Monday 27 June 2011

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.

Thursday 23 June 2011

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!

Wednesday 22 June 2011

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:

Follow the writer of this piece: @dajoker05 on twitter and dont forget to click on follow me by the right to follow @MUFCBlogg

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.
To link with the the writer of this great piece:Follow @KingMarshy on twitter.

Tuesday 21 June 2011

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.

Monday 20 June 2011

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

Is Tom The Man?

                                                                                       By: Paushali Mandal

Tom Cleverley is perhaps one of the brightest upcoming young English midfielders of his generation. He started his career at Bradford City’s youth set-up. At the mere age of 15, he joined Manchester United as a trainee. Two years down the line, he got selected to play for the Man United Reserves and occasionally made first-team appearances in friendly matches. In 2009, he was loaned to League One side Leicester City and helped them secure the League One title and championship promotion. He was loaned to Championship side Watford seven months later, where he scored 11 goals in 33 league games and was voted as their Player of the Season. Finally he got loaned to Wigan Athletic in 2010 where he debuted for the first time in the Premier League. He managed to save Wigan from relegation, scoring 4 goals in 25 appearances.
Below is a video of Tom Cleverley In Action:


As you can see, Cleverley has had a substantial amount of experience in three different leagues. Scoring 17 goals in 75 games, he has shown tremendous amount of potential to be given a first-team place in Manchester United. He has also enjoyed international experience currently playing as a regular U-21 player. Wigan’s first-team coach Graham Barrow was the first to make the link between Cleverley and Scholes saying the lad had it in him to take up the challenge Scholes had left behind in replacing him. On hearing the comparison made between him and the Ginger Prince, he said “He’s been a great player for the club and I know I have a lot of hard work to go before I get on his level. But if I can fill a bit of a hole he has left then that would be brilliant.”
                                         CAN TOM CLEVERLEY REPLACE THE GINGER PRINCE?
Sir Alex has spoken highly of him confirming he will play a part in this coming season. This is Cleverley’s chance to prove that he is worth it. He has the ability to be a complete midfielder through his passing skills, his composure in front of goal and his speed and work rate. Cleverley's game has flair and creativity.  In addition, he can also play defence. He charges forward with aggressive energy and often finds himself in miles of space behind the opposition’s defence. He also creates enough space for himself through his dribbling ability to create a chance of striking a shot. I believe he has the natural talent to be a center midfielder. United need a player with the ability to break forward down the middle like Lampard does for Chelsea and Gerrard does for Liverpool and Tom Cleverley might just be that man. His short passing is good. He has the composure about him to know when, and where to pass.
All the above abilities show that he has the capability and potential to replace Scholes up to a certain extent, but only time will tell if Tom can harness these abilities and become what many hope he can. With many European players under United’s radar choosing to go to other clubs rather than making the move to England, I think it’s time for our young English generation to step up and fulfil their talents. Personally, I am keeping my fingers crossed for Tom.

The Mexecutioner Does It Again

Javier Hernandez was once again the hero, as he took his tally of the competition to six goals, leading Mexico to the Gold Cup Semifinals.


It was a tough start for Mexico as Guatemala stunned them with a goal five minutes into the game and maintained its lead at the half, but Mexico scored twice in the second half, including the winner by Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, as it rallied to win, 2-1, tonight and advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals before 78,807 at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Mexico will play Honduras on Wednesday in Houston for a berth in the final. Honduras defeated Costa Rica, 4-2 on penalty kicks, after a 1-1 tie in the opening game.

Guatemala’s early goal stunned Mexico. Elias Vasquez drove a long ball down the center of the field from Guatemala’s side. Guatemala forward Carlos Ruiz and Mexico defender Hector Moreno battled for position at the top of the box as the ball came down.

Moreno stuck out his leg to knock the ball away, but he never made contact. At that point, Mexico goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera came sprinting off his line but Ruiz got to the ball first and, as he fell to the ground, volleyed it over Talavera’s head for a 1-0 lead.

