(image from here)The Independent sum it up thus:
When the football fixtures for this season were announced in June, Burnley's chief executive Paul Fletcher was quick to point out that opposition teams, in as many words, could like the Turf Moor set-up or lump it. Not for Fletcher the subservient outlook of a small-town club that snuck its way into the world's most demanding top flight via the play-offs. Yes, Turf Moor would get a "lick of paint and probably a few new light bulbs" but change does not come fast in these parts, and that includes the dressing rooms which, Fletcher pointed out, had not been improved "since I played for Burnley 35 years ago".
A million pounds has been spent by the club in bringing the press box, gantry and corporate offerings up to a Premier League standard and although those infamous changing rooms have also had minor cosmetic improvements, they are still more suitable for The Damned United than the damned United.
Manchester United's stars will go back to basics at Burnley tonight...and a reminder of what football was like before it went all posh.
Turf Moor is still a glorious throwback to the days when men were men and earrings were for the ladies in the Bob Lord stand.
It's the first time in 33 years that Burnley will host top-flight football and for all of the £1 million improvements this summer the away dressing room and dimly-lit, tight space in the tunnel is not for the foppish or faint-hearted.
The Burnley lads are having a quiet chuckle about what awaits Sir Alex Ferguson and his jet-setters who will crash back in time when they take their first steps inside the grand old ground.
Striker Robbie Blake said: "It's not the best place to come, but we like that. We want to make Turf Moor as difficult as we can for teams to come here.
"It might be an advantage for us if their players are walking down that cold tunnel thinking 'this looks a bit dodgy.' "I don't think the away dressing room here was up to standard for the Premier League, now they've put a couple more showers in.
"I've heard it's not much more than a lick of paint and a new light bulb though - although maybe that's what they've done to ours.
"But we can't make it too hospitable for them, we can't go putting sofas in and things like that."
While The Sun take the opportunity to tell us about Evra the DJ:
Manchester United can expect a culture shock when they make the short trip to Burnley for the North West derby.
The changing rooms have changed little in the last 35 years, although they have had a lick of paint and new lightbulbs since the Clarets' promotion in May.
French international Evra is the man charged with the tricky task of pumping up the volume before a game for his high-maintenance team-mates. And the full-back will spend hours working out his playlist for the pre-match entertainment ahead of this trip to the Premier League new-boys.
Evra, 28, said: "I enjoy the role very much. Before the match I sit down in my room and work out a playlist.
"I have to change it every time. You don't know these guys - they're like dogs!
"They're hungry for new songs and get angry if it's the same stuff as the last game.
"So I mix it up and make sure everybody's happy. I put some English music, some Brazilian, some R 'n B, some dance. Now it's part of the ritual before games.
"Sometimes other people try to put their own music on - I don't want to name names - but my team-mates say 'Come on, respect the iPod of Evra'."
"I hope he has got an understanding chairman," said Ferguson.
"We live in a results industry. No matter what we think is fair or how difficult we think it is to get into the Premier League, some directors don't think that way.
"Their decisions are results-fuelled also by the local press perhaps or the local butcher. If they go into the butcher's and someone says 'Your team had a bad result on Saturday' they panic.
"Every manager is under the same pressure.
"It doesn't matter what you have spent, if they are not staying in that Premier League, they are getting the Dan Mack. It's a horrible part of their life."
Rumours about Vidic resurface, with his agent quoted as saying:"What's happened at Burnley is a fantastic story," said Fergie. "I watched them last season in the Carling Cup game against Arsenal, when they played really well.
"They haven't been in the top division for 33 years and you have to go back to the 1960s to when they had great players like Jimmy McIlroy, Ray Pilkington and the keeper Adam Blacklaw.
"It's going to be tough for them but, no matter what happens this season, they'll never forget it.
"You can imagine what the atmosphere will be like at Turf Moor. It's going to be red-hot.
"It will be a flag day for them, a really big occasion. But hopefully that's where our experience will come into it."
"Vidic would be delighted to play at Barcelona as his dream is to go to the Spanish league," Fabbri said. "We have to analyse the situation but, being realistic, things are complicated at the moment. The team have just lost Ronaldo and Tevez and they do not want to lose another important piece of their starting XI once again."And then promptly denying saying it:
"This is not true," he said. "I never said these things. Nemanja is happy in Manchester. If Barcelona do make an offer for him then it is up to United to make a decision."So, who knows. The Times report we'll be offering him a new contract:
Manchester United are preparing to offer Nemanja Vidic a new contract amid uncertainty about his long-term future. Sir Alex Ferguson has recommended that the club offer him a pay rise and an extension to his contract, which expires in 2012.The Telegraph report on a contract extension for Owen Hargreaves:
Hargreaves signed a three-year deal at Old Trafford when he arrived from Bayern Munich in 2007, with an option of a fourth season. It is believed United are already committed to extending his deal, leaving the player in control of his future should he make a return to full fitness.Finally, some words from Darren Fletcher on youth:
"This club strives for young players to come through the ranks. It's within the United ethos."We have a great crop of young players and some of them featured a lot last season. They are looking very strong and are raring to go.
"Everyone, from the players to the coaches in the Academy and our scouts, feels very proud when a player makes it through the system and the United fans want to see that as well.
"When the supporters see a local lad coming through and doing well, it sometimes means a lot more than going out and spending £30-40m on someone."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment