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Fabregas set for talks to clarify Barcelona future
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By Paul Clennam | Goal.com – 3 hours ago
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Fabregas set for talks to clarify Barcelona futureView Photo
Fabregas set for talks to clarify Barcelona future

Cesc Fabregas will meet with new Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino in the next 48 hours as he seeks assurances over his future at Camp Nou.

The Manchester United target wants to clarify his position with Martino ahead of publicly announcing his intentions this summer, with Barcelona having already rejected two approaches from the Premier League champion for the 26-year-old.

Martino insisted on Friday that the Catalans would also dismiss any further approaches from United for the midfielder, with Goal having revealed last week that the club was preparing an improved bid of 41 million euros for the former Arsenal star.

Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu has also previously ruled out and chance of the club selling the Spain international, insisting: "Whatever offer United make, however big, we will say no. Cesc Fabregas will stay a Barcelona player."

However, Fabregas is keen to meet with his new manager to ensure he remains key to the club's plans next term, and United are understood to be losing heart in their pursuit of the midfielder.

After Thiago Alcantara opted to join Bayern Munich ahead of United earlier in July, Fabregas has emerged as David Moyes' priority signing this summer.

The United boss admitted on Sunday that he was unsure whether his side will continue its efforts to sign Fabregas but insisted he will add to his squad before the close of the transfer window.

"I couldn't tell you if there will be another bid," Moyes said. "Obviously we'll take stock and make a decision on what we do next but we have a good squad already. You can't forget about the quality that's already here.

"Undoubtedly we hope to add to it and I'm quite confident we'll do that... certainly before the window shuts."

Yahoo! Sports.

Vidic set for return to action

Nemanja Vidic is in line for his first pre-season action for a Manchester United XI against Crewe on Monday night.

"Vidic is coming on well. If everything goes well, he'll play tomorrow [Monday] evening at Crewe."

– David Moyes

............................


Sir Bobby Charlton reckons Wayne ‪#‎Rooney‬ will stay at Manchester United and go on to beat his goalscoring record.

The England striker, whose tally of 197 goals is 52 short of Charlton's club record, has been left "angry and confused" by comments from David ‪#‎Moyes‬ and chief executive Ed Woodward since the end of last season and is open to the idea of leaving Old Trafford.

But United continue to insist Rooney - named publicly by Jose Mourinho as Chelsea's sole remaining transfer target this summer - is not for sale at any price.

"Wayne Rooney is a Manchester United player and I think that he will continue to be a Manchester United player. I don't like losing really, really good players and he is a really great player.

"I was hoping one day that he might score as many goals as I had and that would have been really nice if it was at our club - and I'm still thinking that way."

Injury has kept Rooney out of United's pre-season tour of Asia and Australia and, in his absence, new signing Wilfried Zaha has caught Charlton's eye.

"There's a new player, ‪#‎Zaha‬, and he's maybe been the star of the tour. Give him the ball and all he wants to do is beat defenders and smash it into the back of the net. I think crowds are going to love him." (Source: SkySports)

.....

Manchester United boss David ‪#‎Moyes‬ has excused his side's poor pre-season results by hailing the quality of the opposition.

When asked if he was concerned about recording two defeats and a draw from four Tour games thus far, Moyes insisted he was happy.

"It’s pre-season and we’re at the start of our season, we played two very good Japanese teams. We’d like to do better but I’ve seen some good signs and I think it’s improving.

"We’ll be ready for the start of season, no doubt about that. I’ve enjoyed the tour, it’s incredibly well run by Manchester United. The amount of supporters worldwide takes some believing at times. I think the players would tell you that in the main it’s run smoothly." (Source: Daily Mail)

28/07/2013 09:50, Report by G Thompson and N Coppack in Hong Kong
Moyes confident over signings

David Moyes is confident the Reds will bring in some new faces before the transfer window closes.

The United manager confirmed earlier this month that the club had made a bid for Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas and while the boss had no major update on that situation, he insists he remains optimistic over possible signings.

"We hope we will do [sign new players], but what we've got is a good squad already. You can't forget about the quality that's already here," he told reporters in Hong Kong on Sunday.

"Undoubtedly we hope to add to it and I'm quite confident we'll do that... certainly before the window shuts."

On Fabregas, Moyes added: "I couldn't tell you if there will be another bid. Obviously we'll take stock and make a decision on what we do next."

Manchester United official facebook & website.

dademola: if DDG's vastly improved performances last season r anything to go by, he cld be d nxt buffon within d nxt 2-3 yrs. Cant wait to see him build on last season's performances dis coming season. I think his inability to command his box is due to lack of confidence....wich i strongly feel he wld overcome pretty soon enof.

