With the transfer window now closed and Manchester United news less abundant, Stretty Stories may now be posted less regularly. I’ll see if there is still enough news to keep posting as frequently, but as this is Stretty Stories’ first time outside of the transfer window it remains to be seen. With that said, we do have some United activity in the press today with Rio Ferdinand making his return to action with the Reserves yesterday, Vidic speaking of being handed the captain’s armband, and – my personal favorite – Bebe’s return to the homeless shelter.

Ferdinand steps up injury comeback – The Daily Telegraph

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said Rio Ferdinand is now available for selection to play against Everton after completing a successful 45 minutes in yesterday’s 2-1 Reserves victory over Oldham. The England skipper has been sidelined since picking up an injury while with England on World Cup duty, and now seems to be ready for an early comeback after being ruled out until the end of September. Anderson also appeared in the Reserves match yesterday, completing 60 minutes on his journey back to fitness. Meanwhile, Bebe was once again absence, but not due to poor form; United’s newest signing is on international duty with the Portugal U-21s.

Vidic relishing captain’s role – The Sun

With Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand both absent, Nemanja Vidic has been handed the captain’s armband. It seems the Serbian has now moved above Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra in the pecking order for skipper. Vidic won his first piece of silverware as captain in the Community Shield against Chelsea, and he his proud to be handed such responsibility. I assume with Rio nearing return he will be given the armband, but for now the job belongs to his defensive partner. Vidic showed true modesty by citing Neville, Giggs, Scholes, and Rio as true leaders in the team despite his wearing of the armband. With Neville and Rio both prone to long-spells on the sidelines, it’s good to have the armband in the hands of a guaranteed regular.

The incredible rise of a lost street kid – The Daily Mail

Bebe flew to Portugal this week to join up with his national team’s U-21 squad. Once he arrived, he immediately took a taxi to the homeless shelter he grew up in. There, he had a meal with the shelter’s director and his family. And then Bebe, a player who has just joined the world’s biggest club, spent the night at the shelter where he was raised. It was one last time for the Portuguese winger to be at the place he considers home before he starts his new life in Manchester. This summer, when Bebe was bought by Guimaraes of Portugal’s first division, he actually told the director he didn’t want to leave his home; but he was told he must leave and make something of his life. A few months later, Bebe now trains at Carrington with the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. We may still know very little of our newest signing and be eager to finally see him play, but one thing is already certain – he is a player with the utmost modesty and a heart of gold.

Discuss all today’s news and rumors in the forum.

You can follow Kyle on Twitter at KDill_MUFC.

Tweet This Post

The month of August saw United kick off the season in decent fashion. 7 points out of 9, a convincing victory over champions Chelsea in the Community Shield, and some encouraging performances by some players who were all but written off prior to a ball being kicked. Come this way to see who we voted player of the month, goal of the month and see who’s heading our Fantasy Football League..

Player of the Month : Paul Scholes

Could it really be anyone else? The ginger prince has been a class apart in the early weeks of this season, and has managed to hit the headlines (for all the right reasons, regardless of whatever bile Wenger chooses to spew) for his stunning form. Scholes was just one of a collection of United players written off in pre-season; he and Giggs, yet again, were considered past it, Vidic wanted out and Dimitar Berbatov was past his last chance and was left at Old Trafford simply for other clubs to laugh at. The four have been United’s best performers (Giggs admittedly in a cameo) so far this season, however it is Scholes who has been the stand out performer in the league. His 200 passes – in less than 3 games – are not only phenomenal but is 33 passes higher than his nearest peer, Darren Fletcher, and a staggering 60 passes higher than his nearest rival from another club, John Obi Mikel. It’s made more impressive when you consider these are 35 year old legs working in a 2 man midfield in a team everyone gives that extra 10% against.

United have made 994 passes as a team – unsurprisingly the most in the league – but Scholes’ contribution to over 1/5^th of those is quite simply astounding.

