Sir Alex Ferguson claims his Manchester United successor must have experience in order to cope with major issues like the Wayne Rooney saga.
Ferguson is widely credited with playing a decisive role in persuading Rooney to change his mind and sign a new five-year contract last week.
The England striker appeared to be on his way out of Old Trafford after citing the club's lack of ambition.
The veteran Scot put the issue into the public domain during an impassioned press conference and Rooney subsequently signed a new deal following an apparent change of heart.
The 69-year-old went on to criticise "difficult" agents and has now followed that up by stressing the need for a club like United to have an experienced hand on the tiller.
"I don't think it's harder for managers to deal with – I've just got the benefit of having been at the club for such a long time," he explained.
"I have experienced a lot of things that do happen and there have been times in the past when I have gone down the same road.
"When you are the manager of our club, you have to have someone strong who can deal with all the issues and we have had to be strong over the years.
"That's why I don't think Manchester United could ever go down the road of having a young manager, to be honest with you.
"It's a job that needs a lot of experience and a lot of experience at the top end of the game.
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"That's something for the future, but at the moment we have the benefit of my 24 years at the club, so fortunately that's the way we can deal with it.
"At Manchester United, you can never be surprised. There is always something happening in the club and there are always issues to deal with.
"I don't think you can deny that we got a lot of publicity that we didn't enjoy last week, but you have to deal with these situations and I think we dealt with it very well."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Aleksandr Kerzhakov has conceded that despite Liverpool’s reported interest, he is unsure whether he wants to leave Zenit.
The Zenit St Petersburg has been in fantastic form this season, scoring 13 goals in 25 games, and has been linked with a plethora of clubs around Europe in the past 12 months.
Liverpool is one of those reportedly keen on the 27-year-old striker, as Roy Hodgson looks to bolster his attacking options, but Kerzhakov has conceded that he remains happy with life in Russia and there are only a few clubs in the world that could tempt him to quit Zenit.
“The talk about Liverpool is not baseless…The British club came to my agent with a proposal. I answered… I didn’t answer at all.
“I have other things to think about and in all respects I am happy in Russia. My team is in first place in the national championship and I have always said that I wanted to play for Zenit.
“In the case of Liverpool I will not take the initiative, but I can count the fingers on one hand for the amount of clubs I could theoretically go to.
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“This is because Zenit is playing beautiful, modern football and the club is growing rapidly. And I am here, at home.”Rossiyskaya Gazeta
Yes, Christmas is finally here. Well, not really, but we have already entered the festive period and whilst many are counting down to the 25th of December and the New Year, most football fans are counting down to the opening of the winter transfer window! I don’t normally get excited about January transfer windows since they are usually low-key for us, our last major January signings being Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic for a total fee of £12.5m but for those who have experienced the Football Manager revolution, it can be fun to speculate on squad changes! Here are some thoughts in bullet points:
1. Replacing the old guard: You might have noticed that we have a fair few oldies in our squad who will be most probably retire in a year or two. I think we are well covered for Gary Neville (who hasn’t really been indispensable recently) with Rafael finally showing some kind of consistency. I still hope De Laet has a future at United, given his versatility and promise. Yesterday I read Giggs hinting about this season being his last and we could see problems in ‘replacing’ Giggs and Scholes. We do have Anderson at the moment, but unless Gibson gets more chances, I don’t think we would have enough options in midfield once the Ginger Prince leaves. I am more worried about our left wing. Park is an able winger, but he is more dangerous when he ventures infield and as for Obertan, he also looks better just behind the striker. We are crying out for a natural left-winger. If only Adam Johnson was really unhappy at Eastlands…
2. VDS defying Father Time: Van Der Sar has been a mainstay of the United side for some time now and as he recently turned 40 and with Fergie effectively saying that this season could be his last, we need some changes in the goalkeeping department. With Lindegaard joining us in January, speculation about incoming goalkeepers refuses to go away. We could potentially have an unhappy Kuszczak on our hands too who despite his less than stellar performance against West Ham during the week, I still value and I would be gutted if he didn’t get a crack at the No.1 spot.
If he does leave, I would rather have someone with more experience than Lindegaard. If we are planning to throw cash at this, instead of a young De Gea who admittedly is a tremendous talent, I would rather go for Lloris or even Buffon! Akinfeev looks good too and very experienced for his young age but I don’t know if how long he might take to settle down in North West England.
3. Creative attacking midfielder™: United have been in need of a creative attacking midfielder for years. I don’t remember us ever having a creative attacking midfielder in the last 10 years, not in the mould of the ones we have been linked to. Scholes has been very creative for us, but he likes to lie deep and occasionally venture in the area for a goal or two. Fans and the press have been talking about Sneijder, Ozil and Van Der Vaart who I think would definitely improve our side, but we are not a team who just buy players who would theoretically make us have a stronger starting XI, so we need to think about what exactly we need and what we could realistically acquire.
