Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Heinze transfer to Paris Saint Germain?

News emanating from the oh so reliable Sun camp suggests that Gabriel Heinze is a loan target for Paris Saint Germain this morning. According to The Sun Heinze has been marginalised by the fantastic performances of Patrice Evra this season.

Let’s dissect this story and see if there is any truth in it whatsoever. Firstly Heinze has not been marginalised by Evra’s fantastic performances. Yes Evra has played very well this season and all credit to him, but Heinze has been injured for the majority of games, therefore he has not been marginalised.

Secondly Real Madrid were interested in the Argentinean as little as a month ago. At that point Heinze came out to the press and said that he wasn’t going anywhere as he wanted to repay the loyalty of the club and manager that has stuck by him through his injury. If he says no to Real Madrid I get the sneaky feeling he may say no to Paris Saint Germain!

Thirdly he is loved at Old Trafford and has started all games he has been available for. Moving back to Paris Saint Germain would be a step in the wrong direction for a player at his peak in terms of footballing ability! All in all my feeling is Heinze is going nowhere!

In other news Gary Neville has earmarked the game against Chelsea on 26th November as a defining point of the season. We all know that this is a six pointer and is vital that we take the three points to edge out a lead against Chelsea in the league! We are much stronger than last season and we beat them 1-0 at home, there is no reason why we can’t do it again!

Finally another word on Copenhagen tomorrow. We must field a good side that is looking for victory! Now is not the time to sit back and play for the draw. It is not our style and never has been. I will post up fans suggestions from the Man Utd news forum for team selection tomorrow. In the meantime please feel free to post your suggestions on the blog!

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Goal From Magic Boy


....including a hat-trick by Rooney and a goal by Cristiano Ronaldo

Rooney was come back.

The 21-year-old striker had gone eight United games without a goal before hitting his treble at the Reebok Stadium, and his relief was plain for all to see.

"It was brilliant," he told MUTV. "There's been a lot of talk by a lot of people over the last few weeks, with people asking if I can do it any more and stuff like that.

"I'm just really pleased to be back amongst the goals and playing well again. Although I'm not really too worried about not scoring as long as we get the result, it's always nice to score, especially after such a long time."

Rooney's first two goals came inside 15 minutes as United began the game in astonishing fashion and caught their hosts on the back foot.

"We're very proud and happy with the performance," he conceded. "I think the first 20 minutes was probably the best we've played as a team all season. We opened Bolton up, got in behind them and made a lot of chances.

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Tuesday, October 17, 2006

What Fergie's say?

UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed his side's 3-0 Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen had shown the players were keen to avoid any more "embarrassments".

The Red Devils failed to qualify for the group stages last season after defeat by Benfica in Portugal and Ferguson has drilled into his players that it cannot be allowed to happen again.

Paul Scholes put the home side ahead in the 39th minute before John O'Shea (46) and Kieron Richardson (83) put the result beyond doubt.
"I think they have proved themselves," said Ferguson.

"They have grown up. They don't want any more embarrassments and they played well into the bargain."

The Scot also had praise for England striker Wayne Rooney, who was handed the captain's armband after Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs were late withdrawals.

"I thought he was fantastic. It is always difficult choosing captains and I looked at Edwin van der Sar but it is never the most important issue," he said.

Ferguson added: "It was a good attacking performance.

"We had to make sure the pace of the game was quick and it think it was a good performance and a good result.

"I said at half-time we had to kill the game off. We should have done it in the first half with the opportunities we had."

What did you think of Un ited's performance? Have your say.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

England Down....

England were trialling a 3-5-2 formation but appeared shaky at the back, while strikers Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch both like to come deep and so never really threatened the Croatia defence. A long-range Rooney effort in injury time was one of few attempts on goal. England are top of Group E, but share seven points with Croatia, Macedonia and Israel. Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and substitute Kieran Richardson also played.

There was major disappointment for United's England contingent on Wednesday night as Steve McClaren's side slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Croatia in Zagreb.

Gary Neville scored a freak own goal as his backpass hit a divet and left Paul Robinson kicking air whilst the ball rolled into the back of the net.




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Gignac: I am a huge fan of the great Ruud van Nistelrooy

Portsmouth target Pierre-Andre Gignac admits he wants to play for Manchester United.
"I won't tell you that I try to copy him, but I am a huge fan of the great Ruud van Nistelrooy," Lorient striker Gignac told skysports.com.

"I appreciated this player a lot. My dream is to be just like him.

"France and England are the places where I want to play football.

"In The Premiership, they score so many goals, they play so quickly, with envy, it is a real show.

"Replacing the great Ruud at Manchester United would be the bomb. Yes, wearing the number 10 at Old Trafford..."



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Sunday, October 08, 2006

Rooney Shaves Off Beard

Short news here. Rooney Wayne Rooney has shaved off his beard, despite not breaking his recent goal drought.

Rooney wasn't set to shave until he again scored for United, but reported to England training yesterday clean shaven.


Friday, October 06, 2006

Giggs targets winning return

Ryan Giggs has one aim in mind during the next week: getting back to full fitness and helping United maintain a winning consistency when the rest of the squad return from international duty.

