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The Manchester United thread 2006/2007 - featuring BBB leaving early

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Nick OGS20

Nick OGS20

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">UEFA launch Belgium probe

UEFA have launched an investigation into claims that Belgium plan to deliberately injure Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday.

Stijn Stijnen has moved to clarify comments he made which suggested that Belgium would "massacre" Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Belgians visit Portugal in a Euro qualifier this weekend with both nations on equal points.

Club Brugge goalkeeper Stijnen sparked outrage by claiming the Belgium defence would target the Manchester United winger in the opening period of the match.

He told Gazet van Antwerpen: "After two minutes we will normally have massacred him so much that he will have to leave the pitch on a stretcher.

"What else do we need to do? Portugal have greater quality and that's why we have to do things our way."

In the wake of these comments Portugal's football federation president Gilberto Madail requested UEFA launch an investigation into the matter.

And now Stijnen has moved to quell discontent by claiming he was misinterpreted.

"I don't think my words are shocking," he said. "We're the visiting team and we have to do things our way.

"I didn't mean to say that we have to specifically get Cristiano Ronaldo off the pitch, but we have to play hard against the Portuguese players.

"I'm not saying Belgium have to break anyone's leg, but we have to be aggressive. We have to play with character and not spare our opponents' tibias."

The keeper does not, however, explain the distinction between breaking legs and sparing tibias. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

using the old misquoted excuse. first Boateng and Southgate, now this clown. Keano had the book thrown at him for similar.

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Nick OGS20

Nick OGS20

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this is quite interesting reading if you've any interest in the young'uns (not in a Keith way):

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Carrington's Lame Academy

Martin Grieg

March 21, 2007

The Herald (Scotland)

Manchester United's magnificent skills factory, nestling in the suburbs of the city, stands as a monument to the club's long-held commitment to youth development.

On entering, young aspirants gaze up at huge photographs of graduates from the famous 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning side such as David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.

They have become the poster boys for the club's pioneering approach to the production of young talent, their subsequent achievements also delivering a glorious rebuttal to Alan Hansen's assertion that "You can't win anything with kids". Yet 15 years have passed since that precocious pack began to emerge. Indeed, some of the current academy acolytes were not even born in 1992.

There is another sense in which Beckham et al have become anachronisms, products of a bygone era in which the club were able to set their own agenda in youth development. They may continue to invest huge sums of money and time to the cause, but United have found their pace-setting endeavours hamstrung by an academy system which they perceive as having fundamental flaws.

Serious questions have started to be asked about the system in recent months, not just by United, as the expected new generation of technically accomplished homegrown players have failed to emerge. Howard Wilkinson, the former technical director of the FA, claimed that the system would yield a World-Cup winning side within a decade. That was eight years ago and tumbleweed now rolls across the training pitches which were supposed to be populated by world-class talent.

Brian McClair, the former Celtic and United striker, took over as United's academy director last summer and, in conversation at the club's Carrington training ground recently, conveyed a deep dismay at the inherent problems in the system. In particular, he highlighted the geographical restrictions which have been placed on the pursuit of excellence. "We can only recruit boys up to the age of 14 from a 60-minute travelling distance radius of Manchester," he says. "In that area there are lots and lots of academies and centres of excellence chasing the same boys. It's very competitive."

However, it is the contractual agreements youngsters enter into with academies which McClair believes is an even bigger problem. "The boys all want to be involved in the academy systems, so what happens is that they sign up at eight years of age and you never see them again. You're not allowed to scout any other academies. A lot of parents don't understand that as soon their kids come into the academy system they are right away entering into a compensation system where there are no rules.

"You're asking boys and their parents to make career-defining decisions at the age of eight. That can't be right. Sometimes we can't tell all the way through to 17 and 18 now how good youngsters are going to be because their performances go up and down so much. You have no chance at eight. It's a 10-year programme.

"People want to try and keep their best kids, but it might not be the best for a kid to be involved in a system where he's not able to practice with the best players. Players improve by playing with players of equal or more ability.

"If a boy is in a system which won't let him flourish because the players he's playing with and against aren't challenging him, then eventually he will fall by the wayside. The problem is that if a boy gets released from an academy then they don't then go back into schools or boys football, they stop playing altogether. So you're not going to pick them up again at 12 or 13.

