Smalling Spurs United On.

Manchester United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Well, here we are again at the start of another new season and what a match to kick off the new campaign, Spurs at Old Trafford.

This season promises to be an exciting one, to say the least, especially with the return of the Champions League to the Theatre of Dreams putting the club back on the European stage where it belongs.

Since the end of last season United, as usual, haven't been out of the news having been linked to any player who can kick a ball, but Louis van Gaal kept his cards close to his chest and alongside Ed Woodward made come shrewd purchases during the transfer window and the club is set to continue with at least two more players earmarked by the manager.

The five new recruits to Old Trafford were Depay, Romero‬, ‎Darmian‬, Schneiderlin‬ and Schweinsteiger a mixture of experience along with new young blood has been added plus Hernandez returned to the United fold after his loan spell. The squad is still in need of a central defender and a striker, therefore the hope is that those positions will be filled as soon as possible.

The most exciting prospect seems to be Memphis who, after a promising pre-season tour of the States has been handed the iconic No.7 shirt and he seems a confident young player who will rise to the challenge.

There have been departures, of course the biggest of which has been the sale of our record transfer of last summer Angel Di Maria, whom we sold at a £15m loss to PSG along with the release of Falcao's loan agreement after a disappointing season last year and last, but certainly not least, Robin van Persie moved to Fenerbahce in Turkey along with Nani.

There was also the change in the strip sponsor with Nike ending their long association with United to be replaced by Adidas for a whopping £750m over the next decade.

Van Gaal had informed the press that due to his head not in being the right place David De Gea would not take any part in the season opener along with Marcos Rojo who had been deemed not match fit.

The starting XI chosen by van Gaal for the Premier League's first match of the season was: (4-3-3): Romero; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw; Carrick, Memphis, Schneiderlin; Mata, Rooney, Young.
Subs: Johnstone, Valencia, McNair, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Pereira, Hernandez.

The line-up meant no places for Phil Jones, who had endured a difficult pre-season and Fellaini who is suspended. However, there was a return to the bench for Hernandez.

1st half highlights: A bright day greeted the teams along with the vocal home crowd at a packed Old Trafford as Spurs kicked off the new season facing the Stretford End.

The new players understandably took their time getting used to their new surroundings and playing in front of over 75,000 fans.

Spurs had the first chance of the game as early as the 5th minute as Eriksen lobbed Romero, but luckily the ball landed on the top of the Argentine keeper's net. An early let-off for the home team.

In the opening 10 minutes, new Italian right-back Matteo Darmian was extremely lively down the right channel delivering crosses of high quality as he ventured forward at every chance.

There was some sloppy play by United in the 11th minute when Romero passed the ball to Schneiderlin in a dangerous position and the Frenchman was easily bundled off the ball but the Spurs attack could only produce a corner. Romero certainly looked a little nervous with his passing in the opening quarter. However, he quickly made amends with a fine blocking save.

In the 22nd minute came United's first goal of the match and indeed the season when Young played a superb ball from the right for Rooney, but Spurs defender Walker put it into his own net before the captain could get a foot to it. So, United's first goal of the season was an own goal but they all count. This is the first time a Premier League season's first goal has been an own goal.

The goal, United's first shot, seemed to galvanise the side and they pressed hard for a second and in the 26th minute there was a bad foul on Mata right on the edge of the box. The crowd was shouting for Memphis to let fly, but Mata to tried his luck and he struck the ball straight at the wall.

Mata came close just after the half hour after a mistake in the Spurs defence allowed Rooney to play in the Spaniard, but after his first shot was blocked his second effort was pulled wide.

Half time summary: A few nervy performances from the side especially Romero and Schneiderlin, but as the match progressed they seemed to find their stride. Darmian and Memphis were the liveliest with Young enjoying a fine battle on the left with Walker. Spurs enjoyed the early possession, but the own goal put them on the back foot as United tried hard to find the valuable second goal.

2nd half Highlights: United started the second half unchanged and attacked the famous Stretford End. They seemed to be more composed as they passed the ball around with more confidence than the previous 45 minutes. They also seemed to trust one another more which bodes well for the season.

