREMIER LEAGUE
PREMIER LEAGUE
Blackburn 0 United 2 Premier League 2nd April 2012
United 2 QPR 0 Premier League 8th April 2012
THE STORY United extended their lead at the summit of the table to five points after a largely frustrating evening at Ewood Park. The visitors dominated but couldn't find a way through until the 81st minute when Antonio Valencia broke the deadlock. Four minutes later, substitute Ashley Young doubled United’s lead as the club took an important step in their title campaign.
THE STORY United found daylight from City in the league table, moving eight points clear of their neighbours in the title race. Young won a controversial penalty in the 15th minute, which also saw QPR’s Shaun Derry see red. Rooney duly converted before Paul Scholes rounded off the game in the 68th minute. No vintage performance from United but another three points.
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
TH wo ma com por clu sco goa Un bre bar per equ tho hav pen ref wa
PREMIER LEAGUE
PREMIER LEAGUE
PREMIER LEAGUE
PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan 1 United 0 Premier League 11th April 2012
United 4 Aston Villa 0 Premier League 15th April 2012
United 4 Everton 4 Premier League 22nd April 2012
City 1 United 0 Premier League 30th April 2012
HE STORY Wigan on their first ever atch against United, ming at an imrtant time for both ubs. Shaun Maloney ored the game’s only al on 50 minutes as nited were unable to eak down Wigan’s rriers as they desrately sought an ualiser. Many ought United should ve been awarded a nalty late on for but feree Phil Down aved it away.
THE STORY Bouncing back following their shock mid-week defeat to Wigan, United were in buoyant mood after romping over Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Ashley Young was once again at the centre of controversy, winning another debateable penalty which Rooney netted, the first of a brace for him. Danny Welbeck and Nani also got on the scoresheet as United battled on.
THE STORY Undoubtedly one of the games of the season, United looked to have the match sewn up at 4 -2 with seven minutes remaining but goals from Jelavic and Pienaar saw United drop a vital two points at home. The same goalscorers from the previous match found the net once again in this excellent battle of football but on this day United failed to capture all three points.
THE STORY Another twist in the title race as City defeated United in what many believed would be City’s stepping stone to win their first Premier League campaign. It was City captain, Vincent Kompany’s headed goal just before the half time break was enough to see the home side take three points and go top of the league on goal difference with two matches remaining.
15
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
OFF FOR BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS… BY JACK HARVEY It has been said by many that upon leaving Manchester United, the only way is down. That may have been the case for many players during Sir Alex Ferguson’s 25-year reign at Old Trafford, but as always, there are exceptions to the rule. We take a look at six players who have improved greatly after waving goodbye to the Theatre of Dreams, and ponder why things didn’t work out at Manchester United.
PAUL MCGRATH The defender had been at United for four years when Ferguson took over as manager in ‘86. Determined to rid the club of its alcohol culture, the Scot gradually
16
began to usher the main culprits out of the dressing room. One of them was undoubtedly McGrath, who later admitted, “I ran round the pitch trying to hold my breath on occasions – mainly because the person I was up against would know that I’d had a drink.” This, coupled with constant injuries to his knees, convinced the club to offer the Irishman a retirement package of £100,000. McGrath declined, and instead joined Aston Villa for a fee of £400,000. Ron Atkinson, who managed McGrath at United previous to Ferguson’s appointment, took over at Villa when Graham Taylor left for the England job. He described the Ireland international as “better than John Terry and Tony Adams combined.” He enjoyed a great seven years at Villa Park, winning the League Cup in 1994 after a 1 -0 win over his previous employers, as well as the PFA Player of the Year award. He was referred to as “God” by Aston Villa’s supporters, who sang his name to the tune of Kumbaya. Ultimately, his downfall at United was alcoholism. Ferguson believed he not only
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
had to build a new side on the pitch, but a new culture off it – and McGrath paid the price.
