Thoughts on next season?

[Sparky]

NANI is desperate to make up for his World Cup heartbreak by helping Manchester United scoop another Premier League title.

The flying Portuguese winger was ruled out of the tournament just three days before it started with a shoulder injury.

It topped off a miserable end to his season after Chelsea snatched away United’s league crown.

“Yes, that was a bad time,” said Nani. “No-one wants to miss a World Cup or a European Championship.

“I was very, very bored in my house. Now I want to help United win the title next season and I will work hard for that.”

Nani has been beefing himself up on the club’s five-match tour which has taken in Canada, North America and Mexico.

“It’s good to have this competition. I just wanted to recover quickly and to get fit,” he said.

“My shoulder is strong now. I’m feeling very good in my injury, now I just need to get fitness to play.”

Nani, 23, is excited about the coming season and said: “I am so happy to come back and feel my body strong.

“Now I just want to start the season as quickly as possible, to play and score goals.

“Every season I show everyone I can improve. I’m improving a lot with this team.”

United have just one more friendly, against a League of Ireland XI in Dublin on Wednesday, before the Community Shield clash with Chelsea on August 8 at Wembley.

Irish defender Jonny Evans believes that match will provide them with a perfect opportunity to put down a marker against their main rivals.

Evans said: “It’s a good opportunity for us. It’s seen as a friendly but it won’t be played like a friendly.

“It’s a good opportunity for both teams to sort of size each other up for the start of the season.

“This club always have to aim for winning the Champions League and Premier League every year, the FA Cup and League Cup.”

[illmatic]

well like i said in the pre season thread,im excited by the prospect of so many young players we have at the club that look ready to make the breakthrough this season,and id love to see them get a chance to do it rather than beiong sent out on loan

The thought of hernandez ,cleverley,macheda and welbeck,even gibson who im still rating etc is far more exciting for me than watching carrick,berbatov etc going through the motions again,

at least with the young players we will see better football and they have a future

[Rorge]

Originally Posted by mart

I think most people have known that about Scholes for the past two seasons yet he still starts game in game out a lot. Just look at pre season so far him and Giggs have started every game so far, it's quite a worrying sign imo.

Scholes starts because he has to. Because the midfield falls apart without him there. Going up against top sides without him in the team is a terrifying prospect, at the moment.

I know we've all said it a thousand times, but without any reinforcements, that midfield is going to be where United fail, and it's going to be the reason that the team will struggle to win things.

[EastStandManc]

Originally Posted by mart

I think most people have known that about Scholes for the past two seasons yet he still starts game in game out a lot. Just look at pre season so far him and Giggs have started every game so far, it's quite a worrying sign imo.

Scholes: We’re Not Old

Manchester United's midfield maestro has moved to reassure fans that the Red Devils' camp will not be hampered by age:

“We have some very experienced players, but we are not an old squad,” said Scholes. “It really doesn’t matter what your age is if you are playing games. The hunger and the desire are still there. And all of the players have got that here.”

Have to agree , sorry Mart.

[Sparky]

Having been deposed as Champions by Chelsea after three successive titles, the 2010/11 season sees Manchester United desperate to win back their crown. With minimal changes in personnel, United will hope that continuity is the key to renewed success.

Last season

Losing Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid blunted the United attack last season, with too much burden placed on Wayne Rooney to compensate for the goals that the Portuguese winger guaranteed. Victory in the League Cup ensured some silverware but the Red Devils fell short of Chelsea in the league and exited the Champions League in the last eight.

The squad

2010 summer transfer campaign

United’s only major piece of business was wrapped up before the World Cup began. Mexican striker Javier Hernandez arrived for a price much lower than he would now command after his exploits in South Africa. Young English defender Chris Smalling completed his move from Fulham but he will have to wait for his chance after Nemanja Vidic signed a long term contract to remain at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson claims that a lack of value in the market has prevented him from making any significant outlays, but the poor financial position at the club offers an alternative explanation.

The Coach/manager

Sir Alex Ferguson needs little introduction and his record speaks for itself. A third Champions League triumph would silence any remaining doubters but his main priority will be to finally usurp Liverpool by winning United’s 19th league title. His job is as safe as ever and it will be the man himself who will call time, potentially next summer if he leads the team to that record-breaking trophy.

Anchorman

Darren Fletcher has risen from a derided squad member to a key component of the side over the past couple of seasons. Fletcher offers the commitment and energy that drives the team forward whilst remaining technically sound. Having shared the captain’s armband on the pre-season tour to America, his influence on the side is clearly growing.

Playmaker

Paul Scholes may have spurned Fabio Capello’s invitation to join England at the World Cup but he will be an important figure for United once again. He might not carry the same goal threat that he offered in his youth but his composure on the ball and precision passing make United tick.

