Man United Resolute On Carlos Tevez Permanent Deal Even As Man City Loom

Manchester United have dismissed speculation over Carlos Tevez’s future at Old Trafford, and stressed that they are on the right track to sign the Argentina forward permanently.

The 24-year-old former Boca Juniors, Corinthians and West Ham United ace has established himself as a key player in Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, for his energetic displays after having joined the Red Devils in a two-season loan deal in 2007 summer.

Tevez is now keen to sign a long-term deal with the Red Devils and a price-tag of £30million has been reported for the proposed transfer if United want to keep him. Recently there was speculation that the move may be delayed and Tevez, who is also reportedly a target for cash-rich Manchester City, getting frustrated following summer-arrival of Dimitar Berbatov. However, the current Premiership and European champions have refuted the rumours.

“(Chief executive) David Gill told the papers in South Africa in July that we would hope to conclude a deal with Carlos before the new year,” said a spokesman.

“That is still our aim. The clocks haven't even gone back yet, so to talk of delays is nonsense. Both the club and Carlos are relaxed about the situation.”

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United's Foursome Are Awesome, Says Ince

Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince believes that Manchester United's attacking quadrant of Wayne Rooney; Carlos Tevez; Cristiano Ronaldo; and Dimitar Berbatov is awesome.

Sir Alex Ferguson has assembled a mouth-watering strike force consisting of an Englishman; a Portuguese; an Argentinian; and a Bulgarian worth a total of £70million. Should Ferguson extend Tevez's stay permanently, then that figure would rise to £95million.

It it an attacking quadrant that would be the envy of many a sane manager, none more so than former United player and current Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince - whose side lost to the Red Devils 2-0 at the weekend.

When pressed about how he prepares his side to defend against such potent talent, he replied: "It’s scary, isn’t it? You can spend all week, as I have done, discussing tactics and personnel."

"I probably thought about playing 20,000 different teams. But when a team is that good, sometimes you can’t do anything about it," he is quoted by Manutd.com as saying.

"We tried hard and went in there with a lot of confidence. But they are so good. They’re a fantastic team, they always play with pace and wingers and they’re a joy to watch at times."

"Even so, I was proud of my lads. We’ll learn from this game... When United play like that they’re awesome. People were saying they weren’t playing well — but they have so much quality."

"When you can bring on Tevez from the bench, who would probably cost more than our entire first 11, that just shows what you are up against," the rookie Premier League manager concluded.

Alan Dawson
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Van Der Sar Returns to the international fold

Edwin Van Der Sar is to come out of international retirement to after being persuaded by the Dutch FA - the KNVB.

Van Der Sar last played for Holland in the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Russia in Euro 2008. Holland were widely praised for their wonderful counter attacking football against the likes of Italy and France in the group stages - but will ultimately defeated by a Arshavin led Russia.

Current Dutch number one, Maarten Stekelenburg, has a shoulder injury which is why Bert van Marwijk has called upon the legendary Dutch goalkeeper - who has won to date 128 caps.

Other United players to be called up to their national sides are Nani and Ronaldo (both Portugal), Manucho (Angola), Brown Rooney and Ferdinand (all England), Park (Korea Republic).

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Player Ratings: Blackburn 0-2 Manchester United

Wes Brown and Wayne Rooney gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Brown: 8.0 - May feel aggrieved about the goal but made some excellent saves to keep the scoreline respectable. Tipped Giggs’ shot onto the bar and denied Rooney twice and Berbatov in an excellent display.

Ooijer: 6.0 - Had his hands full with Rooney and Berbatov and simply couldn't get close enough to the visitors' frontmen.

Samba: 4.0 - Found United’s pace and movement a problem, lost Rooney completely who could have added a third but dinked his shot over and a lack of concentration let in Berbatov shortly afterwards.

Nelsen: 6.0 - Committed and tried to drive his team onwards at 2-0 down with a surging run forwards.

Olsson: 5.0 - A mistake let in Brown and Berbatov in the first half and he looked shaky whenever United ran directly at him. Got nowhere near Ronaldo for United’s second.

Emerton: 6.5 - Excellent pass early on opened up the United defence for Derbyshire and not afraid to have a hit. Worked hard and was one of Rovers’ better performers.

Tugay: 5.5 - Fairly anonymous in truth, which is unlike him. Rovers needed his drive but he simply couldn’t provide it and was subbed early.

