Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[dc7176]

Phelan named as Sir Alex's new assistant boss

Phelan, a former United player who has worked his way up through the ranks of the backroom staff, has been working as a first team coach since 2001 when Steve McClaren left for Middlesbrough.

Dutchman Rene Meulensteen has also been promoted from technical skills development officer to take on Phelan's former role.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson welcomed the two new appointments.

'I am delighted Mick and Rene have agreed to fill these important positions,' he said.

'Mick knows Manchester United inside out, having been associated with the club for the best part of 20 years.

'He is a very talented and professional coach, whose ability and contribution to the club's success has often been understated.'

Ferguson added: 'Rene brings different ideas and experience to the role of first team coach.

'I believe the two will provide an excellent team to continue the club's willingness to try new ideas and constantly drive for success in an increasingly competitive game.

[dc7176]

Manchester United 08/09(P)Review



hmmm…

Back-to-back titles and still this Manchester United team haven’t come close to realising their potential. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Manchester United fan who does not agree with this statement – last year, United were never close to the form shown in the first half of the 2006/07 campaign and instead sauntered along, unperturbed for the most part, as they closed in on the two biggest prizes an English team can win on home soil or Europe during a season.

No-one could have envisioned Cristiano Ronaldo having the season he had and I feel it would be folly to expect him to repeat such an unimaginable feat again. It is a good thing, then, that a player of skill, intelligence and composure has come in to help share the load.

Dimitar Berbatov is (or has been) the flavour of the month. His signing for the absurd price of £30.75m, coming just minutes before the close of the summer transfer window, was cause for much celebration amongst many agitated Manchester United supporters. The false bravado shown by Sir Alex Ferguson that he would be happy to go into this season as flawed and weakened as the team was last season, was seen straight through by a man, in Daniel Levy, whose avarice is probably only matched by Peter Kenyon in English football. He certainly wasn’t going to let the denouement conclude unfavourably, so greedy was he, in fact, that he ruined his own club’s chances this season in the pursuit of a few more million from the non-existent coffers of Glazer Towers.

United’s incompetence in the transfer market as far as acquiring players for anything close to value for money is so well-known around the footballing fraternity that its not so much an in-joke as a running one – if you have a talent that Manchester United want, make damn sure you bleed them for a good twenty, maybe thirty percent more than what he is worth – they’ll always pay it if they want the player bad enough.

But what is ‘worth’ and ‘value’ in relative terms? After all, Manchester United are paying Spurs for the player they need Berbatov to be, and with need comes desperation. You would have to be a fool to not see the benefits a player like Berbatov brings to United’s game. To quote myself:


Berbatov, by design, is a complementary player to the likes of Rooney and Tevez. They can't play like he does and he can't play like they do.

He may occupy the same spaces at times, but that is never a problem for players of such high intelligence and mobility who will orbit a focal point instantaneously giving him options and space.

We play an inordinate amount of pointless long balls to Rooney or Tevez, which they have no hope in hell of winning with 6ft 2" (and over) CB's on their backs. Berbatov's game is not to do with heading the ball, but rather his ability to bring it down perfectly with deft touch and control whilst immediately playing others into the equation.

So, from some hopeless punt or other, you've suddenly got a body up top who can make it stick, play others in and create a whole bunch of things from 'nothing' allayed to that he can actually head the ball so that changes the way teams have to set up to contain him. That automatically provides more space for those running off him on our team - it's a constant symbiotic relationship that would reap reward for both Berbatov and the players already here. It's obvious why we want him and it should be very clear to anyone who watches us and sees what we lack as to why he is necessary,

Berbatov's positioning is also in accordance with his physical power and technique. He can be played into tiny spaces, whilst surrounded by opposition bodies and still play on whilst taking out a mass of oppo bodies with his lay off - neither Rooney or Tevez can do this, nor do they try as most often they want the initial space to make a run and face their men head on.

After that you've got Berbatov's touch and finishing inside the box, which is far, far more composed and precise than Rooney's or Tevez', in other words, outside of the initial positions they all take up from time to time, they are nothing alike and should function effortlessly in the same team.

There's more than one way to skin a cat, and the Berbatov route is pure technique, control and strength as opposed to the mobility, over the shoulder pace and aggression of an Eto'o.

Of course, you then have "mister all-in-one" that comes in the form of Benzema.. but we're not going to be getting him, are we?

Berbatov will have no problem playing here. The irksome points are he isn't worth the figures quoted nor has he had the career to suggest it.

