Manchester United: There’s A Mouse On The Pitch (Photos)

READER Ian Speight was unimpressed by our photograph of a mouse on the Old Trafford Manchester Untied pitch as the Red Devils played Arsenal earlier this month. He wrote:

Old Story Guys. Utd have a History of Mice Invasions. If you got off your Arses a bit of investigation would have shown you that…

Fair enough. We did.

A mouse runs onto the pitch during Manchester United’s Champions League group C soccer match against Valencia at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Tuesday Dec. 7, 2010. 

Manchester United v West Ham United – Old Trafford. Date: 23/02/2010

Manchester United v Middlesbrough – Old Trafford. Date: 01/05/2006

A mouse appears on the pitch as Manchester United draw with Sunderland during their Premier League match at Old Trafford Stadium 14/04/2006.

A mouse sits on the pitch as Manchester United play Burton Albion in their FA Cup 3rd round replay soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Jan. 18, 2006. 

Liverpool Fans enjoy the Mickey Mouse banner at the Manchester United v Liverpool game at Old Trafford Ground, Manchester. Date: 22/01/2002

Get the cat back.

Milk for the Manchester United squad at Old Trafford as they continue their build up for Saturday’s FA Cup final against Southampton at Wembley. With the squad is Mandy Bassham, the National Dairy Council’s ‘Cream Cat’. Date: 27/04/1976

Anorak

Posted: 16th, November 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports, Strange But True | Comment (1)

Manchester United In (No) Rush To Offer Wayne Rooney £52m

WHAT news of Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney? The Sun says he’s about to land a huge £52m deal to carryon playing at Old Trafford. So enamoured with Rooney are United’s money men that they are in a “rush” to keep him at the club until he’s 32.

Anorak

Posted: 16th, November 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Arsenal fan now homeless thanks to Man United bet

FOOTBALL does wonderfully peculiar things to people. Human adults wear suits to play finals of matches on computer games while others will name their children after entire teams from the 70s.

Yes, we’re looking at you Charlie Oatway of Sunderland FC, or to give him his full name, Anthony Philip David Terry Frank Donald Stanley Gerry Gordon Stephen James Oatway (he’s named after the entire promotion-winning QPR team of 1973).

More recently, there’s an Arsenal fan who has come a cropper thanks to his football fanaticism and he learned that you shouldn’t ever bet your house on anything.

Literally.

Henry Dhabasani put a wager on, involving his two-room property on the Arsenal beating Manchester United at Old Trafford. Rashid Yiga was more than happy to see the bet and they both settled down to the grudge game on Sunday.

Dhabasani gambled his house while Yiga offered up his new Toyota Premio AND his wife. The two signed their bet in front of local leaders and other football fans in Iganga.

Manchester United won the game 1-0 and Dhabasani promptly fainted on the final whistle. Reports say that, the next day, several United fans stormed the place where Henry lived with his three wives and five children and chucked them out onto the street.

[via MEN]

Mof Gimmers

Posted: 15th, November 2013 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment

Manchester United Januzaj Watch: No Chris Waddle There Are No Turks Playing Football For Germany

CHRIS Waddle, formerly of Newcastle United, Spurs and England, has a sort of question, that might be rhetorical (but isn’t). He’s thinking about Manchester United;’s Belgian-born star Adnan Januzaj’s chances of playing for England:

 “This [switching allegiance] will only happen more and more. Look at the Brazilians playing for Portugal or Croatia or whoever, and how many Turks play for Germany.”

How many Turks play for the German national side? Well, Chris, that would be NONE.

Anorak

Posted: 14th, November 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Arsenal Fan Lost Home To Manchester United Fan Who Staked His Wife In Bet

WHEN Arsenal lost to Manchester United, one man suffered more than most. In Uganda, Iganga, a staunch Arsenal  fan is looking for a home.

Before the game, Henry Dhabasani staked his two-roomed house in a bet with Rashid Yiga, that Arsenal would win the game. On his part, Yiga staked his new Toyota Premio car and his wife that Manchester United would win.”

