Manchester United vs Bolton Match Preview.

Kick-Off:17:30, Saturday 10th September 2011

Referee: Andre Marriner.

Venue: Reebok Stadium.

                     Woo!!!! There goes the chant of Premiership lovers across the globe as the biggest league in the world comes back to session, and by 17:30 on Saturday, The biggest in the league Manchester United will take on not to easy opponents Bolton, United travel to Bolton in the wake of an exuberating display at OT last week after defeating Arsenal 8-2. But the away form of the Red Devils hasn’t really been tested as the oonly away opposition so far has been West Brom, a match in which United struggled to find fluency and rhythm as they came out with just a shot on target, Wazza’s goal so the real deal begins tomorrow, Will Manchester United continue their poor showing away from home or Will the youth of Cleverley, Anderson, Smalling, Chicha and Jones make the difference.

Projections

This match will be the first of an upcoming congested fixture list for the Red Devils -- a 22 day period that will see them play seven matches prior to the next international break in October so expect the gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson to make use of the depth available to him, as opposed to Owen Coyle’s side who have a less tiring fixture list.

MANCHESTER UNITED

League leaders with three matches played, United look good value to win the EPL this season and a win at Bolton would do no damage to their credentials.  The players look in mesmerising form as three United players were on the score-sheets during the internationals (Young,Wazza and Chicha). The injury list has got a new comer as Danny Welbeck pulled his hamstring against Arsenal, a match in which he carried his sublime form into only to get injured after opening the floodgates for the rout of Arsenal he is expected to come back training for  Chelsea, expect last seaon’s hero Javier Chicharito Hernandez to come into his place, Also out are Rafael, Vidic, although the latter is expected back before the end of the month. Scotland captain, Darren Fletcher came back with a bang as he scored and set up one during the EURO Qualifiers against Czech Republic. Valencia is also expected to come in contention.

BOLTON

Bolton have earned three points from three. After a wonderful rout  away to  Queens Park Rangers in the season opener which ended 4-0, the fixture list has not been really kind to Bolton as they faced rejevunated sides of Manchester City and Liverpool losing 3-2 and 4-0 respectively, although there are positives to take including the form of Ivan Klasnic, the meeting with Manchester United will be an intense one as Owen Coyle tries to rile his team from misery to mileage. Lee suffered a horrific leg break during the pre-season, thus, he is expected to miss the entire season. United States international Stuart Holden continues to recover from a severe leg injury suffered from a Jonny Evans tackle last time out The midfielder, who was Bolton's player of the year, featured for their reserves during the week but his availability for this tie is uncertain. Sean Davis appears doubtful due to a knee injury(The Busby Babe).

New signings are expected to come into play including former Liverpool striker David N’gog , Tuncay Sanli, and Nigel Reo-Coker.

Projected Line-Ups.

Manchester United:

I  will be expecting Manchester United to file out in their normal 4-4-2 formation giving rest to Patrice Evra as he almost broke his leg on International duty for France, so Fabio comes into play, I would also have opted that Young be rested but his form so far might get him the nod ahead of the likes of Park and Giggs,Mexican hitman, Javier Hernandez is expected to return to the starting XI, expecting Darren Fletcher and Dimitar Berbatov to feature at some point, also expect Rio to be rested or given a few minutes to get him ready for the mid-week match against Benfica.

Bench: Lindergaard, Berbatov, Fletcher, Carrick, Rio, Giggs,Park.

BOLTON.

Expecting Owen Coyle to field a 4-4-2 to match Manchester United’s wing play and their will be a welcome back for former Academy player Chris Eagles, also the the speed and experience of Martin Petrov will be a key factor, and the job of snuffing out the threat he poses lies with young Smalling, Mark Davies ability to run at people could get him the nod over Fabrice Muamba and Kevin Davies aerial and physical presence would be a tough watch for Jonesy.

The Official

Andre Marriner is the man to officiate the game and the 40 year old will be looking forward to a game of physical nous and power. He is not the new to the United supporters as he booked Neville, Giggs, Scholes twice in the four matches he was in charge of the Reds last season also sending off Jonny Evans just recently in the 1-0 victory at the Reebok mid March.Last seaon Andre officiated 36 games dishing out 125 yellow cards and five red cards.

Danger Men.

Wayne Rooney & Chicharito:

Talk about a banger to start the season, Wayne Rooney has started this season looking like the once happy 16 year old he was at Everton, he has so far scored five goals in his first three premier league games averaging a goal every 54 minutes and the bookies sure do havee him down to continue his goals galore at high stakes.

The little lovable Mexican, Chicharito is back after a concussion denied him participation in the pre-season tour of US and he is back looking hungrier than ever.

Kevin Davies & Chris Eagles:

Coming back to face his former team, Chris Eagles will look to prove to Sir. Alex Ferguson what he missed out on by letting him go, expect a battle between he and Rafael. Kevin Davies is no stranger in the Prem, and say all you want he is a talisman for Bolton, his aerial prowess would be one to look out for.

Predictions

Manchester United 2 Bolton 0

What Is The Best Formation Ever?

Our Expert Analyst analyses all the various formations used today in World football, whet your footie appetite by reading this rundown.
                                                                                                    By: United Expert


 How your team is going set up against the steel of Chelsea or the bounce back ability of Manchester United or the Possession Catenaccio (Tiki-Taka) of Barcelona. Formations is only a quarter of what wins you game the other three being your philosophy, the ability of your team and your manager but an extra impetus have been put on formations recently especially considering the backlash of the 4-4-2 England used at the World Cup when the media cried for the 4-2-3-1. And this got me thinking what the best formation is?

There will be four formations which will be discussed and analysed to see the strength and weaknesses. The formations will be the: traditional 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1 and the diamond 4-4-2. Every single one has their strengths but the best formation will be decided on how much strength to weaknesses they have.

