Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[mr_missile]

The writer's got a point there. Read on :


The Last Thing United Need Is A Sneijder

Quite understandably, many Man United fans crave a glamorous creative attacking talent, but there are a fair few areas of their squad that require far more urgent attention...

It's a bit of a shame that Paul Scholes didn't say much when he was a player, because more or less every time he has opened his mouth since retirement, sense has poured out. He has made careful, considered points, and if he had both the charisma and the desire to spend more time in front of a camera, he'd make an excellent pundit.

Take the following, told to The Manchester Evening News on Thursday: "I don't think it is a big deal really replacing me because I haven't been the type of player people are talking about for the last four or five years...

"I wasn't the pulling the strings anymore, definitely in the last two years and probably even since I was 31-32. I haven't been as prominent in the side. I wasn't scoring the goals and I wasn't making the goals."

Most of the talk this summer has been about which creative midfielder United would buy for an awful lot of money. Luka Modric, Wesley Sneijder, Javier Pastore...we could go on. All fine creative talents, sure, but all incredibly expensive, and all faintly unnecessary.

United's transfer priorities - or perhaps more accurately what many think their priorities should be - are wrong. While a creative presence would indeed be lovely, there are greater needs elsewhere.

Sir Alex Ferguson already has a number of creative talents at his disposal - Anderson, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney are obviously all established in the first team, and beyond that they have youngsters Tom Cleverley, Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison, assuming the latter can stay out of the many flavours of trouble in which he seems to get himself. It's plenty to be going on with.

What United don't have, and what they more urgently need, is somebody who can get the best out of the creative talents they already have. Anderson and Carrick's best spells at Old Trafford came when Owen Hargreaves was at the height of his fitness (a relative term, obviously), because it a) allowed them to play 10-15 yards further up their pitch where they have more impact and b) gave them the security of knowing there was someone to tidy up after them. The elementary errors that both men still make are easier to swallow when a water carrier is close to hand.

United don't have anyone of that ilk anymore, and haven't since Hargreaves first broke down. Darren Fletcher does that job to an extent, but the effects of the virus that caused him any number of problems last season still linger. He only started once after March 1 (and that was the meaningless end-of-season affair against Blackpool), and isn't with their current touring party in America - according to Ferguson, he has only just returned to Carrington.

Some have claimed Phil Jones will do the 'spoiling' job, but he is surely seen as the long-term replacement for Nemanja Vidic, and when he plays in the coming season it will be largely in defence, and probably alongside Chris Smalling in order to establish their partnership. Also, Ferguson apparently wanted to hold off until next summer to sign him, and only moved following interest from Liverpool and Arsenal. All of this indicates Ferguson hasn't exactly planned a huge immediate role for Jones.

Even John O'Shea, who occasionally covered in the middle, is gone now. And that leads to another point - with O'Shea and Wes Brown gone, cover is decidedly thin on the ground at full-back.

Beyond Patrice Evra and the Da Silva twins, United have nothing. Rafael and Fabio are still young and relatively raw, and yet one of those two will be United's first-choice right-back for the whole of next season. Who else do they have to cover? Jonny Evans playing out of position? Fletcher playing even more out of position? At present, the purchase of another full-back is arguably more urgent than a creative midfielder.

United fans may crave the arrival of Modric or Sneijder, and that's perfectly understandable because they are wonderful players to watch and quicken the pulse. But their squad is more deficient in other areas and pragmatism must win this summer.

[machoman]

Papers: Sneijder bid accepted

02/08/2011 10:00
David Maddock writes in The Mirror...

Inter accept United’s Sneijder offer

Wesley Sneijder will become a Manchester United player this week... if he accepts a restructured pay-deal to move to the Premier League. The Dutch midfielder's club, Inter Milan, have paved the way for a £30million-plus transfer by accepting, in principle, a formal offer United made at the weekend. They are ready to grant Sneijder permission to speak to officials from Old Trafford, and the Mirror understands those talks will take place later this week. The only stumbling block to what would surely be world football's deal of the summer is the player's wage demands, given the tax-favourable status he enjoys while playing in Italy. Sneijder doesn't want to take a pay-cut on a salary that would earn him the equivalent of almost £190,000 a week in the Premier League - which is way outside United's pay structure. The English champions though, are prepared to talk about a sliding pay scale that will see a large basic wage topped up with generous bonuses as well as signing-on fees that will be spread over the length of the contract.

