Rooney's United career hangs in the balance

Rooney and Fergie's relationship: merely professional

Those with a long-term memory for detail at Manchester United might favour showing Wayne Rooney the exit door after talks with David Moyes.

 
Sent home with a hamstring injury just 24 hours after his arrival on the club's preseason tour, Rooney's Old Trafford career's dipped to a new low.

Back home, the England striker's "angered and confused" about his future after Moyes hinted he'd not be first choice.

Moyes insists he "has a major role to play", but "if for any reason we had an injury to Robin van Persie we are going to need him. I want as many options as possible."

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward underlined the stance by declaring no fear in allowing Wazza's contract to run down. But what if Chelsea's overtures to sign Rooney become deafening? The tone of the tough talk might then lighten at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho's already confirmed his first bid has been rejected, but strenuously denied offering Juan Mata and David Luiz as makeweights in the deal.

Rooney's dispute is 'afters' over the transfer request he slapped in nearly three years ago when declaring the club lacked ambition.

Remember the saga in 2010? How thickheadedness threatened to put a foot through everything of value in his life; his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and wife, Colleen? I wrote about it furiously - THRICE. here, here and here!

I was right to think settlement between Fergie and Wazza was a ticking timebomb: that Sir Alex Ferguson had re-signed him, figuring Rooney was valuable to the team even if he had to break his own rules about tolerating such behaviour from one of his players.

Peace broke about between them back then but came at the expense of a distance, a coldness between the pair. Their handshake on the pitch as Fergie waved goodbye to management was much less warm than those shared with Giggs and Scholes.

Bridges built look to be burning down.

Three years on and United can cash in on one of their main transfer assets without losing value to Bosman. 

But the club insists it's not rushing to sign an extension to his deal despite just two years left on it. Neither is he for sale.

The message is clear from new boss David Moyes: play yourself back into contention. Robin van Persie is the 'main man'.

Now Rooney has to build bridges with Moyes, with whom he has a rocky past, including a libel suit that resulted in an apology from Rooney and a reported £50,000-£150,000 settlement for Moyes.

In his 2006 autobiography "Wayne Rooney: My Story So Far," Rooney accused Moyes of leaking the details of a conversation they had while they were both at Everton in 2004.

Rooney wrote that he told Moyes he wanted out of Everton after tabloids caught him visiting a prostitute. The next day the Liverpool Echo ran a story about the conversation, and Rooney wrote in his book that Moyes was the one who spilled the beans.

After the book came out, Moyes sued Rooney, HarperCollins, and co-author Hunter Davies for libel — saying the accusation that he threw Rooney out was "wholly untrue."

In 2008, the suit was settled before a trial. Rooney "sincerely apologized" and paid damages and legal costs worth £500,000, according to the Guardian, £50,000-£150,000 of that is believed to have gone to Moyes.

Despite Rooney insisting his battle with United in 2010 wasn't about money - more a lack of ambition at Old Trafford, United gave him a contract extension and a massive pay-hike.

But as Rooney and his representatives consider what to do with New United, perhaps they should be armed with the words of Roy Keane ringing in their minds.

Plain-speaking Keane, who's twelve years at Old Trafford ended after a spat with Sr Alex in 2005 said, "I would tell Wayne, who's a good lad, to make sure he looks after number one.

"Players are pieces of meat. When your time's up, it's up. Luckily for Wayne, he's at a good age and he's fit".

Keano's falling out with Fergie was at the end of his career - a few months at Celtic proved his swansong.

The first years of Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa plus the emergence of Danny Welbeck, put unprecedented pressure on Sir Alex's then 'main man'.

His £10m a year wages plus United's inevitably daunting asking price puts paid to pretty much everyone's interest.

As with every top player in crisis, the only way to emerge better is to play yourself back into contention. Chelsea have emerged from the bushes like speculative hunters and despite his baggage, Rooney would be quite a trophy bagged.

Jose Mourinho can smell an opportunity. He's said England would be affected by a Rooney who wasn't first-choice at Old Trafford, hinting he could be the main man in blue.

Despite the talk, United may well be warned by Chelsea's interest to insist he's not for sale, then listen to eye-watering offers for his services at a time to suit them.

Retirement talk leaves United and Fergie at odds

It's the truth that daren't speak its name at Old Trafford. When is Sir Alex Ferguson going to retire?

 

It's a question being asked of The Govanator more and more frequently - and his answer is always along the lines of "it's not on the horizon".

It's the measure of true greatness

Seasoned Fergie Watchers know why. Firstly, way way back in 2001, when he announced his retirement with a year's notice, the lap of honour descended into indiscipline, no trophies for nearly three seasons, home defeats by Middlesbrough and three third-placed finishes in four seasons.

Secondly, everyone knows Fergie is deeply affected by the death of his own father soon after his retirement. "Such talk is for the young", and "without work, there's nothing else". If there's one thing uniting Fergie with Arsene Wenger, it's on wearing carpet slippers after 60-years-old.

