Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[asiancigar]

Here is another moment to savor the Goal of the Season by Berba.....

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=10657 9554

He deserves all the accolades........

NB. not since 1946 has any United player scored a hat-trick against Liverpool

Cheerz
AC

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by asiancigar

Anyone care to place a bet that we will be in the Finals for CL, FA and/or challenging for 1st or 2nd in the EPL.......... i will makan your bet.

Cheerz
AC

Bro, the season is still early. United is traditionally slow to get off the blocks. Yes, United dropped unnecessary points against Fulham and Everton which may yet come back to haunt them at the end of the season.

Whether or not at the end, United does win any silverware this season remains to be seen.

As a die-hard United supporter, what we hope to see is the team play like the United we know. If the opponents score 2, we will charge up and score 3. That's the United spirit. That's the football that United will dish out. That is Sir Alex's football philosophy.

As far as I am concerned, United are not out of the title race. Injuries and suspensions and the form of the team will play a big part come the months of Dec and January. United will be thereabouts, I'm sure.

Let's not be distracted by the Glazers as long as they leave the footballing matters to Sir Alex.

Come May 2011, the 19th title may just be won. So let's get behind the team and cheer them all the way.

[machoman]

Originally Posted by asiancigar

Here is another moment to savor the Goal of the Season by Berba.....

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=10657 9554

He deserves all the accolades........

NB. not since 1946 has any United player scored a hat-trick against Liverpool

Cheerz
AC

Thanks for posting, bro AC.

[richie_rich]

ALL CHANGE AGAIN FOR FERGUSON

Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to ring the changes once more as Manchester United continue their Premier League campaign at Bolton.

The United boss selected a completely different starting line-up for the midweek Carling Cup triumph over Scunthorpe, which he missed to go on a Champions League scouting mission in Valencia, and it would be no surprise if only Rio Ferdinand kept his place at the Reebok Stadium.

Ferguson has reported an encouraging return to training for Owen Hargreaves after his knee problems, although the England star is not under consideration for Sunday's game and Michael Carrick (Achilles) is still sidelined.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle must decide whether to recall Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Coyle has been impressed by the form of Adam Bogdan during Jaaskelainen's suspension, although it would be a major surprise if the Finn was not recalled.

Coyle is expected to revert to a full-strength line-up having made eight changes for the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Burnley - with Kevin Davies back from his ban to spearhead the Trotters attack. However, Gary Cahill serves the final game of a three-match suspension.

Teams:

Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Bogdan, Steinsson, Knight, Ricketts, Robinson, Alonso, Petrov, Taylor, Muamba, M Davies, Cohen, Holden, Moreno, Blake, Lee, K Davies, Elmander, Klasnic.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Neville, Rafael, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Smalling, Evra, Fabio, Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Anderson, Park, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney, Hernandez, Owen, Macheda

[richie_rich]

OWEN HARGREAVES CLOSE TO COMEBACK

Owen Hargreaves is inching his way towards his Manchester United comeback.

Hargreaves has managed just one minute of senior action in the past two years since undergoing surgery on both knees to try to cure a tendinitis problem.

Further doubts over the England midfielder's career were raised this summer when Ferguson sent him back to Dr Richard Steadman in Colorado after he experienced more discomfort during pre-season training.

Ferguson revealed earlier this month that Hargreaves would be returning to England in the near future and that encouragement was enhanced by Steadman's recent observations about how well the 29-year-old has been progressing.

Even so, no-one expected the United boss to be openly talking about Hargreaves actually playing quite so soon.

Yet, after seeing the midfielder in action on the training ground at Carrington this week, Ferguson is feeling quite bullish about a successful comeback.

"Owen has looked very good," he told MUTV.

"After being out for so long, we'll obviously have to monitor him and see how he's going to progress in the next few weeks. But it's good to see him back.

"Because he's been out for so long you have to see whether there's going to be a relapse.

"That's the first thing on our mind at the moment but having watched him in training on Thursday if he continues that way he's going to give me another selection problem, no question about that."

Another England star on the way back is Michael Carrick, who had an injection in his Achilles earlier this month to try to ease some growing discomfort.

Like Hargreaves, Carrick will not come into contention for Sunday's trip to Bolton but Ferguson is delighted with the 29-year-old's progress.

