Our new signings :D

Hey guys!


First of all, I'd like to apologise on the delay between the last post and this; I was overseas, and it was my last week of the holidays, meaning I had to do my homework :P


Anyway, back to business

We've made our first two official signings of the summer :D


The first one is Nick Powell. As mentioned in one of the previous posts, Nick Powell had been linked to Manchester United several times, and the Crewe star finally joined United on the 12th of June

He was a hot prospect, with big clubs likes Arsenal chasing him too. Signed for a reported 4 million pounds from Crewe, the attacking midfielder certainly has a bright future at United. While he will currently be in United's famous youth ranks, I'm willing to put my money in the fact that Sir Alex will give him playing time in the top flight


Second of all, is our second new signing, the man whom almost every ardent United follower has been expecting.

Yes, we have signed Shinji Kagawa!


The Japanese star did a medical last week and this picture is proof that he is our first signing into the first team


Kagawa's proficiency is not something I need to talk about. The guy's just badass and lethal, and it is indeed a huge signing for the team. I can't wait to see him in action, and hopefully rip other teams apart!


So that's about it for now! Until next time, GGMU!

The Euros Begin!

The Euros begin, and what an exciting opening day it was! The two games played were fascinating in their own right- one in terms of goals, the other in drama!


The Euros were kicked off by hosts Poland, as they took on Greece. An estimated half a million people went to the capital. The electrifying atmosphere was something Poland ever seen. The Polish were roaring from kickoff, and they got their reward in simply 17 minutes- Borussia Dortmund player Jakub “Kuba” Blaszczykowski torched Jose Holebas to serve an inch-perfect cross that keeper Kostas Chalkias could only flap at. Robert Lewandowski made no mistake, heading the ball firmly into the turf and into the net.


The Greek were in further trouble as Sokratis Papastathopoulos was ejected in the first half after collecting two marginal yellow cards.The villain was the referee, who seemed to be in no hesitation to swoop into his pocket. 


But things changed after the break, as the Greek coach introduced Dimitris Salpingidis. The Polish were overwhelmed. Within 6 minutes, the substitute had scored. The game was in the balance, and both sides were looking to give it all they had, before the shocking moment took place.


It was the 69th minute, when Polish and Arsenal keeper Scezeny Wojciech Szczęsny saw red, after a foul on Salpingdis, leaving the Greeks with a penalty. Audible gasps amongst the Polish fans, the victim of the foul went on to take the spot kick. 


And then what was to happen? That's right, he missed...


And so, the first game of the season ended in a 1-1 stalemate.


The next match, Russia vs Czech Republic was far from close, as Petr Cech had no bus parked in front of him. He'd apparently forgotten that he only had four defenders instead of the usual ten. 


The Czechs were routed 4-1. Nothing to do there.
So that's about it from the first day of the Euros!

In other news, the goalscorer of Poland, Robert Lewandowski looks like he would follow the footsteps of former Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa by joining United. It was the Polish coach who said it first, though that was not up to him to decide. But, today his agent has said that he is certain to join United, which is practically almost the final verdict!


Also, Angelo Henriquez and Nick Powell, whom I talked about the previous game have apparently signed for United already, though it isn't official.


So that's about it, you'll be hearing from me soon though, it's the Euros, and today's games promise to be fascinating, with Germany facing Portugal in what promises to be a thriller

Overwhelming Signings

Clearly, in the few days that I haven't posted, a lot has been going on that would be of interest to a United fan. Firstly, we've practically made our first signing of the summer, Shinji Kagawa! 

The Japanese and Borussia Dortmund star has yet to do a medical, and there is still the minor issue of his work permit, but the deal is pretty much done, with the signing being announced on the official website too. 


The winner of the Bundesliga player of the year will be a huge boost to the Red Devils' side. Criticised for their lack of a midfield that can get the team from defense to attack, Shinji Kagawa is just the man to do the trick A prolific player on the ball and would fit in beautifully in United's game. He would be the one to watch out, and inevitably, comparisons will be drawn between him and Eden Hazard, to see who would be the signing of the transfer window.


