Manchester United Banter Archive January 27 2015

27 Jan 2015 23:47:57
Watching Chelsea v Liverpool tonight. High tempo game. Skillful players wanting to attack. And every player running themselves to the ground with the effort they put in. That's what annoys me, our players look pedestrian in comparison.
Hazard was full running and tricks. We know di maria has the skill and pace but he's not having the same effect on games.
Both midfields full of aggression unlike ours.
We've got a long way to go watching this tonight.

Would like to remind you that we got 4 points out of 6 against these sides in the games we played. Although I agree we need to improve we are more than capable of matching them if we play to our full potential.

I'm completely at a loss as to how Madrid have not been linked with hazard yet! He is a pleasure to watch imo definitely up there with best.

The problem is we lack urgency and we seem to be more cautious than ever. I don't know if a slow progressive approach is tactical or just lacklustre from the guys on the pitch but we need to be more aggressive and take the game to the opposition.

27 Jan 2015 17:49:58
Just a very brief post about today's poll question.

'Should the preseason tour be less strenuous in terms of traveling?'

Not criticizing the question or whoever wrote it, but what I am criticising is the sport in the sense that how can these questions be valid.

Businessmen fly all over the world every week to meet clients, do deals, etc. One day they may be in Canada, the next day they could be in Germany. Do they complain about travelling? No, it comes with the territory.

Clearly, I love football. But I hate how wimpish and pampered it is. How can a player get fatigued or find it too strenuous to play three or four friendlies in America in fantastic places like New York and LA?

All of these excuses like the travelling at pre-season was too much, or may favorite, 'the pitch wasn't great' are just pathetic. Was the pitch only not great for you but fine the team that beat you?

Give me a break.

I agree Fresh it is totally ridiculous. It's not as if these guys travel on a school bus, or cramped on a tube, they fly/travel in luxury, have massages, luxury hotels, diets - I literally think it is 10 times harder doing the usual rat race to work for mere mortals.

Especially as more often than not they don't play the day they land! Going back 20 years it maybe would have been more of an issue, but now it's ludicrous to use it as an excuse.

Only thing is traveling, new gyms, new training facilities, surroundings etc, all takes a bit of time to get used to, that aspect must be tricky, but again they will only be given the very best facilities to work with. It's a joke really.

The real stress is for management (the people having to arrange things), not the players, they simply have to sit where they are told, sleep where they are booked in, wake up, be taken to training/game and run - zero thinking/zero stress.

ROBOTS!

A joke too pampered, can't remember which player but a few weeks ago one of the Chelsea players had a hot water bottle with him when he was on the bench, I'd sack him alone just for that, when I was young we played a few games where there was no dressing rooms, had to tog out at the side of the road lol, the good auld days, money has football ruined, it's all about the money now, not many players play for pride or the badge now

27 Jan 2015 19:19:19
The only thing would be a lack of sleep due to jet lag and maybe on top of training in hot conditions could be tiring but even still it's ridiculous to use as an excuse. Fully agree with you both that footballers have become very pampered and pathetic in that manor. But then again this is hardly !

Guessing you guys have never done long haul flights? You feel the affects physically for weeks, it's horrible. Readjusting your body clock, the sheer travel itself takes it out of you too.

You're talking nonsense boys, long haul travel is a killer, even when you are waited on hand and foot. I used to travel a lot and it's a killer

27 Jan 2015 19:38:06
Come on Anon, it can make you tired and it does mess up your body clock so getting to sleep and waking up is effected but it's not physically tiring. I know airports can be big but a little walking here and there can't hurt.

I worked in Australia for a few years, I didn't travel first class and the day after landing I would have to do 7 days work 12 hour shifts down in the mines, I came home 3 times a year and when I got back I had 7 days hard graft in front of me, I don't buy in to that crap, they sleep like babies on their first class travel, they have doctors, they get massages, their food laid out for them!

Long haul flying particularly from East to West really affects your body clock no matter whether you sleep on the plane and that is not easy even in a bed. Flying dehydrates the body and these are not 2 hour flights we are generally talking about.

I have flown first and economy long haul numerous times. The difference is immense - Footballers will not have to deal with any problems that the typical traveller would, the most tiring thing is the airport wait typically, but if traveling first that is luxury, no stress and with all your mates. These guys don't fly with Joe Bloggs airlines from Joe Bloggs Airports either, its top airlines with top airport lounges.

