Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[qbdp]

Refs too protective, says Vidic

UNITED hard man Nemanja Vidic has just one complaint about English football - it's not rough enough!

The Serbian defender has bucked the trend for foreign players coming to play in the Premiership, as they normally say it takes them a while to adapt to the physical nature of our game.

Vidic says what he's found hardest to deal with after joining United from Russian club Spartak Moscow is over-protective referees who whistle for fouls at the slightest contact.

"When I came here I found you play a different style," said the 6ft 1ins stopper, who previously played for Red Star Belgrade in his native land.

"The referees here don't allow strong games, so you have to be more patient.

"When a player gets a small touch, a referee will give a foul, so being patient is more important than being strong."

Bench

The man who Vidic is keeping out of the side, Wes Brown, says it is time for players on the fringes of the team to make their mark on the season.

The Longsight-born defender admits that there are some weary limbs in the United camp as the Treble chase nears its climax.

He said "It gets pretty tiring at this stage of the season, and I am sure the gaffer will make a few changes here and there.

"But we have other players, like myself, who can step in and do just as good a job. It's our time to fill their boots.

"Everyone wants to play so you are raring to go when you get picked. It would be better to play more regularly, but sometimes it doesn't happen like that."

[qbdp]

Fergie confident over key duo

SIR Alex Ferguson is backing Wayne Rooney to fire Manchester United towards Premiership glory.

With Henrik Larsson back in Sweden, Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both on the injured list and Alan Smith still to make a league start this term, Rooney is the Reds' only fully fit striker for the Old Trafford encounter with Bolton.

A subdued force for much of the campaign, certainly in comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney has recently showed encouraging signs of a return to top form.

The England star broke a seven-game barren sequence with his goal at Middlesbrough last weekend, then added another two in the UEFA charity game in midweek.

And, with a few impressive performances on the training ground behind him as well, Ferguson has no doubts over Rooney's ability to spearhead the league leaders' attack.

"Wayne is like everyone else who scores goals, he wants to score all the time," said Ferguson.

"That is their mantra. They feel scoring is the most important thing. There is nothing wrong with that.

"He doesn't get down and he doesn't dwell on things because he is such a bubbly character. But I have seen his confidence coming back.

"He has been alive in training and I am sure he won't be worried about being our only striker."

Ronaldo's Negotiations

Meanwhile, Ferguson has insisted there is no desperate need for United to rush through contract negotiations with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Despite reported interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, United are confident of tying Ronaldo down to a lucrative contract extension which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2012.

“The great thing is we have got Cristiano until 2010 so there is not a desperation,” said Ferguson.

“It is an amicable arrangement in terms of us saying to him we wanted him to sign a new contract.

“We spoke to his agent, they were happy about that. The boy is happy. Now we are in the final phase of trying to conclude a deal which will see the boy sign for another two years until 2012.”

Since arriving at United in a £12million switch from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, Ronaldo has established himself as one of the best players in the world.

One of the favourites for this season’s player of the year awards, Ronaldo scored his 17th goal of the campaign in last weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough and will be one of Ferguson’s key men over the next 72 hours as United tackle Bolton in the Premiership before welcoming Boro in a replay which will see the winners book a semi-final meeting with Watford.

“There is no question Cristiano is at the right club,” said Ferguson.

“It has been a pleasure seeing him develop over the last few years.

“He is 22 now and there has never been a time when he has not enjoyed it.”

[qbdp]

DOUBLE FOR UNITED

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and veteran winger Ryan Giggs have been named Barclays Premiership manager and player of the month for February.

The Red Devils maintained their stranglehold on the Premiership title race before Chelsea closed the gap to six points this week.

Ferguson's side won all three of their Premiership fixtures last month.

Both the Scottish boss and his long-serving midfielder picked up the awards in August following United's sublime start to the season.

Wales captain Giggs scored in the 4-0 win at Tottenham and also the win at Fulham in Fulham.

