Talk about unlikely holiday buddies. Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll and Gary McAllister were snapped as they were lounging it out in the sun on their summer holiday in Barbados.

The Manchester United striker, Liverpool striker and Aston Villa assistant manager were no doubt talking ‘tactics’ at the exclusive Sandy Lane Resort in the Caribbean Sea. Rooney and McAllister have something else in common though, both gentlemen’s hair looks to be thinning on the top which is why McAllister consulted with Rooney about his recent hair transplant operation.

Carroll fancies himsself a bit of a rodeo star and McAllister turned up in cowboy boots at a recent job interview with Brian Clough, so that could be what THEY have in common. What do Rooney and Carroll have in common? Anyone’s guess…

Pic: metro.co.uk

Requiring only a point to lift their 12th championship of Sir Alex Ferguson’s incredible reign, United had fallen behind in the first half when Brett Emerton’s far-post drive gave Blackburn a shock lead.

With Tomasz Kuszczak’s nerves affecting his team-mates, for a while, United looked to be heading for a nerve-jangling final-day ending with Blackpool.

But help was at hand in the form of Rovers keeper Paul Robinson, who needlessly slid out on Javier Hernandez.

Much to Robinson’s frustration, the Mexican went down and after referee Phil Dowd had restored order, Rooney drilled home to finally knock Liverpool off their perch, as Sir Alex Ferguson had promised all those years ago.

Travelling north in their thousands to herald a record title and put a damper on anything that might happen at Wembley a couple of hours later, United being behind at half-time simply was not in the script.

The visitors had played with the confidence of a team who felt they were about to become champions, stroking the ball around efficiently and creating plenty of space around the Rovers box.

But that killer ball was missing.

After Nani had thudded a close-range header against the bar with only three minutes on the clock, United just could not find their range.

Nani cut a shot past the near-post, Ryan Giggs brought an excellent save out of Robinson and Wayne Rooney’s chip sailed narrowly over.

United actually looked less likely to score as that opening period went on.

This would not have been too bad if Blackburn were scoreless too.

However, a combination of their perilous league position and being piqued at having their own position completely overlooked in the scramble to acclaim the men from Old Trafford, they approached their task with a fierce sense of determination.

Christopher Samba had already been slightly unlucky that Phil Dowd had ruled his excellent effort out for a foul on Nemanja Vidic when Emerton drifted a cross-shot to the far-post.

Kuszczak tried to push the ball away from danger but succeeded only in keeping it in play, which allowed Martin Olsson to retrieve it.

After exchanging passes with Junior Hoilett, Olsson crossed to the far post where Emerton finished with an excellent first-time effort.

It nearly got even worse for United when Michel Salgado’s cross from the other side of the pitch dropped nicely for Olsson, whose shot was disappointingly off-target.

However, Ferguson must have been questioning the wisdom of his only concession to United’s position, offering 40-year-old Edwin van der Sar a rare break, as Kuszczak had twice almost been caught in possession, having dwelt on routine back passes for far too long.

Quite apart from putting United’s celebrations on hold, it also highlighted just what a tough job Ferguson faces in making sure the veteran Dutchman’s replacement is a worthy successor.

Javier Hernandez has already proved his value to the Red Devils cause.

The Mexican was not having one of his better days though, failing to collect a Ryan Giggs’ through ball that would have sent him clear of the Blackburn defence.

More weak goalkeeping from Kuszczak forced Rio Ferdinand into a rushed clearance before Olsson nodded an Emerton cross against the post with the United keeper nowhere.

Another Emerton cross led to Ferdinand getting rather too close to heading into his own net for the central defender’s liking.

The hesitancy Kuszczak created had spread through the United defence.

Normally the strongest of partnerships, Vidic and Ferdinand crashed into each other as they tried to complete a routine interception on halfway.

Something needed to go United’s way. Robinson’s rashness provided it.

The former England keeper complained bitterly at the outcome but it is hard to imagine any striker not going down in such circumstances.

Blackburn were angry. Not angry enough to warrant caution being thrown to the wind in an attempt to win though.

Their top-flight survival fight will go down to the last day, when United will receive the Premier League trophy as the most successful team in English league history.

Teams

Blackburn Robinson, Salgado, Samba (Andrews 77), Phil Jones,Givet, Emerton, Jermaine Jones (Dunn 73), Nzonzi, Olsson,Hoilett (Pedersen 58), Roberts.