The Japanese star would be welcomed heartily by fans and players alike, and would, as I hope, be a star at the Theater of Dreams.

Next up, is Chilean wonder boy Angelo Henriquez, Reports are that the striker will be swooped by the boss this summer. An exciting prospect, Henrquez attracted attention of the footballing world by scoring by scoring 8 goals in just ten appearances for Universidad de Chile. He would probably be in the youth squad, but still, he seems like one for the future, and has indeed been well scouted.


Apparently, the deal has been agreed for 3 million pounds. The loophole is that he has not yet had an international cap. Because of this, he must either secure a "special talent" visa for him, or bring him on loan till he can bag an appearance for his country.








And next is a really big name. Tottenham Hotspurs star Luka Modric looks set to join Manchester United, as reported in plenty of newpapers. 

The Croatian star may be one of the few stars that Tottenham are going to lose this summer, after missing out on a Champions' League spot for the second season running. 


United are apparently putting in a 25million bid for him, and an additional 5 million based on appearances and success. The playmaker would certainly seem as an interesting and well-appreciated signing. The Croatian certainly wants to make the exit, after handing in a transfer request last season too, a time during which Harry Redknapp fighting hard to keep Chelsea from signing him. 


However, some are questioning the need of yet another playmaker and attacking midfielder after the signing of Kagawa. All I can say is that when Paul Scholes retires again, it's going to be a huge hole left behind, and Sir Alex certainly seems to be preparing for the exit of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes as they're poised to leave after next season, after years of faithful service to the club.


And then there's the next speculated entrance to United's world-class youth ranks - Nick Powell.

While there are a number of reports that suggest that the Crewe midfielder has been snapped up for around 5 million in total, there are still reports that say that he still isn't a Red yet, though United still look to be obvious favourites, pushing off competition from Arsenal and Liverpool. 


The 18-year old was the top scorer of Crewe in the 2011-2012 season, with 16 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions. He sure looks like the kind of player that the Manchester United youth academy can make world-class. 


Meanwhile, there are reports that suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson is finding a replacement for one of the da Silva twins who may leave on loan this season, or also possibly someone who could replace Patrice Evra in the future. So far, two players have been strongly linked to the club. ]


First up, there's Leighton Baines.

The Everton star has been linked with Napoli too, but he and Luka Modric have been on the top list of United. 


The da Silva twins or Ji-Sung Park could be additional temporary sweeteners for him, along with a 12-15 million bid.

Secondly, there's Jordi Alba of Valencia CF. 


However, chances of signing him look bleak, as reports suggest that Barcelona have United to snapping him up.





And last but not least, Paul Pogba looks set to leave United for Juventus. The Manchester United star was in Italy discussing a deal, that looks to be almost done. While he does have exceptional talent, I've always felt that he's a tad bit too arrogant, and in a sense, this may be blessing in disguise. Nevertheless, farewell, and best wishes.

Last but not least, I'd like to to pay my respects to Manolo Preciado, the Villarael coach who was to be unveiled today, but passed away after suffering from a fatal heart attack. R.I.P

Hesitancy- a boon or bane?

"Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic has admitted a move to Old Trafford would be too good to turn down."

"And considering the natural strikers instinct and overall quality Benzema has, he could well be a good fit for Manchester United and the Premier League."

Quite possibly the Manchester United fans' favourite to replace Paul Scholes, the possibility of Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder Luka Modric moving to Old Trafford looks all the more likely."

"Manchester United are  reportedly considering a swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra"

"Manchester United are planning a sensational £10million swoop for Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri." 

"Wesley Sneijder to Man Utd within 48 hours?"

And more recently...

"Eden Hazard Will Reportedly Join Red Devils"

How many times have we heard these rumours? The sad thing is, none of them arrived at the Theatre of Dreams.  Jelavic  joined Everton,  Nasri joined the Noisy Neighbours, Hazard went for the Blues, and the rest stayed put. The sadder part is that they were probably going to come too, but it was the hesitation of the club to sign these big names.

