Robin Van Persie Gets Away With Criticizing His Team Mates

Manchester United’s Dutch international Robin Van Persie has been  left off the hook after he harshly criticized his team mates following their 0 – 2 loss to Olmpiakos in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.

According to The Daily Star, Manchester United's under-performing David Moyes has decided to let the sleeping dog lie so as not to create additional problems for the set to be dethroned English champions.

The striker had criticized his team mates for their positional play in the loss to the Greek side as he said ‘Our fellow players are sometimes occupying the spaces I want to play in.

‘And when I see that, it makes it difficult for me to come to those spaces as well. So that forces me to adjust my runs, based on the position of my fellow players.

‘And, unfortunately, they are often playing in my zones. I think that’s a shame.’

Sounding more critical he further said “We are lousy – in a lousy position in the league, out of the cups and this looks a difficult one also,” he is reported to have said by The Sun. “We are very disappointed. It’s a tough season.”

He felt United should have easily won the match without much sweat.

“With all due respect, we should be able to defeat this team 2-0 or 3-0.”

What’s the reason for Van Persie’s outburst? Sportsmail had revealed that United’s goalkeeper David De Gea had delivered two passes to Van Persie which was more than the striker got from Michael Carrick, Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck. He did not get even a single pass from Shinjji Kagawa and Tom Cleverly.

Robin Van Persie’s best chance of the night came when he hurriedly shot right over the crossbar.

'I rushed that shot [to make it 2-1 late in the game]', he admitted.

'That's a shame because I don't get a lot of chances, so when you get one, you have to score.”

Is Manchester United right about letting Van Persie off the hook over his criticisms of his fellow team mates? Would this not breed indiscipline? This is one thing that wouldn’t have happened when Sir Alex Ferguson was still the boss at United.

Manchester City Keen On Signing Manchester United’s And Chelsea’s Target

Southampton’s teenage sensation Luke Shaw is one of the most sought after young talents in England. Many big clubs across Europe are ready to get into a bidding war to sign the young talent according to various reports. Shaw has been very impressive in the left-back position for his club this season.

Chelsea are looking for a suitable replacement for Ashley Cole. United too would be willing to splash big money on the player as part of David Moyes’ team rebuilding campaign. With their transfer target Leighton Baines signing a contract extension with Everton and Patrice Evra rumoured to quit the club in the summer, Shaw looks to be a good replacement for the departing French man.

Manchester City too had joined the party. Accordingto reports by The Daily Mail, City are also keeping  close watch on the player and are likely to make a move for him during the summer transfer window. They are looking forward to signing a new left-back this summer and considers Shaw’s pace, technical abilities and his eyes for goals- as the qualities they want in their left-back.

With former Arsenal defender Gael Clichy and Aleksander Kolarov both failing to hold down regular first team shirts in the left-back position, Shaw’s terrific form just may be what could do the magic if he chooses to sign for them.

So far, Southampton have been trying to ward off big clubs from their talented young star. It remains to be seen how long they would succeed at that particularly when big money is been dangled in front of them. The 18 year old England international is currently valued at £22 million.

Inter Milan Hold Talks On Patrice Evra And Sagna

Inter Milan of Italy have joined the race to sign Arsenal’s full-back Sagna according to a report by La gazzetta delloSport. The Nerauzzurri’s new owner Erick Thoir has recently made funds available for the summer transfer window. 

According to Erik Thoir, Mancheseter United’s captain Nemanja Vidic is almost done with a deal that would seen him join the Italian side this summer. He is hoping another start player from the Premiership would also join them this summer.

Sagna, 31, has been a very valuable player in Arsenal’s lineup for several years making total of 200 appearances. Sagna’s contract with his club would be ending this summer. He is demanding a 3-year contract extension. Arsenal is offering a two-year deal instead. 

A couple of other European clubs are also interested in signing the French man. Should Inter Milan fail to sign him, they may be considering Andreas Beck of Hoffenheim or Roberto Rosales of Twente.

Daily Mail also reports that Inter Milan are interested in yet another Manchester United’s player – Patrice Evra. Evra would be out of contract with United at the end of this season and till now, there are no known offer of contract extension. Should they consider giving the player an extension, it would just be a one-year extension in accordance with United’s policy of giving one-year extensions to players above 30.

Inter are looking to offer the French man the same type of juicy, longer-term contract that swayed his fellow team mate Nemanja Vidic to San Siro. Sagna and Evra are top of Inter Coach Walter Mazzari’s shopping list.

With United showing keen interest in Southampton teenage left-back Luke Shaw, it is an indication that they are willing to let Evra go. After the 2 – 0  loss to Olympiakos of Greece, Evra said.

