Detailed Debt Analysis

There is plenty of talk about our debt issues at the moment, where just like in 2005, the less than satisfying performances have come at a time of more doom and gloom about the Glazers.

I received an e-mail this morning from a poster on the blog asking me to share some of his analysis with the readers. He works in a financial planning department, is a qualified Chartered Accountant, and has Masters in Economics and a Masters in Finance. In summary, a pretty smart cookie.

I’ve edited his analysis and hopefully this should give us all some more understanding of what is going on at our club at the moment. This is not sugar coating the issue, rather weighing up the negatives, as well as the positives, thanks to a situation we’ve been forced in to because of the Glazer takeover.

West Ham 0 Man Utd 4

Brilliant away performance by United and goals from the master Paul Scholes and the apprentice Darron Gibson put United 2 up later Valencia and Rooney added to the tally.

Phelan: Ljajic deal off cause of permit issues!

Phelan has contradicted yesterdays statement on the website by claiming that permit issues caused the Ljajic deal to go off.

“We made a tentative approach to getting a work permit and the word we got back from the Home Office was we couldn’t get that through in time to get Adem signed in January. I don’t think money is an issue.”
“The point is do you lay out money for Adem knowing there is a possibility that you might not be able to get him? As it stands Adem Ljajic won’t be coming to Old Trafford in January.”
“We have a platform that allows young players to develop and get into the first-team. We looked at Adem and he has the potential to do that.”
“But sometimes you cannot fight these things. Sometimes you can get work permits, other times you can’t. Adem fell into the latter category, which is why we made the decision.”

Man Utd pull plug on Ljajic deal

Man Utd have pulled the plug on Ljajic deal that was assumed done and dusted. Partizan Belgrade player and Serb international Ljajic was expected to arrive in January. But Man Utd have claimed that they are happy with the depth in wingers and hence have canceled an additional signing.

Man Utd 2 Spurs 0

United progress to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and one more step closer in the defense of their trophy, thanks to two first half wonder goals by Darron Gibson.

International Round Up

Wayne Rooney scored England’s final goal at Wembley on Wednesday night as Fabio Capello’s men sealed their place at next summer’s World Cup with a thumping 5-1 win over Croatia.

Ben Foster and Wes Brown were unused substitutes for England, whileMichael Carrick missed out on a place on the bench.

Elsewhere, there was heartache forDarren Fletcher as Scotland’s 1-0 home defeat at the hands of the Netherlands brought an end to his World Cup dream.

Rooney wasn’t the only United man on the scoresheet on Wednesday:Antonio Valencia found the net for Ecuador as La Tri beat Bolivia 3-1 in La Paz.

Back in Europe, Serbia held France to a 1-1 draw in Group 7 as Nemanja Vidicand Patrice Evra lined up on opposite sides. Both men played the full 90 minutes, while Zoran Tosic was an unused Serbian substitute.

Dimitar Berbatov’s Bulgaria slumped to a 2-0 defeat in Italy but Nani left Hungary smiling after playing eight minutes in Portugal’s vital 1-0 win in Group 1.

There was no good news for Jonny Evans, however. Slovakia were too good for Northern Ireland in Belfast, leaving Nigel Worthington’s men with an all-but-impossible task to reach South Africa 2010.

On Tuesday night, Darron Gibson played 90 minutes in Republic of Ireland’s friendly against South Africa at Croke Park, Limerick. A Liam Lawrence goal gave the home side a 1-0 win.

5th September, 2009

South Korea 3-1 Australia
Scotland 2-0 Macedonia
England 2-1 Slovenia
Bulgaria 4-1 Montenegro
Cyprus 1-2 Rep. Ireland
Denmark 1-1 Portugal
Poland 1-1 Northern Ireland
France 1-1 Romania
Colombia 2-0 Ecuador

U21
Wales 2-1 Italy
Macedonia 1-2 England

9th September, 2009

England 5-1 Croatia
Scotland 0-1 Holland
Hungary 0-1 Portugal
Northern Ireland 0-2 Slovakia
Serbia 1-1 France
Boliva 1-2 Ecuador
Italy 2-0 Bulgaria

Friendly:
Rep. Ireland 1-0 South Africa

Man Utd 2 Arsenal 1

Arshavin wonder strike got Arsenal one up at half time. But a Rooney penalty and a very embarrassing Abu Diaby own goal brought United 2-1 up at full time. Arsene Wenger will be unhappy with the referee in  not getting a penalty for a Fletcher tackle on Arshavin. From United’s perspective Fletcher, Rooney and Giggs were their top three performers and Foster also made an astounding save from a Van Persie shot. Not a convincing win but 3 points earned is a nice positive.

Arsenal boss considered signing MickeyO

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he seriously considered signing Man Utd striker Michael Owen this summer.

Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Old Trafford, Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: “I must say that Michael Owen is a tempting solution because you know that if he doesn’t start he can come off the bench and score goals.

“For a big club it is always tempting because he has the quality to play in a big club.

“The question mark about Michael Owen was his injury situation and they gambled on that, but I can understand.”

Hargreaves nears Carrington return

Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson has delivered an upbeat report on Owen Hargreaves’ progress from long-term injury.

England midfielder Hargreaves has been undergoing his rehabilitation programme in the United States, but will return to join up with United’s medical staff with a long-term view to being back in action by Christmas.

Fergie said: “Owen will be back here on September 23 and we’re in dialogue with him all the time.

“His physio will come with him for a week or so to oversee the changeover so we understand all the treatments and rehabilitation he’s been undergoing.

“The difficult part will be to get him back into the football side of it. We’ve not really seen him at this moment in time and we’re relying on information from America.

“His fitness work and endurance work won’t be a problem. But we’ll just have to gauge the right time to get him back playing football.

“The important thing is to get him back playing at the level he was at, which was a very high level indeed.”

Man Utd inaugurate new Hublot Clock Tower

Sir Alex and the United squad joined Hublot boss Jean-Claude Biver at Old Trafford on Friday afternoon to unveil the largest clock ever built by the Swiss company.

Standing at a height of 10m, it was specially created for the reigning English champions and features four clock faces. Sir Alex described the monument as “an amazing clock”.

“It’s incredible,” he told MUTV. “And it’s also going to act as an information centre for fans so they can find out what’s going on in Manchester.

“I think this is very unique – there’s nothing else quite like it.”

The structure is comprised of a 10m tower in the shape of an H (the Hublot logo) and holds four two-metre-diameter clock faces. Located in the car park in front of East Stand, the clock tower overlooks popular gathering points for fans on matchdays.