Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[WithoutEuu]

not sure if anyone noticed this but there was a youngster playing for man utd for this season!
forgotten his name already.. lols

[slyer]

Originally Posted by yinyang

Last night team mainly fringe players. 1st 20mins saw much action, 2nd half sucks.

Knn, kena suan by chelski fans

ya.. the substitutes bench are filled with youngsters mainly.. anyway anderson is on his way back since brazil got knocked out tevez should be playing against portsmouth

[imom]

Originally Posted by WithoutEuu

not sure if anyone noticed this but there was a youngster playing for man utd for this season!
forgotten his name already.. lols

There were three in the first match actually:

Frazier Campbell
Rodrigo Possebon
Rafael Da Silva

With the number of subs increased from 5 to 7 this season, expect to see more youngsters on the bench. And if we are leading by 4 or 5 goals, expect to see them thrown on for experience.

[machoman]

Unconfirmed rumour: Huntelaaar to be new MU Striker???

[yinyang]

Arsenal sign Man Utd's Silvestre

Silvestre missed most of the 2007/08 season with injury. Arsenal have signed Manchester United's France international defender Mikael Silvestre for an undisclosed fee.

The 31-year-old joined United in September 1999 and had one year left on his contract at Old Trafford, but has now signed a two-year deal at Arsenal.

He made 249 Premier League appearances in nearly nine years with United.

Silvestre, also linked with Manchester City and Bordeaux, missed most of last season with a knee ligament injury, but returned to action in April.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger told his club's website: "We have a strong squad but a young squad.

"Mikael's versatility, experience and calibre will provide the extra depth we need to reinforce our challenge for honours this season.

"His defensive adaptability will serve us well, and it's a big plus that Mikael has top-level experience and a great understanding of football in the Premier League."

Silvestre added: "I've spent a large part of my career at United and I'll remember that time fondly but feel I'm ready for a new challenge.

"Arsenal are known for playing technical and skilful football, and have a young but experienced squad.

"I'm really excited about this next stage of my career, hopefully playing my part in helping the club to new successes."

Silvestre had faced competition for the left-back slot at Old Trafford since Patrice Evra arrived from Monaco in 2006, while Nemanja Vidic has established himself as Rio Ferdinand's first-choice central defensive partner.

He has become the first player to be sold to the Gunners by United since Brian Kidd in 1974.

[machoman]

Berbatov "signs" for United

DIMITAR BERBATOV faces a furious Spurs backlash after we snapped him signing a Manchester United shirt.

Livid Tottenham have already reported United to the Premier League for openly trying to lure him to Old Trafford.

The sight of their striker signing a Red Devils shirt will spark further outrage. An onlooker said: “I was gobsmacked when he took the shirt and signed it.

“He didn’t have any problems with it at all.

“If I was one of Berbatov’s team-mates or a fan, I’d be furious. It is incredibly disrespectful — he may as well have kissed the United badge.”

Berbatov, 27, signed the shirt at Sofia Airport as he set off for Bulgaria’s friendly in Bosnia-Herzegovina where he scored twice in a 2-1 win.

United have already bid £25million for Berbatov, who — as revealed exclusively by SunSport — handed in a transfer request on Saturday.

But Spurs are determined to hang on for £30m.

Tottenham legend and Sun columnist Jimmy Greaves said: “Signing the United shirt is certainly cheeky.

“He clearly wants to leave. If he doesn’t want to stay they should get rid of him.”

Spurs fan Bernie Kingsley said: “This brings back memories of when Paul Ince posed in a United shirt when he was still at West Ham.

“I just wish Spurs would sell him and get it all over with.”

It seems an agreement will be made within the week.

[alex18122003]

Premier League - Fergie: Rio will be captain

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson assured Rio Ferdinand that the defender remains in line to lead the club despite missing out on the England captaincy.

England coach Fabio Capello chose John Terry ahead of Ferdinand to become the new national team captain on a long-term basis ahead of England's 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

Ferguson said however that he would hand 29-year-old Ferdinand the United captain's armband once Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs were no longer around.

"The way I operate is through seniority," Ferguson said. "That's why Gary Neville is captain and when he's not playing Ryan has taken over. If Ryan is not available then Rio stands in.

"In the long-term Rio will be captain, no question about that. I'm very comfortable with that.

"His qualities of leadership have improved tremendously over the last two or three years and ability-wise, it is there for all to see."

Ferguson said the selection of Terry ahead of Ferdinand for the England job was not a major issue and will not have a bearing on Ferdinand's form or state of mind.

"It was always him or John Terry and it was the flip of a coin," he said. "It could have gone either way. I am sure it was a close call.

"It's not a reflection other than a personal choice and John Terry has been captain of Chelsea for quite a while and that has to go into consideration.

"It was the manager's choice to go for John Terry so he (Ferdinand) will just get on with it. It's straightforward. He should not be worried about the effect of that."

[alex18122003]

Six Reds up for UEFA awards

The Reds' sensational Double success of last season could lead to more honours this week at the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year awards.

United are the best-represented club with no fewer than six players shortlisted as the best performers in their positions for the 2007/08 campaign.

Edwin van der Sar is up for the best goalkeeper award while Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are in contention for the defender gong.

Paul Scholes’ name is in the hat for the midfielder prize while front men Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo will be vying for the forward of the year honour. All six Reds could also win the overall Club Footballer of the Year award.

The shortlists reflect the Premier League’s dominance of the Champions League last season, with 17 of the 20 candidates for the awards plying their trade in England. Added to United's six are five from Chelsea (Peter Cech, John Terry, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba), four from Liverpool (Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres) and two from Arsenal (Manuel Almunia, Cesc Fabregas).

The three nominees from outside the English game are Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Barcelona defender Carles Puyol and his team-mate, forward Lionel Messi.

Coaches of the 16 teams that reached the knockout phase of the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League were invited to cast their votes. The award winners will be announced at the draw for this season's group stage on Thursday 28 August – the day before United face UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Super Cup final at Monaco's Stade Louis II.

[chickenzip]

Fergie's Top ten signings....

Top 10 super signings by Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson | The Sun |Sport|Top 10s 10s

[dc7176]

X

Portsmouth vs Manchester United
FA Premier League 08/09
Matchday 2
Aug 25 2008

Scholes freekick 19'
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1st Goal for Man United (OG) 32'
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Rooney shot 41'
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Diop shot 72'
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[alex18122003]

Premier League - Vidic denies Manchester jibes

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has denied claims he is unhappy with life in the rainy northern city and wants to move to Spain.

The Serbian international was quoted by Russian magazine Football Weekly as saying the constant drizzle meant he could not settle in England.

Vidic, who has emerged as one of the Premier League's top defenders and a firm favourite with United fans, is reported as saying the best thing about Manchester was the "timetable at the railway station, where trains leave for other, less rainy cities."

"I will never stay to live in England, that's for sure," he continued. "You get only a brief glimpse of sunlight before it's all cloudy again.

"The winters are mild, but in summer the temperatures seldom go higher than 20 degrees. And it rains, rains, rains.

"In future, I would like to test myself in another top league. I'm thinking of Spain. At least there will be no reason to complain about the weather.

"In England, they say that Manchester is the city of rain. Its main attraction is considered to be the timetable at the railway station, where trains leave for other, less rainy cities."

The 26-year-old is also reported to have said he did not enjoy the British way of life because people work too hard and do not socialise.

"It's not only the weather that I'm not happy about here," he said. "In Russia and Serbia the people's way of life is similar. In England it's totally different. Here they just don't have time to feel the joy of life.

"Throughout the week they all work so hard. They only talk to people at lunch break. Then in the evening they come home and watch the telly, so they can get up early for work the next day.

"The only time to meet friends is at weekends, but for football players it's the busiest time of all.

"It was much easier for me to adapt to Russia than England. In England I had no-one to talk to.

"The first month was especially hard. I lived alone in a hotel, which I left only for training. I thought I would go crazy inside those four walls."

However, Vidic has since told the club's official website: "I'd like to clarify that I did not make these particular remarks.

"I spoke about the difficulty I had settling in to life in Manchester, but that does not reflect how I feel now.

"I enjoy my life very much as a footballer at Manchester United and I'm very happy to be a part of this great club.

"I think I show that in the way I play every week. I also have far too much respect for the people of Manchester, and England, to criticise them in this way."

[machoman]

Hargreaves to use Super Cup to get United career back on track
Thursday, August 28, 2008, 09:21:59 HRS

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves (left; seen here on August 6) wants to use Friday's European Super Cup clash against Zenit St Petersburg to kick-start his season. Hargreaves, 27, has been struggling with tendinitis and hasn't made a first team appearance for United since helping Sir Alex Ferguson's side win the Champions League in May.