So yes, he will be extremely beneficial to United’s entire game. All those pointless punts and high-crosses to short players who can’t contest them will suddenly have worth, United’s game will now have variation and the added subtle guile only Scholes previously supplied, not to mention the composure in front of goal that has been sorely lacking for a few seasons now, but is it enough? Does Berbatov usher in a confirmed era of dominance for Manchester United?

The answer to that will vary from person to person. For me personally, I feel his contribution will be very good, but for United to push past Chelsea yet again, there will need to be a much better share of the goal-scoring load.

One of the biggest plusses that come with the signing of the Bulgarian is that Wayne Rooney will be moved back into a support-striker or attacking-midfield role which should feasibly see his game improve immeasurably from the hit and miss frustration we have seen from him over the last year. Hopefully this will be the platform from which he, and in turn the team, can thrive.

The notion of Carlitos Tevez being ‘dropped’ to the bench is ludicrous. You do not bench a player of such burgeoning talent who is finally showing the world what he is capable of whilst still improving from game to game. He is as intrinsic to the way Manchester United are able to set-up and play as anyone else in the team. Removing him would be like fixing one problem only to create another, pointlessly. The only time I expect to see him on the bench is when the fixture list piles up and rest and rotation becomes unavoidable. Besides which, per form, it would be impossible to drop Tevez whilst he is outperforming Rooney in the way he has lately.

Last season the midfield managed a pathetic twelve goals over 38 league games. Between eight recognised midfielders (Ronaldo is a forward) eight goals were scored! Never mind ‘The Big Four,’ that has to be one of the worst records in the league. The counter-argument for last season goes: ‘who cares, we won The Double’ or; ‘the forwards can just do it again,’ but I feel this kind of thinking is immensely flawed and should not be used as a template for the next season even if another forward who will tally handily has entered the equation.

If the midfield behind a forward-line is not firing, it adds strain and fatigue to those who are shouldered with the burden of recompensing the goal-load. The risk of burnout to a number of youngsters along the forward line (all three of Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney) is a very real possibility if they have to be on the pitch for goals to be scored. Between them fifty-seven league goals were scored last season, and if Tevez and Rooney had been less profligate in front of goal, it could have been as much as seventy or more, but the point is, to rest and rotate comfortably, a manager has to know that those coming in can contribute their fair share of goals. Any team loaded with stars - as Manchester United is – should expect a healthier goal-return from those who play behind the forwards. It adds variety to attacks, it calms the tempo of games and it keeps the opposition honest, which in-turn leads to less work for the front-line – it is a cornerstone of most Alex Ferguson sides and it should be no different for this one, given the talent therein.

Fifteen to twenty goals from each of: Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez and Berbatov is not unfeasible – it should be the aim – but imagine just how much more potent the team would be if the deeper-ended midfielders and full-backs added a decent tally of their own. As things stand, I see this as the only difference between Chelsea and Manchester United and the one that could very well decide the destination of the title.

The rather complacent view of some supporters is that as this side already won the league, they can do it again in the exact same fashion, give or take a few goals, with similar returns from Ronaldo. The flaws in this way of thinking are many and varied, for one, ceteris paribus is no longer in place beings as Chelsea have strengthened considerably with the simple addition of a right-back that enables Essien to move back into the position he is dominant in, and; two, Deco has arrived to give them nuance and the touch of subtle magic they sorely lacked last season, as well as Ronaldo being injured and maybe needing a month or two to find his form. Things are not likely to take the same course as they did last season – if a new title is to be added, then an approach that has been modified accordingly must be considered.

If it isn’t broke, then it doesn’t need fixing could also be uttered, but if a midfield of the calibre of Manchester United’s is only finding eight goals between eight midfielders over 38 league games, then something most definitely isn’t working as it should. Even allowing for the ‘sitting’ needed by the ‘2’ in a 4-2-3-1, there is no way two goals for Carrick and one for Scholes is acceptable.

[dc7176]

cont from post 2268

Can they make it a third in a row?

Manchester United aren’t a team with much to quibble about; the best defence, the best attack, league and European title holders, with a side who for the most part are young and improving, but that does not mean performances can’t be improved upon and outside of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo, each and every one of the xi can do better (in terms of performance) this season than they did last year:

Edwin Van der Sar: not flapping at high-balls and punching average drives directly back into play.

Patrice Evra: Needs to do much, much better in terms of end-product. He should be good for more assists and goals than he gets, especially with his marauding attacking game that gets him into so many impressive positions.

Wes Brown: almost perfect on the defensive end, but can get better going forwards.