In the second of The Mirror’s two exclusives, Paris St Germain are apparently set to table an offer of £18million for Dimitar Berbatov, taking advantage of the Bulgarian’s reported 'uncertain' future at Old Trafford. The French club are enjoying a revolution under their new Qatari ownership and the Reds striker is their first target.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mail says former United striker Giuseppe Rossi has been taken off the transfer list by current club Villarreal after their financial worries were eased by the sale of winger Santo Cazorla to Malaga – a deal which scuppers Tottenham’s hopes of signing the Italian international.

[mr_missile]

if the reports on sneijder and berbatov are true, then it's really great news.

the sneijder on-off saga has been dragging on for quite some time already. i rather we quickly get it over and done with as SAF has said so (either he comes or he does not, not ding dong here and there) that the team can be settled in for the start of the new season.

berbatov leaving for PSG may be a good thing as it will free up funds (for the capture of sneijder?) and allow emerging young strikers wellbeck and macheda to have more chances in the 1st team.

as in my post above, the weak link will be the full backs slots with evra and the da silva twins being the only recognisable fullbacks. we have lost brown and o'shea to sunderland and neville having retired. surely SAF must bring in cover?

[mr_missile]

SNEIJDER GETS TWO-WEEK DEADLINE

MANCHESTER UNITED have set Wesley Sneijder a two-week deadline to join the champions.

United have spent the last two months trying to lure the Inter Milan and Holland star to Old Trafford in a £36m deal.

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson made him his No.1 choice to replace the retired Paul Scholes and landing Sneijder would take his summer spending over the £80m mark.

But the move has stalled due to his cash demands and United are now running out of patience.

Sneijder wants in excess of £220,000 a week, but this would smash the rigid pay structure at Old Trafford and cause
problems in the dressing room.

Now United have told Sneijder their highest basic offer will be no more than £180,000 a week.

The take-it-or-leave-it deal will be on the table until the middle of this month.

United are confident they will land Sneijder but want him in place sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney wants to help United land the first psychological blow of the season at Wembley this weekend.

United meet Manchester City in the Community Shield and Rooney said: “Playing City is the best way to start.

“I hadn’t even thought about it until I turned on the telly the other night and someone was talking about potentially the best Community Shield ever.

“It’s a great way to start pre-season training, knowing that at the end of the hard work, before the games begin, there’s a Manchester derby.

“You couldn’t get better motivation to start the season with a bang.”

[machoman]

Scholes bows out with a goal as Man Utd hit six
Saturday, August 06, 2011 6 hours ago

The end of an era as Paul Scholes ends his Manchester United career in front of a packed house at Old Trafford as the Reds crush the New York Cosmos 6-0.

So, finally after 676 games for Manchester United Paul Scholes finally decided to call it a day with a benefit game at Old Trafford against the New York Cosmos.

A rather ironic choice considering the former England midfielder’s aversion to the limelight, to play out his career in front of over 70,000 fans at a sold-out Theatre of Dreams.

But then Scholes has always done it his way. From shunning the trappings of celebrity for the security of family life, to walking away from an England career because of all the travel and hassle involved.

When the likes of Barcelona’s Xavi rate him as the best midfielder, “In the last 15 to 20 years” or Zinedine Zidane description as, "undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation," then the Salford born lad must have been doing something right.

In short we are not talking about some ordinary talent. Probably the only ordinary thing about the 36 year old was his tackling - 120 bookings in all competitions and ten sending-offs tells its own tale.

Not that Scholes is severing all links with United, he will become a club coach from the 2011–12 season onwards.

With likes of Reds legend Eric Cantona in the New York Cosmos dugout 14 years after his shock retirement from the game coming up against his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, then not all of the limelight was directed at Scholes, and if all else failed we had Pele, Bryan Robson, Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel and Denis Law in the stands.

Ferguson included Scholes in his Manchester United team one last time together with the 'Class of 92' (Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville). But no David Beckham who is contracted to LA Galaxy and was unable to attend.

Cantona had to make do with members of the Cosmos U23 squad plus some ‘named’ makeweights, including Fabio Cannavaro, Robbie Keane, Wayne Bridge
and Gary Neville.

For the Cosmos it was mainly a chance to show that they have never really been away since their demise in 1984 as they look to secure the 20th MLS franchise.

