06 Nov 2011 23:31:57
Footballers are people too.
Etracting articles from tweets always feels like a shabby business. It's not for nothing that the Guardian's Fiver have taken to referring to the social networking shemozzle as variations on Lazy Journalist Story Generator. Michael Owen: profoundly dull. Rio Ferdinand: self-facilitating media node. Jack Wilshere: English. It's not exactly the stuff from which Pulitzer's are wrought.
But then looking just at the half-formed blurts themselves is to miss the fun, which is the interactivity of the thing. A player says something; everybody talks about it, to him and to each other. Recently, of course, this has meant that Stan Collymore has been treated to the finest in spittle-flecked racism and sanctimonious point-missing that the internet has to offer. But reading and writing about racism is starting to destroy my faith in humanity, so let's talk about a Twitter splurge less notable, less important, but perhaps more interesting once you get down to it. Let's talk about @RavelMorrison49.
Ravel Morrison, by way of a brief introduction, is a Manchester United prospect of astounding potential around whom words like "troubled" and "scandal" cloud as thickly as do "natural" and "gifted". These profiles are recommended for more detail, but the most recent, serious lowlight was a 12-month court order, issued in response to Morrison pleading guilty to witness intimidation following threats made to a victim of a mugging. But worse -- much worse, of course -- was that last night he tweeted the following:
I can not waite till the end of the season
This piece isn't about the OH GOD WHAT DID HE MEAN RAVEL DON'T LEAVE US HOW COULD YOU YOU INGRATE GO ON WE'RE BETTER OFF WITHOUT OUT YOU NO PLAYER IS BIGGER THAN THE CLUB WE THOUGHT YOU WERE SO GOOD IS IT CITY IT'S CITY ISN'T IT YOU S*** responses that some Manchester United fans went with. Those are boring. Nor is it about the unhappy minority who decided that something more along the lines of "F*** off, pikey c***" was a measured response. Those are heartsinking. This is about a third line of response, which ran something along the lines of "Doesn't he realise how lucky he is to be a footballer? What a grave insult such whining is to those of us who aren't footballers."
(Morrison himself, incidentally, explained that the tweet referred to a planned family holiday to Jamaica, which was greeted with no small scepticism.)
Let's place aside the thought that, since being a footballer apparently empowers the world to hurl abuse your way on the slightest suggestion of the merest scintilla of the tiniest fraction of provocation, perhaps it's not that "lucky" a way to live your life after all. It's a common assumption that footballers are lucky to do what they do, because what they do is better than normal life: they play for a living, while others work.
This is problematic. Not because it's necessarily untrue -- though I think it's an unhelpful and reductive understanding of what being a footballer involves -- but because it makes an unreasonable demand of any given footballer, which is that they maintain, at all times, a sense of perspective. Footballers, so the thinking goes, should jog through their blessed lives with a beatific grin on their faces, constantly reflecting on the simple wonder of their own existence. A setback? Pah! A personal disappointment? No matter!
It's nonsense, of course. Chiding a footballer for being miffed at the setbacks of a footballer is exactly parallel to me, in my role as weekday desk-drone, hearing a colleague say "God, what a week. I hate this job," and demanding that she consider the fact that she could, but for the grace of mighty Pazuzu, be starving in a gutter in Delhi, or quivering behind a pistol in an Argentinean barrio, or sat in a factory in Pakistan stitching panel to shiny panel at the behest of a multi-national sporting equipment company who shall remain nameless. While it's true, it's completely unhelpful.
Everyone but everyone gets bored, everyone gets unhappy, and everyone gets sick of what they do. Whether you have the greatest job in the world or not -- be you the taste-tester for McVitie's or the man responsible for designing fireworks -- the simple fact of doing coupled with existing will, at some point, get you down. That's life. That's how it goes. Self-defined misery is the human condition. And those who demand that Morrison show empathy with those 'less fortunate' than himself serve only to demonstrate their own lack of same.
You don't have to sympathise, of course; that's a different question. But it's not hard to see this as one more tiny example of the generalised dehumanisation of footballers in England that can perhaps be traced back to the influx of Premier League money and the explosion of wages. If you're lucky, talented, and rich, then don't you dare have a bad day. Don't you dare get mardy. Because your privilege -- which, of course, seems only natural to you -- strips you of that right. It bubbles up from time to time, this: think of the first time that rumours of Tevez's homesickness started to emerge. They were dismissed not as unlikely, but as impossible, because he earned so much. Or, more seriously, think of Ron Atkinson's response to being asked if he had any sympathy with Stan Collymore, newly-diagnosed with depression. "Not on f***ng twenty-five grand a week I don't".