Traditional 4-4-2
We will start with the 4-4-2 which has been used since the earlier years of football but has faded from the spotlight because of changes in football strategies and philosophies. It works best when the wingers and the full backs get far up the pitch and crosses are constantly put into the box where the strikers are most likely going to be unless one of them is a striker who plays between the lines e.g. Rooney. In the heart of the midfield, they often have a player who marshals the backline for attacking midfielders or second strikers and the other is a box to box midfielder who defends when their team is on the back foot and is in the other team's box when his team is making waves of attacks. If all of this goes to plan then it is virtually unstoppable and even the formidable Barcelona have been undone by it by Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. Note all the teams come from England where the 4-4-2 still lives on strong. The problem with it is that it is susceptible to being nullified if the game is based in the midfield. If faced with the 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 then the possession is normally with the other side meaning that the odd chance is created and has to be taken otherwise they might not get the ball back for 5 minutes (cast your mind back to whenever Barcelona play). This is the reason why it has fallen out of love with so any coaches as it modern football it is about possession because the more possession you have the more you are able to do with it.

  4-3-3

      Many think that the 4-3-3 and the 4-5-1 are different. Well, they are but only when specific details are followed. This will crop up in the 4-5-1 paragraph. The 4-3-3 when played proper is a great formation when you want to amalgamate possession with attacking football. 3 strikers. Often works best one there is one velocista (speed merchant), prima punta (goal scorer) and fantasista (Playmaking striker). Each do a specific job and each cause a different problem which means that the defenders have to change tactics each time they face up to each one of these strikers. This helps with the unpredictability factor and soon enough the defender is going to use the wrong tactic on the wrong striker which means that he will get past his man and get a goal for his team. The midfielders will probably have an anchor man there to marshal the defence for the same reason as in hte 4-4-2 two. Then it starts to diferentiate from the four four two as they have a deep lying playmaker added to the ranks along with the box to box midfielder. In Italian terms, they are called the regista and are often at the base of the midfielder in Italy but because they often don't have the defensive acumen to carry out the dirty work of a anchor man, in the 4-3-3 they are play alongside the box-to-box midfielder. On the team sheet, anyway.

4-5-1
             Going back to the start of the last paragraph, 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 are now basically the same formation. The only difference now in modern football is the in the 4-3-3, the wide players are wingers instead of wide midfielders. When I talked about the 4-3-3, I never once said anything about wingers because when played at it's best, like Barcelona, it is played with three strikers. Anyway, the great thing about the 4-5-1 is that whenever a manager sets his team up is to stifle the other team because there are 5 midfielders in there to make it as difficult as possible to build attacks through the midfield so they either have to go over the top or get frustrated for 90 minutes. If your defence is lacking in height and heading prowess then the over the top option will identify a weakness in your team which cannot be fixed with a congested midfield. And, it could also mean cutting off supply from your lone striker which means that if he cannot hold up play it would mean that wave after wave of onslaught will be pounded upon your team.

Diamond 4-4-2
          Diamond, of which I talk of, is the formation played with 4 midfielders. Popularised recently by Carlo Ancelotti with AC Milan and Chelsea in the first part of the 09/10 season, it is a formation which is brilliant for possession and intricate, quick short passing football that often cannot be combated. Milan, as an Italian team with an Italian manager, they followed the Italian philosophy to the tee which meant they had the regista (deep lying playmaker), Battaglia (midfield battler) and tuttofare (all-round midfielder). They also kept the instructions of only having three attackers with the prima punta and fantasista along with the segundo which comes in many different forms like the velocista. If you want to see how just look at the AC Milan midfield that won the 2007 Champions League, you'll see what I have just been talking about...
Gattuso: Battaglia
Pirlo: Regista
Ambrosini: Tuttofare
Seedorf: Fantasista
Kaká: Segundo Punta
Inzaghi: Prima Punta
Even in the 2005 final when the 'Miracle of Istanbul' occured, you could you see that they used the same formation and philosophy...
Gattuso: Battaglia
Pirlo: Regista
Seedorf: Tuttofare
Kaká: Fantasista
Shevchenko: Segundo Punta
Crespo: Prima Punta
After Ancelotti left, the formation changed and the football changed and AC Milan haven't been the same since. With Chelsea, the reason why it didn't work was because of the fact that they didn't have the right player for the right roles. For example, they often played Essien as the base when it shoudl really be a regista. Essien should be playing as the Battaglia. Deco played as the Tuttofare when he can't do all the jobs so he would be more suitable for the regista. Ballack played as the Battaglia when he is better for the Tuttofare. Lampard played the point when he is not a creative force but more of a Tuttofare and when there's no point of creativity then all else fails because it is arguably the most important position. This is why he had to switch to the 4-3-3 and the same reason why they won the title. They still had the train of thought that they played in the diamond which meant that their first thought wasn't ot immediately pass it out wide, which is the other problem with the modern 4-3-3 and 4-5-1.


So what is the best formation?

Each formation have their own strengths and weakness more so than others. Like the traditional 4-4-2 being built for it's pace but being vulnerable to being over run in the midfield. Or the 4-3-3 with obviously lacks width but is a signal of intent to attack the other team and win the game. 4-5-1, which has the ability to nullify the other team with 5 midfielders but cuts you off from your lone striker, mainly making it a defensive formation. Then, there's the diamond with the elaborate quic passing to feet which is difficult to cut out. Which one do I think is the best? I would rank it as:
1st. Diamond 4-4-2
2nd. Traditional 4-4-2
3rd. 4-3-3
4th. 4-5-1
It is in these position because the amount of methodical thought that goes into each position from the defence up is incredibly detailed which means when things are orchestrated then the manager knows exactly what is to blame and change without hindering the aesthetics of the roles in these positions. The traditional 4-4-2 I love because it encourages attacking, direct football, which teams are often trying to move away from to get more possession of the ball. Because I hate the thought of five midfielders in the middle of the park just to stop the other team playing is such an annoying prospect for me that it had to be last which left the 4-3-3 in the third position which it would of ended up in, anyway.  

