Henry Winter, Daily Telegraph Football Correspondent and columnist for the Sunday Telegraph, has shared his thoughts on United ahead of the 2012-2013 season. Bear in mind, these answers came before yesterday’s news about Robin van Persie…
Scott the Red: United never implode at the end of the season but we dropped eight points in the last few weeks of 2011-2012. What do you think happened?
Henry Winter: They failed to get to grips with Fellaini at Old Trafford. That was a huge day in shaping the title run-in. Defence and midfield did not communicate enough to deal with him. Vidic was clearly missed too. But you also have to acknowledge City’s resilience and rich resources. Sergio Aguero reminded everyone again why he cost so much.
STR: If it had been Kompany and not Vidic injured since December, who do you think would have won the league?
HW: Probably United. Kompany was brilliant as leader and centre-half. But City would probably have gone out and bought a top centre-half.
STR: Probably. We’ve brought in a few players this summer but is our current squad capable of winning the league?
HW: I still think City will just narrowly win another two-horse race but Ferguson has bought well. Still need a new Keano.
STR: No Keano, again, so who do you expect to be United’s most important player this season?
HW: Rooney. Always Rooney. He’s United’s best player. He scores, creates, works hard, tracks back, has a huge will to win. He’ll be in the top 4 all-time Premier League scorers by Christmas (unless Lampard goes on a spree).
STR: Ha, not too shabby. Finally, what would you say is the best Manchester XI?
HW: 4231. Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Vidic (or Lescott if one whole season), Nobody (Clichy at a push at lb but neither he nor Evra great last year); Yaya Toure, Carrick; Valencia, Rooney, Silva; Aguero.
———-
Follow Henry Winter on Twitter
Man Utd News 24/7
“… He’ll be in the top 4 all-time Premier League scorers by Christmas”
Never pay much attention to EPL stats for other teams players. Rather myopic on United I supposed.
But go on then, humor me….. What is the list of all time EPL top scorers? Imagine Shearer is up there. What is a good source for such info??
Cheers
But best blog gotta be ROM
@Fletch
My guess is Shearer, Henry and …
Wright? Les Ferdinand?
*checks*
Nope! It’s our very own Andy Cole.
I was going to say that as well.
Shearer and Cole are the top 2 for years now. Wikipedia is a good source for this kind of stuff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League#Top_scorers
Top 4:
Shearer
Henry
Andy Cole
…
Michael Owen
Robbie Fowler
Not sure about the correct order with the last few…
The bitters might have won it last season
But it was clearly due to our long list of injured players
We could of easily won had not been for injuries we suffered
But even though we weren’t hinted by such we still managed to challenge and nearly won it
The 4-4 game vs everton still do the running in my mind. That game stalled all the energy we had to go on and win it IMO
The bitters might have won it last season
But it was clearly due to our long list of injured players
We could of easily won had not been for injuries we suffered
But even though we were hinted by such we still managed to challenge and nearly won it
The 4-4 game vs everton still do the running in my mind. That game stalled all the energy we had to go on and win it IMO
1 Alan Shearer 260
2 Andrew Cole 187
3 Thierry Henry 176
4 Robbie Fowler 163
5 Frank Lampard 151
6 Les Ferdinand 149
7 Michael Owen 149
8 Teddy Sheringham 147
9 Wayne Rooney 144
10 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 127
So Rooney will move up to 4th this season. Not bad.
Cheers for your lists lads!
Offtopic: RE van Persie:
Not sure that money or titles had much to do with van Persie’ move to United. More likely keeping composed knowing Piers Morgan was a fan of your club.
Hate to laugh at Arsenal on this as it was in the cards. But Piers does deserve a p*ss take. Lots of funny stuff on this.
http://newsthump.com/2012/08/16/piers-morgans-pledge-to-throw-himself-off-pier-was-main-motivation-for-move-reveals-van-persie/
Rai, replied on last thread
FletchTHEMAN
Im lucky enough to not give two hoots about the general health of the world and therefore escape the clutches of people like Piers Morgan. I live abroad and Piers Morgan isnt a threat to my ears. I dont know what the fuss is about him untill I read in your link that he was once the editor of The Mirror. That was enough he must die.
Lets hope the mob think it a giggle and offer him a size too small pair of concrete boots and take him for a long walk off a short pier.
