"Totally outlcassed"; "you just can't argue with that they're just too good!"; "we're the best of the rest, at least...". But a selection of the comments I have heard from Manchester United fans in the wake of their club's second capitulation to Barcelona's incomparable passing football in three years.

Last week we had the Man Utd defender Patrice Evra singing the praises of Samir Nasri, and telling him that he should give up Arsenal and move to United to win trophies, and now Rio ferdinand has joined in by saying that Nasri is one of the best French players in the Premiership. "Samir Nasri [...]

Cantona, Pele and Cobi Celebrating 15% Savings After Switching to GeicoDisclaimer: The opinions expressed within The Smacks Forehead Report do not necessarily represent the views of The Viper's Nest... unless it's about DC or Philly scum, in which case we wholeheartedly approve this message.

United Centre Forwards – God Amongst Real Men: When one sits back to construct lists of the best players on a team or the best players of all time, obviously the position has to be taken into account. And let's face it, one position that comes with players who showed true skill, pedigree and a [...

No-one is hit harder by the unremittingly harsh light of football's inherent meritocracy than the supporters of a "Big Club" that falls upon hard times. When they slipped to the third tier of English football during the late 1990s, Manchester City supporters came up with a song that expressed their existential angst called, "We're Not Really Here", a singular act of defiance at the plight of their club that bordered upon minimalist genius.

Chris Dillow has a great article (link here – would recommend reading all of it) that considers the revolution taking place in Tunisia at the moment, and how the events over there may serve as an...
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It has become obligatory to speak of the 'Magic of the FA Cup' whenever there's a big glamorous match such as Manchester United's semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley this weekend. It hardly needs spelling out how much rides on the result with United in the running for an unprecedented 'Double Treble' while City are desperate for their first trophy in over thirty-five years.

I'm off this week slaking a thirst for lawns and paperwork, but this can't wait. Paul Scholes retired today, meaning that we are officially old, you and I, and children born from this day forth will never see jungles or snow.

Like Matt LeTissier, Scholes was a great English player who seemed to have no effect on the way the rest of the English played football, even as his game contained the promise of total revolution.

Bosnian graphic designer Zoran Lucić realized "Sucker for Soccer", a series of portraits of football icons in a vintage and childish style

Eric Cantona has likened leaving Manchester United to ‘quitting' a heroin habit. The Frenchman said he had rarely returned to Old Trafford because he found it so hard to leave in the first place. He...
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"PICTURE: Cantona Shows Up Balotelli And Tevez" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

Manchester United and Football legend returns to Old Trafford today with the New York Cosmos, who will be playing United in a testimonial match for Paul Scholes, whom United coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, has called one of the greatest United players of all time. On Sunday, United will play Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Yesterday was Robin van Persie's day. Just how important he is to the post-Cesc Arsenal was on display for all to see. His first goal, just half a minute into the game, saw him receive the ball from Gervinho on the edge of the penalty area, and work the space before getting off a shot that wrong-footed Mignolet in the Sunderland goal.

If you're unfamiliar with SUFC, it's an excellent football clothing line started by Chris Toy of Studs Up fame. They've got a great range of football t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts and more on the way all inspired by football culture. I'm delighted to say I've partnered up with SUFC to get all RoM readers 10% off their full range of gear until January 16th.

Resurrected old/new Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish came to Old Trafford on Sunday and while he did not exactly Walk Alone back to Anfield, there was certainly no Triumphant March from Aida blaring...
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The great French footballer Eric Cantona has made news this week when it was announced that he was appointed as the Director of Soccer for the new New York Cosmos. While this reanimation of the New York Cosmos is currently not a member of any professional soccer/football league, though it seems they hope to join MLS, the Cosmos are really good at getting media attention.

If you are anything like me, reading a good book on a lazy Sunday is one of the most enjoyable times of the week – unless you have a game to watch which in this day and age happens more often than I...
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Perhaps more than any other club, Manchester United has been blessed with many leaders over the years. Not all of them were club captains but legends like Bill Foulkes, Bobby Charlton, Martin Buchan,...
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Ok, here in one handy, bite sized post is everything from my last few days in Singapore.
Jakarta Casual
Hougang United v Home United Match ReportYoung Lions v Geylang United Match report Young Lions v Geylang United Media CoveragePele & Cantona CynicismPele & Cantona Shafiq Ghani RecognitionSLeague Atmosphere
Asian Football Pictures
Hougang United v Home United Match ActionYoung Lions v Geylang United Match ActionYoung Lions v Geylang United Controversial GoalShafiq Ghani Pictures
Jakarta Casual TV
Pele & Cantona Media CircusDaniel Hammond SAFFC

Kung Fu tackles have been getting mighty popular in the last couple years. Now joining the ranks of De Jong, Ibrahimovic and Cantona's glorious tackles is Southampton's Oscar Gobern. During... Read more »

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Year Flashback: NB Reynolds Contribution for the Guardian's "The Galleries:"
"Photoshop the great and the not so good of football to within an inch of their lives...Next we'd like to see your takes on Neil Warnock. Send them...complete with a CAPTION." ---All Nineteen Guardian/Warnock Photoshop Entries published
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- Throughout the day, updates, comments and perspectives re QPR and football in general are posted and discussed on the QPR Report Messageboard.

Ducky's Note: BigFourZa's regular Manc Bharat Dutt is back, and is a really angry young man after the FA upheld Rooney's two-match ban. However, he argues, it's totally not the end of the world. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Firstly, let's take stock here.