Memphis tried to get his eye on the target with an early long-range effort which sailed over. There was warm applause for Bastian Schweinsteiger as he began warming up along the touchline.

With the score at only 1-0 Spurs were still posing a threat but United's defence seemed steadfast against Harry Kane & Co. Romero made a low save from a Spurs free-kick and seemed to have got rid of his earlier jitters.

Rooney came under attack up front as he received a knee in the back of the head which the referee ignored.

On the hour mark came the introduction of German World Cup winner Schweinsteiger making his home debut in place of Michael Carrick.

A good build up in the 64th minute involving Schweinsteiger, Rooney and Mata ended with a low drive from Young that was saved on the line by Vorm.

Since Schweinsteiger's introduction, United had a more aggressive feel about their play in midfield which was summed up when the German received a yellow card after only being on the pitch for 9 minutes.

Herrera was brought on in the 68th minute for Memphis who enjoyed a fabulous ovation from the home faithful after running his socks off alongside Rooney.

Chris Smalling made an immense tackle to put a stop to Harry Kane running on goal. Great defending from the England international.

United were turning the screw as the match headed into the final twenty minutes and Rooney tried to replicate his stunning overhead bicycle derby goal but failed to make contact with the ball.
Another free-kick was awarded to United on the edge of the box this time Rooney was the culprit as he blasted the ball over the net.

Free kicks were a let down last season and the side don't convert enough of these chances something they have to address this season. If he is on the pitch Memphis should be allowed to take them as last season he scored the most goals direct from dead ball situations in all of Europe.

Once again Chris Smalling was the last line of defence in another Spurs attack. Smalling was really proving to be pivotal at the back.

Darmian, who had produced a fine debut performance at right-back was replaced by Antonio Valencia in the 79th minute. The Italian has really settled into his defensive spot and is turning out to be a good bit of business by van Gaal.

In the last five minutes as Spurs pressed for the equaliser Romero made three smart stops the first from a low effort by Eriksen, the second a diving punch off the line and the third a fingertip away. Who needs David de Gea?

Match Summary: All in all a good result for United especially considering the side had five new signings involved as the team tried to get used to each other. It was a shame that no United player managed to score but with a new striker a possibility that won't be a problem for long.

All credit to Spurs who tried their hardest to grab a point, but ran up against a defender on top of his game. Chris Smalling has to be considered as the man of the match after a towering display at center back alongside Blind. At times, you could have been forgiven if you thought Rio Ferdinand had returned so assured was Smalling.

Also, a special mention for Argentine keeper Romero, who kept the away side out at the death with a string of saves which proved his pedigree.

Three valuable points and next up for the reds is a first, a Friday evening away match in the midlands to take on Aston Villa.

Until then thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.

Man United's Fallen Angel.

He came, He saw, but He didn't conquer. Hopes were high last summer when it was announced that Louis van Gaal had secured the services of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid for a record fee of close to £60m.

The news got all the fans excited in anticipation of what the Argentinian would bring to the team. Fast forward 12 months and all that hype and promise has turned sour as United have offloaded the star to Paris Saint- Germain at a loss of around £15m.

So what went wrong? Why did Di Maria turn out to be an expensive flop like his fellow countryman Juan Veron?

There are a number of contributing factors, but many will point to the fact that van Gaal didn't exactly know which position best suited Di Maria or whenever he did play the team seemed disjointed and performed better when he wasn't included. Or maybe it was a case of the player's head and heart was just not in Manchester and when the going got tough he decided to hightail it away to pastures easier and new.

It had all started so brightly for Angel when he made his United debut at Turf Moor against Burnley in front of just under 22,000 fans packed into a small stadium a million miles away from what he had been used to at the Bernabeu. The match ended all square at 0-0, but Di Maria showed glimpses of what the fans could expect.

Next up was Queens Park Rangers and a chance for Di Maria to show the Old Trafford faithful exactly what all the money had been spent on. He delivered on all the hype and scored the first in a 4-0 win. Everything was going to plan and the fans had surely found a new hero to wear the famous No.7 shirt.

