Man Utd.com shares an interview with Ryan Giggs who is “Savouring Every Game”

The Republik Of Mancunia takes a look at some of the problems United have had so far with injuries, individual errors and that fact that we’ve not hit top gear, yet.

Guardian looks at why scoring the first goal at Wembley isn’t crucial.

Daily Mail has a look at the 20 highest earning footballers in 2008, with Becks coming tops and Ronaldo, Rooney and Ferdinand making the list.

The Sun thinks the Rooney’s are going to paint the nursery for their first child in the Blue of Everton when in actual fact it’s in the colours of our third kit!

Image By: EmerandandSam

I’m not talking about the number of goals he’s scored or even his overall performance. It’s been his attitude.

I’ve been tearing my hair out (which isn’t a good idea when your as follicly challenged as I am!) and some times even embarrassed when he throws one of his tantrums on the pitch.

At times it’s cost us.

Instead of tracking back and helping the team he’s been whining to the ref or flapping his arms about complaining to the gods, while leaving his team mates in the crapper.

The game against Villa was a classic example, after giving the ball away he made no attempts to get it back or to help defend. Villa went on to score within seconds.

Step In Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson decided enough was enough and had a word with Ronaldo

No, I don’t accept that he will give goals away because of the player he is, I speak to him about it. I don’t accept that from anyone

In European football, if you give the ball away it takes a long time to get it back.

He always feels he’s not getting the proper protection from referees and I think that, maybe, in quite a few cases he is right, and a few cases he is not right.

It’s hard when a player who wants to entertain doesn’t get everything his own way. But you can’t get everything your own way.

He understands that and there’s not a problem with that. It’s just a frustration that he feels he doesn’t get the decision and he gets upset about it

I think, obviously, he doesn’t enjoy that and he knows he’s letting himself down more than anything

He holds his hands up. I have had to remind him about that but I’m not getting into what has been said.

It was the first time I can remember Fergie saying something critical of Ronaldo in public. He may have done it behind closed doors but never to the press.

Most mangers wouldn’t have taken such a big risk of openly criticising their best player, a player who during the summer openly admitted he wanted to join another club.

But Fergie, the best man manger football has ever seen, knew exactly what to say and when to say it.

And he’s got the response he was looking for.

The second leg against Porto Ronaldo scored probably his best goal ever, (when you consider some of the goals he’s scored that’s no easy task) and also put in a team performance, tracking back when the team needed him, running down the clock and playing up front, a position he says he doesn’t really like playing in.

He’s even responded to Fergie’s comments by saying,

It is not a problem

I always respect the manager and coaches because I want to learn. If he says that, it is because he thinks it is true.

But I think I have been playing well and I have scored a few important goals.

Turning Point For Ronaldo’s Season

I cant help but feel this could be the turning point in his season. So far I think he’s only been playing at 60-75% of his potential, with the kick up the arse he needed I think his attitude and ultimately performances could start to emulate that of last season.

Image what that means for United!

He was asked if he’d taken on board what the manger said about not always being able to get things his own way. It sound’s like maybe Sir Alex has got through to him and we’ll see less of his mini tantrums. I guess we’ll have to wait and see in the coming weeks.

He also talks about the goal he scored, looking forward to playing arsenal and why having Rio in defence is important.

It was one of those matches where, if in the previous weeks we’d been playing good tonight would have simply been adequate. But since we’ve been faltering this was a performance that inspires confidence and says to our up coming opponents “we’re back and our defence is going to be hard to get through”

What could have been a frustrating and tough match was made a lot easier with a brilliant strike in the 6th minute by Ronaldo from 40 yards, which only he would attempt. In truth no keeper would have been able to save. See Ronaldo’s goal here.

It was the goal in the 6th minute that really set up the whole match, it meant Porto couldn’t just defend their lead and try to counter attack, which I think was what they we’re hoping to do.

Having Rio back showed how much we’ve missed him. Not just in the defensive duty’s he performs but in the organisation he does and the calm he brings to those around.

