Ruud is here to stay
Title hero Ruud van Nistelrooy wants to be a Red for life. The Dutchman, who lead United to their eighth championship in 11 years with an incredible 43 goals, stated: " I can see myself staying here for the rest of my career. " I want to win everything possible and make history with United." When Sir Alex Ferguson stumped up £18m for Ruud van Nistelrooy in the summer of 2001, plenty of eyebrows were raised over whether it was a good idea to pay so much for a player who had spent the previous 12 months recuperating from a potential career-wrecking knee injury. Ferguson had negotiated the purchase of the then relatively unknown Dutchman in 2000, and stood by his man when he suffered soul- destroying cruciate ligament damage.
Neil Barker, Manchester Evening News

Reds´ Euro masterplan
Sir Alex Ferguson´s blueprint for tackling Real Madrid´s Euro dominance will be delivered to United chief executive Peter Kenyon next week. Kenyon will sit down after seven days of title celebrations and back Fergie´s plan for taking United onto the next stage. The Reds manager wants to bring cunning to United´s Champions League form in a bid to add to the two European Cups in 35 years, a tally Ferguson believes isn´t good enough for England´s most powerful force. " The expectations today are so enormous. We will enjoy this championship success for this week and then all the preparations will start for next season. That´s what will keep us ahead of the game," Kenyon said. " But I can assure you we are going to enjoy this week and I think we all deserve it.
Stuart Mathieson, Manchester Evening News

Reds to reward Fergie with new deal
Sir Alex Ferguson´s eighth Premiership title in 11 years will be rewarded with a new United contract in the summer - if he wants one. The Reds boss is only 15 months into the three-year deal he signed last February when he made his dramatic U-turn on retirement. But United could rip up that paperwork and thrash out a new extended contract for English football´s most successful boss. Indeed, Ferguson could follow the example of Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson and still be creating teams at Old Trafford beyond his 60s. Robson was 70 in February and has shown no signs of wanting to quit the St James´s Park hotseat. Ferguson, who is nine years Robson´s junior, has rediscovered his spark after reversing his decision to call it a day.
Stuart Mathieson, Mancheser Evening News

Defence is the key to United´s success
The strikers will grab the headlines and most of the plaudits for United´s title triumph, but this season´s success has been built upon solid foundations at the back. Ruud van Nistelrooy´s 43 goals have lit up the Reds´ season, Paul Scholes late bursts into the box have won countless points and Diego Forlan´s vital strikes against Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Southampton were crucila in securing the crown. These will be the abiding memories that live on in the minds of United fans long after the 2003 title win has become just another Rothman´s Yearbook statistic. And yet, cold, hard fact tells a different story. The truth of the matter is that for all van Nistelrooy´s record-breaking exploits, the Reds have - with one game left to play - scored FEWER goals this season than in any campaign since the inaugural Premiership title win in 1993. And that means that United´s defence, which has conceded 33 goals in the 37 games to date, can take a huge slice of the credit for the way in which the Gunners were overhauled in the second half of the season.
Stuart Brennan, Manchester Evening News

Gold Trafford
As Manchester United basked in the glory of clinching the Premiership title, it became clear that they will also be invincible in the next big contest – the race to sign the star names in the summer transfer market. Sir Alex Ferguson declared this year’s achievement, but immediately turned his attention to next season’s European Cup, and warned his players that they must improve if he is to include them in his drive to reclaim the trophy he won in 1999. United are increasingly keen to see Ferguson extend his stay at Old Trafford beyond the remaining two years of his contract and the manager wants to add at least two more next season’s Champions League, with a goalkeeper top of his list.
Ian Ladyman and Colin Young, Daily Mail

’Stupid’ Everton under fire as presentation row escalates
Manchester United will receive the Premiership trophy on the Goodison Park pitch on Sunday, whether their final-day opponents Everton like it or not. Everton were last night still insisting that the trophy would have to be presented before United go to Goodison, but Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore accused them of ‘acting stupidly’. Scudamore said: “We have obligations to our sponsors and to our television partners to which Everton put their name. There is no question. The trophy will be presented at Everton at some stage on Sunday afternoon.”
Steve Curry, Daily Mail

He just wouldn’t give up
He was supposed to be drawing on his pension by now and, according to those who have seen him play, working on a seriously flawed golf swing. Sir Alex Ferguson never knows when to quit, as Arsene Wenger has discovered to his cost. Manchester United’s manager postponed his retirement and put Wenger’s plans for domestic domination on hold. There were times when he seemed destined to fail, when one farewell season of disappointment was in danger of becoming two. But Ferguson and his United players have never quite mastered the concept of throwing in the towel, even when an Arsenal side that started the new season in the fashion they had finished the last appeared so superior.
Matt Lawton, Daily Mail

