Manchester United Are The Best At Winning But Not Spending

Who has been the best at winning the league without spending in the summer? United have been.......Which United would that be then?............Why, Manchester United of course.

United won the Double in 1995-96 while selling three of their most important players and buying nobody (although Eric Cantona came back from his kung-fu suspension in October). Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis all left so that the Fergie Fledglings - Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, David Beckham and Paul Scholes - could make their way into the team. After United lost the first game of the season 3-1 to Aston Villa, Alan Hansen gave us his legendary "you'll never win anything with kids" quote and Kevin Keegan followed it up with his equally famous "I'll love it if we beat them" rant when United overturned a 12-point deficit to catch Newcastle and win the league."

Manchester United indeed spent no money that summer, buying only the reserve goalkeeper Nick Culkin from York City in September. The list below shows how much each Premiership-winner spent in the previous summer (up to the end of August, to include major deals such as Dwight Yorke and Michael Essien that went through in the first couple of weeks of the season). Chelsea, predictably, are miles clear at the bottom, having spent a combined £142m in the summers of 2004 and 2005, but Blackburn are not as low on the list as many people would expect. That's because the most important building blocks of The House That Jack Built - Tim Flowers, Colin Hendry, Tim Sherwood and Alan Shearer - had been purchased in previous seasons before they won the title in 1994-95.

NB: The figures are not exact, because some clubs - Arsenal in particular - often do not disclose transfer fees, so all data has been taken from Soccerbase.

1995-96 Manchester United, n/a

1992-93 Manchester United, £1.1m (Pat McGibbon and Dion Dublin)

1999-2000 Manchester United, £1.5m (Quinton Fortune)

2003-04 Arsenal, £2.5m (Cesc Fábregas, Phillipe Senderos, Jens Lehmann and Gaël Clichy)

1993-94 Manchester United, £3.75m (Roy Keane)

1994-95 Blackburn, £5.3m (Chris Sutton and Robbie Slater)

1996-97 Manchester United, £7.5m (Raimond van der Gouw, Ronny Johnsen, Ole Solskjaer, Karel Poborsky and Jordi Cruyff)

2000-01 Manchester United, £7.8m (Fabien Barthez)

1997-98 Arsenal, £14.55m (Alex Manninger, Manu Petit, Giles Grimandi, Luis Boa Morte, Alberto Mendez, Marc Overmars, Lee Canoville and Christopher Wreh)

2006-07 Manchester United, £18.6m (Michael Carrick)

2001-02 Arsenal, £22.25m (Francis Jeffers, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Sol Campbell and Richard Wright)

1998-99 Manchester United, £27.75m (Jaap Stam, Jesper Blomqvist and Dwight Yorke)

2002-03 Manchester United, £30m (Rio Ferdinand)

2005-06 Chelsea, £53,4m (Asier del Horno, Scott Sinclair, Lassana Diarra, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Michael Essien)

2004-05 Chelsea, £89.05m (Petr Cech, Arjen Robben, Paulo Ferreira, Mateja Kezman, Didier Drogba, Tiago, Ricardo Carvalho)

Manchester United Blitz Blackburn As Tevez Scores Four

Manchester United made 10 changes from the side that beat Manchester City 1-0 at the weekend, but they weren't really troubled by a bedraggled Blackburn Rovers until the closing stages of this match.

Carlos Tevez bundled home a free kick as he tussled for posession with Aaron Mokoena put United ahead in the 36th and four minutes later, Nani played a one-two with Tevez before slotting under goalkeeper Paul Robinson. So add one assist to Tevez's four goals. Not surprising really as Tevez was his usual powerhouse with non stop hard work throughout the game.

Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy took just three minutes to make an impact after coming off the bench at half time. Roque Santa Cruz flicked on Robinson's deep goal kick, and after outmanoeuvring makeshift centre back Gary Neville, McCarthy fired past Ben Foster however, Tevez quickly restored United's two-goal lead in the 51st and made it 4-1 three minutes later.

Blackburn threatened a late comeback when Matt Derbyshire slotted under Foster in the 84th and McCarthy scored a second in the second minute of injury time.

