United bags two awards in EPL with player of the month and manager of the month as well.

Fergie and Cristiano Ronaldo are awarded with Manager of the month and player of the month after playing some fabulous football last month.Keeping 100% record at Old Trafford and not losing any last month it was all terrific for United. Continue reading »

Tags:   ferguson · Manchester united · Ronaldo

An injury time winning goal was all that was needed and Wayne Rooney became the unlikely savior, helping the United Reds buck a 2-1 lead during halftime and escape with a 3-2 victory over AC Milan at Old Trafford in the semi-finals first leg.

It was poetry in motion for Rooney as he executed a goal on a perfect assist coming from Paul Scholes. The hard earned win was evident as emphatically stated by Rooney after the game. They now carry the momentum going into the second leg next Wednesday in the Champions League decider in San Siro.

“It’s a great feeling,” he told ITV Sport. “It was a difficult match but when it got late we kept going. We knew the victory would make it a little bit easier for the away leg. And to get a goal in the last minute is a great feeling.

“It was fantastic. At 2-1 behind at half-time against a very good Milan team, we knew it would be difficult to get the win. The manager told us too keep pushing, keep going and we’ll get the goals, and we did.” –Rooney relieved by winner

[tags]manchester united, united reds, wayne rooney[/tags]

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Being the best in the game will have its advantages and such was the contract offered to Cristiano Ronaldo. No details were disclosed yet but the contract states that Ronaldo will be donning the United uniform until 2012.

“He’s been on fire this season, his form has been unbelievable. For someone in his position and of his age to be as consistent as he has been is remarkable.”

“There is no-one who can rival him as the best in the world at the moment,” he added. “He’s improved as a player, but he’s continuing to improve which is the scary thing. Whatever challenges he faces, it doesn’t bother him or faze him.

“The thing he needs to do now is to be consistent for the next ten years. If he does that he’ll rightly be up there with the greats.” - Giggs delight at Ronny deal.

Based on winning tradition and how United rewards deserving players, Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly a player on the rise that will be among the greats one day. Giggs has challenged Ronaldo to maintain his rise towards stardom and from all indications, it doesn’t seem to be a hard task for the Portugese player.

Looks like United will continue to rise on the top with its roster of talented players. The best part of it is that the players are doing it wholeheartedly and easily.

[tags]cristiano ronaldo, united reds, fa cup 2007[/tags]

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Cristiano Ronaldo was upbeat with their victory over Middlesbrough despite lingering controversies on their win. The Reds win came from the penalty kick awarded to Ronaldo after being tripped by Middlesbrough’s Jonathan Wingate. The call was controversial in a sense that Middlesbrough believed that not much contact merited the penalty kick which evidently decided the marginal point of the match at the FA Cup semi-finals.

Despite the protests, it was pretty clear that contact was the reason for Ronaldo’s trip. Ronaldo took the protest personally, stressing that every time he is involved in controversial calls, it is because of political issues concerning his tenure at United.

Nevertheless, it is the team that has benefited from Ronaldo’s efforts and they are upbeat in their next match against Wattford. Admitting that the game will surely be one hell of a match, at the rate Ronaldo is going, United may find itself playing at Wembley next.

[tags]manchester united, reds, cristiano ronaldo, FA cup[/tags]

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Ryan Giggs can continue playing for Manchester United for at least another two or three seasons, according to assistant manager Carlos Queiroz.

Saturday’s trip to Liverpool will mark his 700th appearance in a United shirt and his 16th year in the top flight.

Giggs, 33, says he does not know if he can play on beyond the end of his contract in 2008.

But Queiroz said: “We expect his contribution to be another two or three years without any problems.”

“He’s still got lots in the locker now,” said the Birmingham City manager, also talking exclusively to the BBC.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes on and does 20 years at the top because he’s got all the attributes to carry on - and make no mistake, he’ll still have that same hunger in his stomach that epitomises a top player.”

Queiroz said Giggs’s longevity was “a fantastic, outstanding achievement”.

“It is very rare to find a player who is able to complete 16 years in one club playing at the level of Giggsy,” the Portuguese added.

“It is an outstanding, amazing career. To be not only on top of, but one step ahead of the demands and goals Manchester United have is really something fantastic.

“And that tells us something about his personality, the way he is committed to and his passion for the club and the game, his motivation and concentration at training sessions.

“If you lose that desire, that fifth gear in your stomach, you just can’t do it.”

Queiroz added: “After 16 years, Giggs is Manchester United. The way he plays, with so much fantasy, creativity and entertainment - but also outside the pitch as a professional - he is really a role model for the game.

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Paul Scholes says his Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world on current form.

Ronaldo has scored 12 goals as United have opened up a six point gap at the top of the Premiership table.