Campbell wary of United
Kevin Campbell believes Manchester United will still present a difficult last hurdle for Everton in their bid to clinch a Uefa Cup place, despite the champions having nothing to play for but pride at Goodison Park on Sunday. Striker Campbell said: “It’s going to be some game.”
Colin Wood, Daily Mail

Job for life
Manchester United are ready to offer manager Sir Alex Ferguson a contract for life after he master-minded their eighth Premiership title in 11 years. Sir Alex has two seasons left on his current deal, but United are confident he will agree to sign a new contract soon – and they will be happy to make it for as long as he wants to go on. The United boss admits he has enjoyed a new lease of life since reversing his decision to retire last summer and has indicated he now wants to go on beyond 2005.
Richard Tanner, Daily Express

Viduka cost United £750,000
Mark Viduka’s stunning late winner at Arsenal that secured Manchester United’s title came at a price for Old Trafford – an initial £750,000 and up to £4million. Express Sport can reveal United must stump up big money to Viduka’s hard-up Leeds as part of the financial small print in Rio Ferdinand’s £30million transfer from Elland Road to United last summer.
Harry Harris, Daily Express

Ruud makes a real name for himself
Once it was merely the most awkward tongue-twister of all the exotic foreign names drafted into English football. For one whole anxious, injured year, the words Ruud van Nistelrooy spelt out only a vague promise for Manchester United. One which could be tested only by the staking of a £19million gamble by Sir Alex Ferguson. As it turned out this remarkable Dutchman represents not only a right mouthful, but the biggest handful of goalscoring prowess the Premiership has known. He is the player around whom United might build another long, ruling dynasty.
John Dillon, Daily Express

£25 million – Real’s final offer for Becks
Manchester United have been offered a £25 million ‘take it or leave it’ deal for David Beckham by Spanish giants Real Madrid. Despite denying interest in the England captain on their club website, Madrid have let United know what they are prepared to pay for the 27-year-old superstar. That falls way short of United’s £40million evaluation of their prize asset. Madrid will keep United waiting until the summer before making any official approach.
Danny Fullbrook and Harry Harris, Daily Star

Mik is key to conquering Europe
With champagne spraying around his ears, Sir Alex Ferguson had already moved on to his next great challenge. How does the most dominated force in English football find they key to unlock Europe’s door for a second time? Manchester United were found wanting by classy Real Madrid last month and Fergie must find the ways and means to bridge that gap. Just remember; United made their worst start to a Premiership season yet and still won the title. Turning points in this incredible title race have been littered throughout this roller-coaster season. One which sticks out most in my mind is Mikael Silvestre playing in central defence.
Danny Fullbrook, Daily Star

A van of his word
Three years ago last month Sir Alex Ferguson made a phone call to a distraught Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman had just returned to Eindhoven after failing a medical at Manchester United. “The boy is devastated,” Ferguson told me then. “But I have told him he will be a Manchester United player one day.” Ferguson’s faith in the PSV striker was tested even further when van Nistelrooy collapsed in agony the very next day, his cruciate ligament snapped during training. But Ferguson’s belief never wavered.
Bill Thornton, Daily Star

Ouep, merci diE!!!
up au passage!

Me revoila ; -)

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

Bien le bonjour cher -MJ23 ^^

Enfin un pseudo qui fait rever....!

Ouais ^^

Trois joueurs se disputent le titre de meilleur buteur du championnat. Ruud Van Nistelrooy ( Manchester United) est en tête avec 24 réalisations, suivis par James Beattie ( Southampton) et Thierry Henry ( Arsenal) avec 23 buts.

RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDDDDD
^^

VAN NISTELROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY

Everton v Man Utd
Goodison Park - Sunday, 11 May, 2003
Kick Off: 1500 BST

Gary Naysmith returns to the Everton squad after a one-match suspension, but David Weir is still banned.

Striker Tomasz Radzinski is still unlikely to be risked as he recovers from a groin problem, so Wayne Rooney will continue up front.

Everton ( from): Wright, Hibbert, Stubbs, Yobo, Unsworth, Watson, Pembridge, Pistone, Gravesen, Gemmill, Ferguson, Carsley, Rooney, Campbell, Simonsen, Osman, Naysmith, Li Tie, Alexandersson.

Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to make a few changes to his title-winning Manchester United side.

Quinton Fortune needs one more appearance to earn a championship medal and can expect to be involved, as can Roy Carroll, who is in a similar position.

Diego Forlan and Phil Neville may be given their reward for some impressive early-season performances that kept United´s challenge alive, while Laurent Blanc can expect a farewell appearance after announcing his intention to retire in the summer.