Tevez further pushed his claims to a regular first-team place by finishing off Rovers before the final whistle when latching onto Anderson's lofted ball forward.

Another major boost for United was the return of midfielder Paul Scholes in the 66th for the first time since damaging knee ligaments in September.

Tevez said of his performance: "I was looking forward to this game and since I have not been playing often and it was a good night and I'm happy with my performance," Tevez said through Brazil midfielder Rodrigo Possebon, who was translating. I'm very proud to score four goals for the first time in my career and to do it in a United shirt."

This match will set up a semi final with either Spurs, who knocked Watford out 1-0, Burnley, victors over Arsenal having already beaten Chelsea or Derby County who got rid of Stoke City.

Back To Home Page...

A Carling Cup Headache

Manchester United and Blackburn have yet to resolve the dilemma over when to play their Carling Cup quarter-final tie. As I have said before the Prem fixture list is unforgiving. The game is scheduled to take place during week commencing December 1. The problem is Manchester United United tackle Manchester City at Eastlands on Sunday, November 30, with Blackburn facing the more geographically challenging trip to Portsmouth on the same day, the Carling Cup tie would normally be scheduled for Wednesday, December 3.

However, that situation is complicated because Manchester City are in UEFA Cup action against Paris St Germain that evening and local police prefer both their major clubs not to play at the same time. I think Al-City should give way personally as they have no hope of actually winning the UEFA Cup, why would they win it, they've won nothing for 33 years after all. But I am a little biased.

With United due to play a Champions League tie against Aalborg the following week before flying to Japan for the World Club Cup, there is little opportunity for the Carling Cup tie to be played at a later date as the semi-finals should take place at the beginning on January. Discussions with Greater Manchester Police are continuing, with the likelihood remaining that Blackburn will travel to Old Trafford on December 3......Back To Home Page.....

Manchester United To Play Blackburn In Carling Cup Quarter Final

The draw for the quarter-finals of the
League Cup was made on Saturday.
Manchester United have been handed
a home draw against Paul Ince's team
Blackburn Rovers. The bookies now
make United favourites to lift the trophy.

Blackburn reached the last eight after a 2-1 win at
Sunderland and will travel to Old Trafford in the
week beginning December 1st.

Burnley, who recorded a miraculous win against
Chelski at Stamford Bridge have been rewarded
with a home tie against Arsenal, Derby travel to
Stoke city and Watford are at home to Spurs.

According to the bookmakers Manchester United
are now favourites to win the Carling Cup with a
best priced 15/8 with Ladbrokes. They have
Arsenal second favourites 2/1, holders Tottenham
are third best at 3/1.

United and Blackburn have met in this competition
on four occasions - United claiming two wins with
two draws. The last meeting was in the 2006 semi-
final with United claiming a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park
in the first-leg, before edging the second contest by
two-goals-to-one.

The full draw is as follows:

Stoke City v. Derby County
Manchester United v. Blackburn Rovers
Burnley v. Arsenal
Watford v. Spurs

Danny Simpson Hoping To Break Into The Big Time After Loan Period At Blackburn

Danny Simpson hopes to prove to Sir Alex Ferguson he can cut it at Manchester United as well as at Premier League level during his time at Blackburn.

He is currently on a season-long loan with Blackburn Rovers and to date he has made 5 starts with them which will give him invaluable experience. It is good for him and Manchester United that he gets the experience to play at that level. He has already experienced loans with Sunderland and Ipswich in the Championship.

Simpson is unsure of his long-term future at Old Trafford, but is eager to show Ferguson that he is worth keeping in his plans.

"You need experience, you need Sir Alex Ferguson to trust you that you can cut it in the Prem. For me, at the moment, I want to get as many games as I can. Obviously I will go back next season and then have a meeting and see what he says."

United boss Ferguson has said that he is not looking to sell him, he has faith in him to make it at the highest level, or so I assume.

