Time to pack it in and go sailing. Well, not quite yet - work to do to take on people justifying the unjustifiable. ๐
Hermanus, South Africa
Joined December 2016
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Riaan Smit retweeted
๐จ๐ฃ๏ธAlan Shearer on Lisandro Martรญnez's words after the game against Atlรฉtico Madrid.
๐ฃ๏ธโIt gets to a point where someone has to come out and say it. We can't keep pretending we don't know Manchester United's problem. All the players know.
โHow many more managers can you change? I'll tell you something: if they hire Pep Guardiola today, it still won't change anything. They're obviously not ready to take this club forward.
โIt's a shame that this is happening to Manchester United, and Martรญnez has earned my respect for everything he said tonight. There's no other way to describe it.
โUntil the people running that club address the real issues, we'll keep having the same conversations after every disappointing result. Changing the manager won't fix everything when the problems run much deeper.โ
Riaan Smit retweeted
๐จThe way Lisandro Martรญnezโs comments are being twisted by the English media and INEOS PR team is absolutely ridiculous.
Now the narrative is that Licha was questioning his teammates and saying theyโre not good enough. Thatโs NOT what he said at all.
He was calling out the lack of ambition from the board and the squad depth needed to compete in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Thankfully, BOTH interviews are on video. We can watch them ourselves rather than blindly accepting someone elseโs interpretation.
Licha wants Manchester United to compete for the biggest trophies again. Thatโs exactly what I want from every player at this club.
Weโre with you, Licha. โฅ๏ธ๐ซก
Riaan Smit retweeted
๐จ๐๏ธ Ryan Giggs on Lisandro Martรญnezโs comments about the Manchester United board after their defeat to Atlรฉtico Madrid:
๐ฃ๏ธ โIf the board decides to take action against Lisandro Martรญnez, convincing players to join Manchester United in the future could become much more difficult.
Because what exactly are you going to tell them? Come here and waste five or six years of your prime playing for nothing?
I know INEOS wonโt take his criticism lightly, and honestly, I wouldnโt be surprised if Martรญnez never plays for United again.
But I canโt thank him enough for what he did tonight because his actions spoke louder than any fanโs words. People arenโt even beginning to understand how significant that moment was.
He put himself on the line to expose what he believes is wrong at this club, and if his actions help bring real change to the people running United, heโll always be a legend in my eyes.โ โค๏ธ
Riaan Smit retweeted
Lisandro Martinezโs view that Michael Carrick has been sold short and the squad has not been equipped with the depth to fight on multiple fronts is shared by several senior players - and football staff. It has been discussed in the dressing room with the club aware of frustrations around recruitment.
There was a fear ahead of the campaign that the squad would not be strengthened properly - the lack of cover at left-back and striker were major concerns, which is evidenced in how much the need for reinforcements was stressed during pre-season interviews.
Told the driving reason behind Martinezโs airing these grievances publicly is fury that Carrick is likely going to lose his job despite not being given the tools to have a fair crack, and players are sick of reset after reset, without questions asked of the people in charge and what direction theyโre taking the club in.
Carrick and the team have faced criticism, accepted it, and owned up to performances being nowhere near good enough.
Where is the accountability from the people who keep leading the club to one doom spiral after another?
Riaan Smit retweeted
Never forget.
Peacemakers, doctors, aid groups, 2 US presidents. All Nobel Peace Prize winners.
All smeared by the same NGOs.
Here is the list, and what each one did ๐
โข ๐๐ฒ๐๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐๐๐ (1984): urged a boycott of Israel
โข ๐๐ถ๐บ๐บ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ (2002): wrote the book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid
โข ๐ก๐ฒ๐น๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ (1993): went to Gaza and called for a full Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders
โข ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ (2009): refused to veto the UN resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal
โข ๐๐ผ๐ณ๐ถ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ฎ๐ป (2001): condemned the Israeli strike that killed civilians at Qana in Lebanon
โข ๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐บ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ (1994): said Israel's own policies were feeding Palestinian hatred
โข ๐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ (1976): sailed with aid to break the blockade of Gaza
โข ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ธ๐ผ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป (2011): called Israel's war in Gaza a genocide
โข ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ (2016): had Colombia formally recognise the State of Palestine
โข ๐ ๐ผ๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ถ (2005): vowed to open the Rafah crossing if Israel attacked Gaza
โข ๐๐บ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น (1977): found that Israel commits apartheid against Palestinians
โข ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ (๐ ๐ฆ๐) (1999): reported what its own doctors witnessed in Gaza and called it genocide
โข ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ (1947): ran peaceful boycott campaigns against Israel
โข ๐จ๐ก๐๐๐๐ (1965): pleaded for a ceasefire to stop the killing of children in Gaza
โข ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ (1917, 1944, 1963): said Gaza's civilians, doctors, hospitals and ambulances are all protected under the law of war
โข ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ข๐ฟ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป (1969): reported that the siege of Gaza was paralysing its economy and said the blockade must be lifted
โข ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป (2012): funded Breaking the Silence, Israeli army veterans who speak out about the occupation
โข ๐จ๐ก ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ (1988): kept a public record of Israeli troop movements in Lebanon during the 2006 war
โข ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ (2026): chaired the UN inquiry that found Israel committed genocide in Gaza
Riaan Smit retweeted
๐จ๐๏ธ Gary Neville on Lisandro Martรญnezโs comments about the Manchester United board following last nightโs Champions League exit to Atlรฉtico Madrid:
๐ฃ๏ธ โPeople will criticize Lisandro Martรญnez for speaking out, but you have to LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENT he is playing in.
