Bagenalstown Red Devils

Fading United need complete rebuilding job

2010-04-12T07:18:00.002+01:00

THE dramatic loss of form that has seen Manchester United exit the Champions League -- and all but fall out of the title race -- highlights the need for a major injection of cash and quality at Old Trafford. United's results over the past week and a half have not just come about because of the injury-enforced absence of Wayne Rooney.

I have warned all season that United would struggle for goals and inspiration without Rooney, but their problems run deeper than an over-reliance on one player and that was drummed home by their performance while failing to beat Blackburn yesterday. Even with Rooney in their team, the alarm bells have been ringing long enough this season to suggest that United might well have hit the wall anyway. For the past 20 years, whenever you have watched United chase a victory at this stage of the season, it has always been a case of when rather than if they would score the goal to win the game. It never looked like happening at Blackburn, though. United's best player was Gary Neville and it says it all when your best player in a game when the opponents barely attack is your right-back.

Inevitable
All of a sudden, United are beginning to look short in the critical games, but when your midfielders are 36 and 35 years old, it is inevitable that it will catch up with you. If Alex Ferguson had just one problem in his team, he could spend £30m on one player to resolve it. But when the problems run right through the team, it is a different story and rebuilding United from here is going to be tremendously difficult. Defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have suffered from injuries this season, while Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are unable to produce the performances of their younger days on a regular basis. Up front, where United once had four strikers, they now have two in Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, but Berbatov is not scoring goals at the moment. Ferguson does not have the options in reserve that he once had and there is no young Giggs or Scholes coming through to threaten the older players. Breaking a team up and starting again is the hardest thing for any manager to do, but the next rebuild will be the hardest of the lot because we don't know if the money is there for Ferguson to do it.

There are now parallels at United with what happened at Liverpool at the start of the 1990s.
The team that won the title in 1990 needed to be broken up but, having been unbelievably lucky in the transfer market for 25 years, they suddenly became unlucky, and you could say that Liverpool have never recovered. Twenty years on, Liverpool have still not won the Premier League and, while I am not saying that what will happen with United, this is undoubtedly a crucial time for them in terms of reshaping their squad.

I thought United faced a difficult future in 2006, but Ferguson turned them around and won three league titles on the bounce and a Champions League. However, they had a young Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo back then. Now, they don't have that quality emerging. Their chances of winning the league this season are now bleak, but the only saving grace for United is that Chelsea have always faltered when they have been in front. Yet you just can't see United taking advantage of any possible Chelsea slip by winning their remaining four games. Chelsea have still to go to Spurs and Liverpool and they could drop points in both of those games, but I'm not sure that United can go to Manchester City and win on Saturday.

Had Jose Mourinho been in charge of Chelsea, they would have had the title wrapped up six weeks ago. But until the medal is around your neck, you haven't won anything and that is the one thing that United and Arsenal will be holding on to.

Reported by: Irish Independent

Manchester United's Champions League failure: Q&A

2010-04-08T13:20:00.001+01:00

Manchester United's Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich ensured their failure to progress to at least the semi-final stage for the first time since 2006.
With last Saturday’s Premier League defeat at home to Chelsea putting United on the back foot in the title race, the problems are mounting at Old Trafford.

So what happens next and what are the big issues facing the club and Sir Alex Ferguson following United’s European failure? What are the main issues that have hampered Manchester United this season?

Money:
Conflicting messages are coming out of Old Trafford about United’s transfer plans this summer and how much they have to spend to strength the squad. Chief executive David Gill insisted earlier this year that the £80m banked from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid is still waiting to be spent, but Sir Alex Ferguson claimed this week that he does not envisage a host of new faces this summer. Ferguson is either happy with his squad or the money available is not sufficient to add the quality he desires. The United manager has voiced his concerns over the inflated prices being quoted for top players, but if the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid are prepared to pay those prices, they become the going rate and United must either dive in or stand aside. With a debt of £716.5m, however, finding the money to compete is unlikely to become easier for United.

Ageing squad:
Ferguson’s decision to start without Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville against Bayern exposed the combined age - 106 - of his three illustrious veterans. The three of them are in the twilight of their glittering careers, while Edwin van der Sar, at 39, is another whose best days are behind him. Rio Ferdinand is now 31 and injury problems are beginning to mount up for the England captain. Michael Owen is 30, while Dimitar Berbatov is 29. The younger end of the squad is well-stocked, with Wayne Rooney at 24 leading the way, but Ferguson’s heavy use of Giggs, Scholes and Neville this season suggests that he is not quite ready to trust his youngsters ahead of the more experienced stars.

Dimitar Berbatov:
Put yourself in Berbatov’s shoes and ask how you would feel if a half-fit Wayne Rooney was selected ahead of you in a crucial Champions League quarter-final? The Bulgarian forward’s demotion to the bench for the Bayern game summed up his time at Old Trafford since his £30.75m arrival from Spurs in Sept 2008. When the big games come around, Berbatov tends to be on the bench. He has simply failed to deliver. Twenty-six goals in 81 appearances is not a good enough return and, despite winning the backing of the fans for his surprising work-rate and determination to succeed, Berbatov was bought for much more than that. In the absence of Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, Berbatov has failed to step up to the plate.

Who is under threat?
Ferguson’s ruthless streak is legendary and he will view this season’s European campaign as a failure. As such, he is likely to be tempted to make changes. A big question mark hovers over the United future of Michael Carrick, whose poor display against Barcelona in last season’s final appears to have carried over into this campaign. The England midfielder was again disappointing against Bayern. If Owen Hargreaves can return to full fitness, Carrick would appear the obvious fall-guy, particularly with Darron Gibson improving at a rate of knots. Berbatov is another who will be fearing the worst. He had the chance to rescue United against Bayern, but just didn’t look a threat. Anderson, currently sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury, is another who must do better when he returns.

Who will United sign?
Depends on the money available, but if Ferguson does have £80m+ to spend, he will look to lure Karim Benzema to Old Trafford, 12 months after failing to keep the French forward out of Real Madrid’s clutches. Defender Chris Smalling is already signed up, but Palermo’s Simon Kjaer is another target. Napoli’s attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik, at £25m, would not break the bank if Ferguson pursues his interest in the Slovakian. United clearly need another striker. Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko has been watched regularly by Ferguson’s scouts, but Benzema remains the first choice. And with Van der Sar creeping towards 40, Ferguson would dearly love to recruit Hugo Lloris from Lyon. Lyon will demand a huge fee for the France No 1, however.

What should be United's main priority?
Sort out Rooney's future. Rooney’s value to United has rocketed since he suffered his ankle injury against Bayern. By missing the defeat against Chelsea, his contribution this season was magnified immeasurably. Ferguson rushed him back against Bayern simply because Rooney is his most reliable match-winner. Contract talks are due to begin at the end of the season to replace the final two years of his current deal. No matter who United sign this summer, persuading Rooney to commit to a new five-year deal will be the biggest signing they can make.

Reported by: telegraph.co.uk

Time for Dimitar Berbatov to seize the moment for Manchester United

2010-03-31T18:44:00.001+01:00

With Wayne Rooney missing, the expensive Bulgarian needs to step out of the shadows to keep the light shining at Old Trafford.

From the hyperactive Wayne Rooney they turn to the languid Dimitar Berbatov to see off Chelsea and Bayern Munich inside five days. The good news is that Berbatov has already scored three times against Germany's grandest club. Less encouraging is that Rooney's replacement as Manchester United's chief striker posted all three while at Bayer Leverkusen from 2001 to 2006.

