Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[PeaceNoWar]

first defeat of the season in our lost to Wolves.
but we will bounce back stronger.

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by PeaceNoWar

but we will bounce back stronger.

SAF will make sure of that.

looking forward to this weekend's mouth-watering clash with the blue team from the other side of manchester.

win and we'll keep the noisy neighbours quiet for another season. lose and we'll just make it tough for ourselves (as usual) for the coming weeks where clashes with both Chelski and resurrected Pool are on the cards.

[Rickey]

Originally Posted by mr_missile

SAF will make sure of that.

looking forward to this weekend's mouth-watering clash with the blue team from the other side of manchester.

win and we'll keep the noisy neighbours quiet for another season. lose and we'll just make it tough for ourselves (as usual) for the coming weeks where clashes with both Chelski and resurrected Pool are on the cards.

Tink they're not gonna make it...playing like pussy cats after the 2nd minute goal by Nani against a puny little relegation team like Wolves & wif it ending their 29 games unbeaten run...Wats chance then hav they got against their BIG title rivals...MAN CITY, CHELSEA, LIVERPOOL wif so many STAR players which they gonna hav to play soon...tink they wld be awed & trembling...

Imagine playing like a bunch of kiddies wif Rooney (in his usual holiday mood) & all...can't even score a goal for the whole of the 2nd half to pull themselves level...not to mention win the match.. fear for them..& when they fall like dat against those minnow teams..they lose their confidence & finds it difficult against the BIG boys..such fears came true a few times oredi..how come SAF, such a great guy..cant' tink of a way out to recover the goal in the whole 45 mins of the 2nd half against Wolves...they were in fact mauled at the Wolves' den...OMG !

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by Rickey

Tink they're not gonna make it...playing like pussy cats after the 2nd minute goal by Nani against a puny little relegation team like Wolves & wif it ending their 29 games unbeaten run...Wats chance then hav they got against their BIG title rivals...MAN CITY, CHELSEA, LIVERPOOL wif so many STAR players which they gonna hav to play soon...tink they wld be awed & trembling...

it's quite normal for a team to go through a bad patch somewhere during a season.

just hope that united's blip against wolves is really just a one-off incident.

time to get behind the team now and not blast them ya?

[Totem]

Originally Posted by Rickey

Tink they're not gonna make it...playing like pussy cats after the 2nd minute goal by Nani against a puny little relegation team like Wolves
!

The funny thing about Wolves is that they also beat Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea but still also in relegation zone. Seem like a team that can really rise to most big occasion but not on the rest.

Besides that, I actually rather that Man Utd lost to Wolves than any other team in the Top 6. Man Utd is a funny team in a way that they can perform in most big matches but not as well as against non title challenging teams in the league from my observations over the years.

Just my opinion.

[mr_missile]

With VDS set to retire at the end of this season, much talk has been said as to who SAF will turn to for a replacement.

Among the many names mentioned, making a move for Pool's keeper will surely raise not just eyebrows from both sides especially if one can recall how SAF has famously refused to sanction Heinze's move to Pool and prefer to sell him to Madrid instead.

Champions League football next year may just be the little push Reina needs. But to which team as Arsenal are also in the market for a good keeper.

However, I won't rule out Pool making a late charge for the 4th CL spot at the expense of Spurs and Chelski. If Pool makes it to CL next year, then Reina will unlikely want to move.

REINA NOT RULING OUT MAN UTD MOVE

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has refused to rule out a summer move to their bitter rivals Manchester United.

United are considering their goalkeeping options as they seek a replacement for Edwin van der Sar when the Dutchman retires at the end of the season.

Reina has been mooted as a possible transfer target after establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe during his time at Liverpool.

He told Spanish radio station Ondo Sera: "Yes, well Van der Sar will hang up his gloves in the summer so of course they are looking. I can't do anything. I can't say anything logically as I have a contract with Liverpool.

"Of course one likes to fight for titles and be in a team that does that. We always fought to be in the Champions League and try to win the title. But unfortunately it hasn't been the case in the last couple of years."

Former Barcelona and Villarreal custodian Reina has left the door open to quit Anfield if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

He added: "I won't lie, I want to play in the Champions League and challenge for titles."

[mr_missile]

How true is this?

ARABS CLOSE IN ON MANCHESTER UNITED

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is understood to have made a bid for Man Utd

Friday February 11,2011

MANCHESTER UNITED are on the brink of joining neighbours City in Middle-Eastern ownership as the clubs prepare for their top-of-the-table derby clash tomorrow.

The Daily Express understands that United’s owners, the Glazer family, are “only haggling over details” with a deal to sell the club to Qatar Holdings virtually done at £1.6 billion.

If that deal is sealed, then Malcolm Glazer and his sons will have doubled their money in six years since they paid £790 million for the club in the summer of 2005.

It would also bring to an end a massively unpopular regime among United’s huge fan base.

