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Scrappy Doo

The best time to face a Harry Redknapp side is generally just before the transfer window closes. This season, as usual, Harry is playing another game of brinkmanship with his chairman and as such, Modric was out of the line up for Old Trafford and the 23 stone Rafael Van der Vaart started. United are having midfield issues of their own and this entertaining game saw both sides line up in the visionary 4-0-6 formation.


The way you read about the United Spurs fixture it is almost as if the Londoners needn’t turn up. With their last winner at Old Trafford coming off Gary Linekar’s boot, it is almost the only mention we get nowadays that Match of Day’s answer to Ron Burgundy actually played the game.


I was there on that cold December night in 1989, when England’s second finest striker scored his only ever goal from outside the box. More for the fallibility it showed in Jim Leighton’s goalkeeping than anything else, I remember the goal well.


Whilst there is much to cheer from the performances of Wellbeck and Jones in particular, not to mention the clean sheet, for the first 70 minutes of this game a nagging feeling wouldn’t leave me. We need a midfielder, a good one.


This is to take nothing away from the sterling efforts of people like Tom Cleverley, but last week also saw me watch the second leg of Spain’s Supercoppa. I’m afraid, at the moment, either Real or Barca could properly murder us unless we stregthen in the middle of the park.


Three late goals tend to gloss over these things and the scoreline flattered us slightly. It was noticeable that Ryan Giggs took all of two minutes to set up a goal after he came on. The guy is pure class and makes the rest of our players look like Scrappy Doo.


Spurs were there to hustle us and in the first half they chased down every ball with vigour, which was admirable. However, I’m not sure there were any players at all in centre midfield for either side, everything was down the flanks. De Gea's distribution was superb and the way we turned defence to attack for the second was entirely down to him.


Tougher challenges await than this one, but all in all, United can be pretty pleased with where they are right now.

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End of season awards

Individual Performance of the Season
Dimitar Berbatov vs Liverpool


They are high pressure games against the team from Anfield and our record against these opponents has not been terrific of late. What’s more, having endured an enormous amount of criticism during his first two seasons at the club the Bulgar had a huge point to prove in 2010/11. His sublime hat-trick here, culminating in one of the most exquisite overhead kicks you will ever see, buried his critics at the bottom of the ocean. A stupendous performance from a stupendous player.


Honorable mentions: Wayne Rooney vs West Ham & Darren Gibson (yes him) vs Schalke 2nd Leg


Player of the Season
Edwin Van Der Sar
Despite his obvious howler against West Brom the Dutchman barely put a paw wrong all year. His final campaign at Old Trafford should now define ‘going out at the top’ for all sportsmen. He retires as one of United’s top three goalies of all time and he will be sorely missed


Goal of the Season
Dimitar Berbatov vs Liverpool
In terms of quality it is nearly impossible to separate this goal from Rooney’s against City. The reason this goal wins is because it seemed to defy the laws of physics and still looks improbable even on replay. Plus, it really deflated the scousers for another year. Lovely.


Most Improved Player
Rafael
Despite being ousted from the starting line up by his brother towards the end of the campaign Rafael can claim to have had an outstanding season over a larger sample of matches. Before Christmas he was established as the club's best right back and putting in exceptional performances every week. In fact, he has played so well that the retirement of club captain and winner of more than 80 England caps, Gary Neville, is barely seen as a loss. That is impressive.


Signing of the Season
Chicharito
There was really only one contender for this award, but he is not only United's best signing but possibly the best in Europe as well. In his first year at United he has scored against Chelsea, bagged a hatful of goals, netted in the Champion’s League and got the Old Trafford faithful wearing sombreros. I love him, you love him, and he’s great.


Best Opposition
Aston Villa’s youngsters
It seems churlish not to put Barcelona in this category but the whole world knows how brilliant they are anyway. At Villa Park United were nearly blown away by an excellent display of wing trickery and verve from a young side with guts. It is just the kind of thing I like to see on a football field and they deserve great credit. No wonder we bought their best player.


