Manchester United

[muckypups]

Some papers quote a fee of 18 million, others 20 million, either way it seems Bayern aren't too keen on Hargreaves leaving in this transfer window.. This from the Guardian, setting up an important weekend for us...

United look to break Bayern resolve with new £18m bid for Hargreaves

Daniel Taylor

Saturday January 20, 2007

The Guardian

Sir Alex Ferguson will go into a weekend of potentially huge significance for the title race, not only hoping to extend Manchester United's six-point advantage over Chelsea but to put an end to the long-running transfer saga involving Owen Hargreaves. Ferguson said last night that United had "hit a brick wall" but the club are hoping to break Bayern Munich's resolve after putting an offer in the region of £18m into writing.

David Gill, the United chief executive, faxed the bid through to Bayern after receiving indications that they would finally be willing to allow the midfielder to move. However, it remains a complicated process and there is still a considerable element of doubt about whether the move will be ratified within the transfer window.

Gill's information is that the Bayern hierarchy cannot agree between themselves and, as a result, he has received mixed signals. The Bundesliga champions have been robust negotiators and at times the haggling process has caused friction between the two clubs. Bayern, in particular, were outraged when they discovered that Ferguson had secretly met the midfielder in Manchester to sell him the idea of moving to Old Trafford.

One certainty is that Hargreaves does not need any more persuasion, the England international having sought to orchestrate his departure from Bayern with a concerted campaign through the media to make it clear he wants to play in the Premiership.

His stance has angered the Bayern officials, in particular the president Franz Beckenbauer and the general manager Uli Hoeness - perhaps justifiably given that he signed a new contract only last season. However, it did not stop Hargreaves making his feelings clear yet again last night. "Manchester United have such a talented team, such a great nucleus," he said. "Look at Rio [Ferdinand], Wazza [Wayne Rooney] and Cristiano Ronaldo. For a club like that to make an offer for me is something I appreciate."

Ferguson, who described the situation as "difficult", hopes to have an answer over the weekend or early next week, and end a saga that has now dragged on since last summer's World Cup. Hargreaves is close to full fitness after breaking his leg and Ferguson has instructed Gill to do everything he can to bring him in before the end of January.

Uppermost in Ferguson's mind is that it will be a statement of the club's intent at a time when Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich has made it clear he is unwilling to give Jose Mourinho the backing he has become used to in the transfer market, although the Russian is reportedly set to relent.

Ferguson's hope is that Mourinho's players may be distracted by the turmoil behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge and was emboldened enough yesterday to float the possibility that it had left United in "an excellent position" to win the title.

"The most important thing is for us to look at ourselves rather than at what Chelsea do," said Ferguson, whose side make their first ever trip to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium tomorrow. "We've got to try and keep our consistency from now until the end of the season. It is going to be consistency that decides it, no question.

"Our form is good but there have been examples of us being charitable, at West Ham and Newcastle [where Manchester United lost and drew respectively], and these are danger signs for us. We have to make sure nothing like that happens on a regular basis over these last 15 matches. Both teams will drop points, no question about that, and the name of the game is consistency."

Ferguson, who confirmed he did not want to sell Gabriel Heinze, insisted he was not overly concerned by Wayne Rooney's erratic form and, specifically, his failure to score in more than 10 hours and 40 minutes of football.

"There's nothing wrong with Wayne," he said. "In a lot of cases it has been down to bad luck. He just needs a little break. I'm not concerned because I know it will come. He's working his socks off, the boy. He's had spells of twos and threes but he needs to get into that one-goal-a-game thing that strikers can do. If he does that, it will make a big, big difference to our run-in."

[muckypups]

..and this from the Times.

United given hope as Bayern discuss £20m Hargreaves bid

Oliver Kay

Just hours after Sir Alex Ferguson claimed to have “hit a brick wall” in his pursuit of Owen Hargreaves, Manchester United were last night given hope of a long-awaited breakthrough. United made a firm £20 million offer to Bayern Munich yesterday and, although it was not accepted immediately by the German club, there is hope at Old Trafford that an agreement will be reached.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern’s director-general, told a German newspaper yesterday that it was “out of the question” that Hargreaves could leave during the transfer window, but, with United all but certain of his capture at the end of the season, there were indications last night that Bayern might be starting to soften. Rummenigge is due to consult Uli Hoeness, the general manager, and Franz Beckenbauer, the president, today to decide whether or not to accept the bid.

United’s hopes have fluctuated over the fortnight, with negotiations progressing behind the scenes. Bayern have relented in acknowledging that Hargreaves will almost certainly move to Old Trafford at the end of the season, but it was only yesterday, once United expressed a willingness to get close to the £21 million asking price, that a breakthrough became feasible. Even now there remains a strong chance that Bayern will reject the bid, having had their midfield weakened by the retirement of Sebastian Deisler earlier this week at the age of 27 because of a knee injury.

For Ferguson, who remains unsure whether to increase his offer for Gareth Bale, Southampton’s teenage left back, the apparent softening in Bayern’s position will have come as a surprise. “We’re hitting a brick wall at the moment,” Ferguson said yesterday morning. “It’s interesting. I make the point each year that not a lot happens in January. It’s very quiet for us, Chelsea and Arsenal. Blackburn have done a bit of business, Portsmouth have brought two or three players in, but there’s not many deals. It’s not easy in January.”

The latest development means that Ferguson may not have to settle after all for having Henrik Larsson as his only mid-season acquisition, despite uncertainty about whether Larsson will stay until the end of the campaign or return to Helsingborg when his loan expires on March 12.

Tomorrow’s match away to Arsenal is due to be the second of only seven Premiership appearances for Larsson, but on the evidence of his two matches against Aston Villa, the first in the FA Cup third round, the 35-year-old is in better form than Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha.

Neither Rooney nor Saha has scored since the derby victory over Manchester City on December 9, which in Rooney’s case represents 10hr 37min of playing time without a goal. For all United’s success, the 21-year-old has more often than not caught the eye with his workrate rather than the flashes of genius that have led his manager to call him “the best young player this country has seen in the past 30 years”.

