Manchester United: New Era

It's been a crazy twelve months for me, to be sat here infront of you wearing a Manchester United shirt is stuff of dreams, it's the biggest club in the world and has some of the most passionate fans around. I remember being sat infront of my nana's television in 1999 watching the Champion's league final between United and Bayern, it was the most incredible game i had ever watched even to this day. I think i was only 6 or 7 years old at the time but i knew then i wanted to do what they do.

The Europa league last season was a big point in the season i had, the play-off's and group stage were very good for me, i was scoring goals and with that my confidence grew..i started to think to myself "i can make a difference" there's nothing more morale boosting than knowing you are making a difference. I scored my first league goal and from then on it became more frequent as the season wore on, i would say my favourite moment from last season was my performance against Chelsea at White Hart Lane, to see the 5-3 scoreline at the end of the match was unbelievable.


Receiving the call from Roy Hodgson was a blur, only because i cuden't quite believe what i was hearing. A year before i was struggling to get first team football and then there i was coming on as a sub for my first cap to play alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and James Milner at Wembley infront of 90,000 fans, i cuden't describe the feeling to you it was unreal. Then to grab my first goal for my country..wow incredible. To score 80 seconds after coming on as a substitute, i don't think Alan Shearer or Gary Lineker can boast that can they? Guess i can hold that over them *sniggers to himself*.

I'm a young Englishman with a passion to play the best sport in the world, i want to win all the trophies possible and with Manchester United i believe i can. There are many great players at this football club and together i believe we can go on and be successful together. Wayne Rooney has five winners medals and he still has the hunger of a 19 year old Rooney, it's inspiring.

A tough result to take against Chelsea but they were just too good on the day, it also put an end to 15 games unbeaten. Aside from that result i felt we had another good month, the win against City was fantastic and sent us above them into 2nd place. We can look forward to a quarter final clash with Cardiff in the Capital One cup after a dominant performance against Liverpool & we remain top of our group in the Champion's League despite being held to a 1-1 draw against Bayern. Games are coming thick and fast this season and so far my players have stood there ground, now it's about continuing this throughout the season. Only then will we see success.

Awaiting Ashley's arrival i knew this day would come..

AY: Afternoon boss.

AD: Good to see you Ashley please take a seat.

AY: I don't wanna beat around the bush here..but i wish to be placed on the transfer list.

AD: Hmmm i don't want to lose you Ashley but i can understand your frustrations.

AY: I don't want to sit here and blame you for how i feel, there are many top players at this club and competition is fierce but i'm 30 years old now and i feel at this stage in my career i need to be playing regular football.

AD: Is there nothing i can say to make you change your mind?

AY: I'm afraid not boss, playing for this club has been an honour, the best 4 years of my life however i feel it's time to leave and look for a new challenge.

AD: Well if that's how you feel i don't want to stand in your way, you have been a wonderful servant for this club.

I look across, Ashley looks in good spirits

AY: I would be grateful if you could sort a transfer out for January, i'm raring to get my career back on track.

AD: No problem, will soften our wage bill a fair bit!

Ashley suddenly looks up at me completely gobsmacked at what i had just come out with

AD: Sorry my humour is terrible..bad timing.

AY: No it's fine. I guess i'll be leaving then, just make sure i get this move..

The month started with a disappointing defeat to Bayern, a result which blew the group wide open. We needed a response in our next game against Roma and my players put in an A+ show, Wayne Rooney bagging a hatrick. Our league form was perfect taking 9/9 points from our three matches. These included very impressive wins over Everton and Arsenal which see us and the Champion's Chelsea sitting level on points and six clear of our nearest challengers Spurs. On another note Daley Blind will spend the next month on the sidelines after suffering a back strain in the win over Arsenal.

United spent big in the summer, spending £109 million pounds to bring in no more than six new players. This window however could see the opposite side of things with ever mounting signs Adam Deverell wants to clearout some dead wood in the midway point of the season.

With this in mind, does this mean United will be actively looking to spend more this window or are they confident of getting by with the squad that remains?

The first to depart is winger Nani. The Portugese winger signed for United back in 2007 and early signs were he could shine at Old Trafford. Though he surely won't be seen as a flop he will hardly be remembered as a legend either due to his inconsistency in his 8 years at the club.


Nani scored a total of 26 goals in 147 league apperances but failed to manage a single assist in that time. He leaves with a total of 7 major honours to his name.


The next to say his goodbyes is England winger Ashley Young. The rather predictable wide man started his United career brightly with some top performances and quality goals however as seasons past he became more and more less effective and time is now up.


Later in his time he was accused on a number of occasions of diving frequently, this coincided with a dip in form and confidence also became no existent.

He can however boast a Premier League and FA cup winners medal in his time at the club, he will however surely look back on his time at Manchester United and feel he could of done so much more. Now at 29 years of age he's off for a new challenge.


Finally the last confirmed departure is that of Marouane Fellaini. The lanky belgian joined United in the final minutes of the 13/14 summer window but had a disastrous season and was even seen as a scapegoat for there terrible season.


When Adam Deverell was appointed at the beginning of last season Marouane felt like he had a fresh start, he certainly improved on his first season aiding his teams cause scoring 3 goals and creating a further 5 making 25 league appearances in all.

It has proved not to be for the big Belgian with the bushy head and caterpillar eyebrows as he too is set on a future away from Old Trafford after just two seasons.