Anorak

Posted: 13th, November 2013 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comments (2)

Crank Up The Journalisomobile: Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney Is Back With A Hooker

HACKING was illegal. Still is. The perpetrators didn’t erase Milly Dowler’s phone messages. But they did illegal things. The phone hacking trial is well underway at the Old Bailey. And today we hear the name Patricia Tierney. Now 57, in 2004 Tierney was on the front desk at Diva’s massage parlour in Liverpool when Everton and later Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney came knocking.

Anorak

Posted: 12th, November 2013 | In: manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment

Coat Balls: Manchester United’s Robin Van Persie Does An Impression Of Chelsea’s FKW John Terry

ROBIN Van Persie is a lot of things – a top finisher for United’ a turncoat for Arsenal – but he is no John Terry. If you are going to call anyone a JT you’d best get your facts straight. PVP has been called a lot of names but labelling him a JT might result in a libel action and pardonable  violence.

So, then, to David Ken in the Daily Mail:

You’re not fooling anyone, Robin! Were there shades of JT’s infamous Euro gaffe as substitute Van Persie strips out of his coat to celebrate against Arsenal?

Anorak

Posted: 12th, November 2013 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment

Talking Balls: Manchester United Are Tough Nuts, Arsenal And Softies And Spurs Have World-Class Strikers

MANCHESTER United beat Arsenal 1-0 in a close game at Old Trafford. Arsenal looked tired. The spirited Red Devils took their chance – and should write a thank you letter to the Gunners’ hapless Nicholas Bendtner. Still, Arsenal remain top of the league by two clear points. As Matt Dickinson writes in the Times:

Arsenal need him back healthy as they face back-to-back tests against Chelsea and Manchester City next month. They took two points out of a possible 18 in matches against the top four last season.

Defeat yesterday continued that troubling run, yet no one was reading too much into it, even if Wenger himself had called it a “benchmark” game. We have learnt not to assume anything, even more so after a weekend when United leapfrogged Manchester City, who are most people’s title favourites. That was last week.

Indeed. The Gunners remain the team to beat as they sit top of the Premier League.

Anorak

Posted: 11th, November 2013 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment (1)

Manchester United V Arsenal: Mouse Invades Pitch (Photo)

AT Manchester United’s Premier League match with Arsenal, the pitch was invaded by a mouse. What can it mean? Is it United manager David Moyes’ lucky pet mouse? The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men…

Watch out for the owls.

Anorak

Posted: 10th, November 2013 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comments (2)

Arsenal V Manchester United: Lake Tanganyika And New York Mark Historic Encounter

EXCITABLE BBC football commentator Jonathan Pearce presents the Most Tortuous Introduction of the Week:

Sunday marks the 142nd anniversary of one of history’s most famous meetings. It didn’t take place at Old Trafford, but 4,400 miles away on Lake Tanganyika. New York journalist Henry Stanley walked out of the jungle and greeted a Scottish medical missionary with the now famous words: “Dr Livingstone, I presume?” Another Scot is on a mission these days. David Moyes is trying to rediscover the lost soul of Manchester United.

Continues for 90 minutes…

Anorak

Posted: 10th, November 2013 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment

Ozil Says Arsenal Will Beat Manchester United ‘For Fun’

MESUT OZIL, of Arsenal, is the subject of a Spurs chant about his eyes being offside.

Arsenal’s German is not easily out off. Ahead of the Gunners match at Manchester United, he has this to say:

“We are going to Old Trafford to have fun — and that is why we are going to win… The plan is not to go to United and settle for a draw. If we are going to achieve the target of our coach, then we go to win. Of course it’s going to be difficult. United are a high-quality team. But I’m sure they also respect us because we can beat anyone, home or away.”

How’s that for positive thinking? Inside every top player is an deep vein of self belief.

Anorak

Posted: 10th, November 2013 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United: Beckham Junior Range Hits Old Trafford, QPR And Chelsea

IN May 2013, Brooklyn Beckham signed forms to play with QPR. He’d had trials with Chelsea. But Brooklyn never did make it at Stamford Bridge, which is great shame for tabloid pun writers. Now, the Sun leads with news that the 14-year-old is practicing football with Manchester United. Previously, Brooklyn has played for the under-14s at LA Galaxy and trained with PSG. He’s also dating a Posh teenager.

If he can get a tattoo, a PA and remember to change his knickers every day, Brooklyn will have chalked off most of his dad’s life accomplishment’s by the time he’s 16.

