For Those Who Know Some Heroes Are Un-Sung...

The Ultimate Football Blog

Guest Editorial

Every week I love to pick him out. “He’s fucking useless!!” “Take him off!!” these are only two of the things I’d regularly shout whilst watching my beloved United. But when I sit back and think about what he’s done, the important goals and assists he’s given to United and the tireless, body on the line effort he puts in every time he pulls on the United shirt, Park ji Sung shows that you don’t need all the skill and style to be the valuable player he is.

He signed for United in 2005 after a hugely successful spell for PSV, and was snapped up for £4 million. His first season at United was nothing spectacular, but he always did the job needed. After his first season he was almost forgotten about, with those who did remember him questioning the talent he showed in Holland. Season two was more of the same for Park but it was after this where he really started to show his worth.

He was never spectacular, and never will be. He doesn’t have the skill of Nani or Berbatov, but he’s got twice the heart. He’s not a prolific scorer, but my god has he scored some important goals. He loves to score against Arsenal, but has also found the net against the top teams like Chelsea and Liverpool, when goals were badly needed. Last March he netted a vital goal against Liverpool to seal a 2-1 win for United and in the Champions League semi-final two years ago he started the 3-1 rout of Arsenal in the Emirates. They’re hugely important goals for United but has the lad scored a more important goal than the one he got with seconds to go last week?

It was 92:56 on the clock, that left 1 minute and 4 seconds (approx.) left for United to salvage themselves from yet another embarrassing draw at home this season. Not only that but if Chelsea had gone to Anfield the following day knowing that they could go 8 points clear, we might have seen a different result. Park picked the ball up on the right, took it inside passed three Wolves players and placed the ball in near post leaving Marcus Hahnemann glued to the spot. It was a piece of brilliance that if Ronaldo had done would have been lauded as a great goal, but because it was Park, it was just a good goal. But does that bother Park? Not a chance. He once again came out for United and wore his heart on his sleeve, and what more can we ask?

So the next time United have a bad day, which is happening too much recently, I hope the Park haters realise that this man deserves nothing but praise, because he is a true United great and ambassador, whether the opinion polls say it or not.

“Park, Park, wherever you may be.... “

TO'D
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I read in the papers on Sunday that CITEH were "finally" considering replacing Roberto Mancini with José Mourinho. Now while the story itself will go nowhere, it shows that joke the CITEH project is. Mancini is a cunt, I hate him and his scarf and to be honest I don't rate him. But he's been there less than a year, no manager can turn a disgrace of a club like CITEH around in that time especially when saddled with egos and players who only care about their wage packets.
 
 Now Mancini saved himself this weekend, but a loss in the derby on Wednesday would surely end him. I won't be sad to see him go, but whomever is stupid enough to replace him, remember when you're "finally" sacked in about six months, you'll only have yourself to blame.
 
DO'L
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On Saturday the 6th of November, Gerard, Ross and myself went to Old Trafford for the United game, it was a hell of a trip. What follows is pretty much the shit we got upto as well as the match. Its a bit long but I think its a good read so for anyone reading, it's upto you whether you want to read or not (and there is more football opinion after it if you can't be bothered and do the auld skippy skippy), but I hope you do. Cheers, David.
 
To the Theatre of Dreams...
 
“Alright lads?” the words of one Mick McCarthy as he passed a bunch of four Irish football fans decked out in their Manchester United gear who were staring at him with mouths like the Premiership title race, wide open. It was one of many incidents in a surreal weekend of football for the Promised Land. Three of the four writers (and Keith!) taking a trip to Old Trafford for the mammoth clash of Manchester United vs. Wolves and here we were across from an Ireland legend, loved by some, despised by others. What followed was great replies to the Premiership manager of “How’re ya getting on?’ and “Well”. Not the most imaginative bunch but when the Wolves squad preceded to follow him around the corner it was all a bit much for us and we were dumbstruck.
 
It’s a different thing to be a Premiership football fan from abroad. While The residents of Manchester, Liverpool, London, Blackpool and all the other footballing cities of the top league may been a bit more accustomed and taken the chance to get a quick chant in or get an autograph signed, for the four of us this was something we’d never seen before.