Those are extreme examples, but they're from the same continuum. And something's gone very wrong with the world, and more importantly with football, if we've arrived at a place where a significant number of fans -- not all, of course, but plenty -- are instantly and naturally contemptuous of any footballer caught being excessively human. Ravel Morrison may be a ungrateful pillock, but he's allowed to be. As are we all.
Manchester United Banter Archive November 06 2011
Use our rumours form to send us manchester united transfer rumours.
06 Nov 2011 23:12:05
Would this team not work?
GK: De Gea
RB: Rafael
CB: Smalling
CB: Vidic
LB: Evra/Fabio
RM: Valencia
CM: Cleverly
CM: Jones
LM: Young
CF: Rooney
ST: Hernandez/Welbeck
We wouldn't have to spend alot of money on Martinez or anyone else in January that way.
06 Nov 2011 23:03:11
Just want to say a massive thank you to sir alex. He has made the club that I am in love with.
Not only that he goes out of his way on matters that shouldn't really matter to him. My sis in law was injured badly in a car crash. She's a huge utd fan and sir alex sent ronaldos shirt, rooneys socks, autographed ball and programme to be auctioned. And a massive bouquet to her.
A brilliant man. A brilliant manager, we are all in your debt.
Jamesmack8
06 Nov 2011 20:22:34
Anyone want a laugh?
Have a look at the Bilbao-Barca game.
They are trying to play their passing game in the pishing down rain and it really isn't working haha.
Jono
06 Nov 2011 19:04:23
Hi Lads and Lasses
First things first, what a shock that was yesterday, wish I had brought my camera, couldn't really take any good photo's on my phone. How did they manage to keep that a secret, the great mans face was a picture when I saw it on the telly afterwards, a fitting tribute to everything he has done for us.
Right then back to the football, are we in a mess, are we not in a mess. Okay positives first, 5 pts behind them arguably played the tougher games, 8 games to go before the turn. If we stay a similar distance away between now and then and strengthen in January, we could still have a big chance of no 20
Negatives, very nervy win yesterday, rooney not the answer in mid for me now I have seen him there he is more dangerous in the final third with quality feeding him. He is twice the player Chico and Welbeck are (at the mo) and we are going to have to put up with some damn ugly performances between now and January, if indeed we do bring any quality in.
Is there something up his sleeve, I am going to say it again, is there something up his sleeve here. are we in that bad a sittiation as he calls it. Just on the shoulder of the leaders everyone writing us off, no pressure on us now to win it. Players on their way back, Young, Cleverley, Carrick (already back), Giggs, Smalling. Is there already agreements in place for new faces? Remember the Larsson move? Never write him off you do so at your peril
Mike the Moston Red
06 Nov 2011 19:00:03
Looking back over the years and as far as Fergie went he had Robson/Ince as DM then Ince/Keane then Keane/Butt ive missed out a few from 85 onwards etc. But since keaneo and Butt left we only had Hargreaves a proper DM (albeit for one season only but still he made an impact ) since then we have had a makeshift DM due of FLetcher and Carrick. Its not their fault that they have been played out of position but they did the job well. Fletchers virus has effected him alot. Carrick hasn't been right since Barcelona CL final 2009.
I trully think its been down to money, i know we have bought Young , De Gea and Jones but for 3 years since Hargos injury we have clearly needed a proper DM. We have been gettin away with as we've got to 3 CL finals in 4 years and the Glazers prob think we've got a good enough squad.
I think Fergie has sacrificed buying a DM due to retirements this summer and a aging squad.
Also when we lost Tevez and Ronaldo he gave Nani a go and bought Valenica in. WE have been getting a way with until last season and this season.
The aging squad and injuries we have sustained have shown that our squad in a way isn't fully capable but we have ground out results still.
I think Pogba and Morrison need sub appearances to bring them on. Nice to see Fryers is being given a chance too. He looks like he could be come very good.
Also maybe Evra's brothers death has affected him some what but his form has been bad for over a year or so now. Think Fabio should be deployed at LB to give Evra a time to think and show if he is prepared to challenge Fabio and that he wants to play for Utd.
Hopefully Rooney will be back up front as he plays so well upfront.
I can't see anyone being signed in Jan i,.e big transfer, maybe a unknown player or youth.
06 Nov 2011 18:56:40
I think a £100million spending limit should be brought into play for the summer transfer window and £50million for January window. It would certainly bring some value back into the market if people couldn't go round spending money like its going out of fashion.
RedManDan
06 Nov 2011 18:24:52
So sydney! since you seem to know so much, can you please let us know what you think will happen in january and summer? cheers.
06 Nov 2011 17:25:51
With a 100 million budget i'd bring in Bale and Modric along with Martinez and Benatia. We'd be well stocked then.
