Redray

Yes, if this is anything to go by the the fans have already been primed up; http://wiganathletic.rivals.net/forum/pgeP...3&clubId=88 "Brucie is his mate & next season will be looking for a few scraps off the masters table ( A loan player her or there, a young foreigner who he can slip into the premier etc) so i don't expect latics to put up much of a fight . I expect a real drubbing & I'll probably be sitting next to an egg chaser who knows nought about soccer but thinks United are great or some numb skull from Ballyshaggin Sisters who has every united shirt goin.In the words of the song I predict a riot"

Yep, He did the same with Wenger, http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/apr/3...n-arsene-wenger The new and surprising entente cordiale between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger, whose mutual antipathy has been a recurring feature of the Premier League era, appears to have its roots on a Scottish golf course. Wenger's refusal to engage over a bottle of wine with his managerial peers, men he feels he should isolate himself from as competitors, has always rankled with Ferguson. So it came as a surprise to him that Arsenal's manager took the time to travel to a Scottish Premier League elite coaches' forum two years ago. Wenger went to the Gleneagles event as a guest of the Uefa technical director, Andy Roxburgh, and gave his insights to SPL managers and those Scots who coach at English clubs. From that moment Ferguson's ill will seems to have dissipated and after years of refusing to indulge him by visiting his office for a post-match glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Wenger has finally broken bread with his old foe. Their new bond appears to have been strengthened at a Uefa dinner for 23 elite coaches last September. Both sat at the top table for the social event that preceded the group-phase matches of the Champions League, having been involved in the discussion groups during the conference session. Those present confirm both men got on famously throughout.

Setting the scene for the dramatic ending to the piece possibly; Bruce, suddenly turning his attention to how he can stop Ferguson's smooth-passing team on Wigan's pristine pitch. "We need to get tractors on it quick,'' he concluded.

Bruce ready to make it a special night for hero Ferguson By Henry Winter http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/bru...on-1736877.html (©Daily Telegraph, London) Wigan v Man United Live, Sky Sports 1, 8.0 - Henry Winter

I don't think he could sink his tongue in any deeper if he tried. Oh and Bruce prefer to play at their patch so they have switched the match to OT. More respectful that way. http://www.4thegame.com/club/wigan-athleti...ore_effort.html The Latics head to Old Trafford in the midst of a five-match winless run which has cost them any chance of securing European football for next season. "We have been on easy street for a few weeks now,'' conceded Bruce. "But it will be difficult because United are the best team in the world." However, Bruce has admitted that winning at Old Trafford will be a tall order, with United striding towards another Premier League title. Victory for the Red Devils on Wednesday night would leave them one point away from retaining the title with two games remaining. "I was at their game at Middlesbrough and all of my staff were laughing. He (Sir Alex Ferguson) made seven changes, bringing in Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov and the list goes on," he added. "In terms of depth, this squad is just mind-blowing. What he has been a master at is putting a new team together. "He's probably sitting there with all his young stars thinking how far can this lot go?"

They have Arsenal and Hull to play so goal difference is now irrelevant.

You are right. I saw his name at the bottom of this page but he did last years fixtures; http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/e...rem/8038255.stm

Steve Bennett is the ref tonight!

He will try to do both and end up doing a belly flop.

