Captain Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand spoke of his delight in captaining Manchester United in this week's Champions League game.



In Ferdinand's first game as captain, Manchester United stormed to a 6-2 victory over Turkish club Fenerbahce.

"It was unbelievable to lead the team out. I was delighted to be asked to follow the players to have done so."

But the United defender was quick to distance himself from taking on the role full time.

"To walk out of the tunnel first was great but I will have no problem walking behind Roy Keane against Middlesbrough on Sunday." added Ferdinand.

"Roy has been a fantastic captain of this club. He has been here for many years and won lots of trophies. The longer he stays here, the better it is for Manchester United."

Rooney's Dream Debut

Wayne Rooney kickstarted his Manchester United career with an incredible hat-trick as he demolished Fenerbahce in Tuesday's Champions League clash.



Ferguson said: "I think this is probably the strongest squad I have had.

"That's why we signed him as he's got great potential. But I would rather talk about the game to be honest. He is only 18 and a young boy, don't forget."

"He obviously tired in the last 20 minutes, but given that it was his first game since the European Championships you could expect that," he said."

"The important thing for me as a coach is to allow the boy to develop naturally without too much public attention. I want him to be as ordinary as he can."

"We have managed to combine the team of the past with younger players who are going to get better. This team can develop over the next three years."

The Wayne Rooney Show

Wayne Rooney will make his Manchester United debut when the Old Trafford club face Turkish side Fenerbahce in today’s Champions League encounter.



Sir Alex Ferguson must decide whether to play Rooney from the start or use him as a substitute following his 13 week recovery of a broken metatarsal.

"Maybe putting him on the bench would be the fairest thing to do," said the Old Trafford boss.

"Nonetheless, he is going to be involved. We're looking forward to it."

Seven years ago, Fenerbahce became the first club ever to beat Manchester United’s in a European competition at Old Trafford.

Expect a fiery affair.

United Have No Money

Following the high profile acquisitions of Wayne Rooney, Gabriel Heinze and Alan Smith, Manchester United have revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson has spent his transfer budget for the next two windows.



Following on from Manchester United's poor pre-tax profits, the £27m deal for Wayne Rooney has obviously hurt the club's pockets.

In a statement, Mr Harding of United said "There's no doubt that the purchase of Wayne Rooney has taken up the budget for the next two transfer windows and the manager has been made aware that only if he makes sales will funds be made available," Mr Harding added."

Positive Profit Slide

Manchester United have seen their pre-tax profits fall from £39.3m to £27.9.m in the last year.



The club's media revenues are also expected to fall by £14 in the wake of last season's third place Premiership finish.

Operating profits have risen from £55.1m to £58.3m but the club's shares have dropped to 255p.

In a bizarre twist of logic, United's off the field slump could deter potential take over bids and save the club from the clutches of American business tycoon Malcolm Glazer.

Premiership Predictions

There are two types of clubs; those that are run well and those that are not.



In the last six months Tottenham Hotspur have been transformed from perennial strugglers into a well structured club.

After last weekend’s 0-0 draw, Jose Mourinho questioned Jacques Santini’s defensive tactics but it is testament to the hard work of everyone at the club that this was even possible.

Tottenham fans have always considered their club as one of the Premiership giants but until last season they simply conceded too many goals to have any chance of success.

With Ledley King dropping back into defence and the arrival of Paul Robinson, Nourredine Naybet and Erik Edman the Tottenham back-line is looking very strong indeed.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will need to be at his very best to take anything away from White Hart Lane this weekend.

Football Legend Brian Clough Dies

Nottingham Forrest legend Brain Clough has died in hospital, aged 69.



A spokeswoman for Derby City Hospital said: "It is with the deepest sadness that we announce that Brian Clough has died peacefully at the age of 69."

"Brian was an in-patient at Derby City General Hospital, and his family were with him when he passed away in hospital on September 20."

Famous for his eccentric approach Brian Clough was a true legend of the game and will be sorely missed by everyone involved in it.

The former Middlesbrough and Sunderland player enjoyed an illustrious career as one England's best managers.

During an 18-year reign at the helm of Nottingham Forrest Clough won numerous league titles, two successive European Cups and four League Cups.

Ferdinand Inspires Red Devils

Rio Ferdinand enjoyed a winning start on his return to action following his eight month ban for missing a drugs test.



The 25 year-old England international played the full 90 minutes and was the last player to leave the field in an emotional return to Premiership action.

"It was brilliant. Physically and mentally it's all new again but I got into it and it was just nice to be back out there," said Ferdinand.

"The fans were fantastic as soon as I came out for the warm-up."

Manchester United went on to win the game against arch-rivals Liverpool thanks to two headed goals from Mickael Sylvestre.

Ferdinand Returns

Sir Alex Ferguson has all but confirmed that Rio Ferdinand will be in the starting XI when Manchester United face Liverpool on Monday.



The England international will be available for selection after his eight-month ban expired for failing to take a drug test.

"I think it is best that I throw Rio in at the deep end," Ferguson is quoted as saying in his programme notes.

"He will revel in the great atmosphere generated on these occasions."

Ferdinand's return will provide the Old Trafford club with a welcome boost following Manchester United's worst ever Premiership start.

In the 22 league games that Ferdinand missed, United have only won 8.

Neville Knock-Out

Manchester United's Gary Neville has been ruled out for up to four weeks after suffering a hair-line fracture of the knee while on England duty.



The news will be a further blow to Alex Ferguson whose team already sits nine points behind champions Arsenal.

