Dimitar Berbatov More Than Happy At Manchester United

Dimitar Berbatov has told MUTV that he is loving life at Manchester United as they continue their fight for silverware on four fronts.

Sir Alex Ferguson Ferguson smashed the United club record by spending £30.75million on the Bulgarian in the last seconds of transfer deadline day.

Despite some initial doubts among United fans, some of which still linger, Berbatov is clearly a class act, with Ferguson believing he can inject the magic touch that can see his side become back-to-back-to back Premier League title winners or the first club to record successive Champions League triumphs.

Berbatov has a clear vision of what he wants too.

"People talk about the north and the south but I don't make comparisons like that, I am just interested in my football," he told MUTV. People says it is not sunny here and it rains all the time but that doesn't bother me. I like it the way it is. In fact, I like it better here. I am not a guy who looks for places with a lot of people and traffic. London was crazy anyway, so I used to live out of town. Here it is more peaceful. But the city is secondary to the team I play for. Now I play for the biggest team in the world, so it doesn't matter where I live."

Berbatov appears to have got used to his new team-mates already. The former Tottenham star does not appear to be a particularly gregarious character and, ahead of Sunday's vital Premier League encounter with Chelsea at Old Trafford, the 27-year-old confirmed that while he likes a joke, when the time for training starts, it is a serious business.

"I come into work and enjoy training, then I go home but I just want to go to bed and then start training again, I enjoy sharing jokes. But when we work it is serious. We have very important games ahead of us and we need to prepare for them."

Despite overtures from Manchester City, who tried to hijack Berbatov's move to the north-west with an 11th-hour offer of their own, the striker never entertained the prospect of joining the cash-rich Eastlands outfit. There was only one move he wanted to make. And he couldn't be more delighted with the way it has worked out.

"I am very happy and things are going well, my dream was to come here, now I can see how the biggest stars are working and I can compare and measure myself against the best.".....Back To Home Page...

Manchester United Need To Score More Or They'll Have Big Problems

I have this strange feeling that Manchester United's poor
form in front of goal will dam­age their chances of a third
consecutive League title. Every single year for the past
four years we have had a goal difference second to none.
Despite creating several chances, United needed a 69th-
minute goal from Dimitar Berbatov to squeeze past
rel­egation-threatened Middlesboroughat Old Trafford
and claim their fourth 1-0 win in five League matches.

It's sad to say but players like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo
continue to worry both me and Fergie. Even Berbatov has struggled
since his big money move from Spurs.

Lean spell: Cristiano Ronaldo contemplates his latest miss against
Middlesbrough

Ferguson said: "If we can’t take our chances, we will suffer for it. We
missed a lot of chances and that is a big worry. But Berbatov is a
marvellous player, and he was absolutely superb for us against Boro.
He took his goal very well.'

Sir Alex said about four weeks ago that if United can be within two
points of the top of the table come new year then they will be in
with a chance of winning their third consecutive title. Currently we
are 7 points adrift of The Bindippers but with two games in hand.

He added: "We are in a good position at the turn of the year. We
have two games in hand, both of which are at home, and it is going
to be a great run in. The important thing for us is to look after our-
selves and do our own job, and we will be okay."

That's how it's done: Berbatov nets the winner against Middlesbrough

Emmanuel Pogatetz, who I class as an animal and a cheating slimy
git, grabbed Cristiano Ronaldo by the neck and wrestled him to the
ground. Nothing surprising really considering his past record.

Ferguson added: 'It seems Pogatetz grabbed him by the neck. It
happens all the time. There is jostling and jersey-pulling. Defenders
are getting away with murder.'

Pogatetz was already an unpopular figure at Old Trafford for a
dreadful tackle on United youngster Rodrigo Pos­sebon in a Carling
Cup tie earlier in the campaign, but Middlesbrough manager Gareth
Southgate said: 'I heard a lot of noise and there was some finger-
point­ing - but that’s all. The referee Martin Atkinson seemed com-
fortable with it. When teams are marking from corners there is
always a bit of contact.'

Typical Southgate nonsense. If it was one of his players and Rooney
had grabbed his neck the whole footballing world would be up in arms.
Because it is against Crsitiano Ronaldo then it seems to be fine to act
like this.

Wide of the mark: Wayne Rooney's goals have dried up

But back to my original point after this rant. If the goals don't start
flowing soon then I fear a problem come April or May. United in
the past have always held the advantage with this, and it is worth
an extra point on the run-in.