Then came a match away at Leicester City in which he scored an early contender for goal of the season by collecting a pass and upon entering the penalty area delivered an exquisite chip over red legend Peter Schmeichel's son Kasper in the Foxes net, but at the end of that match, United had inexplicably given away a 3-1 lead and lost 3-5.

His next goal came in the home match against Everton in October which United won 2-0 with another of the summer signings Falcao grabbing the other, but the match would belong to David De Gea who performed heroics in goal that day.

Di Maria remained an ever-present in the side until United beat Hull City at the end of November then he was hit by an injury that made him unavailable until he was named as a substitute one month in the draw away at Aston Villa.

He missed all the Christmas fixtures, but did come back as a substitute in the 3rd round of the FA Cup away at lowly Yeovil Town in which he scored a late goal to wrap the game up 2-0.

Di Maria went on to start in the next 12 games which included a mixed bag of results, losing at home to Southampton and Swansea in the league plus being knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal at Old Trafford.

During that period it was revealed by the club that Di Maria and his family had had the scare of a home invasion earlier in the season which must have been all the more terrifying as they were in the house at the time. This clearly had an effect on him as he had to uproot his family and move into a hotel.

From March onwards Di Maria hardly featured in the side and if he did it was usually alongside Falcao on the bench as an unused substitute. When he did make it onto the pitch it usually only lasted a few minutes with an injury forcing him to leave the field.

It was clear to many that something was not right with the Argentinian as when he did play he just didn't seem that interested or focused. The rumours of a rift between him and van Gaal started to do the rounds in the media leading to speculation that all was not well.

In his first and last campaign at United he made 32 appearances, 8 as a substitute and scored 4 goals and he also held the record for the most assists, 11, in the team.

At the end of the season the news grew of an interest from French outfit PSG but while on Copa America duty Di Maria promised the United faithful that he would return to Manchester and prove himself in his second season. However, the situation turned sour when he failed to report for pre-season training with the squad on tour in America on July 25th.

That turned out to be the last straw for van Gaal and the club and the decision was made to cash in on the player for as much as they could get from PSG, which turned out to be a reported £44m.

Angel Di Maria has an undoubted talent, of that there is no question, but he is a player who will be discussed by many fans who that feel let down and they will debate the how's and why's of his fall from grace as a Red Devil.

It proves that even the best players can find it difficult in the Premier League compared to other less competitive leagues. One thing is for sure Di Maria wasn't the first and will not be the last to be found out.

Miles Dunton.

George Best: The Boy from Belfast.

"It was a very simple team talk. All I used to say was 'Whenever possible, give the ball to George'" Sir Matt Busby.

In the final part of my tribute to the 'United Trinity', I have literally left the best till last, George Best. Over the years, thousands of words have filled hundreds of books, magazines and newspaper columns filling both the back and front pages with tales of his on and off field exploits some false but unfortunately the majority mostly true.

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1946 he arrived in Manchester at the age of 15 having been discovered by United scout Bob Bishop who informed manager Matt Busby that he had found a 'genius', but it nearly turned sour as after only a couple of days Best returned home to Belfast feeling homesick. He was eventually convinced to return to Manchester by Busby, the United coaches and his father.

In the 60's a youngster coming to a different city must have been formidable, especially for a teen with a strong Northern Irish accent and being the first time away from his family. However, Best was in safe hands at a club who were well used to looking after and developing young players.

Young George spent the next couple of years as an apprentice at Old Trafford and trained with players much larger than himself, but Busby informed all the coaches to let the slightly built youngster develop in his own way.

Over the next two years the Best had developed enough that Busby didn't want to wait any longer to unleash the boy wonder and in September 1963 Best was named as a reserve for the fixture against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford.

Famously, Best believed that he had only been chosen as an errand boy to carry the first team player's bags and to hand out the half-time tea, but at the pre-match luncheon Busby informed the shocked teenager that he would indeed be playing that day.

While other players in the dressing room were going through their pre-match rituals to ease their nerves Best was the epitome of calm as he sat browsing through the Matchday programme.

