Javi Garcia is one of the hottest properties in the market currently, with his scintillating performances he’s grabbing a lot of attention from across Europe.

It is believed that several clubs will be bidding for the former Real Madrid man in the summer, and one club which were reported to have made contact with the playmaker’s agent Manuel Garcia Quillon was Manchester United although the agent himself has rubbished such rumours.

The Spaniard joined Benfica back in 2009, and has hit peak form in recent times. He is thought to be on the radar of several of the European giants, which include clubs from the Premier League, the Serie A, the Bundesliga and also the La Liga.

English champions United were reportedly in advanced talks with the 24-year old’s agent, and were keen to bring the midfield maestro to Old Trafford, but the agent has himself denied such reports. Speaking to Portuguese TV station TSF, he said, “I cannot say anything, no one has talked to me,

“There are no offers, just rumours.”

Javi Garcia is one of the hottest properties in the market currently, with his scintillating performances he’s grabbing a lot of attention from across Europe.

It is believed that several clubs will be bidding for the former Real Madrid man in the summer, and one club which were reported to have made contact with the playmaker’s agent Manuel Garcia Quillon was Manchester United although the agent himself has rubbished such rumours.

The Spaniard joined Benfica back in 2009, and has hit peak form in recent times. He is thought to be on the radar of several of the European giants, which include clubs from the Premier League, the Serie A, the Bundesliga and also the La Liga.

English champions United were reportedly in advanced talks with the 24-year old’s agent, and were keen to bring the midfield maestro to Old Trafford, but the agent has himself denied such reports. Speaking to Portuguese TV station TSF, he said, “I cannot say anything, no one has talked to me,

“There are no offers, just rumours.”

In recent years, people have continuously discussed whether the La Liga was better than the Premier League and vice versa. Nobody came up with a conclusion until Barcelona dominated Europe for a couple of years, suffering a few knocks along the way and beating United in two European finals. Having a successful international team helped also.

However, there was always an argument as far as Premier League supporters were concerned. People give us credit for our physicality and willingness to let the game run instead of stopping it frequently so that the players can throw handbags at each other – demonstrated in previous El Classicos between Real Madrid and Bercelona. They have similar ties in Italy, but I’d prefer to not go on a witch hunt.

And I’m not the first to comment on the tomfoolery which occurs in Spanish football. I mean the diving, play acting and dishonesty. Yes, it happens in England too but they take it to a different level of stupidity.

Another point of view is it’s about opinion. Which league do you prefer? It’s one mans word after another, although, if you realistically look at recent stats the Premier League clearly shows a decline. We have lost some of our better players to foreign outfits in recent years. Ronaldo was Ballon d’Or winner, Fabregas captained Arsenal while providing leader like service to the Gunners, Boateng had a big player swagger at Portsmouth and is proving himself in Milan. The list goes on and on but the point I am trying to make is that you cannot keep dominance if you keep losing star players.

The question some might ask is why are these big players leaving England? Well, some had dreams of playing for different clubs and others worried about the tax being put on their wages. Not to forget those that missed sunshine and were sick of the cold and rain. Basically, if a footballer comes into the Premier League and proves himself, there’s a good chance clubs in Spain and Italy will be interested in his signature.

The standard is definitely not as high as it was in the past which is why, I believe, the league has become more competitive with smaller teams causing more upsets. A lot of the bigger clubs in England have been trashing each other with United beating Arsenal 8-2 and City beating the Champions 6-1. But the Premier League wasn’t going to stay on top forever – these things take roundabout swings every now and again.

“Mario Balotelli stamps on Scott Parker’s head.” The first thing I thought when I heard this was what the fallout would have been if Rooney had been the stamper. Actually that’s not true, the first thing I thought was “when did the Post Office release commemorative Balotelli stamps, and what were they to celebrate cunt of the month?”. For the whole of Monday I followed the discussion through Talksport & Twitter and the reaction astounded me, I expected the majority of callers to be outraged with such a show of violence and call for an extensive ban but this wasn’t the case at all. With the exception of Spurs fans calling for him to be disembowelled and carried through Golders green on the back of a donkey (or Joe Jordan) the general theme was “he’s not that bad, he is just a bit impetuous. Poor little scamp”. Amazingly they were talking about the same Balotelli who has thrown darts at youth players from a hotel window, couldn’t manage to put on a training bib and has had mixed fortunes behind the wheel of a car. Mixed fortunes meaning he drives with the skill of a carrier bag. The tabloid media stopped short of claiming that Mario was trying to part Parkers hair in an act of follicle kindness. Now imagine that Wayne Rooney had stamped on Scott Parkers head…