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The "New Scholes" Doesnt Exist - United Just Need To Find The Player To Take His Place In Midfield!

                                                                                                                                                          BY: Justin Allen


                                 Let's face it - for the last couple of weeks, we've all woken up in the morning hoping for the newspapers' headlines screaming that Manchester United have agreed to sign Wesley Sneijder from Internazionale. The supposed-transfer saga was always inevitable after the just as inevitable retirement of Paul Scholes, but is it really as justified as so many people think, and can a player like Scholes really be replaced?

Every successful football team needs a heartbeat, and every great football team needs a midfield maestro. Zinedine Zidane's recent statement that Paul Scholes was the most gifted player of his generation is testament to the fact that Scholes made the some of the best teams in United's history tick - the treble winning team of '99, the Champions League winners of 2008. Out of the famous "Class of 1992" which included the likes of David Beckham, the Neville brothers, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs, Scholes has arguably been the most influential in making Manchester United the most successful club in the history of the English league and making United the dominant force since the Premier League began, winning more Premier League titles than all it's rivals collectively. The point is that Paul Scholes, the player and the icon, cannot be replaced. Sir Alex recently referred to him as a "once in a generation" player. The manager, as he is inclined to do, has got it right. 

The primary objective for Sir Alex and his staff is not to find the next Paul Scholes - it is to find a player that can replace Scholes in United's midfield most effectively. A player that can do what Scholes did - though it is of course unfair to expect this player to do it to the same standard as Scholes. A player who can dictate a game, determine the flow and rhythm of the game from midfield, distribute the ball with effortless accuracy and return a healthy 10 goals a season contribution. Scholes had the gift to do this in his prime, as Zidane said, better than anyone in the last 10 years. 

The player that can do these things to the highest standard that United can expect to tempt to Old Trafford is indeed Wesley Sneijder. Surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, he joined Inter and was the main reason, along with Jose Mourinho, for Inter's treble triumph in 2010. The Dutchman is a world class superstar who would fit the bill at a club like United. However, Sir Alex has poured cold water on all the speculation but surely it is too early to write off the possibility of Sneijder moving to United just yet. One thing is for certain : if United don't land him this summer, they won't land him next summer either - not for £35 million anyway. Even if the move were to materialise, it would be a risk - parting with £35 million and more than £200,000 a week for a 27 year old who was beset with injuries last season and does not have his prime years ahead of him would certain be a risk, albeit a calculated one, from the manager who has seen all there is to see at the highest level of football. 

Sir Alex has to make a decision. He can spend big money to bring in a replacement, such as Sneijder, Samir Nasri, or even Ganso from Santos, or he can wait. Perhaps the most sensible option is the latter. Remember that last season, Scholes played a peripheral role. He was probably United's best player in the first half of the season but think of how sparingly Sir Alex used him in the second half of the season. Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs were the main contenders for the two births in the centre of midfield. The manager has gradually eased Scholes out of the equation, for a couple of years now, for this very period of time. The fact of the matter is this, as much as it pains me to say - United's first choice XI will be the same irrespective of whether Scholes is there or not. It is the same team, besides of course the absence of Edwin van der Sar, but David de Gea has come in as a direct replacement, and certainly hopes at Old Trafford are high for a young goalkeeper who has immense potential and has already produced simply world-class displays in his short time in La Liga. It will be the same team that proved to be the best in England and one of the top three teams in Europe alongside the two Spanish superpowers.

                                     The New Scholes? Does he exist? Justin Allen explains why there is no new Scholes.

As previously mentioned, Sir Alex gradually eased Scholes out of the spotlight at United, which proposes the question, why didn't Sir Alex buy a natural successor for Scholes when he no longer became an automatic choice in United's midfield. Well, maybe he did.

On 30 May 2007, United confirmed the signing of Anderson from FC Porto. Immediately, people started talking - this was Scholes's long term successor. This may seem a bit ambitious at this moment in time, but the young Brazilian deserves his chance to show that he can claim Scholes's place in midfield for the long term. Injuries have disrupted his development as a footballer but even so, his progress in the last couple of years has been notable, especially in some of his displays this last season, especially goal scoring displays against Blackpool and Schalke in a Champions League semi-final. Sir Alex should consider giving Anderson a consistent place in midfield to continue his development and win over the fans that remain unconvinced, and give Anderson the confidence that could see his emerge as United's diamond in disguise.

Tom Cleverley has been touted as a long term replacement for Scholes, and as much as he has shown remarkable ability and potential both at club level with Wigan and junior international duty, surely it is too early to expect him to feature consistently for United. In a few years time, or even next season, we can expect some of the potential unleashed, but for now, let him continue his development as a squad player.

It hardly needs to be said, but Sir Alex knows the situation better than any of us. If Sneijder were added to the United ranks, the team would only get stronger and I would be as delighted as anyone else. But the sensible option for the manager may be to keep the chequebook in his pocket and see if he already has United's next talisman in the squad already.

Gill’s Comments Regarding Transfers Restores Hope Amongst United Fans.

                                                                                                               BY: Sheldan Keay

                                      So Who would be that last signing Gill has promised? Sneijder? Nasri? Modric?


Earlier this week, Sir Alex Ferguson left many Manchester United fans frustrated, when he announced that their will be no more signings coming to Old Trafford this season. After the arrivals of David De Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young, a large void was still left in the centre of midfield following the retirement of Paul Scholes, a void that many believed Sir Alex would fill with a Summer signing. The likes of Wesley Sneijder, Samir Nasri and Luka Modric were all rumoured to be potential targets for United, but after Sir Alex’s comments, it looked as if those targets were no longer going to be linked with United. That was until David Gill’s interview on Tuesday. Speaking on MUTV, the United Chief Executive claimed that the club are looking to bring in one more ‘world class’ player, a statement that should bring hope back to United’s fan base. However, with the contrasting views between Chairman and Manager, it remains to be seen whether or not the United fans can expect another signing this Summer.