Like Beef Wellington is named after the ancient meme of kicking a cow up the arse with your welly boots on so its arse puckers, grabs hold of the boot and rips it off your retracting leg maybe suicide by jumping of a pier can be named as a Pier Morgan, even funnier if the mob do snatch him from his bed and disposes of his silly arse in he early hours of the day.
@Goat If I did anything to introduce you to that load of bile …. then I am truly sorry. Worst I have ever been accused of on this site.
FletchTHEMAN
You have been let off. I had heard of him before, alot on here, as he doesnt seem too popular, and the fact he took over from the dinosaur Larry King.
I actually watched him last night because I wanted to see a fully grown man cry or atleast see the anger in his eyes and he was interviewing the yank keeper Hope. Not sure if I fancy her, disgusted by her or generally feel uneasy when looking at her but I suppose if offered I may dip in a toe or two.
Piers Morgan is a snide cunt
RVP + Rooney = best scoring pair over each of last 3 years in EPL. Long may it continue.
Cole + Yorke revisited?
1998-99 strikers: Cole, Yorke, Sheringham, Solskjær
2002-23 strikers: van Nistelrooy, Forlan, Yorke, Solskjær
2012-13 strikers: Rooney, van Persie, Welbeck, Hernandez (Berbatov?)
Robin van Persie: New Profile on manutd.com.
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2012/Aug/robin-van-persie-career-profile.aspx
Henry Winter wasn’t he the Fonze
typo
2002-03 strikers: van Nistelrooy, Forlan, Yorke, Solskjær
Cheers
Well Rooney love by some one other then me or James, Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you!!
Any where but RoM Rooney gets his do. A top 5 world class striker. Now add RvP the 2 were, in the top 6 strikers of the world last year. Hum could this turn out good. I don’t know the Germans might start another war.
Bridgewater a bit chaotic at the moment. Wonder what it might be…
@goatinaunitedshirt
He was also the editor of NOTW . Really he should be in prison right now as in his autobiography he admitted to using information he knew came from phone hacking in the paper and he also boasted to a number of celebs about being able to access their voicemail.
He also phoned up one celeb (can’t recall who but it may have been Kate Moss) less than an hour after she got a new phone and number with the only way he could have done so was by phone hacking another celeb who she had left a message with her new number.
He also has only been a football fan since the PremierLeague years yet acts like he is some oracle of knowledge. Why Fox thought he was a valid pundit when they aired the very first live Football game ever broadcast on one of national networks in the US is beyond me
This press conference is anyone showing it???
Morgan death watch, a crowd of hundreds have gathered at the San Monica pier. In hopes of a great day.
Wakey
Nice bloke then!
What is this other big announcement everyone’s talking about ?
Fergie’s statue being unveiled?
So cool, MUFC having a great summer, Kagawa, German league player of the year.
RvP PL player of the year.
Powell, best young British player!
Angelo, great young South American talent.
Sean Goss, a young top German talent at ACM.
wow all added to MUFC and Rooney the PL best all around player. Added to RvP best PL striker.
European sportsbook bwin has today announced a new agreement with Manchester United to become the club’s official online gaming and betting partner.
The partnership was launched today at Old Trafford with the team’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson, along with players Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney.
The initial three-year deal positions bwin at the centre of promotional activities for the football club and includes the integration of bwin into Manchester United’s website, the creation of co-branded social gaming products, match day perimeter board signage, access to players for marketing campaigns, a range of in-stadia initiatives including bwin-branded betting kiosks and other marketing rights.
Norbert Teufelberger, Co-CEO of bwin’s parent company bwin.party, commented:
“Manchester United is one of the biggest names in world sport with a global fan base running into hundreds of millions. We share a passion for football that has always been at the heart of our long-term brand development strategy. Football is fundamental to our long-term success, making up approximately half of our total sports betting revenue of €261m in 2011. As well as supporting our real-money gaming business, the agreement complements our recent move into social gaming. Man Utd has 569 million followers outside of Europe, providing us with a great opportunity to offer jointly designed and innovative products in countries that do not yet allow real money online sports betting.”
