Manchester United arrives in Japan

what? no Samurai Challenge or Geisha dance? Greeted with camera flashes and led lights. Oh well, no culture shock for Man U. They will be right at home.

Taggert's here and ther's been a muuuuuuuurder. Well, at least the pitch will get fertilized with the manure running all over it. Let's hope they get real tired and don't win the EPL.

This tournament is just about playing for money. Ronaldo and Rooney will probably play a few cameo minutes to appease the fans.

Bloody stinking rich Man Utd make me throw up with their rich fans eating their prawn sandwiches. They've got money to bribe their way to success, mark my words!!

West Ham should have represented Europe, they play the most attractive football, and they don't fall over getting free penalties all the time.

AlfGarnett - the only issue with that is that they don't win enough games to be successful. You see, the only way to get into Europe is to be a relatively successful team (unless qualifying through the FIFA Fairplay Award and the Intertoto cup).

Does having some fans who are rich mean a team is bad? Surely that must make every time in most leagues bad then. And could you please provide a source for your bribery claims? I'm sure everyone would be happy to read them.

why dont West Ham buy some players then?If they are wanting to be competitive, that is what they should do. Actually Manchester United are successful because they did that and now they are the most famous team in the world. Everyone in the world knows how good they are and wants to watch them play.

ihavearrived- Glory hunters mate!! You support your local team even if they're total crap. It's called loyalty. Anyone can support who wins the most. West Ham is a deprived area, the BRitish government pumped millions into Manchester to make it richer, and now they keep winning. When it's all about who's richest the soul of the game is gone. Manchester will thrash Osaka most probably with their multi million Pound players ane control of the FA and UEFA, they can'T lose.

I hope Osaka win. Support your local team. Up the Hammers!!!

I support Crystal Palace and when we were in the Premier 3 yeras ago held Man U to a draw and we only had 10 men. Even though they have players earning more in a week than our entire first team. Money has destroyed football, only a handfull of teams ever win, and taht doesn't make the game more attractive.

ihavearrived- The most watched club match ever involved Crystal Palace ,as we were the first British team to sign Chinese players and half of CHina watched.

Also contrary to popular belief, we were the BRitish first team to tour China not Man UTD.

Alf, you speak the truth mate. Loyalty before winning for us real fans!!

West Ham should have represented Europe, they play the most attractive football, and they don't fall over getting free penalties all the time.

You are clearly living in the past. West Ham are the most irritating team to watch in the PL, along with the dirty Mackems. Howaythelads!!! Go Gamba!

AlfGarnett - still waiting on that proof that Manchester United have bribed their way to success. Also you can add to that request one for evidence that shows the millions that the British government have given to one football club.

Thenewfront - what were the viewing figures for this most watched ever club game, and who was it against? I was under the impression that the FA Cup final (and possibly the Champions League final) were the most watched in terms of potential viewing figures (meaning the number of countries and households it could be seen by)

Also, when did Crystal Palace tour China? That I would be very interested in.

West Ham is a deprived area, the BRitish government pumped millions into Manchester to make it richer, and now they keep winning

AlfGarnett - You are a real muppet if you think the British Government helped in some way or form to turn Manyoo into the super rich club they are today. (Though GBP700million in debt as we speak lol) The reason they are where they are, is because they saw the vision to market their team better than any of their rivals. It also helps when they keep reeling a long list of players of the team sheet that sell umpteen shirts in the MUFC Store. Cantona, Becks and now that goon Ronaldo. They have been and still are the market leaders in marketing their product worldwide, and though most of the football community hate them, they are especially good at what they do.

why dont West Ham buy some players then?If they are wanting to be competitive, that is what they should do.

Sounds easy, though with your sponser going belly up, your fringe players on huge contracts sucking the lifeblood out of the club and a GBP30mil lawsuit in progress it's quite hard to see them staying in the Premier League as it is. Their best bet is to rely on there academy, which over the years has produced some fine players.

Crystal Palace were the first British team to tour CHina in 1998/1999 season inclding a draw against the Chinese national team.

Also i remeber us beating Man U 5-0 in the 70's before they were stinking rich. Check there admission and season ticket prices. Real fans, real working class fans are priced out, for a bunch of glory hunters.

When i lived 5 mins walk away from Selhurst Park, i saw more peolle wearing Man U sgirts than Plaace, pathetic.

I don'T know eact viewing figures for Palace'S fist match with 2 Chinese players, but it was broadcast on national TV in China and was reported on news at the team as easliy the most watched match ever.

Hey, i love soccer man. I always support Manchester United, they are the best and keep on winning, like, kind.

