Man Utd boss Ferguson: Hutton can be superstar

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Rangers fullback Alan Hutton can become a future "superstar".

Hutton is being linked with a move to United and Ferguson, reflecting on Scotland's defeat to Italy on the weekend, admits he's a big fan of the 22 year-old.

"Hutton was exceptional," said Ferguson in The Daily Telegraph. "He has come from nowhere and looks as though he will become a superstar once he gets that little extra bit of experience."

Source: http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=66032

Youth inspires Giggs

Ryan Giggs says he feels invigorated by the promising young talent around him at Old Trafford.

The influx of Anderson, Nani, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez this season has added strength and depth to an already ultra-talented squad. Paired with the experience of United's longstanding servants like Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, Sir Alex Ferguson believes this is the best squad during his 21 years at Old Trafford.

Giggs is certainly excited by the current set-up and says the youthful exuberance within the squad has given him a new lease of life.

"When you come into training and you’re up against young, quality players it’s a test every day," he told ManUtd.com. "That only helps to bring your game on. There’s so much enthusiasm amongst the lads and it’s a great place to be at the moment.

"The new lads have all bedded in really well and very quickly, bringing something new to the team already this season. Nani with his spectacular goals and celebrations, while Anderson has shown what a top player he is with some fantastic performances.

"We knew all about Owen’s [Hargreaves] qualities and he’s produced those every time he’s played and Carlos [Tevez] has brought that extra dimension to our attacking play.

"They’ve also added something different to the dressing room which is great. There is certainly a lot more Spanish and Portuguese being spoken! They’re all very enthusiastic and the team spirit is as good as ever."

Source : http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BF9E570E6%2D407E%2D44BC%2D800F%2D4A3110258114%7D&newsid=509106

Ferguson dealing in Man Utd foursome

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to deal in four of his defensive stars.



The Mirror says Wes Brown, out of contract at the end of the season, is expected to sign a three-year contract worth £50,000-a-week in the next few days. He has been right-back this season in place of the injured Gary Neville and can talk to other clubs from January 1 unless United move fast.

Left-back Patrice Evra will renegotiate the deal that brought him to United almost two years, while John O'Shea was offered an improved contract.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will agree a 12-month extension until the end of next season.

Source: http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=65880

Ronaldo backs Queiroz as next Man Utd manager

Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo is backing assistant manager Carlos Queiroz to eventually succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

"I have a great relationship with Carlos and I know all the squad like him," said Ronaldo.

"Sir Alex has been at the club for 21 years. It will be very hard to replace him on many levels."

Source: http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=65861

Rooney is on course for shock comeback

Wayne Rooney is set to return to training just 11 days after damaging his ankle.

The England striker was initially ruled out for four weeks after suffering an ankle injury in a freak training-ground accident prior to United's Premier League win over Blackburn.

However, it is thought that Rooney could now return for Manchester United's Champions League tie against Sporting Lisbon next Tuesday.

Ferguson has problems up front anyway, with Carlos Tevez not due back to training until Friday after completing Argentina's World Cup qualifier in Colombia.

In addition, while Louis Saha was able to start in Rooney's absence in the win over Blackburn, his fitness is so fragile Ferguson will not want to be over-reliant on the Frenchman.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=495133&in_page_id=1779&ct=5

Man Utd boss Ferguson: Ronaldo worthy of Ballon d'Or

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Cristiano Ronaldo would be a worthy Ballon d'Or winner.



"Someday I would like to be voted the best in the world, but it is not an obsession," said Ronaldo. "That's not what drives me.

"During the past few months I have heard it mentioned. For me, that nomination would be a dream come true. But I don't think about it when I get up every day for training.

"Whatever has to happen will happen naturally. If Manchester United are doing well, I will do well. The greater the success of United, the greater the success of each of their players.

"More than any individual title is the feeling my work is appreciated. If, one day, one of these awards is destined for me, it will be welcome and I will be there to receive it."

Ferguson says Ronaldo would be a worthy winner. "The season Ronaldo had was unbelievable stuff," said Fergie.

"Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best all won the European Footballer of the Year award, which was unique coming from one club.

"If any of our lads achieved that, it would be fantastic for us as a football club. Ronaldo is a match-winner, like Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez."

Source: http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=65858

Hargreaves tops fan poll

Owen Hargreaves may have been limited to half a dozen appearances since his summer arrival from Bayern Munich, but he has already made a huge impression on Reds supporters.



In a Fanzone poll, we asked ManUtd.com readers which summer signing had impressed you most, and Hargreaves came out on top, although Carlos Tevez wasn't far behind.

Tendonitis in his knee has sidelined the 26-year-old for much of the season, but his effervescence and excellent distribution have been a breath of fresh air in the midfield engine room.

He polled 37 per cent of the overall votes in our poll. Tevez, who has also settled remarkably well and has already established an impressive partnership with Wayne Rooney, finished in second place with 32 per cent of the votes.

