Friday, 24 January 2014

Albania coach De Biasi frustrated in Januzaj bid

15:49

By: TBMU Admin On: 15:49   In:   No comments

Albania coach De Biasi frustrated in Januzaj bid

Albania coach De Biasi frustrated in Januzaj bid

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 10:30 AM PST

The talented 18-year-old has made 23 appearances for Manchester United in 2013/14, and been the Red Devils' standout player in a disappointing season. Januzaj is still undecided on which country he will represent, with the Brussels-born starlet courted by Belgium, Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey. De Biasi is still hopeful of Januzaj playing for Albania, but he admitted those hopes are dwindling as he cannot get hold of the youngster's father to discuss it. "We're stuck. We just don't know," he told an Albanian morning television show. "I and the heads of the federation have made every effort to contact him but the problem is his father, who does not give us a normal answer. "I find it easier to get in touch with Pope Francis than Abedin Januzaj."

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Police slam Man United supporter call

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 07:01 AM PST

The disgruntled supporter, who appeared to be drunk during the call, had rung Greater Manchester Police hoping to talk to United's former manager following Wednesday's League Cup elimination at the hands of Sunderland. United were looking to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in the Old Trafford clash but exited the competition at the semi-final stage via a penalty shootout, after Javier Hernandez's last-gasp strike in extra-time saw David Moyes' side win 2-1 on the night. It was the latest in a series of disappointments for Moyes, who has seen his side slump to seventh in the Premier League table, 14 points adrift of leaders Arsenal and six behind the UEFA Champions League spots. The Sunderland setback was a step too far for one fan who decided to dial 999. GMP released a recording of the conversation, in which the caller said: "Could I speak to Sir Alex Ferguson please? The result is all wrong. "We had extra time and it was a total load of rubbish. I want to report a crime, the crime is that Manchester United were absolutely knackered." GMP warned the man about the appropriate use of the emergency services, but took no further action. A statement released by GMP read: "Silly calls like this one are thoughtless and can make a difference in a life and death situation. "As a force we receive thousands of emergency and non-emergency calls, which is why I would urge those considering making such pranks to think twice. "Our call handlers should be able to focus their efforts on real emergencies as they are happening. Hoax calls could delay an officer responding to a real emergency. "You wouldn't want your own emergency call being delayed by someone tying up a line with a hoax."

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Why Manchester United shouldnt sell Wayne Rooney

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 06:31 AM PST

You wouldn't expect a man nicknamed 'Gunner' to be synonymous with the history of Manchester United, but Jack Rowley is just that. Over a 17-year career at Old Trafford either side of a break to serve in World War II - including the D-Day landings - the striker wrote his quintessentially English name into United folklore. He served with diligence, his powerful left foot firing 211 goals for United, including two in the 1948 FA Cup final victory over Blackpool, and was part of Sir Matt Busby's post-war rebuilding of the club. Placed snugly between Rowley and George Best on the all-time Manchester United top goalscorers list, in fourth place, is Wayne Rooney. From Rowley to Rooney is a separation of just three goals; United's modern-day striking hero should surpass the wartime great before the end of the season. After that, only Denis Law (237) and Sir Bobby Charlton (249) stand between the Scouser once nicknamed the White Pele and Old Trafford immortality. It is against this background that it seems nigh-on unthinkable that Manchester United would even consider letting Wayne Rooney go. Unusual, too, that Rooney would even be considering leaving - in his testimonial year at that. At the start of this season, as David Moyes settled into his shiny new hotseat (whatever that is - FFT imagines a nice, cosy La-Z-Boy chair with under-backside heating) part of the Scot's charm offensive, in an ultimately successful battle to keep Rooney motivated and out of Chelsea's grasp, was to invoke the 28-year-old's place in history. "There is a situation with Wayne where he could go on to emulate some of the greats at United with the goals he can score," Moyes told reporters in August. "The challenge is there. We've said it openly - he's got an opportunity to reach the great heights here. I wouldn't say the heights of immortal people, but those like Sir Bobby Charlton are on as high a pedestal as anybody can get. We've set it down for him - can you put yourself in this position?" Rooney's response has been exceptional: 16 league starts, 9 goals, 9 assists - more than Ozil, Ramsey, Silva and anyone else in the Premier League, for that matter. Goals and performances such as that in a match-winning turnaround against Hull, in which England's leading light set up two and scored a phenomenal equaliser, show a player approaching the peak of his game. Rooney is - and remains - an outstanding talent. Unthinkable With Manchester United currently struggling to even make the Europa League, there's a bit of an Arsenal 2008-2012 feel about the prospect of selling one of their best players at a time when they need all the class they can get. To put it bluntly: why the hell would you even entertain selling Rooney?! Granted, an unhappy player is of lesser value than a joyful, fully motivated one. "I need men who are desperate to play for this club," Alex Ferguson said in 1988 about the departures of Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath, who had both handed in transfer requests. "Really there is no point having players whose heart is not in playing for you." This is true to a large degree. But, as this season has shown, Rooney fits into that extremely narrow bracket of players who give 100 per cent even when not fully satisfied off the pitch. He adds a completely new dimension to United's game - energy, penetration, power. He will knuckle down. From a financial perspective, it could also be argued that losing £25 million or so would actually be worth it to have two more years of Rooney in his prime, during a hugely important rebuilding phase for Moyes and the club. Rooney has 18 months left to run on his contract and will be pushing 30 by the time it expires. Far from being the most naturally fit of athletes, these could be his peak years before the inevitable post-30 slump. Champions League football alone is worth around £20m per season. Perhaps it's a gamble worth taking. Finally, selling Rooney now or in the summer would mean having to find a replacement. But which forward is out there that could replace him? Cavani? Falcao? Ibrahimovic? Aguero? Suarez? Fact of the matter is the strikers market is one with very few premium items, and even fewer for sale. Better the Red Devil you know. The bathwater may be slightly uncomfortable for Manchester United in this situation but the baby must stay. ALSO ONLINEWhy Manchester United SHOULD sell Wayne Rooney

