United: Adapting To Adversity

When Manchester United are at their fluent attacking best Sir Alex Ferguson's players delight in confounding opponents by frequently, if temporarily, interchanging roles. Invariably wonderful to watch, such positional rotation is something only very good teams dare indulge in. Moreover their managers tend to ensure that these fluid interludes of movement are firmly underpinned by the reassuring presence of tactical safety nets.

Under enemy fire, leading sides usually revert to default starting formations with defenders deployed conventionally and even free spirits in the Wayne Rooney or Dimitar Berbatov moulds detailed to perform specific marking tasks. Yet as Ferguson prepares to celebrate his 70th birthday on Saturday he knows that so many pieces of United's basic framework have recently required patching up with ill‑fitting parts that he has little option but to improvise for entire 90-minute stretches.
With 11 senior players – including the long‑term absentees Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher – occupying the Old Trafford treatment room the phrase "positional rotation" has assumed a whole new meaning as United's fit squad members are asked to pretend they are Ajax-type "total footballers".
If Michael Carrick and Patrice Evra cannot be described as exactly "ersatz" centre‑halves, the fact that Ferguson's team played much of their 5-0 Boxing Day thrashing of Wigan Athletic with the midfielder and the left-back paired at the heart of defence can only have warmed Roberto Mancini's heart. Even so, Manchester City's manager knows that a wounded United represents a most dangerous enemy. Since his side humiliated Ferguson's men 6-1 at Old Trafford in October, their neighbours have proceeded to win eight of the subsequent nine Premier League games, the last two 5-0.
Yet if fielding a talented winger such as Antonio Valenica at right-back and again promoting the hitherto unwanted Darron Gibson from the reserves to central midfield, clearly did not cramp United's style against Wigan, greater challenges await. The prospect of being without a cadre of key performers during a January programme featuring tricky league trips to Newcastle and Arsenal could conceivably cost United the title.
Pointing out that they now stand level on points with City at the top of the table, Evra takes a rather less gloomy view. Although Chris Smalling and Phil Jones may well recover in time to man the centre-half stations against Blackburn on Saturday, the France international is confident he and Carrick could, once again, prove able deputies.
"At United, the team is the star," says Evra. "That's why you can put me and Michael Carrick at centre-back and we're still going to win. It's about the team effort and the team spirit and that's why I'm confident. The United spirit is that you can play everywhere, in any position. No other side has United's spirit. That's why I'm so proud to play here."
There have been blips along the way but Evra now regards the Champions League exit to Basel as a disguised blessing. "It was a big disappointment when we went out early," he says. "But it was a wake-up call; maybe everyone looked at themselves in the mirror and said 'we can do much better'. What the fans expect of every player, we're all doing now. We're working hard. Nothing is easy but we have to keep our momentum going and trust each other."
If such endeavour is thrilling Ferguson, his side surely cannot keep on exceeding the sum of their currently out of position parts. "The injuries start to be annoying," acknowledges Evra. "We want everyone fit if we want to win the league." The fear inside Old Trafford is that history could be in recycling mode. With the manager's room for January transfer market manoeuvre presumably restricted by the gargantuan debt imposed on the club by the Glazer family, memories have been rewinding almost 14 years.
Despite at one stage enjoying an 11-point lead over Arsenal, a rash of injuries variously afflicting Peter Schmeichel, Gary Pallister, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt in March 1998 saw Ferguson forced to ultimately concede the title to Arsène Wenger.
Coming second to Mancini would hurt more but the Glaswegian is often at his most innovative when backed into corners. "United can adapt to adversity," argues Roberto Martínez, Wigan's manager. "They have the mentality every other team wants. Anyone wanting to win the league has to better United's mentality."
Louise Taylor
@Guardian

Champion Roaring Back

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side gave a title-winning performance against West Ham, after they overcame a two-goal deficit in the first half to defeat the Hammers 4-2 at Upton Park.
The Scot is confident that his team's second half performance shows they have the mentality to be champions this season, despite struggling with injuries and less than inspiring performances.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Ferguson said: “We played like champions today, and we played to our ability.
"It’s not an easy place to come with the fight for relegation and that result might put them [West Ham] in trouble.
“That was a championship winning performance.”
Ferguson served the second of his five-game touchline ban in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, yet his second half intervention which saw Patrice Evra replaced by Javier Hernandez helped United extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
“It was eventful,” he continued. “Being two goals down at half time was a travesty considering the possession and chances created in the first half.

