Beckham Big Fan of Chicharito

Former United star David Beckham has heaped praised on Manchester United's new star, and brilliant little goal scorer, Javier Hernandez and told the Mexican to enjoy playing for the "best club in the world".

Beckham played close to four hundred games for United, and scored 87 very important goals making himself the biggest name in football since his debut in 1992 in the League Cup against Brighton Hove Albion. Hernandez's competitive debut was a different situation altogether. He came on against Chelsea in the Community Shield, scoring his first goal for United in a 3 - 1 win.

This has been one of many goals this season for Chicharito and Beckham has been impressed with the 22 year-old:

"Chicharito has been exceptional when he’s played. He scores goals, he takes chances, he works hard for the team.

"It’s great to see that. It’s great to see a young player doing really well who is from a different part of the world. To go to Manchester United and do well is exceptional."

Hernandez has taken the place of Berbatov in the last few games, and has not disappointed, scoring two against Marseille to pull United through to the Champions League quarter finals. Beckham emphasized the quality of Hernandez, as Sir Alex wouldn't have him in the team if he wasn't good enough.

"He wouldn’t be in the team and he wouldn’t be scoring goals if Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t think he was a good player.

"It says a lot that he’s playing, it says a lot that he’s getting minutes on the field, obviously, the manager thinks a lot of him. Good luck to him."

The current LA Galaxy star finished by wishing Chicharito good luck in his career at United.

"Enjoy playing for Manchester United. It’s the best club in the world."

 Beckham's television career included his various Pepsi adverts and it seems the Mexican is following in Beckham's commercial footsteps with this new Coke Zero advert:

Video: Sir Alex & Phelan Laughing at Benched Berbatov

Sir Alex Ferguson had a good old laugh with his assistant Mike Phelan over Berbatov's moody expression having been left on the bench. Despite his team being involved in a very tense, nervy game which could have seen United knocked out at any point with a Marseille away goal, Sir Alex had time to have a little laugh.

Watch Goals and Match Summary here

Watch: Manchester United 2 - 1 Marseille

Just a quick summary tonight - I have a politics essay to finish!

Manchester United played a solid, strong game against a difficult to beat, well rehearsed Marseille side. A Chicharito double pulled United through this one, with his fantastic ability to find space in the box proving vital at the pivotal times in the game to kill off any possible momentum the French side could gain.

 

The win however did come with its negatives. Both John O'Shea and Rafael had to be substituted due to hamstring injuries. O'Shea started and was replaced by Rafael because of a hamstring injury, but well into the second half, Rafael had pulled up holding his hamstring, and was substituted with his twin bother replacing him.

Marseille will be bitterly disappointed with themselves after creating some wonderful opportunities to score, with Gignac and Diawara missing glorious chances early on. Gignac was played through with a skillful ball over the United defence leaving the French hit man one on one with van der sar. He attempted some sort of lob or high placement as the ball bounced and was hit wildly over the bar. Then, Diawara saw a cross fly right on his head. With no defenders marking him, his free header went woefully wide, allowing United fans to breath a sigh of relief.

A late Wes Brown goal led to some more buttock clenching, nail biting times for United fans as Marseille pushed forward for that crucial goal to win the tie. They searched, but couldn't find that goal, and leave the competition at Old Trafford, knowing that they had their chances and wasted them.

One more thing: Wayne Rooney had a great game. His cross field, attacking long balls were masterful which Paul Scholes often achieves with apparent ease. He created the first goal both with the first ball to the wing, and his continued determined run into the box and eventually crossed to Chicharito who claimed an easy tap in. Impressed with the two strikers tonight. What must Berbatov be thinking? 

United v Marseille: What the Two Sides Say

Manchester United will host Marseille on Tuesday on the back of a simple win against a tired, exasperated and weary Arsenal side. United will hope to march on in the competition, aiming for the quarter finals -boosted by the news that Nani and Michael Carrick will be fit to play alongside long term absentee Antonio Valencia.

United

Sir Alex Ferguson emphasised the importance of experience at this stage of the competition against tough opposition. After all, it is a very rare occurrence when Sir Alex has not led United to this stage of the Champion League:

"It’s an important time, with us being involved in three tournaments. But we are experienced enough to do what we’re doing at the moment - taking each game as it comes."

"We have faced that situation a million times. You have to get on with it. The team needs to step up and perform though, we know that."

The return of Antonio Valencia is a massive boost to a United side who have lacked his skillful wing play, creativity and provision of goals. Rooney applauded Valencia recently, calling it "fantastic" to see him back on the football pitch after his broken ankle which was suffered in September in this very competition. Sir Alex knows all to well the importance of the Ecuadorian:

"With Antonio back it’s a fantastic bonus for us. It’s a great step forward considering he’s been out for such a long time."

"It’s a great selection poser for me to have. We missed him in the run-in last season so it’s a great boost. Hopefully it will help us, having everyone available.

More positive news on the injury front followed:

"Nani and Michael Carrick trained on Sunday and Monday and both will be involved tomorrow. But we are getting players back. Ji-Sung Park is making good progress and Owen Hargreaves has started training."