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Why Manchester United should sell Wayne Rooney

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 06:30 AM PST

"Why are we even considering selling our best striker? If we're ever gonna win the league again, we need to keep hold of players like him – goalscorers who get stuck in and link up with their team-mates." So said my mate Eddie when Manchester United sold Mark Hughes to Barcelona in 1986. True, United didn't win the league for a while after that. In fact, a few months after hawking Hughes they replaced Ron Atkinson with Alex Ferguson, an abrasive and initially unpopular Scot who shook up a fading squad with a few transfers of his own. Popular players were sold, new blood brought in. It worked out alright in the end. United's last manager never feared replacing players. Nine summers after Atkinson cashed in on Hughes, Ferguson – who had re-signed the Welshman in 1988 – sold him again, along with Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis, to widespread disdain. The new side promptly did the Double. Alright, Moyes can't introduce an outstanding generation of youngsters. But what Ferguson did in those early years, and again in the mid-90s, was to build and maintain his power and respect at the club by making sure no player – or worse, group of players – became too dominant. Now, I'm not saying that Rooney is a trouble-maker: far from it, judging by the way he has surprised everyone this season. Cast your mind back to last summer, when Jose Mourinho was trying to woo Rooney to Chelsea rather than playing for a post-Fergie United set to be managed by Moyes, who had sued him for libel. The only question seemed to be when and where the striker would move. Instead, Rooney knuckled down and has, at times, carried United in this most disappointing of seasons. But therein lies the crux: too many of his team-mates are shirking responsibility, hoping Wazza will come up with something. In a sense, he's stunting the team's evolution. "Do the math[s]" There is also a financial element to selling him. United don't desperately need £25 million, and could afford to let him wind down his contract – but that said, it is a truth universally acknowledged that Moyes has a major rebuilding job to do, with an unimpressive central midfield and an ageing defence. That £25m could go a long way toward a Juan Mata, Arturo Vidal or Ilkay Gundogan. Furthermore, it's somewhat unlikely that Rooney will see out his contract. His agent Paul Stretford is renowned for maximising earning potential, as can happen when Real Madrid and Chelsea are interested in your player. In 2010, Rooney was very publicly linked with Manchester City before getting a sizeable wage rise on a five-year contract. On that occasion the club ponied up, but on that occasion Rooney was just turning 25: he's 29 this year. There will be very little resale value at the end of his next contract, but giving him a short contract extension – should he even agree to it – would only temporarily end the speculation and uncertainty. And you're never far from that with Rooney, a tempestuous player whose footballing intellect can sometimes be overruled by emotion. Indeed, to an extent this whole discussion is somewhat moot. If Rooney decides to leave – and the signs are that he and his people are at least open to the idea, if not openly embracing it – then United have to manage the situation as best they can. It would be folly to sell Rooney now - they need him to help qualify for the Champions League - but if he goes in summer for a reasonable fee, allowing Moyes to mould his own team, it could be the making of a new generation which allows Manchester United to remain competitive. And after all, perhaps they could buy back an older, wiser and cheaper Rooney in a couple of years, as they did with Hughes... ALSO ONLINEWhy Manchester United SHOULD NOT sell Wayne Rooney

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Wenger questions reasons behind Mata sale