The schedule on Sky Sports would have been cleared and a TWAT (tactical Wayne aggression team) would have been scrambled instantly. Jim White would have been relieved of transfer tales to head the programme as they reviewed every single past misdemeanor right from childhood starting with anyone Rooney had been told not to suck his thumb (flouting authority) right up to his murderous assault on Scott Parkers magnificently thatched head. Frantic phone calls would be taking place between David Cameron, Ban Ki-moon, Dr Rowan Williams and Garth Crooks. Sepp and Fanny Blatter would be readying themselves for an EGM of the FIFA council and Roy Keane would be preparing himself for a few of his fully balanced not embittered at all quotes. The next day Sepp, Platini and Bernstein would appear on the steps of the Vatican and announce not only a life ban but also that Rooney had been sentenced to swim the channel of sea between Dyer and Geyser Islands while towing a large sheep carcass behind him. Platini would venture “ee as rooined the game. I ope eees mother gets herpes and his father makes love to a goose” before the three of them walked away arm in arm heads bowed. Finally, Obama would declare war on Manchester with the aim of ridding the world of the infidel Rooney.

A couple of weeks prior to Balotelligate there had been another incident that highlighted the anti-Rooney feeling. Only a few minutes into the FA Cup 3rd round derby match Vincent Kompany launched into a two footed tackle on United’s smooth criminal and was subsequently sent off. It was the first time that FIFA had been able to call on video evidence from the Mir space station, the cosmonauts able to confirm the players identity by the size of his (visible with the naked eye from space) head. Cue all the “pundits” claiming the referee had ruined the game and “spoilt the spectacle”. Then during the 74th replay of the incident Jamie Redknapp managed to stop touching himself for long enough to notice Rooney gesturing to the referee that it had been a 2 footed tackle, suddenly and instantly the situation became reframed. “Cor blimey, up the apples and pears, that berkshire hunt went and got Vince sent ahhhhf” as the mildly retarded TV personality verbalised his toddler, therefore, the internet melted. Twitter, Facebook and cheaprussianwives.com all buckled under the weight of surging traffic and the talking point was now Rooney and his outrageous influencing of the referee.

The next morning I was driving down to the Unicorn farm listening to Talksport and in particular the incredible Alan Brazil. For those of you lucky enough to have no knowledge of this massive weapon allow me to stain you with a description; Brazil was a part time professional footballer back in the 70s and 80s. He spent a season at Old Trafford keeping the injury table warm when he wasnt out making George Best look like a shandy drinker. He somehow got a job presenting a breakfast show on Talksport despite the fact he is always at least half cut when the show starts at 6am. He picked up the Kompany sending off and his line was that the tackle “wissnae tha bad” and that had Rooney not “got to” the ref, Kompany would still have been on the pitch. Ignoring the rule that outlawed 2 footed tackling, Brazil set about proving his theory by getting all his old “Muckers” on the phone, basically a whos who of tough tackling booze bandits who would drink a gallon of listerine as soon as they would look at you. They all said that in their day the tackle would have got a thumbs up and they would have shared a pack of Benson and Hedges at half time. Cue a whole host of calls condoning Kompanys challenge and berating Rooney for daring to get involved. All “fans” that would be hammering the recalcitrant Rooney now, yet proclaiming their love for the passionate warrior come the European championships.

The tabloid media are the worst for their “he is a criminal” and “he is our saviour” Rooney-ness, closely followed by the Ingurland fans many of whom love to brand him “Shrek” or “Granny shagger” throughout the season until he pulls on an England shirt and they would gladly give him a topless hand shandy for a goal against Germany. This season a new factor has eneterd the fray, the previosuly anti-Rooney FA. Last season as April began United were attempting to close out a record breaking, scouse busting, de-perching 19th Premier league and yet they found themselves 2-0 down at West Ham. Rooney’s season had not exactly gone to plan because he spent the summer being rimmed by a couple of hookers before playing like a young Emile Heskey in South Africa. He then handed in a transfer request, became so fat that United sent him to America so he looked thin and generally played like a man with the touch and close control of a tumble dryer. However, when United really needed him he delivered, scoring a hat trick to haul them into the lead. As He celebrated a goal an over zealous cameraman got a bit too close Rooney shouted “What, Fuckin what?” incredibly earning himself an FA charge. Outraged fathers across the land complained, Rooney had just taught their children to swear. Of course this was the first time they had been exposed to such language and so the FA had to take action, banning the potty mouth for 2 games at the most crucial point of the season. Fast forward a few months and as England qualify or the European Championships 2012 Isle of Man and Anglesey, Rooney gets a red card for kicking out at someone. Over at the FA the reverend Cuthbert Jones-Flynn-Petherall knocks back another glass of tanqueray and remarks to Jefferey Carter-booth “I see that ghastly potato head has been sent orrrfff again, the brute.” Just to wipe the smile off the gin soaked FA the mavericks over at UEFA ban Rooney for three games, those games being the group stages at the Championships and without Rooney probably the only games England play from their base camp of Holyhead. So what do the FA do? Fearful of losing sponsors and a plummet down the rankings that would stop the crowd pulling firendlies at their white elephant in coming months they send a delegation to UEFA headquarters to plead forgiveness and try and get the ban reduced. They succeeded and quite possibly congratukated themselves with a bottle of grey goose and four young Swiss men at having saved their revneu streams for another couple of years.