And since establishing that mentality, doesn't Sir Alex look well and in command? It's a long way from the mid-nineties when he looked vulnerable. His face was blotchy, his hairdryers were powered by Sellafield.



Utd ledge now ex-City journeyman. No chance Sparky.

It's even rumoured that Bryan Robson was packed off to Middlesbrough as player-manager because a poll in the Manchester Evening News had Captain Marvel ahead of Fergie as the fan's choice for manager. How insane does that look now?

Now even his glasses look modern and he's learned not to throw his chewy on the floor at the full-time whistle!

Football, bloody 'ell.

Well, this is all fine and dandy for Fergie - but it's not particularly helpful for the raging multinational, multi-income streamed business model that he helped create.

As time draws on, Manchester United's board and owners will need to defend their market position against the likes of Barcelona, Milan and the Noisy Neighbours with a bloodless succession.

But how can they deny Fergie when he keeps winning? As he nudges 70, isn't this a niggling issue at Old Trafford? Would the board be cynical enough to sack him if United went on a hideous run of results or after a catalogue of player indiscipline?

But who for the toughest act to follow in football? comically, it's been on the news agenda for over a decade and thrown up some names, which in hindsight, look absolutely ridiculous.

Can Jose's reputation outlast Fergietime?

Serious candidates have come and gone: even Roy Keane, Steve Bruce and Mark McGhee were talked of. More recently it was Steve McClaren, Sven-Goran Eriksson (that nearly did happen) and Martin O'Neill. Then Mark Hughes and David Moyes.

Now we're left with Jose Mourinho, who's long expressed the desire to return to the Premier League with United. Trouble is, his tenure at Real Madrid may be exposed to the Latin winds of change far quicker than Ferguson's desire to step aside here.

It's left to speculation as to who might be regarded as a top or available boss in three years time! Moyes is the leading domestic name, although sources on Merseyside reckon he'd only want to be next but one boss at Old Trafford.

So when Fergie does go this time, I predict it'll be a coat and dagger affair. As discreet as United can be, he will go and a new manager will be unveiled - all in 24 hours and probably in June. I'm not even going to predict the year!

But I also believe Sir Alex needs to be remembered as much for the way he stepped down as for his phenomenal success. He owes it to both his successor and the club.

Click here for the current Top Story Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

Just accept it. Moyes is happy at Everton!

Manager of the month for September 2012

Whenever Sir Alex Ferguson fields succession questions in those rambling Friday news conferences, when the likes of Spurs and Villa seek new managers, it's been David Moyes who's provided the easy headline.

How long will he stay at Goodison before feeling the need to exercise the wider resources or cheque book of a bigger club? When will ten-years-and-counting be enough for him to cease making silk purses out of sow's ears down Gwladys Street?

But sooner or later, we'll have to face the facts - and it doesn't suit sports journalists looking for a great story.

He's happy at Everton and wants to stay.

Birmingham Evening Mail: Moyes link was serious

Moyes clearly has a special relationship with owner Bill Kenwright and that's just as well - because he's going nowhere either!

Everton's been For Sale for years but as Keith Harris, who's found investors for five Premier League clubs and was charged with finding a buyer for the Blues, conceded that in a economically humble city with Liverpool FC in it too, investors aren't exactly going to beat down the door.

Kenwright once said that if Moyes wanted the keys to United post-Alex, he'd personally chauffeur him to Old Trafford.

But that won't happen either! Well, not in the foreseeable future.

Because while he's not discounting the Old Trafford job, Moyes has privately admitted to those on Merseyside that he'd rather be the next-but-one Old Trafford boss.

Succeeding a legend like Fergie is a hiding to nothing, a poisoned chalice: canny Moyes would rather wait for the itinerant Jose Mourinho or Michael Phelan to shuffle off and keep the seat warm for him instead.

And why would he leave Everton at the moment? His current squad is widely regarded as his best yet. Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines are in contention to become England regulars and Silvain Distin's a great pro, while Jelavic and Fellaini bring craft and quality to their attack. The return of Steven Pienaar and experience of Philip Neville means the Toffees hold their own in midfield.

The toughest act to follow: this one's twenty years ago.

This is a breakthrough season - because even if Everton don't qualify for Europe, they'll probably achieve something not yet done in Moyes' reign: finishing above Liverpool for a second season running. This is a step to establishing Everton as a major club.

Moyes' stock and reputation's at an all-time high too. He's won the LMA Manager of the Year award three times - only Sir Alex can match that achievement.

Financial Fairplay rules will reward parsimonious stability too. The meek shall inherit the earth. It's what the boardrooms at Everton and indeed Arsenal have been banking on for years - through barren trophyless campaigns.

Then there's the 70% rise in TV rights: that'll make for a more level playing field when Everton compete with bigger clubs for players.

And when you take all of this into account, where's better for Moyes to manage?

No. David Moyes is a Toffee into the future and the rest of us will just have to chew over that.