“The team is very strong at the core. They know they can win under any adversity,” Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre said. “The ealy goal put us back and made it complicated and heavy, but we knew we could come back, and we did.”

Guatemala nearly doubled the lead in the 34th minute but failed to convert on a quick counterattack.
Ruiz dribbled 50 yards down the center of the field, drawing the defense to him. Just before he got to the top of the arc, he slipped a pass to Marco Pappa in the left side of the box, but Pappa lined his shot into the near-side netting.

De la Torre inserted Aldo De Nigris into the game at the start of the second half and the move paid off.

Off a cross, Pablo Barrera volleyed the ball from the right side across the box to Moreno, whose header was punched away by Guatemala goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez. The ball fell to the ground and Moreno poked it on net. It rebounded out to De Nigris, who pushed it past Jerez for the tying goal.
                             It took 66 minutes, but order was finally restored.
Hernandez scored his tournament-high sixth goal in the 66th minute, redirecting a cross from the right by Barrera past Jerez for a 2-1 lead.

“The goal was just instinct. I saw the ball at my feet and put the ball in the net,” Hernandez said. “This time it was different than the other games when we scored first. We went in and we knew we had to work hard in the second half to get our chances.”

Friday 17 June 2011

Manchester United Kick off At West Brom

The Champions have to start their title defense away from home.

United have been dealt a challenging opening two months, with a home match against Arsenal following the Spurs game, then a trip to the Reebok Stadium to face Bolton before returning to Old Trafford on September 17 for a clash with Chelsea.

October presents consecutive games with the club's biggest rivals - away at Liverpool on the 15th before the first Manchester derby at Old Trafford on the 22nd.

The cluster of difficult games is repeated in early 2012 with United travelling to the Emirates and Stamford Bridge in the space of three games in January and February. Their next game is at home to Liverpool.

A potential decisive Manchester derby three games before the end of the season at Eastlands should prove interesting, before United close out their campaign in May at home to Swansea and away at Sunderland on the final day of the season.
          Here are the full fixtures:

Saturday, August 13 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, August 20 2011
Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur (15.00)

Saturday, August 27 2011
Manchester United - Arsenal (15.00)


Saturday, September 10 2011
Bolton Wanderers - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, September 17 2011
Manchester United - Chelsea (15.00)

Saturday, September 24 2011
Stoke City - Manchester United (15.00)


Saturday, October 1 2011
Manchester United - Norwich City (15.00)

Saturday, October 15 2011
Liverpool - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, October 22 2011
Manchester United - Manchester City (15.00)

Saturday, October 29 2011
Everton - Manchester United (15.00)


Saturday, November 5 2011
Manchester United - Sunderland (15.00)

Saturday, November 19 2011
Swansea City - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, November 26 2011
Manchester United - Newcastle United (15.00)


Saturday, December 3 2011
Aston Villa - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, December 10 2011
Manchester United - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, December 17 2011
Queens Park Rangers - Manchester United (15.00)

Wednesday, December 21 2011
Fulham - Manchester United (19.45)

Monday, December 26 2011
Manchester United - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, December 31 2011
Manchester United - Blackburn Rovers (15.00)


Monday, January 2 2012
Newcastle United - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, January 14 2012
Manchester United - Bolton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, January 21 2012
Arsenal - Manchester United (15.00)

Tuesday, January 31 2012
Manchester United - Stoke City (19.45)


Saturday, February 4 2012
Chelsea - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, February 11 2012
Manchester United - Liverpool (15.00)

Saturday, February 25 2012
Norwich City - Manchester United (15.00)


Saturday, March 3 2012
Tottenham Hotspur - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, March 10 2012
Manchester United - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, March 17 2012
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, March 24 2012
Manchester United - Fulham (15.00)

Saturday, March 31 2012
Blackburn Rovers - Manchester United (15.00)


Saturday, April 7 2012
Manchester United - Queens Park Rangers (15.00)

Monday, April 9 2012
Wigan Athletic - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, April 14 2012
Manchester United - Aston Villa (15.00)

Saturday, April 21 2012
Manchester United - Everton (15.00)

Saturday, April 28 2012
Manchester City - Manchester United (15.00)


Saturday, May 5 2012
Manchester United - Swansea City (15.00)

Sunday, May 13 2012
Sunderland - Manchester United (15.00)

Thursday 16 June 2011

Sanchez Set For United?