Tactical Display of the Season
(H) vs ArsenalFA Cup
A terrific performance and one that Fergie really pulled out of the bag. Playing Rafael and Fabio as attacking fullbacks completely flummoxed Wenger and essentially put paid to Arsenal’s title challenge.


Thickest opposition fans
Blackburn - singing 'Big Sam sort it out' at 6-0.


Flukiest Win
(A) vs Valencia


The Ralph Milne Award for best Transfer – Bebe

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Ji-Sung of a Gun

One of the best atmosphere's Old Trafford has produced in a while saw our most dominant display over Chelsea in living memory. And now the secret is out. This title, the nineteenth, is one hell of a big deal for this football club, and it is unthinkable that we won't claim it now.


No season goes by without its peaks and troughs but this one in particular seems a wonder of achievement for Ferguson. Who could have predicted Rooney putting in performances like that back in the autumn? Quite frankly, if you had predicted this outcome to the title race when we were drawing with the likes of West Brom at home I may well have suggested you seek psychiatric care.


There can no longer be any argument about not only Park Ji-Sung’s place in the team, but his position in United folklore. His performance in particular was magnificent and he has written his way into United’s history books now. It was particularly cheering to see him out-tackle and out-fight Chelsea’s celebrated midfielders time and again.


There were flaws in the show too to be honest. Rooney, terrific as he was, was definitely guilty of trying to get Ivanovic sent off and the occasional bit if play acting. But against these opponents it can’t really be described as anything other than fighting fire with fire.


How on earth Rooney contrived not to score I will never know, in fact, we could have had ten. There were nerves reappearing again last week after the result at Arsenal but you should always remember to keep the faith. After 36 seconds here that faith was rewarded.


This is a fantastic moment. One I shall cherish for a long time. Let’s hope we can play similarly well against Barcelona too.

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Will Modric tear Hearts out?

Between June 1 and September 1, we will be keeping you up to date with all the latest gossip and speculation from the world of football, as well as the actual completed transfers of course.


23.57: That's all for tonight folks, we'll back at 8BST tomorrow for what promises to be another enthralling day of transfer speculation and done deals. Thanks for joining us!


23.54: DONE DEAL Pablo Barrera will be swapping West Ham for Real Zaragoza this season after the clubs agreed a loan deal for the winger. Barrera has apparently been "struggling to adapt to life to London since his arrival from Mexico because of language and personal reasons", according West Ham's official website.


23.52: Harry again, this time on Lassana Diarra: "Things haven't broken down. There is still a good chance. the chairman is working on it. I signed him at Portsmouth and they sold him for £22 million. He's real talent, a fantastic player and it's a real possibility still.''


23.50: Harry Redknapp on Luka Modric: "He'll be playing on Sunday for sure. I think there was a meeting. Daniel (Levy, Spurs chairman) just said the same thing, he's not for sale. It's been difficult for him but we want him to stay and he will stay. He'll train tomorrow and Saturday and should be fit for Sunday. He could have kicked up and been a problem and if he had done it would have been difficult to keep him. If players want to be destructive they can be but he's not got that in his nature. He'll stay and play and will be great as he has been every other year.''


23.42: Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson has suffered an ankle injury in training, potentially scuppering an August move away from Old Trafford. According to Guardian.co.uk, Gibson has been told he's surplus to requirements at United and is looking for a new club. Blackburn and Aston Villa are among the clubs said to be interested in the 23-year-old.


23.32: More on that Spurs deal for Juventus midfielder Yago Falque - read the story here.


23.24: Newcastle boss Alan Pardew on Joey Barton's proposed move to QPR: “He's been down there and is going to take some time about the decision he makes. If he comes back he knows me and him have great respect for each other and we'll carry on.”


22.42: Tottenham have done two deals already tonight, but Harry Redknapp has indicated there are more signings to come: "We're working hard, the chairman's on a couple of transfers at the moment."


22.22: DONE DEAL Tottenham confirm their second season-long loan deal of the evening as Yago Falque joins from Juventus.


