Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[machoman]

Owen hints at extent of England pain

Monday, March 01, 2010, 10:01:21 HRS

Manchester United's English footballer Michael Owen is congratulated by team-mates after scoring against Aston Villa. He later pulled up with a hamstring injury.

Michael Owen has hinted for the first time at the true depth of his frustration at being cast into the shadows by England manager Fabio Capello.

Owen has been consistently ignored by Capello since the Italian took charge and will once again be at home in Cheshire when England play Egypt in Wednesday's World Cup warm-up.

For nearly two years Owen has maintained a dignified silence over his international exile, but the mask slipped for just a moment in the aftermath of Sunday's bittersweet 2-1 League Cup final win against Aston Villa.

After spending much of the season as a bit-part player with United, Owen was handed a rare moment in the spotlight as he started ahead of Wayne Rooney at Wembley.

He seemed determined to seize the opportunity and rolled back the years with an effervescent display capped by a superb 13th minute strike to cancel out James Milner's early penalty.

With Capello watching from the stands, Owen had proved he still has the ability to make his mark on the game's grandest stages.

Yet before the half was over, Owen's day had taken an all too familiar turn as he pulled up with a hamstring injury.

Suddenly it was easy to see why Capello isn't prepared to risk gambling on such a fragile player and Owen must have know his faint hopes of going to South Africa were over.

Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney (2nd R) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Aston Villa during the 2010 Carling Cup Final at Wembley, in north London. United won 2-1.

Perhaps that was behind his revealing response when he was asked if he felt his England chances had taken another blow.

"I've said many times it's difficult for me to talk about it or find the right words because one slip of the tongue and I'm going to be on the back page," he said.

"If I said what I think or how I feel...I would only be lying to you if I spoke about England so there is no point in asking, put it that way.

"I didn't even know the England manager was watching. I just wanted to play well and win the trophy."

After such a day of conflicting emotions, Owen could be forgiven for being in combative form when he faced reporters following the match.

Owen admitted the injury is likely to keep him out for several weeks but he insisted he has no regrets about making the move to Old Trafford.

"It's not been difficult to accept my role here. I would like to play a lot more obviously but you try getting in the team with Wayne Rooney playing like this!" he said.

"If Wayne hadn't have been scoring two or three in every game then the manager might have rotated a bit more and I would have got more games, so there is no way I am unhappy with my decision or how things have gone.

"Out of 43 games we've played this year I have been involved in 42. No-one had been writing about injuries for a good while but everyone will have a field day again now.

"I've played at teams that have not been doing well in the league and I would prefer to play a lesser role if I can play and train with real top-level players every day. Then when you do play you are playing in a game like this.

"Obviously it's a little sour note me having to come off and being out for a few weeks but I suppose that can't disguise the pleasure you get from scoring, winning and picking up the trophy. It's days like that you remember for the rest of your career."

Although Owen will miss a portion of United's title run-in and Champions League challenge, he hopes to be back in time to play a role in the decisive final matches.

"The season is not over and there's everything to play for. I'm not a doom monger. There are plenty of people who want to put a negative spin on things, but I'm too long in the tooth and have seen it all before," he said.

"There are plenty of big games coming up, I've just had a child the other day, I've got four kids and I'm playing for one of the biggest teams in Europe.

"It's not all doom and gloom is it' I've got every reason to have a smile on my face."

- AFP

[sentsggirls]

another silverware for man utd. Great job red devils in yesterday night carling cup finals. Once again Rooney scores and it was the winning goal. I am quite impressed with that header Somehow world class to me

[richie_rich]

GLAZERS: UNITED NOT FOR SALE

The Glazer family have responded to reports of a summit meeting involving the key players behind the 'Red Knights' group trying to oust them from Manchester United by again declaring they have no interest in selling the club.

With debts mounting and alarm bells ringing following details contained within the prospectus for the recent £500million bond sale, a group of mega-rich United fans are said to be planning to make a push to buy the Old Trafford outfit themselves.

Well-known football deal maker Keith Harris - a lifelong United fan - is at the centre of the group, along with Jim O'Neill, chief economist at Goldman Sachs.