"If you take a 12-year-old boy who wants to come to Manchester United - unless you can agree a compensation fee with the club he's coming from, then you could end up going to a tribunal. There's no rhyme nor reason involved, they just pluck figures. It's a case of they're a big club maybe they can afford it'. To me it's not right boys at that age are having such values put upon them."

McClair identifies a shrinking pool of potential talent, which has its roots in societal change, as another element of the problem. "It's something here that maybe happened in Scotland a bit earlier. Kids are doing other things," he added. "If I had a computer or Sky or DVDs I might not have gone out and played football. Kids don't do enough sport at school either. They are not active enough. It's not just about football. It's about climbing trees, jumping off walls."

United continue to push for structural change in the academy set-up and have strong opinions on the best way to foster technique amongst youngsters. One of their main ambitions is for a switch to smaller-sided games between the ages of eight and 12, the so-called golden age of learning. At the moment, it is eight v eight, but United's theory is smaller games gives young players the opportunity to get more touches on the ball and develop their short passing skills. It is hardly rocket science but they have encountered resistance in their attempts to bring it in. McClair is mystified.

"We've piloted the four against four for numerous reasons, but it's not been adopted universally. We feel that the more contact you get with the actual ball, the better you become. There seems to be such a rush here to get to 11 against 11. It goes to 11 against 11 at under-12s, but why not progress it? Five v five, six v six, seven v seven, all the way up and you could adjust the pitch accordingly . . . Eventually you would get to a place where you have more skilful players.

"Only one or two clubs have ever wanted to play four v four. There have been numerous occasions when clubs won't play us two games at under-11s, even though they come along to play eight v eight games with six or seven subs.

"I don't know why that's the case. We offer all the time. We don't just want to produce players for this club. We want to improve the standard of football in England. That was one of the reasons why the academy system was set up."

The challenge for United has become to find ways around the difficulties within the system. One way to broaden the base of talent has been to adopt a global approach to youth development, like Arsenal have also done in recent times. They now have recruits from China, Ghana, Togo, America and Brazil in their academy. "If you can't sign them at a younger age then we try and concentrate on countries who are still producing excellent football players," argued McClair. "It's easier in a way to get a foreign boy than it is to get some of the local boys into the academy."

The other way has been to seek more effective ways of developing the talent at their disposal. United have sought to shift the emphasis from physical and tactical development towards more skills-based coaching. As such, they have employed a skills coach, Dutchman Rene Meulensteen, to indoctrinate their new generation with the tricks and flicks of players such as Ronaldinho and their own modern skills disciple, Cristiano Ronaldo.

"We looked to a situation further up with the English boys where worldwide or European players had a better ability to beat opponents one v one," said McClair. "We tried to address that and we brought in a skills coach. There's evidence to show that the golden age of learning is roughly between the ages of eight and 12. If you put those basic principles and abilities into boys at that age, they maintain them. After 12, it's been proven that it's very, very difficult to change anything about them.

"The technical, tactical and physical become more important the older the boys get, but at an earlier age a lot of it is to do with skill factor, and playing. We believe there is a place for coaching but we also believe that there is a massive place for learning by playing. People learn from seeing other people doing things and the television and internet are fantastic avenues for boys to be able to see these images and then, hopefully, go out and practice them."

United currently have two young Scots in their academy, 18-year-old right back David Gray who made his debut in the Carling Cup earlier this season and 16-year-old left winger Danny Galbraith. Both players were signed from Hearts at 16, the age at which English clubs are allowed to pay a compensation fee to sign a youngster from north of the border, and are seeking to emulate countryman Darren Fletcher's route to the first team.

Galbraith, who is also making an impression at Scotland under-17 level, signed a two-year deal at Old Trafford in the summer and is revelling in the company of his boyhood idols. He cites Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs as role models and explains that the club's willingness to integrate all aspects of the club allow him to mix with them on a regular basis.

"One of the main reasons I went to Manchester United is because everyone mixes together," he said. "The first team and the youths all eat together and there is no distinction between the groups like there is at some other clubs. The boss has said that he regards every player at the club, whether youth or first team, as equal. So that means you can talk to players like Giggs and Ronaldo. They often come up and ask how you are getting on."

As a creative player, Galbraith speaks warmly of the club's emphasis on self-expression. "We are encouraged to run at players and take them on. If it doesn't work first time, then we are encouraged to keep on doing it. At Hearts it was more based on playing to instructions rather than expressing yourself. You will never hear one of our coaches shouting at the touchline.