Warnock: 5.0 - Set up Santa Cruz once with a fine pass but that was about all he offered.

Pedersen: 5.5 - He offered relatively little and an ineffective performance was ended by Ince just before the hour mark.

Derbyshire: 6.0 - Forced Van der Sar into a good early save but seemed to disappear from the match after that and had little involvement in the second half.

Santa Cruz: 7.0 - His very presence seemed to worry the United back four and he tested Van der Sar on occasions but needed far more support. Hobbled off early in the seond half.

Substitutions

Roberts: 5.0 - Replaced Santa Cruz but didn’t have a sniff.

Treacy: 5.0 - A well wide late shot was about all he offered:

Andrews: n/a - Made little impact.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Van der Sar: 6.0 - Decent stop from Derbyshire and one from Santa Cruz was just about all he had to do all evening.

Brown: 7.0 - Scored the goal and initiated several attacks on the right hand side, may well keep Gary Neville on the bench a while longer.

Ferdinand: 7.5 - A great block on Santa Cruz in the first half after Van der Sar could only parry Derbyshire’s drive and kept Rovers in check all night.

Vidic: 7.5 - Blackburn may object about the part he played in Brown’s goal but defensively he was superb.

Evra: 7.0 - Set up Ronaldo who should have scored with a typical attacking foray down the left and defensively had very little to do.

Ronaldo: 7.5 - Was well marshalled in the first half but swapped flanks in the second and looked a lot happier on the right. Set up Rooney for United’s second with a fine run and cross and almost allowed Tevez to make it three.

Fletcher: 7.0 - Put an early chance wide but his passing and tracking back were first class and ensured Scholes wasn't missed.

Anderson: 7.0 - Neat and tidy, kept possession well and helped United dominate midfield.

Giggs: 7.0 - Had a great shot tipped onto the bar and his passing was immaculate all evening. Given the night off once Rooney had scored United’s second.

Berbatov: 7.0 - Some lovely through balls set up both Fletcher and Rooney and some superb touches showed signs that he is starting to settle. Yet Ferguson will expect much more for his money.

Rooney: 8.5 - A surprise inclusion after seemingly picking up an injury against Aalborg but continued his good form. Crossed for Brown to open the scoring and added a second with a fine strike.

Substitutions

Tevez: 7.5 - A cute pass put Ronaldo in and he almost made it three but his shot hit the post.

O’Shea: 6.0 - Allowed Evra to have a rest and wasn’t tested.

Park: 6.0 - A late substitution and had little time to make an impact.

Gill Clark


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Blackburn 0-2 Man United Match Report

Defending champions Manchester United tamed Blackburn Rovers as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side scored once in each half in the Premiership game at Ewood Park on Saturday.

The victory took Sir Alex Ferguson’s side up into sixth place with 11 points from six games. Rovers remain on 10 points after seven games.

Wes Brown and Wayne Rooney were the goal-scorers on a wet evening in Lancashire. United had good chances in the first half, but failed to convert as Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher missed the target.

Paul Ince’s side also had their share of opportunities, but no-nonsense defending by Vidic earlier on saw the Serbian clear the ball to safety before Santa Cruz could get to it after Derbyshire’s shot was blocked by Van der Sar. Emerton then had a long-range effort whizzing past the rival goal.

United took the lead in the 30th minute when defender Brown headed home off a cross by Wayne Rooney, but Rovers goalkeeper Jason Brown felt aggrieved that the whistle had not gone for what he would term impediment by Vidic. The Rovers goalkeeper, who has stepped in for injured Paul Robinson, had done well until then making a couple of good saves.

Santa Cruz forced a save from Van der Sar within seconds of the start of the second period, but Blackburn were jolted soon after as the Paraguay striker picked up an injury and was replaced by Jason Roberts.

Rooney made it 2-0 in the 64th minute for the Red Devils with a clinical finish from the in-form England ace set up by Portuguese star Ronaldo, who himself missed a few opportunities as he failed to hit target.

The home side could have fallen further behind had goalkeeper Brown not rushed off his line to make a sliding tackle to prevent Dimitar Berbatov from rounding him in a one on one situation in the 74th minute.

A rare threat from Rovers in the second half, came in the 80th minute when Emerton blasted a first-time volley off Derbyshire’s cross, towards the target but Vidic came up with a crucial block.