I, for one, don’t think we are screaming for a creative attacking midfielder we just need more options in the centre of midfield and I think Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is stalling over a new contract, would be an utterly brilliant acquisition… Even Ballack thinks so!
Continue to PAGE TWO for the final two points…
4. Defence review: Since some of our youngsters were ‘exposed’ in the Carling Cup, we are in a state of crisis and Jonny Evans is now officially the worst player in England or indeed the universe! I still think he has a future at United, although, on current form it really makes you think! Rio and Vidic have some more years left, so it is not critical to think about their replacements. Smalling looks like a good signing, one who is only going to improve and defeats like Tuesday’s are part of the learning process for our youngsters. Wes Brown is also around for to relieve Vida and Rio when need be. In the full-back positions, the Da Silva twins are finally getting more games and the only way is up for them. Evra will be dominating that left-back position for another 3-4 years I reckon and John O’Shea is an option on either side so no big upheavals expected or required in defence.
5. Youth: Now, we might not need to replace or revamp any of the above players or areas if we can find someone in our youth and reserves sides to help us out! At the moment, apart from Rafael, Welbeck seems to be our brightest young talent. He is having a great season at Sunderland, playing Premier League football week in week out. My only worry is that we do not actually need strikers at the moment, and the only way he could come back to United would be if we sell 1-2 of our current attackers. Even then, he will be on the bench. The fact that he is increasing his price tag might sadly mean that we could be tempted to sell him off for a nice profit. Cleverley is another one to look out for finally getting some games at Wigan. He might provide further options in midfield for us, for free! We also have loads of burgeoning talent in the form of Eikrem, Morrison etc, but it may be a while before any break into the first team.
Finally a word about Macheda who doesn’t seem to be lighting up Old Trafford according to some. I would preach patience, he can still succeed at United and hopefully he gets to play with a partner rather than on his own when he is reduced to holding the ball up and passing it back to a midfielder!
What are your thoughts regarding potential squad changes in January and beyond?
Written by Yashi
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What on earth is going on at Chelsea at the moment? After last night’s 1-0 defeat to Wolves at Molineux, the Blues sit 5th in the Premier League table, outside of the Champions League qualification places. Chelsea have won just once in their last 9 Premiership fixtures, and that was a less than convincing victory over Bolton at Stamford Bridge. There seems to be no escape from the current dreadful run of form that Carlo Ancelotti’s men find themselves in, but ultimately who is responsible for the mess that Chelsea are in?
There are a few people that you can direct the blame towards here. The firing of Ray Wilkins still seems like a strange decision and Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich has to take the wrap on that one. Unsurprisingly Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is under extreme pressure right now, and less than positive post-match press conferences from the Italian in which he seems to have already given up on the Premier League title will not please the fans. Then there’s the players, with the likes of Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda simply not reaching the levels of performance they did last season. So who do you think is to blame for Chelsea’s current predicament and is there a way forward out of this mess?
Throughout a season where it seems every other club has been immersed in one crisis or another, both Stoke and Bolton have made serene progress.
Tony Pulis has defended his striker Tuncay, after the Turkish forward posted a video on Facebook displaying some of his best goals. Pulis has been one manager not to ban social networking sites amongst his squad, conceding that any ban would be unworkable.
Bolton have not cashed in on the poor run of form befalling several of the clubs around them. The Trotters have lost two of their last three league games and needed two late goals to see of non-league York in the FA Cup.
With both sides almost certain to avoid relegation, and barring a stunning run of form highly unlikely to grab a European slot, both managers may find themselves focusing on the FA Cup in the coming months. A draw here would keep both well out of the battle engulfing the bottom half of the division.
Tottenham managed to snatch a point at the death against Newcastle at St James’ Park today thanks to an injury time equaliser from Aaron Lennon. Harry Redknapp will feel that Spurs deserved something from the match due to the amount of play they had and will be relieved to have got just that.
In a tight first half, in which Gareth Bale went off early with a back injury, Jermain Defoe had Tottenham’s best chance. Spurs fell behind 15 minutes into the second half to a Fabricio Coloccini shot that goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who started in place of the injured Heurelho Gomes, could have done better with. The Italian later redeemed himself with a couple of fine saves as Spurs pressed and left themselves exposed at the back, with Luka Modric hitting the bar before Lennon netted the late equaliser.
So what were the FIVE things we learnt about Tottenham today?
A Lionel Messi hat-trick guided Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday, moving them 10 points clear on top of La Liga.
In the process, Barca notched up their 16th consecutive league win, breaking Real Madrid’s record of 15 – a mark that had stood for 50 years.
After being rested from Barca’s 3-0 Copa del Rey win over Almeria in midweek, Messi was simply unstoppable at the Nou Camp and the 23-year-old opened the scoring on 17 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the box before firing home a second from close range 11 minutes later.
He completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from full-time as Barca continued their march towards a third successive title.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Villarreal failed to make up any ground on second-placed Real Madrid when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to relegation battlers Levante, with midfielder Valdo scoring the only goal of the game three minutes after half-time.
Villarreal remain third despite the defeat, three points behind Real Madrid who take on Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Almeria caused another surprise when they enjoyed a 3-2 home win over Espanyol, who fell to sixth.
The hosts raced to a 3-0 lead after just 18 minutes thanks to goals from Silva Marcelo Henrique, Kala Uche and Hernan Bernardello, but a 34th-minute goal from Verdu and another from Alvaro Vasquez four minutes after half-time put some spice back in the contest.
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Athletic Bilbao climbed to fifth with a 3-0 home win over Sporting Gijon thanks to goals from David Lopez, Gaizka Toquero and Fernando Llorente, while Getafe moved to eighth after an Adrian Colunga brace helped them to a 4-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna.
Osasuna and Mallorca played out a 1-1 draw, as did Real Zaragoza and Racing Santander.
League leaders Lille lost just their third match of the season after going down 1-0 to Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Sunday.Younes Balhanda netted the winner for the hosts at Stade de la Mosson in the 84th minute to hand Rudi Garcia’s side their first league defeat since October.Despite the result, Lille remain in first place, but are now just two points clear of second-placed Stade Rennes after they won 2-1 on their trip to Toulouse.Yann M’Vila put Rennes ahead on the stroke of half-time, but Toulouse were level at the Stadium Municipal when defender Kevin Theophile Catherine had the final touch into his own net in the 61st minute.There was late drama, however, when Toulouse goalkeeper Marc Vidal gave away a penalty, but was injured in the foul and was stretchered off the ground for the resultant spot-kick.Ali Ahamada came on to stand in-between the posts, but he could not keep out Victor Montano’s penaty as Rennes secured a thrilling victory.Paris Saint-Germain moved level on points with fourth-placed Lyon courtesy of a 3-0 away win over Nice.Ludovic Giuly, Guillaume Hoarau and Sylvain Armand all netted for the victors at Stade Municipal du Ray in what was PSG’s first win in three matches.
Inter coach Leonardo is refusing to contemplate the prospect of elimination ahead of the Champions League second leg against Bayern Munich.Bayern host Inter in the return leg on Wednesday, in a rematch of last year’s final that saw the Italians, then coached by Jose Mourinho, end their four-decade long European trophy drought.Louis van Gaal’s side, who ended their domestic slump on the weekend by thrashing Hamburg 6-0, have the upper hand over the Italians thanks to Mario Gomez’s late goal at San Siro which gifted the Bavarians a vital 1-0 result.But despite the deficit, Leonardo has remained confident ahead of their meeting with the German champions.”I am not thinking about elimination, but you cannot promise anything in football,” the Brazilian said. “We will play with great optimism, knowing our strengths.””There is a great will because these games are finals which always stay inside you, and playing them is always a privilege.””To win it will be extraordinary.”Leonardo said his side, who were frustrated at Brescia on the weekend, would take the occasion into their stride.”Now is the time, and the players know it,” the 1994 World Cup medallist said. “It will be a great battle, and we will do everything to go through.””The players know these games are historic encounters and they are breathing the atmosphere.”The former Milan coach, who never tasted European glory as a player, is adamant Inter can turn things around in Bavaria, claiming he expects his side to overturn the deficit and reach the quarter finals.”The first leg could have been different in terms of the result, and so there will be no surprise if we win.””I am optimistic and I think we start off on the same level as them. I know the strengths of this group, and the spirit is a good one.”
Tottenham fans will still be grinning from ear to ear as the north Londoners find themselves in the last eight of the Champions League. It is a phenomenal achievement for a football club that have ultimately proved to be a breath of fresh air in the tournament.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Tottenham blogs that includes an ideal signing to beef up the Spurs attack; £9m well spent by Levy, while Defoe is too good to be warming the WHL bench.
We also look at the best Tottenham articles around the web this week.
*
The Tottenham WAG arena just got better
The Greatest Premier League XI of all time?
Has Harry highlighted the one flaw halting Tottenham’s progress?
Too good to be warming the Tottenham bench?
Caption Competition: Crouchy like you’ve never seen him before!
£9 million well spent by Tottenham?
Top TEN Tottenham Cult Heroes
Tottenham youth must wonder what hit them with THIS crazy crowd
The IDEAL signing to beef up the Tottenham attack?
Top TEN Premier League Free-Kick takers of all time
Rafinha welcomes Tottenham link
*Best of WEB*
Not a bad result at all really. – Spurs Musings From JimmyG2
Testing Testing – Tottenham On My Mind
Referendum for Spurs fans – Martin Cloake Online
This is beautiful – Dear Mr Levy
Friday Sermon With Keysy & Gray – Harry Hotspur
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