"Perhaps at other clubs there is more emphasis on the team getting the result, but the only time when results really matter is in the Youth Cup."

Despite the academy system, United continue to set the benchmark in youth development. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

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Young Jimlad

Young Jimlad

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Interesting reading from Choccy and it articulates a fair amount of stuff that I remember reading in a Rene Meulensteen interview/article from a while back, pretty sure it was in the thread last season or the season before that actually.

Pity that it seems very little has changed in terms of useful methodologies for youth development being employed across the board.

Y'know outside of the Youth Cup do we play Arsenal? I'm assuming its regionalised and we don't play them at academy level outside of that tournament. I'd be interested to hear if their ethos/methods mirror or are at least similar to our own emphasis on skills coaching.

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elmonzo

elmonzo

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ACou2000:

"I'd like to go round Legoland with Sean Connery. Then afterwards we'd go for a lovely lamb lunch, in the centre of Windsor"

"gotta say Roy, I dont think thats Connery's cup of tea. I think Sean would rather do something like wander round the wild fowl park in Pepperstock with a bottle of Scotch"

"I don't agree, he'd go to Legoland. Bye."

*hangs up*

just watched that and thought this place was lacking some fantastic Partridge icon_cool.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

icon_biggrin.gif I love that bit icon14.gif

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Mika

Mika

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Razor Eddie:

Tickets all sold out for the remainder of the season, from Bedford branch that is. icon_frown.gif

I may need help getting ticketage for the last few games, folks.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Already? icon_biggrin.gif

Ours only do them for games that are four weeks away so the likes of Boro/West Ham aren't even mentioned yet.

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Young Jimlad

Young Jimlad

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I've just checked my bank account and based on the price of the ticket thats gone out I *think* I might have a Roma ticket (home leg obvi), that is unless I've been given a ticket for Sheff United or Boro & they've given me a more expensive ticket than I asked for.

As for the Eidur link I'd take him for three reasons:

1. Quality

2. Versatility

3. Affordability

This is obviously balanced by our financial position & the clear move for Hargreaves thats going to be made.

Regardless of whether we win 1, 2 or 3 trophies this year (or God forbid none) I don't think anyone here expects to see Hargreaves + Torres/Eto'o/Villa in a Seba + Ruud summer spending spree. Just don't think we can do it.

Eidur might not be lightning fast but he's no slouch either, he's got very good composure when it comes to finishing & his movement coupled with his ability to sit up top or link play makes him a real threat. Would've been a nice boost last year or the year before but circumstances clearly didn't allow for it. If Barca want to make the £7-8mill they paid back for him I wouldn't have a problem with us paying it.

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Young Jimlad

Young Jimlad

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Just saying I'd take him if circumstances allowed. Maybe Fergie will be satisfied with going into next season with...

Rooney/Saha/Smith/Rossi/OGS/Dong

*I've left Frazier Campbell out because I assume when he gets back from Antwerp they'll aim to loan him domestically if he's done well.

...and Giggs/Ronaldo/Scholes helping out if we're struggling.

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alilaw

alilaw

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Saha:

Oh wait, you mean him plus a yummy striker treat as well.

Stabbings less likely, and I'm clearly having a very stupid day today. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hargeaves and his entourage to roll up in some weird three door car, you say?

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Young Jimlad

Young Jimlad

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But then there's the argument that we could actually do with another winger capable of playing naturally on the left & could survive without another striker & an energetic defensive midfielder for another year.

How's Lee Martin getting on? I'd assume that if he's progressed well this season he might be in line to bump Richardson down the pecking order.

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Saha

Saha

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by alilaw:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Saha:

Oh wait, you mean him plus a yummy striker treat as well.

Stabbings less likely, and I'm clearly having a very stupid day today. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hargeaves and his entourage to roll up in some weird three door car, you say? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Wright-Phillips in the fourth seat? /o\

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Ryno

Ryno

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by alilaw:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Saha:

Oh wait, you mean him plus a yummy striker treat as well.

