FAN CLUB
GLORY...GLORY...MAN UNITED
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Giggs named Best Player
Giggs named Best Player in 20 Seasons Awards
Man Utd great wins coveted prize after vote by panel of football experts
Ryan Giggs received his Award from Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore
Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has been named Best Player in the Premier League's 20 Seasons Awards.
The 38-year-old was chosen by a panel of football experts and received his prize at a special ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Premier League in London on Tuesday.
He made his Manchester United debut in 1991 before the Premier League had started, and he reflected on the start of his career upon receiving his prestigious award as well as paying tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson, manager throughout his time at Old Trafford.
"I've known Sir Alex since I was 13 and he's been the biggest influence on my career," said Giggs. "Even then he knew my name and my parents, and it's that personal touch that sets him apart from everyone else.
"At 17, you just want to train with the first team, then you get greedy, want to get in the team and win trophies, but of course I didn't think I'd still be playing at this age.
"The older lads get a bit of stick in the dressing-room, but I remember when I was in their shoes giving it out to the likes of Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce.
"The older players have always made the younger players feel at ease at United, and the transition - because of the manager - has always been an easy one into the first-team squad."
"The Premier League is bigger and better now than it was 20 years ago, there's no doubt about it," he added. "The players and facilities are better and it's just a joy to have been a part of it from the start and see what it is now.
The Welshman will continue his record of appearing in every season next term, with his contract at Old Trafford not due to run out until the summer of 2013.
Giggs is the most decorated British footballer of all time, winning the Premier League on 12 occasions with United along with two UEFA Champions League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and a host of other trophies.
He also won 64 international caps for Wales, scoring 12 times in the process.
As well as his award for Best Player, Giggs also picked up a special achievement prize on Tuesday for the number of appearances he has made, having played in 598 Premier League matches for Man Utd.
There were 300,000 fans who voted in the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards casting over 4.2m votes in five categories: Goal, Match, Save, Goal Celebration and Fantasy Team of the 20 Seasons.
In addition, there are also six panel categories: Player, Manager, Team, Season, Most Memorable Quote and Fantasy Team of the 20 Seasons.
Article Source: http://www.premierleague.com/
The 38-year-old was chosen by a panel of football experts and received his prize at a special ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Premier League in London on Tuesday.
"I've known Sir Alex since I was 13 and he's been the biggest influence on my career"Giggs, who is the only man to have played and scored in all 20 Premier League seasons, beat off competition from nine other nominees to win the award.
- Ryan Giggs
He made his Manchester United debut in 1991 before the Premier League had started, and he reflected on the start of his career upon receiving his prestigious award as well as paying tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson, manager throughout his time at Old Trafford.
"I've known Sir Alex since I was 13 and he's been the biggest influence on my career," said Giggs. "Even then he knew my name and my parents, and it's that personal touch that sets him apart from everyone else.
"At 17, you just want to train with the first team, then you get greedy, want to get in the team and win trophies, but of course I didn't think I'd still be playing at this age.
"The older lads get a bit of stick in the dressing-room, but I remember when I was in their shoes giving it out to the likes of Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce.
"The older players have always made the younger players feel at ease at United, and the transition - because of the manager - has always been an easy one into the first-team squad."
Premier League tribute
Giggs also paid tribute to the Premier League and said it was an honour to have been involved in the competition from the very beginning."The Premier League is bigger and better now than it was 20 years ago, there's no doubt about it," he added. "The players and facilities are better and it's just a joy to have been a part of it from the start and see what it is now.
"The Premier League is bigger and better than it was 20 years ago""I think the League is faster and technically better these days. You've seen this season with the football played and the goals scored that it's getting better every year."
- Ryan Giggs
The Welshman will continue his record of appearing in every season next term, with his contract at Old Trafford not due to run out until the summer of 2013.
Giggs is the most decorated British footballer of all time, winning the Premier League on 12 occasions with United along with two UEFA Champions League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and a host of other trophies.
He also won 64 international caps for Wales, scoring 12 times in the process.
As well as his award for Best Player, Giggs also picked up a special achievement prize on Tuesday for the number of appearances he has made, having played in 598 Premier League matches for Man Utd.
There were 300,000 fans who voted in the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards casting over 4.2m votes in five categories: Goal, Match, Save, Goal Celebration and Fantasy Team of the 20 Seasons.
In addition, there are also six panel categories: Player, Manager, Team, Season, Most Memorable Quote and Fantasy Team of the 20 Seasons.
Article Source: http://www.premierleague.com/
Financial Football
Visa Introduces New Financial Football Workbook in South Africa
Visa South Africa released new instructional material in a 180-page booklet complementing the innovative Financial Football (known as Financial Soccer in the U.S.) video game, which tests learners' knowledge of the information in a fun, interactive way. "The intention is that the game will provide the added motivation to study the content," said Visa South Africa Country Manager Mandy Lamb. Read more.
Visa South Africa released new instructional material in a 180-page booklet complementing the innovative Financial Football (known as Financial Soccer in the U.S.) video game, which tests learners' knowledge of the information in a fun, interactive way. "The intention is that the game will provide the added motivation to study the content," said Visa South Africa Country Manager Mandy Lamb. Read more.