“The amount of goals and the amount of assists he’s had has been frightening,” Scholes told Football Focus.

“I haven’t seen anybody take players on, score goals and make goals like he has in this first half of the season, so he rightfully deserves that tag.”

Scholes added: “We just hope that for the second half of the season he can have the same effect on the team that he’s had in the first half. We’re sure he can do that.”

Scholes himself has been in top form despite missing much of last season with blurred vision.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson recently tipped the 32-year-old as an early contender for the Footballer of the Year award, but Scholes insists there is room for improvement.

He said: “I still think I can play better and I still think the team can play better so for the second half of the season we hope we can do that. I know over the years I’ve played better than I am doing now. I want to get back to those sorts of levels and hopefully I can do that.”

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Player Review:

Louis Saha

A rich run of form recently including a run of goals and assists, suggesting that Fergie leaving RVN on the bench is not some personal vendetta, but a decision based on genuine form.

Stats:
Appearances: 21

Breakdown:

Premiership: 10

Europe: 2

FA Cup: 4

League Cup: 5

Goals: 11

Cards:

1: yellow

0: red

Goalscoring – 9

The Daily Telegraph amongst others suggested that playing Saha ahead of RVN in the League Cup Final was a political decision, but the truth is that Saha had scored in every round and his goal in the final jutified the selection. He has had a hard road to recovery from a series of injuries, but is finally beginning to justify the price tag that came with his transfer from Fulham. Creating an excellent understanding with Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Ji-Sung Park - Saha is a power house in the air and chases down everything. Perhaps still not as clinical as he might be.

Attacking Play – 8

Strong on and off the ball- an excellent “front man”. His downside is perhaps his lack of versatility in crossing the ball from teh wings.

Defensive Qualities – 7

Obviously not Saha’s strongest attribute. Nevertheless, he is making more effort these days to track back and help out.

Passing & Link up play – 8

Ji-Sung Park and Saha are developing an excellent understanding- which bodes well for the future.

Fitness and Attitude – 8

Seemingly getting back to full fitness which is good news for the squad.

Overall Score– 9

With all the ups and downs and his reputation as being so injury prone, it is a welcome site to see Louis Saha getting back to his best. Manchester United Blog is happy to announce that Louis Saha is our:

Player of the Month.

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Player Review:

Cristiano Ronaldo

A rich run of form recently including a run of goals and assists, showing that he truly is a class act and late season bloomer.

Stats:
Appearances: 33 (9 as sub)

Breakdown:

Premiership: 21 (5)

Europe: 8 (6)

FA Cup: 1 (6)

League Cup: 3

Goals: 9

Cards:

7: yellow

1: red

Goalscoring – 8

Ronaldo’s scoring talents have not been demonstrated thus far- as recently pointed out by the King, Eric Cantona, in The Daily Telegraph. Often accused of being selfish and a show-off, when a simple pass would have done the trick- at least Ronaldo isn’t afraid to have a go. And with Ryan Giggs and Ji-Sung Park on the other flank, Manchester United are looking dangerous in terms of goalscoring threats from all sides. Ronaldo also has an excellent head and can be a real danger at corners. Needs to test the goalkeeper more from free kicks, though.

Attacking Play – 9

One of the best. Silky, smooth and genuine pace. Perhaps goes down too easily and overdoes the theatrics, but Cristiano and Park are securing this part of Sir Alex’s dream of his “third great team“.

Defensive Qualities – 6

Obviously not Ronaldo’s strongest attribute. Nevertheless, he is making more effort these days to track back and help Gary Neville out.

Passing & Link up play – 8

Ji-Sung Park could teach Ronaldo a thing or two about this department of play! Again, there is improvement, but he needs more faith in the ability of his teamates.

Fitness and Attitude – 7

Seemingly has the occasional emotional or psychological breakdown- but he is young still. His fitness throughout a particular game seems pretty good- but match-on-match, there is a lack of consistency that must question his mental as well as physical fitness- not seeming “up” for the task in certain games.

Overall Score– 9

With all the ups and downs, and the love-hate relationship we all, as Man United supporters- seem to have- the jury is still out on Cristiano Ronaldo. But at least for this month Manchester United Blog is happy to announce that Cristiano Ronaldo is our:

Player of the Month.

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Despite our positive review of Ji Sung-Park earlier in the month, where Park scored an excellent 8 out of 10,
Man United Blog’s Player of the Month has, by a close call, been awarded to:

Wayne Rooney.

Rooney, who also won the Barclays Player of the Month Award for December (and it’s not often that we agree with those politicised panels!) has simply been our most consistent and dynamic player, week on week- always leaving the field with credit even when the team has played poorly or even he has been having an “off” day.

