The Manchester United thread: A star is born.

[Dapxin]

Welcome Home son. welcome Home!





Who is still nervous ?

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I can watch this shot all thru the night....what a brave kid!

[No Smoking]

Who is Federico Macheda?

I was curious after seeing that Macheda goal against Villa..

If football fans across the globe had not heard of Federico Macheda before his wonder goal against Aston Villa, they certainly have now.

The 17-year-old Italian announced his arrival in English football with a dramatic and decisive injury-time curler, which gave Manchester United a 3-2 win and took them back to the top of the Premier League table above Liverpool.

But who is the player known at Old Trafford as "Kiko" Macheda and where did he come from?

Macheda was born in Rome in 1991 and began his footballing life at Lazio, where he would have stayed had it not been for Italian football regulations, which prevented under-18s signing professional terms.

The striker had already been spotted by United's vast scouting network during his early teens and, sensing an opportunity, they got their man.

He was only 16 when he signed for United as a trainee in September 2007, a move that caused uproar at Lazio, who rated him so highly they had taken him to the senior squad's pre-season camp in the summer of that same year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/7985069.stm

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that kid! he's brave man. But you gotta say, playing around Ronaldo, Berbatov Giggs and Vidic, at 17 can only do so much for your belief.

Football ? bloody hell!

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Manchester United accused over Federico Macheda deal

James Ducker

Manchester United have been accused of “bribing” the parents of Federico Macheda and turning football into a “cattle market”. Claudio Lotito, the Lazio president, is outraged at the manner in which he claims the Barclays Premier League champions lured the Italian teenager to Old Trafford.

Macheda announced his arrival in English football on Sunday when the 17-year-old substitute scored a breathtaking stoppage-time winner on his United debut to secure a 3-2 win at home to Aston Villa that returned the club to the top of the table.

But while Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo led the tributes to the young striker yesterday, Lotito has called for a change to the rules that prevent Italian clubs from tying a player under the age of 18 to a contract, claiming that United acted unethically when they signed Macheda from Lazio's youth academy in August 2007, the day after his 16th birthday.

United said that they would “not dignify such claims with a response” and there are no suggestions of any rule breaking on their part.
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Graphic: Manchester United v Porto - the key clashes

“It is unthinkable and unacceptable that a 15-year-old should be bought as if we were at a cattle market,” Lotito said. “They get the parents on board, giving them handsome compensation, offering them important jobs, which shouldn't happen, because with a 15-year-old it's unthinkable that a club should give millions of euros to his parents, practically buying the parents, and this is a real problem.

“The parents sign on behalf of the players. Normally these are kids who come from not very well-off families and on the back of their economic situation they are incentivised to find alternative economic situations.

“We tried in every way to stop Manchester United from taking our players, but the present Italian regulations don't give you any type of defence. We have to be provided with more reliable and concrete rules than those which govern Italian clubs.”

Macheda will find himself on the substitutes' bench again for the first leg of United's Champions League quarter-final against Porto at Old Trafford this evening. Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic, all of whom missed the Villa game through suspension, will return, while Rio Ferdinand, who was absent with a groin strain, could also start, despite the defender sitting out training yesterday.

Ronaldo, 24, joked that Macheda “will listen to the old players, not me”, but, in many respects, the Italian might be wise to do so, even though he has followed a similar path to the Portuguese, who joined United as an 18-year-old from Sporting Lisbon.

Speculation resurfaced over the weekend about Ronaldo's future, with Real Madrid purported to be preparing a world-record £75 million bid, but the Fifa World Player of the Year claimed he was going nowhere. “I'm happy at this club,” Ronaldo said. “I think this is the right club for me.”

Having been asked about Ronaldo's future, Ferguson took umbrage when a similar question was directed at the player, branding the situation as “pathetic”. “How many times have we had that question?” Ferguson said, although he appears convinced that the forward, who is contracted to United until June 2012, will remain at the club. “He will tell you himself that he is at the right club,” Ferguson said. “He knows that. He's settled down and his form is returning and he is looking like he will score all the time.”

United will announce the biggest profits recorded by an English club this week - possibly as early as tomorrow - after the accounts were filed late last week. Pre-tax profits for the year to June 2008 will comfortably eclipse the £59.3 million recorded the previous year.

I think, I can now believe Ronaldo when he says that.
Who wants to leave Utd to Madrid a thrash-able side by a decent everton, less liverpool ?

+

Yes! Berbatov and others got their work cut out for em, if they ever wanna keep their payroll at OT...

[Balo]

All na joke, Man U. Just a one time wonder, believe me when I say this but your season's going to end in tears - for sure.

[No Smoking]

Abeg, Dapxin. Man U was hopeless against Porto this night. I switched channel to watch Arsenal get the beautiful Adebayor equaliser against Villareal.

Tok true, ehn, 'e be laik seh Man U petrol don dey pinish...

[Dapxin]

Originally Posted by No Smoking

Abeg, Dapxin. Man U was hopeless against Porto this night. I switched channel to watch Arsenal get the beautiful Adebayor equaliser against Villareal.

Tok true, ehn, 'e be laik seh Man U petrol don dey pinish...

well well well. cant argue with that. let me try.
The 4minute goal basically short-changed whatever it was Kiko brought us at 17.
Well, I thought its, United - we always score.
Then came the moment, for Rooney - the only player that was brilliant on the night, yet still so below par. He took it. game on.