You see, for the moment the club which was most associated with those heady days of professional ‘soccer’ in the States during the 70’s, who signed Pele and looked like usurping baseball, basketball and American football in terms of popularity are now just a name looking for a league to join.

Rather like the Olympics, testimonial games are all about the taking part not the winning and that presumably explains the awful version of ‘New York, New York’ we had to endure from some pitch-side crooner just before kick-off. Set back Anglo-American relations for at least 90 minutes.

Then, as befits playing an American based team, the opening strike on 8 minutes was straight out of Hollywood. Scholes received the ball some 20 yards out and with the whole of Old Trafford willing him to shoot he duly obliged with a screamer past Brad Friedel. The stadium erupted.

Twenty minutes later and the hosts doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after Ashley Young was fouled. With the Reds faithful wanting Scholes to take the penalty Wayne Rooney stepped forward to a chorus of boos and converted.

United were clearly the more accomplished outfit for no other reason than they are used to playing as a team, with at least eight of the starting line-up likely to begin the Charity Shield final on Sunday.

David de Gea in the Reds goal must realise not all games will be like this, whilst his opposite number Friedel can only hope for a more secure defence at Tottenham.

Interestingly, considering we had Robbie Keane and Wayne Bridge out there for the Cosmos trying to impress other clubs, it was the 39 year old former United star Dwight Yorke who looked the livelier for the visitor’s.

Unsurprisingly, wholesale changes were made at the break to both teams but it made little difference to what happened out in the middle. Scholes continued to show his range of passing whilst the rest of his colleagues boosted their match fitness ahead of the weekend showdown with Manchester City.

It was three soon after the restart. A neat interchange of passing ended with Anderson stroking the ball home. It was soon after this that the inevitable Mexican wave started. And during this display Danny Welbeck took advantage of some poor defending to make it four.

We than had a contender for villain of the night as Patrick Vieira came on for the Cosmos to a crescendo of boos which continued whenever he touched the ball.

But even the former Arsenal hard-man and fellow Cosmos defender Gary Neville could not prevent number five and six from Mame Biram Diouf as the American’s substitute keeper Chad Calderone was again exposed by a rapidly tiring back-four.

And then it happened with 16 minutes remaining, Paul Scholes left the Old Trafford pitch for the last time as he was substituted to thunderous applause.

The game then drifted to its conclusion with the only disappointment being Cantona did not make an appearance on the pitch in a playing capacity.

Scholes reappeared after the final whistle to take the applause and make one final lap of honour with his wife and children.

For Manchester United fans, The King is Dead, Long Live the King!

NEW YORK COSMOS SQUAD

21 Armando Gaitan*
7 Robert Pires (Ex Arsenal & Villarreal)
9 Dwight Yorke (Ex-Man Utd)
8 Nicky Butt (ex Man Utd)
3 Wayne Bridge (Man City)
13 Chad Calderone *
6 Sol Campbell (Ex Arsenal, Tottenham)
5 Fabio Cannavaro (Ex Real Madrid, Juventus, Inter, Italy WC captain)
14 Ibrahim Diaby *
16 Stefan Dimitrov *
1 Brad Friedel (Tottenham)
18 Marvin Iraheta *
11Robbie Keane (Tottenham)
20 Brian McBride (Ex Fulham, USA)
17 Dane Murphy *
2 Gary Neville (Ex Man Utd)
15 Yanik Reyering *
12 Michel Salgado (Blackburn, Ex Real Madrid)
19 Moriken Sangary *
4 Patrick Vieira (Ex Arsenal, Man City)

*Denotes New York Cosmos U-23 Player

MANCHESTER UNITED SQUAD:

1 David De Gea
29 Tomasz Kuszczak
34 Anders Lindegaard
40 Ben Amos
3 Patrice Evra
4 Phil Jones
5 Rio Ferdinand
12 Chris Smalling
15 Nemanja Vidic
20 Fabio Da Silva
21 Rafael Da Silva
23 Jonny Evans
8 Anderson
11 Ryan Giggs
13 Ji-Sung Park
16 Michael Carrick
17 Nani
18 Paul Scholes
18 Ashley Young
24 Darren Fletcher
25 Antonio Valencia
26 Gabriel Obertan
28 Darron Gibson
35 Tom Cleverley
42 Paul Pogba
47 Oliver Norwood
49 Ravel Morrison
7 Michael Owen
9 Dimitar Berbatov
10 Wayne Rooney
19 Danny Welbeck
27 Federico Macheda
32Mame Biram Diouf

Referee: Peter Walton

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...-title?cc=4716

Sir Alex sets 84-point target
August 6, 2011

ManU boss believes the competition in the Premier League will be so fierce tat the winners will hv 2 get to 84 points 2 secure the title.