                                                                    BY: Adam Marsh.

Alexis Sanchez ‘s agent insists that a move to Manchester City is not
on the cards, as several reports claim that Manchester United are
favourites in the chase for his signature.
The Chilean international looked to be edging ever closer to the blue
side of Manchester as Roberto Mancini’s men were most likely to land
him as they simply could offer him more money, and Udinese would come
out better from the deal as there was speculation that Manchester City
would offer Vladimir Weiss as part of the deal.
It is understood that Manchester United chief executive David Gill
flew out to Barcelona to meet Gino Pozzo who is the son of Udinese
owner Giampaolo on Tuesday.

Manchester City are believed to have recently bid £27 million for the
services of the attacker who is often compared to ex United star
Cristiano Ronaldo, and with Udinese setting the wonder-kid’s price tag
at a slightly higher £30 million, a fee which City are unwilling to
meet due to their new financial fair play regulations coming in to
practice soon.
Adam believes the Udinese man could be on his way to OT.
           
United seem to have got the edge for his signature over their close
rivals, despite Udinese owner saying that City were favourites to sign
him earlier this week. Clearly, City’s wealth gave them this advantage
but it seemed that City placed a price cap on what they were able to
spend on Sanchez. However, United’s European pedigree seems to be a
greater pull for the player. This doesn’t mean you can count out other
top clubs getting Sanchez’s signature ahead of United, such as: Inter
Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona, But David Gill and Fergie are very 
persuasive. 

Contact: Follow @MUFCBlogg on twitter, To Link With the writer of this piece: Follow @ KingMarshy On Twitter!

Tuesday 14 June 2011

HOW WILL PHIL JONES COPE AT MANCHESTER UNITED?

                  When Manchester United finally sealed the signing of Phil Jones from Blackburn, eye brows were raised, pundits and analysts exchanged views and most especially Sir Alex Ferguson had completed the most expensive transfer gamble on British talent in the last few years. Sir Alex has in the past splashed the cash on stars such as: Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and many others but Wayne Rooney is the only Manchester United player below the age of 20 ever to cost above £20million, in details he cost £25.6 million. Wayne was a special case as he had displayed wonderful talent at such a young age, In Contrast to Jones, Wayne had notched up 67 games for Everton scoring 15 goals in the process before his transfer which is almost double the 35 games Jones has for Blackburn. Today Wayne Rooney is undeniably the best number 10 in England and probably in the world. Sources at United, revealed that Jones was a signing SAF wanted to acquire next season but his hands were forced when Liverpool amongst other top clubs had presented bids for the bright England prospect. On this note I have taken my time to analyse what the youngster would bring to Manchester United where the standards know no flaws.
                 
                            Jones can play at either CB or DMF and also at WB.

Versatility
Despite being regarded as a centre-back, Jones actually spent the majority of the 2010-11 Premier League season as a defensive-midfielder for Blackburn, In his 24 starts  for the club 18 starts were made as a midfielder while only 6 starts were made as a centre-back. The 19-year-old's long-term position is still expected to be centre-back, but this versatility should serve both him and the club well in the near-term future. With Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, and Chris Smalling at the club, regular time in defence may be tough to come by at the moment. However, time is on the side of the youngster and he may be able to still further his development by providing some bite in the midfield for United. At United, Jones wouldn’t be a starter with the Rio/Vidic combination one of the best in European football but he would be learning from the best, he would get the footballing education from the best at the business and with this he could be just the hard tackler United have been looking for  in Owen Hargreaves and Roy Keane, he could be the destroyer that we have lacked for some time now.
                      
