Maybe there is hope for us afterall...?

Snake 'befriends' snack hamster

Aochan, the snake 'seems to enjoy' being with Gohan, the hamster A rodent-eating snake and a hamster have developed an unusual bond at a zoo in the Japanese capital, Tokyo. Their relationship began in October last year, when zookeepers presented the hamster to the snake as a meal. The rat snake, however, refused to eat the rodent. The two now share a cage, and the hamster sometimes falls asleep sitting on top of his natural foe. "I have never seen anything like it," a zookeeper at the Mutsugoro Okoku zoo told the Associated Press News agency. The hamster was initially offered to Aochan, the two-year-old rat snake, because it was refusing to eat frozen mice. As a joke, the zookeeper said they named the hamster Gohan - the Japanese word for meal. "I don't think there's any danger. Aochan seems to enjoy Gohan's company very much," said zookeeper Kazuya Yamamoto. The apparent friendship between the snake and hamster is one of many reported bonds spanning the divide between predator and prey. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4627950.stm

i dun get it. why are so many supposed United 'fans' turning on SAF after the sale of Ronaldo and the loss of Tevez?

he's sold players before, and people have written him off, only for the players he's shown faith in to vindicate his decisions.
regardless, whilst Ronaldo leaves a large void in the team, the loss of one player does not destroy a title-winning team. the squad won the title and the Carling last season. while there is no doubt that he is a talented individual, i would seriously question his ability to carry the team. yes, he was the main driving force in Rome, but what did he really achieve there? also, i can't help but feel that the team at United, particularly Rooney, make him look better. Rooney sacrifices a lot for the team and his teamwork is incredible. i honestly believe that Ronaldo plays better with Rooney. and that Ronaldo plays better as a right winger. whilst i admit to not watching all that many matches, when was the last time Ronaldo carried the Portuguese team? has he been a great captain? i'm not so sure...but it will undoubtedly be interesting to see if he maintains his form at RM.

now Tevez. everyone seems so divided about him. i'm of the camp that whilst he's a loss and has been a good servant to the club in the last two years, he cannot seriously think that he deserves a first team place? yes, he has heart. yes, he has work rate. yes, he runs his socks off. but so does Park. does Park deserve to command a 30m transfer fee and a first team spot? can he really complain when technically superior players are ahead of him in the pecking order? did he honestly believe that the fans would still love him after he'd crossed to the other side? and after all his whining about the club 'mistreating' him?! sorry, but players like Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea are the real heroes; having spent so much time on the bench, they have worked their socks off to become better players; and as Fletcher has shown, a potential first team SQUAD member. despite his performances, despite his high levels of consistency, Fletcher still isn't GUARANTEED a starting spot. no one is, really. this is MANCHESTER UNITED we're talking about, not some second rate team. you make the first team based on your ability, not your incessant whining. yes, thank you for your running, thank you for your hard work. but i bid you adieu now, and please take you whining with you. yes, undoubtedly you're a loss to Manchester United. but the Red Devils have lost players before but new Devils will always arise to take their places.

so for all you out there who think that SAF has 'lost the plot'...be patient. yes, you've lost your heroes. yes, great players have departed for pastures new. but this is still Manchester United. they've won things without these players, and they'll most likely win more things without these players.

the new signings. it'll be interesting to see how Valencia, Owen and Obertan fit in. as well as Tosic and Ljajic (when he finally gets here). for me, the January signings of Tosic and Ljajic are for now really; Tosic was brought in to help him gel and Ljajic has been given more time to play first team football at Partizan. also, people seem to forget that Anderson is an attacking midfielder by nature. i, for one, would love to see him play further up front and told to forget his defensive 'duties' (not that he was particularly great at that) and focus on attacking and playing killer balls. before everyone rounds on me and points out that his pass completion ratio is poor, i'd like to point out that he has been played out of position and his confidence has been drained from being played out of position. when his passes DO make it through, it usually leads to a goal. so i say, give him a chance and play him where he needs to be played.