Paper Talk: #ThingsbetterthanManchester United, Las Vegas MLS, Cahill’s star grows
PAPER Talk is bursting as Las Vegas eyes the MLS, Tim Cahill’s star grows and Angel di Maria pens an emotional letter to Real Madrid fans.
A MANCHESTER United loss to MK Dons is manna from heaven for Paper Talk, as we bring you some of the best global reaction, plus plenty more from another eventful day in the world of football.
We start at United, where the world seemed to revel in another setback to Louis van Gaal’s plans at the club.
Enter #ThingsBetterThanManchesterUnited. Fans of rival clubs are certainly making the most of this current malaise.
THEATRE OF MEMES: WORLD ENJOYS UNITED’S DEFEAT
VAN GAAL: WE WERE UNLUCKY! THE BEST REACTION TO THE DEFEAT
REPORT: MK DONS SHOCK MANCHESTER UNITED
While Louis van Gaal says he isn’t surprised by the early setback, no one was more surprised than Milton Keynes Dons manager Karl Robinson.
“It’s ridiculous, it’s something that dreams are made of for these players,” he said.
“We work hard here and you’ve seen a youthful energy in the team.”
One man who mightn’t have made much of a difference if he was there was Nani, who missed a penalty, copped a yellow and was substituted with 13 minutes to go on his Sporting Lisbon return, a late 1-0 win over Arouca.
FAREWELL, REAL
Angel di Maria has penned an open letter to Real Madrid fans telling them he never wanted to leave.
DI MARIA’S LITTLE MIRACLE: TUESDAY’S PAPER TALK
THE LETTER, in full:
Dear Madridismo,
My cycle at Real Madrid has come to an end. Is impossible to capture all I have lived through in a few lines, but I want this letter to communicate what I feel at the moment of parting. In these four years I had the honour to wear this shirt I feel nothing but pride for what I went through and achieved along with my team mates.
Unfortunately today I have to go, but I want to make clear that this was never my desire. As anyone who works, I’ve always wanted to progress. After winning “La Decima” I went to the World Cup with the hope of receiving a new contract, which never came. Many things and many lies were spoken. They always wanted to attribute the initiative to me to leave the club, but did not. The only thing I asked for is something that would be fair. There are many things that I value and many of them have nothing to do with my salary. I hope to progress at Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, where I wish to make history.
I’ve been lucky enough to share a dressing room with fantastic players, who have been even better companions. I think that was the key to La Decima. I want to apologise for the times I was wrong, on or off the pitch. It was never my intention to harm anyone. I sweated for this shirt in every game as if it was my last. There were times when things went for me and others not, but what I can say is that I always gave everything.
I want to thank Spain for everything you gave me and especially for allowing my daughter to be born on this earth. And to the very special people at Montepríncipe hospital, which I will always carry in my heart. My wife, daughter and I will be forever grateful. Also to my colleagues who gave me their support always, in good times and bad, to the various technical bodies that I got to work with and also to all the people who work every day at the club, with which I hope to keep a great relationship.
I hope that Real Madrid have a great season and get this club the achievements they are always looking for. I take forever in my memory that time in the Supercopa when I jumped at the Bernabeu and I received from the fans immense affection. Thank you. I have goose bumps yet cannot think of a better farewell for which unfortunately was my last game.
Hala Madrid! And until forever!
But, with a white shirt swapped for a red one, di Maria started his charm offensive for the Old Trafford faithful desperate for him to change the mood at the club.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain and there were a lot of clubs interested in me, but United is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for,” he said.
Still at Madrid, the club revealed the strip for their UCL defence, with all the glitz and glamour such kit launches come with. There’s some new symbolism emblazoned on the Adidas strip designed by Yohji Yamamoto.
There’s a ‘dragon king’ -’ which symbolises the greatness, glory and power of the club’ - and a ‘dragon bird’ - ‘which represents the clubs resistance, determination and agility on its way to the victory’.
WAY OF THE FUTURE
We know New York City is about to roll into town in the MLS; David Beckham has a Miami franchise, and soon, the football roadshow could roll into Sin City, with Las Vegas ready to welcome the round ball game.
In a press release from The city of Las Vegas, The Cordish Companies and Findlay Sports & Entertainment, they reveal plans for a $440m stadium in downtown Symphony Par - pending a Vegas side being included into the MLS.
The only pitfall? Try playing a game of football in an open stadium in Vegas in August!
TERRIFIC TIMMY
Tim Cahill played another key role in New York Red Bulls season, setting up the opening goal in their 2-0 CONCACAF Champions League win over Salvadoran outfit CD FAS, and he also had a shot saved from point blank range, as the Cahill fan club in the Big Apple continues to boom.
YOUNG TALENT TIME
The fascination with 15-year-old Norwegian sensation Martin Odegaard continues - and will only escalate if he makes his debut against UAE ina friendly in Stavanger next week.
“This is very big,” he said. “I hope I can show off a lot of the same things I have been showing.
“I had not really expected this. I have no rush to play in the senior team.”
The Liverpool fan has been courted by all of Europe’s top clubs, according to his father.
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN
Fulham, what is going on! This is a story for Aussies to really follow, with Adam Taggart, Ryan Williams and Cameron Burgess on their books.
The relegated EPL club is sitting stone motherless last at the foot of the Championship after four games.
Former Fulham defender John Arne Riise has lashed out at 61-year-old boss Felix Magath, who has used a staggering 51 players since Boxing Day: “With his arrival, they’ve flushed everything [that club stands for] down the toilet. His methods are ancient.
“Spoke to a few players after the Derby match. Once they returned to London, Magath ordered a team meeting at 10.30pm.
“Then the next morning [which is normally their day off], players were ordered to run for one hour, then another training session at 2.30pm. It’s not the way to get the boys going. And training methods are terrible.”
LONG MEMORIES
Sheffield United exacted a small dose of revenge on West Ham in a penalty shootout at Upton Park.
Hammers fans cruelly wore Carlos Tevez masks to taunt Sheffield United in the first match between the clubs since Tevez’s goal against Manchester United on the final day of 2007 sent Sheffield United spiralling down the leagues. Today, they sit in League One, still bitter after West Ham were not more severely punished for irregularities in Tevez’s contract.
Manager Nigel Clough said: “There’s still a little a bit of injustice felt by our fans but hopefully this was about how we played, and the win tonight.”
Originally published as Paper Talk: #ThingsbetterthanManchester United, Las Vegas MLS, Cahill’s star grows