Ducky's Note: BigFourZa's regular Manc Bharat Dutt is back, and is a really angry young man after the FA upheld Rooney's two-match ban. However, he argues, it's totally not the end of the world. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Firstly, let's take stock here.

Sin duda el mejor jugador mexicano en años , ademas de la mejor temporada debut en el extranjero para cualquier mexicano.

El delantero mexicano Javier "Chicharito" Hernández fue elegido como jugador del año del Manchester United al conseguir el 21% de la votación superando por muy poco al portugués Nani.

1. As you would expect, the Stretford End were showering Edwin Van der Sar with attention in the first half. On one particularly occasion, with his name being sung louder and louder as he went to collect the ball for a goal kick, he looked up to the crowd and grabbed his badge. We love you too, big guy!

(The entry is formulated from the media Information from the Football Association of Singapore)
Following is the revised fixture list for the upcoming S.League following the conclusion of the general election.
Day Date Home Team Away Team Venue Re-Location / Remark Mon 9-May Courts Young Lions Geylang United FC Jalan Besar Jalan Besar (Reverse Fixture - 10 Aug 2011 played at Bedok Stadium) Tue 10-May Albirex Niigata FC (S) Woodlands Wellington FC Jurong East Jalan Besar Wed 11-May Tanjong Pagar United FC Singapore Armed Forces FC Clementi Jalan Besar Thu 12-May Gombak United FC Home United FC Jurong West Jalan Besar Fri 13-May Balestier Khalsa FC Etoile FC Jalan Besar No Changes Sat 14-May Courts Young Lions Woodlands Wellington FC Jalan Besar No Changes Sun 15-May Tampines Rovers FC Albirex Niigata FC (S) Tampines No Changes
Except for matches to be held from the 13th May to 15th May, all matches for the coming week 13th will be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium with Courts Young Lions be facing Geylang United on 9th May.

.caligula

Manchester United achieved something this season that once felt impossible. There were 59 years between our first title and our seventh and just 18 years between our eight and our nineteenth. What Sir Alex Ferguson has done with this club will never be matched by any manager, at any club, ever.

Yet for all the trophies we've won, at home and abroad, the manager will always regret our success on the continent hasn't matched the quality of the teams he's created.

Welcome to the fifth episode of the Red Dead Podcast, the juggernaut keeps on rolling. As always, this weeks episode is brought to you by Tom "Darren Fletcher" Addison and Liam "Wrestlemania"...
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An interesting statistic was highlighted over the weekend when comparing the United team that finished last season against Barcelona and the one that battered Arsenal into submission in Sunday.

The team that went down at Wembley back in May had an average age of 29, with 40-year-old Edwin Van Der Sar and 39-year-old Ryan Giggs in the starting line-up.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has spoken out about England's failures in major tournaments over the last few years.

Neville himself was involved in many disappointments for the national team and he has revealed that even Sir Alex Ferguson couldn't have helped England win major silverware.

Manchester United and Football legend returns to Old Trafford today with the New York Cosmos, who will be playing United in a testimonial match for Paul Scholes, whom United coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, has called one of the greatest United players of all time. On Sunday, United will play Manchester City in the Community Shield.

What's in a name?

Ducky, Nickspinkboots, Maddy (although BFZ has no clue as to where this man has disappeared) - names that I first saw when I entered BFZ long ago. Strange pen names, I thought to myself. A few weeks later I wrote my first article and have written a few more after that.

Man United's greatest wins over Liverpool: Neville, Forlan, Cantona and Carragher!

United have knocked Liverpool off their perch and beaten the Anfield side plenty of times along the way

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-10-13 08:20:40 from: Talksport

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Roy Keane has spoken to the BBC about his thoughts on the Manchester derby ahead of Sunday.

On playing again

"When football is in your blood or you've played for a great club like Man United, you still have your days where you go 'I'd give anything to go back and play in one of those games, anything.

Molde won their first ever title in their 100 year history this year in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first year of management with the club.

However, it wasn't all plain sailing and Solskjaer has today admitted to stealing a line Sir Alex Ferguson used on Manchester United players in 1996.

Following the 6-3 defeat to Southampton and 5-0 defeat to Newcastle, Ferguson sat his players down and gave them a talking to.

Top 10 footballers in films: Cole, Cantona, Collymore, Beckham and more

Michael Caine couldn't play football, so perhaps this lot should stay away from acting

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-11-23 15:51:44 from: Talksport

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• Kop That: Liverpool's Cole opens door for Hazard swap http://t.co/5e8jMxWp 22:55:57, 2011-11-23
• Kop That: Tweet my Goal! Arsenal and Chelsea Champions League gagfest http://t.co/f7c1qmeh 22:55:53, 2011-11-23
• Kop That: What are the odds both Manchester clubs end up in the Europa League?

Christmas Gifts for the FC Barcelona Fan

The holiday season is upon us and if you are or have a FC Barcelona fan in your life then we have put together a list of gifts that any culé would love.

Relive the magic of Barcelona's 2010-2011 Champions League winning season with this Lionel Messi Signed Framed Barcelona Champions League Final Jersey 2010-11.

Video: van Persie, Cantona, Rodriguez and the top 10 best ever volleys

Ten of the finest volleys including Cantona in 1994 and Zidane in the Champions League final

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-12-12 11:42:17 from: Talksport

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.