After Sir Alex Ferguson’s comments, the first question many United fans were asking was what happened to the proposed move for Wesley Sneijder. Many trusted news outlets and journalists were reporting that Sneijder had agreed terms to join United, and that the only stumbling block was the transfer fee between Manchester United and Inter Milan. Sneijder had reportedly originally demanded wages of £250,000 a week, but it was then reported that he had agreed to reduce his request to £190,000 a week. A £35 million transfer between United and Inter then looked imminent, but it was then reported that United had no interest in Sneijder. It initially appeared that once again a proposed move for a player fell victim to both internet and newspaper rumours, but many trusted sources still claimed that a deal for Sneijder could still be struck in the near future. However, the proposed move once again hit another setback, following the news from Sir Alex that United’s Summer spending was over. Sir Alex was quoted as saying, “We are always looking for good quality players, however we are satisfied with the players that we started the season with. At the moment we are looking at central midfielders from within the club to replace Scholes.” Sir Alex’s comments put the likes of young players such as Tom Cleverley on note, as it then appeared that they would be called upon this season to step up and try to command the position that was once mastered by Scholes. 

Cleverley had a successful season at Wigan, and many have tipped the England Under 21 star to be the one to replace Scholes, stating that he had the potential to achieve the success that Scholes obtained at United. However, at such a young unproven age, it is unclear whether or not Cleverley is good enough at this stage of his career to carry that pressure on his young shoulders, and with this Premier League season looking to be tougher than ever, it would appear to be unwise for Sir Alex to risk using Cleverley in such a staring role. This is why many United fans felt a Summer signing to replace Scholes was needed. While the signings of Ashley Young and Phil Jones were well received among most United fans, they were positions that United did not necessarily need to strengthen. If money was an object for United, it remained unclear why moves for these players were more craved rather than a move for a centre midfielder, a position which at the start of the transfer market, was arguably the position that needed strengthening the most along with the goalkeeper position following Edwin van der Sar’s retirement. Things then became more unclear when following Sir Alex’s comments, it looked as if United had finished their business in the transfer market for this Summer, that was until David Gill’s interview on Tuesday.

While speaking on MUTV, Gill said “Edwin made it known that last season would be his last so we had planned for a new goalkeeper well in advance. With the others, the opportunities came along and we were comfortable with that. We’ve made three signings. We're looking at one more player to bring in.” Gill went on to add “Nothing is happening and nothing imminent is going on at the moment, but we'll see what happens when we get home. There is still be 31 days of the transfer window to see if anything develops. But I'm not working on anything at the moment, in that respect." The news from Gill will bring renewed hope to fans, who only a few days earlier had believed that they would see no more signings this Summer. But with contradicting views from both Manager and Chief Executive, it does leave slight confusion amongst fans as to where exactly United stand. It would not be the first time that after claiming United were no longer in the market, Sir Alex would go out and complete a transfer, however it is confusing as to why Sir Alex would make that statement, only to have David Gill make a completely contradicting view only days later. You have to imagine that Sir Alex can not be best thrilled to have been undermined in such a way, but the relationship between Sir Alex and David Gill has proven in the past to be a successful one, and it is doubtful that any hard feelings between the pair will stem from this situation. Confusion aside, the news from Gill leaves United fans in a much more comfortable position than it had appeared earlier in the week, and it again fuels speculation on a number of potential targets for United, with the most likely option being a certain Mr Sneijder.



With no confirmation from within the club, it is still unclear whether or not it is a central midfielder that United are looking to bring in, although it is unlikely that they would be seeking players in other positions where new talent is not required. With the news from Gill that it is a ‘world class’ player that they are currently seeking, it looks more and more likely than it will be Wesley Sneijder who finds himself playing at Old Trafford next season. However, with sources close to Inter Milan stating that Sneijder has no desire to leave, and with him also being at the centre of a new formation debuted by Milan earlier this week, there are also still clear signs that he may indeed stay at Inter Milan. If that is the case, there is also still the possibility that Arsenal’s Samir Nasri may be the one to join Manchester United, but he also found himself the subject of another of Sir Alex’s statements, when it was claimed that United would not be signing Nasri, but it has been proven this week that Sir Alex may not be entirely truthful when talking to the media. The arrival of Nasri would be a great signing for United, however it is no secret amongst most fans, that the player they sought after the most is indeed Wesley Sneijder. If United are able to get Sneijder, it would bring to an end one of the transfer sagas of the Summer, and would arguably be one of the biggest signings of the Summer, and with Sneijder possibly being the face of the new United midfield, it would be very hard to bet against United not only retaining their Premier League title, but also once again becoming the marquee team in Europe.

David De Gea Arrives For Medical, Forces Football Agent Off Twitter

     

     Seems like Manchester United, are set to make their third signing of the summer with pictures of David De Gea being revealed having a medical at 0T. It was first reported on twitter via the account of @FootballAgentPM and retweeted by various MUFC pages, the news caused uproar among many Manchester United fans, with some fans insulting the individual who has about 12813 followers and in respect to these insults, he deleted his twitter account.
Many top footballing pages on Twitter e.g @ManUnitedYouth, @MUFCBlogg, @James_Heneghan_,@Darren_Can reacted to the deletion of the account by posting various comments regarding the lunatics who had kicked the agent of Twiitter.

This isnt the first time, the uproar of MUFC fans have kicked someone of Twitter as Darron Gibson suffered the same fate, We hope that @FootballAgentPM can come back as his tweets were always 100% accurate.