Ferguson said yesterday that he was happy with Rooney’s contribution, but admitted that United’s form would improve further if the forward began to score regularly. “Wayne needs a break,” he said. “What he needs is get into that one-goal-a-game rhythm that strikers can. If he does that, it will make a big difference to our run-in.”

It is unlikely that Rooney will get into any rhythm without getting into more dangerous positions than he has done in recent weeks. Ferguson would not hear of such talk yesterday, preferring to comfort himself in the view that Rooney “is a big-game player”.

Tomorrow brings a big game and an opportunity for Rooney to live up to that billing.

Firing blanks

24 games in which Rooney has failed to score for United this season (out of 28)

14 Champions League games since he last scored

637 minutes he has gone without scoring for United since December 9

61 goals he has scored in his club career to date (196 appearances)

[nev]

rooney will score on sunday i can see that.

i am going for a 2-1 win rooney and larsson.

[muckypups]

The Independent:

Rooney's luck must turn, says Ferguson

By Andy Hunter

Published: 20 January 2007

It was against Arsenal that Wayne Rooney announced himself beyond Everton and, though his plague on Arsène Wenger has continued in the red of Manchester United, there can be no better time for the England international to announce himself on this title race than at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

Sir Alex Ferguson was in paternal mode yesterday as he allayed concerns over a £27m striker who has scored once in 13 games and has appeared at odds with the confidence and exuberance of a United side that is maturing in the rarefied atmosphere at the Premiership summit.

His goals record is down to misfortune, insisted Ferguson, who lauded Rooney's recent tireless performances as "a great example of a great player". Yet there was also an admission from the Scot that if United are to secure a first championship in four years, if they are to raise a standard in north London that will ease any insecurity when they reach Anfield, White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge, then the input from England's most gifted talent will have to increase in tandem.

Judgement on Rooney is harsher than his peers but while eight goals suggest an adequate return, the fact they have all arrived in four of his 28 appearances this season betray the cause of his obvious frustration.

"In a lot of cases it has been down to bad luck," Ferguson said. "In the first game against Aston Villa he had nine attempts on goal, last week it was a similar situation. He hit a fantastic shot against the bar. He just needs a little break, there's nothing wrong. I'm not concerned. It will come.

"What he needs to do is to get these odd goals. He's had spells of a two, a three, a two, and he needs to get into that one goal a game thing that strikers can do for you. If he does that, it will make a big, big difference to our run-in."

The United manager contemptuously dismissed the offer to explain Rooney's tactical contribution to a wider audience - "I'm not even going to attempt to give you an explanation about it or talk about it," he said - and insisted the striker was still deserving of a place in the team because of his unswerving work ethic. He added: "I think that he is prepared to work as hard as everyone else on the park and he is telling everyone that 'although I am a great player, I'm prepared to work as hard as anyone'. It is a fantastic example. He's working his socks off. He's got a terrific attitude to the game."

Ferguson, however, while hoping Rooney will continue his crusade against Arsenal - "He's a big-game player isn't he?" - does have alternatives in attack, and must surely be tempted by the proposition of Henrik Larsson's intelligence alongside the pace of Louis Saha?

"We are in an excellent position," he admitted. "It's only a problem in terms of who to play. Larsson has been fantastic since he joined us, just what we expected of him, Saha is back fit and proved when he came on last week that he is relishing the challenge of getting back in the team and of course Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already got nine goals this season which is fantastic. In the case of these four strikers I could pick two, or even one of the four and be really happy."

I think Rooney will score tomorrow... and United win..

Now, today being one of those very rare occasions when I'll be cheering for Liverpool I'm reminded of a game in 1996.. Liverpool v Newcastle; the Scousers won (a great match) 4-3 and did us a mighty favour. More of the same today please chaps.

[muckypups]

Exactly Nev.. a Rooney hat-trick even.. He does like ending goal droughts with a flourish..

[muckypups]

Chelsea were sh*te yesterday, I'm pleased to say, but it does appear that some serious aggro is going on behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge.

Anyway, the rest of the weekend is up to us.. I hope it's a great match.

This from the Independent..:

Ferguson: Ronaldo benefits from bold play and old heads

By Steve Tongue, Football Correspondent

Published: 21 January 2007

When Manchester United come to town, every home supporter walks towards the ground with an extra spring in his or her step. There may be a certain apprehension there too, from fans who know this is a fixture that rarely brings maximum points. Yet what a day to remember when it does. And even if the game is lost, they are likely to have seen skilful opposing players sent out with a bold, attacking approach rather than packing the midfield and hoping for a lucky break.

The Emirates has endured plenty of the latter approach in its short history, suffering additional frustration when negative tactics have allowed the visitors to sneak away with a draw. So even if it goes against the grain for serious rivals, Ars-enal should welcome Sir Alex Ferguson's side on their first visit to the new ground today.

They arrive not only as Premiership leaders, but as the scorers of no fewer than 52 goals, including 14 in the five matches since suffering unexpected (and undeserved) defeat at West Ham on 17 December. To the manager's delight, those goals have been spread throughout the squad, as he admits that in seasons past the team were too dependent on Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Dutchman's move to Real Madrid last summer, without a replacement being signed, persuaded many observers to question how the scoring void would be filled and how, therefore, United would mount any sort of challenge to Chelsea. The most convincing answer has come from a surprising quarter. Cristiano Ronaldo began the season as the most unpopular footballer in the country, supposedly at loggerheads with Wayne Rooney in the aftermath of the latter's red card in England's World Cup defeat by Portugal. Booed for every touch on every ground he has played at, the Portuguese has demonstrated strength of character to match his quixotic skills, emerging from a highly competitive field as United's outstanding performer of this campaign. Indeed, he has just become the first man since Ars-enal's Dennis Bergkamp to win the Barclays Player of the Month trophy twice in succession.