Beware Citeh! Fergie's warpath target is the title

There's no one better at setting and achieving goals than Sir Alex Ferguson. Whether Manchester United win trophies or not, you can guarantee Fergie resets his ambitions to square one every August. It's the only viable explanation for the club's astonishing consistency in retaining or reclaiming silverware.

Fergie's first Premier League title in 1993

And the 70-year-old's challenged his squad to reclaim the title after City pipped them on goal difference last term; "We have to recover, as we've done many times. That's our target this year."

And when the Govanator insists recapturing the Premier League title is his "number one priority", the noisy neighbours had better sit up and pay attention:

Every time United have finished runners-up under Fergie, they've gone on to reclaim the prize next time - and then some! In 1996, they claimed the double, in 1999, it was the treble plus 2007 and 2011.

United will be strengthened by the return from injury of Chris Smalling and Nemanja Vidic, akin to a new top-level signing.

United's midfield looked distinctly light-touch compared to previous incarnations. So weak last season, it's underperformance encouraged Fergie to tempt Paul Scholes out of retirement, as Ryan Giggs continued to deliver at 37. With Ji-Sung Park transferred and Darren Fletcher's ulcerative colitis ruling him out for an unspecified timespan, Fergie (rather like the unfortunate Fletcher) has begun reconstruction in the middle.

Nick Powell's arrived from Crewe Alexandra and Japan international Shinji Kagawa's been signed from Borussia Dortmund.

Fergie's new midfield: adding numbers to experience.

City will be under considerable pressure on two fronts this year: having set the bar at title-winning level, their squad of millionaires will be expected to finish top again while at the same time, fairing much, much better in the Champions League.

Perhaps pivotal in the title race is the unknown variable of a player's future: of a man who doesn't even play for either of the Mancunian protagonists. 

Robin Van Persie's recent refusal to put pen to paper on a new Arsenal contract's ignited an almighty scramble for his services: a battle which Fergie claims he's won. Time will tell whether the Dutchman will pick United over City, who are willing to pay him more and Juventus, who are touting a completely new challenge in Serie A.

United actually finished their last season top when the final whistle blew at Sunderland; but that was minutes before City's last-gasp come-from-behind win at home to QPR.

But if City are favourites with the bookies at the start, perhaps the clever money's on United to wrest control of the coveted trophy come May next year.

It's hard to deny Fergie's extraordinary hunger for success and achievement.

Managing players the critical difference between Fergie and Mancini

As Manchester City's title bid choked at Arsenal, it was perhaps inevitable that the headlines should be made by one of their players - rather than one from the victorious Gunners.

Mario Balotelli's disgraceful lack of self-discipline ended in a last-minute red card and left City boss Roberto Mancini pondering whether to play him ever again and to ditch him in the summer.

Teammates Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany were seething as they left the pitch after defeat. Oh to be a fly on the wall in the City dressing room afterwards.

But the truth is Balotelli shouldn't have been on the park anyway: the boss should've subbed him at halftime. And therein lies the key difference between Mancini and his managerial title rival, Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Fergie realises the overriding truth that players lose managers their jobs. Imagine Balotelli at United? Not once the Govanator had taken advice from one of the Italian's former bosses at Inter, Jose Mourinho. The Special One sold him to City.

Mancini has shown exceptional patience with both Balotelli and Carlos Tevez and his loyalty's not been rewarded. Fergie's demonstrated time and again that if he's crossed, it's curtains at Old Trafford.

Because the noxious cloud of Balotelli's show enveloped that other miscreant star of the Mancini regime who was also playing. Tevez was so key to City last season and but for six months of tabloid tantrums and AWOL's may well have pushed City over the title line at the expense of United this campaign.

City have splashed out millions on their squad but there's no substitute for experience, continuity and management. Brian Marwood, the conduit between players and the board, revealed the City strategy: win a first title, then invest in youth from there.

It's foundering and largely because Mancini hasn't been ruthless enough with the ill-disciplined elements of his squad.

Can Mourinho's stock remain high long enough to win battle of succession at United?

Alex Ferguson in 1986

Since Sir Alex Ferguson announced "three more years" just before the shock defeat to Blackburn, the spotlight on succession at Old Trafford has intensified. The three-nil defeat at Newcastle doesn't help Fergie either.

Fergie cites good health and vigour for staying on. He's just turned 70 having completed a quarter-century at Old Trafford in November. Winning is a great tonic and he does seem in rude health.

But just as the England job is dubbed a poisoned chalice, United is whatever the opposite of that is: a refreshing glass of water on a summer's day perhaps -  it's an urgent requirement for those with wildblood..

O'Neill at Sunderland: contender for United job.

Of the two perennial frontrunners, one's sharpened his credentials just by taking a high profile job in the Premier League; the other jokingly referred to a return to a big stage in England in two years, made days before Fergie's seemingly unprompted remark.

I talk of course of Martin O'Neill and Jose Mourinho. O'Neill, whose sheer force of intellect and personality light up wherever he goes, would be a Sunderland hero with Europa League qualification or a trophy. The Roker Roar's been on mute since they left Roker.