21.43: Radio Marca believes Paris St Germain are to hold a meeting with Real Madrid on Monday over the signing of Kaka. These rumours of a Kaka exit will not die down, it seems.


21.16: Udinese president Gianpaolo Pozzo feels his club are on the verge of signing the new Lionel Messi from Dinamo Bucharest. “Over the next few days we will make official the arrival of the much-discussed trequartista. He will be Gabriel Torje, who everyone calls the Leo Messi of Romania. We are also still looking for a defender, considering the treatment room is full.”


20.39: Sky Sports News says Joey Barton has passed his QPR medical but will not make a decision on the move until tomorrow morning at the earliest.


20.27: Genoa have no interest in Roma striker Marco Borriello. “We’re talking about nothing,” sporting director Stefano Capozucca told Radio Mana Mana on Thursday. “This story is without foundation.”


19.55: DONE DEAL ...and Spurs have confirmed the signing of Emmanuel Adebayor on a season-long loan from Manchester City. Story here.


19.37: Manchester City football administrator Brian Marwood has confirmed Emmanuel Adebayor has had a medical at Tottenham today ahead of a proposed loan move.


19.34: It seems Chelsea have indeed failed with their bid for Porti full-back Alvaro Pereira. "I confirm that Chelsea have made an offer which took 30 seconds to be responded to," Porto president Pinto da Costa told RTP. Chelsea's bid was said to be about €20 million, but his release clause is €30 million.


19.19: Reader comment from Brian, who offers an explanation to the confusing matter of Atletico loaning out loan signing Dani Pacheco.


"Option to buy. Atletico did not have a place for the player in their starting 11, but may be interested in negotiating an option to buy on the player, so they loan in Pacheco with a negotiated fixed purchase price, then they loan out Pacheco to where he will see some action at a club they can easily scout. Well played Atletico Madrid."


19.08: ESPNsoccernet's South America-based journo Sam Kelly tweets via @HEGS_com: "#LFC fans: Coates has said good bye to his Nacional team-mates at training today. He's either on his way to England now, or will be soon."


18.49: Rangers midfielder Gregg Wylde has signed a new five-year deal. His club rejected a bid from Bolton earlier this summer.


18.21 Manchester United chief executive David Gill is said to have told Sky Sports that no more players will be arriving at Old Trafford before the transfer window closes.


18.08 Some very dubious speculation coming up here, but a few reports in Italy are suggesting Arsenal could bid for Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder. If Manchester United reportedly couldn't afford his wages then what hope for Arsenal?


17.53 DONE DEAL: Juventus have signed forward Emanuele Giaccherini from Cesena on a three-year contract.


17.35 Porto coach Vitor Pereira claims to be unaware of any bids for his players after Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas stated on Thursday Chelsea have lodged a bid for Porto full-back Alvaro Pereira. "I am the coach of Porto to maximise the team's potential," said Vitor Pereira.


"These issues are beyond me. As far as I am aware, there has been no contact from Chelsea for any of our players. We are friends, Andre Villas-Boas and myself. He was one of the people who contributed to us being here, but now we want to savour the moment and prove our quality."


17.15 Click here for the full story on Aquilani's switch to AC Milan.


17.07 Wolves boss Mick McCarthy seems unlikely to delve further in the transfer market. He said: "I am delighted with the squad I have got. It is unlikely that anyone else will be coming here before the transfer window shuts."


16.56 DONE DEAL: Liverpool have confirmed they have agreed a loan deal with AC Milan for midfielder Alberto Aquilani, subject to a medical. Director of football Damien Comolli said: "I want to pay tribute to the way Alberto has conducted himself during these discussions. Throughout the entire process, his only desire has been to play football and he has put this ahead of any other considerations and at personal cost to himself. We wish him well for the season ahead." The deal includes an option to make the move permanent.


16.42 Andre Villas-Boas on the future of Florent Malouda: "As we are speaking about the number of goals and assists that Mata has made at Valencia, let's speak about the number that Malouda has made for Chelsea. We can't let ourselves sell talent of this quality."