And it could mean tomorrow ’s lunchtime derby with City – now enjoying the riches of ownership by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan – will be the last with United under American ownership.

United have consistently denied they are interested in selling since Qatar Holdings, the business investment branch of the Qatar Royal family, were first seriously linked with the club just before Christmas.

Last month secret talks were believed to have stalled over the price. The club publicly dismissed the notion that any discussions with the Glazer family had even taken place.

But sources close to the talks disclosed that even the Qataris baulked at a demand for £2bn. I now understand that broad agreement in principle has been reached, with Qatar Holdings finding another £100m above their initial approach of £1.5bn.

“The deal is pretty much done and they are only haggling over details,” a well-placed source told me. It is believed that club officials and members of United’s management team have recently been to Qatar. Qatar Holdings are desperate to capitalise on their country’s success in winning the rights to stage the 2022 World Cup and to take control of arguably the biggest club in the world.

They were established by Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, and hold huge worldwide investments. Harrods was bought from Mohamed Al Fayed last year and a £500m bid was recently launched to buy a stake in the London Olympic village after the 2012 Games.

The Qataris have already acquired a range of trophy assets in England. As well as Harrods they have major property investments including London’s One Hyde Park, the towering Shard of Glass at London Bridge and the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square.

Their interest in football was underlined by their purchase of the sponsorship rights to Barcelona’s strip. But the acquisition of Manchester United would dwarf that and spark rejoicing among fans, who launched their green-and-gold anti-Glazer protest.

It is understood United have become more attractive after the Glazers agreed to pay off £220m in PIK (payment in kind) loans. This followed a £500m club bond issue. Last night, United’s director of communications Phil Townsend, who now also acts as Glazer family spokesman, maintained the club’s line that no sale is imminent.

He told me: “There has been no approach to buy Manchester United and no approach would be welcome.”

[machoman]

Man Utd sink City thanks to Rooney

Saturday, February 12, 2011, 23:12:08 HRS

Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney (left) celebrates with Portuguese midfielder Nani after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester. Manchester United won 2-1.

Wayne Rooney's stunning finish gave Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday which left the leaders firmly in control of the title race.

Rooney erased memories of what had been a mediocre performance, personally and by his team, when he produced a moment of genius in the 78th minute.

Paul Scholes found Nani on the right and his cross was despatched into the bottom corner of the City goal by Rooney's spectacular overhead kick.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are now seven points ahead of second placed Arsenal, who host Wolves later on Saturday, while City are a further point behind and have played a game more than their bitter rivals.

Rooney said: "I think it's the best goal I've ever scored, I saw it coming over and I thought, 'why not hit it''.

"I was just delighted to see it go in the net and get the three points. Nine times out of 10 they go into the stand. It's the first overhead kick I've scored since school."

United's opening goal, four minutes from the half-time whistle, came largely against the run of play but was just reward for Nani, the Portuguese winger, who had been United's most dangerous attacking player throughout the first period.

Wide on the right, Nani had often been United's only potent threat but, when the opener arrived, it came from a long punt through the middle from home goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Rooney's strength saw him glance the ball to Ryan Giggs and he flicked on to Nani, who had caught defender Pablo Zabaleta out of position.

Nani kept his composure admirably, advancing before rolling the ball past Joe Hart, left-footed, from a dozen yards.

City looked stunned, and understandably so after they had more than held their own in an opening 45 minutes which laid to rest memories of the awful goalless draw between the clubs at Eastlands earlier this season.

Indeed, the visitors should have been ahead after three minutes. Yaya Toure found Carlos Tevez whose angled pass played in the impressive Silva who, with the goal at his mercy, placed his shot beyond van der Sar, missing the far-post by inches from a tight angle.

That early foray gave City confidence and a Gareth Barry free-kick found the head of Toure at the far post only for the midfielder to turn the ball harmlessly back across the face of goal.

Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Nani (left) vies with Manchester City's Spanish midfielder David Silva during their English Premier League football match at Old Trafford in Manchester. Manchester United won 2-1.

Both sides chanced their arm with long-range shots before United created their first opening, just after the half hour, with John O'Shea's square ball allowing Giggs the room to cross for Darren Fletcher whose header, at full run, was well kept out on his line by Hart.

Nani's 20-yard shot tested Hart as it deflected unkindly off Richards, while, before the interval, Silva enjoyed the luck of a deflection from Patrice Evra only to have his follow-up shot blocked by the Frenchman.

The interval brought City some much-needed breathing space and Tevez, a virtual non-factor thus far against his former club, opened the second half with a committed run to the by-line, with his cross being cut out by a home defender.

Silva also had a shot, which van der Sar held comfortably, but City were struggling to rediscover their attacking spark of the first half and, by the hour, Roberto Mancini had brought on Shaun Wright-Phillips and Edin Dzeko as substitutes in a bid to salvage at least a point.