This was only my second trip to Old Trafford for a match; two years ago I watched a thriller when United beat Hull 4-3. In previous years, Ross, the editor of this fine site has been to dozens of games even moving to Manchester (temporarily) for our beloved Red Devils, but in general it’s not something we get to do often. Getting there is one thing, but it’s the price that kills us. While some fans give out about forty pounds being too much, I paid €80 to ensure I had a seat at the game, add in flights, accommodation and everything else and it all adds up to a serious deprivation of live football.

That’s why every trip needs to be lived to its fullest and there’s no doubt in my mind that we did that this time. On the flight over from Ireland, in the world’s smallest plane, I passed over Liverpool where I saw something explode and go up in smoke, it wasn’t just Liverpool FC’s season but Guy Fawkes night fireworks and it set the tone for an explosive weekend.

After a night out in Manchester’s finest clubs and casinos it was up first thing in the morning for the stroll with Mick McCarthy and the boys, into town to Gregg’s for some pastry’s and off to Old Trafford after two of the lads were forced to pay ten pounds for a leaflet for the Old Trafford tour by a supposed homeless man! But on the streets to Old Trafford however something had changed; two years ago it had been a few cans and into the match but that was gone now. No more public drinking and considering a good dozen cans had been brought and had to be thrown away, our spirits may have been dampened, but they fucking worth.

No, this was the trip to the Motherland, to the Holy Grail, the site of Old Trafford was amazing to see and a few cans down the drain weren’t going to hurt us. Into the nearby supporters bar, queues out the door of course, our thirst was soon quenched and we were ready for the big match.

People often complain about foreign fans, or tourists, attending matches. This isn’t a show, not an opera, this is a place to get behind your team and not just a day out to pass the time, but seeing the mix of fans heading to the stadium was brilliant. Two Aussies and some Asians dragged us into photos as they wanted to get some locals, we laughed considering we like them had come from aborad but to be honest whether you were born in Salford or Singapore I think no criticism can be made, if you love the club you deserve to attend, no plastic fans, no glory hunters, but fans with true belief in the histories.

 I don’t blame local Mancunians who may sometimes take it for granted, but for someone who went 735 days between Old Trafford visits, there’s nothing like that torture and nothing like the euphoria of being their again. I know I’m not from there, but I know how much I love the club and I know how real of a supporter I am, and of course the other three gowls with me.

Lets be honest, the match itself was pretty dire. Manchester United were stuck with injuries and viruses and the team that went out would have been fine for the Carling Cup, but from the midfield onwards it was not good enough. I mean John O’Shea was in midfield for fucks sake!! On top of that, the sheer joy of hearing Owen Hargreave’s was starting was soon followed by the despair of a man who looked broken, limping off with less than five minutes gone. Many are giving up on Owen, I won’t, and I hope some match soon we will say the curly haired maestro running the midfield again.

Apart from that brief cameo, the worst performance unfortunately fell to Bébé. The kid was building up a good head of steam recently, silencing critics but now the ammo has been restored. He was terrible, but I don’t blame him, he’s been here such a short time and I don’t think he could have expected to come on so early. Lets hope Fergie and some of the senior players throw and arm around his shoulder and make sure he knows one bad game does not a bad career make.

The hero of the day was of course Park Ji Sung. I can’t add a lot more than what my colleague Tom wrote above, but I will say I’ve loved Park fanatically since he joined from PSV. I don’t know why, but I did. And it was great to see him prove the doubters wrong. The supposed ‘fan’ to my right in the stands summed it all up when moments before Park’s first goal, the Korean had the ball and all I heard was “he’s only gonna fucking give it away”. And of course, literally just before Park scored the winner, when he smaller player failed to keep a ball in that would have been too high for Vidic he was “a stupid mongo”. That man was a cunt and he doesn’t deserve to take the happiness that a player he berated (one of many) all game for no reason will have brought him.


He wasn’t the only negative fan though. Our seats were in the Stretford end, last time I had been in the North Stand watching jealously at those who were sitting in the centre of all the chanting, all the atmosphere but today it was a bit of a letdown. The crowd was subdued and while chants broke out left and right it was often a select few left shouting them to the end.

