<div id="attachment_11095" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-11095" loading="lazy" src="/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/carlos-300x212.jpg" alt="How long does he have left?" width="300" height="212" class="size-medium wp-image-11095"></figure></div>How long does he have left?</div>
With Portugal on the verge of non-qualification for the World Cup in 2010, manager Carlos Queiroz is under extreme pressure and has the very real possibility of unemployment looming over him. Given this threat, and inevitability that this will occur, I ask you… How long before we see the Portuguese back in the Manchester United dugout alongside Sir Alex Ferguson?
With Portugal lying fourth in their World Cup qualifying group with only ten points from seven matches. Going into the qualification group as favourites, the current state of affairs comes as a real shock for the Euro 2008 quarter-finalists. 
Denmark have more or less qualified for the World Cup with Hungary and Sweden in equally strong positions. It was imperative the Portuguese overcame Hungary in the last match, but even still, the jobcentre still looms large for Queiroz. 
With Portugal lying third in Group A, level on points with fourth placed Hungary and two points behind Sweden who lie second. With two games remaining Portugal face Hungary and Malta, both in Portugal, nothing less than six points from these games will do. But Sweden do have a relatively straightforward fixture with Albania, before which, they play Denmark, a game that will decide the fate of Carlos.
Queiroz therefore may be looking for new employment sooner rather than later and the Old Trafford bench is a familiar environment, one where he has had success in the past as well.
During his first reign sat beside Ferguson for only one year but managed to help the Old Trafford side win the Premier League title on season 02/03, before being poached by Real Madrid. It was after an unsuccessful year in Madrid that he was brought back to Old Trafford by Ferguson to begin an extremely successful four-year reign as assistant manager.
As a number one, Queiroz is terrible, making mistake after mistake. He is also accountable for Portugal’s failure to qualify for Euro ’92 and after taking over a very talented Sporting Lisbon team, led them to three seasons of failure and was promptly dismissed. After his first stint at Old Trafford, Real Madrid offered him a dream job, one that he could not turn down, and one that was a veritable disaster. 
Sir Alex Ferguson welcomed the failed coach back to Old Trafford as his number two in July 2004 and so began a fruitful relationship. A number of trophies became housed at Old Trafford, including the 2008 Champions League trophy. Queiroz was seen as instrumental in United’s success, introducing new training methods and tactical plans that underpinned the Manchester United side of a few years back.
He also has an eye for talent spotting; he famously discovered Portugal’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’ and also had a hand in bringing Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford. But these positives have not transpired into the managerial stage and who knows, he may be back sharing a glass or two of Chianti with Sir Alex before the year is out.

Will Carlos Queiroz be back at Old Trafford Soon?

Will Carlos Queiroz be back at Old Trafford Soon? - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="external-image"><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/3271128343_2253bb1035_o.bmp" alt="Who Will Win the Champions League?" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10412"></figure></div>
Group A
Bayern Munchen 
Juventus 
Bordeaux 
Maccabi Haifa
Group B
Manchester United 
CSKA Moskow 
Besiktas 
Wolfsburg
Group C
AC Milan 
Real Madrid 
Marseille 
FC Zurich
Group D
Chelsea 
Porto 
Atletico Madrid 
APOEL
Group E
Liverpool 
Lyon 
Fiorentina 
Debrecen
Group F
Barcelona 
Internazionale 
Dynamo Kiev 
Rubin Kazan
Group G
Sevilla 
Rangers 
Stuttgart 
Unirea Urziceni
Group H
Arsenal 
AZ Alkmaar 
Olympiakos 
Standard Liege
Reaction
Manchester United along with Arsenal have fairly straightforward groups and both should be looking to come out on top.
Chelsea have a couple of tough away trips to Porto and Madrid, while APOEL will prove to be Group D’s whipping boys.
Liverpool have a very tricky draw, Lyon spent big in the summer and thrashed Anderlecht in the qualifiers, plus Fiorentina are always a tough team, though I would expect Liverpool to progress as winners.
Other highlights include Zlatan Ibrahimovic returning to Inter and Kaka facing his beloved Milan. While Scottish representatives Rangers will be looking to progress and have a real chance of doing so.
Your thoughts on the draw please.