The lack of nerves was to become synonymous with George whether it was playing in front of packed grounds at home or abroad or coming up against brutes of defenders, he never showed any nerves and went about embarrassing full-backs up and down the country by twisting and turning his way around the pitch.

Best must have believed that he done enough to warrant a stay in the first team after the 1-0 victory over Albion but it wasn't to be and he had to wait another three months to earn a recall and he grabbed his chance with both hands, and feet, in a home 5-1 victory over Burnley in which he also scored the first of his 179 goals as a Red Devil. From that match, he never looked back and became a regular for almost the next decade.

That debut season he went on to make a total of 26 appearances, scoring 6 goals and there was something fresh about his play in which not only were the opposition mesmerised by his skills, but also the fans who had found a player they could rave about on the way to matches as well as on the way home. A new hero for a new era.

The next season, 1964/65, Best was instrumental in bringing the First Division title back to Old Trafford for the first time since 1957 as United pipped Leeds to the title on goal difference with Best contributing with 10 goals in 41 appearances, but more importantly it propelled United back into the European Cup competition and a chance for Best to display his talents abroad.

Best was enjoying his football playing alongside more experienced players, including Charlton, Foulkes, Law and Crerand not that he needed any help from his teammates as he would generally do his own stuff on the pitch as once he had the ball at his feet it was as if it didn't want to leave him.

George's first taste of European Cup football in the 1965/66 season came in the return leg against HJK Helsinki at home in the preliminary round. United easily won 6-0 with Best netting twice, but his status was catapulted into the stratosphere in the quarter-final 2nd leg against Benfica in Portugal.

United had won the first leg at home 3-2 and the return tie was in the balance that was until Best took the match by the scruff of the neck and turned in a performance of pure brilliance scoring twice in a 5-1 drubbing of the Portuguese champions.

The 19-year-old returned to Manchester on a different level and an instant hero. Having been dubbed the 5th Beatle by the media everybody wanted a piece of this new football genius. Many people have put this sudden rise in his status as the start of his off-field troubles as he seemed to appear more on the front pages than the back.

Unfortunately for both United and Best the season would finish on a downbeat note as it would end empty handed even though he had scored 17 times in 43 games. Best would also suffer a knee injury that kept him out of the crucial European Cup semi-final in which the reds lost out to Partizan Belgrade when they badly needed his goal scoring touch.

In the 1966/67 campaign success returned to United as they once again won the First Division with Best an ever present playing 45 games and contributing with 10 goals in all competitions. More importantly, it meant that United would once again have another chance of lifting the European cup.

The 1967/68 season would prove to be Best's most prolific in the red of United as he scored an incredible 32 goals in all competitions which included a massive 28 in the league, however it wasn't enough as local rivals Man City ran out champions by only 2 points.

The disappointment of not retaining the league would soon be tempered by the glory of being crowned the first English club to become European champions.

On the way to the final United had dispatched the mighty Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-final with George securing a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the first leg. May 29th, 1968 at Wembley stadium Benfica were the team standing in the way of United winning the European Cup a decade after the tragedy of the Munich air disaster.

On an emotional night, Best and his teammates turned in a display that the previous Busby Babes would have been proud of as they beat the Portuguese 4-1 after extra time.

Of course Best scored on the night and the iconic image of him celebrating with his arm raised and socks rolled down will live forever in the memory of all true United fans.

Nobody would have guessed as the team danced along with Busby around the famous turf at Wembley that this would be the last silverware that Best and indeed United would win together. The future looked so bright, but it actually proved to be the pinnacle of success under the legendary manager.

That year George was also awarded the Ballon d'Or as had Law and Charlton earlier in the decade, the 'United Trinity'.

Following the dizzy height of that incredible night in 1968 Best would go on to make a total of 244 appearances, scoring exactly 100 more goals over the next six seasons.

His hair would grow longer, as would his beard, but his skills never waned, and of course, there were reports of his adventures every day in the press, but the fans didn't care as long as come match day his name was on the team sheet.

During those years Best started to spiral out of control off the field with reports of alcohol problems and missed training sessions.