No need to emphasise to Ronaldo that United prefer attacking to defending. That is his every inclination, as they spotted when first coming up against him in a pre-season friendly against Sporting Lisbon, after which senior players urged Ferguson to sign him. Taking a leaf from Arsène Wenger's book, Ferguson did the deal for a raw youngster, optimistic that daily coaching at Carrington would knock him into shape without destroying that natural talent. The senior players have played their part too, whether in the constant verbals from shop steward and captain Gary Neville further down the touchline, or the quieter example of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

It was the latter trio that Ferguson chose to praise ahead of today's game, emphasising their status in the dressing room as an important influence on younger kids on the block such as Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. "I think they create the spirit of the club because of longevity and their loyalty," he said. "There are a lot of players who, when they come to the club for the first time, maybe see Giggs', Scholes' and Neville's names in the teams over the years but don't realise that they have been here since they were kids, 13 years old. They are now in their thirties and that is almost 20 years at the club.

"It is amazing, absolutely fantastic and I don't think there are many clubs that can do that. They [Rooney and Ronaldo] have come young enough to spend a long time with us and I think when they see Giggs and Neville and Scholes and how contented they are it gives them the confidence they are at the right place."

If there has been one disappointment this season - apart from the home defeat by Arsenal - it has been Rooney's recent form. Henrik Larsson's signing, Louis Saha's growing maturity and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's irrepressibility have given Ferguson an opportunity to rest him, which has not so far been taken. It is worth pointing out that the last time there was such a hoo-hah about Rooney being unable to buy a goal, a few months ago, he responded with two in the first quarter of an hour at Bolton and finished with a superbly taken hat-trick. Oddly, however, his eight goals this season have tended to come in clusters, decorating only four different matches. Arsenal, be warned.

Happy to wait until the summer for any further transfer activity - the Owen Hargreaves move apart - Ferguson has much else to be delighted with, including events at Stamford Bridge. "I said at the start of this season that this team has to win, every team at United has to win and we are doing that this year. Certainly there are good signs and we have a good strong squad, which I think is getting better in terms of experience and confidence. Winning does that. There are good signs about the team, good energy, good speed. There are good ages in the team, good ability, and I have no fears about looking ahead with them."

Nor of looking even further than that, in search of a new generation of Nevilles and Giggses. "We've got 87 scouts out there searching for kids and they are there on Saturday mornings out in the pouring rain and freezing cold looking. When they get the boy to the club, what is the point if the manager doesn't believe in playing young players? In our academy, when you see all these photographs up on the wall of Giggs and Scholes and all the others, it is done for a reason."

In contradiction of the notion that it is impossible to teach an old football manager new tricks, Ferguson is learning French. Not, he insists, to communicate better with Wenger; their discourse this afternoon is likely to be perfunctory, perhaps even Anglo-Saxon. The two teams, in their different ways, should be more fluent altogether.

Midfield Magician: Anatomy of United's Paul Scholes

Mind

Sharp and bright, but one of the most down-to-earth and self-effacing of all Premiership players, Paul Scholes likes nothing better once a day's training is done than to go home to his family.

Vision

In the literal sense, a serious eye problem caused Scholes to miss the second half of last season. Once he recovered, he displayed all his old imagination in his reading of a game and his passing.

Heart

Enthusiasm and a big heart have helped keep Scholes in the engine room of a leading team for 13 years, winning six Premiership titles, though he decided to give up international football to prolong his club career.

Tackling

Every Scholes tackle is a reminder that he began as a striker, not a ball-winner. Reckless challenges have led to the occasional red card, including one for England against Sweden in 1999.

Shooting

A strong point, as his magnificent volley at Aston Villa before Christmas emphasised. But Scholes knows he ought to score more goals (five so far this season) in such an attacking side.

[muckypups]

Interesting stuff from Whinger..

Wenger: defeat is unthinkable, and so is playing badly

By Jason Burt

Published: 21 January 2007

Oh what a feast, oh what a tasty delight, oh what - given the presence of the Swede Henrik Larsson - a smorgasbord. Today Arsenal face Manchester United for the 200th time in a competitive match and, for Arsène Wenger, the ingredients have all been gathered for what should be a classic encounter. A signature dish, if you like.

Food will be associated with these two teams for as long as the infamous Battle of the Buffet, the pizza and soup-throwing chaos that followed United's fierce resolve to end Arsenal's 49-match unbeaten run in the autumn of 2004, is remembered.

Wenger remembers it well and needs little prompting. "They stopped us from playing," he says simply of the brutal encounter that he acknowledges represented the lowest point of his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson. That negativity will not happen this afternoon. Both sides, Wenger claims, will come out and play attacking football. It is their recipe for success.

Like every good recipe, there is a special ingredient. Wenger explains what that is. "I know when I develop a player if he will be a good player," he says. "But will he be a winner at the top level? That is something you never know, no matter how good the player is. Because to win a game with 10 minutes to go, both teams playing poorly, somebody finds something because he is a winner. That's the test you get. It's the one ingredient that you never master well as a manager, even with a lot of experience."

That's because it comes from within. "The young players look to have the ingredient to be a winner," Wenger says of his team. "That is what makes the difference." Ferguson, too, discovered it. "It is what made the difference with that generation of Scholes, Giggs and Beckham," Wenger says of United. "They won championships - once, twice, three and four times - and still were hungry. Because they were winners."

Wenger admits that not so long ago he wasn't so sure it was there in his team. Before Christmas, his frustration was obvious. His touchline antics at Upton Park, when he clashed with the then West Ham manager, Alan Pardew, were simply astonishing. They were, he says, born of frustration. It shocked the public; maybe it shocked his players.

"I just sometimes feel that unusual behaviour can wake up things, and I certainly had unusual behaviour in some games," Wenger says. "As a manager you can only survive or live with how you feel at that moment. You cannot cheat the players. They are intelligent and are with you every day and see what kind of mood you are in. You cannot cheat with your attitude. At that time I behaved as I was, not as I wanted to be."

Wenger feels his sense of equilibrium has been restored. Results provided the remedy. "What made me angry was to lose at Fulham, to lose at West Ham, the way we lost. We didn't test them really. We had superficial superiority but that's not good enough. But when you want to develop a team, a young team, you have matches like that.

