So then, what are we to believe regarding the future of Carlos Tevez? One minute he says he wants to stay at United, the next day he is quoted in the media saying he’s open to the idea of moving to Real Madrid. Incidentally, I don’t have a problem with players’ being honest about wanting to join a club like Real Madrid, if indeed those quotes are accurate, because at least Tevez is being honest, unlike a former United hero who worked his ticket out of Old Trafford and then tried to blame it all on United.The Argentinean striker has also spoken of his love for the United fans and he says that they deserve to know the truth. According to Tevez, the truth is that United haven’t so far backed up their numerous promises about cementing his future at the club.Forgetting the fact that we the fans do not know the whole truth behind this sorry saga and if worst case Tevez is allowed to join Real Madrid in the current transfer window, it could be potentially disastrous for United’s ambitions of securing yet more silverware this season. United currently have just three strikers to choose from, we can forget Welbeck and Manucho, they are not ready for the first-team. So if Tevez leaves will be down to the bare bones and if that happens frankly it will be unacceptable for a club the size of Manchester United. At this point in time, there has been no suggestion that Tevez will be allowed to leave in January, more likely it will happen this coming summer when his short-term contract expires.If however, Tevez is allowed to leave in January the club will have to replace him and there’s no obvious readily available targets and even if there was anyone available, going off previous form United would end up paying a lot more than the said player’s true worth as was the case with Berbatov, Nani, Carrick and many others down the years. I’m beginning to wonder if United actually have the money to complete the Tevez deal. We have to remember that Manchester City forced the club into paying between 5m and 10m over the odds for Berbatov when they revealed their interest on transfer deadline day, into the bargain Spurs had United’s collective trousers down (again) when demanding Campbell be part of the deal. Whatever the financial situation at United at this juncture, if Tevez leaves those broken promises will cost the club dearly, because who else with the Champions buy? Even if the Reds’ wait until next summer there’s very few top quality potential targets and so wouldn’t it be better to keep a player like Tevez who has fitted in extremely well? I’m hoping that United can agree a deal with Tevez and his agent, because for me he is the best available option and so allowing him to leave would be complete and utter madness.

So, rather than do anything even resembling work, I’ve spent my entire morning reading about Carlos Tevez, the shady deal that took him to West Ham, the somewhat shadier deal that took him to United, and the resulting shite situation we find ourselves in now. And, as I read more and more, I start to [...]

Carling Cup Semi-Finals
Pride Park Stadium
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
KO : 19:45 GMT (2:45 EST)
Recent Results United
January 4 United 3 Southampton 0 @ St. Marys Stadium
December 29 United 1 Boro 0 @ Old Trafford
December 26 United 1 Stoke 0 @ Britannia Stadium
December 21 United 1 LDU Quito 0 [...]

It has been reported in the headlines of many papers around the globe that Carlos Tevez is ready to quit Manchester United. Such a statement shouldn’t be all that surprising, given the moderate playing time Tevez has seen in recent matches and the constant state of upheaval regarding his new contract. And yet, such reports [...]

When you have been an integral part of the United first-team for as long as Ryan Giggs, it must be hard to accept becoming a squad player, which is precisely what has happened to the Welshman over the last couple of seasons. Giggs has pretty much been an ever-present whenever Fergie has played his strongest side. No more, because these days nothing is certain where selection issues are concerned, it is the same situation for “club captain”, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.So it comes as no surprise that Ryan Giggs has stated he might retire at the end of the current season. According to the media, Manchester United are ’stunned’ at this news. Well I am not, because I can totally understand why Giggs is saying that now might be the time to go.True enough, Giggs can still do a job for the Champions, he’s had some good games this season, but he obviously he feels that the end of his illustrious United career is in sight.A part of Giggs may well feel that he’s blocking the progress of younger players at the club. I am thinking of Park and Nani - but in my opinion, neither are fit to lace the boots of Giggs. I’d be quite happy to see Park and or Nani sold in the summer, as neither player is capable of delivering consistently.I have torn my hair out at Ryan Giggs over the years when his crossing has let him down - but Nani is far worse as he is hopelessly wasteful when in possession. As for Park, he is just a headless chicken, his work-rate cannot be faulted, but a footballer he is not. Unlike Giggs, the South Korean lacks composure whenever a goal-scoring opportunity comes his way, he is the proverbial rabbit caught in the headlights and what’s more unlike Giggs he cannot see a subtle pass.Then we come to Carlos Tevez, he is another who is talking openly about leaving, but his situation is very different from that of Nani and Park, they’ve both been signed on longer term contracts whereas the Argentine is still waiting for United to come up with enough money to secure a deal.I suspect Giggs, Scholes and Neville will hang around until Fergie calls it a day and from the outside looking in, I think the three of them have accepted that they are no longer first-choice picks. Nonetheless, it doesn’t make it any easier for the veteran star trio to play second fiddle to younger players on match-days.When David Beckham left United, it was a tragic mess, the whole thing was handled badly by his agents and as a result many Reds’ were livid with a player who’d given so much in the Red shirt. I can tell you exclusively that before Beckham was eventually sold, United sent a high-powered club official to meet a group of hardcore United fans to find out what the likely reaction would be to the news in the event of the player being sold. The said official was told that there would be no fan backlash, because like the club they blamed the Beckham camp for not signing that new contract and this in turn was conveyed back to United’s decision-makers. Beckham was eventually sold to Real Madrid - there was no angry reaction from the fans - many were actually seething with Beckham and his camp for trying to suggest it was the club who’d done wrong, when all along it was the other way around.In sharp contrast to Beckham; when Giggs, Scholes and Neville eventually leave United they will do so with their heads held high because they are, almost uniquely these days, one club players. They are special, because that club happens to be the biggest and best in the world.