DIEGO FORLAN “He comes from Uruguay, he made the Scousers cry”. The chant, still sang today by the Old Trafford faithful, refers to Diego Forlan’s brace at Anfield in a 2-1 victory back in 2002. In truth, though, there aren’t many other happy memories the Uruguayan left behind. He joined the club from Independiente in January 2002, for just under £7M. Despite featuring in eighteen games from January to May, he failed to score a single goal in the 2001/02 season. Next year saw a slight improvement, though it couldn’t have been much worse. He joined Villarreal in 2004 having netted just 17 goals in 98 appearances for Manchester United. Where did it all go wrong? Well, Forlan recalls that the manager had asked him to change from short studs to long studs. He said in 2010, “I agreed to change but I didn’t, and against Chelsea I slipped in front of goal and wasted a chance. Afterwards, I rushed to the dressing room to change boots but Ferguson caught me. He grabbed the boots and threw them. That was my last game for United.” His time at United was already coming to an end, however. He went on to have a better time in Spain, winning Europe’s Golden Boot award twice and gaining a reputation as one of the deadliest
17
strikers on the continent. Perhaps it was just the style of English football that didn’t suit Forlan – though solely blaming the studs seems a more enjoyable way to look at it.
GIUSEPPE ROSSI It was probably just a case of ‘too much, too young’ for Giuseppe Rossi, who moved to Manchester United at the tender age of 17 in 2005. In the 2006-07 season, the Italian was loaned out to Newcastle in a bid to get first-team experience, but after scoring just once, he was recalled midway through. The second half of the campaign was more productive for Rossi – his loan spell at Parma resulted in 9 goals in 19 appearances, helping his old club to escape relegation. At the age of 20, with only five appearances for Manchester United’s first team, Rossi was sold to Villarreal. He has had a successful period in Spain, picking up 27 caps for Italy in the meantime.
Why didn’t it work out for him at United? One might look at Sir Alex Ferguson, and wonder why he didn’t give Rossi more opportunities in the first team. Though, it must be remembered that England’s most decorated side were under siege from Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea at the time, and were arguably in no position to wait for players to reach their potential. Either way, neither United nor Rossi have suffered since they parted ways.
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
RON-ROBERT ZIELER
GERARD PIQUE Perhaps ‘the one that got away’ which hurts United fans the most. Upon leaving Old Trafford, Pique was part of the Barcelona side which defeated United in two Champions League finals. He came to England at 17 but struggled to break up the partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. He returned to Barcelona and is now regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. It appears that it was the player’s decision to go back to his homeland, and not an error or judgment on the manager’s behalf. Speaking about Pique’s departure, Ferguson said, “I didn’t know that Gerard was growing homesick, and soon after he was telling us he wanted to go back to Spain.” Would Pique have been successful at United? Probably, but you cannot be certain. Barcelona have a very particular way of
18
playing – arguably Pique’s biggest responsibility is starting attacks from the back, rather than actually defending. Now with the emergence of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans, United look well-stocked in defence for years to come, and shouldn’t miss the Spaniard too much.
He may not have notched a single appearance from United’s first team, but it’s worth giving a quick mention to German goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, now plying his trade for Hannover 96. Having only played in reserve fixtures for United, he joined the German club in 2010, and very quickly displaced Florian Fromlowitz as the number one stopper. He has since made his international debut for Germany and still at the young age of 23, appears to have plenty of good years ahead of him. Attracting widespread praise in the Bundesliga, Zieler could have possibly been United’s first-choice keeper now – but Ferguson won’t mind too much given the rise of David De Gea. Even so, the club could have saved themselves £18M.
@Harvey_91
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
19
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
BORN AN This month we have put Daniel Mason into the Born & Red hotseat as he discusses his favourite ground, the pitfalls of the ticket office and why Liverpool remain his biggest rivals. Name: Daniel Mason Age: 20 Occupation: Student (sponger)
Favourite current player? Again, Paul Scholes.
the entire game.
Signing you were most excited by? Juan Sebastian Veron.
Where do you reside? Currently Preston
Least liked United player? I'm going to have to go for
How did you become a United fan? My family ties made it an inevitable decision for me.
