Protesting Ole? Get a grip!

It’s crazy that I even have to type this but here goes..

Regardless of the manager, I will ALWAYS want my team to win a game of football. My love for Manchester United will forever trump my love or hate for any manager in charge. Although I still would love to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer succeed at United, there is no harm in admitting that maybe this next step is just one too far.

In my eyes though, his tenure as manager has further cemented his legacy as a legend at this great football club. To pretend he hasn’t done a good job is quite simply a lie. To forget the rebuild that he carried out when he (temporarily) took charge after Jose, the squad he put together, the restructuring of the football club, the overhaul of the academy. How can anybody suggest he hasn’t done a good job?

It deserved a trophy but it wasn’t to be.

Look, I’m not exactly elated with the past couple of months, and I won’t lie the football has been as shit as Mark Goldbridge’s jokes, however, regardless of your opinion on him, you back the manager until he is gone. You should NEVER actively want your team to lose because of your dislike of the manager.

The dislike of the manager can be shown in two ways. The first way is: you can disagree with how he sets up, tactically, the team selection and so on. This is fine. Disagree all you like. As a football fan, its ultimately your job to scrutinise those in charge. If you’re right, fine. If you’re wrong, own up, admit it and move on.

Or you can go the other and abuse the living daylights out of him because you’re a Jonny FX wannabe who sniffs his sisters friends knickers.

I really can’t stand the sheer abuse this man receives. I’m not saying he shouldn’t be held to account because ultimately the buck stops with the manager. Whether it should or not is a whole different debate. One I would happily argue but the abuse he receives from people who aren’t welcome at Old Trafford due to the amount of shite that comes out of their mouths is a disgrace. I’m certain their arseholes get jealous of how much comes out of their mouth.

Abuse is never fine. Jose, Van Gaal and David Moyes didn’t deserve it but my god imagine having the cheek to abuse somebody that arguably gave this club its best moment in its history.

I believe most of us know what it takes to be a real fan. A real fan follows and sticks by their club through the good times and the bad. They don’t set up shitty protests asking for the manager to be sacked. They don’t reply to remembrance Sunday posts telling Harry Maguire to fuck off.

Its toxic and its utterly pathetic. They should be embarrassed but they don’t care.

I grew up lucky. I got to watch my team win the fucking lot. Everything. We ruined everybody else’s childhood all whilst giving me the best memories I could wish for as a child.

Now, we aren’t as great. It happens. You take the rough with the smooth and you support. Because that’s what real fans do. We don’t sit in front of greenscreens calling other fans Glazer apologists.

Winning was a bonus. If you can’t watch the football and have a laugh with your mates then I feel sorry for you. Football is so much more than followers, retweets and likes. It’s about the memories you make, the laughs you have along the way and if you win a trophy, then there is no better feeling but ultimately there is no divine right to win.

City and Liverpool embarrassed us in the past couple of weeks and yes the result hurts and yes, ultimately I believe that was the nail in the coffin for Solskjaer but I will back him until his very last day as Manchester United manager.

Support your club through good and bad times. I thought this was obvious but some people need to be told this instead of acting like a spoilt child.

Do not protest about the sacking of a manager, especially someone so special to this club. Stay as far away from Old Trafford as you can. I will always back protests regarding the removal of the Glazer family but I will never, not now nor will I ever back a protest encouraging us to sack the manager.

Back your team. Always.

Have a laugh and a joke but draw a line somewhere. Preferably around the city of Liverpool.

Follow me on Twitter: @_callumstone

Disastrous end for Ole?

Manchester United Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on October 24, 2021 in Manchester, England. — A glum looking Solskjaer after an embarrassing loss to Liverpool. (Credit: M.E.N)

It’s over…

Regular readers of my blog know that I have always backed Solskjaer and not once have I called for him to be sacked. To a certain extent, I’m not even doing that now. However, and it pains me to say, it now feels inevitable that his tenure as Manchester United manager may be coming to an end.

It feels like the writing is on the wall.

Some of you may have been saying this two years ago but ultimately you were wrong two years ago. The club was a mess from top to bottom two years ago. An absolute mess. Solskjaer has come in and improved and transformed so many areas across so many departments but recently it feels like he has reached a ceiling that he can’t get through.

The idea that he’s a bad manager isn’t true. He’s got the tactical ability there to beat the likes of Guardiola, Tuchel and Klopp but it is clear he isn’t in the same bracket and it breaks my heart to even type that, let alone come to terms with admitting that.

Ultimately, emotions need to be put aside. Fans of Manchester United will still back him and still will love him wholeheartedly but yesterday highlighted that given the progress Solskjaer has brought to the club, we are still years behind Liverpool and Manchester City with Solskjaer in charge.

Fans will be forever grateful for what he’s done as a manager and will only cement his legacy as a club legend even more, but I genuinely believe there is no way forward for Ole after that result yesterday. Everything about it was wrong.

We’ve been defensively shambolic for a long time now with only 1 clean sheet in 21 games. This came against Wolves and the clean sheet was fortunate against them. We just can’t get the basics right. Something needed to be fixed and it isn’t being fixed. It is too easy to play against us. Schoolboy errors seem to be the only consistent part of Manchester United.

