Manchester United

[muckypups]

Correct scousemouse.. he does seem to have the edge over Fergie, and with Chelsea winning the last final at the old Wembley it would be just typical that they win the first one at the new Wembley too.. Still.. I hope it's a great game.. (have to go some to beat last years though)

[scousemouse]

Thanks for that scousemouse.. hopefully they won't oblige..

Nothing personal muckypups , in all honesty I just hope its a good game worthy of being the first game at the new wembley , there is a lot of history at stake and here's wishing for a cracking final

[muckypups]

Couldn't agree more...

[soihok]

Good grief muckypups you have a lot of time on your hands.

I cannot hide my frustration( as you may have guessed)that a club like Man U were content to lose to Wesht Am last week.

Its all water under the bridge now and Uncle Neil has left the Lane.

Still,,,I will be cheering along Chelsea tonight,,,,and I,m from Sheffield.

I hope its not as boring as the other week when you two met.

May the best team win.

Cheers

[muckypups]

May the best team win.

For some strange reason I think I would prefer a great match and, perhaps, a noble defeat..than a dreary 1-0 victory.. Of course, I won't think that as soon as the match kicks-off.. (by the way, you're right.. I'm spending way too much time tinkering with the footie forum when I have a job to deliver by the 4th June!.. oh well. tomorrow looks good... )

[muckypups]

Well, I've just finished watching the "match" with my son; he remains to be convinced that football is a beautiful game. Congratulations Chelsea..

A dreadful match that was 30 mins longer than any neutral should have to endure. Very sad.. Thank god we are the Premiership Champions..The most depressing thing; I almost didn't care when Chelsea scored..Let's hope the Charity shield offers more hope.. but I won't hold my breath..

[soihok]

Have to agree with you.

I fell asleep it was that boring.

[muckypups]

I'm trying to recall a less inspiring game of football.. I can't. (although, I suppose England have chucked a few of those in over the years..)

[muckypups]

Wrapped this up nice and quickly..:

Bayern confirm sale of Hargreaves

Bayern Munich have agreed to sell Owen Hargreaves to Manchester United.

Club president Franz Beckenbauer told German TV: "Owen is leaving. That was the player's wish. It's a good match and it's also a good deal financially."

Beckenbauer said the transfer fee was "around" £17m - which would be a record for a Bundesliga player.

Hargreaves, 26, has been at Bayern for 10 years but after starring for England at the World Cup last year, he admitted he wanted to play in the Premiership.

United quickly moved to open negotiations with Bayern and made offers in the summer transfer window and in January but the German club refused to sell - until now.

Hargreaves, who played only nine league games for Bayern this season because of injury, is expected to sign a four-year deal with the newly-crowned Premiership champions.

His career in Germany ended in disappointment when Bayern finished fourth in the Bundesliga, thereby missing out on Champions League qualification.

Writing in his column for the BBC Sport website, Hargreaves admitted the club "can never afford not to qualify for the Champions League".

His transfer is therefore likely to be the first stage of an overhaul at the club, with chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge promising to carry out "brutal and ruthless" changes to the team.

Rummenigge said he was disappointed to be losing the energetic midfielder.

He told the club's website: "A player like Owen Hargreaves would have looked good in our team next year.

"In the defensive midfield position Owen is one of the best in the world - it's a big sporting loss for us."

Sunday's newspaper reports suggested Bayern could use the funds from Hargreaves' sale to buy Chelsea winger Arjen Robben.

[muckypups]

More on the Hargreaves signing from The Independent:

Hargreaves becomes first part of Ferguson's plans to improve United squad

Manchester United what next? His players were still contemplating whether to keep their FA Cup final losers' medals, bin them, or put them on eBay, when Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday took the first step towards strengthening a Manchester United team which was within a whisker of the Double on Saturday.

Bayern Munich confirmed they have agreed to sell Owen Hargreaves to United for £17m, a Bundesliga record. Franz Beckenbauer, the club president, said: "Owen is leaving. That was the player's wish. It's a good match and it's also a good deal financially."

The England midfielder, who was born in Canada but whose father hails from Bolton, is expected to be the first of three major summer signings for United. The 26-year-old has been at Bayern for 10 years, winning the Champions League in 2001. He made only 14 appearances this season because of injury.

United have pursued Hargreaves since the World Cup but Bayern resisted his departure until the German League season closed on Saturday. Bayern came fourth, out of the Champions League places, and Hargreaves' departure marks the start of a re-building which the chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said would be "brutal and ruthless". Chelsea's Arjen Robben has been linked with the club, the World Cup strikers Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose are already poised to sign.

Ferguson has no need of such root-and-branch reform but Ryan Giggs anticipated Hargreaves' arrival when he said, on Saturday night: "The manager will look to improve us. He always does. I think the squad is healthy but I'm sure there'll be a few signings. We'll be trying to kick on next season."

Michael Carrick, who will have to accommodate the arrival of the player who usually keeps him out of the England team, added: "We want the best players and Owen is a top player. We need a big squad when we are fighting on all fronts, that's been proved this season."

Hargreaves' acquisition is designed to fill a void left when Roy Keane departed. He is not a Keane clone, he lacks the furious drive of the Irishman, but Hargreaves adds ballast to a midfield whose defensive weakness was exposed by Milan in the Champions League.