Their hope is to try to starve the Glazers of cash and persuade them to accept a deal that would net the Americans around £1billion.

That move would certainly be popular with the growing number of fans who have joined the 'Green and Gold' campaign.

There were plenty of scarves in the distinctive colours of Newton Heath, the club United eventually became, in evidence at the Carling Cup final yesterday.

And the Manchester United Supporters Trust, who have always been opposed to the Glazers' ownership, are working with the men who provided the digital strategy for Barack Obama's US presidential campaign on a plan aimed at getting the club's controversial owners to relinquish their grip.

However, as it presently stands, the move seems destined to fail.

Members of the Glazer family were at Wembley to watch United overcome Aston Villa to win the Carling Cup.

And, judging by the often-repeated response to further questions about their ownership, it seems they are not going anywhere.

"Manchester United is not for sale," said a family spokesman.

[richie_rich]

MAN UNITED DROP TO THIRD IN RICH LIST

Manchester United have dropped to third place behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in the 'rich list' of European clubs.

The Deloitte Football Money League sees the two Spanish clubs secure the top spots but mainly due to the continuing decline of the pound against the euro.

Real Madrid has topped the 'rich list' for the last five years but Barcelona's unprecedented success last season where they won five trophies has seen them overtake United despite a 9% rise in income at Old Trafford.

The overwhelming dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain is shown by the fact that no other La Liga side occupy a top 20 place, while there is a strong sprinkling of Italian and German clubs, including Bayern Munich who are fourth.

The two Spanish giants have one significant advantage in revenue terms in that they negotiate their own individual television rights while the Premier League have a collective deal which is shared much more equally among all 20 clubs.

The most notable change in the list, based on clubs' revenue excluding transfer fees, sees Arsenal leapfrog Chelsea, with the Gunners recording a 7% rise in revenue to £224million compared to their London rivals' £206million - a 3% fall in revenue.

Dan Jones, partner in the sports business group at Deloitte, told Press Association Sport: "Chelsea's revenue has dropped because last season was a bit worse than usual on the pitch, they had frozen season ticket prices and there was not a lot going on in big new commercial developments.

"Arsenal have the advantage in matchday income with a new 60,000-seater stadium and they made the semi-finals of both the Champions League and the FA Cup.

"All the English clubs were impacted by the continuing depreciation of the pound against the euro and the scale of this is shown by the fact that if exchange rates remained at their June 2007 level, United would be top of the money league table."

Liverpool, who enjoyed an 11% revenue increase, rose a place to seventh above AC Milan. There are seven English sides in the top 20 in Europe - Tottenham are 15th, Manchester City 19th and Newcastle 20th.

Positions (last year's position in brackets):

1 (1) Real Madrid £341.9million

2 (3) Barcelona £311.7m

3 (2) Man Utd £278.5m

4 (4) Bayern Munich £246.6m

5 (6) Arsenal £224.0m

6 (5) Chelsea £206.4m

7 (8) Liverpool £184.8m

8 (11) Juventus £173.1m

9 (10) Internazionale £167.4m

10 (7) AC Milan £167.4m

11 (15) Hamburg £124.9m

12 (9) Roma £124.7m

13 (12) Lyon £118.9m

14 (16) Marseille £113.5m

15 (14) Tottenham £113.0m

16 (13) Schalke £106.0m

17 (n/a) Werder Bremen £97.7m

18 (20) B Dortmund £88.1m

19 (n/a) Man City £87.0m

20 (17) Newcastle £86.0m

[richie_rich]

RED KNIGHTS CONFIRM MAN UNITED PLAN

The 'Red Knights' have confirmed their intention to try to oust the owners of Manchester United.

Sickened by the huge amount of debt the Glazers' took on to complete their controversial takeover in 2005, the Red Knights are intent on launching a takeover bid.