Monday 14 May 2012
Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson congratulates Manchester City, but says Manchester United history sets Reds aside
May 13, 2012
Sir Alex Ferguson For a fleeting moment Ferguson and his players thought they had pipped their arch-rivals when the final whistle at the Stadium of Light confirmed a 1-0 victory over Sunderland.
However, City, who just minutes earlier had been trailing 2-1 at home to 10-man QPR, won it at the death when Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero scored in stoppage time to claim a first title in 44 years on goal difference.
Ferguson said: "We congratulate Manchester City. Anyone who wins the league deserves to win it because it's a very, very difficult league to win.
"We know that because, as we've experienced today, we've lost on goal difference.
"They [City] can go on as much as they like. That's what you would expect, but the history of our club stands us aside.
"We don't need to worry about that. I think we have a rich history, better than anyone, and it will take them a century to get to our level of history.
"But for us it's still a challenge and we're good at challenges. We'll kick on from here."
On a day when United's fate was decided elsewhere, Ferguson's men upheld their part of the bargain.
Rooney's 20th-minute header, his 35th goal of the season, was ultimately enough to claim the points, although his side might have won even more comfortably had it not been for the excellence of Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and the woodwork.
However, it was all to count for nothing despite United hearing the final whistle believing they had won the title, only to learn within seconds that City has snatched it from their grasp in what has become known as "Fergie time".
The presentation ceremony which was being prepared behind the scenes was quickly abandoned to leave United wondering what might have been.
Ferguson told Sky Sports: "We knew five minutes' extra time was being played at City. Our game had three minutes stoppage time.
"You don't know what can happen in the extra two minutes, but they got that break and won the game.
"It is a cruel way to have the title ripped away, but I've had a lot of ups and downs in my 25 years here.
"Today, we nearly did it and I would like to say on behalf of Manchester United, congratulations to our neighbours."
In the end, the derby rivals finished level on 89 points, with City triumphing on goal difference.
Ferguson added: "At the start of the season, if I remember correctly, I said 82 points would probably win the league this season and we are seven points ahead of that.
"But look, it doesn't matter, we've lost the league."
Article Source: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/
Manchester United
Manchester United eye Shinji Kagawa and Robert Lewandowski
May 14, 2012
Borussia Dortmund's Roberto Lewandowski Even if those dramatic five minutes' of injury-time at the Etihad Stadium had not gone against his team and United had been crowned champions for the 20th time, Ferguson would still have been plotting to improve.
Although many supporters view the enormous wealth available to Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini with a sense of fear, and have brought renewed demands for investment from the Glazer family, Ferguson is merely accepting it as another challenge to be overcome.
The Scot's presence at the German Cup final in Berlin on Saturday evening looks set not only to be the prelude to an offer for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa, but also firming up interest in striker Robert Lewandowski.
And no matter who eventually arrives at Old Trafford, Evra is certain Ferguson will get it right.
"I am not crazy," said the France full-back.
"I won't say that we've had a good season or we'll be okay.
"Every player has to be better next season than we were this year, even if we haven't been as poor as a lot of people say.
"Fans will want to see a few new players and I trust totally in the boss. He will do the right thing.
"There aren't many players who can play for Manchester United and I know the boss will make the best decision."
The real question is how good is this current United squad.
Some believe that, after collecting 89 points - the best achieved by any team finishing second in the Premier League era - there is not a lot wrong taking into account significant injuries to Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher.
Others feel a continued reliance on Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, whose retirement U-turn triggered the surge in form that, only six games from the end of the season looked certain to secure yet another title, is masking clear deficiencies and that the only surprise about this campaign is that United got so close.
Typically, Evra's glass is half full, accepting that the Reds are judged by exacting standards compared to the rest.
"Every year people criticise United. People say we've had the worst season ever if we don't win the league," he said.
"This is not the truth. The season we've just finished has been a miracle. People were saying it was going to be the worst season but we are nine points better off than last year and we've scored more goals.
"We only think we've failed because we haven't won.
"Winning is the Manchester United spirit, it's the Manchester United way. It doesn't matter if you've only got one leg, you have to win.
"If I played for another team then maybe we'd say well done for coming second."
Yet Evra also noted a problem with attitude at key stages, which is what he puts the most damaging results - against Wigan, Everton and Manchester City - in a four-game April period down to.
"We played those games in the same way we played the group stages of the Champions League," he said.
"We thought everything would be fine. We were eight points clear, then it was five points, then three. All the time we were saying to ourselves, 'It will be okay: we are Manchester United'."
But everything was not OK. When the final whistle sounded on the Premier League yesterday, United had finished second, condemned to runners-up spot by the slimmest of margins, triggering a summer of soul-searching amongst their supporters.
And yet again, Evra has been involved more than anyone else, starting every league game other than the first, at West Brom in August.
"I was surprised," he said.
"It's a lot of games and a lot of stress on my body, but the only thing I want to do now is play with more quality.
"I am proud to play a lot of games but I've put myself in trouble.
"If I start to play fewer people will say I am old and should retire - and I am scared to do that."
Article Source: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/
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