Manchester United

[Chazza]

Statement from Wayne Rooney

“There’s a load of rubbish being written about me changing twitter bio saying I have deleted Manchester United from it.
I have never deleted Manchester United from the bio whatever the papers are saying because it was never on there.
All that happened was that I was asked by Nike to add @nikeuk to it – the same as many other sportspeople they sponsor.
Funny, no-one’s written about that though!
That change was made THREE weeks ago and yet people are talking about it as if its something that was put up yesterday..”

Statement from Nike

A spokesperson for Nike confirmed: “In April, we asked Wayne Rooney and other Nike sponsored athletes to add @nikeuk on to their profiles due to changes in ASA guidelines relating to athletes and social media.”

[Shaggy]

[Shaggy]

Nice to see he's clearly written it himself though rather than the standard PR speak.

[Shaggy]

Rob Harris @RobHarris
As Old Trafford prepares for Fergie farewell, Capello says he was told retirement was due to stress http://apne.ws/10KGqo8

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_307134/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=LEt8IEgB

Alex Ferguson prepares for Old Trafford farewell

ROB HARRIS
Published: Today

LONDON (AP) - For almost 27 years, Old Trafford has witnessed Alex Ferguson venting his anger from the dugout, berating officials, anxiously checking his watch and making celebratory jigs down the touchline.

On Sunday, 76,000 fans have one final chance to witness - and savor - the most successful manager in British football history taking charge of Manchester United on home soil.

With the title wrapped up, the Swansea match is effectively meaningless, but the United players will want to give their retiring manager a suitable send-off from Old Trafford.

And for the 13th and final time, the Premier League trophy will be presented to the 71-year-old Ferguson now that black, red and white ribbons have replaced the blue and white of Manchester City.

"It could be a bit emotional with it being his last game at Old Trafford and all the kids and everything there," Ferguson's son, Darren, said in a video interview with the magazine Twentyfour7 Football.

"No one will ever replace him - it should be a good day for the family on Sunday but he's ready to go."

Ferguson is yet to explain why he has decided to bring an end to a United career that has yielded almost 50 trophies since 1986.

But former England coach Fabio Capello offered an insight on Friday following a phone call with Ferguson.

"A few months ago he told me that he was going to stay on," Capello told broadcaster Sky Italia. "The news of his retirement really surprised me. I called him and he told me that he decided this way because of excess stress. ... He told me that now he'll go and travel a bit, have fun and see the world with his wife."

Darren Ferguson, however, rejected the theory his dad retired because of health issues.

"There's nothing wrong with his health, contrary to what some people are saying," said Darren, manager of Peterborough United. "He's got to have a small hip operation but it's no different to most 70-year-olds ... he feels like he's going out at the right time, he's left the club in a fantastic position, very healthy."

It was his wife Cathy who persuaded Ferguson to reverse previous retirement plans for the end of the 2001-02 season, ensuring he went on to establish himself as the most successful manager Britain has produced.

That Ferguson is leaving on his own terms from Old Trafford would have seemed unthinkable during his early days with United when it took him four years to win his first trophy - the FA Cup - and another three to land the Premier League.

"He was the greatest coach of all time, especially because of all the difficulties he overcame at the start of his career with Manchester and for remaining for so many years on the same bench," Capello said. "It's really incredible. I normally think that after four-five years at the most a coach should move, so to think that he stayed on the same bench for 26 years is incredible.

"That takes psychological, technical and humane capacity. I had a special relationship with him."

Ferguson is being replaced by a manager in his own mold - fellow Glasgow native David Moyes, who is leaving Everton after 11 years at the end of the season.

"I don't think anybody thought the day would come when Sir Alex Ferguson retired," Moyes said. "We all thought he was superhuman. He is an example to anyone in their 70s.

"The respect for him within the game is beyond any words I can use.

Outgoing Chelsea coach and old adversary Rafael Benitez said: "He has been quite a good manager at the biggest club with the most money. I wish him well."

[dom9]

Did you add the Rafa quote Shaggy?

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Am I the only one that thinks United won't be THAT much worse? The younger players will all have an extra years experience. As average a manager that Moyes is even he can surely see United need a new CM which will improve them no end.

And my thought on it straight away was he'll act as a puppet for Fergie once he has his little break from the game, he'll probably be helped to win a few things and end the stigma of him being a loser. He's not going to do a Mourinho and buy players with no potential resale and leave the kids to rot before getting off after bolstering his CV.

They'll have £££ to spend in the summer and they'll have a lot of targets already planned, probably a case of Moyes having a look and saying okay. He's not exactly going to turn away players Fergie has considered good enough now is he?

Can't get excited about it because every time I think they're on the slide they disappoint.

[Kenneth]

But they don't need to get that much worse to end up winning nothing.

[Kenneth]

Did you add the Rafa quote Shaggy?

You think?

[Shaggy]

Did you add the Rafa quote Shaggy?

[Shaggy]

Just enjoying being bitter

I hate the cunt.

I did enjoy Rafa's very lukewarm quote about Moyes. SSN showed loads of managers rimming Moyes, like Redknapp. Then went to Rafa and he said "He knows the league, he knows the players and he knows the cloob. He could be a good appointment but only time will tell"

[AnfieldForever]

Just enjoying being bitter

I hate the cunt.

I did enjoy Rafa's very lukewarm quote about Moyes. SSN showed loads of managers rimming Moyes, like Redknapp. Then went to Rafa and he said "He knows the league, he knows the players and he knows the cloob. He could be a good appointment but only time will tell"

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

But they don't need to get that much worse to end up winning nothing.

They won the league in April, at the moment they have the most stable and complete squad in the league. Much will depend on what City and Chelsea do if neither get it absolutely spot on, even with Moyes in charge for me United are heavy favourites for the league. Especially with Fergie still pulling the strings in the background.

[Chazza]

I don't think they have a complete squad and will certainly need to do something with the midfield next year

Scholes - Retired
Giggs - Could Retire
Fletcher - Out for who knows how long
Anderson - Likes a cake
Nani - more miss than hit
Young - see above
Valencia - Average this year

They will need to add to/replace some of that lot as both City and Chelsea will strengthen

[Rich]

Fellaini is a cert to join I reckon.

[Shaggy]

I think Young and Valencia scored 0 goals this season. Possibly Nani too.