Man United might be top of the Premier League with only one defeat but most of their performances this season have been absolutely dire. This was proved to be the case on Saturday and last night in their games against Crawley (non league) in the FA Cup and Marseille in the Champions League.
Their centre midfield just doesn’t seem to be doing what you would expect of a top club. Michael Carrick looks as though his best days are already behind him whilst Darren Fletcher has a great engine but his passing will hardly open an unlocked door. Then there’s Paul Scholes who is unfortunately coming towards the end of his career.
I have recently read that Fergie will look to freshen up the middle of the park by trying to buy Luka Modric, Jack Rodwell and Ashley Young. I really hope that this is the case because Modric would be perfect for the reds whilst Rodwell looks like he’s going to be an amazing player.

So we could be saying buy to injury prone Owen Hargreaves at last. Although he’s a great player he hasn’t played for two years.

Spend some money Fergie.

After being sacked Sky Sports for his sexist remarks towards assistant referee Charlotte Jackson has bee handed a new role with the radio station TalkSport. He will be joined by his former colleague Richard Keys, who played a part of the scandal, will also join him as have both been lined up to front the stations 10 o’clock morning show from Monday.
It’s a strange decision by a radio station where some of it’s current presenters have actually criticized the remarks made by Gray and Keys.
Andy Gray and Richard Keys probably see this as a platform to re-start their pundit careers and make amends for their behaviour. Only time will tell.

They had to give in sooner or later but it has now actually happened. Barcelona has agreed to display a sponsor’s name on their beloved shirts in exchange for a record breaking €150m (£126m). They had lasted 111 years without a paid sponsor’s name on their shirt although, since 2004, they have had a sponsorship deal with UNICEF but it is actually Barcelona who pays the children’s charity €1.5m a year for the privilege.

From next season the Qatar Foundation, a non-profit organisation concerned primarily with education projects in the Middle East, will pay €30m (£25m) per season until 2016 for their name to be displayed on the Barcelona shirt.
Despite the record breaking deal with the Qatar Foundation Barcelona will still maintain their agreement with UNICEF so their jerseys will display the names of each. However, if that’s not possible the Middle Eastern organisation will take priority.

Following my recent post about the reds suffering injury setbacks, it is now reported that two United favourites Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney are coming on well after starting training again. Giggs started training again on Thursday while Wayne Rooney has returned from his holiday in Dubai and started general running work with the physios.

Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested that Giggsy may make the Manchester derby while Rooney is progressing well but may be sidelined for another 3 weeks.

City fans beware. Fergie has a habit of unleashing his stars for the big games and could be playing mind games and hiding the fact that his two stars are closer to full fitness than he is suggesting.

I must say that being a Manchester United fan, I’m a little concerned about the current league table. A quick glance tells a story of a start to the season where Chelsea have set the early pace and no other team has really been able to keep up. Chelsea I’m sure, will agree with the pundits in saying that they were handed one of the easiest ever starts to the football season, however United have been culprits in letting somewhat guaranteed points slip away with careless defending in the last few minutes of games against Everton and Fulham.

I’m also concerned to see Man City in second spot. However it’s early days and things can change again and again over the course of the season. I think that if Chelsea get a few injuries (OK, Fat Frank has been out for a few weeks) they will struggle against tougher opposition on the road. Especially if Drogba or Anelka are out for a period of time. Next May I reckon United will just pip Chelsea and get revenge for last season. Especially as Chelsea are the only team which have started with a bang and not really suffered a dip in form yet, largely due to their inferior opponents to date.

Oh, and wouldn’t it be nice if Liverpool got relegated too.

Come the end of the season I’m predicting the top 4 to look like this:

Man United

Chelsea

Arsenal

Man City

Its been a tough time for the French national team which was clearly obvious during their time in trhe World Cup the team looked unsettled and reports where that none of the players had any confidence or respect for the previous coach Raymond Domenech, to be honest looking at the coaches body language during the tournament he looked as if he could not be bothered him self showing no emotion on the touch line.