"What changed is that you feel you are missing something in the games to win the games. When you watch games long enough, you know you will play well and have more of the ball but in the end you will not win because something is missing. And that can only be that bit of extra-special solidarity, unity, that burning desire to win. We've all seen enough games to say, 'OK, it's a good team, but is it a winning team?' And in October, November, we lost games that were difficult to accept to lose."

Defeat today is unthinkable. Wenger declares it would end Arsenal's title challenge but, 15 points behind United before kick-off, most feel it ended some time ago. "It looks 80 per cent that it will be decided between the two [Manchester United and Chelsea]," Wenger says. "But there is 20 per cent still there. It's still not over. Today everyone will say Man United, but it can change very quickly. This is the weekend. If Man United beat Arsenal, Arsenal are out of it definitely. There is no way back."

There is great respect for United - "Yes, I like to watch them because they like to play" - and the sneaking feeling is that if Arsenal don't win the Premiership, he would prefer them to be the victors, not Chelsea. That may be stretching it, but Wenger returns to the theme of lack of "economic responsibility" at Stam- ford Bridge. Financially doped, he has called it. "If I win the championship and my club lose £200 million, I don't feel very proud. I want to win the championship and the club to make £50m. Then I'm doing my job."

It's a job in which his longevity is stretching to a second decade. That provides another bond with the longest-serving manager. "Over the years you have probably been more aware of our differences," he says of his relationship with Ferguson, "but we have a lot of things in common as well, and one of those is the passion for winning and a passion for the game. You do not last in our job if you don't have the passion."

There are many players on view today who share that passion, none more than the 35-year-old Larsson. When asked for his memories of the striker, Wenger replies, with last May's European Cup final in mind, "nightmares more like". There is deep admiration, too. "I'm amazed he still can cope with the physical demands of the game because he's not an especially physical player. He's so intelligent. When he played against Aston Villa in the Cup he gave a demonstration of how simple the game of a striker can be. You do not need to fight or be strong. Every single move was so well-timed, so intel-ligent, it was a demonstration."

Larsson's presence, along with the development of United this season, ensures it will be a contest for the connoisseurs. There is another guarantee - Wenger's philosophy. He is not likely to ask his team to take the physical approach favoured by United in 2004, is he? "With Fabregas, Rosicky, Hleb?" he replies, incredulous. The banquet has been laid.

Midfield Magician: Anatomy of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas

Brain

A remarkably mature head on 19-year-old shoulders. Cesc Fabregas took on the burden of replacing Patrick Vieira in midfield, soon mastered the alien demands of the Premiership and seemed quite at home in the Champions' League final and at the World Cup.

Eyes

Fabregas is ideally suited to Arsenal's one-touch philosophy with his precise knowledge of his team-mates' whereabouts. Allied to this is the ability to pick out a pass Bergkamp-style, and the curious way he is always on hand to receive the ball.

Heart

Fabregas has become the heartbeat of the team, with the play flowing through him. His outstanding display at Blackburn after the sending-off of fellow central midfielder Gilberto Silva showed his commitment. Unlike others before, he seems settled at the club.

Shooting

Fabregas began the season with two goals in the Champions' League qualifier, sparking hopes that his tally might increase. It was not to be, but he has an eye for goal and is young enough to add this facet to his game in time.

Passing

Happy to play the short passes as much as the Hollywood balls, Fabregas seems to have hands for feet, such is the weighting and timing. With the team playing at a high tempo around him, the teenager is the calm in the eye of the storm.

Come on United..Stuff 'em!

[nev]

will be a great game, even if we loose we are in a better position than last week,i mean one more less game to play.

i go bed now get up at 2 45 am, go watch at sydney casino get home around 5 15 am then go work at 6 15 am,, i will be knackered but i hate missing the big games.

i have 12 days to go before i am back in thailand.

[davidjtayler]

will be a great game, even if we loose we are in a better position than last week,i mean one more less game to play.

i go bed now get up at 2 45 am, go watch at sydney casino get home around 5 15 am then go work at 6 15 am,, i will be knackered but i hate missing the big games.

i have 12 days to go before i am back in thailand.

11pm kickoff tonight here in Bangers ... just about perfect ...I've got a good feeling ... good luck lads

[muckypups]

Well played Arsenal.. we really didn't take the game, in truth I would have been happy with a draw. Anyway. still 6 points clear, and Arsenal celebrating at the end as if they'd won the Premiership tells me that we are the team to beat.. which they did.

However, I don't think we'll lose many more, and that's a fact.

[john shaw]

Well played Arsenal.. we really didn't take the game, in truth I would have been happy with a draw. Anyway. still 6 points clear, and Arsenal celebrating at the end as if they'd won the Premiership tells me that we are the team to beat.. which they did.

However, I don't think we'll lose many more, and that's a fact.

i agree muckpups well played the gooners,Thiery Henri is something else,but they wont be in it at the finish. i am just back,16th jan from LOS,had Rooney backed at 13/2 to scorce the 1st goal,so made some money on the game but wanted UTD to take something from the game-6 points in front,14 games to go,not squicky bum time yet

[Seapok]

Well played Arsenal.. we really didn't take the game, in truth I would have been happy with a draw. Anyway. still 6 points clear, and Arsenal celebrating at the end as if they'd won the Premiership tells me that we are the team to beat.. which they did.

However, I don't think we'll lose many more, and that's a fact.

Thats how most teams react after they beat us also so maybe we are both the teams they want to beat, 6 points will soon be 3 points then you come to the home of football and we will be all square! the end of the season looks like its going to be very interesting!! may the best team win!!

[muckypups]

It's certainly going to go to the wire, and we have some tough away games coming up, Liverpool, Everton, Tottenham.. and of course..Chelsea will not be easy matches. Plus the Champions League starting in a few weeks could stretch our resources if we pick up any injuries.

I must say I thought we were poor last night and it was a big mistake to try and protect a 1 goal lead against a side as potent as Arsenal..the winning goal was a sickener, but if it were a boxing match then Arsenal would have won on points for aggresion anyway. Aside from the goal (happy to see Rooney scoring) I can't remember us creating another worthwhile chance in the second half. A missed opportunity.. and Seapok, agreed.. may the best team win..