Of course, a lot of people will point to the Glazers, the owners who have put United in huge debts and have time and again restricted United’s transfer money. The voice to get rid of them- or the “Anti-Glazer movement”, grows louder, as fans are exasperated from being disappointed once again.

But is it only the owners? Sir Alex Ferguson has long shown distaste in buying many superstars, and following in the same footsteps of our neighbours. He has, on the other hand, looked to youth development, evident from players like Tom Cleverly, Danny Welbeck, David de Gea etc.

To be frank, while losing out on some of these players has been a real pain in the arse, such as Nasri, who could have been great, and especially Hazard who could have really shone at Old Trafford, losing out on some of them could have been a blessing in disguise. Take for interest, Mario Ballotelli. He was rumoured to be joining United before he made the transfer to City. And thank God he didn’t arrive at United. Sneijder too, was strongly linked to United last season. But he, as well as Inter, have had quite an abysmal season.

On the other hand, some of the signings Sir Alex has made have been just amazing at United. The best example would be Javier Chicharito Hernandez, who was signed only for a reported 6 million. He has proved himself as a wonderful player, with great pace and a real knack for making good runs. The three signings of last summer- Young, de Gea and Jones, have proven themselves worthy of the money spent on them. Young’s had a stellar first season, with consistent performances throughout the season. While de Gea was shaky in the beginning, and critics were sceptical, he later on showed himself to be a fantastic keeper, making phenomenal saves, especially the one in the 3-3 draw with Chelsea, where he pushed out a Juan Mata free kick that was expected to go in. Phil Jones too has been great, though pretty inconsistent towards the second half of the season.

The three signings of last season also showed that United did have the spending power, as United spent around 50 million for them.

Therefore, we can only conclude that United’s hesitations are coming from the manager himself. And a manager of the calibre of Sir Alex should never be doubted. Hence although some of his hesitations have led to United’s chances of becoming stronger being broken, he’s the one who knows best, and his decisions have to be trusted. Who knows, Eden Hazard may have a terrible season with Chelsea.

Portugal routed but Nani scores

A lacklustre performance by Portugal against Turkey resulted in a scoreline that not many would have predicted- 3-1 in Turkey's favour; a loss that would have inflicted a huge blow on Portugal's Euro hopes as they stumbled to their defeat with a mere weeks before they start. Skipper Cristiano Ronaldo failed to impress, but still...


The plus point for a United fan? Luis Nani scored Portugal's only goal!

That's the THIRD United Star to score in the international friendlies! Third!


That sure is good news for Sir Alex, and also a good incentive to keep the lad!

The Little Pea Scores!

Brazil vs Mexico- A game in which Brazil was probably expected to roll over Mexico...


But the result was far from what was expected.


Mexico defeated Brazil 2-0!


As a Brazil fan, it wouldn't be such great news for me, but the thing that made me happy is that Chicharito scored once again! This is the second time in two games that the Manchester United No.14 is scoring, after coming off the bench in the 61st minute on the 31st of May in another friendly against Bosnia. He scored on the brink of full time, during the injury time of the second half. A small tap-in was all that was needed. He himself admitted it was lucky

And yesterday, the Little Pea netted once again! After the opening goal by Giovani dos Santos in the 22nd minute, he drew a penalty just 11 minutes later. Hernandez was allowed to take it, and he easily converted it too, to score the second and thankfully final goal of an upset match for Brazil. 

So, it seems like Mexico DO need Chicharito after all!

Three Lions Win!!!

The friendly against Belgium- a well-anticipated one and probably the last before the Euros, was a game that was full of excitement. Looking to follow up their win against Norway, in which Manchester United winger Ashley Young scored, the Three Lions came to the Wembley full of confidence.


The result? Once again 1-0 in England's favour!


I'll admit, I'm not a supporter of the Three Lions, but what was in the game for me was that it was, yet again, a United player who scored! This time, it was wonderkid Danny Welbeck! And the assist? Why, from yet another United player, Ashley Young!

Furthermore, leading the Belgian attack was the highly-acclaimed Eden Hazard, who just this week snubbed United to join Chelsea!