If you support a team, you support the best, makes sens huh?

I want to tell eveyone my team is the best and to see them keep winning, it make me feel cool and better than other people, you dig?

Alf- I've been a Hammers fan for donkey's years, having visited Upton Park for the first time in 1972. I totally agree with you about ManUre fans (glory fans) but I don't share your contempt of ManUre. As you know, the mighty Irons (=West Ham for those that don't know) have a fantastic history of nurturing new talent at their 'academy' (recent England squads have contained many ex-academy students: Lampard, Carrick, Defoe, J.Cole, Ferdinand, Terry, Campbell.) And let's not forget West Ham won the World Cup in 1966! (capt=Moore, scorers=Hurst, Peters, all ex-academy.) But like it or not, ManUre actually bring on young players as well as buying top players with their limitless finances. This is in stark contrast to Chelski or the Arse.

As for this tournament: I don't understand the whingers. You like football, but you don't want to see it played?

Sounds easy, though with your sponser going belly up, your fringe players on huge contracts sucking the lifeblood out of the club and a GBP30mil lawsuit in progress it's quite hard to see them staying in the Premier League as it is. Their best bet is to rely on there academy, which over the years has produced some fine players. The shirt sponsor hasn't really hurt them. What has hurt them is, as you say, buying fringe players and paying them top end wages. Dyer, Bowyer, Parker, Bellamy, I mean c'mon, Curbishley was absolutely clueless to buy these crocks. However being a Newcastle Utd fan, I do thank him for relieving our club of the deadwood. If the Hammers do go down, they'll stay down because of the lawsuit. They really do need a cleanout of personnel.

Woops sorry about that. I'll try that again...

Sounds easy, though with your sponser going belly up, your fringe players on huge contracts sucking the lifeblood out of the club and a GBP30mil lawsuit in progress it's quite hard to see them staying in the Premier League as it is. Their best bet is to rely on there academy, which over the years has produced some fine players.

The shirt sponsor hasn't really hurt them. What has hurt them is, as you say, buying fringe players and paying them top end wages. Dyer, Bowyer, Parker, Bellamy, I mean c'mon, Curbishley was absolutely clueless to buy these crocks. However being a Newcastle Utd fan, I do thank him for relieving our club of the deadwood. If the Hammers do go down, they'll stay down because of the lawsuit. They really do need a cleanout of personnel.

Down my local pub The Nags Head you'd get a kicking for wearing a Man U top. If yer from South London, you support either, Millwall, Charlton or Palace, not some team 200 miles away.

Why does they have so many fans in Japan, answer, because thick people always want to be involved with winners, sad gits.

Football has lost all its passion. Its all for money these days, not the sport or the fans. If you support a team you have no connection to you are just a dipstick who don't understand the passion and subtleties of the beautifull game.

Man U, nah , give me Millwall on a cold rainy December afternoon anytime.

Let's support people on 150,000 Pounds a week, when old war hero pensioners get 5,000 Pounds a year. Well done Man U glory hunter wally brains for financing these over paid prima donnas.

Moderator: Readers, please stay on topic. The subject is Manchester United's visit to Japan for the Club World Cup.

I find the adulation of this football club rather more revolting than even my father and his disgusting habits.

As a Shepherds Bush resident i obviously support QPR, even though i see many more people wearing Man Utd and LIverpool tops around here than QPR ones, it disgusts me.

You support a team for loyalty not for what they win,. People like BarryHObarmy are destroying football. We have many decent clubs with grounds half full, becaus ethey are all watching the big 4 on Sky.

GIve the greedy players a maximum salary to make things fairer like the old days.

Man Utd are winners in capitilism, and i think recent world events have shown capitilism fails the majority, oh yes.

I hope Man Utd lose they are only in Japan for the money nothing more nothing less.

Liverpool supporters in Yokahama stay clear.

Ironically, a shade of (s*it) brown, ridiculously overhyped, overpriced tat.

Manyoo, the 'Loius Vuitton' of Football. Perhaps thats why they are so popular here in Japan.

I can't believe I'm going to have to defend Man Yoo but: Man Utd are winners in capitilism, and i think recent world events have shown capitilism fails the majority, oh yes.

I hope Man Utd lose they are only in Japan for the money nothing more nothing less.

Man You are in Japan because they won the European Champions League and as such have to come. Every European winner comes over here. They may be making money out of it but they have very little choice and I think if they did have a choice they'd prefer to focus on the Premier League.

Oh and OzKen... before West Ham go down, I'd be happy if they signed Cacapa and Duff... just to get rid of a bit more of our deadwood.