There is still a scarily tough run of fixtures still to come and if things don’t change, then serious trouble is coming. If Solskjaer can turn this around then it will be something so incredible, in footballing terms it would be like coming back from 1-0 down in a Champion’s League final in the 90th minute. Ironically something Solskjaer has famously done. However, I think it’s unlikely.

I find it hard to see how he turns it around after an embarrassing 5-0 loss to our most hated rivals.

We all love Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and there’s no doubt about it. This toxic ‘OleOut’ needs to be a thing of the past. He needs to be recognised for what he’s done for the club both as a player but ultimately, the next part of the job might be too big for him. A new chapter may need to start soon.

Heartbreaking to admit but I think it’s over.

Ole proving you lot wrong.. again.

Ronaldo applauding the fans at West Ham. Credit: Twitter @cristiano

Well, it’s been ages, hasn’t it? United lost on penalties, Football nearly came home, Piers Morgan is still a wanker, Boris Johnson is still a lying cunt, the Tories hate the poor (still) and Ronaldo came home whilst telling City to do one.

Not a bad few months since I last wrote. Covid’s disappeared as well which means I can go to the Pub properly now and scousers can go back to seeing their mix of asister/girlfriend/cousin again.

However, some things haven’t changed. Colossal bum fluffs are still calling for Solskajer to be sacked.

Do you lot want to make your mind up?

5 days ago you had sad bastards calling for Ole to lose his job because of one bad performance and Jesse Lingard should be hung in the streets for making an admittedly awful backpass?

It’s not like United (Nottingham Forest) fans on Twitter to overreact for a few fancy retweets, is it? We’re really hitting a point now where my brain cells start to erode in my own head whilst listening to the excuses of why you want Solskjaer to be sacked.

‘He played 5 at the back we should go get Conte.’ What the guy who basically epitomises what it’s like watching your team with 5 at the back EVERY week?

‘There’s no consistency.’ A record-setting away record in the league tells you differently.

‘He can’t attract big players.’ Viva Ronaldo lads.

His improvement of players within our squad is nothing short of exceptional. McTominay, Greenwood, Pogba, Rashford and Maguire just to name a few. Adding to this, his man-management is something that as fans we can see from the outside has worked so well. His handling of the Pogba situation was perfect.

During his tenure, Ole has encouraged a healthy environment if not letting mistakes weigh you down and to bounce back and overcome and setbacks. You could see that in the celebrations at the end of the game.

You can’t say that our wins are from individual brilliance then blame everything solely on Ole for poor performances as defeats. Credit him when we win and scrutinise when we lose. There’s nothing wrong with that but reactionary shite is pointless.

Look, some people do genuinely believe Ole may be out of his depth and when they have genuine reasons to back that up, I will listen to it all day, but don’t be coming to me with stupid opinions and irrelevant garbage that just does not make sense.

Back your manager for feck sake. It’s not all about how many followers you have on Twitter. Although if you read this and do have a lot of followers, give it a share yeah? Nice one.

The game against Young Boys was as dreadful as my performance in the bedroom after a few too many pints of Foster’s so the less said about that the better.

We’ve had a good start to the season and the game against West Ham United went as I expected to be honest. A hard-fought win with a terrible Referee and a cockney taking the worst penalty since Diana Ross in ’94.

The referee not giving Ronaldo a penalty is probably as stupid as paying 60 quid for a football shirt only to get a loan player on the back. What’s the point in that?

The type of game 2 years ago we would have got nothing we’re now coming out with all 3 points so you know Well done United you seem to not be doing my head in as much as you used to.

The next 6 games though are tough. A run-in that consists of Aston Villa, Everton, Leicester, the ones that play you’ll never walk alone and then sit silently for 90 minutes, Tottenham and rounded off by a team that can’t fill a stadium after being in a pandemic for nearly 18 months.

The last time I saw a run that tough was when Paula Radcliffe shat herself.

In all seriousness, with the squad we have now it’s vital we use it so that everyone can play their part in gaining us as many points as possible in that run of fixtures. Our top players will have to perform and fans on Twitter will have to just shut up if we lose one of the games.

We were all curious what would happen with Bruno in terms of Penalties and we’re yet to see who will take them due to ridiculously not being awarded one yet but his partnership that he’s formed with Ronaldo has blossomed perfectly. I’ve not seen a duo so good since I watched Kelly Brook when I was 14.

I’m excited about this season. I’m excited about where Ole takes us and how this squad can perform. I personally think we are still a midfielder short and that Chelsea will be seriously tough to beat, however, the team has us smiling again. We’re all excited for Saturday to come along where we can have a beer and watch our team play. What else could we ask for?

I’m certain trophies will come but remember the process because it is on the right track.

I know it’s been a while. Soz

Just remember it’s good right now and no matter what, you’ll never be from Liverpool.

Fan Power.

Did we make ourselves clear?

A peaceful protest blown way out of proportion by a media so out of touch you’d think it was Boris Johnson.

Although I know I am not anything special, I wanted to use this blog to address the rotten narrative that has overshadowed a peaceful protest which had one purpose. Glazers out.

First and foremost, and this goes without saying that nobody condones violence in any walk of life and especially on those that are just doing their job. Videos have released all over Social Media showing both parties not covering themselves in glory but when huge gatherings or protests are organised, nines times out of ten there will be a small minority that tries to spoil things. To those unfortunately injured, we wish them well. We need to not let that small minority ruin it. Spoiling something that was for such a good cause when it comes to this football club.

