The Media

[javier_monsterano]

We should hire Ricky Tomlinson as our mouthpiece.That would be quite entertaining.
these ****ers would **** themselves.

[DannyMan2006]

I havent read the article but how could he say we choked last season?!

If 'choking' is defined as going on the a fantastic run when our back were against the walls after a string of poor home results (Reina also equalling Van Der Sar's much coveted clean sheet record, which hardly got a whisper) then yes we choked, BIG TIME.

They refer to the period in which whilst United were away we failed to get the results and then also fell away early in January.

In effect (and whilst we didn't know it at the time) we only really got going after we had already dropped sufficient points.

But, whilst I agree we failed to make the most of a golden opportunity, I would say that when the word "choked" is used it usually refers to a person or team who falls away at near the end of a race/season, not mid way through.

You could say that Liverpool did the complete opposite of choking as they put win after win together, only affected by a 4-4 draw with Arsenal. But drawing with Arsenal could hardly be considered choking, especially as it made no difference to the outcome of the title and especially as we had been losing the game in the dying moments.

So I underline my point. Towards the end of last season Liverpool showed true fighting spirit, a never say die attitude, and plenty of guts to get people to even consider they were back in the title race. They gave hope to myself and others and it is that same fighting spirit that was evident on Sunday. We do not support a team of chokers. We support a team that will always fight to the end.

So next time someone writes of Rafa and his Reds, bare that in mind.

[Maxiedge]

They look to focus on the negatives rather than the positives

[Shaggy]

I've stuck the boot in.

[javier_monsterano]

I guess this is the best place for this piece.

http://sportingpreview.com/aff/bfair/000344.php

WIGAN MANAGER'S INTERESTING VIEWS ON WHY LIVERPOOL BOSS IS ISOLATED
Betfair, 27 Oct 2009

It's happened so many times before but foreign Premier League stars still appear unaware that any controversial comments they make in their homeland have a habit of filtering across, usually with a tabloid comically claiming the story as an "exclusive" because they know how to use Babelfish.

We've had Didier Drogba moaning about his unhappiness at Chelsea on countless occasions, Herita Ilunga supposedly calling West Ham "second-rate" and Roman Pavlyuchenko's agent trying to push his client out of Spurs. Nobody learns though and Roberto Martinez has now fallen into the trap.

Probably because of his happy demeanour and penchant for stylish football, it's easy to box the Wigan boss in with Gianfranco Zola as an all-round good guy without a bad word to say about anyone.

However, Martinez showed he's not scared of airing an unpopular opinion by criticising the way Rafael Benitez is isolated by fellow managers as well as offering a brilliant explanation as to why Sam Allardyce always sides with Sir Alex Ferguson:

"Ferguson has his group of loyal fans among other managers. Steve Bruce, who was his player; Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor at Old Trafford, and others. On the opposite side Benitez is alone and thus gets stick from all sides."

Considering Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is a lover of all things red and devil-like, it may be a while before Martinez is allowed the freedom to be so outspoken again.

Reproduced with permission from Betfair Football. (c) The Sporting Exchange Limited.

[Exiled_red]

I guess this is the best place for this piece.

http://sportingpreview.com/aff/bfair/000344.php

WIGAN MANAGER'S INTERESTING VIEWS ON WHY LIVERPOOL BOSS IS ISOLATED
Betfair, 27 Oct 2009

It's happened so many times before but foreign Premier League stars still appear unaware that any controversial comments they make in their homeland have a habit of filtering across, usually with a tabloid comically claiming the story as an "exclusive" because they know how to use Babelfish.

We've had Didier Drogba moaning about his unhappiness at Chelsea on countless occasions, Herita Ilunga supposedly calling West Ham "second-rate" and Roman Pavlyuchenko's agent trying to push his client out of Spurs. Nobody learns though and Roberto Martinez has now fallen into the trap.

Probably because of his happy demeanour and penchant for stylish football, it's easy to box the Wigan boss in with Gianfranco Zola as an all-round good guy without a bad word to say about anyone.

However, Martinez showed he's not scared of airing an unpopular opinion by criticising the way Rafael Benitez is isolated by fellow managers as well as offering a brilliant explanation as to why Sam Allardyce always sides with Sir Alex Ferguson:

"Ferguson has his group of loyal fans among other managers. Steve Bruce, who was his player; Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor at Old Trafford, and others. On the opposite side Benitez is alone and thus gets stick from all sides."

