Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[imom]

United deny Berbatov interest
Eurosport - Fri, 24 Aug 23:05:00 2007

Manchester United have "categorically" denied they have made enquiries to Tottenham about striker Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian's agent had claimed the Premier League champions were interested in signing the goal ace, but United chief executive David Gill insisted no move has been made.

"We have categorically not made a bid for Dimitar Berbatov," Gill said.

Earlier, Emil Danchev had told Bulgarian Darik radio: "We had a 90-minute meeting with Tottenham's chairman Daniel Levy and with sporting director Damien Comolli over Dimitar's future.

"They informed us that there's a query from Manchester United about the possibility of Berbatov joining them."

The Premier League champions were rumoured to be tracking the 26-year-old earlier in the summer, although no official approach was made.

Danchev added: "They [Tottenham] let us believe that they want Dimitar to stay for another season because they have ambitions to finish among top four teams in the Premiership but they told us they'll have a meeting in the next day or two to decide his future."

Berbatov was a revelation since arriving in England from Bayer Leverkusen at the beginning of last season scoring 12 league goals during his debut campaign. That kind of form prompted Spurs boss Martin Jol to claim he would "rather die than sell him".

[asiancigar]

Man Utd eyeing Berbatov
Sunday August 26 2007 00:00 IST

REUTERS

SOFIA: Manchester United are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov, the player's agent said on Friday.

"We had a 90-minute meeting with Tottenham's chairman Daniel Levy and with sporting director Damien Comolli over Dimitar's future," Emil Danchev told Bulgarian Darik radio.

"They informed us that there's a query from Manchester United about the possibility of Berbatov joining them."

The 26-year-old Bulgaria captain scored 12 league goals during the 2006-07 season after joining Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen.

"They (Tottenham bosses) let us believe that they want Dimitar to stay for another season because they have ambitions to finish among top four teams in the Premiership but... they told us they'll have a meeting in the next day or two to decide his future.

[asiancigar]

Fergie to wait on Saha
United boss considering options

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is waiting on the fitness of striker Louis Saha before deciding whether to bolster his strike force.

The experienced Scot is short of attacking options with Wayne Rooney out injured and Alan Smith having moved to Newcastle United.

Saha is nearing full fitness and Ferguson is waiting to see how the striker fairs against Spurs on Sunday before deciding whether to get out the chequebook.

"Saha coming back would be a massive boost for us and you're right, he could save us a lot of money," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"He's been out for a long time, so we will see how he feels.

"He has trained well for the last couple of weeks and while I don't think he'll start against Spurs, he could be involved.

"As for Rooney, he's fine. He's jogging and he even wanted to play against Spurs! It's quite possible he'll be back in three weeks."

[imom]

Originally Posted by asiancigar

..."As for Rooney, he's fine. He's jogging and he even wanted to play against Spurs!"...

What a bull! Talk about desire to be involved in everything. He always looks so damn disappointed when he's taken off. That's the kind of commitment we want from every player!

[qbdp]

Boffins rebuilding Rooney

Sir Alex Ferguson is turning to science in an effort to help lift the metatarsal curse plaguing Manchester United

We can rebuild him. We have the technology. Previously, Wayne Rooney has seemed bionic only in terms of his footballing ability. Now, though, Manchester United are enlisting the help of boffins in their own sports science department, and at Rooney’s boot manufacturer, Nike, to try to make sure he will no longer be dogged by the foot problems that keep interrupting his career.

Rooney is out of action after breaking a metatarsal against Reading, the third such injury suffered by a player who is yet to turn 22. He is already back in light training and may be on course for another record-breaking return to fitness.

“Typical Rooney. He wanted to play [against Tottenham] on Sunday. ‘Give me an injection and I’ll play’. He’s fine, I’m positive about that, and he’ll be back in three or four weeks,” Sir Alex Ferguson revealed.

The manager, however, knows that relying on remarkable powers of recovery is no long-term solution to Rooney’s troubles and has ordered specialists to investigate why bones keep snapping in his feet.

These involve examining his running style and choice of boots, although Ferguson accepts that this latest injury, caused when Michael Duberry trod on his foot as he tried to shoot, had “nothing to do” with the Nike footwear that the striker uses and advertises. “I’ve spoken to Nike,” Ferguson said. “I went across the whole range of issues involved and they are not slow in getting solutions to make sure everyone’s happy, particularly their players. They don’t want one of their best clients, and our best players, being on the sidelines every year because he’s going to crack a bone. So they have been very good, very efficient in all the solutions they are preparing for him.”