"It doesn’t matter how many players you have injured in the past, the important thing is to have them available for the run in. If we have that, then it will increase our chances."

On the actual game, Sir Alex acknowledged the strength of the opposition who also come into the game off the back of a 2 - 0 win against their Ligue 1 title rivals Stade Rennais FC. Ferguson said:

"We have to recognise that they are experienced and powerful. It's going to be a hard game, but it's always a terrific atmosphere at Old Trafford, that does help us."

Marseille

The French Champions recognise that despite United's less than convincing performances this season, they are the underdogs. Their manager, Didier Deschamps has been doing his homework on the Red Devils. Not only did he go to the United - Arsenal match at Old Trafford on Saturday, but he has been looking at the stat books:

"On paper you would expect United to qualify, but we have a little opportunity."

"If you look at the match purely from a statistical point of view, United have not been defeated at home for a long time. They have conceded only one goal in seven Champions League games and are a very strong side, so it is a tough task."

"In addition they are one of four or five teams who have a realistic chance of winning the Champions League."

Deschamps continued and spoke of the first leg, claiming the 0 - 0 result was better for United than it was for them:

"It was a good result for Manchester United … if you look again at stats, if you get an away draw and do not concede, around 70 percent of the time the team goes through when they play at home."

"We are talking about Manchester United here, they know how to manage whatever situation might occur on a European occasion."

Perhaps a stat that Deschamp may have purposely avoided is that Manchester United have never lost to French opposition at Old Trafford.

Rooney Appreciates the Importance of Valencia & VDS

Manchester United missed Antonio Valencia. They missed his pace, his skill, his clever shimmies around defenders, his sumptuous crosses into dangerous areas and his priceless assists. Wayne Rooney more than most missed the Ecuadorians individual qualities and has had possibly the worst season of his career in the winger's absence.

So Valencia's return to first team action against Arsenal on Saturday was a rare plus point in Rooney's season. His first start since that horrible broken ankle against Rangers in the Champions League last September was welcomed with a rousing ovation at Old Trafford, highlighting his importance to the team and the clubs success. Rooney was delighted:

"I can't tell you how good it is to see him back out there. It was Antonio's first game back after six months out and he looked like he'd never been away. It's fantastic for him and fantastic for us to have him back and playing the way he did."

Valencia's return to action is even more convenient when you consider Nani's absence after the Jamie Carragher horror tackle which ripped open his shin. Valencia will now make his return to Champions League football at Old Trafford against Marseille on Tuesday as United hope to progress further in the competition at the stage which Arsenal recently slipped up at to Barcelona.

Rooney praised Edwin van der sar's superb contribution to the FA Cup tie against Arsenal on Saturday as well, claiming that him and the rest of the team have been attempting to persuade the Dutchman out of his decision to retire:

"The players are trying to persuade Edwin to stay on too. I was speaking to him in the shower afterwards but it is his decision and we have to respect it."

"He is such a great goalkeeper. Despite his age he is still the best keeper in the world."

This is a sentiment shared by so many United fans who remember the huge difficulty in replacing their last consistently brilliant goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. It will cost a large fee to replace van der sar now, especially considering the current transfer market climate - it is however, something that United will have to get used to; not seeing the great Dutchman guard the goal anymore.

Rooney's comments come after the News of The World claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing to sell Rooney in the summer transfer window. The paper's source claims that, "relations between Rooney and Ferguson are so strained that it is affecting other players," adding that, "Sir Alex is not pleased with the way Rooney has been playing... Rooney has been moaning about the squad again but Sir Alex has told him he should look at himself before criticising others."

I really can't see this being the case. Despite a bad season in front of goal, United do still look a better team when Rooney is on the team sheet. Sir Alex Ferguson knows it; Rooney's goals last season emphasise his importance to the team, and there is no way Ferguson would jump to the conclusion that Rooney isn't good enough for this United side anymore. His passion and desire was on show for all to see at Old Trafford against Arsenal, summed up in the crunching but fair challenge on Bacary Sagna, met with massive cheers from the United fans, impressed by Rooney's impressive show of commitment to the cause.

Arsenal Midfield v United Midfield

After about 20 or so minutes in the Manchester United - Marseille game yesterday, it became very clear that neither side was prepared to take a risk going forward and give the opposition a chance to score. It was the kind of game that the commentators like calling "cagey". It was true - neither side wanted to give anything away, which resulted only in a tedious, drab draw which left pretty much everyone frustrated.

United's best effort was a Darren Fletcher snap shot which he hit into the ground proving awkward for the goalkeeper, but he dived well to save it despite seeing it late through a sea of flailing legs.

Then, probably the most interesting and curious event was Wayne Rooney looking up to see the keeper off is line only for him to attempt a Beckham style half way line goal that was easily caught.
Those two attempts were the only two that United managed to get on target - long range efforts that required no clever or defence cutting passing, no midfield creativity, no team imagination - simply a spur of the moment snap shot and an individual piece of forward thinking which in the end, both led to nothing.

Before the game, the Marseille manager Didier Deschamps claimed that this United team lacked "fantasy". Unfortunately, his comments were pretty well supported with clear evidence on the pitch last night (not that his team proved to be creative masterminds themselves).