Kieran Richardson.
First match you attended? It was Manchester United vs West Ham United when we won 7-1 in 2000. Preferential seating area at Old Trafford? I can’t really say I have one to be honest. Favourite ever United player? Paul Scholes.
20
Are you an away match goer? As often as possible. Best away ground? Ewood Park always gives a fantastic atmosphere, although for downright impressive I can't say anything but the Allianz Arena. A beautiful stadium. Best away experience? Hmmm, It's a close one, I think I'll give it to Vidic's equaliser at Villa Park. It all seemed like a lost cause for
Are you a shouter or a thinker at matches? I'm a bit of a mix to be honest, I enjoy shouting and screaming as much as the next man but I do love to take in the intricacies, and occasionally try to pick up on the bosses mistakes! Best and worst things about the club? What I love about the club is the people you get to meet through it, and also the places you get to see. On the downside there are some poorer things in how the club is run itself, whether that be the ticket office or the board itself mismanaging the club into a precarious financial situation. Who do you want as the next United manager? It'd have to be Jose. He's the only manager at the
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
ND RED moment that I would trust taking over the mantle from Sir Alex. He may have his downsides but his ability still puts him top of that list. Any experiences with players to share? Other than meeting Kiko Macheda a few weeks before THAT goal nothing of any note, I met him oddly in a service station in Northampton, as the reserve team had stopped at the same service station following the Carling Cup final against Tottenham. Best match you've ever attended? Best match would probably be the 4-3 against City, we
21
Best moment would probably be winning the semifinal against Barcelona, it just all had a feeling of "this is our year", a great end to a magnificent season.
just seemed to do whatever we could to throw it away repeatedly, but then up popped Michael Owen of all people. Madness all around the ground. Biggest rivals and why? I'd have to say Liverpool. Whilst City are up and coming as a serious rival nothing comes close to that feeling when United play Liverpool. I still wake up with butterflies for those games which isn't the case for City, the two biggest clubs in the country going head to head is still the biggest. Best moment as a United fan?
Biggest prick in football? There's just so many of them! Erm, I'll give it to Ashley Cole, I would say John Terry but for that moment in Moscow. Sum up United's season in ten words or less: Very Frustrating and workmanlike. Your best United XI? Schmeichel, G Neville, Vidic, Stam, Irwin, Ronaldo, Scholes, Keane, Giggs, Rooney, Cantona.
@DannyM99
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
YOU CAN STICK YOUR WHISTLE UP YOUR ARSE By Brett Burgers To the foot stomping outrage of some fans, there exists statistical evidence which points to the fact that United don't concede less, or win more penalties at home than other clubs, so we can finally put the myth that refereeing decisions favour the big clubs to bed can't we? The stats say so. Night, night, don't let the bed bugs ... *alarm clock* From my own perspective what the endless, 'yes they do'/'no they don't' repetitions in this particular line of discourse (discourse being a polite way of saying petulant bickering) fail to address, for the most part, is the actual problem (although I wouldn't say that this failure is in any way exclusive to this debate in particular, unfortunately). I have no doubt whatsoever that the 'bigger clubs' get preferential treatment, as, as a general rule, the bigger the club is perceived to be the more fans they will attract and have in attendance for their matches. Those fans in turn will make
22
considerably more noise than those of the visiting 'smaller club' (or at least be in ownership of the potential to be louder, when called upon). Why would we imagine that in any given situation a borderline decision wouldn't go in the favour of the majority, i.e. those who shout the loudest? Before you start picking holes (holes I've left there intentionally of course) that's not my entire argument, and not even the real argument, so nerr. The 'bigger clubs' also, by their very nature, attract the 'biggest managers'. Those managers with the biggest reputations, biggest egos, biggest celebrity and therefore the biggest opportunity to sway opinion with choice words. Again, why would we imagine that in any given situation a fifty -fifty wouldn't go in favour of Sir Alex and Manchester United; knowing full well that if it didn't then SAF would make damned sure the world knew about it? Despite a curious public perception, referees aren't