It was a tactical re-shuffle that brought an almost instant dividend, through City's fortunate 64th minute equaliser.

Wright-Phillips probed down the right, delivering a dangerous cross to the six-yard line where Dzeko swung his foot for an untidy shot which deflected off the back of Silva and into the United goal.

Both sides probed thereafter, without either keeping being forced into a save in anger, until Rooney's superb solo effort settled the outcome.

- AFP

[Rickey]

Woo hoo ! Hip, hip, hurray !! Great Goal ! ..so finally our dear Rooney has finally woken up and SCORED again...tis time wat a GEM of a goal !!...if only he continues to play like dat for the rest of the season..the championship crown will surely be ours...i mean MAN UTD's ..Pls Rooney & Co..the Red Devils..do not let us fans down again k..

[lacoruna69]

Here's the goal....Great vision passing wide to Nani by Scholes.....even better delivery by Nani.......and superb 倒挂金鉤 by Rooney!!

[dc7176]

Glory Glory Man Utd!!!

[alex18122003]

Ole ole ole to all Red Devils fans

[machoman]

Rooney dedicates derby gem to United fans
Sunday, February 13, 2011, 21:44:25 HRS

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring the winning goal of the English Premier League football match against Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester on February 12. The striker has dedicated his sensational winner to his club's fans.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has dedicated his sensational winner against Manchester City to his club's fans.

Rooney knows some United supporters have become disillusioned with the England international since he handed in a transfer request following a row over the club's perceived lack of ambition.

The 25-year-old eventually withdrew his demand to leave and signed a new contract but the scars from that bust-up and Rooney's poor form this season have soured his relationship with the Old Trafford faithful.

He chose the perfect way to win back a place in their hearts as his spectacular overhead kick in the 78th minute of Saturday's derby clinched a crucial 2-1 win over United's hated local rivals.

Rooney's goal was rated by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the best he had ever seen at Old Trafford, surpassing even the best efforts of Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Eric Cantona and George Best.

And Rooney was happy to use his moment of magic as an ideal opportunity to praise the fans.

"The Manchester United fans deserve that from me," he said.

"I haven't had the best of seasons and I know how big this game is in Manchester, so I hope they enjoyed that.

"Now the aim is to keep scoring and help us get that title back."

Rooney's goal also put a huge dent in City's hopes of challenging for the title.

Roberto Mancini's side are now eight points behind United, having played a game more than the leaders and Rooney doesn't expect City to recover that deficit.

"It almost certainly rules City out of the title race unless a disaster happens," he said.

"I don't think they were that unlucky. They played OK. They moved the ball well at times. But they didn't hurt us. They didn't penetrate us.

"Other than the David Silva chance in the first half, they didn't really have a clear chance. We had two or three. Based on that, we deserved to win."

Arsenal's win over Wolves on Saturday moved them back within four points of United, who still have to play at the Emirates Stadium later this season.

But Rooney is confident United's greater experience of title-winning campaigns will prove crucial in the run-in.

"We are the team to catch. We know how it feels to be top of the league and to get over that finish line," he added.

"We have the experience with the manager and the players and we know what we have to do.

"Hopefully within the next six or seven games, we can maintain that gap, or make it bigger."

- AFP

[machoman]

Fergie vows to spend big in transfer window
Sunday, February 13, 2011, 21:08:56 HRS

Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has substantial funds to spend on new players in the next transfer window after a low-key signing of Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard by the club.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has substantial funds to spend on new players in the next transfer window.

While Premier League rivals Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all spent vast sums to improve their squads during the January window, Ferguson's only signing was a low-key swoop for Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.

Ferguson's lack of spending brought renewed speculation that United's owners - the Glazer family - are not willing to plow large amounts of cash into team rebuilding.

However, Ferguson is adamant the money is there if he wants it and he expects to go back into the market at the end of the season.

"Billionaire owners have introduced a new world that is turning football on its head," Ferguson told United Review.

"For our part, we cannot afford to sit in an ivory tower. We have to face the challenge.

"It is a healthy competition and it goes without saying that we will not shirk it and I don't think we are doing so.

"Although I let the transfer window shut without signing a new player, that is because we did our homework some time ago and didn't have to rush into any emergency buying.

"We had an interest in one player, and I thought we had a chance of bringing him in, but the other parties involved weren't ready and so we have put it away until the summer."

- AFP

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by machoman

However, Ferguson is adamant the money is there if he wants it and he expects to go back into the market at the end of the season.

"Although I let the transfer window shut without signing a new player, that is because we did our homework some time ago and didn't have to rush into any emergency buying.

"We had an interest in one player, and I thought we had a chance of bringing him in, but the other parties involved weren't ready and so we have put it away until the summer."

- AFP

That one player SAF was interested in signing during the transfer window is rumoured to be Villa's England man Ashley Young.

He should be a great addition to United. An ideal replacement for evergreen Giggs.

United will face competition from Pool for Young's signature in the summer.