Those that said, or aired views that tend to be on the negative side of Sunday’s events show that they simply weren’t there. Those that went too far will garner the attention but those educated and in the know regarding our ownership know to not focus on the minority and focus on a protest that wouldn’t just benefit just Manchester United FOOTBALL CLUB, but English and European football as a whole.

Manchester United fans caused the biggest game in English Football to be postponed. Irrespective of league positions or recent history this game will always be the biggest due to its rivalry and the prestige of being the biggest club in England.

Graeme Souness and Jermaine Jenas talking about how we only protest because we’re not winning anymore is genuinely shite. They must need a second hole for all the shit they spout. Green and Gold protests in 2010 when DAVID BECKHAM wore the scarf. For feck sake, Manchester United fans started a new club from the very bottom of the English pyramid in protest at the Glazer ownership. Or ‘Glazership’ as Jenas so elegantly spoke out of his arse. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Jermaine Jenas to be an out of touch pundit who hasn’t got a fucking clue what he is talking about but what bothers me is, it just doesn’t take much to do some research surrounding the last 16 years. especially when it is your job to be clued up on issues that involve football.

Graeme Souness speaking about inciting violence. The man that planted a flag in the middle of Galatasaray’s football pitch. I’d love to say “ah well he’s a former Liverpool player, he just wants to hate on United” but I can’t because Jamie Carragher has been excellent.

Jamie Carragher calling out lazy punditry and said that both United and Arsenal had problems with the owners before the Super League proposal and that was what pushed us over the edge.

Differing opinions are what make debating football so great, but when said opinion is so ridiculous you simply have to question the motive as to why they are speaking such crap.

If you’re asked about this issue, before speaking, ask yourself; “do I know enough about this issue?” If the answer is no, then say you don’t know enough instead of making a Tit of yourself on national TV.

The Glazer family ownership has cost Manchester United £1.1Billion. the same amount Sheikh Mansour has invested INTO Manchester City. £704 million on interest payments, £244 million on debt repayments and £125 million on dividends. They also sold £100 million worth of shares to enhance their personal wealth which means none of the funds raised went back into the football club.

In the last 11 years, our interest payments alone are more than EVERY OTHER CLUB combined. Arsenal have had owner issues, there is no doubt about that, but their interest payments are £140 million in the same period whilst ours are £496 million. In addition to the interest payments, we are the only club to pay our owners regular dividends which in 2020 was £23 million. Struggling financially due to the covid pandemic? Don’t worry, the Glazers aren’t.

Whereas our revenue growth has tripled, both Manchester City and Liverpool have outpaced us in this area and there has been 0% growth in the last 4 years with our new sponsorship with TeamViewer worth less than what it was with Chevrolet.

A big negative with the Glazers is the lack of investment in facilities and in particular, the stadium. Old Trafford, such a sacred and vital part of our history has been left to rot and fade away during their tenure. Roof leaking and rusting whilst every other team in the big six had their stadiums invested in. Whether that being a stadium move or expansion it helped grow their income and arguably allowed further investment in the playing squad.

With investment comes success and the Glazers have bled us dry. Brighton has spent more on infrastructure in the last 11 years.
Club resources are being used to fund the Glazer ownership and debt has remained stagnant at over £500 million which is second in the league. Tottenham stand at the top of the league on that one (the only league they’ll ever top) but don’t forget they have the greatest sports stadium in the world. (Thanks to @swissramble on Twitter)

This is why it’s so frustrating seeing some pundits speaking about the protests in the manner they did. Debt repayments, Dividends, no investment in infrastructure, limited success on the pitch whilst rivals flourish, no communication with fans, out of touch, lack of strategy, poor football knowledge(Offside rule, Joel?), hanging managers out to dry and the treatment of fans and football as a sport.

This is why we are angry. This is why we protest. Not because we haven’t won the league, Graeme.

Oh, and whilst I’m here, Simon Jordan, you posh faced cunt and Jim White, you kiss arse cringe shithouse. Go fuck yourselves.

If you’re moaning about the stadium break-in, that stadium belongs to us. This has been coming for years. Nobody should be surprised that Billionaires and venture capitalists are now behaving like Billionaires and venture capitalists.

The Glazers brought this on themselves.

Football fans will always hold the power. Our history is never to be bought.

The Glazers are far more dangerous to Manchester United and English football than a small minority causing trouble. Condemn it but don’t focus on it.
A culmination of events over 16 years of Glazer ownership led to Sunday’s protest. There will be more if there isn’t change.

Here’s to the next one.

We demand change.

ENOUGH.

Enough.

“A football club is more than just a club; it is an institution at the heart of our communities… Sport must be run in the interest of those who follow, participate and love it. NOT for the privileged and wealthy few.”

“Football is nothing without fans”

It has only been a few days since my last post. I’m not writing so soon because I’m so ecstatic that we beat Burnley. Enough is enough.

For years now, fans have been cast aside whilst multi-billionaire owners exploit our loyalty to make them even more money. The announcement yesterday has to be the final nail in the coffin for all of us.

I wrote the other day about how memories with my old man are what developed my love of football and made it such a big part of my life. That’s gone now.

When owners have no connection to the local area and use us as cash cows to make money there was always one end goal. Bleed as much money out of these clubs as they can. The Glazers at Manchester United are a fine example of this.