So the tabloid media, the Ingurland fans and the FA all hate Rooney when it suits them, yet treat him as a God when they are relying on him for something. I just hope all the while Bebe is preparing himself  for when his time comes.

The following changes were announced today:
QPR (H) Sun 8 Apr (1.30pm Sky)
Wigan (A) Wed 11 Apr (7.45, not televised)
Villa (H) Sun 15 Apr (4pm Sky)
Everton (H) Sun 22 Apr (12.30pm Sky)
Manchester City (A) Mon 30 Apr (8pm Sky)

“I think the Basel result at home is the one where it went wrong. That’s the one where we’ve got to hold our hands up and say that was stupid. We threw it away that night - it was carelessness. It was 2-0 and could have been 5-0, so we’ve only got ourselves to blame in that aspect.” Sir Alex Ferguson

“I really miss the feeling of a matchday when you’re involved,” Kuszczak told Watford’s official website. “Where Watford were in the Championship table never crossed my mind. I knew this to be a good club and I didn’t have to think long at all about coming down here. Football is my passion, not just a job. That’s why I’m here. Watford is my club, my team now. This seems like a club with young players and young staff taking their work seriously. Let’s see how much I can help in my time here. I want to have a chance of being involved in the Euros in my home country this summer, so I need to be out there playing so everyone can see I’m fighting fit and still very hungry. I’m grateful to Watford for the chance and hopefully this can benefit both sides.”

Kuszczak has had an unhappy time at United for the past year or so after falling down the pecking order. The 29-year-old spoke out about against United earlier this season when he said the club blocked his move to Leeds United. Although, he was forgetting how little they offered for him in the first place.

He said: “I am angry and disappointed with the way I am treated. I had a few good offers. The problem was the club who wanted to sell me for £4m.”

But why should United lose a player for less than what they believe he is worth? United fans didn’t react too kindly to those quotes and are probably happy to see the back of him for now. Kuszczak spent the last couple of months making appearances for the Reserves, being labeled as the club’s 4th choice goalkeeper.

However, something similar could happen at Watford. He will be battling for first choice selection with former England Under-21 goalkeeper Scott Loach, who has played in 31 of the Hornets’ 35 games so far this season.

We hope he does himself justice at Vicarage Road, so he can finally move on with his career and sign a contract elsewhere.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust has also out a strong statement condemning the owners over the way the club is being run. I’d join them in that. Since 2009 when Ronaldo went to Madrid, £225m has left the club on interest payments and buying up debt. This was originally the owners debt but they have been for years using the clubs money. So if there is anyone asking where the Ronaldo money went. That £80m plus another £145m of the clubs money has been spent on debt. A total of £92.8m has been spent buying back bonds which many would argue could be spent on the pitch, in the stadiums or on lowering ticket prices.

The BBC are quoted as saying “Match day revenues (up from £52.4m to £54.5m)” but they forget the big picture. Ticket prices were increased last season so I’ll find it insulting if anyone aims to use that as a good point. No doubt ticket prices will again rise in the coming seasons pushing more and more fans out. Lets not forget since 2005 many fans will have given up season tickets and now its not impossible to get a ticket like in the old days.

In the coming months there will be more rumours on the now famous delayed IPO the Glazers have been planning and again the questions will be where will the money go. I firmly believe it should go to pay down the debt which is on the clubs books and any of the extra funds should to go to the club to reimburse the money which has been taken out. I doubt they could ever make enough to do that and sadly again many believe it could leave the club to deal with the Glazers own problems in the United States rather than do the best thing for the club.

Follow Andy on Twitter and read his blog.

Are any of these two going to make it at our great club? Is David de Gea set to be the new Edwin Van Der Sar? Or is he going to flop like Massimo Taibi? Is Anders Lindegaard going to become the best Danish keeper since the great Peter Schmeichel? Or is he going to end up sitting on the bench for the majority of his United career, ‘picking his nose’?

For the first half of the season De Gea was hit and miss. He had every United fan on the edge of their seats for every set piece and corner. His inability to claim the ball in a crowded penalty box was apparent for the opposition to see, and teams targeted this, which seemingly made him even more nervous from a dead ball situation. On the other we got a glimpse of a truly world class keeper. Some of the saves he has made in his short career have been nothing short of exceptional. The one that springs to mind is the superb stop from Juan Mata’s free kick in the 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge.