"Gary has a hairline fracture in his left knee cap and we expect him to be out for between three and four weeks," said a United spokeswoman.

The 29-year-old England defender is expected to miss the Premiership games against Liverpool, Tottenham and Middlesbrough as well as the Champions League game against Lyon.

Fortunately for United, they have a ready made replacement in younger brother Phil, who deputised for his brother in Saturday's disappointing 2-2 draw against Bolton.

Brown Bumbles Back

Wes Brown is back in Manchester United's first team after recovering from his Achilles tendon injury.



Since his inclusion in the team a few weeks ago, Wes Brown has made a number of costly mistakes.

Unfortunately for United, history suggests the 24-year-old defender will take a few weeks to settle back in to the side.

Once he does, Ferguson will have a dilema as Rio Ferdinand will undoubtedly return to reclaim his central defensive role.

United Playing Ketchup

Manchester United earned a dramatic injury-time goal to salvage a draw against local rivals Bolton.



Gabriel Heinze scored the opening goal on his United debut but after strikes from Kevin Nolan and Les Ferdinand United were forced to play catch-up.

Saturday's result leaves the Old Trafford club in 10th position and a staggering nine points behind Arsenal, having played just five games.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was a surprise inclusion following his hernia operation but despite being involved in some of his team's best moves, he struggled to have an impact on the game.

Alex Ferguson later admitted to rushing his prolific striker back into action too soon but these are desperate times for such a struggling team.

The game against Bolton is further proof that although United are still a very strong side, they do not intimidate the opposition quite like they did a couple of years ago.

In a bizarre twist of logic, it may work to Alex Ferguson's advantage that United are now considered being third best.

United always play their best football when they are considered under-dogs and with van Nistelrooy back in the side and Rooney and Ferdinand just two weeks away, the future is still golden.

Manchester United: The Under-Dogs

Alex Fergusson appears to consider Manchester United as the under-dogs to both Arsenal and Chelsea in the current Premiership campaign.



Sir Alex said of his £27m capture of Wayne Rooney: "I can see Wayne having the same impact as Eric had on the team when I signed him."

"Eric came at a time when we hadn't won the title for 25 years and he was the man of a very important moment."

"Since then we have won a few titles but now we're trying to step up a few notches to a better level of play."

Such words were echoed by Gary Neville when he stated: "If we don't win the title this year, we could go three or four years without bringing it home."

I suspect these are mind games by Alex Fergusson set to shift the pressure away from his own team and on to his rivals.

Souness Wanders On

Graeme Souness has quit as manager of Blackburn Rovers to take over at Newcastle United.



The former manager of Liverpool, Rangers, Galatasaray, Southampton, Torino, Benfica and now Blackburn can now add Newcaslte to his underachieving string of clubs.

Souness said: "I hope people can understand my reasons for leaving Blackburn. I think I'm ready for a big challenge and they don't come much bigger than this."

"Newcastle is one of the best-supported clubs around. It is a club where everything is there to be successful and I just hope I'm the man to bring it to them."

If Souness fails to deliver, Freddy Shepherd had better be prepared for a backlash from the Toon Army.

James the Villain

David James was again England's villain as they squandered a two-goal lead to struggling Austria.



Sven Goran Eriksson has a big decision to make before Wednesday's crucial World Cup Qualifying game against Poland.

Despite David James' hapless performance, England played with a balance unseen in years after fielding both Wayne Bridge and Ashley Cole.

Woodward A Football Manager?

Sir Clive Woodward has admitted he wants to make the transition into football being a football manager but he has ruled out joining Southampton.



The ex-England rugby coach has ruled out any move until the summer of next year as he said he was "100% commited" to the 2005 Lions tour but would then take his FA coaching badges.

He said: "I'm interested in football, I intend to do the awards but I may end up coaching Maidenhead under-nines.

"You have to start at the bottom and I intend to do that."

Is this man insane? What makes him think he can manage a football club without never playing the game?

Granted, Sir Clive Woodward may be a very talented rugby coach and an excellent man-manager but means nothing in the world of football.

At least he is humble enough to admit he would have to start at the bottom.

"You only get the top jobs after time and in terms of football I am a million miles off that," he said.

"You have to start at the bottom and I intend to do that. There have been links between our sport (rugby) and Southampton Football Club because of Rupert Lowe, who I have known for many years."

"I have spoken to him and asked if there is anything else I can do down there but that's nothing to do with the first team."

"I been down to Southampton and looked at their Academy which is among the best in Europe. I've been over to the USA without getting any headlines but I'm not about to become an NFL coach, not yet."

Woodward added: "There's no role been offered to me. All I've said is that I'm interested in coaching football."

"I will be taking no jobs in any capacity at Southampton while I am coaching the Lions and even after that I do not know what I will be doing."

Rooney Relishes New Challenge

Wayne Rooney is Manchester United's jewel of English football and one only a handful of clubs could afford.



Rooney said: "I made it clear that I wanted to leave Everton. Once I knew Manchester United were interested, there was only one place I was going."

"I knew that I wanted to further my career and play in the Champions League."

"After Euro 2004 I made up my mind that I had to get to a bigger club. I wanted to play with the big players week in, week out."

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has already informed the England striker he must relocate from Merseyside even though the teenager currently lives only 30 miles from the Red Devils' Carrington training ground.

The prospect of seeing Wayne Rooney perform like he did during the Euros alongside Paul Scholes is a mouth-watering prospect.