These stats merely flesh out the evidence of our own eyes; his raking pass that led to the opening goal at Wembley, his clever assists in the first league game, his trademark strike in the second , and his effortless brilliance in the routine victory over West Ham were more than evidence enough that this living legend has enough in the tank to make a substantial difference. Our average match rating for Scholes in August was 8.33. 

Goal of the Month 

Paul Scholes v Fulham

 We’ve seen it all before. The ball finds its way from a corner to Paul Scholes, 25 or 30 yards out, who duly pulverises it into the back of the goal. It’s a trick that he has been doing for over 10 years and a trick that no-one else worldwide can perform to a similar standard of consistency or brilliance. That he makes it look so effortless shouldn’t detract from how incredibly difficult the ability is; that he makes it look so effortless is yet another testament to his inherent class. 

Fantasy Football

“Little Pea Diddy” managed by Nick P are currently heading our Fantasy Football PrizePlay competition by virtue of being our highest placed eligible participant. Yolkie on the other hand is languishing rock bottom after making wholesale changes last week..

Tweet This Post

Former Manchester United defender David May recently chatted with Yolkie for the website. In case you missed part one of the interview, where he revealed his thoughts on Eric Cantona’s kung fu kick and opened his heart on the anguish of missing out of the Champions League Final in 1999, click here to catch up. Otherwise, to hear more from David and Yolkie chatting about United Nights – a superb event created by Maysie where supporters can not only meet their heroes but have a chat, photograph and beer with them – read on. David has also very kindly offered one Stretford-End.com reader an amazing opportunity, to get free entry to the next event, so to find out how you can enter our exclusive competition, read on.

United Nights was recently established by David and has proved so popular in it’s infancy that he is making it a regular event for this season. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet ex-Reds, have a photo with them, get autographs, but best of all listen to their stories and have a drink with them, an experience that you will never forget. The best thing about it, in my humble opinion, is as I mentioned to David; a chance for players and supporters to bond over past events and really feel like we were all part of the same cause – let’s face it, in the modern game, there’s a definite disillusion that sometimes exists between the average match going supporter and the average Premier League millionaire footballer.

You’ll find details of how to enter our exclusive competition at the foot of the article; for now, immerse yourself in Maysie’s typical humble attitude and find out more about how he came up with such a brilliant idea.

YOLKIE : David, you left the club in 2003 and despite a good season with Burnley you retired full time in 2006. Since then you’ve launched the hugely popular “United Nights”, nights out where United supporters get the chance to meet yourself and fellow cult heroes. Tell us a little more about this.

MAYSIE : I’ve thought about doing it for a while, and then somebody put it towards me when I was doing something for MUTV – because I was thinking about doing it myself, I just thought it was time to put it together. So that’s what we did. It’s an opportunity to meet in Manchester hopefully once a month before big games – the next one’s Liverpool, then next City, and hopefully sometime in December, depending how the Liverpool one goes. We’ll see if people enjoy it, they’ll get a chance to see what it’s all about. It is a good night out, all the people I’ve spoke to about the last one say what a brilliant night it was. Really, at the minute we’re just spreading the word. Letting people know and then they can see for themselves. It’s a good opportunity to meet all the players, Pete Boyle’s there to do all the songs. We’ve had people come from South Africa, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, all over the world, to interact with ex-United players. Get photographs, ask the players anything, everything’s off record, it’s just about enjoying yourself and having a good craic with the lads.

YOLKIE : The best thing about it from my opinion is no-one’s really done it before and by doing it now you’re sort of taking advantage of social media networking but to the benefit of the supporters, you’re literally taking the club and the history of which you’re a part and making that accessible, extending the clubs “United” philosophy in a way that’s sorely lacking from today’s out of reach millionaires (at all clubs, not just United). The supporters have a chance to really relive the same memories as the ex players and in doing so on such an informal basis it makes us feel more than ever that we contributed, too.

