Rooney, Solskjaer, Giggs, banned fans, injuries and transfers update
Ok, ok, so I give up – you guys wanted detailed United coverage, now you guys have it.
Here’s ALL the news related to Manchester United in the media today.
1. Injury Update
First things first – Manchester United should have John O’Shea, Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand back in the starting line up on Saturday against Boro.
In addition, the club hopes to have Neville available for the Everton game next week.
The good news is Nemanja Vidic, who Ferguson says has been training and could be ready in two weeks (pointing to a possible start against Chelsea on the 9th and involvement in the FA Cup final) and Saha should be back by the end of April.
I’m surprised to see Vidic’s recovery – I can only assume that his collarbone wasn’t as badly injured as we first expected, and if he’s in training then there’s a chance for his return.
I wouldn’t want to rush Vidic, but if he’s fit to play, he should play.
2. Wayne Rooney on PFA Awards
Wayne Rooney comes out and says exactly what every Manchester United fan has been thinking – that Cristiano Ronaldo is good enough to win both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year PFA awards on Sunday.
Rooney’s voted for Drogba and Fabregas, btw, which is a fair choice I think.
I just realised that with votes for Ronaldo split between the two categories, he might lose out to Drogba and Fabregas, who are the second-best (if not best) options to Ronaldo in both categories.
That and the fact that the votes were cast at the end of January, so Ronny might miss out 
And speaking of the PFA awards, Ronaldo has Terry’s vote, Scholesy has Nolan’s and Henry’s vote, while Lamps thinks Drogba should win because of his goals.
3 . Rooney vs Moyes
Speaking of Wayne Rooney, boy wonder is being sued by David Moyes’ lawyers for allegations made about his former boss in his autobiography.
To quote the Daily Mirror: “Moyes is believed to be seeking damages of £300,000 over remarks made in a chapter ‘I Don’t Want to Play for You Ever Again’.”
and:
“The writ is an embarrassment for Rooney and Manchester United.”
An embarrassment indeed. Hopefully the matter will be settled outside court and Moyes and Rooney can be bubbly friends again.
And has anyone actually read Rooney’s book?
4. FA Cup Final
Steve Bennett is the referee for the FA Cup final.
Bennett famous for two things – one, being the target of Neil Warnock’s wrath this season and two, for giving Tim Cahill a second yellow card for taking his shirt off while celebrating a goal in 2004.
It’ll be interesting to see how Bennett handles Chelsea’s tackling and niggling fouls as well as Ronaldo’s antics and Scholesy’s tackles.
And speaking of the FA Cup final, Chelsea are complaining about their tickets allocation, which is only 25k out of 90k (United got 25k as well, with the rest going out to neutrals). Chelsea want more, which I think is fair as both clubs should have gotten atleast 40k each (the neutrals can watch the bloody thing at home).
The FA thinks otherwise, and says that the FA Cup is for the country and the final is for all the fans.
I can’t resist this opportunity to pose this question:
“Manchester United can fill a 90k stadium, can Chelsea?”
They probably can, btw…
5. Neil Warnock on a rampage
Neil Warnock is still going on about that penalty. Now he’s speaking of taking up the case with referees chief’ Keith Hackett.
My view? Stop whining, talk to the FA about helping refs instead of publically criticising them and making their job harder.
6. Will Solskjaer retire?
Solskjaer is eager to play for Manchester United next season but is counting out the possibility of continuing a career beyond 2008.
While the media is hopping about and saying that Ole’s retiring next year, I think we just might see him have a change of heart and keep playing at a lower level (most likely outside UK).
[Source: BBC]
7. Giggs the supreme motivator
Giggs has been pseudo-motivator for Manchester United this year, first telling them that they are good enough to win the treble and now using reverse-psychology by telling them that this year the treble will be tougher because of the injuries.
Substance over flair and luck are what’s needed, as Giggs says.
We have the substance, and according to Jose Mourinho we have luck too.
Giggs also thinks that having him, Scholes and Neville around is good for the younguns in terms of experience. A little less of the obvious the next time, Giggsy?
8. Manchester United fans banned
Lastly, 3 Manchester United fans have received a 3-year banning order for their involvement in the clashes outside Old Trafford before the second leg of the Manchester United – Roma game.
9. Transfer Rumours
In the transfer stakes, we’re being linked with Ribery and Berbatov. Been there, done that, nothing’s happening till the Premiership and Ligue 1 seasons end.