The latest awards are the first time in 10 years a player and manager from the same club have collected both awards twice in a season. Roy Evans and Robbie Fowler were handed the accolades twice in the 1995-96 season.

The decision was made by the Barclays awards panel comprising representatives from the governing bodies, media and fans.

[yinyang]

English giants enter youth event

Premiership sides Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal have signed up to play in the inaugural Champions Youth Cup in Malaysia this August.
In total, 14 of Europe's top clubs will send their Under 19 sides to Kuala Lumpur for the two-week tournament.

Thomas Kurth, a spokesman of European clubs organisation G-14, said: "The sides want international competition to develop their young talents.

"They also want to give something back to the communities that support them."

[qbdp]

Ronnie is a stayer (source The Sun)

CRISTIANO RONALDO will sign a massive £28million deal with Manchester United.

The wing wizard expects to tie up the five-year, £110,000-a- week contract in the next month.

Spanish giants Real Madrid have finally called off their chase for the Portuguese star.

A senior Madrid source admitted: “Everything possible has been exhausted and Ronaldo will stay at United.

"They have made their intention to keep him very clear.”

Madrid made a final attempt to prise Ronaldo, 22, from Old Trafford this week.

But it is believed the Premiership leaders made it very plain to both Real and the player that he would not be allowed to leave under any circumstances, even if he requested a move.

Ronaldo is in stunning form this season, has hit 17 goals for his club and is one of the favourites to be named Footballer of the Year.

He expects his new bumper contract will reflect his status as one of world football’s rising stars and it should be completed in the next three or four weeks.

United boss Alex Ferguson is believed to have played a big part in persuading Ronnie he can fulfil all of his footballing ambitions at Old Trafford.

[dom01]

Wha.. glad he is staying...
Saha, shld really be going....

But what abt nani?

[spidermel]

Halo to all MU bros... hope MU will perform well tonite... EPL championship crown on the way to MU... cheers!!!...

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by dom01

Saha, shld really be going....

Dear bro dom01

Thank you for joining the Anti Saha Fan Club.

Your membership card and freebies (dart board & toilet paper - with Saha's face on them) are on their way to you in the post.

On behalf of Club Chairman, bro Mafan.

[gaia]

I hope SAF will still try to get Nani to old trafford even if ronaldo stays....before chelski snaps him....

[Mafan]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Dear bro dom01

Thank you for joining the Anti Saha Fan Club.

Your membership card and freebies (dart board & toilet paper - with Saha's face on them) are on their way to you in the post.

On behalf of Club Chairman, bro Mafan.

hey bro when did i took the job of anti saha chairman ? im just a passer-by. my new hate richardson.

[dom01]

I think simth plays better than saha, despite out of action for so long.

That flick for rooney, swee man!

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by Mafan

hey bro when did i took the job of anti saha chairman ? im just a passer-by. my new hate richardson.

Paiseh...paiseh...I thought you will be interested since bros imom and yinyang said you qualify.

New hate? Ya, that Richardson.........really cant find anything nice to say about him except maybe nice football boots.

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by dom01

But what abt nani?

Originally Posted by gaia

I hope SAF will still try to get Nani to old trafford even if ronaldo stays....before chelski snaps him....

So far the news on Nani are just rumours and nothing concrete. He does look exciting though.

Originally Posted by dom01

I think simth plays better than saha, despite out of action for so long.

That flick for rooney, swee man!

I feel Smith plays his simple and unselfish football. He looks smarter than Saha as well.

[Castrol]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Bro...come to think of it, you are the only non-Utd fan in SBF who likes and is fond of a Utd player. A rarity, indeed. You deserve a toast.

haha cheers bro, soccer may be a passion but you wont see any prejudice from me. man utd really deserves the epl title now - gary speed will agree to that. and alan smith is back to show how versatile he is.

[Mafan]

Originally Posted by qbdp

I feel Smith plays his simple and unselfish football. He looks smarter than Saha as well.

and more yao dao also just that alex put him in wrong place middle will never be his home.