Is He or Isn't He?

I have to say that the transfer periods that occur in January and the summer are the most annoying things about footy.  The constant "inside stories" batted around by the press, claiming to know the boardroom dealings of billion-dollar clubs (like United) is laughable.
Cesc Fabregas, the Spanish midfielder at Arsenal, has been leaving, staying, leaving, staying, leaving, staying for more than two seasons now.  Schooled in la Masia (Barcelona's academy), he was plucked at a young age to play for the Gunners.  Their dearth of trophies has made the 23-yr-old pine to play for Barcelona.  His Spanish National Team mates (some of whom play for Barca) have spoken in the press ad nauseam that he belongs at Barca and he can't wait to leave Arsenal, blah blah blah.  Well OF COURSE he does.  Arsenal hasn't won anything and the club's tight-fisted manager promises the fans that youth is the key (although they win nothing) and they should hold out...the fans are tired of holding out and the empty promises of big signings every summer have the Gunner faithful up in arms!
Barcelona has been very successful in recent years and I'm sure Cesc thinks he will walk on to the team and they'll win gobs of trophies...but the interesting thing that most people fail to mention is...CESC ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY FOR BARCELONA!!!!  He doesn't start for the Spanish NT (who won the World Cup and Euro 2008)...in fact he barely plays for the NT.  Why does Cesc think he will go to Barcelona and automatically have a starting position with a team that is already successful?  He will be warming the bench for when Xavi or Iniesta get tired and want to be subbed off. 
Arsenal is asking a ludicrous price for a player who has done nothing since being at Arsenal.  When Cristiano Ronaldo was sold to Real Madrid from United, his 80mil price was warranted because he was the league's leading player, the reigning World Player of the Year, and a player ANYONE would want for their starting XI.  Cesc?  Constantly crocked, ineffective in big matches, loses the ball more than anyone on the team....need I say more?
Well, Arsene Wenger has finally relented and agreed (according to the papers) to let Cesc go...FINALLY!!!!!!!!  So sick of hearing about it.
Samir Nasri seems to be heading out of the Emirates as well...ironically Nasri is a better player than Cesc, but to his detriment was not a member of the Spanish NT...and seems bound for Man Poo...not exactly a step up in my estimation...

United's own transfer saga involves one Wesley Sneijder...formerly of Real Madrid (until he was unceremoniously dumped two season ago and sold to Inter Milan...where he won the Champions League the following season with Inter AT MADRID!), and a member of the Dutch National Team, who were the runners up to Spain in last year's World Cup.  Wesley's Inter of last year was horrible and lost out to AC Milan for the prized Scudetto of the Serie A...or Serie Blahhh as I call it.
The rumors have been rampant about Sneijder's impending arrival at United, supposedly in line to take the retiring Paul Scholes' place in midfield.  He is a good player and the pulse of United fans has been mostly positive...but...he's 27.  SAF and the board at United have a rule about not paying top dollar for anyone over 26.  Why?  Because a 4-yr or longer contract would find the player in their early 30s at the end of the contract and not worth much in the resale market.
Dimitar Berbatov was a one-off in that category and was purchased at age 27 a few years ago...but he was also the league's leading scorer last year (tying an unmentionable troll for that title). 
Wesley has had an off year with Inter and many think he wants to move on and United have the money to purchase him so he had his agent toss United's name in to the whirlpool that is the public transfer market.
But...United never do business in the press so I was skeptical when I heard that "it was a done deal."  Many are still saying that today, but now The Guardian, a UK newspaper is reporting that a "boardroom-level source" has told them that the deal is dead and Sneijder will not be joining United by the end of this month.  The supposed reason is Sneijder's outlandish wage demand.
.........big sigh........
So Is He or Isn't He?  I have no idea.

