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Conor, This May Come Back To Bite You
Ok, I know I'm leaving myself open here, but Spurs ain't gonna beat us at Villa Park on Saturday. Period. These flat track bullies beat the average and poor teams of the league by big scores and lose to the good teams. With the usual London bias they get all the coverage and people fancy them to get 4th spot. They sure as hell ain't going to get 4th spot, that for certain. Neither are Villa, we all know Liverpool will pull it out of the fire that's what the big four do.
But to tomorrows game, the Spurs defence is sh*t. Simple as. While in our last 5 home games we've won 4, drawn 1 scored 12 and conceded 3. So there will be no Lennon running riot over Warnock, we'll conceded 1 goal at the most and Spurs defence will let us have one at the least. Then we all know that Downing will probably show Spurs what they missed and come off the bench to finish them off.
Spurs have a weak centre when it comes to tough opponents and we'll expose that on Saturday.
Conor Byrne
As the next Mailbox will be on Sunday or Monday by when we'll have other things to talk about, the MC would like to remind Conor that the 'flat track bullies beat the average and poor teams' did beat Liverpool on the opening day.
He's Back! Arminio Is Back!
In response to Harry, Manchester, I think you, and many others might have misinterpreted my points. I know that Ferguson is a fantastic manager, one of the top two to ever manage Man United, and where the club is now and the success we've had in the last 20 years or so is wholly down to him. I don't want him to be sacked, or dismissed by "mutual consent". I would love it if he could stay for another 5-10 years. But my problem is that he can't stay for the five years needed to rebuild the team. He is going to retire most likely by the end of next season, and it's not possible for him to have a great impact on the short term future of the club. Any rebuilding job he starts now will only be left half finished. There is no doubt he has built at least 3 truly great sides during his time here, but he does not have the time to build a fourth.
We haven't been abysmal this season, we haven't even been poor. Our results have been decent, our defeats have been avoidable but overall it's been a good start. I just think it is the best time for a fresh start as this is a season where arguably Chelsea are stronger in the league, and there are a few sides that are better than us in Europe. Whenever Ferguson does leave there will be a huge job for his replacement, and it will be tough for the players and club to adapt without him. Why not start now, so the next generation of players and signings can be managed by someone who will be around for the majority of their careers. Over 23 years SAF has been superb, and all of us Man Utd fans rate him highly, as do most football fans. But in my opinion I took the future into account, maybe you should to.
Maybe I sent my mail in at the wrong time as people thought it was a response to the Beskitas defeat. It was not, it was just a general outline of what I think should happen, and understandably alot of people disagree with that. And also, I wrote into the mailbox and the editor decided to publish it, just because you (and admittedly many others) don't agree it shouldn't mean I should shut up and hibernate, I can voice my opinion as can everyone else.
Arminio (10 year old at school..,well actually I'm 15), Birmingham
Your Time Is Up Mr Kenwright
Dear Football365, I often read and try to contribute to your mailbox (usually moaning about something) and today this is no different. However in the past, I have written numerous letters about the wonderful chairman of Everton FC and they have not been published; does he have a stranglehold over this type of media as messers Hicks and Gillette seem to be mentioned regularly and ridiculed often when they have arguably not overseen the kind of calamities that Mr Kenwright has. Yes they have put a massive debt provision on the club etc but so has Mr Kenwright, increasing the debt on probably future earnings...Is there any difference? No, only in the size of debt; which is relative to the size of turnover
Anyway, back to my point, this has surely has to be the last straw have the Destination Kirkby project rejected. That is also in addition to the Kings Dock Project, The NTL deal, the Fortress Sport Fund etc, should I go on? No one can doubt the care he has for the team; however his running of the club has left a lot to be desired. I have already read messages bemoaning KEIOC, they didn't ruin the deal for the club, they only brought to public details that would make it a debate, rather than just the 'deal of the century' as it was described. Come on, is it really worth moving to a new stadium that would provide an extra £7m per year if we got 50k fans a week?
Mr Kenwright, you bailed us out when we needed you after the Peter Johnson debacle, now please leave the club before you end up potentially killing it, Remember Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, a 'middle-range- stadium does not comply to this.
Dan, London, EFC
Known Unknowns
Sorry but I can't let the assertion, by Dev Lewis, that Kleberson and Djemba Djemba (Dev called him Djema Djema) were unknowns go. While I agree that they were both abject failures, both players were absolutely not unknown.
Djemba Djemba was an established international; he won the African Nations Cup in 2002 and was a Runner-up, to France, at 2003 Confederations Cup with Cameroon. Hardly unknown.
