Manchester United: 18/03/2012

Friday 23 March 2012

Everton boss Moyes admires the “purists” of Swansea

Fri, 03/23/2012

Everton meet Swansea at the weekend and Toffees boss David Moyes has spoken of his admiration for the South Wales teams style of play.

The Swans progress under Brendan Rodgers has certainly impressed Moyes, who is anticipating a tough task at the Liberty Stadium, where the home team have been beaten only twice this term.

"Swansea are real purists in terms of what they want to try to do," Moyes said.

"The style they play is great and I've admired what they have done.

"I'm looking forward to this, but it will be a tough game. We will have to make sure we try to stop the rhythm of their play, because if you don't, then they get into it.

"They are making 500 or 600 passes in every game they play - they are out-passingManchester United and Arsenal in games.

"So you have to be aware that there will be lots of times in the game where you don't have the ball because of how well they do it."

"They are doing great in the league - they are certainly going to be in the Premier League (next season), so it's probably just about where they finish now," Moyes added.

"Brendan has done a great job and has worked very hard to get into the position he is in. He deserves everything he is getting."

Fulham boss Jol recalls rejecting assistant manager’s post at Man Utd

Fri, 03/23/2012

Fulham boss Martin Jol admires Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson and almost became his assistant in 2003/04.

Ferguson revealed last year he approached Jol about becoming his assistant while the Dutchman was in charge at RKC Waalwijk.

"At that time I met him only to have a conversation with him about everything," the Cottagers boss said.

"[The chance to become his assistant] was what he said afterwards. We talked football - they played Real Madrid with the 'big' Ronaldo - so it was nice.

"Later he said about the assistant manager post, but I remember his assistant Carlos Queiroz went to Spain to Real Madrid.

"He was sacked so there was always a possibility for him to take him back and that is what he did.

"I think that was good because I don't think I am the best assistant in the world.

"I have a good relationship with [Ferguson]. If you look at the stats, he is probably the best manager ever."

Evans earns the plaudits from Man Utd boss Ferguson

Fri, 03/23/2012

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is fulsome in his praise for how Jonny Evans has contributed to the Reds cause this campaign.

The 24 year old Northern Ireland international has featured more often in central defence for United than any other player in this injury-ravaged campaign.

"He's playing regularly and I think that helps," said Ferguson.

"He is still a young player of course and when they get runs of games it helps with their consistency. His partnership with Rio has been very good."

In fact, after Nemanja Vidic was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury, Ferguson believes Ferdinand has been a major influence on Evans.

"A lot of it has to do with Rio actually because he's really helped Jonny," said Ferguson.

"Jonny's always had terrific ability and it's good to see he's in consistent form."

Man Utd’s Park still most expensive South Korean on Euro market

Fri, 03/23/2012

Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung is still the most expensive South Korean player according to Transfermarkt.

The German website suggests that the former South Korean captain is valued at €9.5million on the European transfer market making him the still most marketable player from the sovereign state.

Park has enjoyed sustained success at club level since joining the Red Devils from Dutch giantsPSV Eindhoven in 2005 and at 31 years of age, still heads up the group of fellow South Koreans plying their trade in European leagues even though his value has plummeted around €2m in the past year-and-a-half.

Coming in second is injured Bolton winger Lee Chung-yong with a market value of €7.5million whilst Arsenal striker Park Chu-young was third with €6million.

Behind the top three were Hamburg’s Son Heung-min (€4.5m), Wolfsburg’s Augsburg loanee Koo Ja-cheol (€2.5m), Jo Dong-won of Sunderland (€1.5m) and Jung Jo-gook of Nancy (€1m).

Ferguson unsure of Scholes extending Man Utd stay

Fri, 03/23/2012

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits he is not too sure about Paul Scholes’ standing in the game after this season.

The 37-year old midfielder came out of retirement in January to help the then-injury-hit Red Devils but Ferguson says he doesn’t know if the former England international will be back again next term even though he wants a 12-month contract.

"I've not approached that subject at all,” he said.

But Fergie indicated that Scholes still has what it takes to play on further than this current campaign even if that means picking and choosing the games he plays in to protect his ageing body.

"Paul can dictate the tempo and rhythm of our game very well," added Ferguson.

"He has the experience which helps him do that and a terrific football brain.

"He wanted to retire because he wanted to play 50 games, not 25. He didn't think that was enough.

"Maybe he felt that was me not giving him enough appreciation but what I was trying to do was look at it in a sensible way and think what do you get out of a 37-year-old? How many games can you get out of him?

"There will be games where we maybe leave him out, but we also know the games he can play in."