Now, back to work the rest of you….

Anorak

Posted: 1st, November 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United: Wilfried Zaha Learns What He Knew Two Years Ago

MANCHESTER United’s 4-0 win over Norwich in the League Cup featured an appearance from Wilfried Zaha, the played signed for £15 from Crystal Palace. United’s coach Steve Round told media after the match:

 “He’s gone out there and experienced what it’s like to win at Old Trafford”

Anorak

Posted: 30th, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United Turn Nazi: Adnan Januzaj Leads The New Order

LAST week Manchester United fans were sent this message. There was the rise of a “New Order”.

Adnan Januzaj is at the vanguard of the Neuordnung. That’s him wearing a sharp-looking Swastika-styled crown below.

Anorak

Posted: 28th, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Liverpool: Reality TV Star Brendan Rodgers Hates Manchester United’s Fly On The Wall

LIVERPOOL manger Brendan Rodgers is a quotable sort (“My biggest mentor is myself because I’ve had to study, so that’s been my biggest influence”). Today he’s been talking about Sir Alex Ferguson’s autobiography:

“Anyone who’s been in football knows that whatever is said behind closed doors and in the changing room is something you wouldn’t want to hear again… It’s something that’s vitally important. You want to know as a human being that you can speak openly and communication is honest, and hopefully wouldn’t get repeated.  You would like to think you would still have some old-school values and ethics that whatever is said you take it on the chin and keep it behind closed doors and move on.”

Anorak

Posted: 24th, October 2013 | In: Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United Teach The Germans How To Keep Secrets

ON the day when German Chancellor Angela Merkel accuses Obama’s secret services of tapping her mobile phone calls, former Manchester United assistant Mike Phelan shows us how to keep a secret.

He says that had Sir Alex Ferguson remained in charge at United, the Red Devils would have bought “one of the best players in the world”. By coincidence, when Fergie went, Phelan went soon after as David Moyes brought in his own support team.

Who? Tell us, Mike:

“If Sir Alex and David Gill had still been the bosses… I won’t name the player, but there would have been a star signing – one of the absolute best players in the world.”

Anorak

Posted: 24th, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United: Wayne Rooney Gives Ferguson The Brush Off

WHAT say the experts about Sir Alex Ferguson’s book in which he tells about his time at Manchester United? On the matter of Wayne Rooney, today’s news is mixed:

Says Neil Curtis in the Sun:

WAYNE ROONEY last night brushed off Alex Ferguson’s stinging criticism.

Anorak

Posted: 24th, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United: Ferguson Says Matt Busby Will Help Sir David Moyes

DON’T panic, David Moyes. In his autobiography, Sir Alex Ferguson says Sir Matt Busby will step in to help Manchester United’s new manager:

When I joined United (in 1986) I got great encouragement from Matt Busby, got great support. When I saw that fixture list [for United’s first few matches] I would have been raging at the Football League. United are the only club that can win the league coming from behind, believe me. David Moyes is in a great position, he will get the same help I got from Matt. He will be fine.’’

Chin up, then, Sir Dave.

Note: Sir Matt Busby died in 1994.

Anorak

Posted: 22nd, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United: David Moyes Harks Back To 1989

MANCHESTER United Watch: David Moyes is speaking after a 1-1 home draw against a decent Southampton side.

“Over the years, Manchester United have been slow starters quite often.”

Anorak

Posted: 21st, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United: When Erica Cantona Nixed Morrissey ‘Like A Fatty At The Church Steps’

ANOTHER gem from Morrissey’s new autobiography, Autobiography, is this wonderful little tale regaling the gladioli-whirling Smiths frontman’s incredibly brief encounter with one Eric Cantona in the foyer of a Parisian hotel…

Spotter: @BeardedGenius), Pies

Anorak

Posted: 18th, October 2013 | In: Celebrities, manchester united, Sports | Comments (2)

Sir Alex Ferguson Way: the opening of Manchester United’s trail of silver, tears and vitriol

TODAY, Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson opened Sir Alex Ferguson Way, Trafford.