David de Gea pictured arriving for his Man Utd medical, with his entourage doing a shoddy job of keeping him away from the cameras.

The Dutch Connection

BY: Paushali Mandal                                                                                              

Manchester United has had a long history of Dutch players who turned out to be legends, eventually. Till date, 6 well-known Dutch players have played with the club - Arnold Muhren, Raimond van der Gouw, Jordi Cruyff, Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Edwin Van Der Sar. It seems United strives well with the presence of atleast one Dutch player in the team.

Let’s look at these players one by one and know about their contributions to this great club.

· Arnold Muhren (1982-85)
He first joined Manchester United in 1982, when he was 31 years old. It was at Old Trafford where the languid Dutchman became the club's first foreign star. He played as a midfielder and made his United debut in the home game against Birmingham City on August 28, 1982. United won that game 3-0. In his first season, he scored 7 goals and helped United win the FA Cup. He lasted only two more seasons as he was transferred back to his home country club Ajax due to home-sickness. He scored 18 goals and made 98 official appearances for United. Due to his elegance and impeccable reading of the game, Muhren is fondly remembered for his years in England.



·                                                  Raimond van der Gouw (1996-2002)
After a successful career with Vitesse, then 33-year old Raimond played his first game for United in 1996. It was a match against Aston Villa on the 21st of September. The game ended in a draw 0-0. Van der Gouw's experience played a part in United's successes, both as a player and as goalkeeping coach at the club. The goalkeeper made a mere 37 appearances in his six seasons at United. His most remembered appearance was against Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final of the 1996-97 UEFA Champions League, where he replaced Peter Schmeichel as the latter had met with an injury minutes before kick-off. Though United lost the game 1-0, Raimond helped keep the score down. Unfortunately for him, he could not fill the gap left behind by the legend Peter Schmeichel. Van der Gouw's experience played a part in United's successes, both as a player and as goalkeeping coach at the club.

· Jordi Cruyff (1996-2000)

This talented forward made his debut with Barcelona and was part of the team who defeated Manchester United 4-0 in the Champions League finals in 1994. After Barcelona sacked his father, Cryuff signed for United in 1996 and made an impressive debut with a 3-0 win over Wimbledon on August 17th. During the time he had suffered a knee injury in the very same season, the Reds were going through a very difficult time losing several crucial matches across different competitions. With his return, the team gained a formidable composure. During his four years at United, he played a total of 54 games and scored eight goals. Many United fans still remember him as a great footballer.



· Jaap Stam (1998-2001)

Possibly Ferguson's best defensive acquisition since Steve Bruce, Jaap Stam was a central defender who was calm, and possessed excellent positional skills and tackling ability, yet he was also blessed with pace and power too. In 1998, Stam became the then most expensive Dutch football player in history and the most expensive defender in history, when Manchester United bought him for £10.6 million His debut game was the FA Charity Shield against Arsenal on August 9th. Though United lost to Arsenal by 3 goals, his performance was noticed by many football fans around the world. Stam spent three seasons at Manchester United, during which time United won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Champions League. His only goal for the club was against Leicester City in a 6-2 away victory. He was without doubt the rock at the heart of a solid United defence. He was part of the prestigious treble season of United.



· Ruud Van Nistelrooy (2001-2006)

The extremely talented forward was signed by Manchester United for a then stunning sum of £19 million. During his first season, Van Nistelrooy scored an impressive 23 goals in 32 league games. He broke the record he shared with Mark Stein, Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry, by scoring in eight consecutive league games. He was the first Man United and Premiership player to score in 10 successive games. The following season, he finished as the top Premier League scorer with 25 in 34 games, including three hat-tricks, and he ended the season on another eight-game scoring streak. He scored a total of 150 goals in 220 appearances during his time with United. Seemingly, he could score any goal from anywhere, and Premier League defences breathed a huge sigh of relief when Van Nistelrooy joined real Madrid in 2006 due to a supposed rift between him and Sir Alex. Till date, nobody has been able to break his 38 goal-record in a single season. Class.



· Edwin Van Der Sar (2005–2011)After failing to get a perfect replacement for Schmeichel following his retirement in 1999, Sir Alex Ferguson spotted this diamond playing for Fulham. He made an offer for him, which his club accepted and the famous goalkeeper came to Old Trafford in 2005. The two differ in style; Schmeichel was famed for bellowing at his back four as well as his brilliant saves. Edwin, however, uses his experience and calm assurance to great effect. Matching Barthez for shot-stopping ability, the 40-year-old has never been prone to the same rushes of blood to the head, and his reassuring presence has gone a long way in United equalling Chelsea's record of ten consecutive Premier League clean sheets. He helped United win the Champions League for the first time since Schmeichel left in 1999. His spot-kick stop from Nicolas Anelka in the 2008 final in Moscow is forever etched in Red history. The Flying Dutchman will forever be remembered for his invaluable services to United.

So The Question Is: Who Will Be The Next Red From Holland?
Is it going to be highly rated Inter Milan midfielder, Wesley Sneijder who has been strongly linked with the Old Trafford outfit, We are hoping it would be him!

Javier Hernandez Scores With His Little Pea

By: Frank Onyebu


The match started on a tough note, as Honduras proved the toughest competitors so far for the Mexicans in the tournament. And after the first 90 minutes of football, there were no goals, making it go into extra time and it was here The Mexicans ended the match, First A.De Nigris scored first in the 93rd minute and six minutes later, The most loved Mexican, Javier Chicharito Hernandez beat the offside trap to use his penis to poke in the ball towards goal after the header had been directed towards him by A.De Nigris!What a POACHER!!! What a tournament for the young Mexican. Now the question is: Who Is going to be Hero? Chicharito or Dempsey in the finals of the Gold Cup!
To watch the goal by Chicharito:

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Can United’s Youth Step Up If We Don’t Sign A Centre Midfielder?