Evra also deserves a mention. He was back to his usual little warrior self. Took a knock to the face when he headed one of their player, but carried on and didn’t let it shake him up.

The Midfield, which consisted of Rooney on the right, Carrick, Anderson and Giggs, really fulfilled their defensive duties. The didn’t perhaps hold the ball as well as they could have, but they were still good. Battled when needed, especially Anderson, and never really gave Porto any gaps they could exploit.

While Ronaldo didn’t really do much other then the goal tonight he still looked good. He tracked back when other players were out of position. He didn’t throw mini tantrums when he wasn’t getting the ball or was fouled. Towards the end he held the ball up and helped run the clock down.

Dimi was a bit of a disappointment, never really got in the game, but then I just don’t think this was the right game for him, perhaps if we hadn’t gone 1-0 up inside 6 minutes he would have been called on more.

Tonight shows that in the first match we were tied from only having two days rest after villa and that we were taken aback by how attacking they were. First match I thought Porto were really good, this match, with us rested they looked little more then average.

My Man Of Match

It’s between Wayne Rooney and Anderson for me. Both battled really well. Anderson put in a great shift considering it’s his first start since he got injured.

But for me the winner has to be Rooney, played out of position, didn’t complain, didn’t make any stupid challenges, got forward plenty and did the job Sir Alex sent him out to do.

Teams

How Man Utd Lined Up

Subs Not Used: Ben Foster, Gary Neville, Jonny Evans,  Carlos Tevez, Federico Macheda

How Porto Lined Up

Subs Not Used: Nuno, Milan Stepanov, Freddy Guarin, Andres Madrid

Stats

Goals: Ronaldo 6

Bookings: Vidic 42, Evra 59

Match Highlights

Ronaldo’s Goal

Ferguson’s Post Match Press Conference

But no, instead Calderon has gone on French radio station RMC and had the following to say.

“I can’t give any names. What I can say is that one of the best players in the world, thanks to Ramon Calderon and difficult and laborious negotiations that having been going on since last year, is already formally a Real Madrid player.

Subject obviously to him being able to sign the relevant contract”

I wonder who he’s talking about?

And I guess it’s just a coincidence that he makes this comments before we have a huge game in the Champions league?

Will this man ever just go away?

And the nominees are….

PFA Nominees

• Edwin van der Sar
• Rio Ferdinand
• Nemanja Vidic
• Ryan Giggs
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Steven Gerrard

I can’t help thinking it’s a bit of a fix….. How did Gerrard get picked over Michael Carrick?!

Young PFA Nominees

• Rafael Da Silva
• Jonny Evans
• Stephen Ireland
• Gabriel Agbonlahor
• Ashley Young
• Aaron Lennon

Cast Your Vote

These awards are decided by the players so I thought it might be interesting if we did a poll for who we thing WILL win the awards and not who deserves it.

So who do you think the Players will vote for,

My Thoughts

I have a sickening felling that Gerrard’s going to steal the award from Vidic, because Gerrard won the award in the 05/06 season, so clearly there are a lot of players that like him.

But also, out of the 31 different winners only 5 have ever been Defenders, compared to 11 Midfielders, Defenders have a much harder time of winning awards then Midfielders.

As for the Young PFA, I think it will go to Stephen Ireland.

Rafael hasn’t played enough and while Jonny Evans has been good the same point I made about Defenders not winning as many awards as Midfielders will spoil his chances.

Here’s what he had to say,

“Look, we asked for three or four players if Cristiano didn’t come.

I understood the club would have to pay an extortionate fee to bring that kid, and they made it clear to me that if he came it would be very difficult to get anyone else. Maybe one more, but at a very low price.

The thing is we didn’t need Cristiano, that was more a theme the club had going. We knew that with him alone we wouldn’t solve other problems because he can’t defend nor play on the wing.

The big surprise was that in the end nobody came.

They said they had no money. (There was money for Ronaldo) but not for the other”

The part I love most is him stating that Ronaldo can’t play on the wing. It’s surprising, that with that kind of insightful thinking Real Madrid would let you go.