But United was Ripped apart - I admit. So shaky, it was embarrasing in defence. Confidence is so darn darn important in this game, and somehow liverpool stole it all away and we are struggling bad ass to reform it.

Porto looked almost too good, and it was class performance seriously.

I thought the result could have been worse. Really really fearful play - how many sloppy pass was in that game ?

The only hope? Well, stats says no english team's beaten them @ porto...well well well, turns out, its the only way out of hell for united now, and there can be no english team better placed to walk way home, safe....but surely not on today's velocity...

We need that comforting 3 nil win somewhere....badly!

[Dapxin]

Midfield to blame for Manchester United's defensive frailties

(Anthony Devlin/PA)

Cristiano Ronaldo's lack of defensive effort is a real problem
Tony Cascarino

Why aren't Manchester United defending as well as they were a few weeks earlier? Look at the midfield. It’s striking how open United have become in the centre of the park. Cristiano Ronaldo was the best player in the world not long ago and it’s almost gone unnoticed that he is the joint-top scorer in this season’s Barclays Premier League, but his lack of defensive effort is a real problem at the moment.

You see him walking back when United are defending, hands on hips, not chasing to recover the ball or make tackles. He’s not pulling his weight, which was obvious last Sunday against Aston Villa and in midweek in the draw with FC Porto.

Add to that, United’s lack of a top-quality defensive midfield player in the absence of the injured Owen Hargreaves, and Patrice Evra being so adventurous that the left back goes walkabout up the pitch, and you’ve got holes that opponents are exploiting. Without the ball, United look in trouble. Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes are hardly the greatest tacklers.

It’s become PlayStation football with United, open, quick and very attacking games. Of course, United have a great attacking line-up when they’re all fit, but when you are not keeping it tight at the back, you will concede chances and run the risk that opponents on a hot streak will score a couple of goals.


Ronaldo needs to remember the hard work that got him to his superstar status. He gives the impression now of a player who thinks he’s bigger than the club. He needs a kick up the backside from his manager and his team-mates, who should cajole him during games to put more of a shift in. Dimitar Berbatov’s not going to bust a gut helping out when possession is lost, either. Wayne Rooney’s a hard worker and so is Carlos Tevez, but he’s usually a substitute.

The best sides defend as a unit. It’s the law of averages that there will be games when the ball just doesn’t go in the net for United, and if they keep giving up chances at the other end, then it’s odds-on that more defeats are ahead.

Villa have similar problems. Emile Heskey hasn’t delivered goals up front since he signed but the team’s collapse isn’t his fault. Gabriel Agbonlahor has lost his edge, which hasn’t helped, but the big problem is that Villa are lacking good defensive midfield players and being exposed, like United. When Martin O’Neill’s side lost to Tottenham Hotspur recently, Spurs ran straight through the Villa midfield as if it wasn’t there.

The back four aren’t good enough to cope without decent protection from the four teammates in front and the whole team has lost confidence, which often happens when players go into a game doubting that they can keep a clean sheet.

Steve Sidwell has been injured but don’t tell me it’s because Villa are short of enough squad depth or quality, or that they lack the money to compete – O’Neill has spent far more than people realise in the past couple of seasons. There haven’t been the 15 million GBP additions you see at top four clubs, but plenty around the 5-10 million GBP bracket.

I couldnt agree more. But its the midfield hole that worries me most. It appears now to basically be a problem of hole in the defence, hole in the midfield, and typically, focus on the attack, leaving a cummulative of hole in the team in the unit.

I am so sh it scared of the return trip to Porto, should we still not find the midfield control - that is the bedrock of game supremacy....

[Dapxin]

Manchester United still in red despite record sales

Manchester United has increased full-year sales by 22 per cent to £256.2 million, a record for a British football club. That means profits, before interest and taxation, at Red Football Limited, United's immediate parent, rose by 29 per cent to £24.1 million.

The figures cover the 12 months to the end of June last year, taking in the whole of the 2007-08 season, during which United won the Uefa Champions League and, for the tenth time, the Premier League title.

However, once interest payments of £45.5 million were applied, Red Football Limited made a pre-tax loss of £21.4 million — down from a loss of £24.3 million in the previous year.

Meanwhile, Red Football Joint Venture — the vehicle through which Malcolm Glazer, the US tycoon, and his family bought United and which is the club's ultimate parent — reported a pre-tax loss of £44.8 million, mainly because of interest payments. That rose during the period from £604 million to £649.4 million because of the way that interest on “payment in kind” loans continued to roll up. Piks are loans on which no interest is payable until the end of the loan term.United's turnover was up sharply in all three of its main areas, with matchday receipts rising by 10 per cent to £101.5 million, while commercial income — which takes in merchandising, sponsorship and licensing agreements - rose by 14 per cent to £64.0million. The biggest increase was in TV revenue which, on the strength of United's Champions League triumph, surged 48 per cent to £90.7 million.

The sale of players, including Giuseppe Rossi, Gerard Piqué, Chris Eagles and Gabriel Heinze, boosted profits by £21.8million.

