Manchester United boss Ferguson attacks 'kamikaze' buys

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has accused some of Manchester United's rivals of going on a "kamikaze" spending spree.

Ferguson critical of 'kamikaze' spending

His comments came on the day Manchester City said they expected to complete a deal to sign England midfielder James Milner from Aston Villa.

And though Ferguson did not identify any club by name, City are set to spend around £125m this summer, way in excess of any other Premier League side.

"It's amazing the amount of money that is being bandied about," said Ferguson.

There has also been criticism of the wage levels of some footballers, with one new City arrival, the Ivorian Yaya Toure, believed to be earning in excess of £200,000 a week.

Ferguson, however, has built a squad with a mix of long-serving veterans such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes as well as younger talents including summer signings Javier Hernandez, Chris Smalling and Bebe.

The 68-year-old, whose record purchase for United was the £30.75m they paid Tottenham for Dimitar Berbatov in September 2008, believes a more prudent approach can still match the big spending of other clubs.

"Over the last two or three years we have seen very wealthy owners become part of football clubs and therefore go on this kamikaze effort to spend their money," he added.

"Some people may think it could be dangerous, and I don't see it abating. The kind of spending we are seeing at the moment will be here for two or three years, until such time as they understand you can't necessarily achieve all the time by spending."

And Ferguson, who was linked with German World Cup star Mesut Ozil prior to the 21-year-old's move to Real Madrid, views investment in younger players as being of far more benefit in the long term.

"Young players develop if you are looking after them properly," he stated.

"They do have a loyalty because they appreciate the education you give them as coaches. How we treat players is important.

"It is difficult to know what other clubs think. We are just the type of club who can do it."

From BBC

Read more

Manchester United sign Hong Kong mobile deal with PCCW

Manchester United has signed a deal with Hong Kong firm PCCW for it to become the telecoms and broadcast partner of the club in the region.

The club says it is the first such deal it has signed there, adding to its growing number of overseas deals.

it means PCCW's Now TV, Hong Kong's largest pay-TV provider, will for three years be the official broadcaster of football club channel MUTV.

The service from PCCW will also be available online and on mobile phone.

PCCW and Manchester United have also jointly developed a promotional microsite, in Chinese and English, for local Man Utd fans.

The club is looking to extend its number of sponsorship and partnership deals in different global geographic markets.

Fan campaign

Earlier this year, the club saw off a mooted takeover bid by a group of businessmen dubbed the Red Knights.

Many fans, unhappy about the ownership of the club by the American Glazer family, have been running the green-and-gold campaign opposing their tenure.

However, manager Sir Alex Ferguson recently said that, while having "no problems" with the campaign, he did not want to see "United mired in so much controversy that it deflects our purpose of winning matches".

In May, the firm announced a cut in debt, from £543.3m a year previously to £520.9m for the January-to-March period.

Its quarterly financial results also showed net assets of £794.9m and a cash balance of £95.9m.

The Old Trafford club said that in the nine months to March, year-on-year revenues were up 13.5% from £193.3m to £219.3m.

In January, it was revealed that debts at the parent company of the club had increased to £716.5m.

From BBC

Read more

Man Utd boss Alex Ferguson hails 'special' Paul Scholes

Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to Paul Scholes after the veteran masterminded Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford.

Scholes pulled the strings for Manchester United

The 35-year-old provided the assists for the first and third goals as the Red Devils got their Premier League title challenge off to a winning start.

"He's got a marvellous passing range and vision," said manager Ferguson.

"Anyone who gets to that age and retains that appetite is blessed with something special."

The midfielder has spent his entire 17-year professional career at Old Trafford, and has made over 400 appearances, winning nine league titles.

"The game always needs players like that," Ferguson added.

"There are still a lot of good players in the game and tonight Scholes produced."

The midfielder was handed the man-of-the-match award and played down the significance of his contributions.

"The most important thing was to win the game," he said.

"We could have scored more, but we'll take a 3-0 win. Newcastle came here and set their stall by defending deep. A lot of teams come here and try to make it difficult but we were patient."

Apart from the goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs, the home side created plenty of other chances during a match they dominated - although Newcastle went close early in the match when Andy Carroll powered a header wide.

"I expected Newcastle to work hard because they got back into the Premier League with a good work ethic. They played some good football in the first 10 minutes," added Ferguson.

"We were a little wasteful in front of goal - I think Berbatov had three or four chances."

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton said he was relieved his side did not have to play at Old Trafford every week.

"There will be games when we will have a larger share of possession," said the former Tottenham assistant.

"In those games, we will have to get to right areas and be as clinical as we can.

"When you come to Old Trafford you have to contain as much as possible, and obviously attack when the opportunities appear.

"In the first 30 minutes we able to do that but then unfortunately we gave the ball away. They had too much quality not to capitalise on those errors."

From BBC

Read more

Man Utd 3 - 0 Newcastle

Manchester United made the perfect start to their title bid with a comfortable victory against promoted side Newcastle at Old Trafford.

Fletcher celebrates scoring the second for the home side

Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring when he fired past Steve Harper from the left-edge of the six-yard area.

Darren Fletcher doubled the lead with a close-range effort, before Ryan Giggs volleyed in a third late on.

Andy Carroll wasted Newcastle's best chance when he directed his free header wide from about four yards out.

Had that gone in with a little more than 10 minutes played, then it would have calmed the Magpies' jitters.