What always disappoints me occurred again, when I watched thousands stream out before the half time and final whistles, I didn’t miss a second of the match and I could never dream of leaving early especially when United are so well known as late goal specialists, we chanted, shouted and supported the team for 94 minutes and when the match was over we stayed, taking it all in till the stewards came to clear out the final stragglers. On top of the cunt behind me, the support for players like O’Shea, Bebe and Park was abysmal. I may criticize before a game and after but during the match you get behind the men playing for that shirt and for that badge. Bebe played awfully but I still clapped him off.

All things considered though, United won and that’s all that fucking matters. To be there in the Stretford end and see a last minute winner, the adrenaline, the rush, everything made up for anything else that happened. It was an amazing moment and seeing Park carried off the field was the icing on the cake. It’s a moment I will remember for the rest of my life, just like the Hull game and with every Old Trafford game I add to my experiences, I know that United will provide me with hundreds more of these almost indescribable feelings.


With the match over it was into town, for the worst meal I’ve ever had (Hard Rock Café can go fuck itself) and another night in the town, this time in some basement called 5th Avenue. Followed of course with one of the lads ,a man with a chronic gambling addiction, may still be in the casino. And the Manchester weekend drew to a close in the wee hours of Sunday morning and next thing you know, you’re on a flight home the next day.

 All the shit we did in Manchester was amazing, but quite simply despite all that, it was United that made the trip and its United that we’ll crave for every minute until we get back there again, hopefully a hell of a lot sooner this time. The travel, the money, the effort all for just 90 minutes? Who’d be a football fan from abroad eh? I know I fucking will.

DO'L
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Andy Caroll eh? You couldn't make this shit up. The guy, who looks like an absolute retard and yet seems to play like a proper centre forward should is of course in the papers again. This weekend he scored the winner to take the Geordies to sixth beating none other than the Arsenal, but its not that people will focus on. A judge, in some sort of ridculous fit of madness after watching too many sitcoms, decreed that as part of Carroll's bail conditions he must live with club captain Kevin Nolan who'll keep an eye on him. The original odd couple maybe, but Nolan will keep him on the straight and narrow so the logic is kind of there.
 
Well it hasn't turned out like that as the story broke that while Nolan's wife was away the two had a massive party, Carroll fucked a couple of slappers/prostitutes while yelling "Ride me, ride me" and the place was covered in cocaine, which for the sake of their careers the two boys better not have touched all part of a fourteen hour binge. You couldn't make this stuff up. Now of course, this hasn't been confirmed but papers generally don't print this kind of thing without some decent backup because if they did a lawsuit would hit him harder than Carroll hits his girlfriends.
 
 Ths young man has all the footballing talent in the world, but he's on the wrong path and he needs to sort shit out NOW. England are interested Andy, get your act together.
 
DO'L
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As the terrible commentary in football games reminds me constantly, form is temporary but class is permanent. An old cliché but never truer than when Fernando Torres tore apart the league champions with two great goals to get a shock win for Liverpool. A few weeks ago I said that Torres would be one of my top choices to replace Wayne Rooney if he goes and I stick by that. The player is amazing and though he's had a lot of criticism, when he's able he is possibly the best pure striker in the world.
 
This is a stepping stone for Torres now, and though I think he'll leave Liverpool before next season, I do think he may save their season before that and drag them, at least, to more Thursday night European football next year. being honest, if he doesn't, no one else will.
 
DO'L


English Premier League: Player of the Week


WEEK 11

Arnold Furious

1. Fernando Torres ( Liverpool ). Its hard for me to vote a Liverpool player top. I’m sick of hearing about Liverpool this season. The takeover, the on the field problems, Torres’ fitness, etc, etc. But make no mistake about it this wasn’t just the most important performance of the week. It was the most important performance of the season so far. Torres’ double not only signals a return to form for him but also for the club as a whole. It seems they’ve finally managed to embrace Roy Hodgson’s tactics and mentality. Not only that they beat Chelski, which means the league is opened right up. Before the weekend I was still convinced Chelski were going to walk the title but after seeing their failure against Liverpool the questions I had at the start of the season are coming back. Where is the strength in depth? What happens if Plan A fails? Can Chelski actually break an organised defence down? Against Liverpool they were found wanting while Torres was found to be at his precocious best. And the most worrying thing for everyone else; he still isn’t fit.

