Chicharito Two-Goal Show Puts Pressure on Berbatov

The Red Devils went into a crucial away match against Wigan, needing to put some distance between themselves and Arsenal. Considering that Manchester United are due to face Chelsea and then Liverpool, three points would be a comfortable cushion in Ferguson's eyes. United romped to a 4-0 win but the lineup raised some eyebrows with the exclusion of the Premiership's top scorer, Dimitar Berbatov.

Manchester United started with Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez as striking partners. In previous games, Ferguson left Berbatov out whenever he felt the need to go with a 4-5-1 formation. Against Wigan, Ferguson put out a more positive lineup and yet preferred Hernandez over the Bulgarian.

Dimitar Berbatov simply does not have Fergie's trust in big games.

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The D-Wreck Soccer Radio Show!

A fantastic blogger / interviewer, D-Wreck does some fantastic parodies on football personalities.
He comes up with some of the greatest football spoofs and I receive these interviews every week.

This is an interview he made up with Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and Rafa Benitez

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Sir Alex Ferguson's Most Logical Successor: Steve Bruce

When Steve Bruce ended his playing career, everyone seem to know that the next logical step for him was to have a career in club management. His no-nonsense and inspirational defender's display was supposed to provide a springboard for him to inspire, motivate and drive a club forwards as manager.

Even when other former players are finding the transition to club managers difficult, Steve Bruce has proven himself to be a very good Premiership-level manager. Over the past ten years, Bruce has been a proverbial managerial nomad. Constantly searching for the next big club to satisfy his desire to progress and augment his managerial resume. In moving, Bruce will feel that he is stepping up the ladder in the dream of finally managing a club capable of winning trophies and satisfying his burning desire to be the best. A desire borne from years of excellence in a Manchester United jersey.

He is a shrewd manager, with a good eye for talent. Wilson Palacios, Amr Zaki and Antonio Valencia are talented footballers who were unknown but shot to prominence through Bruce's tutelage. Not afraid to reprimand his players, Bruce can also be counted upon to defend his players when the need arises.

Moving to Sunderland means that Bruce has the money (since Sunderland has new owners this season) and the club facilities (training, medical etc) to try and push for a European spot. On the evidence of Sunderland's progress this season, they looked promising. Darren Bent and Kenwyne Jones have started the season very well, both sharing the scoring duties even in penalty taking. Bruce has bought well, bringing in ex-Marseille captain Lorik Cana, Michael Turner and Lee Cattermole, all proven players. Sunderland is enjoying their best start to a season and Steve Bruce should take credit for that.

Apart from the dour affair dished up in Birmingham, his teams have all been hard to beat and they play with wingers displaying an expansive style of football which continue to be the hallmark of the Fergie era.

His inside knowledge of the United dressing room means that he will not be overawed and his overall understanding of the history and heritage of Manchester United makes him the most ideal ex-United player to replace Sir Alex Ferguson when the great man steps down.

From Sheffield United to Sunderland and perhaps finally Manchester United, Steve Bruce could reach the pinnacle of his career as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor. That will definitely keep the United traditions ticking along nicely. The trophies, too could quite possibly continue to pile up at Old Trafford.

Posts about Managers:
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Top 10 Values Michael Owen Brings To Manchester United

Rob Lee in The Guardian has this to say about the shock signing of Owen by Manchester United.

Michael Owen's arrival at Manchester United represents the latest act of "genius" on Sir Alex Ferguson's part. That is Rob Lee's view of the most unexpected transfer this summer and Owen's former England team-mate is far from alone in that view.

Lee, who has watched many of Owen's recent struggles in a Newcastle United shirt, is as well placed as anyone to assess a move which has astonished much of the football world. "It's a piece of genius management," he said. "Getting Michael for free on what I'm sure will essentially be a pay-as-you-play basis is very, very, good business. It's no gamble." Even so Manchester United fans are largely underwhelmed at the prospect of Owen replacing Cristiano Ronaldo. "Of course Michael can't do what Ronaldo does," Lee added. "Ronaldo is the best in the world and as close as anyone to being indispensable but in one-on-one situations, Michael is a better finisher. Sir Alex has lost the player who got the bulk of United's goals, many of them great goals, but he is replacing him with someone capable of scoring once every two games."

So Sir Alex Ferguson couldn't resist the 32-page dossier of Michael Owen and "fell" for the gloss and dross in it. Or was he just snapping up the one that got away? Whatever it is, Michael Owen brings with him a lot of footballing and leadership values and these are probably what Sir Alex appreciates.


Top 10 Values Michael Owen Brings to Manchester United.

1. Experience - A veteran campaigner who has done it and seen it all.
2. Goals - A certainty for 15 goals per season.
3. Talismanic - Ryan Giggs and Scholesy are past it. Owen is also a big game player.
4. Injury Prone - Fergie have missed having someone to blame for unexpected losses.
5. Mentor - Someone to nurture and improve the prodigious talents of Wellbeck and Macheda.
6. Impact from the bench - Without Tevez, the bench looks a bit thin. Owen improves it.
7. Free transfer - United's crippling debt makes this a shrewd investment.
8. Tactical Change - Fergie looks to a possible 4-3-1-2 formation with Berbatov in the hole.
9. Fox in the Box - The ideal replacement for Ruud Van Nistelrooy who is missed till today.
10. Desire - It's the World Cup year, need we say more?

As he has done throughout his career, Michael Owen has again set a new trend - one where all a footballer need to find a club is a glossed up player brochure. Beware EPL managers, Adebayor is terrorizing the transfer market with his version!