Nominees Manchester United February Player Of The Month

Manchester United have announced the nominees for their February player of the month award. Club legend and former left-back Arthur Albiston has had his say on the trio that got nominated for the customary player of the month award. Newly joined Spaniard Juan Mata got himself straight into the final list of three candidates that have a chance to claim the honor.

Patrice Evra

Patrice Evra has often been heavily criticized this season and the last for not contributing defensively as much as we'd have liked him to. His best days are well behind him and without a proper alternative Manchester United was often resorted to playing him through his rough patch. February has somewhat been kind to him and the team, with Patrice playing a major role in the club's 0-2 win over Crystal Palace winning a penalty plus an assist to Rooney's goal and a good point against Arsenal. A customary 1-year contract extension is on the cards as Manchester United would lose tons of experience in Vidic and Rio next season. Here, Paddy Evra finds himself among the last three names eligible to pick up an award as a token of appreciation.

Juan Mata

It's just been a month and a half since he landed at Carrington and Mata's already notched up 3 assists in 4 games and is all set to claim the award which should be his first of many. Though he's been played down the right or left every game which is not his favorite position, he's made the most of his first team chances that were limited at his previous club. He's still finding his feet at Old Trafford and once settled, he might well provide the creative spark the team desperately craves for, in the club's upcoming crunch ties against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City in march which could decide their league position.

Nemanja Vidic

Skipper Nemanja Vidic is playing his last season with Manchester United. He is 33 and having secured a move to Inter on a free transfer, his mind is probably in Italy now. He is not getting any younger and surely is past his prime. Yet he has been the best Center back for the club in the last 30 days. Work that out. Manchester United will miss his leadership qualities on the pitch coupled with his excellent tackling and aerial ability. His towering presence can unsettle any striker on earth and on his day he is as good as any central defender in the planet. His solid performances at the heart of United's defence, at Selhurst Park and The Emirates are enough to justify his presence among the last three.

You can vote for the deserving player here by clicking this link - http://www.manutd.com/en/Fanzone/Competition-And-Polls/Competition.aspx?id={36510C2F-0F23-4AC5-9B3C-D285374649FA}


The poll closes on the 3rd of March, 2014.

Click on the button below to follow me on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook. If you would like to leave a comment on this article, please do so below. Follow @soccerfanbase

Chicharito Clears The Air

Right after the disappointing defeat to Olympiakos, Robin Van Persie was quite vocal, expressing his dejection through a controversial interview with Dutch Channel, NOS. He seemed to have said something along the lines of him not satisfied with his teammates' input on the field and the way their teammates make it tough for him to play to his fullest potential. He reportedly said;

“Sometimes I try to find ways to do more but in the areas I wanted to play, my team-mates were often there. This makes it difficult for me. Then I have to change my tactics to suit my team-mates, and play outside my zone. It’s a pity. We played too slow and could therefore create little. I rushed that shot. That’s a shame because I don’t get a lot of chances so when you get one, you have to score.”

Van Persie missed a sitter himself in a game that was arguably United's worst of a rather disastrous season, in terms of performance all-round. The lack of urgency in the midfield was there for all to see and it affected the team so much, to an extent that they had only one shot on target the entire 90 minutes, having largely dominated the possession.

Following the interview, fellow striker Chicharito, posted a picture of him with Paddy Evra on instagram with a caption that read,

“Without your teammates you can’t be somebody in football, always be thankful.”

The journalists as usual came up with their own versions of the apparent jibe at Van Persie which was denied by Chicharito today, via twitter. He tweeted a message that read;

Before I go to sleep, I need to put this cause things get a little out of context…

Chicharito Hernandez ( @CH14_) 11:41 PM - 27 Feb 2014 

Why do the press always take comments out of context, my comment on Instagram had nothing to do with RVP. We are great teammates working for.

 Chicharito Hernandez ( @CH14_) 11:41 PM - 27 Feb 2014.

the same goal, the TEAM! & Cause the team isn’t doing as well as we’d like everyone just wants to make everything look like a bad thing!

 Chicharito Hernandez ( @CH14_) 11:41 PM - 27 Feb 2014.

Thereby Chicharito has cleared the air, denying any kind of a dig taken at Van Persie and his comments. One thing though, is evident from the incident which was even mentioned by the little Mexican. If you're poor on the pitch you will have to face the consequences off it.

Click on the button below to follow me on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook. If you would like to leave a comment on this article, please do so below.  Follow @soccerfanbase

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.

Click on the button below to follow me on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook. If you would like to leave a comment on this article, please do so below. Follow @soccerfanbase 

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?