MAYSIE : Yeah – the thing is, Yolkie, for what it is – £20 – you get 25% off the bar, you get photographs taken, have a sing along, there’s food. What would you do the night before a game in Manchester? We hold it until about 11pm, when the venue turns into a nightclub and becomes a normal night out. It’s perfect.

YOLKIE : The website for United Nights explains that you have been around the world to meet Reds. What’s been your most memorable visit?

MAYSIE : China, Malaysia. Whenever I went to Malaysia with United it was great. Went to Hong Kong and there were like, six thousand people at the hotel! We were getting chased on motorbikes, in taxis, it was great stuff! You just think it’s unbelievable, on the other side of the world, and yet there may be a thousand or fifteen hundred people in the foyer wanting to go and pretty much do what we’re doing now with United Nights, just meet the players.

YOLKIE : Yeah, I guess it was like the Beatles treatment when you visited places that really idolised the Premier League from afar. Wearing the United shirt.

MAYSIE : It’s weird, even when you watch these obscure Ross Kemp style programmes, and randomly you see the odd United fan walking down the road. Until you’re actually at the club you don’t realise how big it is.

YOLKIE : Another of my Twitter followers, Phil, said you were at the supporters branch in Malta last year and wondered if you had a good time? I understand you were “partying like it was 1999”!

MAYSIE : I enjoyed all the craic with the lads, I can talk with anyone really. Chat about football, about anything. The main thing is that you respect whoever’s talking to you and that you don’t fob them off, you see a lot of players now who don’t have the time of day to speak to anybody. That’s part of why we set up United Nights – okay, at the minute it’s mainly players from the 80s and early 90’s but at the end of the day they’re players who played for United and they’re all good lads who will tell you stories about whatever you want to hear – for example, the stuff you and I have talked about down at Selhurst Park and the trouble that happened down there. The stories that people want to hear and so are interesting and make for a really great night for everyone, and a great opportunity for us to get it over to the fans.

YOLKIE : Yeah. And don’t forget these are players we’ve grown up watching, so we idolise them from whatever era. Even if, say, a Robson or Cantona isn’t in attendance, you have all the stories that a Robson or Cantona would have. No United fan looks down on any of the players anyway or treats our former players with derision so the fact you’re doing United Nights is an amazing thing. The people I’ve spoken to about it think it’s great, too. Having talked to the Stretford-End.com team before this interview we were in full agreement with that.

MAYSIE : We’re all easy going; if anyone wants to chat to me about my time at United I’m more than happy to do that, it’s just about giving something back to the supporters in a nice way.

YOLKIE : What are your plans for the future with United Nights?

MAYSIE : Hopefully, we’ve got two or three things in the pipelines to take United Nights to Norway, Denmark, Ireland… you just know if the fans turn up they’re gonna have a great night. It’s not like we’re doing it every week, it’s a special occasion, for big games to get a good crowd and a good atmosphere and hopefully a good result the next day.

YOLKIE : Just one more.. I’ve got plans of opening a bar in Orlando one day. Any chance of me getting United Nights out there too?

MAYSIE : I’m sure you could mate, I’m sure you could!

—

It was a pleasure talking to David and the thing that struck me most was his utter humility and passion for the club. An everyday guy who fell in love with United, despite being raised as a City fan, and played his heart out for the club. It’s easy to see why he’s still revered on the terraces.

David has graciously offered a Stretford-End.com reader the opportunity to get a free ticket to the next United Nights event, at the Walkabout in Manchester, just off Deansgate, which will be held on the Saturday evening before the Liverpool game.

Just answer the following question in the comments section and include an email address you want us to contact you on – we will select the winner at random and announce it on our Monday 6th September Stretty Stories blog.

Question : Against which club did David May score his first competitive goal for Manchester United?

To find out more, go to the official United Nights website , like United Nights on Facebook or follow United Nights on Twitter.

