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| Saturday July 04, 2009 | Manchester United Fan Forum |
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| Current League Table |
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| Owen - Injuries not a concern | Posted by Bill on Sat Jul 04 @ 04:45 GMT |
New Manchester United striker Michael Owen insists he is fighting fit and his injury-plagued past should not be a concern. The 29-year-old signed a two-year deal on Friday after swift negotiations which lasted less than 48 hours. A chequered history with injuries was thought to have deterred most of England's top clubs from considering signing the out-of-contract striker but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had no hesitation. "I'd like to think that everyone was quite surprised with my medical," said Owen. "I passed my medical and I've obviously passed them before, and my fitness is high. A lot is made out of it but I certainly don't feel like I'm injury prone." His manager will hope not as, if he can stay fit, Owen could still have plenty of goals left in him. "Michael is a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question," said Ferguson, who is a long-time admirer of a player who scored 158 goals in 297 matches for Liverpool and struck 40 times in 89 England internationals. "Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish." Owen will see his move to Old Trafford as a double challenge: first he has to show he can still score goals at the highest level and, second, he wants to use his higher profile to regain his England place with a World Cup looming next summer. The promise of Champions League football and a realistic chance of winning some, if not all, domestic trophies gives Owen plenty of games to prove himself all over again. A return to elite-level football, having struggled at St James' Park before they were eventually relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship, was one of the deciding factors in choosing Old Trafford. That and the backing he received from Ferguson after a hastily-arranged breakfast meeting on Thursday. "I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me," said Owen. "I agreed without a moment's thought. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands." | |
| Owen jumps at chance to revive flagging fortunes | Posted by Bill on Fri Jul 03 @ 21:01 GMT |
Michael Owen has grabbed the chance to resurrect his career by joining Manchester United and pledged to repay manager Alex Ferguson for giving him a platform on which to shine with the Premier League champions. "This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands," the England striker told the club's official website (www.manutd.com) Friday after leaving Championship (second division) club Newcastle United. "I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me and I give him my assurance I will repay him with my goals and performances," he added after becoming the first player since Paul Ince in 1997 to sign for Liverpool and Manchester United. While Ferguson's audacious move to bring in former European Footballer of the Year Owen on a two-year deal is considered a gamble by many pundits, the capture of the 29-year-old striker is effectively a risk-free move by the United manager. Owen has joined the club on a free transfer with British media reporting the contract is based heavily on incentives. Having lost top forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez already during this close season, Ferguson has moved quickly to enlist a striker with a proven track record to provide competition for Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in attack. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid marksman, who has been plagued by fitness problems in recent years, was particularly happy about the timing of his move to Old Trafford. "I missed pre-season last year and I am pleased I will be starting at Carrington (United's training ground) from day one," said Owen. "I am now looking forward to being a Manchester United player and I am fortunate I already know so many of the players here." NO HESITATION Media reports had linked Owen with Hull City and Stoke City, clubs at the other end of the Premier League table, and it was no surprise that he was delighted to instead join the champions. "I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him the next morning during which he told me he wanted to sign me," said the striker. "I agreed without a moment's thought." Owen, who has 89 England caps and 40 international goals but has fallen out of favour under the country's Italian manager Fabio Capello, will have been upset by the negativity directed at him during a disappointing four-year spell at Newcastle. Ferguson is clearly hoping to tap into the player's determination to prove the doubters wrong and England, who are in pole position to qualify from their group for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, could also benefit from the move. Renewing his old international partnership with Rooney at Old Trafford represents the perfect chance for Owen to bang in the goals that may persuade Capello to recall him to the England fold in time for a trip to next year's finals. (Editing by Tony Jimenez.) | |
