Barclays Premier League Winners 08/09, World Club Championship Winners 08/09
The Unofficial Manchester United Fanzine
Issue 1
Stretford Sound
Gift of the Gab United youngster talks about how he’s settled into life at Old Trafford
Igor-a come here! Read inside why we think Igor Akinfeev would be a good signing for Manchester United
Ultimate Team
Stretford Sound’s best ever United XI To celebrate the launch of our first issue of Stretford Sound, we have decided to put together what we think are the greatest team of 11 to have ever graced Old Trafford.
SCHMEICHEL
G. NEVILLE
VIDIC
SCHOLES
BRUCE
CHARLTON
BEST
IRWIN
KEANE
GIGGS C. RONALDO
O
ur small Manchester United Fanzine is only in it’s first issue and we’ve already had to publish a controversial story. As you no doubt are a Manchester United fan, you don’t need me to tell you that there
have been hundreds of great Man United players. But the players above are the ones that we believe were proud to wear the red of Manchester United; the helped take the club onto greater things; and perhaps most importantly, they all knew
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what it meant to be called a ‘Red Devil’. Yet we also think it’s important to mention the greats that narrowly missed out on a place in the coveted Stretford Sound Greatest XI: Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Andy Cole - you are all legends.
Player chat Gift of the Gab
Obertan explains it all
In an interview with the club’s official website, Obertan explained how he was settling into life at his new club. glad to be here and have the opportunity to play for this great club.
course. Bordeaux is a big club in France, but you come here and it is totally different. This is a world class club and it’s a totally different organisation. The quality of the players is different as well. Here there are only international players. Everything is quicker and the quality of the football is unbelievable.
Saying that, did the time out help you to settle in England? I think there were definitely some positives to it, and even though I was frustrated at not playing I tried to look at it in a positive way. In my disappointment, there were good things I could take from it. I got to know everybody at the club, I could begin to understand how things work here and get settled in England.
Did you see your move to United coming or was it a surprise? I knew United were interested because Jim Ryan (head of youth development) came to watch me play four years ago. I knew there was interest there but You seem to have I didn’t expect the the right attributes move to happen so to cope with that… early in my career. I’ve always liked But I felt ready for English football. it, I knew I was When I was in ready for the chalFrance lenge and I would to lf the watch Enge prove mys to g in p o h m change “I a - lish footy French coun m s a t a in my ball every re g be as g him weekend. in h tc a W . a n life. It to n terpart Eric Ca was And I unger, and the yo s a w I n e h ll w a tb like a think o fo owed on a sh e h t a th new ill sk like him. you’re e b t n a w e m beginright, for pitch made e th r fo ve lo ning my qualid my It also cemente for me ties I English game.” and I believe am just this is the best
What are your early impressions of the club? Manchester United has made a huge impression on me already. I knew it was a big club, of
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What are the main footballing differences between England and France? The quality at United is higher than I experienced in France. Also the amount of contact, there are a lot more physical challenges than in France, and the speed of the game – it’s so fast. It’s much slower in France, where you have time to look for space around you or pick out a pass. Here, everything is in a rush, because if you don’t rush then you will be tackled and lose the ball.
league in Europe for me. I’m quite fast and I like to attack and be in one v one situations with defenders. What was it like making your debut at Old Trafford? What was going through your mind as you were about to come on? I felt proud to be here and glad to get my first real injury out of the way. Obviously I’d played in the Reserves and enjoyed playing against Barnsley in the cup, but stepping out at Old Trafford is something else because I’ve never played in a stadium like that before. I was so excited and just couldn’t way to play and get on the pitch. It felt like the first step. I was a bit nervous at first, but after five minutes it felt like I’d been playing here for three years or something. The fans really get behind you and it’s a great sensation. The fans have taken to you really quickly, chanting your name at matches… I am very proud of that. It gives you a huge push when you are play-
Thrills and Spills “Sure, if there are any Irish players or even fans who want a rematch then I am more than willing to play Ireland again...on a Playstation!” Daily Mail
Picture: photobucket.com
It must have been frustrating getting your big move then having to sit on the sidelines. Are you pleased to finally be playing now? After four months of just waiting and resting, I’ve been really looking forward to starting my career as a Manchester United player. I wanted to feel part of the squad, part of the group, and be involved in the games. So I’m feeling really good right now.
Evra: Jokes about replay
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has been approached about a coaching role at Old Trafford before stepping into the hotseat to replace Sir Alex Ferguson - News of the World
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GOSSIP PAGE WOULD AKINFEEV BE A GOOD SIGNING?
Igor Akinfeev
He’s been whispered as one of the best european shot stoppers of the moment. As Edwin Van Der Sar approaches the end of his career, would Igor Akinfeev be able to fill his rather large boots?
