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...

.... best excuse tonight from a Man U mate .... they 9 places higher than Port Vale (who we beat 3-2).

Loving it :-)

Man U celebrate after winning a corner at MK Dons

Night gf :-)

3819

How apt and utterly brilliant!

Well I have a comfort bet on the Baggies to go down this season but it looks like I would have done better putting my dosh on MU. What a shambles!

If Man U's poor run of form continues, their fans will desert them in their droves and they'll start supporting teams in their own country.

?

Aha, got what you mean. :-)

Poor van Gaal, eh? Who'd 'ave thought it?

Wheres G/F these days then?.. spending more time with his wallet.

Come on out, we know your there -):

G/F... Your presence is required: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAHoahsd3Uw

From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2738126/JAMIE-CARRAGHER-Don-t-blame-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Manchester-United-s-freefall.html

Jamie Carragher: Don't blame Sir Alex Ferguson for Manchester United's freefall
Aug. 30, 2014

- Manchester United without a win yet this season under Louis van Gaal
- United were thrashed 4-0 by MK Dons in Capital One Cup second round
- Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down as manager in 2013 after glittering reign
- David Moyes was sacked after terrible first season in charge

The blame game has started since Manchester United’s mauling in Milton Keynes and nobody has been spared.

Louis van Gaal, only a few weeks into his reign at Old Trafford, has been criticised for picking an inexperienced team, playing a system that is alien to his squad —and signing autographs immediately after that 4-0 defeat.

David Moyes, sacked in April, had the spotlight on him. He was at fault, so the arguments went, because he wasn’t brutal enough when he arrived last summer and failed to get rid of the players who were not up to United standard.

Shock: United were thrashed 4-0 by MK Dons in their Capital One Cup second-round tie

The players have been blasted. So, too, have the Glazer family and chief executive Ed Woodward. But another figure has been embroiled in the post-mortem. When his name was mentioned, however, I found myself shaking my head in disbelief.

Sir Alex Ferguson.

He should have left a better squad, the theory goes. He left United weak because he did not sign better players and, as a result, his legacy is being damaged because United appear to be in freefall. Van Gaal has claimed he will need a year to turn the situation.

I find it remarkable anyone could genuinely feel Ferguson has anything to do with what is happening now. What we are actually seeing, with each passing week, is how far Ferguson’s genius stretched and just how much of an impact he had on the club.

Blow: Gylfi Sigurdsson scored the winner as Swansea beat United 2-1 at Old Trafford on the opening day

Consider this: on August 28, 2011, United demolished Arsenal 8-2 at Old Trafford. The performance was widely described as being ‘spell-binding’ and ‘ruthless’ and was the product of slick football. They terrorised Arsenal with the speed of their passing and movement.

The team Ferguson selected that day was as follows: David de Gea; Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra: Nani, Tom Cleverley, Anderson: Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck. Three weeks later, the majority of that team lined up against Chelsea and beat them 3-1.

Makes you think, doesn’t it? Of the XI who tackled Arsenal, all bar Evra started the current campaign at the club. Some, such as Cleverley and Welbeck, could move before the transfer window closes on Monday but three years ago they were being hailed as United’s future.

Held back: Despite Juan Mata's goal, United were held to a 1-1 draw at Sunderland

It has to be said that some of the above named now look distinctly average but Ferguson got the best out of them. He had a unique ability to drive United on to win titles and squeeze every last drop out of his players.

He drummed into them that they were the best and made them believe it.

Ferguson had an aura. It wasn’t just in matches. On a Friday afternoon, you would hear opposition managers talking about what bottle of wine they intended bringing him, sounding beaten before they had turned up at Old Trafford.

We all know he was partial to making comments about referees before big games. And there were times when I saw him waiting in the tunnel for the official. I made it my job to man-mark the referee so Fergie couldn’t bend his ear!

United always had a way of winning under Ferguson, even when they were not at their best. You had to fight to the last second for every point you took off them and you always knew how dangerous they were to cope with in the dying moments if a game was delicately poised.