         How Will Jones Be Lining Up In the Manchester United 2011/2012 team For Title Number 20?
Well, Rio is injury prone.  He’ll miss chunks of matches and Chris Smalling has already proved to be an excellent back up for him.  He’s shown to me already that he’ll be an important player for us in the future, but when Rio is missing right now, I’m comfortable with Smalling slotting in.
They will be our Carling Cup and FA Cup partnership and the weak matches of the Champions League.  They will gel, they’ll be like Rio and Vidic would have been if they were kids knocking about in the junior teams. Their young partnership will gradually blossom for England under 21s, and then on to the full national team, and they will gradually phase through to our first team as regulars as replacements for Ferdinand and Vidic.


The Future
It takes a real football lover to understand what Ferguson is doing here, and I for one think he’s made a great move.  He’s spotted Jones, a 19 year old who plays like someone five or six years older than that and looked farther from the present day saw the future and snapped the youngster. But for £20million?
Well get this – he snapped up Chris Smalling last year for a reported £10million last year.  Same questions at that time?  Too much money?
I reckon that in less than five years time, we’ll be looking at the Smalling/Jones partnership costing just £30million, and praising the possibly departed Sir Alex Ferguson for giving us England’s best defensive partnership for the next six or seven years. It would the best of Bargain buys.  £7million cheaper than the cost of the Rio/Vidic combination.  We’ll be set until 2021 at the back. Did you see how Smalling complemented Jones at the match against Spain? I don’t know how to express my delight at the future of Manchester United but I guarantee that for the next ten seasons at least we are 100% good to go at the back . Here s a video link to watch them in action for the U-21s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDW12YGcIng
                     

                            We are guaranteed at the back with the pairing of the English men.

Personal View.
I watched few Blackburn matches in which Phil Jones featured in, I watched matches like Blackburn vs Chelsea where Jones was given his debut, he was handed the task of snuffing Didier Drogba out and this he did beyond reasonable doubt he made three world class tackles in 30 seconds, the Blackburn faithful went crazy with his displays and he was handed the man-of-the match award. I also watched the match against us, Manchester United where he, Samba combined to nullify the threat of The Ever Hungry United forward line of Hernandez and Rooney,he made a terrific block to deny Giggs a certain goal in the 60th minute.. I also watched the recent U-21 game vs Spain where he showed calmness, composure on the ball when been called upon and I have to say he is one top signing. For some one his age his breathtaking displays prove just why he is the man for United. He is quick, very strong in the air despite his height (1.80m 5ft 11in), sound positionally, and having leadership qualities that have led some (Redknapp, Pearce), to audaciously predict him to be the future captain of England.

Playing As A Midfielder What Does Jones Have To Offer?

It is no secret that in today’s game, attacks are normally initiated by the defenders who have a huge role of launching forward passes after engaging in tackles. As a defensive-minded midfielder, Jones completed 330 passes this season out of an attempted 527 (63%). As a centre-back, he completed 107 passes this season out of an attempted 171 (also 63%). While you would actually like this completion percentage to be higher for a player that plays in such a deep position on the pitch, it can anticipated to be higher while playing for Manchester United because Blackburn played in such a direct style - especially in the first half of the season under former manager Sam Allardyce. 

At United, If playing in the mid-field he would be tasked with job of breaking up attacks and releasing short range passes to the likes of Carrick, Nani and other forward players and stats reveal that Jones short range passing is quite tidy compared to his long range passing.