United’s commercial director Richard Arnold said:
“bwin has an established an reputable reputation in online gaming in Europe and Manchester United is pleased to be bringing that model to not only the 75,000 football fans who visit Old Trafford each week, but also our huge global audience.”
http://www.intergameonline.com/i-gaming/news/7877/bwin-and-manchester-united-enter-digital-partnership
Eric Keane,
The “OTHER” announcement is to reveal BWIN as our new betting partner. It was announced awhile back, but this will be the official presentation, or so it appears from one of the reporters at the event.
But RvP at Bridgewater is the news everyone is keen on. Bonkers down there ATM.
Cheers Dreaded, that’s the one.
Cheers FletchTHEMAN – I bet it is!
Guardian preseason poll: Vote early and often lads! http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/poll/2012/aug/16/who-will-win-premier-league
FletchTHEMAN
Who are we voting for?
Related to the announcement of BWIN. Here is a related link offering carrots to bet on United: http://www.betting.manutd.com/
Goat. Cheers mate.
Mine were:
1. EPL: United
2. GoldenBoot: Rooney
3. POTY: Rooney
4. Relegated: WestHam
5. 1st sacked: Roberto di Matteo (Chelsea)
But city and Aguero are leading most categories.
Sean Goss?
When will he be famous?
Dr. Dread MUFC huge entertainment co. now. Soon a change of name as well. MUFC entertainment group.
2017 ???
Voted
Btw can anybody tell what is happening with Zeki fryers?
Heard some where that his contract ran out , but still not signed any other teams contract.Also Fantasy premier league is showing him as an United Player.
Some really funny RvP lyrics being posted:
RvP….. Easy as one, two three
RvP, you and me..
Cricky, probably not at OT anyway……
Shaikh Re’d. “Fryers has let his contract run down with the Red Devils and Tottenham are reportedly on standby, ready to seal a deal with a fee that will be settled by tribunal.”
http://www.footballfancast.com/2012/08/football-blogs/the-boys-a-bit-special-ezekiel-fryers
Well it is a great day to be a Red!
See Yaaaa!!!!
@FletchTHEMAN
Thanks for the link mate.
I was personally hoping that Sir Alex will come out and say “Surprise,Fryers is still with us”.
Guess Now all we need is a LB just to motivate Evra. Personally I don’t think our mid needs player on priority.If we are buying , defence it should be.
PipingHot InZibinho
In our theatre of dreams, any name change is a nightmare, no matter how apt!
We are the entertainers, historically, currently and futuristically.
Manchester United, where daydreams become reality.
Oh yes Dr, I have asked about the name change I get that. Looks like the KOP will be the first.
I meant upgrade, more seats.
If not a new Keano, a new Robbo will do.
Hahaha lol liverpool had a vote
On the guardian voting section for ‘which team is going to win the league this season’
Pissed myself!!!!
Still pondering the RVP sighing? Personally I didn’t really want him as I felt he wasn’t needed.
But now he is here I think two tears in a bucket. He is a great player and if he stays fit, he will surely improve our chance of winning on all fronts.
I all so wonder due to the money being quoted and the fact SAF has broken his own transfer policies. This maybe SAF final big signing? So that he can leave the Club with a bang in a couple of seasons time. He has a up and coming squad to carry on his legacy, but probably not win him all the accolades he wishes right now. RVP maybe the man to achieve this?
There’s a rumour circulating on twitter quoting that van persie is a decent footy player
Vidic a world class and @rioferdy a world class twitterer
The idea of our requirement for a ‘new Keano’ is one which many football fans and experts have become obsessed with. You don’t see that type of player any more. The only one I can think of who has the same swash-bucking attitude to both defend and attack with vigour Keane is Lee Cattermole, and he’s tripe, and, perhaps, Essien when he used to be good.
Our rival teams don’t have an equivalent to Keane either, choosing to mix defensive with offensive midfielders – Yaya Toure is predominantly an attacking midfielder, alongside Barry/De Jong who sit back. Song is the attacking one and Arteta sits back. Mikel sits back while Lampard attacks, etc.
The problem we have is who to pair with Carrick, who is a brilliant player by the way. Scholes likes to sit deep and occupies the same niche as Carrick, only Carrick’s ability to intercept is replaced by Scholes’s passing ability. The lack of a progressive midfielder to play with Carrick can only be solved by Anderson or Cleverley from our current squad.
Henry Winter is the best jurno out there. Talks sense. Disagree with him on city edging us out for the league.
It’s coming home!