[mittheimp]

Just like to commiserate with all the Man united fans!

Not! hahahahahahahahahahaha

[muckypups]

Commiserations..or not, acccepted mit..

[redrus]

BAYERN BOARD MEETS TODAY

And Hargreaves will be on the agenda

By Neil Custis in the Sun

Manchester United believe they can land Owen Hargreaves soon.

Bayern Munich’s board meet today to consider United’s improved bid of £20million.

The German giants initially said that they wanted to hang on to England midfielder Hargreaves, 26, until the summer.

But now they are trying to sign a replacement for Hargreaves before announcing a decision.

Elsewhere reports suggest that Spurs are in talks with Southampton after having a £10 million bid for Gareth Bale accepted by the club.

redrus

[redrus]

FERGUSON HAS HISTORY ON HIS SIDE

United should hold on until May

From the Telegraph

If Sir Alex Ferguson awoke yesterday morning with Manchester United's failure to extend their Premiership lead on his mind, he need not have worried.

Manchester United may have lost 2-1 at Arsenal on Sunday, yet their advantage over second-placed Chelsea remains six points and, if Premiership history is anything to go by, they are unlikely to be overhauled.

In only four of the last 14 seasons have the leaders at this stage failed to hold on to pole position. Last season, Chelsea had a 15-point advantage in January, and went on to win by eight points.

For Chelsea to gain any comfort from history, they need to think back to 1996. Newcastle were nine points clear with 14 games to go, yet capitulated. After manager Kevin Keegan ranted, "I'd love it if we beat them – love it", United proceeded to win the title by four points.

For that remarkable turnaround, United won 13 and drew one of their remaining games. It is that type of run that Chelsea need now to stand any chance of a third successive title. Their 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday hardly suggested a barnstorming finish to the season.

There is another positive for Ferguson. In putting his side ahead at the Emirates Stadium with only his ninth league goal of the season, Wayne Rooney scored with a header for United for the first time.

"Rooney – as I said before the game – wants to get into a routine of scoring an odd goal here and there and that's what good goalscorers do," Ferguson said. "Our intention was to come to Arsenal and win.

"It was a difficult game for Chelsea, I thought Liverpool would win, I expected that. This was always going to be a hard game but having been in so much control it's disappointing.

"I think there will be more twists and turns, both teams will drop points. Teams always drop points during the run-in – it's the name of the game.

It happens, and it's how you cope that is important. It will be the measure of us.

"Only true champions can come out of that disappointment and I'm sure we will do that."

redrus

[redrus]

PRAISE FOR ROSSI

By Ed

He's made an immediate impact in Italy.

Parma coach Stefano Pioli is delighted with Giuseppe Rossi's start to his loan spell in Parma.

"Rossi has done really well," said Pioli. "He has played with great intensity and quality.

"We knew that he would help us and I hope he can continue to play like this.

"I told him to play with the same intensity that he played with in the Premiership.

"He is a kid who has the right mentality, who wants to have a good career working hard and I know he can give us a lot."

Rossi has admitted all he wants is to get games.

"I'm young and I want to play, that is why I decided to go on loan to Parma," said Rossi.

"I want to play as much as possible. I am delighted with the goal and I want to dedicate it to my cousin Sergio, who passed away several months ago."

redrus

[redrus]

Manchester United 2 Portsmouth 1

by Footymad

Match report from tonight's home win in the encounter versus Portsmouth

Wayne Rooney stepped off the substitute's bench to guide Manchester United into the fifth round of the FA Cup after beating Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

On a night when two key decisions went against United, Rooney scored both the home side's goals in a brilliant seven-minute spell after replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the hour.

Rooney scored his first goal in seven games at Arsenal in the Premiership last Sunday and made his first impact in this Cup tie after 77 minutes.

Henrik Larsson's clever pass found Ryan Giggs on the left side of the Portsmouth box. The Welshman looked up before crossing into the centre where the unmarked Rooney was left with a simple right-foot tap-in from six yards.

If that goal was easy, his second was spectacular.

Picking up a loose ball 20 yards out, the England star took it on a couple of paces before scoring with an audacious right-foot chip into the top corner of the Pompey net.

But United never make things easy and unambitious Portsmouth snatched a goal three minutes from time.

Substitute Kanu laid the ball to Pedro Mendes just outside the United box and his low shot from 20 yards beat United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak after taking a deflection off central defender Nemanja Vidic.

United could have had a third goal with seconds left when the dynamic Ji-Sung Park burst into the left side of the Pompey box and fired in a shot from eight yards which beat goalkeeper David James only to go wide off the outside of a post.

It could have been so different for United who were left seething by two controversial decisions which both went against them.

The first came after 13 minutes. Giggs curled his corner to the near post where Vidic powered in to meet it with a bullet header from six yards.

James dived across his goal to parry the ball away but it had clearly crossed the line before it was booted clear by Mendes at the far post.

Referee Mike Riley allowed play to go on to the anger of the United players. It must have seemed the supreme irony for Mendes.

Playing for Spurs in a Premiership game at Old Trafford in January 2005 the Portuguese star had seen a goal of his own chalked off by referee on the day Mark Clattenburg.

Mendes had spotted then United goalkeeper Roy Carroll off his line as he raced down the right at the same end as he was for today's clearance.

Looking up, Mendes sent his speculative 40-yard shot goalwards, only to see Carroll drop the ball over his head and over the line.

Carroll quickly recovered to scoop the ball back into play, even though it had gone over a foot beyond the line, but escaped as Mr Clattenburg did not see the incident and the game ended goalless.

Portsmouth enjoyed another slice of luck after 38 minutes. Giggs capitalised on sloppy Pompey defending to race down the left.

He dragged the ball back into the centre from the left edge of the box, but it went just behind Larsson standing on the penalty spot.

Pompey defender Sol Campbell could not stop himself touching it back towards goal and it took a spectacular save by James to save the day for his side.

James was again the hero as, from the ensuing Giggs corner, the former England goalkeeper superbly tipped over Michael Carrick's header from eight yards.