You can follow me on Twitter, too.

Tweet This Post

With the new Premier League rules now in effect, Sir Alex has named his 25-man squad for the Premier League this season. United registered 24 players including long-term absentee Owen Hargreaves. The gaffer cannot make any changes to the squad until January when the winter transfer window opens. None of these should come as a surprise, but let’s introduce our squad…

Homegrown: Neville, Rio, Brown, Owen, Rooney, Giggs, Carrick, Scholes, O’Shea, Evans, Fletcher, Gibson, and De Laet

Other: Van der Sar, Evra, Hargreaves, Anderson, Berbatov, Park, Chicharito, Vidic, Nani, Valencia, and Kuszczak

U-21s: Smalling, Fabio, Rafael, Obertan, Macheda, Bebe, and Amos

Discuss the 25-man squad in the forum.

You can follow Kyle on Twitter at KDill_MUFC.

Tweet This Post

The transfer window has finally closed! That should mean that news should slow down, but let’s recap all the news following deadline day. Van der Sar admits he has no intentions of retiring and The Daily Mail rates clubs’ transfers.

Van der Sar still has no plans to retire – The Daily Telegraph

Always good news. Just when I think one of our aging stars is in his last season, they somehow manage to prove me wrong. I thought this may be Scholes’ last season, but he’s been in miraculous form. Now Edwin van der Sar is moving to quash rumors of his impending retirement. The Dutch goalkeeper has already surpassed his expectations for how long his career would last, and now he thinks he has more to give to Manchester United. Van der Sar has proved ever-reliable between the posts, and I am certainly glad to hear the end is not yet in his sights.

Club-by-club verdict of the transfer window – The Daily Mail

This article analyzes all 20 clubs’ transfer dealings this summer, but I’m only going to focus on Manchester United. The Daily Mail has classified Javier Hernandez as our best deal, while stating they’re sorry to see Ben Foster go. I would actually agree with The Daily Mail for the first time in my life. Javier Hernandez is obviously incredible value. He’s already showing his ability and we managed to get him for cheap when he was still an unknown thanks to our scouting team. Meanwhile, Foster was widely believed to have a lot of potential, but this summer he departed from Old Trafford. I think from what he showed last season while deputizing for van der Sar, I don’t think he was ever going to be first-choice material at Old Trafford. I think, in the end, we had a very successful transfer window.

Quote of the Day: This one come from my roommate freshman year. He is a Manchester City supporter, and this is what he said about Robinho’s departure to AC Milan: “It’s like curing cancer!”

Discuss all today’s news and rumors in the forum.

You can follow Kyle on Twitter at KDill_MUFC.

Tweet This Post

First Sir Alex planned to send Tom Cleverley on loan to a Premier League team, but then backtracked saying that Cleverley could be valuable to the squad as a goalscoring midfielder. However, Fergie backtracked once more on deadline day, and Cleverley will now ply his trade at the DW Stadium for the remainder of the 2010/11 season.

Personally, I’m quite upset by this move. I agree that he will get far more Premier League experience at Wigan than at United, but at Old Trafford he still could’ve contributed and would’ve been under the guidance for Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. There is no one at Wigan that help him the way our two midfield legends can. He looked fantastic in preseason and he hadn’t even been given a chance yet this season to prove himself; though, with Scholes and Fletcher in the form they’re in, it would be hard for anyone to break into this side.

I also worry that, like many United youngsters before him, he’ll go out on loan and may never come back. I haven’t been this excited about one of our youngsters in years. I’m afraid he could end up like Guiseppe Rossi or Kieran Richardson; a reserve player who went out on loan and never had a chance at a career at Old Trafford. Hopefully, Cleverley will get his chance.

While this will be a good move for Cleverley as he gains valuable playing experience, I think Wigan may be the party that benefits most. Honestly, Wigan have looked poor early this season. A talent like Cleverley may be the difference between them and relegation this season.