Hot Prospect

It will be a big season for Federico Macheda as he looks to establish himself in the first team after failing to build upon his dramatic introduction to the Premier League in April 2009. Last season was beset by injury and he will want to prove that the hype generated since his explosive debut bears substance.

2010/11 prediction

Having kept hold of Vidic and Rooney and added the exciting Hernandez to the squad, United can expect to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. Chelsea are yet to significantly strengthen their squad and the Premier League title race went to the final day last season. Much will depend on how well the likes of Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov can support Rooney with the United defence remaining typically solid. Reinforcement may still be added by either side before the end of August, but at present the Blues will just be the favourites to edge out Ferguson’s side for the title.

A Different League’s prediction: 2nd

http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6...-preview.html?

[Sparky]

Sky Sports

Manchester United hot-shot Wayne Rooney insists the Premier League is getting harder to win as the Red Devils chase a record-making title.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are currently tied with Liverpool on 18 titles after missing out by just a point to Chelsea last term.

While the Red Devils will be going all out to capture the silverware and make history this time around, Rooney, who joined United in 2004 and has won three titles, insists it will be tough to recapture the crown.

He said: "Since I signed for United I think the Premier League has got progressively harder to win.

"I know it's a cliche but there are no easy games in the Premier League. In previous seasons you might have had straightforward games where the top clubs could afford to rest players, but that's not the case anymore.

Hard

"Nowadays it's hard to leave players out because every game is competitive and difficult.

"The 2009/10 season was certainly the most competitive I've played in. Over the last three or four years it might have been predictable as the season has gone on who's going to win the league, but this year it was a lot more exciting.

"Many of the top teams lost more games than you probably would expect. It was very tight at the end of the season; we only lost the league by one point."

While Rooney was the football writers' Footballer of the Year and the PFA's player of the season, he admitted he voted for rival striker Didier Drogba for the PFA award.

"My vote for player of the season went to Didier Drogba. He scored a barrel load of goals and for me was the reason that Chelsea won the League," he said.

[Sparky]

NEMANJA VIDIC has taunted Chelsea by insisting his Manchester United side are the best in England, once they stay injury-free.

The Serbian international is still mourning United's capitulation in the second half of last season - but has thrown down the gauntlet to Chelsea, insisting Manchester United are gunning to regain their Premier League crown.

Vidic, 28, said: "Last season was a bit frustrating. We had a lot of players injured especially in the defence.

"But now the squad is healthy and ready to challenge for the league again. If all our players are fit and we have less injuries then we can win it."

And Vidic, who snubbed a move to Real Madrid, wants to lay down a marker by beating Carlo Ancelotti's men in today's Charity Shield, saying: "We don't want to lose any game against Chelsea.

"It is important, but not very important. December and January will be a much more important time of the year for the team. That is when you want all your players at the strongest."

Defender Vidic also heaped praise on new signing, Chris Smalling.

He said: "Chris can be a great player for Manchester United. There is more to come from him for sure.

"He is only 20 so he has a lot of time to learn at United."

[Sparky]

ARE Manchester United now entering a period of decline or is this the year we witness the dawn of an exciting new era?

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates 24 years as manager in October and looks to again be relying on the experience of the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar to lead him to an 11th Premier League title.

He may even have been as surprised as most when it was revealed on their pre-season tour of Canada and the United States that he could comfortably name a starting XI featuring Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick with an average age of 32.

The United boss memorably said in the close season two years ago that Chelsea might struggle playing 60-plus games because they had "a lot of players around 30" and now Fergie himself appears to be bracing himself for a similar problem.

But don't think for a second that it has crept up and caught him out.

Fergie has known for three years that many of his senior players will need replacing sooner or later and he has taken steps to build the dynasty of the future.

Just like in 1995, when United were famously warned by Alan Hansen that they "would never win anything with kids," the Old Trafford chief is quietly confident in his next generation of players.

Then, they came off the back of losing the league to Blackburn and looked to be entering a period of transition while waiting for David Beckham, Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, known as 'Fergie's fledglings,' to come of age in the first team. That team showed character that belied their years by overhauling Newcastle's 12-point lead at the top of the table and marching on to the Double.

This time around, it is obvious financial problems have restricted his movement in the transfer market and the relatively modest signings of Chris Smalling and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez remain the club's only activity ahead of the season.

Smalling, 20, could play a key role in the opening weeks and will do battle with Jonny Evans for a place alongside Nemanja Vidic at the heart of United's defence in the absence of Rio Ferdinand.

Hernandez, 22, joined up with his new team-mates last week in Houston and gave a glimpe of his promise by scoring against the MLS All-Stars. He also enjoyed an impressive World Cup for Mexico and enhanced his reputation by netting against France in the group stages to effectively put them out.

Fergie has already likened him to United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and it would not surprise many at Old Trafford to see the 'Little Pea' replace the injury-stricken Michael Owen in the long-term.