“We kept making chances in the first half, they couldn’t get the ball off Valencia in the first half and he delivered two or three fantastic balls, he had the opposition on toast really.
“We had to go for it, bring in Hernandez and put Gigs to left back. Goal difference didn’t matter, we needed to get something.
“Second half when Chicharito came on, he gave you pace and the running behind line we needed.
“There was a strong bench today with Nani, [Dimitar] Berbatov and [Michael] Owen. I thought if it was still 2-2 in last 10 minutes, then I would bring Michael on and go for it - going for it is vital to our club.”
The 69-year-old is currently serving a ban following comments made about Martin Atkinson in Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, yet took a more sympathetic outlook to Lee Mason’s decision to award West Ham a penalty and not to send off Nemanja Vidic following a foul on Demba Ba.
“The second penalty kick was outside the box, so that was an unfortunate decision for us, but then Vidic could’ve been sent off for the challenge on Ba, so we got a lucky break.
“Although I did think Vidic was fouled at the start of that challenge - overall it was six and two threes - perhaps a red would have been harsh.”
@Goal.com
by : Andrew Kennedy

This Is Rooney !

Reds Deliver Christmas Cheer

Patients at cancer research centre The Christie and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital were treated to visits from United's first-team stars on Tuesday morning.

In what's become an annual event, the players delivered presents and helped spread Christmas cheer in the wards to dozens of children and teenagers, many of whom will spend their Christmas Day in hospital.

Both venues receive regular support from the Manchester United Foundation, the charitable arm of the football Club that has helped raise more than £700,000 for charity over the paast 12 months.

Here are more images from the hospital visit.

@ManUtd.com

Great Clubs Developed By Great Men

Two men pass each other on the hallway of history.
They are men of substance, shaped by sacrifice and ­solidarity.
Their reputations are ­landmarks in a post-apocalyptic landscape.
Their world, football, has spun off its axis.
Their standards are being challenged by corporate cockroaches, chicken ­farmers, and assorted­ opportunists.
Today is the 8810th that Sir Alex Ferguson has devoted to Manchester United.
That is a day longer than Sir Matt Busby was in charge at Old Trafford.
Together they bridged the gap between minimum wage and ransom demand. They witnessed the lurch from idealism to ­cynicism. Busby’s father was killed by a German sniper on the Somme.
Ferguson’s father fought for social justice in the shipyards on the Clyde.
Busby found strength in his faith, succour from the ­extended family of a ­Lanarkshire mining ­community.
Ferguson absorbed life ­lessons on the wharf, the ­importance of diligence, ­dignity, and discipline.
Great football clubs – and they can be more than mere cash cows – are developed by great men.
Not by those whose wallets are stuffed, but whose souls are empty.
Neither Busby nor Ferguson could claim to be perfect human beings.
Sir Matt had the avuncular air of a parish priest, a knack of making the little man feel 10 feet tall.
He espoused honesty and humility, but was sufficiently streetwise to hide a slush fund, to attract the best and the brightest.
When his authority was challenged, even by icons like Denis Law, he had a tyrant’s wrath.
Sir Alex is ­attentive to those toiling at his trade, and respectful to those pushed to the margins by principle.
He is a good friend, a bad enemy. His intransigence ­occasionally spills over into vindictiveness.
When his authority was challenged by Wayne Rooney, he responded with a mixture of sensitivity and savagery that would be beyond a ­younger man.
The nouveau riche can’t wait for him to detach himself from his life force, the game on which he imposes his will.
They see him as just another dinosaur fossil, more suited to the Natural History Museum than the Theatre of Dreams.
Can any sentient being ­really dispute ­Ferguson’s ­insistence that the game has gone mad? It’s most powerful figure, Sepp Blatter, sets the most putrid example.
Just when Blatter’s reputation couldn’t get any worse, his ­ramblings about gay football fans “refraining from sexual activity” at the 2022 World Cup assaulted the senses.
The crass, casual bigotry was breathtaking, and beyond apology.
Qatar’s winter World Cup will be the tipping point, at which clubs go their own way.
The old men of FIFA will go to their graves not caring about the consequences.
Absolute power corrupts, absolutely.
And ignorance breeds ­arrogance.
Anuradha J Desai, first ­female president of the World Poultry Science Association, may well be one of India’s ­richest women.
But if she believes that Blackburn Rovers – her new executive toy – can qualify for the Champions League, she is several McNuggets short of a Happy Meal.
If football follows her model, which neuters the manager – and sub-contracts control to agents – clubs will become ­factory farms.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are busy staging a ­remake of Pulp Fiction for the pantomime season.
There’s blood all over the walls, and no one knows who to believe.
Not quite the PR scam the Sheikh’s advisers envisaged.
Where is the dignity in multi-millionaire footballers being traded like counterfeit perfume?
Busby, of course, saw the realities of life, and sudden, violent death.
He lived through the ­Second World War, and the Munich tragedy.
He never forgot that the club he built was lubricated by the blood of boys who died too young.
Ferguson won’t. Neither should we.



