Manchester United
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Manchester United striker Alan Smith is confident the Old Trafford club will re-establish themselves as the best in the country next season.
Smith would sacrifice a place at next season's World Cup finals to help United topple Premiership champions Chelsea.
"We know we are good enough," Smith told The Sun. "In 12 months I will be saying 'I told you so'."
He added: "People like Giggsy and Scholesy, who have done it all, are still so enthusiastic and driven to win it this time. It's quite incredible to see.
"It inspires the rest of us and it is up to people like me, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney to take up the mantle. I have never won anything, so it's about time I did - and United is the place to do it."
Smith is not worrying about winning a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for next summer's World Cup finals in Germany should England qualify.
The United forward said: "This season is not about whether Alan Smith gets to the World Cup, it is about United and how we perform as a team.
"If I play every game for United, we win the big trophies and I don't get in the England World Cup squad, it won't bother me one bit.
"If England come along - and you would think it would if I had a good season - then that's great. But United is all I have on my mind." -
dream on.if he plays every game,i think man u will find it hard to end up in the top 4.less say win stuff..haha..i don't find him a proven goalscorer la,although i know that rvn had a terrible season but he will still be the number1 man in fergie's plan.
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I actually think of him as a better foil to either Rooney or RVN. He can hold the ball up, lay it off and head better than RVN and is more abrasive than Rooney. Bloody hardworking too.
If only theres a way to successfully find a place for them 3 in the team... -
actually his traits are more of a combative midfielder though.the next roy keane.. LOL..maybe fergie already has it,just that he doesn't realize it..haha
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I still remember Alan Smith as a Leeds rookie back in 1999. He really showed his class during the home clash with Sheff Wed. He struck on the 72nd and 78th minutes to punish the Owls (who were mired in the drop zone throughout the season). But indiscipline took its toll on the number of appearances he made, though.
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reiterated his call for Rio Ferdinand to sign his new contract and avoid a weakened side heading into the new season.
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The 27-year-old England international defender is reported to have been offered 100,000 pounds (174,000 dollars) a week but is holding out for an extra 20,000 pounds (35,000 dollars).
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And the stance has not gone down well with the club's supporters, who have not forgotten how United stood by him during his eight-month ban for failing to take a drugs test.
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"We want Rio to sign now because it will put the whole matter to rest," said Ferguson as his club prepare for their pre-season campaign which starts at Clyde on Saturday.
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"It has created speculation and an unnecessary agenda for the club we don't want. Rio has received a fantastic offer and I think there is going to be another meeting between his agent and David Gill (United chief executive), which I hope will happen soon.
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"We want to be ready for the Champions League qualifier next month with everyone currently at the club remaining here. That can be solidified by Rio signing his contract and I hope he does." — AFP Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reiterated his call for Rio Ferdinand to sign his new contract and avoid a weakened side heading into the new season.
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The 27-year-old England international defender is reported to have been offered 100,000 pounds (174,000 dollars) a week but is holding out for an extra 20,000 pounds (35,000 dollars).
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And the stance has not gone down well with the club's supporters, who have not forgotten how United stood by him during his eight-month ban for failing to take a drugs test.
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"We want Rio to sign now because it will put the whole matter to rest," said Ferguson as his club prepare for their pre-season campaign which starts at Clyde on Saturday.
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"It has created speculation and an unnecessary agenda for the club we don't want. Rio has received a fantastic offer and I think there is going to be another meeting between his agent and David Gill (United chief executive), which I hope will happen soon.
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"We want to be ready for the Champions League qualifier next month with everyone currently at the club remaining here. That can be solidified by Rio signing his contract and I hope he does." — AFP -
dunnoe wat's going on in RIO's mind....
he's a disloyal guy..only $$$ turns him on...look at how he move frm westham to leeds then now manutd...
but he's currently 1 of the top defenders in the world.....
manutd really need his services -
i notice that ferdinand doesn't really do slding tackles much?
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Yea he doesn't becoz most of the time he dun need to. He normally intercepts the ball in mid-pass rather then tackle like Heinze hehe.. but when he does... somehow.. like ma chiam he dancing ballet like that.. well.. at least he is effective
regarding his contract saga... i hope he does ultimately sign.. coz he is definitely one of the best in the biz of defending.. but by the same token i hope he doesnt attempt to hold the club to ransom... which would almost always make the club just sell him on..
besides him..
read/heard and agree with some quarters that the club needs some players with a lil more experience.. hope they would get ballack... midfield would be covered for the next 3-4 years at least... -
And i do think Veron should not have been sold.. he was just a little suay with injuries ... and employed in a position that doesn't suit his natural style..
to me... he could have been a classier and pass-ier version of roy keane.. albeit with less bite in his tackle.. lol
but i dun make the decisions on who the club should sign... so... lets hope some gd signings r made
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Soccer: Keane injury blow to Man United's Asian tour
LONDON : Roy Keane and Wes Brown have been ruled out of Manchester United's Asian tour through injury while Gabriel Heinze is rested.
