Manchester United's Michael Owen feels strange not going to the World Cup

by Anti Manchester United FC under

Red Devils striker a part of last three squads

Michael Owen (Getty Images)
Michael Owen admits it feels strange to not be a part ofEngland's World Cup campaign.

The Manchester United striker, who burst onto the scene with one of the goal’s of the tournament against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France, will not be a part of this summer's tournament after a hamstring injury in March ruled him out.

The 30-year-old, once a key member of the England squad before injuries blighted his career, has not been selected by manager Fabio Capello to play for the Three Lions since the game against France in 2008, with many speculating his international career may be over.

Owen appears not to have given up hope, and has stated that he still felt very much a part of the international set-up.

Owen said: "Not being in South Africa will be strange.

"I've been involved in our last five major tournaments and, even if I haven't played internationally for the last year or two, I still feel a part of it, I'm still mates with the lads.”

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid forward, who has scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for England, also stated how he would like to get into coaching one day, despite still being focused on his fitness and continuing his playing career under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

"I've started doing my coaching badges now so I'm on a rung of the ladder which would indicate I'm half thinking about it," he added.

"As you get older you start thinking about how and why managers do things.
"I find it all really, really interesting. That's why I started doing my coaching badges.
Posted by Anti Manchester United FC at 18:20 0 comments

Manchester United ready to offer £20m for Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart - report

by Anti Manchester United FC under
Rafael Van Der Vaart, Real Madrid (Getty Images)

Despite a positive season with Real Madrid under Manuel Pellegrini, Rafael van der Vaart could yet leave La Liga for the Premier League if the latest reports are to be believed.

Van der Vaart was strongly linked with an exit last summer but eventually remained with los Blancos, and a string of strong performances have raised his market value again.

AS now believes that Manchester United are willing to stump up €23 million (£20m) for the Dutchman, who is highly rated by manager Sir Alex Ferguson. It is not the first time that the former Hamburg midfielder has been linked with the Premier League, as Arsenal, Liverpool,Chelsea and Manchester City have all been credited with an interest in the past.

There is little chance of the figure being greatly reduced as van der Vaart is under contract at the Bernabeu until 2013 and it is believed that he is still eager to remain at the club.

However, with no trophies to show for the €250m (£217m) spending spree last summer, Florentino Perez is reportedly ready to splash the cash in the market again this year, starting with Inter coach Jose Mourinho.

A new coach and more expensive signings are therefore likely to put van der Vaart's place in los Merengues' squad in jeopardy.
Posted by Anti Manchester United FC at 18:16 0 comments

Atletico Madrid ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for Ajax star Luis Suarez

by Anti Manchester United FC under
Luis Suarez scoort, Ajax - VVV-Venlo (PROSHOTS)

Europa League winners Atletico Madrid are considering making a move for Uruguayan international Luis Suarez, according to a report in AS.

The Rojiblancos are in the market for attacking reinforcements due to the possible departure of Sergio Aguero in the summer, and Atletico supposedly see the current Ajax hitman as the perfect replacement.

The tricky attacker has developed into a star player for the Amsterdam side since joining them from Groningen in the summer of 2007. Suarez has made 97 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax so far, scoring 74 goals in the process.

It remains to be seen though whether Atletico are willing to meet Ajax’s hefty demands. The Godenzonen have reportedly set a £30 million asking price for the 23-year-old striker.

Suarez was previously linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal reported to be keeping tabs on him, but no club has yet to make an official offer for the young attacker.
Posted by Anti Manchester United FC at 06:22 0 comments