Described as a group of "high net worth individuals", the Red Knights include Jim O'Neill, chief economist at Goldman Sachs and a one-time friend of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Although plans are at a very early stage and no contact has been made with the Glazers, who have always stressed they are not interested in a deal, a meeting in London yesterday between the key individuals involved in the Red Knights project went through various scenarios and will now look at formulating a plan to raise in excess of £1billion.

"We can confirm that a group of high net worth individuals, who support Manchester United (known as the "Red Knights"), met in London yesterday," a statement released on behalf of the Red Knights read.

"This group is supportive of current management but are looking at the feasibility of putting together a proposal to be put to the Glazer family regarding the ownership of Manchester United.

"These discussions are in early stages and no contact has been made with the Glazer family."

Leading football deal-maker Keith Harris is also involved and has previously suggested some kind of boycott may be required to reduce United's current profits and wreck the Glazers' present business plan.

There is certainly a groundswell of opinion against the Glazers and the current "Green and Gold campaign" so in evidence at Wembley on Sunday has proved incredibly popular.

As a starting measure, the Red Knights are urging supporters to join the Manchester United Supporters Trust, which has been vehemently opposed to the Glazers from day one.

"For such a proposal to be viable it would require the involvement and support of Manchester United supporters worldwide," the statement continued.

"The Red Knights have been liaising with the Manchester United Supporters Trust and their representatives attended yesterday's meeting.

"As a first step, the Red Knights want supporters to demonstrate their commitment by joining the free online membership of the Supporters Trust, Welcome to MUST .::. MUST - the Manchester United supporters' trust.

"Any new ownership model would aim not only to put the club on a sound financial footing, but would also aim to put the supporters at the heart of everything the club does."

Duncan Drasdo, chief executive of MUST, welcomed today's news.

He said: "I can confirm that we were present at the 'secret' meeting of the Red Knight Group yesterday and have been involved in discussions for some time.

"This development is hugely welcome as there is a genuine desire to see a change of ownership at Manchester United.

"Initially the Red Knight Group has effectively set a challenge to Manchester United supporters to demonstrate they wish to see an alternative ownership proposal developed.

"In the first instance supporters are being asked to do this simply by joining the free online membership of the Supporters Trust (MUST) and swelling its ranks to an initial target of at least 100,000.

"It is also essential for a majority of two key groups, the Old Trafford season ticket holders and those with executive facilities, to show their appetite for participation by joining the MUST online campaign."


THE RED KNIGHTS EXPLAINED

Who are the Red Knights plotting to take over at Old Trafford?: A mixture of City bankers, lawyers and lifelong United fans, including Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O'Neill, Paul Marshall, a partner at the hedge fund Marshall Wace, Richard Hytner of advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi and Mark Rawlinson, a partner in Freshfields' corporate practice who advised United on their takeover by Malcolm Glazer and his family in 2005.

What is their plan?: Simple. To raise £1billion to buy out the Glazers, who have plunged the club into debt to the tune of £716.5million.

How would they raise the cash?: One idea involves finding 40 individuals to put up £20m each, with the Red Knights borrowing around £200m to top up the offer, but the plan would be to keep debt to a minimum.

How would they run the club?: For the fans and not as a commercial venture is the plan. United would stay in private ownership and not be returned to the public markets where it was traded until the Glazers' buyout.

Who is their leader?: Seymour Pierce stockbroker Keith Harris is the man brokering the potential takeover. He is a former HSBC investment bank chief executive and well known in football circles due to his involvement in takeovers of West Ham, Manchester City and Aston Villa. He is also the financier who warned last year that football's gravy train was set for a crash.

Do they have support?: The Red Knights have spoken with the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST), who have indicated they will back any bid. Not surprising considering the blaze of green and gold inside Old Trafford as fans protest against the Glazers in the colours of Newton Heath, the club which predated United.

What chance has the plot of succeeding?: Not good. Exploratory discussions are thought to have begun at the offices of law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer on Monday to study the viability, rather than details, of any bid. The problem is that the Glazers maintain they have no intention of selling and the Red Knights have no way of ousting them other than to make a bid they cannot refuse.

Do the Glazers have any support?: Not among fans but their decision to alleviate high interest repayments on the £716.5million debt with a £500million bond issue last month was successful. The issue was twice oversubscribed.