At the other end, substitute Carlos Tevez struck his fierce low shot onto the post after Ronaldo had set up the Argentina international.

Teams:

Blackburn Rovers: Brown, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Emerton, Kerimoglu (Andrews 68), Warnock, Pedersen (Treacy 58), Derbyshire, Roque Santa Cruz (Roberts 50).

Substitutes not used: Bunn, Mokoena, Villanueva, Fowler.

Man United: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (O'Shea 71), Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs (Tevez 66), Berbatov, Rooney (Park 77).

Substitutes not used: Amos, Nani, Rafael Da Silva, Evans.

Referee: Steve Bennett.

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Premier League Preview: Blackburn Rovers – Manchester United

Out of the Master’s Shadow

You can guarantee that when Paul Ince took over the Blackburn Rovers job from Mark Hughes, games such as this Saturday’s against the club he represented with such distinction during his playing career was one of the first he looked for when the fixture list was released.
Indeed, the concept of even facing the Premier League and European champions must have seemed a long way away this time last season when he was guiding Milton Keynes Dons to the Football League Two title. Ince, though, has taken the giant leap to the Premier League in his stride if recent results are anything to go by.

Beginning with a barnstorming opening-day victory at Goodison Park against Everton, ‘the Guv’nor’ should be very pleased indeed to see his Rovers team sitting in a comfortable seventh place in the table after claiming further wins at home to Fulham and away at Newcastle United.

The ex-Inter Milan player has also, importantly, managed to add some further quality to the Blue and Whites squad. His signing of Paul Robinson seems to have re-invigorated the much-maligned goalkeeper, right-back Danny Simpson has been an astute loan singing from this Saturday’s opponents, whilst the Latin flair and technical skills of Chilean Carlos Villanueva has lit up the Rovers attack.

Such an impressive start to his Premier League career has certainly allowed Ince to cast aside any of the doubts that were sent his way upon his ascension to the Ewood Park hot-seat.
However, there aren’t many bigger tests for a manager than when Manchester United come to town.

However, Ince has inherited a team that has performed well above expectations against the Red Devils in recent years, with Rovers pinning back United’s title hopes last season in a hard-fought 1-1 draw as well as recording a David Bentley-inspired 4-3 win in 2006.
If the former Reds idol can continue this impressive run on Saturday, then you can be sure that Sir Alex Ferguson will have to crack a wry smile at yet another one of his protégés coming back to haunt him.

With or Without Wayne

There are some players who have an uncanny knack of finding the back of the net every time they walk onto a football pitch, whilst there are others who seem to be in a constant cycle of hot and cold spells when it comes to getting their name on the score-sheet.

That Wayne Rooney seems to fit so firmly in to the latter category will make the news of his potential absence from this game even harder to take for United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Rooney had looked to be coming back to his effervescent best in the Red Devils’ last two games, scoring a beautifully crafted goal against Bolton Wanderers and setting United on their way to an elementary 3-0 Champions League win against Aalborg with an uncharacteristically composed finish.

Furthermore, the mid-week jaunt in Denmark dealt a much more serious blow to Ferguson’s playing stock with the news that Paul Scholes will be out of action until 2009 due to the knee ligament damage he picked up in an innocuous challenge against AaB. The Oldham-born playmaker may not be the player that he once was, but anyone who saw his cameo appearance against Bolton Wanderers couldn’t have failed to recognise the quality and finesse that Scholes adds to the United midfield.

This latest injury will also exacerbate a problem position for United this season due to the continuing fitness issues for Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves, as well as the poor form of Anderson since his return from Olympic duty with Brazil. Blows such as these though will have been compensated by Dimitar Berbatov’s two goal salvo against the Danish champions.
The tall Bulgarian will be an important figure if the Red Devils are to come away from Ewood Park on Saturday with all three points.

Victories against their North West neighbours have though been scarce in recent years, a fact that Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt be aware of when he rues the loss of his inspirational No. 10 for this match.