It seemed that as hard as Matt Busby tried to take care of his star player the more outside influences were pulling him away from the safety of the club.

As United's fortunes dipped many speculated that things had to change at the club before it was too late and in 1969 Matt Busby passed on the managerial role to former player Wilf McGuinness.

In McGuinness' short lived time as manager Best did his utmost to turn the club's fortunes around by scoring 23 times, including a record 6 goals in an FA Cup tie against Northampton Town.

However, it all came to nothing and Busby returned as manager in 1970. By that time George was starting to misbehave on a regular basis and was fined by the club after missing a trip to London to take on Chelsea as he was busy elsewhere. Busby seemed to be totally fed up with Best's antics, but as hard as he tried he was powerless to keep him in check.

Frank O'Farrell was given the unenviable task of keeping Best on track in the 1971/72 season, but he was up to his old tricks by missing a whole week of training mid-season. Amid the problems he did score 26 goals in 53 games, it was turning into a conundrum for the club.

After Best again failed to turn up for club commitments, choosing instead to party in London, he was punished with suspension, a fine and transfer-listed.

After O'Farrell was replaced by Scot Tommy Docherty as the manager the situation between Best and United had gone beyond repair and George played his last game for the Reds in a loss to QPR at Loftus Road on New Years Day, 1974 having made 470 appearances and scoring 179 goals. That season United were relegated from the old First Division.

George, of course, played for the Northern Ireland national team representing his country 37 times, scoring only 9 goals, four of which came in one match.

It was a shame that he didn't have the chance to show off his talent on a World Cup stage as it would have made him, without question, the number one player in the history of the game, which is often given to Pele or Maradona.

It would be correct to say that Best fulfilled his early potential in football, however, due to circumstances far beyond anyone's control it didn't last. Upon leaving United in 1974 after 11 years at the top and at the prime age of 28, he became a roving player who plied his skill around the world including England, Scotland, Ireland, America, Australia and even Hong Kong. Wherever he played fans flocked to the stadiums as he still had the pulling power of a superstar.

After he retired from playing It seemed everybody wanted a piece of the United legend for his guaranteed popularity the controversy his fight with alcoholism would produce.

An example of this was the infamous live TV interview hosted by fellow Irishman Terry Wogan where the BBC disgustingly filled his dressing room with drinks and ended up being red-faced as the public sympathised with George's situation.

Towards the end of his life he worked as a football pundit on TV and fans enjoyed listening to his views and insights on his beloved Manchester United, however, he was visibly suffering with his addiction and in the end it got the better of him. He sadly passed away on November 25, 2005 aged only 59.

A minutes silence was adhered to around every ground in the Premier League and the United match at Old Trafford following his death was fittingly against WBA the team who George had made his debut against all those years ago as a skinny teenager.

What George Best gave the watching thousands each match will never be equaled, no matter how hard other players try. He was a one-off, a man blessed with the attributes that other players can only dream of.

If only there had been somebody to put their arm around his shoulder and not a hand in his pocket, maybe, just maybe he would still be with us now instead of succumbing to the dreadful disease that alcoholism brings.

It's a almost a decade since George left us, but one thing is for sure he will be forever remembered by all fans all over the world as simply the Best.

George Best a true footballing genius.

Miles Dunton.

Shot Stopper Sergio joins Man United.

Louis van Gaal has gone back to his managerial past by signing Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero on an initial three year deal.

The two worked together while van Gaal was the coach at AZ in Holland back in 2007 and the question will be whether he has joined United as backup for David De Gea or even a replacement for the Spaniard should he depart for Real Madrid as is expected.

Whatever the scenario, in Romero United have signed themselves a keeper who at the age of 28 has the all important club and international experience which will prove to be vital in the upcoming season with the return of European football to Old Trafford.

Romero is, however, best known for his international career than his club football, having been the No.1 choice for Argentina since Diego Maradona gave him his break back in 2009 and since then Romero has represented his country 62 times which includes two World Cups and two Copa Americas.

In the 2014 World Cup semi-final in Brazil, Romero was awarded man of the match after his heroics in goal derailed Louis van Gaal's dream of lifting the trophy as Argentina beat Holland on penalties. That match probably stuck in Louis van Gaal's mind when considering the purchase of Romero.