After seeing a series of players under his charge suffer metatarsal injuries, including David Beckham and Gary Neville, Ferguson disclosed that he has already intervened to force manufacturers to alter the boots they provide for United’s stars.

“They [Nike] won’t be making a new boot for Wayne,” said Ferguson. “They have gone over the whole thing about the boot, and Wayne and all our players are playing with a reinforced sole anyway. That’s at my behest. The stronger sole satisfies me that we are doing everything we can to make sure we don’t get these kind of injuries.

“In fairness to our point of view, the market in that particular sports field has become, to my mind, more commercialised in terms of [putting] appearance over effectiveness.”

Ferguson has also asked United’s physiotherapist, Rob Swire, and his team of specialists to scrutinise the way Rooney runs in an attempt to get to the root of his problems. “Duberry is about 13 or 14st, and with that coming down on top of Wayne, I think it was just luck. We can’t look at there being a weakness in his bone structure or anything like that, and with Wayne I very much doubt it’s a mental problem.

“We’re looking at his running style. It is very powerful and he comes down heavily on the ground. We have to look at these things. We don’t think it’s the problem, but it’s something we will look at anyway because we want to make sure we have looked at all the solutions and we know where we are going with it,” added Ferguson.

[qbdp]

Anderson on Red alert

UNITED are set to add a touch of Brazilian blend to help rejuvenate their season.

The Samba magic that Sir Alex Ferguson hopes 19-year-old Anderson will bring to the Reds has been under wraps in the Premier League.

Since his £17m arrival from Porto, the promising South American midfielder has only been viewed briefly on pre- season friendly duty.

A late holiday because of his Copa America duty with Brazil and a hamstring injury have kept his outings to a minimum.

But Fergie is preparing to introduce Anderson to Old Trafford against Spurs tomorrow, when he could start on the bench.

"Anderson has had a full week's training," said Sir Alex.

"He wasn't involved with Brazil during the week, which gave us the opportunity to get more training into him. He is looking much better.

"He and Carlos Tevez have looked good this week and he will be involved tomorrow."

Anderson is the last of United's quartet of summer recruits to make his official debut in a competitive game, following on from Tevez, Nani and Owen Hargreaves.

While Anderson will provide flair, it is a goalscoring cutting edge that United need most at present.

Sobering

Tevez has been shouldering the burden after the Reds lost Wayne Rooney (broken foot) and Cristiano Ronaldo (three-match ban).

But just one goal at Portsmouth in 270 minutes of Premiership action has left United in a sobering 16th position.

Louis Saha, however, is being lined up as back-up tomorrow if the misfiring Reds continue.

The Frenchman is on standby to make his first League appearance since last February.

"We are hoping we can get Louis on the bench. We are hopeful because he has done very well over the last two weeks," added the United boss.

"There is maybe some light at the end of the tunnel for us. Louis is an out-and-out front player. As we know he has pace and power.

"He gave us 15 goals in the first half of last season. If he had continued playing he might have got near the 30 mark.

"That is a loss and a big loss to us in the second half of last season. We just never got him back on the field. A combination of a hamstring injury, then a knee injury which required an operation, ruled him out completely for us.

"But he has been doing well in training over the last two weeks. If he does come back for us, it will be a big boost."

Ferguson was hoping that captain Gary Neville would add to the list of players ready to vacate the Carrington treatment room.

Frustrating

But the full-back, sidelined since March with ankle ligaments trouble, is out for a further fortnight with a new setback.

Added Sir Alex: "Unfortunately Gary has got a thigh strain which will probably keep him out for a fortnight.

"It is a frustrating one for him. I think it was just his eagerness to get back in. He did a bit extra in training and has got himself a thigh muscle strain. It is a bit of a blow for him."

Owen Hargreaves suffered some reaction with his knee tendinitis again following his derby debut against City.

But, having missed England's friendly defeat to Germany in midweek to rest the problem, Fergie believes the midfielder will be okay for an Old Trafford bow against Tottenham.

Edwin van der Sar is set to retain his goalkeeping despite having been forced out of Holland's international on Wednesday. The Reds sent him for a scan on a knock, which came back clear.

[qbdp]

Palace in £1m plot to help Heinze join Liverpool

Crystal Palace were offered an astonishing 'commission', thought to be around £1 million, to act as a go-between in an elaborately conceived transfer plot to get Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United to Liverpool.