Kleberson was a key member of the Brazil squad that won the 2002 world cup. His performances in that tournament led Phil Scolari to describe him as "the driving force behind Brazil's Cup winning side". Definitely not unknown.
So I think Obertan is far more of unknown quantity than a World cup winner and African Nations cup winner. In fact the only knowledge of Obertan I had was from playing FIFA on the playstation.
Can't agree more with the editors of the mailbox, when they said the weren't sure what Devs mail was saying. I don't know what my point was now, but I think I've proved he doesn't know his facts (probably one of those blinkered Man Ure fans that think Old Trafford really is the Theatre of Dreams), but if Obertan does do well he, I think I've proved that Mr Ferguson has made a fantastic signing (oh god, what have I done).
Robboknows (pedantic I know, but wars have been fought on the wrong facts).
The Archives
Are you sure Matthew Tryniecki's email wasn't from early October? Dirk may have been scoring and contributing defensively back then but I can tell you that my fantasy football team has been on the slide since then and the complete lack of input from Dirk has been a significant contributor.
A quick check of his stats shows that since the end of September he has contributed no goals, no assists, and Liverpool have only kept one clean sheet. If it wasn't for a continued injury crisis that has been rocking Sex Panthers FC for weeks and my totally misplaced faith that the 2008/09 season wasn't the exception that proved the rule that Dirk Kuyt is rubbish then he'd have been out of my team a long time ago. I won't be able to do anything this week but next week he will be sold to the glue factory for David Dunn/Damien Duff/Jimmy Bullard and change.
Seeing as my team is playing for pride, while Liverpool are playing for - if you believe some - their financial stability, I'd suggest he should have been benched a long time ago.
Will (he'll score a hat trick once I get rid of him, won't he?) O'Doherty?
...Sorry Matthew Tryniecki, what games have you been watching this season? Kuyt has been absolutely shocking. He slows down attacks when he receives the ball on the right flank, his 1st touch is desperate and his final ball can be terrible. Kuyt is supposed to be an attacking player but in my opinion he is actually in the side for his defensive work. Kuyt works his socks off no doubt but he lacks any real quality. He is a typical Benitez player, work hard first and skill comes second. He needs to be dropped along with Inusa who is a liability. His positional sense for a full back really is poor and he lacks any real pace. A huge problem with Houllier towards the end of his reign was he persisted with players who were off form and Rafa is doing the same even if we have had a few injuries.
Sean Connor, Ireland
The Dregs
I know Fridays generally contain the "dregs" of the weeks mailbox, but seriously this mornings was awful. So in the hope of having my appallingness (not a word but apparently you don't edit so it will get in...) getting printed, please will the following take note:
1) If grammar, spelling, punctuation or whatever on this site doesn't please you, then go elsewhere. This isn't meant to be like a broadsheet newspaper, and the content sometimes may not be conventional, but then again nor is football or the stories?
b) Liverpool fans. No one cares now. Your now like the dying dog that every one feels too sorry to kick anymore. Please go find a field to go and die in, quietly. So please, no more mails on Rafa (you cant afford to sack him & he wont resign so your stuck with him), injuries (United, Arsenal, Chelsea & even Spurs seem to be coping with losing a substantial number of players), 5 times (start making history and stop living on it) etc, yadda yadda yadda.
iii) United fans. Your joint 2nd in the league, in the CL knockout stages, and ticking along nicely. Will the doom mongers (another made up word!) claiming a crisis please get a grip. Obertan and Valencia may not be Ronaldo, but nor was Ronaldo for 3 seasons (that makes little sense I know).
*) I now can see why the mailbox was published so late this morning. Just goes to show how quiet I am at work when I'm this gutted it only contained dross!
Darragh (no relation to Conor) Byrne
'Groundsharing Is Financial Nonsense
Hang about! All this media talk about ground-sharing now that Everton's proposed new stadium has gone to the wall strikes me as a load of garbage.
I thought the whole point of both scouse teams having new stadia was to boost revenues. How could they do that if they share all the facilities. Some radio "expert" even reckoned that it works well in Milan and it happens a lot in France. To start with, the stadium in Milan is owned by the town council, so revenues are shared with the city . Secondly there's not a single two-club city in the French first division!
It seems to me that the only way forward is to expand your current stadium or build a new one. Ground sharing doesn't work.