United's luck was out again 11 minutes after the break. Carrick's delightful flick found Larsson racing into the Pompey penalty area and he hit the back of the net with a rasping right-foot volley.

But the linesman's flag was raised for offside against the Swede despite him clearly beating the Pompey trap.

redrus

[redrus]

VIEWS FROM THE BROADSHEETS

Sunday 28th January 2007

Rooney 'transforms' the match.

THE INDIE

No one has established whether the plane flying over Manchester United's Carrington training ground last week was on a spying mission, but if it was, you can guarantee it was not uncovering information about Wayne Rooney. What more could be learned?

Only to predict the unpredictable, perhaps, which would sum up his performance in this FA Cup fourth-round tie last night. Coming on with half an hour to go, Rooney transformed a difficult contest against Portsmouth with two goals. The first was simple, the second outstanding.

Receiving the ball 30 yards out, he accelerated, drew his foot back as if he was planning to unleash thunder, and then chipped exquisitely over David James into the top corner. It was a goal worthy of winning the Cup itself and Sir Alex Ferguson will have drawn satisfaction that it was scored with only seven minutes to go. That, Arsène Wenger is alleged to believe, is deep into the time when United are supposed to wilt.

In fact, both Rooney's goals came after the 70-minute mark but to be fair to the Arsenal manager, Portsmouth did score in the closing moments, Pedro Mendes' shot deflecting off Kanu and past Tomasz Kuszczak's dive. Nevertheless, Ferguson could not resist commenting: "I thought Portsmouth were beginning to look tired when we scored." Touché, Mr Wenger.

On Rooney's second goal, he added: "It was a marvellous piece of imagination and audacity. He had a freshness about him. He lit the place up as soon as he came on. If he gets a run of goals, it'll make a big difference to this team." The big difference yesterday was in the age of Ferguson's side. Perhaps stung by Wenger's theory, he went to the opposite extreme, leaving Rooney on the bench and resting fellow youngster Cristiano Ronaldo completely. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Henrik Larsson formed a strike force with a combined age of 68. And, in case that duo flagged, the rest of the team was sprinkled with 30-somethings, namely Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

In keeping with the theme, Portsmouth included a United old boy, too, and Andy Cole formed enough of a distraction after four minutes to allow Gary O'Neil to steal in behind the home centre-backs, a threat that was only dispelled by Tomasz Kuszczak's diving at the Pompey captain's feet. O'Neil claimed a penalty; the television evidence was not conclusive.

Nor was it damning nine minutes later when Nemanja Vidic believed he had opened the scoring with a powerful header from Ryan Giggs' corner. David James took some of the pace off the ball but it needed Pedro Mendes to clear just before the full circumference had crossed the line.

United upped the tempo and were unfortunate not to score before the interval. Glen Johnson almost ran Giggs' pass into his own net after 38 minutes and his blushes were saved only by James kicking the ball away as he lay on the ground. A minute later the Portsmouth goalkeeper made a more conventional stop, reaching to tip Michael Carrick's header over the bar.

Neville forced James to dive low to his left after the break but Cole probably should have put Pompey ahead after 54 minutes when Mendes pulled back from the right. Instead of trusting his left foot, Cole prodded with his right and the shot lacked power.

Larsson lashed a ferocious volley past James two minutes later only to have his effort disallowed incorrectly for offside, and Scholes forced a flying save from the Portsmouth goalkeeper. But Old Trafford was getting impatient and the cries for Rooney were getting louder before Ferguson introduced him.

THE OBSERVER

Arsenal are quite wrong. Manchester United are perfectly capable of growing stronger and winning games in the last 20 minutes. The trick is to keep Wayne Rooney on the bench for an hour and then introduce him just when your opponents are thinking they have done enough to earn a draw.

Two goals from a rejuvenated Rooney sent United into the fifth round, the second one of his very best, and with the substitute coming close to claiming a hat-trick inside the 30 minutes he was allowed Old Trafford could forgive the mundane nature of much that had gone before.

United could have been excused for feeling the world was against them 13 minutes into the game, when a week that began with Arsenal successfully exploiting their alleged inability to last 90 minutes and included a spy plane circling suspiciously over their Carrington training ground continued with Mike Riley and his officials failing to spot that a goal had been scored.

The mystery pilot of the spotter plane having come back to earth some days ago, there was no eye in the sky to confirm what everyone in the ground suspected, that Pedro Mendes had hooked out Nemanja Vidic's powerful header from Ryan Giggs' corner from a position behind his own line. Television replays promptly showed the ball had crossed the whitewash by a good six inches, though without the benefit of the pictures the referee had no option but to accept his assistant's recommendation that all United deserved was another corner.

Doubtless another tiresome debate on the merits of technology will now take place - goalline cameras are one of the few improvements that could be easily and painlessly ushered in - though the reprieve did at least prevent Portsmouth complaining they should have had a penalty in the opening minutes when Tomasz Kuszczak came to claim the ball and caught a little of Gary O'Neil in the process.

The reserve goalkeeper was playing because Edwin van der Sar was being rested. He was on the bench along with Rooney, while Cristiano Ronaldo was enjoying a mid-season break. United could still boast Henrik Larsson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer up front - as opposed to the visitors' rather optimistic deployment of a lonely Andy Cole - it was just finding them that was the problem.

THE SUNDAY TIMES

Spy planes over Carrington, "petty" criticism from Arsène Wenger, and now this. Sir Alex Ferguson is sometimes accused of being paranoid but yesterday there was reason to believe others have it in for him. Manchester United are into the FA Cup fifth round but the 77th-minute tap-in by Wayne Rooney that sent them on their way there should have been his side’s third goal, not their first. For Portsmouth, as in baseball, it was a case of three strikes before they were going out.

Pedro Mendes’s deflected late strike from Kanu’s layoff after United defended a free kick poorly meant Ferguson’s men were also grateful for Rooney’s second goal, a gorgous lob caressed over the valiant David James from 25 yards after Rooney, with smooth control, turned on Gary Neville’s pass.