The club made new commercial partners during the year, including Saudi Telecom and Diageo, while existing partnerships with Budweiser, Travelcare and GlaxoSmithKline were renewed.

Red Football's contributions to the Manchester United Foundation charity dropped from £1million to £388,000. It donated £25,000 to the British Olympic Association.

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Manchester United are suffering, admits Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United's defensive problems can be traced back to the moment their clean-sheet record was brought to an end by Blackburn Rovers.

After going 14 matches without conceding, United have leaked ten goals in their past four matches, since their 4-1 defeat by Liverpool at Old Trafford.

However, Ferguson believes the malaise dates back a further three weeks to when Blackburn were unfortunate to suffer a 2-1 defeat.

"We were doing very well when we weren't conceding any goals because there was a record to defend," Ferguson said. "Once we lost that first goal against Blackburn, the battle to try to keep the record had gone. Since then we have lost really bad goals."

The list of senior players currently operating well below their peak is lengthy and includes Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic.

Gary Neville is only just back off the treatment table, while Dimitar Berbatov, Anderson, Wes Brown and Rafael da Silva remain out, along with Rio Ferdinand, whose groin injury has not given Ferguson any sign of clearing up.

However, Ferguson feels the problems have spread to even the most reliable performers.

"We are suffering," Ferguson said. "Park Ji-sung is the one player who never misses a beat in terms of his movement and endurance work in a game.

"He has such natural stamina. He was well off the pace last night and looked tired."

Vidic admits United need to rediscover their mental toughness if they are to avoid being dumped out of Europe by Porto next week. The Serbian defender is aware that no Premier League side has ever beaten Porto at the Estadio do Dragao and United will almost certainly need to end that record after last night's 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, which handed the Portuguese team the away-goals advantage.

"If you look at the last four games then obviously we haven't played as we did in the 10 games before that. We definitely need to get back on the right road, we need to get back that mentality.

"Maybe we need to work on our defence because in the last few games we have conceded too many goals.

"I don't think it's a case of players not having the confidence. But maybe we've had so many games and also we've had players injured - at this stage of the season you need all your players to be ready to play the games.

"We need to prepare as best we can, we need some players back from injuries and we can make it through."

Vidic warned however that it could be a mistake for United to out with all guns blazing in Portugal.

"We can't go there stupid and go into attack with all our guns," he said. "We need to be clever. They have some good players, they have quick players up front and they are going to be waiting for our mistakes and ready to score one goal again.

"We need to be clever and hopefully we can go into the semi-finals."

Vidic also insisted United had not made the mistake of underrating their opponents.

He said: "When we watched the videos we saw definitely they have the quality. Even before the video I knew they were a good team. They have shown over the years that in Porto they never lose.

"It's hard to win there. If you look at Arsenal and how they played them and against Chelsea and you see it's a hard game against them."

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Cantona - Le Roi

Eric Cantona may have spent only just under 5 years at Old Trafford but his influence on Manchester United can still be seen today - whether it is in the crowd, who still remember him fondly in almost every game, or in the team, with the thrills of exhibitionist football.

Cantona’s impact spread nationwide and there is a strong argument that he had the biggest individual influence on the evolution of the English game from somewhat of a kick and rush, long ball reputation to the fantastically glossy product seen on Saturday’s in this era.

Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona was born in Marseille in May 1966 and had a stormy start to his career in France. Starting at Auxerre before moving to the club of his birth town, with loan spells out at Martigues, Bordeaux and Montpellier, Cantona’s on pitch brilliance was tempered with controversy - even at the age of 21, when he punched a team mate at Auxerre!

Further issues of controversy included red cards, kicking the ball at the crowd and abusing the French national coach on television, leading to a one year international ban (well, he did call him a “bag of (naughty, naughty)”!!). His switch to his boyhood club Marseille (for a then French record fee) did not go to plan as Eric typically struggled to fit in, and his subsequent loan spell at Montpellier was the scene of another team mate altercation - this time, half a dozen players protested that Cantona should be sacked.

His on pitch form, however, was such that Marseille were persuaded to recall him, but after a couple of managerial changes, found himself under the stewardship of Ray Goethals. Despite being instrumental in Marseille’s league triumph Cantona found himself on the move again, to his final club in France, Nimes.

It was here Cantona had his infamous referee spat, throwing the ball at him after being angered by a decision - Cantona was banned for a month, and at the hearing, Eric called each committee member an *****, leading to a two month increase. So incensed, Cantona “retired” from football in December 1991.

Legend has it that Sheffield Wednesday turned down the chance to sign Cantona because they wanted “to see him play on grass”, Cantona didn’t want to wait around, and Leeds offered him the chance to sign in January 1992.

The Frenchman had some contribution as Leeds won the league title, and in the season that followed, showed a real flash of his ability with two hat-tricks - one against Liverpool in the Charity Shield, and one against Spurs. But his stay at Leeds was again relatively short - as his career moved onto its final destination, Old Trafford.

The transfer itself came about peculiarly - Howard Wilkinson, Leeds manager, phoned Martin Edwards to ask about the availability of Denis Irwin. Edwards and Alex Ferguson were in a meeting and were able to tell him “no”, but Ferguson thought to ask on the off chance about the availability of Cantona. Edwards and Wilkinson set to work and Alex Ferguson had a lunch with Peter Reid, then Manchester City boss.

