Matty

We know you've got a new job and you've lost weight... ok?!

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that Manchester United had completed their transfer market activity this summer when he unveiled Michael Owen as the club's new No 7 today. It is thought the club are interested in signing Douglas Costa, the highly rated Brazil Under-20 midfield player, from Grêmio, but the United manager said that his current squad is good enough to challenge for an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title this season. "It is the end of our business, so all these stories about who were are supposed to be getting - forget it," he said. The Brazilian club are holding out for about £20 million — close to the release clause stated in the player’s contract — but United are reluctant to pay that much. United initially wanted to take Douglas, 18, on a three-week trial, but while that request was rejected by Grêmio, negotiations over a permanent deal have been continuing. Douglas would be United’s fourth signing of the summer after Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan, with senior sources at the club insisting that they have no interest in buying Samuel Eto’o, the Barcelona striker. United lost out to Real Madrid for the signature of Karim Benzema, the Lyons striker, when the Premier League club refused to be drawn into a bidding war for the player despite recouping £80 million from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo. "There are some amazing numbers being talked about, not all of them realistic," Ferguson said. "It is very difficult to get value now. I feel we have a good squad, which meant there was no need for knee-jerk reactions. We asked about Benzema and we had a value for him. Lyons have done well because they got €42m (about £36m) but I think we took a sensible view." Owen inherits Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt number and his place in an attacking line-up containing Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Daniel Welbeck and Federico Macheda. “I’m hungry to do well here,” Owen said. “If this challenge doesn’t put a spring in your step and a smile on your face then nothing will. I still believe I can do well at a top team like Manchester United.”

I didn't know the borough of North Tyneside had a professional football team... Someone keep Stevie away from this...

Most of them on TV are away games aren't they? They're clearly looking for the former Premier League team now roughing it in the Championship and being turned over by shite clubs...

On the "money is taking over football topic", it's Man City again. Tevez set to sign today and their in talks with Arsenal over Adebayor.

What a totally inappropriate thread title...

Good news if true. I dunno, at least he managed to get some assists. Despite having the legs of a 87 year old tortoise.

I knew he wouldn't like....

Apparently if Monty can get 10 runs (I know, I know) it will be the first time ever that every member of England's batting order have reached double figures.

Anderson out on 26. Australia are 7/1 to win this match now....

Started using Chrome a few months ago and I really like it... It'll be quite interesting to see what their new operating system will be like.

420-8! Brilliant stuff so far today.... hopefully they won't be too knackered to bowl in an hour or so!

Swann's got 34 off 25 balls! Gan on lad!

His missus wouldn't let him go to sunderland like.... And when she's as fit as she is, you listen!

402-8

I always think if the tail can hold on frustrate the Aussies then it'll give a big boost to everyone involved; the crowd, and the players. It seems when a tail ender hits a 4 it's worth more than just 4 runs because they're bonus runs really, but with Broard, Anderson and Swann down there it could be quite a big weapon in this series. Even if they can add say 40-50 runs between them it could make a massive difference with the teams being so equally matched overall.

They'll get 397.

Same here, but it's not exactly the most difficult praise to win. Thinking about the ones he's had to be compared to since I've been watching: -Albert -Peacock -Dabizas -Howey -Goma -Dumas -Hughes -O'Brien -Distin (played mainly as a left back for us though) -Caldwell -Boumsong -Taylor -Bassong -Collocini The sad thing was, I knew when Woodgate left that I'd struggle to see another defender play for us who was as good.

;)

Aye true. The have a salary cap in rugby, and apparently what they do is sign the best players as player/coach so that they can increase their wage as they claim they have 2 jobs at the club. I'm sure Ronaldo could be Real's diving coach.

He's now up 2 sets to 1. Good call Leazes.

Worst pic of it so far....

And I thought he was gay....

Well done pal!

Say there are 4 really interested parties, wouldn't it be great if each party had to try and convince the supporters that they are the right group to take the club forward. Then each season ticket holder gets to vote on who they think is best for the club, then if it goes tits up, we'd only have ourselves to blame! Of course the chances of any set of directors sticking to their promises is a massive "if"!