Transfer Speculation

As the end of the season swiftly approaches, it is only natural that Manchester United are linked with potential summer signings, but this year the rumour mill seems to have gone into overdrive! Fernando Torres, David Villa, Dimitar Berbatov and Raffaele Palladino are just some of the strikers that have been linked without the rest of the team positions!

We obviously need a striker as Alan Smith will never be back to his best ever form and Solksjaer seems to be getting injured at least twice every season, but Alex Ferguson will only buy quality. As a result, look for a bid for Villa!

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The Return Of Alan Smith

                                                         

In Manchester United’s hour of need, there may just have been an answer to all of Alex Ferguson’s prayers! Alan Smith, out initially with a broken leg for the end of last season and most of this season and injured upon his return, looks set to make his first appearence for months in this afternoon’s clash with Middlesborough. Smith has been unlucky where injury is concerned since joining Manchester United in the summer of 2004. However, as Sir Alex Ferguson now has most of his forward line out, and even the one remaining forward isn’t fully fit (Wayne Rooney has a gash on his leg), Smith is certainly a welcome addition to the squad.

 

 

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Free Man Utd Avatars

 

             

Are you tired of finding that you can’t use your favourite Manchester United picture as an avatar on chat sites because it is too big? There don’t seem to be many decent ones out there to use. They are either blurry or you have to pay for them. Not anymore! I’ve found a website with free avatars of your favourite Manchester United players past and present. The avatars feature players like Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Alan Smith and Paul Scholes.

The website is at http://www.manutdonline.org/. They also have wallpapers (for an example, see above), fan art and free email. Take a look at the site for freebies that cannot be found anywhere else!

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Smith not for sale, says Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson has quashed any rumours circulating around that Alan Smith is set to leave the club having had a dreadful time at the club due to injuries and making a slow recovery of sorts. Although he has seen more action taking part in reserve team action, it was largely believed that Fergie did not hold him in the same stead as he did before especially with the arrival of Henrik Larsson and Guiseppe Rossi back into the squad. All that was obviously not true now that Fergie have put those stories to rest by coming out in full support for Smith. This is what he had to say:

“Alan is doing really well at the moment.

“We put him on a speed programme, which had an immediate effect and we have seen a tremendous improvement in him over the last month.

“He is certainly not far away now.

“I wanted to take him down to West Ham but he didn’t want to go. He just wanted to stay and train on his own. He deserves great credit for that because it is not easy.

“He doesn’t want to travel again tomorrow either, so he will be training again.”

Smith had been linked with a move to Everton and David Moyes was keen on his signature but the Scot has now dismissed that possibility out of hand with this latest press conference.

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Manchester United Player Profiles : Alan Smith

Alan “Smudger” Smith started playing his football with Leeds United. Signing a professional contract with them in 1998, he scored on his debut when Leeds beat Liverpool in November 1998, going on to to establish himself as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s first choice striking partner for the rest of that season.

After the appointment of David O’Leary in October 1998, Smith was one of several youngsters to benefit from the Irishman’s belief in his younger charges. Smith gained excellent experience during Leeds’ successful Champions League run during the 2000/01 season. But the fiery striker was sent-off in Leeds last game of the competition and he must learn to stay cool. However, the return of 11 Premiership goals was the best of his career.

He fought off the challenge of Robbie Keane to stay third in the pecking order at the club, but the 2001/02 season saw him deployed in a midfield role to accommodate the signing of Robbie Fowler from Liverpool. That understandably had a detrimental affect on his goals return. Smith made his England debut against Mexico at Pride Park in May 2001, and remained high on England boss Sven Goran Eriksson’s list of strikers for the 2002 World Cup.

His disciplinary record continued to haunt the player. The 2003/04 season would prove a huge one for Smith. He would leave Leeds, have a dramatic and embarrassing saga with the England set-up and see his beloved team relegated with spiralling debts.

The season started in familiar fashion for Smith, as he collected nine yellow cards in the first 21 games. But he remained a shining light in a dismal Leeds team battling for survival. The striker was called into the England squad for the first time since the Macedonia red card for the friendly against Denmark at Old Trafford. However, the FA failed to note that he was under investigation by the police for throwing a bottle into the crowd during a Carling Cup defeat to Manchester United. FA rules state that a player under police investigation cannot represent the national side, and within minutes of Smith arriving at the team hotel he was sent home again.