| Possebon set for Braga stint | Posted by Bill on Fri Jul 03 @ 15:30 GMT |
Manchester United midfielder Rodrigo Possebon will spend next season on loan at Sporting Braga, both clubs have confirmed. Possebon, who moved to Old Trafford from Brazilian club Internacional in January 2008, has made only eight appearances for the Premier League champions following his debut against Newcastle on the opening day of last season. However, the 20-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in the league - and United were known to be keen to keep hold of the Brazilian - who holds an Italian passport - but farm him out for first-team experience. "This stadium is beautiful," Possebon told Portuguese club Braga's website. "I've never seen anything like it. I hope to have a great season and help the club. "I am very enthusiastic about the ambitious project they have showed me. I never had any doubt about accepting this offer." | |
| United close in on Owen | Posted by Bill on Fri Jul 03 @ 10:15 GMT |
Former England striker Michael Owen has arrived at Manchester United's training ground as his move to the Premier League champions moves closer. The 29-year-old arrived at Carrington this morning, having already undergone an assessment of his troublesome knee on Thursday. Owen is expected to have further tests at a Manchester hospital later and if United's medical staff give him the all-clear, he could join former club Liverpool's arch-rivals as soon as next week. Owen's Newcastle contract lapsed on July 1 but although the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker apparently remained eager to stay in the Barclays Premier League, it appeared only the likes of Stoke and Hull were ready to make a concrete offer. They were joined by reigning champions United, who have lost star man Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina striker Carlos Tevez since the end of last season. Owen suffered from a series of injury problems during his stint at St James' Park and Sir Alex Ferguson was thought to be lining up a pay-as-you-play deal for the forward. The 29-year-old was believed to be on around £110,000 at Newcastle, for whom he scored 10 goals as they were relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship last season, but would be happy to take a reduced basic salary for a top-four club. Owen has failed to persuade England coach Fabio Capello that he has both the form and fitness to add to his 89 international caps but would relish the chance to forge a partnership with the Italian's first-choice striker, Wayne Rooney, at Old Trafford. United have yet to officially comment on the deal. | |
| Owen 'Ready for United' | Posted by Bill on Fri Jul 03 @ 07:15 GMT |
Manchester United are to sign former England striker Michael Owen on a free transfer, according to reports. Owen's Newcastle contract lapsed on July 1 but although the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker apparently remained eager to stay in the Barclays Premier League, it appeared only the likes of Stoke and Hull were ready to make a concrete offer. They now appear to have been joined by reigning champions United, who have lost star man Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina striker Carlos Tevez since the end of last season. Owen suffered from a series of injury problems during his stint at St James' Park and Sir Alex Ferguson is thought to be lining up a pay-as-you-play deal for the forward. The 29-year-old was believed to be on around £110,000 at Newcastle, for whom he scored 10 goals as they were relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship last season, but would be happy to take a reduced basic salary for a top-four club. Owen has failed to persuade England coach Fabio Capello that he has both the form and fitness to add to his 89 international caps but would relish the chance to forge a partnership with the Italian's first-choice striker, Wayne Rooney, at Old Trafford. United have yet to officially comment on the deal.http://www.manutd.com(Manchester United's official website) | |
| Premier League - Vidic interview 'a fake' | Posted by Bill on Thu Jul 02 @ 15:30 GMT |
The Serbia international has been linked Barcelona, Milan and Inter Milan amid reports his family are unsettled in Manchester. However, the player is under contract at Old Trafford until 2012 and his agent Silvano Martina believes he will stay put. "Even though Vidic has not spoken for the last three months, there have been false interviews published in the press," Martina told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I read that he wants to leave, that his wife is not happy at Manchester but all of these stories are false." He added: "He is very annoyed and saddened by these stories that give the wrong impression. "In football you never know what can happen, but I believe he will remain at Manchester United, one of the strongest clubs in the world. "If Vidic or I should have problems with the club (United), we will talk directly to Alex Ferguson and not to the newspapers." Vidic joined United in January 2006 after two years at Spartak Moscow.PA SportEmailShareDelicious Digg Facebook Stumbleupon Reddit Newsvine | |
| Vidic agent plays down exit talk | Posted by Bill on Thu Jul 02 @ 15:01 GMT |