Ferguson believes tat Liverpool & Tottenham will join the top 4 2 battle it out in wat he describes as "the best product in football''.

He said: "2 win the league in England is very difficult & it doesn't matter how u get the points, u just hv 2 get them. You'll need 84 points 2 win the league next season - definitely.

"There will be increased competition in the league - I expect Liverpool 2 be better & added 2 the top 4 you hv got Tottenham, although they hv not done any buying tis summer which is surprising, so u expect it's going 2 be a really tough league.

"You r looking @ a top 6 fighting 4 a top 4 & tat can only add 2 the excitement of the Premier League, which I think is the best product in the game now.

"In Germany next season all the season tickets r taken up in every ground & tat will create a fantastic atmosphere in German grounds, but United, Liverpool, Arsenal & Chelsea hv full houses every week & I still think we r the best product.''

Ferguson also dismissed reports linking PSG with a move 4 Dimitar Berbatov as "nonsense'', adding: "There's no encouragement 4 us either.''

The United boss is also unconcerned abt the effect of internationals taking place on Wednesday, just 3 days b4 the start of the Premier League season.

He added: "They hv been doing it for 2 or 3 years now so why should it be any different tis year. I've no issue with it, some players may need a game during the week. We may hv 2 or 3 players tat actually need 90 mins.

"England hv done their very best under the circumstances 2 reduce the playing time 4 players - there's no replays in the Cup or the semi-final of the Cup, it goes 2 penalty kicks, the European clubs don't come in2 the League Cup until the later stages.

"We r trying 2 condense the English game as best we can 2 help players becos u can't keep on playing the number of games & it not having an adverse effect.

"But with more & more internationals something has got 2 give & tat's a big issue.''

[machoman]

FA PREMIER SHIELD: Man Utd stun Man City by turning round two-goal deficit

Monday, August 08, 2011

After going in at the break two goals down Manchester United showed their fighting spirit by scoring three in the second half to defeat rivals Manchester City 3-2 at Wembley.

At half-time Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would have been forgiven for thinking that history was about to repeat itself, as despite dominating the early exchanges, as they did against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final last season, it was their fierce rivals who lead at the break.

On 37 minutes Joleon Lescott gave City the lead when he glanced in David Silva's cross as the Reds defence hesitated. In time added on at the end of the first-half Edin Dzeko caught out David De Gea with long-range effort which appeared to deceive the Spanish keeper in flight.

The second-half was all United who refused to let their opponents settle. Within 12 minutes of the restart United had hauled themselves level.

Ashley Young flighted in a free kick and Chris Smalling arrived unmarked to guide the ball past Joe Hart. Then came a sublime team effort from the Reds which bewildered the City defence as a swift interchange of passes on the edge of the area ended with Nani chipping over Hart from close range.

United still pressed but just as it seemed penalties would be needed to decide the outcome Nani showed determination to claim the decider.

Edwin Dzeko just moments before the winner failed to connect with a free header which would have won the game for the Blue half of Manchester, and as the ball was cleared up-field Nani robbed a hesitant Vincent Kompany on the half-way line before racing clear and rounding Hart to stroke the ball into an empty net.

Referee: Phil Dowd

Venue: Wembley
Attendance: 77,169

Man City scorers: Lescott 38, Dzeko 45
Man Utd scorers: Smalling 51, Nani 57, 94

MAN CITY
25 Hart
02 Richards (yellow card)
04 Kompany
06 Lescott
13 Kolarov (yellow card) (Clichy 73)
07 Milner (yellow card) (Johnson 67)
21 Silva
34 De Jong
42 Y Toure (yellow card)
10 Dzeko (yellow card)
45 Balotelli (Barry 59)

Substitutes
12 Taylor,
15 Stefan Savic,
22 Clichy,
08 Wright-Phillips,
11 Johnson,
18 Barry,
16 Aguero

MAN UTD
01 De Gea
03 Evra (yellow card) (Rafael 71)
05 Ferdinand (P Jones 46)
12 Smalling
15 Vidic (Evans 46)
08 Anderson (yellow card)
16 Carrick (Cleverley 46)
17 Nani
18 Young
10 Rooney
19 Welbeck (Berbatov 89)

Substitutes
34 Lindegaard,
04 P Jones,
21 Rafael,
23 Evans,
13 Park Ji-Sung,
35 Cleverley,
09 Berbatov

[machoman]

[A Red Devils]

another great comeback performance.
coming back from 0-2 in the first half to win 3-2.
bravo ! bravo ! bravo !