He has prodigious energy, a greater tactical awareness than many players brought through the English system, and is a dead- ball specialist. His versatility is also an asset. Had United got him in August, he would, in the wake of Gary Neville's injury, have spent much of this season at right-back. He will join a United team which, while still buoyant from winning the league, was stung by defeat on Saturday. Carrick summed up the prevailing mood when he focused on United's success. "We can shake off the disappointment and look forward with confidence," he said. "We've won the league, we've proved we were the best team over a long period of time, and we were the better team today. We know how good we are. We're looking forward to progressing again next season.

"Cups are a one-off. The league doesn't lie. We won the league. It is a tremendous achievement and we are only going to get stronger. When you look at what we've achieved, including getting to the Champions League semi-final, it's been a good season."

"The players have achieved a lot this year," Ferguson concluded. "We set out to win the Premiership, that was our target, and they have done exceptionally well. It's important to remember that. We have to re-group now. Assess the situation. We want to be better. We needed a stronger squad in that period when we were going for the three challenges of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

"We want people who are prepared to accept that we want to be better, and who want to be better. That will be my job this summer."

Hargreaves, a single-minded individual with the character one would expect of someone who crossed the Atlantic at 16 to live in a country whose language he did not understand, fits the bill.

[muckypups]

The Mirror speculates; Van der Sar no longer first choice?

BEN'S A NO.1 HIT

EDWIN VAN DER SAR will lose his status as Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper following his blunder which handed the FA Cup to Chelsea.

England keeper Ben Foster is set to replace Van der Sar as United's No.1 next season after Sir Alex Ferguson's patience with the erratic Dutchman finally snapped at Wembley.

It is understood United's players blamed Van der Sar for hesitating in coming off his line to challenge Didier Drogba for the extra-time goal which gave Chelsea victory.

Fergie has had misgivings about Van der Sar in recent weeks, following a series of blunders which threatened to undermine United's Premiership challenge and cast doubt on the veteran keeper's reliability.

And with Foster returning to Old Trafford, following a successful loan spell with Watford which culminated in him earning an England cap, Van der Sar's position is under serious threat for the first time in two seasons.

United's England players have raved about Foster to Fergie and he is ready to give him the chance to replace Van der Sar ahead of Tomasz Kuszczak, who will go out on loan next season - probably to Roy Keane's Sunderland.

Fergie began to have doubts about Van der Sar last month, when the 36-year-old keeper made high-profile errors against Roma and Portsmouth which saw United defeated in both matches.

Although defeat at Pompey did not cost United the title and they recovered to beat Roma in the return leg of their Champions League quarter-final, those gaffes marked the beginning of the end for the former Fulham man.

Sources at United have claimed Van der Sar has not been the same since breaking his nose in a clash with Tottenham's Robbie Keane back in February, which ruled him out of action for three weeks.

When he did eventually return, those within the United camp felt Van der Sar did not have the same commanding edge as before and was more vulnerable as a result of the injury.

The Dutchman was also shaky in United's FA Cup semi-final win over Watford, and his latest mistake at Wembley has convinced Fergie it is time Foster was given his chance at United.

Since Peter Schmeichel retired following United's Treble triumph of 1999, Fergie has struggled to replace him. A number of keepers have come and gone, including Fabien Barthez, but none has been able to fill the void left by great Dane Schmeichel.

[John_Rambo]

It would appear very harsh to blame Van Der Sar for Chelsea's winning goal.

[muckypups]

I agree, on that basis some of United's players should take a long look at themselves before blaming Van der Sar..

[muckypups]

And Finally.. a season round-up from Red News:

The Season Reviewed

by RepoMan in the RN Supporters Forum

I suppose the domestic football season doesn’t properly end until the Championship play-off final on bank holiday Monday, but as I gazed upon the hordes of United fans walking towards Wembley Park tube station signing “Championes”, in my head and heart, the season was over for me.

You are going to have to take my word for it, but before a ball was kicked, I genuinely thought United had the chance to beat Chelsea to the Premiership in 2006/2007. Why?

First, I didn’t think United had been given enough credit for the previous season where the team had put together a number of wins to get within touching distance of Mourinho’s serial winners.

Second, although having to play Giggs and O’Shea in midfield for almost the whole of the second half of the season, the team were starting to show glimpses of the form we have so enjoyed this term.

Third, the team was clearly benefiting from having a striker that had lots of pace, and Saha was coming out of the shadow of Van Nistelrooy. United would have Scholes back, and Rooney and Ronaldo had gained another year’s experience. Players new to the club, like Evra and Vidic would have had the benefit of pre-season.

Did it matter that United had signed only one outfield player in Carrick to add to the squad? I thought it was a risk, but I also felt that if the team was lucky with injuries there would be enough in the squad to mount a determined challenge.

As we know, United got a flyer with the result against Fulham, and although the victory was emphatic, the damage was done in a blistering opening spell. I recall many observers getting carried away with the performance, but the coming weeks where United would face stiffer tasks were those which I had my eye on.

In all honesty, the performances against Watford, Charlton and Spurs were good but only for the fact that the team won maximum points. A year ago, I think the team would have drawn at least two of those games. The good start continued, but the Arsenal game at Old Trafford was to be the team’s first genuine test.

Much was made of United’s defeat to Arsenal, and I would imagine a lot fans found that their new found optimism was built on shifting sands. Although it seemed odd to leave Michael Carrick out, Darren Fletcher and John O’Shea had played well in this fixture before. Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were not match fit for this game, coming back from their ridiculous suspensions, but the team failed to play with the sort of intensity which wins games against Arsenal. Looking back it was probably the kick up the backside they needed.