autonomous, they are employed and trained by the footballing authorities. Referees are human beings like some of us, they're someone's son or daughter, their primary functions, wants and needs are similar to ours - some of them even have feelings. Imagine being trapped in an enclosed space with twenty four people who had no respect for you or what you represent. In addition, at least 80% of those people will be completely impetuous arseholes with a propensity towards violent acts. Just to make things a little trickier, why not imagine that all your exit points from this uncomfortable space are being guarded by 50,000 people, who not only empathise entirely with the arseholes, but encourage them. I asked myself this (tongue in cheek) question a while back for another article, the working title of which was, 'Why is the game still entirely at the mercy of the whim of a select few, often unhinged, unquestionably unfit, pathological egotists often found in
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
excruciatingly tight black shorts (a subtle attempt by the manufacturers to remove them from the gene pool)?' Although not overtly apparent from that particular sentence perhaps, my conclusion was that I absolutely feel that referees are the fall guys for the inadequacies of the governing body's outdated and unedifying manoeuvrings (with no intention of insinuating that I've stumbled across some new revelation, which again is part of the problem). Football bosses have not empowered referees, or supplied them with the correct tools to deal with football and all it's nuances and intricacies. They show no support before, during, or after events, even washing their hands of flash points entirely on occasion. They just leave them firefighting, at the mercy of whoever wants to take a shot. With such a shocking display of abandonment of their duty of care to their employees, I'm surprised more referees don't strike or even sue. There is a faction of the
23
political left that have politely bastardized a Gerald Massey quote, which equates to, "Take the truth as authority, not the authority as truth". When superimposed over the problems we encounter weekly with effectively officiating the game from top down, or bottom up, it makes sense (as it does politically) and enables those charged with refereeing to be afforded a fighting chance. Currently the authority in football provides us with our 'truth'. A decision is made based on the rules, with no flexibility to adjust when things occur beyond those rigid parameters. The conclusion (or 'truth') in this instance does not provide justice, and so to approach it differently; when you discover the truth about any given incident in football, whether that be during, after, two weeks after, or two years after, you respond appropriately, you allow the truth to lead the action that deals with the event (forming the authority). If a player has dived, lets pick out say, I don't know - off the top of my
head - Steven Gerrard for example. Video evidence surfaces after a game *gasp* and clearly shows that he has dived during the match, as a result he receives the applicable retrospective punishment, a yellow card probably, regardless of whether the referee has seen it or not. It's very simple. The grey areas that make the above seem like the unrealistic ramblings of a pleb, are only grey because the laws aren't strong enough. MAKE THE LAWS STRONG ENOUGH! Eradicate the grey by re-writing the rules which confuse and contradict. Remove the ones that don't make sense. When they're good and ready they could even consider making it even easier, and fairer, by introducing technology. In the current footballing climate, if I were a referee, I know what I'd be telling the governing bodies to do with their whistle. I'd like to ask all of you to watch the Yves Hinant, Eric Cardot and Lehericy Delphine 2009 documentary entitled, The Referees before entering into any 'my gran could do better' hackneyed grumblings in the future. It's a true testament to just how difficult the job is (you can also have a good old titter at Howard Webb's shortcomings if that's what you're into).
@Bifurcated_MUFC
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
THE EMERGENCE OF JONNY By Rachel Turney
24
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
It w
7th of D that N injured the Ch With t Wayne the on didn’t only o fender tain. A he was ruled o the sea started our ch them t even u worse. when D strugg Rio wa past it. seeme
was on the
December last year emanja Vidic was d against Basel in hampions League. the exception of e Rooney, he was e player we really want to lose. Not our strongest der, but also our capAs we are all aware, sn’t just injured but out for the rest of ason. The media d writing off hances (not like to be dramatic) and us as fans feared the . All this at a time David De Gea was gling to settle and as being deemed . Title number 20 ed a long way off. 25
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
With the bad news regarding Vidic, it hardly lifted the spirits of most United fans to realise that we would be seeing more of Jonny Evans. It’s safe to say he has never been a favourite of the majority of the United faithful. He was seen by many as inconsistent and accident prone, not something a team fighting for trophies can afford to have in their defence. The Northern Ireland international had also taken a vast proportion of the blame for the Red’s 6-1 hammering against City in the league two months prior having been sent off just after the second half kicked off. United were already trailing 1-0 and his dismissal was seen as the pivotal moment in ending United’s real hope of a fight back costing them dearly in pursuit of finishing top of the league.
