Author: Tony
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They may have changed the sponsorship but it’s business as usual at the Northern Ireland Milk Cup.
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2014 Milk Cup Man United: 10 Tournament Takeaways
July 31, 2014, 0 Comments -
Will Marouane Fellaini leave Manchester United for Napoli?
July 30, 2014, 1 Comment -
Louis van Gaal and changes at Manchester United
July 23, 2014, 0 Comments
2014 Milk Cup Man United: 10 Tournament Takeaways
Tweet Author: Tony Follow Tony on Twitter They may have changed the sponsorship but it’s business as usual at the Northern Ireland Milk...
Will Marouane Fellaini leave Manchester United for Napoli?
Tweet Marouane Fellaini joined Manchester United from Everton for £27.5m last season Alas. It might be that time. The time to say a big...
Louis van Gaal and changes at Manchester United
Tweet Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal with assistant manager Ryan Giggs Despite not joining the club until after the World Cup...
Will Marouane Fellaini leave Manchester United for Napoli?
Marouane Fellaini joined Manchester United from Everton for £27.5m last season
Alas. It might be that time. The time to say a big farewell to the Marouane Fellaini. He may indeed possess a hairstyle that belongs to a middle aged American lady in the late 1970s, but his time at Old Trafford is a very disappointing one. His ridiculously inflated £27.5 million transfer fee, which of course – was even more laughable when you heard the news that a month earlier, he could have been picked up for four million less – didn’t help matters. But former manager David Moyes and Edward Woodward waited until the the eleventh hour to unveil this tall, dark and – quite clumsy – new signing. Yes, Fellaini’s arrival at the club was met with the same groans of dissatisfaction that had met Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor a few months earlier.
Will Marouane Fellaini head to Naples? Or will the Belgian be given another crack at Old Trafford and show his class?
Louis van Gaal and changes at Manchester United
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal with assistant manager Ryan Giggs
Despite not joining the club until after the World Cup Finals in Brazil, nearly all Manchester United fans were delighted at the news that Louis van Gaal would be the next manager of the club. We watched with joy when, what appeared to be, a happier Robin van Persie launching himself into the air to score one of the goals of the tournament. The diving header looped over Spanish captain Iker Casillas who was stranded by the quick thinking Dutchman. His high five celebration with van Gaal is something many Reds will be hoping to see time and time again this campaign.
Even though the former Holland coach has only been at the club for a week – he has been a breath of fresh air with his comments in the limited number of press conferences he has had thus far. A confident and self assured man that is never afraid to voice his opinion or to challenge the status quo. Already, the limp and predictable exchanges between his predecessor David Moyes and the press are a thing of the past. Manchester United have the real deal here – a manager who has won a number of titles in different countries and won the European Cup with a youthful attack minded Ajax side.
So what changes can we expect to see this season?
Manchester United youth team 2014/15 preview
James Wilson impressed in his Manchester United debut towards the end of the 2013/14 season
The picture of new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, alongside Ryan Giggs and David Beckham is a reminder of how far we have come since both players made their debuts for the club. Giggs, now assistant manager at Old Trafford, made his debut against Everton in the 1990/91 season, whilst Beckham made his first appearance in the League Cup against Brighton in 92/93. The pair of them, along with a whole host of youngsters who grew into greatness, went onto lift title after title and in the case of Giggs helped the club to win two European Cups along the way.
How does the current batch of youngsters compare and is there any possibility of a break through star this season?
1995/96: No Champions League, Cantona returns and kids do well
Eric Cantona scores again in yet another 1-0 victory against Arsenal back in 1996.
The good times appear to be back at Old Trafford following a disastrous post-Ferguson campaign that saw the legendary manager’s successor dismissed ten months into a six year contract. The club have taken the well received decision of appointing Louis van Gaal, a world class manager who has won titles in numerous countries and lifted the Champions League trophy with Ajax.