They have never given an interview. Never invested their own money. Left the stadium to rot. Brought staggering levels of debt and done nothing for this club. Any success we have had during their tenure is in spite of them, NOT because of them.

They made Ed Woodward our chairman. In 2020, Ed Woodward was asked about the Super League: “I don’t know where that story came from.” He’s now resigned his spot at UEFA and Manchester United are no longer a member of the European Club Association. Sounds like you lied, Ed.

Manchester United and Liverpool. The two biggest clubs in this country. Two clubs that ‘pride’ themselves on their working-class roots and the connection to their community. The locals were proud to call themselves Mancs and Scousers.

It’s these two clubs I am most ashamed of right now. I have written countless times of my despair for Liverpool football club, but right now, it’s not hatred it’s almost a sadness. My club and Liverpool have sold out, simply because the American Owners wanted to make more money.

Those of you who say Football is a business, yes you are technically right but it’s so much more than that. It’s somewhere to go on a weekend where you can forget all your problems. It’s a place to enjoy a beer with your mates. A place where you could laugh, cry scream and shout. The click of a turnstile. The pie at half-time.

No matter what you felt a part of something. You could meet somebody completely new and as soon as they say they follow football, you’ve made a new friend. The best night of my life was the Champions League final in Moscow.

Manchester United players celebrate their dramatic Champions League win in Moscow — The Pinnacle of club football. (Credit: BBCSport)

Our ‘Busby Babes’ died returning from a European Cup tie. Our owners are taking our opportunity in that beloved competition away from us. The very heart and soul of the beautiful game is being ripped out in front of us all in the name of profit and greed.

Those very owners that are doing this are cowards by just releasing PR statements. They’ve left it to managers and players to answer questions. Putting their employees in unfair positions by placing them in a hypothetical firing line.

The finances the Super League entails are silly numbers. Investment banks in the USA are funding it at $7 BILLION. What if it flops? What happens to the clubs? Debts would sky-rocket. The money in football is already astronomical. it’s completely criminal and a disgrace. An indictment on football fans who are being stripped of following their club.

Football was always sold as this Meritocracy. A sport where if you worked hard, you’d win trophies. Leicester is a prime example of this. With the financial benefits that the 6 clubs would gain, a fairy-tale story would be extremely unlikely ever again.

Joel Glazer, part of our ownership, will be an executive chairman within the Super League structure. A share of $3.5 billion (could rise to $10 BILLION) solidarity payment, a possible $6.5 billion TV deal in addition to other financial benefits are the reasons why these clubs have sold out.

A statement from Joel Glazer: “By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid.”

A new chapter of world-class facilities? Have you seen the state of Old Trafford? A man who hasn’t given an interview to the media of a club he owns is now trying to portray a clear money grab as a love for football. It’s sickening. How he can talk about facilities whilst OT leaks and rusts is, quite frankly, disgusting. This gimp didn’t even understand the offside rule!

A new Champions League format is in the works where money was shared among more clubs. Less money for the big clubs so they looked at alternatives. As I said, money rules all in football now, not fans.

Jurgen Klopp in 2019: “I hope the super league never happens.”

Klopp spoke out against these proposals. Reports suggest Mourinho refused to train because of the news. Solskjaer only found out yesterday morning. It sounds like there was no colluding with management and players and that those at board level have taken it upon themselves to put their clubs in the super league.

There was no deliberation with fans. We have always been against it. Arsenal and Tottenham aren’t currently in the Top 6. Fuck me Spurs haven’t won the league since 1961! The whole thing is absolutely shambolic and an insult to football fans. It’s an insult to the likes of Leicester and West Ham, Southampton, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Blackburn among many others. Where is the motivation to succeed now?

I’m so angry. Manchester United have a banner in place where the fans sit. On the banner it had wise words from a Manchester United great; Sir Matt Busby: “Football without fans is nothing.”

If the Glazers ever turned up to Old Trafford, then maybe they’d have seen it!

Owners of these clubs have no idea of the roles that these clubs play in their local communities. They have taken advantage of our loyalty for so long. They seem to think these clubs belong to them. They don’t they belong to the supporters and they always will.

Enough is enough. We’re sick of it.

If this goes ahead, I hate to say it but I’ll never set foot in Old Trafford again. The love I have for my club has taken a huge hit and I don’t know if it will ever come back.

They sold out and have shown everyone they don’t care about us.

Usually, I would end with a cheeky joke at Liverpool’s expense. Not this time because this time we are as bad, if not worse than them. Time for fans of all clubs to come together and fight this change.

This is the ultimate betrayal of loyal football supporters.

Enough.

Follow me on Twitter: @_callumstone

Justice prevails over VAR mess.

Son Heung-min (left) went to ground before Edinson Cavani's disallowed goal on Sunday, having been caught by Scott McTominay (right) during the build up — The ‘foul’ that led to VAR disallowing ManUtd their first goal (Credit:DailyMail)

A brilliant win on Sunday. Amazing performance from the lot of them.

Justice was served you could say. I do want to take this moment to check if Son is alright. After the merciless assault that McTominay put him through, I really hope he can come out the other side and see that he, in fact, is a diving cheat.

A top second-half performance from Ole’s men shown us all that we are capable of producing when we need to and a special mention to Paul Pogba. He was excellent all game and pivotal in the third goal to allow Mason Greenwood to continue his fine form.