Is Harris confident?: Cautiously optimistic at best. He said: "There is a serious intent on the part of those people (Red Knights) who have not just support in their hearts but the ability to muster support from their pockets to get after this and the time feels right."

[imom]

Another article from Jim White at yahoo/eurosport.


Red Knights can save Red Devils
Wed Mar 03 10:34AM



There is outside Old Trafford at the moment a giant banner commemorating the stadium's 100th birthday. Typically, it is being used for commercial advantage: buy your anniversary commemorative memorabilia in the club superstore. But nonetheless the poster might remind a few of those emerging laden with red-bagged booty how the place came to be built in the first place.

In 1902, Newton Heath FC were close to bankruptcy, their existence only maintained by some of the senior players going round Manchester pubs rattling collecting tins under the noses of fans. A local brewer called John Henry Davies stepped in and took over, wiping out the debt, changing the club's name and, in 1910, relocating it to a premises he boasted was the finest football ground in the country. Davies built Old Trafford out of his own pocket (or rather out of the purse of his wife, the heiress of the Tate and Lyle fortune). Not a penny of debt was incurred. A proud Mancunian, his intention, he said, was to produce "a team of Manchester men to make Manchester proud."

It was a sense of purpose that ran through the club for generations, understood by his successors. Men like Matt Busby who once took his first team after training to stand at the factory gates and watch the poor, downtrodden locals emerging from their shift, just to remind the players of their duty to lift the lives of those who paid their wages out of the humdrum.

Such a philosophy succeeded in developing an institution that, a century on from Davies's vision, is easily Manchester's most powerful international point of recognition. Its renown even seeped into the consciousness of a family in Florida who were entirely agnostic to English working class culture and Mancunian nationalism; they weren't even interested in football.

But they knew an opportunity to make money for themselves when they spotted one. And since 2005, the Glazers have helped themselves to over £260million in fees and charges from United, money that has come directly from the pockets of the fans, who have seen season ticket prices rise exponentially. To put into perspective what the Glazers have cost United, that money could have been used instead to keep admission prices at 2005 levels and there would still have been more than £100 million to invest in the team.

It has been pillage on an epic scale, the grandest of grand larceny. Every day, one of Britain's finest cultural institutions is being denuded to bolster the wealth of a bunch of people with no understanding of its meaning or history or purpose. It is the same at Anfield, two great establishments, their wealth built up over decades through the dedication of their followers, suddenly denuded for greed. So unparalleled an assault on our collective history is it, the only analogy would be if Oxford and Cambridge universities fell into rapacious speculative ownership, and the years of knowledge and learning rapidly sold off for short-term profit.

Now at least there appears to be some stirrings of resistance at United. The green and yellow scarves waved in the stands at Wembley was a nice visual metaphor for the displeasure of the supporters and an opportunity for them to contemplate exactly what it is they support about the club.

Plus, this week there has been the emergence of the Red Knights, a bunch of high worth individuals keen to buy the club from the Glazers and remove it from the shadow of debt. Sure, with their backgrounds in City speculation, they are about as far from the railwaymen who founded the club as it is possible to be. As it happens, I know a couple of them personally, and I am certain that, as lifelong supporters, they at least understand the place's wider meaning.

They are putting together a plausible strategy that could see the club become just that: a club, an organisation for members defending the members' interests, much in the manner of Barcelona. To help their cause, what might be required is a serious fans' demonstration, perhaps combining with their equally beleaguered rivals from Liverpool on March 21. With such backing, they can progress. As a process, a takeover like theirs won't be cheap and it won't be easy. But that doesn't mean it won't happen.

The Glazers issued a robust statement about the Red Knights' approach this week: "Manchester United is not for sale". It gave ironic echo to the rallying cry of those supporters in 2005 who tried to stop them buying it in the first place. That position proved to be wrong back then. It is for the long-term good of English football that it proves to be wrong again.

[richie_rich]

MONEY THERE FOR FERGIE TO SPEND - GILL

Sir Alex Ferguson can still count on the £80million received from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to spend on new players in the summer, according to Manchester United chief executive David Gill.

United's owners the Glazer family counted the income from Ronaldo's sale as contributing to their profits last year but Gill said the money was still there for Ferguson in the form of cash in the bank.

Gill also told the Red Knights group of wealthy fans they are wasting their time trying to buy the club.

He told the Soccerex conference in Manchester: "We are looking at players all the time, the money from Ronaldo is sitting there in the bank account, we have been clear on that.

"But Alex has been very clear he is not going out to chase and overpay for a player just because everyone else thinks we should. He's a Scot, he wants value for money.

"We have spent a lot of money on Chris Smalling [from Fulham] and that's the sort of player we want to bring in - a young player who we feel will develop as a player and hopefully give us service for many, many years to come.

"Alex is very comfortable with it. He would not be shy in saying he wasn't comfortable and we need to buy a player. We are a successful team and the way it's moved on since Cristiano left after six very successful years with us demonstrated why he's comfortable with what he's got."

Gill insisted the Glazer family do not want to sell the club, said they are running it "in the right way", defended the owners' £709million total debt and questioned the practicality of the Red Knights' plans for a takeover.

He also branded merchant banker Keith Harris, a key member of the group who has called for a fan boycott of United matches, as a "publicity seeker" and was scathing about his track record in football takeovers.

Gill said: "The Glazers have given no indication to me that they want to sell and in that case they cannot buy the asset, it's not for sale.

"The Glazers have no wish to sell and from our perspective they are running the club in the right way."

Gill accepted that some of those involved in Red Knights were credible but was scathing about Harris, who has been involved in a number of takeover bids of top-flight clubs.

He said: "We are aware of Jim O'Neill [Goldman Sachs economic adviser] in that he was on our board before the takeover, Mark Rawlinson was our adviser at Freshfields [law firm].

"Keith Harris will go anywhere there is publicity around, we know that and we accept that, that's his modus operandi but if you looks at his track record in football I don't think it's anything to write home about."

Gill also questioned how a Red Knights' takeover would work at United.

He added: "The Red Knights proposal, the idea of having 20, 30 or 40 very wealthy people running Manchester United, I don't know how it would work in practice.

"The better run clubs are where there is clear single decision-making and it's quick and efficient - Abramovich at Chelsea, Mansour at Manchester City, Berlusconi at AC Milan. The key decision-making at Real Madrid is not by all those fans but by the president and the same goes at Barcelona.

"Having a number of wealthy people involved - they will all want to be involved in decision-making.

"I'm not sure what their end game is but the end game is irrelevant.

"The vast majority of the fans of Manchester United should be comfortable with what we are doing in terms of pushing the club forward and success on the pitch and making sure that we continue at the top of European and world football."

[richie_rich]

The Going Soon Gossip

UNITED IN FOR 'NEW MODRIC

You might have thought that Manchester United would have had their fingers burned when it comes to youngsters from the Balkans, after the whole Zoran Tosic/Adam Ljajic debacle, but The Daily Mail disagrees.

They claim that United are rather keen on Croatian youngster Milan Badelj, who has taken over Luka Modric's playmaker role at Dinamo Zagreb, and he'll set them back around £9million in the summer.

Of course, there are some others around too, with Inter Milan, Lyon and Bayern Munich big fans too.

[machoman]

Scholes sends United to Premier League summit

Sunday, March 07, 2010, 04:07:23 HRS

Manchester United's midfielder Paul Scholes (L) celebrates scoring during their English Premier League football match against the Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton. Scholes scored the only goal as Manchester United moved two points clear ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory away to Wolves.

Paul Scholes scored the only goal as Manchester United moved two points clear ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory away to Wolves.

With Chelsea - who started the weekend as league leaders - in FA Cup action against Stoke on Sunday, United capitalised with a hard-earned win at Molineux.

Wolves dominated for long spells but former England midfielder Scholes, 35, came up with a winner, his 100th Premier League goal, 17 minutes from time.