Mourinho is the itinerant winning machine. So portable and successful in England, Italy and now Spain at the world's most glamorous club stage. His Midas touch is so powerful, he even got an assist in Andre Villas-Boas' big chance at Chelsea just by being young Portuguese and winning at Porto in similar fashion.

As with Inter, Mourinho's got to wrestle with the best Barcelona of all-time, but as in Italy where Milan and Juventus were beaten off, who'd back against the Portugeezer?

The Special Two

United must learn from their own history though. They've attempted to replace the irreplaceable before. When Sir Matt Busby left, United scrambled round for the right man, a decision at which they repeatedly failed, ending in tearful relegation.



So how to replace the greatest club manager of all time? well, it's got to be someone who consigns United's immediate regime to the past while continually winning at the same pace. A contradiction in terms surely not lost on the Old Trafford ownership. 

Chin up. Mourinho's eyeing Old Trafford

But in reality, it's no different to the way Fergie runs United now. He enjoys the win for a couple of days, then sets the clock back to zero ready to conquer again.
And in both leading candidates, they have the capacity to create distracting tabloid headlines to focus on the hype of the present and ensure the past is the inspiration not the millstone.

Yes, there's other candidates I've not mentioned here: David Moyes, Josep Guardiola, even Eric Cantona's name gets chucked in occasionally, but why look further when there are two outstanding candidates with the all-round CV?

If Mourinho can maintain his reputation as the Special One, I take him to replace Ferguson when the Govanator calls time as Old Trafford's ultimate keeper of the temple.

With that stand named after Sir Alex and squad problems, will the opportunity come faster than the Special One thought?

How 25 years of Ferguson at Manchester United started

Clear vision for United from the start

Sir Alex Ferguson's been Manchester United boss so long, half his players weren't even born when he stepped into Old Trafford in November 1986.

As CEO of @sportsmediaUK, I commissioned a radio documentary on his time at United but for one reason or another, we never aired it. I'm now delighted to be serialising it here on Soccermongery to coincide with Fergie's 25 year anniversary as United boss.

United's previous manager!

Here's Episode 1: starting just before Fergie's arrival. FA Cup winner Ron Atkinson was sacked as United sunk to one of their lowest ebbs. Liverpool were out in front as England's foremost club with multiple League, Cup and European successes. Survival in the old First Division was far from assured for United and drastic action was required from the board.

They looked to the Aberdeen manager who'd taken on and beaten the Old Firm to put the Dons at the top of Scottish football.

Tom Tyrrell was Piccadilly Radio's Manchester United reporter from the start of Fergie's reign. He's been eyewitness to, and been on the receiving end of, Fergie's infamous hairdryer - but survived to collect all of the audio interviews in this great radio programme.

Click here for the current Top Story Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

Villa blend taught a harsh lesson

Ashley Young penalty puts Villa ahead against United

It's not often you see one of Sir Alex Ferguson's team reeling but that's exactly what happened during the second half of Aston Villa's 2-all draw with Manchester United.

Villa looked to have killed off United at 2-nil, but they failed to factor in that this is a team led by the Govanator.

After a misshapen, eventless first-half, Villa's youngsters grew in stature and confidence as United buckled under a tirade of AV adventure.

Peppering United's woodwork turned out to be more than just a fruitless phase. Referee Mike Dean awarded Ashley Young a penalty, and he duly converted to put the home team into a deserved lead.

Yippee-yi-yay! Albrighton is a Holte Ender

Then 2-nil on the break real United-style. Man-of-the-match Marc Albrighton got his reward for a performance of box-to-box tenacity.

But United are never beaten until the final whistle and finished strongly. Sharp shooter Federico Macheda struck with 12 minutes left (17 including Fergie Time) - and Nemanja Vidic headed superbly across the body of Brad Friedel.

Gerard Houllier's blooding of youth seems a touch gung ho - but in introducing Jonathan Hogg from the start and Chris Herd at the end for their debuts, the Villa squad is suddenly looking a lot deeper.

Vidic: He comes from Serbia; he'll fookin' murder yer.

Brad Friedel defies his age and looks at the top of his game and James Collins gives his all. But Richard Dunne's let a few mistakes creep into his game. He's a vital old head at the back but Ciaran Clark is an early demonstration of Houllier's policy. Competition is vital to any winning side.

Another draw means Villa can't get carried away - so there's plenty to aim for for this blend of kids and cockers!

But if this carries on well, Houllier will have selection headaches across a winning team!

Click here for the current Top Story Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

Rooney stays!

"You''ll never know what I really think!"

One of the most extraordinary and challenging weeks in Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial career has ended with him winning again!

United get to defend the balance sheet value of Wayne Rooney in the only way they can in these days of the Bosman and Webster rulings: by committing their star asset to a long-term contract.

It was a crazy few days where Rooney asked to leave Manchester United - and ended with him penning a new five-year deal. Now United have about three more years to sell him at optimum value, without Bosman diminishing it.