The fact it was against a Mourinho side after the damage he caused the club makes so much sweeter. Those of you claiming Spurs have an aggregate win and refuse to give Ole credit then maybe you should stop being complete fanny and recognise what Ole and the players did on Sunday.

Yes, we went a goal down but the sheer resilience to stage a comeback for the umpteenth time this season is portraying to us all that this united team just does not know when it is beat. A united of old where you felt on the edge of your seat just knowing that goal was about to come. It’s nice to feel like that again.

My last blog was all about the sad bastards who are Ole out for a whole host of ridiculous reason’s, so I don’t want to get into that again. If you want to see that rant, then check it out.

Manchester United won 3-1 and as much of a good performance as it was, it felt more like a sense of relief that we won the game. A sense of justice.

I’ll be honest with you, I had my doubts and thought it would be a very close game but when that VAR decision went against us, I seriously questioned whether it would be our day. Not because our players wouldn’t play well but because there is so much unknown in football nowadays because of VAR that none of us know what to think anymore.

When I was a young lad growing up in Manchester, my old man used to take me to the pub so that I could watch us play. It was a stone’s throw from Old Trafford and I got to experience the excitement and elation before the games as the fans enjoyed their pre-match pint and the mood after a game when they would return to, more often than not celebrate a win. He would buy me a packet of Bacon Fries and a glass of Blackcurrant and this where I found my love of football.

I would sit down, cheer, shout, rant and enjoy myself watching that big roll down screen as I watched Beckham, Ruud, Keane, Rio, Rooney, Ronaldo and many others play. To this day and for the rest of my life, I will never forget being in that pub on the 21st May 2008 and jumping up and down with my dad after watching Van Der Sar save Anelkas penalty. It was a joy I knew at that moment I would cherish forever.

The football was a part of those memories that I feel so happy about because it was a time where you could just sit and enjoy the football whilst being among other working-class men enjoying the same thing that they probably once did with their Fathers.

To me, that is what football is all about. Sharing that emotion whilst building something you will remember on your deathbed. It’s what it should be about.

But it isn’t.

Football isn’t the same anymore.

It is not all about a soft as shit footballer cheating and grabbing his face pretending, he’s Marv from home alone after having a brick thrown at him. It’s embarrassing. Then VAR still making the WRONG decision.

Those poor refereeing decisions from all those years ago were annoying of course they were, but it was a human error when the game is played at such a fast pace, you can expect that to happen, but when they bring in a system designed to eliminate refereeing mistakes and mistakes still occur so regularly, then it is simply a flawed system.

Ultimately, VAR is an idea that does make sense and in a game that has as much money in it as football does, then you can see why it should be used. Fundamentally VAR is only as good as those who are operating it. Unfortunately, as we have seen in recent times, the standard of officiating in this country has dropped massively.

Those same referees making the mistakes are sat in Stockley park making the same mistakes on VAR.

It feels as if those officials operating VAR either don’t want to drop their mate in the shit because they know they’ve cocked up or they genuinely agree that the poor decision they made is the right one.

I agree with the idea of VAR I really do and I was all for it being implemented in the Premier League and across all levels that had the facilities to do so, but I am hitting a point now where I’m struggling to see the benefits. When they sit there and judge an arm as offside, it makes me believe Stevie Wonder is the one making the VAR decisions.

When Son grabs McTominay’s arm and he fights him off fairly, a competent referee would see that and give the goal and most who watched the game on Sunday believed that would be the case. However, when you see a decision like that, you start to wonder what the sport of football has become.

It’s no longer that sport where you go to the pub with your Dad and shout at Phil Jones scoring another own goal or cheering because Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored his 709th goal of the season.

Football is the sport where you don’t even know whether you’re allowed to celebrate a goal because an incompetent official is looking for a way to disallow a goal.

Football isn’t what it once was. It’s no longer the game of elation and adrenaline whilst with your friends and family. It’s the game that has removed happy emotions.

VAR in its current format just brings anger and sheer disbelief. It needs to change and fast because the game as we once knew it, is dead.

I developed my love of football because of how it used to be and watching it with my Dad. I just hope that VAR doesn’t destroy the next generations love and passion for the game. Every young person should get to have those memories that I did.

You know what though, I’d still rather be a referee and called a knobhead for 90 minutes than I would being called a Scouser.

Follow me on Twitter: @_callumstone

Business end of the season.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 0_GettyImages-1231857155.jpg — Greenwood equalises. (credit: M.E.N)

A disappointing end to the week.

A performance I can only describe as complete shite capped off a week that you could probably rate at about 6 out of 10. A win to help our Top 2 chances and a Europa League quarter-final.

I’m gutted that we’re out of the FA cup but as you all know from my blogs, I am a ray of sunshine that always takes the positives and not the negatives… at least we don’t get knocked out at another Semi-Final. I joke of course. What irks me the most about that performance was it seemed like such a bottle job. With the greatest respect to Southampton, it was the draw we wanted. It was a huge opportunity to progress to the final and maybe even win the trophy.

For the team to give that performance was a kick in the bollocks because it was throwing away a huge opportunity to do something that this club is built on, winning trophies.