16.20 Reports suggest that Luka Modric and his advisors are in talks with Daniel Levy over his Tottenham future.


15.54 Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers hopes to complete the signing of goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel within the next 48 hours.


15.41 Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath has not yet received any satisfactory bids for playmaker Diego. "Diego is in contact with Atletico, but we aren't,'' he said. "Therefore, there is no offer worthy of mention.'' Read more


15.23 Sebastian Coates has been caught on camera at the airport on his way to England. But is he going to Liverpool or Man City? Here's the pic


15.06 Bolton have made an offer to lure Real Madrid's Pedro Leon to The Reebok on a season-long loan, according to reports.


14.45 Utrecht have strengthened their squad by bringing in defender Daan Bovenberg on a four-year contract from Eredivisie rivals Excelsior.


14.23 If you're keen to know why Dani Pacheco is allowed to move to Rayo while on loan at Atletico from Liverpool, FIFA has a rule, 10.3:


''The club that has accepted a player on a loan basis is not entitled to transfer him to a third club without the written authorisation of the club that released the player on loan and the player concerned.''


So as long as they are all in agreement, he can go. Why Atletico want to do that is beyond us...


14.17 Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani is looking forward to making a big impact at the San Siro as his loan move to AC Milan nears completion. "I am delighted to have arrived here,'' said Aquilani. "This is a leap in my career. I have come to Milan to do well.''


14.06 Barton, however, has told Sky Sports News: "I'm not sure [if the transfer will go through]. There are still a number of things to be sorted out. It's a process that you have to take step by step and that's the stage we are at at the moment. I've not made a final decision yet but, having spoken to the club, it's a club with ambition and I had to come down and hear what they had to say and go through the formalities of the medical side of it just in case something does happen."


13.50 Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton is at QPR's training ground undergoing the second part of his medical.


13.37 Stoke manager Tony Pulis has spoken to The Sentinel about this transfer plans: "We have not spent any money yet, we have brought in two free transfers (Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson). So there is money to spend and we will be doing our damndest to spend it. But it has to be right for the club. We have a wage structure we want to keep to.


"Yes, we miss out on deals, and we have to be big enough to accept that. If supporters get a little bit disappointed then so be it. It won't be the first time we have missed out on deals because we have said no. We want to make sure we try to keep our structure as much as we possibly can. I know other clubs do that successfully."


13.20 Liverpool face competition from Newcastle United in the race to sign Italian full-back Davide Santon according to reports.


13.03 Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed the club have made a bid for Porto full-back Alvaro Pereira, but says he is ''not very confident'' of signing the player.


12.53 Argentina striker Pablo Osvaldo has completed his move to Roma from Espanyol.


12.50 Twitter talk says Diego Forlan has signed for Inter Milan in a deal worth €6million from Atletico Madrid. We await confirmation.


12.46 DONE DEAL Dundee United have snapped up Fulham's Finnish under-21 striker Lauri Dalla Valle on loan.


12.42 Some Twitter talk from someone claiming to be Jimmy Bullard - although quite clearly they are not. ''They tried to make me go to Ipswich/ I said no, no, no. Then they sacked me and I sed 'yes, yes, yes'.''


12.38 Tottenham are reportedly poised to sign highly-rated Juventus winger Yago Falque on loan.


12.27 Fiorentina have confirmed that Riccardo Montolivo will be sold to a foreign club this summer. ''Montolivo doesn’t believe in the Fiorentina project,” sporting director Pantaleo Corvino noted. “As a result, the player will be sold abroad.”


12.16 PSV Eindhoven defender Erik Pieters is on the brink of completing a move to Newcastle United, according to his agent. Read more


12.00 Fenerbahce captain Diego Lugano is on the verge of making a switch to Paris Saint-Germain, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reports.


11.48 Arjen Robben does not want to join Barcelona this summer, but has said that the Spanish club are the only side he would join. "Barcelona are the only club where I would say: 'If they're interested, that would be a fantastic option'," Robben told Sport Bild. "Whether they have ever made an offer for me? No, not as far as I know. There was something going on about three years ago, but they never made a bid. I'm not speculating about a summer transfer, though. I'm feeling very well here and am happy at Bayern. Don't go writing that I want to join Barcelona, because that's not the case."