Manchester United ( from): Barthez, Ricardo, Carroll, Brown, Ferdinand, Blanc, Silvestre, P Neville, O´Shea, Beckham, Veron, Butt, Scholes, Keane, Giggs, Stewart, Van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Forlan, Fortune, Fletcher, Richardson(il a 17ans et a gagne la Youth FA cup...).

=>22 joueurs, il va y avoir des sacrifies....

United timed their late Championship charge to perfection. Spurred on by failing to go the distance in the Champions League, Sir Alex Ferguson´s side have won 18 of 23 League games, won 14 and drawn 3 of the last 17 to build the longest unbeaten sequence in the top flight this season. They have not been beaten in eight League games on the road ( 6 wins, 2 draws) and their tally of 24 Premiership victories so far will not be beaten. They have suffered fewer Premiership defeats than any other club ( 5) and boast the meanest defence ( 33 goals conceded in 37 games). United go to Goodison on a six match undefeated League and Cup run ( 5 wins, 1 draw) and on a four match winning sequence ( three in the Premiership, one in the Champions League).

Manchester United have been crowned champions of England for the 15th time - three short of Liverpool´s all-time record. It is their 32nd major honour, figuring alongside two Champions Cups, one Cup Winners´ Cup, one European Fairs Cup, one Super Cup, one Inter-Continental Cup, ten FA Cups and one League Cup.

=>Ryan Giggs has equalled the record of three former Liverpool players who earned eight Championship medals; Phil Neal, Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen. Dalglish went on to collect a ninth as manager of Blackburn Rovers, when they lifted the Premiership trophy in 1995.

=>Ruud van Nistelrooy is in line to claim the Barclaycard Golden Boot. His third hat trick of the season ( against Charlton last Saturday) shot him past Thierry Henry and James Beattie to the top of the Premiership Top Scorers table with 24 goals. " Van the Man" has already netted 43 times for his club this season and his 79 goals in 100 games for United since arriving at Old Trafford at the beginning of last season, includes four Premiership hat tricks. The Dutch scoring ace is just three goals shy of the all-time Manchester United single-season goal record set by Dennis Law. If he nets in this game Van Nistelrooy will equal the best Premiership scoring streak of eight successive matches - a record he himself holds from last season.(esperons qu´il en mettra 3 alors....^^)

=>The least points United have registered to win the Premiership since it was reduced to 20 teams was 75 in 1996/97 and the most was 91 in 1999/2000. This season the they have already secured the crown with 80 points, and of course could achieve a maximum of 83.

=>Manchester United will bank £9,943,620 from the end-of-season bonus bonanza for finishing top of the pile.

Potential Career Milestones

If he plays, Nicky BUTT will be making his 250th League appearance - all for Man U.

If named in the eleven, John O´SHEA will be making his 50th start for the Red Devils.

If he plays, Ole Gunner SOLSKJAER will be making his 200th League appearance for United

MANCHESTER UNITED

Sequences

WON LAST 4 - 3 Prem, 1 CL
UNDEFEATED IN 6 - 5 Prem, 1 CL [5 wins, 1 draw]
17 UNBEATEN IN THE PREMIERSHIP [14 wins, 3 draws]
COMPLETED 8 AWAY LEAGUE GAMES WITHOUT DEFEAT [6 wins, 2 draws]
SCORED IN EACH OF LAST 9 - 7 Prem, 2 CL
SCORED IN EACH OF LAST 18 LEAGUE GAMES

Recent Form

17 wins in last 25 League and Cup games
Won 18 of last 23 Premiership matches
Drawn 1 of last 11 in all competitions
1 draw in last 9 top flight encounters
Lost 1 of last 9 confrontations
2 defeats in last 24 top division duels
Failed to score in 1 of last 13 contests
Failed to find the net in 1 of last 31 League clashes
1 clean sheet in last 7
Managed 4 clean sheets in last 8 top tier League outings

=>une vague de news en passant ^^

Split loyalties for Ferguson

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson refuses to consider whether Ruud van Nistelrooy can become as good as Denis Law - it would be too much like betraying an old hero. Ferguson has tagged van Nistelrooy the best striker in the world and knows if the flying Dutchman could score his fourth hat-trick of the season against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, he would equal Law´s club record of 46 goals in a single campaign. " I honestly didn´t know about the record until two or three weeks ago," Ferguson told www.manutd.com. " I´ll reserve my judgement on whether Ruud can be better than Denis."
( "Times Online")

M.U. donne gagnant a 29/20 ^^^(le nul a 13/5)...

=>"Seba silences his critics"

Juan Seba Veron feels that winning the 2002/03 Premiership title will stop the media from doubting his contribution to English football.

The Argentine midfield has been pilloried in the press since arriving from Lazio two seasons ago. A trophyless 2001/02 didn´t help - but getting his hands on the title this time around should stop the sniping, he says.

" Winning the championship is personal revenge for me," said Seba.