Mick McCarthy's men have won just once in 10 matches and are now only a point above the relegation zone as they look to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

McCarthy, much criticised for fielding a weakened side during United's 3-0 league win in December, saw him his team have this match's first chance through Kevin Doyle.

The Irish striker was clipped by Wes Brown as he broke into the United half but got back on his feet and was picked out by a cross from Matthew Jarvis only to drill just wide of goal.

With Dimitar Berbatov on his own in an attack missing Wayne Rooney after the England striker was ruled out with a longstanding knee injury, United's best early efforts came on the break.

Antonio Valencia thumped a shot into the side-netting after he was sent through by Darron Gibson and Nani then drove wide from Berbatov's drag-back. Wolves were lucky not to concede a penalty when Karl Henry dragged Gibson to the floor as the Irishman tried to get to Nani's deflected free kick.

Another United counter-attack saw Valencia release Berbatov and the Bulgarian cross for Gibson, whose thumping effort was held by Marcus Hahnemann.

Manchester United's defender Patrice Evra (R) jumps for the ball against Wolverhampton Wanderers' midfielder David Jones during the English Premier League football match at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton. Manchester United won 1-0.

England midfielder Michael Carrick's low shot was also held by Hahnemann but Wolves finally tested Edwin van der Sar with a fine move.

Doyle burst past Nemanja Vidic into the United half and knocked wide to Jarvis, who pulled the ball back rather than shooting, and David Jones's shot was easily held by van der Sar.

Wolves spurned an even better opportunity when Jarvis's cross picked out Stephen Ward unmarked but the defender headed straight at Dutch keeper van der Sar from six yards.

United replaced Wes Brown with Gary Neville at the interval but threatened straight from the restart.

Valencia beat Ward easily and picked out Berbatov with a low cross but his shot was blocked by Christophe Berra.

Henry dragged wide from just outside the area and Patrice Evra was blocked by Jody Craddock at the end of a powerful run.

Valencia was tormenting Ward and another cross from the right was glanced wide of goal by Nani.

But United pulled in front with just over a quarter of an hour left.

Nani's cross picked out the veteran midfielder and after Berra failed to close him down, Scholes found the corner of Hahnemann's net.

Mame Biram Diouf should have made the game safe for United but headed wide from a Neville cross when he was unmarked at the far post.

South Korean star Park Ji-sung, another substitute, passed up a late chance to put the game beyond doubt.

And Wolves substitute Sam Vokes should have punished United by equalising in added time but instead shot over from six yards out.

- AFP

[richie_rich]

The Herring Gossip

UNITED SIGN WHIPPER, SNAPPER

More rumour and hearsay in The Daily Mail now, and they report that Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign a Belgian youngster from, as one would expect, Belgium.

The paper fingers (if you will) the lad Marnick Vermijl, a Standard Liege right-back, as the latest defender to move to Old Trafford.

The youngster is a versatile performer apparently, and is expected to move to United in the summer and could be part of Sir Alex Ferguson's first-team squad for the start of next season.

Here's a confidence-booster for you chaps; apparently he's never played a first-team game for Liege.


VILLA JOIN QUEUE FOR MATTHEWS

Another youthful defensive type who United have been keeping their collective beady eye on is Cardiff full-back Adam Matthews.

According to The Daily Mail (them again), Aston Villa have joined the hunt for the youngster.

Cardiff are currently in talks to sign Matthews up for a new long-term deal, but don't be fooled into thinking they want to keep him for the long-run - the contract is simply so they can get the best price for their man in the summer.

Villa and United are joined by Spurs and Arsenal in tracking the 18-year-old, who could cost up to £5million.

[richie_rich]

ASIAN BILLIONAIRES IN UNITED LINK

Two Asian billionaires were keen to make a £1billion bid for Manchester United, according to reports.

Sky Sports News reports that the pair were prepared to pay the massive sum, but were told the Glazer family was unwilling to sell.

It is understood the deal was brokered by super-agent Pini Zahavi in October last year.

Zahavi represents Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and has close links with the club.

But the billionaires, who have not been named but are 'huge Manchester United supporters', were told the Glazers 'were not willing to hear offers'.