Back in domestic action, Smith was an inspiration. He was not booked from the start of January for the rest of the season as he led the Yorkshire side’s fruitless race for survival. A return of nine Premiership goals was the second best of his career. Relegation for Leeds would always mean the exit door for Smith, something which he had not denied for a number of months. Smith had scored 56 goals in a total of 228 games for the Elland Road club and was given a hero’s send off in his final game as Leeds were relegated. The fans invaded the pich and carried Smith shoulder high - if only they knew what was around the corner.

After interest from Everton and Middlesbrough, Smith eventually got his dream move to United on May 26, 2004, signing a five-year contract. Leeds received £6million, with the reported £7million balance reflected in the savings made on the player’s signing-on fees and other associated considerations. Smith agreed to waive his signing-on fee as a sign of goodwill, with the club also confirming no agents’ fees were incurred.

With a deadly eye for goal, aggression and great desire, Smith got off to a great start scoring a stunning 25 yard drive on his debut against Arsenal in the Community Shield. He then netted 4 times in his first 8 games including an acrobatic volley against Norwich. However, the return of Ruud van Nistelrooy from injury saw him drop to the bench by mid-season and his appearances became increasingly limited. Even when the Dutchman was injured again late season, Sir Alex preferred playing Wayne Rooney on his own in a 4-2-3-1 formation which left Smith warming the bench.

Season 2005-2006 was notable for the conversion of Smith from striker to midfielder by Sir Alex. At the start of the season he had been in his usual position as a second striker but soon began lining up alongside Darren Fletcher and Roy Keane. When Keane picked up a foot injury against Liverpool in mid September (and his subsequent exit in November) lan made a permanent switch to central midfield. Whilst the transition to midfield produced much scepticism at first, as the months went on Smith settled into the role and was performing well. Then disaster struck at Anfield in United’s 5th round FA Cup defeat by Liverpool. After coming on as a late sub, Smith had been trying to block a John Arne Riise free-kick in the closing stages of the game.

He suffered a horrific leg break and dislocated his ankle after falling awkwardly. Smith said: “I felt my leg go from under me as I went to block a free-kick,” “When I looked down, the leg was lying one way and my ankle was pointing towards Hong Kong so I knew I was in serious trouble.” It was feared that this was a career-ending injury but thankfully an operation to repair the damage was a success and he is expected to make full recovery for season 2006-2007. The injury meant Smith missed the Carling Cup final a week later but United players paid tribute by wearing T-shirts with “For you Smudge” as they collected the trophy.

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Alan Smith Transfer Talk

There had been a report in the press earlier about the possibility of Alan Smith leaving on loan to a championship side (Read one such article here). I fail to see the sense in sending Alan Smith out on loan when Solskjaer is already injured and there is no real striker left as backup.

Thankfully today, there is a report suggesting Smith has snubbed loan deals in favour of staying and fighting for a first-team place at United. Although, like I said I fail to understand why he was offered to leave when we have so little cover in the striking department (unless SAF plans on bringing Rossi back in January!)

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Manchester United vs. Southend United (Carling Cup - 4th Round) Review

It just had to happen! The “Shrimpers” did it to us! That bugger Tilson must be on cloud nine having feared a mauling at the hands of United and instead saw his Championship-struggling team overcome a largely lacklustre United. Still, with the quality we had on the pitch … the game should’ve been won hands down. Too bad though! It turned out to be one of those days … and to their credit, they were anything but a side at the bottom of the Championship.

Fergie is trying to put a brave face but he must’ve been disappointed with the lads he took to Roots Hall should have come back with a victory. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney played the full 90 minutes but could not help United draw level and atleast take the tie into extra time. For large parts of the game, United were dominant and when the likes of Ronaldo found some room to shoot, their keeper was there to deny us every single time!

They scored a wonderful goal from a free-kick through Freddy Eastwood, although may have been a little late in judging the direction of the ball and hence being that split-second late in failing to make a save. Nevertheless, we huffed and puffed and tried over and over but the ball just wouldn’t go in for us. Like I said, one of those days. Alan Smith had a disappointing game for me upfront, he was removed in the second half still looking short of match fitness.

All in all, not much to shout about. But at the end of the day, I would prefer us to do well in the League and CL that do well in Carling Cup any day … so let’s hope we’ve gained more then we’ve lost today. Bring on Blackburn on Satda!

Other Reports: BBC, Soccernet.

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