It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

Sir Alex Ferguson verbally abused by United fans for appointing David Moyes

• First sign of open revolt against Moyes' managership
• Defeat guarantees fewest points in Premier League era

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Jamie Jackson at Old Trafford


The Guardian, Wednesday 26 March 2014

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Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes both received furious abuse from United fans after the 3-0 local derby defeat. Photograph: Peter Powell/EPA


Manchester United supporters vented their anger at the former manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the shambolic 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford. In the first signs of open revolt at David Moyes, fans furiously questioned Ferguson's decision to appoint the Scot as his replacement.

With Moyes also receiving verbal abuse from supporters and stewards being asked to guard "The Chosen One" banner that hangs at the stadium's Stretford End after the 167th Manchester derby, the ire shown towards Ferguson, who is a club director, will cause serious questions at boardroom level.

Moyes has consistently spoken of how the support has stood by him throughout his overseeing of a dismal title defence. This defeat guarantees United will end with their poorest ever points tally in the Premier League era, with their previous lowest being 75.

City took only 43 seconds to take the lead through Edin Dzeko, who also scored again in the 56th minute, before Yaya Touré sealed United's humiliation with a third for City at the end. That provoked fans to target Ferguson as he sat in the directors' box at the final whistle.

The 72-year-old was the driving force in Moyes being appointed as his successor at the end of last season, with the former Everton manager being summoned to Ferguson's house to be offered his job.

While the loss made it six home defeats in the league for the first time since the 2001-2 season to leave United 18 points behind the leaders, Chelsea, and 12 from a Champions League berth, Moyes refused to blame his players. Asked to explain how a squad minus only the retired Paul Scholes has gone so far backwards this year after winning the title by 11 points, the manager said: "I take responsibility. I have to be the one who plays them, picks them and that is what it is. I think there are a lot of really good players there, some can play better, but there are a lot of really good players in the squad, a lot of international players and players who I think on their day can be a match for most players."

Of the defeat to City, which means they have now been defeated by their city rivals three consecutive times at Old Trafford in the league for the first time in more than 40 years, Moyes said: "We never gave ourselves a great opportunity to get into the game. Manchester City started really fast and conceding a goal after 30-40 seconds made it difficult. We had to try and make sure we got through that 10-15 minute period. After that we weathered it and got ourselves back into the game and finished the half quite strong. The key to it was not to concede a second goal so we could always give ourselves a chance [to get] back in there.

"I didn't think we started the second half well. We brought pressure on us by our play and in the end we conceded a corner just before that and there was another one and then that led to the second goal. It was obviously poor marking and we should have done much better.

"I just think we never came out of the blocks. You prepare the players, you warm them up, you do all the things to have them ready but we just never started. It gave them a real big lift to get a goal so early on."

In a comment that may further anger fans, Moyes stated that City are the side he wants his United team to emulate. "I think we've played a very good side and it's the sort of standard and level we need to try and aspire to get ourselves to at this moment in time," he said.

City are now only three points behind Chelsea with two games in hand. Yet Manuel Pellegrini refused to concede that it is his team's title to lose. "No I don't think so," said the manager. "The title race continues, we continue fighting with all the other three – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool. We have two games postponed but we have to win those two games. Tomorrow I start thinking about Arsenal [who City visit on Saturday] and then I think about the end of the season."

Everton's Barkley evokes memories of Maradona as Newcastle slump at home

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Guardian report


Match facts

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Newcastle 0 Everton 3

Premier League


Newcastle


Everton
Ross Barkley 22,
Romelu Lukaku 52,
Leon Osman 87


Louise Taylor at St James' Park


The Guardian, Tuesday 25 March 2014 22.02 GMT

Jump to comments (192)


Everton's Barkley
Ross Barkley celebrates after scoring a fine solo goal against Newcastle at St James' Park. Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters


Ross Barkley scored the sort of outrageously audacious virtuoso goal reminiscent of Diego Maradona in his pomp as Everton suggested they could only enhance next season's Champions League. If securing a place in Europe's premier competition still represents a fairly tough task for Roberto Martínez's beautifully, and bravely, constructed side, the daunting scale of the rebuilding job required at Newcastle United this summer was fully emphasised.

The home team may have left it far too late to liberate Hatem Ben Arfa from the bench but they would probably always have been second-best to a wonderfully cohesive Everton, whose gameplan left plenty of room for improvisation from Barkley and the equally eye-catching Barcelona loanee Gerard Deulofeu.

One place and six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal but with a game in hand, Martínez is a happy man at present. "I'm proud of the performance, we never allowed Newcastle to feel at ease," he said. "Not many players can score a goal like Ross did, technically he's as gifted as you're going to get but he's also got real physical power. I know Ross will be a phenomenon."