11.37 Wolfsburg defender Simon Kjaer has been allowed to leave the club and should join Roma. "Felix Magath has told me that I will be allowed to leave and that I can enter negotiations with other clubs. It was my personal wish to stay at VfL, but I'm also pleased with this outcome," Kjaer said to WAZ. "A return to Italy can be a done deal any hour now. Roma are a great club. Joining them is a big opportunity for me. I don't have to adapt to new surroundings as I'm already familiar with Italy and Serie A."


11.23 Cesena striker Emanuele Giaccherini is undergoing a medical prior to completing his move to Juventus, the Turin club have confirmed.


11.06 Real Madrid defensive midfielder Lassana Diarra insists no agreement has been reached over a transfer to Tottenham - and he does not expect that to change. He told AS: ''The information about my departure is a lie. There is no agreement with Tottenham and I do not think there will be. I have a contract with Real Madrid until 2013 and Jose Mourinho is my coach.'' Read more


11.01 QPR manager Neil Warnock has rejected the notion that the signing of midfielder Joey Barton from Newcastle is a ''done deal'' but would like to complete the signing this afternoon.


10.52 DONE DEAL: Ipswich sign Jimmy Bullard from Hull on a two-year deal. Although given that he was sacked, it's more like a free transfer.


10.45 Sebastian Coates is travelling to Liverpool to undergo a medical and sign a contract with Kenny Dalglish's side, say Ovacion. Read his profile here


10.44 Arsenal want Mikel Arteta and would be willing to pay 10 million euros for the Spaniard, say AS.


10.43 Twitter talk: GuillemBalagueLass Diarra says there isnt a deal with Spurs RT @diarioas "Ni hay ni espero ningĂșn acuerdo con el Tottenham" bit.ly/r68c31


10.26 Freiburg chairman Fritz Keller has confirmed three foreign clubs have tabled bids for in-demand striker Papiss Demba Cisse. The Senegal international has been linked with the likes of Blackburn, Sunderland and Fulham and £13.5 million is the price.


10.23 "I think it is right and fair to thank the people who have given me so much in these two fantastic years that I've spent at Inter," Eto'o has said on joining Anzhi for gazillions. "I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the president, Mr Massimo Moratti, and to his family for everything they have done and for the way they have helped me.


10.03 Blackburn have been officially allowed to talk to Hoffenheim striker Vedad Ibisevic. Reports in reports in the German media suggest that they will sell him to Blackburn for £3.5 million.


09.58 Leicester City are expected to make a fourth bid for Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard to try to land their man before the weekend, say the Leicester Mercury.


09.46 Chelsea could be willing to sell Florent Malouda to Juventus after the Italian club's general director Giuseppe Marotta declared an interest in the winger.


09.24 New QPR owner Tony Fernandes is hoping Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton is just the first of five new summer signings at Loftus Road. "We're looking at about four or five players and in due course hopefully we'll have some good announcements to make," Fernandes told Talksport. "It's going to be a tense few days as we try to get the players we want but God willing we'll be able to get them." Story


09.16 Representatives of Aquilani are on Merseyside to negotiate a transfer to AC Milan, the player's preferred destination after accepting he doesn't figure in Kenny Dalglish's long-term plans, says Liverpool's Daily Post.


08.44 DONE DEAL: Brett Emerton has flown Steve Kean to join Sydney FC, a deal now confirmed.

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The greatest of them all

Manchester United are champions of England for the nineteenth time and, like a broken pregnancy test kit, the city glowed both red and blue on Saturday night. One of my friends made the appalling decision to marry a City fan and neither of them can remember who trashed the house at the weekend. Who cares?


Let’s make one thing very clear, this victory is an astonishing achievement. I was very young when I was made aware of the statistics, at the time we may have been level with Aston Villa on league titles, and there were many who never though this day would come. It has arrived.