Everyone is different, but only a couple of players would actually have a problem with it and then it would be short term (Probably their first long haul flight).

Even the climate is managed, with training methods and how long they train dictated by the best scientists and body experts - going for a business meeting or holiday wouldn't even compare.

Its just a massive excuse used because the majority of people don't fly long haul and then if they do it is a horrible experience for them going economy. The top level professionals do not experience anything like 99.9% of travellers - its like them complaining about their mortgage rates or car repayments - its not really affecting them!

One more thing as well. Most of us will get smashed on the flight as well with free booze and whilst we are waiting in the airport. These footballers obviously won't be doing that, they will be well hydrated and nourished - no wonder we sometimes feel shattered with all the stress, drink, waiting and discomfort with some buffoon going all the way back with their seats. Its another world and they pretend they have the same issues most of us do. Joke.

At the very top you are talking small margins

It would effect people to a point but it's not like they land then play straight away.a lot of them would be used to it anyway they will do these flights on a regular basis for international duty. Quite often go on holidays when they have breaks also don't hear them complaining then.

Well just look at City? They landed a few hours before the game thinking it would be a walk in the park and they got their pants pulled down by a team far below their level.

Jeez, listen to you all.
a. None of you are top class athletes
B. None of you have to perform at the highest levels after several long haul haul flights.

Sleeping in your own bed, in the same time zone, with no air travel is clearly far better than schlecking half way round the world. Commenting on something you have never experienced is plain silly

. we used to get up at night half an hour before we went to bed, work 30 hours a day down pit and when we got home our father would hack us in 2 with a breadknife, if we were lucky.

you tell that to the youth of today and they won't believe you.

But seriously, players are extremely valuable commodities, and there is the danger of over-extending them in the pre-season risking fatigue based injuries. Which is not to say I'm buying the idea that the failures of this season have anything whatsoever to do with the pre-season tour. I do hope LVG isn't looking for excuses.

If a business man can do it, can someone who kicks a ball about not do it who gets paid six figure sums every week for doing very little when you really think about it? I don't think they should complain.

The whole point is about the pre season your as well, not about games during the season. They fly to America and spend a month there, doesn't sound too tough to me even if they do move from city to City every week.

27 Jan 2015 23:02:36
Just because you could do it and managed to work a 7 hour shift doesn't mean that you would be able to play football at a high level afterwards. Bearing in mind people do seen to struggle with playing after long journies it would suggest that the stats are there to say it does have an effect.

As jred said, at the top it's fine margins, any effect that causes a negative impact can mean a loss or an effect on the game, everything is important. To put it so simply as to say 'I've travelled a long way so I know what's it's like' is just ridiculous, but I understand the argument and like the debate the topic has brought up.

27 Jan 2015 23:28:03
Cracked me up shawthing! They don't know they're born these days 😊

I think there's far too much travelling and faffing for commercial revenue purposes during pre season. Not sure on the science behind long haul flights but the time wasted visiting several different countries, taking several flights etc would surely be better spent on the training ground? You can't play or hardly train the same day as flying and the number of flights taken during the whole of preseason is crazy, lots of time wasted in my book.

Does a business man have to run 12-13km with the pressure of millions scrutinising his every move?

28 Jan 2015 00:04:59
Fresh, you or I could do our own jobs after a couple of long haul flights. We only have to do it to the minimum of our ability the day we come back, maybe even catch a wee 40 winks somewhere quiet. Professional footballers can't get away with anything less than 100%, or they'll be found out. You can't compare a businessman and a top flight footballer, any more than you can compare apples and Lego.

No excuses the money there making is mind blowing, not many businessmen make 200g a week

28 Jan 2015 02:17:23
All the money in the world doesn't make them supermen, or change human physiology.

Loo at American sports stars, their flying to different states every week and none of them complain, they have to travel to London for games etc. I believe it's an excuse, especially in pre season

28 Jan 2015 08:05:14
Something I hear every week and something that annoys me the most is people quoting what a player earns and why he should be playing better. '200 grand a week and he didn't score from 40 yards, what is he playing at'?

Like Stevie said, just because they are being paid more doesn't mean they are super human, if you paid me 250k a week I wouldn't suddenly be amazing at football.