D
uring Sir Alex Ferguson’s twenty years at Manchester United, he has always had an array of world class goal keepers at is peril. He famously bought the Danish superstar Peter Schemeichel to Old Trafford for an absolute bargain and grew into arguably the best goal stopper to have ever graced the Premier League. Peter Schemeichel’s presence between the goal posts led Manchester United onto countless trophies such as the first Premier League title ever, Community Shield’s, his heroics against Arsenal in the FA Cup final of 1996 – memorably the magnificent penalty save against Denis Bergkamp- helped them to several Wembley triumphs. Then perhaps the coupes de grais, maybe the best achievement of them all, the famous 9899 season where they won the treble which included the UEFA Champions League trophy: the first European triumph since the Busby Babes in the 1960s. Once Peter Schemeichel decided to
move on from Old Trafford after the treble success of the 98-99 season, Fergie took a while to replace him but eventually found Schemeichel’s predecessor in the shape of flamboyant French goal keeper Fabien Barthez.
stead to match the greatness Schemeichel brought to the dressing room. However, though Barthez will be remembered as one of the greatest French goal keepers of all time, his flamboyant nature and big game mistakes will ephemer-
‘Invincibles’ of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal took their dominance in the early part of the new millennium, and also the wealth that Roman Abramovich brought to Chelsea changed the shape of the Premier League. After Barthez saw
Picture: photobucket.com
Ben Foster gets a pat on the head after his heroics in the Carling Cup Final Barthez was brought in as he already had Champions League experience and also he was the goal keeper for the French squad who won the 1998 World Cup. This, Ferguson thought, would lead him in good
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ally make him a lovehate figure amongst United fans. Barthez was a part of the ranks for several seasons, but never achieved the accolades that Peter Schemeichel did as the so-called
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the emergence of a United academy goal keeper Roy Carroll. He is another goal keeper that will remain a love-hate figure for fans as he also was susceptible to mistakes in big matches, and many will have felt
that he never quite had the star quality that is needed to be a Manchester United goal keeper. But then, after years of waiting, came the reign of Edwin Van Der Sar. Van Der Sar was somebody who Fergie tried to recruit a some years before his eventual move to Old Trafford; just after Schemeichel was sold and Edwin was playing for Juventus. But in 2004, Sir Alex got his man and Edwin Van Der Sar was to be Manchester United’s No. 1 with a sale from Premier League rivals Fulham. While Edwin was at the realms, Ferguson built one of the most formidable defences in possibly the world, along with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic as centre backs. Van der Sar being in goals led to successive Premier League titles, Carling Cup triumphs, World Club Championship honours (something that wasn’t achieved even with Peter Schemeichel) and again, United reached the pinnacle of European football by winning the Champions League again in an epic penalty shootout against arch rivals
Chelsea in Moscow, 2008. In the 2008/2009 season, United went on to retain a third successive Premiership title, but lost convincingly in the Champions League final to Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi’s Barcelona. During this season Van der Sar built up the most clean sheets ever for a goal keeper in the history of the Premier League. This, then, leads me on to this season. With Van der Sar suffering from a hand injury and most recently his wife falling ill in Holland, his absence has left a spot open for one of United’s fringe players to shine between the posts and show off their credentials to Fergie. Ben Foster is one of those who has been earmarked as the next big English goal keeper. He’s risen through the youth academy at United, and been loaned out countless times by Ferguson in order to gain him experience and to eventually become United’s No. 1. This year, you would think, is Ben Fosters big chance, and after his heroics
GOSSIP PAGE Is Ben Foster cut out to be Man Utd’s No.1? in the Carling Cup final last season, you thought great things were going to come of the 27-year-old. With the World Cup in South Africa following the close of the domestic season, for Foster to get a chance of getting a seat on that plane, he would have to secure a regular first team spot as England coach Fabio Capello stands by the decision of only picking in-form players who are playing regularly for their club teams. However, since the start of the season, Foster has been misfiring somewhat. He has made several high profile clangers,with his most notable one being against local rivals Manchester City in the Manchester derby, when he hesitated to collect the ball and let former United ace Carlos Tevez to the ball who eventually squared to Gareth Barry who scored. No-one has questioned his shot stopping ability, as week in week out he has proved that he is as agile as the best of them. The big question mark that has always hung over his head has been his decision making. This is the one thing that lets his game down, and it is a massive thing as it has led to costly goals for United over the course of the season, never mind the costly goals he may leak if he is England’s first choice in the World Cup this
summer. He has even now dropped down in the pecking order to the loyal Tomasz Kucszak. During Van der Sar’s compassionate leave, he has been the one holding the ranks in front of goal and he hasn’t done a bad job. But though I do actually like him in goals, he still doesn’t have that, I’ll say it again, star quality that you need to be a Manchester United goalkeeper. So this leads me on to the main point of the feature:
with a move to Old Trafford is Russian goal keeper Igor Akinfeev. Akinfeev shot to fame during the European Championships in 2008 for Russia after some stunning performances. It was after these championships that many of the elite clubs of Europe started keeping tabs on him. Igor Akinfeev currently makes his trade in the cash rich Russia for one of their flagship sides CSKA Moscow. CSKA have been a regular outfit in the UEFA Cup so there is no doubt that along
Picture: photobucket.com who can fill the boots and be the next big thing in front of goal for Sir Alex? One man who has been constantly linked
