Our goalie situation

Ben "Weasley" Amos has been sent out on loan to Oldham and should stay there for the rest of the season. After starting out as the backup to a backup, Amos is now the backup to a backup to a backup, and that's not a healthy position for any player to be in. So in order to give him a chance of first team football, the lesser known Weasley brother is headed to League 1 where he'll compete for the number one spot with Dean Brill.

This leaves Kuszczak and Lindegaard to battle it out for for that job of replacing Big Ed when he calls it a day. Interestingly, in our last poll you guys voted for Sir Alex to go shopping for another keeper instead of sticking to Kuszczak, Lindegaard, or Weasley. So I'm guessing the general public opinion (cause we all know that TSR is everyone's go-to for Manchester United related information) is that there is little faith in our goalies bar Big Ed. In all honesty, I'd like to see Kuszczak show us what he can do in that goal. He's been a benchwarmer for 4 and a half years and he's already shoved Ben Foster out of the picture, for all his patience and reliability when called upon, I think it's about time he gets a chance.


Understandably though, a lot of you would like to see a bona fide "superstar" goalkeeper to replace van der Sar. It makes sense doesn't it? Schmeichel leaves and his backup, van der Gouw, remains in a backup capacity while we go out and get Bosnich, Taibi, Howard, Carroll, Goram, and Barthez before we finally settle on Big Ed. We don't want that to happen again, and a big signing like Manuel Neuer or Igor Akinfeev would fit the bill perfectly. This pair are just two examples of what I believe Manchester United are looking for:

• Relatively young
• Experienced in league, European, and international competitions
  
• Not a crazy psycho that thinks he's an outfield player *cough, cough* Fabien Barthez *cough, cough*

The goalie situation this summer will be interesting to follow. Who will replace Big Ed? Will he surprise us all and stay for another year? Why does the goalie kit look like they have tiger stripes down the arms? Only time will tell...

Lindegaard to United

United have signed 26 year-old Danish goalie Anders Lindegaard on a 3 and a half year deal today. He will join us in January and is coming over from Norwegian club Aaselunds.

I don't know how this is gonna affect our goalkeeping situation next year. Van der Sar is obviously going to be our main man till the end of the season at least. If, and that's still an "if", he goes, then we'll have Kuszczak, Lindegaard, and Amos. Personally I feel that Kuszczak deserves a shot at being our number 1. He's been solid when we've needed him and he's already taken Ben Foster out of the running so I think that he should get the first go at being keeper.

Then what do we do with Ben Amos? Will he ever get a shot at being number 1? I guess only time will tell.

You are my Solskjaer, my only Solskjaer...

... you make me happy when skies are gray. You never notice how much I love you. Please don't take my Solskjaer away.

It's been rumored for over a week now, but a story on BBC sport confirms that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will leave his post as Manchester United's reserve team manager to become the big cheese at his old team Molde (that's in Norway if you didn't know).

When I was younger, Ole was my favorite player. I don't know what it was about him, I just really liked him. Other people were telling me about how "normal" he was and that he didn't stand out like some of the others like Beckham and Cole. Even after he won us the Champions League in 1999. I didn't care, he was still my favorite player. And besides, how could a goal record of 126 goals in 366 games not prove his skill?

When his troubling knees finally caught up to him, Manchester United, being the classy organization that they are, offered him a role as the reserve team manager. Ole took up the offer and since 2007, has been making sure our youth players are being brought up the United way.

He might return to Old Trafford someday as United's manager, but there's no way anyone can take that job without years of experience at the highest level. So for now, I wish Ole all the best and may he stay a United legend forever.

20 LEGEND

Love the way you lie...

Big news coming out of Manchester today... Wayne Rooney has signed a five-year contract with Manchester United.

Although many United fans will be over the moon with this piece of news, I for one have mixed feelings. On the one hand, Rooney's signing consolidates our future. Despite what's been said over the last few days, he is a good player and I would rather have him on our side than not. But on the other hand, all this madness that's happened over the past week have made me wonder where his heart truly lies - In Manchester or in his wallet?

Personally, I won't be convinced that the Wayne Rooney we see will be as effective or prolific as 2009-2010 Rooney unless I see it with my own eyes. If he finds his form and proves to the fans that he deserved that contract, then we will see it on the pitch. If not, then in my eyes at least, Wayne Rooney is not the genuine, hard-working warrior we thought he was. 

So for our sakes, for United's sake, and most importantly, for Wayne Rooney's sake, I hope that he starts playing well again.