During the lunch Ferguson was called by Edwards to confirm the signing, which was met with a mixture of bewilderment and humour by Reid. Indeed, such was the divide of opinion that Liverpool legend Emlyn Hughes wrote a two page spread in the Mirror declaring it a “panic buy”, to “not look to him as a match winner”, and best of all, that Ferguson was “clutching at straws”. (The entire article can be read in all its glory in our forum!).

Ferguson was taking a risk but at £1.2m it was one worth taking on a player with considerable talent. Manchester United were clearly in need of an individual who could provide the glue and a little extra sparkle for a team that were promising but threatening to become nearly men.

Cantona’s debut was as substitute against City at Old Trafford, but after that he never started another game on the bench. His first goal was against Chelsea but the first real flash of the difference Cantona could provide was against Spurs in January 93, when a sensational stabbed ball over the defence provided a goal for Irwin. And he was inspirational again as in a crucial match at Carrow Road against Norwich, he was among the scorers as United swept to a victory that started a title winning sequence of 7 wins to finish the campaign. The Red Devils had won their first league title for 26 years, and Cantona had been a big player. More was to come the following season.

United had been transformed into a truly dominating force, equally capable at pressing their opponents or destroying them on the counter attack using the pace of Giggs and Kanchelskis, with Cantona more often than not pulling all the strings in either mode of attack.

Goals came in their droves, and not just tap-ins, truly stunning efforts that seemed beyond the technical capabilities of other players. Orchestrating a comeback from 2-0 down at Maine Road with two goals and then a last minute amazing juggle to start the move for the third, hitting the bar from almost the halfway line against Chelsea, a full pitch break and goal against Sheffield United, and a flick up and volley in the top corner at Wimbledon in the FA Cup were all memorable moments.

As ever, though, Cantona was embroiled in on the pitch problems, and in the spring he was sent off in consecutive games against Swindon (for stamping) and Arsenal (for nothing), leading to a five match ban. United suffered two league defeats in this time and stumbled to a semi final win over Oldham as their season threatened to self destruct.

The return of Cantona coincided with a 4 game title winning streak, the first of which was a triumphant first half double against Manchester City. And the season was rounded off in style as Le Roi scored two penalties in the FA Cup final to secure the double. Despite his on pitch misdemeanors Cantona was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

Things were going swimmingly for Cantona with his national side as well - named as captain by coach Aimé Jacquet as the team prepared for Euro 96. Prior to the 1994 World Cup, however, Eric had a public falling out with David Ginola following a mistake by the latter leading to a crucial Bulgaria goal in the final qualifier, which ultimately meant France didn’t qualify.

If 1993-94 was Cantona’s most successful in terms of goals and assists, the 94-95 season was certainly his most notorious - and illustrated just how vital he was to United when he wasn’t on the pitch.

The events of Selhurst Park in January 1995 need no introduction, but prior to that Cantona had been in sizzling form as United looked to make it a hat-trick of titles. The season (of course) began with its controversy, as the number 7 saw red in a friendly against Glasgow Rangers, rendering him suspended for the first 3 games. Typically, he scored a penalty on his return at home to Wimbledon. Scoring crucial goals in the home and away fixtures against Blackburn Rovers summed up Cantona’s contribution but reminiscents now cast their opinion over what they suggest were Cantona’s weak points - Selhurst, and his apparent inability to perform in Europe.

While somewhat true - United never hit the lofty heights in Europe as they did in the Premier League - it is equally true that perhaps Manchester United were severely handicapped by the foreigner rule. And, what is more true, is that Cantona was actually suspended for the first 5 group games following his altercation in Galatasaray the previous year. His return, against the same opponents, was in a team that was not at all familiar to the one he would line up with on a Saturday. The subsequent opinions that Eric was a failure in Europe are in my mind grossly unfair - the one real season where we were able to play as a unit was 1996/97, which will be documented later.

Of course no review of Cantona’s career could be complete without mentioning the Selhurst Park incident, where he “kung fu kicked” Crystal Palace Matthew Simmons. It was an incredible scene, coming after Cantona had harsly seen red and was walking off. Simmons claimed he had been targetted and was innocent, Cantona claimed Simmons had hurled vitriolic racist abuse at him - no-one can be 100% sure of what happened other than that was shown. What cannot be disputed was Simmons’ prior conviction for a violent racist attack, which would lend itself to Eric’s account, who would of course have had no prior knowledge of the mere existence of the numskull in the crowd.

The kick cannot be condoned and Sir Alex Ferguson was in agreement with club directors that they should suspend Cantona for the rest of the season. In discussions with the FA, Manchester United were led to believe that this was a satisfactory conclusion (in addition to whatever criminal charges he was due to face), though as always the FA sought to make an example out of a Manchester United player and imposed a further 4 months suspension.

Such a decision in isolation cannot be declared unjustified but when taking into account the fact that, for example, Jamie Carragher’s coin throw at Arsenal in 2002 went relatively unpunished and the fact that several players have committed far worse offenses than Cantona and have had far less severe - if any at all - suspensions, then the chagrin of Sir Alex is slightly more understandable.