Back To Home Page...

How Can Tevez Possibly Stay Now ?

Carlos Tevez has clearly been relegated to 4th choice at Manchester United so is it really worth Manchester United spending £30 million on making his move permanent ? After starting just one of the last six Premier League games he is clearly fourth in the striking pecking order behind Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov.

The deal to turn his loan into a £30million permanent move was supposed to have been completed by now but so far all we have heard is excuses after excuse from Fergie about how the cash is available but the deal will be done in December, January, February etc etc. If they reached the summer and said "No thanks" it would not be a big surprise to any of us really.

While his penalty finally ended QPR’s resistance in the recent Carling Cup game, his all-round play hardly suggested he was grasping this opportunity with both hands. His finishing was awful, which is why United needed a late penalty to sink the Championship outfit and make it to the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

Right now Alex Ferguson has been linked with bids for Karim Benzema. He has also mentioned the possibility of recalling Frazier Campbell from Spurs in the January transfer window and we have Danny Welbeck impressing everyone too. Add to this the talk of the buy back clause for Guisseppe Rossi from Villareal and to me it seems Fergie isn't placing much emphasis on a United future for Tevez.

Alex Ferguson has spent big, big money to get his team back to the top - £29 million on Wayne Rooney, £32 for million Dimitar Berbatov, £19 million on Anderson, £29 million on Rio Ferdinand, the list goes on. With all these expensive signings some might argue what is one more? But with the credit crunch biting even Chelsea, Manchester United will need to make cutbacks. Can they really justify spending £30 million on a 4th choice striker ? That puts them in the leagues of Chelsea in terms of profligacy – so will the fans appreciate the success as much when it has clearly been bought ? .....
Back To Home Page...

Harry Wants Campbell On A Permanent Deal

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants to make Frazier Campbell's loan deal made permanent. As did Phil Brown at Hull City. Who can blame either of them either, Campbell is a definite star of the future. Campbell joined Spurs for a one season loan deal as part of the deal to bring Dimitar Berbatov to Old Trafford. Since he joined them he has done well I feel. In his last two games he has scored three times and to top that he also got his first international goal, scoring in Tuesdays U21 games against the Czech Republic which England won 2-0.

I remember Phil Brown making his initial offer of £500,000 for Campbell and raising it quite quickly to £7m. Harry will need to find a bit more than £7m to sign him now though I think. I just hope we don't do another Rossi here and sell him, only to see him blossom into a top class player.

Campbell enjoyed a very productive loan spell at Hull in 2007-08. He initially joined them in October 2007 on loan until mid-January 2008, and scored twice on his home debut in a 3-0 victory over Barnsley. Following his match-winning display against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day 2007, in which he scored one goal and set up another, Hull expressed their interest in extending Campbell's loan until the end of the season. The loan extension was completed on 28 December 2007.

Campbell finished the season as Hull City's top scorer, with 15 goals. On 24 May 2008, he played in the Hull City team that achieved promotion to the top flight for the first time in their 104-year history, providing the assist for Dean Windass' goal in a 1–0 win over Bristol City in the Championship Playoff Final at Wembley Stadium. He described the loan move as "the best move of my career", saying "This is exactly why I came out on loan, it's like a fairytale really. You come away on loan and you never really know what to expect but we've done really well, both as a team and on a personal level".

Hull City were very keen to sign him. Hull chairman Paul Duffen had described Campbell as "too good for the Championship", but following their promotion, Hull were hoping to sign him permanently or get another season-long loan, depending on Manchester United's willingness to let him go. However, Campbell repeatedly expressed the desire to return to Old Trafford and try to break into the first team, despite Hull City bidding a club record fee of £7m.

In July 2008, Campbell was selected to tour South Africa with the Manchester United first team, and scored the team's fourth goal in a 4–0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in the final of the 2008 Vodacom Challenge. He also scored the winning goal in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's testimonial match against Espanyol on 2 August. After the game, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson indicated that Campbell would remain at the club for the duration of the season, stating "Fraizer's future is here". On 17 August 2008, Campbell started alongside Wayne Rooney for the opening game of the season in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United. 14 days later he was whisked off to Spurs. I hope he returns to United. But if Fergie does choose to seel it should be for no less than £10m !!.....Back To Home Page.....

Berbatov Injured But Sir Bobby Thinks He's Not Up To Scratch Anyway !!

