Di Maria Star Man And Investment Returned, A Bit
Once upon a time in the early years of the Premier League there was a football terrace chant where by Leeds/Sheffield United/Middlesbrough fans sang ‘We all dream of a team of Brian Deanes’ to the tune of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. Whilst Angel Di Maria is a much trickier name to shoehorn into songs from the 60s the sentiment may be the same. After scoring the opener against Everton and then being at the heart of all things positive for United, even his second half shot that looked set to nestle in the top corner of the goal instead found Falcao to score the winner.
After five weeks, costing a combined £1.23m pounds in wages on top of a loan fee of £6m, Manchester United got a return for their investment as Radamel Falcao scored his first goal for the club and with it secured three points - which in the world of football finance and logic makes it a great investment.
Ji-Sung Park Ambassador For Shirt Sales
Further delving into the world of Manchester United football finance investment, we'll soon see the return (on a rumoured £100,000 per year deal) of former player Ji-Sung Park in an 'ambassadors' role at the club. Officially the club have announced that he will “attend various events and functions on behalf of the club” and unofficially will be helping he'll sell shirts across the Asian market to keep the Adidas kit deal worthwhile and make up for the lack of Champions League money.
Ji-Sung Park
Yaya Kicks In And Keane's Beard Scares Everyone
When looking for ways to waste 45 minutes of your life, alongside flicking buttons at a bucket, the first half of Aston Villa vs Manchester City would have done the job. Thankfully the second half produced some action of note, as the Yaya Toure machine escaped first gear for the first time this season to score the second goal after Sergio Aguero had finally broken the deadlock minutes earlier.
The standout feature across the ninety minutes was of course Roy Keane’s beard which has managed to do the impossible in making the scariest man in football that little bit scarier. Gerard Pique, the World Cup-winning Spaniard and luckiest husband in the world, admitted this week that he is still scared of Keane from his days as a young player in the dressing room at United. So much so that when he spotted Keane doing pitch side punditry at the Celtic vs Barcelona game last season Pique hid his face behind his hands so that Keane didn't spot him.
Gerard Pique - terrified of Roy
St Helens Gaffa Off
There's probably never a good time to announce that you are leaving your contract and heading to the opposite side of the world, as St Helens head coach Nathan Brown did last week. Only a day after guiding them to their first Grand Final in four years, Brown announced he was off back to Oz and that the final versus Wigan at Old Trafford on Saturday 11 October would be his last game in charge. Only time will tell whether this will spurn on his team to victory or prove destabling in the final.
Sale Victory
Sale Sharks lined-up at home against a Wasps team featuring three former Sharks and a further former-player on their coaching team. As is becoming a theme this season, Sale burst out of the blocks with Arscott going over in the corner early on and Cipriani adding a drop goal. Sale should’ve been more ahead but Cipriani had a-day-to-forget from the kicking tee as England head coach Lancaster looked on from the stands.
Danny Cipriani
From early on this performance was built around an organised and aggressive Sale defence standing up to wave after wave of Wasp attacks whilst countering with line-out drives and strong running. Elusive winger Christian Wade somehow found a way over for Wasps only for a late Brady try to seal the game for Sale.
This was an important victory for Sale who can expect to be jostling in the table with Wasps throughout the season. Wasps showed promise throughout and although they may pay the price for it, it is good to see a team built on young English talent.
British Cycling
British Cycling has launched a new cycling hub in Manchester aiming to make cycling more inclusive and provide increased opportunities for all-ability riders across the region. Primarily based at Tameside road circuit and the National Cycling Centre at Eastlands, the hub will encourage people with a disability to get involved with cycling and ensure that those with the potential to achieve at the highest level can receive the necessary support to succeed.
British Cycling’s Coaching, Education and Development Director, John Mills, said: “British Cycling is working hard to ensure that there are a whole range of opportunities for people of all abilities to get into cycling. Through the success of riders like Dame Sarah Storey, Jody Cundy and many others, there is no shortage of inspiration out there."
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