Sergio's less publicised club career started in 2006 where he spent a season at Racing Club in his home country before moving to Europe to join van Gaal at AZ in Holland where he stayed for four years making over 90 appearances.

He helped AZ win the Dutch Eredivisie title In 2008–09 and in that season, Romero kept a clean sheet for an incredible 950 minutes which extended from November through to February.

He remained at AZ for a further two years after van Gaal had departed, however in 2011 he joined Italian club Sampdoria. He started as first choice keeper at the start of his Sampdoria spell going on to make over 70 appearances, but towards the end of his time there he was loaned out to French outfit Monaco to provide cover for Subasic.

After a short time and lack of games, he only played 3 times, he returned to Italy as an understudy for regular keeper Viviano.

At 6'3" (1.92m) Romero is an imposing figure between the sticks and is equally as good in the air as he is at shot stopping. A confident keeper who needs club game time, so it will be interesting to see how he settles into life on the bench if De Gea stays at United and basically becomes a replacement for the departing Valdes.

On the other hand, if De Gea does decide to leave for warmer climates Romero will have a huge chance to show his worth as United's forefront keeper a challenge he better be ready for as the season is almost upon us.

Welcome and good luck Sergio.

Miles Dunton.

From Saint To Red Devil: Morgan Schneiderlin.

A Dutchman, an Italian, a German and now a Frenchman have created their very own European Union by signing for Manchester United. Last season the signings had a South American flair to it, but this summer Louis van Gaal has brought in talent from a lot closer to home.

Morgan Schneiderlin's move to United continues the long line of French talent to have graced the Theatre of Dreams. The midfielder has joined United on a four-year deal with an initial fee of around £24m.

One benefit of his signing is that he has the valuable experience of English football from his seven years playing at Southampton which have included stints not only in the Premier League but also both the Championship and League 1, add to that he is 25 years old, therefore United have signed a player coming into the prime of his career.

Schneiderlin was born in 1989 in Zellwiller, France and began his route to Old Trafford at RC Strasbourg aged only seven years old and progressed through their youth system finally making his debut eleven years later in 2006. After being groomed so long by the club he would only make a handful of appearances before being sold as his team were relegated from Ligue 1 at the end of the 2007-08 season.

His next port of call was Southampton joining them in the summer of 2008 for a fee of £1.2m. At the time, Southampton were in The Championship of the Football League and struggling with finance and fighting relegation. The manager at that time was Jan Poortvliet and he built a young side until he departed in January of Morgan's first season.

Worse was to come for the Saints as they were deducted 10 points as the owning company went into administration which guaranteed relegation to League One. Even with all the vultures surrounding the club Schneiderlin stuck with them.

It took Southampton three years and four managers to climb back to the Premier League and Schneiderlin was a huge influence on that success and was awarded for his loyalty with a new three-year contract in 2011.

Once back in the Premier League the Frenchman started to blossom as a midfielder and started to make bigger clubs sit up and take notice of his quality, however, he decided to stay at St.Mary's by extending his contract to 2017.

Not known for his goalscoring exploits, in 230 appearances for Southampton he only managed 14 goals, Morgan did manage to score against his future employers in a 3-2 loss to United at the beginning of the 2012-13 season. He performed at such a high, consistent level that season he was honoured as the Saints player of the year by both his colleagues and fans alike.

The following campaign, he made a total of 37 appearances as Southampton finally started to compete well in the Premier League, but they still found it difficult to hold on to their young, talented players and the likes of Luke Shaw departed for a chance of glory at bigger clubs.

In April 2015, Morgan received an injury that would keep him out for the remainder of the season and mean that he had played his last game as a Saint. Many suitors came calling for his services, including Spurs and Liverpool but it was the Red Devils who got their man and as in his own words 'Once I learned that United was interested in signing me, it was a very easy decision to make.'

His signing was announced along with the quality signing of Bastian Schweinsteiger and the new midfield of United is starting to take on a formidable shape add to that existing reds Carrick, Mata, Herrera, Fellaini & Co. next season promises to be an exciting campaign.