What was clear, was that Cantona’s suspension was probably the defining moment in the title race, as his absence saw three goalless home draws against Spurs, Leeds and Chelsea. Blackburn won the title by a single point and Everton won the FA Cup - if there were any doubts lingering regarding Cantona’s influence, the following season would dispel all of that.

Eric Cantona’s suspension was up on the 30th September 1995, and television scheduling (along with a cute fixture list) meant that his return would be at home to Liverpool. The expected media whirlwind that tagged along asked all sorts of questions - would he be fit? Would he be the same player? Even ridiculous theories like, will he attack the crowd? As it turned out, Eric was back in the crowd, but for totally different reasons.

The conversion of a penalty after McAteer had rugby tackled Giggs in the box, to rescue a draw was the fitting conclusion to a game which had started in spectacular fashion, as the Frenchman provided the assist for Nicky Butt to score in the first minute. It was the introduction to a season (which, in inducing heartbreak of a few thousand Scousers, would have a similar climax) that was possibly one of the only seasons in British football that was completely dictated by the form of one man.

The United side he rejoined had a far different complexion than the one he had been suspended from. Gone were stalwarts Ince and Hughes, gone was the lightning speed of Kanchelskis, in their place were not expensive thoroughbred replacements but wet behind the ear kids in the shape of Butt, Beckham and Scholes. Cantona’s role in the team had been transformed from puppet master to nurturer and leader and he had not even been there for the event. In truth, the side took some time to adjust, with a 5 game winless streak in the winter threatening to undermine the title challenge.

When the slide was halted with a 2-0 win over title rivals Newcastle, it looked as if a faint glimmer of hope remained, but a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham on New Year’s Day seemingly ruled United out of the race. They were 12 points behind and had lost a host of experienced players to call upon.

The White Hart Lane mauling was the making of the character of the kids as United went on a twelve game unbeaten streak which included a return to Selhurst Park (in which Cantona scored a penalty and jumped in the crowd, again in celebratory fashion), and a sensational return fixture at Newcastle where Cantona volleyed in a winner completely against the run of play. The St. James Park game was the beginning of a four game run where Eric scored United’s only goal, with a last minute equaliser at QPR, a magnificent 30 yard half volley to earn all three points at home to Arsenal, and a stunning solo effort to win against Spurs a run of games that would be pivotal to the season.

The King scored goals in the win at Manchester City and against Coventry as the Red Devils really got a grip on the race - and the FA Cup was the number 7’s playground, too, with goals in every round aside from the semi where his goalbound effort was tapped in on the line by Andy Cole. His contribution to the side was not restricted to goals, however, and in the semi against Chelsea Cantona’s goalline clearance was crucial to the side’s progression to the final.

The League title was sown up at Middlesbrough and so came Wembley and Liverpool in the FA Cup final. Cantona was named captain as Steve Bruce was dropped, and the game seemed to be drawn towards extra time, when a corner was punched out to the edge of the box by David James. In true Eric style, he volleyed the ball back through the crowd with expert accuracy and consummate ease to reclaim the double for United.

For Cantona it was complete confirmation that he had made the right choice by toughing it out and staying at United when most players would have jumped ship - for the club itself and it’s manager, complete justification in retaining faith in the unpredictable genius that had now manifested itself in the presence of the armband. In the space of 12 months Cantona had gone from fallen idol to king of his domain.

Few could have predicted, even with the Frenchman’s penchant for the unexpected, that 12 months down the line he would go from king of his domain to another member of the clubs illustrious history book.

The year in between is seen by most as a failure - Cantona had begun to fall out of love with the game, citing his performance against Liverpool as so bad that “he had forgotten he could play so badly”. The truth was Cantona’s standard was set impossibly high, his performances on the pitch were of course not the shambles they are now implied to be - perhaps he had one or two imperfect moments, but the truth of the matter is he was still the best player in the British game capable of moments of genius that no other player, including the likes of Zola and Bergkamp who had joined Chelsea and Arsenal respectively, could achieve.

In his final season Cantona scored 15 times, with the standout moment the goal against Sunderland where he wriggled past challenge after challenge, played a one two and scored a chip of supreme quality. It was hardly the disaster it is painted to be, particularly with a league title in the bag, meaning that for every season he had completed in English football he’d ended with at least a domestic championship winners medal. The truth of the matter isn’t that Cantona had become less effective, but that his influence had been so great that the likes of Beckham and Giggs had become capable of moments of genius like that of their leader. In that respect, Cantona had been so successful that he was demanding some kind of self perfection to improve even further, believing there was something greater than the pinnacle he was already at.

Seemingly frustrated by his gaping miss against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi final, Cantona informed Sir Alex of his intention to retire less than 24 hours after the game. When he did so publicly, in late May of 1997, the news came as a bombshell to United fans. Cantona had been an iconic figure during the rebirth of the club as the major force in English football, the personification of the team during that period, and had provided the on pitch influence to the youngsters coming through that Ferguson had craved - helping them to play the game as an art form, and not a tactical battle. And in all truth, it’s an influence that still stands today and a philosophy and style Ferguson clearly still adopts.

Eric Cantona’s comments since retirement seem to illustrate the point - when asked about his ideas for coaching, he has spoken about creating a style of play never before seen, a concept he is dreaming of.

