Man Utd Thread:

[Minder]

Schmeichel would be proud of him



Les Bleus coach Laurent Blanc poised to go after 'racism' own goal


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/07/france-football-coach-racism?CMP=twt_fd


The future of French football coach Laurent Blanc, at the centre of a row over quotas of non-white players in the national squad, is hanging in the balance after he was reported to be on the verge of resigning.

The former Manchester United and Marseille defender was said to be ready to step down as the manager of Les Bleus after he was secretly taped discussing proposals to reduce the number of black and Arab players in the side.

Ouest-France, France's biggest-selling daily newspaper, claimed Blanc planned to resign at a press conference on Mondaydespite the French football federation pleading for him to stay. It quoted an anonymous government source saying that France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was ready to call the 45-year-old and ask him to reconsider the decision.

A spokesman for Blanc denied the reports and said he would not be quitting. The ministry of sport and the football federation also rejected the claims. "I had him on the telephone and we spoke of him coming to Paris to be interviewed and of what happens after the inquiry, but at no stage was there any question of that [resignation]," Philippe Tournon, spokesman for the French national team, told the news agency AFP.

Separate inquiries have been launched into the claims that emerged a week ago on the investigative website Mediapart. A federation official has been suspended and Blanc has been given until Monday morning to appear before the two inquiries to respond to the allegations.

In 1998, when France won the World Cup, the country's national squad was a potent symbol of the nation's ethnic makeup and was nicknamed the "black-blanc-beur" (black-white-Arab) team.

On the secret tape made of the meeting last November, however, federation officials, including Blanc, are heard discussing a plan to cap the number of 12- and 13-year-old black and Arab hopefuls at sports academies, which feed into the national team, to 30%.

Blanc initially denied any knowledge of the quota proposal. When Mediapart published a transcript of the tape, he issued a qualified apology. "I admit some remarks made during a work meeting, taken out of their context, may be misinterpreted. As far as I am concerned, I apologise if I have hurt some feelings. But I, who am against any form of discrimination, do not accept being accused of racism or xenophobia," he said in a statement.

He added that the only point of the meeting was to "discuss the future of French football and deal with the delicate problem of players with dual nationality".

The affair has sparked controversy internationally.

[under the bar]

It was much better than that farce of a UEFA cup they have now.

Unfortunately the UEFA Cup too has bitten the dust.  It at least was an affordable 2nd rate option for the lesser European teams since it was a 2 leg knockout affaiir. 

Now teams unlucky enough to qualify as also-rans in their domestic league get cast into the 'Europa League' - a compulsory cesspit of low grade trips around europe, the culmination of which is hardly worth 3 points in your league if from Spain or England ubnless you win the thing.

[Blowitupref]

Probably one of the most famous cup winners cup goals (sorry Arsenal fans) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiYt3iNWau0

[new devil]

Big game today...Would be happy enough with a draw but we have bigger fish to fry

[Milltown Row2]

I'm sure United would rather win the 19th title than the ECL

[EC Unique]

Big game today...Would be happy enough with a draw but we have bigger fish to fry

Fuk the bigger fish. This is a bigger game than CL final IMO. Win today and the league is over. Utd never do well if they go into a game looking a draw. Go for the win. This is Old Trafford.

[13aside]

yep gotta go for the win but alex has changed our game somewhat and more controlled than in recent years yet we are still tops,but as an older utd supporter id want the win when actually a draw would suffice-come on utd!!

[Dave]

Big game today...Would be happy enough with a draw but we have bigger fish to fry

What a stupid thing to say.
In terms of winning the PL today is the BIGGEST fish Man United can fry as you put it.

This is Old Trafford.

No this is www.gaaboard.com

[Minder]

Spanish media name Giggs as player with super injunction.

[Milltown Row2]

Old news Minder but get a picture up at least of her

Went for a 2-1 win with Rooney to score first 28/1

Oh and did Drogba to score and 2-1 for Chelsea

[Minder]

Old news Minder but get a picture up at least of her

Went for a 2-1 win with Rooney to score first 28/1

Oh and did Drogba to score and 2-1 for Chelsea

Isn't old news as he hadn't been named by any media outlet before now 

[Milltown Row2]

Old news Minder but get a picture up at least of her

Went for a 2-1 win with Rooney to score first 28/1

Oh and did Drogba to score and 2-1 for Chelsea

Isn't old news as he hadn't been named by any media outlet before now 

Still no picture!!

I'll get it

[Family guy]

Was just thinking when i was in mass 2day and lets say united and chelsea finish on level points and level goal difference what happens,is it head to head meetings or a playoff??

[Milltown Row2]

Goals for? Who has scored most goals?

[Milltown Row2]

Terry's case was slightly different LL would you not say? he's also a thug