What’s Going On With United’s Strikers?
Wayne Rooney
Wazza is in the form of his life and all Sir Alex can do is hope it lasts and pray that no hulking beasts masquerading as defenders come anywhere near the striker’s feet.
The 22 year old has come back from injury to record the best goals per game return of his career – eight in his last seven matches - allowing Sir Alex’s vision of the player emerging as the complete forward to move into clearer focus.
“I’m delighted with my game at the minute, Rooney told the Mirror newspaper last month. “I’m playing well, scoring goals and we’re winning games, so I just want it to keep that going.
“When you’re out, as I was at the start of the season [with a broken foot], you’re always looking at other players who are scoring and playing, and you just want to be out there with them.
“So it was frustrating, but I’m just delighted to be back, doing what I love most. The difference now is I’m scoring on a more consistent basis. In previous years I’d score for three or four games, then go three or four games without a goal. This year I’ve managed to do it in consecutive games, which is great. Now I feel like I’m going to score every time I play.”
Carlos Tevez
Fewer doubts surround Tevez’s future as a United star now that he has started to find the net. The Argentine has the opportunity to put Saturday’s disappointing performance at Arsenal behind him, should he be selected to face Dynamo Kiev this evening.
Meanwhile, Sir Alex grows more appreciative of the player’s skills by the day.
“What I have noticed about the boy here, since he has come to us, is that when he loses the ball he wants it back which is a great attribute to have as a striker,” he said. “Not every striker thinks that way. So he’s got a lot of great things about him and most importantly that great enthusiasm to play.”
As well as love from Sir Alex, Tevez also got props from famed countryman Lionel Messi.
“Carlos is making a big difference for Manchester United this season,” the Barcelona star said. “His partnership with Rooney is already something special and I think it will only get better.
“Although they play and move similarly to one another on the pitch, they are going to help Manchester United a lot. They will scare defenders everywhere.
“Those who play the game well understand each other immediately. Good players always manage to play well together.”
Louis Saha
No story about the French star is complete without a medical bulletin or the manager promising to “take it slowly” with his fragile striker.
Saha’s dramatic entry at Arsenal last weekend was evidence of his continued importance to United and Sir Alex claims he will nurse the player along gently in the hope of keeping him fit for longer.
Ferguson said: “We saw on Saturday how Louis can change a game. We just have to monitor how he is because we are never going to risk his availability for the rest of the season if we can avoid it.
“If it means starting with him as a substitute, that is what we will do because he is such a different player to any of the rest we have here.”
Dimitar Berbatov ( a future United striker?)
Rumours linking the Bulgarian hitman with Old Trafford continue to circulate like the Autumn leaves, even though he is suffering a nightmare in front of goal, scoring just twice in 14 appearances this season.
The speculation is mounting by the day, especially as Spurs are lining up a move for old boy Fredi Kanoute, a firm favourite of the new manager.
Juande Ramos started the romance by speaking fondly of the Seville star. He said: “Kanoute would be a great player wherever he goes.”
Kanoute’s agent Christophe Mongai returned the love letter in a perfumed envelope. “Frederic likes Tottenham very much and a return there in January is possible,” he said in reply.
No wonder Berbatov’s agent Emil Dantchev was on a plane from Sofia for talks with Spurs boss Damien Comolli earlier this week. Dantchev offered what must rank as one of football’s least convincing denials that his client wants to be at Old Trafford in time for the New Year sales.
“I don’t see why having coffee with him means there is difficulty for Berbatov at Tottenham,” Dantchev ventured. “It is a normal meeting. Dimitar is under contract with Tottenham and it is just a meeting to discuss general questions, nothing special.”
Hacks couldn’t resist asking whether the “coffee” was a prelude to a transfer request? “That question is formulated from a situation that doesn’t exist,” Dantchev replied. “If there is something concrete, of course everyone will hear the information but don’t make a question for something that doesn’t happen at the moment.”
Right! Shoot the messenger why dontcha!
Dong Fangzhou
Did someone see a ghost?