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his International caps and appearances for CSKA in the UEFA Cup, Akinfeev has ample amount of experience of European
and world football. But the question that has over hanged him is if he is tested regularly enough in order for him to remain consistent in the ever competitive Premier League, and also CSKA’s pitch in Moscow in an artificial one so as silly as a question as it sounds, would he be able to play to the standard he plays on the artificial pitches to the turf pitches in Britain. An ideal opportunity for Fergie to suss the keeper out was during the group stages of this season’s Champions League as United were drawn against CSKA Moscow. In the first match, played in Moscow, Akinfeev virtually single handedly kept his team in the match with a series of world class saves. His agility and astute tactical awareness were the things that shone through in his very impressive performance. Yet the question that many were asking was that, much like Nani who excelled on the artificial pitch that same night, would he be able to cut it at Old Trafford in front of a 70, 000 plus crowd. When the night came, he did not disappoint. Again, Akinfeev pulled off save after save and kept his side in with a chance. His performance that night made many in the media believe that Ferguson was not going to hesitate in trying to bring the Russian international into his ranks. In the matches that he played in against United he proved he all the credentials to be one of the great goal keepers for Man United. Also with a hoast of other clubs
Fact File Igor Akinfeev
Picture: photobucket.com
Name: Igor Vladimirovich Akinfeev Date of Birth: 08/04/1986 Nationality: Russian Town of origin: Vidonye, Soviet Union Height: 1. 85m Position: Goal Keeper Current Club: CSKA Moscow List of clubs played for: CSKA Moscow Honours: UEFA Cup, Russian Super Cup x3, Russian Premier League
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Qatar...was it to train or Profile: Mame Biram Diouf to seek a takeover? Story written by United Rant Story written by Red News MANCHESTER UNITED’S sunshine break in Qatar last week could lead to a spectacular £1.2billion takeover of the club. Sunday Express Sport can reveal that while Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took advantage of the warmth of Doha to fine tune his players, there was feverish work going on behind the scenes. Aware that Qatar, with their bid for the 2022 World Cup in mind, has gone football crazy, feelers were put out by United’s owners the Glazers about attracting Middle East investment – or finding a potential buyer. The Glazers may have saddled the club with debts of £700m after their controversial takeover in 2005 but they know they could make a huge profit if they sold, with even conservative estimates placing the club’s present value at around £1.2billion. United’s short stay in Qatar provided the Old Trafford money men with the perfect opportunity to attract fiscal interest in the club. Oil and gas reserves have transformed the country into one of the richest in the world. It is seeking a higher profile identity and sees sport as the vehicle to help meet that ambition. No expense is being spared in winning a bid for the 2022 World Cup – so the chance of either being involved in or owning a club of United’s magnitude has great appeal to Qatar’s wealthy aristocracy. It would also provide the perfect foil to one of their Emirates rivals Abu Dhabi where Sheikh Mansour owns United could easily have undergone warm weather training a lot closer to home but the six-and-a-half hour plane journey served two purposes, to get away from the snow and put out some money markers. The Glazers will only sell for the right price. In the meantime the club are hitting the road attempting to raise aminimum of £500m in bonds to help pay off some of the debt which has substantial interest payments. United are confident of meeting their target and could even better it as they look to ease the strain of servicing the debt. But it’s believed that the Glazers are still susceptible to a big offer for the club which would allow them to
Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf made his Manchester United debut as a late substitute against Birmingham City last weekend. Diouf, 22, signed from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former club Molde in the summer before being loaned back. The striker, who now wears Carlos Tevez’ number 32, scored 33 goals in 75 games for the Norwegian club. Diouf’s signature, captured for a reported 50 million Kroner (around £5 million), followed a two year pursuit by Sir Alex Ferguson’s scouts of the powerful international. “He has adapted very well to our training regime and has looked very impressive,” Ferguson told Inside United magazine last week. “He is quick, very good in the air and a good striker of the ball. Overall, he is a really good centre-forward and he will play a part this season.” Daka-born Diouf made his international debut against Democratic Republic of Congo in August last year, although the forward misses out on the Africa Cup of Nations after Senegal failed to qualify for the finals. Time will tell whether Diouf is the next Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or the next Manucho but for now Mame, good luck!
Scalke 04 goal keeper Manuel Neuer flattered by United interest Story written by Red News
“I really want to play Champions League football next season. We’re all thinking about our careers and so am I. Hopefully Schalke manages to qualify for the Champions League. I know that Manchester United are keeping tabs on me. They’ve sent scouts to several Schalke games and they watched me in action with Germany under-21s against England last summer. I am absolutely flattered that a big team such “We felt that if we counter-attacked with pace it has been as Manchester are interevident in recent weeks that United have found that an isested in me. That shows sue. I’ve watched DVDs of their games and using good that I’m on the right track pace in the right areas has caused them problems. They and that I haven’t made have been so open. And it showed again. Their fans were too many mistakes. Baynervous. They always want that first goal. They want it after ern are also believed to be five minutes. The longer it goes the more restless they get. interested in signing me, but I have never spoken with anyAnd I felt they were very restless until that first goal came.” one about a possible move.”
Views of Brian Laws
Story written by Red News
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