Reports suggest United have managed to aquire a first option to sign 23 year old, 6ft 4 keeper Rui Patricio. The Portuguese keeper is seen as a possible replacement for Kuszczak who may look to leave after losing out to Foster as the number 2 at United. Interestingly Patricio scored a header for Sporting against FC Twente to get them through the second Champions League qualifying stage.



Could be good to get some more competition in and with him being only 23 he has alot of time on his side.

Van der Sar has targeted the Premier League clash with Bolton on October 17 for his return from the finger injury that has sidelined him since pre-season, and that could be bad news for England hopeful Ben Foster.

And Van der Sar told Sunday Mirror Sport his hunger for more United success means he is likely to sign a contract extension that will take him to 2011 and into his 40s.

Van der Sar, close to agreeing to a World Cup comeback for Holland, said: “I don’t want to pack it in. At the end of my holiday this summer, I was itching to go back to the training ground.

“I have the hunger to win the Champions League again. It does not matter that I won it in the past.

“The season could not start soon enough for me and it was unfortunate I got injured. After our pre-season tour in Korea, I said something about my future and the next day it was all over the back pages that I wanted to ruin Foster’s World Cup dream.

“That was nonsense. Foster got more playing time than ever last season because I was taking rests.

“I think Foster has done well as my replacement. But I still work as hard as all the others at training, whether I’m old enough to be their dad or not.”

After winning the European Cup with Ajax and United, the agony of last season’s final defeat to Barcelona has sharpened his desire to win the trophy again.

And he believes that while Real Madrid have Cristiano Ronaldo, it is the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson that gives United the edge.

Van der Sar said: “I am not concerned by what Real Madrid have done. It is all about the team spirit. Eleven Cristiano Ronaldos wouldn’t lead to success.

“I know some people think differently. But when you play with 11 Ronaldos, not many of them would care about defensive duties.

“Three English clubs were among the last four in the Champions League last season. Everyone knows the Premier League is the best in the world.

“But because we lost to Barca and Real buy some big names, suddenly we have to be in awe of Spanish football.

“Of course, Ronaldo was a big player for us. And we have to change our team a bit now. But we will do that. United is a lot bigger than Ronaldo.”

He added: “Alex Ferguson is the man who guarantees continuity at this club. He has built an empire and a group of loyal and trustworthy people around him and the team.

“He does not need to be at the training ground every day. He does not even have to try and influence me to sign again.

“As a player you know what you have got at United because of all the staff around Fergie. They are all great people. The trick is that as a player here, you know you are employed by a multi-million pound football company, but inside it feels as if you are surrounded by family.”

Its good to see Edwin is still hungry which will only lead to him working harder and putting in better perfomances.

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Firstly i would like to say anybody who feels that we will not miss Ronaldo are a little be deluded. Any team in the world would miss such a player, he is a true great. His goal threat in past three seasons was phenomenal. Yes we will miss him but we are united and we will move on.
Can i just say that i feel the club is moving in the right direction, and all of the negative fans need to really look at themselves.

Here are all of the my points i would like to but forward
1. We have won 6 out of 7 league games this season. At times we have played some fantastic football. But in every game especially away from home (bar Burnley) we have looked so solid and very combative. I remember about 4 weeks ago we were all evaluating are up and coming games which were Arsenal, Spurs, Besiktas, and Man City, alot of fans were saying if we can win 2 of these games and get 2 draws we will be very happy. Well look what has happened we have won all 4 of these games and baring a bit of luck against Arsenal we have dominated all of the other games. We have started really well, much better than the last 2 seasons
2. We have Owen Hargreaves coming back to fitness. All being well amid newspaper reports that he will never make a full recovery. If he does then we have one of the best combative box to box midfielders in Europe. He gives us so many options he can play right back, and right midfield. As i said in previous posts i will not be totally happy until i see him in a united shirt again and has a few games under his belt. I would love to Hargreaves and Fletcher in the middle with either Giggs or Anderson from the left given the freedom to room.
3. The form of Darren Fletcher. They say when a big player leaves a club that other players step up to the task. Well Darren Fletcher is one who has done that. He may not have the guile of Ronaldo but his industry from he middle of the park is so essential to us. I feel he has been the most consistant midfielder in the league this season. There are alot of fans with egg on their face regarding Darren. Every part of his game has improved. He is still only 25 and he is a player who wants to improve even furthur and i am sure he will. If he was english we would be raving about him now.
4. We are top of the league without Edwin Van Der Sar. Even though he is getting on in years he is still our number one. I wonder how Chelsea and Liverpool would cop without Cech or Reina for the first 3 months of the season. It would be interesting to see?
5. We have some exciting young players. Evans, Raefal, Fabio, Wellbeck, Macheda, Gibson, Obertan. These players but us in a great position. Add to that Anderson, Valencia, Nani and Rooney then we have to be positive. With Lljaic and Diouf coming in January the list of exciting younger players grow. I know we run on about these youngsters but if we compare this to those of Liverpool and Chelsea then we have the right to be excited.
So to all fans out there i just feel that we have alot more to be excited about than not.
:gooo:

Manchester United will travel to Championship Barnsley in the 4th round of the Carling Cup, who are managed by former United striker Mark Robins.

The tie will be played on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 October.

Fourth round draw:

Blackburn Rovers v Peterborough United

Manchester City v Scunthorpe United

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton

Barnsley v Manchester United

Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers

Sunderland v Aston Villa

Arsenal v Liverpool

Portsmouth v Stoke City