Michael Carrick: needs to impose himself more in the opposition half as well as score more goals.

Paul Scholes: can definitely manage more than one goal in 38 games.

Wayne Rooney: has a whole level above the one he has shown, he should be mentioned readily with the world’s best players.

Carlitos Tevez: the same as Rooney. Carlitos was always touted as a future World Player Of The Year contender, he, like Rooney, has a whole level above what he displayed last season.

Anderson: can definitely improve his shooting. Seriously.

Nani: more goals and consistency.

Park: more goals.

Fletcher: It’s high time his overall game went up a few notches. He should be looking past cameo roles in big games.

O’Shea: passing and concentration could be way better.

So there Manchester United, just like any other side, has room for improvement.

Each player has attainable goals, and if they hit them, Manchester United will be walking a way with a third Premier League title in a row.

The new additions to the squad are all young and brimming with talent. Jonathon Evans is a player I expect to become world class in the next few years and detractors to this lad getting on as our cover at centre-back will be few and far between once he displays his ability. Fabio and Rafael are not likely to get many games in the league, but between them they do bring a lot of energy and excitement. Manucho is ‘The Truth’ for which no further words need utterance.

Can Gary Neville get back to anything resembling his old self? I’m not sure, and I wouldn’t like to put money on him not breaking down again during rehabilitation. He is some distance away from Wes Brown’s starting spot and it will be very hard for him to get his foot in the door of the best back-line (by fact) in Europe.

As mentioned in the Chelsea section, I believe the fixture congestion and the World Club Championship will derail Manchester United’s bid to retain the Premier League title and it will be their ability to re-acclimate quickly once they return that will determine whether they can get with the pace quick enough not to have the excursion prove fateful.

If they can, I feel this will be the tightest, hardest to call Premier League title of them all.



Probable Line Up.

1.

------------------------Van der Sar
---------------Ferdinand----------Vidic
Brown----------------------------------------Evra
------------------Carrick------Scholes
Ronaldo----------------Rooney--------Tevez
-------------------------Berbatov

2.

------------------------Van der Sar
---------------Ferdinand----------Vidic
Brown----------------------------------------Evra
------------------Carrick------Scholes
Ronaldo-------------------------------------Nani
------------------------------Rooney/Tevez
---------------------Berbatov

Key Players:Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Scholes, Berbatov, Rooney and Tevez

[alex18122003]

Premier League - Ferguson cool on City billions

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is unconcerned about the takeover of local rivals Manchester City by an Abu Dhabi-based company, and laughed off reports of a word-record bid for star forward Cristiano Ronaldo

"I can't be worried," Ferguson said after a meeting of top coaches at the Swiss headquarters of UEFA. "We have a good setup ourselves and we've been working to build up the team we've got, so we just have to carry on.

"There are always challenges in football, some years ago it was Chelsea and some years ago it was Arsenal and wherever the challenge comes from we have to accept it. So it doesn't change anything."

City's new owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, made an immediate impact this week when they signed Brazil international Robinho from Real Madrid for a British record £32 million.

They followed up by suggesting they could mount a bid in the January transfer window for United's Portuguese star Ronaldo.

Asked to comment on the speculation about a possible Ronaldo move, Ferguson replied: "They can talk."

[MaAkMAak]

Hi boys!

I'm signing in for the Red Devils! =) We will win it this year again!

[asiancigar]

Originally Posted by MaAkMAak

Hi boys!

I'm signing in for the Red Devils! =) We will win it this year again!

NEVER was any doubt RIGHT................ hehehe

ManU FOREVER

Cheerz
AC

[alex18122003]

Dimi admits pre-match nerves

Dimitar Berbatov admits he’ll probably be nervous when he makes his United debut at Anfield on Saturday, but the Bulgarian is confident his new team-mates will help him acclimatise to life in a red shirt.

“I might be nervous because it’s a new team, new players, a new atmosphere,” the striker told media at Old Trafford on Friday.

“But hopefully with the help of my team-mates I can find my place in the side and help the team with my goals.”

Despite a prolific two-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur, the 27-year-old failed to find the net against Liverpool in three Premier League outings.

On Saturday he’ll be reacquainted with former Spurs strike partner Robbie Keane, now plying his trade under Rafa Benitez.

“It will be strange to play against Robbie, but it will also be nice. I have good memories of playing alongside him – it was a good partnership.

“Everything comes to an end but I will be glad to see him again.”

United fans will be hoping Dimitar is still smiling come the final whistle on Saturday afternoon.

