ADUIEU to another NUMBER 7

                One of those spectacular careers whose breaks were applied a little to quick due to the brutal hand of injury.This is the story of a teenage stalwart destined for greatness, momentary greatness nonetheless, but greatness. The story of a boy who'd passed his glory days before he turned Man. The story of the departing number 7 of United, the story of a star that , just for a little while, burned bright.

              On 6th May 1997, Liverpool played their last game of the 96-97 Premier League season. They were away Wimbledon and lost 2-1, but on that day a seventeen year old striker scored the solitary Red goal. 1 year later he was joint top scorer in the Premier League with 18 goals with the likes of Chris Sutton and Dion Dublin. Fast forward 14 years and the striker lay in waste in a Manchester United team in transition, making just a hand full of appearances. This story is about a row of dominoes, one event leading to another, a chaos theory some would say, to end the glow of a young flame.

            98-99 Season. Michael Owen has scored 23 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions. Liverpool are playing at Elland Road, away to Leeds. The 19 year old tore a hamstring and fell to the ground and the Kop that day saw a sight that would become a disturbingly common occurrence in the young man's career both home and abroad. The first domino had fallen.

             99-2000 Season. Owen struggles to make appearances due to reoccurring hamstring injuries but still amasses 12 goals and Liverpool qualify for the UEFA cup. The turn of the Milena also bought the Euro 2000 and English fans saw it as an opportunity for England to rise from the ashes of the 98 World Cup in France. Owen was injured. England lost out in the group stages to Portugal and Romania.

              2001 F.A Cup Final. Liverpool are on the road to winning a treble of the UEFA Cup and the two domestic cups. They faced a strong opposition in the form of Arsenal, runners-up in the league.In A open game but without any clear cut opportunities the first goal came at the 71st Minute and it was the Gunners who got their noses in front. The Kop were devastated. Gerrard Houllier made a set of attacking changes. 82nd Minute, Garry McAllister gets a free kick near the Arsenal penalty area. The kick missed but Arsenal failed to completely clear the resulting loose ball and Owen rose to the occasion equalising with a poachers goal. 88th Minute. The tie seemed doomed for Extra time. Michael Owen and Liverpool had other plans. Owen gets a wonderful ball, dribbles through a few from the flanks, cuts in and beats David Seaman at the far post. The then Scouscer got the man of the match champagne and the Final till now is known as the Michael Owen final.

         A game against Spurs and Owen is injured again. It's the troublesome hamstring. Liverpool rule him out for six-weeks. The next domino.
 
          13th August 2004. Real Madrid have successfully bid for Michael Owen, reinforcing their star studded line-up, called the Galactico-s.With a slow start to his Madrid career, he was often confined to the bench and drew criticism from fans and the Spanish press for his lack of form. A successful return to action with the England squad in October 2004 seemed to revive his morale, however, and in the first following match, he scored his first goal for the club, the winner in a 1–0 Champions League victory over Dynamo Kyiv. He ended the season with thirteen goals in La Liga, with the season's highest ratio of goals scored to number of minutes played. No injuries but he was going back to England.
   
           24th August 2005. Roughly a year after moving to Spain, Owen was moving again, this time to Tyneside to Newcastle United. December 31st. Another game against Spurs, and another injury. This time a broken metatarsal. Being ruled out for months, one can assume that the partying wasn't exactly jubilant at the Owen household that New-Years. The third Domino. Thud.


           24th March 2006. England are playing at Sweden in the first match of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Owen is on the ground again and this time within the first minute. This time its the knee and it is a ligament tear. England rule him out for 9 months sparking a fresh Club vs Country row about who carries the liability for an injured player while on National Duty. Amongst this confusion, another Domino fell, unheard by many. The young man's career was in tatters.


           2007 February. Owen's back in training and the press is going crazy about the young man who caused such a big Hullabaloo in the footballing world.(It wasn't his fault of course). A few months forward, he was out again picking a thigh injury in pre-season. The fifth domino fell. Four fresh injuries that season meant Owen was suddenly out of the starting line-up. Rumours of a transfer loomed but no one offered.


          3rd July 2009. Sir Alex makes a surprise move to sign the free agent who was out of contract. Newcastle were out of the Premier League and Owen refused to resign a contract. So he signed for United. He scored on his debut as he had done with Liverpool, and gave united a 4-3 win against neighbours City in what the Citizens called 'Fergie Time'. 
   