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...de-gea?cc=4716

Fergie dodges De Gea criticism
August 7, 2011

ManU manager SAF was reluctant 2 criticise goalkeeper David de Gea following his performance in Sunday's Community Shield triumph.

United mounted an impressive comeback 2 win 3-2 against their rivals ManC, who had taken the lead thru a Joleon Lescott header, when De Gea was hesitant, & a long-range strike fr Edin Dzeko tat caught the Spanish shot-stopper off guard.

Asked abt Dezko's goal, Ferguson said: "Well, it was bending a little bit ... it's difficult 2 say."

De Gea, when asked whether he was experiencing problems getting 2 grips with the English game, said: "No, football is football here & in any country. I hv 2 adapt quickly & improve on the whole of my game.

"The 2 goals we conceded in the 1st half stopped us in our tracks but in the 2nd half we were able 2 claw back & I think tat's the important thing. I'm very happy abt the victory."

The Red Devils rallied in the 2nd half 2 claim victory as Chris Smalling diverted home & then Nani completed a fine passing move 2 level the scoreline. Nani sealed the victory in the dying moments as he charged clear.

Ferguson said: "I certainly thought our performance throughout was very good in terms of the football. I couldn't believe we were 2-0 down @ half-time aft it looked 2 me like we were controlling the game. But credit 2 the players, they kept their heads, played football & got the result we deserved."

2-goal hero Nani told Sky Sports: "Tis is United, we all believe until the last min & the attitude of the lads in the 2nd half was tat every1 believed we could score. It is good 2 play against ManC & win like tat. I think our fans 2day will be so proud of us, it is a beautiful day 2 enjoy."

United striker Wayne Rooney admitted the win was sweeter becos of the opposition. "Of course," he said. "Obviously they r going 2 try 2 fight us 4 tat (Premier League) title. They scored 2 goals fr nowhere but we showed character 2 win the game."

[Hori]

Nani will be a key figure this season
Time to deliver

[machoman]

Goodbye & all the best, "Ginger"!

Paul Scholes
He scores goals
He scores goals Galore
He scores goals
Paul Scholes
He scores goals!


Paul Scholes Testimonial.
Manchester United vs New York Cosmos (6-0) 05/08/2011.

Paul Scholes (born 16 November 1974) is an English retired footballer who played for Manchester United as a midfielder. He was a one-club man, having spent his entire professional career with Manchester United.

Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being spotted by a scout at his school, and made his debut for United in the 1994--95 season. He went on to play a key part in Manchester United's Treble-winning season, winning ten Premier League and three FA Cup medals, and a second UEFA Champions League.

Scholes represented the England national team from 1997 to 2004, participating in the 1998 and 2002 World Cup, as well as UEFA Euro 2000 and UEFA Euro 2004. Scholes has amassed over 120 bookings in all competitions during his career and has been sent off ten times.

Scholes made 676 appearances for United, the 4th highest number of appearances by any player for the club. Scholes officially announced his retirement from playing duties on 31 May 2011, and is set to become a club coach from the 2011--12 season onwards. Former France player Zinedine Zidane described Scholes as "undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation." (Wikipedia.)

[machoman]

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...an-utd?cc=4716

Sneijder keen on United move
August 9, 2011

Wesley Sneijder has confirmed he would like 2 join ManU & suggested 'unofficial talks' have taken place.

Sneijder, 27, has long been linked with a move 2 Old Trafford &, though both clubs hv denied talks hv taken place, the Inter Milan star revealed @ the weekend his club need the $.

Asked if he was keen on a move 2 ManU, Sneijder has now said: "Yes, but nobody has called officially. Maybe there hv been unofficial talks.

"The situation is tat I m an Inter Milan player, but there's a chance tat I will leave. If something crosses my path, I hv enough time 2 take a decision abt it. It is down 2 the club. If a good bid comes in, they hv 2 let me go. They don't 1 2 lose me but there's a chance they will."