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by alex18122003

Dimi admits pre-match nerves

[qbdp]

Scholesy's practising his matchwinning strike


Berbaotv's not moody anymore


A mean Rooney


Berbatov's focused

[qbdp]

Ronaldo's fit but unlikely to be back for Anfield's game


Berbatov's enjoying his first training session with new mates


Old Fergie's smiling...

[dc7176]

Manchester United confident AIG sponsorship deal will survive Wall Street uncertainty

Manchester United remain adamant that their £56.5 million shirt sponsorship deal will be unaffected by the huge uncertainty surrounding American International Group (AIG).



Put your shirt on it: Macnhester United's shirt deal with AIG is the richest in football at £14m-a-year

It is understood that AIG is seeking a $40 billion bridge loan from the Federal Reserve in an effort to stave off a downgrade from credit ratings agencies and also shore up the capital of its holding company.

The news surrounding AIG came on one of the worst-ever days on Wall Street, with US investment bank Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy protection and the Bank of America moving to takeover Merrill Lynch & Co.

United's agreement with AIG is the richest shirt sponsorship deal in English football and was signed in April 2006 after Vodafone ended its £9 million-a-year deal. The contract with AIG is worth around £14 million a year, with United confident that the company will be able to fulfill its commitment to the agreement.

On Friday, West Ham were forced to terminate their shirt sponsorship deal with XL Leisure Group following news that the holiday company had gone into administration.

AIG is reviewing its operations and discussing possible options with outside parties to improve its business after a week when its stock dropped 45 per cent amid concerns about the company's financial underpinnings.

"A lot of meetings (are) going on. We're looking at a lot of options. We're talking with a lot of parties," said spokesman Nicholas Ashooh.

New York Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo and a representative of the state's governor's office spent the weekend at AIG's offices working with the company and others to craft a solution that protects policyholders.

AIG's chief executive, Robert Willumstad may announce a turnaround plan today, possibly involving the disposal of major assets including its aircraft-leasing business and other holdings.

The New York-based insurer had previously scheduled an announcement for September 25.

Willumstad has indicated he was willing to shed some assets, saying about a month ago that a "less complex AIG would be a better competitor".

"We're assessing all of our businesses and looking at options for how AIG ought to compete in the future, what kind of businesses we ought to be in," said Ashooh.

It is understood that Willumstad approached the Federal Reserve late on Sunday to seek funds as a temporary measure, with the plan to repay the Fed with the proceeds from asset sales.

Former AIG CEO Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, who ran the company for nearly four decades, was not involved in any of the discussions, according to his spokesman, Glen Rochkind. "He repeatedly offered to assist in any way he could," added Rochkind.

AIG was founded in China 89 years ago. In the years since, largely under Greenberg's watch, it grew into one of the world's largest insurers, spanning 130 countries and territories and serving 74 million customers.

Greenberg stepped down in 2005 and his successor, Martin Sullivan, was replaced by Willumstad in June this year. Greenberg still owns or controls about 12 percent of AIG's stock, making him the largest shareholder

[alex18122003]

Champions League - Ronaldo could return for Villarreal

Sir Alex Ferguson is poised to give Cristiano Ronaldo a shock return to action in Manchester United's Champions League opener against Villarreal on Wednesday

The Portuguese winger underwent ankle surgery in July, and was not expected to return until October, but Ferguson is seriously contemplating naming him in his squad for the Old Trafford clash.

"Ronaldo is training now, he's with the first team," Ferguson said.

"He's come on leaps and bounds and I may take him with us tomorrow, who knows?"

Ronaldo was named PFA player of the year last season and won the European Golden Boot for his remarkable return of 31 league goals - that helped United to the Premier League title.

He was also part of the side that beat Chelsea on penalties to win the Champions League final in Moscow.

United, aiming to become the first club to win consecutive Champions League titles since the elite competition was reformed in 1992, will be without the suspended Paul Scholes and midfielder Michael Carrick, who injured his ankle on Saturday.

In the other Group E match on Wednesday, Scottish champions Celtic are favourites to win their opening home match against Danish Champions League debutants AaB Aalborg.

[alex18122003]

Sir Alex wary of Villarreal threat

Sir Alex Ferguson hopes that all roads lead to Rome's Stadio Olimpico in May, but he won't get waylaid by the prospect of a "more acceptable" fourth European crown as the Reds prepare to face Villarreal tonight.

The last time United met Villarreal – in the group stages in 2005/06 – the Reds were in what Sir Alex describes as “a low point” in the team’s transitional period. A meagre three goals and six points - two of those from a pair of 0-0 draws against the Spaniards – saw United finish bottom of the group.

