Rio Perfect Captain Material, Says Albiston

It has long been the topic of debate for football pundits and fans alike as to who will take over Roy Keane´s midfield mantle once the Irishman finally hangs up his boots.

But the other question on many United fans´ lips is who will succeed Keane as captain of the team.

Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have ably stepped into the role on numerous occasions in the past, but in Rio Ferdinand, it seems, Sir Alex Ferguson may well have found Keane´s true eventual successor.

The 26-year-old defender has been a revelation since his return to the side from his eight-month suspension. And in that time he has also proved himself to be more than capable of leading from the front as captain in Keane´s absence.

His first match as captain - and only his third game back since his eight-month suspension - ended in triumph as United stormed to a 6-2 victory over Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

Afterwards Rio revealed his pride at skippering the Reds, saying: " It was an unbelievable feeling.

" To become captain having only been back for a week was a great feeling for me. To walk out down the tunnel at Old Trafford as captain was fantastic."

Rio has gone on to lead the team in the morale-boosting victory over Arsenal, as well as the disappointing defeat at Portsmouth.

Ex-United full-back Arthur Albiston has been hugely impressed by Ferdinand´s leadership qualities and believes wearing the armband will only help to enhance his reputation as one of the world´s best defenders.

" It´s a good move by the manager to give Rio the armband," Arthur told MU.tv in an exclusive interview.

" Even if you´re not the most talkative person it helps to make you that way and Rio´s started talking a bit more.

" He´s started shouting and organising people at the back. Since he´s been out he´s probably felt more part of the club as a whole and he´s also been able to sit back and look at the team.

" A lot of people seem to forget that he was out of the side for eight months, but he´s done really well since he´s come back into it.

" He´s a big lad and a world class player and I think he´ll only get better as the season goes on," adds Albiston.

Pour Emre on parlait du mercato mais à priori ça se ferait plutôt en fin de saison. Le Milan serait dessus, mais Emre préférerait l´Angleterre...Avec l´argent que nous doit la Lazio on aura les moyens, reste à savoir si on le veut vraiment.

Il a que 24 ans, est trés combatif, assez technique, ça pourrait pas être une mauvaise recrue...

Bolton Wanderers est 5ème. ç nous qui serons en Champions League à votre place vous verez.

L´arogance est souvent mauvaise conseillére ^^

bon ben l´attaque rooney ruud a l´ai de prendre forme , dommage pour saha . .

toujours ce probléme de millieu par contre . .

bon le prochain match c´est 3 points ou rien d´autre . .

il faut étre européen . .

l´inter refuse de vendre emra a milan . .

mais je ne suis toujours pas persuadé de la valeur ajouté de ce joueur a MU

De toute facon on a pas tellement le choix, on a absolument besoin d´un ailier gauche et c´est peut etre le meilleur rapport qualite/prix du marche. Vu qu´on a plus de tune, ya pas tellement le choix.

vdv , solari , schneider . ..

les choix ne manquent pas non plus . .

Man Utd to ask Middlesbrough for Downing in Giggs deal

A swap could be on between Manchester United and Middlesbrough centring on winger Ryan Giggs.

After the Welshman rejected a new, one-year contract offer from United last week, his future at Old Trafford is suddenly being questioned.

Giggs is being linked with a move away from Old Trafford in January and the Sunday Mirror says Middlesbrough could be persuaded to include Stewart Downing in a deal for the 30 year-old.

Emre est un bon joueur , jeune et combattif mais est tres peu souvent titulaire a l´inter du fait qu´il y a beaucoup de concurrence au poste de milieu

Personnellement, Solari qui approche la trentaine ca me ferait pas super plaisir de l´avoir. Dans 2 ou 3 ans, il sera a la ramasse cmme Figo en ce moment. Van der vaart, c´est sur ce serait une possibilité.

Mais bon si Solari doit servir dailier gauche en en attendant un assez jeune et doué, je dirais pas non, au contraire.

