Strange End to Rooney Saga As Striker Pens 5 Year Deal

In a bizarre twist to the tumultuous saga that has been Wayne Rooney's contract negotiations, yesterday the striker signed a 5 year contract less than 48 hours after seemingly confirming his exit.

His concerns about the ambition of the club don't seem to be backed up by his actions. Would a man really concerned about the club give notice of his intention to leave just 2 days before the start of the season, publicly contradict his manager over his injury status, leak news of a rift between player and manager and then give his riposte to Ferguson's statement a mere 2 hours before a Champions League tie he wasn't even involved in?

It's highly unlikely this wasn't about Manchester United at all. The most likely explanation is that this was a negotiating tactic that backfired spectacularly. His new contract has been reported to be anything between £180,000 and £250,000 when image rights are accounted for. Whichever number is correct, to get it Rooney has had to sacrifice his image and status among swathes of fans, and not just limited to those who crowd into Old Trafford every week.

The headlines have been overwhelmingly against Rooney, and few fans of any club jumped to his defence. Now that he's signed he will undoubtedly win back some of his support, but he could well find himself coming in for a tough time if he doesn't pick up his form. After all, he launched his criticisms of the squad from the weakest point he's been at in his professional career. It's difficult to be lectured by someone who's been as woefully inept as Rooney has been this year.

But back to that turnaround. What exactly was it that caused him to sign his name? A promise to be able to leave shortly a la Ronaldo, huge wodges of cash, or if we believe his version of events, assurances about the future? What assurances can possibly have been made? Rumours suggest a call from Joel Glazer came in, but if he doesn't believe his manager, why would that make the difference? The Glazers, just as Gill and Ferguson have repeatedly stated that United have the cash to spend. Joel Glazer wasn't breaking any silence, he was simply restating his position. Months away from the transfer window, and one Ferguson has been historically reluctant to spend in, it seems unlikely Rooney was let in on any prospective deals. The ambition angle simply doesn't add up.

An ankle injury inflicted by Paul Scholes will keep Rooney out for the next three weeks, and it will be interesting to see the reception he gets on his return. With any luck, Hernandez and Berbatov will have piled on the goals in his absence to keep United's unbeaten streak going and close the gap on Chelsea. Should they both keep form, Rooney may well find himself restricted to the bench. The sight of a £250,000 a week substitute would be an interesting one indeed.

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Nani Looks To Continued Improvement

With the Charity Shield only days away, Portuguese winger Nani shared his optimism that he can carry on into this season the way he ended the last.

"I feel more confident in this club," he said.

"I realise where I am and I know I am doing well.

"I am helping my team win games and important points and now I know I am very important for my team.

"Everyone is excited with me because they didn't know if I could be the player everyone expected. Now everyone starts to believe I can be a very good player."

With plenty of comparisons made to a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, it's hoped that Nani can follow the former number 7's development from a youth with equal parts brilliance and ineffectiveness, to one of the premier players on the world stage. Whilst Nani doesn't need to become a World Player of the Year finalist to be a success, he most certainly needs to build on the previous season, and that, it seems, is what he's targeting.

"Hopefully I can do much better than last season. I am working very hard on that and I am confident.

"People saw a different player last season because I worked hard every day.

"I improved a lot but there is a lot to learn yet and I hope to start this season better than the last."

After an indifferent at best start to the previous season, a better beginning is certainly required if Nani wishes to keep him place in the side. He's come a long way, but the journey isn't over yet. He has the potential to establish himself as a first choice player for United, so let's hope that it isn't unfulfilled. He's lived in the shadow of Ronaldo for too long, so it's time to step out and make his own mark. This could well be Nani's year.

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Back...Again!

Christ, some crazy things happened since we disappeared last December. Paul Scholes was given 2 hours to decide if he wanted to go to the World Cup so said no, whereas Emile Heskey was given 2 years and said yes. Emile Heskey then retired from international duty, perhaps thinking Scholes had it right all along. Germany cost me £160 with an inept performance when it really mattered, and Ronaldo became a dad! Most strange of all though, Nani remembered that he was a professional footballer.

So yes, crazy times! With any luck, this season will be a rollercoaster ride like the last, but with that elusive 19th title and 4th European Cup. A 12th FA Cup would always be nice as well. Just as long as we don't come up against Leeds! You can take a look at the United Lounge end of season awards here, to see what the UL members considered to be the best and worst of 2009/10.

One last thing, last season, good things were predicted of Antonio Valencia in this very blog. So whilst it's been a while since he signed, and he's made his mark in the pre-season tour, let's all welcome Javier Hernández, also known as Chicharito. Like Valencia, not the most obvious target, but reminiscent of a 1998 Michael Owen, he might well keep the 2010 version out of the side. He looked very good with Macheda, so who knows, perhaps we've found the partnership of the future?

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Why the case for Campbell doesn't add up

Sol Campbell, one of the finest defenders England has seen is currently being linked with a move to Old Trafford, where there is currently one fit defender.

Makes sense on paper. Proven quality coming in for the short term to cover in a crisis. Except the main problem with this scenario is that Campbell can't sign until the 1st January. By that time, the crisis will be virtually over.

Brown, Vidic Rafael and Fabio will all return in December, whilst O'Shea and Evans should be fit for the Birmingham game in January, the first the club will play that month. It's unknown when Rio and Neville will be back, but Ferdinand is hopeful to be back by the Fulham game, well before Campbell would sign.

He would perhaps be worth a punt on a six month contract on the condition that he was only coming in as cover, but it's unlikely he would get all that many games. Injuries rarely pile up the way they currently have for United, and twice in one season is even more unlikely. According to the MEN, the club has already dismissed the talk, which should hopefully put this rumour to bed.