There is a real double shame in the timing of Cantona’s retirement as it would seem it coincided with Sir Alex’s tactical approach to Europe - the abandonment of this to trust in his side to play their natural game paid dividends in 1999, with a style of play that Cantona would no doubt have revelled in.

Talk of the King returning to Old Trafford has never ceased since day one of his departure ( and he has indeed graced the pitch since then for testimonial matches ) whether it be talk of returning to playing, which seemed to last until he was 40, coaching, or even taking over the managers role when Sir Alex finally vacates it. Certainly in recent years he has expressed an interest and has frequently indicated that United is the only place he could return to football for, such is his love affair with the club - and, in the same vein, most United fans dream of Cantona as manager regardless of his lack of experience or any managerial reputation!

After retirement Eric still found time to be at odds with the French national set up and now actively supports England at international events as his adopted homeland.

Away from football, Cantona explored his passion for acting and has won acclaim in many roles, while also becoming somewhat of a legend in the sport of beach soccer.

Still typically outspoken, the King makes clear his everlasting affinity for the United fans who still sing his name, at almost every opportunity he has in interviews. His time at United was shorter than the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy or even David May but his impact was as significant as, if not more than, any other player in the clubs’ history. Cantona’s arrival and influence was the vital ingredient in the clubs’ victorious rebirth, an era which is still in existence more than 15 years on.

His relationship with the club and its supporters is something that the fans look for in every player - such was the bond between Cantona and the fans in the sense that United are the only club, that supporters cannot accept anything less than anyone who wears the red shirt.

It is perhaps this factor that has led so many fans to be reluctant to adore the current number seven, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the same way, though at the time of writing there is of course time for that to change.

So there you have it, a biographic review (that was intended to be in a nutshell) of our King Eric and no mention of trawlers or fishermen. D’oh..

[Dapxin]

The Star keeps shining


Federico Macheda magic lifts Manchester United
Sunderland 1 Manchester United 2

WHEN do miracles become mundane? The short career of Federico Macheda could be summed up by Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous words: “Football? bloody hell.” The plotting of this sport is haywire but Ferguson has used it to weave winning narratives since he began in management at East Stirlingshire. Call it genius, call it luck, curse it if you are from west London or Liverpool — one thing is certain, it happens too often to be coincidence.

Six days after he shook up the world on his debut against Aston Villa, Macheda did it again, scoring after being on the pitch for a minute. His goal earned Manchester United a win in a game they might have otherwise drawn or lost. In the 17-year-old’s half-hour of first-team football, he has done more for his club than some players do in a career.

A positive philosophy and a trust of gut instinct keep earning Ferguson the breaks. It is never more evident than with his faith in youth. A novice could spot Macheda’s talent but every other elite manager, with the exception of Arsène Wenger, would leave the Italian in the reserves.

Once again United were fallible, fading after their most positive start to a game in weeks and conceding via an error by Ferguson’s surprise choice of goalkeeper, Ben Foster, with Kenwyne Jones equalising after a vintage early goal from Paul Scholes. A quarter-hour was remaining, Liverpool were top of the provisional table and Ferguson, by his own admission, “was under pressure to decide changes.”

Ricky Sbragia said he was more worried when he saw Cristiano Ronaldo come on in the 69th minute than when Macheda took the field six minutes later but the youngster showed his nervelessness by immediately demanding the ball. Then, teed up by Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick shot from outside the box. Inside it, Macheda angled his foot instinctively at the ball and a moment later it was in the corner of Craig Gordon’s net.

Carrick ran one way, thinking the goal was his, while Macheda ran the other. Most United players followed Carrick, unable to believe lightning had struck twice but it had and soon Macheda was mobbed. “He side-footed it as it came to him. It’s that quick-thinking goalscorers possess, he’s got that instinct,” Ferguson said. Macheda’s finish resembled Teddy Sheringham’s when he turned Ryan Giggs’ shot past Oliver Kahn in the 1999 European Cup final: unlikely, untidy, unsaveable.

Macheda has already been photographed surrounded by chesty blondes in a nightclub and he already has his own song, boomed from the United end for the game’s remainder. “He comes from Lazio,” it goes, “He scores a wonder-goal.” For Ferguson, the kid could only be more perfect if it could be proved he were Scottish — he is a “Mac” after all.

From the other end of the age spectrum Scholes had put United ahead, rolling back the years to ghost into the box and glance Rooney’s cross beyond Gordon in the 19th minute. With Calum Davenport having dived bravely to block a previous Scholes effort and Danny Collins clearing a Nemanja Vidic header off the line, United looked as if their old authority was back. But Fernando Torres still haunts them.

Since Torres brutalised Vidic and co in Liverpool’s 4-1 win at Old Trafford, United have been defending deeper and more nervously than a top side should. Vidic, one of the most severely affected, conceded a corner needlessly after failing to communicate with Foster and a Carlos Edwards shot skewed off Jonny Evans and struck United’s post. Some of United’s problems are down to a failure to press in midfield.

Rooney failed to close Phil Bardsley, letting him cross for Davenport to send a scissors-kick close. Djibril Cisse was allowed to run through space Scholes and Carrick should have been protecting, forcing Foster to save.