A £30.75m centre-forward comes off the bench to hunt the two wins United need to disprove the accusation that they are a one-man band.

Berbatov is an international who has played in two Champions League finals and scored 32 times in European competition. Hardly the bare bones of United's squad. Yet the success of his elevation will depend on his response to the urgency of this five-day test and the team's ability to survive the psychological jolt of seeing their best player on crutches.

The expectation back in August was that Sir Alex Ferguson would deploy Rooney and Berbatov together but the United manager has favoured a five-man midfield with Rooney in a luxury Alan Shearer role. Tactical considerations aside, the implication is that Ferguson's faith in Berbatov has dimmed to the point where Bulgaria's six-times footballer of the year exists to give Rooney a rest or supply an extra weapon when United are in desperate need of a goal.

Like Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was lethal around the penalty area and so could justify his comparatively low work-rate, Berbatov is the antithesis of the super-busy United striker who seeslosing the ball as a dishonourable act which he has a moral duty to correct. Berbatov must know that most Old Trafford diehards are intolerant of his dreamy style.

In a long and compelling answer to a question about Van Nistelrooy's successor Sir Bobby Charlton, the embodiment of United's energetic forward play, said in the Observer last year: "I watched him at Tottenham [his previous Premier League club] and I thought he was in charge of his own destiny, that he made the right decisions. But playing for Man United is a bit more demanding. You're expected not just to do all the great things you're good at but also your share of the dirty work – which is chasing back to regain possession, helping your defenders if you're close enough to help.

"First of all I was very critical of him, to myself, thinking: 'Look at that. As soon as he loses the ball he stops running and starts walking, as if to say – somebody else will do it'. And I thought: 'He must be a good player if he can afford to do that.'"

Charlton said he had come to understand Berbatov's "really great skill, his awareness and his physical strength at holding people off. Not only that, when he passes he always makes it easy for you. He always gives it perfectly. Everything is so, so precise. Add to that, he's got his control and when he gets round the goal he wants to score.

"He's frustrating sometimes. Instinctively I think that, if I've lost the ball, I want to chase after it. I want to make up for the mistake I've made. Maybe like George Best you've got to accept him for what he is. Cantona had that arrogance. But he did his fair share of the work. I'd never complain about Cantona in that respect. He was sensational and he had an influence. Given that bit of time and space that Berbatov seems to be finding now, he'll get better and better."

Since Charlton offered that analysis, mid-way through the striker's first season in Manchester, stagnation has become the theme. Twelve goals from 27 league appearances this term is not a glittering statistic. Rooney had scored 18 times in 13 outings before a typically conscientious urge to stop an attacking run inside his own half led to his ankle injury. Berbatov has yet to score in this season's Champions League but did seize two in the weekend's 4-0 win at Bolton.

Of the alternatives Michael Owen is out with hamstring damage, Mame Biram Diouf has appeared only five times for United and Federico Macheda is an 18-year-old on the road back from injury (Danny Welbeck is out on loan).

"I'd have enjoyed playing with him but I'd have been arguing with him. A lot," Charlton said. "If you've got people running backward and forward and you're responsible, it's not right. But he's learned. You're not allowed many mistakes and you can't be casual. You can't be casual."

As a child Berbatov modelled himself first on Marco van Basten, then on Shearer. From the outset on Saturday and again on Wednesday night the United cognoscenti will look for evidence that his self-esteem has not been damaged by his slide in the hierarchy and hope he learned from Shearer the meaning of 'carpe diem'.

Pick your team to face Liverpool

2010-03-19T16:33:00.001Z

Calling all armchair managers! The time has come to pit your wits against Sir Alex Ferguson and see whether he agrees with your team selection for Manchester United's Premier League match

Revenge is in the air and Ferguson will have to manage the balancing act between going all guns blazing and getting the right result. After three defeats on the spin to Liverpool, United are hell-bent on sending the visitors packing. The Scot should choose a calculated approach to get one over on Rafa Benitez.

An on-song Dimitar Berbatov can expect a return to the bench as the 4-5-1 formation favoured in big matches reappears. Wayne Rooney will lead the line on his own. The temptation to start Ryan Giggs will be great after he shook off an arm injury. In his absence, both Park Ji-Sung and Nani have shone, with the Korean expected to get the nod to flank Rooney with Antonio Valencia.

Liverpool's strength in midifeld has crushed United in recent meetings. The tight central three of Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes should correct the problem. At the back, experience is key. Gary Neville could continue his starting run, while Nemanja Vidic will be desperate to exorcise the demons of Fernando Torres and a trio of red cards.

Availability:

Goalkeepers: Edwin Van der Sar, Tomasz Kuszscak, Ben Foster.

Defenders: Gary Neville, Jonny Evans, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Rafael da Silva, Fabio da Silva, Patrice Evra, Ritchie De Laet.

Midfielders: Antonio Valencia, Nani, Ji-Sung Park, Ryan Giggs, Gabriel Obertan, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick, Darron Gibson.

Attackers: Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Mame Biram Diouf.

Leave your team selection in the comments below,

GLAZERS V THE RED KNIGHTS

2010-03-05T13:15:00.004Z

Speaking 24 hours after the Red Knights confirmed their intention to try and buy the club from the Glazer family, Gill insisted that Manchester United was not for sale, and offered a staunch defence of the American owners. Gill acknowledged that the family may be forced to appease growing supporter resentment by taking a higher profile, but said the Knights, led by Goldman Sachs’s chief economist and former United board member Jim O’Neil, were wasting their time.

“They [the Glazers] are long-term owners and they’re not sellers,” he said.

“That’s not to say that people like the Red Knights won’t come and think that they can put a plan to them. But unless the owners want to sell, which they’ve given no indication to me at all that that is the case, then they can’t buy the asset. It’s not for sale.”

Gill said that he has not heard directly from O’Neil, who is a friend as well as a former colleague, or fellow Knight Mark Robinson, a partner at City law firm Freshfields who advised the club board when it was resisting the Glazers in 2004. He did not criticise them directly, but was withering about Harris, the executive chairman of executive bank Seymour Pearce who has been involved in several high-profile Premier League takeovers including Roman Abramovich’s purchase of Chelsea.

“Keith Harris will go anywhere that there’s a bit of publicity around and we know that and we accept that,” Gill said. “That’s his modus operandi, but his track record in football isn’t anything to write home about. That’s my view of that, but these are credible people and they do what they think is in the best interests of the club but it’s not going to take them anywhere if the owners, the Glazers, have no wish to sell. From our perspective, they are running the club in the right way.”

Gill said that the club’s financial situation following the £507 million bond issue was “entirely appropriate”, with annual interest payments of around £45 million covered by the club’s growing revenues.

By contrast he questioned how the Red Knights proposed to run the club given their proposal to raise funds from up to 40 wealthy individuals.

“The Red Knights’ idea of having 20, 30 or 40 very wealthy people owning and running Manchester United, I just don’t know how it would work in practice,” Gill said.

“The best clubs, the better run clubs have clear single-decision making that iws quick and efficient. I don’t see how if you’ve got a number of very wealthy people being involved [that can happen].

“They don’t become wealthy through luck, those sort of people want to be involved in the decision making, The key clubs, Abramovich at Chelsea, Mansour at Man City, Berlusconi in Milan, even the president, the key decision maker at Madrid is not all those fans, it’s the president.