There was no urgency from the players. Fatigue might have been a factor after we played our third game in 7 days, but I hate using that as an excuse. They’re professional footballers who are privileged to play for Manchester United and when you see Fred pass a ball as bad as I put together an Ikea flat-pack, then something is wrong.

The midfield was abysmal, and I felt for Donny. Having a Fiat Panda in midfield behind him couldn’t have helped. Matic and Fred struggled to pass a ball five yards never mind make a forward pass so what hope has DVB got?

Ole resting Bruno and Rashford right before an international break made absolutely no sense to me. If you’re worried about injury, surely resting arguably your two best players when we were 4-0 up against Real Sociedad would have made more sense. Just because you’re Ole in doesn’t protect him from criticism. You’re allowed to disagree with what he does sometimes. If you didn’t then what’s the point in being a football fan. It’s our job to scrutinise so that our team gets the best possible results. It is an honour and privilege to play for our great club and we need to remind them of that sometimes.

It pains me to say it but Ole got it wrong against Leicester and was outclassed by Brendan Rogers. A huge opportunity and a competition a personal favourite of mine is over for another season.

Although, I have never known a manager to have to be sacked after every single game he loses. That was our first away defeat in THIRTY games. Have some perspective will you and stop chatting complete shit. Football Twitter is a cesspit sometimes. Well, that and listening to Jermaine Jenas spaff his pants every time Ndidi made a tackle.

Last week wasn’t all bad. Solidifying our position in the Top 4 with a crucial albeit close 1-0 victory over West Ham putting us back into second in the league just above the very team that just knocked us out of the FA Cup. In hindsight, due to the lack of owner ambition, our main goal was top 4 and a trophy. Ole seems to be passing that test. Yes, it’s the Europa League which may well be our trophy, but it’s better than nothing.

A trophy could be the starting point.

An extremely favourable draw against Granada in the quarter-finals, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever that we don’t win the Europa League. I would like to see Arsenal in the final and who knows, we could all be back in the pub to watch Bruno score a 98th-minute penalty to win us the cup.

We can hope, can’t we?

If that FA cup game taught us anything it’s that our squad is still well short. We have too many squad players in first-team positions and it needs to change and fast. This summer is pivotal and with the talk of a new contract for the manager, he HAS to be backed. There is an argument we need 6/7 players with 4 being first-teamers.

I don’t want to get my hopes up because this board will inevitably fail our managers and our fans just like they have done time and time again over the last decade. I just hope they don’t hang out Ole to dry and if they do, we as fans have to stand up and show that we aren’t going to take this treatment from the Glazer family.

But…

For now, we bid a temporary farewell to domestic and European football for the 789th international break of the season with England renewing their famous and exciting rivalry with the football heavyweights San Marino.

San Marino man. Fuck me England may as well go to the local park and play a game with the local 15-year-olds. Although Adam Johnson got in trouble for that so probably best not.

Rashford shouldn’t have travelled, he looks like a broken man and I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back wearing a first aid kit and sipping some Lemsip. Marcus needed these two weeks to rest so I just pray he comes back okay. It’s the business end of the season for Manchester United now and we need our best players available for it.

Rashford travelling with the England squad makes as much sense as having internationals when there is a global pandemic. It still blows my mind they’re going ahead. Then you remember football is all about Money.

And when you realise it’s Money over Morals, you realise that the beautiful game is lost, and I don’t think it’s ever properly coming back.

Love ending on a high note, don’t I?

An okay week for Manchester United and not long left to go in the season now and as it’s City who will win the league and we don’t care as they’re a club who have sold their soul, or what little soul they had before anyway, let’s all remember one thing. You could have a Mother that works on a street corner. You could have to steal mountain bikes to pay for your child maintenance. You could be from Liverpool and you’re not, always be happy about that.

Follow me on Twitter: @_callumstone

16 years they waited..

McTominay celebrating his brace against Leeds United

Seeming as I have a Manchester United blog I should probably start writing more shouldn’t I..

So what better way to start again than to have a good old laugh at our hated rivals?

No, not Michael Owen on pundit duty. Let’s all take a moment to just welcome back, Leeds United.

But before I do, I want to say why i’m a very unlucky Man United Fan. I could be so much happier as a United fan right now but you know what its not even united’s fault this time. I’ve noticed a bit of a trend recently so I thought id test it out. But let me explain first..

So, it all started when we lost the game against PSG. I sat in with a can of beer excited and nervous waiting for a game I thought we really could win. But no, we lost 3-1 and my old favourite Ander Herrera is now dead to me. Diving prick. But anyway that’s besides the point.

We then played West Ham in the league. I couldn’t watch the whole game as I was busy but I did catch the start. Obviously we went 1-0 down and shortly after I went out we scored 3 and won 3-1. Typical in it.

Watching the Leipzig game a bag of nerves and we played like I did on a Sunday morning after a heavy night. That is until I got pissed off and decided to go to the 24 hour primark as it seemed all but over that we were out of the champions league. AS SOON AS I LEFT, we scored twice. There’s no way I can seriously be this unlucky.

I then don’t watch the Leeds game and then it turns out to be the most exciting game of football. Either I did something wrong in a past life or Manchester United just fucking hate me.

But enough of how everything is going wrong and lets actually have a chat about the game I purposefully missed so that we could actually have a good performance. Don’t worry I’m not claiming credit for us playing so well I’m just saying that basically Ole out, Callum in. Obviously.