Verdict
It is no news that Gibson, O’Shea and Brown have all been linked with exits from Old Trafford to the Stadium Of Light for about £12 million, I really feel Gibson is really undervalued at £5 million but I’ll have to affix this to the devaluation by United fans through twitter and match boos and you shouldn’t forget the manager in question is Sir Alex’s boy in person of Brucie. With the possible departure of our utility man O’Shea, I feel Johnny Evans who impressed at LB against Chelsea will have to take his place serving as the utility man for Manchester United who’ll get a lot of games but never be a regular, and Sir Alex Ferguson will have quietly unearthed a seamless, natural defensive progression, that we’ll barely even notice.(RFFH).

In exactly four years from now, Manchester United fans all over the world would not only marvel at the signing of Jones but the defensive partnership of Smalling and Jones. Once again, Glory,Glory United and the Red Devils keep marching on.

Contact: Follow @MUFCBlogg on twitter for the best of everything Manchester United: Stats, Rumours, News, Opinions and more. 

Monday 13 June 2011

Manchester United Make Phil Jones Their First Summer Signing.

After all the scares and rejected bids by Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United have finally wrapped up the deal, signing Blackburn prospect, Phil Jones in what was a fiercely contested transfer battle between Liverpool, United amongst other top clubs, Manchester United emerged as favourites last week after the versatile defender had completed a medical only for the deal to hit a snag. The tabloids claimed Rovers wanted more cash for their youngster and Liverpool were said to have offered £20million. But the youngster had made his heart
 desires known to his former club, telling them he wanted to play for Manchester United and only United. And with United deciding not to increase the offer a saga came about. The question on every ones lips was: Where was the man who had been tipped by many as the future England captain end up?

 But the insistence of Jones on moving to Manchester United however made sure the deal was completed and on Monday afternoon, Manchester United issued a statement announcing the capture of the 19 year old star. His current club also issued a statement declaring the departure of the youngster. Figures were not revealed but insiders claim the deal should be worth about £20 million. Now the question is “How will Jones make his mark at United?”

On Twitter, Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, expressed his delight at the capture of the England star: “Welcome to Man Utd, Phil Jones looking forward to playing with you”
Phil Jones also issued a farewell to fans via his twitter page saying: I’d just like to start off by saying that I’ve loved my time at Blackburn and I will always be a huge fan………..

He continued by saying: But this is a once in a life time opportunity and I am looking forward to a new challenge. Thank You for your kind messages

Friday 3 June 2011

Manchester United Transfer Targets And How Would They Fit In?

 It has been a wonderful season for many Manchester United fans around the world.As no one would have expected this current United crop to win the League, get to the semi-finals of the FA cup and get to the finals of the UEFA Champions League of course to get humbled by the Mighty Barcelona but What a season?
          After the humiliation at the hands of Barcelona, the ever great Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to re shuffle his pack and include a set of stars who would knock Barcelona off their perch. Doesn't he just love knocking teams of their perch? With this in mind some transfer targets have been listed. But who are they and who would they come in for? The retirement of Edwin Vander Sar has left more than a hole in United's back line, in fact it can be said that it has left a volcano in our back line, also Paul Scholes hung his boots after 16 fruitful years at Manchester United. We know that these aforementioned players are irreplaceable but who are those who would step in for them?

       David De Gea: How would the young man fit in at United where the standards know no flaws?

1. David De Gea{GK}
United's top transfer target is David De Gea. But who is David De Gea and how would he fit in at United? He is undoubtedly one of the finest young talents around as he has proved himself in Spanish Top flight at Atletico Madrid but experience they say comes with age, although being a proven stopper, De Gea conceded the highest number of goals from outside the box 17 in total.........Not such a good stat I think but this is United and with Vidic and Ferdinand providing defensive cover it will be harder to score De Gea from outside the box. Daily Mail confirms that United have signed De Gea for 18.3 million pounds and to me this is good business as De Gea has the composure and organizational ability that Edwin brought to the club and of course he would develop perfectly at Manchester United.Good signing I think if you disagree comment in the boxes below.