But United manager Alex Ferguson was hopeful of having both Keane and Brown available for the crucial Champions League qualifier on August 10 and the opening game of the new Premiership season at Everton three days later.
Argentina defender Heinze, who scooped both fans and players' player of the year awards in his first full season at Old Trafford, has been given extended leave after playing for his country in he Confederations Cup in Germany last month.
With Keane missing, it will be interesting to see who Ferguson nominates as replacement skipper.
Last season it appeared Rio Ferdinand was earmarked as Keane's likely successor when he was handed the captain's armband in preference to other senior figures in the United squad.
However, with the England defender still in dispute with the Red Devils over a new contract, a stance that is causing Ferguson increasing irritation, Ryan Giggs could be handed the honour instead.
As expected, new signings Edwin van der Sar and Park Ji-Sung have been named in the squad, along with Chinese import Dong Fangzhou, who has yet to make his first senior appearance for the club.
United have friendlies at Clyde and Peterborough before they head to Hong Kong next Thursday, the start of a four-match programme in eight days.
As well as the Hong Kong national XI, Ferguson's side will also tackle Beijing Hyundai, as well as J-League duo Kashima Antlers and Urawa Red Diamonds. - AFP/de -
Manchester United flop Kleberson has stated he is desperate to leave Old Trafford in order to bolster his World Cup chances in Germany next summer.
The former Atletico Paranaense midfielder has struggled to make in impact with The Red Devils culminating in losing spot in the Brazil team.
Kleberson knows time is running out to claim his place in the Samba Boys line-up and is keen to secure first-time football in order to showcase his talents.
Celta Vigo are the latest club to be linked with his signature, although Portuguese giants Benfica are also believed to be keen on the 26-year-old.
"I have less than one year to return the national team before the World Cup finals," explained Kleberson.
"At whichever club that may be, I will get an opportunity. Here at United, there is less chance.
"Last year was my most frustrating at United. It is something we do not want to forget because we can use it as motivation.
"My agent has said there may be some possibility of a move to Benfica. But there hasn't been great demand."
Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted the Premiership giants may move for Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack.
The Germany superstar has 12 months remaining on his contract and Ferguson is keen to add experience to his squad to help nurture his younger players.
"We need somebody with experience to complement the nucleus of young players like Smith, Rooney and Ronaldo that we have," revealed Ferguson.
wow michael ballack,but now with vieira gone,i think arsenal needs him more.. -
nothing more about Ballack? CMI! boo boo
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MANCHESTER United are set for a Tokyo summit with Bayern Munich in 10 days' time to discuss a potential move for German star Michael Ballack.
Sir Alex Ferguson has declared that only an experienced performer can improve his squad for the coming season.
And 28-year-old Ballack, who has indicated he'd like a switch to the Premiership after appearing to lose faith at Bayern, is entering the peak years of his career.
He could just be the player Ferguson is looking for.
United fly into Tokyo on 27 July for the third match of their pre-season tour of the Far East.
They play Kashima Antlers in Tokyo the same day that Bayern and Ballack face FC Tokyo as part of the their final warm-up for the start of the German Bundesliga on 5 Aug.
Both Old Trafford officials and top brass from the German champions will be in the Japanese capital for four days with United then playing Urawa Red Diamonds in Saitama on 30 July and Bayern ending their build up against Yubilo Iwata.
If Ferguson has targeted Ballack as his big name import for the close season, then the two sets of officials would use the convenient crossing of their paths to meet up.
Ballack, estimated to be worth
12 million ($35m), still has a year left on his contract in Munich but he has expressed a wish to move on.
He played in the recent Confederation Cup and has been missing from Bayern's second training camp in Bonn.
With the new season looming, Ferguson is in a hurry.
He knows he has to make an impression at the business end of the table or his team could end up having to play second fiddle to Chelsea for a number of years to come.
With his midfield engine of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes starting to splutter, Ferguson will have to move quickly to land a top player and Ballack fits the bill perfectly.
- PA Sport. -
EPL really getting more exciting with so many top players going over.
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http://englishpremierleague.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=136349
Didn't know there's this forum in SgForum ....... -
you can really dig.
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poor t2l!Originally posted by Poolman:http://englishpremierleague.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=136349
Didn't know there's this forum in SgForum ....... -
for man united please support red devils hut forum.
thanks. -
I just found out there's not 1 but 2 existing MUFC forums. You can find their URLs here:
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=forum_display&forum_id=1458
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=forum_display&forum_id=1457