And now United are demanding that the Football Association investigate Liverpool's role in the affair, which is turning out to be a dramatic follow-up of the Argentine's £8m move to Real Madrid last Thursday.

The plan, allegedly thought up by Heinze's representatives, called for Palace to buy the player from United then sell him on to Liverpool.

It foundered when the London club refused to cooperate and, instead, made both Manchester United and the Premier League aware of the approach.

Palace chief executive Phil Alexander subsequently gave evidence about both the contact and the proposed financial incentive, made by a lawyer named Richard Green purporting to be acting on behalf of Heinze's agents, to the Premier League tribunal who decided to uphold United's stance in refusing to sell the defender to their Merseyside rivals.

'I presented evidence about the approach to the Premier League and to Manchester United. It was up to the League to interpret it as they saw fit,' said Alexander, who also insisted the contact came completely out of the blue without any possible prior inclination that Palace might be willing to co-operate in the matter.

Although Heinze's representative Roberto Rodriguez insisted he knew nothing about the approach to Palace, the two-man commission of Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards and Peter McCormack, a solicitor and former Leeds United director, threw out the South American's claims and backed Alexander's version of what happened, making it a major factor in their decision.

Now the Premier League are piecing together a dossier containing all the details about the attempt to involve Palace and will present it to the FA.

'There will obviously be an inquiry,' said a league source. Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that United would be pressing hard for a full FA investigation into whether Liverpool had any prior knowledge of the convoluted transfer scheme.

'We are certainly investigating that and I would imagine we will be going to the FA,' he insisted.

Asked whether United would make an official complaint to the FA, the United manager answered: 'We are investigating Liverpool at this moment in time. That is all I can say. Absolutely, we will take it as far as it goes.'

[machoman]

Ferguson sounds title warning after opening win
Monday, August 27, 2007, 08:15:53 HRS

Sir Alex Ferguson sounded a warning to Manchester United's title rivals after the reigning Premier League champions finally got their season up and running with victory over Tottenham on Sunday.

A spectacular 30-yard goal from young Portuguese talent Nani, his first for the club, earned United their first victory of the season and lifted them up to 10th in the table after they had started the day next to bottom.

However, United were far from convincing and survived two second half penalty appeals after Dimitar Berbatov went sprawling under a challenge from Nemanja Vidic before referee Howard Webb waved away another protest after Berbatov's shot hit Wes Brown.

Tottenham manager Martin Jol is convinced it struck the England defender's hand, but Ferguson insists Webb made the right decision.

Despite his side's nervous performance, Ferguson believes United will continue to make up for lost ground after failing to register a win in the opening three games.

United entertain newly-promoted Sunderland, managed by former United star Roy Keane, on Saturday.

"We've got players to come back so we're going to have to be patient," said Ferguson.

"But we have a lot of quality and we will build on this. There was nothing in the game in the second half. But we dug in and showed great commitment.

"One-nil is a good scoreline because like ourselves, Tottenham are in a wrong position in the table.

"As for the the penalty appeal involving Wes Brown, at the time Tottenham protested so much that I thought it must have been a penalty. But I've seen it again and it hit his chest. I'm sure of that."

Asked if he thought Webb would have awarded the penalty had it happened in the other penalty area, Tottenham manager Martin Jol responded: "Yes."

He added: "I'm very disappointed we didn't get a point," Jol added after a turbulent few days for the Dutchman, whose long-term future at White Hart Lane has been called into question.

"Manchester United were there for the taking. They didn't look comfortable or confident. Maybe we lacked a bit of cutting edge."

ne positive for Jol was the performance of teenage Welsh international Gareth Bale who marked his debut with an eye-catching performance.

The 10 million pound signing from Southampton was outstanding and earned special praise from Jol.

"I feel Bale is a wonderful talent," he added.

- AFP

[asiancigar]

Our campaign starts from here.......

Ole Ole Ole......... ManU Forever !

Cheerz
AC

[chickenzip]

ManU 1 - 0 Spurs

Edwin Van der Sar - decent game...his punching showed abit lacking...which should not be the case given his height.

Wes Brown - was caught out a bit by Bale & Lee...but showed great determination to block off an all important shot from spurs.

Patrice Evra - decent defending...and again show very great attacking instincts...

Rio Ferdinand - again yet another disappointing performance...when will the defenders ever learn....never turn your back against your own goal. Vidic did the same mistake during Mancity game and resulted in the goal. This time, Rio did the same and Robbie Keane hit the post...then in his own box, he suddenly become like a lost soul man and lost possesion to a spur player. luckily his blunder did not cause a goal.