                                                              Written by Michael Calvin Decemver 18th
                                                                                   @mirrorfootball

Reds Eye Christmas No.1

Sir Alex Ferguson was keen to stress the importance of Monday night's 1-0 victory over Arsenal, as the Reds moved two points clear of the chasing pack with a game in hand.

United always aim to be top of the charts at Christmas and the Reds boss labelled next Sunday's visit to Stamford Bridge to take on ailing Chelsea as "massive", "a big, big game for United". But first, the Reds had to get past the Gunners.
"These games are important," stressed the boss. "Arsenal were top of the league and we were in third, so it was an important result for us.
"The game-plan was to stifle the midfield and to make sure we got possession of the ball in there. We did that well in the first half. We played very well and maybe we should have been further in front.
"In fairness, with the goal we did score, we deserved that. In the second half we had some great opportunities on the counter-attack, we were disappointed [not to make more of that]. Arsenal had more of the game in the second half without actually making many chances."
Ji-sung Park's looping head just before half time ensured a lead United's play had warranted. The Reds could have extended the advantage playing on the counterattack in the second 45 minutes when Nani won a penalty for Gael Clichy's handball. However, Rooney blasted the spot-kick over the bar.
"I'm surprised," said the boss. "He usually gets his shots on target. It was the complete opposite to the one he scored against Rangers, which was
low, hard and in the corner. Tonight he ballooned it over the bar.

"You always worry at 1-0. It's not a great score in a game like this. It only takes a second to lose one. But I thought our back four were fantastic. They were absolutely brilliant.
"[Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic] were tremendous. That gives you a great foundation, and 1-0 victories can win you the league. If my back four keep that foundation of not conceding any goals it gives us a really good chance."
They will need to be at their miserly best again next weekend. "It's a massive game now," added the boss. "That will go a long way to establishing the top of the league. It's a big, big game for United."

Artful Shtick

So it was all a storm in a tea cup. A little tantrum. A cry for attention. Call it what you will, but Wayne Rooney’s dramatic about-face over his decision not to sign a new deal with Manchester United caught us all on the hop and left this particular journalist dumbfounded as to why his dirty laundry was ever aired in public.

A day ago Wayne Rooney was on his way to becoming a pariah at Old Trafford, not just for rejecting the offer of a new contract, but for damning the club as un-ambitious and a spent force in terms of its ability to sign big name players and win major trophies. Wazza was on his way to Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, or Chelsea, take your pick, and was destined to be a target for the Red Devils’ boo boys for the rest of his career.

So what happened? Did Sir Alex Ferguson, already earmarked as “a genius” by Rooney in the midst of all the kerfuffle, work his magic again? Well that’s what Wazza says, though can we believe him after the schizophrenics of the last few days?

“I said on Wednesday the manager's a genius and it's his belief and support that convinced me to stay." Rooney said. "I'm delighted to sign another deal at United. I've spoken to the manager and the owners and they've convinced me this where I belong.”

"I am signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history - which is the reason I joined the club in the first place.”

Uhm, excuse me Wazza, but didn’t you have the self same conversation before announcing your departure? And didn’t you then draw exactly the opposite conclusions? And if you were so undecided about your feelings why not keep quiet about it? After all, your current contract isn’t up until the summer of 2012 so you had time.

Here’s what I think happened, and this is pure speculation just for the fun of it, Rooney got played.
I don’t believe for a second that he’s changed his mind about United. I think his initial conclusions about the club’s lack of ambition and ability to attract top players were wrong, but I firmly believe that that’s what he thought, and that‘s what he still thinks ( or will once he lays down in bed tonight and actually starts thinking).

I also think Sir Alex Ferguson knew that Rooney’s mind was made up. But that’s when Fergie boxed clever. Instead of going on an obvious offensive, giving Wazza the infamous “hairdryer” treatment in public, Fergie acted wounded and bemused, appealing to Rooney’s better nature.

Every parent will recognize the “Son, after all I’ve done for you, what have I done to deserve this?” shtick. Well, I say every parent, but Rooney’s son is only a baby so obviously he won’t have had need for that trick yet. Regardless, it’s a common ruse andit worked on Wazza, introducing a bit of guilt into the equation.