“I’m not sure what the end game is but the end game is irrelevant because the owners are long-term investors and want to keep the club for many years to come.”

The Red Knights are hoping to harness supporter unrest at the club’s debts of £709 million, and Gill acknowledged that the Glazers may have to take a more visible role to appease fans who turned Wembley green-and-yellow at Sunday’s Carling Cup final.

“What they [the Glazers] done is let me and my team run the business, they’ve let Alex run the football side, and if you look at our financial results and our on-field performance, I think that’s vindicated that approach. If, in the future, in order to appease people or to explain the long-term nature of their investment, that [a higher profile] may be necessary.”

Gill’s assault came as the Red Knights were assessing the impact of their public declaration of intent. A spokesman for the group said that they had received “an international response” from potential investors, and the Manchester United Supporters Trust reported that its membership had doubled overnight to 78,000, larger than the capacity at Old Trafford.

Reported by Telegraph.co.uk

Will Berbatov leave United this summer?

2010-02-18T17:06:00.004Z

At the beginning of last season, Manchester United left it until the last day of the August transfer window to secure the signature of Dimitar Berbatov. They eventually secured the Bulgarian for the princely sum of £30.75 million, although the 29-year-old has continually struggled to live up to his expensive price tag, with Sir Alex Ferguson currently playing a formation which doesn’t accommodate the forward. There are now rumours that Berbatov will seek the exit door at Old Trafford at the end of the season.

Indeed, it’s possible that Sir Alex Ferguson has lost patience with a player that has the unfortunate knack of looking as though he’s strolling around the pitch at times. Berbatov was part of the starting XI that lost to Leeds in the FA Cup at the start of the year and has subsequently only lined up against Portsmouth and Burnley at home. With the manager favouring a 4-5-1 formation and with Wayne Rooney prospering so much as the lone forward, is there a future for a player who is an expensive commodity to be warming the bench every week?

It’s strange to think that Manchester United are going so well in the Premier League, considering that Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez have left, while Berbatov is featuring so sporadically for the Red Devils. Will Fergie need to call on the former Spurs striker as we approach the business end of the season?

United fan denies throwing coin at Bellamy

2010-02-09T19:33:00.001Z

The Manchester United supporter accused of throwing a coin at Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy during last month's League Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford has denied the offence. Adam Teese, 26, of Nelstrop Road North, Stockport, spoke on Tuesday only to confirm his name and addess and that he was pleading not guilty to the charge of 'throwing a missile', according to Press Association Sport.

Teese has been an Old Trafford season-ticket holder for eight years. A massive police presence at the game on January 27 failed to prevent the coin being trown at Bellamy. A plastic bottle was also thrown in the Welsh striker's direction and after he tumbled to the ground a coin struck the back of his head. Teese will next appear in court on May 13 when he will be tried. The trail is expected to last two days.

Ferdinand withdraws ban appeal

2010-02-09T19:30:00.001Z

Rio Ferdinand has decided to withdraw his appeal against the additional one-match ban he received after appealing his recent violent conduct charge. The United centre-back was handed an original three-game suspension folllowing an incident involving Hull City's Craig Fagan in the recent game at Old Trafford.

He appealed that decision and the FA increased the ban to four games after deeming that that appeal was frivolous. He now avoids receiving an additional ban which would have taken his total suspension to five matches and will be available for the League Cup final against Aston Villa on February 28.

Ferdinand withdraws ban appeal

2010-02-09T19:30:00.000Z

Glazers must sell Manchester United to fans or be damned

2010-02-01T13:45:00.002Z

Increasingly at Manchester United matches these days, green and yellow are in evidence. Normally the fans wear red but many of them have taken to donning the colours of the original Newton Heath club that went on to become Manchester United — in protest at the continued presence at the club of the owning Glazer family.

This deepening row at the football club is a mirror for elsewhere. The Manchester United supporters have had enough. They've seen slick financiers advise an obscure bunch of Americans on a cunning way of taking over their favourite side, using borrowed money. From having no debts in 2005, Manchester United is now in hock for £700 million. Some of that burden, £500 million, has been rescheduled in a bond issue.

One of the advisers on that refinancing was Goldman Sachs, which is sharing an estimated £15 million in fees for its work. That didn't stop the bank's chief economist Jim O'Neill, a lifelong Red, voicing his personal opposition to the issue: “There's too much leverage going on with Manchester United.” O'Neill's views were echoed by Paul Marshall, the Marshall Wace hedge fund founder and also a Manchester United follower: “A good rule of thumb in finance is that debt anywhere above five times underlying profits should be treated as junk'. Manchester United's current bond issue is junk. On that basis, the debts of the Glazer holding companies are beyond junk.”

If the banks had any PR nous (God forbid), they might consider how they could turn the Man Utd debacle round — to improve their battered images to a degree that would go far beyond the relatively measly fees they earned.

The best way to achieve this would be to finance on generous terms a takeover of the club by the fans. Manchester United would become a club owned by the people — as occurs in other countries, most notably in Spain, where Barcelona does not belong to a single tycoon but is widely held and still manages to perform consistently at an exalted level.

It's not just Manchester United where a return to common ownership is being mooted. We've gone from a period that saw community and mutuality disregarded as unfashionable and weak, to one, thanks to the excesses and failures of a few, where they're in vogue.

O'Neill and Marshall are rich. They are not alone — indeed, given the passion the team engenders, there are bound to be numerous multi-millionaires who are Man Utd fans. They could group together to buy the lion's share of the club, leaving the less well-off supporters to mop up the rest.

Something like this is being worked upon. Keith Harris, the head of investment bank Seymour Pierce and a broker of several football club sales, says he has been approached by wealthy Reds who want to “explore” the possibility of buying out the Glazers. The Manchester United Supporters' Trust, which is publicly heading the anti-Glazer push, is also involved.

The Glazers paid £800 million for the club in 2005. However, much of that money was not theirs but borrowed. Forbes, the US business magazine, has estimated Manchester United's worth at £1.3 billion.

That may be its value at present but football is not known for its certainty of future earnings. The club is saddled with debt, its value is dependent on the team continuing to do well (which is not guaranteed, particularly as veteran manager Sir Alex Ferguson cannot postpone the inevitable, and must retire at some point). If the team did not qualify for the Champions League and crowds fell (this season Old Trafford has been noticeably not full for matches against unglamorous opponents that Manchester United are expected to beat easily), what then? How would the borrowings be serviced, let alone repaid?

The chances of financial ruin are very real and while I'm not a Red (I'm a season ticket holder at mighty Fulham) I would hate to see that occur.

According to David Gill, the club's chief executive, the owners are not sellers: “The Glazer family bought the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995 and, 15 years later, they still own that — they are in it for the long term.”

Yes, but how much public loathing and abuse can they take? (Angry football fans are not noted for their politeness). If they could sell for £1 billion right now, in this climate, and against the backdrop of their American businesses having to contend with the US recession, they would be foolish not to.

For the fans, that seems a tall order. But 50 Red Knights each putting in £15 million is £750 million. The supporters could stump up for the remaining £250 million. The backers would be paid a modest return but, most importantly, Manchester United would be debt-free (after the bond issue, the club's annual interest charges alone are £60 million) and no single individual or their relatives would have control. There's a lot to be said for it — and not just at Manchester United.