The Dutchman’s triumph in Vienna with an youthful side consisting of Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and eighteen year old Patrick Kluivert is one of the tournament’s finest, which actually fell on Eric Cantona’s birthday. The Frenchman was half way through his eight month ban for his kung-fu kick on an abusive Crystal Palace fan and the club had missed out on Champions League football having finished second to Blackburn Rovers in 1994/95. It is the only time since Manchester United have failed to qualify for Europe’s elite competition – until last season.
With no Champions League football this season, van Gaal can focus solely on challenging for the Premier League title and re-establish the club domestically. It is nearly twenty years since the summer of 1995 that saw Mark Hughes, Andrei Kanchelskis and Paul Ince leave the club to be replaced by a batch of inexperienced youngsters. Alex Ferguson chased Eric Cantona around the streets of Paris on a scooter and everyone had written United’s chance off before the season had even begun.
Manchester United new kit deal with Adidas for 2015/16
Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs wearing an Adidas produced kit
German manufacturer Adidas will replace Nike, Manchester United’s current kit provider, at the start of next season – in what is the biggest kit deal of all time. This follows the news that Nike, the US sports manufacturer, had decided to opt out of continuing the relationship with Manchester United – a relationship that has been intact since taking over from Umbro at the turn of the century. The fee is reportedly to be £750 million, £40 million less than the Glazer family paid for the club back in 2005.
World Cup round up: Any players heading to Manchester United?
Arturo Vidal has been linked with a move to Manchester United from Juventus since the World Cup
Alas, it is all over. One of the best World Cup Finals in living memory has finally ended. England were humbled, Holland were brilliant and Brazil’s collapse was astounding. We saw Miroslav Klose overtake Ronaldo as the tournaments all top top goal scorer with sixteen goals, we witnessed one of the great volleys of all time, which was then followed by an even better one from James Rodriguez of Colombia, and of course we saw Manchester United’s new manager in action with Holland and he was a penalty kick, or two, away from the World Cup final.
So, which players impressed you? Who failed to deliver? Most importantly, can you see any of these stars at Manchester United next season? Here we take a look at some of the star performers and comment on the transfer rumours linking them with the club.
Luke Shaw is a better defender than Baines says Saints fan
Luke Shaw in action for England before his transfer to Manchester United
There appears to be a fresh wave of optimism coming out of Old Trafford these days. Manchester United have obtained the services of a world class manager, who is in Brazil competing for the biggest international prize of all. The club have also acquired the services of Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao, whilst Toni Kroos continues to be linked with the club.
United have also signed one of the most brightest English talents for a record fee paid for a teenager. Luke Shaw looks set to be a superb investment for the club, but we wanted to find out the opinion of a Saints fan who has watched him up close the past two season. We caught up with Chris who blogs over at George Weah’s Cousin and you can follow him on Twitter @crstig.
Luke Shaw is a great investment for Manchester United
Luke Shaw signs for Manchester United and becomes the most expensive teenager of all time
He may now be the most expensive teenager in the history of the game but Luke Shaw’s £27 million, potentially rising to £31 million, move to Manchester United from Southampton is a significant investment in a player who has impressed immensely in his early career to date.
Shaw impressed so much in 2013/14 he persuaded Roy Hodgson to pick him ahead of seasoned veteran Ashley Cole in the World Cup squad and the teenager was given a taste of the tournament he will hope to grace over the next ten years in England’s final group game against Costa Rica. A few days later the news was announced that he would be joining Manchester United for a record fee.
With Patrice Evra entering the twilight of his career, this is surely a shrewd investment in what is one of Europe’s brightest young talents who played 35 times in the Premier League last season.
Reaction to Luke Shaw’s transfer to Manchester United
Manchester United’s new left back tweeted his delight at signing for the club
New Manchester United left back Luke Shaw signed for the club on Friday for a record (for a teenager) fee. Manchester United beat competition from Chelsea to sign the youngster, who is yet to be given a squad number. Here we take a look at the reaction from team mates and Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs. There is also a clip of Shaw’s first interview as a Manchester United player.
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