Glittering: Sir Alex Ferguson ended his long reign at Old Trafford with the title in 2013

How much was down to him? More than you would think. Last season, they scored seven times between the 81st and 90th minute — the period when they always seemed to get one more chance under Ferguson — but not one goal secured them a point.

In 2012-13, his final campaign, United scored 12 late goals. They were worth nine points.

What United are discovering now is that they are in the real world. Ferguson distorted reality for the Glazers and, in some way, the supporters through his ability to keep getting spectacular results on a consistent basis.

He broke the British transfer record five times before the Glazers came in 2005 but only did it once — for Dimitar Berbatov — after they arrived. Yet between 2007 and 2013, Ferguson led them to the Barclays Premier League five times. The years they missed out (2010 and 2012), they had a chance to win it on the final day.

Misery: David Moyes was sacked after one season in which United missed out on the top four

During a period in which Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich and Manchester City’s Sheik Mansour attempted to exert their financial power, to keep United ahead of the game without spending like their rivals was remarkable. At the start of this season, I said things would never be the same again for Manchester United and the £237.1million they have spent since Ferguson has gone into retirement is not going to recreate the success his teams enjoyed for over 20 years.

It was only down to Ferguson that the Glazers never had to spend like this before.

One thing that is beyond doubt is that Manchester United — and football in general — are unlikely to see another like him. That’s why I find it startling that his name was included in the recriminations that followed United’s Capital One Cup capitulation. The only mistake Ferguson has made is underestimating just how good he actually was.

From My Seat: Chelsea (H)
By Ken Buckley 30/08/2014 Comments (24) jump
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Back for another tea-time kick-off, wondering: Where did that week go? It was helped along well with the announcement of the signing of Eto’o which took up a fair amount of the time in the Room of Nonsense. Most were for... but some good arguments against too. My view being: Make no judgement until around Christmas time... and by then, barring injury, we will have more idea if he will be Gough and Martyn or Ginola and Gazza. If the former, we will be well in. The teams arrived on mobile screens and Eto’o on the bench; apart from McGeady being in most were happy. I didn’t quite understand the anti-McGeady bit; when you looked at it more closely, with Pienaar injured and Atsu ineligible, who else have we got to go wide?

The walk up was wet but crowded, with all food outlets doing very well, most fans opting for something with chips for their evening meal which ensured overflowing paper bins... but at least fans did try to use them even after they were full. Roberto looked down upon us from his perch on the main stand as we made our way to our turnstile; his Spanish motto, when translated, says something about "no fear" — but it said nothing about the fear felt after shipping two goals in the first three minutes and then witnessing a humdinger of a game that thrills neutrals and fans of the WINNERS yet, at the same time, leaving the losers to still have some optimism after a thrashing to the tune of ‘ship 6 – score 3’.

It was just that sort of game that will provoke anger from both managers at the sloppy defending but eulogising the creation of goals. If you were lucky enough to be in the ground today, I can safely say you won’t see many games like that as fans roared and roared and the whole place was a bear pit as we witnessed comeback goals that were quickly nullified, one after another, until the bitter end. Making sense of it was not straight forward as both teams demonstrated that they both could enjoy success; yet both had the capacity to blow chances.

The game started with Chelsea kicking off and they set up a move that cut through our midfield and defence and netted without one of our players getting a touch of the ball. It seemed so simple as Fabregas SLOTTED a fine ball through to Costa who finished with some aplomb. Our lads appealed for offside but ref and lino said "Goal." A goal down in the first minute is a blow but two down within three minutes is a horror story... but that is what happened as Ramires made a trademark burst, played in the right back Ivanovic, who slotted. Even more howls for offside but officials unmoved: 0-2.

"Could we be on for an embarrassment?" was the worrying thought and, on the 10-minute mark, more madness – this time from Tim Howard who clearly stepped out of his area to gather a ball from Fabregas that had Costa on its tail at speed. But he jumped back into his area at scalded cat pace and brought no retribution from the officials. One lucky man.