‘My love will not change for the club. I love Manchester. When my love will be broken with Manchester, I will study the possibilities”.

United Sow The Seeds For Their Revival

It’s been a desperately disappointing first season for David Moyes at Manchester United; there’s no doubt about that.

Everyone knew that the first post-Sir Alex season would be a tough one to endure but it has to be said that is has been poorer than even the most pessimistic football betting pundits could have predicted.

FA Cup and Capital One Cup exits to the hands of teams struggling to avoid relegation to the Championship have been bad enough, but the prospect of a lowest league finish since 1990-91 remains very real.

The 2014-15 campaign could be the first without European football for 25 years but the recent news that Wayne Rooney has penned a lucrative new contract and will not now be joining Chelsea in the summer is welcome, while potential new recruits look mouth-watering.

After last summer’s disastrous recruitment campaign, United appear to be getting their work in early and the news that Borussia Dortmund star,IlkayGundogan, and Bayern Munich midfielder, Toni Kroos, could be moving to Old Trafford in the next few months is extremely heart-warming.

Kroos was outstanding in Bayern’s recent Champions League win at Arsenal while Gundogan is a great prospect, although he has been plagued by back injuries this season.

Real Madrid and Arsenal are also believed to be interested in Gundogan although United are currently the favourites to land him with Shinji Kagawa possibly moving in the opposite direction and returning to his former club.

According to the latest live football commentary, Kroosis expected to stay at Bayernbut United have been told that talks over a new deal for the midfielder to remain at the Allianz Arena have stalled.

Hopefully, in years to come, the 2013-14 season will be seen to have been a blip as United put in place foundations for their return to the summit of domestic and European club football.

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Manchester United Lead The Chase For Chelsea Target

There seems to be no end in sight for the drama surrounding the future of Southampton’s left-back Luke Shaw. Several big clubs all across Europe have indicated interest in signing the talented teenager. According to reports, three of such big names are Manchester United , Chelsea and Manchester City. 

 United’s captain Nemanja Vidic is set to leave the club at the end of this season, and Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra likely to follow suit, David Moyes is therefore searching for a suitable replacement for the departing players.

With Leighton Baines having signed a new contract extension with Everton, Moyes would have to get a left-back real quick. Signing Shaw would just be an ideal replacement for the departing French man.

Chelsea’s Coach Jose Mourinho is also looking for a long term replacement for Ashley Cole. With Ryan Bertrand on loan to Villa and Patrick van Aanholt out on loan too, the Portuguese is seeking for a long term solution for his defence worries.

Manchester City too looks to the player to help them in their left-back position. With Clichy not been able to pin down a regular shirt, Manuel Pellegrini sees Shaw as a part of his plan for next season.

There are reports that United have placed a bid of £22.5 million for the player. But with big spending City and Chelsea also showing keen interest in signing the player, it is doubtful if the amount United is offering would be enough to bring the player down to Old Trafford next season.

The board of Southampton had told their fans that Luke Shaw and several other of their key players are not going to be sold during the summer transfer window. But with the amount of money likely to be offered by these clubs, would he really be able to hold back?

Wayne Rooney Agrees New Contract With Manchester United

Manchester United’s striker Wayne Rooney has signed a new five year contract with the club that would see him earning a whopping £300,000 per week. This new deal would keep the striker at United till 2019 when he turns 33.

All seemed set for Wayne Rooney to leave Manchester United at the end of last season under former coach Sir Alex Ferguson. He was the prime target of west London club Chelsea who had more than one bid for the prolific striker turned down by United.

But under his former coach at Everton David Moyes, Rooney had agreed to stay and was once again, a key figure in United’s squad where he so far scored nine goals and assisted in nine more.

This new development is a major boost for David Moyes in what is gradually turning out to be a very difficult first season for the Scot following the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Of his new contract with United, the striker said;

"I am made up to be staying at United," Rooney told the club website. "In August I will have been at the club for 10 years and during that time I have played with some fantastic players and won everything that I hoped I would when I first signed. I now have the chance as one of the club's senior players to help the younger players coming through and to be a part of another great United team.

"The fans have always been a huge part of this club and the support they have given me since my debut against Fenerbahce has been amazing. I am very grateful to all United fans around the world for their continued support.

Wayne Rooney has scored a total of 208 goals in 430 match appearances for Manchester United. He is just 42 goals shy of surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 247 goals in 754 league games. He looks certain to surpass that record should he stay with the club till the end of his new contract.

Now that the drama surrounding Rooney’s future has been laid to rest, David Moyes and United should now settle down to the urgent business of getting the club back to its winning ways again.