2. Kevin Davies ( Bolton ). With all eyes on Gareth Bale you’d be confused as to why the papers ended up hailing an opposition player whose qualities have been known, and largely ignored, for years. Davies always gives 100%, which would account for him committing a ridiculous number of fouls. But sometimes his effort is rewarded by his team-mates. Against Spurs we saw a Bolton team that’s been in hibernation for some time. One that’s interested in not only pressing the ball but also playing some football. As for Davies there’s perhaps no better point man in the game. He scored twice before his deft header set up Petrov for Bolton ’s decisive 4th. Sensational stuff.

3. Morten Gamst Pederson ( Blackburn ). Scored a frankly ludicrous goal against Wigan and showcased his world-class left foot in the process. Pederson isn’t a player who does it week in, week out, which has seen him spend most of his career with a weak Blackburn side but when he does have a good game you can see why he was connected with bigger clubs earlier in his career.

4. Andy Carroll ( Newcastle )

5. Asamoah Gyan ( Sunderland )

Tom O'Dowd

1. Fernando Torres: El Nino is most definitely back. He was written off, like Rooney, by many people and it was said he's not a top player, but he's most definitely class. He destroyed a Chelsea defence that’s leaked so little to date, and now it's time for him, and Liverpool to kick on. Form was temporary for Torres, but his class is permanent.
2. Park ji Sung: A player who's been rubbished by so many, very similar to Dirk Kuyt, but the little Korean(who actually looks like a girl with the perm) is a pivotal part of Manchester United. He might not have the skill of Nani or Berbatov, but he shows more passion than those two have put together. Two great goals from him proved he's a lot better than most think.

3. Kevin Davies: Another top performance from the Bolton big man. Two goals and an assist against a Spurs team flying high. He's Mr.Bolton and without him they'd have possibly been relegated a few years before now. May not be the most gifted, but he's the warrior every team needs.

4. Asamoah Gyan

5. Andy Carroll

David O'Loughlin

1. Fernando Torres: There's been a lot of bad things written about the Spaniard in recent times but when he's on form he can tear apart anyone. I still think his time at Liverpool is coming to a close either at Christmas or in the summer but if he can keep up the form he showed in this game, he may even save Liverpool's season before he goes (as much as can be saved)

2. Kevin Davies: While once seen as a limited player, Davies' is now seen as one of the best target men in the Premiership. Scored two and assisted one in a win against a top four team. His assist for Petrov's goal was phenomenal and he had to impress the watching Capello.

3. Park Ji Sung: Criminally underrated, he basically dragged United through the weekends match by himself and then got the 93rd minute winner. Deserves to start against CITEH.

4. Asamoah Gyan

5. Andy Carroll

So let’s see what our Final Five is for the week. Perhaps no surprises at the sharp end. Torres takes the Player of the Week award having been voted first by everyone. All the top four players scored twice and Andy Carroll’s goal sank Arsenal. You have to do good to crack the Final Five.

Players of the Week:
1. Fernando Torres 15
2. Kevin Davies 11
3. Park Ji Sung 7
4. Asamoah Gyan 5
5. Andy Carroll 4

And the overall chart reveals very little in the way of changes. Carroll’s point this week helps him solidify 2nd place overall. Torres debuted at #13 and has finally given Liverpool some points on the board. Incidentally I worked out how the league would look if it was based on points accumulated from these POTW scores and Man Utd are 9 points clear. Darren Bent remains on course to Player of the Year.

Players of the Season:

1. Darren Bent 20
2. Andy Carroll 15
3. Didier Drogba 12
4. Carlos Tevez 12
5. Dimitar Berbatov 12
6. Rafael van der Vaart 11
7. Joe Hart 10
8. Hugo Rodallega 10
9. Cesc Fabregas 10
10. Charles N’Zogbia 10