Hours before, Paddy Power and William Hill both closed their books on Rooney staying. Hills did so after a spate of large bets were placed on Rooney staying. These were all placed at shops in Liverpool.

An interesting theory doing the rounds was that the whole fiasco occurred because Rooney blamed "colleagues" for introducing him to his dubious lady friends and generally leading him astray.

Colleen's condition for staying with him was that he distance himself from such "friends", meaning he had to leave United. This is a female take on this and it's plausible, if only because "blaming the lads" is a very blokeish tendency.


Macheda was right about him!

"United lack ambition" doesn't really stand up to scrutiny as a reason to leave either. Only Manchester City are net spenders in the transfer market - and wages are hardly the issue. Rooney could presumably ask for a clause in his contract guaranteeing he'd be the highest-paid player. United gave this to Roy Keane, I'd be surprised if they didn't give it to Rooney.

But moving forward, the only currency that really matters is a dramatic upturn in his form: "How will Rooney respond?".

He needs to buckle down and get to work. He's apologised to Fergie - now get on with it!

Fergie will expect nothing less after enduring one of the most difficult weeks in his near quarter century tenure as United boss.

What on earth is Rooney doing?

Wayne Rooney's declared a unilateral breakdown of his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson, to the point that he's prepared to leave Old Trafford in January.

Rooney, who more than anyone else has been Fergie's chief talisman since the departure of Roy Keane, will seek new employers and refuse to sign an extension to his existing contract.

It all started a few days ago when Wazza announced he'd been fully fit all along - despite Sir Alex claiming injury was the reason for his non selection recently.

Hence, he exposed his manager as a liar. You only have to ask Keane, David Beckham and Jaap Stam about crossing Fergie. You do so at the expense of your United career. That's what.

Sir Alex knows full well the maxim that every streetwise boss lives by - players lose managers their jobs.

Turns out Fergie was punishing his wayward star for his night with a prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant. Fergie likes settled, married men. He believes they give their best to Manchester United.

Only at the end of last season, he'd proudly announced that Rooney was his "main man" - even when Cristiano Ronaldo was outperforming him during the Portugeezer's heady days at Old Trafford.

And in his most unusual Champions League conference ever, Sir Alex was clearly dumbfounded, nay nonplussed by his star striker's determination to get away. There's no one better at managing young men, dealing with egos, engendering loyalty - and ultimately getting them to play at their optimum potential than the United boss.

So I'm amazed at the 24-year-old's thickheadedness. I knew his greatest asset was football; his talents limited in pretty much every other sphere.

But I didn't realise he could put his foot through everything of value in his life in such a short span of time.

It's unclear what the status of his marriage is after that prostitute story. And it's the other key relationship in his life that appears to have been ruined as well.

If the rumours about his spat become a split with Fergie, then he really is a dumb footballer of the first water.

Wazza's doing a Gazza. He's about to press the self-destruct button.

If Rooney has any sense at all, he'll walk into the manager's office and apologise (and Fergie's said he'll have him back), then get on with restoring form to his lacklustre game.

If United are forced to sell him in the January window, then they should get as much money as they can for a player with twenty months left on his current deal.

And in the shifting sands of the current marketplace: moving powerbases and changing regulations, Rooney could be set for a huge fall from grace. The biggest loser of all.

Step back from the brink, you idiot. Apologise to Fergie and repay the only debt you owe the footballing public: a return to your best form for United and England.

Rooney leaving United? No chance!

As Wayne Rooney's stature in the world game grows, the tabloids are screaming! Manchester United must offload their main man under the weight of a billion dollar debt. Rooney's goals in the San Siro and Old Trafford against AC Milan flag him up as a diamond of the first water.

For Sale to Barca or Madrid at £90million?

United need to service their £715m loan; the Glazers, having whipped twenty million out of the club are restructuring the biggest red balance sheet in football history - just to keep the behemoth afloat.

But the cock-eyed rumour mill fails to factor in the most important pillar at Old Trafford; the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Not while Fergie's at the club will Rooney leave United. Madrid and Barca have two hopes of capturing Wazza: no hope and Bob Hope while the Govanator's in charge. And he is in charge.

And oh yes, United are fighting for the Premier League title, Carling Cup winners - and desite the shock of losing to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, still did for Milan. A 7-2  aggregate mauling. Does a certain Mark Twain phrase of overstated demises spring to mind?

If Wazza leaves while Sir Alex is in charge, you can be sure the Ravens will have also left the Tower. For it would demonstrate the wave of financial misfortune had swept over the Fergie Empire - and washed it away in a startlingly brutal consequence of the Credit Crunch.

No no no, Fergie is the King Canute of Football's Credit Crunch and Wayne Rooney, once a Blue, is now very much a Red.