Subs Not Used: Bunn, Kalinic, Santa Cruz, Mwaruwari.

Booked: Jermaine Jones, Nzonzi, Salgado.

Goals: Emerton 20.

Man Utd Kuszczak, Fabio Da Silva (Scholes 62), Ferdinand,Vidic, Evans, Valencia, Giggs, Carrick, Nani (Berbatov 80),Rooney, Hernandez.

Subs Not Used: Amos, Evra, Owen, Anderson, Smalling.

Goals: Rooney 73 pen.

Att: 29,867

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Source: football365.com

Pic: guardian.co.uk

United had seen Nani’s first-half opener cancelled out after the break when David Silva deflected in an Edin Dzeko shot, but Rooney’s spectacular late strike ensured Sir Alex Ferguson’s side hold the bragging rights over their bitter rivals.

Rooney’s sixth goal of the season lifted league leaders United seven points clear of second placed Arsenal, who host Wolves later on Saturday, and eight ahead of third placed City.

Silva had a golden chance to put City ahead in the fourth minute after a one-two with Carlos Tevez, but the Spain winger poked wide from close-range.

City controlled possession for long spells in the first half without turning their dominance into further opportunities, although they had a penalty appeal for handball by Patrice Evra rejected by referee Andre Marriner.

Ferguson’s side made them pay in the 41st minute as Nani opened the scoring in sublime fashion.

The move began in direct fashion as Rooney flicked on Edwin van der Sar’s huge punt to Ryan Giggs. The Welsh midfielder played a superb pass through to Nani, who produced a fine first touch before surging clear of Pablo Zabaleta to shoot low beyond Joe Hart.

City levelled in the 65th minute thanks to a moment of extreme good fortune.

Shaun Wright-Phillips crossed to Dzeko but the Bosnian substitute’s shot was going wide until it hit Silva and looped past the wrong-footed Van der Sar.

But Rooney stole the show with one of the goals of the season in the 78th minute. Nani’s deflected cross looped towards the England forward and his acrobatic aerial volley flashed past Hart.

Source + Pic: sport24.co.za

Coleen and Wayne Rooney spent a week getaway in Dubai costing £30,000.00 this week. Most ladies would own a single bikini to go to the beach with (maybe two), but when your husband just received a pay-rise of £250,000 a week and you are a multi-millionairess is your own right, a bikini per day is more like it! The mother-of-one has lounged by the pool at the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel in a succession of trendy two pieces, with many costing into three figures.

The pair about to splash even more cash on their return to Manchester tonight too – they’re throwing another £90,000 at Wayne’s 25th birthday party in a marquee at their Cheshire home.

It appears that they have reconciled after the lurid allegations about the striker sleeping with prostitutes when Coleen was pregnant with their one-year-old son Kai.

Rooney is currently taking time out from football with an ankle injury. It’s not clear whether or not Coleen has managed to take any time off from shopping, however.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Pics: Stephanie Schaerer

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney might have signed a new 5-year deal with the club, but won’t be facing Stoke City on Sunday.

Rooney, who has agreed a new five-year deal after days of intense media speculation, missed the Champions League win over Bursaspor after suffering an ankle injury in training and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks.

Rio Ferdinand will return to the centre of defence at the Britannia Stadium after being rested on Wednesday, while Jonny Evans is back in training following a thigh injury. Ryan Giggs (hamstring) and Owen Hargreaves (calf) need another couple of weeks, leaving Antonio Valencia as the Reds’ only long-term absentee.

“We have almost a full complement of players for Sunday,” Sir Alex told MUTV on Friday. “Rio will play but Wayne is not fit: it’s ironic he picked up an ankle injury in training on Tuesday. I think we’re looking at three weeks for him.

“Owen Hargreaves has a calf strain which is going to take a couple of weeks, but Jonny Evans trained today and is available.

“Rio has done fantastically well. He’s made his comeback for us and England, and played last week against West Brom. Wednesday was a good opportunity to bring in Chris Smalling and he did very well, but Rio will be back.”

After a week which has been overshadowed by the Rooney news, Ferguson admits it’ll be tougher than usual for his players to focus on beating Tony Pulis’ Stoke and stay in touch with the frontrunners in the league. But the Reds boss is ready for it.

“It’s a challenge for us to get the show back on the road, but I’m looking forward to it now – to seeing the team perform in

Source + Pic: manutd.com

Rooney had rocked United on Wednesday by revealing that he wanted to leave the Premier League club because they no longer had enough ambition to compete for major honours.