FORM GUIDE

Blackburn Rovers

27th September vs. Newcastle United (A) won 2-1 (PREM)

24th September vs. Everton (H) won 1-0 (CARLING CUP)

20th September vs. Fulham (H) won 1-0 (PREM)

13th September vs. Arsenal (H) lost 4-0 (PREM)

30th August vs. West Ham United (A) lost 4-1 (PREM)

Manchester United

30th September vs. Aalborg BK (A) won 3-0 (CHAMP LG)

27th September vs. Bolton Wanderers (H) won 2-0 (PREM)

23rd September vs. Middlesbrough (H) won 3-1 (CARLING CUP)

21st September vs. Chelsea (A) drew 1-1- (PREM)

17th September vs. Villarreal C.F. (H) drew 0-0 (PREM)


TEAM NEWS

Blackburn Rovers

Rovers will be without the services of Paul Robinson (calf) as he is still a week away from a return to action. The ex-Tottenham man joins long-term injury absentee David Dunn (shin) on the Ewood Park treatment table. Defender Danny Simpson will also be in the stands for this game - he is ineligible as he is a loan signing from Manchester United. Australian international Vince Grella (calf) should though be available to Paul Ince for the visit of the Premier League champions.

Last starting XI (vs. Newcastle United): Brown, Simpson, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Emerton, Olsson, Tugay, Derbyshire (Ooijer 84), Roque Santa Cruz (Roberts 84), Villanueva (Fowler 62).
Subs Not Used: Bunn, Pedersen, Andrews, Treacy.

Squad: Brown, Bunn, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Emerton, Ooijer, Pedersen, Grella, Andrews, Treacy, Olsson, Tugay, Villanueva, Derbyshire, Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts, Fowler.

Manchester United

The ease of the Red Devil’s mid-week victory in Denmark has come at a cost with Paul Scholes (knee) out of the first-team frame until January. The veteran player joins team-mates Owen Hargreaves (knee) and Michael Carrick (ankle) on the sidelines to leave Sir Alex Ferguson short of central midfield options. There is better news for Gary Neville, however, as he should return for the short trip to Blackburn after being rested against Aalborg. Wayne Rooney (ankle) does though remain a serious doubt for this game after his early withdrawal against the Danish champions. Injuries to goalkeepers Ben Foster (knee) and Thomas Kuszczak (knee) will mean that Ben Amos retains his place on the United bench.

Last starting XI (vs. Aalborg BK): Van Der Sar, Rafael Da Silva (Brown 66), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes (Giggs 16), O'Shea, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney (Tevez 59).
Subs Not Used: Amos, Anderson, Park, Evans.

Squad: Van Der Sar, Amos, Rafael Da Silva, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Giggs, O'Shea, Nani, Anderson, Park, Fletcher, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Blackburn Rovers

After being sporadically linked with United over the summer, Roque Santa Cruz will want to show Sir Alex Ferguson his true worth. The Paraguayan powerhouse was a constant thorn in the side of the Red Devils when the two teams met at Ewood Park last season, giving Rovers the lead with a trademark header, and Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic one of the toughest tests they received during United’s glorious campaign. A repeat of such a dominant display will give Paul Ince every chance of claiming his first major Premier League scalp.

Manchester United

With his two goals against Aalborg in mid-week, Dimitar Berbatov started to pay back the huge transfer fee that brought him to the club. Strikes against Danish minnows will, however, be quickly forgotten by an expectant United following if the Bulgarian doesn’t continue to get his name on the Red Devils’ score-sheet. Football fans are a notoriously fickle bunch though, and if the ex-Tottenham man caps off a promising week with a match-wining strike against Blackburn Rovers you can bet that any of their initial misgivings will be quickly forgotten as they celebrate another three points.


PREDICTION

Ewood Park has never been a fruitful hunting ground for Manchester United, with one win in their last three visits to Blackburn standing testament to this fact.

The task for Sir Alex Ferguson has also grown even harder in the last few days with Paul Scholes’ worrying knee injury and the fitness doubts surrounding a rejuvenated Wayne Rooney.

Bearing this news in mind, Rovers manager Paul Ince should have his troops fired up on Saturday to give his former manager’s charges a real test of their Premier League winning credentials.

Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Manchester United

Matt Monaghan

Premier League Manager Of The Month - September 2008

SEPTEMBER RESULTS


3rd Rafael Benitez (Liverpool (2nd - 14pts)):

September: 7/9pts

Looking at Liverpool's September prior to any ninth-month ball being hit, Benitez - and the red side of Liverpool in fact - would have accepted an offer of a seven out of nine point haul. With a visit of Manchester United, Stoke City, and a short trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton, who would have thought that the points dropped would have come in the central fixture? The Manchester United triumph was made even more meritorious considering the absence of key personnel: talismanic and influential captain Steven Gerrard, and the emphatic and unforgiving Fernando Torres. To follow that up with a dissappointing draw irked Liverpudlians due to the questionable striking off of a Steven Gerrard set-piece, but business resumed with a convincing twosome from Torres in the Merseyside battle with Everton - a victory that ensured Benitez would claim his seventh derby win. Liverpool - like the other Premier League clubs battling on four fronts this season - had a congested schedule due to an away Champions League trip to Marseille, and a visit of Crewe Alexandra in the Carling Cup - both of which ended with a Liverpool win, but the extra 180 minutes of football did little to tire Liverpool's legs. Robbie Keane has even begun to settle into north-western life as his audacious assist set up Torres in the derby clash. Rafa Benitez has recently said he can smell a title challenge in the air, and states it is reminiscent of the whiffs from his glory, glory Valencia days, he has also promised to bin his rotation policy in favour of a mainstay spine meaning October could be an even more fruitful month for the Spaniard.


2nd Martin O'Neill (Aston Villa (3rd - 13pts)):

September: 9/9pts

Martin O'Neill has enjoyed the full support of a loyal fanbase wherever he has gone to manage, and this unswerving faith in the Northern Irishman stretches back as far as his Wycombe Wanderers days when the home support consistently chanted: 'Martin... Martin, Martin: Give us a wave!' To which he always complied. One man that O'Neill refused to wave goodbye to though is Gareth Barry, and the Villa boss' man management skills have come to the fore as Barry's coquet summer sojourn with Liverpool now seems a distant memory as the versatile midfielder returned to his prime mid month. O'Neill guided Villa to three Premier League wins out of three with a hat-trick of 2-1 victories over Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, and Sunderland. The Spurs win was followed up with a Uefa Cup win leaving the Villans topped up with self assurance but running on empty. The former Celtic boss though significantly strenghtened his side over the summer and Villa's depth was put to the sword. Tony Mowbray, ahead of the West Brom game, gave an admiring glance O'Neill's way when he admitted that: "You have to admire the talent," refering to Villa's rising English quarter. The midlands side then put the Carling Cup loss to QPR to one side as they overcome Roy Keane's Sunderland. As September came to a close, Villa maintained their Champions League spot. Only Manchester United and Arsenal scored more than the clarets last term, and Villa are level pegging on goals scored with top of the league Chelsea.


1st Phil Brown (Hull City (6th 11pts)):

September: 7/9pts

A worthy winner of Goal.com's Premier League Manager of the Month. Phil Brown and his Tigers responded in a 'beau ideal' fashion after their 5-0 August humbling from Wigan Athletic. Their September results read like a title contending side's, not one that was deemed to be battling relegation: a 2-1 away win over Newcastle United; a 2-2 home draw with Everton; concluding with a historic 2-1 away win over Arsenal. While squad rotation has not worked in the past for third placed Rafa Benitez, tinkering seems to be providing a more favourable outcome for Phil Brown. Gabonese international Daniel Cousin, on his second appearance of the season, scored the winner against Arsenal. Throughout the game at the Emirates, Brown remained tactically spot on. He changed a winning tactic ahead of the clash, and boldly played Giovanni behind his strikers in a 4-3-3. Ian Ashbee helped run the midfield and pacey Gunners winger Theo Walcott was largely ineffective as he was not allowed to run the lines like he has in the past, instead being forced to cut inside, where a waiting pack of defenders - led by Michael Turner - would block his path. Hull City remain the only side in the history of the Premier League to maintain an unbeaten record away from home, and are only the second team to have left Ashburton Grove with three league points.

www.goal.com

Rooney Fitness Worry

Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney is doubtful for this weekend's Premier League clash with Balckburn Rovers, but should be fit for England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Rooney limped out of Manchester United's 3-0 win over Aalborg in the Champions League midweek, and the club have released a statement confirming that the player will be sidelined this weekend through an ankle injury.

United are due to face-off against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, and it is extremely unlikely that Rooney will take part.

Fabio Capello, the England manager, will be hopeful that Rooney recovers in time for the World Cup qualification double header against Kazakhstan and Belarus on the week of the 11th of October.

However, Rooney's club are optimistic about his prognosis, and insist that he will be ready for national service.

A statement from Manchester United reads: "Wayne has an ankle injury and is considered doubtful for Saturday's game against Blackburn, but he should recover in time for England's forthcoming matches."

Peter Staunton