It is believed the potential investors provided proof of funds in a Swiss bank account.

The investors have no involvement with the 'Red Knights' consortium who revealed their own takeover plans last week.

Zahavi was involved in Roman Abramovich's surprise takeover at Chelsea in 2003.

[richie_rich]

BELGIAN YOUNGSTER TO JOIN MAN UNITED

Manchester United have completed a deal to sign Belgian starlet Marnick Vermijl, according to the player's father.

The 18-year-old is understood to have impressed both Sir Alex Ferguson and reserve-team boss Ole Gunner Solskjaer during trials.

United have now handed Vermijl a three-year contract with his current club Standard Liege getting around €300,000 in compensation.

Wing-back Vermijl, who can play on either side, will move to Old Trafford in the summer.

"They said he was the best right or left-back they had seen in years," Vemijl's father Dirk told Het Laatste Nieuws.

"Ferguson told me that Marnick in the following years would become a fixture in the Manchester United squad."

[machoman]

Rooney breaks 30-goal barrier as United humble Milan

Thursday, March 11, 2010, 05:45:20 HRS

Manchester United's English forward Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring his second goal against AC Milan during their UEFA Champions League round of 16, second leg football match at Old Trafford. United won 4-0.

Wayne Rooney reached 30 goals for the season as Manchester United marched into the last eight of the Champions League with a clinical 4-0 demolition of AC Milan here on Wednesday.

On a night that saw David Beckham return to where it all started for him, it was the current darling of the Old Trafford faithful who steered United into the quarter-finals by following up his double in the 3-2 first leg victory in Milan with another brace.

A first-half header put Sir Alex Ferguson's side firmly in control and the the England striker killed the tie in the opening seconds of the second period.

Park Ji-Sung and Darren Fletcher round off a memorable night as United eliminated their opponents for the first time in five attempts since two of European football's iconic institutions first met, 52 years ago.

The predictions of a fluid encounter were vindicated by an opening ten minutes in which Milan might have established the two-goal lead they required to overturn the deficit from the first leg.

United had the first opportunities, Rooney's shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area slipping just the wrong sight of the post, Gary Neville's 25-yarder dipping into the roof of the net just too late and a Nani shot being turned round the post by Christian Abbiati.

But those were definitely in the half-chance category, unlike the openings enjoyed by Ronaldinho, who directed a free header from Andrea Pirlo's free-kick wide, and Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

Having been put beyond the United back four by Ronaldinho's floated pass, the Dutch striker fluffed his attempt to bring the ball under his control.

Milan's profligacy was swiftly sanctioned with Rooney giving United a 13th-minute lead with his third headed goal of the tie.

Manchester United's English defender Gary Neville (R) competes with AC Milan's Brazilian forward Ronaldinho during their UEFA Champions League round of 16, second leg football match at Old Trafford. United won 4-0.

Allowed to advance though the inside right channel in leisurely fashion, Neville had time to tee up a cross which Rooney directed beyond Abbiati's right-hand having been granted an equally generous amount of space by his marker, Daniele Bonera.

That left Milan needing to score three times and, for the remainder of the first-half that appeared a very remote prospect, the visitors' only moment of menace coming when Edwin van der Sar needed a second attempt to smother Pirlo's swerving shot.

Darren Fletcher came closest to extending United's lead before the break, his drive curling just wide in first-half stoppage time.

The break saw Bonera replaced by Clarence Seedorf as Milan played their final cards, but within a minute of the restart, Rooney had killed the tie.

Having escaped the attentions of Ignazio Abate, Nani curled a delightful pass behind the remodelled Milan back four and Rooney was able to tuck the ball past Abbiati.

Huntelaar spurned another opportunity when he headed Abate's cross over from four yards out but that was a rare moment of menace from a team that was beginning to show its age.

With the hour mark approaching, Park latched on to a Paul Scholes pass and, at full stretch, directed a low finish across Abbiati and inside the far post.