Reported by: Chris Blackhurst

Why it will take another Sheikh Mansour to rescue Manchester United from the Glazers

2010-01-21T20:02:00.001Z

Joel Glazer and brothers Bryan and Avram might just struggle to digest their grits and maple syrup pancakes if they spend breakfast in Tampa poring over news from the blue half of Manchester this morning.

While Malcolm’s boys continue to study the global financial markets for the best way to restructure the £699m debt that is threatening to drag Manchester United down into the ranks of also-rans, they will notice that Sheikh Mansour has just written off £304.9m of personal loans at Manchester City to pretty much make the Eastlands club a debt-free company.

How the Glazers could do with a Sheikh Mansour figure coming along and taking the burden of owning United off their hands. How they would love to be able to shrug off a loss of £92.6m without the blink of an eye, as Sheikh Mansour has done at Eastlands. The problem facing the Glazers – or one of them, at least – is that Manchester United is such a renowned global brand that there are very few people out there who could actually afford to buy the club from the Florida-based family should they ever need to cash in their chips at Old Trafford.

In their last Soccer Rich List, published in August 2009, the widely respected business magazine Forbes.com placed United in number one spot in the list of the world’s most valuable clubs with a valuation of £1.3bn. Real Madrid, in second position, were some way back with a valuation of £944m. It isn’t just football where United rule, however. Across the sporting spectrum, they are the most valuable ‘franchise’ on the planet, with NFL giants the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins their closest rivals. United are the Coca-Cola of world football. The whole world knows their name, but in a severe financial downturn, the pool of billionaires with a desire to own a football club has shrunk dramatically. In the current climate, who would seriously want to spend almost £1.5bn to buy Manchester United?

So the Glazers have a rare asset on their hands, but the market is on the floor. Sheikh Mansour has already made his move, so he is out of the running. There is real money in Saudi Arabia and China, but again, in an uncertain world, is buying the world’s biggest football club a wise move?

Not that the Glazers are looking to sell. If they can ride the current financial storm, then the picture on the other side looks rosy. But the debt is creeping up and the interest payments are eye-watering. In 2008, operating profits of £72m were almost swallowed up by annual interest payments of £69m. There is also a debt of £175m of payment in kind (Pik) loans that are rolling up interest at a rate of 14.25pc a year. The loan, for which the Glazer family, rather than the football club, is ultimately responsible, was initially worth just over £130m.

How much longer can the Glazers continue to operate with such a heavy debt burden? That all depends on what happens to the money coming into club, of which there is quite a bit. The £80m banked for Cristiano Ronaldo is still largely unspent and, although Sir Alex Ferguson has been told he can reinvest the money in his squad, the funds are still there in the club’s accounts. And later this year, a £20m-a-year shirt sponsorship deal with Chicago-based Aon begins, so the cash flow isn’t exactly drying up. If the money doesn’t go into the team, though, United risk standing still or falling behind. Falling behind leads to a lack of silverware and perhaps even the nightmare scenario of a failure to qualify for the Champions League. Should that happen, servicing the debt becomes a problem. Do United spend to get back to the top or must they instead meet their financial obligations?

It is the same vicious circle that engulfed Leeds United who, although they recorded their famous FA Cup victory against United last Sunday, remain a League One club as a result of their financial meltdown. United’s global appeal is their biggest asset, however. Leeds could not count on a similar pulling power to the world’s super-rich as they tumbled through the divisions. That is the one saving grace for United if the Glazers find that the going gets too tough financially in the coming months – somebody, somewhere, will ultimately want to take the ego trip of owning Manchester United.

Reported by: Mark Ogden, Telegraph

Should Manchester United have kept Carlos Tevez?

2010-01-12T12:15:00.002Z

At a time when El Apache is in the form his life, We ponders whether the Old Trafford favourite should have been at all allowed to leave for their arch rivals...

The Argentinean has scored twelve goals and has five assists to his name in his time with Manchester City. His winner against Chelsea and the Blackburn hat-trick have been the highlight so far.

If you compare the above mentioned statistics with that of Dimitar Berbatov, the man whose addition into the squad meant Tevez had to be benched and eventually banished, and Michael Owen, there is a stark difference. The Bulgarian has a paltry six goals with two assists while, the former Liverpool striker is a touch better with seven goals and a single assist.

At a time when the Red Devils are struggling to win, Wayne Rooney seems to be their only hope from where goals come regularly, which was even acknowledged by the club’s skipper Gary Neville recently.

While the usual talk around the club is about missing the services of Cristiano Ronaldo, the even more vital question is whether the hole left by Tevez’s departure was ever filled in?

Despite being on the bench for much of the time last season, ‘the Argentine Prophet of the 21st century’, which Maradona referred him as, was very influential. His four goals in the 5-3 win over Blackburn in the Carling Cup, the fastest goal in the Champions League against Aolborg for the 2008-09 season, and who would ever forget his goal against Porto in the Champions League quarters?

On their way to the third successive Premier League title, one of the stiffest tasks United faced was against Tottenham at home where they found themselves trailing 2-0 at half-time. Out went Nani and in came Tevez, and thereafter United turned it around to win 5-2 in what was one of the greatest comebacks in the English game. Ristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney attributed the change of fortunes to Tevez’s presence.

United are certainly missing his energetic runs and an unwavering work rate, which was second to none. Tevez was always seen chasing the defenders when not in possession and thereby, pressurizing them, something which neither Berbatov nor Owen have done much.

Tevez has the speed coupled with good ball skills, and can easily wave off a defender when in possession. He is also a dead ball specialist.

More than anything else, Tevez is a team player and it was certainly a sad moment for United fans to see him leave the club. While critics may point that £32million was way too much for the Argentinean, it wasn’t much given the kind of success he is enjoying at the other side of Manchester.

Reported by: Rahul Bali.- Goal.com

Should Michael Owen be first choice?

2009-12-09T20:51:00.000Z

Following Michael Owens latest goals against Wolfsburg should Sir Alex now be looking at Owen as a first choice striker? Injuries to Rooney and Berbatov has seen Owen take his chance and his latest treble against Wolfsburg has highlighted that Owen has lost none of his predatory skills as a world class goal scorer.

Who would be your first choice? Rooney & Berbatov, Rooney & Owen, Berbatov & Owen or do you think that one of the younger strikers like Welbeck and Macheda can force their way into the first choice positions?

Have your say here.

Should United strengthen their squad in January?

2009-11-23T21:28:00.000Z

Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that he may not bring in any new players in the January transfer window and he feels most of his targets are currently over priced. He has stated he has confidence in his current squad. Do you think he is right and the current squad can challenge successfully both domestically and in Europe?

Is this just a smoke screen and the Ronaldo transfer fee has been used to service the clubs large debts or is Sir Alex right not to over pay for stars like David Villa, David Silva and Jack Rodwell who have all been linked with moves to Old Trafford?

Have your say here.

Who do you think was Fergies worst ever signing?

2009-11-18T17:42:00.002Z

Sir Alex Ferguson has finally confirmed what every Manchester United fan already knew: his worst signing ever was Ralph Milne. Speaking at a League Managers Association dinner to honour the 14 surviving coaches who have presided over 1,000-plus league games, Ferguson admitted that Milne, who moved to Old Trafford in November 1988 from Third Division Bristol City, was top of his list of transfer regrets.

"My worst signing? Ralph Milne. I only paid £170,000 but I still get condemned for it." Milne, who scored three goals in 22 games in his first season before losing his first team place, was released on a free in June 1991. Ferguson also gave an honorable mention to the £3.5m he paid in 2003 for Eric Djemba-Djemba: "So good they named him twice."