Champions League &#8211; Group Stage Draw

Champions League - Group Stage Draw - World Soccer Talk

Champions League – Group Stage Draw

<div id="attachment_10327" style="width: 254px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10327" loading="lazy" src="/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/anderson-244x300.jpg" alt="The Midfield Magician" width="244" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-10327"></figure></div>The Midfield Magician</div>
Cast your mind back to May 2009, Manchester United were comprehensively and soundly trounced in Rome by a magical Barcelona side, inspired by Xavi and Iniesta. For many, the lack of quality in the centre of the park was plain to see, Carrick looked lethargic and unsure of himself, Fletcher was missed, this, a surprise in itself. Club legends, Giggs and Scholes were ineffective and nowhere to be seen. 
The class of the Manchester United midfield is weak in comparison their Premier League rivals, Chelsea with Essien, Lampard, Ballack and Liverpool have Mascherano, Aquilani and Gerrard respectively. Carrick, Fletcher and Scholes just do not compare. 
Some of you may cry, “You forgot about Owen Hargreaves!” Indeed I did, mainly due to the length of time he has been injured and latest estimates say he will return around Christmas. 
With the transfer window almost closed there are no centre midfielders in sight. So I put it to you that, Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira or just plain Anderson will flourish this season. 
In my opinion, Anderson possesses all the qualities to become a top class midfielder, he has pace, acceleration, strength, a strong positional sense coupled with the ability to thread through a match winning final ball. He is a combatitive all action midfielder, beginning his career further up the park, he has since developed a very useful defensive side to an already impressive array of attacking talents. 
Anderson reminds me a little of Kaka but with a hint of Roy Keane, obviously these are massively talented players, whose level of ability he has not yet reached, but I think he can and has to an extent combined the best parts of their respective games. 
He can sit in front of the defence and play a disciplined role, spreading passes to his teammates further up the field. He can also play as an attacking midfielder, a place where he is most comfortable. In this position he offers all the samba skills you can want – just ask Cesc Fabregas – he has vision, dribbling skills and an eye for goal. 
The single shortfall of Anderson’s game, and it is a rather large one, is his uncanny ability to do everything right in the lead up to a shot then fluff the final act, footballs have been found as far away as China. Seemingly he did not bring his shooting boots to Old Trafford.
But I have hopes he can eradicate this untimely habit throughout the forthcoming season, and if pre-season is anything to go by we are in for a few treats, as his sublime free-kick against Boca Juniors was a joy to behold. 
I think this could be the season where stamps his authority on this Manchester United side, he has already shown in the past he can mix it up with the big boys dominating in games against Fabregas and Steven Gerrard during his first season with United. He may just prove that there is infact life after a certain Portuguese.

Can Anderson Be the Key?

Can Anderson Be the Key? - World Soccer Talk

<a href="/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/berbatovreutersstoyannenov1.jpg" title="Berbatov"><div><figure class="external-image"><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/berbatovreutersstoyannenov1.jpg" alt="Berbatov"></figure></div></a>
Looking forward to seeing how Manchester United employ new signing Dimitar Berbatov this weekend versus Liverpool, or better yet, who gets the hook up front: Wayne Rooney or Carlos Tevez. While Rooney may need a breather after playing for England the past couple of weeks, I don’t see how Sir Alex Ferguson can leave out such a playmaker against his most bitter rivals. My fear is they might put Rooney out wide, where he seems to be drifting lately, and that will only work to condone the practice (the opposite of what Capello wants him to do for country).
And how do you leave out Tevez and his unbridled energy? Though he hasn’t scored yet for the club this season (only Fletcher has, incredibly) United will need his playmaking skills and indefatigable efforts to create for Rooney or Berbatov (or himself, of course). So, does United go 4-3-3? Start one then substitute for the other?
I believe the signing of Berbatov will show shrewd for Sir Alex and United. In my opinion (and many others) United have not had such a striker since Ruud van Nistelroy left (was shown the door).&nbsp; To have a knack to be in the “right place at the right time” cannot be taught but is such a great asset. It remains to be seen how he will adapt to life at such a large club, but just like the discussion of how Fernando Torres would adjust to life in the EPL last year, goals quickly sway hearts and minds. The sooner Berbatov opens his United account, the quicker he becomes another favorite to the supporters (as well as another notch to Sir Alex’s already storied success at bringing in top-notch talent).
Can’t wait!

Too Bad They Can&#039;t Play a Four Four Three

Too Bad They Can&#039;t Play a Four Four Three - World Soccer Talk

Too Bad They Can't Play a Four Four Three

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Will Carlos Queiroz be back at Old Trafford Soon?

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Champions League – Group Stage Draw

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Can Anderson Be the Key?

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Too Bad They Can't Play a Four Four Three