Some Manuel Neuer talk + Refs’ union continue to whine

The international break means there will be little club news to report. But it seems some sort of groundwork is already being set in motion, with the transfer window a month and a half away.

Here’s Schalke defender Marcelo Bordon, in an interview to German newspaper, Bild on goal keeper, Manuel Neuer:

“I know it would be terrible for the supporters of the club, but you have to keep the situation of the club in mind. Maybe therefore it would be better to let Manu leave, just because you would receive a whole lot of money for such a transfer.”

Now, I wonder why the defender of a club is any person of authority to talk about finances, and chances of a teammate leaving — but it could, at the least, point to a feeling of inevitability of this move. The question is when (considering it’s world cup year), and — more importantly — where?

Three ‘keepers — Neuer, Adler and Akinfeev — continue to be linked to us, and this soap opera, while in its infancy, is bound to gather steam as the window reopens. So watch this space…

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Following an unprecedented touchline ban by the FA on a manager (for comments made to the media) the referees’ union are apparently not satisfied, and they reckon Fergie was let off softly. Suggestions of possibly suing Ferguson have come up. Here’s Alan Leighton, national secretary for referees’ union:

“We need to take a few steps back and see what has happened here and I would like to see more about the judgement. We never wanted to get lawyers involved in but if referees don’t feel they are being protected by the regulatory bodies and someone says something defamatory sooner or later someone is going to take action over it.”

So there you have it. There’s mountain out of a perceived molehill. And then there are lawyers who’ll make this sound even more ridiculous. Just as Ferguson criticised Wiley to divert attention from the poor performance of his own players, so are the refs’ union trying their best to deflect the focus from a series of appalling refereeing performances.

Managers deflecting attention from poor performances will help or hurt his team, based on the personnel and his reputation. Deflecting attention from the refereeing incompetence, on the other hand, hurts the entire league.

I’m quite sure which one worries me more.

Further reading: Henry Winter asks for some perspective.