Football is a comparative exercise, for all the talk of concentrating on our own team and paying scant attention to our rivals, sport is competition. It is only when you face up to your opponents that you know how your work stacks up against the standard. Manchester United are now indisputably the top team in this country. The debate is over.


It would also be churlish to do anything other than congratulate City on their FA Cup triumph against a club with a hundredth of their budget. The dynamism and excitement of their play at Wembley reminded me of Brazil 1970. Not. There is talk of changing the Stretford End’s banner to one that reads ‘43’ (years since they won the league). We shall see.


Talking of banners, those brave souls who went to Anfield on Sunday to unfurl the ‘MUFC 19 Times’ slogan have my full respect. Perhaps the closest Red Mancs can get to being suicide bombers.


Against a backdrop of instability with the playing staff (Rooney’s petulance, VDS’s retirement) and massive discontentment with the club’s ownership, Alex Ferguson has delivered the goods again. Whatever happens over the next few days, weeks or even years, this is time to salute the greatest manager of them all.

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Steed Malbranque's 'ill son' does not exist

Steed Malbranque's representatives have dismissed reports the former Fulham, Tottenham and Sunderland midfielder has retired from football to care for a cancer-stricken son who does not even exist.


Reports emerging from France over the weekend, and repeated in a number of British publications, claimed that the 31-year-old, who joined French outfit St Etienne this summer, had decided to quit as his young son was suffering from cancer.


But in a statement released by solicitors working on the instruction of Malbranque's agent, Sebastien Boisseau, it is made clear that the Frenchman does not have a son and that no member of his immediate family is in ill health.


"Steed has read with concern the recent stories currently circulating about him and his family," read the statement which as issued by London-based solicitors Thomas Cooper.


"He would like to reassure all of his friends in England and throughout world football that these stories are wholly without foundation.


"Steed does not have a son and his immediate family are all in good health.


"Steed does not know the origin of these stories but would like to stress that they are without merit.


"He trusts that they will now cease immediately."


Malbranque's switch to St Etienne last month ended a 10-year stay in English football, during which time he made a total of 336 Premier League appearances.

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The Young One

I love wingers, I love them. It was a crushing realisation when I was growing up to learn that I ran about as fast a geriatric on valium and was better suited to clogging than crossing. Due to the lack of kids with a sense of direction at our school my lot was to play up front, the glory position, and try and direct our side’s frantic clearances towards the opposition’s goal. People compared me to Mark Hughes at the time, probably because my name was Mark, I certainly didn’t have any of the Welshman’s skill, guile or toughness.


It would be pushing it to say that United invented wing play, but from Busby through to Ferguson it is a position our club has cherished and honed into a much loved art. One league game in to this season and, although it may be tempting fate, I am happy to sing the praises of Ashley Young.


That really was a terrific league debut, it is a shame that the ping-pong nature of our flukey winner at the Hawthorns denied Young the goal his performance deserved. Flukey as the winner was, the result was certainly justified and the fact that it was in question until the last ten minutes is slightly worrying. Our opponents over the next month will be tougher fare than West Brom.


Baggies manager Hodgson looked twitchy and worried this time last year in Scouse-land, on Sunday he seemed enormously peeved throughout. His anger is nothing compared to what you would usually expect from Fergie at De Gea’s Bobbins impression for the equaliser.


We need to give this guy time, he has produced enough excellent saves in the past two matches to confirm his talent. However, teams like Arsenal, Chelsea and lob-it-in-the-box Stoke, all of whom we face in the near future, will be aware of the Spaniard’s tendency to lapse. Fergie has decisions to make.


None of this is unexpected. My forecast for the season sees United conceding more goals than usual, scoring themselves out of trouble and swashbuckling their way through. With Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool starting their campaigns in whimpering fashion we have little to complain about. What’s more, all of United’s football in pre-season, and again this weekend, has been pretty darn entertaining. In Rooney’s opener we have scored yet another beauty too. ‘Bring on Arsenal, Chelsea and Stoke’ I say, ‘lob as many crosses into the box as you like’. We look like we can score against anybody at the moment.

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