2.Ashley Young {AMF/WF/SS)

                          Young: Can his ability buy him the love of the Old Trafford faithful?
He has made his name in the Premier League he can play on the left or right flanks, he is a proven goal scorer and a creator in chief and with just 16 million pounds we could snap him up from Aston Villa, my comment: he is a wonderful player but how will his presence affect United, I see him as the perfect replacement for Giggs as he can play on the left,as a second striker and an attacking midfielder. Bringing him wouldn't affect Nani but it would improve the competition and it would spell the end of the United Careers of much maligned Gabriel Obertan and Bebe, We shouldn't let those two go as they could be stars of the future. But in all Young would bring the spark needed to the left flank which I consider dead as Giggs revels more in a CMF role. Perfect Signing but We tend to face competition from Liverpool and Tottenham in snapping him up.

3.Luka Modric{CMF/AMF}
                     Luka Modric: The little Croat has emerged as the main replacement for Scholes.
 He is undoubtedly Spurs best player and Spurs coach Harry Redknapp has insisted that none of their major signings would be living White Hart Lane but in midweek The little Croat suggested he might be leaving Tottenham in search of Champion's Leagues football. Sir Alex Ferguson has been a long term adrmirer of the Croat and he sees him as the replacement of the just retired Paul Scholes, I also love Modric his touches, his passng, his soft tackles and if United can splash the sum of 20 to 30 million pounds, surely Luka would be in a United jersey next season.
Our main rivals in snapping up the services of Modric seem to be Chelsea.

4.Charlie Adam(DMF/CMF)
                        Adam: Can he replicate his match winning performances at Old Trafford?
 The Inspirational Blackpool captain has caught the eyes of many in his first season putting in several man of the match performances but it is difficult to see Adam in a United shirt, Like a few United players such as Anderson, Obertan e.t.c Adam's performances have not yet being justified at the highest level for example UEFA Champions League, World Cup but his performances in the Premier League are A-Rate and his wonderful ability in delivering set pieces, Fergie has valued at 10 million but the big question is Can Charlie Adam  come to Manchester United and be the hero he was at Blackpool ? For me its on 50/50 Adam is far gifted than the likes of Carrick, Fletcher,Gibson e.t.c and he can succeed at United with the guidance of Fergie. The other 50 is that I watched Charlie Adam against Brazil and honestly he couldn't give one right pass but I guess it is all about chances. In getting Adam we would have filled Scholes ability up to a 70% because Paul Scholes is irreplaceable. In signing Adam our potential rivals are mainly Liverpool.

5. Wesley Sneijder{CMF/AMF}
      Sneijder: He is a proven performer but can the Glazers splash the cash and bring him to Old Trafford?
He was deprived of the Player Of The Year Award in 2010 after a glorious season, He had an awesome world cup, He is Wesley Sneijder. If I would have my way I would bring him to United straight away because Wes is the best thing that could happen to United's midfield and the world knows it, Signing Sneijder would relieve Wayne Rooney of his duties as a Number 10 and it would add more fire to United's attack . His ambidexterity and telepathy in passing make him a master of the act. With all these Why haven't United snapped up the Dutch midfielder, Firstly, his cost Sneijder is worth about 35 million pounds and our debt stricken owners might not be able to afford that, Sneijder wold the much needed edge to the attack but in our defensive midfield we would lack the shield Scholes gave and lastly Sneijder id injury prone like all dutch players Sneijder is prone to injury and that is a factor in why he is not a United player yet Sneijder said he was happy at San Siro and wouldn't be moving this summer but we know a whole lot about players who have said this and done that and lastly his paycheck Dealing with these factors Sir Alex might be bringing Wes to England sooner than expected.