By: Sheldan Keay


This Summer, Manchester United have been linked with a huge list of midfielders, including the likes of Tottenham’s Luka Modric and Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder, but with United already set to have spent over £50 million this season following the expected signings of David De Gea,Phil Jones and Ashley Young, another signing may not be possible. With this being the case, could the youth of Manchester United step up to the plate in our quest to clinch more silverware next season. Following the retirement of Paul Scholes, it was widely expected United would sign a centre midfielder to help fill the void that has been left due to the legend’s exit, but if this was not to be the case, could those who have helped Manchester United’s youth team clinch the Youth Cup be the ones to step up and take the place that Scholes once commanded? I think it could be very possible. Manchester United proved this past season that they have one of the best youth academy’s in the world, after their dominant performances in the Youth Cup earned them the honour of being the first team to the win the Cup 10 times, following a 6-3 aggregate win over Sheffield United.Several players impressed, most notably Ravel Morrison, who finished his season by scoring two goals in the home leg in front of the Old Trafford faithful. The impressive display by Morrison has not gone unnoticed, and has led to him recently earning his first cap for England’s U18 side.

It is no surprise that his performances have led tohim being touted as one of England’s best prospects, but he is not the only English talent that Manchester United currently possesses. While Ravel Morrison provides the attacking midfield threat for the youth team, it is another Englishman that provides the defensive side, Ryan Tunnicliffe. With the ability to play as either a defender or a midfielder, Tunnicliffe offers United something they have craved over the past few seasons when injuries have left them short of defenders and forced to play the likes of Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick in order to complete a make shift back four. Tunnicliffe has had a phenomenal season for United, one that was capped off with him earning the status of being Manchester United Academy player of the year. It is obvious that the decision to award Tunnicliffe as the player of the yearwould have been a hard choice, simply due to the hard work and commitment displayed by the majority of United’s youth players this season, including talented Frenchman Paul Pogba.

After a slow start, Pogba reached his peak during the culmination of United’s cup campaign, which included a string of impressive outings in the latter rounds of the cup. Pogba has proven time and time again that he has a keen eye forgoal, something that would be crucial if he was to make the switch to the senior squad, in fact any of the three mentioned players have shown that they have the skill and ability to be able to fit in perfectly to United’s current side. The only question mark would potentially be whether or not it would come too soon for these youngsters.There is no denying that the lifestyle of a footballer is an extravagantone, and usually one that results in them making several mistakes off the field, as shown in the problems Ravel Morrison has experienced in the past during his time in court over allegations of witness intimidation. If these players were to be featured regularly in the senior squad, it would result in them being a much more common figure inthe public eye, and it is unknown as to whether or not they would be able to cope with the added pressure at such a tender age. Sir Alex has shown in the past that he likes to ease in his young players through a mixture of loan spells and league cup games, and it is likely that he would follow the same structure with this current crop of players. However it has been proven by other top Premier League clubs that age should not come into consideration when debating the ability of a player, most notably visible during Jack Wilshire’s successful season at Arsenal, which culminated in him earning the PFA young player of the year. With the amount of experienced players that United currently possesses, this would help to allow this set of fresh faced youngsters to settle down at United with the guidance of those who have previously been in their position. If United do indeed not sign a centre midfielder during this transfer window, then I believe that these players have the potential to initially be a great squad addition there to step in if the likes of Fletcher and Carrick among others are unable to play, but as the season advances and they gain the experience they require, I fully expect to see these players knocking on the door of a first team start to help United in their hopes of clinching not only a twentieth Premier league title, but also their quest in obtaining both domestic and European cup glory. This set of players have been widely tipped as being the most successful crop of United’s youngsters since the famous class of 92, andI personally expect to see them burst onto the world stage with the same brilliance that was once displayed by the likes of Giggs, Scholes, Beckham during their rise through the United ranks. ...

Why Ashley Young Is a Good Signing for Manchester United .

By: Adam Marsh

Ashley Young has been linked with United for over six months now, even if it wasn't United the young English winger has been the subject of transfer speculation columns. With the summer approaching and Young having undergone a medical today on the 22/06/2011 at Bridgewater hospital, a deal is now looking imminent. With speculation in mind there are obvious reason why Young makes total sense for Manchester United.The obvious question that surrounds this move is do United actually need another winger in their team? With them already having players such as: Nani, Valencia, Park, Giggs and Obertan as first team wide players. This position is seen as one that clearly doesn't need to be strengthened by Ferguson. Giggs is more often used centrally than out wide today, and as for Park he is clearly used as a tactical role rather than a purely wide one obviously due to his non-stop work ethic. Tom Cleverley is also returning from his loan spell at Wigan Athletic this summer, whilst he is able to play wide he is naturally a central player.Ashley Young is about to turn 26 years of age this summer and he may have only played 11 games in Europe, none of which have been in the Champions League, but he has played 177 games in the Premier League and clearly understands the league well which is a bonus. With Young knowing the league well and his ability to speak the language, put both these together and it can only be a good thing as surely any ‘settling-in’ period should be reduced significantly. Compare this with other names which have been mentioned, players like Neymar and Alexis Sanchez who both don't speak the language and don't know the league at all, and both would obviously cost more. Remember, Nani even though he was playing in the shadows of one of the best, if not the best player in the world Cristiano Ronaldo when he was at United, it took him a good 2 years to find any form that was seen as consistent. So this is a good thing for United as even if it's only a squad player your signing who settles somewhat instantly is a bonus.

