Fergie says we're embarrassing ourselves...

[DC_Boy]

well if the FA do nothing and the evidence is compelling - then Levy may well try to take court action -

Whether he can or not - whether he wants to or not I don't know -but my suspicion is that unless we get decent compo a court case will be threatened/undertook

then we may, just may, get a fair hearing

 

[General Levy]

I perosnally don't think he cares either way. He just wants to make it seem as if he's taking the fight to them over this. I'd be very surprised id he had any substantial evidence that can do any damage to Liverpool or Utd. But he is selling two of our biggest stars, so he can't just let them go as such. He has to make it clear to the fans that he is doing everyhting he can, when in reallity I don't think he has any intention of doing anything. I posted these quotes earlier, from the Arsnesen case a couple of years ago.

23/5/05

"In response to the publication of photographs of Frank Arnesen on Roman Abramovich’s yacht, the Club has issued the following statement:

'Having seen the photo, we have contacted Chelsea and set a deadline for the matter to be resolved. If we do not receive a satisfactory agreement by noon on Friday, we shall be making a formal complaint to the FAPL and looking to exercise other potential options'.

One day later:

"Chelsea Ltd has made us an offer which we are now considering. We shall be responding to this offer later today."

This highlights the clear difference of when Levy actually thinks he can do something and when he want to appear as if he can do something. With Chelsea he used the evidence of tapping up to blackmail them into paying us compensation. He hasn't done and knows he can't with Utd and Liverpool, but still wants to give the impression he's playing hard ball. Note the mellow dramtic tone of the statement and compare it ot the Utd statments over Ronaldo. With Utd the clear message was that they would not be selling the player. Our message was that we will be selling the players, but boy are we angry about it.

At the end of the day, despite what people say about the top 4 walking over the rest it isn't true. If you look at player purchases over the last 6 years of by top 4 clubs, form other Prem clubs, the fees are always very good for the selling club, so Levy would still be able to negotiate succesfully without the complaint. But now people will credit the complaint as a reason for him getting a decent fee, despite these recent deals:

Ferdinand £28 million
Rooney £26 million
Carrick £18.6 million
SWP £23 million
Anelka £15 million

So they don't screw the lesser clubs over on price. The trouble is one the players want to leave, there isn't much the club can do. But fans don't see it like this and would accuse Levy of lacking ambition etc. So we have to make it seem as if we are doing everything we can, especially as we are probably selling two of our biggest names at the same time.

What about the other players' like Crouch, Benayoun, Pennant...

 

[double0]

Those that live in glass houses should not throw any stones.

Are we any different.. ie with Ramos/Sevilla?

 

[Spurs_Q8]

I perosnally don't think he cares either way. He just wants to make it seem as if he's taking the fight to them over this. I'd be very surprised id he had any substantial evidence that can do any damage to Liverpool or Utd. But he is selling two of our biggest stars, so he can't just let them go as such. He has to make it clear to the fans that he is doing everyhting he can, when in reallity I don't think he has any intention of doing anything. I posted these quotes earlier, from the Arsnesen case a couple of years ago.

23/5/05

"In response to the publication of photographs of Frank Arnesen on Roman Abramovich’s yacht, the Club has issued the following statement:

'Having seen the photo, we have contacted Chelsea and set a deadline for the matter to be resolved. If we do not receive a satisfactory agreement by noon on Friday, we shall be making a formal complaint to the FAPL and looking to exercise other potential options'.

One day later:

"Chelsea Ltd has made us an offer which we are now considering. We shall be responding to this offer later today."

This highlights the clear difference of when Levy actually thinks he can do something and when he want to appear as if he can do something. With Chelsea he used the evidence of tapping up to blackmail them into paying us compensation. He hasn't done and knows he can't with Utd and Liverpool, but still wants to give the impression he's playing hard ball. Note the mellow dramtic tone of the statement and compare it ot the Utd statments over Ronaldo. With Utd the clear message was that they would not be selling the player. Our message was that we will be selling the players, but boy are we angry about it.