As it was, those jitters cost Chris Hughton's side dearly as they were soon reminded of the gulf in class between Championship and Premier League opposition.

Berbatov's opener came after a period of constant pressure from Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

The Bulgaria striker, who is into his third season at the club, placed his angled effort wide of Harper after ghosting past full-back Jose Enrique.

Berbatov owned the Magpies' final third during the match, either drifting wide or dropping deep to give the opposition a major headache.

In contrast, his strike partner Wayne Rooney remained off-colour, and was replaced by new signing Javier Hernandez in the second half, but a below-par Rooney is better than no Rooney at all.

His decisive touch, whether intentional or not, led to the Red Devils' second goal.

Nani picked out the marauding Patrice Evra on the left of the area and the Frenchman fired the ball across which Rooney nudged on to Fletcher, who in turn spun Argentine defender Fabricio Coloccini and poked past Harper.

The Scot also scored when the two teams last met at Old Trafford on the opening day of the 2008/09 season.

Last year's runners-up must have had one eye on equalling champions Chelsea's opening fixture feat, when they put six past West Brom.

Their third should have come from the move of the match.

Paul Scholes, who was free to dictate play having been smothered for space in the opening 15 minutes, played a quick ball to Rooney on the edge of the area, whose flick found Berbatov.

Unfortunately for the striker, his finish with the outside of his boot beat Harper but also the left-hand post.

Nani, one of Ferguson's most-improved players, then tried his luck from 20 yards but his low curling effort narrowly missed the target too.

In the last 10 minutes, the effervescent Berbatov was again put through by Scholes, but after easing past a couple of challengers, Harper stood firm to block his final effort.

However, the Newcastle keeper had little chance to stop the brilliant third.

Mastermind Scholes, 30 yards from goal, floated the ball to substitute Giggs on the left, who calmly volleyed down into the ground and past Harper.

From BBC

Read more

Man Utd vs. Newcastle

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Monday, 16 August Kick-off: 2000 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio and live on Sky Sports 1

• TEAM NEWS

Manchester United remain without long-term injury victims Owen Hargreaves and Anderson, with both midfielders absent with knee injuries.

Centre-back Rio Ferdinand is also out with a knee problem.

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll has been declared fit to lead the line, while former Red Devil Alan Smith is expected to shake off an ankle injury.

But Leon Best, Danny Simpson (both ankle), Steven Taylor (shoulder) and Dan Gosling (knee) will all miss out.

---

Manchester United

Injured: Anderson, Ferdinand, Hargreaves (all knee)

Newcastle

Doubtful: Smith (ankle)

Injured: Best & Simpson (both ankle), Gosling (knee), S Taylor (shoulder)

• MATCH PREVIEW

Newcastle mark their return to the top-flight with a daunting trip to Old Trafford, where they will be hoping for a first win over Manchester United since September 2001.

That season began with Sir Alex Ferguson announcing his intention to retire from football management at the end of the campaign, and ended with Newcastle in fourth spot, one place behind the Manchester club.

Fast-forward nine years and while Newcastle have been in steady decline, Ferguson is still at Old Trafford, his appetite for trophies unabated. Last season's final-day title disappointment will have only strengthened the Red Devils' hunger for silverware, and with no significant player exits and the addition of exciting striker Javier Hernandez in attack, United look well-placed to mount another serious title bid.

Newcastle's reaction to Premier League relegation in May 2009 could not have been better. Chris Hughton's side won the Championship with ease, and with the likes of Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez and the experienced Kevin Nolan, they look well-equipped to avoid an immediate return to the second tier.

Newcastle's last Premier League campaign also started against Manchester United, a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. While the Magpies would take a repeat result on Monday, they will be praying the rest of the season plays out differently.

• MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Man Utd have won 12 of their last 15 encounters with Newcastle.

• Newcastle's last win at Old Trafford was in February 1972.

• The Magpies have scored only nine times in 16 Premier League visits to Old Trafford.

Manchester United

• Manchester United have won only one of their last three opening-day fixtures, 1-0 last season against Birmingham City.

• This is the fifth season in succession that United have kicked-off the new season at Old Trafford, and the ninth time in 11 years.

• The Red Devils have lost their opening game only once in the last 14 years - a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea in 2004.

Newcastle

• Newcastle have won only three of their last 11 opening-day Premier League fixtures.

• The Magpies converted 20% of their chances into goals last season, the highest proportion in the Championship.

• Goalkeeper Steve Harper had the best saves-to-shots ratio in the Championship (80%), while Edwin van der Sar had the best rate in the Premier League (81%).

• LAST SEASON'S LEADING GOALSCORERS

Manchester United

Rooney: 34 goals (26 league); Berbatov: 12 goals (12 league)

Newcastle

Carroll: 19 goals (17 league); Nolan: 18 goals (17 league)

• MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Chris Foy

Assistant referees: Robert Pollock & Andy Garratt

Fourth official: Lee Mason

• LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Manchester United (W4-0 v Stoke, h): Van der Sar; Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Giggs, Nani, Scholes (Gibson 62), Fletcher, Berbatov (Macheda 62), Rooney (Park 77).
Subs not used: Foster, O'Shea, Evans, Park, Carrick.

Newcastle (W1-0 v QPR, a): Krul; Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson, Taylor, Barton, Guthrie (Vuckic 79), Routledge, Smith, Best (Lovenkrands 54), Ameobi (Carroll 79).
Subs not used: Harper, Nolan, Pancrate, Donaldson.

From BBC

Read more