Recently these are times when signings are often linked to ‘value’. Young is out of contract in 12 months time so despite being an English he is a player which is a victim of the inflated transfer fee clubs have to pay. All this aside Young would probably arrive at OT for a fee ranging from £10-£16 million pounds, additionally his wages would be in line with the average wages at the club.Young’s form in the Premier League has been very consistent over the past four seasons having scored 9 goals in each of them, also he has amassed 60 assists over that time. Ever since Ronaldo left in 2009 United’s wide areas have been lacking goals and assists and Young would seem to fit the bill in that respect. All season long there has been a constant frustration from United fans when they’ve been taking set pieces. United have players that can clearly score from set-pieces the main choice being Nemanja Vidic, and with their corners rarely beating the first man is disappointing. Ashley Young is an excellent set-piece taker and has shown his worth in that respect even against United, where he provided deliveries that were described by SAF as “Undefendable at times”. Clearly it would be a great advantage for United if they were to have someone like this in their ranks who can take good set-pieces, both direct and indirect.The ‘typical’ United winger would have to be fast, a good dribbler, someone who can cross the ball and someone who is confident on the ball. Truthfully, Young ticks all of these boxes, obviously he doesn’t excel in every area and yes there are better players in the world than Young, but he is reliable and definitely capable of doing the things he needs to. With United’s strikers being ones that feed off good service, especially with Rooney’s best season being the one where Valencia provided good quality service, Chicarito, who has also shown all season that he loves to get on the end of crosses. Despite Young being right footed he is also comfortable on the left hand side, so with United having the opportunity to have good wingers on both sides of the field would be something very handy.

Young is under appreciated in terms of the defensive work he does but he is an attacking player. When United are looking to switch in order to be more positive away from home and for example if Nani and Valencia both started and one needed replacing, Young would seem the better option for this instead of Park when looking for a win.Ashley Young may not be player that most United fans think SAF should sign, this is because more people think we should be concentrating on the central role due to Paul Scholes announcing his retirement. However in my opinion with Giggs coming to the end of his career and Bebe out on loan, also with Obertan looking to be on his way out in the summer and finally with Park looking like he’s only got 2 more seasons left at OT this signing looks to be a good one both for long term and short term, as Young clearly fits the bill for a typical United winger.
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Hargreaves Fighting For His Career.

                                                                                                      By: Adam Marsh

      Owen Hargreaves started his professional career at German giants Bayern Munich. He spent four years at Bayern Munich - in which he won four German league titles and a European cup medal. Sir Alex Ferguson saw talent in this midfield maestro and therefore went on to sign him for a fee of £17 million pound in 2007. Hargreaves played a big part in United’s team helping them complete the double in his first season there as they won both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. However on the 22nd May 2011 it would be known that Hargreaves the injury-hit midfielder would not be offered a new contract and would be released by United.

Time at United
Whilst Hargreaves was at United he made only 39 appearances in four seasons for Manchester United, and unfortunately since his knee problems occurred again he only managed to grind out 11 minutes of football for United since 2008. Hargreaves played a pivotal part in United’s heart of midfield as he managed to play a successful sting of performances in the 2007/2008 season. He was also voted England’s player of the year in January after bursting on to the international stage in the build up to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he was seen as one of England’s best players in Germany before they were knocked out in the quarter finals to the hands of Portugal. SAF found that not offering Hargreaves a new contract a tough task as he knew how hard he had worked in order to get back his fitness, as well as him being such a talented midfielder which United need due to Paul Scholes announcing his retirement after United won a record breaking 19th title which
 helped them get one over their local rivals Liverpool. SAF will miss Hargreaves as he is a great box-to-box midfielder who was great at all aspects that a midfielder needs in their game, good vision, great range of passing and also showed his willingness to try new things as he filled in at right back for both club and country. This would of suited United in the Champions league final this year as his destructive talents would of came of use, when once again United were given somewhat of a dizzying ride by Spanish giants Barcelona.

                                        The End Of Hargreaves United Career
Highlights
Hargreaves’s United career started brightly enough by putting in strong performances in the premier league as well as the champions’ league which showed OT that he wanted to become a major asset for the Red Devils. Hargreaves scored two wonderful free-kicks for United. One being against Fulham, and the other being at OT against close contestants for the PL - Arsenal. This goal to some United fans is seen as one of the greatest moments at OT as United came from behind to win 2-1, which helped them get three really important points to win the race to lift what was their 18th premier league trophy. Also he scored a magnificent penalty in the shootout during the champions league final against Chelsea, with this penalty he shown great confidence as he guided it in to the top corner in order to beat Chelsea keeper Peter Cech, which is a sign of a quality player as he was under a tremendous amount of pressure in the match which United thankfully went on to
 win. Hargreaves really stole the hearts of the United faithful, however knee injuries that put him out of action for almost 20 months caused him dearly.

                                        Fans will always remember this special goal. 
What Next For Hargreaves?
Owen Hargreaves now unfortunately heads the list of former big money stars who have been somewhat dumped in the Premier League’s dustbin. Among Hargreaves, Patrick Vieira, Jonathan Woodgate and Sol Campbell are amongst the other big named players to be released by their clubs this summer. SAF hopes that Hargreaves can carry on his career elsewhere as he knows most of all his injuries have made Owen's career tough. With the modern game of football offering rewards that are so high, the devastating lows can often be forgotten and Hargreaves is another one of the succession of players who have paid the price with their body. Hargreaves has said recently that he would be willing to take a pay-as-you play contract with the right club. I feel that if Hargreaves was to return to a club it should be to somewhere not in the premier league. Maybe a return to the Bundesliga would suit Hargreaves as simply the pace of the game is much slower and would suit Hargreaves as he is still clearly a great player at the age of 30, and with a slower paced game he could have less chance of being injured again.

Can Tom Cleverley Be The Man To Replace Paul Scholes?