Click here: The Champions League has less competitive integrity than the Premier League


Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

Michael Owen's top level of career is over

Michael Owen's cameo in the Carling Cup Final encapsulated his whole career in just 42 minutes. He scored a vital goal on the biggest stage, he took the chance in front of England coach Fabio Capello - and then pulled up with a hamstring injury and was withdrawn before half time.

It rules him out for the rest of the season so extinguishing any flickering hope he might make the squad for the World Cup Finals.

But with another year left on his contract at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson says Owen will be at United next season. He's praised the former England striker as sharp in training and good around the dressing room.

And Owen's "loved every minute" at United, scoring nine goals in all competitions despite only starting eleven times. Despite a catalogue of injuries the 30-year-old still knows where the goal is.

And true to his reputation for keeping the coolest head in the biggest cauldron, Owen's memorable strike in Fergietime against Manchester City together with his Wembley swansong  proved he's never lost it.

He says he's determined to return to peak physical condition for the start of next season - and he probably will. But that won't stop an old injury resurfacing. For a man who's hit 40 goals in 89 international appearances, his hamstring signals a miserable autumn to his career.

So he'll struggle through another season at United. A bit part player in a successful side. His role will be even further diminished as Fergie will surely raid the transfer market looking to bolster a thin looking frontline led by Rooney, Berbatov and the thoroughly unconvincing Diouf.

Even so, he'll still probably come off the bench to beat United's nearest title rival next season!

Owen's developing interests beyond football - particularly in horseracing. He seems at peace with himself. It's just a shame for the rest of us Owen fans that his physicality doesn't match his undoubted goalscoring talent.

Click here for the current Top Story

Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

Wenger's not retiring. In his shoes would you?

Arsene Wenger's the latest top manager insisting he won't retire anytime soon despite turning 60 next month.

The highly-strung Professor Genius, who's cluster of teenagers weave pretty patterns without winning silverware, concedes life without football would be inconceivable for him.

Do you remember when Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement as Manchester United boss? That was EIGHT years ago! Since then, United have won another Champions League and a hat-trick of titles. Even Fergie's Fledgelings, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs remain key United figures - in their mid-thirties.

If you look at how Fergie jigged along the touchline as United edged City last Sunday, retirement must be as far away in his mind as ever. The Gunners chief is going to be around for a while too. He once said he'd stop at 50. Now the Alsatian's barking another tune.

"I don't believe in retiring unless you have to. I have never had a day when I think I could live without football. I know one day it will happen but you shouldn't live every day knowing you are going to die - you live knowing that you want to live."

Wenger went on to point out that other people will let him know when to call it a day: "In our job you need physical strength and to be a bit of an animal to convince people it's important to win.

"But once that physical strength goes it's a handicap, although you can compensate to an extent with experience.

"But you need in some way to be an animal and you need physical power. You will know if you are not hungry enough any more but other people will tell you if you are not good enough any more.

"It's not for a manager to know - it's for other people to know and to tell him."

Wenger still classes going the whole season unbeaten in 2003/04 as his lasting legacy in football.

"Without a doubt going the whole season unbeaten is my greatest achievement. If you win the championship you feel someone else can come in and do better than you.

"It was always my dream to go the whole season unbeaten because there's not much more anyone can do to beat that."

Football is a constant challenge for top managers, the strategy keeps their minds active and goal celebrations must the best possible feelgood buzz. Even Sam Allardyce's setback at Newcastle couldn't keep him down. Blackburn Rovers are the beneficiary of his desire and will to win.

Despite years of success at Arsenal, Wenger's job is far from done.

Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

What Hughes should really learn from United defeat

Sir Alex Ferguson's gloatfest after Manchester United's last-gasp win over City is a test of Mark Hughes' young blood. Hughes needs to muster all of his comparative inexperience to deflect Fergie's taunts and take the 4-3 defeat on the chin.

Sir Alex disregarded City as "noisy neighbours" counting United's Liverpool games as the real local derby against a domestic City squabble. His words, just one more swipe in a week sprinkled with barbs slung from both sides of Manchester in the preamble to a 96-minute Old Trafford classic. And when Michael Owen won this derby the old streetfighter gave the game away.

As Owen's goal hit the back of the net and Hughes attempted to decipher the logic of a winner being scored six minutes into four minutes of stoppage time, Fergie was almost lost in ecstasy.

He charged around the touchline, jigging with players and staff - while also considerately sparing a thought for the stricken City fans with an emphatic and defiant double-clenched fist salute in their direction.

Despite apparently playing down the signficance of the fixture, this meant a lot to Fergie. He wanted victory so badly to remind City where the power lies in Manchester and when he got it was happy to show his delight to the world.

Hughes kept his composure in the aftermath of a contentious conclusion but issued an ominous warning to all, especially Ferguson, when he said: "We're not going away any time soon. We are around for a long time. I can assure everyone of that. We have got the means, resources and will to be better in the future and that is what we are going to do." If only Kevin Keegan had taken a chill pill that night, Newcastle fans would be looking back at a Premier League winning season today.

