A Jammy Pre-Season Win & a Big Signing

Considering his 'So You Think
You Can Dance Audition'

Morning All

For anyone who’s been reading these for any length of time, you know I’m a firm believer in the result being what counts – and it not mattering too much in how they get there. But friendlies are just a whole different species altogether. Aside from the confidence it instills going into a season, it really could not matter if you win or lose (despite what United supporters will tell you about their ‘win’ over an MLS team – colour me intimidated). Anyways, its really about how the players are linking up with one another, plays are shaping etc and so on.....

And although most of our players have now been through this many times before, they are auditioning for their positions. In the past, it was evident that everyone felt pretty secure as our head coaches weren’t given the freedom that AVB seems to have been graced with. So, as we sit back and watch our pre-season unfold, it’s kind of like watching the really bad X-factor auditions before it gets refined down to the top 10-20. And the players are certainly living up to that. Although we never really lost control of the match at any point but it was definitely pre-season levels of play. Nice to see just about everyone get a shot with AVB again opting for a full team switch at the half

Hands up if you get a little ill feeling in the bottom of your belly every time a ball comes within about 20 yards of Turnbull. Now hands up if you’d rather see Stamford the lion put on the gloves and give it a go if Cech doesn’t recover from this injury. I’d say hands up again, but I’m just going to assume no one has any hands to put up any more. Nice to see we’ve planned for the future with Courtois’ arrival, but he’ll be on loan for the next two seasons with Atletico. Let’s hope Hilario manages to stay fit. That’s right. Hilario. Shush.

There were some mild highlights. Being on Stamford the Lion faint watch was probably the biggest. Sure, I could say Kalou and Sturridge are clearly looking energetic and anxious to impress. We had a good look at Rajkovic (who would scare the bejesus out of me)... Bertrand, McEachran, Clifford, Chalobah, and Van Aanholt all got a run out.....

... But seriously, our London Marathon running, Gunnersaurus arse kicking mascot was possibly just a puddle by the end of the match. Keeping an eye on him (and the anitmated AVB) was possibly a lot more entertaining for the 84000 that turned up than the actual football. Hopefully Stamford’s had chance to air himself out before embarking on his off day with the Thai lady boys supporters. That’s right guys, not only Stamford, but Ashley Cole and John Terry have been given a free day – in Thailand. Thailand.

I was remiss in my last little blathering to not discuss an exciting new signing that AVB has snuck under the radar of all of us – including the press. By February of 2010, this player had scored a record TEN goals for Manchester United which was as many as Owen and Berbatov combined at that stage. Who is the magic goal scorer who has already netted in the past 2 out of 3 games? It’s Own Goal. Somehow, we’ve managed to scupper him out from under a large red nose to link up in our Asian tour. I see no reason for Own Goal to not make the team sheet when the season begins in August as he’s putting both Torres and Drogba to shame. Although, to be fair, Drogba definitely had the assist (along with the Lampard Linesmen) on the goal in yesterday’s match with the Malaysian XI. This is a player not to be underestimated in the coming months. If I were Anelka, I’d be seriously concerned about my future with the club now.

jb xx

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