The three fingers, 7 eyed Leeds fans who have mums that are also their sister and cousin really thought they would beat us. They said Bielsa would be no match for someone who is “just a PE teacher”. Its pretty funny in it really when you think how long they’ve been waiting to play against their hated rivals. When in reality even though the last 7 years haven’t been the best we still just brushed them a side like the shit you find at the bottom of your shoe. Or in the local pub in Batley.

I also think its fair to say that Scott McTominay is somehow now the best midfielder in the league and if Arsenal had him they’d maybe avoid relegation.

In all seriousness, like I say I did miss the game because I had this odd superstition about us and in the end it proved me right so if we do lose on boxing day, imagine its because I’m a mess, sat on the sofa watching it covered in Ferrero Rocher wrappers.

As it has been a while since I wrote anything I thought id bring up a certain Paul Pogba.

I do like Pogba, I know he genuinely is a world class player but honestly I’ve had enough. Every international break there’s something new with him. Every couple of months,Mr Raiola puts down his Big Mac and decides to open his fat fecking face and talk up a move.

This time was different though. He said it the night before our biggest game of the season (which we went on to lose) and the same week as a Manchester Derby. Which just so happened to be as exciting as having a scouser sneeze on you.

I get he’s brilliant on his day and I always gave him the benefit of the doubt but I really I’ve had enough this time. It hasn’t worked and maybe it is just best for all parties if he does just leave. We could still get a relatively decent fee for him and depending where he goes, even get a good player in a swap deal. Maybe even Ronaldo’s 13 year loan deal could finally end?

Anyway, it does feel good to be back writing and I definitely will be updating a lot more now. I mean its not as if I can go for a substantial meal at the minute is it?

Stay safe everyone in such a shit time for so many, yes even those in Liverpool. Need to say something nice every now and then otherwise their fans might start sending me death threats..

No seriously, stay safe to you all, look out for each other and hopefully the end is in sight.

Oh yeah and Merry Christmas. Nearly forgot then.

For once, I’m very happy with United at the minute. I just hope it lasts.

Cya.

Follow me on Twitter: @_callumstone

New Year, Same old United.

Lack of quality saw a poor Manchester derby performance

HAPPY NEW YEAR! (I know it’s the 9th January but shut up yeah.)

I’M BACK. Sorry for not writing in a while there are so many reasons why I haven’t written anything.

Alright there isn’t. There’s only two. One being it was christmas, so I simply just could not be arsed to write anything and two; I was balls deep in Ferrero Rochers so I couldn’t physically move after the Gavin and Stacey christmas special. Now it’s the new year and I am back writing and ranting and generally being a miserable bastard for you all to enjoy.

I bet you’re all fucking ecstatic about that aren’t you?

Anyway, onto the football..

December was a month where if I am being completely honest, I feared for the worst. I thought the useless tit at the top would have got hungry for Poch and sacked Ole. We all saw the consecutive games against Tottenham and Manchester City and thought ‘oh shit we’re going to get more fucked than a slag on Deansgate locks’.

But you know what? Solskjaer proved he was better than Jose and Pep in EVERY possible way and beat them both. I thought personally that he saved his job that week. Yes I am very aware Woodward said his job is safe regardless, but I trust him about as much as I trust being in a room alone with a Catholic priest.

I was happy Ole proved his doubters wrong and it shut them up on Twitter anyway. lets have it right yeah, and I would like to think we can all agree, but those with LUHG (mentioning no names) in their twitter name, you’re probably a bit odd.

In hindsight, december was a good month but what bothered me was how inconistent we are. How can we go from beating Spurs and City in the space of a few days to drawing 1-1 with a poor Everton side and being absolutely piss poor against Watford. Keep some form and get some wins on the board to challenge for the top 4.

However, to do this you need a squad with genuine first team quality throughout and we don’t have it. The lack of quality is shining through. Don’t worry, I will talk about January later. Pathetic.

Anyway..

We ended the month very well. Manchester United did not ruin our christmas. We could stuff our face with pigs in blankets with a smile on our face instead of crying into them. Or stuff your face with a cabbage if you’re a vegetarian. Weird bastards they are. A brilliant 4-1 win against the Geordies with Mason Greenwood playing a blinder. This was followed by something I thought i’d never see again. An away win at Burnley with a clean sheet. A good end to 2019.

However…

January so far can only be described as a kick in the bollocks. We are 9 days in and haven’t won a game yet and STILL HAVEN’T SIGNED ANYBODY. NOBODY NOT A SINGLE BASTARD PLAYER. What is the point? How is that tit still in charge of transfers? I’ll tell you why! According to the Glazers, he is doing a great job. He’s making them millions whilst we have to watch the likes of Andreas Pereira hit a one man wall from a FK or Phil Jones flap his arms around and injure himself kicking a ball. Sick to death of it.

We have signed 6 players in 3 years. What kind of rebuild is this Mr Woodward? If you were building my house I would seriously question if the ceiling would fall on my fucking head you flap. He is a failure and until him and the Glazers are gone and a Director of Football is hired nothing will change. Get used to it because they aren’t going anywhere.

Pogba still out injured, Maguire injured, McTominay injured. Phil Jones starts for Manchester United in 2020. It’s almost as if not replacing key players in the squad wouldnt’ come back to bite us in the arse.