Others that come to mind include Kleberson, Veron (over priced), Gary Birtles, Nani. Have your say here. Who would you consider the worst signing?

Is Uniteds current squad good enought to win the Premiership and Champions League?

2009-10-31T21:19:00.001Z

Is Uniteds current squad good enought to win the Premiership and Champions League?

With the loss of two of the most influential players last season (Ronaldo & Tevez) and the addition of Michael Owen, Gabriel Obertan and Antonio Valencia can United pick up where they left off and challenge for all honours? The media are reporting that United are prepairing a double swooop for Valencia stars David Villa and David Silva. Would those two signing be the turning point for United and see squad compete for all honours.

Have your say here.

10 Things you need to know about Igor Akinfeev, who is being lined up as the long term replacement for Edwin Van der Sar

2009-10-11T10:33:00.001+01:00

Manchester United are reported to be chasing CSKA Moscow and Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

With Edwin van der Sar about to hang up his size XXL gloves, and Ben Foster failing to impress in the United goal, it seems Sir Alex Ferguson has decided he urgently needs a brand new last line of defence.

But who is the £15 million-rated number one? Don't panic, MirrorFootball has compiled a dossier featuring everything you need to know...

1) He broke into the CSKA Moscow first team when he was just 17 years old and won the Russian championship in his first season.

2) In 2004, he became the youngest player ever to represent Russia when he ran out against Norway at the age of 18 years 20 days.

3) He has been voted goalkeeper of the year in Russia for three of the last four seasons.

4) In 2006, he went 362 minutes without conceding a goal in the Champions League, twice keeping clean sheets against Arsenal.

5) He was a member of the Russia team that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008, but conceded seven goals in two matches against Spain during the tournament.

6) His squad number at CSKA is 35.

7) He has been coached Rinat Dasaev, the USSR goalkeeper voted the best in Europe at Euro 88.

8) He is 6ft 1ins tall – shorter than Edwin van der Sar, Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak.

9) His honours include the UEFA Cup, three Russian Premier League titles and three Russian Super Cups.

10) Now 23, he has also been linked with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Arsenal

Does the squad need to be strengthened?

2009-09-29T07:27:00.003+01:00

Manchester United have made a good start to the season with the exception of the Burnley game Manchester United have taken full points and are now top of the Premiership. But has this justified Sir Alex Fergusons decision not to further strengthen his squad with the funds available from the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer?

Michael Owen's goal against City has helped justify the managers decision to sign the former England striker, however it seems to be the midfield area where United are currently lacking. Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have recently turned back the years to inspire United to some important wins (most noteably over Stoke where Giggs and Scholes were both outstanding), however the indifferent form of Nani, Park, Anderson and Carrick and the lack of match fitness for the returning Hargreaves has meant that United are vulnerable in the midfield area. Was it a mistake not to strengthen this area of the team?

Who do you think United should sign if anyone? Have your say here.

Five reasons why Manchester United's season is clicking into place

2009-09-14T18:39:00.002+01:00

WAYNE ROONEY:

Despite the predictions that Rooney would have to fill the Cristiano Ronaldo role at United this season, the England forward has always been much more than merely the next best thing to Ronaldo. The 23-year-old is his own man and his early season performances have underlined his determination to make that point emphatically. Rooney has been peerless so far this campaign and his goal at Spurs on Sunday took his league tally to five in five games.

DARREN FLETCHER:

When Fletcher was singled out as one of the main victims of Roy Keane's alleged rant about his under-performing team-mates on MUTV four years ago, the Scot's Old Trafford future appeared bleak. The United supporters had already started to give him stick from the terraces and his captain had seemingly joined in. But Fletcher has emerged as United's number one midfielder in recent months. Missing out on the Champions League final last season highlighted his value to the team. Against Arsenal recently, Fletcher was immense and he is almost now doing what Keane used to in the engine room.

PAUL SCHOLES:

Scholes is 35 in November and he has already suggested that this will be his last season as a player. But the form he has displayed so far this season has been his best for years. Anderson's arrival two years ago was supposed to signal the end for Scholes, but he continues to retain his place in the team. His experience, wonderful passing ability and winning mentality have been key factors in United's resurgence following the defeat at Turf Moor.

BURNLEY DEFEAT:

United have a habit of steeling themselves in adversity following an unexpected defeat. If nothing else, it gives Sir Alex Ferguson the opportunity to wield the big stick and dust off the hairdryer. But losing at Turf Moor was a real low-point. Nothing went right on the night for United as Owen Coyle's promoted team out-fought, out-ran and ultimately defeated the champions. Ferguson has admitted to questioning the commitment of his players after that defeat, but results since suggest that there are no problems in that department.

MAN CITY THREAT:

United always keep an eye on the results of Chelsea and Liverpool, but the emergence of Manchester City on their doorstep is providing added motivation.In Ferguson's 23 years at Old Trafford, City have never held the whip-hand on United and the Scot has no intention of that changing.Key figures such as Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney have spoken of the extra motivation brought about by City's attempt to crack the Big Four and, ironically, City's big ambitions are helping fuel United's own desire.

Champions League Draw

2009-08-28T16:43:00.001+01:00

Manchester United have been handed a tricky Champions League group stage draw against CSKA Moscow, Besiktas and Bundesliga Champions and dark horses Wolfsburg.

Sir Alex Ferguson will target three home wins and at least 3 points from the three away games to guarantee United progress to the last 16 stage. Who do you think will cause United the most problems in the group stages?

Foster v Kuszczak

2009-08-15T08:48:00.002+01:00

Following the injury picked up by United number one Edwin Van der Sar, Sir Alex Ferguson must now choose between Ben Foster or Tomasz Kuszczak. Sir Alex has touted Ben Foster as a potential England number one throughout the summer and named the young keeper in the starting team for the Community Shield Final against Chelsea. However, many critics felt that Foster was nervous and hesitant in goal during that game and now fears grow as to whether he can fill the boots of the injured Van der Sar.

Kuszczak is without doubt a fabulour shot stopper but has also shown some frailalties from set pieces such as corners and also crosses.

So who do you think should start in goal against Birmingham? Are Foster and Kuszczak good enough to replace Van der Sar in the long term or should United look to sign a new keeper. Have your say here.

Can United win with kids?

2009-08-05T17:08:00.003+01:00

Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that he is confident that Manchester United's young stars can lead the way in United defending their Premier League title and making a serious assault on the Champions League.

Rafael, Fabio, Nani, Anderson, Gibson, Evans, Macheda, Petrucci, Welbeck and Eckersley are all under 22 and already making waves in Old Trafford. Can these young United stars make enough impact to guide United to glory this season?

Have your say here.

Who is United's best X1?

2009-07-24T17:56:00.003+01:00

With the summer loss of Ronaldo and Tevez, Sir Alex Ferguson must pick a team that will make up for the loss of the influential pair. The summer aquisitions of Owen, Valencia and Obertan as well as players such as Tosic, Macheda, Fabio and Welbeck are all now pushing for first team places. But which X1 would you pick to start for United.

My selection is

Van der Sar
Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra
Nani, Valencia, Carrick, Anderson
Rooney, Owen

Have your say here!

New Striker signed. But is this the striker we need.

2009-07-18T17:36:00.003+01:00

Manchester United have confirmed that they have completed the signing of striker Mame Biram Diouf from Norwegian club Molde FK. The 21-year-old has been immediately loaned back to Molde where he will remain until January. The transfer may surprise some after manager Sir Alex Ferguson stressed just last week that he would not be making any more signings this summer following the arrivals of Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan.