In the end, I think Cleverley will benefit from the experience, but I was so excited to see him contributing at Old Trafford this season. I think he still has a very bright future with United ahead of him, I’m just disappointed he couldn’t start his United career this season.

Discuss Cleverley’s loan deal in the forum.

You can follow Kyle on Twitter at KDill_MUFC.

Tweet This Post

Today is an extra special day for Stretty Stories – it’s the final day of the transfer window! After today, the rumors and speculation can lay low until January comes around. It seems as though they’ve started early as the only story is about whether Owen Hargreaves will make Sir Alex’s 25-man squad for the Premier League.

The news may be slow now, but I wouldn’t be shocked if something develops later today. Keep checking the site and our Twitter accounts for any breaking news! And now for the obvious deadline day poll…

Reserves and Academy Player Profiles

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Stretford-End.com’s newest feature – Reserves and Academy players profiles. Doron will regularly be posting a profile of one of United’s youngsters, and his first subject is our Reserves captain – Magnus Eikrem. I like to think that our future is already at Old Trafford, and players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are living proof. Make the cut as a youngster and you’ll get a chance in the first team. It’s always more exciting to see a player rise through the ranks than to sign a big name; at least it is for me. Make sure to check this out and be on the lookout for more profiles in the coming weeks!

Ferguson in dilemma over Hargreaves – The Daily Telegraph

The day when Owen Hargreaves learns his fate will quickly be upon us. When the transfer window shuts, Sir Alex will have to declare which 25 players he has included in his squad for the Premier League. There has been a lot of doubt surrounding whether or not Hargreaves would be included in the 25, but honestly I don’t see why it’s an issue at all. As far as I can tell United has plenty of room to include Hargreaves; including Hargreaves there is only 24 players that need to be registered. The only way this should become a dilemma is if United make any moves in the transfer market tomorrow. So assuming David Gill was completely honest when he said they were done buying this summer, I don’t see why selecting Hargreaves is an issue at all. Seems pretty simple to me. Select him and if he gets fit, he can play in the squad. If not, no big deal; there was no one else in the team who would’ve used the spot anyways.

Discuss all today’s news and rumors in the forum.

You can follow Kyle on Twitter at KDill_MUFC.

Tweet This Post

When I joined Stretford-End.com I wanted to be able to add something that reflects one of my particular interests – the Reserves and Academy. Already on the forum our Reserves and Academy section has been busier but I wanted to take my passion to a wider audience. If you follow me on Twitter you will know I want to try to get as many Reds as possible interested in what goes on beyond the first team at our club. Regular visitors to Stretford-End.com will know that we’ve always championed development from within so I want to make it a regular habit to introduce some of our youngsters every few weeks, starting with the Reserve team captain, Magnus Eikrem…

Name – Magnus Eikrem

Age – 20 (8/8/1990)
Nationality – Norwegian (born in Molde)

Squad number – 42

Background – Eikrem is famed for being one of the first players to be spotted at the Ole Gunner Solskjaer soccer school. He joined United in the summer of 2006 from hometown team, FK Molde.

Position – At present Magnus is usually deployed in central midfield. He either sits deep and controls games in the ‘quarterback’ position associated with Scholes today; or he sits higher up behind the strikers. When he first joined he was often used wide, although he’s not the fastest player he puts in an excellent cross. However he was given a more permanent role in the middle of the Reserve team from the start of the 09/10 season onwards. His current role is very much as the playmaker, he’s the go-to man, similar to Scholes in the first team – all the moves go through him.