6. Raphael Varane {CB/DMF}
                          Varane: Proven to be Manchester United Class..........One for the Future.
Although predominantly a central defender, Varane can also play further forward as a defensive midfielder, or drop back and fulfill the sweeper role. He stands 6'3" in his socks, but has an agile and athletic build that combines pace with power.He's been described by Lens youth coach Eric Assadourian as a "truly first class player" who is "comfortable on both the tactical and technical level". After watching him I liken him to Rio Ferdinand and its obvious he is one for the future. Potential rivals in signing him include Barcelona, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and a host of other top clubs. With 10 million we would be adding the much needed shore to the back line.

Thursday 2 June 2011

The Classic Finale: Manchester United vs Barcelona

                                               


As Saturday arrived as a United die hard fan I could hardly wait for the final of the UEFA Champions league to begin, my heart jumped in amazement.
    At 18:30 GMT I was in my couch set for the day and the football analysts had started analysis, in truth the probability of United beating Barca was 10% and as a United loyalist and optimist I could do nothing but wait and believe. I called a few of my colleagues before the game to provoke them and in fact i staked a few dollars. By 19:00 the teams were announced just as  I had predicted we were playing a direct 4-4-2 which included Van der Sar, Fabio, Vidic, Ferdinand,Evra,Valencia,Giggs,Carrick,Park Rooney, Hernandez. When I saw the Barcelona team I was elated with the absence of Puyol and the starting of nearly fit Abidal. The game was set for kick off the business like faces of Rooney and the prayers of Little Pea boosted my morale.
GAME-ON
 For the first 15 minutes United bossed possession playing like a bunch of robots working at full capacity then like what happened in 2009 Barcelona gradually entered their stride Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets dominated the trio of Park, Giggs and Carrick I was disturbed as I knew a goal was coming and In the 27th minute,out of seemingly nothing, Xavi slipped the ball to Pedro on the right, who somehow found himself in space. He then sent Van der Sar the wrong way and it was 1-0 Barca!!
                               PEDRO CELEBRATING HIS GOAL WITH TEAM MATE ALVES. 1-0
In my mind I thought We Are United We do What We want! And of course by the 34th minute after some interception Valencia put the ball to a throw in and there was the goal to calm me down Rooney made something out of nothing. A quick throw from Barca was turned over. Rooney cuts in, passes to Giggs, gets it right back and blasts home to make it 1-1. What a goal! My nerves were calm I was overjoyed.
    TEMPORARY JOY: Rooney is joined by Evra in celebrating the equalizer.
But from that goal the maestros in Xavi and Iniesta were revealed they tore apart Carrick , Giggs and Park Alves gave Park a night to forget with his skills and passing, Evra was nowhere to be seen I couldn't wait for half time so the boss could give the team the much needed motivation and as half time approached I was calmed with the belief that we could win the game but as the players returned from the break it was total "Massacre". From Alves to Messi to Pedro To Villa, Edwin Vander Sar was tested and of course the mighty dutch man saved them all but on the 54th minute Lionel Messi took two thunderous steps and placed the ball a few centimetres to Vander Sar's left.

                            MESSI UNLEASHES THE SHOT TO SCORE THE 2ND OF THE DAY.
He proved just why he would win FIFA Player Of the year Award again with his goal. It wasn't over yet as United brought on their Player of the year fror the 2010 2011 season Nani and of course he had an effect but this time a negative effect he fed the ball to Busquets in the box who in turn set it up for David Villa to give Vander Sar a torrid departure in what would be his worst ever United Match.
                      DAVID VILLA RUNS RIOT AFTER CLINCHING THE TROPHY FOR BARCA.
       A sad way for Edwin and Paul Scholes to end their United careers but in all it was football being played at its best and of course the trinity of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi were all joyuous as they destroyed Manchester United.
                                         THE TRINITY: They make Barcelona Untouchable
And of course to round it off it was a sight to behold as just recovering tumor patient lifted the trophy for Barcelona.
                                                 Eric Abidal: The True Champion!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Picking my team of the night: Valdes, Abidal, Vidic,Pique,Alves, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Rooney, Villa.
Coach: Pep Guardiaola