However, is this the signing we need? Throughout the summer United have been linked with many top strikers including, Aguero, Benzema, Huntelaar, Ibrahimovic and Villa to name but a few. The capture of Michael Owen for free seems like good business but most United fans expected Sir Alex to splash the Ronaldo transfer money and bring in a proven big name striker.

If you United are to challenge for all trophies this season, will the current striker options be enough? Can Owen, Berbatov, Rooney and the young strikers Diouf, Macheda and Wellbeck step up to the mark and score enough goals to replace the goals lost through the transfer of Ronaldo and Tevez?

Have your say here?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 10 things you need to know about the Manchester United target

2009-07-09T16:59:00.004+01:00

With a massive £80m sitting in the bank after one particular summer transfer Manchester United are combing the highest ranks of European strikers to replace the 30-goal-a-season-sized hole left by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sir Alex Ferguson is considering a move for Serie A superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic to provide a deadly strike force alongside newly signed Michael Owen. Here’s everything you need to know about the fiery Inter Milan front man.

1. Ibrahimovic was born to a Bosnian father and Croatian mother on 3 October 1981 in Malmo, South Sweden. He almost gave up football at 15 but was convinced by his coach to carry on playing, eventually dropping out of school to pursue his prolific career, joining home town club Malmo in 1996 and graduating to the senior side three years later.

2. If Fergie is hoping to get his man over on a trial, he would probably be out of luck. Ibrahimovic's performances with Malmo caught the eye of Arsene Wenger, who later said Ibrahimovic had gone to Highbury on trial. The striker's response was to insist he had had a Highbury tour rather than an audition, flouncing: "I didn't have a trial at Arsenal, I came to visit. Some scout was in Sweden and he looked at me and said, 'I invite you to Arsenal.' Wenger wanted me to do a trial and I said, 'I don't do trials. I come here because you know who I am.'"

3. It was Ajax who secured the Swede's services instead, securing a €7.8million transfer in 2001. He managed 35 goals in 74 appearances, including this beauty against NAC Breda which Eurosport named goal of the season.

But he left under a cloud in 2004 after a Sweden-Netherlands friendly saw him injure Ajax strike partner Rafael Van der Vaart, who accused him of doing it deliberately, and Ibrahimovic was quickly sold to Juventus for €19million.

4. An injury to David Trezeguet meant he settled into a first team place almost immediately. After 23 goals in two seasons with Juve, the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal saw the club relegated to Serie B and Ibrahimovic wasn't keen to stick around to help get them back to the big time, his agent confirming he would be prepared to take legal action to escape his contract. It did not come to that though, Inter Milan snapping him up in a deal worth €12m a year.

5. He was a goal-scoring hit at Inter, bagging 15 goals in his first season to be the club's top scorer. He was named in the 2007 UEFA Team of the Year 2007 alongside Steve Gerrard, John Terry, Lionel Messi and Didier Drogba.

6. Last season he notched an impressive 25 goals to win the coveted capocannonieri, Serie A's golden boot. And those performances led Inter boss Jose Mourinho to name him “the best player in the world, ahead of (Cristiano) Ronaldo”. He also landed the “Oscar del Calcio”, footballer of the year as voted by the Italian Association of Footballers, due to some cracking goals.

7. Ibrahimovic has won the Italian league every year since he has started playing with Inter - but after celebrating this year's win he did not really fancy playing the whole 90 minutes against Siena. An unsympathetic Mourinho ignored his pleas to be substituted - even changing the goalkeeper instead...

8. A Swedish international with more than 50 caps, Ibrahimovic made his debut for Sweden in January 2001 against the Faroe Islands. He could fit in well in England - he missed from the penalty spot against Holland at Euro 2004. His tournament scoring record leaves something to be desired, with a scoreless 2006 World Cup and a two year drought during the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

9. That qualifying campaign was interrupted by a self-imposed boycott over what he felt was unfair punishment from coach Lars Lagerback. Ibrahimovic, along with Christian Wilhelmsson and Olof Mellberg, had headed for a night club two days before a qualifier against Lichtenstein. They didn't drink alcohol but they had broken their curfew and were sent home from the squad. Mellberg and Wilhelmsson took their punishment - Ibrahimovic boycotted the next three internationals.

10. At 6ft3ins tall the Swede is known for his ability to push past defenders and use his deft touch to set up goal scoring opportunities - skills which have seen him consistently rated among the best world's best strikers.

Available transfer targets!

2009-07-06T16:45:00.001+01:00

As we now move into July and teams begin to return for pre-season training has United missed out on the best signings or are there still signings out there that will strengthen Uniteds squad and bring us more Premiership and European glory?

Have your say on who you think United should sign before the season starts.

Michael Owen on the verge of joining United. Is he the man for United?

2009-07-03T18:30:00.001+01:00

Michael Owen was on the verge of joining English champion Manchester United on Friday, a striking reversal of fortunes for an injury-plagued striker who had been consigned to the England scrap heap by Fabio Capello.

Though the likes of Wigan and Bolton had dismissed Owen as past his best, Sir Alex Ferguson is willing to take - as United's official website says - a "calculated gamble."

Out of contract at recently relegated Newcastle, the 29-year-old Owen's advisers had been forced to promote himself in a 32-page dossier speculatively sent to clubs around Europe.

The former Real Madrid and Liverpool player spent Friday at the Premier League champion's Carrington training complex and a Manchester hospital for final medical examinations on his troublesome right knee.

Ferguson needs a proven goal-scorer to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, who both left United last month. Is Owen the man for the job? Have your say here!

10 things you need to know about United target Sergio Aguero

2009-06-24T19:15:00.001+01:00

Here’s your need-to-know on one of the world’s most talented young strikers..

1) Sergio Leonel Aguero del Castillo was born on June 2m, 1988 in Quilmes, Argentina.

2) He’s commonly known by the childhood nickname ‘Kun’, given to Aguero by his grandparents on account of his resemblance to this ‘70s Japanese cartoon character Kum Kum:

3) He started his footballing career at Argentine side Independeinte, and broke Diego Maradaona’s record for being the youngest person ever to play in the country’s top flight after making his debut against San Lorenzo aged just 15 years and 35 days.

“I was a lot younger and smaller than most of the players, so I had to learn how to avoid and dodge aggressive tackles,” remembers Aguero of the experience.

4) His impressive return of 23 goals in 53 league appearances for Independiente attracted the attention of Europe’s top scouts, and Aguero was eventually signed by Atletico Madrid in May 2006 for 20m – the club’s record transfer fee. Here’s a compilation of his Top 10 goals from Argentina:

5) He made his La Liga debut for Atletico against Racing Santander on August 27, 2006 and scored his first league goal for the club against Bilbao the following month. Despite going on to make 38 appearances that season, Aguero struggled to shine while playing in the shadow Atletico’s star striker Fernando Torres, and only scored another five goals.

6) He showed his true form following Torres’ departure to Liverpool, however, forming a lethal partnership with his replacement, former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan, and finishing the 2007/08 as La Liga’s third highest goalscorer with 19 goals. Bolton fans may also remember him for being red-carded in their UEFA Cup meeting at the Reebok Stadium.