The 20-year-old claimed the Barclays award after scoring five goals in seven league matches last month, doubing his haul in the Premiership to 10. His scoring streak included a double against Wigan, as well as goals against Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Birmingham. It is the second time Rooney has been honoured, having first received the accolade in February 2005.

The England international’s goals see him sitting joint fourth in the Barclays Race for the Golden Boot. His partnership with fellow striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is also the highest scoring pairing in the league with 25 goals.

Other players who came into serious consideration were, as mentioned before- Ji Sung-Park, Darren Fletcher, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Edwin Van der Sar and Paul Scholes. But in the end, Rooney just shone through in all areas of the game. Nic Gault, from the Barclays Awards Panel, said:

“Fingers crossed Rooney can carry this sort of form into the summer. He’s the hottest property in the league, if not the world, at the moment.“

One has to wonder at the Actim Stats format that the powers that be uses, especially when it comes to defenders who play well for teams that lose for other reasons- but one can’t deny that the panel got it right this time and believe that Man United Blog has as well!

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Player Review:

Ji-Sung Park

Having broken his scoring duck in the League Cup quarter finals, Ji-Sung Park definitely merits a review. Obviously, his talents were well known prior to his transfer to Manchester United from his performances, most notably, in the World Cup and the Champions League, while playing for PSV Eindhoven. However, our reviews at Manchester United Blog are solely concerned with his performances with a MU shirt on.

Stats:
Appearances: 25 (11 as sub)

Breakdown:

Premiership: 17 (5)

Europe: 6 (6)

League Cup: 2

Goals: 1

Cards: 0

Goalscoring – 7

While not bought as a specialist striker, Park has certainly demonstrated an eye for goal in his career. To be honest, thus far, his goal scoring talents have not been demonstrated- seemingly just a lack of composure when it matters. This could be explained by the fact that players just have less time on the ball in the Premiership than, say, the Dutch League. It could also be explained that Ji has often been brought on to rescue situations when time is a factor and pressure is magnified. Let’s just hope that we don’t create another Diego Forlan complex. Also that the recent goal against Birmingham will be just the first of many to come.

Attacking Play – 8

Really excellent signs- both when Park has played through the middle or along the flanks. Has shown some marvellous tenacity in keeping the ball and sucking defenders in. Perhaps could do with a little more quality in terms of the crosses in the final third. But always sparky, energetic and chasing down every ball. Some lovely moments with Rooney and Scholesy as well.

Defensive Qualities – 6

Obviously not Ji-Sung Park’s strongest attribute. Nevertheless, cannot be faulted for effort in any way. Just lacks the basic height and physical strength to be considered a defensive asset. Also some evidence of naivety in chasing the ball down, rather than sticking to the man when required. This hasn’t been helped by the fact that we lack a specialist left back at the moment, following the injury to Gabriel Heinze and with Park often playing down the left side, along with equally inexperienced players such as Kieron Richardson- his defensive weaknesses are that much more exposed.

Passing & Link up play – 9

One of the most pleasing elements to the performances of Ji-Sung Park has been his link up play with the established players, such as Scholesy, Rooney, RVN and Giggsy. And also with the new breed- the likes of Smithy and Fletcher. Many would say that in this respect Park has far outperformed Cristiano Ronaldo and that when he plays, Man Utd are a much better and more cohesive unit. While he does sometimes make the wrong decisions and gives the ball away cheaply, one might be surprised to learn that he has one of the highest scores, in terms of percentage, for passing completion rate- in the whole squad!!

Fitness and Attitude – 10

I don’t think that even Man Utd’s more vociferous critics could deny Ji-Sung Park a 10 out of 10 score in this category. And it is highly doubtful that any other player in the Man Utd squad could rival Park in this category either. His fitness is supreme. His engine just never stops- running up and down the pitch for 90 minutes and then looking fresh as a dasiy! And his attitude has proved to be equally as admirable- always positive, giving 100%, never giving up and having enough humility, rather than ego, to accept the Manager’s decisons- whatever his personal feelings about them. What more can one say? A class act in this respect.

Overall Score– 8

Let’s hope that come the end of the season, we will be reviewing Ji-Sung Park for our Player of the Season award. In order for that to happen, he needs to play more games on a regular basis and not just as a substitute. Certainly, we have seen enough to know that this is not another “lemon” transfer, in the mould of recent midfielders brought in, such as Kleberson, Djiemba Djiemba, etc. Park also needs to score more goals and show that much more composure in the delivery of the final ball. Having said all of this, one has to be pleased with Ji-Sung Park’s initial performances and impact on the team. In lieu of this, we are happy to award Ji-Sung Park our Player of the Month award.

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