Manchester United news and links

Links to resources about Luzhniki Stadium and Moscow in general

When Roman Abramovich spent £140 million of his £8 billion fortune on buying Chelsea in 2003, his mission was clear: make the club number one in the world.

Sheff Utd (1) 1 Man Utd (1) 2Manchester United overcame Sheffield United thanks to two spectacular volleyed goals by Wayne Rooney.

From the Guardian: The Manchester United and England legend on his greatest ever game, Scarlett Johansson and Westlife

The last traces of the pre-Glazer era at Old Trafford were eroded significantly today when Manchester United’s finance director Nick Humby and commercial director Andy Anson resigned.

From the Middleton Guardian: Football legend Brian Kidd has taken his first job since winning his battle with prostate cancer. The Alkrington resident has agreed to join Premiership new boys Sheffield United as coach.

Ruud van Nistelrooy profile from Soccerbase.

From manutd.com: The first team will be training on the pitch at Old Trafford on Friday 11 August and unlike most training sessions - this one is open to the public.

Wayne’s domain name court claim…

The accessible version of www.manutd.com disappears.

Simply great news as our annual interest payments fall to only £62m, and our overall borrowing rises to a paltry £660m.

Oliver Kay in The Times: “The failure to add to the squad has fuelled disquiet among United fans, who have long been sceptical about the club’s prospects of flourishing under the ownership of the Glazer family.”

Away tickets will be even harder to come by next season.

John Carlin eulogises in The Observer Sport Monthly: “Had Paul Scholes been born with David Beckham’s looks he would have been a football legend. The enemy of glamour, a timid homebody whose soul belongs to his native Salford, Scholes is the most naturally gifted player England produced between Paul Gascoigne and Wayne Rooney, the closest thing to a homegrown Zinedine Zidane.”

Amsterdam Tournament fixtures.

Manchester United have announced the itinerary for their Vodacom Challenge pre-season tour of South Africa. The Reds will face three teams in their 10-day tour, playing in three different cities.

Manchester United can confirm that Wayne Rooney has rejoined the England squad in Germany following his scan in Manchester.

Beckham returns: David Beckham and Real Madrid’s Galacticos are in line for a pre-season curtain-raiser at Old Trafford to officially celebrate the opening of the new quadrants.

Mihir Bose in the The Telegraph: The Premier League are heading for a showdown with Fifa after football’s world governing body announced yesterday that all top divisions in Europe must have no more than 18 clubs from the 2007-2008 season.

Ticket details for the friendly at Deepdale.

From the M.E.N: NINETEEN per cent of Manchester United fans asked in a survey said they would not renew their season tickets because of the cost.

Woo-hoo: Benfica are considering making a move for Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, but the former Real Madrid coach admits it will be difficult to prise him away from Old Trafford.

United have completed a league and cup double after Aston Villa’s defeat to Leeds handed the FA Premier Reserve League Title to Rene Meulensteen’s side.

David Gill: We’re not going to rename Old Trafford,” said Gill. “We can go on record and say that won’t happen. I don’t think there’s value there and it’s not something we, or they (the Glazers), want to do.

Increases across the board, but they generously give us until May 19th to pay for next season’s tickets.

From the BBC: Manchester United have signed the UK’s biggest-ever shirt sponsorship deal.

From manutd.com: Sales will commence to ST/LMTB Holders who wish to purchase their own seats from 9am on Friday 31 March through to 5pm on Tuesday 4 April by calling the 24 hour ticket order line on 0870 442 1999, making an on line booking at the clubs official website, or calling in to the Ticketing and Membership Services weekdays from 9am to 5pm.

Custom stylesheet for users of the Red Issue forums

Guardian diarist Jon Henley exposes celebrity red James Nesbitt.

… but wants fans to fork out for an additional four champions league matches.

Don’t worry John, you already are…

From ManchesterOnline: New Manchester United season ticket holders will also be forced to join the Red Devils ‘Cup scheme’, which could cost them an extra £250 a year.

Desperate measures? Season ticket holders can purchase an additional book for next season.

Daniel Taylor in The Guardian:
Malcolm Glazer’s commitment to making financial cutbacks at Manchester United has extended to the club’s squad, after it emerged last night that some of Sir Alex Ferguson’s fringe players had to pay £72 each for tickets to watch the Carling Cup final. Several directors, scouts, coaches and senior staff also had […]

Daniel Taylor in the Guardian:
Supporters may have another shock when next season’s ticket prices are announced shortly. An increase is expected, though the club will argue they are entitled to raise prices in line with some Premiership rivals and that tickets will still be far cheaper than, say, at Stamford Bridge. With the new quadrants […]

Something to hide? From the Telegraph: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all opposed the Premier League bungs inquiry being led by Lord Stevens and his firm Quest.

In the Guardian: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was taken to hospital after suffering a heavy blow to the side of the head in Manchester United reserves’ 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough last night.

From manutd.com: Paul Scholes has trained for the first time since United confirmed he’d miss the rest of the season with an eye problem.

A sign of things to come: “The Fans’ Forum [suggested] that the loyalty pot should be suspended for the Bolton Wanderers away game on Saturday 1st April. Supporters who are members of the loyalty pot could still apply for this game but their priority status was not taken into consideration.”

The Guardian: Several United supporters have written to Liverpool to complain that home supporters in the Anfield Road end had thrown paper cups containing excrement into the away section below them.

Scouse wit in the Guardian: The reputation of Liverpool fans took another pummelling last night when it was revealed that the ambulance taking Alan Smith to hospital had come under attack outside Anfield. Supporters surrounded the vehicle while throwing missiles and shouting “Munich scum” in reference to the plane crash that killed 23 people, including eight Manchester United players, in 1958.

ManchesterOnline on those lovable scousers: Manchester United and Liverpool have issued a joint statement condemning the fans who attacked the ambulance taking Alan Smith to hospital at the weekend.

The Guardian report that capacity will be up to 70,000 for Birmingham on March 26th.

From the M.E.N. Brian Kidd is ready to return to football after winning his fight against a life-threatening illness.

From The Guardian: Telecom giant’s marketing chief explains why they are happy to leave United and Ferrari for vision of future

Eric in The Telegraph: Cantona loves the ethos of attack and be damned embodied by the club of Rooney and Ronaldo. “Since the club were created, Manchester United are strong, and always have the same kind of [creative] football,”

From BBC Sport: Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an eye problem.

Ashling O’Connor in The Times: “MANCHESTER United hinted yesterday that they may no longer publish the fees they pay agents while their Premiership rivals remain steadfastly silent on the sums handed to the player-transfer middlemen.”

Nick Harris in The Independent: Sir Alex Ferguson will be Manchester United’s manager “for many years to come”, the club’s chief executive, David Gill, said yesterday, as he launched a bullish defence of United’s stuttering performance, on and off the pitch.

From BBC Sport: Manchester United have announced a profit of £46m for the year ending June 2005, which amounts to a drop of £12.3m from the previous 12 months.