           28th February 2010. Owen scores United first goal in a 2-1 victory over Aston-Villa in the League Cup Final, but subsequently pulls a hamstring. United rule Owen out for months as the ol' hamstring requires surgery. Another Domino


           2011 Season. United won the league again, and in style. Pipping Chelsea to the title in the second last week, United, already champions, were loosing at home to Blackpool in the final game. United came right back winning 4-2 with Owen scoring the final goal in trade-mark Michael Owen style.
           
            United struggled in Europe the next season and Owen pulled his thigh in a match against Romanian minnows Oetul Galati. United fell out of Europe's elite and Michael Owen lost another standing domino. United rejected a contact renewal, and now the teenage prodigy, the line of dominoes lies in transfer limbo.  Where he goes next is still a mystery but as we bid farewell to another Number 7, 
we pray and hope that there are no more falling dominoes, that the series of injury that has marred a players brilliance come to an end. We bid thee adieu MICHAEL OWEN.  

TRANSFER TARGETS.....

The season is over, and what a season it has been. The two horse race saw many hurdles on the way and though the blue horse won it's not all blue in Manchester. United still exist and this season has shown that reinforcements are needed for the age-ing legs of Ferdinand, Giggs and ol' Scholsey. Sir Alex has always turned to youth but this column struggles to see how sucessful that would be in the next few years. Out of the three reserve players tipped too be glorious Reds, Pogba has left to Turin, Morrison sent to London, leaving Fryers who has 1 league and 1 Champions league appearance to his name. The Keane brothers (Michael and Will) and Jeese Lindergaard look delightful but are a few years in the coming. So Fergie must dive into the transfer market and dive deep, as the Glazers will not put up with wasting another 10M on a player like Bebe.
 
     This column takes a look at all players that have been associated with the Reds in the last month and what they will or will not give to the club.

Name: SHINJI KAGAWA
Age   : 23
Team: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Attacking Midfielder.
Source: Various

     The young Japaneese has turned many heads in his three season in the Bundesliga and could be the missing link in United's Midfield. He isn't the next Paul Scholes but he could add a boost of stability and speed of the rather tired legs we have seen in this season's United midfield Kicker reports that Shinji Kagawa flew to Manchester with his adviser Thomas Kroth on Monday night. United are rated favourites to land the midfielder after sports director Michael Zorc admitted Borussia Dortmund's bid to keep the Japan international has failed. "Shinji told us that he will definitely not renew his contract with us," Zorc informed Bild.

Name: ROBERT LOWANDOWSKI 

Age:    23

Team:  Borussia Dortmund

Position: Striker

Source: Various

      The Polish striker has like his teammate mentioned above captured managers' sights, especially after scoring a Hat-Trick in a 5-2 win againt Bayern Munchen in the German Cup Final, which incedentally Sir Alex happened to be watching. A striker in the form of Dimitar Berbatov is leaving Old Trafford, somebody needs to step in and the Polish is wonderful for that spot. Obviously he isn't as creative as the   Berba but he is quite something. "Dortmund's offer is not good enough," said Lewandowski's agent Maik Barthel. "I can confirm that United are interested." 

Name:  MATS HUMMELS

Age   : 23 

Team : Borussia Dortmund

Position: Central Defender

Source  : VArious

      Uniited's defence this year has been shaky this season. Rio's acceleration is a=not what it was and the Smalling and Evns lack of experience showed. Thus what better to have a German internstional to take clog a few holes. He's been impressive this season and is the last of the Dortmund trio to be associated with Dortmund. It's also reported that Hummels' father was invited to Manchester recently but Dortmund will only entertain the thought of Kagawa, who has a year left on his contract, leaving.

Name: LEIGHTON BAINES
Age   : 27
Team : Everton
Position: Left Back
Source: Daily Mirror 




       Another hole in United's defence apperared at the left back position with Patrice Evra struggling against wingers for majority of the campaign. Stats will tell you otherwise and will tell you he has been the best defender this season, but stats are not all reality. The Frenhman has still looked dangerous on the attack but defending he has lost out many times, most significantly in the 2-1 loss to Liverpool in the  F.A Cup. An English international could easily clog that hle, but it depends wheteher the Tofees manager David Moyes will sell.




