Rio Ferdinand does not believe that Manchester United head into the new season lacking experience. The retirements of Edwin van der Sar and Paul Scholes, following on from Gary Neville’s decision to hang up his boots midway through last term, means that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has lost three of his most senior figures within the space of six months. In addition, Owen Hargreaves has been released while Wes…
Defender Chris Smalling has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester United. The improved contract is recognition of the 21-year-old’s outstanding debut season, when he made 34 appearances and far exceeded the expectations of Sir Alex Ferguson following a £7m summer move from Fulham. It was enough to secure him a first Premier League title medal, while he was also part of the United side that defeated Chelsea in last…
John O’Shea was persuaded to leave Manchester United by the prospect of exciting times ahead at Sunderland under manager Steve Bruce. The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international last night signed a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light for an undisclosed fee – understood to be in the region of £5million – to end his long association with the Red Devils. O’Shea told SAFC TV: “It was one of those…
Manchester United defender John O’Shea is due at Sunderland on Thursday for a medical as Black Cats manager Steve Bruce closes in on yet another summer signing. O’Shea’s United team-mate Wes Brown had a medical on Wearside on Wednesday night and if Bruce completes both deals it will take his transfer total to eight. United’s Darron Gibson is also still on the radar and Sunderland have high hopes of completing…
Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his surprise at the speed of Javier Hernandez’s development after he helped Manchester see off Marseille on Tuesday. The 22-year-old Mexican, signed from Chivas de Guadalajara last summer, hit both goals as United won 2-1 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. “We are surprised,” said United manager Ferguson. “When we bought him we thought it’d take him time to adjust. “He has adjusted to the physical…
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Wayne Rooney will start scoring again – but he will not start him against Crawley Town. Rooney netted a goal-of-the-season contender against Manchester City last week, a strike which could herald an upturn in form. However, the England international is likely to be on the bench for Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round tie against the non leaguers. Ferguson is trying to juggle…
1) Liverpool really miss Javier Mascherano While occasional freak results are part of what make football great, the most shocking aspect of Blackpool’s triumph over Liverpool at Anfield was that it was no freak. Ian Holloway’s men made a mockery of their 10-1 odds to run out thoroughly deserving winners yesterday afternoon and it is perhaps unfortunate that the post-match spotlight has inevitably focused on the shortcomings of their hosts…