In other areas of the team, players of similar age and stature are emerging.

Giggs, at 36 the second eldest player at the club behind goalkeeper van der Sar, believes the new generation are shaping up well but insists the real test will come when their mental strength is required over the course of a marathon campaign. He has been around long enough to recall the likes of Diego Forlan, Kleberson, Mark Bosnich, Juan Sebastian Veron, Lee Sharpe, Russell Beardsmore and Luke Chadwick melting in the heat of expectation at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio took important steps forward last season and Fergie proved the faith he has in the former by selecting him for the Champions League quarter-final second leg defeat against Bayern Munich, although his sending off turned the tie the Germans' way.

Nani looked to be heading for the exit door this time last year until he was given the chance to shine following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Perhaps his most impressive display last season came in the 3-1 win at Arsenal, where he scored one and created another.

The Portuguese winger now looks comfortable as a United player and the United manager's perseverance with him looks to have paid off.

Federico Macheda made his mark the season before last and may look back on last year as something of a disappointment.

The Italian is thought to have raised a few eyebrows with his lifestyle off the pitch which has, perhaps, caused him to take his eye off the ball.

He looked sharp in Canada and America during pre-season and appears to have recovered some of the hunger with which he burst on to the scene 16 months ago. Another who took giant leaps forward last term was midfielder Darron Gibson.

The Republic of Ireland international enjoyed a lengthy run in the side in mid-season when a defensive injury crisis forced Michael Carrick to drop to centre-back.

He played a key role in the team's run to the Carling Cup Final, with two fine goals in the quarter-final against Tottenham at Old Trafford.

He also demonstrated his explosive shooting by contributing a handful of goals during his spell in the starting side.

Of course, to point at all the youngsters in the squad might be doing disservice to the experienced players who have proved themselves time and again at the top level.

Scholes and Giggs still have plenty to contribute, as does Gary Neville when he is fit.

Ferguson also has an inkling that Dimitar Berbatov could enjoy an explosive season this time around.

The Bulgarian divides opinion on the Stretford End.

But his undoubted class has persuaded his manager to maintain his faith in the former Tottenham striker.

He will be expected to deliver in what could be his final chance in the red shirt.

If United can relieve the burden on Wayne Rooney they will fancy their hopes of regaining the title from Chelsea, who have nothing like the same quality emerging through their ranks.

There is also the small matter of finally overtaking Liverpool's record of 18 league championships.

And what would the man who "knocked Liverpool off their f***ing perch" give for that?

IN: Javier Hernandez (Chivas, £6m), Chris Smalling (Fulham, £12m).

OUT: Ben Foster (Birmingham, £6m), Zoran Tosic (CSKA Moscow, undisc).

[Reddevil]

Manchester United won't make the top four and Wayne Rooney's aura of invincibility will be shattered for good
Last updated at 10:13 PM on 7th August 2010


WAYNE ROONEY will score 10 fewer goals than last season. The reason? Premier League defenders will have watched his dismal displays in the World Cup and suddenly realised he is not as unstoppable as they thought.

As we've seen with Tiger Woods in golf, once the aura of invicibility is shattered, it's shattered. My further prediction is that Rooney will be found gurgling in a gutter with Amy Winehouse, singing 'Rehab' at the top of his voice, as a furious Coleen clubs him with a £10,000 diamond-studded Gucci handbag.
Meanwhile, I've a sneaking feeling Dimitar Berbatov will finally show his class, and outperform Rooney. He's just too good to be as mediocre as he was last season.

Here are the rest of my predictions for the coming season:

MANCHESTER UNITED will miss a top-four position for the first time in decades. Putting aside my usual detestation of all things United, I actually believe this.Based on current squads, I think Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal are stronger. And United clearly have serious financial restraints.

What I don't understand is why Sir Alex is so keen to support publicly the tightfisted owners who have wrecked his winning streak.

MARK HUGHES will return to 'Sparky' form at Fulham, but that will only be because of all the Viagra Mohamed Fayed slips him.

Fayed always has a few blue pills in his pocket. I actually saw him hand one to Arsene Wenger before an Arsenal game, telling him: 'This will help your team get it up later.'

He was right, we won 3-0.

THE young players of the year, both domestically and internationally, will be the two Jacks - Rodwell and Wilshere. Brilliant prospects with the steely determination to match their talent.

TITLE WINNERS? Alas, I can't look further than Chelsea. Again. They have the biggest and best squad, and a team who have tasted a lot of success in recent years.

In Carlo Ancelotti, they also have a world-class manager who knows how to win trophies.
REAL MADRID will win the Champions League.

Jose Mourinho may be an unbelievably irritating, bumptious, cocky egotist (and, goodness me, I'm always SO put off by such characters ...) but he's a winner.