Here's a sight we, as Manchester United fans, don't want to see. Dimitar Berbatov limping off the field clutching the back of his leg. This happened last night in Bulgaria's game with Serbia where they got thrashed 6-1. Savo Milosevic missed two penalties in the 5th and 15th minutes and also scored in the 29th and 34th minutes. He could have had 4 in the first half hour but oh well, he didn't. More concern is this Berbatov injuury, although we have adequate cover for him in Carlos Tevez it's not ideal for him to have a lengthy lay off with a hamstring injury at this time of the season. I for one think he is one of the best players in the world right now despite Sir Blobby Robson's cutting remarks about him after the Arsenal game.

Robson said: "You wouldn't have guessed on yesterday's performance that the Manchester United No 9 is the most expensive player in the club's illustrious history. Dimitar Berbatov is more talented than Arsenal's centre-forward Nicklas Bendtner, a deputy for Emmanuel Adebayor, but he was nowhere near as great a threat. But I do think Berbatov has to start justifying his £31million price tag if United are to get back on top and win a third successive title. Berbatov played too deep at Emirates Stadium and therefore wasn't a goal threat at all. He never looked like scoring and his record of one league goal in nine games for United suggests that has been a problem since he arrived from Spurs.

He doesn't look like the same player to me that thrilled us at Tottenham. Berbatov has shown some sublime touches at times, including that fantastic turn to set up a goal for Cristiano Ronaldo against West Ham. But a United No 9 has to provide goals as well, particularly as Sir Alex has had to leave out Carlos Tevez to accommodate him. I watched Berbatov drop back virtually to the halfway line at times yesterday, content to get a few touches of the ball and play some simple passes. I bet Arsenal were delighted to see him so deep because he wasn't going to hurt them from there. Berbatov is strong enough and skilful enough to hold the ball up and turn defenders where it counts - on the edge of the penalty area. So I don't know why he didn't stay 15 yards further up the field. Funnelling back out of the danger zone was an easy option."

I would imagine he played the way he did because Sir Alex Ferguson (the most succesful manager ever to walk the planet) told him to do so Mr Robson !! People slating Berbatov and the way he plays get right up my nose. I think Sir Blobby Robson should come forward and compare trophies won with Sir Alex and we'll see who knows best !! .....Back To Home Page.....

Rooney Fit Plus Other Early Team News 'v' Stoke

Wayne Rooney is expected to recover from a minor chest infection in time for
Manchester United 'v' Stoke on Saturday. Rooney missed the 1-0 Carling Cup win
over QPR on Tuesday night, but should return along with a host of team-mates.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov and Edwin van der Sar were also not involved, while Nemanja
Vidic made a brief appearance after captain Gary Neville tired in the dying minutes of the match.
United are looking to bounce back from the Arsenal defeat, after Samir Nasri's brace sunk us last
week at the Emirates.

Stoke have a doubt over striker Mamady Sidibe, so record signing Dave Kitson is on stand-by to
start at Old Trafford. The 'human missile launcher' Rory Delap is also playing so let's hope fergie is
more prepared for his attempts on goal with his throw-ins than Arse Wenger was !! .....Back To Home Page

Kuszczak Trying To Make The Most Of Every Opportunity

It was a bitter-sweet outing for Tomasz Kuszczak against West Ham on Wednesday night as the scramble to get in Manchester United's goal turns into a crush.

With Ben Foster fit again and Edwin van der Sar showing no sign of relinquishing his status as United number one despite celebrating his 38th birthday, Kuszczak knows his opportunities to impress are going to be limited.

So, having been drafted into Sir Alex Ferguson's starting line-up for Wednesday night's encounter with West Ham at Old Trafford, the Poland international might have hoped to be more than a virtual bystander in a cruise for the home side.

"It is not easy when you have nothing to do, but that is how it is for a goalkeeper. You have to try hard to keep your concentration for 90 minutes. You need to do your job properly and keep a clean sheet. This is most important thing for a goalkeeper and of course very important for the team as well. It was a big day for me because I have not played for a few weeks. I hope I get another chance soon. Saturday ? Why not ?"

In truth, Van der Sar is almost certain to get his place back for the weekend visit of Hull. As luck would have it, the only other occasion the veteran Dutchman failed to make United's starting line-up this season, neither Kuszczak nor Foster were fit, with Ferguson handing Ben Amos a senior debut in the Carling Cup against Middlesbrough.

