Blog: Fine term for strikers

Reserves coach and goalscoring legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer assesses the United strikers' season, in a blog written before Cristiano Ronaldo became Madrid-bound...

With us being in the mix for so many trophies in one season, you couldn’t complain about the strikers' contributions. The Gaffer’s famous for rotating his forwards, and he did that this season as well, so they all contributed at different parts. You can’t expect one striker to score over 40 goals like Cristiano did last year, because if you do then the rest of the team might not contribute as much.

This year everyone had to dig in and score a few goals themselves. We had quite a few players on double figures – Cristiano, Berba, Carlos and Wazza all did it, which is good. Although scoring goals was something they all had in common, they offered something different in style terms for the manager. He could go for Carlos when he needed his movement or bring in Berba for his touch and class. The boss could also use Cristiano’s pace and Wazza’s a centre forward too, so he really did have many options at his disposal.

Depending on how he thought a game was going to pan out and how the opposition would defend against us, that attacking variety was important for him. The players could rotate, but all four of them could play together, which is fantastic. How they all combined in the win over Spurs was just amazing. It must have been so hard to play against them.

But it’s not just those four, of course. Kiko Macheda and Danny Welbeck both did well too. They both came on in games and scored goals, and you can’t expect too much of young kids like that, but it’s fair to say they both had good seasons as well. The few appearances they made showed the real promise, talent and temperament they have.
The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Cristiano Ronaldo

Papers: Spend, spend, spend

£100million to burn
Sir Alex Ferguson has been handed a £100million transfer fund by Manchester United after he personally gave the order for Cristiano Ronaldo to be sold to Real Madrid. And United last night prepared to enter a bidding war with Chelsea for France international Franck Ribery which could go as high as £65m. Old Trafford boss Ferguson is also known to have Lyon’s £25m forward Karim Benzema on his hit list and he hopes to conclude the £16m signing of Wigan’s Antonio Valencia in the near future. Far from being reluctant to allow Ronaldo to leave, Ferguson actively encouraged the deal once he was made aware of the massive £80million fee. It is also understood that the entire proceeds of the deal will be made available along with Ferguson's annual £20m transfer budget. Wigan’s Ecuador winger Valencia has long been a Ferguson target and he will almost certainly join shortly while the United manager has not yet given up on persuading Carlos Tevez to stay on a long-term deal. As well as Benzema, Ferguson’s hit-list includes Barcelona holding player Yaya Toure. It is, however, the prospect of United going head to head with Chelsea for Bayern Munich’s Ribery that looks the most mouthwatering. Bayern have already indicated the 26-year-old is not for sale and it will take an offer of around £65m for the Frenchman to be prised away.
Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail

United have been linked with a host of top talents since Ronaldo's potential departure was announced. The Guardian says Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o could arrive, while wingers David Silva (The Times) and Arjen Robben (Daily Star) are also being monitored.

Sir Alex is also keen to prevent any more players leaving Old Trafford, according to The Times, who say Barcelona are set to move for Nemanja Vidic and Manchester City lead the chase for Carlos Tevez.
Round up by Steve Bartram

Sir Alex Ferguson

Nemanja Vidic

Carlos Tevez

Nani: I'll step up

As United are linked with a host of new signings to replace the outgoing Cristiano Ronaldo, Reds winger Nani is confident of rediscovering his best form and showing his true value.

The former Sporting Lisbon winger is certain Ronaldo will be a success at the Santiago Bernabeu, and he is similarly confident of stepping up to the plate in his countryman's absence.

"He has been doing an excellent job so I think he deserves it," Nani told Portuguese news agency IOL. "It is a fantastic amount, excellent and fair value for what he has done. Real Madrid are a great club and will be good for him.

"I think I can have more opportunities now. Cristiano was very important to Manchester but now I can show my value and they will gamble more on me."

Nani struggled to replicate the impressive form of his maiden campaign last term, but has still made 72 appearances and scored 10 goals since arriving from Portugal in the summer of 2007.

Wayne's best campaign

You might have missed it but there were two other United forwards in the news this week.

While Cristiano Ronaldo was becoming the subject of an £80million bid, his team-mates Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez were bringing their 2008/09 campaigns to contrasting ends with their countries.

Rooney described the season as his "best with England" after scoring two of their six goals against Andorra on Wednesday night. He has now scored 24 times for the national team, the same number as Sir Geoff Hurst - legendary hat-trick hero in the 1966 World Cup final - and almost half of Sir Bobby Charlton's record haul of 49.

"I have been delighted with the way the scoring has gone for me in the last few games," said Rooney, after 10 goals in seven England matches this season.

"I've never based my game on goals alone - I love playing and getting on the ball and getting involved in the game. I am doing that, and the goals are coming on top of that as well. Hopefully the goals will continue but we are performing as a team and I believe we have one foot in the World Cup finals."

Carlos Tevez's bid to reach the finals suffered a blow, however, when Argentina lost 2-0 in Ecuador.

The United striker missed a first-half penalty at 0-0; the hosts won with two late goals after Tevez was substituted in the 67th minute.

Argentina are now only two points ahead of their conquerors in the qualifying stakes and they have a tough game to come next against Brazil. The latter defeated Paraguay 2-1 without the services of United midfielder Anderson - if they beat Tevez's team in Buenos Aires in September, Brazil will book their place at South Africa 2010.

Korea Republic were already through prior to Wednesday's 0-0 draw at home to Saudi Arabia, in which Ji-sung Park played another full match as captain.

Serbia are almost there after winning 2-0 away to the Faroe Islands - Nemanja Vidic was only a spectator, however, following his injury at the weekend.

08/09 Review: Foster

Sir Alex expects Ben Foster to be United and England's no. 1 for many years to come, but the 26 year-old is having to wait as the evergreen Edwin van der Sar continues to excel. Thankfully Ben realises patience is a virtue...

Start to finish: Foster's nine appearances in 2008/09 included two at Wembley in the cups. His two league starts were both in the north-east.

Vital contribution: Going to Sunderland and Middlesbrough to face sides battling for their top-flight lives in front of a partisan crowd is never easy and Foster performed admirably in both as the Reds secured six vital points at the business end of the season.

Any other business: Ben was the hero of the hour in the Carling Cup final, using goalkeeping coach Eric Steele's iPod as an aid to help shatter Tottenham Hotspur's hopes in the penalty shoot-out. Foster enjoyed another Wembley clean sheet in the FA Cup semi against Everton, but this time it was former Reds keeper Tim Howard who emerged victorious from the lottery of the spot-kicks.

Any lows: A thumb injury required an operation which kept him out of the season's closing matches, including two World Cup qualifiers with England.