Manchester United Online

Manucho, the Angolan striker who joined United last season, finally got his permit to play for the team.

His inclusion to the squad means Fergie has now got four strikers in the team.  However, Manucho is currently injured but should be available in a few weeks.

Another triple season?

Louis Saha joined Everton while Mikael Silvestre joined Arsenal.

Saha has been a prolific scorer when he is fit, a forward who can give you 20 goals per season.  It is a pity to see him go, but with Berbatov joining United, and Manucho getting his work permit, it can be said Saha is a surplus to requirements this season.

Silvestre, often criticized for his lack of concentration, has played reasonably well during his time at United. Despite his critics, he is one of the better left backs seen since Dennis Irwin’s departure.

Good luck Saha, and good luck Silvestre.  Thank you for your contributions to Manchester United.

Apparently, according to David Gill, Frazier Campbell is NOT FOR SALE despite joining Totttenham Hotspurs on loan.  Campbell is very highly regarded by Alex Ferguson, it was reported.

Manchester United finally signed Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspurs in a deal worth slightly over £30million, with Frazier Campbell signing for Spurs in a one-year loan deal.

Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted to have finally landed the striker after almost 2 years of trying.

Berbatov should be given the shirt number 9, vacated by Louis Saha, who has joined Everton for an undisclosed fees.

The biggest shock of the transfer news belongs to Manchester City though, who signed Robinho from Real Madrid, beating off Chelsea’s attempts to sign the forward all summer. So much for professing your love for Chelsea,  Mr $ Robinho.

Welcome to the family Berbatov, hopefully you will lighten Rooney’s and Tevez’s workload and everyone can and will play more efficiently.  Will love to see the attack comprising Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo. Wondering what kind of damage they can do to the opposition.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year prize as well as being named Best Forward.

The rest of the prizes goes to Chelsea players Petr Čech (Best Goalkeeper), John Terry (Best Defender), Frank Lampard (Best Midfielder).

While kudos has to be given to Lampard’s win, Terry and Čech hasn’t been playing as well as they had the season before, how they managed to beat Van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand/Nemanja Vidic is quite unbelievable.

Congrats to Ronaldo!

Congrats in store for the following United players who has been shortlisted for the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year awards:

Edwin van der Sar - Best Goalkeeper
Rio Ferdinand - Best Defender
Nemanja Vidic - Best Defender
Paul Scholes - Best Midfielder
Wayne Rooney - Best Forward
Cristiano Ronaldo - Best Forward

The winners will be announced at the draw for this season’s group stage on Thursday 28 August.

More honours in store for the Man U stars?

Match Date: August 06 2008 - Friendly

Manchester United and Juventus played out to a goalless draw in Man U’s last pre-season friendly.

With the Community Shield game against Portsmouth just four days away, Sir Alex Ferguson still send out a strong squad, including Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes, Carlos Tevez, Ryan Giggs. Young players like Lee Martin and Rafael Da Silva also played.

While it is not exactly a boring game, the game certainly lacked excitement. In the end, it is fair result given that both teams seem to be conserving themselves for a long season ahead.

Next on - Against Portsmouth (Community Shield)

Scorer: NIL

Promising full-back Danny Simpson has joined Blackburn on a one-year loan.

It has appeared that Simpson’s chances of first team action would be limited due to the return of Gary Neville, it is a wise move for both the player and team.

Good luck Danny, show them what you’ve got!  Hope to see you back a much better player.

Match Date: August 02 2008 - Friendly / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Testimonial Game

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s played his last game for Manchester United when Man U beat Espanyol 1 - 0 in the testimonial game for Ole, undoubtedly one of the heroes of modern day football.

Solskjaer came into the game late and almost scored on two occasions.

It was Frazier Campbell who scored in the end, putting another strong case for him to be on the first team in the coming season.

Next on - Friendly against Juventus

Scorer: Frazier Campbell (Man U)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be making his farewell appearance in a Manchester United shirt tomorrow in his testimonial game against Espanyol.  He has always been that humble, never-complain, hardworking player who never wants to be in the spotlight.

When Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Molde back in 1996, not many people have heard of him.  A lot of critics were fast to say Ferguson signed a player not of Man U’s class.  How wrong were they.

Solskjaer has earn his deserved place in the history of the Red Devils, having scored the ultra-late winning goal against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.  Who can forget that final?  Who can forget he came on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest and knocked in 4 goals!  Who can forget he tracked all the way back from the opposition half to bring down Rob Lee and earned himself a red card, and in turn, earn Man U an all-important point?

Despite his scoring powers, Solskjaer is restricted to be the “Super-Sub” most of the time.  No one can argue with Sir Alex when Solskjaer was used to perfection.  Every time when he is called upon, when Man U needs the little bit extra, the goal that makes the difference, Solskjaer almost always deliver.

Cash raised in his testimonial will go towards the building of 10 schools in Africa, that speaks a lot of this unassuming player.  In modern day football, where mercenaries are aplenty, it is a refreshing to find someone in the mould of Solskjaer.

Little Stats of Solskjaer:

Joined Manchester United from Molde in 1996.  Scored 126 goals in 365 games (dont forget he is a substitute player majority of the time). Scored the winning flick to win Man U the Champions League after decade of waiting. Won SIX Premier League titles, TWO FA Cups, ONE League Cup and not to mention, ONE European Champions League title.  Retired last season due to injury which had bothered him for two to three seasons.

To Ole, we will never see another Red Devil like you.  As a fan of Man U, I would like to thank you for your contribution towards Man U’s success all the years.  I am just glad you are now the Reserve Team head coach.   Salutes!

Its confirmed.  Chris Eagles has just signed for Burnley for an undisclosed fee.

Eagles who joined the Premiership champions at the age of 14, has failed to impress Sir Alex Ferguson enough to make himself a first team regular.

Eagles, despite figuring prominently in the recent African friendly tour, has decided his future lies elsewhere.

Good luck Chris.