And Wes Brown isn’t going anywhere folks – come on, he’s been excellent for us.
Alright guys, that’s a wrap for this first edition – let me know what you think and especially if you want to see more of this (maybe a daily version?).
Topics: Features, Manchester United
Football News 24/7
I like it, particularly the injury news section. It’s so difficult to find reliable info on when players will be back and given the current situation that’s important!
April 20th, 2007 @ 14:57Oh, I thought Vida may be fit for Chelsea?
Thats a big blow.
April 20th, 2007 @ 15:21broken shoulder mate. I read this morning that he’d ‘might’ be fit for the FA Cup final – but that’s a stretch – you can’t rush a defender like Vidic out to a big game like the FA Cup final after the shoulder injury he’s had.
April 20th, 2007 @ 15:30Fair doo’s, it os however being report on skysports that Evra is fit for tommorows match. Result.
April 20th, 2007 @ 15:32This article on manutd.com reckons Vida could be back in as little as two weeks!!
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=420496
The guys a monster I tell’s you.
April 20th, 2007 @ 15:37Hmmm…that’s what I get for writing things too early in the morning.
I’ll update it.
April 20th, 2007 @ 15:47[...] Manchester United News Roundup (new column) [...]
April 20th, 2007 @ 15:57Ahmed,
Great news that our defenders are on the way back. It gives the squad a lift.
There have been a number of rumours about Saha leaving us this summer. What is your take on that?
April 20th, 2007 @ 18:57Vida will be back.. Vida will be back..
April 20th, 2007 @ 19:03Oli – I don’t think we’ll sell him this summer.
As for his place in the team, personally I would prefer to keep Saha around as backup, but I think he might stay first choice next season as long as he can stay fit
April 20th, 2007 @ 19:07I’ve read five pages of Rooney’s book…… so I’m half way done.
April 20th, 2007 @ 19:21Wawa,
I am to the opimion that Wes Brown sould not be sold. Let Pique and Evans establish themselves as first team palyers at least and then we can sell Brown. The young defenders including Bardsley have a great future at MANU
April 20th, 2007 @ 20:19Had forgotten about Evans – he’d be getting great reviews all season. I’d say leave him with Sunderland in the prem, seems ideal! If I were Fergie I’d be looking to loan out Richardson there as well, I haven’t totally given up hope on him, he shows moments of quality, just seems to have lost his confidence. I think getting rid of him now would be short sighted. He is only 22. Throw him into Keano’s training regime and see if he comes out alive.
Worried about Boro, still reeling from 4-1 last year…
April 20th, 2007 @ 21:05Thank You for the united coverage..we don`t care about the rest..keep them coming thick and fast. I visit soccerlens because I get pro manu coverage..otherwise I would look elsewhere.
Thank You
Mario
April 21st, 2007 @ 01:36i would think that having the best game depends on the quality of the coach you have and i believe man utd under the one and only sir can still perform better than even where they are long live ferguson and manchester united.
April 21st, 2007 @ 03:03If the Ribbery deal goes through do we still need Hargreaves??
April 21st, 2007 @ 04:28For the love of god, YES!
Unless you can bring Keano or Cantona back, or bring in Vieira of 5 years ago, it’s Hargreaves we need.
Yes, more than Fabregas and more than Pirlo
Not because he’s better than them, he’s different from them (and from Ribery) and more importantly, he’s the biting, no-nonsense engine we need in midfield.
Expect Carrick to do more of the ‘roaming’ that he did against Sheffield United next season.
April 21st, 2007 @ 04:33So Ribbery will be a bench warmer??
April 21st, 2007 @ 04:44Ummm…he’s a winger.
April 21st, 2007 @ 04:45So yea, basically with Giggzy and Ronny being our #1 guys he will mostly be played on a rotation or off the bench, no?
April 21st, 2007 @ 04:47Any new winger that comes in the summer will be rotated in the first half of the season and win a somewhat permanent place (as long as he’s good enough and settles in properly) by the second half of the season.
Giggs will lose his ‘permanent’ place, although injuries could change everything.
April 21st, 2007 @ 05:20Someone in unitedrant had suggested that Fergie would shift to a 4-2-3-1/4-2-4 system next season.
Goalkeeper
the regular 4 defenders
Carrick/Scholes and Hargreaves in the centre
RCF – Ronaldo/Ole
CF – Rooney
LCF – Rossi/Giggs
Saha/Smith/Dong playing in front of these 3 geniuses
Looks like a “giggs replacement” or “just a winger” type player isn’t required.