Strengths – He is a superb user of the ball with a fantastic passing range. Never fazed by bigger opponents, he likes to play the ball early and always has his head up. As a result, he has superb vision, one of the few young players I’ve seen with a good peripheral vision. Magnus seems to find space easily – dropping into gaps in front of the back four or behind the strikers, he therefore causes problems for the opposition as he’s so hard to pick up. He’s very creative without being flashy, he does the simple things very well and rarely attempts unnecessary skills – he only uses them when he feels they’re required. I find that restraint impressive, too often young players attempt skills because they can do them rather than because they are needed – it certainly took both Ronaldo and Nani a while to learn the art of using a skill to your advantage rather than all the time. His free kick taking is an attribute that he’s been good at ever since he joined, and he’s often rewarded with quite a few goals and assists from set pieces.

Weaknesses – Magnus is yet to bulk up, he can hold his own but I’m worried he’s still a bit lightweight. This may come down the the fact that he seems to be injury prone. He’s been unfortunate to have picked up some bad injuries, although the majority have been growth related so hopefully he’s over them now. He works hard for the team but he sometimes shirks his defensive duties, he needs to improve on his tackling and marking.

Player comparison – Luka Modric

Present – Last year started with a new long-term contract worth £6,000 a week for Magnus, underlining how he’s viewed from inside the club. Following his nomination for the Denzel Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award at the end of the 09/10 season, I was surprised that he wasn’t included on the clubs pre-season tour of the US this summer. However, Magnus has taken his excellent form into this campaign and has been made the Reserve team captain. Against Manchester City in the Manchester Senior Cup recently he captained the likes of Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Michael Carrick and Anderson.

Bizarre fact – Eikrem was diagnosed with Diabetes at the end of his first season with United. Should he go on to play for the first team he will be the first diabetic to do so.

Video evidence:

Prediction – He was named amongst the substitutes for Wolfsburg away last year which is a sign that he’s not being ignored however I feel he needs a loan move to the Football League so that he experiences ‘tougher’ football. He’s already completed one full season at reserve level and whilst I accept he is playing a bit of catch-up due to time missed through injuries, I feel he’s already too good for Reserve football. The problem is that the nature of football today is that if a player hits 20 and hasn’t ‘made it’ they’re considered not good enough. Magnus clearly has lots of talent but I worry that he won’t get a proper chance at United right now. If he doesn’t go out on loan then hopefully he’ll be involved in the Carling Cup squads. I would imagine that a loan move in January may be the likely option if Magnus proves he can get through till then without an injury. In the longer term, Ferguson has always hinted that the club may recruit from outside to replace Scholes but I think this lad could be the real deal.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter

Tweet This Post

Piers, often you use your column as a source to vent your animosity towards United and Sir Alex. Most people understand where it comes from, an unshakeable shadow of jealousy that darkens your path and clouds your vision.

I was wondering how on earth you can, in this example, class Ferguson as a “bully” who is “getting away with it again”? The man is making a stand against a programme that attacked a member of his family. Who’s the one doing the bullying? The man is getting fined every time he makes the conscious stand to continue to defend his family because it’s the principle of it and not the time passed that is important to Ferguson. How is that getting away with it?

The “new Premier League rules” were created because Ferguson refuses to talk to the BBC. Rules created with the sole purpose of financially punishing one person who is exercising his HUMAN RIGHT to NOT speak to someone who he chooses, yet you’re calling Ferguson the bully simply because he manages a team that play better football and win more shiny things than the one who you support.

Your laughable belief that “calling his bluff” will see him back down is naïve – isn’t the mere introduction of the fine an attempt to do exactly that? Isn’t it commendable that he didn’t suddenly “surrender” the right to defend his family even though he knew he would be fined (I suspect if he had ‘backed down’ you would have spent a column criticising him for that, too)?

So, Fergie should be “fined millions” for his heinous act of exercising the luxury of speaking to whom he chooses, and Manchester United games should no longer be aired on television! Good plan, Piers. I’m not sure you’ve really thought it through though.