We share almost same impression about De Gea.

As for me, De Gea has great potential to be world best soon, but he is not in the category of Ceasar or Cech yet. The way these guys (Cech, Ceazar aand Hart)command their boxes and go out to take the ball before it gets to head of strikers make them a plus one defender to their teams when compared to De Gea. It takes off so much burden and panic from defenders. There is a difference between a keeper who has arrived and the one climbing to the top.

brosun: You should have gone to play yourself since it was so easy to have scored "6 or 7" against a side that are not minnows!

They played with 9 men for a long time and we could only add one goal all that time.

brosun: Too early for this, pls!! It's not over until it's over!

It doesn't matter. They should have scored 6 or 7 in the first leg and end the Ivorians hope.

When I said winning 4-1 was a poor result after Eagles played against 9 men in the second half, people attacked my comment then. Now see nervousness.

Wilfried Zaha with his first trophy as a Manchester United player- Man of the match.

After achieving his first trophy as a Man Utd player, he added in an interview with Manutd.com

~ “Everyone’s so nice and they make you feel comfortable. I was so nervous when I came in, but I was made to feel at home straight away,”

WILFRED ZAHA'S 4 MATCHES
STATISTICS:
Dribble 54 accuracy 85%
Passes 186 accuracy 97%
Shots 6 accuracy 67%
Goals 1 Assist 1
Blocks 3
Tackles 10 accuracy 98%
Controls accuracy 79.6%
Take downs 18 accuracy 84%

nitlad: www.fourfourtwo.com/blogs/statszone/archive/2013/05/31/stats-zone-premier-league-goalkeeper-of-the-year.aspx

I don't usually care what statistics say, but it is surprising to even know Hart kept 18 clean sheets. The truth is I only reluctantly accepted De Gea was the best last season because of the votes. But deep down in me I still had my doubts and I will be more comfortable any day if United had Cech or Julio Ceasar or Hart in goal. The day I will get comfortable with De Gea I will come here and say it. When I see a shot at him, I don't get panic, but the crosses.

[quote author=Mr_TA]Rooney underpaid? [/quote]Yes, even Messi said so.

Lower rated or less sought after players were already on 180K plus long before he demanded a higher pay. Also players with lower marketing value.

montelik: Elampiro is okay unless the issue becomes Rooney and/or DDG. When you have to be running down Kagawa, RVP even CR7 and Messi just to raise Rooney, you have lost objectivity. When you are still running down a goalie, who was acknowledge by his colleagues as the best performing over the season and then claiming a Joe Hart, who dropped more jaw dropping clangers last season than DDG has throughout his time in England is better and more reliable, who have lost objectivity.

Its all good, most posters here have certain players they will strenuously defend and others they are more harsh towards.

1. I am not running down a goalie, I am only stating my fear about him. We saw against Yokohama a ball directly from a corner kick beat De Gea, and he failed in same match to calculate another corner when he went out of his line wrongly, then he conceded cheaply. This has been my fear all the while. Did I not say last season that his inability to deal with crosses makes our defenders to over shield him? I have never taken away his potentials and his reflexes. You don't also have to forget in a hurry that Hart was once the best hands in the EPL, yet he came under serious criticism last season.

2. I have never said Rooney was better than Messi or Ronaldo. But anyone who puts Rooney in the category of Berbatov, Kagawa and Chicharito is the one that is not being objective. Rooney is judged by a different standard here, I just do not know why? This is the man who was once the 5th best footballer in the world and appears in best 20 list virtually every year, a man who has made the EPL best 11 of the season twice or thrice, a man who has won EPL player of the year, a man who was one of our six best last season, a man who was under paid for many years, the man who was voted a better player than CR7 in 2009, I can go all and all.

All these while Rooney was being ridiculed, no one accused anyone here of being subjective. But now I decided to start exposing other players so that we take stock at the end of next season, I am being accused of not being objective.

[quote author=Mr_TA]Have we resigned Gibson or did he also turn us down?[/quote]Today's papers rumour- United to go for a third bid for Fab with 40m pounds.

chamotex: So elampiro is obsessed with Rooney...no wonder.
I thought as much.

I am not obessed with Rooney, instead this thread is obsessed with hate for Rooney.

