A genuine question......... what makes you Martin hate Man U that much, and to all in this thread, followers of football, hate any English side (not particularly Man U) that much that you wouldn't want to see them progress in the competition at the expense of foreign opposition?       

Just seen Arseshaven's goal against Barca. Good goal, very Tottenham like, though not as good as the real thing (with Bale in full flight).

TAXI FOR MAICON

There is little doubt that Wilshere is going to be a star for England in the coming years. Contrary to the doom and gloom merchants I actually think we have an excellent crop of young players coming through (potentially) for the England team, such as Wilshere (obviously), Rodwell, Gibbs, Smalling, Walker and Wickham (assuming he can develop as a player) - maybe Cahill and Jones. It will also be interesting to see how Oxlade-Chamberlain develops.

It really says something about how poor the current England team is when a journeyman like Johnson can be a regular. Hopefully Walker, or someone else, will (sooner, rather than later) put him out of his misery.

Good piece by Lawton, explaining why Wenger needs to be brought down to Earth.

Actually, the more I think about it, the more ludicrous is Wenger's claim. Still, it's a free country.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-bar231a-the-best-mr-wenger-they-lack-the-edge-of-milan-89-and-the-flair-of-brazil-70-2218172.html

I've always seemed to hate Man U. Even when I was little and never knew about the inter-city rivalry, I couldn't stand them. It's not about their success in recent years either, because I'm talking back in the late 70's and 80's when my team were winning everything and Utd certainly weren't. I think one factor was the media's obsession with them. When you're a kid you think simply and I guess I reasoned that because Liverpool were the dominant team - and indeed my team - they should have the lion's share of media interest, with other succesful teams like Notts Forest, Aston Villa, Everton & Arsenal. And yet, it was always Utd this, Utd that. Of course, I know undrstand that Utd were still a big club even when being a cellar-dweller. But the seeds were sown.

Then, as I grew older, the animosity between the cities became more apparent to me. I've no familial connections to Liverpool as a place and don't have a Scouse accent (the St Helens accent is more a Lancashire lilt), but always saw it as my local city (it's only about 12 miles away). Me and my mates would regularly get the train there and, before that, my mum would drag me shopping there occassionally when I was ickle - but I don't think I ever stepped foot in Manchester till I was a teenager.

In St Helens, support for football clubs was always split between Liverpool, Everton and Utd. But when I was growing up, all my mates were Liverpool fans and most of my school was, too. Support for Utd seemed to come from other parts of the town - the oik parts.  So intra-town rivalry, too!

When Utd started winning, I can't tell you how bad winners the fans that I knew became. I'm sure I/we would have reacted in just the same way after such a long barren period and having the p*** ripped out of you by everyone else. But it just fanned the flames of hatred. Suddenly, people I knew who'd previously not acknowledged anything more than a passing interest in Utd became their biggest and most big-gobbed fans. And every single Utd fan I knew and have come across was never happy with winning a few titles, and wouldn't be happy till they'd seen, as Old Baconface put it, Liverpool knocked off their f*****g perch.

You see, the hatred isn't just one way. I've worked in Manc for 11 years now and worked with a fair few of Utd fans. They despise Liverpool and are still riddled with envy over our trophy haul. Even though they've now won as many league titles as us (and will likely overtake us this year) the feeling that they should have won loads more than the 'bin dippers' by some divine right is tangible. And they delight in seeing us suffer.

But then, I'd love to see all Utd fans suffer. There are times I don't just mean in a football supporting sense, too. I characterise Utd fans with a personality comprised of all the aspects of Utd fans I hate the most. I know that's utter bull becuase some very good friends are Utd fans and they're great people. But, that doesn't stop me hating the architypal Utd fan I've created in my head.

Couldn't help but comment on the general issue of people hating certain English Clubs.  Living in Guernsey I have grown up alongside lots of different people supporting lots of different Club's, albeit that, much like everywhre else, there are more than your fair share of Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal fans.  Our "close(ish)" proximity to the south coast also means that there are a sprinkling of Saints and Pompy fans too.  As for Tottenham, the great legendary Len Duquemin was a Guern and, hence, there are a fair few Spurs fans here too.  Because we don't have our "own" team to support, there is little hatred of other Clubs.  Speaking personally, I don't particularly like Arsenal or Chelsea for obvious reasons but I wouldn't go as far as to say I hate them.  I rather like Liverpool (probably as the best of the worse teams in red) and don't dislike West Ham for some reason!  Now, as regards Man Utd, when they are in Europe I adopt an "if they play well then they deserve to win" attitude.  However, domestically I have a real problem with them, stemming mainly from a history of injustice in games between Totenham and Ud in recent years stretching from the Mendes "no goal" which was so far over the line you could almost see it from space to the dubious penalties conceded, clear penalties not given down to the farsical free kick situation this year.  Many of my Man Utd friends agree that Spurs must be the most unlucky club when it comes to playing Utd but I can't see it as just bad luck and a certain Sir Alex Ferguson always being graceful when his team gets all the luck and blowing his top on the rare occasion when they do not also doesn't help.  Notwithstanding that, if Spurs can't live the European dream this year then lets see one of the other English teams win - I'll toss a coin as to which!!

COYS!!       

I dislike one club Man U, Spurs I can take or leave, some of my best mates are Spurs fans I enjoy our banter even better now Spurs are actually getting somewhere in the league.

Why Man U ? I don't like SAF never have done.

Obviously I want Arsenal to progress in the CL, it would do my head in if Spurs win , only because of the banter and stick from mates. If ManU go far then great because that is a prem distraction, Chelsea?? not that bothered either way, cant see them winning it to be honest.

Chelsea 1 up away from home, expected really

Reasonable result for Man U last night but again a poor performance from the midfield Gibson, Fletcher and Carrick all guilty of sloppiness, creating little and giving the ball away. Nani had the beating of Heinze easily but we failed to use this. Rooney and Berba hardly got a sniff due to lack of the ball. Plus point was Smallings performance he looks a natural to replace Ferdinand.  The game really showed why we need that creative midfielder.

I agree, it was a very 'unMan U like' performance