The second half began with both Rooney and Cisse whistling shots past the goal and then Sunderland equalised. Teemu Tainio nutmegged Park Ji Sung and played in a beautiful, steepling cross. Foster misjudged it, Evans didn’t track Jones and the striker headed the ball down for himself before finishing. With Dimitar Berbatov twice missing chances and Carlos Tevez denied by a combination of Bardsley and Collins, no winner for United seemed forthcoming.

Then a teenage Midas loped on to the pitch. “It’s immaterial whether he meant the goal,” sighed Sbragia.

“Everything he touches turns to gold.”

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my comment on the game ? well It was Macsheda United game. endof

Is there anyone who feel scared, what's to come at porto - the way we are playing ?

I am.

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Liverpool have chance to strike first in Premier League title race

Sir Alex Ferguson has already claimed that Manchester United have been deliberately handicapped by the Barclays Premier League fixture list this season and the manager may be wondering if there is another conspiracy during the title run-in.

Ferguson is thought to be puzzled because United have to play six of their final nine league fixtures after Liverpool have already played.

Liverpool have leapfrogged United at the top of the table for the past two weekends by virtue of their wins away to Fulham and at home to Blackburn Rovers coming before the champions’ respective matches against Aston Villa and Sunderland.

United regained first place on both occasions, but Liverpool have the opportunity to keep piling the pressure on Ferguson’s team in the weeks ahead, given that each of their next four league matches kick off earlier than United’s, mainly as a consequence of the television scheduling.

Liverpool will go two points clear if they beat Arsenal at Anfield next Tuesday, the night before United entertain Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

The Merseyside club’s game away to Hull City on Saturday week will have finished by the time United take on Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the day’s evening kick-off and Liverpool host Newcastle United in a 1.30pm kick-off on May 3 — 2½ hours before United play Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Rafael Benítez’s team then face West Ham United away on May 9, with United not playing Manchester City at Old Trafford until the next day.

Ferguson raised eyebrows in January when he complained that the fixture schedule was not drawn randomly, given that United were forced to play the eight teams that finished directly below them last season away from home during the first half of this campaign. “Our fixture programme didn’t do us any favours and I think we have been handicapped by the Premier League in the fixture list,” he said. “They tell me it’s not planned. Bloody hell!”

Of more immediate concern to Ferguson, however, is the Champions League. United fly to Portugal this morning for the second leg of their quarter-final against Porto knowing that they will probably have to become the first English team to win at the Estadio do Dragão if they are to progress to the last four after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford a week ago.

Michael Carrick, the United midfield player, is adamant that they will not surrender their European crown lightly. “We’re English and European champions and we don’t want to let either trophy go,” he said.

Fernando, the Porto midfield player, is wary of the threat posed by Cristiano Ronaldo, even though the United forward has not been at his best this season. “We’ll have to be ready,” he said. “If we don’t play like we did \, then Ronaldo can make all the difference.”

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FC Porto 0-1 Manchester United (2-3)

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 40 yard wonder goal to propel European Champions Manchester United into their third successive semi final in the competition, with his goal being the first winner for an English club at the great home of the Portuguese champions. With echoes of David Beckham’s free kick from similar range against the same opponents that hit the crossbar 11 years ago, Ronaldo went one better to score one of the greatest goals in the grand history of the European Cup to give a telling nod to his detractors this season (not Sir Alex Ferguson, as the Sky broadcasting team persistently and rather pathetically tried to insist).

Ronaldo’s goal was the highlight of a vibrant attacking display but the pivotal players in this second leg were Rooney, Giggs and Anderson, whose work rate and skill in possession made the game far more comfortable than it seemed at kick off. And if they were the ones who dictated the run of the game, the sight of a more familiar backline with Ferdinand and Vidic was the controlling element that ensured no seriously nervy moments.

Ronaldo’s goal aside, a glaring chance for Vidic and a fantastic United move in the dying moments of the first half could have extended the advantage - and several counter attacks could have sealed the game in the second. Porto did have their moments but nothing that ever really troubled van der Sar, and United head into a semi final against their famed rivals over the last decade or so - with Ronaldo looking like he is hitting form again, Berbatov in inspired mood, Giggs still appearing evergreen, the energetic Anderson back, and Ferdinand making his return, the Champions of all trophies bar the FA Cup look in good shape moving into the semi final in this competition.

I didn't see the whole game, but the 3/4 I saw: I think it was CR7's most influential gameplay for United. And What a shot that was. worth every penny the price of admission.

The boy played with some rare sense of maturity, and controlled determination I hadn't noticed since arrival.

But I woulda SAF play Tevez than the wasteful Nani.....

Now, we got the Arsenal kids to devour; that bloody mad fixture again.

Gameplay is looking safe again, Manchester United....the worse seems over.

The beauty of the shaky past days ===> the birth of a new OT prodigy Go United!

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Kick of the week..

YouTube - Ronaldo Goal V Porto - 39 Yards Out - 15/4/09

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Its never over until its over.....I dey come.

United!

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Man Utd 5-2 Tottenham



A sensational second-half fightback against Tottenham helped Manchester United leap-frog Liverpool at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Darren Bent crashed in Vedran Corluka's cross and Luka Modric converted Aaron Lennon's floater as Spurs dominated.

Ronaldo pulled one back from the spot after Michael Carrick was brought down by Heurelho Gomes, and Wayne Rooney equalised from the edge of the box.