However United reopened talks with Rooney’s agent and announced on Friday that the player had made an astonishing u-turn and opted to commit his long-term future to the club.

A statement on the club’s website said: “Wayne Rooney has agreed a new five-year contract to stay at Manchester United until at least June 2015.

“The agreement follows intensive discussions between the Club and the player’s representatives and means that by the end of his contract Wayne will have been a Manchester United player for 11 years.”

Rooney, who was reportedly demanding wages of around 150,000 pounds (235,664 dollars) a week after tax in the original contract negotiations, insisted he agreed the new deal because Sir Alex Ferguson had convinced him United remain committed to succeeding on the pitch.

“I am delighted to sign another deal at United,” he said. “In the last couple of days, I have talked to the manager and the owners and they have convinced me this is where I belong.

“I said on Wednesday the manager is a genius and it is his belief and support that have convinced me to stay.

“I’m signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history – which is the reason I joined the Club in the first place.”

United manager Ferguson had already revealed earlier in the week that contract talks with Rooney had broken down in August and it seemed certain the former Everton star would be sold.

Ferguson’s comments about Rooney’s failure to show respect for United seemed to signal a breakdown in their relationship, especially as it came after a war of words between the two over the United manager’s decision to rest his star for three matches due to an ankle injury.

But Ferguson said Friday he was delighted with Rooney’s decision: “It’s been a difficult week, but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United.

“I said to the boy that the door is always open and I’m delighted Wayne has agreed to stay.

“Sometimes, when you’re in a club, it can be hard to realise just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand.

“I think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is.”

Rooney had been increasingly linked with a move to arch local rivals Manchester City, prompting an angry reaction from fans.

One group protested at his house on Thursday and had to be moved on by police.

Rooney’s decision to stay is sure to be greeted with relief by most United fans, but several of the club’s players, including Patrice Evra, had already expressed frustration at the situation.

His form in recent months had been well below-par as well and it remains to be seen if he will be welcomed back in the dressing room.

However, Ferguson is confident Rooney can go on to become one of United’s all-time greats.

“I’m pleased he has accepted the challenge to guide the younger players and establish himself as one of United’s great players,” he said.

Rooney has no doubts he can regain the trust of United’s supporters and he added: “I’m sure the fans over the last week have felt let down by what they’ve read and seen. But my position was from concern over the future.

“The fans have been brilliant with me since I arrived and it’s up to me through my performances to win them over again.”

Source: supersport.co.za

Officers were called out late on Thursday after a mob of up to 30 supporters descended on the star’s 4.5-million-pound mansion in Prestbury, close to Manchester.

It came shortly after a crisis meeting at the club failed to resolve the future of Rooney, whose decision to walk away from Manchester United after six years has sent shockwaves through the world of English football.

Fans have been incensed by the news, and reports that the striker could be snapped up by local arch rivals Manchester City have only added to their sense of betrayal.

The balaclava-clad fans arrived at Rooney’s house – which he shares with his wife Coleen and son Kai – in a convoy of cars and repeatedly buzzed on his intercom, reported Britain’s Sun newspaper.

They warned the striker not to sign for Man City before police arrived and threatened to arrest them unless they dispersed, said the paper. Six security guards reportedly came to stand watch at the house after the incident.

A local police spokesperson said at 21:30 SA time “a call was received from a resident in Prestbury regarding 20 to 30 people assembling outside their address.

“Police attended the scene and the group dispersed peacefully. No offences were committed.”

Earlier Thursday, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson held talks with the club’s chief executive David Gill and Rooney’s representatives but the club said afterwards there were “no developments” and asked fans to remain patient.

On Wednesday, Rooney said he was leaving because he believed United were no longer able to match his ambition by being able to compete in the transfer market for the world’s best players.

Rooney’s comments appeared to slam shut any chance of the striker being able to settle his differences with the club after Ferguson said on Tuesday the door was still open to a solution.

A furious Ferguson had reacted on Wednesday by telling reporters following United’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Bursaspor that the club had called a meeting in order to “put the issue to bed”.

But the club did not release any further details on why Thursday’s talks had failed to resolve the issue.

Ferguson has not speculated on what course of action he may take but it seems likely that Rooney has played his last game in a United shirt and that the club will seek to sell him as soon as the January transfer window opens.