7) He’s won the FIFA U-20 World Cup twice with Argentina, first in 2005, when he played alongside Lionel Messi, and then again in 2007, when he captained the side and scored in the final. Aguero also took home the Golden Boot forbeing the tournament’s top scorer with six goals.

8) He made his senior debut for Argentina in the friendly against Brazil played at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium in September 2006. He’s since won a total of 15 caps and scored five goals, including two in Argentina’s 2008 Olympics semi-final win over Brazil.

9) He goes out with one of Diego Maradona’s daughters Giannina (pictured with her father below). The couple's first child Leonel is named after Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Aguero’s best mate.

10) He’s regarded as one of Argentina’s brightest talents, and here’s a taste of what Premier League fans can expect should he eventually end up at United or Chelsea:

Carlos Tevez leaves United. Have your say.

2009-06-21T10:34:00.003+01:00

Carlos Tevez has turned down Manchester United full offer of £25.5 Million, a five year contract and an increased wage. Do you think United treated Tevez unfairly during his tenure at Old Trafford or has Tevez let the United down by not agreeing a new deal and instead following the money available at neighbours Man City?

The loss of Tevez and Ronaldo will leave a huge void in the team, which must now be filled by the manager. Do you think United could have moved earlier to avert the exit of Carlow Tevez by agreeing the fee during last season or were they waiting to see how much the Ronaldo deal would bring to the club? Have your say here.

10 Potential targets for Manchester United

2009-06-12T17:14:00.002+01:00

Manchester United now have £80million burning a hole in their back pocket, so who are they going to spend it on?

The problem they have is that because Ronaldo is such a one-off, they will effectively have to replace two players. They probably needed a new winger anyway, but boy do they need one now. Add to that the need to replace their top scorer of the past three seasons, so they will most likely have to buy a winger and a striker. Here are a few possibles for that money...

Sergio Kun Aguero - Atletico Madrid
He makes our man in Spain go weak at the knees, is unreasonably skilful and has a child with genius in his blood. As you probably know, the Argentine is Diego Maradona's son-in-law, but more importantly banged in 22 goals for Atletico Madrid last season. Would provide both goals and invention, although nothing close to the physical presence of Ronaldo. He has had problems playing with Carlos Tevez for the national side, so if he is retained then the chances of Aguero joining too would be slim.
Potential Value: £40million.

Karim Benzema - Lyon
Raw potential at the moment, but what potential. Benzema would bring the pace and power that Ronaldo had, and at the same time provide the attacking focal point that United have lacked of late, and were arguably able to get away without because of Ronaldo. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas knows how to drive a hard bargain, but even he would not be able to resist the sort of sums that United now have at their disposal.
Potential Value: £30million.

Samuel Eto'o - Barcelona
United need a proven goalscorer to step in for Ronaldo, and goalscorers don't come much more proven than Eto'o. Since joining Barcelona in 2004, Eto'o has thwacked in 130 goals in 200 games, a record that few can rival throughout the world. The big downside is his ego. There can be no other reason for Barca apparently being fairly willing to sell for a relatively cheap price than an attitude problem, so would Fergie want to replace one massive I Am with another?
Potential Value: £15-20million.

Alexandre Pato - AC Milan
Bit of a long shot this, given that Adriano Galliani said on Thursday he was not for sale. However, Milan said similar things about Kaka in the past, and look what happened there. Pato is one of the most promising prospects in world football, and is at an age when Ferguson can shape him into his own kind of player. The other snag is that he might not be willing to leave the comfort of Milan for anyone but mentor Carlo Ancelotti. Like we said, it's a long shot, but Pato is one of the few big names left that might be prised from their clubs this summer.
Potential Value: £35-45million.

Franck Ribery - Bayern Munich
The most obvious direct replacement for Ronaldo, Ribery is also likely to be the most expensive. Word in the papers on Thursday was that Chelsea had been quoted a whopping £65million for the Frenchman by Bayern Munich, and it's hardly surprising. The purchases of Kaka and Ronaldo have skewed the market to such an extent that anyone with a young talent like Ribery can now add a digit or two to their price. Able to play on both right and left, like Ronaldo, Ribery also scores plenty too, like Ronaldo.
Potential Value: Anything up to £65million.

Arjen Robben - Real Madrid
Injury-prone he may be, but Ferguson probably regards Robben as one of a number of players who escaped his clutches when he joined Chelsea in 2004. The bonus where Robben is concerned is that he'll be cheap, with prices as low as £7million being mentioned. If he can stay fit then he's still a massively destructive winger, and although that is a big if, to say that Robben is less than 1/10th of the player Ronaldo is would be ridiculous.
Potential Value: £7-10million.

David Silva - Valencia
Like Ribery, can play on either flank, provides plenty of skill and invention and is a natural left foot in the attacking third, something that United haven't had since Ryan Giggs became a midfielder. The problem is, not for the first time, Real Madrid, who are apparently on the verge of snapping him up from Valencia.
Potential Value: £20-25million.

Carlos Tevez - MSI
Would losing two fan favourites be too much for one summer? Ronaldo's departure could be the key factor in persuading David Gill to acquiesce to Kia Joorabchian's demands.
Potential Value: £25million.

Luis Antonio Valencia - Wigan
Strange one this. While a decent player, the prices being touted for Valencia seem rather high. He seems certain to leave Wigan, but one suspects he alone will be woefully inadequate as a replacement for Ronaldo. With another of the names on this list, he could perhaps develop into an excellent player, but we have our doubts.
Potential Value: £12-18million.

Ashley Young - Aston Villa
Ferguson has an obvious knack for bringing through young domestic talent, but very few have actually come from the famed academy of late. Ferguson has instead bought nearly finished youngsters and honed their skills, and although Young is not exactly new and unpolished, he might represent the sort of player who could thrive under Ferguson. Fast and tricky, he doesn't score an awful lot of goals, but then again neither did Ronaldo in his early days. Could prove pricey as Villa obviously do not need to sell.
Potential Value: £20-25million.

Ronaldo: Good deal or Bad deal?

2009-06-11T16:16:00.000+01:00

It's the transfer story of the summer - but is Cristiano Ronaldo's proposed £80million move to Real Madrid good business for Manchester United?

On Thursday morning the Old Trafford club revealed they had accepted a world record bid for the Portuguese star and a deal is set to be completed by the end of the month.

Ronaldo's future at United has been the subject of constant speculation, with Real having trailed his signature for the last three summers and despite his talent, there have been constant rumours that he has been causing unrest in the dressing room.

So does an £80million sale represent good business for Manchester United? Will the end of the speculation be good for the team? Will Ferguson have replacements lined up? Or is the FIFA World Player of the Year simply irreplaceable.

Spanish giants target United stars!

2009-06-09T00:08:00.002+01:00

Media reports have suggested that newly crowned European Champions Barcelona are targeting United star defender Nemanja Vidic in a shock 20 million pound move. Vidic's agent has stated that the player is happy at United and will not move, however this will not deter Barcelona from trying to unsettle the United Star.

The on/off transfer saga of Ronaldo to Real Madrid has again risen its head following the success of Perez in the Spanish clubs presedential elections. Kaka looks sure to sign for Madrid but Perez is adamant that the huge spending will continue with Ronaldo and Ribery top of the list.

The question hers is have United now become a target for the big European clubs? Or is United big enough to fend off such approaches and target the stars of these clubs themselves?

Have your say here.

Is it time to rebuild again?