A look at the starting midfield for Manchester United explains a lot. Darron Gibson, Darren Fletcher and Michel Carrick. They are all good midfielders, and they all do their own job - granted, not always well, but they can sure up the midfield, making it a steady area and so on. The problem is, they don't have that inventive artistry that makes Paul Scholes such a great midfielder with his superb vision, and ability to follow through that vision with his astonishing passing range. The midfield last night was left passing sideways to each other and could not find an innovative forward ball enough.

Compare United's central midfield triplet last night to Arsenal's three, Nasri, Fabregas and Wilshere, and no matter which way you look at it, even if you are the most avid United fan, the Arsenal midfield is far more dangerous, imaginative and attackingly productive.

This is why Paul Scholes is so important to United. He has the quality and vision to do what the Arsenal midfield do - find that clever ball, cut open the opposition defence - create a goal.

Unfortunately, when he came on yesterday, he was getting frustrated by the movement around him, and couldn't make the impact that was hoped for. He has been sitting on the bench all game watching the defence and midfield try hopeful long balls to no avail, with the penetrative "fantasy" that Deschamps was talking about woefully absent.

United can be better, they have proved it before this season, but unfortunately, they haven't shown it enough, especially away from home. Ferguson will certainly need to add to his midfield in the summer that is beyond doubt, especially if he is to be without Paul Scholes if he decides to retire. The United manager will also need to spend big on quality and not potential, as this is a problem that needs to be fixed sooner rather than later.

United have some tough remaining fixtures with two games against Chelsea, and one away game against Arsenal at the Emirates where the two midfields will come face to face. I still tip United for the win, as the defence is far stronger (Chris Smalling was brilliant with Vidic again yesterday), but Arsenal have a superior midfield, which is something that needs to be sorted out if the Red Devils are to challenge for all the trophies next season.

Arsenal v Barcelona, Man United v Mareille, Spurs v AC - CL Draw

Champions League last 16 draw

Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk

AC Milan v Tottenham

Valencia v Schalke

Inter Milan v Bayern Munich

Lyon v Real Madrid

Arsenal v Barcelona

Marseille v Manchester United

Copenhagen v Chelsea

First legs to be played on 15/16 and 22/23 February

Second legs to be played on 8/9 and 15/16 March

Liverpool Line-up Rennes Winger

Liverpool are lining up Sylvain Marveaux of French club Rennes on a free transfer.

The 24-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season, and he has expressed his desire not to renew it, therefore making him free to find a new club at no cost. Monaco, Marseille and Paris Saint Germain are said to be interested, but Liverpool's new director of football strategy, Damien Comolli, has marked the Frenchman out as a player who will add nicely to the small squad that Liverpool now have.

He can play in a number of positions in the midfield but is mostly played on the left side of midfield or in a further advanced position more centrally. Last season, Marveaux played 28 times in all competitions, scored 12 goals, and assisted 5. Despite suggestions that the new director of football strategy at Liverpool may have a bigger say in transfers than Hodgson would like, Hodgson has made it clear that it is important for the manager to make the decisions on who will be in is team.

The free transfer is also convenient for Liverpool. Although they have new owners who admit that investment is needed, it is not known whether John Henry will spend big money, so a free signing while adding to the squad at the same time will only help Liverpool's still slightly fragile position.

De Jong dropped from Holland for Ben Arfa Leg Break

The Break (Click to enlarge)

Bert Van Marwijk, the Holland coach, has dropped Nigel de Jong from his Holland squad because of what he called "a wild and unnecessary offence" after the Manchester City midfielder broke Hatem Ben Arfas leg.

The incident occurred in the third minute of Sunday's game between Manchester City and Newcastle. At first, the tackle seemed fair - and was deemed fair by the referee. There was no free-kick and no yellow card for the tackle - the game just carried on. But as Ben Arfa stayed down, screaming in agony and desperately trying to hold his leg together, the referee had to stop the game, and as the replays were shown, it became clear that the tackle was very hard, and very needless.

De Jong is building - or has built, a reputation for being a little too hefty in the challenge. The World Cup, for example. The outrageous fly-kick which he performed on Xabi Alonso in the final was not the only dangerous, and silly challenge in which he showcased his immense talent of hurting people (and getting away with it). Bert Van Marwijk has acknowledged this, and has decided, that if the referees aren't going to punish the Dutchman - he will.

"I've seen the pictures back. It was a wild and unnecessary offence. He went in much too hard. It is unfortunate, especially since he does not need to do it.

Ben Arfa receives Oxygen

The funny thing is that the referee did not even show a yellow card for it. Apparently, there are other standards. But I have a problem with the way Nigel needlessly looks to push the limit. I am going to speak to him"

Ben Arfa meanwhile, will take roughly about six months to recover from a broken tibia and fibula. The young man hopes to be back, playing for Newcastle soon, as he is enjoying life in England so much. He is only on a years long loan from Marseille, but after his wonderful debut goal, and lively performances so far, Newcastle may reward him with a permanent contract - if Marseille agree.