Hughes' main bone of contention was how fourth official Alan Wiley's board went up for four minutes of stoppages and United struck well into the sixth. The explanation was the length of time City spent celebrating their third equaliser, plus a substitution - but it was not one that satisfied Hughes.

The timings have since proved to be borderline but remember four minutes was a "minimum" and it should not be ignored that the time was added on for City as well as United. Their respective priorities in those extra minutes, however, were different.

But for all of Sparky's contentions over timekeeping, the simple truth is that United fully deserved to win, despite a City performance that suggests they'll be a danger to the best this season. City needed to defend to the death, but two pieces of brilliance from Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen opened City up in a second. United's slick football did the talking.

So Hughes must put this defeat into perspective. To use it as a flag in the sand by which he can measure future progress - and to remember the sharp pain of this kind of defeat so it doesn't happen so much in the future.

(with thanks to Phil McNulty of the BBC)

Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

Fergie's News Conferences are sometimes better than the game itself!

I try to keep a football appointment every Friday lunchtime with Sir Alex Ferguson's pre-match news conference. I'm glued for his weighty growls born of weary experience, his gossipy views on other clubs and managers none of which are his goddamn business - and a gem of a quote from his industrial gob: Made In Govan!

Despite his many years in the spotlight, he's often riled by the assembled hackery.

The touchy subject of Real Madrid's unending pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo had Fergie spitting, "I wouldn't sell Madrid a virus, let alone Ronaldo!" But the Govanator eventually did - and Real paid full retail price for the Portuguese. The sort of amount that even Sir Philip Green would've put a cigar on for.

Other times, he's a master of the room. A few years back there was a ridiculous tabloid flyer in The Mirror alleging that Fergie was part of a consortium ready to takeover Manchester City.

Next day, he faced the media to preview a Champions League game. Someone dared ask him about it. In response, he neither issued a denial or any kind of quote worthy of taking the story on. He snapped back to the wee hack:

"Whassat gottae do with this? we're here to preview this game ... !", silence.

A Fergie denial of any kind would've been printable as a follow-up but he's too canny for that. The story disappeared without trace the very next day - and his handling of it in that moment was the reason why.

A few seasons ago, I was at Charlton for a United game and Fergie came out of the tunnel ten minutes to kick-off and continued a casual conversation on the touchline with an old football friend while scores of photographers snapped away. But it was like it wasn't happening around him. He totally blanked it. A measure of his years in the cauldron and the inner steel which shows he never lets the pressure cloud his own principles.

Back in the Press Room, my favourite Fergie moment was ahead of a tough trip to Galatasaray, one of the most intimidating stadia in all of Europe. It was the first return to Istanbul since the acrimony of an Eric Cantona dismissal after the final whistle of a bad-tempered exchange. A thoroughly professional performance would be required this time to avoid similar ugly scenes.

So a question came from the floor, "Are you at all concerned to return here with your big name players to a place of such open hostility?"

Fergie's face was a picture. He replied, "Well, you've obviously never been to a wedding in Clydebank!"

I tell you, if it's been a good week for football stories then try and catch Fergie's Friday Football Fare. He'll always deliver something to make you chuckle, unwitting or otherwise.

Ronaldo exit paves way for Rooney ascension to World Player Of The Year

Soccermongery: spot on again! This was written in June 2009 as Cristiano Ronaldo waved adios (or adeus) heading for Madrid.

For all of Wayne Rooney's industry and goals since joining Manchester United in 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo's been Old Trafford's outstanding star of the last five years.

His flicks, tricks, tantrums, car crashes and .... oh yeah, great goals have secured him every major gong, both personally and for United.

And now he's gone - to partner Kaka in midfield at the Bernabeu. Not a bad partnership in the centre of the park. Adeus Ronaldo!

Now step upto the plate, Wayne Rooney.

He's just scored a record ten goals in a season for England - and with 24 goals for his country, aged just 23, he's on course to break Bobby Charlton's all-time England scoring record of 49.

All this in the year that Rooney scored the winner in the World Club Cup Final - having claimed a third successive Premier League title.

Some say United will be weakened without Ronaldo in their line-up, but those voices don't take into account the depth of their squad, the determination of Fergie and Rooney's workrate.

In the shootout to be World Player Of The Year, the subtext to this year's Champions League Final, Messi beat Ronaldo with a goal and a winner's medal. The Argentine will replace Ronnie as the planet's finest player when they announce it in six months time.

But even if United don't reclaim Europe's top prize next season, Rooney has the chance to stake claim to the ultimate individual prize the following season. With Ronaldo's departure and Rooney coming into his prime, few will be able to compete with him.

Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

United may have pipped Liverpool for the title but is it time for Sir Alex to quit?

I've seen the future - and it's Red.

I'm utterly convinced that events of the last month have laid the foundations for Liverpool to wrest English domination from Manchester United in the years to come.

Swaggering wins over Real Madrid and United speak of a new freedom behind the scenes.

Rick Parry's Long Wave Goodbye and Rafa's New Deal engaging him till 2014. The two headlines are linked. War Is Over.