The club's current predicament contrasts starkly with those dark days; the Reds go into tonight’s Group E curtain raiser as worthy champions of Europe, the fallow years between 2003 and 2006 a distant memory.

However, Villarreal will be as troublesome an opponent as they were three years ago. Manuel Pellegrini, the team’s long-serving Chilean coach, has built a team of consistent performers, who last year finished second behind champions Real Madrid in La Liga, and ten points ahead of Barcelona.

“We will revert to our normal procedure in terms of the group stage,” says Sir Alex. “We're not taking any chances and I will stick to what I always say: Get me ten points, and I’ll see you in February."

Along with Celtic, purveyors of an impressive home record in Europe, Villarreal will make United work for the minimum ten points Sir Alex has his sights on.

“Looking at the four teams, Villarreal have shown their quality over the last five years under Manuel Pellegrini. It’s unusual for a coach to stay with a club for such a long time in Spain. They have finished in the top three twice in that time and they’re a very difficult team to play against.

[dc7176]

Man Utd got a new shirt sponsor after AIG bailout...

[dc7176]

Ronaldo desperate to face Chelsea

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is begging manager Sir Alex Ferguson to let him play against title rivals Chelsea on Sunday after making his return from injury against Villarreal on Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old winger, who scored 42-goals for United last season, underwent ankle surgery in July and despite courting a move to Real Madrid during the transfer window he received a rapturous reception from the fans at Old Trafford when he came off the bench to make his season debut.

With Ferguson's side lacking goals (they have scored just four times in five competitive matches so far this season) and Ronaldo chomping at the bit, he would seem certain to start the crucial clash but the United manager insists he has not yet made his mind up.

"Cristiano is bursting to play," Ferguson said. "He has trained very well and is a natural athlete, so I have no qualms on that score. I just have to decide whether it is the right time."

Ronaldo has already warned the Blues that he will do the damage for United when the Premier League favourites face off and insists he is ready to strike back if they attempt to muscle him out at Stamford Bridge.

"I know that the attempts to intimidate me on the pitch will start again immediately - but everyone finds sooner or later that it is difficult to make me lose my rag," he said.

"I'll be booted again but I will not kick out when it happens. I'm tough and, again, it's all just part of the spectacle.

"I'll do my damage as usual by paying them all back with my goals."

Ferguson would certainly welcome Ronaldo's scoring touch as United must put end to a relatively barren run if they are not to fall nine points adrift of Chelsea, a staggering gap even if the Old Trafford outfit would still have a game in hand.

"I just want my team to put the ball into the net,'' said the Scot.

"We are simply not scoring enough goals to turn the whole thing round.

"But it will come. By October we will be fine. I have no doubt in my mind about that.''

Although Dimitar Berbatov is fit, it seems highly unlikely the £30million man will play alongside Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney.

If any of the quartet were to stand down, on current form it would be Rooney, who looked a shadow of the player who starred for England in Croatia as United drew their midweek blank.

Yet Ferguson claims to be unconcerned, meaning Berbatov's lack of recent match practice may see him consigned to the bench, where Owen Hargreaves could also find himself now that Paul Scholes is back from suspension.

The United boss also has a major dilemma in defence, where Wes Brown and Jonny Evans could both replace the banned Nemanja Vidic, with Gary Neville coming in at right-back if the younger man got the nod.

While facing Chelsea is nothing new in itself, going toe to toe with Scolari will be for Ferguson, who was not always complimentary about the Brazilian's handling of Ronaldo.

It is a challenge he is relishing, even if the language barrier means the personal duel may lack some of the intensity of his scraps with Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.

"It is interesting,'' said Ferguson.

"You wait to see what impact a manager has.

"You want to know whether they are going to change their style or what type of players they will buy in. You also want to know what his principles are and what he believes in because all managers are different.''

Scolari's major changes appear to be pushing both his full-backs further forward and introducing Deco - Ronaldo's former international team-mate - who is less forceful in style than now injured midfield colleague Michael Essien but seems to be just as effective.

"Deco is a nice footballer,'' Ferguson said.

"He is diminutive and clever. He does not have the same athleticism as Essien but it does not make them any less as a team.''

Chelsea's 84-game unbeaten record on home soil provides United with a challenge to overcome.

"It is a great challenge for us because Chelsea have not lost at home for so long.

"I know a lot of people do not expect us to win, which is unusual for our club. That is the challenge. Let's get on with it.''