At the end of the day, despite what people say about the top 4 walking over the rest it isn't true. If you look at player purchases over the last 6 years of by top 4 clubs, form other Prem clubs, the fees are always very good for the selling club, so Levy would still be able to negotiate succesfully without the complaint. But now people will credit the complaint as a reason for him getting a decent fee, despite these recent deals:

Ferdinand £28 million
Rooney £26 million
Carrick £18.6 million
SWP £23 million
Anelka £15 million

So they don't screw the lesser clubs over on price. The trouble is one the players want to leave, there isn't much the club can do. But fans don't see it like this and would accuse Levy of lacking ambition etc. So we have to make it seem as if we are doing everything we can, especially as we are probably selling two of our biggest names at the same time.

yes the situation with Chelsea was very different, and Levy handled it very well. The most important part of that they were afraid to lost points due to their problem with Arsenal over Ashely Cole.

but i could say Man Utd situation is still not good enough, first because the quotes, if it was wrong, he should deny it rather than keeping himself calm to raise more romours to unsettle Berbatov, also about Levy stated that Man Utd talked to Berba and his Agent without the club permission, so at least Berbatov/Danshev can't deny that while they talked with levy too much and there were quotes by his agent about Man Utd interest. Man Utd sitaution is very clear for Levy and Ferguson can't do anything against Levy while his top target still with us. I'm just afraid he will sell him before an end for this complaint.

Liverpool situation is also poor due to their recent problem with Aston Villa, they totaly don't have enough excuses while Benitez said his quotes in official website.

I'm not saying here Liverpool and Man Utd could lose league points, but for sure they don't want to be in 'dark list' in EPL and for sure they could meet Tottenham asking price for both price in order to withdraw their complaint. or at least, Levy doing this to save our players in future from these things.

 

[pagevee]

Those that live in glass houses should not throw any stones.

Are we any different.. ie with Ramos/Sevilla?

Yes, Ramos's contract was ending shortly. That makes our underhanded sneaky actions legal. We didn't tap him up. We sent a fat slob to a hotel at night in an attempt to not unsettle Jol before giving him the boot.

 

[joey55]

What about the other players' like Crouch, Benayoun, Pennant...

Two of them were from relegated clubs and none were sold cheaply, but for what they were worth.

 

[Teemu]

Those that live in glass houses should not throw any stones.

Unless they're trapped inside their own glasshouse with no other means to get out, and they happen to have a stone handy, then by all means throw it, they've got nothing to lose. In fact, considering that throwing stones in general is a bad practise, we should really be promoting the view that ONLY people in glasshouses should throw stones.

So erm yeah, Ferguson...wanker.

 

[double0]

Yes, Ramos's contract was ending shortly. That makes our underhanded sneaky actions legal. We didn't tap him up. We sent a fat slob to a hotel at night in an attempt to not unsettle Jol before giving him the boot.

But he was technically still under contract.

It was a bit of a shock Levy's statement that Berbatov and KEANE both wanted out (Berba I'd resigned my self to, a long time ago). Having read the line about Keane (me being a previous critic as to the Enigma which is Keane) I nearly chocked.

Having slept on it, £20M for a 28 year old player, that prefers to play for another club, (boy hood club) its best for all that he goes.

THFC gave Keane a home after he'd moved about like a gypo... it really goes to show theirs no Loyalty in football on both sides, especially when your a PLC.

Footballs a dirty business.:beer:

 

[DC_Boy]

From memory - didn't Seville complain to UEFA about our actions - and didn't they say managers weren't covered by the same rules as players

obviously the morality may still be questionable, but it's law that we'll fight MU & pool on - (with a bit of moral indignation thrown in for good measure doubtless

 

[Spurs_Q8]

Juande Ramos ? What i know he resigned from his job and paid around £0.7m ( his wages until the end of his contract ) .. and Sevilla set £3m as compnsation. That was the problem.