FERGUSON- GLAZERS ARE GREAT OWNER

by Anti Manchester United FC under

Sir Alex Ferguson has again defended Manchester United owners the Glazer family for their constant support despite much criticism.
"They've been great owners," he said. "They have supported me every way I've asked them.
"There's no other reason to think they haven't supported me. If you look at any time I've wanted a player they've provided the money; if you look at what we've done this season - and people don't recognise this - we've spent over £20million on young players.
"We've bought Chris Smalling, Mame Diouf and Javier Hernandez.
"People don't realise how we're structured and how we see our future of the club. We've always based it on a nucleus and foundation of young players developing in the club."
The demand for instant success, though, and the "greed" of foreign owners makes Ferguson believe a salary cap will not be introduced in football any time soon.
"I don't think so," he said. "This has been talked about for many, many years. There must be concern about the level of salaries in the game.
"But, football is worldwide game and there's a lot of greed, particularly with the types of owners that come into the game - Russians, Americans, Middle-East owners.
"Salary caps will not come into their domain in the sense of the wealth they have and what they can do with that wealth.
"They can attract the best players through that wealth and I just don't see that salary caps come into their area of thinking."
What do you think? Have your say.
Posted by Anti Manchester United FC at 06:14 0 comments

Jose Mourinho set to offer Steven Gerrard a £25m Liverpool escape route... once he takes the reins at Real Madrid

by Anti Manchester United FC under

Fed up: Steven Gerrard's relationship with Rafa Benitez is said to have deteriorated

Fed up: Steven Gerrard's relationship with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is said to have deteriorated


Real Madrid are working on a deal that would give Steven Gerrard a route out of Liverpool.

The Anfield hierarchy fear that their captain's frustration with life under boss Rafa Benitez will see him leave if the right offer comes in.

Jose Mourinho is ready to take advantage by sanctioning a £25million move when he takes over at the Bernabeu next week.

Gerrard is on a short list of two to add energy and creativity to a midfield that hardly bore comparison to that of La Liga champions Barcelona this season.

Reports in Spain say the other player in their sights is Roma captain Daniele de Rossi, but the Italy international would cost in excess of £40m and has previously been reluctant to leave his hometown team.

Mourinho, who is set to quit Inter Milan for Madrid after Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich, would also like to team up again with Frank Lampard.

However, doing a deal with Chelsea is fraught with difficulty and Blues chairman Bruce Buck has reiterated this week that the England man is not for sale.

Gerrard is the target most vulnerable to approach and the 29-year-old remains frustrated that he has not won a League title.

Manchester City made their own tentative interest but realise Gerrard will not go to Eastlands despite not having to uproot his family.

Making way: Lassana (left) or Mahamadou Diarra (right) could leave the Bernabeu to free up space fro Gerrard's arrival
Making way: Lassana (left) or Mahamadou Diarra (right) could leave the Bernabeu to free up space fro Gerrard's arrival

Making way: Lassana (left) or Mahamadou Diarra (right) could leave the Bernabeu to free up space for Gerrard's arrival... once Jose Mourinho takes charge

Even if Mourinho's move to the Bernabeu does collapse, he would be interested in taking Gerrard to Inter.

But the self-styled 'Special One' looks a shoo-in for the Bernabeu hot seat and reports in Spain say he is close to agreeing fine details of a three-year contract worth £170,000 a week.


Inter Milan have conceded they will lose their boss, despite offering him £200,000 a week, a difference of £4.5m more over the three years of his Spain stay.

To make way for Gerrard, Madrid could offload Manchester City target Fernando Gago or either Mahamadou or Lassa Diarra, who have both been linked to Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Madrid newspaper Marca claims that Real were offered Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Barcelona, despite the Catalans publicly declaring their Sweden striker would stay at the Nou Camp. Madrid are said to have swiftly declined.

Posted by Anti Manchester United FC at 06:09 0 comments

World Cup 2010 - Ferguson: England too tired

by Anti Manchester United FC under

England's bid for glory at the World Cup will be hurt by the exhaustion of their players after a long season of fast-paced Premier League football, according to Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

- 0

"The intensity of the English game is so great that it makes it more difficult for those players to perform well in the World Cup," Ferguson said while promoting Manchester United's four-game North American summer tour.

"You have to say the number of games, particularly at our level, is exhausting.

"Every game Manchester United play is a Cup final. We have to win, and teams playing against us are motivated to play against Manchester United."

Ferguson said his players competing in the World Cup will be in urgent need of the 28 days of rest they are given before returning to training with United for next season.

"They must have that or they won't feature next year, they'll just collapse. Exhaustion will get them, which makes it difficult for English players to perform well in the World Cup," he added.