As it stands there’s only a moral obligation for United to concur with the other 19 clubs for the television rights for the Premier League. Force the club to negotiate their own TV rights, and then watch as United’s money concerns disappear and the rest of the league struggle to cope. When the biggest audiences for the Premier League are named; when worldwide records are broken, who are the teams who will be playing? Will it be Arsenal v Liverpool? No, it won’t. Will it be Arsenal v Chelsea? No, it won’t. Will people in the USA be waking up in their hundreds of thousands at 4.30am to watch Arsenal play Manchester City? Answer honestly please.

So, ask yourself this, when interest in Arsenal begins to drop as more supporters are forced to choose to watch only United because of the misdirected anger and jealousy of people like yourself, and when the major sponsors ditch your club because nobody wants to actually pay to watch or be associated with a team they don’t support beat Blackpool but get battered by Chelsea and United, will it be worth it for you? If the television rights for the Premier League are currently worth £1.5bn to £2bn who do you think will get the majority of that? All the teenager poaching in the world won’t help Arsenal then, will it?

Be careful what you wish for, Piers. I’d look forward to your columns subsequent to such an event “United buy their way to success”, “United bullying clubs with their financial power”, and every week I’d write to you to remind you that this was what you wanted all along.

I’ve included this mail on the United website www.stretford-end.com – I’ll be sure to write to the Mail demanding you be fined if you don’t reply..

Yolkie

Tweet This Post

As the transfer window comes to a close, typically you would expect news and rumors surrounding United to increase, but it’s actually gone fairly quiet as we enter the final days. Sadly, it means the frequency of Stretty Stories will likely decrease as well. As the window shuts and rumors go quiet, the news will inevitably slow. You can always count on Stretty Stories to bring you all of the news as it happens though.

Today, I’d especially like to point you in the direction of Yolkie’s exclusive interview with David May. Meanwhile, the press heaps praise on Nani and United are linked with a late move for an Everton starlet.

David May Exclusive Interview: Part One

In case you haven’t read it yet, I wanted to inform you about Stretford-End.com’s exclusive interview with cult hero David May! Our very own Yolkie interviewed the former Red Devil and published part one of the interview on the Stretty Rant yesterday. You must check it out. My girlfriend, still in the early month of being a United fan, had no idea who David May was, yet was completely captivated while reading this piece. It’s that good! Simply a must read.

Nani finally fills the void left by Ronaldo – The Daily Mail

At first I was upset to see the press comparing Nani to him compatriot, but as I read the article I realized that wasn’t their intention. Nani is his own player, they weren’t trying to compare him to Ronaldo, rather say the he has helped fill his shoes. Nani is never going to be Ronaldo, but he can help create chances, something I think United struggled with after Ronaldo’s departure. Nani’s crossing still needs a bit of work, but his build up play has improved dramatically. He is starting to run at defenses and make intelligent runs. While Valenica is more of a traditional winger hugging the touchline and swinging in crosses, Nani cuts in more often, which is crucial. It gives us different types of threats on the wings and can help take some of the burden off Rooney if we have a winger who can score as Nani did on Saturday. I’m pleased with his development and looking forward to seeing him continue to progress.

United target £10m Rodwell – The Sun

I really like what I’ve seen of Jack Rodwell, but not enough that I’d be willing to comment on whether or not I think he’d be a great signing. If The Sun is to be believed though, it seems Sir Alex thinks the Under-21 would be a valuable asset to our squad. Everton would like to hang on to their starlet, but The Sun believes United will offer them a deal too good to refuse. Sir Alex is willing to part with Michael Carrick and £10m in exchange for the promising young midfielder. I honestly just can’t see this becoming reality. Despite only using him in one substitute appearance this season, Sir Alex has seemingly continued to give Carrick his backing. I also believe that Carrick will bounce back from last season’s disappointing form. However, with Owen Hargreaves future becoming more unsure with each passing day, a defensive-oriented midfielder might not be such a bad signing. At the end of the day, though, I’d be very shocked to see this deal happen.

Discuss all today’s news and rumors in the forum.

You can follow Kyle on Twitter at KDill_MUFC.

Tweet This Post