1995/96: No Champions League, Cantona returns and kids do well

Posted on July 20, 2014  by Stretford-end  in Legends, Man United, Players, Premier League   No Comments »
Eric Cantona scores against Arsenal in 1995/96
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.

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Manchester United new kit deal with Adidas for 2015/16

Posted on July 14, 2014  by Stretford-end  in Announcements, Man United   No Comments »
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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.

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World Cup round up: Any players heading to Manchester United?

Posted on July 14, 2014  by Stretford-end  in International, Man United, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets   No Comments »
Brazil v Chile: Round of 16 - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
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.

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Luke Shaw is a better defender than Baines says Saints fan

Posted on July 02, 2014  by Stretford-end  in Man United, Players, Premier League, Southampton   1 Comment »
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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.

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Luke Shaw is a great investment for Manchester United

Posted on June 29, 2014  by Stretford-end  in Man United, Pre Season, Premier League, Southampton, Transfer Targets   No Comments »
Luke Shaw signs 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.

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Reaction to Luke Shaw’s transfer to Manchester United

Posted on June 29, 2014  by Stretford-end  in Man United, Premier League, Quotes, Transfer Targets   No Comments »
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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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Paul Scholes was right to call out Wayne Rooney for England

Posted on June 08, 2014  by Stretford-end  in International, Man United, Players   No Comments »
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Paul Scholes celebrates with Wayne Rooney for Manchester United

The last time Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney lined up together at International level was ten years ago in Lisbon when England were eliminated on penalties by the hosts Portugal. Paul Scholes retired at the age of 29 from the national team, but was soon reunited with Rooney at club level when he was transferred from Everton to Manchester United on transfer deadline day. In that time, the club has won a European Cup and five Premier League titles, whilst Scholes has since retired twice.

Rooney heads to Brazil in what will most definitely be his last World Cup finals having made zero impact on a major international tournament since he burst onto the scene in the summer of 2004. He has been subject of criticism from his former teammate in recent weeks and has publicly dismissed the suggestion that he is past his peak.

Paul Scholes knows Wayne Rooney a lot better than many of his England colleagues and any journalist that has commented on the story, so why did Scholes say the things he did?

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Manchester United International Graduates – A Rich History

Posted on May 27, 2014  by nameonthetrophy  in Guest Writer, International, Man United, Youth   1 Comment »

Author: Tony

Follow Tony on Twitter

When Scott Duncan decided to enter a youth team into the Manchester League at the start of the 1932/33 season, little did he know what cultural revolution he had initiated nor what legacy he would leave.

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Will a World Cup star be heading to Manchester United this summer?

Posted on May 26, 2014  by Stretford-end  in International, Man United, Players, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets   2 Comments »
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Will Manchester United sign a top performer from the World Cup in Brazil?

Ah yes, it is that time again. The time to get put up that heavily branded ASDA World Cup wall chart, to reel off some of the best footballing cliques down the pub – including trying to fit in “dark horses”, “group of death” and “goalkeepers moaning about the new ball” into once sentence – and of course, the hype surround a good performance from an unlikely player. Toto Schillaci came from nowhere, whilst lanky Kennet Andersson helped Sweden to five goals en route to the semi-finals and of course, Liverpool bought that loveable character El Hadji Diouf based upon his performance in 2002.

So, how likely are Manchester United to purchase a player following the World Cup? Which players have already been linked to an Old Trafford move and where do United need to strengthen?

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Manchester United fans will enjoy Louis van Gaal says Dutch football expert

Posted on May 19, 2014  by Stretford-end  in Man United, Managers, Premier League   1 Comment »
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Manchester United have appointed Dutchman Louis van Gaal as the new manager of the club.

It wasn’t the best kept secret, but today – Manchester United announced that Louis van Gaal will be the new manager of the club from the 2014/15 season having signed a three year deal. The Dutchman, currently preparing for the World Cup 2014 in Brazil with his homeland, will be ready to take over at the club in July and there have already been a number of big names linked – Luke Shaw, Mats Hummels and Kevin Strootman just a few.

Van Gaal is welcome appointment to many Manchester United fans following the disastrous David Moyes reign. He has won the Champions Leagues, domestic titles in different countries and plays open attacking football. Only Frank O’Farrell in the 70s managed United who wasn’t born in the UK- now United have got their Dutchman.

Ryan Giggs, who called time on his unbelievable career today, will take up the assistant managers post as the next era at Old Trafford begins. We caught up with Dutch football expert Peter McVitie, who writes over at http://benefoot.net/, who spoke about potential signings, the Ajax team of 94/95 and how is style of management differs from that of David Moyes. You can follow David on Twitter @PeterMcVitie.

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