Que pensez vous de Bolton cette saison ? pas mal nest-ce pas ?

Emre ça me parait pas trop mal, Downing pourquoi pas mais ça me ferait mal que Giggs soit obligé de partir pour qu´il vienne ^^

Pour moi, je voudrais bien Kieron Dyer et Damien Duff.

je suis ok pour downing mais pas contre giggs . .

jamais .

a coté de ca si giggs ne veut pas resigner va falloir faire quelque chose aussi

American billionaire Malcolm Glazer is reportedly sharpening his claws ready for another grab at Manchester United.

It appeared last Friday that the US sports tycoon had been thwarted in his bid to take over United when he was dropped by bankers JP Morgan.

However, fresh claims suggest Glazer has turned to Germany´s Deutsche Bank to support his buy-out.

City experts say the move " could have legs" and United are now awaiting developments just days after Glazer used his 28.11% voting power to oust three of the club´s directors from the plc board.

It is understood Glazer had reached agreement with Coolmore-based horseracing duo JP McManus and John Magnier to buy out the majority shareholding registered in the name of their company Cubic Expression, before the JP Morgan blow.

If he does get the backing of Germany´s major bank to support a total takeover, and the Irish duo sell, there will be little United´s other shareholders could do to prevent Old Trafford falling into Glazer´s hands.

< <<< la il commence a etre lourd glazer

esperons que la germany banks va aussi le renvoyer boulet . ..

sinon c´est presque certains que les irlandais a la con vont vendre . ..

et la on est mal . ..

Peter Taylor believes Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing was ´very close´ to receiving a full England call-up for the friendly with Spain.

Downing missed out this time and will instead travel to Madrid with his fellow under-21 players, despite calls for his inclusion in Sven Goran Eriksson´s party.

And former Leicester manager Taylor, currently in charge of Hull, is more than happy to have Downing in his squad for the match at the Estadio Municipal et Val.

" I spoke to Sven about it [Downing] because I have have to speak to him, as I´m going to name my squad earlier than he names his," said Taylor.

" I know he [Downing] was very, very close because I think Stewart is in tremendous form for his club.

" The way he played against Lazio [in the UEFA Cup] and the way he played on Sunday against West Brom shows he is in top form.

" But playing Spain away is a different game for the team. When you select someone for the senior squad you don´t want someone going in there and not playing with confidence. It´s a very tough decision.

" If you just picked anybody who had been playing well for their clubs you would be changing your team every two seconds.

" I have got no doubt he will eventually get the call if he keeps playing the way he is. Steve McLaren would know him inside out so I´m sure he would be talking to the manager.

" Stewart´s got a wonderful left foot, one of the best left feet I´ve ever worked with and he is in great form, scoring and making goals."

< <<< comme c´est peut étre notre nouveau joueur

Pourquoi pas Downing alors ^^

On aura peut-être le duo de Borough Downing/Schwarzer pour pas grand chose...

Reyes blasts United stars

Jose Antonio Reyes has branded Manchester United´s English defenders as ´filthy´.

Reyes received some tough treatment at Old Trafford when Arsenal played United last month, and fears he may get more of the same in Madrid on Wednesday.

The likes of Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand could come up against Reyes again when Spain host England, and Reyes knows he could get a rough ride.

" They were filthy in the United game and if there was kicking going on in another game, it would be very suspicious," said Reyes.

" I hope Ferdinand and Neville have forgotten the Arsenal game and that they don´t kick me as much as they did in Manchester.

" In all my life I have never received so many kicks as in Manchester. It was the hardest match I´ve played in England and the ref should have stopped the violence of United´s players.

" I received more blows in that match than I have ever done in the Spanish League and I finished on the ground covered in bruises.

" The England game won´t be very friendly - and it won´t be easy.

" Their team is hard, it almost always plays to its limits and it has excellent footballers.

" The England defenders are experienced and their attack will give us a lot of work to do. I know the English style but our manager knows the best way to play against England.

" And let us make one thing clear: Spain wants to win this match."