"It was nothing serious, just one of those niggling little problems you can get with your Achilles, particularly at the start of the season when grounds are firm," said the United boss.

"But he is fine and has started training."

As the Red Devils are now in a run of two games a week, Ferguson needs as many options as possible.

Some games are more important than others though, which is why he bypassed the Carling Cup trip to Scunthorpe on Wednesday in preference for a scouting mission in Valencia, United's next Champions League opponents on Wednesday.

It was only the third game Ferguson has missed in his 24-year stint as manager, which emphasises the importance he is placing on the trip to Spain.

That could also play a part in his team selection at the Reebok Stadium, although at least he will have one in-form striker in Dimitar Berbatov, who took his tally for the season to seven last weekend with his brilliant hat-trick against Liverpool, in the ranks.

"Any time you have a successful season you've always got a striker who's got you 25 goals and upwards," Ferguson told Key103.

"We have had it with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney last season and others before that.

"You want players who could get a percentage of goals that make the difference.

"If Dimitar keeps doing that, he's going to be the one this season."

That is not to discount Rooney.

Ferguson might be concerned at the scrutiny his star striker is under just now.

However, he is convinced Rooney's current lack of goals - a single effort from the penalty spot - is a temporary aberration.

"Wayne will get his form back, there is no doubt about that," he said.

"He just needs to get a couple of goals. That is down to confidence."

With big games coming up on a regular basis, Rooney will not be getting many rests, although as midfielder Darren Fletcher can testify after missing his first game of the season in midweek, that can be a good thing.

"You want to play every game," he said.

"We all know it is a squad game and we have plenty of strength in depth.

"But once you are in the team you want to stay in it.

"You enjoy the momentum it brings.

"When you get minutes under your belt, your touch and sharpness seems to be there."

[lacoruna69]

HT from ReeBok Stadium

Bolton 1 - 1 Man U

[lacoruna69]

It's 2 - 2. Owen to the rescue for Man U!!

[Rickey]

Lol, Man U seems to becoming draw specialists these days or giving away free goals to their opponents towards the end of the games they play as happened in their recent matches against Fulham, Everton and Liverpool.....cant even beat a lowly team like Bolton.....like tis how to be champions.... their defence is in very bad shape n needs to be tightened up securely.....maybe change all the defenders.....Ferguson needs to do something abt tis quickly if they ever want to snatch the League Championship back from Chelsea again...

To:- Alex Ferguson, dun be too confident...yr team is not playing well...want to be champions again ? then u
must do something now before it is too late....

[machoman]

Owen landmark rescues United at Bolton

Monday, September 27, 2010, 00:26:40 HRS

Manchester United's English forward Michael Owen controls the ball against Bolton Wanderers during their English Premier League football match at The Reebok Stadium in Bolton. Owen scored his 200th goal in English club football as United twice came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw against Bolton.

Michael Owen's 200th career goal in England rescued Manchester United from defeat as Sir Alex Ferguson's side were held to a 2-2 draw by Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.

Martin Petrov's first goal in a Bolton shirt looked to have earned the hosts a famous victory before substitute Owen popped up with a 74th-minute equaliser.

United went into the game knowing that victory would take them to within a point of leaders Chelsea.

But it required a brilliant piece of individual skill from Nani to cancel out Zat Knight's early opener in what was an absorbing contest.

United were looking to take advantage of the unexpected defeats suffered by Chelsea and Arsenal the previous day yet found themselves behind as early as the sixth minute.

Bolton had lost 10 of their previous 11 meetings against United and were hammered 4-0 in the corresponding fixture last season.

Yet the team that had not won at home since the final day of last season made the early breakthrough when Knight, who had only scored three top flight goals in three years, got ahead of Johnny Evans to divert the ball over the line following a corner.

It was a disastrous start by Ferguson's team whose defending has come under the microscope after conceding seven times in their previous five league outings.

In what was a frantic start, United responded with efforts by Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher but neither could beat Jussi Jaaskelainen, the Finland keeper who was returning from a three-match suspension.

Bolton might have been tempted to sit on their lead but Owen Coyle's side poured forward, Edwin van der Sar smothering the danger after Kevin Davies got a flick that almost set up Johan Elmander.

United were clearly unsettled and it required a brilliant individual run by Nani for them to draw level midway through the first half.