But it was Rooney’s first goal that made the decisive difference, finally setting United on their way after they were twice denied by poor judgment by Mike Riley and his assistants. It came from a lovely sequence of team football. Michael Carrick sent a stately pass forward to Henrik Larsson who, in tight space on the edge of the area managed to spin and nudge a perfectly weighted pass through to Ryan Giggs. Giggs squared for Rooney to score from six yards.

Rooney’s contribution made him a serious contender for man of the match even though he played for only 29 minutes, having begun as a substitute. "When he came on he seemed to brighten up the place. We had a plan to rest him here and against Watford in midweek, but he was in such sparkling form it will be difficult to leave him out on Wednesday," said Ferguson.

The United manager was sufficiently satisfied with both Rooney and the result not to lambast the officials but, until Rooney struck, he must have been seething. After 12 minutes Nemanja Vidic clearly scored with a header, only for Riley and one of his assistants, Shaun Proctor-Green, to rule the ball had not crossed the goalline. In the 56th minute Larsson was the officials’ victim. Timing his run expertly, the Swede broke onto a Neville pass and, demonstrating prodigious technique, swivelled to flash a volley across James and into the far corner of the net from 15 yards. Riley’s other assistant, Richard West, flagged for offside when Larsson had been comfortably level with the last defender. It was no wonder that at full time, among the acclaim for Rooney, other cheers around Old Trafford were ironic.

Portsmouth, who never gained a proper share of possession despite having an extra man in midfield, could have been swept away, but the excellence of James and Sol Campbell kept them clinging to the rocks and the officials kept throwing them lifelines.

Mendes will appreciate the ancient football cliche about how luck evens itself out. It was Mendes who, two years ago at Old Trafford while playing for Tottenham, was victim of an infamous refereeing error when he lobbed Roy Carroll from 45 yards and saw a perefectly good goal ruled out when it was decided the ball had not crossed the line. Here, Mendes was beneficiery of a similar mistake. From Giggs’s corner, Vidic made full, sweet contact with a header that James, diving, got a hand to but could not quite push out. The ball had dropped about a yard over the line before Mendes, on the post, hooked it clear and yet Riley, after checking with his assistant, Proctor-Green, who seemed to have a clear view of the incident, neglected to award the goal.

MORE FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES

Officials always say they prefer to stay out of the news, so for one to make the headlines is perhaps unfortunate. For it to happen to three in the same game is downright careless. A wonderful goal by Wayne Rooney was ultimately the difference between Manchester United and Portsmouth in the FA Cup fourth round but United’s 2-1 victory at Old Trafford will be as much remembered for refereeing controversy as for Rooney’s brilliance. Errors by Mike Riley, the referee, and his assistants saw two clearly legal United goals ruled out and last night led inevitably to renewed calls for the introduction of video technology.

United’s first disallowed strike was the most contentious. The argument for using television is always most powerful when deciding whether the ball has crossed the goalline and in the 12th minute of yesterday’s match a header from United’s Nemanja Vidic was two feet into the net, despite Portsmouth goalkeeper David James getting his hand to it. Pedro Mendes then hooked the ball clear and, to the astonishment of more than 70,000 onlookers, Riley consulted assistant Shaun Proctor-Green before deciding it was not a goal.

In the second half Henrik Larsson, the United striker, netted with a superb volley only for Riley’s other assistant, Richard West, to raised his flag for offside — again incorrectly.

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

They sent for the cavalry when things were going wrong and out of the darkness with everything but the bugle emerged a familiar figure. Wayne Rooney changed the world for those tens of thousands of United fans who bawled his name in the cause of salvation.

An hour of desperation had elapsed in this fourth round FA Cup tie. Rooney squirmed on the bench, watching his friends firing blanks and the invaders from the South Coast surviving with mocking defiance.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who had decided to take on the opposition without the Premiership's most mercurial talent, Cristiano Ronaldo, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, Louis Saha and the explosive Rooney, saw what was happening and whistled Rooney into action.

His goals, in the 76th and 83rd minutes were masterpieces, a carpet-slippered side-footed tap in and a chip from 20 yards that Ferguson described as "a marvellous piece of imagination and audacity."

He added: "When he came on he just brightened up the place. If he gets onto a run of goals he will make some difference to our team."

Rooney was the outrageous difference here, a muscular presence playing with the ebullience of youth and the skill of a veteran artist.

Until his introduction Portsmouth had been tenacious. They had a spell just after the interval when they abandoned their first half caution. A header from Linvoy Primus had skimmed the bar and Andy Cole had dithered when a shot might have been through United's heart.

Ferguson and his assistant, Carlos Queiroz, could be seen on the touchline in earnest conversation, perhaps realising that their golden, over-30s strike force of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Henrik Larsson was not quite firing. A forefinger beckoned Rooney.

redrus

[ThaiPauly]

FA Cup Draw...

Manchester United v Reading

Oh <deleted>!!!!

Still at least we'll make good money

Probably still play our reserves...when we did that in the carling Cup Liverpool only beat us 4-3...but at least we avoided Chelsea..if we had drawn them the knives would have been out for us agian.

Dirty team NO....Hard... YES

How else do ya survive up here with the big boys.

But....this is the cup not the league.....anything can happen..though I doubt it will to be realistic

really looking forward to it Red

If it was only a month later...I could have been there...oh well

GOOD LUCK

TP

[mrbojangles]

FA Cup Draw...

Manchester United v Reading

Good luck TP, i'll be hoping you win

[redrus]

FA Cup Draw...

Manchester United v Reading

Really looking forward to it Red

If it was only a month later...I could have been there...oh well

GOOD LUCK

TP

Really mate, bugger. That would've been sweet....!

Good luck to you too fella but, I feel a date against the bitters coming in round 6.... If we do lose though, I can't honestly say there's any other team I'd rather won it than Reading.

redrus

[redrus]

<deleted>

GLAZERS TO DECIDE ON RONALDO’S FUTURE

redissue

Monday 29th January 2007

Whilst the player is banned from discussing Madrid.

David ‘lapdog’ Gill was on Radio 5 yesterday and insisted that Ronaldo would not be moving to Madrid, but then admitted it was not his call, as only the Glazers could decide:

“We've had no offer for him. Ronaldo signed a new contract to stay with the team until 2010. As Alex said, players we want to stay at the club will stay at the club. The big clubs may speak about it but they know we are not a club that sells its prized assets. There is no way that would be countenanced.