In this period, United were struggling to find fluency and backed up this defeat with a workmanlike performance against Reading. We saw a similar effort in the first half against Wigan, and although United looked capable of scoring goals, the team was racking up points despite not playing all that well. For instance, Wigan let United back into the game at the JJB by giving Vidic a free header at a set piece. Gifts like these would not come from Liverpool or Bolton, or so we thought.

The visit of Liverpool to Old Trafford always brings huge anticipation, a lot of it being hope that United always win the fixture. For this game, the players must have wanted to make amends by beating a top 4 contender, as they had failed to do with Arsenal. The good news for United was that Liverpool produced one of their most anaemic performances at Old Trafford, and the result, once Paul Scholes had scored, was never really in doubt.

As good a boost as that result was, the next one at the Reebok really established United as serious contenders to Chelsea’s Crown. Alan Hansen described it as the best performance by an away team for 5 years, and Michael Carrick emerged from that game as a United regular. The added bonus to United was that Wayne Rooney, who had been misfiring since his return from the World Cup emerged with a hat-trick, and the momentum to be an important player for the Reds for the remainder of the season.

Although United suffered defeats in other competitions, the lift the players got from the 0-4 win at Bolton was tangible. The wins at Sheffield United and Blackburn were big results, and the cobwebs from Arsenal and Reading had truly been blown away. The demolition of Portsmouth and Everton at home, the latter with a squad team, showed that the club were in rude health, but the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford loomed large.

The draw at home to Chelsea was a missed opportunity and from Sir Alex’s demeanour on the touchline, you could see that he felt that his players had contrived to drop points from a situation they ought to have gone on, and won from. As it turned out, this was an opportunity missed by Chelsea to close a gap that was soon to get bigger, and if you asked the manager today, he would probably agree that it was one of the best results of the season. The very next game, United went to Middlesbrough, and exorcised the memory of the 4-1 defeat there last season.

As far as I was concerned, the games up to Christmas and New Year were going to show whether the team could drive on and become proper contenders. It was fine looking back to good wins around the time of Liverpool and Bolton, but any release of the intensity that the players were playing with could cost the club in a vital period.

We needn’t have worried. Wins against City, Wigan, Villa and Reading were good enough to build a lead over Chelsea from which they were unable to recover, and even the defeat to West Ham, and a draw at Newcastle did not affect the momentum unduly. The arrival of Henrik Larsson in this period also lifted the club.

Having set the platform for the title challenge, which rivals Arsenal and Liverpool had failed to do, the question of whether United could finish off the job remained, and it was mainly flagship games away from Old Trafford where neutrals were looking for possible defeats. The team had played many sides in the top half at Old Trafford, but there were still sides to play that had enjoyed relatively recent visits to the Theatre of Dreams such as Blackburn, Bolton and Middlesbrough. Although visits to The Emirates, Anfield, White Hart Lane, Fratton Park, Goodison, Eastlands and Stamford Bridge looked a formidable barrier, United still had to rack up points at home.

Crucially, as United were losing to Arsenal for a second time, Chelsea were doing the same at Anfield, and games ticked by, while United remained on top, even with a manageable gap, the pressure on Chelea to keep winning was there.

Of course, all the points accrued by United up to the game against Manchester City were important, but the three which I will remember fondly from this campaign are the away to Spurs, Fulham and Liverpool. I know it sounds ridiculous when your team wins 0-4 at White Hart Lane, but the team didn’t play that well. The team created the chances and scored from them, but Spurs caused United problems for large parts of the game, and with better finishing from Berbatov, Keane and Defoe this would have been a contest. Also, I thought this was Ronaldo’s best performance for United in the league this season. While others in the team spent the early part of the game chasing the referee for not awarding a penalty, the Portuguese put his head down and exposed the defensive frailty of Lee Young Pyo and Steed Malbranque. This was a huge win, and mainly because Chelsea had lost this fixture.

Again, like the Spurs game, United were travelling to Anfield knowing that Chelsea had been beaten there recently. For many journalists, this was the game where United would clinch the Premiership, and all those that had been convinced that United would be also-rans, would either hold their hands up or try to tell the sceptics amongst us that they were right all along. I thought United played pretty well in this fixture without getting any attacking platform going. There were half chances created by decent passing in the first half, but in the second half, the team were content to keep Liverpool at arms length. The Scousers will tell you that they battered the United goal and they were dangerous when Pennant attacked Evra, but aside from Van Der Sar’s save from Crouch very late on, I thought they created very little. The goal from John O’Shea was the sort of outcome I used to pray to God for from about the age of 11. Pure theatre!

I jumped ahead because I wanted to leave the Fulham game to the last of these three. I can honestly say that on 75 minutes, I wanted this game to end because I could only see United being beaten. The team was playing that poorly. In fact, I thought the players were better at West Ham than in this game. McBride, in particular, was causing Vidic and Fedinand all sorts of problems and I said at the time that they should be thankful that he wasn’t a kid anymore, because he would have seen out the 90 minutes. Ronaldo’s goal, right at the end of that game, was the goal of the season in terms of importance, and for those observers wanting to berate him for no-shows in other matches. They ought to be reminded of this moment. It was a piece of skill that I’ll never forget.

I have royally enjoyed all 9 Premiership wins, and there are some which are better than others. You would go some to beat the first in 1992/1993, but this is the best win of them all in my opinion. Take away the final two dead rubbers against Chelsea and West Ham, and this squad, so criticised by many inside and outside the club, won 28 games out of 36. It says a lot for the poverty of quality of the teams in the Premiership that so many of these were comfortable wins, but that is a debate for another day. In addition, much has been said about Chelsea and the way they play the game, but United stopped this team from doing a domestic treble. Despite all their problems off the pitch, their players remained focused enough to mount a robust challenge for 4 trophies, and not only did they lose fewer games than United in losing the Premiership, Mourinho’s team is still unbeaten at home in the Premiership. Chelsea has been Sir Alex Ferguson’s greatest challengers in his stewardship at United, and I expect that challenge to get harder.

It was great for United to contest the first F A Cup Final at Wembley. Of course, we are all disappointed at the result, but I think the club’s failure to win on Saturday reveals just how much effort the squad put into winning the League, which is also true of the European Cup, which I will address shortly. We have some good memories from that campaign, for instance, Wayne’s chip against Pompey, Henrik’s debut goal against Villa, the win at Villa Park, and the first 6 minutes at the Madejski. There were some hairy bits, like the rest of that game against Reading and the away tie at Middlesbrough.

The Carling Cup showed us just how many players had been allowed to leave on loan, and also just how hard it would be for young players to break into the first team. The club lost Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in the summer despite his promising partnership with Guiseppe Rossi, and the Italian was also farmed out with Gerard Pique. Southend was to be the last stand for David Jones. Captain of the last winning United Youth Cup Team, David hit the post minutes after Freddy Eastwood’s free kick had given Southend the lead. It wouldn’t have saved his career at United because Michael Carrick’s signing saw to that. Days later, He joined Derby on loan until January when the deal was made permanent. I hope to see him in the Premiership next year with the Rams. On the positive side, we saw glimpses of Kieran Lee and a rejuvenated Chris Eagles. I wish them well for next season. And the Youth Team, although beaten by an older Liverpool side in the Youth Cup, there are players from that squad already playing for the reserves such as Sam Hewson, Craig Cathcart, Febian Brandy, Chris Fagan, Richard Eckersley, James Chester and Tom Cleverley.

As far as the European Cup/Champions League is concerned, the club can be proud of what it has achieved this season, placed in context with the season before. Although the club continues to struggle away from home, there were signs against Benfica and Lille that the club are turning that around. We can’t say that it has been solved because the club lost at Celtic Park, in Copenhagen and twice in Italy. A lot of pressure has been put on the younger players like Rooney and Ronaldo to perform at this level, but I think they are heading the right direction. And whatever people say about the eventual winners, no team produced a better performance in the competition than United did against Roma. I would also laud the team’s efforts against Milan at Old Trafford.

I am more downbeat about United’s aspirations in this competition because I still don’t think enough emphasis is placed on defending properly at this level. All three of Kaka’s goals against United could have been prevented by sensible defending, but this is an area where United fail consistently at. Even in 1999, the team conceded goals, but they won the competition by scoring freely. I doubt that United will get that opportunity again with teams like Chelsea and Liverpool so prominent, and these two teams are practiced in the bright and the dark arts of the skill. It’s a case of wait-and-see.

Finally, I would like to congratulate the whole first team squad for making this one of the best in the club’s history. The club didn’t reach the heights of 1999, but these things don’t come like London buses and we as fans are right to celebrate accordingly. Gary Neville did an interview recently saying that he feared that it would be the end for him, Ryan and Paul at United should the team have failed to win the Premiership. Whilst I am delighted for a number of the first time winners in the squad which include Ronaldo and Rooney, I am more delighted for the old guard aforementioned, because it vindicates the manager’s decision to keep faith with them.

As for the rest of the squad, there may be one or two fearing the exit door, but the success from last season may afford them another final chance……., are you listening Kieran?....... Of immediate priority is to strengthen what is already a decent pool of players. A top class striker is a priority, and I wouldn’t argue against another being brought in. I have no pressing preferences, but I do like Berbatov and Torres. Huntelaar looks too raw in the games I have seen him play. I also like Adebayor but he is firmly ensconced at the Emirates, I fear. I believe that Owen Hargreaves is a good addition to United, and I think he will settle in very quickly. Whether he plays with Carrick and Scholes as part of a three, we shall have to wait and see, but I do expect United to use that in Europe rather than the Premiership.

Despite the injuries in the last month or so to the defence, the club has a lot of defenders fighting for limited places. I am not altogether happy with the defenders at the club because a number of them have made mistakes in big games. I would like to see Gabi return to the form of two years ago, and for a proper alternative to Gary Neville at right back. There is no pressure on his place. The Ferdinand/Vidic axis is the most encouraging part of the equation. Let’s hope they stay fit and develop an even better understanding.

But that is for next season. For now I want to celebrate United being Premiership Champions for as long as possible.

[nev]

yes muckey i agree time to celebrate a great achievment by us cannot ait untill next season should be a very close finish again between us and chelsea and maybe arsenal.

[Travel2003]

cannot wait untill next season should be a very close finish again between us and chelsea and maybe arsenal.

I think we should seriously consider strenghtening the squad.

Just a matter of time before the oldest guys do not perform well anymore.

When this happens, it will be all too late.

I do not see Fletcher, Oshea, Eagles being good enough as first choices in the future.

Soon Van der Saar is out. Solskjaer is out. Same will soon happen for Giggs and Scholes as well. Even though they had a fantastic campaign.

Saha has the Owen syndrom, and will only play a limited amount of matches. Same goes for Park.

Carrick is very up and down, and need to become more stable in his performances.

As soon as one first choice defender is out, there is a crystal clear evidence of absolutely no communications between the back 4 and Keeper.

We clearly saw how the team performed during the last matches when some of the main players were out.

Thankfully Chelsea also got a thin squad and performed not too good in the end either.

[nev]

i agree mate i think hargraves will give us a engine he never stops running, we need a top class striker and a new keeper,unless foster can perform for us.

we have some great young players comming back from loan evans pique rossi foster to name a few should all bolster our squad.

yes i agree a few older players on the way out.

and saha can leave he is a dead weight too injury prone.

anyway we did great with the squad we have to be champions this year, start of the season i was very worried.

to end can we have the are man u in decline thread back and to see what every one has to say about us!

[muckypups]

Oh yes..the United in decline thread.. don't see much activity on that these days..

I lifted this from the Football Rumours web-site.. so this will just be somebody's best guess..although they can be right..

VARIOUS RUMOURS HERE!

MAN UNITED - SUMMER TRANSFERS

Do not expect United to spend silly amounts of money this summer, we simply do not have the funds to compete with Chelsea and this summer, Liverpool. Instead, Fergie will add a couple of big money signings, but no more than 3.

GOALKEEPERS

Expect the rumours about Craig Gordon to be nothing more than rumours, Van der Sar will start the season as Number 1 with Foster on the bench looking to push into the starting 11. Kusczak will stay as 3rd keeper.

( ( Van der Sar / Foster / Kusczak ) )

DEFENDERS

After missing out on Gareth Bale, don't expect Fergie to add to the defense in the summer. A RB to take over Neville's role would be nice, but Fergie will wait til next summer to buy one. Pique will return from loan, and Fergie will sell Silvestre to either Lyon or a Bundesliga club for 4million.

( ( Neville/ Vidic/ Rio/ Evra ) ) - Heinze/ Pique/ Brown

MIDFIELD

Hargreaves has been signed for 17million, and the only other addition Fergie will make here is the signing of a winger to eventually replace Giggs, most likely Nani (Sporting Lisbon) for around 17million. Fletcher and O'Shea will stay and act as utility players filling in for injuries. Richardson will be sold, but Eagles will stay on.

( ( Ronaldo/ Carrick/ Scholes/ Giggs ) ) Nani/ O'Shea/ Fletcher/ Hargreaves/ Park

STRIKERS

This area will also be strengthened but not with a mega-bucks signing of Torres, Berbatov or Eto'o. Despite strong rumours, Berba will stay at Spurs, Torres would find it hard to adapt and Eto'o would break the bank. United will sell Saha to Lyon for 6million and buy Klass-Jan Huntelaar for 12million from Ajax. Rossi will return from loan, Solskjaer will be a squad player and Dong Fhangzhou loaned out. don't be surprised if United bring in a veteran such as Viduka on a short-term contract for free to add depth to the squad.

( (Rooney / Huntelaar) ) - Solskjaer/ Smith/ Rossi/ Viduka

INS:

Huntelaar - AJAX - 12million

Hargreaves - Bayern - 17million

Nani - S. Lisbon - 17million

Viduka - free

OUTS:

Silvestre - 4million

Saha - 6million

Richardson - 3million

Dong Fhangzhou - loan.

[MiG16]

alright....now I gotta say this....

where is my mate REDRUS?

appears he has left us for the season?

any of you in the UK can get in touch with him?

thanks....

PS. but shhhh dont tell him I asked

[muckypups]

I think Chonabot and Thai Pauly may have already sent e-mails to Red, Mig, unanswered I imagine. It's a heck of a while since he's been on-line.. I do hope he's OK..

Perhaps this news will have caught his eye and lure him back...

United stage £34m raid for star players from Portugal

Manchester United issued an emphatic statement of intent to build on their Premiership title success last night when they took their summer spending through the £50m barrier with the purchase of two of the brightest young talents in Portuguese football.

Having agreed a £17m deal with Bayern Munich for Owen Hargreaves, who is expected to sign contract terms on his return from Canada next week, United officials fulfilled their promise to back Sir Alex Ferguson with substantial funds for the first time since the Glazers assumed control at Old Trafford, with the audacious double capture of Nani and Anderson.

The duo will cost the English champions ¤25m (£17m) each, subject to a medical, and represent a stunning resolution to Ferguson's intention to add three new players to his squad for next season and a continuation of the United manager's philosophy of developing exciting young talent at Old Trafford.

David Gill, the United chief executive, and Carlos Queiroz, the assistant manager, travelled to Lisbon yesterday to finalise the club's long-running pursuit of the Sporting Lisbon winger Nani after Tottenham, who last week claimed victory in the pursuit of Southampton starlet Gareth Bale, also registered interest in the 20-year-old.

Nani has been identified by Ferguson as the eventual replacement for Ryan Giggs at Old Trafford and, though reports in Portugal have suggested he may remain on loan at Sporting next season, it is understood the left winger will join the club for pre-season training in July and provide the tantalising prospect of joining compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo in the United midfield next season.

While the signing of Nani is a coup for United, it has not come as a major surprise, unlike Porto's attacking midfielder Anderson who was announced as the club's first official signing of the summer just minutes before confirmation of the deal with Lisbon last night. The 19-year-old has been dubbed "the new Ronaldinho" in Portugal for his exploits in helping to win a second successive league title for Porto this term and, to the added delight to Ferguson, he is an audacious talent who has been closely followed by Chelsea in recent months.