Fergie then played another master stroke, describing the Rooney situation as “ a bagatelle”, which means something trivial, and stressing that the most important thing is not the whims of one player but the club itself. Notably its next game with Stoke City. That surely left Rooney’s obvious sense of self importance deflated, and, by stressing the club above all else, Fergie opened the door for the loyal United fans to weigh in with their damning comments about their former hero’s behavior. And they did, in droves on this website and on sites around the world.

So you see Fergie barely had to lift a finger in heaping more guilt that he could handle on Rooney’s shoulders, and his softly, softly approach, that essentially allowed others and Rooney’s conscience to do the dirty work has paid off. He’s inked a 5 year deal and, what’s more, will be more motivated than ever to perform by way of an apology to the fans and his team-mates for the shenanigans of the last few days.

Fergie you ARE a genius.


By : Terry Baddoo 
@CNN

Football Without Sir Alex ?

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho insists that "only a special manager" can fill Sir Alex Ferguson's shoes at Manchester United when the Scot calls it a day.

The Red Devils boss will be 69 years old in December, and there has been speculation concerning who could replace him in the Old Trafford hot-seat after his retirement.

And Mourinho is not surprised that several managers have been linked with the potential job opening at the club. There have been reports that Everton manager David Moyes and Barcelona's Pep Guardiola have both been linked with the position.
However, the Portuguese coach does not envision Ferguson walking away from United in the near future.

"Football without Alex Ferguson? I’m not sure that will happen any day soon," Mourinho told The Mirror.

"The man lives and breathes football and Manchester United is his club.

"His hunger and desire to win the biggest trophies remains so I cannot see the day he considers walking away from football approaching.

"Like Real Madrid, the Manchester United job is special and only a special manager is good enough to take the job on if and when it does become available.

"Of course, jobs like that don’t become available every day so the interest will be vast. Like Madrid, it’s a job everyone will want."

Real were one of the clubs linked with a move for Wayne Rooney after the forward had expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford. But the 25-year-old recently did a u-turn and signed a five-year contract with his employers.

And the former Chelsea boss insists that the outcome was never going to be any different.

He said:"Could I ever see him leaving? Never. He is Manchester United through and through and he is working with one of the best coaches in football. He’s a great player but he belongs to United. I wasn’t surprised to see him stay, I expected it.

"There was no way Alex Ferguson would have considered selling him, not to anyone. If you take the decision to leave a club like United there are not many options open to you. Few clubs come any bigger."

For now, however, Mourinho remains intent on guiding the Bernabeu boys to silverware.

"Madrid is a special club and came to me at special time in my career," he said. "After winning my second Champions League and after my success at Chelsea and Inter, the Real job and the challenge to be successful was very appealing.

"I came to a team that had had no success for two years and faced the challenge of a very special Barcelona team and some of the great clubs in Europe in the Champions League.

"Despite everything and all the success I have enjoyed, my desire to continue winning remains. I love a challenge and this is a huge challenge for me.

"Madrid didn’t win the Champions league for 10 years, the Spanish Cup for 19 years and haven’t won the Championship for three. So there is a great deal of work to be done. I love the pressure and that is immediate at a club like this because failure doesn’t sit comfortably with anyone."

Mourinho also believes that he has about 15 years of management left in him, insisting that retirement is not something he will consider anytime in the near future.

"I still have at least 10 or 15 years left in football management," he said. "Naturally a day will come when my circumstances change and I will want to lead a quieter life.

"But it is not something I will be giving any consideration too for a long time to come."


@mirrorfootball

مقاله ای از آرش حقیقی

1-" کالین تو را بخشید ولی ما نمی بخشیم. " این مهمترین شعار هواداران یونایتد بود در شب بازی با بورسا اسپور؛ شعاری که کل اولد ترافورد را پر کرده بود. کالین ,همسر وین رونی, خیانتش را بخشید اما یونایتدی ها هنوز نه و شاید هرگز.