While Martínez believes the "mature" 20-year-old is "ready" to play for England at the World Cup, much more of this and Deulofeu will be wanted back at Camp Nou. "Gerard's quite unique," said Martínez. "I'd pay to watch him."

Perhaps noting that Martínez had only selected one natural defensive midfielder in Gareth Barry, Newcastle began at a ferocious tempo which temporarily unhinged their visitors.

This entirely deceptive early storm soon passed. Indeed once Luuk de Jong's shot had been deflected to safety and one apiece from Yoan Gouffran and Papiss Cissé were blocked, Everton regrouped to devastating effect. With Deulofeu and Barkley cleverly supporting Romelu Lukaku in attack, it was not long before Martínez's players were giving Newcastle quite a few frights. Deulofeu especially was giving the home defence, and the left-back Paul Dummett in particular, a torrid time.

Tim Krul made a splendid save to keep Lukaku's low shot out at the end of a gloriously slick build-up featuring Barry, Barkley and Leon Osman, whose adroit pass bisected two defenders.

The verve and vision of Martínez's ensemble were already making Newcastle appear dull, direct and, at best, two dimensional when the evening reached a key juncture as Deulofeu nudged the ball to Barkley.

Around 70 yards from goal, he embarked on a surging run. Leaving the badly positioned Dummett – looking an increasingly weak link – and the wrong-footed Fabricio Coloccini among the defensive platoon left trailing in his powerful yet poised wake, the 20-year-old then traversed the edge of the penalty area.

By way of proving he could most definitely finish what he started, Barkley concluded matters by curling a high velocity left-foot shot beyond Krul's grasp and into the roof of the net. It is no exaggeration to say the goal contained shades of Maradona at the 1986 World Cup.

Energetic, competitive and with Cissé appearing sharp, Alan Pardew's side had dropped regular hints that they could undo Martínez's sometimes vulnerable defence but they lacked Everton's subtlety, control and creativity.

Deulofeu may occasionally have overdone his beloved stepover routines but Newcastle supporters craved similar precocity. Mild Geordie optimism prompted by the sight of Ben Arfa warming up was soon crushed as Lukaku lashed Everton's second into the roof of the net from close range. Beginning with Osman's chipped pass, it arrived following a fine cross from Deulofeu – demonstrating he is as much about incision as fancy footwork – and was gratefully seized on by Lukaku.

John Carver, deputising in the technical area while Pardew served the final game of his stadium ban, wasted no time in replacing De Jong with Ben Arfa, and Martínez immediately ordered James McCarthy to keep a close eye on a newcomer who also had Leighton Baines to contend with.

Undeterred, the French winger helped Newcastle raise their game. Gouffran sent a volley whizzing fractionally over the bar and Vurnon Anita shot wastefully wide from a Ben Arfa cross, but Martínez's men were not quite done.

Shortly after Krul's excellent save denied Lukaku, Osman shot unerringly into the top corner following another gorgeous preamble, this time involving Steven Naismith, Deulofeu and Lukaku.

"I should have a black suit on," said Carver. "We've come up against a really good side. The way their manager has got them playing is a credit to him."

Wonder what odds the bookies will give for Bayern Munich to score inside 45 seconds? :O)

Best wishes for the Red Shite against Spurs tonight. Everton 9/2 for 4th.

Rooney running around like a headless chicken again last night.

Looked in the second half dissinterested in the game.

Little effect on the game as per usual, cant turn it on against the top teams.

'Just another' if he goes to Brazil.

If Rooney was running around like a headless chicken then what did the rest of that team look like? I don't know what Moyes works on in the training sessions, but none of the players seem to know what role they are supposed to be playing in the team - apart from the goalkeeper.

Liverpool play Sunderland tonight, Spurs Sat.

GF - How you can blame Rooney is beyond me.

Martinez: Barkley wouldn't be fazed by World Cup stage
by Lyndon Lloyd | 26/03/2014 Comments (7) jump to end

Should Roy Hodgson elect to take Ross Barkley to the World Cup Finals this summer, he would have the full backing of Roberto Martinez.
Speaking after the Blues' blossoming midfielder's pivotal role in Everton's demolition of Newcastle at St James' Park, Martinez said that, while Barkley would benefit from a break this summer to regenerate after his first full season of first-team football, he would not stand in the way of a player whom he feels is ready to play for his country at the top level.

"All I can say is Ross is ready to help the national team, and nothing will faze him," Martinez said. "He would be very proud to represent England.

"I know that [he] will be a phenomenal footballer for England.

"Technically, he is as gifted as you are going to see. But what shocks you is the physicality that goes with it.

"On top of that is the character. Nothing distracts him from his role. He is a really down to earth, modern footballer. All he wants to do is enjoy his football and score goals. He is a joy to work with."

But the timing [of his international involvement] has to be measured by the England manager. We all have to respect that.

"If the national team manager believes he needs Ross, he will be ready; if not, he will have a good summer.

