Where did the moniker Prawn Sandwich Brigade come from?

It sometimes seems as though Manchester United fans have been known as the Prawn Sandwich Brigade forever. In actuality, the phrase was coined less than eight years ago after Roy Keane lambasted United’s home support following a cagey, 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev.

In conversation with BBC Radio, the skipper remarked, “Our fans away from home are as good as any; but some of them come here and, you have to wonder, do they understand the game of football?” He continued, “At the end of the day, they need to get behind the team. Away from home our fans are fantastic. I’d call them the hardcore fans. But at home they probably have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches and they don’t realize what’s going on out on the pitch. I don’t think some of the people who come to Old Trafford can spell football, never mind understand it.”

Coincidentally, Sir Alex Ferguson has been at pains to coax some atmosphere from United’s supporters throughout the current season as well. On more than one occasion, the manager has reprimanded the Old Trafford faithful for their collective lethargy – most notably ahead of last week’s Champions’ League semifinal second-leg against Barcelona.

The prawn sandwich stereotype is one that rival fans have been quick to latch onto. Of course, this is due to United’s overwhelming success in English football and the resentment and jealousy which has come as a byproduct. That said, the club’s run of accomplishments has created something of a rather supercilious atmosphere at Old Trafford. And, assuming that United beat Wigan and win the Premier League on Sunday, it is an air that countless United supporters will be sure to take on between now and the Champions’ League final.

If, perchance, you happen to count yourself a member of the brigade, the following recipe goes quite well with league and European doubles.

Ingredients:

• 1 slice of Burgen Soya and Linseed Bread
• 1 tablespoon of crème fraiche
• 2 pinches of paprika
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• thinly-sliced avocado cheese
• olive oil
• 4 raw king prawns

Recipe:

• Mix the crème fraiche with paprika and lemon juice. Spread over Linseed bread.
• Add the cheese
• Stir-fry the prawns in oil until pink. Place atop cheese.
• Serve with ground pepper

What is the status of Ronaldinho?

After moving to Paris Saint-Germain from Gremio in the summer of 2001, Ronaldinho made 28 appearances for the Ligue 1 side and scored 10 goals. This season, with only 26 matches and 9 goals under his belt, the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year is about to complete the most futile campaign of his career.

Out of the Barcelona squad since March 9, the 28-year-old has likely played his final match for the Blaugranes. Just why, exactly, he has been shelved for the better part of two months remains hopelessly unclear. A lingering adductor pull was initially thought to be the problem. But an aggravated thigh is hardly enough to keep a world-class, fully-fit footballer on the sidelines.

And therein lies the truth – or, at least, the closest thing to it. Ronaldinho is unfit. As it happens, he made a spontaneous visit to a Barcelona clinic at 1:00am over the weekend. And after completing a physical examination, it was revealed that his conditioning was even poorer than first thought.

The state of his fitness also prevented an expected move to AC Milan in late April. The Italian giants, having already agreed personal terms with Ronaldinho, pulled out of the deal after Barcelona president Joan Laporta held firm to his €40million valuation of the player. Silvio Berlusconi, it turned out, was uncomfortable with paying so much for a footballer surrounded by question-marks.

“I have always been doubtful whether Ronaldinho is needed,” stated the Milan owner. “At this point, I really think we don’t need him.”

Just days later, Milan signed Mathieu Flamini instead. Local rivals Inter Milan are still thought to be interested in Ronaldinho; and Chelsea may have something to say about his next destination as well. At this point, however, very little is certain. Once widely regarded as the finest footballer on the planet, Ronaldinho’s belly has begun to outgrow his legend.

How will the loss of Mathieu Flamini affect Arsenal?

Mathieu Flamini has a rather interesting story. Until this autumn, he was never held in any esteem at Arsenal. Rarely anything more than a squad player over the three seasons after his arrival from Marseille, he filled in for the likes of Gilberto Silva in central midfield and Ashley Cole at left-back.

Injuries to Gilberto Silvo and Abou Diaby at the start of 2007-2008 presented Flamini with an opening. And he took full advantage. Immediately striking an impressive partnership with Cesc Fabregas in the centre of the park, the 23-year-old quickly went from afterthought to integral cog in Arsene Wenger’s youth movement.

Having said that, Wenger’s disappointment at Flamini’s exit was somewhat overdone. Sure, the Frenchman had established himself as a consistent Premier League player. But he was a complementary player. His role was to bring out the best in Fabregas. And that is the type of player which can be replaced. Keeping Fabregas at Emirates Stadium, however, is another task entirely.

Real Madrid went public with their interest in Fabregas this week. President Ramon Calderon is expected to pursue a pan-Spanish mandate over the summer transfer period – and the talismanic 21-year-old would fit the bill nicely. The Meringues have reportedly offered £35million for Fabregas. And while it is obvious that Arsenal will reject the deal, they cannot be expected to keep the budding superstar in north London for long.

Wenger, it seems, is becoming a victim of his own, rigid salary structure. Flamini flew the coop after rejecting the manager’s low-ball offer of £55,000 per week. And if Fabregas cannot earn considerably more money in the near future, he will surely follow his former teammate to greener pastures.

We are already seeing Wenger’s cards crumble with Inter Milan’s approach for Alexandre Hleb. The Italians’ move for the Belarusian drew the ire of the Gunners boss; and he may file an official complaint with FIFA regarding the alleged tapping-up of the 27-year-old.

Instead of scolding Flamini for joining AC Milan and berating Madrid and Inter for their advances, Wenger should concern himself with improving his squad by buying better, proven players while loosening the restraints of his self-imposed wage configuration. After all, Flamini’s exit might simply be down to money. But don’t rule out the possibility that, in the back of his head, he reckoned that Arsenal are not as good as Wenger would like to think.

Have a question about football? Email your query to jerradpeters@gmail.com.

Jerrad Peters is a football journalist based in Winnipeg, Canada and a correspondent for Soccer365.com. His weekly column for the Winnipeg Free Press is the largest of its kind in the country. A regular contributor to ESPN Soccernet and Soccer Three-Sixty, his work has also appeared on TheMirror.co.uk, Canadian-soccer.com, Footy247.co.uk, Foot2ball.com, and Squadinfo.com.