2-فینال جام حذفی سال 2005 برای آرسنالی ها خیلی مهم است. این آخرین جامی بود که توپچیهای لندن بردند, فینالی که یونایتد همه بازی حمله کرد و گل نزد و دست آخر آرسنال با پنالتی بازی را برد. ترکیب خط حمله یونایتد در آن بازی معروف تشکیل شده بود از مثلث نیستلروی در نوک و کریس رونالدو و وین رونی دو ورش. دارن فلچر هم کنار روی کین در مرکز بازی می کرد. دوره, دوره ای بود که همه می گفتند کار سر الکس تمام است و نسل طلایی یونایتد به پایان رسیده و با بچه هایی مثل رونی و رونالدو و فلچر این تیم قدرت فتح جام های داخلی و اروپایی را ندارد. هر روزنامه ای که باز می کردی همین بود داستان. تیمی که مدام حمله می کند و گل نمی زند لیاقت قهرمانی ندارد. " فلچر خیلی معمولی است, رونالدو فقط برای خودش بازی می کند و بی خود پا عوض می کند, رونی هم سطحش در حد همان اورتون است. "

3-دو سال گذشت. منچستر یونایتد در حالی که هنوز نیمکتش تخت سلطنت سر الکس بود سه سال پیاپی قهرمان لیگ برتر شد و در این سه سال به نیمه نهایی چمپیونز لیگ هم رسید, دو بار به فینال رفت و یک بار قهرمان شد. حالا چه کسی بود که می توانست قدرت یونایتد را انکار کند؟ اما مهره های کلیدی یونایتد در این سالها همان بچه هایی بودند که بیشترین انتقادها را جذب کرده بودند. انگار تاریخ تکرار می شد و جمله به یاد ماندنی آلن هنسن در سال 95 که " با این بچه ها ( گیگز, بکام, اسکولز, نویل ) نمیشه هیچی برد " معنی ای دوباره می گرفت و باز نفس می کشید بعد از 10 سال. فلچر بدل شد به یکی از بهترین هافبک های دفاعی اروپا و زوج رونی و رونالدو خطرناک ترین خط حمله. رونالدو بهترین تمام کننده بود و رونی بهترین مکمل وهمه این ها بار دیگر نسخه ای جادویی بود از مردی که تخصص خودش را می داند: " سال 2005 بود که یکی از بازیکنای تیم اومد پیش من و گفت این رونی و رونالدو اصلا خوب نیستند و من نیمتونم بیش تر از این صبر کنم که با اینا جام بگیریم. خب می دانید مشکل همه همین است. آدمها پتانسیل را درک نمی کنند و نمی بینند. ولی من می بینم, من همه عمرم را صرف دیدن و کشف این استعدادها کردم. من استعداد را پیدا می کنم و خوب بلدم چطور آن را به بالاترین سطح ممکن برسانم. "

سر الکس مثل همیشه به راهش ایمان دارد و می داند این بار هم منتقدین هستند که باید حرفشان را پس بگیرند: " به این راه ایمان کامل دارم. فلسفه یونایتد همین است. می دونید اینها تیمی را می بینند که 14 بازیکن زیر 22 سال دارد و نمی توانند درک کنند که سال آینده این تیم کجاست. "

4-تابستان سال گذشته کریس رونالدو و کارلوس تبس اولدترافورد را ترک کردند و این شد آغاز یک ماجراجویی جدید برای پیر فرزانه اسکاتلندی که تا آخرین نفس زندگیش پای قمار می ماند. آنتونی والنسیا و نانی باید می ساختند و رونی باید گل می زد, بربا هم که کلا از برنامه های تیم خارج بود. اینجا دگردیسی بزرگ زندگی ورزشی رونی شروع شد. فرگوسن نقش رونی را عوض کرد. مدتی طول کشید تا رونی به این نقش جدید عادت کند, اما وقتی شماره 10 شیاطین سرخ خودش را به عنوان تک مهاجم پذیرفت طوفان یونایتد بار دیگر انگلیس و اروپا را در بر گرفت و قربانیان بزرگی چون میلان و آرسنال داد. پرچمدار این موج نو خود رونی بود که حساس ترین گل ها را می زد و البته نانی و والنسیا هم آرام آرام پتانسیل بالایشان را نشان می دادند. همه چیز همانطور که باید پیش می رفت تا بالاخره شبی در مونیخ شوم ترین حادثه ممکن برای یونایتد رخ داد. پای رونی پیچ خورد و امید اول انگلیس در جام جهانی در حالی که ایدئال ترین فرم ممکن را داشت مصدوم شد. همین مصدومیت به علاوه اتفاقات عجیب و غریب بازی برگشت یونایتد و بایرن نتیجه اش شد حذف آنها از اروپا و از دست دادن مقام قهرمانی لیگ برتر.