United's leading striker Wayne Rooney, who carries the weight of the nation's expectations every time he pulls on an England shirt, struggled with injury towards the end of the season but Ferguson said he would be fit for the finals.

"If he wasn't (fit), there would probably be headlines all over the papers," he said. "I'm sure he'll be all right. I'm sure he's OK."

Asked who would win the tournament in South Africa which starts on June 11 Ferguson went with the form books.

"My general view is that Brazil are very strong favourites with Spain following them," Ferguson said. "I think that France will do better than people think. They are underdogs, which is not normal for them, and Italy will probably get to the semi-finals."
Posted by Anti Manchester United FC at 04:07 0 comments

Foster a big LOSS

by Anti Manchester United FC under
Bailey- Foster a big loss
Gary Bailey believes the Reds may regret selling Ben Foster in the long run. Foster joined United from Stoke City in summer 2005 and had to bide his time for a prolonged shot at the Reds' No1 jersey. When he was finally given his chance at the start of the season, while Edwin Van der Sar nursed a broken hand, the 27-year-old seemed unable to handle the pressure, making a number of costly high-profile mistakes. Despite Foster spending two years on loan at Watford earlier in his United career, Bailey - who made more than 300 appearances in goal for the Reds between 1978-1987 - believes United should loan out Foster again instead of looking to cash in by selling him to Birmingham, with a move set to go through for £6m. "I rate him he is a very good goalkeeper," Bailey said, who also kept goal for England. "I think he has been unlucky. The problem with United is you can't work your way up for a number of years like you could when I was there. I learned my trade while playing for United, these days you don't. Experience "You have to learn somewhere else and you arrive at United as the finished product and, what's more, you have to be the finished product with a certain amount of experience. "Outfield players can learn a little easily - the Federico Macheda's of this world are still stuck in the reserves because to be a starter you have to have experience. But as a goalkeeper, managers are looking for people who have played at the highest level. Therefore the only way you can see Foster staying at United is if he goes on loan and then comes back. "A loan would work best, because I would hate, from United's point of view, to lose him and then for him to become England's next No1 and United will look back and say: `Why did we let him go?' "I think you should treat him like Joe Hart has been treated - let him go out on loan at someone in the Premier League, gain enough experience and come back and say: `I am the complete deal now. I am ready to take over.' Bailey admits Foster has not been helped by the consistent displays of first choice shot-stopper Van der Sar who was recently rewarded with another one-year deal. "Ed has been brilliant," he enthused. "He has been the find of the last few years for United. He is so calm in defence and you have to feel sorry for Foster, who a year ago was England's first choice and Edwin comes back and poor Ben has disappeared into the background. "That is the tough part of being a goalkeeper. There is no coming off the bench and making an impact so for Ben it has been tough but I think Edwin is one of the best goalkeepers in the world today and that is a hell of a compliment to say that about someone who is nearly 40. "It's been a bit hit-and-miss for United. In previous seasons, if Wayne Rooney wasn't playing well Cristiano Ronaldo was frightening the living daylights out of teams and if he wasn't playing well then Carlos Tevez would be chasing and hounding and between the three of them they were absolutely unbelievable. "Unfortunately, Dimitar Berbatov didn't quite come to the party. He has got the ability but he didn't quite gel and I think that is the problem. We didn't have someone alongside Wayne with that calibre so hopefully this summer break Fergie can sort that out." While United may have relied too much on Rooney towards the end of the season Bailey insists the same cannot be said of England. "Other England players can hurt the opposition," he pointed out. "You have Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard who are both different class and you have Peter Crouch who is an impact player, Aaron Lennon is another and Ashley Cole down the left is superb. "I think it is a wonderful England team but the only question mark is the goalkeeper and who is going to be given that vote of confidence. I don't think the goalkeeper will have that much to do but I think that the team are as good as any and really it is about building belief and if they get a good opening result they can go all the way. "You still need luck and you need all the players to perform but England have as good a squad as I have seen for a long time."
Posted by Anti Manchester United FC at 04:02 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Copyright © 2010 ANTI Manchester United All rights reserved.
Wp Theme by Templatesnext . Blogger Template by Anshul