And judging by the way he's already shipped out creaking old showboaters like Raul and Guti, he's eagerly ripping through the problems that have held Madrid back for the last few years.

Cristiano Ronaldo AND The Special One? A dream team.

TOTTENHAM will have another very good season, but will tragically fall out of the top four on the very last day of the season after Jermain Defoe misses a penalty in the 93rd minute.
I will try to restrain my acute distress at this bitter disappointment for my north London friends.


FABIO CAPELLO will resign or be sacked before next May.
It's ridiculous he's still in the job given our shocking debacle in South Africa, and I see no prospect of anything improving as long as he remains manager.

The players don't play for him, simple as that. Harry Redknapp is the man for the job, and I'm going to keep saying it until he gets it.

(The appointment would have the dual benefit of getting him out of Spurs, too, where his rehabilitation of a once gloriously useless shower is beginning to really annoy me.)

ASHLEY COLE will become the most hated man in Spain if he goes there. Why? Because he's always the most hated man in whatever country he plays in.

ROBERT GREEN is destined to be the most booed player in the Premier League.

It will be a tough call because most of the England squad can expect some fearful hammer this season - and quite rightly, too - but Green's calamitous clanger in that first World Cup game set the tone for our national misery.

It was like Steve Harmison's first ball in the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia that shot through to second slip. A signal of discontent.

And I'm afraid Green will, therefore, have to cop it big time. The good news for him is that the last person to occupy this 'Most Loathed England Player' position was David Beckham after he got sent off against Argentina in 1998. And he went on to make £100million as a Hollywood clotheshorse.

So, just be patient, Greeny lad. And those Calvin Klein billboards in Times Square will all be yours.

ANDERSON and Michael Schumacher will have a car crash.

The former will emerge from the wreckage unscathed, saying: 'The car lost control at a curve and I hit a wall.'

The latter will say: 'It was an inadvertent error.'

The video replay will show Schumacher deliberately ramming Anderson into the wall.

DAVID BECKHAM will sign for Gillingham, declaring: 'It's always been my dream club.'
Coincidentally, they're also the ONLY club who wanted him. He will then spend much of the season on the bench, shouting and screaming at his team-mates to play better.

SOL CAMPBELL, depressed by the poor reaction from Newcastle fans, will start binge-eating in the Bigg Market every night until he eventually reaches the size of Mr Creosote in the Meaning of Life, and simply explodes.

Fortunately, he does this during a game against Arsenal, splattering his guts all over Steve Harper just as Walcott shoots.
Large task: Sol Campbell in training at Newcastle United
FREDDIE FLINTOFF will be appointed official Inspiration Coach for the England football team.

His first team talk will involve him picking up each player by the scruff of his waxed neck and saying: 'Right, you pampered, overpaid, underworked, whining little prima donna, let's try a bit of pride in our country today, shall we?'

BLACKPOOL will be relegated, some time around January 5. Closely followed by West Brom on January 12.
I'm as certain of this as I was that Eva Mendes would flirt with me on American TV last week (she took about three seconds to make her move).

As for Newcastle, the third promoted team, I hope and pray they stay up.
I love the Toon Army, and their devotion deserves so much better than they've had to suffer.

MICK McCARTHY will be fired as manager of Wolves, and issue a statement saying: 'This was never about my ego. It was about doing what's best for Mick McCarthy. But hey, enough about Mick McCarthy, let's talk about Mick McCarthy.'

LIVERPOOL will have a very good season under Roy Hodgson.

Judging by what he did with Fulham's fairly average squad, imagine what he's going to do with the likes of Gerrard and Torres.
Looking up: Liverpool have a good chance with Fernando Torres in their team
And if you think you've seen profligate spending from the Arabs at Manchester City, wait until the Chinese get going at Anfield if they succeed in buying the club.
From what I saw in Shanghai recently, they are the richest of the rich, and hate being anything but No 1 in any business venture. And for those lucky Kop fans, the quality of prawn balls at half-time is going to take a massive turn for the better.

ARSENE WENGER will end his trophy drought. I know, I know, I'm biased. But I have been very impressed with the boss's close season activity.
How he thwarted Barcelona and persuaded Fabregas to stay is beyond me, but to his credit, he has done it. And this will be a hugely significant non-transfer for Arsenal.

He's also chucked out some dead wood at the back - Gallas, Campbell, Silvestre - and signed a superb defender in Laurent Koscielny to partner Vermaelen.

Up front, I like the look of Marouane Chamakh, who is tall, strong, fast, skilful, good in the air, a lethal finisher, and looks like Ronaldo's slightly prettier younger brother.
All we need now is a good goalkeeper, and another central defender as back-up, and I'm feeling excited again for the first time in a few years at the Emirates.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz0vxSSNP6X

oh dear, abu wum....

[Sparky]

I read that last night, the guy should not talk about football.

He is such an ABU it's unbelievable.