Beckham's entry for the last 25 minutes was greeted with the predicted ovation and, while there was little he could do about the outcome, he did offer a reminder of why he was such a favourite with the Old Trafford crowd with a sweetly struck volley that van der Sar had to touch over the bar.

United's fourth goal came three minutes from the end, Fletcher ghosting in at the back post to head home Rafael's cross from the right.

- AFP

[RonaldoNani]

United 4 Milan 0

It was oh-so-easy for United on Wednesday night, as goals in either side of the break from Wayne Rooney and second-half strikes from Ji-sung Park and Darren Fletcher helped United cruise into the Champions League quarter-finals.

AC Milan, so often United’s bogey team in Europe, rarely tested Sir Alex’s men, despite coming to Old Trafford intent on scoring goals. Instead, it was Wayne Rooney who found the net twice to put the tie beyond Milan’s reach and spoil David Beckham’s homecoming. Park and Fletcher merely iced the cake.

Few could had predicted how easy it proved to dump the Italian giants out of Europe’s premier club competition. The Rossoneri arrived in Manchester determined to overturn a 3-2 first-leg deficit and employed an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Marco Borriello and Ronaldinho up top.

But United, buoyed by a vocal home support, flew out of the traps. Within the first 10 minutes Rooney let fly twice from distance (once narrowly missing the left-hand post), Gary Neville fired a left-footed long-ranger over the bar and Nani forced goalkeeper Christian Abbiati into a smart save down by his near post.

There were scares for the Reds early on, too: Ronaldinho headed inches wide after Andrea Pirlo’s free-kick was flicked on by Nani, while Huntelaar’s control let him down badly when he drifted beyond Patrice Evra to latch onto a long ball from Thiago Silva.

After such a lively opening it was hardly surprising to see the ball in the back of the net on 13 minutes. Even less of a surprise was that the game’s opening
goal arrived courtesy of Wayne Rooney’s head. The Reds striker (Milan’s chief tormentor in the first leg, remember) netted his third header of the tie when he nipped in front of Daniele Bonero to power home Gary Neville’s pinpoint cross.

With United 1-0 up on the night and 4-2 ahead on aggregate, Milan now needed three goals to progress. And yet the Rossoneri didn’t ask any further questions of the Reds’ defence for the remainder of the first half.

Sir Alex’s men were cruising. Just as he did in Milan, Ji-sung Park shackled playmaker Pirlo, while Neville successfully curbed Ronaldinho’s creativity down the Italians’ left side. With those two contained and Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes winning the battle in the centre of the park, the visitors were devoid of attacking potency.

Milan manager Leonardo, recognising the need for change, sacrificed defender Bonero for midfielder Clarence Seedorf at half-time. But within a minute of the restart Rooney exploited the extra space at the back and tucked the ball under Abbiati to send the Reds 2-0 up and put the tie beyond Milan’s reach.

Nani, too, must be given credit for his role in United’s second. Only fleetingly in the game during the first period, the Portuguese winger showcased his quality by curling a brilliant ball into Rooney’s path.

Huntelaar then wasted a glorious chance to pull one back when he headed over from four yards after good work down the right by Ignazio Abate. The miss was rendered even costlier on 59 minutes when Ji-sung Park, found superbly by Scholes inside the area, rifled the ball into the far corner to further extend the Reds’ lead.

Then came the moment David Beckham was introduced against his former employers. He was so often the Reds’ rescuer, the man with the magic touch, during his 11 seasons at the club. But the task that faced him here – to orchestrate the most remarkable comeback in Champions League history – was even beyond his abilities.

Beckham did receive a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful, however, and again on 75 minutes when he stung Edwin van der Sar’s palms with a blistering volley from 25 yards.

That was as close as Milan came to grabbing a consolation, although in truth it would have done little to ease the embarrassment Leonardo’s men will feel after being outclassed for 180 minutes by a rampant Reds side. The final blow arrived three minutes from time when Darren Fletcher arrived unmarked at the back post to head in Rafael's centre and hammer home United's superiority.

[imom]

Wondering if Rooney can breach the 40-goal mark this season.... and wondering what SAF has bet with him.... lol