Nemanja Vidic - decent defend work, but have yet to recopy his form from last season.

Michael Carrick - dreadful game...a stray pass to Vidic almost gifted spur a goal.

Ryan Giggs - seemed to lost his "creativity" to unlock spur defend...lost some possesion easily also.

Owen Hargreaves - with a much improved fitness, he lasted the whole game with a solid display. will replace carrick in midfield in the next game, if SAF partner Saha with Tevez.

Luis Nani - hope he can fire his shots with the same accuracy and power in the coming games. he can try to take on the defenders more...Ronaldo did that sometimes to draw defenders to him so he could pass to any open manu players.

Paul Scholes - like giggs, quiet games...we miss his precise passings...

Carlos Tevez - thou he can hold on to the ball well, but he is clearly not this type of player. wonder y the rest of the players seldom pass a thru ball for him to chase...he got the pace and power and tat's what he is good at...i believe.

C Eagle - lively sub...make some decent run on the right flank...i think he will be given more games this season.

D Fletcher - unless carrick continued his slum...he will be only a useful sub at most.

Man U off e mark finally

[Mafan]

Originally Posted by chickenzip

ManU 1 - 0 Spurs

Carlos Tevez - thou he can hold on to the ball well, but he is clearly not this type of player. wonder y the rest of the players seldom pass a thru ball for him to chase...he got the pace and power and tat's what he is good at...i believe.

from the 2 games i notice he will be out run by those defender dont know why if he have pak speed or ron that would be great.

[machoman]

Originally Posted by chickenzip

ManU 1 - 0 Spurs

Rio Ferdinand - again yet another disappointing performance...when will the defenders ever learn....never turn your back against your own goal. Vidic did the same mistake during Mancity game and resulted in the goal. This time, Rio did the same and Robbie Keane hit the post...then in his own box, he suddenly become like a lost soul man and lost possesion to a spur player. luckily his blunder did not cause a goal.

Really makes me wonder why he is the most expensive defender in the BPL?

[asiancigar]

'Supersub' Solskjaer calls time on career

One of the great Premier League careers will come to a close today when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer announces his retirement from football after 11 years at Manchester United. The Norwegian international has finally succumbed to the knee injuries that have plagued him over the last four years.

Solskjaer, 34, last played as a substitute against Chelsea in the FA Cup final in May, his 366th United game during which he has scored 126 goals. Ironically for the man once known as a supersub – 150 United appearances have been off the bench – it is now that Sir Alex Ferguson needs a fit and sharp Solskjaer.

Solskjaer has coached United's youth teams during his long recent absences through injury and he has indicated that a career in management beckons when his playing days are over. However, in his latest contract with United there is a section that gives him an option to work as an "ambassador" for the club.

He is understood to be the first player to be offered such a deal and it reflects his standing with the club's fans. Famously the scorer of the winner against Bayern Munich for United in Barcelona in 1999 when they won the European Cup for the second time in the club's history, Solskjaer's decline has been sad and prolonged.

Last season he played 32 games and scored 11 goals in all competitions for United which was his most significant contribution since the 2002-2003 season. Unfortunately his injury problems began just when it seemed – after seven years – he was destined to become a first-choice player for United. David Beckham had been sold that summer after Ferguson judged him expendable because of Solskjaer's successful conversion to right midfield.

However, he hurt his knee against Charlton in September 2003 and, despite playing and scoring against Panathinaikos in the Champions League three days later, he was seriously injured. Solskjaer missed five months and, having returned to action in February, re-injured his knee the following summer. He missed the entire 2004-05 season and played only five games in 2005-06.

Injuries have prevented him from taking part in United's games this season and his announcement came after overwhelming medical advice that he will never reach the standards he once set as a player. Signed for £1.5m from Molde in Norway in 1996, he has proved one of Ferguson's most astute transfers.

The son of a professional wrestler in Norway, Solskjaer has proved enduringly popular with United fans who sang his name during the victory over Tottenham on Sunday. He leaves United with six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one Champions League medal and one Carling Cup.

[yinyang]

Originally Posted by chickenzip

...Rio Ferdinand - again yet another disappointing performance...when will the defenders ever learn....never turn your back against your own goal...a lost soul man and lost possesion to a spur player.

Kns, he even forgot to pee (ref his suspension awhile back). Ditto his england performance. Luckily, berbatov's poke lacked punch or power so he redeemed himself with clearance.