carlyluvsunited
10-11-2007, 09:27 AM
~~~ Ferguson May Re-Think Louis Saha Analysis ~~~
www.telegraph.co.uk
The precarious nature of this season's title race, not to mention the questionable
nature of Wayne Rooney's durability, were underlined yesterday when the
England centre-forward was ruled out of the Manchester United and England
teams for at least one month.
News of Rooney's injury came, ironically, within short hours of manager Sir Alex
Ferguson declaring he had his strongest squad of the season available for
tomorrow's meeting with Blackburn Rovers, a sobering thought for rivals who
have seen United win 12 and draw one of their last 13 league and Champions
League games.
Even more tellingly, the announcement came in the wake of Ferguson outlining
that he views the injury-prone £12.8 million French striker Louis Saha as an
impact substitute rather than a starter.
Saha, 29, has hardly earned a reputation for durability since arriving from Fulham,
having been injured for most of the past 12 months, having failed to start a
league game this season and having made just 37 starts in the three seasons
before this. "We're trying to manage Louis' situation," Ferguson said, before
news of Rooney's injury emerged. "We know we don't play him every game, so
the dilemma is do we start him or do we bring him on?
"If we look at the composition of our side now, he's different to everyone else. I
think he makes a bigger impact as a substitute. He makes a great impact.
Therefore at the moment my inclination is to use him as a substitute. He's fine
with that. I think we're managing the situation in the right way."
Whether Ferguson now alters that analysis, deciding to partner Saha with Carlos
Tevez from kick-off against Mark Hughes' in-form Blackburn, remains to be seen.
He could opt to use Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo or even Anderson in a
supporting role to Tevez.
Rooney's injury will also fuel speculation that Ferguson will reignite his interest in
Bolton's Nicolas Anelka.
• Manchester United have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea to sign Burnley teenager
John Cofie. The 14-year-old, who is of Ghanaian descent but has represented
England at schoolboy level, has joined on a six-year contract for an undisclosed
fee, understood to be in the region of £500,000.
Liverpool had been favourites to sign the striker after inviting him as a guest to
their recent Carling Cup tie against Cardiff City at Anfield.
Burnley will receive a 25 per cent sell-on clause and first option on loaning Cofie
back, and United have also agreed to play the Championship side in a friendly.
Burnley director Brendan Flood said: "The player was unwilling to come back to
Burnley, so we didn't have a choice."
Player Wayne Rooney
Team Manchester United
Appearances 7
Minutes On Pitch 585
Goal Attempts
Goals 4
Mins per goal 146.25
Shots On Target 13
Shots Off Target 11
Shooting Accuracy 54%
Chance Conversion 17%
Passing
Goal Assists 3
Total Passes 233
Pass Completion % 73%
Dribbling
Dribbles & Runs 17
Dribble Completion % 29%
Discipline
Fouls 10
Offside 5
Yellow Cards 2
Red Cards 0
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www.telegraph.co.uk
The precarious nature of this season's title race, not to mention the questionable
nature of Wayne Rooney's durability, were underlined yesterday when the
England centre-forward was ruled out of the Manchester United and England
teams for at least one month.
News of Rooney's injury came, ironically, within short hours of manager Sir Alex
Ferguson declaring he had his strongest squad of the season available for
tomorrow's meeting with Blackburn Rovers, a sobering thought for rivals who
have seen United win 12 and draw one of their last 13 league and Champions
League games.
Even more tellingly, the announcement came in the wake of Ferguson outlining
that he views the injury-prone £12.8 million French striker Louis Saha as an
impact substitute rather than a starter.
Saha, 29, has hardly earned a reputation for durability since arriving from Fulham,
having been injured for most of the past 12 months, having failed to start a
league game this season and having made just 37 starts in the three seasons
before this. "We're trying to manage Louis' situation," Ferguson said, before
news of Rooney's injury emerged. "We know we don't play him every game, so
the dilemma is do we start him or do we bring him on?
"If we look at the composition of our side now, he's different to everyone else. I
think he makes a bigger impact as a substitute. He makes a great impact.
Therefore at the moment my inclination is to use him as a substitute. He's fine
with that. I think we're managing the situation in the right way."
Whether Ferguson now alters that analysis, deciding to partner Saha with Carlos
Tevez from kick-off against Mark Hughes' in-form Blackburn, remains to be seen.
He could opt to use Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo or even Anderson in a
supporting role to Tevez.
Rooney's injury will also fuel speculation that Ferguson will reignite his interest in
Bolton's Nicolas Anelka.
• Manchester United have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea to sign Burnley teenager
John Cofie. The 14-year-old, who is of Ghanaian descent but has represented
England at schoolboy level, has joined on a six-year contract for an undisclosed
fee, understood to be in the region of £500,000.
Liverpool had been favourites to sign the striker after inviting him as a guest to
their recent Carling Cup tie against Cardiff City at Anfield.
Burnley will receive a 25 per cent sell-on clause and first option on loaning Cofie
back, and United have also agreed to play the Championship side in a friendly.
Burnley director Brendan Flood said: "The player was unwilling to come back to
Burnley, so we didn't have a choice."
Player Wayne Rooney
Team Manchester United
Appearances 7
Minutes On Pitch 585
Goal Attempts
Goals 4
Mins per goal 146.25
Shots On Target 13
Shots Off Target 11
Shooting Accuracy 54%
Chance Conversion 17%
Passing
Goal Assists 3
Total Passes 233
Pass Completion % 73%
Dribbling
Dribbles & Runs 17
Dribble Completion % 29%
Discipline
Fouls 10
Offside 5
Yellow Cards 2
Red Cards 0
Click below to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php