On the other hand we have Anders Lindegaard. The Dane joined the club in January of last year for a fee of around £3million. Fans only got to watch him pull on the United jersey in two cup games last season so judgement on him was fairly reserved. This season he has made 11 appearances for the club, when picked he brings his calm and relaxed persona onto the field with him. This seems to rub off onto the back four and more clean sheets are kept under Lindegaard so far.

Both keepers have their own pros and cons. The stunning saves of the spritely young Spaniard, and the cool head of the experienced Dane. I firmly believe that both could stay at the club for years to come, with both being utilized in games with suit their respective strengths. Let’s not forget that De Gea is 21 years of age. How many keepers of such a tender age could break into the first team of our famous club? Give him time and lets all watch him mature into the world class keeper that we all know he potentially is. We should all get off his back and get behind him.

With Anders’ cool head beside him we have two great keepers on our hands. However David de Gea is the man for me. Who gets your vote?

Follow Jordan on Twitter – @Joordd

Reserve team manager Warren Joyce has praised Davide Petrucci for the the strides he has made this season.

Having joined from Roma in 2008, the midfielder initially impressed before missing a large chunk of developmental time due to growth related injuries. Since returning in the middle of last season he has steadily shown the talent that made him so highly rated when we signed him.

At the start of the year he was called up to the Italian u21 squad, capping off an impressive spell of form for him, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed at Old Trafford as Warren Joyce told ManUtd.Com:

“We’ve seen a lot of progression in the way Davide is playing.

“He had to work extremely hard over a period of time as he spent a lot of time out of the game – well over 12 months. Now he’s worked hard to develop his running power.

“There’s never been a question that he’s got ability but he had to get other things up to speed and certainly, at the minute, he’s amongst the goals.

“I think he’s a far better player now than he was before he got injured.

“Especially with his running power, as he didn’t particularly have that.

“I think he’s developed really well over the last 15 months or so.”

Missing such a large chunk of your career at any stage would be detremental but it is particularly damaging at his age so it is great news for him and us that he is finding his feet again especially as he has been touted as one to watch.

Kuszczak has been unhappy at the club for some time after dropping further down the pecking order. This season he has been the 4th choice keeper and often plays for the Reserves.

Last summer the club rejected an offer from his former club West Brom for him, much to his disappointment.

“I am angry and disappointed with the way I am treated,” Kuszczak said at the time. “I had a few good offers. The problem was the club who wanted to sell me for £4m.”

Kuszczak hasn’t played for the first team since last May when United won a record breaking 19th title at Ewood Park.

Sir Alex Ferguson claims his infamous ‘hairdryer’ has been retired.

Many a player has been on the receiving end of his infamous half time (and in game!) blasts, but it appears Sir Alex has mellowed with age and the hairdryer is no longer a necessity.

The image of Sir Alex exploding on the touchline is one that sends shivers down the spine of many a referee and player, so you can only imagine how much worse it is when behind closed doors.

But players can rest easy now, as Sir Alex insists the hair dryer has gone into retirement:

“I don’t have any confrontations really, not nowadays, although maybe when I was younger I would have.

“If a player answered me back I would head straight for them, this is where the hairdryer treatment comes in. I didn’t allow a player to beat me in an argument.

“Now I am older and more experienced and because of that and my time at the club the players have more respect.”

But this doesn’t mean Sir Alex has suddenly become a soft touch. He admits he can still have the occasional flare up but when he does, it is usually necessary:

“There is nothing wrong with losing your temper if it is for the right reasons – sometimes you are better getting it out of your system.”

Sir Alex Ferguson claims his infamous ‘hairdryer’ has been retired.

Many a player has been on the receiving end of his infamous half time (and in game!) blasts, but it appears Sir Alex has mellowed with age and the hairdryer is no longer a necessity.

The image of Sir Alex exploding on the touchline is one that sends shivers down the spine of many a referee and player, so you can only imagine how much worse it is when behind closed doors.

But players can rest easy now, as Sir Alex insists the hair dryer has gone into retirement:

“I don’t have any confrontations really, not nowadays, although maybe when I was younger I would have.

“If a player answered me back I would head straight for them, this is where the hairdryer treatment comes in. I didn’t allow a player to beat me in an argument.

“Now I am older and more experienced and because of that and my time at the club the players have more respect.”

But this doesn’t mean Sir Alex has suddenly become a soft touch. He admits he can still have the occasional flare up but when he does, it is usually necessary:

“There is nothing wrong with losing your temper if it is for the right reasons – sometimes you are better getting it out of your system.”