Marouane Chamakh laughs with wantaway Cesc Fabregas earlier this week

"YES!!! I could be playing for United!"--Wesley Sneijder

A New Season Awaits

Since United's victorious run last season, a record-breaking 19th title, much has happened.  I have been out of town most of the summer and unable to update the blog.
Our Reds managed a disappointing second place to our arch-nemesis in the Champions League, Barcelona, at Wembley Stadium at the end of May.  But unlike RM, our Reds didn't lose 5-0... :))

In the transfer market Sir Alex has been his usual wily self.  Picking up Ashley Young from Aston Villa, Phil Jones from Blackburn, and David de Gea from Atletico Madrid.
Ashley Young, who now wears the 18 of newly-retired legend Paul Scholes, has impressed the Reds faithful already in the pre-season.  His quickness and ability to read the defense has lifted the pall settling in over fans who didn't want to see Scholes retire (or think about Giggsy leaving in the near future).  The calm, quiet precision in which Scholesy worked can be seen in Young's quick runs on the wing.  He also has a rocket (which the former number 18 was known for), and isn't intimidated by anyone.  Perhaps having experience playing next to United's English players for the National Team helped him to acclimatize quickly.  He is keen to improve his skills and earn his keep!

Jones, a young defender, has featured a bit in pre-season as well, and after a few matches seemed to feel more comfortable in his position.  He has big shoes to fill.  Last year's signing, Chris Smalling, was called into action early on when Rio Ferdinand was injured.  He didn't have time to contemplate a First Team start like many recruits who start out in the Reserves.  Hopefully that won't happen to Jones, who will probably just add to the depth this year in case of injury.

David de Gea's transfer or possible transfer has been in the papers since Edwin Van der Sar announced last year that the 2010-11 season would be his last.  The 40-yr-old, who has won many trophies with the Reds, decided it was time to pass the baton to a younger keeper.  Many were batted around in the press as his successor, but de Gea got the call and joined the Reds while on their US Tour after playing in the Under-21 World Cup for Spain.  Despite his tender age, he was the starter for Atletico Madrid last year.  Anders Lindegaard, purchased last year by United, has also featured in the pre-season and did very well.  It's a nice thing for a manager to have two steady keepers in case of injury.  Ben Amos also played in the pre-season and did fine, but de Gea has already been assigned the number 1 kit.  His only weakness at this point is his language...he is learning English!!!  Eric Steele, the United keeper coach, has had to learn some Spanish to converse with his new recruit.  I suppose he just has to point to the players and tell them which way the wall needs to move!!!

Speaking of the Pre-season.  United went on tour to the United States and won all 5 of its games (some by 7!) against MLS teams and the MLS All-Stars, but the last match of the tour was perhaps the most-anticipated: a rematch with Barcelona.  Barca didn't have a few of its stars (Messi, Puyol, etc.) but United didn't start it's usual XI either...in fact, the match was won by United's youth, with an average age of just under 23!!  Barca has always relied on it's "la Masia" (youth academy) to keep the fires burning, but it wasn't enough against United youngsters like Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, and Mame Diouf, who all three were loaned out last year to give them more senior experience.  Obviously it worked, because after the match the United fans who've been pining for a CM like Wesley Sneijder to join the Reds were singing the praises of Cleverley, who along with Ashley Young and Anderson, ran riot over the Barca midfield. 
All these kids need is a bit of confidence and they will be unstoppable...the future of United.

After returning from the US, United faced it's "noisy neighbors," Man Poo for the Community Shield at Wembley.  The Reds were down two goals at the half despite dominating the match.  Sir Alex knew the goals would come, as did the TV announcers, and it took just a few minutes after the half for Chris Smalling to put the Reds back in it.  A clever dink from an Ashley Young cross broke the seal and a few minutes later, Nani scored a brilliant goal that was set up by just about everyone wearing a Red kit.  Ping-pong, first-touch ball had Man Poo running in circles and Nani received a brilliant ball from Cleverley and slotted home from 6-yds out.  2-2.  At that point there was no doubt that United were on a roll and Man Poo, as usual, were dumbstruck with no guidance from the touchline.  At 90 + 4' Nani dispossessed a clueless Kompany (receiving a lobbing backpass from a teammate) and faked the keeper...BANG!!!  2-3, game over. 
United came from behind in too many matches last season, and gave Man Poo and others the same old lesson...never count out United.  David Beckham said it best when he confided that "even when United are down with a few minutes to go everyone still believes they can win it."
Indeed. 
How thrilling to see our newbies jumping up and down with their first trophy as a Red!
GGMU!!!!!

Tom Cleverley marshals the midfield

New defender Phil Jones

Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, and Tom Cleverley proudly display the 2011 Community Shield...let's hope they get to do this much more this season!!!!