Anderson and Nani, Sir Alex Ferguson's other summer purchases, have both played more football than they would have expected this term. But both players have proved instantly capable of playing in the United first team as well showing plenty of potential to improve even further.

Nani provides a viable alternative to Ryan Giggs or Cristiano Ronaldo on either flank, while 19-year-old Anderson has - perhaps surprisingly - given his boss a selection problem in central midfield with performances that belie his age.

Source: http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BF9E570E6%2D407E%2D44BC%2D800F%2D4A3110258114%7D&newsid=508863

Evra is season's star

Forget Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrice Evra has been United's outstanding performer so far this season, according to MUTV pundit Paddy Crerand.

The Reds legend and former European Cup winner insists Evra has been “absolutely fantastic” this term, particularly because of his instinct to attack down the left flank.

Many United fans would agree, and on current form it could be reasonably argued that the Frenchman is the best left-back Premiership.

"I would say without question he’s been the man of the season so far, he’s been absolutely outstanding," Crerand told MUTV. "I don’t think anybody can have an argument about that. But if they do, I’ll argue with them!

"He’s got all the qualities, particularly at Old Trafford because United are invariably the attacking team. He plays up and down that left side and has been fantastic doing it.”

Having arrived almost two years ago for a reported fee around £5.5million, Evra has proved an excellent capture and already seen off the competition of Gabriel Heinze. It may have taken him time to bed in to the English style of play, but the patience, Crerand feels, has paid off.

"He’s another one who, like Nemanja Vidic, needed a little bit of time to settle,” he added.

“I think there’s more pressure at this club on players than there is at any other club because you’ve got a worldwide audience staring at you and they expect you to go on the pitch and be a star straightaway.

“But it takes time. You have to get to know the players you’re playing with and they have to get to know you.

"I believe Patrice is a very popular person with the rest of the squad, but I think being a good player helps to make you popular, and he’s been exactly that for us this season.”

Source: http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=508860&page=2

Deco fears Barcelona's dream could be ended by resurgent United

Barcelona's Deco has picked out Manchester United as one of the main threats on the road to the Champions League final.

"United are strong," he told Champions magazine of the UEFA Champions League."They have improved since last season with their new signings."

He also named Milan and Real Madrid as rivals of Barcelona. "Milan are always the same. They seem dead in the water, seem to be playing badly but in the final stages they become too strong. And Real Madrid signed pretty wisely in the summer."

Deco, 29, added: "I am curious about Arsenal, to see if they can keep going until the end of the season. And we have to see what is to be of Chelsea."

The midfielder, who won his first Champions League title in Jose Mourinho's Porto side in 2004 said: "Mourinho makes his players better. I have only good things to say about him. Let's wait and see at the end of the season how much Chelsea miss him."

Deco says he is committed to Barca despite summer speculation about his future. "They told me that I was part of the project and they didn't want me to leave. I had to take their word, didn't I?

"However, the time of every player at any club always comes to an end. Always. i have a contract until 2010 and my intention is to stay here. But, if the club is not satisfied with me, we will go our separate ways. that is normal, it is part of football."

Fighting for a place in the attack are Messi, Eto'o, Thierry Henry and two pearls from the club's academy Giovani Dos Santos and Spaniard Bojan Krkic, who has Serbian roots.

He added: "We have some new players this year, but the structure of the team hasn't changed. We will all suffer a lot of pressure throughout the season, and Rijkaard will suffer from it above all - the coach is always in the spotlight. The group of players is bigger, and the main difficulty will be keeping everybody calm and satisfied."

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=494953&in_page_id=1779&ct=5

Reds fans in SOS to Whitehall

A Manchester United fans' group has written to Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe demanding intervention to halt the spiralling cost of Premier League tickets.

Sutcliffe, a United fan, hit the headlines last month, and irked Sir Alex Ferguson when he condemned the cost of admission to Old Trafford and claimed many lifelong fans were being priced out.

Ferguson responded by telling Sutcliffe to go and watch FC United, the Unibond League outfit set up by disgruntled Reds fans in protest both at Malcolm Glazer's controversial takeover and increasing prices.

It was also pointed out to Sutcliffe by the United boss that London duo Chelsea and Arsenal are among the clubs who charge substantially more than his own.

However, the Manchester United Supporters Trust the group formerly known as Shareholders United, have sent an open letter, pleading with Sutcliffe to intervene.

"We believe the time has come for the Government to intervene over ticket prices," said MUST chief executive Duncan Drasdo.

"Club owners have been given ample time to put their own house in order and bring prices under control and yet price increases have actually accelerated to unprecedented levels.

"This has created hardship for many long-term supporters (as well as potential new fans) who have given loyalty to their club for so many years only to be rewarded with an ultimatum to pay up or be replaced by someone else who can.

"We understand that the Government sees intervention as the last resort but we believe that the case for such intervention is now overwhelming.

Source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1024851_reds_fans_in_sos_to_whitehall?rss=yes