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 04:13 AM PST

Mata is said to be heading to Manchester for a medical on Thursday after United reportedly agreed a club-record fee of around £37 million for the Spain international on Wednesday. The former Valencia man was Chelsea's player of the season two years in a row after moving to Stamford Bridge in August 2011, but has found himself out of favour since Jose Mourinho returned to the club ahead of this campaign. And Wenger believes Mata is only being allowed to move to Old Trafford because Chelsea have already played United twice in the Premier League this season, most recently in their 3-1 home win last Sunday. "Yes I am (surprised) because Juan Mata is a great player, and they (Chelsea) are selling a great player to a direct opponent," Wenger said. "(It) opens up the opportunities in the transfer market because Chelsea have already played twice against Man United and so don't have to play them again. "Some teams have already played twice against one opponent and some others not, and I think if you want to respect the fairness for everybody that should not happen. "I can understand completely what Chelsea are doing, it's within the rules but maybe the rules should be adapted for fairness." Premier League leaders Arsenal still have to play both Chelsea and United in their remaining 16 games this term, with United first up in mid-February.

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United can survive poor campaign, says Harris

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 03:19 AM PST

David Moyes' under-performing side sit seventh in the Premier League, six points outside the top four, and are facing a battle to secure their place in Europe's leading club competition for 2014-15. In addition, United have dropped down to fourth in Deloitte's annual Football Money League, with that news coming on the back of almost $250 million being wiped off the club's share price in the last six months. United have played Champions League football in every season since the 1995-96 campaign. However, Nick Harris, the editor of the Sporting Intelligence website, believes the club would not be harmed too significantly if they missed out for one season. "They make somewhere between £25m and £50m from the Champions League," Harris told Perform. "It's a big chunk of money but if they miss it for one season it's not crippling to them. "It's inconvenient rather than seriously damaging. They're going to earn more this year from the new (Premier League) TV deal than they would lose from not being in the Champions League. "It's not some great catastrophe." After a close-season that saw Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill both step down from their positions, United have struggled to reach the level many fans are used to. Despite their poor campaign - which reached a new low on Wednesday with an abject League Cup semi-final defeat to Sunderland - Harris believes it is unfair to suggest the club are in crisis. He added: "A worst-case scenario is that Manchester United finish seventh, without any European football next season, and if that is the true worst-case scenario then it's not really that bad. "Finishing in the top five or six, possibly fourth, (with a possible) Champions League quarter-final and a League Cup semi-final - it's not an abominably terrible season. "You're measuring it against United's extremely high standards. "I just find it completely unfathomable that United won't spend a significant amount of money in the transfer window either in January and/or in the summer." United are reported to be closing in on a deal to make Chelsea's Juan Mata their first January signing, in a deal believed to be worth around £37m.

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Borini hails Sunderland support at Old Trafford

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:00 AM PST

Sunderland forward Fabio Borini hailed the Black Cats' following at Old Trafford as they secured their place in the League Cup final. Nine thousand supporters saw their side book a trip to Wembley after a dramatic penalty shootout victory against Manchester United. "It was unbelievable support. A piece of my heart will stay with Sunderland - the club, the supporters, the players," he told the club's official website. In a crazy conclusion, Phil Bardsley's 119th-minute shot was spilled into the net by David de Gea, looking to have handed Sunderland their place in the final. But their dreams seemed dashed seconds later as Javier Hernandez struck to ensure a penalty shootout, sending Old Trafford into delirum. "I've never seen anything like it - that's why we love football. Vito [Mannone] made unbelievable saves and credit to him because he works really hard," said Borini. "We never gave up, played our game throughout the 120 minutes and got our reward at the end." Sunderland will meet Manchester City in the final at Wembley on March 2.

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De Gea will be fine after error, says Fletcher

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:26 AM PST

United looked set to progress to a Wembley final on away goals as the final whistle loomed in Wednesday's second leg against Sunderland at Old Trafford. However, De Gea then allowed a tame shot from Phil Bardsley to slip out of his grasp and over the line, allowing Gus Poyet's men to move ahead on aggregate with one minute of extra-time remaining. Although Javier Hernandez responded almost immediately to send the tie to penalties, United were ultimately beaten after scoring just one out of five from the spot, with two penalty saves from De Gea proving to be immaterial. The result saw United's dismal run in 2014 continue but Fletcher is confident De Gea, one of the club's better performers this season, has the character to respond. "David has been fantastic," Fletcher told MUTV. "In the last 18 months I don't think there has been a better goalkeeper around. He really has been fantastic. He's been a shining light, one of the big positives of this season. "He's disappointed, as everyone is, but he will be fine and he will show what a top goalkeeper he is. "He redeemed himself in the penalty shoot-out with two saves and we should have done better with our execution of the penalties. "All goalkeepers make mistakes and it's just unfortunate for David that it's happened to him tonight (Wednesday). But he will be OK."

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