Bruce ready to make it a special night for hero Ferguson By henry winter Wednesday May 13 2009 An exquisite green playing surface and a red-carpet welcome await Alex Ferguson at the JJB Stadium tonight. It will be handshakes, back-slaps and glasses of good claret all round. It will also be another Premier League hurdle, another test that Manchester United should pass with flying honours, so taking them to the brink of the title. And Wigan Athletic's main men will be delighted. Their charismatic chairman, Dave Whelan, is such an ardent admirer of Ferguson, whose picture adorns his walls, that he actually cannot make up his mind who he wants to win. "It is a shame if we lose and a shame if we beat United,'' Whelan said. "Alex is the maestro, probably the finest manager the world has ever seen. Alex and Bobby Charlton, who I served in the army with, are the heart and soul of football.'' United's indebtedness apart, Whelan so respects the champions that he would be delighted if his manager, Steve Bruce, succeeded Ferguson at Old Trafford one day. Bruce would relish following his old mentor, the manager he hails as "the No 1 of all time''. Tonight's match really threatens to become a love-in. All at Anfield will be tuning in nervously, hoping against hope for an upset. An honest, hard-working Wigan side will try to disrupt United's famed rhythm, but it is difficult not to see the champions moving within a point of equalling Liverpool's record of 18 titles. Coasting Since guaranteeing Premier League safety, Wigan have taken the foot off the accelerator, coasting towards the summer recess. "We have been on easy street for a few weeks now,'' admitted Bruce. "It will be difficult because United are the best team in the world.'' If victory should come the way of United, some advice for Cristiano Ronaldo also awaits, some good counsel from Bruce, who argued cogently that life after United will always be a step down. "Absolutely,'' Bruce said. "Once you leave Old Trafford you find it very, very, very difficult whether you are a kid, a reserve-team player or even somebody who has been there 10 years. There have not been many who have gone on (to better things).'' Although Ronaldo's tantrum at being replaced against City on Sunday has intensified speculation about his future, Bruce believes Ferguson will take his star's fit of pique in his stride. "He won't bother a jot about it,'' Bruce said. "If he feels he has to have a word he will handle it in private. It was nothing. The kid was desperate to stay on and that's refreshing. I've had a few who don't want to be on the pitch in the first place.'' Early in his managerial career, Bruce would phone Ferguson for advice but now he just sits back and marvels at his old manager's longevity. "I don't think he has any intention of quitting at all. He will be looking at that team and thinking, 'why should I?' and rightly so. He seems to thrive on the pressure rather than fear it. "He has still got the hunger and that look -- you know, the one that makes you go, 'Uh oh' (nervously). He enjoys victory for half a day and then he's back at work and goes again. With this team he will want to finish above Liverpool in terms of championships and more European Cups (United have three to Liverpool's five). "What United have now, from when I first went there 20 years ago, is vast experience of winning the title. They are just used to handling the pressure. When the big games have come along in the last six weeks, the nitty gritty games, they have produced.'' Bruce and his coaching staff are noted for setting Wigan up well to combat opposing threats, detailing who should mark whom, but they ran into a problem yesterday. "We were trying a few things in training and we just had to stop because he (Ferguson) could make six or seven changes,'' Bruce said. "Their squad is that good it doesn't affect them. I was at their game at Middlesbrough when all my staff were laughing. He made seven changes bringing in Giggs, Scholes and Berbatov and the list goes on. "You notice he doesn't rotate the back players too much -- he never gave me and Pally (Gary Pallister) a rest! In terms of depth, this squad is just mind-blowing. What he (Ferguson) has been a master at is putting a new team together. He's probably sitting there with all his young stars thinking, 'how far can this lot go?''' Bruce's circumstances are markedly different, the manager admitting that he will have to "break up'' this Wigan side to pay the bills, despite a new shirt sponsorship deal with the online gaming company 188BET. It was "inevitable'', he sighed, that Antonio Valencia would leave. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, even United have been mooted as potential destinations for the exciting midfielder. Whelan could certainly see Bruce back at Old Trafford. "When Alex does decide to hang up his boots, and hopefully it won't be for another three or four years because we will have lost a great manager and a great ambassador, Steve has got to be in the running to take over,'' Wigan's chairman said. "I hate to even talk about losing Steve because he has been a wonderful manager for us but if the opportunity comes along to manage United then the whole world would jump at that. United want certain qualities and Steve has every single quality.'' Bruce smiled. "That's flattering but there's people with larger and better CVs than me who want the job,'' said Bruce, suddenly turning his attention to how he can stop Ferguson's smooth-passing team on Wigan's pristine pitch. "We need to get tractors on it quick,'' he concluded. But nothing looks like halting the Ferguson juggernaut.

They haven't got in in them to take anything even if they play above themselves. They are s****.

Is Fabergas actuallly on the pitch?

Understatement of the year so far. Arsenal have imploded.

Time to get drunk

I thought Wigan would be tough for them until heard Bruce's post match interview yesterday. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/m...day/8042043.stm He's tried everything but can't get them motivated it seems. Knob.

Well I did. They always have made it hard for them there previously. Not on this occasion it seems.

Steve Bruce: 'Unfortunately, it looks like we've been in limbo for weeks. It has been very, very difficult to lift the players. 'We got to the magical 41 points with eight games to go." Disgraceful.

Good work! And the City score today will be?

Maybe one at best. Was listening to 606 for a laugh and the number of people that called in saying the ref was bent was incredible! The fact that the ref sent off a Barc defender because Anelka fell over himself when they were 1-0 down seems to have been ignored. Won't even go into the protection that Iniesta failed to get.

Just wanted to add my thoughful contribution to tonight's events; hahahahahahahaha!

They did the double over them last year. They have actually done pretty well against them since Keegan left. I think they have won about five times in as many years so they have given as good as they got against them, more or less. They just better be up for this one.

Here's hoping you're right. But when all we have to rely on is the likes of Hull then we are the eternal optimists!

I'm as optimistic as they come but deep down I know it's over. They will not drop 50% of their available points in the last 4 games.

Yes, "Corruption is a term with many meanings, but generally it entails misusing one’s office for a private gain or unofficial end. It involves both a monetary and non-monetary benefit. Bribery, extortion, influence peddling, nepotism, scams, fraud, ‘grease money’, and opportunism readily spring to mind."

Yes I forgot what the penalty was for at Fulham. There was no way it could not have been given without creating an almighty stink. I actually agree with you say above so it just comes down to the definition of 'corruption'. To me it was always associated with bribery and money changing hands etc. I don't think it is that. But if by corrupt you meant as you say above then yes it definitely is.