“It would be turned down straight away. It would be a very short call. I would put it to the Glazers as a matter of good governance. I would explain it, because that's my job, but I think it would be a very quick call.

“If the manager says 'no' they would go along with that. They understand sport and want to invest in talent rather than sell our top talent.

“As Arsene Wenger has said on many occasions, football clubs are not banks. We are here to provide top class entertainment, putting out a top-class team, and there is no point having £35m or £45m if we cannot replace that talent.”

The Sun reports:

Ronaldo is interested in a move to Real Madrid despite a gagging order from Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Portuguese winker met with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and assistant Carlos Quieroz on Saturday and was banned from speaking about a switch to Spain.

But Ronaldo made his feelings clear when offered the chance to see a mocked-up picture of himself in a Real Madrid shirt in a Spanish newspaper.

He said: “What day is that front page from? Let me see it.”

The 21-year-old had earlier said: “I know of the interest of Real Madrid, but I can say nothing. I met with Carlos Queiroz and Alex Ferguson and they prohibited me to speak of Real Madrid. You must understand because I do not want any problem.”

redrus

[redrus]

No new signings,

From the Guardian:

David Gill, Manchester United's chief executive, has said the club have virtually no chance of signing Owen Hargreaves before the transfer window shuts on Wednesday.

Following a board meeting last Thursday, Bayern officials suggested that, though there will be no deal this month, the transfer could go ahead in summer. On Friday Ferguson said he had not given up hope of landing Hargreaves in the next few days, but Gill is more pessimistic.

“I can confirm we are interested in the player and we have been since last summer but at the moment Bayern aren't willing to sell him and we will have to leave it at that,” Gill told BBC Radio Five.

Added to their failure to land Hargreaves, United have fallen behind Spurs in the race to sign Southampton's £10m-rated full-back, Gareth Bale. So it appears likely Henrik Larsson will be the only new face to arrive at Old Trafford this month.

Gill on Larsson staying:

“I know for a fact Alex, Carlos and all the players are very impressed with Henrik in terms of what he can do, his attitude and how he has fitted in. We want great players at the club but we have not really discussed that.

“We are focusing on the next few weeks and we will see what happens. I think it is a bit early, you never say never, but we will go through that nearer the time with Henrik and the club.”

redrus

[MiG16]

<<strolls in for a look at the rival's camp>>

[davidjtayler]

<<strolls in for a look at the rival's camp>>

Hey there Miss Migley ... if you would like to enrol for red devil membership please sign above the dotted line ... you'll be glad you did ...

Especially when Ryan Giggs and da boyz are holding the premiership trophy in May

........... dotted line for ex gooners

[redrus]

<<strolls in for a look at the rival's camp>>

Hey there Miss Migley ... if you would like to enrol for red devil membership please sign above the dotted line ... you'll be gald you did ...

Especially when Ryan Giggs and da boyz are holding the premiership trophy in May

........... dotted line for ex gooners

Thought you'd all ignored me and I was alone in ere again....!

redrus

[davidjtayler]

<<strolls in for a look at the rival's camp>>

Hey there Miss Migley ... if you would like to enrol for red devil membership please sign above the dotted line ... you'll be gald you did ...

Especially when Ryan Giggs and da boyz are holding the premiership trophy in May

........... dotted line for ex gooners

Thought you'd all ignored me and I was alone in ere again....!

redrus

Hello Red me old mucca

Watford tomorrow ... please tell me that Rooneys starting as I've put him in my fantasy team .....

We could never ignore you .. you are our sage ... our red devil guru

DT

[redrus]

LOL, cheers David.

FootyMAD's Watford match preview

By Footymad

Tuesday 30th January 2007

FootyMad attempt to assist you with their form guide as Manchester United take on Watford in a Premiership match on Wednesday 31st January 2007 at 20:00.

History of the Manchester United v Watford fixture

Man Utd. play host to Watford at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening, looking to continue an impressive record. The Red Devils are clearly on top, having won 5 and lost only 1 of the 9 games.

The last time the two teams met at Man Utd. was back in October 1999, over five years ago, when they eased past their opponents in a high-scoring 4-1 thriller, in a Premiership match.

For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, Click Here.

Recent encounters between the teams:

2006/2007 Sat 26 Aug Watford 1 - 2 Man Utd. PREM

2000/2001 Tue 31 Oct Watford 0 - 3 Man Utd. LGEC

1999/2000 Sat 29 Apr Watford 2 - 3 Man Utd. PREM

1999/2000 Sat 16 Oct Man Utd. 4-1 Watford PREM

1987/1988 Sat 02 Jan Watford 0 - 1 Man Utd. PREM

1987/1988 Sat 22 Aug Man Utd. 2 - 0 Watford PREM

1986/1987 Sat 14 Feb Man Utd. 3 - 1 Watford PREM

Recent respective form guides

Manchester United could not have a more impressive recent home form, having won each of the last six games. These high-scoring games have yielded a total of 16 goals for the Red Devils, with 7 goals against.

In complete contrast to Man Utd., Watford are having a torrid time on their travels, seeing them win just 1 and draw 2 of the last six. Hornets have conceded 6 goals in these games, and only hit 2 in reply.

Man Utd. are currently sitting proudly at the top of the entire league, having collected 57 points from the 24 games played. Watford find themselves stuck right at the bottom of the division. Their 23 games have yielded only 15 points.

For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, Click Here.

Current form guides: P W D L F A P

Man Utd. 6 4 1 1 13 9 13

Watford 6 3 1 2 7 7 10

FootyMad's prediction ...

Its good news for Man Utd. fans, because, with them being in such great nick at home, I just cannot see any further than an emphatic home win for the Red Devils. Home win

Sequence statistics:

Man Utd. Won 8 successive home games.

9 games since last home draw.

Not drawn a match in their last 4 .

Watford Last drawn game 6 outings ago.

redrus

*as per, team news not released till the day.