Sneijder is set 2 play 4 Netherlands @ Wembley on Wednesday & he added: "I am leaving England aft the game, but if I get permission, I hv 2 go back."

Netherlands team-mate Rafael van der Vaart said Sneijder will be fully prepared 4 life in the Premier League.

"Of course he would like 2 play in England," he told Sky Sports News. "It's the biggest league in the world. He is a good friend of mine & we hv contact almost every day. He knows wat 2 expect in the Premier League."

Asked if he will be playing against Sneijder in the upcoming season, he said: "I hope not becos ManU r going 2 be stronger, but he's a great player & he fits in well @ ManU."

[machoman]

ROY KEANE is convinced Manchester United will win the title "comfortably" as their rivals collapse.

The Old Trafford legend believes only Manchester City pose any kind of threat to United's dominance and dismisses the challenges of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

In a blistering attack on United's so-called rivals, Keano says:

CHELSEA'S bickering players will self-destruct.

ARSENAL have not bought anybody to spark a title challenge.

LIVERPOOL are "nowhere near" being ready to win the League.

Keane said: "Even Sir Alex Ferguson said the other day the league's getting tougher. But I don't think so.

"If United are really at it, which they will be, they'll win it comfortably.

"Even last year when United were slipping up, no team was strong enough to take advantage of it."

United may have lost Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, John O'Shea and Wes Brown this year.

But Irishman Keane dismisses talk of Fergie's squad lacking enough experience to retain the title — and points to the quality of youngsters such as Chris Smalling and Danny Welbeck as reason to think United will not be weakened this season.

He said: "United have bought well. People talk about losing experience and I appreciate that Van der Sar, Neville and Scholes have all retired.

"But they have good young players coming through — and Wayne Rooney can play better than he did last season.

"When you look at the players they have left behind, they have Vidic, Rio, Darren Fletcher — these are all international players. And Giggsy is still there, too.

"United don't let players go unless they know they have players coming through to replace them. Ashley Young and Phil Jones are good players, Chris Smalling is coming through and Danny Welbeck is a good player coming back after being on loan at Sunderland last season.

"And when the older lads come to the end in four or five years, you'll have the likes of Jones and Smalling to step in with five or six years experience behind them.

"It's like a machine.

"You can talk all you like about other teams getting stronger but, for me, United have got stronger as well.

"They're going to do the business. Of all the teams, if one has the balance right I believe it's United."

Keane believes Chelsea's appointment of new boss Andre Villas-Boas has failed to address the root cause of the London club's problems.

The Irishman, 39, said: "Everybody is on about this new young manager — but I don't think the manager will be the problem.

"It's always the players down there, they all seem to self-destruct. They're big pals one minute and the next you hear they're all bickering with each other and players aren't happy if someone else scores."

Keane, who spread his 458 appearances for United over a 14-year stint at Old Trafford, is equally dismissive of the title chances for both Arsenal and Liverpool. He said: "Arsenal haven't really bought anybody.

"They've signed a striker, Gervinho, and, while the jury's out, you always have to give a boy a chance.

"Liverpool have bought good attacking players but I think it's actually defenders that they need. I think we've seen that a little bit in pre-season.

"Don't get carried away, Liverpool are in no position to win the league, nowhere near.

"Kenny Dalglish is the right man for the job. They've spent big money and bought good players — Luis Suarez is strong, Charlie Adam is a good player, but that was at Blackpool, and it's a big challenge for him.

"I gave Jordan Henderson his debut at Sunderland and he's a really good player. But to improve your team and to win the Premiership are two different things."

All that leaves Manchester City as the ONLY team Keane reckons can be a threat to United.

He believes last season's FA Cup semi-final triumph over United gave the blue half of Manchester a massive boost.

Keane said: "You really have to take notice of City.

"I don't think the current City group see United as a machine that can't be stopped.

"Beating United at Wembley was a milestone for them.

"They've been close to getting results over United in the last few years — particularly when Sven Goran Eriksson was there and they did the double over United for the first time in a long time.

"But now you really have to take notice of City.

"When a team is spending that sort of money and bringing in the quality they have then they are a threat.

"City were very much a roller-coaster club but Roberto Mancini has done a good job."

Mancini has splashed £48m this summer, bringing in Argentine star Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic.

Keane admitted: "It's all well and good having money but Mancini has brought established internationals - quality players who can handle the big occasions.

"When I was at United it was always about keeping them down there but they're creeping up now."