Simon (neither red nor blue)
We're 'Sloppy' Apparently
Sloppy journalism from 365 this morning. To suggest that Fergie's statement regarding Wes Brown being "England's best natural defender" implies that he now sees him above Rio as Vidic's first choice partner is bizarre to say the least. For 10 years Fergie has spoken about Wes in these terms, it is nothing new. Fergie basically believes that Wes thinks as a defender, jumps into every tackle, goes for every header, puts his head on the line and basically loves the art of pure and simple defending. Now we all know that isn't Rio's game and isn't the reason United spent 30m on him. Even as a United fan I'd have to say (and I'm wincing as I write this) that despite being the most natural English defender at our club, Terry and even the Carragher of last year are better "natural" English defenders, but you were never expecting SAF to say this were you? As a closing point, Ole Solskjaer was always referred to as the best finisher in the club, but that never put him above Cole, Sheringham, Yorke, Ruud, etc etc.
Billy Harkness
Good Kop, Bad Kop
Chris (if Liverpool have a 70K seater I might get a ticket!) Mullins got me thinking; as a Utd supporter, I am in two minds about Liverpool building a new stadium. On the one hand, if they ever do go through with it, they will obviously increase their revenue from home matches (bad). On the other hand, it might stop them bleating on about the kop and their famous 'atmosphere'. Now don't get me wrong, for the couple of decades when Liverpool were at their peak I am sure there was a great atmosphere. However, we all know that this has been a myth since about the late 80's - coinciding with the end of their success in the league. Some L'pool supporters may claim that this was due to the Taylor Report and the fact that the stadium became all-seater, and perhaps they may have a good point (although most supporters still stand in the Kop anyway).
On the other other hand (three handed freak?), if a new stadium is built, the Kop will become a structural martyr. And scousers of the red persuasion will go misty eyed at the very mention of it. Therefore its 'legend' will grow based on fables which have been exaggerated over time (much like my manhood).
In conclusion I do not want them to build a new stadium. I now realise I have given too much thought to this and if this does get posted (unlikely), the responses will be along the lines of, 'It just shows you that they are fixated with us' (signed Mr Scouser, Calm Down Rd, Liverpool). I refuse to respond to this.
Gary (It'll never get built anyway) Vance, MUFC
Frogs...Of Course
Bear with me on this...
My friend had a fish tank and it used to be glorious. But as time wore on, the best fishes went and it became a murky mess. Everytime he looked at it he remembered the past glories and wished he could get them back. No matter how hard he tried, it always ended up a murky mess again. There were some, the odd fish that surprised him and became a sucess, but not many. Everytime he got a new fish he said 'this time it will be right!' But it never was.
So he emptied the tank and put an exotic frog in it. At the beginning, it was amazing, it did what all those fish couldn't do and brought back the happy times. But as time wore on the frog was revealed to be a pathetic boring creature that made alot of noise but didn't do anything.
The frog was stubbourn and whenever frogs were added to the tank, he would either not like them, so they had to be sold at a loss, or the ones he did like, didn't do anything useful, they even got him a dutch frog that run around endlessly, but thats all it did.
For 5 years that frog has kept people interested because we remember that 1st year, when it looked like the best frog in the world. Now there is the big frog, plus 2 special frogs, and alot of mediocre rubbish frogs. Everytime he looks at the tank my friend fills with hope. But nothing happens. Just some frogs trundling through life never doing anything. Very soon people will try to buy the 2 special frogs, they're worth alot. The main frog will go. and many fish will be got to try to make the tank glorious again, but it never will be, and my friend will spend his days reminding people that his tank was the best once.
Now read it again, and replace the my friend and the tank with Liverpool and the main frog with Rafa.
Jon (no frogs were harmed during the making of this) MUFC
Headlines
A personal favourite headline was printed in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about a week after David Beckham scored THAT goal against Wimbledon around 1995.
In a Blackburn reserve game, a young player (who I can only assume was called David, the last name remains a mystery, apologies) scored a similar half-way line lob.
The headline; Same Shot, Different Dave.
Scof (When retelling this tale where details aren't likely to be scrutinised I make out that it was David Dunn) Mann
......surely a simple, "Exodus at Peterborough" would tick all the boxes?
Slightly misleading, gets people to read it, terrible pun.
(Thanks to Harry the Manc too...and to F365 for printing his letter instead of mine...his was much better)
Marky B. MUFC
A Quick Line
Can I just say a quick mention about Kings Lynn football club, It was wound up by the High court in London this week due to an outstanding Tax bill of £67k, there is 5 days left to appeal this decision if the money can be found.
Kings Lynn has always had a football team for over a hundred years, and is always well supported for the league they are in. The Game on Saturday has now been postponed denying supporters the chance to say goodbye.
Sad times.....
Peter b
Darkside/Lightside
So, David James thinks "Avram's... like Yoda". Surely I'm not the only one thinking that Avram Grant is a lot more like Darth Sidious?
Christopher Flanagan (I do love a good footylikey), Brizzle
