Allgemeines » franchise history at 23-8, trailed by only a point, twice. Bo

It may have been Chelsea who recently featured in an episode of The Simpsons, but its Manchester United who have morphed into a mere caricature of themselves. Rooneys latest piece of football genius lost in the furore which now stalks David Moyes, and the man who gave the Manchester United striker his start as a 16-year old at Goodison Park back in 2002. Verbally abused as he sat in the dugout during the later stages of yet another disjointed performance in the midweek Manchester Derby - a banner which proclaimed the Ferguson rubber stamped appointment has now become a focal point for growing supporter fury with the 50-year old Scotsman. The Chosen One has become the Chastised One. The Old Trafford storm clouds are certainly gathering and how Moyes will hope that infamous Manchester rain will play its part just ahead of the kick off against Aston Villa Saturday when most of the 75,000 in attendance will be gazing skyward at a plane which will trail a, "Wrong One: Moyes Out" banner. Weve moved on then from a time where fans would meet down the pub pre-match and march in protest to the ground. This fly by is not the work of a few mavericks merely looking for cheap publicity at Moyes expense, but is the response to a season lost from the all influential Red Issue Fanzine. Raising the $1,500 cost in less time it took for Toure to bang in a third Manchester City goal, earlier Friday Red Issue explained their motivation for organizing the fly by protest in a statement to the media. "The decision to fly a plane over Old Trafford bearing the slogan Wrong One: Moyes Out is one born out of acute frustration. It is frustration at the poor results, lack of fight on the pitch and the unavoidable signs that David Moyes isnt up to the highest standards required to manage Manchester United Football Club." "A significant proportion of Manchester United fans have had enough and unequivocally want David Moyes sacked. Further frustration has been created from the inaccurate perception that all Manchester United fans are behind David Moyes." "The plane and banner which will fly over the stadium this Saturday attempts to directly counter this very unpopular [Chosen One] banner with the words Wrong One and the Moyes Out wording is our statement of what a significant group of Manchester United fans want to happen next at our club." Choice words. To his credit at Fridays pre-match press conference, Moyes defended the supporters right to protest and reiterated his appreciations to all the supporters who continue to back him. Intriguingly that number includes the supporter who rose to Old Trafford infamy when back in 1989 he unfurled a banner which demanded Fergsuon depart a club he had been in charge of for three years but was yet to deliver any silverware. We all know now how that ended. Such though has been the dramatic fall from grace under Moyes, even the leagues CEO Richard Scudamore felt compelled to discuss the matter when stating a belief Manchester Uniteds current predicament was bad for business. No club in English football is more passionately followed across the globe than the champions. The season long funk has also wreaked havoc with Rio Ferdinands personal and social life. The six-time BPL winner has disclosed a preference currently for not taking his kids to school or go out for an evening. This, as ways to avoid supporters and the embarrassment of a season that even with seven matches remaining will return the lowest point total for Manchester United in the Premier League era. Astonishingly, Sir Alex Ferguson is no longer immune from abuse; this occurring as he was sat up in his directors box perch Wednesday evening. Not only did Ferguson leave Moyes soiled goods with many players clearly past their sell by date, there is also a growing sense Ferguson did most of the bidding for the much despised Glazer family. Since they took control in 2005, the owners are reported to have taken $1 biliion out of the club. This income has been taken out to service interest payments and meet other financial demands. Money supporters say should have been reinvested in the squad. To arrest the decline it will take more than the type of panic buying that saw Manchester United pay well over the market odds for Fellaini in the summer and Mata in January. Let there be no doubt these are unprecedented times at Old Trafford. One of the more popular London tabloids spoke Thursday of a coup led by the class of 92 and bankrolled by oil money. Even the New York Stock Exchange got in on the action when the clubs share price rose five per cent. For a club which has already lost six BPL matches at home, Moyes will need a significant response from his players Saturday. Up next is an April Fools Day date with the European Champions Bayern Munich. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at: Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Custom Washington Nationals Jerseys . -- League scoring leader Anthony Mantha had two goals and two assists to lead the Val-dOr Foreurs over the Blainville-Boisbriand Phoenix 6-3 on Wednesay in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Wednesday. Trea Turner Jersey .com) - The Los Angeles Kings werent playing their best hockey before the league went on break during the Winter Olympics. http://www.officialnationalsgearshop.com/Nationals-Gio-Gonzalez-Kids-Jersey/ .5 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, a deal that covers his final two arbitration seasons. Stephen Strasburg Jersey .Martin Caceres marked his return from injury by scoring in the 3-1 win at Napoli and he believes Juventus sent out a warning to the rest of the league with that result.We go out on the pitch every game looking to give our all, Caceres said. Washington Nationals Jerseys . -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens.Memphis, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Conley filled the stat sheet with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists to guide the Memphis Grizzlies to a 95-87 win over the short-handed San Antonio Spurs. Marc Gasol chipped in 17 points and nine boards for the Grizzlies, who exacted a bit of revenge on the Spurs. San Antonio snapped Memphis franchise-record 22-game home winning streak on Dec. 5. The teams then played a triple-overtime thriller won by the Grizzlies, 117-116, on Dec. 17. Tayshaun Prince totaled 12 points for the Grizzlies, who have won back-to-back contests following a four-game skid. The Spurs, who played without Kawhi Leonard (bruised right hand) and Tony Parker (strained left hamstring), lost for the seventh time in nine games. Marco Belinelli and Cory Joseph each had 18 points for San Antonio. Tim Duncan chipped in nine points and 10 rebounds. The Grizzlies, off to their best start in franchise history at 23-8, trailed by only a point, twice. Both of those times came in the early stages of the game. Memphis shot 13-of--21 in the first quarter, led by a 7-of-8, 16-point effort from Conley.dddddddddddd The hosts embarked on an 11-1 burst, capped off by a layup from Tony Allen and a technical free throw from Courtney Lee for a 13-4 lead. Conleys 3-pointer in the waning seconds provided a 30-20 cushion after 12 minutes. The Spurs struggled to a 6-of-19 shooting performance in the second quarter, and trailed 52-38 at the break. The visitors were behind 74-63 going to the fourth. Duncans jumper had the Spurs within 80-77 midway through the fourth, but Gasol countered with a jumper and Prince nailed a long-range 2-pointer for an 84-77 edge. Conley then made two from the charity stripe with 3:37 left to cap the 6-0 run and essentially seal the outcome. Game Notes Conley went 10-of-13 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range ... Patty Mills scored 10 for the Spurs, who were 5-of-22 from beyond the arc. Belinelli made four of those shots ... San Antonio had won its previous five in Memphis. ' ' '