Author: Doron
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A saga lasting close to a year has finally ended, Dimitar Berbatov has been sold by United and will join Fulham for a fee reported to be no more than £4m. The bizarre transfer ordeal saw him set to sign for Fiorentina then Juventus before Fulham stepped in to reunite him with Martin Jol.
Author: Herzog’s Child
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Manchester United travel to Southampton in the late Sunday game, hoping to pick up their first away points of the season. Southampton meanwhile are yet to win any points at all and in front of their home fans they’ll be pumped and ready for an upset. We preview the match and invite predictions and comments from both sets of fans.
Follow the live Champions League draw with the Stretty Rant from 16:30 (GMT) where we will update you with ALL the groups rather than just Manchester United’s one. Real Madrid will be looking for a record tenth win, whilst United will be hoping to be back at Wembley in May where they won the first of their three European Cups back in 1968. Wembley also holds a place in the hearts of Barcelona fans, who won their first title in 1992, beating Sampdoria, and more recently beating United 3-1 in 2011.
The draw is due to start at 5pm GMT
Author: Doron
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United once had a very healthy partnership with Royal Antwerp FC. Players such as Darron Gibson, John O’Shea, Fraizer Campbell, Jonny Evans, Danny Simspon and Ryan Shawcross all spent time there on loan. Until last season though the partnership had gone unused for a few years – Antwerp had become less competitive and United had sought domestic loans primarily. John Cofie then spent the back end of last season there and now this year, two more players are to join the Belgian club on loan.
Author: Doron
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You can purchase a copy of Sons of United at the website.
It goes without saying that United have a rich history of developing and playing home-produced youngsters in their teams. It is something that has become synonymous with the club from the time of the MUJACs through to Alex Ferguson today. Whilst fans are aware of such a culture, few know the stories and details about players, teams and records. That’s soon to change; Manchester United fans and youth football historians, Tony Park and Steve Hobin, have written a must-own book that’s soon to be released – Sons of United.
Author: Patrick Mather
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As the blood trickled down his thigh, and he manfully attempted to stay on his feet, one could say that Wayne Rooney’s career had reached a tipping point. Whereas once the merest hint of an injury to the talismanic forward would have been met with gasps of horror around Old Trafford, on Saturday there was a very different atmosphere. Yes, there was an undoubted sense of worry, but it appeared to stem more from concern over Rooney’s immediate wellbeing, not from a feeling of impending doom for the club though; as now, there is a Dutch safety net, one that Rooney himself has been clamouring for in recent years, in the shape of Robin van Persie. Yet ironically, it may well be that with the granting of Rooney’s wish, comes the dismantling of his own status as Manchester United’s irreplaceable superstar.
Author: Doron
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Old Trafford hosted its first league game of the season as United played Fulham. The opening round of games had thrown up contrasting fortunes for the two teams with United losing at Everton and Fulham thumping Norwich 5-0. Once again Carrick would have to start at the back with Ferdinand, Evans, Jones and Smalling still out injured. Fans were treated to appearances by two United supporting Olympic champions – Usain Bolt pre-match and Greg Rutherford at half time.
Authors: El Rob & Sleepy Nik
With Fulham full of confidence after their 5-0 opening day win, and with United looking to kickstart the season after Monday’s defeat to Everton, tomorrow’s game should be an exciting, adrenaline-fueled affair. We won 1-0 against them at Old Trafford last season – not a classic performance, but one that was mostly comfortable, apart from the penalty that should’ve been but wasn’t given. However, that game was full of the profligacy that characterised the second half of 2011/12 for United – 21 shots, 9 on target, only one goal. Given Fulham’s own form in front of goal and our well-documented injury worries at the back, we should hope that our attackers are a bit more clinical with their chances this time around.
Author: Doron
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At the start of his third season as a United player, Javier Hernandez has found himself slip down the pecking order after the arrival of Robin van Persie. He has to keep his eyes on what’s behind him too – Macheda’s yet to go out on loan and super-talented Angelo Henriquez has joined from La U in Chile. He can though take some comfort from the fact that the club have faith in him – a new contract signed last October takes him through until 2016 at least; and, he can draw inspiration from another club legend.
Author: Doron
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United’s latest and probably last foray into the transfer market has been made. Aleander Buttner, a Dutch winger come left back from Vitesse has signed for a little under £4m. He’ll provide competition and back-up to Evra and at 23, there’s time for him to learn and improve whilst at the club.