Stabbings less likely, and I'm clearly having a very stupid day today. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hargeaves and his entourage to roll up in some weird three door car, you say? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

icon_biggrin.gif

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alilaw

alilaw

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Oh, and on the Eidur point, I'd see him very much in direct competition for Rooney's place. Which is all well and good, but not hugely neccessary imho. Rossi can play there. Smith sort of maybe possibly potentially can (:/). Ronaldo / Giggs at a push. Whereas we don't have any direct replacement for King Louis - the pace, power, movement and shocking inability to finish one-on-ones. We need someone in this mould (last point aside) to provide real competition for Saha, hopefully spurring him on to stop injuring himself so bloody much.

Bent's not the worst shout in the world. I'd spasgasm if we got Torres or Villa, but we won't. Why on earth did we let Bellion leave, eh?

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Mika

Mika

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Young Jimlad:

But then there's the argument that we could actually do with another winger capable of playing naturally on the left & could survive without another striker & an energetic defensive midfielder for another year.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

An argument that in the long term, I'd subscribe to. No reflection on Giggs in terms of performances, but he can't play every week and the prospect of Richardson getting near the team consistently fills me with dread.

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BBB

BBB

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by James07?:

when is the roma away ballot? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Monday.

We've got an allocation of 17,500 for the semi.

I smell a chubbing icon_frown.gif

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Mika

Mika

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ajw2255:

Park can play left wing cant he? icon_wink.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, but as much as I love him, just having Park to cover two wing positions is not what I'd like. When Park was injured earlier in the season for example it meant that Giggs had to play every single week, which ultimately I suspect led to his performances dropping off in December.

Just takes two of Park/Ronaldo/Giggs to be missing and we're onto KR, Fletcher on the right and Eagles, which I don't like icon_biggrin.gif

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alilaw

alilaw

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by James07?:

Because Bellion is to football, what Tony7 is to adult relationships. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Brilliant comedy value?

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JulesMUFC

JulesMUFC

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BBB:

If I get a Roma away, seriously considering swapping for a semi ticket. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

swap mine too \o/

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RedBlood

RedBlood

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by James07?:

It's a bit over 40k isn't it?

How many tickets have Watford got? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Capacity

42,573

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BBB

BBB

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No offence to the former.

Oh and Citeh details out

Manchester City v Manchester United, City of Manchester Stadium, Saturday 5 May, kick off 12:45pm

The deadline for Executive members to make an application by post or by calling 0870 442 1999 is 5pm on Friday 30 March.

Season Ticket holders who have purchased the following cup games from Season 2006 / 2007, Celtic, Copenhagen, Benfica, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Reading, Lille and Middlesbrough are invited to register an application for this game by calling the 24 hour Ticket Order Line 0870 442 1999 from 9am on Monday 2 April through to 5pm on Tuesday 3 April.

Ballot results will be available on Good Friday 6 April.

_________________________

Sporting say it would take £13.25m to sign Nani (€20m) worth it?

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BBB

BBB

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Razor Eddie:

Tickets all sold out for the remainder of the season, from Bedford branch that is. icon_frown.gif

I may need help getting ticketage for the last few games, folks.

West Ham for certain, and any others that become available.

I already have a Blackburn ticket sorted.

Thanks in advance. icon14.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Got you a Sheff Utd in WT2 sire

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BBB

BBB

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> "We are considering having 1,000 red and white 16" or 20" beach balls made for the semi final. The white panel would have the SEF web address on it and possibly the wording "The old Trafford Atmosphere needs you".

We would hand these out at the semi final to people entering the same stand. Hopefully getting all 1,000 in the stand behind the goal.

People could re-use these if collected.

What are the members thoughts on this?

1,000 would cost approx £500 (Although we might get a deal off the manufacturer).

We could also open a separate fund, where people could donate to this and hopefully we could get more made.

The Stretfordendflags team" </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

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Pickles

Pickles

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BBB:

I'll be ****ing fuming if the likes of gonch/pickles get one and I don't. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Been offered one of the guaranteed four my "contact" gets icon_smile.gif Not sure I've got the money to go though, so may just wait for the final.

My dad was chatting to the bloke who brokered the deal between United and AIG on the train on Tuesday - he gets between 60-200 tickets for every game at OT so trying to get us Cup Final tickets too. icon14.gif

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Pickles

Pickles

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Saha:

If you were smart you'd be cuddling up to pickles for one of the other 59-199. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's just OT games, he won't get as many for the Cup Final, but still. icon_cool.gif

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Pickles

Pickles

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BBB:

You're a ****ing WYCOMBE FAN for christs sake </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You're from BOLTON ffs

(iirc icon_biggrin.gif)

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