When a player like Martรญnez comes out and says something like that, it tells you everything you need to know about the state of that dressing room. The belief has completely gone. They don't trust the structure, and frankly, who can blame them when players are being played out of position week after week just to plug massive holes in the squad?
Can the players do better? Yes, of course they can. Nobody is saying theyโre completely blameless. But what Martรญnez said isn't a lieโitโs the reality of playing for Manchester United right now. ๐
Confidence doesn't just appear out of thin air. Players perform best when they are put into a stable, well-run environment where everyone knows their job. Look at Manchester City, look at Arsenalโwhen you put good players into a functioning machine, they thrive. You put those same players into this toxic, chaotic setup at United, and their careers stall.
Letโs be completely honest here: which top-tier, world-class player is looking at Manchester United right now and saying, โYeah, thatโs where I want to goโ?
What are you actually promising a top player when you negotiate with them? What is the project? Are you asking them to come here and risk taking a massive step backward in their career just to fix five years of bad planning?
You can ask the players on the pitch for more effort and better application all day long, but until you fix the core of the club, nothing changes. The environment dictates the performance.
The players are struggling, the manager is working under impossible conditions, but the fundamental root of the problem sits right at the top.
THE WHOLE STRUCTURE IS BROKEN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.โ
Riaan Smit retweeted
What INEOS are getting their PR journalists to say about Martinez now is nasty and calculated.
- โHe wanted to leave in the summer.โ Funny how that story appears NOW for the first time.
- โHeโs upset his teammates and divided the dressing room.โ His comments were aimed at the owners, not the players... anyone with a brain can see that.
United fans, donโt fall for it. Weโre now being told the dressing room is angry with Licha and heโs wanted out for a year. Where were these stories when he was supposedly pushing for Atletico? If this was true it would've been reported in summer.
Lisandro said what most his teammates were thinking btw.
This looks like an attempt to turn fans against Martinez. Make HIM the villain, shift attention away from the owners and so they can avoid answering what he actually said.
He calls out the owners, and suddenly HEโS the villain now in the media. Seen this before and not falling for these reports.
Riaan Smit retweeted
๐จ๐ฃ๏ธ Roy Keane on Lisandro Martinez interview:
โIโve never fallen in love with a current United player like I have with this lad. He has the guts to say what even the manager is afraid to say. I love players who speak their minds and arenโt afraid of the consequences. Honestly, I absolutely love this guy!โ ๐ด
Riaan Smit retweeted
I confirm that tonight SpaceX introduced a speed restriction on Starlink terminals while in motion.
At present, the restriction applies to the StarShield โmilitary packageโ and is set at 100 miles per hour.
Our Defense Forces received no prior warning about this limitation, which resulted in the disruption of a number of missions.
Obviously, this cannot be a coincidence and is connected to the current political situation.
(Quoting Zelensky's miltech advisor)
Riaan Smit retweeted
Maguire, Shaw, hell even Carrick after Leeds - they've all said United need more at various points in the window and Martinez may well not be the last to vocalise frustrations.
This idea that teammates are angry with him because they feel disrespected? Feels like such a poor interpretation of what Martinez said about the squad, himself included.
Lisandro Martinez not the only player in #MUFC squad to feel more was needed from club board, including Jason Wilcox in summer.
Similar vibe to 2023 when Casemiro was upset at transfer business after third-place under Erik ten Hag, different regime โฌ๏ธ
nytimes.com/athletic/7689112โฆ
Riaan Smit retweeted
You should point out the major reason why Man United โcannot afford to spendโ what rivals spend, is because the owners have taken hundreds of millions of Pounds out of the club in the form of dividends, while not paying down the debt, which which they bought the Club.
Riaan Smit retweeted
๐จ๐ฃ๏ธ Paul Scholes on Lisandro Martinez criticizing the Manchester united board:
"For me he is brave and wants the best for this club because if he doesn't wants to win with united, He wouldn't have criticized them on air"
"Some former united players are saying he was wrong to do that but, these former united players don't really care about the club because how can you see what is going on and tell a player that He is wrong to criticize the owners and management"
"Lisandro Martinez has shown how brave he is and I will forever respect him for that"
Riaan Smit retweeted
๐จ๐๏ธ Zlatan Ibrahimoviฤ on Lisandro Martinez calling out Manchester United board after their loss to Athletico Madrid in the Champions League:
๐ฃ๏ธ"Most players talk to protect their contract. Martรญnez spoke because he actually has the cojones to protect the football club.