United have captured a player with a high work rate and natural ability a player who relishes a battle in the middle of the park and is not afraid to get stuck into tackles and his skills should aid the other players around him. How van Gaal will juggle the talent he has at his disposal only he knows, but it will certainly offer United positive options to choose from.

On a cautionary note Schneiderlin does seem to have a bad habit of getting his name taken by referees for example, in the last four seasons, he has received a total of 32 yellow cards, but only 1 red, which means he will have to tread carefully at United.

On the international front, Morgan has represented France at all levels and made his debut for the full squad against Jamaica in 2014 and was taken to the World Cup finals after originally being on standby. He made only one appearance in the tournament in Brazil and has to date played nine times for the 'Les Bleus'.

On a side note, before he played for the full international side there were rumours that he could, in fact, represent England as he had earned a British citizenship but it wasn't to be.

Welcome to Manchester Morgan and the best of luck.

Miles Dunton.

Bastian Beefs Up United's Midfield.

Bastian Schweinsteiger will have the great honour of becoming the first German national to play for the Red Devils when he makes his Man United debut. A surprising fact in the modern era of football.

By the time the new season kicks off Bastian will be 31 years old and many people believe United have bought a player coming towards the end of his career, which is true, but when it's considered the ages of the likes of Scholes and Giggs when they were playing and the still active Carrick then his age shouldn't be in question.

What United have bought is a midfielder with great experience and at a fairly cheap £14m, a player who showed commitment to one club and an individual who has won championships galore, including a World Cup. Now that's exactly the type of player that United have needed.

Of course Louis van Gaal knows all about the German from his time as coach of Bayern Munich and that should ease the transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League as the manager will know exactly where, when and how to use the midfielder to the best effect. His Champions League experience won't go amiss either.

Schweinsteiger had been at the Bavarian giants since a youth player, joining the club in 1998 and progressing through the ranks. Although known as a world class midfielder Bastian started his career as a left-back, but was quickly switched into the middle of the park.

He was given his first-team debut at the age of 18 in 2002 by Ottmar Hitzfeld. It was in the Champions League and he came on as a substitute against the French team Lens and from that moment he didn't look back.

Over the next 13 years, the formidable midfielder would go on to make almost 350 appearances for Bayern scoring 45 goals along the way. He has also played under some of the most respected coaches in Europe. The likes of Hitzfeld, Magath, van Gaal, Heynckes and Guardiola.

It's no surprise to see that Schweinsteiger has won basically all there is to win in the game, including 8 Bundesliga titles, 7 German cups and 1 Champions League as recently as 2013 when Bayern defeated German rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at Wembley stadium.

Man United fans are all too familiar with Bastian from the last time that United played Bayern in the Champions League two seasons ago. The 1st leg of the quarter-final was played at Old Trafford and his goal cancelled out an opener by Vidic, but his joy of scoring was short lived as he received a red card and had a spat with his new United captain Wayne Rooney. The match ended 1-1 and Bayern would see off United in the second leg.

As an international player Bastian has represented Germany at all levels and he made his full international debut in 2004. Since then he has gone on to make 111 appearances and scored 23 goals. He became a World Cup winner in 2014 when Germany defeated Argentina in the final in Brazil. In the semi- final he, along with Toni Kroos, totally controlled the match and humiliated the hosts 7-1 on their own patch.

The 'midfield mastermind' has many strings to his bow the main one being his stamina then combine that with his excellent reading of the game which allows him to be in the position to score spectacular goals and add assists.

He also has the ability to strike a ball with such power either from open play or from free-kicks and is fierce in the tackle. Basically, all the attributes that United have not seen in midfield since the likes of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane.

Schweinsteiger could be the answer to United's biggest problem in recent seasons by adding that bite into the middle of the park, which should allow the more creative players to strut their stuff confident that they have a player of his quality and experience behind them.

The capture of Bastian is not only a marquee signing, but also a statement of intent by Louis van Gaal.

Willkommen Bastian and good luck over the next three seasons.

Miles Dunton.