06 Nov 2011 16:10:52
Anybody else think that if we bid for Modric it would seriously be considered by Daniel Levy considering previous transfers and ties etc? We have players who we could offer in part exchange aswell Carrick, Berba etc.
The other day i spoke out about players who are very unlikely to want to make the move, but i could see us snapping him up if we bid enough for him. For me he is one of the only ones who could come in and make a difference in the centre along with Martinez. But like i said Modric could be a very likely target indeed.
RedDevil92
06 Nov 2011 14:55:30
How many players do we intend to buy Ed? {Ed002's Note - Over the next 47 months 16 players are to be bought.}
06 Nov 2011 14:30:48
Liverpool fans spouting off on here about us not playing well. I'd rather have a bad game and win than put in a decen performance (by their stadards) and draw
06 Nov 2011 13:53:49
I wouldn't be surprised to see a bid for Martinez being readied in January, Fabio and Evra will battle it out for the left back spot for the remainder of the season - at which point Evra may well be moved on. Alba will come in in summer.
Rodwell might also be moved for in January or Summer, he's having a good season and we have been interested in the past. For the pair of Martinez and Rodwell i don't think we can expect to see much more than 40-45 million for the pair.
This is much more realistic than paying 40 million flat on Gotze or Modric. They'd also add to the Spanish speaking section of the squad and having a spanish speaker in the back line (Alba) this would help organisation with De Gea.
So thats Martinez, Rodwell and Alba in that I think are the most likely to happen. Because these players fit into our current system I think a striker will be brought in as well. A striker wouldn't of been brought in if we had signed Gotze as he wouldn't be playing in a 4-4-2 formation. Another reason not to sign Gotze is that he plays in Morrison's position - he really looks a talent so he shouldn't be obstructed (i'm not of the believe though that we can rely on him just yet).
The striker that I would like to see is Van Persie - although i can't really see that one happening. For years it seems we have been linked with Huntelaar, maybe if will happen this year, i hope not as he is 28 and doesn't offer much at all to the side. The striker we would sign would have to be cheapish - not the 30 millions like Cavani, Higuain. Erick Torres looks a player so I wouldn't be surprised to see a move for him.
Central defence is another area that i'd like to see worked on, but i don't think it will be. SAF has a lot of belief in Evans it seems and i think he will stick with Rio for another couple of seasons. The only players i could see come in are Cahill or Benatia - both of which would be cheap options but good players. Can't see 20 million or more being spent on someone like Subotic.
Regarding young players, Erick Torres would be one and I think the other one that fits the mould would actually be Vadillo from Betis from what ive seen. The young players in attacking positions that we have brough in are often skillful and quick (Nani, Ronaldo etc). This guy has potential and at 17 we would get change out of 5 million for him.
So that would make a squad of:
De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos.
Rafael, Fabio, Alba, Ferdinand, Vidic, (Benatia), Evans, Jones, Smalling, Fryers.
Valencia, Nani, Park - 1 more season, (Giggs - may retire), Vadillo, Young, Martinez, Rodwell, Fletcher, Anderson - reckon he'll stay :/, Pogba, Morrison.
Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck, Erick Torres, (One of Berbatov, Owen) and Macheda (may loan).
Thoughts?
EJ19
06 Nov 2011 13:49:37
Bruno Soriano completely slipped my mind when mentioning players we could afford to buy. He could do a job, holding midfield or even at left back. Covers both positions that IMO we need to address the most. Could be worth a bid, would be relatively cheap, and at age 27 could be that bit of experience lacking in the centre
RedDevil92
06 Nov 2011 12:46:46
so i see Shinji Kagawa had another great game yesterday for Dortmund. whats the deal with this lad i heard we had an interest in him, anybody know if we're gonna make a move?
06 Nov 2011 12:46:13
Well we got 3 points yesterday, regardless of another below par performamce or own goal. If we lift the prem trophy at the end of season on this form it will show how poor the rest are, but i for one would still be happy.... HERBIE
06 Nov 2011 11:39:01
Well, I think QPR taught us how to beat City yesterday, their defense was the only thing that let them down. We play like they did against City, we have a good chance of winning.
Percy
06 Nov 2011 11:27:17
Before we're complaining about the exhibitions and everything. Now we're justifying that 3pts are more important even with own goal and whatever. Rubbish, we're poor, very poor right now and we don't match the big teams in Europe. Our pride is bigger than the reality. There will not be to equal season after December. How much City Spended since the took over? They'll win the PL very soon. They're worldclass players with experience and are recognized everywhere in the world.