Who's talking about superhuman, their overpaid spoilt pampered, some of them with big egos who are overpaid by a long way off, Rooney and falco nothing against them nothing personal but between them they are on over 1 million pound every 2 weeks, now superhumans would not mAke that kind of money

A business man has to nail deals or he is worried for his job, his bills, his family. A footballer has zero stress (other than what they bring to themselves), so traveling and playing is much easier than being made out. They get paid irrespective and can make up for it in a few days when they next play.

The two scenarios are different, but LVG is using this excuse hoping we all "understand", how can we when what they go through is 10 times easier than what we go through?

How did we get on in our first friendly by the way, whilst recuperating - wasn't it a 7-1 win against a team that hasn't traveled?

{Ed001's Note - maybe footballers should take Stuart Broad's advice too?}

What is that Ed please, or do you know where I can find it?

Do you know if clubs like Utd & Liverpool will use their own private jets for trips to the US and Far East if not am I correct in assuming they would travel first class on major airlines?

I just don't want to be spouting off when I am assuming this is how they travel - it would make sense.

{Ed002's Note - Manchester united and Liverpool do not have their own "private jets". Players will typically travel in business class over long distances.}

Football is zero stress? Just look at the stress it has on the fans let alone the players, agree with you a lot beast but you're a long way off the mark here imo.

Anon - I mean life stress compared to normal people when traveling. Obviously they have stress to perform when they do their work, but that is once in 7 days usually. At the top level they shouldn't have money problems, issues relating to free time to enjoy family experiences etc - money problems and overwork are often the killers.

There must be stress attached to being famous of course and if they are not performing. However their worries in life/stresses are not the same as normal people and their travel arrangements they often live in their own bubbles.

Thanks Ed - So I was over egging it on the first class then, thanks for clarifying.

28 Jan 2015 15:15:56
Yeah well thinking about it, I'm glad i'm not a professional footballer. I had no idea what a tiring, traumatic experience travelling to the other side of the globe for a month would cause! It's certainly not worth it for the money so there's a good reason to moan about it.

28 Jan 2015 18:29:04
Iknow the norwegian cross country has a saying that for the body to restitute from Jetlag, it takes one day pr hour time difference it is to the destination.
Its a reason why before a big event on the other side of the paciffic, they travel almost a month before it starts so their body are rested propperly.
So if its 10-12 hours to Asia or USA it takes almost two whole weeks before the body is fully rested and therefore also more open for stupid injuries.

28 Jan 2015 19:01:41
Careful, my Scandinavian friend. Don't let common sense and science get in the way of a mob on the rampage :)

28 Jan 2015 23:01:46
Noucamp99, hehe living on the edge. :)

27 Jan 2015 12:54:26
A lawyer who deals with player contracts says that United have two deals in place one for this window . Not confirmed yet though he does seem reliable, let's wait and see

{Ed002's Note - Manchester United's lawyers will not be sharing such information. Twitter is this?}

Sorry Ed didn't mention anything about Uniteds lawyers

{Ed002's Note - Who do think deals with the player contracts then?}

So only a club has lawyers surely players would have their own to check contracts etc, asking as I took it for granted

{Ed002's Note - Contracts are pretty much standard aside from any particular provisions the player or the club wants added. The player would not have a separate lawyer with them.}

27 Jan 2015 16:44:40
Lots of football agencies/agents have their own solicitors too now, not saying that is the case here though they might not even have anything to do with player contracts.

{Ed002's Note - I have my own solicitor and he too has nothing to do with player contracts.}

26 Jan 2015 23:23:29
Hi Eds.
First time posting but have been reading for years, just want to say great site and great job from the Eds.
I'm just wondering if there is any news on a new contract for Andreas Pereira.
Thanks

{Ed002's Note - Nope.}

26 Jan 2015 22:14:26
Rumour is that we will allow Fletcher to leave on a free rather than chasing a, small fee. Will allow him to secure a better deal at club of his choice.
I.really hope this is true for a true club professional.would show class from the hierarchy.

Indeed it would. In a cut throat business it would be a small but fine gesture

27 Jan 2015 15:45:01
Seems like the sort of intelligent, dedicated footballer who'd be an asset on a coaching staff. Maybe we'll see him back here again in some capacity. Hats off to him if he is away. Illness or no illness, a model professional.

27 Jan 2015 17:18:42
Fingers crossed we are 4-0 up on Saturday and he can come on to a great reaction and to say goodbye to the fans, I think that is the least he would deserve, amazing professional.