It has been revealed that Sir Alex sent Belgian international Steven Defour a letter after he broke his foot.

"I've just heard about your injury and, in the name of Manchester United, I would like to wish you a full and speedy recovery," read the letter.

"I am sure at the moment you must be feeling awful and that you'll have all kinds of questions.

"Steven, these are natural worries but I have to tell you that modern medicine and treatments are incredible, you have to have confidence in them.


"I'm going to follow your progress closely and I will remain in contact with your club to have news of your recovery."

Defour spoke about the letter saying.

"One thing I should like to highlight is that Ferguson has followed his interest officially," Defour told Het Laatste Nieuws.

"He addressed the letter to Standard. I think the attention is great, but I do not want people to think I am already at Manchester, which is by no means the case.

"But if they come knocking, then I would obviously not cause problems."

Everton had a £9 million bid rejected for the 21 year old midfielder in the summer.

He looks like a good prospect and its good to see we are keeping tabs on players, I also heard that he is a big Man United fan.:gooo:

Man City forward Robinho has admitted that if an offer was to come form barcalona he would sign for them. he has only been at city for just over a year and already wants to leave them, shows how much prospect they have for the future so it does, i wonder how long until the rest will follow

source: ssn

1000th post, by the way!!!



It was a good night for United players last night. Berba bagged a hat-trick for Bulgaria, while Nani scored for Portugal, booking them a place in the play-offs, after a poor campaign. Rio looked comfortable last night, after getting quite a bit of negative press after Saturday's defeat to the Ukraine. Talk about scapegoat!

Full United round up, thanks to manutd.com:

Dimitar Berbatov maintained his marvellous scoring run on Wednesday night when he banged in three goals for Bulgaria.

A scorer in three of his four previous games for club and country, the United striker notched his hat-trick in just 38 minutes as his national team trounced Georgia 6-2 in their concluding World Cup qualifier. Sadly the result was academic and Berbatov will not feature in next summer's finals in South Africa.

Nani could still make it, however, after he helped Portugal to cement their place in November's play-offs. The winger opened the scoring after 14 minutes against Malta, paving the way for a comfortable 4-0 win for Carlos Queiroz's side.

Rio Ferdinand and Ben Foster were victorious too, albeit in another 'dead rubber' with England. After recent criticism, both can take satisfaction from completing 90 minutes and keeping out the opposition - Fabio Capello's side beat Belarus 3-0 at Wembley with goals from Peter Crouch (2) and Shaun Wright-Phillips. Michael Carrick was an unused sub.

John O'Shea also helped his country to claim a clean sheet, after coming off the bench in the 40th minute. With a play-off place already ensured, there was little to get excited about in the Republic of Ireland's 0-0 draw at home to Montenegro.

Earlier in the day, soon-to-be United team-mates Ji-sung Park and Mame Biram Diouf were on opposite sides in Seoul. The latter, currently on loan to Molde in Norway, came on as substitute in the 58th minute but couldn't stop Senegal losing 2-0 to South Korea in a friendly. Park played the full game as captain, while both goals were set up by Bolton Wanderers winger Chung-Yong Lee - a warning to United, perhaps, for Saturday's match.

I saw some news over the weekend and it is on the United website, that the Royal Mail have issued a new set of stamps, recognising some of Britain's most historic characters and celebrating milestones or birthdays.

Of course, Sir Matt is first class!



The full report reads:

Sir Alex Ferguson has helped launch a set of special stamps featuring fellow United managerial legend Sir Matt Busby.

Royal Mail's 10 'Eminent Britons' stamps, on sale from 8 October, depict historical figures from the realms of science, art, literature, politics and sport, spanning more than three centuries.

And Sir Alex says his fellow Scot, who was born 100 years ago this year, deserves to be among them.

"They are all illustrious names in this latest issue of commemorative stamps," Ferguson said at the launch of the stamp at Carrington.

"These are Great Britons indeed and there can be no doubting that Sir Matt Busby deserves his place amongst such eminent company. He was one of the truly great football managers.

"Everyone at Manchester United will take great pride from this honour which has been bestowed on the late, great, Sir Matt Busby."

Celebrating milestone anniversaries of births or achievements by Britons, other figures who feature on the stamps include tennis champion Fred Perry, prime minister William Gladstone and composer Henry Purcell.

The full list is:

Sir Matt Busby, football manager
Fred Perry, tennis champion
William Gladstone, prime minister
Henry Purcell, composer
Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer
Donald Campbell, speed record-breaker
Judy Fryd, founder of Mencap
Samuel Johnson, lexicographer
Sir Martin Ryle, radio astronomer

Source: manutd.com

come the fighting irish! ill be watching it IN CROKE PARK