A Way? Surely Ferguson is more suited to Alex Ferguson Cross. Or Sir Alex Ferguson Passage. Or how about  Sir Alex Ferguson Trail, a track of tears, beaten opponents (Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan, Roberto Mancini and many more), banned journalists, vanquished nations, abused match officials and even entire nations slighted: “When an Italian tells me it’s pasta on the plate, I check under the sauce to make sure”; and  “Typical Germans. It was only a slip, a slight tug at the boy, but they saw the opportunity and forced the referee. The ref wasn’t going to do anything, but they forced him to get a card out”?

A great winner. A terrific tactician. But Ferguson was the man for whom the phrase “incandescent with rage” might have been coined.

PS:  The one great pity was that he never managed England. They’d have named a motorway after him. 

Anorak

Posted: 14th, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United’s teenager Adnan Januzaj is just like Tony Dorigo – the Italian-Australian who became English for glory and money

IAN Wright and Jack Wilshere agree that only players born and blooded in England should play for England at football. How Wilshere’s views will pan out with Liverpool and England’s Jamaican-born Raheem Sterling have yet to be established. Manchester United’s teenager Adnan Januzaj should not play for England, they say.

Fair enough. He might not want to. But Anorak recalls one foreign-born player who did pull on the England shirt. Australian-born Tony Dorigo, for it is he, played in the same England team as Ian Wright. We can find no record of Wright saying back then in 1993 that victory over Brazil would have been “hollow” with a foreigner in the team. Playing with a non-England born player is “just cheating” says wright.

Anorak

Posted: 11th, October 2013 | In: Key Posts, manchester united, Sports | Comments (2)

Arsenal: Jack Wilshere v Mo Farah and Adnan Januzaj’s Manchester United contract

ARSENAL’S Jack Wilshere says only Englishmen should play for England:

“We have to remember what we are. We are English. We tackle hard, are tough on the pitch and are hard to beat. We have great characters. You think of Spain and you think technical but you think of England and you think they are brave and they tackle hard. We have to remember that. The only people who should play for England are English people. If I went to Spain and lived there for five years, I’m not going to play for Spain.”

That was triggered by the conversation that Manchester United’s teenager Adnan Januzaj could play for England if he passes Fifa’s five-year residency requirement. (He has to live in the Country for five years after turning 18. In five years, Adnan will no longer be the teenage tyro. He’d be mad to wait.)

Anorak

Posted: 9th, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj to earn £140,000 a week

HAVIGN failed to settle on the number of countries Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj is able to play for, the media are competing to see what he could earn in week if he opt to remains at Old Trafford.  These stories are all from today’s press.

The Sun:

MANCHESTER UNITED are ready to offer teen sensation Adnan Januzaj a 2,900 per cent pay rise. he Belgian star, 18, earns just £1,000 a week but his current deal runs out next summer. So United will offer him a contract worth around £30,000 a week to stave off interest from other top clubs.

The Metro:

Manchester United offer Adnan Januzaj £50,000-per-week to ward off Manchester City and Juventus

Daily Mail:

Manchester United have offered Adnan Januzaj a staggering £60,000 a week to stay at Old Trafford after his match-winning display at the Stadium of Light.

Whoever’s right, it’s not too shabby for an 18-year-old…

Anorak

Posted: 7th, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment

Manchester United: Moyes claims credit for Adnan Januzaj and says all Manchester City fans dream of playing for United

IS Manchester United’s 18-year-old legend -in-the-making Adnan Januzaj English? The Telegraph and Express lead with news that Roy Hodgson, the England manger, wants Adnan to play for the Three Lions.

The Mirror notes:

FIFA red tape means there would be a five-year wait, but the 18-year-old has several options having never been called up for Belgium

So. If the hotshot wants to play for mighty England he can wait until he’s 23. Think he will? The FA rules are that any player not born here must play continuously in England for five years from their 18th birthday. Adnan’s Manchester United contract expires at the season’s end. He might not even be he after that.

Young Adnan was born in ­Brussels, Belgium. He’s never represented them. So. He could play for England.

Says United manger David Moyes:

“The English FA have made their interest in Adnan known. I think he has a choice of three or four countries he can play for. Belgium have already tried to call him up, Albania and Croatia too. I think he would be able to play for England because of ­residency in five years.”

Anorak

Posted: 6th, October 2013 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comments (3)