Rooney, the figurehead of the United team and one of the world’s most talented footballers, had stunned his employers by breaking off negotiations over a new contract and informing them he wished to leave.

With only 18 months left to run on his current 90,000 pounds (140,000 dollars) per week deal, United are now likely to offload Rooney as quickly as possible before his value, around 50 million pounds (79 million dollars), begins to depreciate.

Rooney would be able to leave United for free if he saw out the remainder of his contract.

Most reports have said that Manchester City are the favourites to sign Rooney.

City, owned by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, would comfortably be able to pay both the 50-million-pound transfer fee and Rooney’s salary demands, expected to be more than 200 000 pounds per week.

Ferguson warned Rooney that any move to a new club was unlikely to be an improvement on United, where he has already accumulated eight major trophies in the six years since he signed from Everton as a teenager in 2004.

“Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it’s a better cow than the one you’ve got in your own field,” Ferguson remarked.

“And it never really works out that way.”

While the football world waits to discover Rooney’s fate, his team-mates are trying to block out the controversy as they focus on Sunday’s Premier League trip to Stoke. United are already five points behind leaders Chelsea.

Source: sport24.co.za

Rooney, 24, has been on the front and back pages of many English newspapers after news emerged that he has broken off contract talks at Old Trafford and, with his current deal due to expire at the end of next season, it is claimed United could be ready to cash in.

Sir Alex Ferguson is to face questioning on the subject at his press conference on Tuesday, having refused to field questions during Monday’s conference to promote the relationship between the club and Unicef.

Ancelotti, though, has said that Chelsea would be eager to take advantage of the situation should Rooney decide to depart.

“We have to wait to see if Wayne Rooney really wants to leave Manchester United,” he said. “If they really want to sell him and, also, if Rooney is on the market, not just Chelsea would be interested but a lot of other teams as well.”

Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all reported to be interested, but Ancelotti recognises the fact that Ferguson is unlikely to allow one of his leading stars to leave without a fight.

“Every top team has a fantastic player and they want to keep them,” he said. “If someone asks for one of our top players there is no way – they would have to stay here.”

Madrid boss Jose Mourinho also said he expected Rooney to remain at United. Madrid had already ruled out a deal for the player in January, and it appears they do not expect to complete a deal in the summer.

“I don’t think he will (become available),” Mourinho said on Monday. “I think the big man will persuade him to stay.”

Ipswich manager Roy Keane, who left Old Trafford in 2005 after a disagreement with Ferguson, has advised Rooney to put himself first when making any decision on his future.

“Players and managers fall out all the time. It is part of life,” he said. “If I was to offer advice to Wayne, who is a good lad, I would tell him to make sure he looks after number one.

“Players are pieces of meat – that’s how I look at it. When your time’s up, your time’s up.”

Source: soccernet.espn.go.com

“I’ve been training for the last two months and I haven’t missed a training session so there’s no problem with my fitness.” Asked why Sir Alex Ferguson had said that he did have an ankle injury, Rooney replied: “Don’t know.” Cue frenzied talk of a rift and reports that new contract talks are on the rocks.

The football media loves nothing better than a Fergie feud, and especially when it is with a leading player. Rooney’s declaration flew in the face of his manager’s statement that his striker would miss the trip to Valencia and a visit to Sunderland because of a need to recover from the putative injury. It also acted against TV evidence of his being treated with an ice-pack at Bolton, and photographic evidence of his leaving a hospital after a reported scan.

“I think Wayne will be two to three weeks,” Sir Alex Ferguson had said before going on that attacking form of defence familiar to those who brave his press conferences. “It is a straightforward ankle injury.

Nobody likes to be injured but he is. There is nothing you can do about it. What do you want me to say? Do you want me to describe every ligament? Christ.”

Could this be the beginning of one of those long goodbyes that have littered the Fergie years? Is Rooney to follow the likes of Strachan, Leighton, Ince, Beckham, Keane and Van Nistelrooy in a gradual cold-shouldering that leads to an exit in which it is agreed by all parties, though really Ferguson, that it really was time to move on?

The warnings signs are there, and Rooney may have already broken a golden rule in lifting the lid on his manager’s machinations. But then, perhaps Rooney is different to such predecessors. Is he of the elite group of players that Ferguson will indulge? That list contains Robson, Schmeichel, Cantona and, latterly, Ronaldo. Keane was of that number until that bitter end, while both Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have also escaped the black spot when becoming embroiled in run-ins with the boss.