Joining them through the exit door as already confirmed at the beginning of the season is Javier Hernandez however one player who's future will remain at United at least for the meantime is Antonio Valencia. Reports surfacing all over in recent weeks suggested his time was also up but it seems he will stay and Adam Deverell is a known admirer of the Ecuador international despite his limited appearances this season.


So for Valencia he will remain a Red Devil but for Young, Fellaini and Nani there time is up, where there next journey lies will be revealed in the coming days when announcements are made.

One thing that will be on all United's fans minds right now however will be does this mean it will be a busy winter window or is this the work of a still rookie manager taking big risks in the middle of a campaign?

Certainly agree with them departures. I might have spent more time considering Fellaini, though, but with the signings you have made you can expect an even better season

Not doing bad

United officials are believed to of spent the last couple of months tracking the promising young midfielder and this past weekend flew out to Lisbon to arrange a transfer and it now seems an agreement has been made regarding his sale to the Premier League giants.

The deal is also to our understanding for Gauld to be loaned back to Sporting for the remainder of the 2015/16 campaign.

Manchester United manager Adam Deverell has made a reputation in his short reign of favoring youth both from the academy and in the market and this latest signing shows Deverell has no signs of ending that habit. With the departures of Ashley Young & Nani plus the uncertainty surrounding Antonio Valencia's future, Gauld will feel he has a good oppertunity to prove himself in the early stages, though it won't be until next season where we get to see him in a United jersey.


United's legendary number 7 Cristiano Ronaldo also joined from Sporting in 2003, fans all around the world were excited to see him in action for the Old Trafford side and early views from this latest capture may prove to be a similar feeling considering the massive potential that hovers over the young lads shoulders.

The player is due to have a medical at Carrington over the next 48 hours before finalising the deal. He will then be loaned back to Sporting to finish the 2015/16 campaign before joining with his new team mates in June.

@Jack: I did consider Fellaini for awhile but i have bigger plans for the midfield and felt he wouldn't get the gametime. I'm starting to build a pretty exciting team now with plenty of youth!

@Addicted2FM: Cheers bud!

A big month with a total of 9 matches! Some great team performances in that spell but not too pleased to pick up 3 draws in the league, it leaves us sitting 3 points behind champion's Chelsea. We have a semi-final to look forward to in the Capital One cup and qualification for the knockout stages of the Champion's League after finishing top with a routine win at Bucharest. Games are coming thick and fast. Quick mention of James Wilson, Juan Mata and Harry Kane who had a solid December.

This will surely go down as the shock transfer of the window considering news of United's pursuit of Kroos only came to light earlier on today and at a fee of £46 million pounds becomes United's 2nd most expensive ever signing behind Angel Di Maria.

After a impressive first season at Real Madrid, Toni Kroos struggled for form and was regularly subbed in the weeks leading up to this January transfer window opening, senior personnel were said to be unhappy with Toni's contribution but still this has come to a shock for many fans worldwide.

With still no contract renewal on offer for Michael Carrick, Manchester United will see the Germany international as a quality replacement for the England Veteran who turns 35 later this year. Adam Deverell has been busy offloading this window but before this deal had only bought in Joe Gomez from Charlton, fans were concerned the squad would be left without the strength in depth to compete for the remainder of the season but Deverell has now silenced those with this massive signing.


Manchester United have been renowned for playing with three midfielder's under Adam Deverell since his arrival and Toni will join Michael Carrick, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Ross Barkley, Ben Pearson, Andreas Pereira & Nick Powell in competing for those places on a weekly basis.

There has yet been no word on any possible departures of those mentioned however the future of Michael Carrick remain's uncertain with the 34 year old into the last 6 months of his contract and yet to sign an extension. Pearson, Pereira & Powell have all featured much more regularly this season with Pereira in particular being picked for Deverell's side, making 20 appearances so far, scoring twice.


So another trick up Adam Deverell's sleeve with this sensational swoop on deadline day, Manchester United fans will now be hoping he makes his debut on Wednesday night against Sheffield Wednesday & give the team a real momentum drive as the season rolls into the final four months with United still competing in all four competition's.

Quality signing mate, nice update to go with it

Very good signing there, good job on acquiring him!

I took this decision to go for Toni late on, injury's were starting to pick up and after offloading many player's this window i knew i had to go in the market. With over £60 million sitting in the kitty i turned my attention to this guy and i've got him! A big admirer of the German and very much look forward to working with him, what a player. #WelcomeToni


An exciting talent whom i had to take for the future, Gomez will spend the rest of the campaign in the reserves and then will make a decision whether to loan him out next season or bring him into the first team. Either way i'm glad to have him as he has potential to be a top defender. #WelcomeJoe



He played a big part in my first year, notably scoring the winning goal in the FA cup final. Alot of changes this year meant i cuden't guarantee him the gametime he wanted and so we mutually decided it's best we parted ways, he's been a great servant for us. #GoodLukeAshley


Competition is most fierce in the midfield position and with Marouane i felt his time was up at the club, i was pleased to get a nice fee for his sale and wish him well. #GoodLuckMarouane


Nani has frustrated me both as a coach and a fan. He burst on the scene as an exciting youngster and during his 9 year stay showed glimpses of utter genius. Consistency let him down though and he became a player i couldn't rely on. Noone will ever forget how he tore apart Arsenal in 2010 and he will remain popular with the fans i'm sure. #GoodLuckNani


Aside from these, Javier Hernandez is now officlally a Ajax player having agreed a deal just after the summer window had shut. Ryan Gauld remains at Sporting for the remainder of this campaign and will join us along with officially being unveiled at the end of the season.