Imagine people making such statement as Rooney is the one preventing Kagawa from shining, etc. It so good Rooney is not even in the preseason and everyone is exposed.

dademola: elampiro,u've always cme across to me as a very objective football analyst........TILL U STARTED UR PRO-ROONEY CRUSADE here!! Mehn!! U've changed!! U now strike me as a one who's hell-bent on forcing his opinions down our throats here. I hav also noticed dt u've joined d league of pple dt support der arguements and butress der points with irrelevant and meaningless stats.. dt kld mk an ahmed musa appear to be betta dan CR7...eg d ones like "forward completed passes", "diagonal completed passes", "foward attempted shots", "backward attempted shots", " percentage losing ratio"....blahblanlahblah bullshi.t. Bros, ur posts and comments b4 dis rooney ish shows u'e way too intelligent for things like dis na. In dis crusade of urs, U've even started undermining RVP, and even doubting his qualities. Smh! Elampiro.. U're betta dan dis, believe me.

So you people are at home with criticism of Rooney, but similar or worse outing from RVP and Kagawa should never be mentioned here? Is it not obvious RVP is our worst forward in this preseason? So I should ignore his poor outing just because he is RVP?

Secondly, the statistics I provided stating the number of passes made by our team members was in response to the false impression that Rooney was poor in passing last season. Someone who got 83% of his overall passes right cannot be a poor passer. That's more than 8/10 while also having highest assists and key passes.

When people hate some players unnecessarily, we need to point out certain things. If I didn't mention then, they will all go unnoticed and people will be blaming the wrong people at the end.

The best promo ever. This is how a promo should be and not just giving 100 million to one individual.

RuuDie: @ Elampiro,

You say RvP misses too many chances... permit me to take you back to the season we lost the league on the final day to City - please "appraise" the last 2 games two or three times as is your norm - UTD vs Swansea and Sunderland - and see what your "White Pele" was doing.

What was he doing? Did he miss 4 consecutive one on one vs the goalkeeper and also did not involve in build ups meaningfully? I guess you have not been watching this preseason. RVP has been our weakest man in the attack. I am not even going to go back to last season to some matches he went to sleep or squandered our chances. I am just looking at this preseason only to rate the team and individuals.

We have a problem defending.

Super Sports 6 repeating Osaka Vs United match now.

I am sure SS3 will repeat it at least once tomorrow.

darefestus: Knee-Jerkers!!
The result obviously wasnt what we all wanted but there's no denying we played some brillant stuff today..That said, we really need to sort out our midfield issues..The way teams cut through that middle is definately worrying.
two of Verrati, McCarthy or Cabaye and we're sorted..No need lusting after Fabregas as it obviously WONT happen.

The worst thing is that they experimented with Giggs in the midfield again. Even though he has deft touches, he wouldn't keep with the energy of young guys, particularly in the EPL.

I am not too worried about the result, but the play. How can we allow Osaka to dominate us? Then what will happen when we face City, Chelsea and Totteham?

In this preseason, RVP has had 4 clear one on one with the goalkeeper left. I am not talking of half chance or where one needs to shoot while being marked or defenders trying to block. Why should a top rated striker be so wasteful. 4 consecutive face to face with the goalkeeper not professionally executed. If he played those balls well, the keeper would have no chance. There was a chance to chip or place it below to a corner.

Moreso, RVP's overall play in the final third has not been convincing enough in this preseason. The young guys do it better and unsettle the opponent better.

I am only stating my observation based on what I have seen so far.

I have watched all our matches, sometimes twice for a better appraisal.

chamotex: Did you watch the match or you were viewing live updates?

I watched it live na.

Was I not giving update here and describing incidence? How did I manage to see Chalton?

chamotex: Wait while the ball is delivered?
What else is he supposed to do? Can he deliver and then teleport into the box to get on the end of the delivery?
Only a few players made more assists than RVP last season so your claim doesn't hold water.
If you are talking about Chicha then I can agree...but at the end of the day that's the type of striker he is.
Can I explained earlier, some CM's are defensive while some are attacking...every one has a role to play.
These days one striker spearheads and the other play a withdrawn role.

Rooney saw him through? This is laughable and I try as much as possible not to get into long debates on the thread these days.

Yea it is his third game but how many minutes as he played altogether.
We are all watching the progress of every player and so far you can't really pick out any major outstanding players because the team as a whole is yet to peak.

Did Rooney not see him through in Madrid which he squandered? He himself referred to that incident recently in an interview. Today again Kagawa passed to him but he couldn't chip properly. He shouldn't be wasting so many chances.

Match report for those who missed the match.