"Obviously, it's what everyone wants to hear that I'm still in his plans and while I'm not there it's nice to hear." .....Back To Home Page

Rafael To Bring Down The Curtain On Wes And Nev's United Careers

There was a veiled plea to Fabio Capello from Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday to spare Wayne Rooney too many exertions in the international break ahead. But it is one of the England manager's defenders, Wes Brown, who may have most cause for concern as he faces being eclipsed at Old Trafford by Manchester United's new star.

Ferguson's appraisal of the performance in Denmark on Tuesday of right-back Rafael da Silva – one of the Brazilian twins from Fluminese – was justifiably full of praise. "The boy has an understanding of the game and a talent, that's the reason," Ferguson said, when asked why Rafael had been selected ahead of Wes Brown (who struggled at Anfield and was dropped at Stamford Bridge). "We know Wes can do it, he has been here for 14 years. But it was there for all to see in Rafael. He's an attacking player, positive with great belief."

Fergie resisted playing Rafael in the heat of a local derby at Blackburn. With Gary Neville struggling again that might mean another chance for Brown to prove something. But the Brazilian's speed and several speculative efforts in Aalborg gives United on the right flank what Patrice Evra has delivered so well on the left.

Just as the arguments were still raging on as to whether Wes or Nev should get the right back postion now Nev was fit again, we have the rather spectacular entrance of Rafael to add to the argument and in my opinion, by this time next year Rafael will be one of the first names pencilled onto the team sheet for each match. Wes and Nev have 30 years service between them at United but there comes a time when it has to end - and Rafael looks like he might bring down the curtain on these two guys !

That's Typical That Is, Just Typical !

There was me, writing in my Manchester United Blog how Rooney should get his bottom in gear and get fit again or he may find it hard to get his place back. Imagine my confusion when he actually started the game, huh. I made the fatal error of actually listening to the newspapers as they told us he would be out for 3-4 weeks.

He's in a rich vein of form right now too, scoring in his last three games. But it wasn't just Rooney impressing me against Blackburn, virtually the whole team has suddenly sprung into life, like a slumbering giant. Ronaldo was majestic on the wing as he bedazzled the defenders. Berbatov had his best game for United so far, he really does have such great vision as he showed with a couple of the passes he slipped through, one especially, to Darren Fletcher, that just made the whole Blackburn defence surplus to needs as they were all left to watch Fletch scuff his shot wide.

Tevez was his usual self, he he hit the post after some great work by Ronaldo and his work rateas again amazing. Overall, it was a walk in the park for United today. Blackburn just didn't seem to turn up. To be honest though, even if Blackburn were on the top of their form they still would have struggled against United today.

Just as Manchester United hit form and start to look good, we now have a 2 week break for international matches. Don't you just hate it when that happens ?

Blackburn Rovers 'v' Manchester United Match Preview

Venue: Ewood Park

Date: Saturday, 4 October

Kick-off: 1730 BST

Blackburn look to continue their good form against
champions Manchester United. United have won only
one of their last eight league visits to Blackburn.

Both teams are in good form with Blackburn lying
seventh and United having won their last three
games. But United have been dealt a huge blow
as Rooney, and Scholes who is out for 10 weeks will
not play. To add to that United are already without
Hargreaves and Carrick in the heart of midfield.

Blackburn Likely Line up (4-4-2)

Brown

Simpson - Samba - Nelson - Warnock

Emerton - Olsson - Kerimoglu - Villanueva

Santa Cruz - Derbyshire

'V'

Manchester United Likely Line-up (4-4-2)

Van Der Sar

Neville - Vidic - Ferdinand(c) - Evra

Ronaldo - Fletcher - Anderson - Park

Berbatov - Tevez


Talking Tactics: Blackburn will play be a threat up front
with Matt Derbyshire and Santa Cruz so they will play
high balls as they are both 6ft. Also centre back Samba
is very tall so he will be a threat in corners.

PREDICTION: 1-3: United have too much power in their
team and should beat Blackburn but Rovers will put up
a fight. Ronaldo will cause too many problems for Warnock.
Berbatov is now off the mark, that takes a lot of pressure off
him, so now we could see him open up and go on a great scoring run.