Ferguson has pencilled Foster in to play at Celtic next Wednesday, with the League Cup tie with QPR six days later offering another opportunity for one of van der Sar's deputies.

"They will all get their minutes on the clock, we have to manage the situation with Edwin because he is 38. At that age, we don't need him to play every game because we have two very capable goalkeepers in Tomasz and Ben. Having Ben fit again is an enormous boost to us because he is an outstanding goalkeeper."

Indeed, Ferguson has previously stated he rates Foster as England's best goalkeeper, an opinion the 25-year-old would surely have been able to put to the test if he had not spent the last 18 months on the treatment table, first with a cruciate knee ligament injury, then an ankle problem.

Foster has already proved his talent in two spells at Watford, so it is hardly a surprise Harry Redknapp should be thinking about getting him to Tottenham. However, such a move would be tantamount to an admission of failure by Ferguson, which appears unlikely at this stage. It is a delicate balancing act for Fergie, who handed Kuszczak a two-year contract extension last month that will keep him at United until 2012, especially as van der Sar remains hungry as ever.

"The hunger is still there to win as many trophies as possible," said the 'keeper whose penalty save from Nicolas Anelka won United the Champions League last season. You know when you come to a club like this you will be challenging for trophies and we have been lucky enough to win a few over the last few years."

The three-way battle is mirrored at right-back where Wes Brown, Gary Neville and teenage gatecrasher Rafael are competing for a single spot, while midfield presents a problem now Michael Carrick has recovered from ankle and foot injuries and made a substitute appearance against the Hammers. There is also the conundrum up front where, it seems Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov are fighting it out for only two spaces.

"Three players just won't fit into two positions," reflected Fergie, "I could play all three," he added. It may lack balance at times but Rooney could play anywhere so it is an option." .....Back To Home Page

Hurry Back Rooney Or It's The Bench For You !!

I think Wayne Rooney's injury is badly timed. Not for Manchester United but more for himself !

I'm one of his biggest fans but it has to be said if he is out for a few games he might struggle to get back in the team and the main reason for that is Carlos Tevez.

Tevez linked up with Dimitar Berbatov is a mouth-watering prospect for me. We all know what Tevez is like, he never stops running and he gives 100% every single game. If he loses the ball he is not one of these guys who will stand there with his arms in the air, he is up and after the culprit who took the ball from him. He is always there, snapping at the ankles of defenders and annoying them. If they try passing it to one another he will run between them ready to pounce on the slightest of errors. To play against him must be every defenders worst nightmare come true.

Once he does get the ball back, that's the hard work done for him. With Berbatov in the middle, marked by one or two players, it doesn't matter to him, all Tevez needs do is get the ball into him, he has such a perfect first touch and a lightning fast footballing brain, he can turn defenders inside out and get his shot off. Theoretically, these two, Tevez and Berbatov, are a match made in heaven. If they do hit it off and form a good partnership while Rooney is away, would Fergie break it up again to accomodate Rooney ? I'm not so sure he would !

Of course, there is another option which I am keen to see Fergie experiment with. Play all three of them, Rooney, Berbatov and Tevez, add to that Ronaldo as well and can you imagine the opposition defenders then ? They would see the team sheet and go home. The only bad part of this formation is the fact Ronaldo is so lazy. If he is tackled the hands go up and he stands still looking at the ref. If he got his act together and tracked back then yes, go for it but it would be a gamble right now.

To play a 4-3-3 I would want Hargreaves and Scholes there too actually. Without those two forget it. With Scholes injured for 10-13 weeks it looks like Rooney better get fit again and quick, or he might be left out in the cold !!

United's Style Has To Change To Accomodate Dimitar Berbatov !!

The way Manchester United attack opposition defences may change slightly if Alex Ferguson insists on picking Dimitar Berbatov to lead the line.

The big man wants the ball played into his feet and not to run onto.
I think just about all the current United team look for space and put the ball into it, knowing that one of our guys will run onto it and carry on the attack. Berbatov wont do that, no way ! He's never been a player like that. As Fergie said, you can just pass the ball right to his feet and he's happy with it. If he has one or two players marking him then that's fine too. He has a remarkable footballing brain, he knows exactly what's going on behind him and he has an exquisite first touch. Maybe they think it might put Berbatov into trouble passing to him like this but I can assure you it's the last thing on his mind, this is how he plays.