Fact: Fergie said in an interview that Rossi will be a centre forward. So he’s not a scholes replacement for sure. Carrick is anyway.
April 21st, 2007 @ 07:18Perif – an uncanny resemblance to the system France used in WC 2006, no?
Hargreaves / Carrick = Vieira and Makelele in the middle, one tackler and one creator.
Rooney = Zidane in front of them
Ronaldo / Giggs (or his replacement) = Ribery and Malouda on the flanks
Saha/Rossi = Henry
Regardless of the fact that French and Arsenal fans would be dying at these comparisons
I think it’s important to note that a) it will work in limited situations and b) Carrick and Hargreaves in midfield will be far better than Gerrard and Lampard in midfield.
April 21st, 2007 @ 07:29To add, Fergie said today in his friday press conference that Saha needs to be mentally 100% before he can go out and play.
Or something similar.
If I were a player, I’d take that as my cue to get my shit together and start playing.
of course, you don’t have to point out that I’m NOT a professional football player…
April 21st, 2007 @ 07:33Fergie just said that because he has to drop Saha no matter how fit he is. Look at the form Smith is in! Looks like Saha’s destined to be a second choice player. He’s not too good coming of the bench either.
He would’ve been a world class player earning 100k+ a week if he’d been less unluckier with his injuries. Probably would’ve been the best in the world. He still has the potential to be a great great striker. I was really glad when we bought him from Fulham.
I wouldn’t sell him though. If i were Fergie i would still keep my fingers crossed and keep him. As of now i don’t think there’s any player available in the market who’s good enough to replace him. No, not Torres. He’s not Manutd quality. Note that if we sell Saha we’ll need to buy someone who is prolific enough and good in the air as well. I can’t think of anyone who’s good enough and available.
I think Saha will get his problems sorted out. He’s only human and anybody with his luck will have a few mental problems!! No matter how professional he is.
April 21st, 2007 @ 13:57Smith is not playing ‘THAT’ well, mind you. Saha has an edge over him in certain areas, and against Milan I’d prefer Saha over Smith.
April 21st, 2007 @ 14:07[...] I said yesterday, I think Saha should be embarrassed by this and should get out there and make sure that he’s [...]
April 21st, 2007 @ 14:35Red Rick – I’ll offer you a better deal – sign up and write up something semi-intelligent.
April 21st, 2007 @ 14:37hello Ahmed.
I want to know if manunited can win the premer Leag in goal difference if the point level with chelsea.
April 21st, 2007 @ 15:12yes we can, Atta.
+14 on goal difference compared to Chelsea. That’s our edge, which is why losing one game out of the last 4-5 is ok.
April 21st, 2007 @ 15:1925K ticket allocation is only the thin end of the wedge. Barwicks bum boys have given United and The West London Rent Boys 55-60% of the tickets available for the Final saying that we have had 5% more tickets than we would have had if the final was at Cardiff. What they neglected to mention is that Wembley is 15% bigger than Cardiff, therefore we are robbed of 9% of our possible allocation (IMUSA figures I think). Add to this the breakdown of the allocated tickets only 4% of Uniteds’ allocation are the “cheap” 35GBP tickets, 3% are the 95GBP tickets, 7% are the 65GBP and 11% are the 85GBP tickets (total 25%)- so much for the FA making the game affordable for the “football family”. Add to this that Uniteds corporate allocation has to come out of these tickets as well and you can see that the fans have been well and truely ass-raped again. I think it’s time to take Pete Boyles campaign (started at the Fulham away game) very very seriously for the final and refuse to buy anything in and around the stadium. Don’t help the FA to stick it to the true supporter!!!
April 21st, 2007 @ 14:19Ahmed – can you put the points raised in my previous mail up for discussion? Cheers
April 21st, 2007 @ 14:32Ahmed,
I reckon you are spot on about Saha. He is a better striker that Smith – although Smith has a role to play. And Fergie is clearly annoyed about the repeated injuries. Dear lord, if Fergie said to me you need to get your sh*t together – I would put my kit on the night before and wake up on the pitch.
I also feel that Hargreaves is the perfect choice for United. He is very much a United player. He is a team player with great attributes with a determination to be successful. He and Carrick are our future for a good few years – and Scholes will still have an important role too.
As for wingers, I am not convinced about Ribery and don’t know enough about Nani. However, one player I think is United good is Berbatov. That guy really is the business.
April 24th, 2007 @ 16:59