He’s incompetent. It’s so frustrating. I am genuinely baffled and pissed off we still havent signed someone. Liverpool, who are 317 points clear at the top of the table, had a deal in place to sign a midfielder on the 1st January.

We can’t let them keep getting away with it.

I really hope we have a good reaction against Norwich. I also hope we sign some fucking players. I also hope for some creme eggs but that’s another problem. I am just so sick of being annoyed at the same issues.

Ole has faults. He is obviously not perfect but people really need to get their heads around the fact that no other manager in world football would get more out of a team with a midfield of Matic, Pereira and Fred. Stop lying to yourself.

Direct your anger at the board. They haven’t signed the players we needed. They haven’t replaced the players that have left. They are a joke and taking the piss out of us. Get them out, not Ole.

Right, I am done. I’m going to listen to some country music and have a Munch Bunch yoghurt. Enjoy the game if you can

But just remember, as always, it might not be the best at Manchester United right now, it could be worse. You could be from Liverpool.

Follow me on Twitter: @_calstone

Ole in? I am and you should be too!

A week ago, that weird LUHG twitter lot constantly craved attention and were begging for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be sacked. Well, have you noticed how quiet they are at the minute because I have…

A 2-1 win against a now Jose Mourinho Spurs side and a 2-1 win against the blue side of Manchester. What a week its been. Hows that song go? Oh what a feeling, what a night…

The foundations of a good team are there. Maguire seems to be settling in perfectly and has taken that captains armband of Ashley Young. Something I personally have been frigging dying for. Shocking captain. AWB is just mental, isn’t he? I genuinely think its impossible to get past him and he made Sterling look so weak he was like the pound when Brexit was announced.

The third signing Dan James has exceeded what we expected of him in his early days at United. We expected him to be a bit part player and ease into the team slowly. Instead, well we can all agree that he is obviously better than Ryan Giggs so that’s that in it? Nah the player has been excellent and looks like he could be a real talent for us if he develops the way he has been doing.

I’m Ole in. I’ll tell you why.

Well one reason why I’m Ole in is because it’s funny winding up them knobheads on twitter. You know that one tit who says hope this helps after every tweet. He needs poking in the eyes that clown. What I’m trying to say is this stereotypical twitter united fan needs to stop being so negative for no reason. I’m a miserable prick but fuck me its not all bad with Ole. They’re either troll accounts or have a face only a mother could love. Either way they need to lighten the feck up.

Another reason why I am Ole in is his transfers. The three players brought in over the summer have been excellent as mentioned earlier in the blog. You know when I made that Brexit joke? (don’t vote Tory) In all seriousness, he wants players who actually want to play for United, not just those who want to come for the money. I like that in OGS. He is doing his homework and making sure only the right players come to the club. Something, Mr Woodward hasn’t done.

The guy wants what is best for Manchester United. Simple as that. He isn’t going to try and save face like Mourinho did. He will always put the club first and that is what we need as manager. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a Manchester United legend and possibly one of my favourite players of all time. I absolutely love Solskjaer and I am desperate for him to succeed at United. It would make me as happy as never hearing Katie Hopkins voice or seeing her face again. Weird prick she is.

This is the main reason why I am Ole in. The Glazers and Woodward did not back him enough this summer. Nowhere near enough. Yet we can see signs of a team that we are all starting to like again. We are seeing signs of a young attacking side hungry to win. Yes it will be inconsistent, look at how thin the squad is, that was bound to happen. Though still, we are in fifth, 5 points of top 4. Back Ole properly and he will sign the right players and bend over backwards to see this club succeed again.

The board got him 3 players when we needed 5 or 6 in the door. Imagine if we signed Bruno Fernandes a goal scoring midfielder who can create chances as well. Imagine if Pogba didn’t get injured. Imagine if Pereira played like he was actually Brazillian and not Scottish. Imagine what he could do with a better squad.

Yes, I am not as blind as VAR, Ole does make mistakes. His in-game management can be non-existent sometimes and his substitutions are baffling at times. But, he deserves a chance. He deserves time. The signs are there that he has us on the right track. Don’t sack him so that he gets to build on the foundations he has started.

Its going to be a long season and we need to realise there will be bumps in the road but if we back Ole and bring in the right players so that we can improve the first team and enhance squad depth then I am telling you, Manchester United will be back!

Be patient with Ole. It is pointless sacking managers constantly. The problem lies above Ole and we need to focus our anger at the board. Not the manager.

On a quick sidenote I also want to say sorry to Jesse Lingard. On my last blog post I said he should be sold but he has been brilliant in this past week of football. If he can show that kind of form consistently then he is a fine player for Manchester United. Also, sorry for calling you Dappy. You’re a better rapper than he ever was.. just don’t wear any stupid hats.

It’s been a great week for us. It’s nearly Christmas and the Baileys will be flowing. Particularly down my neck so let’s hope I’m drinking it in celebrations that United haven’t ruined my Christmas. As long as Woodward doesn’t start spouting shite again or I don’t hear Steven Gerrard’s squeaky twat bag accent then I’ll be fine.

In the UK, it’s election week. Make sure you go out and vote. This is the most important vote we are facing. VOTE.

But just remember, as always, it might not be the best at Manchester United right now, it could be worse. You could be from Liverpool.

Follow me on Twitter: @_calstone