Name: Eden Hazard
Age   :21
Team :Lille
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Source: Various


     The man with contradicting names has a choice to make, Red or Blue. However one thing's certain, it's going to be Manchester. The Belgium international has been the number 1 target in Mancini's books and United's name doesn't come up as often as City's, but United have interest and if the younster goes to the other side, it could be dangerous for the Reds. On 28 April, for the third consecutive season, Hazard was nominated for the UNFP Player of the Year award. Two weeks later, he was awarded the prestigious honour ahead of the likes of Olivier Giroud and Younès Belhanda. He was also in the team of the year for the third time. 


Name: Nicolas Gaitan
Age   : 24
Team :Benfica
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Source: Various
  
       Probably the most probable of all transfers, Gaitan has expressed his desire to be at the right side of Manchester, so much that at the time of this article's typing, Wikipedia shows Gaitan's current club as Manchester United. Probabilty of trasfer- 99.99%..........




This is all for this edition of transfer targets, see in one months time. We will keep you posted on any rumors floating in the world of football about United.....Bye for Now

Preview...UNITED VS EVERTON

Manchester United vs Everton

22nd April 2012

Old Trafford

Referee: Mike Jones 

• Wayne Rooney will go fourth in Manchester United's all-time goalscoring list if he scores two against his former club on Sunday. He will surpass the current joint-fourth-placed Old Trafford legends Dennis Viollet and George Best.

• Everton have not beaten the Red Devils on away soil in 18 top-flight matches. United have won 15 of those, drawing with the Toffees three times.

• 82 points - the current points tally of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side - is the highest they have ever had after 34 matches.

• David Moyes’ men have not lost in four consecutive league matches, taking 10 points from an available 12. However, their momentum was dented last weekend when Liverpool scored late to beat their Merseyside rivals 2-1 in their FA Cup semi-final.

• Although they lost both European matches at Old Trafford, United have won all seven of their games at the stadium since the turn of the year.

• As of Saturday morning, Rooney (24) is three goals behind Arsenal’s Robin van Persie (27) in the Premier League top goalscorer chart. The former Everton forward is on 31 in all competitions, eight ahead of Everton’s top goalscorer, Nikica Jelavic (23), who arrived at Goodison Park from Rangers in January.

• The Goodison Park club have conceded 34 times in the top-flight this season - only Manchester United and Manchester City have a better defensive record.

• That man again: Rooney has not scored in his last six Premier League games against the club he played for until 2004.
• Darren Gibson will make his return to Old Trafford after his winter move to the Tofees. 

Air CRASH INVESTIGATION..... MUNICH 58'

          The title can be touched now, and this article will say no more. United win, City lose, and United can just reply for their derby humiliation by winning the title at The Etihad three weeks from now. Ethihad by the way means United. 


"Whenever I go to the circus, I see clowns"

- Gary Neville in refrence to Mario Ballotelli's sending off. Te best part was Mario didn't even bother to            get off the pitch fast enough.

"Why Always Me? Take a look at yourself there Mario"

-Premier Sky Sports commentary.....the best since Neville's above crack"

Balotelli- 57 games 4 reds. Javier Zanetti for Inter - 700 games 1 red

Second chances

           The title race looks all wrapped up, but before you close this window because that is what you've heard of all week, be assured this blog is not going to be talking about it, just using it as a landmark for reference. This article just asks one clear cut question, and please comment.

            Is this season been all that successful? We know that it is a unproductive activity to cry over spilt milk, but is alright to ignore it totally by pretending water is a lovely substitute? It's hardly been an ideal season and being knocked out European competitions twice, and loosing to a lower division team in the League Cup has not exactly been United's thing the past decade. (Notable exception- 2005 European campaign).