It may seem mean, but I felt delighted as a United boy scored against the team of a man who had just turned down their offer :P


Anyway, more on that goal. It was a goal that surely suggested that both Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck will have crucial roles to fulfil at the Euro. Steven Gerrard got the ball just after the circle line, and gives it to Young, whose measured pass found Welbeck, who waited for keeper Simon Mignolet to make his move before scoring with a deft, lofted finish.


However, much as I hate to do it, credit must be given to Hazard. 

Eden Hazard was easily the busiest player on the pitch. With 90 touches, 27 more than the busiest English player, the highest number of completed and attempted passes in the pitch, with 62 of 71 attempted passes reaching it's target, and 4 shots (2 off, 2 on target), also more than any other player, he was definitely the best player on the pitch, getting a lion's share of all three components. 


But still, any team is bigger than the player, and Belgium just couldn't make it as England edged them out.


So, for any United fan, it's a reason to rejoice, as our players going on international duty look to be on fine form, which will, hopefully, last throughout next season!


Till next time, PEACE!

Nani leaving?

'I am really happy but I don't know about my future. Now I will study opportunities. Football is not only about England or Spain. It is possible to enjoy success in other countries.My agent is waiting on news about United. We have presented a counter-offer and now we are waiting on an offer from the club.'

Yup, that's exactly what Nani said, unfortunately :(

I've always been a fan of Nani, whether it's the way he takes on defenders one on one, or if it's his great shots from outside the box, or even his really gymnastic celebrations. 

And like every avid Nani fan, I would NOT like to see him leave...

It seems unlikely though. For instance, one of the papers that said he would leave also said that Eden Hazard was desperately close to signing for Liverpool! LIVERPOOL? That made me feel better :P

But jokes aside, what he said was that he was happy, but uncertain about his future, which seems like more of a method to get a higher pay.

Unfortunately, many people, including Manchester United fans, don't share my view. They see Nani as a liability, as a selfish player who showboats too much and incapable of playing with the team. They feel that Young, Giggs and Valencia are enough. 

Firstly, Young, Valencia and Giggs are NOT enough. Giggs is a legend alright, but his time is coming to an end at the Theatre of Dreams; he seems poised to retire at the end of next season. Even then, he has, in this season, played more of a central role along with Carrick.

That leaves us with just two wingers, for a team that is known to be a team with an amazing wingplay. And suppose one of them get injured? That's the end for their wingplay...

Secondly, Sir Alex Ferguson has always been an admirer of great pace, a part of the reason why he chose not to play Dimitar Berbatov this last season; because he takes the game in his own stride and plays more slowly and calmly. This is why United play wingplay so much, because of Sir Alex Ferguson's taste of speed; Young, Valencia and Nani are all players with great speed, and Ferguson would not want to lose such a player.

People say that Nani has had a terrible season with an inconsistent form. I beg to differ though. I can't forget his heroics in the amazing comeback against City in the Community Shield, where he scored a brace and bagged the Man of the Match award. Despite an off performance against Arsenal in the epic 8-2 victory, he still scored before being brought off. In his 100th Premier League appearance against Chelsea, he score a stunner; a long range shot from outside the box after cutting in from the right wing. He was, once again awarded the Man of the Match award. A week later at the Britannia Stadium, he scored once again, after (this must be mentioned in a reply to those who say he's selfish) a neat one-two with Darren Fletcher. On November the first, he was shortlisted for the prestigious Balloon D'Or, one of only four players from the Premier League, along with Luiz Suarez, Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney. He netted two against Wolves later and yet another goal along with a couple of assists against Fulham in a 5-0 thumping. After coming back from two months of injury thanks to an injured foot, he came on as a substitute against Aston Villa where he scored one in stoppage time. This was followed by yet another goal against Everton in the 4-4 stalemate thriller.

So, as you can see, Nani has had a pretty great season. He's truly a wonderful player with amazing skill and it would be fantastic for both him and United if he were to stay.

And honestly, the club that he's been linked with is Juventus. And really, with all the scandals being reported there, I don't think there are many players who'd want to play there.

So please Nani, do stay at United where you've made a great impact and you have plenty of ardent followers, as well as great team-mates. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqvRyylAAJI