A mixed week at Old Trafford has seen the obligatory transfer link with Benzema while David Gill has reassured supporters that Fergie has £95m to spend should he so wish this summer. Elsewhere the Glazers have insisted that they won’t be tempted to sell at any price, while Ben Foster criticises United supporters for causing a distraction with their protests.
This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag of Man United blogs which has included…Criticisms of United fans unwise; Marveaux should welcome United move and in defence of Michael Carrick.
Plus we have taken a look at the best Man United stories on the Web this week.
Fergie’s comments give United cause for concern
Manchester United Youngsters – End of Season Reports
Criticism of United fans is unwise, especially when they pay his wages
Marveaux should welcome a move to Chelsea or United, not dismiss it
Rooney – the man who the hopes of 50 MILLION people rest on
Michael Carrick: faltering or already failed?
UEFA’s financial fair play ruling is anything but fair play
In DEFENCE of Michael Carrick
If the PL BIG Four were musical artists…
Top TEN Scapegoats in the Premier League
Drogba, Rooney, Torres…The changing ways of the centre forward
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Best of Web
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Solving the enigma that is Dimitar Berbatov – The Busby Way
Anatomy of a bid – United Rant
INTERVIEW: New Sponsors Aon Speak About Glazers, Debt and “The Brand” – RoM
Analysts say Manchester United must sell players to pay debts – Guardian
Is Jose Mourinho about to scupper Fergie’s plans? – A Kick In The Grass
Q3 Results – first thoughts and update post analysts’ call – The Andersred Blog
Rumours have been circling that Tottenham are willing to make a bid worth around £30 million for Palermo pair Edinson Cavani and Simon Kjaer. Focusing on Cavani in particular, could the Uruguayan solve a problem for Harry Redknapp in the forward position at White Hart Lane?
On any potential deal Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini said:
“Tottenham have bid €35m, an offer we cannot refuse, seeing as the two players have both said they want to leave.”
(Sky Italia)
Many fans have argued that with Champions League football in the offing that the Lilywhites must invest in a top quality striker as Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko are not the most prolific bunch. Of course Defoe scored 18 Premier League goals last season, but five of those were in the same game and he could probably benefit from a top quality strike partner.
However, although Cavani has impressed for Uruguay in the World Cup he is mostly there to supplement the goal scoring talents of Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan (another reported Tottenham target).
Last season the 23-year-old Uruguayan played 34 games in the Italian Serie A for Palermo and scored 13 goals.
Redknapp is desperate to boost his playing squad ahead of his first ever Champions League football campaign and may see Cavani as a player who is ideal for both the UEFA competition and Premier League as he is fairly physically imposing figure standing at 188cm (6 ft 2 inches) tall. Cavani is also young, so has plenty of time to improve on his game and find his vital goal scoring touch.
Other reports suggest the Cavani may shun the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City as he hopes to become the ‘Wayne Rooney of Inter Milan’.
He certainly rates his own ability and believes he is just what any team needs as he is fairly versatile:
“Today I am a striker who can adapt to different roles. Put it this way, I would like to become the Wayne Rooney of Inter Milan. I want to be a striker who can play many roles.”
Despite the rumours the north London club have denied the link, but the Palermo President’s comments must have some weight to them. At the very least it shows that Zamparini is willing to sell.
Do Tottenham fans believe Cavani can have a major impact at White Hart Lane? Surely £28 for both Cavani and Kjaer would be a bargain deal seeing as Cavani alone was valued around €25 million originally?
Here is a video showing the talents of Edinson Cavani:
[youtube dQ_pcUP8oaM]
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Click on image below to see the BRAZILIAN babes at the World Cup
Alan Curbishley is desperate to make a return to Premier League management amid continued talk of interest from Fulham.
The former West Ham United and Charlton Athletic boss is one of the frontrunners for the vacancy at Craven Cottage following Roy Hodgson's recent departure to Liverpool.
Curbishley has been out of work since leaving the Hammers in September 2008 and is champing at the bit to return to the world of top-flight management.
"My record in the Premier League I think stands up in the last ten or 12 years," he said.
"So I was hoping that perhaps I might get a chance to get back in the Premier League, but it hasn't happened.
"The Premier League in all fairness has been one of the more stable leagues, whereas in the Football League obviously there has been lots and lots of changes. But the Premier League has been quite stable.
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"So we will have to see. I just have to wait and see if anything happens over the next couple of months and if not I will evaluate it again and see where I go."
Former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes and ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson have also been linked with the Craven Cottage hot-seat.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham are closing in on Galatasaray’s star man Arda Turan according to reports in Turkey.
However, Turan, most commonly known as Arda, has also been linked with Arsenal recently and has been a long term target of Liverpool. But which club would represent the best move for Arda?
The Turkey international’s agent declared:
“At the moment I have had no contact, unofficial or official from Arsenal or Arsene Wenger. Regarding Tottenham Hotspur there was a small enquiry regarding the player, but I have had no official contact or an official bid for the player.
“So, at the moment Arda [Turan] has two years left on his contract at Gala. And, we are waiting for an official bid for Arda from Tottenham. We will see.”
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Tottenham: Redknapp is seeking to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2010/11 season and many believe that the pull of Champions League football could be enough to attract players such as Arda.
Currently Spurs already have the likes of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon and David Bentley amongst their ranks who can operate in the wider areas, but it is rumoured that Bentley may be sold this summer and Redknapp would like to increase the competition for his current staff by adding Arda.
The 23-year-old mostly operates wide on the left so Bale may be moved back into a left fullback role if the Turkish midfielder joined the club, but he could also be used as an inverted winger (like Arjen Robben is for both Bayern Munich and Holland) as he possesses a decent left foot and can chip in with a few goals.
Chance of going to White Hart Lane: 4/5
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Arsenal: Arda is mainly an out-and-out dribbler who is not afraid to take on defenders and pass them, so he is the sort of player Arsene Wenger will like, but the Gunners already are stocked in the wide positions with Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott.
However, many mooted Arda as someone who could be the ‘next Robert Pires’ for Arsenal as he can kick with both feet and has an eye for goal. Many fans also feel that the club needs to make a few good signs this summer if they are to break their barren spell in regards to winning silverware.
Reports are suggesting that Wenger has lost interest in the player and may pull out of the race to sign him, but he probably suits Arsenal’s playing style more than the other clubs linked with the playmaker.
Chance of going to the Emirates Stadium: 1/5
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Liverpool: The Galatasaray captain has previously stated his intension to play for Liverpool in the past as he is a fan of the club and described it as a potential “dream” move for him, but considering the Anfield outfits financial woes it is starting to look unlikely.
He is certainly a player they could do with though as Yossi Benayoun has departed the club and many expect Albert Riera to follow suit.
But considering Liverpool will not be competing in the Champions League next season, does he need them, or will his affection for the club be enough to convince him to join the Reds?
Chance of going to Anfield: 3/5
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Arda has made a total of 172 games for Galatasaray the Turkey international has made 67 assists and has scored 37 goals.
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The Galatasaray man burst onto the scene during Turkey’s Euro 2008 campaign scoring two goals helping his side progress into the semi-finals of the competition. His first goal was a vital 92nd minute winner against Switzerland. Arda’s second goal came in the 75th minute against the Czech Republic as Turkey mounted a late comeback against their opponents who led 2-0, but ended up losing 3-2 as Turkey advanced into the next round of the tournament.
Is Arda Turan the type of player that you would like to see at your club and where do you think he will end up?
A youtube video dedicated to Arda Turan:
[youtube 24zicTWcmGE]
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Click on image below to see the PORTUGAL babes at the World Cup
West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo has backed his players to bounce back from their season-opening rout at the hands of Chelsea.
The Baggies travelled to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening and were outclassed by the reigning champions in a one-sided game.
The newly-promoted side fell behind inside six minutes as former Blues midfielder Di Matteo watched on from the sidelines.
"Playing the champions away on the first day of the season, you know it is going to be a tough day for you but I thought the scoreline was a bit harsh," he said.
"There are not a lot of teams which come away from Stamford Bridge with much.
"We know we will have to learn very quickly, but on the upside, we will not be playing Chelsea every week.
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"Not every team has the quality this one does."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has no doubt that he will be handed the England captain's armband again when he finally returns to action.
Fabio Capello turned to Ferdinand after stripping John Terry of the responsibility last season following the Chelsea star's off-pitch antics.
However, when injury prevented Ferdinand playing in the World Cup finals in South Africa, Steven Gerrard was handed the role.
The Liverpool midfielder also skippered the side for this month's two Euro 2012 qualifying wins over Bulgaria and Switzerland and there have been calls for him to be handed the captain's armband on a permanent basis.
Capello recently said: "For me the performance of the player is important, not the armband. It is not a priority for me. The armband is not important."
However, Ferdinand, who is close to returning to action after a knee injury, expects to captain his country for next month's qualifier against Montenegro.
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He told The Sun: "I think Capello said that (I would be captain when I'm fit) a while ago. I think he answered it the last time the squad were together."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Earlier this summer Liverpool managed to leapfrog Tottenham to the signing of England international Joe Cole, snatching him from right under the nose of avid admirer Harry Redknapp. One-nil to the Reds you might say, as they look to reclaim there position in the top four this season.
It was Redknapp’s Spurs who replaced them as one of the league’s elite members club, after an impressive campaign and 70 points last term. Many Tottenham fans viewed their Champions League qualification success as the platform to attract the first-class players needed to transform them into regular title challengers. Yet Cole’s decision to sign for the Anfield club and Spurs’ subsequent frustrations in the transfer market left many fans feeling like an opportunity had been lost.
Yet at the last minute Spurs defied all expectation by landing Holland international Rafael van der Vaart from Real Madrid, delivering the marquee signing demanded so feverishly by the White Hart Lane faithful. Van der Vaart immediately endeared himself to his new North London neighbours by claiming that he had snubbed the advances of Liverpool to join Redknapp’s revolution at Tottenham.
Van der Vaart told Sky Sports News: “Liverpool were interested. Bayern were not interested.
“In the end you have to have a good feeling, and with this manager I got a good feeling. I am happy and I am going to Spurs.”
Yet you have to wonder how much of Van der Vaart’s opening reflections are a real representation of the truth. The Reds had of course enquired about the availability of the Dutch maestro when in negotiations with Real Madrid over the sale of Xabi Alonso last summer and you would imagine the Spanish side would have been keen to involve VDV in a deal. Liverpool were not the only side linked to the playmaker however. Redknapp claimed Bayern Munich were set to complete an £18m deal for VDV just before the transfer deadline, something which was dismissed outright by the player himself just a couple of days later.
Liverpool may have been interested in his signature at one stage but it is unlikely they were still actively chasing a deal and competing with Spurs for his signature in the final few hours of transfer window activity. It is more likely Roy Hodgson had looked into a potential deal earlier in the window before deciding to explore other options. Of course, if the claim is a truthful one then VDV would have struggled to choose a club who finish seventh last season over one which boasts Champions League football, stability, Big Ben and an even bigger transfer and wage budget.
VDV however does not explicitly say an offer from Liverpool was definitely on the table, more specifically stating that they were ‘interested’. Hodgson had already made the final additions to his midfield engine room, replacing both Alberto Aquilani and Argentine captain Javier Mascherano with Juventus’ Christian Poulsen and cultured Portuguese midfielder Raul Merieles from Porto. It would have been difficult to accommodate VDV into a team already boasting the talents of five international central midfielders. More specifically, two players who like to play as the central point of a midfield diamond in captain Steven Gerrard and Cole.
It is easy to see why Van der Vaart’s decision has been used to emphasise Liverpool’s decline and Tottenham’s emergence, yet that maybe too simple a notion. Cole signed for a club who have qualified for Europe’s elite competition eight times in the last ten years and won the competition itself five times. Spurs on the other hand last played in the European Cup 48 years ago.
Liverpool are not a spent force just yet, although should Van der Vaart help inspire Spurs to another sublime campaign this season then he could inflict more damage on one of the league’s most endangered sides.
Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
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According to reports, Aston Villa and England ace Ashley Young is attempting to negotiate an escape clause into his new Villa contract. Young’s current deal lands him £65,000 a week, but comes to an end July in 2012. That’s still some time away, but new Villa boss Gérard Houllier is seeking to get his most talented players locked down with long-term contracts. This new deal would be worth a reported £75,000 a week and would see Young tied down to Villa for the foreseeable future.
Difficulties have arisen during the negotiating stage as a result of Tottenham monitoring Young’s availability. Harry Redknapp attempted to sign Young over the summer, but found that Spurs did not have the funds to match Young’s price tag or personal terms. Young may have very well been keeping his eye on the news and seen that Redknapp is looking for two more world-class players to join his squad in the coming years. Young is keen not to sign away his future to Villa in case Tottenham should come in for him in the near future.
The Aston Villa star is reportedly seeking a £12-13 million escape clause to be written into the terms of his new contract. Thus, should Spurs come in for Young this summer, Villa would be powerless to prevent his leaving. Villa shelled out £9.65 million for the quick footed youthful forward back in January 2007, so this new deal would still see Villa turn a profit should the escape clause come into effect. Yet Villa fans would no doubt be sad to see such a vital part of their future leave to join a rival premiership team.
Given that these difficult negotiations are occurring at the same time as the whole Wayne Rooney palaver, this will no doubt be taken as a further sign that in modern times it’s the player that calls the shots, not the club. As I noted in a past article things do seem to be swinging depressingly in that direction, but can we really blame Young for showing ambition? It’s not like he’s trying to screw the Villa faithful over – the escape clause ensures that Aston Villa turn a tidy profit on Young in terms of transfer value and it’s a sign of good faith that Young is seeking a contract extension whatsoever instead of waiting for his contract to run out and join Spurs on a free.
Young’s case, is, for me, analogous to the Cesc Fabregas situation over at Arsenal. Most Arsenal fans have now come to accept that Cesc’s long-term dreams do not lie with Arsenal. It’s difficult to deal with the fact that one of your most talented players isn’t looking to stay with your club in the long-term, but as long they remain respectful to the club and its fans can you really blame them for following their dreams? The situation is significantly different from the disrespect and furore that Wayne Rooney has created at Manchester United.
What’s your take on the Ashley Young situation over at Aston Villa? Is it another sign that players are taking too much control in the modern game?
If you’re interested and want to hear more feel free to follow me on Twitter.
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Wales caretaker manager Brian Flynn has revealed that Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey is close to making a return to training.
The 19-year-old Wales midfielder has been out of action since suffering a double leg break during a Premier League game against Stoke City in February.
Ramsey was left stricken by a tackle from Potters defender Ryan Shawcross which immediately threatened his career.
However, following successful surgery he is expected to make a full recovery and could be back in training by the end of October.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger suggested Ramsey could return to training in November when speaking earlier in the season.
"I've spoken with Aaron and he's making great progress," said Flynn.
"He told me he will be back in full training in three weeks.
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"He's a great talent and we all want him back playing again.
"It's great news for Arsenal, Wales and of course for Aaron himself."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis was left to lament Sunday's 2-1 Premier League loss to Manchester United.
Young Mexico international striker Javier Hernandez scored twice to grab all three points after Tuncay had equalised.
But Pulis was quick to berate referee Andre Marriner after failing to send off veteran full-back Gary Neville.
The 35-year-old wiped out winger Matthew Etherington when sat precariously on a yellow card, but he survived a second caution to stay on the pitch, much to Pulis' frustration.
He also praised Tuncay for his recent endeavours and insists he has a future at the Britannia Stadium despite media reports that suggest he is on the verge of departing.
"We're desperately disappointed. If that was a Stoke player at Old Trafford do you think he'd still be on the pitch?" he mused.
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"Their player should have been sent off in my opinion and if we're at Old Trafford and a Stoke player makes two challenges like that then he sends him off.
"Tunny has been as good as gold. People report this and that and obviously he's disappointed because he wants to play all the time, but you have to accept that. He's a good lad."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email