A Ronaldo header and strikes by Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov secured the win.

After United's dreams of a quintuple were reduced to a quadruple after last week's FA Cup shoot-out loss to Everton and with four days before their Champions League commitments, their season seemed to be balancing on a knife-edge.

With Liverpool briefly at the top of the table after their win over Hull, the pressure was all on United, who began without Ryan Giggs even in the squad, who will have to wait another day for his 800th appearance.

Spurs, hunting their first win at Old Trafford for 20 years, welcomed back defender Ledley King, Jermaine Jenas was favoured to Tom Huddlestone, while Jermain Defoe remained in London following the death of his half-brother.

It was a lively start in the Manchester sun with the first chance of the game falling to Darren Bent who headed tamely from the back post at Edwin van der Sar and Ronaldo skipping a shocking double-footed challenge from Wilson Palacios.

For all of their early possession, United were creating precious little, although Ronaldo went close with a header from a Nani cross, and they were made to pay inside half an hour.

With Corluka causing trouble down the right, the Croatian defender curled in towards a sleeping Rio Ferdinand who failed to deal with the ball and Bent was there to pick up the scraps on the six-yard line to crash in his 17th goal of the season.

And just two minutes later the Tottenham fans would have been pinching themselves to see if they were dreaming with Modric being mobbed by his team-mates after scoring the second.

Patrice Evra was having an awful time dealing with Aaron Lennon with the Englishman bursting past him, not for the first time in the afternoon and Modric chested down before smashing into the net.

With half-time looming and the Old Trafford faithful sounding increasingly anxious, a Ronaldo volley came within a Gomes fingertip of pulling a goal back.

The defending Premier League champions were rattled and Darren Fletcher's stray pass just before the interval's whistle typified a sloppy and incompetent 45 minutes.

The United's players returned for the second period with, no doubt, their manager's voice ringing in their ears and their comeback fight got going without the lacklustre Nani, replaced by striker Carlos Tevez .

The Argentine, who many predict will make an Old Trafford exit at the end of the season, almost gave a worthy reminder to his current employers what they may be missing, hitting straight at Gomes when one-on-one inside the hour.

Two minutes later the Manchester arena erupted as Carrick, bursting into the box after a Ronaldo pass, nipped the ball around Gomes and was adjudged to have been brought down.

The Spurs were players incensed, but Howard Webb's decision was not going to change and the Portuguese calmly dispatched from the spot.

If there was any doubt about the first goal there was none about the equaliser, when Rooney blasted in from outside the box after Rafael and Berbatov had combined to set up the English striker.

And just one minute later there were scenes of delirium with the on-fire Rooney crossing in for Ronaldo who dived at full-stretch to head home their third.

It was a phenomenal turn around - although numerically not quite as grand as the recovery in 2001 at White Hart Lane when United won 5-3 after trailing 3-0 at half-time.

The misery continued for a stunned Tottenham, as Ronaldo and Rooney were in danger of running the show on their own.

Ronaldo burst through on the right and delicately chipped for Rooney, whose volley crept over the line, despite the scrambled efforts of Jonathan Woodgate.

It was four goals in 14 minutes and United, perhaps sensing an urgent need to improve their goal difference - currently inferior to Liverpool by two - poured forward in search of a fifth.

Remarkably it arrived and it was courtesy of the boot of Tottenham's former hero Berbatov.

The Bulgarian's header was saved by Gomes, and with the Spurs defence struggling to clear the ball, Berbatov followed up to bundle in.

Once again, United have a breathing space of three points over Liverpool with a game in hand, but as Carrick predicted ahead of this epic battle, a few more twists and turns in the season's finale is guaranteed.

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Teen duo eye Boro chance

With Sir Alex Ferguson looking to shuffle his pack for Saturday’s lunch-time trip to Middlesbrough, two of United's most promising young talents will hope to get their chance to shine.

It's not so much been glimpses of promise from Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda as headline-grabbing heroics. Macheda hit the back pages with recent match-winners against Aston Villa and Sunderland, while Welbeck hit a goal-of-the-season contender on his league bow against Stoke, adding two more in the FA Cup.

Both could be in contention for the crucial league match against Middlesbrough this weekend, as Sir Alex looks to rest players ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final, second leg against Arsenal.

“They’ve both been fantastic,” says the boss of Macheda and Welbeck, who have been the discoveries of the season. “I’m trying to keep them happy and feeling wanted as first-team players, which is what they are now.

“I think they have the quality and physical strength to do it, but it's not easy because when it comes to big games, players start to get fit again. Big games bring out the best of people in terms of not being injured, believe me!”

Welbeck, 18, and Macheda, 17, didn’t make the bench for Arsenal match on Wednesday, but they could play a vital role on Teesside, either from the start or as a substitute.

“It’s been very difficult with seven substitutes, and everyone available, and I've tried to use one or the other as one of my options. We were delighted with their performances at Wembley against Everton,” added Sir Alex. “They have both done really well and they could be involved on Saturday.”

Looks like we might see a few young lads on the field on Saturday, Fergys resting the big boys for Arsenal.

Hope he doesnt play the side that that lost to Everton. he needs to keep the pressure on Liverpool, 6 points clear by the time they play.
Come on....