Still Following the Trawler

What's this? A rampant, minted United bidding for yet ANOTHER player?? And more to the point, apparently nicking him from right under Liverpool’s nose ! Tremendous. Not that I have a clue about the boy Herrara – other than he was part of Mexico's Olympic 2012 winning side. So here are a few key-pointers about our potential new-boy... Hector Miguel Herrara is a 22 year-old midfielder currently playing for Pachuca, in Mexico's top tier In 2011 he made 14 appearances for Pachuca, winning the Golden Ball as the rookie of the Apertura tournament He scored for Mexico in their 4-2 win over Senegal in the Olympics Quarter Final match earlier this month – en route to beating favourites Brazil in the final He has already made 20 appearances for his country He is nicknamed 'Zorro'

Berbatov in his most natural position at United. Ouch. That's the news emerging from the tabloids today, as Fiorentina become the latest club to monitor the now fifth-choice United striker. - Daily Mail:   Fiorentina target Berbatov as United continue efforts to release outcast striker  - The Mirror:   Go with the Flo: Berbatov in talks over a cut-price move to Fiorentina - TalkSport:   Fiorentina keen to end Man United striker's misery Long before Van Persie's signing last week it was obvious Berbatov's time at United was up. The Premier League golden boot winner in 2010/2011 was resigned to spending the majority of the following season on the bench. Behind Hernandez and the revived Danny Welbeck in the pecking order to partner Rooney, Berbs saw his opportunities diminished, playing a measly 12 games in the league - where he still manager to net seven times. An effortlessly classy striker, his Cantonaesque attitude and silky touches were absolutely incredible to watch

With the fantastic news emerging today that 21-year-old Danny Welbeck has commited himself to the club until 2016 , slightly strange  rumours of Nani's exit  have put a downer on this. With the arrivals of Kagawa and Van Persie strengthening our attack, our forward-line has all of a sudden become top-heavy. Especially on the wings, where Kagawa and Cleverley played during Monday's shoddy defeat at Goodison Park - leaving Young, Valencia and Nani either starting out of position or on the bench. Is selling one of our best player's really the answer though? Can we not accomodate them all in Ferguson's famous squad rotation system? Only he knows the answer to that question. All I know is that I will certainly be sad to see the once frustrating, now fundamental member of our attack forced out of the side.

20th August 2012 Author:  Agustino Fontevecchia George Soros' investment firm reported a nearly 2% stake in Manchester United (AFP/File, Brendan Smialowski) Billionaire investor George Soros is known for having broken the bank of England.  Now, he’s betting on the UK’s largest soccer team, Manchester United, unveiling a big stake in the traditional football club after the bell on Monday. Soros revealed a 7.85% stake in the football club, which translates to about 3.1 million class A ordinary shares, in an SEC filing.  The billionaire investor bought the stocks through his investment firm, Soros Fund Management, and will hold them in the Quantum Fund. Despite a history rich of success on the pitch, Manchester United has performed poorly as a stock since going public ten days ago.  In a widely anticipated, and discussed, IPO, the mythical club sold 16.6 million Class A shares at $14 a piece, raising about $233 million before fees, as my colleague Chris Smith reported. The investment

So here it is. A summer to reflect, come to terms with and, eventually, move on from the turmoil of last season has come and gone. The unimportant yet often entertaining spectacle of a biennial football tournament, followed by the greatest sporting event in the world right on my doorstep (the benefits of being a ‘Cockney’ red) certainly made the last three months bearable. Yet nothing even comes close to following a team that gives me such equal unnerving measures of pleasure and pain. So I guess with that, here it is – my one and ONLY reference of that day. Just to show that I have moved on (even though deep down I’m nowhere close...) An older generation will tell me about 1995 and the 1-1 draw at Upton Park. A generation or two before will discuss, or at least try to without welling up, Dennis Law’s back heel in the 1974 derby. But the heartache experienced on the 13 th May 2012 has to surely surpass every previous on-field drama that the club has ever experienced. Spoilt with succ