Considering Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is a lover of all things red and devil-like, it may be a while before Martinez is allowed the freedom to be so outspoken again.

Reproduced with permission from Betfair Football. (c) The Sporting Exchange Limited.

We all know that Purple nose has his crowd of managers which all unite against the outsiders (as the incident with Rafa's had gesture last year shows)

But Allardyce as next Scum manager

[javier_monsterano]

It would be wonderful if that did happen.big sam would hopefully get them relegated

[Shaggy]

It's not just that - it's Ferguson's LMA cronies (Moyes, Bruce, Redknapp, Allardyce, Brown etc)...the whole lot of 'em. All embarrassing 'old school' British 'up n at 'em' managers). Like a load of playground bullies, picking on the new kid with the funny accent.

Fair play to Martinez though.

[Shaggy]

Mark Dim has just sent this message on Twitter to 'Opta Sportsdata (optajoe)':

"Need an answer"

[Fan65]

Quality quote from Paul "The tosspot pundit " Merson after the Arse v AZ Alkmaar game

"They're lacking that real streak of bang."

What a complete pillock or should that be " complete arse".

What we need is more educated analysis from experts like Thommo reporting just after half time re start at the Hull vs Portsmouth match

"The bad news is that the teams have returned for the second-half."

[Shaggy]

# @MarkBrighty Why would anyone take owt u say seriously - u are the man who told us all Torres would fail & be outscored by Bent! Hahaha!about 1 hour ago from web in reply to MarkBrighty

# @MarkBrighty Er? He took him off once, at Everton, a game in which his replacement, Lucas, forced the equaliser. What's your point?about 1 hour ago from web in reply to MarkBrighty


# @MarkBrighty Sorry, I meant winner...obviously. He forced the winner. Next.about 1 hour ago from web in reply to MarkBrighty

# @shornKOOMINS which other players did he criticise other than Gerrard saying he wanted more from then, when he signed most of them?10 minutes ago from UberTwitter in reply to shornKOOMINS WTF does this mean?

@mirkobolesan rafa said he gets it right when they spend over £8m,under that its a gamble,remember he used 2 take Stevie G off in big games about 5 hours ago from web in reply to mirkobolesan (Seriously, WTF is he talking about?)

# @MarkBrighty you say he's "moved 150 players in & out". Do you do any research? You do realise that this number of players includes kids?

# @MarkBrighty what other manager is subject to such ludicrously ill-informed twaddle? What other manager has youth team acquisitions counted?about 1 hour ago from web in reply to MarkBrighty

# @shornKOOMINS of course I did, and Alan Hansen said Man Utd wouldn't win anything with Kids! Its an opinion that's all same as urs,17 minutes ago from UberTwitter in reply to shornKOOMINS



# @MarkBrighty don't mind the opinion, it's the double standards. You say Spurs hit by injuries. So've we: Gerrard, Torres, Aquilani, Riera...11 minutes ago from web in reply to MarkBrighty

# @shornKOOMINS Rooney,Owen,Fabregas all played at 16/17 years old in the 1st team, are they senior players?They are players who make up stats12 minutes ago from UberTwitter in reply to shornKOOMINS

# @MarkBrighty they are extremely rare exceptions. Why not name the hundreds of other players at those clubs who are seldom heard of?8 minutes ago from web in reply to MarkBrighty

# @MarkBrighty he's brought in youth players who have yet to bear fruit. In time, then fine, but you can't judge now.6 minutes ago from web in reply to MarkBrighty

[Shaggy]

Look how he spells 'fringe'

@jamese9930 hunch, I think O'Neill needs to focus on top 4 and will make changes, most Prem clubs with field mix of 1st and frindge players

[javier_monsterano]

you crazy ****ers
he'll have a nervous breakdown.

[Reece]

Mention the Mancs expensive Serbian kids.

[Shaggy]

Mention the Mancs expensive Serbian kids.

shornKOOMINS @MarkBrighty And while you're talking about kids, why dont you mention the pair of £17m invisible Serbian kids at United? Eh?less than 5 seconds ago from web in reply to MarkBrighty