What he said after the matchโthat is what every fan screams at their TV, what every player whispers in the dressing room, and what ex-players are too afraid to say on TV out of fear for their cozy pundit jobs. He knew the English media would line up to tear him apart. He knew the suits in the boardroom might try to fine or sanction him. He knew all of itโand he still walked up to the microphone and said it not once, but twice.
That isn't a slip of the tongue. That is a lion who has had enough of sheep running his pride. You can buy all the marketing you want, but you cannot buy giant balls. Manchester United doesn't need more quiet diplomats right now; they need more men like Lisandro who aren't afraid to speak the damn truth."
Riaan Smit retweeted
Utd have to be very careful with fining or disciplining Martinez for rightly saying that other people need to take responsibility for the current mess Utd are in. These people are temporary employees and if youโre the sporting director during Utdโs worst start in PL history then take responsibility or leave.
Riaan Smit retweeted
Lisandro Martinez putting the pressure where it should ultimately be, on the ownership and hierarchy at Manchester United for their decision-making and the direction of the club.
He is correct in saying that the performances have been โa reflectionโ of the club itself and that accountability stretches well beyond who is in the dugout plus the players.
There can be no argument that the squad is lacking depth, quality, balance and the right profiles.
He also nails it in terms of cycling through managers, but not having any question marks over whatโs happening upstairs.
United openly interviewed around Europe for Erik ten Hagโs successor, only to keep him and arm him with new coaches and circa ยฃ200m in players before sacking him and his staff for ยฃ10.4m.
They hired Ruben Amorim despite knowing the squad - which they allowed EtH to shape - was so ill-suited to his approach. They were very aware Amorim was unwavering on his philosophy and promised to persevere with both him and it.
Only to then try to dictate style, system and selections to him. They stuck with Michael Carrick only to sell him very short.
Letโs not forget the big, long play to the tune of ยฃ3m to get Dan Ashworth, before paying ยฃ4.1m to axe him after five months.
If the performances on the pitch are a mess, they speak to the state of play off the pitch.
Riaan Smit retweeted
I wait a moment, did you hear that?
THAT my friends is the sound of @JonathanPieNews hitting straight out of the park.
๐ฅ TikTok - vm.tiktok.com/ZN8B346dH/
Riaan Smit retweeted
Radosลaw Sikorski is saying exactly what Europe should be saying. But this cannot be left to one Polish minister.
The EU needs to respond immediately and collectively.
Not after 40,000 committee meetings. Not after an extraordinary summit to prepare another extraordinary summit. Not after consultations, working groups, legal reviews, summer holidays and a carefully negotiated statement six weeks from now.
Now.
Europe should tell Elon Musk, publicly and unambiguously, that if Starlink is being used as a political weapon against Ukraine, there will be consequences for SpaceXโs access to the European market.
Ukraine is fighting a war. Europe is helping finance that war. Critical battlefield infrastructure cannot depend on the political mood of one billionaire.
Sikorskiโs warning is good.
Now Brussels needs to find its voice. NOW.
Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again?
As your European customers, we are watching you.
But, yes, Starlink will be โa good thingโ in South Africa. ๐๐
Last night, SpaceX abruptly restricted the military Starlink service Ukraine has built critical battlefield systems around, without warning. Ukrainian commanders say missions failed as a result.
Whether Musk acted at the Trump administrationโs request is not yet proven. But given Trumpโs record, it would hardly be surprising if Washington had pushed for it. Look at the pattern. At some point, pretending each new concession to Moscow is an isolated event becomes less credible than acknowledging what is in front of us.
The larger lesson is already clear.
Europe cannot build its defence around critical infrastructure that can be altered overnight by a private American company, especially when European and American interests may no longer align.
There is a line often attributed to Churchill that Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing, once they have exhausted every alternative.
Churchill was wrong.
Sometimes they exhaust every alternative and still fail to do the right thing.
Europe can no longer base its security on the assumption that Washington will eventually come around. Whatever the motive behind this decision, Europe now needs its own redundant communications networks, satellite capacity and military infrastructure that cannot simply be switched off from the United States.
Riaan Smit retweeted
Didn't we warn that letting dodgy billionaires control critical infrastructure, was a bad thing?
Yeh, this is why.
All coming into focus now as Musk cuts off Ukraine's Starlink amid drone operations to help Putin, his current attacks on the Indian government aimed at forcing them to adopt Starlink.
Nations that become reliant on Starlink can be rendered defenseless once Musk decides to sell you off to one of his fascist buddies.