Giggs hasn't played for United since injuring his hamstring in the Champions League win over Celtic.

The 32-year-old winger, who was this week voted Welsh player of the year, is not involved in Wales' Euro 2008 qualifiers due to the injury, but he will be hoping to play some part in United's next three against Wigan, Copenhagen and Liverpool, where he hopes United can continue where the Reds left off against Newcastle.

"We just need to keep building on these results," he said. "We started well and obviously stuttered for a couple of games but finished off really well before the international break with a good win against Newcastle.

"We hope to start when we get back from the internationals where we left off. I think the first game we clicked, but after that we just dug out results, which is pleasing, but we can play a lot better. We know that, but we will probably have to if we are going to do well this year."


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Reds Prepare For Euro 2008 Qualifiers


There's no domestic action this week, but United's stars are in Euro 2008 qualifying action across the continent.

Sixteen Reds are in action over the next week in vital games for their respective nations.

In one of the weekend's most intriguing games, Darren Fletcher could face Louis Saha if the French striker shakes off a hamstring injury to face Scotland.

Also noteworthy for Reds fans is the fact that United have an impressive seven members in England's squad.

United Players On International Duty

Edwin van der Sar (Holland) - v Bulgaria (a), Albania (h);
John O'Shea (Republic of Ireland) - Cyprus (a), Czech Republic (h)
Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Gary Neville, Kieran Richardson, Wes Brown , Ben Foster (England) - Macedonia (h), Croatia (a);
Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland) - Denmark (a), Latvia (h);
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Azerbaijan (h), Poland (a);
Tomasz Kuszczak (Poland) - Kazakhstan (a), Portugal (h);
Darren Fletcher (Scotland) - France (h), Ukraine (a)
Louis Saha (France) - Scotland (a), Faroe Islands (h)
Nemanja Vidic (Serbia) - Belgium (h), Armenia (h)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Norway) - Greece (a)



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Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Saha may play for France


Louis Saha

Louis Saha has not been ruled out of France's Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland on Saturday, despite concerns over his fitness going into the tie.

The 28-year-old striker missed United's 2-0 win over Newcastle with a groin injury, which was still giving the Frenchman problems when he joined up with the national squad at Clairefontaine this week.

But national coach Ramond Domenech has not given up hope that he will be able to play in the match.

"For the moment, Louis is not ruled out," he said. "He is with us and I will see over the next day or two what kind of state he is in. We will see how it develops. We still have some time."

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson has already registered his concern about the striker's fitness, and has asked France not to risk the in-form front man if he is not fully fit.

"They always call the player up even if he has a leg hanging off," said Sir Alex. "Louis is not fit and we will report that to France. We just hope for common sense. I don't mind him playing if he's fit, but if he's not fit, he shouldn't be training or playing."

Monday, October 02, 2006

Ole a great advert

UNITED'S American shirt sponsors AIG should sign Ole Solskjaer up immediately as the front man for their advertising campaign.

The insurance company's ad slogan illuminated Old Trafford as the rotating pitchside hoardings delivered their message: `The Strength To Be There'.

It doesn't fit anyone better than the Reds' legendary Norwegian.

At the end of 2005, United were so concerned by the knee problems that had ruined almost three years of his career, that Sir Alex Ferguson admitted the club was considering arranging a farewell testimonial.

Goals at any level seemed a distant and unlikely prospect - let alone a bagging vital double in front of his own adoring fans to send the Reds back to the top of the Premiership.

While many harboured fears that Solskjaer's final United goal had been long since scored, the Norwegian refused to buckle under.

Lesser players would have given up the ghost as the years on the casualty list mounted. But, as the advert says, he had the strength of character to fight on and yesterday he showed he still has the nous to be there when it counts.




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Solskjær's Goal Video

United vs Newcastle - Solskjær's 2-0 goal.Inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo and armed with two goals from Ole Gunner Solskjaer, the Reds returned to winning ways in the Premiership with a comfortable 2-0 victory over a Newcastle side that rarely threatened to deny United all three points.





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Sunday, October 01, 2006

REPORT : United 2 Newcastle 0

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer netted twice as the Red Devils brushed aside the challenge from Newcastle at Old Trafford.

Not since April 2003 has Solskjaer found the net in league combat at the Theatre of Dreams but the 33-year-old showed all his old instinct to put the Red Devils ahead before half-time before sending Nemanja Vidic's volley looping into the net two minutes into the second period.

So poor were the Magpies, the only disappointment for United, aside from an injury to Gabriel Heinze, was their failure to score more often.

Cristiano Ronaldo in particular endured a frustrating afternoon, striking the frame of Newcastle's goal on three separate occasions as he tortured their defence.

The excellent Darren Fletcher was also denied by the woodwork, and the agility of visitors' keeper Steve Harper, who pulled off a string of fine saves to keep the margin of defeat within reasonable proportions.

As a contest, it was a massive disappointment, with Newcastle barely contributing as an attacking force and an anticipated midfield scrap between England past and future never materialising.



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