" To become the first Argentinian to win the Premiership is a vindication and fills me with enormous pride. People said I was a loser, that I hadn´t won anything - but this time I have had the last word. I had the chance to answer the criticism on the pitch and nothing compares to this moment in a sporting sense.

" My Argentine team-mates have called from across Europe to congratulate me in the last couple of days. Claudio Lopez, Kily Gonzalez, Hernan Crespo and Martin Palermo have all phoned. So have many journalists and relatives.

" And more than anything I am happy for them. I am delighted for the people I have worked with and were always alongside me during the difficult times. A part of this title is for them."

Veron says the excitement of the Championship run-in captured his imagination, but he was surprised at the way the fans reacted to the tremendous Reds comeback.

" I was watching the Arsenal versus Leeds game on Sunday on my own. I was locked away and perspiring so much it was as if I was actually playing in the game myself. When Viduka scored I shouted out loud for about 30 seconds. He might have injured my knee but he also handed us the championship, so everything is forgiven," he revealed.

" We stayed strong because we had an obligation to win something after finishing last season without a trophy. We have responded brilliantly. Even when the title race was becoming tighter, the people in Manchester were always calm. The passion isn´t the same as it is in Argentina. People were most happy in the bars."

" It was the same for the team. We all went out to eat at a restaurant because winning the league on Sunday wasn´t something we expected. It was just something we shared between ourselves."

Report by Simon Davies.

=>news sur les gardiens.......

Come in number one

STEP UP? Roy Carroll

WITH Fabien Barthez adding one too many notches to his corrugated bedpost of errors, Manchester United look set to splash out on a new ´keeper in the summer. ManchesterOnline´s Jon Barbuti takes a look at the contenders to be the Reds´ new number one.

Roy Carroll – Bought as one for the future, Carroll’s time could be now if Fergie decides the 25-year-old has progressed enough to be handed the hailed Old Trafford number one shirt.

Rated as the best young ‘keeper in the Nationwide League when snapped up from Wigan, he is now at a stage in his career where he must either step up to the next level, move on, or become the new Rai van der Gouw. His fate, though, is somewhat out of his own hands. If Fergie splashes the cash, then his steady form this season will not be enough to save him from a spell in the stiffs.

FROM ELLAND BACK: Paul Robinson

Paul Robinson – A spell house-hunting in London was seen as evidence of a future move to Arsenal, but United could wreck the Gunners’ plans by making a move for England’s future number one.

With the Leeds jumble sale set to rumble on until everyone bar the janitor, tea lady and Paul Okon is sold off, Robinson looks set to leave for a fraction of his true value. United, who might feel they spent over the odds for former Elland Roader Rio Ferdinand, could feel it’s their duty to cash in on their rivals’ discomfort.

TIP TO SIGN: Recber

Rustu Recber – Though heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, Recber might be a bit close to the current incumbent Barthez for Fergie’s liking.

Recber has two types of performance. The blinder where he flies to keep every shot out, defending his goal like a gazelle on a trampoline, or the ‘mare, of which the less said, the better. Having splashed out £7.8 million on a ‘keeper with the same traits, the United boss might go for someone a bit more reliable such as…

CALM BEFORE THE STORM: David James

David James – Only joking about the reliability. The most frustrating ‘keeper in England, James would be unlikely to move to a club where every error, and we all know they’d be plenty of them, would be splashed mercilessly over the back pages.

James could and probably should be England’s number one. He’s imposing, a brilliant shot stopper and can be commanding on crosses, it’s just a shame about those moments of madness.

DIVING IN: Antti Niemi

Antti Niemi – Brad Friedel’s main rival for the crown of Premiership ‘keeper of the year, Niemi has been the backbone to an outstanding season for Southampton.

After a couple of years spent mainly on the bench at Rangers, Niemi shone at Hearts and has fully justified Gordon Strachan’s decision to spend £2 million to bring him south of the border.

Southampton would be an unwilling seller, but with a quality deputy in Paul Jones might accept a hefty bid for the Finnish international.

Though a touch on the short side for a top class ‘keeper at 6’1”, Niemi’s punching ability means he is reliable on crosses, but it is at shot stopping that he really excels.

AMERICAN IDOL: Brad Friedel

Brad Friedel – Antti Niemi’s main rival for the crown on Premiership ‘keeper of the year ( I’m getting déjà vu here – Ed), Friedel has sparked interest from the big clubs with a series of man-of-the-match performances.

Like a little Dutch boy with fingers plunged deep into the holes in the local village dam, Friedel has single-handedly held a porous defence together. His calmness under pressure and confidence are sure to have impressed Fergie and if the United manager believes the former Liverpool stopper can handle a big-club atmosphere he may decide the affable American is his man.

( "Site du Manchester Evening News")