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Alex Ferguson and English Football - 23 Years (Part One)

Twenty three years ago this weekend, Alex Ferguson took charge of Manchester United, and after a slow start, became the single most dominant force in English football.

A lot has changed in the intervening years, not least the length of time managers are given to succeed. It would be unimaginable that a manager of a club with the title in mind would be given five years before he won a trophy. And yet that was how the most successful manager in British football began, all those trophies being squeezed into 18 of his 23 years.

So how has the landscape of the top flight changed since then? Well for a start, it’s shrunk, and changed its name. Back then, 22 teams competed in the Football League First Division. Charlton Athletic retained their First Division status in a play off against Second Division Leeds United, a concept probably somewhat alien to younger fans. The following season, Chelsea became the first club in 90 years to lose the play off and be relegated. After that automatic promotion and relegation replaced the play off, the system still in use today.

Fergusons second season in charge saw the league shrink to 21 teams, and 20 the season after. In 91/92, it went back up to 22, and was replaced with the Premier League the season after. The league continued to be comprised of 22 teams until 95/96, where it once more went back down to 20 and remained so to this day.

What of the teams then and now though? Nine of the teams in the top flight that season are present in this one. Five of those nine (Everton, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and United) haven’t moved.

Of the rest, Aston Villa were relegated in that first season, coming back up at the first attempt, and Chelsea were relegated in 87/88, and also promoted the following season.

West Ham have been relegated three times, in 88/89, promoted in 90/91 lasting a single season before relegation bouncing straight back the next, concluding a yo-yo period for the club. They stayed in the top flight for 10 years, before suffering relegation once more in 02/03, becoming the first team since 93/95 to go down with more than 40 points. 04/05 brought promotion with the club staying up ever since.

The blue side of Manchester has had the most interesting tale though. Manchester City were relegated the season Ferguson arrived at United, coming back up in 88/89. In 1992, City chairman Peter Swales declared “City were the last Manchester club to win the league, and they’ll be the next” The following season saw United win the league, with City finishing in ninth.

95/96 brought even more contrasting fortunes – United completed the Double for the second time in two years, whilst City were relegated. Two seasons later, they became the first former winners of a European trophy to be relegated to the third tier.

City then saw successive promotions, achieved via the play offs in 98/99 (whilst United were busy winning the treble), and automatic promotion back to the Premiership in 99/00. They were returned to the Football League after just one season. They then appointed Kevin Keegan, who brought them back up with a record points haul. They have remained in the top flight ever since, and have subsequently been bought out by the Abu Dhabi United Group, becoming the richest club in the world.

They are still without a trophy since 1976.

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Forum Round Up - Owen Hargreaves Returns

Owen Hargreaves return to Carrington sparked a discussion about where exactly he should play in the team. Is he better in the middle, or out right? Click the link at the bottom to join in the discussion.

I think he might give Valencia run for his money on the right side. Hargreaves' best performances for United have come playing on the right of midfield with his energy, tracking back and fantastic crosses.

Matt-D7

I cant wait for that. Hargreaves playing on the right will make up for Valencia's lack of class

Siamak Khaledi

Play him in the middle ffs, that's his best position. Or do you want him to be like another John O'Shea?

Mr. Brownstone

I actually dont think its gonna be a bad thing if he's played on the right Trystan. At least until he's match fit. Playing at right back would be ideal for him IMO cause his lack of match sharpness wont be noticed as much as it wouldve if hes played in the centre. It would be a nice way to sort of ease him into it.

Keano's Fan

That's not what Siamak was on about though. His constant gripes about Valencia is getting on my nerves, and it makes me wonder if he knows what the word "supporter" actually means. Suggesting Valencia lacks "class" is fhucking ridiculous. But of course we're all entitled to our own opinions, even if they can be a bit silly.

I would like to see him make some cameos in the center to ease him back into his best position.

Mr. Brownstone

He's obviously not happy and not convinced by Valencia's performances so far this season, which is acceptable - tbf he's not exactly stunned us with brilliant displays here. No need to make a big deal about it and question his supporting though - if your ever in chatzy you know how big a supporter of the club he is, even though some of his opinions are laughable.

Even though the center is definitely his best position, I just wonder whether playing on the right (midfield/full back) might actually be a better fit for him immediately upon his return. I only say that because it appears as though Fergie is going to rift right through rotating our riches in the middle (Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Fletcher, Anderson, etc), and I don't think that will benefit Owen on his return at all.

Takhar7

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Reserves fall to first defeat of season

An early Liverpool goal proved decisive as Liverpool held onto their lead despite playing over an hour with 10 men. United started brightly, Liverpool scoring against the run of play, the ball going from their keeper to the back of the net within a few seconds. It was awful defending, but there should ave been more than enough time left to get back in.

In the event, Liverpool grew in confidence and went from awful pretty good, and were getting a handle on the game when Damien Plessis went for a rash tackle right in front of the ref. He had no complaints, simply walked off the field. There was no malice in the challenge, but it certainly was rash, and Liverpool found themselves a man down.

United though were unable to capitalise on the advantage, with James Chester sending one of the best chances wide, and was still bewildered as to how after the game. United eventually put the ball did into the back of the net, but Machdea effort was ruled out for a handball earlier in play. Quite who's hand this was remains a mystery to all but the referee. Despite that, United had more than enough chances, and Liverpool deserved the win for hanging in there, and taking a half chance when presented.

For United, it was a first defeat this season, with their record stretching further back to March when they lost by the same scoreline to Sunderland and if manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has anything to do with it, the record starts again tonight.

United: Zieler; Gray, Chester, de Laet, Dudgeon (Gill, 66); Welbeck, C Evans, Eikrem, Tosic (Brady, 77); Macheda, King.
Subs not used: Amos, Norwood, Tunnicliffe.

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