حرف زدن از آینده ای در گذشته که هرگز اتفاق نیافتاده کاری عبث است اما واقعا اگر رونی در حساس ترین مقطع فصل مصدوم نمی شد و داور رافائل دا سیلوا را به آن شکل مضحک با دو کارت زرد جریمه نمی کرد, دور از خیال بود که یونایتد برای سومین سال پیاپی به فینال چمپیونز لیگ برسد؟

5-" برای من فقط یک چیز اهمیت دارد و آن هم بردن جام است. یونایتد با سر الکس همیشه اینطور بوده. ولی من حرفم را زدم و احساس می کنم این یونایتد جاه طلبی و قدرت فتح جام را ندارد. " این را رونی گفت؛ حرفهایی که بدجور سر الکس را متعجب کرد. اما  فکتی جالب اینجاست : رونی بعد از مصدومیت بازی مقابل بایرن کلا دو گل زده است, یکی از روی نقطه پنالتی برای یونایتد و یکی در بازی مقابل سوئیس برای انگلیس. رونی احساس می کند این تیم یونایتد به اندازه کافی نمی جنگد و روحیه قهرمانی ندارد. ولی هرگز به این فکر نمی کند که یکی از دلایل اصلی آن خودش است. فرافکنی ستاره 24 ساله انگلیس این جا رخ می نماید. یونایتد این فصل در فاز حمله بسیار بهتر از یونایتد سال گذشته شده. بربا 6 گل تا همین جای فصل زده و بهترین فوتبال ممکن را بازی میکند. چیچاریتو هم هر وقت به بازی آمده تاثیر گذار بوده و نانی هم که کم کم دارد شمایلی رونالدو-وار به خود می گیرد. اگر رونی همان رونی فصل پیش بود مسلما یونایتد تا اینجای فصل خیلی راحت تر گل می زد. پس مشکل بیشتر مشکل رونی است تا یونایتد. رونی بدترین فوتبال عمرش را بازی می کند و بعد از بازیکنان دیگر ایراد می گیرد. انگار همان داستان سال 2005 دارد تکرار می شود و این بار نقش ها عوض شده و رونی در نقش ستاره ای ظاهر می شود که به جوان ها اعتماد ندارد. شاید بد نباشد رونی یاد دورانی بیافتد که بقیه همین حرفها را راجع به خودش و هم تیمی هایش می زدند و به یاد بیاورد سرانجام آن نسل چه شد. یونایتد این فصل هنوز شکست نخورده است, در اروپا صدر جدول گروهش هست و در انگلیس هم طبق سنت همیشگی نیم فصل اول را در رده های دوم و سوم می گذراند. رونی باید در خلوت خودش کمی بیشتر به این حقایق فکر کند. باید به این فکر کند که آیا افت یونایتد باعث افت او شده یا برعکس؟ آیا این سر الکس نبود که بعد از جام جهانی کابوس وار همه جوره پشت مهاجمش ایستاد و تنهایش نگذاشت؟

 هر تیم بزرگی حداقل نیاز به یک ستاره بزرگ هم دارد که در لحظاتی که همه چیز گره می خورد و همه راه ها بسته است راهی پیدا کند و دری بگشاید. کاری که کانتونا می کرد, کاری که بکام می کرد, کاری که رونالدو می کرد. نقش این ستاره را رونی باید بازی کند  که نمی کند و به جایش دیگران را زیر سوال می برد. مثل اینکه بازیگر نقش اول فیلم بد بازی کند و انرژی نگذارد و تمرکز نداشته باشد و بعد بگوید این فیلم در نمی آید و من دیگر بازی نمی کنم. روی کین هم در تمام دوران کاپیتانیش در اولدترافورد مدام داخل و خارج از زمین سر بقیه داد می کشید و از آنها می خواست بهتر باشند, اما خودش هم هرگز از حرکت باز نمی ایستاد. کین جانش را برای تیم می داد و از هم بازیهایش هم چنین انتظاری داشت. اینکه بایستی و سر بقیه داد بکشی کار یک فوتبالیست حرفه ای نیست. آنچه رونی می بیند در واقع انعکاس نقش خودش است در آینه تیمش که غرور و تکبر زیادی مانع از درکش می شود. نقش رونی در بازی های امسال یونایتد چه بوده و باید چه می بود؟ آیا چیزی جز نام او در زمین دیده شده؟ اگر برباتوف همان بازیکن دو فصل گذشته بود حالا یونایتد کجای جدول قرار داشت؟ اینها سوالهایی است که رونی پیش از هر چیز باید دنبال جوابش باشد. گاهی نقش ها که عوض می شوند بازیگران جوری رفتار می کنند که انگار هرگز نقشی قبلی نداشته اند و از اول همین بوده اند که هستند. نقش رونی عوض شده و نقش سابقش به چیچاریتو, به به , گیبسون و اندرسون و رافائل رسیده. اما این وسط یک نقش ثابت مانده؛ سر الکس عوض نشده. سر الکس همیشه همین بوده و همیشه همین خواهد ماند و این رمز جاودانگیش است: " به این راه ایمان کامل دارم. "

6-" کالین تو را بخشید ولی ما نمی بخشیم. "

Roo-turn

You Ruined Something !