Cerezo Osaka 2 United 2

Shinji Kagawa scored and missed a penalty against his former club as Manchester United drew with Cerezo Osaka to share the Yanmar Premium Cup.
Kenyu Sugimoto took advantage of a defensive mistake to put the home side ahead but, moments after his second-half spot-kick was saved, Kagawa slotted home from close range to equalise for United.
Takumi Minamino’s superb long-range drive put Cerezo back in front of 45,000 fans at the Nagai Stadium, but Wilfried Zaha scored his first goal for United at the death to ensure the Reds were not beaten for the second time in four days on tour in Japan.
This was another demanding workout for David Moyes’ men in energy-sapping heat and, despite failing to beat a side riding high in the J-League, the players will have taken big strides in their bid for full fitness ahead of the new season.
Kagawa was given a rapturous reception on his return to his hometown club, where banners were displayed in his name and fans got excited every time he was on the ball.
United, playing in the new away kit for the first time, could have taken the lead inside the first minute as Robin van Persie found himself through on goal, but his right-foot shot hit goalkeeper Kim Jin-Hyeon.
On a pristine pitch, Cerezo’s first chance came in the ninth minute but Anders Lindegaard did well to cling onto a low Jumpei Kusukami strike.
Soon after, van Persie again found himself with only the keeper to beat after being played in by Kagawa, but Kim stood tall to paw the Dutchman’s attempted chip to safety.
Lindegaard was called into action twice in quick succession in the 20th minute, first tipping a low Kusukami drive around his post and then clinging onto a Tomonobu Yokoyama header from the resultant corner.
Two minutes later, Kagawa picked out van Persie on the right of the box and the striker’s first-time cross was headed over by an unmarked Phil Jones from eight yards. That was the signal for a mid-half drinks break, an unusual event but one that served to illustrate how draining the conditions were in sultry Osaka.
Upon the resumption, a lapse in the United defence allowed a pass to reach Sugimoto on the edge of the box, but the forward curled a left-footed shot wide.
And Cerezo continued to threaten the Reds, with Edno spurning their best chance to that point when he headed tamely at Lindegaard from six yards.
So it was not a huge surprise when the home side took the lead in the 34th minute. Chris Smalling’s attempted pass on the edge of the box was intercepted and fell to Sugimoto, who turned Alex Büttner and wrong-footed Lindegaard with a low shot into the corner.
Kagawa missed a glorious opportunity to score five minutes before half-time. Danny Welbeck turned his man on the left of the box and his shot cannoned off the inside of the post. Van Persie picked up the rebound and squared for Kagawa, who scooped the ball over with the goal at his mercy and threw himself to the ground in dismay.
Home keeper Kim continued to impress and palmed away a goal-bound Ryan Giggs curler, before Welbeck drove narrowly wide in the last meaningful action of the half.
Anderson replaced Jones but United did not look likely to break through until Ashley Young was upended as he charged into the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Kagawa stepped forward but fluffed his big moment as Kim diverted his tame penalty. However, the Japanese was not to be denied and, in the 54th minute, slotted home from a narrow angle after being found by Giggs. The home fans chanted Kagawa’s name but it was to be the midfielder’s last contribution as he was replaced by Zaha.
United poured forward after the goal and Zaha flashed wide, but Moyes’ men were stunned again in the 63rd minute as Minamino flashed home an unstoppable dipping drive, reminiscent of Jesse Lingard’s second goal in Sydney.
Adnan Januzaj came on for van Persie but it was the home side who were looking set to extend their lead and Lindegaard was at full stretch to keep out Yusuke Maruhashi.
Another drinks break followed before Moyes made a raft of substitutions, bringing on Lingard, Patrice Evra, Tom Cleverley and Fabio for Young, Büttner, Giggs and Rafael.
And it was another one of the replacements, Zaha, who netted United’s equaliser in injury time, tapping home Anderson’s cross after Januzaj had opened up the home defence.
United: Lindegaard; Rafael (Fabio 79), Smalling, Ferdinand, Büttner (Evra 79); Young (Lingard 79), Jones (Anderson 46), Giggs (Cleverley 79), Kagawa (Zaha 58); Welbeck, van Persie (Januzaj 69).

Cerezo: Kim; Fujimoto, Maruhashi, Sakemoto, Yamashita; Kusukami (Bando 80), Yokoyama, Fabio (Kurogi 64); Edno (Edamura 64), Minamino (Kogure 87), Sugimoto.

...........................

United couldn't dominate convincingly.

Welbeck was our danger man upfront until the young guys arrived, he was involved in every threat and interchanged quick passes with Giggs and Kagawa while creating individual headache for the opponent with his fast pace movements.

Young improved on his last game but I still have my reservation.

chamotex: You are kidding right?
Missing chances? You've based this on what? A couple of pre season games?
Which striker doesn't miss chances...on this tour alone - kagawa and Welbeck have missed the most chances.
Do you know how many chances Suarez missed last season yet he and RVP were neck and neck at the top of the goal scoring chart
Rooney misses and so does Chicha.