2009-05-29T17:06:00.001+01:00

Manchester United have claimed that there will be very little activity in the summer transfer market this year. Do you think following Wednesday nights defeat that United need to strengthen their squad. With both Ronaldo and Tevez's future constantly in doubt, should United look to Ribery, Benzema and Valencia to bolster the United midfield and attack? Have your say here.

Did Sir Alex get the tactics wrong?

2009-05-29T17:04:00.001+01:00

Following Manchester United comprehensive defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League final, many pundits think Sir Alex got the tactics wrong resulting in United putting in one of their worst performances of the season. Do you think he got it wrong? Have your say here.

Pros and Cons of signing Carlos Tevez. Have your say.

2009-05-18T17:14:00.002+01:00

Pros - Tevez is hardworking, inspirational, loved by millions of United fans, a handfull for all defenders & honest. United could possibly lose Tevez to a rival team such as Liverpool.

Cons - £32 millions price tag is excessive in the current financial climate. Has Tevez scored enough goals this season to merit this valuation. Would Tevez cause dressing room unease if not happy with player rotation next season. Would the money be better spent on another striker such as Benzema for example?

What do you think? Have your say now.

Who do you think will be the starting team in the Champions League Final?

2009-05-12T14:51:00.002+01:00

Who do you think Sir Alex Ferguson should start in this years Champions League Final? Have your say here. My own personal choice is - Van der Sar, Evra, O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Carrick, Park, Anderson, Ronaldo, Rooney & Tevez. Bench - Foster, Rafael, Scholes, Evans, Giggs, Berbatov, Neville

Can Manchester United win back to back Champions League finals?

2009-05-05T22:50:00.002+01:00

Following Manchester United destruction of Arsenal in the semi-final of the Champions League, United now have a chance to make history and become the first team to retain the Champions League trophy.

Can Manchester United continue their winning ways against the winners of Barcelona or Chelsea? Darren Fletcher's red card will mean the Scot will be badly missed for the final having produced two brilliant displays against Arsenal. However with such a strong squad at Sir Alex's disposal, hopefully United can fill the void left by Fletcher.

Have your say here.

Blog Rules

2009-05-01T13:15:00.003+01:00

The Bagenalstown Red Devils Blog has been posted for the enjoyment of not only our members but football fans in general. All comments will be vetted prior to being posted. Please refrain from using any derogative or bad language in any comments posted as these will only be deleted. Thanks and enjoy.

Administrator

Is a one goal lead enough to see us through?

2009-04-30T20:50:00.003+01:00

Following one of the best team performances of the year against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League semi final, United fans must feel that the scoreline does not justify the dominance that United showed throughout the game. Chance after chance was wasted or saved by the impressive Almunia. John O'Sheas strike is all United have to carry to Old Trafford plus the fact that Arsenal have no away goal. Will this slender lead be enough to see United through to the final for a second successive year? What do you think the score will be in the second leg?

Keep Tevez or sign a new player?

2009-04-27T17:30:00.002+01:00

With the Carlos Tevez loan deal set to expire in June United must pay £22 million to secure the services of the popular Argentinian for another four years. Do you think United should pay to keep Tevez or should United look elsewhere? Players like Benzema and Villa have been linked with United as well as a host of strikers from around the world. United also have Macheda and Welbeck coming through and Frazier Campbell set to return from Spurs.

Would United be better off using the summer funds to strengthen other areas such as a winger in Ribery or a strong defensive midfielder?

What would you do if you were Sir Alex?

Vidic voted Bagenalstown Red Devils player of the season.

2009-04-24T13:27:00.002+01:00

Nemanja Vidic has been voted Uniteds best player this season following a recent poll carried out on this blog. Results as follows:

Nemanja Vidic 46%
Wayne Rooney 33%
Cristiano Ronaldo 6%
Edwin Van Der Sar 6%
Others 9%

Many thanks to all who voted.

Who will win the PFA Player of the Year Award?

2009-04-23T18:09:00.004+01:00

Who do you think will win the PFA Player of the Year Award. United provide five of the six nominees, while Liverpools Steve Gerrard is the sole non-united representitive. United five nominees are Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin Van Der Sar, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand.

The betting suggests that Nemanja Vidic and Steve Gerrard will fight out the finish with Ryan Giggs a close third. Who do you fancy to take this award?

Liverpool drop points to Arsenal

2009-04-22T08:22:00.002+01:00

Liverpools 4-4 draw with Arsenal at Anfield has given United a chance to extend their lead to 6 points should they take full advantage of their games in hand. How many points do you think United will require to retain the Premier league?

Should Berbatov be made a scapecoat for FA Cup defeat?

2009-04-21T17:13:00.003+01:00

Sir Alex Ferguson has defended Dimitar Berbatov's form in the wake of his dreadful FA Cup semi-final penalty miss against Everton. Berbatov emerged off the bench in Sunday's semi-final at Wembley, but failed to break the deadlock before missing United's opening spot-kick on the back of Tim Cahill's miss. The Bulgaria international has now gone six games without a goal following his winner at Newcastle, prompting some to label United's expensive capture a poor signing.

What do you think? Was our FA Cup defeat down to Berbatov's display?

FA Cup Team Selection

2009-04-19T18:54:00.003+01:00

United have been knocked out of the FA Cup on penalties to Everton. Was Sir Alex correct to pick such a young team? The chance to make history and win all five trophies has now gone.

Also, why did Tevez or Scholes not take a penalty? Two centre halves taking a penalty in such an important game. It beggars belief.

Have your say here.

Who should United sign this summer?

2009-04-18T19:04:00.002+01:00

Who should United sign this summer? I personally think we need a centre half as we were exposed this season when Rio was injured. I also think that Nani is not up to the level United require and we should move for Frank Ribery. Finally if Tevez stays then I think we will be okay up front with the likes of Macheda and Welbeck coming through along with Rooney & Berbatov. However if Tevez goes (and possibly Ronaldo) then we need a proven goal scorer and Benzema ticks all the boxes.

So members, who would you like to see at Old Trafford next season?

Should United sign Carlos Tevez on a permanent Contract?

2009-04-17T04:26:00.000+01:00

Should Manchester United sign Carlos Tevez on a permanent contract? The current deal expires at the end of the season and Manchester United must pay in excess of £20M to secure the services of Tevez for a further four years. Tevez has established himself as a fans favourite at Old Trafford with his work rate and tenacity clear for all to see.

What do you think? Sign Tevez or let him go and look elsewhere?

Porto V Manchester United

2009-04-16T21:27:00.000+01:00

Brilliant result on Wednesday night. Great to see so many members turning out for the game at The Red Lion. Rooney, Ronaldo, Ferdinand and Vidic were outstanding. Hopefully we will be strong enough to overcome Arsenal in the semi-finals and march to the final in Rome.

Welcome to the Bagenalstown Red Devils Blog

2009-04-16T21:22:00.001+01:00

On behalf of the Bagenalstown Red Devils I would like to welcome you to our new club blog. The Bagenalstown Red Devils are one of the largest Manchester United Supporters Clubs in Ireland and are dedicated to bringing together Manchester United fans from the local area to enjoy watching, travelling and generalling supporting our favourite team Manchester United.

Our club website www.bagenalstownreddevils.com is updated daily and contains lots of news from both Old Trafford and the locality. New members are always welcome and membership can be requested through our club website or by emailing our club secretary Con Murphy at info@bagenalstownreddevils.com

So please enjoy the blog and please feel free to post some comments and questions etc you may have. Please respect the blog and do not post anything that could insult or offend anyone in any way.