Manchester United news and links

Oliver Kay in the Times: “MANCHESTER United were last night forced to pull the plug on an explosive interview in which Roy Keane identified the culprits for the club’s malaise. Keane’s frank assessments of the team are nothing new, but on this occasion, pointing the finger at underachieving team-mates such as Rio Ferdinand, he was so outspoken that the club’s in-house television station was forced into a desperate cover-up.”

All that fucking about and now they kiss and make up. From The Scotsman: “Sir Alex Ferguson has surprisingly buried the hatchet in his bitter dispute with Coolmore stud boss John Magnier”

Exciting times ahead reports Daniel Taylor in the Guardian: “Making no apologies for bringing a more defensive approach to the club, the Portuguese assistant took a leaf out of the George Graham manual of management by stating that United should pick up the habit of winning more matches 1-0.”

Steve Tongue interviews Phil Bardsley in the Independent: “It’s nice to be one of a new generation, because I think there’s not been one for some time, probably since Wes Brown and John O’Shea, then Darren Fletcher. From the Academy now there’s some good young players coming through, including Giuseppe Rossi, Sylvan [Ebanks-Blake] and Lee Martin. I’m sure they’ll all get an opportunity and I’m sure they’ll make it.”

Roy Collins in The Telegraph: Undoubtedly, there are now big questions to be asked of United and manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who is rumoured to be making this his last season at Old Trafford. If he cannot right a ship that looks on a permanent list, the club’s new owners might believe that they need a new man on the bridge.

Park Ji-Sung interviewed in The Observer: There is no such thing as the paparazzi in Korea, and until the 2002 World Cup there was not even a word for footballer, only for ’sportsman’. That, though, has not stopped Park Ji-Sung becoming ever more famous in his homeland.

Daniel Taylor in The Guardian: If the fanzines represent the view of the ordinary fan then United’s come across as cynical, disillusioned and rapidly falling out of love with the man who once had the league title returning to Old Trafford as if it were a homing pigeon.

From the Guardian: FC United’s Tony Howard enjoys Monday Night Football, without a Sky camera in sight.

From manutd.com: Manchester United is to reward its most loyal fans by making 7,000 new season tickets available for the 2006/07 season.

Applications due in on 26th / 27th October: “Our allocation has been confirmed at approximately 2,700 tickets, priced £35 adults, £25 over 65s and £15 under 16s.”

Applications due in on 26th / 27th October: “We will receive an allocation of approximately 3,000 tickets priced £37 adults and £20.50 under 16s / over 65s.”

In the first of his regular columns for Guardian Unlimited, Tony Howard - one of the founder members of FC United - gives the lowdown on the club’s birth and start to the season.

Sales will commence to ST/LMTB Holders who wish to purchase their own seats from 9am on Wednesday 5th October through to 5pm on Friday 7th October, by calling the 24 hour ticket order line on 0870 442 1999, making a personal application at the Ticketing & Membership Office.

Henry Winter exasperates in the Telegraph: “Ferdinand can attend all the movie premieres he likes, model all the fashionable clothes he craves, but he must never forget one essential reality. Whenever he passes through immigration, officials will examine his passport and inspect the small print. His occupation declares him to be a “footballer”. Ferdinand should not forget the reality that he will always be defined by what he achieves in 90 minutes’ combat.”

From FCUM unofficial site: FC United of Manchester’s first Cup game, away to Cheadle Town in the League Challenge Cup on October 15th, has sold out.

Daniel Taylor in The Guardian: “… Queiroz has taken an increasingly prominent role and as a result has come under scrutiny as never before. It is no exaggeration to say he and Ferguson could be called joint managers these days and nor is it stretching the truth to say that it is not to the liking of most supporters.”

Iain Hollingshead in The Guardian: “… despite all the sound and fury, season-ticket sales have not suffered significantly. Average attendance has enjoyed a slight rise, while the rest of the Premiership has been suffering a stark decline.”