Focused Amid A Storm

Sir Alex Ferguson wanted more of a cutting edge from his team against Bursaspor but, under the circumstances, a victory was top of the agenda after a tough week at Old Trafford.
It was far from a classic, but the boss was pleased to collect all three points to move two points clear at the top of the Group C. “A win was important, it was important for the fans,” he told MUTV. "The players worked hard and there was good unity among them and a good atmosphere in the dressing room.

"I think we could have pushed on better. That’s why I put on Chicharito to try and get more impetus in the striking part. But I think we did our job well in the sense we kept our intensity and we controlled the whole match. They had one shot with two minutes of the match remaining. So we can take credit for that, the players worked really hard. But we could have done better in the final third.”

Nani had earlier given United the lead after seven minutes with a thunderbolt strike. “He is getting better, that is the great thing,” added the boss “He’s added a good goal ratio to his game. He’s got great feet, and courage, and he’s quick. He loves playing, he loves training. A lot of these things are coming together for the lad and we’re pleased at that.”

But throughout the match there was a cloud looming over United. Wayne Rooney released a statement hours before kick-off reiterating his stance that he wants to leave. Rooney’s reasoning centred around ambition. Sir Alex smiled and responded: “Is it 30 trophies I’ve won, or what?” Asked if it was important not to let the saga affect morale, he added: “Absolutely, we will put it to bed tomorrow.”


@MANUTD.COM

Charity Shield,Ozil Saga,Rooney and Scholes Phenomenon

Sir Alex Ferguson refused to confirm or deny his interest in signing Germany star Mesut Ozil following Manchester United's Community Shield victory.

United boss Ferguson was at Craven Cottage on Saturday, when Ozil's Werder Bremen side were playing Fulham in a pre-season friendly.

Ferguson hinted he was an admirer of the 21-year-old midfielder - one of the best players at this summer's World Cup - but asked if he was interested in bringing the playmaker to Old Trafford, he replied cryptically: "I don't know."

He added: "I think a lot of clubs would be interested in Ozil.

"At the moment, I think we've got a great squad. I don't need to add to it - that's my opinion. I trust them.

"But, as I said, there are a lot of clubs interested in him."

Ferguson was happy with United's performance against Chelsea this afternoon, which saw them run out 3-1 winners at Wembley.

But he was even more pleased with being able to give a number of his players a much-needed run-out, including Wayne Rooney.

The England striker put his World Cup misery behind him to impressive in a 45-minute cameo that saw him lay on United's opener with an inch-perfect cross for Antonio Valencia.

Ferguson said: "The making of the goal, marvellous run and first-time ball; I don't think Antonio could've missed it. It was a magnificent ball in."

The United boss was also effusive about Rooney's half-time replacement, Javier Hernandez, who marked his debut with a bizarre goal.

The Mexico striker slipped trying to turn in Valencia's cross and ended up kicking the ball against his own face and into the net.

Salomon Kalou pulled a goal back for double-winners Chelsea, who also went close to levelling before substitute Dimitar Berbatov sealed the win in stoppage time.

Ferguson hit out at the critics who have questioned whether the Bulgarian has lived up to his £32million price tag since joining United.

But the United boss saved the biggest plaudits to the evergreen Paul Scholes, who gave a midfield masterclass to earn the man-of-the-match award.

Ferguson had to talk Scholes out of retirement at the end of last season, but admitted he had also considered putting the midfielder out to pasture.

"This time last season, he's saying to himself, 'This is my last season' - and a lot of people thought that," Ferguson said.

"It came across my mind also, simply because he's had a lot of injuries in his career. He keeps coming back; it's not easy to do that.

"It's a phenomenon that he goes out there, becomes man of the match, approaching his 36th birthday.

"He's just an incredible footballer."

Scholes was partnered by Michael Carrick, who was a shock starter two days after Ferguson had ruled him out for two weeks with an ankle injury.

"On Friday, I was certain he was out for two weeks," Ferguson said.