Also, EPL rules different to Fifa rules, Fifa didn't do any thing for Real Madrid over Ronaldo, also the situation for managers are different even in England, you can say how Megson turned his head to Bolton despite he was Leicester ( leave alone the fact contract wasn't signed but he was foxes manager ) .. even MJ tolked to Newcastle according to some reports and i think Kamsley confiered when he left, but no complaint over that made by our board.

 

[Rabbi_Krustofski]

could it be a points deduction?

 

[Bingy]

This is England....corruption and skulduggery are rampant....why should football be any different? The FA will manage to miss or forget to find and wrong doing by Fergy, again. What about framing Manure for involvement in Iraq or Afghanistan...and asking Bush to launch ONE last strike on OT....for old time sake (what with our middle eastern roots lol). Think about how many of our immediate off field challenges could be made 'safe' and LA Galaxy could face Guantanamo Bay FC a little more often! Obama could hold the key....COYS

 

[soup]

I'd rather he was even giving the impression of giving a shit rather than sell them on the quiet, and rather he showed a bit of bollocks against Utd. and co., than just put up with being dumped on pretty obviously in every interview, maybe no names but it's clear as day who Fergie and Rafa are talking about, surely?

It's the same for Villa and Barry, I'm fully behind the stance MON has taken in making an example of Barry for his attitude and not crumbling under the pressure of Liverpool's media drive. All we're doing is making life hard for them, and why not? They've made life pretty hard for us over the years.

The only thing that makes me wonder what the whole truth is though is this constant mention of the set transfer prices.... the 25m overseas and 35m PL prices. If they ARE actual prices quoted by the club then that would make it a different matter. It'd be one thing for the club to have just turned down bids for players or another to have flatly refused to sell them at any cost. If this has been the case and Ferguson has evidence of correspondence regarding negotiations then he might make Levy look foolish. I guess time will tell!

 

[Defsta]

My DE started to shout "Shoot Fergie, Shoot Fergie" today.

And when I had shoot few rounds on shooting range I realised that I was shooting Fergie's head and there was nothing left of that pic after one clip of .500 :lol:

 

[alpha]

Spurs chairman should force Berbatov and Keane to stay

HAVE YOU GOT THE BOTTLE, LEVY?

WHEN Sir Alex Ferguson had finished crawling to the odious Cristiano Ronaldo — had returned from a jaunt a man of his stature should never have had to make — he jetted off to South Africa.
And there, he spoke of United’s position of strength. They are in a position of strength, you see, because Ronaldo is under contract.
Sure. So that is why a knight of the realm had to go high-tailing it to the Lisbon bolthole of a 23-year-old poser.
Spurs and United go to war: Click here for full story
Fergie threatens to sue Spurs: Click here for full story
That’s some show of strength.
Strength would have been to tell the urchin to get his backside back to work. Injury or no injury. Pronto.
Crutches

And to remind him that he has not been guaranteed a hundred grand a week for five years to chat up Real Madrid.
Ah, but Cristiano is on crutches so it would have been impractical to travel to his place of employment.
Of course. But not as impractical as flying 5,700 miles to Los Angeles and chilling out in Hollywood nightclubs.
Let’s hope Fergie didn’t delay the busy Ronaldo too long with the tedious business of reminding him who pays his wages.
It all worked out well, though.
Ferguson was able to sit in front of the media — in Cape Town, where United are trying to make some of the dough to keep Ronnie in first-class flights to LA — and declare that the Portuguese prancer would be a Manchester United player next season.
But with a delicious sense of timing he has never even hinted at before, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was launching a withering attack on United for their pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov — the man Ferguson wants to see competing with Ronaldo for first use of the Old Trafford mirror.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez copped it at the same time for fluttering his eyelids at the easily-seduced Robbie Keane.
Let’s get the hypocrisy out of the way first.
Crystal Palace and Simon Jordan are none too impressed with Tottenham’s behaviour over the signing of teenager John Bostock.
Punished