Nemanja Vidic's agent has quashed speculation the Manchester United defender will leave Old Trafford this summer. The Serbia international has been linked Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan amid reports his family are unsettled in Manchester. However, the player is under contract at Old Trafford until 2012 and his agent Silvano Martina believes he will stay put. "Even though Vidic has not spoken for the last three months, there have been false interviews published in the press," Martina told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I read that he wants to leave, that his wife is not happy at Manchester but all of these stories are false. He is very annoyed and saddened by these stories that give the wrong impression. "In football you never know what can happen, but I believe he will remain at Manchester United, one of the strongest clubs in the world. If Vidic or I should have problems with the club (United), we will talk directly to Alex Ferguson and not to the newspapers." | |
| Transfers - Your view: Benzema worth the fuss? | Posted by Bill on Wed Jul 01 @ 18:01 GMT |
Certainly the statistics suggest he is. Seventeen goals in 36 Ligue 1 games last season, off the back of 20 in the same number of outings the previous campaign. Cynics may point out that Ligue 1 is a far cry from La Liga, but he has succeeded at the highest level too - nine goals in 15 Champions League games during the same two-year period proves that. That kind of scoring record indicates the boy is a bit special in front of goal and, considering he is just 21, he still has his best years ahead of him - quite a scary thought. Add power and pace to his scoring prowess and he appears to have all the attributes to succeed in Spain. But questions remain over his temperament with whispers in France suggesting he can be a disruptive influence in the dressing room. His fractious relationship with former team-mate Hatem Ben Arfa was widely recognised and Thierry Henry is rumoured to have clashed with him over a seat on the France team bus. Have United missed out on a potentially world-class talent or have they done the right thing in leaving it to Madrid? Will he be yet another unmanageable ego in the Bernabeu dressing room or could he be Madrid's star striker for years to come? And who should United go for now? What do you think? Have your say below or on the message threads via the link underneath the photo.EurosportEmailShareDelicious Digg Facebook Stumbleupon Reddit Newsvine | |
| Real Madrid sign United target Benzema | Posted by Bill on Wed Jul 01 @ 17:45 GMT |
MADRID (AFP) - Lyon announced on Wednesday the transfer of Karim Benzema to Real Madrid for 35 million euros in a deal which dashes Manchester United's attempts to capture the France striker. In a statement the French club announced that the fee could rise to as much as 41 million euros depending on various bonuses attached to the deal. Lyon, in a statement on their website, said they had accepted Benzema's decision after he had made it clear he wanted the deal "to a club that he had not initially considered" completed quickly. "The club wishes Karim the greatest success with Real Madrid," the statement added. The move was sealed after Real agreed to up its original offer from 32 million euros. Spain's Radio Cadena Ser reported Benzema will sign a six-year contract with the Spanish giants. This is the fourth signing by Real under the new presidency of "Galacticos" president Florentino Perez, after Brazilian midfielder Kaka, Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Spanish defender Raul Albiol. After Kaka was presented to fans at the Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday evening, Perez told Spanish radio that the next signing would be announced "today or tomorrow." Real have been keen on Benzema since negotiations broke down with Valencia for Spanish international David Villa. The former France and Real star Zinedine Zidane, who is now a senior advisor at the club had recommended Benzema to Perez, Spanish media said. Benzema has played at the seven-time French champions since 2004, where he was top scorer in the French league in 2007 and 2008. Lyon said last week that it wanted to keep him for another year. Real also has its eye on another France international, Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery. | |
| Hibs challenge excites Galbraith | Posted by Bill on Wed Jul 01 @ 16:30 GMT |
Hibernian have signed former Hearts youngster Danny Galbraith from Manchester United. The left winger has signed a two-year deal on the day that Alan O'Brien's contract was cancelled by mutual consent. Galashiels-born Galbraith, 19, signed for United on his 16th birthday and has represented Scotland at several age levels. Galbraith told www.hibernianfc.co.uk: "I'm delighted to be returning to Scotland and in particular to Hibernian. "I really enjoyed my time at Manchester United but the time was right for me to seek a new challenge with first-team football my main aim. "I know that will be a tough task in itself as there are a lot of quality players in my age group stepping up from the successful Hibernian Under-19 side, but I've never shied away from a challenge in my career." | |
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