The Brazilian teenager joined Porto from hometown club Gremio de Porte Alegre in 2005 and made such a dramatic impact at Estadio Do Dragao they acquired 80 per cent of the rights to the player having initially purchased 65 per cent. The remaining 20 per cent was owned by Anderson and his agent, Jorge Mendes, but it is believed United have offered ¤25m to own the player outright and to avoid any possible repetition of the Carlos Tevez/Javier Mascherano saga at West Ham.

Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona have been strongly linked with Anderson this year, and questions may well be asked within Stamford Bridge at how United were able to swoop so quickly and successfully for the Brazilian that personal terms have already been agreed.

"Manchester United is delighted to announce it has agreed terms in principle with FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon for the purchase of the registrations of Anderson and Nani," said a club statement. " Personal terms have been agreed and a formal announcement will take place once the necessary administrative procedures, including medicals, have been completed."

Anderson can also operate out wide, a role that may not be required now that United have Ronaldo, Nani and Giggs on their payroll. The teenager rose to prominence at the FIFA World Under-17 Championships in Peru in 2005 when, despite losing the final to Mexico, he was voted Player of the Tournament.

He also impressed hugely on his Champions League debut against CSKA Moscow in September and has been selected by the Brazil coach Dunga for the Copa America in Venezuela next month, though not tomorrow's friendly against England at Wembley.

[muckypups]

And this is who we're getting..:

Who are Anderson & Nani?

Manchester United have moved fast in the transfer market this summer, with Anderson and Nani set to be the latest arrivals at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant Carlos Queiroz is credited for a big role in securing the services of Porto's Brazilian midfielder Anderson and Sporting flyer Nani, who are tipped for the top.

"They're both top players and among the top five in Portugal with Simao Sabrosa, Joao Moutinho and Ricardo Quaresma," Portuguese football journalist Miguel Padayda told BBC Sport.

But what more do we know about them? BBC Sport gives the low-down on United's latest signings.

ANDERSON

Full name: Anderson Luis De Abreu Oliveira

Nationality: Brazilian

Age: 19 (Born: 13 April 1988)

Position Attacking midfielder

Fee: Reports vary between £15m and £20m

Still a teenager, the dreadlocked Brazilian has made a huge impact, is already in Brazil's national squad and is considered the heir apparent to Ronaldinho as his country's star player.

Born in the same town as Barcelona's buck-toothed wonder, Porte Alegre, Anderson also started his career at Gremio where he is held in high regard after scoring the goal that sent them back into the top flight in a brutal match against Nautico in 2005.

He moved to Europe later that year and made his Porto debut a little over 12 months ago in March 2006, helping the club land the Portuguese double.

This season his progress has been hampered by a fractured leg in October, but he returned to action to help Porto successfully defend their title.

BBC Sport columnist and south American football pundit Tim Vickery has described the strong, left-footed midfielder as having the acceleration of the Millennium Falcon.

And Manchester United have stolen a march on suitors such as Real Madrid and Chelsea to land a player many have already labelled as the long-term replacement for Old Trafford stalwart Paul Scholes.

Padayda's verdict: "He is very young, very skilled in the pass, very intelligent and very fast. Unfortunately, this season he had an injury that allowed him to play only half of the season, but he was still a very important figure at Porto. He could definitely go straight into the United first XI."

Anderson says: "I could not imagine I would ever get to work with a manager like Sir Alex Ferguson but it has happened. It is a dream the size of the world."

They say: "New players will show they deserve a chance to represent Brazil and we'll all see that as it happens. Anderson, like many other Brazilian players, is a valuable player and will get his chance in future for sure."

Brazil head coach Dunga

You say: "Anderson has the potential to be something special. When he's worth £30m on his own in two years this deal will look like a bargain."

EdWindchester on the 606 messageboards

Did you know? He was named player of the tournament at the 2005 Under-17 World Cup. Previous winners of the award include Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

NANI

Full name: Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha

Nationality: Portuguese

Age: 20 (Born: 17 April 1986)

Position Attacking midfielder

Fee: Anything between £11.5m and £17m say the reports

Nani has long been linked with a move to Manchester United ever since he stated it would be a "dream" to play with Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Quieroz needed to move quickly when it became clear Tottenham were also stepping up their interest in the predominantly wide player.

Born on the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa, he came through the Sporting Academy, a route previously taken by Ronaldo and Luis Figo, once his family had upped sticks for Lisbon.

Having made his debut as an 18-year-old, Nani became a part of the first-team squad at the start of the 2005/06 season and soon got his chance to impress.

Since then the fleet-footed livewire, who celebrates goals with a back flip, has gone from strength to strength with club and country.

He scored on his first appearance for Portugal against Denmark in September and also caught the eye with a wonderful effort in the Champions League against Spartak Moscow this season.

Padayda's verdict: "He plays more or less in the same position of the pitch as Ronaldo does but he is not as fast. He had some problems this year at Sporting because he thought he was underpaid and wanted more money, but now he has a big contract. He will have to adapt to the English game and will need to wait a few months until he gets his chance."

Nani says: "The Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world and it will be a big challenge. I am prepared to go to England because I believe I will progress there."

They say: "He's one of the most gifted young players in Europe, and what's more, he's stronger than I thought he was."