The Portuguese winger picked up a loose ball inside his own half before embarking on a powerful run in which he motored past three players before beating Jaaskelainen with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

United ended the half strongly, Wayne Rooney flashing a powerful effort narrowly over the bar after creating space for himself on the edge of the area.

Manchester United's Italian forward Federico Macheda (L) and Bolton Wanderers' Bulgarian midfielder Martin Petrov compete for the ball during their English Premier League football match at The Reebok Stadium in Bolton. Man United's Michael Owen scored his 200th goal in club football as the team twice came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw against Bolton.

But Bolton were by no means overawed and it required a timely challenge by Fletcher to deny Elmander after the Swedish striker had burst through the visitors defence.

The frustration was beginning to show. Rooney, subdued by his usual standards, lasted just 16 minutes of the second half before he was replaced by Federico Macheda while a hamstring problem brought Giggs' afternoon to a premature end.

Dimitar Berbatov, six goals in his previous five league outings, forced a fine save from Jaaskelainen before Petrov's excellent 67th minute finish left home fans dreaming of a first win over United since 2007.

The Bulgarian produced a sweet finish after being teed up by Kevin Davies following great vision from Chung-Yong Lee.

But Bolton were unable to hang on to their lead and three minutes after replacing Fletcher, Owen equalised with a clever back header following Nani's free kick - a thrilling end to a great game.

- AFP

[machoman]

Originally Posted by Rickey

Lol, Man U seems to becoming draw specialists these days or giving away free goals to their opponents towards the end of the games they play as happened in their recent matches against Fulham, Everton and Liverpool.....cant even beat a lowly team like Bolton.....like tis how to be champions.... their defence is in very bad shape n needs to be tightened up securely.....maybe change all the defenders.....Ferguson needs to do something abt tis quickly if they ever want to snatch the League Championship back from Chelsea again...

To:- Alex Ferguson, dun be too confident...yr team is not playing well...want to be champions again ? then u
must do something now before it is too late....

Absolutely agreed, bro.

The Red Devils' defence is woeful, conceding goals and drawing with teams which they should have won - Fulham, Everton & now, Bolton.

Completely disappointed with their terrible defence!

[asiancigar]

Originally Posted by richie_rich

OWEN HARGREAVES CLOSE TO COMEBACK

Owen Hargreaves is inching his way towards his Manchester United comeback.

Hargreaves has managed just one minute of senior action in the past two years ....."

I think SAF should retire or better yet SELL this kotak..... he cost us big monie$ on the transfer fees and have been on payroll ever since... chinese saying "cho bo lan"........ yet the press have not written about him as negatively as they have done so with Berba.

Cheerz
AC

ps. i think he will last 2 games max before he tears the tendons that holds up his balls.... KNN, what a waste of time this piece of shit

[dc7176]

Originally Posted by asiancigar

ps. i think he will last 2 games max before he tears the tendons that holds up his balls.... KNN, what a waste of time this piece of shit

keep ur finger cross... if he can stay fit, he might b the answer to our defensive problem... ever since roy keane left we never hav a defensive midfielder to protect the back 4... fletcher is good but IMO still too lightweight!! well only IF he is fit!!

conclusion.... i hav no hope for this team this season... the only consolation is liverpool is in a worse shaped than us... if not sure kena suan every week by my frens...

[alex18122003]

Originally Posted by dc7176

conclusion.... i hav no hope for this team this season... the only consolation is liverpool is in a worse shaped than us... if not sure kena suan every week by my frens...

Bro dc kor kor,
U kena suan is okie mah coz u got thick skin....hahaha joking la

[dc7176]

Originally Posted by alex18122003

Bro dc kor kor,
U kena suan is okie mah coz u got thick skin....hahaha joking la

nnkc... u lidat suan me goot meh??? lolx...

[asiancigar]

Crippled by debt and forced into selling their best players - do Valencia offer a nightmarish vision of the future for Manchester United?
Champions League rivals joined by financial uncertainty...

28 Sep 2010 15:42:00
By Wayne Veysey | Chief correspondent

The tables don’t lie. Or do they? Unbeaten Manchester United have taken their accustomed position in the upper echelons of the Premier League while Valencia lead Spain’s Primera Division by a single point and further raised eyebrows across the continent by dishing out a 4-0 win in their opening Champions League group game.