I can be more forgiving of Welbeck because we know him already and he is still developing. If you consider his work rate too, you will still give him kudos after 90 minutes. But RVP is just to wait while the ball is delivered, then he makes a short run and squander them. Even if it is preseason, it is too much for such clear chances.

Last season he did that in Madrid after Rooney saw him through. In couple of times, particularly in the FA cup against Chelsea he was blasting wide. I am not saying Rooney doesn't miss, but Rooney doesn't miss as much on a one vs one with the goalkeeper. Rooney also have to run all the way from the middle into position after involving in the build up.

We might say they are only preseason, but this is RVP's third. I have been watching progress of individual players in the team. In the last game we blamed the little boys, but that Lingard keeps taking his chances which are not even as clear.

Purist: All these knee-jerk reactions from United fans. It's only preseason and we're playing the Japs who are already midway through their own season. Surely, you don't expect that we'll waltz in and thrash them just because we are Manchester United? Also consider that the two Japanese teams we've played so far are currently 3rd and 5th in their leagues respectively. Add that to the climatic conditions in Japan and the fact that these are not competitive matches, and you'll hopefully gain some perspective.

I understand, but even Bobby Chalton became worried late in the first half. He stood and squeezed his face.

If you consider Chelsea is blasting away, and the fact we are meeting the big teams early, then we should be worried.

The overall performance was not convincing.

I beg, someone should order Nani, Valencia, Rooney and Vidic to report to camp. They should put essential balm on their injuries. They should come for assessment too. They should help Moyes to get his starting team ready. No time to waste. At least we know Carrick is ready to fly. Welbeck is trying, he cannot not be shut out by opponents. Zaha is already a revelation.

chamotex: You are being too harsh...he is decent outside the box. Good first touch and he can hold up play and bring people up in build ups plus he set up a decent amount of goals too.
He scored some wonderful goals outside the box or in and around the 18 yard box and not just tap-ins plus he was the arrowhead so most of the time he would be in the box.
He won't score as much goals if he was dangling outside the box. He is simply playing his role.

I am scared with the way our top goalscorer is missing chances. I will be more forgiving if Chicharito missed those chances. I expect RVP to finish them off. He had this squandering tendencies last season but we were too carried away to notice.

dopeJemi: I don't care where jones pLayed 2day, all I know is dat he shouLd never pLay 4 us again

Why? Even when he does fine in the centre back?

chamotex: RVP an inbox player? Where have you been watching your games?
Lets say he is for a second. Do you expect every striker to be a "hunter" like you claimed.
Same way some CB's do the rough/dirty work and others tidy up or some CM's are attacking while some are defensive.
Fluidity and flexibility is imperative.

What I mean is that RVP doesn't do well aside the box. His build up play is not pleasing to me. He is only good around the 20 yard area. Plant him there (the 20 yard area) then get some intelligent guys to deliver the ball to him. That's what suit him.

dopeJemi: we better get GARAY 4rm benfica and dispose dat skunk calLed jones and aLso, we shouLd keep Rooney, I know what rooney wouLd av done if he were 2 be in d match

Jones was played in the midfield. How was it his fault?

Our best midfield pairing as of today is Carrick and Cleverly. Giggs, Anderson and Jones should never play the deep role for us, except if Jones was to be used to neutralise an opponent. In a three man midfield, Anderson can play in front but how much will he be useful if someone like Fabregas or Fellani comes in? Giggs is just an experiment to know what he can still offer. Himself and the coach should just respect themselves now.

dopeJemi: United dey fall my Hand big time, I said it b4... We shouLd have brought in KLopp instead of dis scottish poop... I just can't beLieve we r struggLing 2 win

Na coach sey make RVP and Kagawa dey miss one on one and a goal without a goal keeper?

RVP has missed one on one three or four times in this preseason. His overall team play in the build up is even questionable. Just to chip the goalkeeper he couldn't.

RVP is an inbox player who wait for hardworkers like Valencia and Rooney to find him in the 18 box. He is not a lion which goes to hunt but a Hyena which capitalizes on the goodies.

Ogbeche77: There is no chance we ll be competing to retain our title with all these pre season display.

Yet people are calling for Rooney to be sold. Play Rooney along side kids in the team you will still feel his impact. He wouldn't allow a team like Osaka to dominate possession over United.

How is RVP faring now without Rooney and Valencia?

Any way till night.

... Final score 2-2. 'Wizard' Zaha equalized.