Manchester United

last SG · 2005-11-23T11:36:39+00:00

continue dreaming. i believe liverpool will end the season with nothing to show.

dragg SG

extracted from soccernet.

Updated: Jan. 29, 2006
United missed out in chase of Milan star Vogel

AC Milan general manager Ariedo Braida claims Manchester United tried to sign midfielder Johann Vogel.

A series of injuries has left United manager Sir Alex Ferguson short of options in midfield.

With Paul Scholes out for the season with eye trouble, John O'Shea missing for six weeks with fractured ribs and Ryan Giggs facing 10 days on the sidelines after picking up a slight hamstring strain in Wednesday's win over Blackburn, Ferguson launched a Europe-wide hunt for reinforcements.

Milan claim Swiss 28-year-old Vogel, who has 78 caps, was a target but the Italian giants do not want to sell.

'It is true United want to take him in the winter transfer window but we are not planning to sell at this time,' Braida told the News of the World.

'We have an excellent relationship with Sir Alex and the United board but we told them we want to keep Vogel for now.

'I don't know what might happen in the summer.'

dragg SG

man u lost 3 - 4 to blackburn rovers.

seems like they, like arsenal should sign better defenders instead of strikers.

dragg SG

man u 4 – 2 fulham

dragg SG

from premierleague.com

VAN DER SAR: MAKE OR BREAK FOR UNITED

Edwin van der Sar believes the next fortnight could make or break Manchester United's season.

The Red Devils visit Portsmouth in the Barclays Premiership on Saturday looking to consolidate second spot in the table before embarking on a crucial cup double, starting with a trip to Liverpool in the FA Cup before tackling Wigan Athletic in the Carling Cup final on February 26.

Van der Sar knows three wins would leave United looking forward to the remainder of the season with some silverware already in the cabinet.

But a hat-trick of defeats would all but condemn Sir Alex Fergusons men to back-to-back trophyless campaigns for the first time in 17 years, a thought Van der Sar is not prepared to contemplate.

These next few games are very important if we are going to get some silverware this season, said the giant Dutchman.

It is important for this club to be playing in finals and when you are there, you want to bring the trophy back with you.

Our only two possibilities for trophies at the moment are the Carling Cup and the FA Cup but I am not going to choose between finishing second and winning a cup.

We still have 13 matches to go and a lot of points to play for. Chelsea do have a lot more than us but we just have to keep winning and try to finish as close to them as we possibly can.

Van der Sar has been widely regarded as a force for good at Old Trafford this term.

A £2million arrival from Fulham last summer, the 34-year-old has brought vital experience to Uniteds back four and though he has made some mistakes, they have been far fewer in number than at virtually any stage since the departure of Peter Schmeichel in 1999.

Unfortunately for the former Ajax man, one of his major errors came at Blackburn Rovers last week when a breakdown in communication with Rio Ferdinand gifted Rovers their crucial second in an Ewood Park win.

Van der Sar exchanged angry words with the £29.1million England man immediately after the incident, but he insists the fall-out was only brief.

It was very unlucky because I came for it and shouted but Rio did not hear me, he said.

It did not look good on TV and for a few seconds your frustration takes over and you say a few things.

But it was nothing vicious and the following morning to have more time to discuss what happened in a more rational manner.

The mistake is one of the reasons why Van der Sar claims to be only "semi-pleased" with his United performances to date.

It is an analysis most would regard as harsh but reflects the standards of a man who hopes to captain his country to World Cup glory in Germany this summer.

In order to achieve that lofty ambition, Van der Sar knows Holland may eventually have to dispose of England at some stage in the competition - and that means finding a way of stopping Wayne Rooney.

Coming from a country which has spawned the likes of Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, Van der Sar knows a player of top quality when he sees one - and Rooney is the real deal.

He is, quite rightly, very highly regarded in world football, said the veteran 'keeper.

Even now, I still forget he is only 20. It is unbelievable.

The best thing about Wayne is that he is not only capable of producing top-class performances, he does it at crucial moments in matches and can score important goals.

Meanwhile, striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes he will need a couple of reserve matches before being ready for first-team duty.

The 32-year-old is scheduled to appear for the second team on Thursday against Aston Villa following a hamstring strain.

The injury is not related to the knee problems which have caused him so much misery and meant a 19-month absence from the game.

Solskjaer told MUTV: I have been training for the past few days. It (the hamstring injury) is one of those things that happen when you have been out for a while.

After a couple of weeks with the physios again I am ready to get back on the pitch.

My knee is holding up and doing what I want it to do so I am very pleased.

But I think I will need a couple of reserve games before I can get back in the first team.

dragg SG

from bbc sport

Manchester United have denied a report that Old Trafford will be re-named under a possible sponsorship deal.

United are looking for a new shirt sponsor after Vodafone prematurely ended its deal with the club.

The Sun newspaper claimed the new sponsor could get its name not only on the players' shirts but also as an addition to the title of the ground.

But a spokesman for the Old Trafford club told BBC Sport that the story was completely untrue.

dragg SG

from bbc sport

Cantona fears for Rooney future

Cantona feels Rooney needs advice. Manchester United legend Eric Cantona fears Wayne Rooney's top-flight career could be over within five years.
Rooney, 20, is already a key player for United and England but Cantona is worried about his lifestyle.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "Rooney can be the best in the world at 25 if he knows you need to train hard, go to bed early and be careful what you eat.

"But he could also be out of the best teams, out of England, out of the best 100 players. Completely out."

Cantona feels Rooney needs advice now to ensure the longevity of his career.

He added: "This is very, very important. All the best players in the world knew all the time these kinds of things are very important.

"I am sure (United boss) Alex Ferguson is very strong and will help. Rooney is still young.

"But somebody needs to say it to him. The last time I saw him I wanted to say it but I saw him only quickly."

The former France international, 39, points at Robbie Fowler as an example of a teenage talent who has not fulfilled his full potential.

He said: "Fowler was so good at 18, and four, five years later, at 23 or 24, finished, not even playing regularly for England, not even for the best teams. Finished.

"Completely. Out. Why?

"Clubs should ask why this kind of player is out. They say in England it is very difficult because of the media pressure. But it is not more difficult than in Italy, Spain or Brazil."

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