All of that group were able to escape when on-field performances protected them, and this is where problems may lie with Rooney. His level of performance so far this season has been well below-par, with effort being no substitute for influence. It will barely cheer his manager that the better Rooney performances of the season came in England’s double-header with Bulgaria and Switzerland. And then there are the possible corroding effects of those tabloid revelations: if anything, Rooney’s performances have looked limp in spirit if not in left ankle.

Ferguson has indulged players in the past, with Peter Schmeichel’s mid-season tanning session in the midst of the 1998-99 campaign being a prime example, and this may have been been his aim this time around. Yet Rooney’s words at Wembley reflected some level of irritation at being granted a similar rest to thus open up a series of end-game scenarios.

Should Ferguson still be minded to again protect his charge, expect his response to any questioning on the subject – slim pickings at best considering that self-imposed media ban – to talk of Rooney’s unremitting to desire to play in any state and hence the Wembley words.

After all, Rooney’s reappearance in the second leg last season against Bayern Munich came against all known medical advice, and as a result of the man himself’s desire to be on the field. A non-appearance against West Brom this weekend, seemingly unlikely after that 90 minutes on Tuesday, would send the headline-writers into an orgy of overdrive.

A cynical watcher of the Ferguson years will now be readied for a drawn-out exit, with both sides briefing against the other. After all, Rooney’s representatives have previous here, too. Or, once Rooney has recovered his form, the optimist can expect a kissing and making up between a pair who have previously indulged each other in the glowing terms of father and son.

Whatever the outcome, any sign of a schism between Ferguson and his leading light is certain to dominate headlines, even in a Liverpool-dominated week such as this. We shall keenly await the reasons behind Rooney’s breaking of the Ferguson code.

Source + Pic: soccernet.espn.go.com

Rooney will have to pay only a “restitutional remedy” amounting to around $138 227 following the ruling into his court battle with the sports management firm.

Rooney and his wife Coleen had been taken to court by Proactive, who claimed the couple had withheld the commission on multi-million dollar deals brokered during the time they represented him.

The 24-year-old made no payments after football agent Paul Stretford, a director and founder of Proactive, left the firm in October 2008 – taking with him Rooney and the revenue his fame generated.

Rooney was signed by Stretford for Proactive in 2002 when he was still playing for Everton and the teenage striker quickly garnered multi-million sponsorship deals with the likes of Nike, Coca-Cola and EA Sports.

Proactive argued that, as such contracts for Rooney and Coleen were brokered by Stretford while he was still at the firm, they were due the 20 percent commission – amounting to $6.6m.

But Judge Brendan Hegarty, who had postponed handing down the ruling until after the World Cup following a three-week trial in February, dismissed that claim and also rejected an application to appeal from Proactive’s lawyers.

Ian Mill QC, representing Proactive, told the court they would consider taking the matter to the Court of Appeal.

In a statement, Rooney, who followed the ruling while on holiday in Barbados, said: “I am delighted to have won this case. Coleen and I have always been happy to pay all commissions due to the people who were owed them.

“But these sums were a joke and we felt they were just an attempt to exploit us.

“Fortunately the judge has knocked back their massively over-inflated claims and we are happy to pay the very small sum awarded.

“Going to court was the last thing I wanted to do. I was shocked that a company which represents some of Britain’s biggest entertainers was going down this road which meant that private financial and commercial matters were made public.

“But you always have to fight for what’s right in life and that’s why we contested it.”

Rooney’s statement thanked his legal team and witnesses who appeared on his behalf, including Manchester United chief executive David Gill and Gordon Taylor from the Professional Footballers’ Association.

He added: “Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my Mum and Dad for their help, support and values they have given me.”

Stretford was in court but there were no members of the Rooney family present.

Proactive said in a statement it was pleased the court had accepted its “factual evidence” and “substantially rejected” the account of events put forward by Stretford.

But the firm were unhappy with the judge’s ruling and added: “Proactive is disappointed that the court has not felt able, without a further hearing, to assess the sums that are to be paid to it by Mr Rooney’s company and that the court did not accept all the legal arguments advanced by Proactive as to the amount of money that it should be paid.

“It will continue to take all appropriate steps to ensure that it receives proper and reasonable recompense for its successful endeavours in representing Mr and Mrs Rooney and their companies over many years.”

Source: sport24.co.za