Former Bayern Munich manager Felix Magath

You say: "Bringing Nani into the team will definitely give us more width across the pitch and in time will be a suitable replacement for Ryan Giggs."

wolverine001 on the 606 messageboards

[muckypups]

More on United's spending and the Portugeezers.. From The Telegraph:

New faces show United's intent

Having left Manchester United's rivals trailing in their wake by racking up more than £50 million of transfer activity before the end of May, Sir Alex Ferguson is now considering an £8 million move for Nicolas Anelka to complete his summer strengthening while Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool continue to position themselves in the starting blocks.

United have made inquiries as to Anelka's availability at Bolton and it is understood that the 28-year-old striker will be allowed to leave if a club competing in next season's Champions League lodge a bid matching the £8 million that Bolton paid Fenerbahce for the Frenchman last August.

Although Ferguson has stolen a march on his rivals by adding £17.3 million Sporting Lisbon winger Nani and Porto's £20.4 million attacking midfielder Anderson to the £17 million acquisition of Owen Hargreaves (which will be rubber-stamped on the England midfielder's return from holiday), securing a top-class striker remains a priority. Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o and Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov had been at the top of Ferguson's wish-list, but prohibitive transfer fees in excess of £20 million for each player have left United looking elsewhere.

The Ajax forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who scored 23 goals in 34 league games last season, has been personally scouted by Ferguson, but the 23-year-old Holland international has expressed a desire to remain in Amsterdam for another year.

Anelka's track record, pace and affordable price would make him an impressive addition to United's front-line, and the problems that plagued Anelka's earlier career have been conspicuous by their absence at Bolton.

United's frenzied transfer activity has allowed them to land two heavy blows on Chelsea, who have dominated the market lately. Arjen Robben, Damien Duff, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel have all slipped through United's clutches, but United have now regained their position as major players. And Ferguson's success in acquiring two of the most sought-after youngsters from the Portuguese league is another victory against Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, whose Portuguese contacts do not appear to carry the same clout as Ferguson's assistant, Carlos Queiroz.

Gabriel Heinze and Kieran Richardson are likely to head out of Old Trafford as United attempt to recoup some of their outlay, but Ferguson spent only £18.6 million of a £25 million transfer kitty last summer on England midfielder Michael Carrick, while raising £28 million through sales, so his spree is more a result of good housekeeping rather than the sudden generosity of the Glazer family.

But as he began his summer break on the Cote d'Azur yesterday, the United manager could relax in the knowledge that he has delivered a resounding statement of intent to his rivals.

United have arranged two matches on Aug 8, meanwhile, to conclude their pre-season preparations. Ferguson's squad will split into two, with half tackling Glentoran and the rest taking on one of the manager's former clubs, Dunfermline. Before those games, United will face Italian champions Inter Milan at Old Trafford on Aug 1 before visiting Doncaster two days later.

Nani

Nani, the Portuguese winger signed by Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon, is being touted as the new Cristiano Ronaldo and there are many similarities between the two.

Both have come from poor backgrounds, have had to uproot themselves at a young age, have come through the ranks of Sporting's famed youth academy and overcome adversity on their way to the top. They are also players who can thrill the crowds.

Nani, whose correct name is Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha, was born in the Cape Verde Islands, a former Portuguese colony off the west coast of Africa now becoming a popular tourist haven.

He was just a toddler when he moved with his parents to where they set up base in Amadora, a small town near Lisbon. They lived in poverty, but Nani's football career has helped lift them out of it.

Nani first joined a local team called Real de Massama before joining Sporting's youth system. He nearly joined Sporting's rivals, Benfica, but they were put off by his foreign passport and the fact that he was so frail. But Sporting were prepared to take him on straight away.

Nani's progress through the ranks was rapid and he made his debut at the age of 18 when he came on as substitute in a Portuguese league match against Maritimo. He played 29 league matches in his first season, scoring four times, as well as one goal in seven cup games.

In September, Nani scored on his Portuguese international debut against Denmark and in successive league games against Boavista and Maritimo. He ended the season in style, with Sporting finishing runners-up in the league to champions Porto and winning the Portuguese cup.

Anderson

Anderson, full name Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira, was born in Porto Alegre, Brazil. He joined Gremio (also Ronaldinho's former club) at the age of only five and made his debut in 2004, scoring one goal in five appearances.

He has played for the Brazil national team at each age group, his finest moment coming when he was crowned player of the tournament at the Under-17 World Cup in 2005.

His form alerted scouts from all over the world, but it was Porto who acted quickest to sign him. Anderson scored a spectacular solo winner against Nautico in November 2005 to helped Gremio clinch promotion before he joined Porto in December 2005, making his debut as substitute in a 3-0 league win against Nacional in March 2006. His three league appearances and two cup games that season enabled him to form part of a championship-winning team who also won the Portuguese cup and the Portuguese Supercup.

Anderson began the season in good form, but broke his right leg in a league game against Benfica in December. He returned to play in Porto's last few games of the season, once again enough to be part of a championship-winning team.

The glimpses of brilliance in those games was enough to convince Brazil's national coach, Dunga, to call Anderson up for the first time and he is in the squad to face England today.

His muscular physique, pace, great ball skills and mesmeric dribbling will thrill Manchester United fans, provided the club are able to overcome the question of a work permit. At the moment the player is ineligible as he is not yet a regular for the Brazil national team, but United hope to get special dispensation.