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves wants to use Friday's European Super Cup clash against Zenit St Petersburg to kick-start his season.

Hargreaves, 27, has been struggling with tendinitis and hasn't made a first team appearance for United since helping Sir Alex Ferguson's side win the Champions League in May.

But the England international is finally back in training and Ferguson expects him to play against Zenit in Monaco.

Hargreaves is desperate to get back in action after a injury-ravaged beginning to his spell at Old Trafford.

The former Bayern Munich star made only 21 starts last season and he knows he could fade from the picture if he doesn't make a positive impact soon.

"I've got a big season ahead with United and England, and I want to be fit," Hargreaves said.

"I've felt the injury on and off for 16 months. Sometimes more, sometimes less - it's something I've had to cope with.

"The staff and I have worked very hard so that I'm fit and when I play I don't miss out.

"They've done a really good job. I think we've got it under control.

"Hopefully I'll be back soon and fit for the remainder of the season. I'm improving every day."

While Hargreaves focuses on his fitness, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be motivated by the bitter memories of his last Super Cup appearance when he sends his team out for Friday's match against the UEFA Cup winners.

Ferguson has won the competition once before in 1991 when United defeated Red Star Belgrade, but he is still bitter about Lazio's post-match celebrations when the Italian club beat United in 1999.

The Scot has no intention of suffering a repeat in Monaco.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (seen here on August 17) will be motivated by the bitter memories of his last Super Cup appearance when he sends his team out for Friday's match against the UEFA Cup winners, Zenit St Petersburg.

"I want to win. I remember the last time we went there I only played half a team because we had a Monday league game against Newcastle," Ferguson said.

"When I saw Lazio celebrating at the end, it was like they had won the World Cup. I was not too pleased. I thought: 'That will not happen again'.

"We'll view the Super Cup as a one-off and we want to win it but we are expecting a very tough game."

With that in mind, Ferguson has pledged to send out a strong team and England defender Gary Neville should feature after an ankle injury.

Ryan Giggs is back from a hamstring problem, while Nani is available after completing a three-match ban for his dismissal against West Ham last season.

Ferguson's desire for victory can't be questioned but he might be distracted by off-the-field activities as United try to sign Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov before the transfer window shuts on Monday.

United have made a 25 million pounds (31 million euros) offer for the Bulgarian but Tottenham are holding out for 30 million pounds (37 million euros).

If the deal doesn't go through Ferguson insists he will still be happy with his squad.

"If a new signing happens it happens. The squad we had last season is good enough," he said.

- AFP

[machoman]

United drawn with Celtic, Torres in Atletico return
Friday, August 29, 2008, 02:00:06 HRS

Holders Manchester United were drawn with Scottish champions Celtic, Spain's Villarreal and Denmark's Aalborg in Thursday's draw in Monaco for this season's Champions League group phase.

Holders Manchester United were drawn with Scottish champions Celtic, Spain's Villarreal and Denmark's Aalborg in Thursday's draw in Monaco for this season's Champions League group phase.

United, who also won the English Premiership title, were drawn in Group E while Chelsea will meet AS Roma, Bordeaux of France and Romanian debutants Cluj in Group A.

Adding to the flavour of home and away 'Battle of Britain' clashes will be the fact that Celtic are coached by Gordon Strachan, who was a player under United boss Sir Alex Ferguson both at Old Trafford and Aberdeen beforehand.

The clubs also met in the Champions League group stages two seasons ago. Celtic edged their home game 1-0 and United won theirs 3-2.

Liverpool, who edged into the pool phase with a 1-0 win over Belgium's Standard Liege on Wednesday, will take on Spain's Atletico Madrid, who looked sharp in knocking out Germany's Schalke 04, as well as Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven and also Marseille of France, whom they met last year, in Group D.

Rafa Benitez's side have made a slow start to the season but have won their opening two Premiership fixtures despite not clicking into top gear.

Heading to Atletico means a trip to his former club for Reds' striker Fernando Torres as the hitman nicknamed El Nino seeks to blow away his old teammates at the Vicente Calderon stadium.

"The important thing is making a good start. We took one point from the first three games last season and we've got to do better," former star Phil Thompson told Liverpool's official website.

But they will be mindful of their Anfield meeting against Marseille last year when the French won 1-0 only to lose the return at the Velodrome as Benitez and company swept them aside 4-0.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry told the BBC: "There are no easy games - you just take it as it comes. We are just delighted to be in it."