During the tournament Anelka of Chelsea criticised the coach which led to him being sent home and causing turmoil with in the camp at a hearing yesterday a number of players received bans such as Anelka’s 18 game ban, Evras five game ban and Riberys three game ban.

I’m a Manchester United Fan, and I don’t mind admitting that I’m one of the few who don’t mind Manchester City doing well…OK…reasonably well. I think it’s been absolutely fantastic to actually have a rivalry between the 2 clubs this season. I’ve grown up with a divided family where my Mum and my brother support City, and my Dad and myself follow the mighty reds. Derby games have been a bit boring over recent years, when City were battling to survive in the Premiership and United were challenging for all the major honours. Our biggest games were always against Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea respectively.

This year however, I doubt you’ll get a better atmosphere anywhere than at Old Trafford for the Carling Cup semi final, when Wayne Rooney bagged another late winner to sink Mancini and his men. The new City boss kind of set himself up for a fall by saying that at the end of this season, the famous rotating banner at the Stretford end indicating the number of years since City last won a major trophy (currently 34 years) would have to come down, as City were pushing for Carling Cup and FA Cup glory.

Roll on a few months, and déjà vu seems to be happening. We’re two thirds through the season, and City are out of every competition they realistically had a chance of winning. I’ve got loads of bitter blue mates, and I even refrained from sending a text to one of my closest mates last night saying “35 years, Ha!”. He sends me countless text messages every time United are knocked out of a cup, or Europe, or even lose a league game. The one thing I’d like to think is that most United fans are above the ridiculing and gloating. I’m a season ticket holder and prefer to let our team and our results do the talking, I don’t gloat (that often). But for City fans, it will be 35 years at the end of the season since your team last won a trophy. This may change soon, but I think Mancini was a bit premature with his statement.

The Stretford Enders will soon be singing:

In ‘76, now this is true, a trophy was won by the team in blue

Its been a long time, since that day

So we’ll sing em a song that they f***ing HATE

35 years, f**k all, 35 years, f**k all…

Sorry City fans, maybe I just had to gloat a little bit.

Wayne Rooney continues to be in ‘devastating’ form according to Sir Alex Ferguson, following Manchester United’s first ever win at the San Siro in Italy on Tuesday night.

Rooney is now tipped to pass 30 goals this season, having already notched up 25 following his brace against Milan in the second half of the UEFA Champions League last 16 knockout stage. United won the game 3-2 after going a goal down to a deflected Ronaldinho effort early on. The red devils weathered the storm in the first half before a moment of luck levelled matters before the break when Paul Scholes scored with a miss kick – the ball coming off his standing leg and trickling past the stranded Dida.

Rooney then dazzled with 2 goals to put United 3-1 up, before Clarence Seedorf pulled one back with 5 minutes to go. Michael Carrick was sent off for kicking the ball away on David Beckham’s first game against his former club. The second leg is played in just under 3 weeks time.

It has been confirmed. After a 12 minute meeting with Fabio Capello, John Terry has been axed as England Captain. Revelations about is affair with Vanessa Perroncel have hit every news bulletin over the past week and Capello has decided that it is best for England to releave Terry from his duties.

You’ve probably heard all the jokes over the past week:

JOKE: “Sorry to ruin your day mate, but I’ve just driven past your house and John Terry’s car is parked outside”

JOKE: “Fabio Capello phones up Wayne Bridge and say’s…Wayne, I need your help. John Terry seems to have lost his captain’s armband. Could you do me a favour and look under your bed for me?”!!!

Rio Ferdinand is set to take over as new captain with Steven Gerrard as vice captain.

Former Newcastle United player Obafemi Martins has been recalled to Nigerian Squad for their World Cup tie against Mozambique. This is to be played in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital in October.

The 24-year-old former Newcastle player’s last appearance for the Nigerian Super Eagles was in the reverse leg fixture in Maputo, Mozambique about five months ago.

Martins hasn’t always been in favour with the Nigerian team selectors as his lack of seriousness towards his international  commitments compared to his club and the fact he has been injured more often than not. However Nigeria’s current top scorer Ikechukwu Uche is unavailable due to a damaged cruciate ligament.