Apologies for these going up Monday morning, but I was gone all weekend and only just had time to review the weekend’s activities and decide, yet again, that the future looks increasingly bright at Manchester United. With goals from Danny Welbeck (18), Nani (22), and Darron Gibson (21), United look fully capable of remaining both [...]

It’s very refreshing to see that even though Fergie cannot be long off retiring, he is still trying to build for United’s future with the double signing of Zoran Tosic, 21 and Adem Ljajic, 17. It was at this time last year that Fergie agreed the deal for the da Silva brothers. After some red-tape issues the Brazilians eventually arrived at Old Trafford in July along with Rodrigo Possebon.Rafael and Possebon have proven that you can acquire good players in January and the Reds’ will be hoping that their latest signings prove to be as good as their young South Americans.United wrapped up the signing of Tosic and Ljajic just as soon as the January transfer window opened, amidst talk of interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City - the latter, despite their new found wealth had no chance of hi-jacking the deal. According to United’s Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic, the Partizan Belgrade stars’ couldn’t wait to join the Champions.Zoran Tosic who plays wide left is seen as the long-term successor to Ryan Giggs and Fergie has hinted that he will play some part in the current season, depending on how quickly he adjusts to the pace of training and the special demands of playing in England. One thing is for certain, United will not rush Tosic into action as there’s no need given the galaxy of stars’ at the manager’s disposal. Reports have suggested that the arrival of the Serb duo could signal the end for Nani and Park Ji Sung, but Fergie has played down this speculation when confirming that the South Korean will be given a new contract. The fact is that as far as Nani and Park are concerned money talks and if Tosic does well then I wouldn’t rule out United accepting a summer offer for either player.Adem Ljajic, who plays on the right side of midfield, will spend another season playing for Partizan before moving to United. The transfer fee both players could eventually rise to 16.3m, but the deal is target related and so it could be a lot less, depending on how both players’ fair.When Fergie eventually retires he will leave us with many fantastic memories, that day could turn out to be some time off, but no one is sure. As recent events have proven, one thing is for certain, the manager is still working tirelessly to sign the best talent from around the globe. Finally, Fergie has also announced that Gary Neville will be rewarded with a new deal, here again there has been talk of interest from rival clubs, including Everton - somehow I cannot see Neville moving to Scouseland.

Fergie has once again opened up the debate about this season’s fixture list by stating that the process has handicapped United’s bid to retain the title. It’s actually not difficult to see why Fergie’s has a major gripe given that the Champions have had to play all the leading contenders for the title away from home in the first half of the season, added to which United were drawn away from home following each and every Champions League away fixture.The fixtures are initially created by a special piece of software, but they then have to be agreed by a Working Party. And it’s at this point that human input comes into play with various bodies including the Police and the Premier League having their say, but importantly we are told that the overriding factor is “the luck of the draw”. United are so incensed by this season’s fixture list that club secretary Ken Ramsden has since joined the said Working Party. Fergie has hinted that the club want to see how the process works, but the United manager stopped short of calling it a fix when saying “They tell me it’s not planned - bloody hell! The Reds have yet to win against any of the accepted top four challengers’ so far this season, but they will be hoping to put that right when United meet Chelsea at Old Trafford next weekend.

So we’ve signed a pair of young lads I know nothing about. Apparently Tosic can play on either flank but is primarily a left winger. Ljajic isn’t back from loan till summer so I’m sure we’ll know more about him…

Having seen so many strikers’ with hitherto big reputations sign for United and then go on to fail to impress, I like many other Reds’ have some concerns over Dimitar Berbatov following his performances for the Champions since he put pen to paper at the end of August.In terms of goals, so far the former Spurs striker has notched just seven. United fans of my age will recall that it took Gary Birtles a full season to score his first league goal when he signed back in 1980 - now that is a record that no big name striker would want. Birtles eventually scored just 12 goals before he was sold back to his former club Nott’s Forest for a knockdown fee.Although Berbatov hasn’t so far managed to meet the fans’ huge expectations since his big money move to United, he has made a vital contribution in the Reds’ last two fixtures. Against Stoke City on Boxing Day the Bulgarian came off the bench to lay on the only goal of the game for Carlos Tevez, then against Boro he scored a vital match-winner which kept the Champions title hopes alive.In United’s last two Premier League games, while the Bulgarian has been instrumental when making vital contributions at the same time questions have been raised about his lack of involvement, especially against Boro.There can be little doubt that Ferguson will be both delighted and yet perplexed about the dilemma he faces with Berbatov, because the manager has other options at his disposal, namely Carlos Tevez. The Argentine has yet to agree a permanent contract with the club and so it was reassuring to see fresh quotes attributed to Tevez confirming his commitment to stay at United - if only a deal can be agreed soon.Even though United have managed to win by the narrow margin of just one goal in their last couple of games, it is to hoped that Fergie has learnt something about the roles of both Tevez and Berbatov. Because as we saw against Stoke City, Berbatov can make a difference when coming on as a substitute and just perhaps this could in part be the key to yet more glory in the current campaign.Striker rotation saw United lift that historic treble in 1999, but back then Fergie has four top stars to choose from, now he has just three. In theory at least anyway, keeping three stikers’ happy shouldn’t be that difficult, but given the galaxy of star names as his disposal, selection issues are rarely easy for Ferguson. Tevez, in the view of many supporters that I have spoken to, has been particularly unlucky in this respect and just maybe we will see more of the former West Ham star in the second-half of the season in which hopefully the Argentine and Bulgarian will play vital roles in helping the Champions retain the title and helping themselves to yet more trophies.