             For starters, the European form has been nothing short of dreadful. There have been just three victories in 8+4 matches, and two of them against Romanian first timers, Oetul Galti, whose name no one seems sure how to pronounce. The other one was a 2-0 win against a young Ajax side, and in all fairness to the Erikssen inspired Dutchmen, they won the return leg at Old Trafford 2-1 but failed to go through on aggregate. That brings us to another huge blip in Europe, they have won only once at home, yeah, against Galati. They lost to Basel, Ajax, Bilbao while drawing against Benfica, twice. Their defence was shambolic and their two ties against Bilbao exposed them to the fullest. Rafael strong in the counter attack, was often rendered helpless at the back. (Case in point- he stood and watched a loose ball, that had rebounded from a fantastic De Gea save, and continued watching as the lurking Munian slotted it high.). Jones got his first goal in Europe, but against United. His lack of maturity showed in his positioning, and showed that comparisons to the OT legend, Duncan Edwards were highly overrated, , but as United just as yet. Ferdinand was dreadful in the Champions League but was in Europe's second tier, he was a little better. (He got a goal against as well.). De Gea was still learning in the the Champions League, and a string of exceptional performances by the Spaniard were not enough to keep United in.    
 
    The cup runs weren't all that glorious as the Reds lost 2-1 to a Crystal Palace side that won through an extra time header. Late goals are United's style not Palace's. The performance was so dreadful and that was certified by the fact that Sir Alex apologised publicly, and when Fergie apologises, all is not well in the United camp. Macheda was particularly poor, misplacing passes and at one point trying to control a routine ball only to knock it out for a throw-in. He was not alone, however. There was the embarrassing sight of Mame Biram Diouf being penalised for a foul throw. Fábio da Silva picked up a yellow card, could have given away a penalty and limped off injured. Rafael da Silva was also forced off, a sort of deja vu for those who have followed the Brazilians' careers. Dimitar Berbatov will be sent for scans after leaving Old Trafford with a protective cast on a foot.


      So even if United go on to win their 20th title, their 37th senior trophy under Sir Alex, is the season as pretty as it is made out to been. In all fairness to the Reds, they are a team in transition. To add to that, they missed their captain Vidic for an entire season, had a shadow of the old Evra in the left wing, had Anderson injured.  The Old Trafford faithful know patience as before the Ferguson era they had to wait 26 long years for a title, but Sir Alex came and changed all that, and that even a United team in transition is challenging arguably the best City team in the Premier League era stands testimony. United have survived departures of key players and seasons without key men, walking out of them with their heads held high. Winning has become part of their DNA, and that is what this season should be remembered for. A 3-3 comeback win against Chelsea, a last gasp Giggs goal against Norwich, and even though not every one woyld agree, the pure attacking urge in the 6-1 loss to Man City. 


     So this season may be one for the record books. Ryan Giggs becoming the player with most appearances, Giggs scoring every season of the premier league and Champions League, United winning their 20th title, Sir Alex becoming the longest serving manager, but the only thing that a football season ever signifies is with United there are always second chances, there is always next season.

Lawn Rov-ing

              Last minute business? Maybe. Excellent defending? Surely. The result we needed? Definitely. Three points from this game means we go 5 points clear of Man-City, and if potentially 8 by the end of the next weekend.

               Meanwhile rumours of City cracking up are everywhere, all that remains is those waving white flags. City showed that they still had spirit, coming back from 3-1 against Sunderland , to draw 3 all. But worryingly for City fans they also demonstrated why a clash of ego's was a collision waiting to happen. The City juggernaut appears to have applied the breaks, but that was not the only thing Nigel De Jong felt like breaking on that evening, following his feud with Mancini. (Yes we are talking about the cool, calm, collected composed and a work horse by nature, De Jong) Then Super Mario showed why he was still 'untrustable' in his managers words by having his mini argument with Kolorov on a set-piece just outside the box.

                United however are coolly ahead now. They had to work for it though. Throughout the first half the Reds found no penetration despite seeing 67% of possession. Blackburn in contrast had the only clear cut shots, 3 splendidly saved by the increasingly maturing De Gea. The second half nothing changed, and Hernandez continued his trend of wasting shots from the first half. The Mexican was soon substituted for Danny Welbeck. Also Paul Scholes came off for Ashley Young and Giggs came on for ex-Rovers man Phil Jones.
 
                 United suddenly turned up a few notches quite like against Norwich City a few matches back and soon Antonio Valencia had the ball at the back of the net after taking the ball along the wing.
5 minutes later Robinson was again picking the ball out of the goal, after Ashley Young curled a pristine shot just out the range of the Keeper.

                United ahead means manythings, not least a 20th title, and for the most Optimistic fan, the Reds could well lift the title at the Ethihad.(Titbit-----Ethihad means United)