At 67, does Sir Alex have the appetite or time to build another Manchester United side?

When Sir Alex does quit, one thing's for sure: he'll leave quickly. Learning the lesson of the last time he resigned in 2001, the year-long lap of honour resulted in United unfolding. In February 2002, he agreed to stay on but the short-term damage was done.

What followed was three third-place finishes in four seasons, as Chelsea and Arsenal kept trumping them. The Carling Cup win in 2005? United's first trophy in nearly three years.

Then came Rooney and Ronaldo.

Their progression from prodigious teenage talents to twentysomething world dominators is complete. United are ripe. This quadruple-chasing team is the best ever.

But Rafa's plan is longer-term. He's about twenty years younger than Sir Alex, secure under contract and having won his internal battles for control at Anfield.

While Liverpool plan a £30m warchest for New Rafa, United wonder what Ronnie might say this week about playing for Real Madrid. United are £650m in debt.

What's David Gill doing about succession? How do you follow Fergie? No such problems down the M62.

Liverpool had Paisley after Shankly: with all due respect to Michael Phelan, he's no Fergie.

The Mauve One's departure is the biggest-kept secret in football, but I'm venturing it's crossing his mind to quit at the top: never has this been more applicable even going back to June 1999, it could be sooner rather than later.

United are without peer - or they were into Liverpool exposed some unexpected jitters.

Fergie's about to be crowned a Living Legend, an all-time great - and the countdown to his coronation, the goodbye lap of honour - is twelve months from now - or less.

Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

The different worlds of Fergie and The Special One

Internazionale and Manchester United's Champions League first-leg tie may not have been high on excitement - but no one can deny the quality on display.

One things for sure: the second leg in Manchester will be a more dramatic affair with the clock-ticking down and United's attacking urges to satisfy at Old Trafford. Inter will have to come out and play to quell the onslaught.

It's as much a clash on the field between these two clubs as it is in the manager's offices.

Mourinho: the suave Portuguese itinerant: Fergie: the grizzly Scottish empire builder.

And it made me think: bearing in mind the mentalities of the two, if you were a fan of a big club, would you rather have a Mourinho or a Fergie in charge?

There's no doubt that Mourinho's management style would offer few chances for United regulars such as John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher, but they are essential components of the Red Devil's incessant charge through trophy bid after trophy bid.

Even flair players like Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs take on a workmanlike demeanour under Fergie.

Of course, there's a work ethic and commitment to gameplan in every Mourinho side; sometimes at the expense of entertainment - but the players that arrive at the Giuseppe Meazza are usually players who've made their names elsewhere.
There'll always be clubs like Inter and for that matter, Real Madrid and Chelsea who are showbiz entities - ready to unveil the multi-million pound signing and replace the manager just for coming second, sometimes twice a season.

But on the other hand, there's United, AC Milan and Arsenal, who have a five-year plan and remain unwavering in the darkest periods of the barren trophy cabinet.

And I prefer these clubs: I think it's those who'll prosper in the unsure economic times ahead, starting with Fergie to advance at the expense of The Special One in this season's Champions League.

Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!

Early season criticism rendered hollow. Ronaldo's roaring back to his best

As Cristiano Ronaldo limbers up to garner every world player gong around, the manner of his display coupled with his sheer desire to face Villareal in the Champions League suggests he's about to unleash himself again.

It's been a truncated term so far for Ronaldo; the weight of expectation on his shoulders has proved unforgiving of his recovery from surgery and his summer job for Portugal.

So allegations that his head's already in Madrid have been far too easy for the pundits to make.

Euro 2008 offered no respite followed up by frustrating months recovering from an ankle operation. Comparing his first dozen outings to The Season? well, it's plain short-sighted.

Ronaldo's feats in scoring 42 goals, winning the Premier League, the Champions League and the Golden Boot is a tough act to follow. But he will. Don't believe me? Ask Fernando Torres.

"What he did last season is incredible. No-one can rival him," the Spaniard told France Football. "He is in a class of his own. For me he is the best player in the world. A machine. Incomparable." gushed the Liverpool hitman.

His superhuman show last term simply created a rod for his back but reports of his United demise are as overstated as the Brown Bounce.

His desire to feature at Villareal after limping out of Saturday's stalemate at Villa is a measure not just of his character - but a sign of an inate confidence that he's working his season back into gear.

Ron played with trademark courage, targeted as he was by the home team and their fans, a victim of a drastic foul by Capdevila which deserved the straight red.

His body language, the straight-arched back after his half-volley was deflected against the crossbar revealed all: Ronaldo's humming toward to the top of his game and he knows it.

He ran a bit of temperature on Wednesday night, but who better than Sir Alex Ferguson to channel that fire in his belly to more positive ends as the race for honours intensifies?

Wheeling round the world snaffling up badges every 10 days in James Bond Bib and Tucker will also aid his feeling of well being too.

You watch: Ronaldo's back - and back for United. Madrid will have to wait.