We then seemed to get a grip of ourselves and started playing as we should have from the start. We did outplay Chelsea for periods of time and, after good WORK FROM Baines, Mirallas switched play to McGeady who headed at pace for the by-line and forced a corner. Lukaku met it with a solid header and struck the bar, from which the ball bounced down for Distin to bundle home only for the celebrations to die away as the lino’s flag signalled offside.

We continued to have the better of the half and were rewarded just before the break when some excellent head tennis saw Coleman head back and across to Mirallas who deftly glanced home leaving us more than a glimmer of hope for a second half come-back.

The second half started with us kicking off, so no chance of us conceding without touching the ball, but defensively we had learned nothing from the first knockings when Costa broke again; but for an outstretched leg of our keeper, 3-1 it would have been. Chelsea kept breaking on us but we just didn’t seem to learn lessons and this came home to roost after the hour mark.

Apart from a ropy opening, we had been getting the better of Chelsea and confidence was certainly growing in the crowd but then the defence was caught napping again as Hazard was fed near the by-line in front of the Park End and allowed to make ground along the by-line and send a low one across goal that was diverted past Howard and into the corner. What a bummer, playing well and giving that away.

The Chelsea players celebrated and I don’t what Costa did to prompt it but Howard lost it and charged at him and had to be pulled away. Yellow card only – lucky man as, at this point, he could have been sent off twice. The defence must take all the blame for that.

The attack on the other hand had no inclination to throw the towel in and went once more in controlled fashion for a chance to reduce the deficit; within two minutes, Naismith was played in and he made good ground leaving players in his wake and left the Chelsea keeper helpless. Cue the Goodison Roar, bear pit recreated, could we get the draw?

Well, just five minutes later, we got our answer, not likely as Matic shot and netted. Down and out, it seemed... but Eto’o had replaced McGeady on 70 mins and now, on 76 mins, he was heading home a well flighted Baines free kick for a debut goal. 4-3. Could we...???

Well four sides of the ground thought so and roared at deafening levels and this scoring fest was not yet over but, instead of us making it all square at 4-4, no-one seemed to want to close down a Chelsea attack and Ramires was allowed free passage on goal and his shot left Howard helpless. 5-3 down and I got the feeling that fans and players alike just knew that that was it.

The ground started to empty but those of us left did get to see Besic make his debut on 89 mins. It had been suggested that he had been kept on the bench to see and get used to how we play... well, he was a quick learner as he gave away goal number six by, without looking, back-heeling one slowly into the path of Costa who does not look gift horses in the mouth; he went around an Everton defender and the keeper and SLOTTED.

Five mins of added time that meant nothing and then the final whistle. Many of us did stay and clap the team off as at least we had seen them put good effort in and entertain us for long spells with good joined-up stuff. It’s the leaking of goals that does not go down too well.

MotM --- Naismith

Overall, despite the result, a cracking match to watch with some good and poor displays on view. Eto’o made his debut and, from his cameo, I saw enough to suggest he may be an astute acquisition... but time will tell. Coming out of the ground no-one seemed to have a kind word for our centre-backs with Jags getting the lion's share; whilst I acknowledge they were not at their best, I have to say that the way we are playing this season seems to leave them exposed more than they should be. But that is just my view; it’s the job of the manager and his staff to look into the problem... but it must be addressed as shipping ten goals in three matches does not bode well for the season.

A fortnight off now as it's international time again; then West Brom away... then, five days later, our first Europa League game; then three days until Palace at home. It is said every successful team has been built from the back; we seem to have built from the front. I hope it is sorted by the time hostilities recommence.

Still, onward and upward. See you at the Hawthorns. Three goals and a CLEAN sheet for us will work wonders for fans and players alike.

UP THE BLUES

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Derek Thomas
1 Posted 31/08/2014 at 01:38:20
Well summed up as usual Ken...Where do you begin? well you can't give teams a 2 goal start, especially one of Chelsea's class.