Marseille chairman Pape Diouf was cautious. "We know it won't be easy but we know Liverpool from p[laying them last year.That could be an advantage for us - but also for them."
Barcelona, champions in 1992 and 2006, will meet Portugal's Sporting Lisbon, FC Basel of Switzerland and Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in Group C in this season's Champions League group phase.

England's other participants, 2006 finalists Arsenal, will face a trip to Fenerbahce in Turkey, to Portugal to meet Porto and Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine in Group G.

In Group B, Italian champions Inter Milan will take on seasoned German campaigners Werder Bremen, Greek side Panathinaikos and Cypriots Anorthosis.

Barcelona, champions in 1992 and 2006, will meet Portugal's Sporting Lisbon, FC Basel of Switzerland and Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in Group C.

In Group F, serial French champions Lyon, who have yet to make a major impression in Europe despite their domestic dominance, will meet German counterparts Bayern Munich, Italy's Fiorentina and Romania's Steaua Bucharest.

Lyon coach Claude Puel says he foresees an even hence, tough, group.

"Romanian football has come on a lot and Fiorentina were semi-finalists in last season's UEFA Cup and had a good season in Italy. We'll have to get points pretty much everywhere."

Finally in Group H, record nine-times winners Real Madrid, who have flopped badly since their last success in 2002, must face Juventus, winners in 1985 and 1996, UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg and Bate Borisov of Belarus.

Ahead of the draw, Chelsea's Petr Cech was earlier voted top goalkeeper of last season's competition while skipper John Terry won the defenders accolade and Frank Lampard was named UEFA midfielder of the year to complete a club treble.

Cristiano Ronaldo got the vote as top striker and top overall player after his 42-goal season haul. The first set of matches will be played on September 16/17.

- AFP

[yinyang]

Truth is somewhere out there still? ROD soon..

Ferguson cools Berbatov rumours

Dimitar Berbatov's hopes of a move to Manchester United look to be fading after Sir Alex Ferguson said he was "less optimistic" about new signings.

The United boss, who had a £20.5m bid for the striker rejected, was uncertain whether he would boost his squad before the transfer window shuts on Monday.

"I'm less optimistic so we'll carry on," Ferguson said.

"I've no idea what's going on. It's very hard to get communication with some people in life."

Berbatov has made no secret of his desire to leave White Hart Lane but Tottenham are determined that their £30m price-tag will be met.

United are unlikely to be pushed into paying over the odds and Ferguson may be prepared to miss out on Berbatov.

Londonfootiefan:
With just four days until the transfer deadline expires, Berbatov's future at Tottenham remains uncertain.

Spurs manager Juande Ramos left the 27-year-old out of his squad for Saturday's defeat by Sunderland, claiming the player was not focused enough.

After the game, first-team coach Gus Poyet admitted the club had no idea if Berbatov would still be a Spurs player come the end of the transfer window.

He added that the club was "going to try hard to get a couple of replacements" before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

Asked if that meant Berbatov was on his way out, Poyet shrugged and said: "What can I say? I think the best thing is to wait to 1 September.

"There is nothing to hide. We talked to him the other day and he was not in the right condition to play - I think you say in England, 'not in the right frame of mind'.

Berbatov's Dimitar Berbatov's agent Emil Danchev is believed to be in London to hold crisis talks with Tottenham.

It is understood that Danchev hopes to meet boss Juande Ramos and chairman Daniel Levy in a bid to thrash out the striker's future.

[dc7176]

Some goot news!! keke...

Everton agree to sign injury-plagued striker Saha

The 30-year-old has been marginalised by the combination of Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, while the emerging Fraizer looks set to step into his shoes for the coming season.

Toffees boss David Moyes had agreed an undisclosed fee for the France striker, who has been offered a two-year contract with the option of a one-year extension.

The 30-year-old former Newcastle and Fulham forward will become Everton's third signing in a week following the captures of Lars Jacobsen and Segundo Castillo providing he is passed fit by the club's medical staff.

Saha, whose spell at Old Trafford was beset by injuries, has 18 international caps and scored 42 goals during his United career.

Saha's arrival strengthens Everton's attacking options after the departure of Andrew Johnson to Fulham and caps off a busy few days for Moyes, who admitted last week that his resources were too thin for the rigours of a Premier League campaign.

He has since signed former Nuremburg player Jacobsen on a free transfer and secured a year-long loan deal for Red Star Belgrade midfielder Castillo.