And you have to wonder if the directors of Sevilla were aware that Spurs bigwigs were stroking Juande Ramos’ leg under a tapas table while he was still betrothed to the La Liga club.
Face it. There isn’t a stone-thrower in the Premier League who doesn’t reside in a glass house.
And if Levy’s allegations have substance, do you seriously think the Premier League will mete out harsh penalties to Manchester United and Liverpool?
There is a TV deal to be negotiated soon and these two clubs remain the biggest draw.
It remains a fact that turkeys do not vote for Christmas.
Chelsea were only punished for tapping up Ashley Cole because they were caught with smoke still billowing out of the gun barrel.
And even then, they were fined. Fine Roman Abramovich three hundred grand.
Boy, that must have hurt. It’s a bit like sentencing Max Mosley to a hundred lashes.
No. Premier League officialdom runs scared of the Big Four for fear of them negotiating their own television contracts, their own commercial agreements.
Backbone

So, hypocritical or not, it needs powerful individuals such as Levy to make a stand rather than to meekly accept the bullying dominance of the game’s fat cats.
On the face of it, Levy’s tirade is promising. But towards the conclusion of his verbal assault, he slipped in this paragraph:
“I have absolutely no wish to sell either player and, to date, we have not accepted any offer for either. However, when a player’s head is turned and their commitment is absent, particularly when they occupy key positions such as that of striker, they become a negative influence in a team dressing room in which they were once a positive addition and influence.”
Which roughly translates as ‘I’m going to sell ’em.’
Don’t. If Levy really does have a backbone that many believed never existed, he won’t just stop at making a token complaint to the league.
He will tell United and Liverpool where to shove their Yankee dollars and tell Berbatov and Keane where to stick their lucrative moves.
After all, as Sir Alex himself said, it’s the man holding the contract who is in the position of strength.
It’s about time people like Levy had the bottle to use it.

 

[flatback4]

Ferguson's 'interview' with the Sun will have gone something like this:

Sun: Any transfers in the pipeline Alex ?
Ferg: Yes...we're after one particular player.
Sun: Berbatov ?
Ferg: (Chuckles) I couldn't possibly comment
Sun: So it is Berbatov then ?
Ferg: (Wink. Grin) I'm saying nothing
Sun: So if I run a story you're bidding for Berbatov, I'll be right ?
Ferg: (Hops on one leg. Gives thumbs up. Whistles Bulgarian national anthem.) You've gotta draw your own conclusions son. If you write we've bid for Berbatov and he'll be a Utd player next week, there's not a lot I can do.

Point is, you don't need to spell things out to the red tops. Just point them in the right direction and they'll be off like the pack of jackals they all are. Ferg's a genius at playing these little games. It doesn't really matter whether he did/didn't specifically mention Berbs as a target. Everyone will've known who he was talking about

But Dan Levy's one sharp boy. He's just shit-stirring - and doing it pretty well so far.

 

[StockSpur]

Speaking after United's 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs in a Cape Town friendly, Ferguson added: "It's embarrassing for them but you know what Daniel Levy is like. He's different.

Is that a racial slur Sir Alex?

 

[double0]

Speaking after United's 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs in a Cape Town friendly, Ferguson added: "It's embarrassing for them but you know what Daniel Levy is like. He's different.

Is that a racial slur Sir Alex?

Don't be silly.

 

[coleraineyid]

aye. thonbigberbatoffsnoabadplayerlike!



red nosed alki bastard ye are!!
knight of the realm my arse!!

 

[coleraineyid]

in italy the calcio scandal involved the media as much as moggi and his ilk choosing referees. now to compare that to england where certain referees never referee certain teams after making decisions against them, where we have former players from certain clubs on the television who then tap up players while on their honeymoons, where upcoming opponents of these clubs have their forwards labelled divers, their defenders underhand tactics are highlighted all to aid the ref in making the "correct" decision. and don't even get me started on the "lasagnegate". how much money was at stake that day and we suddenly find our team poisioned?? mmmm really?? the media carry stories at the behest of the "big" clubs and the closed shop of the top four gets cemented with every word. english football is rotten to its core but unlike italy this will never be tackled head on!!!