Anelka? First I've heard of his name being in the frame, but I can see Fergie going for a cut price established striker to carry us through until the right player becomes available.

[MiG16]

I saw about the 3 players at 17M each on thai TV and also on CNN yesterday

[Seapok]

Talk about buying the title, £70 Million on 3 players!!

Man Utd close in on striker Tevez

West Ham striker Carlos Tevez is set to join Manchester United, according to BBC Radio Five Live Sport.

BBC sports editor Mihir Bose understands talks are underway and says Tevez may move on loan or permanently.

Tevez, 23, is on international duty with Argentina playing in the Copa America in Venezuela.

West Ham have said they want to keep him after he helped them survive in the Premier League last season but doubts have remained over his Hammers future.

"I understand talks have been going on for several weeks now," said BBC sports editor Mihir Bose.

"Manchester United are certainly very keen on Carlos Tevez but they are very complicated talks because of the nature of the loan arrangement he has at West Ham.

"What is going on is whether he goes on a permanent move, which would involve a very high fee. Certainly, Tevez's people would want in the region of what Zinedine Zidane went for when he moved to Real Madrid - about £40m.

"Or he could go on the same arrangement his colleague Javier Mascherano went to Liverpool under from West Ham. That was a two-year deal and a sort of extended loan for a much lower fee."

Tevez was at the heart of the controversy surrounding his signing and that of fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano by the Upton Park club last summer.

West Ham were fined £5.5m for irregularities centering upon who owned the players' contracts.

Tevez brushed aside the problems to inspire the Hammers to an end of season run of form which helped them move out of the bottom three and secure their top-flight status.

He had found games hard to come by under former West Ham boss Alan Pardew after his signing but took on a more prominent role after Alan Curbishley took the helm in December 2006.

Tevez scored seven goals in his final 10 Premier League games last season, including the winner at Manchester United which guaranteed West Ham's survival.

He was expected to delay a decision over his future until after the Copa America finishes on 14 July but United appear to be keen to tie up a deal for the player.

Arsenal and Liverpool were also linked with Tevez, who turned down a move to Italian side Inter Milan after failing to meet a deadline they set for him to make a decision about whether to join them.

If Tevez did sign, he would join United's other summer recruits in England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Portugal winger Nani, Brazilian midfielder Anderson and keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

[EastSaxCol]

We have more or less accepted that Carlitos will leave, more's the pity (an understatement).

But if his destination were to be ManU then there's a few questions and possible answers.

Fergie has spent the summer budget on Hargreaves, Nani and Alexander.

Kia will loan out Tevez for 12 months at a cost of at least £9mil or on a 4-year deal at maybe £25mil. I very much doubt he will agree to sell Tevez outright, no matter how much is on offer.

So how can they solve this?

ManU have to sell players to raise cash and we know they are desperately trying to unload Smith, Heinze and Richardson among others. All three combined might just raise the £9mil for one year .

And again there's the legal wrangle about who actually owns Tevez now. Kia or West Ham ? So I'd not expect Tevez to sign permanantly wherever he goes.

[nev]

awwwwwww a chelsea fan complaining about buying the title,lol.

ok it is not 70 million,it is 4 players include hargreaves.

tevez will be on a loan deal at first, we have 3 or 4 players who are at the end of there time at united, nani and anderson will not be used much this year they are future replacements for scholes and giggs,and at 14 mill each excellent buying,hargreaves has been comming for over a year now so no suprise there, think he is 17 million.

[mrbojangles]

You can't deny it nev, however you want to wrap it up. You are just as guilty of trying to buy the title, as United fans have accused Chelsea of doing.

Personally, i hope one day we will have enough money to be accused of the very "crime"

[sumrit]

Talk about buying the title, £70 Million on 3(4) players!!

Man Utd close in on striker Tevez

You're not conceding the title already are you?

Before a ball has even been kicked?

[Seapok]

Talk about buying the title, £70 Million on 3(4) players!!

Man Utd close in on striker Tevez

You're not conceding the title already are you?

Before a ball has even been kicked?

I'm not conceding the title at all, in fact I believe we have a better chance this season of winning it as we did last season, injuries permitting of course! I'm just trying to turn the tables, soon as we buy big thats it, the media go in to hyper drive! Chelsea are buying success, ruining the game.....etc etc

[sumrit]

Talk about buying the title, £70 Million on 3(4) players!!

Man Utd close in on striker Tevez

You're not conceding the title already are you?

Before a ball has even been kicked?

I'm not conceding the title at all, in fact I believe we have a better chance this season of winning it as we did last season, injuries permitting of course! I'm just trying to turn the tables, soon as we buy big thats it, the media go in to hyper drive! Chelsea are buying success, ruining the game.....etc etc

You shouldn't worry about the media hype. If you'd been a top club for as long as Man Utd have you'd know that the British media always knock successful teams. you just have to ignore it.

As for the money you've aready spent;

I'm glad you beat us to Robben, it just made us more determined to get Ronaldo.

I'm glad you chased after and signed Mickel even though he'd already signed for us. He looks a half decent player but any body who can switch allegiences as quickly as he did for the promise of a few extra quid isn't going to have his 'heart' in a real dogfight for the title, and besides it just made us more determined to sign Hargreaves.

But with Essien, apparently we had been trying to sign him when you came in with BIG money. Now thats one player I wish we had got, he's world class, and IMO the best player you've got.

Oh, and I see you've got the 'injuries permitting' excuse in already............just in case.