Success breeds confidence and at the moment he seems to have plenty.
Evans only made 21 appearances for United last season, with just 13 coming in the league. Now was the time for the 24 year old to step up and prove himself. Having been with the Reds since 2006, many felt he had already been given enough chances. This season however seems to have been the making of him. He has made 38 appearances so far with 27 of them coming in the league. He even managed his first goal for the club in March, scoring the first of five against Wolves.
make him go from a considered liability to one of our most consistent performers? Maybe it’s having a real run in the first team or as the player himself seems to think, maybe it’s down to confidence. “Last season I had one or two games where I let things get to me. My confidence went a little bit. I am stronger mentally now. I am more equipped to deal with those situations and I actually feel like my performances have been good this season."
So just what has changed to
Ferguson certainly agrees
26
and has lavished praise on the defender himself recently for his performances this season “I must admit my heart sank a little when I learned just how long Nemanja was going to be out. He and Rio Ferdinand had become the cornerstone of our defence, but Rio responded brilliantly, despite his back problem, and has now struck up a fine partnership with Jonny Evans. Together they have been rock solid to give us great consistency in defence. Jonny came to us from Belfast when he was 12 or 13, always exceptionally talented, but gangly with physical issues growing up. We had him out on loan with Antwerp and Sunderland and now we are seeing the value of nurturing him. There is no doubt he has been helped playing alongside the experience of Rio and he is now arguably the best defender in the country.”
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012
Many would have laughed at the idea of Fergie uttering those words 12 months ago but now the laughing has stopped. Evans has done particularly well to hold down his place given the impressive start of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to their Manchester United careers. It is however the combination of Ferdinand and Evans that has led to United keeping 11 clean sheets from 20 Premier League games since Vidic got injured. In fact the only two league games Evans has missed this year were the defeats to Newcastle and Blackburn (NB: and since writing this article, the loss to City). Success breeds confidence and at the moment he seems to have plenty.
captain.” There is still a long way to go for Evans who will need to prove he can perform season after season, but after this season anything can happen. The fans have finally warmed to him and he was even voted player of the month for March for the first time in his United career.
Suddenly Evans seems to have a very bright future at the club, but just who will be United’s first choice defenders next season with Vidic back in contention? Vidic turns 31 this year and Rio turns 34 so the future of United’s defence will lie elsewhere. Evans himself says that the biggest thing Evans has gone from being he has learned from Rio is much criticised to receiving composure and calmness. praise from seemingly every- Perhaps Rio is passing on where. Ex- Manchester Unit- the best of his wisdom to his ed legend Pat Crerand even soon to be replacement. goes as far as to state that Maybe not all us fans exEvans deserves the title of pected it but I’m sure we Manchester United’s player have all been happily of the season. “He has been proved wrong. As the cliché brilliant at the back alonggoes, what doesn’t kill you side Rio Ferdinand just when makes you stronger and few United needed a strong dehave taken more stick than fence. I know he took a lot of Evans. So he more than criticism earlier in the season anyone deserves the praise and last season too, but what he is getting right now and happens with young players hopefully the championship is that they break into the winners medal he could first team and do really well receive this month. and then fade a little. That happened to Jonny, then By Rachel Turney good players kick on and become better and that is what Jonny has done. He's been superb and is someone @Rachel_jj2011 who could be a future United
27
ISSUE 14, MAY 2012
Thank you for taking the time to read Issue 15 of Football United Fanzine.
28
ISSUE 15, MAY 2012