                                                                                                         BY:Sheldan Keay

           Following the retirement of Paul Scholes, a huge void has been left in the centre of Manchester United’s midfield, one that Scholes commanded for 17 years. The likes of Wesley Sneijder and Luka Modric have been rumoured to be possibilities to fill this gap, but Sir Alex can take pleasure in the fact he has a team full of talented young players who will be eager to prove themselves to be worthy of a role in the first team, especially Tom Cleverley. After a successful season on loan at Wigan, Cleverley looks set to return to Man United in order to help them in their efforts to bring back more silverware to Old Trafford in the upcoming years, and I for one think that he has the potential to be the man to pick up where Scholes brilliantly left off.


 Cleverley has often been compared to Scholes, and offers a lot of the same credentials as the United legend, due to his ability to command the game with his excellent passing ability, and also his desire to get forward and score goals. The good form that Cleverley has displayed throughout the season has not gone unnoticed, as he has become a commanding figure in England’s attempts to win the Under 21 European Championships.

                            Cleverley Has Often Been compared To Scholes
 At 21 years old, Cleverley has the world at his feet, and has been tipped by many to be the man to replace Scholes, most notably by Wigan Athletic first team coach Graham Barrow, who believes Sir Alex should look no further than the United youngster when deciding who should be the one to replace Scholes. Cleverley responded to Barrow’s comments, and stated that he hopes to be a recurring figure in United’s team next season. “If I can fill a bit of the hole Scholes has left then that would be brilliant. I spoke to Sir Alex and he said he wants me in the team next season, and I am sure we will chat again over the summer about what his plans are for me." Cleverley played his last game for United during their pre-season tour of America last season, where he was met with rave reviews for the great performances he put in, which included scoring two goals during the tour. Cleverley expects to be part of United’s next trip to America once he returns from England duty, and again hopes to impress Sir Alex. “I will go on the tour of America in July, looking to make an impact and work my way into the United team. I'm just thinking about having a good season at United - but that has to start with a good summer first." One thing is for sure, whether it be this season, or in the seasons to come, Tom Cleverley will be an ever present in United’s team, and has the potential to go on to become one of the best players to grace United’s midfield in recent history.

Why Manchester United should keep Dimitar Berbatov.

                                                                                                 BY: Justin Allen & Frank Onyebu




The future of Dimitar Berbatov has been subjected to intense speculation recently but there are still plenty of reasons to prevent Sir Alex Ferguson from showing him the exit door just yet.

The Bulgarian insists that his future remains at Old Trafford but fans' opinions have been split ever since his £30.75 million arrival from Tottenham in 2008. Long had Sir Alex looked for a player in the mould of Eric Cantona, who could turn a game in United's favour with one flick of inspiration or one piece of genius. Berbatov met this criteria, and he relied on his natural skill and proven goal scoring record to win over the fans and compensate for his elegant and somewhat laid back approach.

Berbatov made a fantastic start to the 2010/2011 season, scoring 17 goals in his first 19 games. However, Wayne Rooney's resurgence in form and the sensational entrance of Javier Hernandez meant that sir Alex had almost no choice but to drop Berbatov to the bench and let Chicharito and Rooney begin what will surely be one of the most formidable attacking duos ever witnessed at Old Trafford. The fans immediately warmed to Hernandez's relentless work rate, which so contrasted Berbatov's,, as well as a hugely impressive goal return from the little Mexican, and a seemingly telepathic understanding with Rooney.

                                                BERBATOV FINISHES TOP SCORER.
However, the fact remains that Berbatov finished joined top scorer in the Premier League alongside Carlos Tevez on 20 goals and not many teams can afford the luxury of having the League's top scorer at their disposal on the bench. Hernandez and Rooney will continue to thrive together as Sir Alex's first choice striking force but defences will work them out, and Berbatov is the perfect man to come on late in a match and deliver a piece of mastery that may well prove the difference between 1 point and 3 points come 90 minutes.He may have to accept that his number of minutes on the pitch will diminish but he is as effective back up option in the Premier League, if not in Europe. he also offers the option of playing up front, with his ability to control the ball faultlessly with his first touch and hold it up until support arrives. Or, alternatively, he can play up front with Hernandez with Rooney out wide when United need all three strikers on the park. Clearly there are still plenty of ways in which Sir Alex can utilise his record signing.

There is also the financial side of the situation which suggests that Ferguson should keep Berbatov. Of course, there is no way that United can recoup the sort of money paid to Tottenham for his services in the first place. Any bid in the region of £15 million will surely capture the attention of United's management but Berbatov still has plenty of years left in him, which is helped by the fact that he does not rely on speed but rather pure skill and talent, which will never disappear from his game like pace would. A prime example of this is Raul - still performing to the highest standard well into his mid-thirties, and Berbatov has the ability and desire to emulate this.
 Berbatov is arguably the most technically gifted and skillful striker in the world. His graceful and elegant style of play stems from his superb technique and skill on the ball. The United forward's graceful and elegant style of play stems from his superb technique and skill on the ball. The United No. 9 has an exceptionally soft touch, which allows the striker to take down balls in the air and over his head with ease. The Bulgarian is able to stretch out with his right boot and gain instant control.

The United striker’s tremendous close control has become a hallmark of his game. Berbatov can dribble and maneuver out of tight and crowded spaces. At times, the Bulgarian makes it look as though the ball is stuck to his right boot.

A clip to remind you all what Dimitar Ivan Berbatov can do:

In addition to his delicate touch and outstanding technique, Berbatov has the skill to rival some of the world’s best playmaking midfielders. The Bulgarian’s comfort with the ball at his feet allows him to be composed when in possession. With his ability to produce moments of magic and sublime ingenuity, the United striker is more dangerous on the ball than moving off it. 


But perhaps most essentially, Berbatov wants to stay at Manchester United. He has reiterated his commitment to the club despite knowing that his number of minutes on the pitch will start to drop and this means that he is willing to sacrifice his own personal glory for the glory of Manchester United, and that is the true sign of a player worthy of wearing the Manchester United jersey