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In praise of Rio

No, I'm not going to praise Rio for his footballing ability, his composure on the ball, or his leadership at the heart of our defence - although he certainly deserves the acclaim gets for all that.  Instead, I have in mind his new web-based lifestyle magazine #5, which you can read here. 

I'm sure people will suggest that it's unfair for the central defender to use his influence - and shirt number - to get a leg-up in the world of the media and publishing.  But I'd look at it a different way: it's good to see a footballer doing something creative with his money, regardless of whether or not the venture is successful.  That the magazine is well put-together and readable (or should that be clickable?) makes it all the more satisfying.

Perhaps most importantly, though, #5 bridges the gap between Rio and the Utd fanbase.  The video editorial he's put together - and, say, the Ronny video that we posted up on MustBeRed earlier - give the kind of insights into the players and the club that fans crave.  Sure, #5 isn't just a ManUtd fanzine, but you've got to hope that the focus on matters footballing will continue in future issues, and that it could develop into a means of direct communication between supporters and their Premiership idols.

And there's no reason why it should end there.  In this era of spiralling wages for footballers, and spiralling ticket prices for fans, the internet can enable clubs to keep the sense of community alive.  I'd certainly follow Wayne and Coleen's Twitter feed, or download Michael Carrick's post-match podcast.  And I'd do so mainly for the glimpse they'd give me into the football club I'm devoted to.  So go on Utd, follow Rio's example.  And go on Rio, take #5 even further.

Pete

'Red Issue' urges Ferguson to build Utd's attack around Berbatov-Rooney in the same way he has built the defence around Vidic-Ferdinand

RED ISSUE
WHY DOESN'T FERGUSON BUILD A ROONEY-BERBATOV PARTNERSHIP IN THE SAME WAY HE HAS BUILT A VIDIC-FERDINAND PARTNERSHIP?

"There seems little idea of how to successfully incorporate both Berbatov and Rooney into the same side... The Guardian has published some interesting analysis of the pair's performances together.  Only once have they managed to link up for a goal - against West Brom back in October.  Meanwhile, out of 551 passes the team made against Sunderland in December, only four were between the pair... What also surely can't help matters is the constant tinkering with the line-up.  Ferguson often talks about the importance of the team's defensive partnership, and it's no coincidence that in a team with so many changes both Vidic and Ferdinand were two of the few genuine first choice personnel in the semi-final starting line-up.  Quite why a similar opportunity isn't afforded to the team's main strike pairing is a mystery."

UNITED WE STAND
MANAGERIAL STABILITY EXPLAINS WHY ENGLISH CLUBS ARE BESTING REAL MADRID

"Spaniards cannot understand why the English persist with coaches like Ferguson, Wenger or Benitez if they don't lift the treble each season.  They call it the patience of the Anglo-Saxon mentality.  For years they mocked as Spanish clubs enjoyed hegemony in Europe.  The scorn has stopped, with English clubs consistently outperforming their Iberian cousins.  Whereas Sir Alex knows every player inside out and his charges know their manager's formidable traits, Madrid's players have to adopt new coaches and egotistical presidents almost annually, an unsettling environment at best.  Madrid's players have adapted domestically against clubs run on similar intolerant lines, but in Europe they look exposed and unsure, two characteristics the club's grand museum doesn't advertise."

RED NEWS
FICKLE PRESS NEED MAN UTD MORE THAN MAN UTD NEEDS THE PRESS

"The Mirror's match report after Liverpool screamed with self proclaimed hysteria: "The warning signs have been there for some time.  But when defeat eventually came, no-one would have imagined it would be so brutal and humiliating."  The warning signs?  Oh yes, Oliver Holt after the game also wrote: "Why Sir Alex Ferguson, not Rafa Benitez, is in danger of cracking up after Liverpool thrashing... the comprehensive manner of Liverpool's demolition of their opponents at Old Trafford suggested there may be nervous weeks ahead for Sir Alex."  Was this really the same Holt who just a week earlier, after our thrashing of Fulham in the Cup purred: "It feels as though there's something special about Ferguson's latest creation... you want to take your kids to a game so that in years to come, they can say they saw United played... most other teams are simply not in United's league... That there is no real perspective from anyone in football journalism is an argument for another day, yet this lack of objectivity over your actual standing and form, prefering rather than to judge each and every team after a small run of games - backed up by many managers across the board lose their jobs so quickly nowadays - defines a declining industry, one that doesn't seem to realise it is they who need United, for the oxygen of publicity, and selling any papers on the back of any such large defeat, certainly not the other way round.  As Fergie stared out at the press pre-Fulham he told them: There were no lives lost last week."  In a way, he watches the tide of opinion (be it from fans and press), without interest anymore, he has nothing left to prove and doesn't need to win either of us over to keep his job, just entirely believing that he'll be proved correct.  Whilst we can wobble with fears about worse case scenarios , he doesn't, and that's a great bit of experience to have that the Scousers simply don't possess."  

Tim

Twittering MU

One of the best ways of following MustBeRed will be via Twitter.  Follow us here.

Other MU Twitterers include...

• RedRanter ..the Twitter feed of the RedRants blog.
• R_o_M ...the Twitter feed of the Republik of Mancunia blog
• ManUtdYouth... "The very best online coverage of Manchester United's reserve and youth teams, now on Twitter"
• ManUtd-updates... an essential feed of newslinks.