"He came in yesterday, says he was fit, wanted to train, trained, and wanted to play.

"The minute he says he's fit, we had to play him, simply because he needs game time."

You've Got To Love Throwback Wayne

On the face of it, in this media age, obsessed as it is with the beautiful, the glamorous and the good-looking, Wayne Rooney is an unlikely hero. Thick-set, built like a bull, balding and bearded; it's not the preferred look of the catwalk. 

In that respect he is a kind of anti-hero; an everyman for the masses who appeals because he looks like a bricklayer on your local building site.

Rooney is a throwback to an era when players looked like men, not teen idols. Both men and women like this. It is somehow comforting to see a proper bloke and not some streamlined athlete with an expensive, fashionable haircut. And when he scores he doesn't do some stupid dance and try to look cool. He looks as delighted as we feel we would in such circumstances. He appears to be connected to the real world despite living an exalted life.

None of this would matter if he wasn't so bloody good at football. Unlike so many players, the hyperbole around Rooney, especially this season, is justified. 

His swashbuckling style of play is the perfect blend of physicality, work ethic and relentless energy combined with supreme skill and vision. A bloke I know, Alf, a 64-year-old gadgee, sums this up perfectly. 

"He's plays like a foreigner and like an Englishman all at the same time."

Many have the work ethic but not the skill; many have the skill but can't put a decent shift in. The fact that Rooney does both to such a high standard makes him an irresistible character even to the neutral football fan. 

Many of us instinctively shy away from praising someone who is such a focus of tabloid and media attention because the number of column inches is all too often in inverse proportion to the achievements of the individual. In a sense, I don't want to like him because somehow it plugs into all that facile Hello/Heat culture. The modern media messes with your head like this and you end up taking a position on people based entirely on their exposure. 

But the rise and rise of Rooney is a fascinating, compulsive story. Amazing to think he's still only 24. The barn-storming kid at Everton who would bulldoze through defences with reckless abandon has inevitably been tamed, but this season we've seen some of that old unstoppability return in a more mature form. There are times when you feel he just will not be denied. His burst of pace for his goal at Arsenal and the timing of his stride to hit the ball accurately first time were pure artistry; skill and physicality in one perfect blend.

The red-faced manic persona of yore also seems to have cooled somewhat and with that, a greater composure on the ball has emerged. His long-range passing at times this season has been like watching Glenn Hoddle in his pomp. One cross-field ball in the midweek game against City was the equal of Beckham at the peak of his powers. On top of this he's got 20 league goals in 23 games. He's like two great players all in one; an attacking midfielder breaking open defences and a prolific goalscorer. 

Being the focus of attention at Manchester United is a pressure many cannot bear. It has crushed great players time and again in the past. Rooney is different. The more expectation on him, the more he has risen to meet the challenge. The liberation in his play is palpable now that Ronaldo has moved on. 

As he goes into contract negotiations he has already said he's happy to stay at Old Trafford - not a typical bargaining position - and while the money he earns is stellar, you don't get the impression that he's the sort to hussle for an extra 10k on 120k. 

It's been said to the point of cliché that he's like a schoolyard kid who just wants to kick a ball around but his unfettered commitment to playing, in an era of half-assed, lazy, ego-monsters, inevitably provokes such comments. However, that doesn't do justice to how he's worked on his game. It suggests it's all natural skill. But you can see how he's gone about improving. His first touch has become more reliable, but it is his vision to spot a pass and to take a goalscoring position that has seen the biggest growth.

This is all the more remarkable in a season when at times he has seemed to drag United single-handed through games; like a footballing dray horse. Unlike Ronaldo before him, he does so not for personal glorification or ego-stroking, he does it for the side. 

The notion of burn-out has reached hysterical heights in modern football. Managers have got it into their heads that a fit young man can't be expected to play two or three games in a week. Rooney contradicts these fanciful notions. He seems to get better the more he plays. He appears stronger, not weaker after a long run of games. Rather than all this work making him more liable to injury, it seems to make him less vulnerable.

A friend of a friend actually works for Wayne in some capacity and reports him to be a very humble, quiet, shy lad with no side to him at all, which, all things considered is quite remarkable, though not quite as remarkable as some of his performances this season. 

With so much adoring praise and lavish attention from a media keen to over-rate, over-praise and over-criticise, it'd be easy to be cynical about Rooney. But this kid is a force of nature. A regular man with an extraordinary talent, we will all look back in our dotage and say, 'aye, now that lad was a proper player'.


@football365.com