"He needs to regenerate and recover after what has been his best and most demanding season as a professional."

Quotes sourced from BBC Sport

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Mark Tanton
164 Posted 26/03/2014 at 07:24:07 I notice the Telegraph taking the shine off our wonderful win with a story about Tottenham going in for Lukaku while we struggle to raise the cash for him, unless we offload Barkley to Chelsea.
Utter bollocks - I think we could actually go in for Lukaku and keep Traore on loan (or why else would we keep him while crocked at this stage of the season?).

I think Barkley will be on the plane to Brazil and I think he will have his 'Gazza Italia '90' moment.

Al Reddish
170 Posted 26/03/2014 at 08:20:26 I can see that too Mark. The worrying thing though is I remember Wayne Rooney in the Euro's '04 running teams ragged. When he scored against Croatia(?) I turned to my brother and said that's the goal that's sold him. Sadly it was true. The board need to show ambition to players like Ross and give Roberto the funds to compete with the Sky 4 or else we will once again lose a precious talent.
As for England though, the chances are we will see the same shit midfield rolled out..Lampard, Gerrard, Milner etc and Ross will only get his chance if we are 2 - 0 down with ten to go.
Mark Tanton
171 Posted 26/03/2014 at 08:27:02 Agreed Al, it could be counterproductive to our interests; just a Kenwright shop window.
I fear that Hodgson will just wheel out all the usual faces, the ones who have lost in tournament after tournament, and are tainted with failure - I'm not very excited for Brazil, Barkley aside.

On the Lukaku news, it would be classic Spurs to come and buy Lukaku. If we want him, I hope we compete with them and sign him, that would be a massive boost and a message to the clubs we challenge for top 4 with.

Al Reddish
208 Posted 26/03/2014 at 11:37:55 Lukaku, despite an injury lay off and a period of poor form, is actually the third highest scorer since 1996 and we still have a few games to go. Only the Yak (21) and Saha (15) have scored more than Lukaku since Kanchelskis got 16 Eighteen years ago!

Chris £300,000 per game says I can blame Rooney.

All the rest are playing for a fraction of that amount so yes I can say they are all playing like headless chickens but Rooney because of his tantrums over the past two seasons and his limitless salary stands out as the man who should get most blame.

De Gea is rapidly becoming the best keeper in the premiership. For certain hes the best shot stopper, mind he gets plenty of practice with Utds defence.

GF - It was either pay to keep him or he was away. Board and Moyes surely to blame.

Last night the name Cleverly on the team sheet was hardly going to worry City (Or Accrington Stanley). Why did he change a winning team?

Most of the fans didnt want to be blackmailed a second time by him.

Why do you think Fergie aswel as Moyes got the aggro last night.

Hes a midfielder now not a striker.

Sooner he realises that the better.

The fans (and I use the term loosely) according to the press were having a go at Moyes and Fergie. If Rooney got any kind of service he wouldn't have to go looking for the ball and he would be able to hold his position, as it is he is surrounded by shite so ends up in every position bar goalie. :O)

Yep but shouldnt a striker be able to go around a defender??????????beat him for speed.

believe me he cant do that anymore chris.

Lets face it a striker shouldnt be here there and everywhere on the pitch, but he is and its not just this season.

Hes paid to score goals.

Lol, Rooney is fast approaching Utd's all time top goal scorer!

Stick to shares, you know nowt about footy :)

Looks like UEFA and FIFA have discovered the Davis cup (as in tennis) !......same style of competition being introduced for the national sides.....perhaps not a bad idea...so...all we need now is the Ryder cup and pourquoi pas ? : "the Ashes" football style ?!...

You don't stand by your managers Chels.

You need to be more loyal

You'll win nothing the way you chop and change etc etc

And here's mine (directed to some mancs and gooners) - Practice what you preach hypocrites

Cracking championship top of the table clash today, honours even I reckon.
2517

Good game Dill but neither of us got the result we needed!

Agreed M.

Gave you a 2 goal head start within 8 minutes and were utter useless for the first 30. Respect to our fans when 2 goals down stood to a man after 9 minutes for the justice to Jeff campaign and supported the cause.

After 30 minutes and our goal we bossed the game and there only looked liked one winner and almost chucked the pc out the window I was painting when your lot scored the 93rd minute " winner" then almost fell out of said window when we equalised but ref should have blown for time long before we scored but we been having crap like that go against us all season so hey ho !

Beat you 1-0 in Cardiff and football was dire , watched every minute of every game since we been in the Premier League and as I said when Malky got sacked he was a nice guy but at least now we are watching some football.

I'll settle for beating Chelsea on the last day of the season to stay up if it were offered now ... good luck mate I'm hoping any 3 from Fulham , Palace , Sunderland and Norwich (look at their last 4 games !) to go down but think I'm clutching at straws.

Apologies to panto for being up so late.