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Post by Vidic's Bitch ! on Jan 20, 2008 15:58:33 GMT
This trip is absolute nonsense. Traveling and playing in a meaningless game halfway across the world, is going to do the players no good. What's more important, getting a million pounds for the Glazers to steal, or keeping our players rested, fit, and injury free. I don't know, I guess the million... in 1999 we went away for the world club championship and turned out more like a little holiday for the players.hopefully this does the same
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Post by Pooja on Jan 20, 2008 18:34:33 GMT
The weather in saudi is terrible , I heard. Well not really. At around 20 degrees C, it would be 'holiday weather' in Riyadh when the game takes place. Thank Goodness. Some idiot said the the temperatures were freezing cold.
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Post by Manc Fever on Jan 20, 2008 19:19:03 GMT
I think sitting next to an indoor swimming pool in a 5 star hotel after having gotten a massage is not too bad. I think it would beat a monday in Manchester any day of the week eh ?
It's the game I'm worried about, hopefully it's at walking pace and everything goes to plan.
Here's to a Dong hat trick too !
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Post by redom on Jan 20, 2008 22:08:51 GMT
Fergie defends Saudi breakSir Alex Ferguson has defended Manchester United's mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia. The Red Devils are currently in the Middle East and will play against Al Hilal on Monday as part of Sami Al Jaber's testimonial. However, United have been criticised for the break in some quarters, who say it is just a money-making move. But Ferguson insists the warm climate is of major benefit to his players despite the fact they face Tottenham next weekend - just a matter of days after they return. Warm weather "We will have two good training sessions out here on Wednesday and Thursday in good, warm conditions, so that will definitely be an advantage to us before we go back to Manchester and we have made a decision to come out here which we hope will prove right," said Ferguson. "We have gone away before in mid-season and it has worked well for us. We went to Dubai a couple of years ago and we won the FA Cup at the end of that season. "Obviously, if we go back home and get a bad result, then people will say that we shouldn't have come here, but I'm sure that being here won't do us any harm at all. "We are delighted to be here and I just hope that the sun gets even warmer over the next few days! We get back to Manchester on Thursday, so that will give us three days to prepare for the Spurs on the Sunday. "It's a terrific tie for us and hopefully this trip will help us." Only injured trio Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Louis Saha have been left at home as Ferguson confirmed he would be using his best XI in the match. "All of the players will play some part and I will start with my strongest team, so the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez will all be involved," he said. "We have brought 21 players with us, though, so it's a chance for the likes of Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea to get some time on the pitch and we have also brought a young player called Danny Welbeck." Ferguson is tipping 17-year-old forward Welbeck to have a major impact in the near future. "We think he has a real chance and this is his first chance with the first-team, so it's an important game for him," said Ferguson. "But we hope that people will look back on this game in years to come as the day that he made his debut." ------------------------------- Well it'd be nice if it did signal the emergence of one of our youth, hopefully the travel and heat don't drain the players out and if anything refreshes them a bit, gonna put a lot of emphasis on the next result though to prove it wasn't a bad choice.
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Jak
United Bench Warmer
Member of the Month - January 08
Posts: 846
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Post by Jak on Jan 20, 2008 23:01:52 GMT
There is another reason not to attend, which no one has mentioned. Saudi Arabia has one of the world's worst human rights records, and has proven links to terrorism. However, I suppose a million pounds can quiet a conscience or two. My estimation of SAF has dropped a peg.
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Post by littlemissdevil on Jan 21, 2008 10:24:00 GMT
are there any channels to watch the match? i wish i had mutv.
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Post by adexkola on Jan 21, 2008 13:16:08 GMT
There is another reason not to attend, which no one has mentioned. Saudi Arabia has one of the world's worst human rights records, and has proven links to terrorism. However, I suppose a million pounds can quiet a conscience or two. My estimation of SAF has dropped a peg. Oh, come on. Saudi Arabia is an Arabic country, and their whole system is radically different. You can't say that they sponsor terrorism. They are one of the very few allies the western world has against terrorism in that area. As for human rights, no one from Saudi Arabia is complaining, so who are we to say no? I think everything will roll on nicely.
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Post by Carlito's Way on Jan 21, 2008 13:33:41 GMT
By best eleven I hope he means a couple of first teamers and a bunch of squad players. I can't wait to see how Welbeck gets on as well. Good prospect although I wish he was more driven sometimes.
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Post by Gapi on Jan 21, 2008 14:14:17 GMT
Bullshit, no way the best XI is gonna play... Nice to see Welbeck with them!
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Post by missunited on Jan 21, 2008 14:26:39 GMT
If people fancy discussing human rights or politics, please do so in the general board and leave the football board to be about football
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Jak
United Bench Warmer
Member of the Month - January 08
Posts: 846
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Post by Jak on Jan 21, 2008 14:31:22 GMT
Fair enough. My only point was that if people are trying to find reasons not to go to Saudi Arabia for a match (the travel time, the weather, the fatigue factor etc.), my reason was also a valid one.
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Post by missunited on Jan 21, 2008 14:38:58 GMT
Fair enough. My only point was that if people are trying to find reasons not to go to Saudi Arabia for a match (the travel time, the weather, the fatigue factor etc.), my reason was also a valid one. And I completely understand your reasoning, and I do agree with you as well, there's a lot of things about Saudi Arabia I would not agree with. However Manchester United are not a political organization, we are a football club and although it may not seem morally right to visit a country with the questionable ties of Saudia Arabia, we'll be going there for a break, to earn easy money in a friendly kick about not to question the government or it's rule
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Jak
United Bench Warmer
Member of the Month - January 08
Posts: 846
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Post by Jak on Jan 21, 2008 14:54:40 GMT
Sorry, I promise this will be my last post on the topic. Anyone who followed football in the 1980s and 1990s knows that sporting boycotts played an important part in the anti-apartheid campaign against South Africa. In my eyes, this is not a different situation. A sports team can make a political statement with an impact, if it has a will to.
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Post by theresonly1united on Jan 21, 2008 15:13:24 GMT
Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Reds' training camp in Saudi Arabia will be a refreshing break for the players ahead of a busy run-in to the season.
"It'll be a good opportunity for the players to have a little break away with some peace and quiet. And hopefully they'll get a bit of sun on their backs too," the boss told MUTV.
"It's always nice to get all the squad together and the players who joined this season like [Carlos] Tevez, Nani and Anderson will enjoy the camaraderie and get to know their team-mates even more. So it'll do us good.
"We return home on Thursday afternoon and hopefully we come back refreshed and ready to continue the challenge for honours, starting with the FA Cup game with Tottenham on Sunday."
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Post by Suprah™ on Jan 21, 2008 16:53:42 GMT
So is the game on ? I cant seem to get any proper streams
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