Don't get me wrong, but football is business right now and clubs are investing to get something to win, like we did from 25years from now since SAF took over, remember? We didn't Won as much as we did since them. What make you think that won't come any team along investing too to Win and took over from now the PL? This squad isn't good enough to compete for 3 competitions every year. Don't be fool... Or we buy players, but world class ones or we'll be passed by CITY if they keep investing really hard.
There's not a lot of players from our academy coming into the team this 2 or 3 past years so I don't think that our youngsters will be enough to rebuild the future, its a Lie. Look at Barcelona, they've a good academy but they keep investing, because they know how other teams are growing too. So, forget it...
E.g: Real Madrid- Khedira, Alonzo, Suhin, Ozil, Kaka, Canales, Diarra, Granero...
Barcelona- Mascherano, Iniesta, Xavi, Thiago, Busquets, Keita, Fabregas...
City- Yaya, Silva, Jong, Barry, Milner,...
Bayern- Guztavo, Bastian, Kroos...
Man Utd- Carrick, Fletcher, Ando, Clev(exception)... Is really what we've to fight? I don't think so. We need investment with or without SAF because He can't do no miracles.
HolyUnited
06 Nov 2011 11:18:36
i think winning 1 -0 is not bad imo considering players like nani, rooney out of form compared to start of season , cleverly missed since bolton game coinciding ith dip in performance is no coincidence , vidic back ill be huge plus for those clean sheets, 5 consecutive wins no matter how and players back from injuries and back to form ill surely better performance
U.P.
06 Nov 2011 10:07:21
Well we got 3pts, not a lot else to take from the game. I have thought for a long time that Rooney could play in midfield, how wrong I was, 3 or 4 passes of 35yds were successful and the rest were easily cut out by defenders. Unlike Scholesy, everytime Rooney attempts a long pass he stands there almost admiring what he has achieved / or attempted, instead of looking to link up with the play again. For the first time in years I am concerned for us, taking yesterday's team who else have we got to bring into the central midfield area, Carrick (out of favour), Ando (never plays for 90 mins), Giggsy (injured, will we ever see him play again) and finally Cleverley who is an undoubted talent, but is injured. Before anyone mentions Young or Tony, they are both attacking wing players. Many people have mentioned the youngsters, Pogba etc, well Fergie obviously isn't convinced yet as he plays Rooney in midfield where he admits we don't get the best out of him.
The vast majority of supporters were expecting summer signings to fill this void, but for whatever reason it didn't happen, so we are left limping onto January hopefully with Citeh still in our sights, when we surely MUST sign someone. If we don't sign anyone then I'm not sure where we will finish, as the Citeh result has given other teams the confidence to attack us.
So many supporters seem to think that all will be ok when Cleverley is fit, well it might be but I would just say a couple of things to them; should we be reliant on one player to make the team play and more worringly he has missed more games through injury than he has played, hardly a recipe for success.
Unlike many supporters I accept that Citeh will win the league within the next couple of seasons, if not this season. Any team that spends over £400m on players and some of them top quality players will win trophies, Citeh are no exception.
My only concern is how Fergie addresses our obvious shortcomings.
Keanooh
06 Nov 2011 09:58:02
Can the eds set up a Norwich and Swansea site for Liverpool fans to banter with as the scousers need to banter with teams on their level
KingE
06 Nov 2011 09:39:36
Congratulations to SAF on 25 years.
The stand was fitting as is the statue to be built. I would like to see an avenue of statues to great players of the past and a Sir Matt Busby stand.
My favourite moment of the SAF era was standing in the Camp Nou in 1999 watching the clock tick to the end, but then there was injury time. Wonderful night.
As to the game yesterday.
Nervy and negative. We sat too deep at times particularly in the second half and kept passing back to the keeper to blast it back up to give them possession. We could not keep possession long enough or create. Where was a leader on the pitch to demand possession on the ball? I watched Rooney get frustrated several times once very strongly with Nani. We won but the deficiencies remain as strong as ever. Fletcher was hopeless yesterday and I cannot see how he gets in before Carrick except perhaps he is the managers pet in a similar way to Brian Mclair
I cannot understand why our young players cannot get even a substitute spot and the only conclusion I can arrive at is that SAF (as he has aged) is going for the safer option of more experience. We are going to lose the young players if SAF continues too far on that route.
Red Man
06 Nov 2011 00:11:48
gagus and sydney
its only natural for liverpool fans to want man city to beat you in league as you are our closest rivals like you support everone that plays us. i flick into lots of sites but never see man utd as much as in liverpool site. the same on your site, liverpool fans there. thats called banter. i know you like to think we are obsessed with your club, if this makes you feel better about yourselves then i am happy for you. you have one more title than us well done. we are kings of europe though, yes i know we are not in cl this season before you start shouting about it. liverpool fans could be shouting for man city in cl against barca in final this season.