Only 2 of their goals were of the wtf nature the rest were well worked and 9 times out of 10 would've been scored, no matter who the opposition was. There were 'Offside' goals, but so was Naismith last week, there was a goal disallowed for us, there were 3 deflections that could've gone anywhere, but only Coleman's counted, we hit the post twice

They some how contrived not to lose it and We, in our own shoot our selves in the foot trademark way, contrived not to win it

It is easy to blame Jags and Distin and blame them only, but this is a collective guilt and just as the credit always seems to go up the blame should always go down...So come on down Roberto Martinez... but bring the rest of the crew, both playing and none playing with you.

Is this just part of the Everton Roller-coaster. Well we've had plenty of poor starts before. I don't expect an 11hr triple LOANcoup like last season and I'm not sure we have the money or time to replace or shore up the middle 2, even if you allow that they are all of the problem

It's too early ( by two or 3 seasons ) to start with the MOB Mk II, but things need to change for the better. It just struck me, is this just the Martinez equivalent of Moyes finishing 17th

Sort it Roberto and quick...3-6 is a bit too much with the no fear, even if we had ended up with anything from 2-3 to 5-5 we would be consoling our selves with 'Everton in 5,6,7,8,9,10 goal thriller' headlines. This would just be papering over the cracks

As always with Everton, there are more questions than answers. I would look for a cat to kick, but it's not the cat's fault

Jim Harrison
2 Posted 31/08/2014 at 03:42:44 Great report as always Ken. I always appreciate your lack of hyperbole or knee jerk reaction.
What a game! The result sucks, but some parts of that match were utterly breathless.

McGeady played well for me, looking much more comfortable, Naismith again proved he is a very good player who isn't scared to put himself about.

Peter Creer
3 Posted 31/08/2014 at 04:39:10 Thanks Ken for another great tale of the day. Here in Canada it was a midday start and before I had settled in we were two goals down. It was the way the day would play out...over and over....and over. After Mirallas got us back in it before the break we started the second half on the front foot and looked like we were going to get something from the game.
Unfortunately, it wasn't to be as we were sliced open time and time again with Jags and Distin not looking like they knew what they were doing and frequently looking like they were several steps off the pace. Stones may be young but when he plays he is composed on the ball and that is what is needed. 10 goals in three games.....not good enough.

As you said, we have been building from the front in this transfer window.....now lets close the window by getting someone who can help close the door!!!!

A long season ahead and there is much to be won.

The problem I have with British soccer in general is that : when a player gets the ball, that person does not or most of the time does not react very sharply upon reception and turn away not giving any indication of the direction that player is taking....it's all too slow as it is.....afterwards when the player has the ball....afterwards, if he has a few metres space he can slow down.....just look at Gazza, Keegan, Francis, Dalglish, Rush, Best, Law, .....they are very alert to the proximity of opposing players.....this is something trainers should teach the young....this alertness should go on regardless of whether they can see the incoming opposition approaching or not.....the Spanish are way ahead of us in this regard....

STAN STAN STAN..........

Done deal. RT @BurnleyOfficial: CONFIRMED: Burnley is delighted to announce the signing of George Boyd

Balotelli, albeit with some inaccuracy to his shooting and passing skills, seems to have settled into the team quite well.

Rodgers discussed man marking for 'opposition's corners' with the new member of the squad.....

Balotelli: "I don't do man marking at corners."
Rodgers: "You do now."

A bargain? Undoubtedly!

Now settle down and watch Liverpool win the Premier League this season.

Think you'll be walking alone on that one Exec :0)

Man Us Anderson to Burnley is the latest gossip.

60 grand a week wages.

Please please...........Burnley take him.

Louis van Gaal is having a medical at Man U after spending £350k a week on Falcao's wages.

I heard Falcao's wages were going to be £280k per week (Mail) and therefore Van God didn't need a medical.

Metro: £350k per week
Express: £300k per week

Whatever. Sheesh!

When we take the dog for a walk on Wednesdays and Fridays we see about three lots of 15-20 kids, aged between 4 and 14, all doing football training.

We often stop for a while to watch them; the 4 - 6yr olds, that is. Their skills are truly amazing! Most of these little tots can receive a ball and, whilst keeping possession, easily 'do a 360' and turn on the spot with it before passing it on!!!!!