For followers of United and Valencia who gauge their club’s strength only by their position in the league table and presence in Europe’s elite competition, there seems little to worry about.

Yet the optimism that surrounds their activities on the football pitch is complicated by the ever present shadow of financial strife.

Valencia are much further down the road than the team they will host at Estadio Mestalla on Wednesday evening in what is one of the most mouthwatering ties of matchday two.

Spain’s third most successful club sold £74 million worth of players over the summer, including the two iconic Davids – Villa and Silva – and have debts standing at over £425m and have downed tools halfway through building a 75,000-capacity stadium.

Even after all the player sales, staff redundancies, cuts and general pruning, president Manolo Llorente admits: “Our key objective is economic viability and that means we are obliged to take responsible decisions. One of which is to sell our best players.”

United fans who scrutinise the club’s balance sheet as well as their position in the league table fear that Valencia offer an apocalyptic glimpse into the future if the unpopular Glazer family remain owners of the club.

“I can see some parallels in the situations at Manchester United and Valencia,” Duncan Drasdo, spokesman for the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, told Goal.com UK. “Certainly debt problems and lack of investment - especially the recent selling of the best players without replacing them is one that United fans will be all too familiar with.”

United were bought by the Glazers in 2005, with borrowings of £559m, which were then loaded on to England’s highest-earning club to repay. Since then, United have poured out £400m in interest, bank fees and charges, yet still the total debt has climbed to an eye-watering £716m.

The financial figures for 2009-10, to be released in next month’s annual report, could make even more gruesome reading.

Like the alcoholic who won’t admit his addiction, United have maintained the unconvincing argument that investment in the team is not affected by the debts, 16.25 per cent interest rates on the £202m ‘payment in kind’ loans included in that, and huge annual interest paid, £42m for 2008-09.

Sir Alex Ferguson claims he has money to spend, including the £81m Cristiano Ronaldo proceeds, but does not see sufficient “value” in the transfer market, and has responded by investing relatively parsimoniously.

Since selling the world’s most expensive player to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 and allowing Carlos Tevez to leave, United have bought Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Javier Hernandez, Gabriel Obertan, Michael Owen and Bebe. There remains a heavy reliance on players brought through by Ferguson in the early 1990s – Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

“They have been quite cautious with their financial management,” Emmanuel Hembert, football business expert for management consultants AT Kearney, told Goal.com UK. “At some stage they will have to replace those players. They either continue to be cautious and buy young players or they take lots of risks and start to have financial issues.

“The interest payments and the reimbursements (Glazers management fees) are clearly taking cash out of the business and is a drain on the club. It is money you cannot spend on players or salaries. I don’t think administration could be an issue because Manchester United are generating enough cash flow to cover their debts.”

While United are better placed than Valencia, and indeed fierce north-west rivals Liverpool, whose own American owners are, if anything, even more unpopular than the Glazers, there is great unrest among supporters.

The ‘Green and Gold’ protests, the brainchild of MUST, have made a huge impact at Old Trafford over the last nine months. For the first time in a generation, the club have not sold all their season tickets, falling 2,200 short of the 54,000 target.

The Red Knights, a collective of wealthy individual supporters, lie in wait, continuing to recruit wealthy investors from overseas as they maintain their bid to oust the Glazer family from Old Trafford.

Drasdo observed: “I don't believe Manchester United will get into real financial trouble however because even if the Glazers are forced out there is a queue of wealthy United supporters around the world just waiting for that opportunity to invest in the club.

“Certainly, that is the evidence we've seen at MUST too with the membership counter showing 163,600 and ticking over every day, demonstrating the huge interest from supporters in participating in shared ownership of the club.

“The worst case scenario I foresee is not actually United going into administration as that would lead to a rebirth where we come back stronger than before. The worst case is that the Glazers continue to cling on draining money out of the club season after season and rather than failing we just move into mediocrity and dull limbo.”

And there is also the elephant in the room – the date when Ferguson will finally decide call it a day and bring down the curtain on arguably the most outstanding managerial career of them all.

“One of the big problems that United are facing very soon is that there is a question mark over when Ferguson is going to stop coaching,” said Hembert. “It is unlikely they are immediately going to find a coach able to take over from Ferguson and be as successful as him and that could have a big financial knock-on effect.”

Valencia will offer first-hand evidence of a club that lived way beyond its means.