Ronaldo's Top 5 Moments At United

With United lined up to play Real Madrid on Saturday, we look back at the Catalan talisman's best moments in a United shirt.

Start the countdown:

5. His debut.

After the departure of David Beckham, Old Trafford had a big space to fill. Ronaldo was told he would wear the famous number seven, previously worn by Beckham and the likes of Cantona, Robson and Best. Cristiano did not disappoint and made mincemeat of the Bolton defence, throwing in an insane amount of step-overs!

4. The FA Cup win.

Ronaldo's first piece of silverware came in the 2004 FA Cup final against Millwall. This was United's eleventh FA Cup triumph and also the most recent. Cristiano gave a solid performance and was the man to open the scoring in the 3-0 win.

3. THAT free-kick.

Everybody knows which goal we're talking about here. Yes, Ronaldo scored a handful of free-kicks in his time at United, but this was the pick of the bunch. David James was left helpless as Ronaldo smashed the ball over the Portsmouth wall and into the top corner of the net. What a beauty!

2. World Player of the Year.

Cristiano was deemed the best player in the world upon winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2008. The award, now named the Ballon D'or, topped off the perfect year for Ronaldo following Premier League and Champions League winners medals, Premier League top goalscorer and Premier League Player of the Year.

1. Moscow 2008.

No-one will ever forget that night in Moscow. United had just been crowned champions of England and were to play the runners-up, Chelsea, in the Champions League final. The game ended 1-1 and United went on to win in the penalty shoot-out. Although Ronaldo missed his penalty, he scored United's only goal of the game with a fantastic header into the bottom corner.

Cristiano has just re-joined Real Madrid after his holiday following the World Cup and could be set to feature against United at the weekend. Just remember, the most important thing you should know about Ronaldo is that the boy was made in Manchester!

Viva Ronaldo!

Has Woodward Dropped The Ball (Again)?

United have had a convincing start to the preseason tour in the United States under Louis Van Gaal. However, conceding two goals to Roma after leading by three, showed the boss (and fans) that there is a lack of depth in quality players.

There's no doubt in my mind that Van Gaal had a number of players he was interested in signing before he even arrived in Manchester, which Ed Woodward will have been fully aware of.

We are now just three weeks away from the opening game of the season against Swansea. The signings of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw are fantastic signings, don't get me wrong, but Woodward has yet to bring in a world class player or a big name that everyone was expecting this summer.

We don't need reminding of the colossal failure in the transfer market last summer that left both Woodward and David Moyes red faced. We had nothing to show for ourselves besides an overpriced Marrouane Fellaini.

In an interview just a few weeks ago, Woodward ensured us there was a lot going on behind the scenes and that we should "watch this space". The space has remained empty.

Is it too soon to be criticising? Maybe. But with Vidal looking like he's staying with Juventus, Di Maria seeming set for PSG and Strootman still injured, where is this transfer window going for Manchester United?

Touring Hopes

Earlier today, United set off on their preseason tour of the United States. New boss, Louis Van Gaal, opted to take a 25-man squad across the pond, where their first fixture will be in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

There were a few surprises in the squad selection, with some players you'd expect to be going not on the list. Obviously, players like Robin Van Persie need an extended rest period after longer run in the World Cup, but what about players such as Patrice Evra? And the younger likes of James Wilson and Tom Lawrence?

All will be discussed as I go through the six things that fans will want to see in the tour:

1. LVG and Giggs in action.

We've known for a long time that Van Gaal would be our new manager and that Giggsy would be by his side, but we hadn't seen them together until just the other day! Every United fan out there will be eager to see these two on the touchline, giving us a taste of what to expect for the upcoming season.

2. Someone to fill the role as captain.

Journalists have already asked LVG who he planning on making captain. He responded by saying he needs time to decide. The top two candidates are most likely Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie, but with RVP not traveling to the States, Rooney may have his chance to impress. Other hopefuls could be David De Gea, Johnny Evans or Phil Jones.

3. A look at the new signings.

So far, we've only seen Ander Herrera (pictured above) and Luke Shaw at their unveilings. With Michael Carrick injured and Patrice Evra not traveling, you would expect both players to be given starting roles. We will also get to see what squad numbers they will be assigned.

4. Playing time for Jesse Lingard.

Lingard has been impressive in previous tours for United and had a very successful spell on loan at Birmingham City last season. It would be great to see him get the chance to show what he can do, having recently been shadowed by the rise of Adnan Januzaj, who is also not traveling after reaching the later stages of the World Cup.

5. The new kit.

The new kit has been a huge talking point lately and we will finally get to see the United players wearing it out on the pitch rather than inside a photography studio. New manager, new kit, new era.

6. Sorting out the Evra situation.

Patrice Evra was not on the plane to America and there has been no news of an injury. Yes, he did get to the later stages of the World Cup with France, but with all the uncertainty about his future at United, has he stayed behind to set up a move to Juventus? Only time will tell.

So there you go, that's what I'm hoping we see over the next three weeks. What are you wanting to see?

The Devils Wear Adidas

I wrote an article around a month ago looking at the possibility of a new kit manufacturer, and today, it has been confirmed that Adidas will produce the Manchester United kits for the next ten years, starting at the beginning of next season.

United will receive £750m over the ten years. To put this into perspective, the current record for fee received from kit manufacturers was £31m a year, held by Real Madrid. Our deal is worth over double that figure at £75m a year. This annual figure is also about the same amount that Sunderland AFC bring in for ONE year. So, yes, it's a lot of money.

What's on every fans mind is what the kit may look like. Adidas are yet to give any hints about the design but have apparently said that they will take inspiration from Manchester United strips in the 80's and 90's.

The idea is rather fitting, as in 1986, we had a new manager who renovated the squad to bring back the glory days, similar to what is occurring now.

The last time Adidas was the kit manufacturer of Manchester United was back in the first season of the Premier League, in the campaign of 1991/92.

Just to cause a stir, here's a picture of our beloved Giggsy in a horrendous away kit made by Adidas. Nothing says 90's football quite like this:

Five Players Who Should Be Shortlisted

With Louis Van Gaal leaving the beaches of Brazil for the Theatre of Dreams in the next few days, it is likely that we are to be seeing some more transfer activity from the United camp. The board have shown we have money to spend by purchasing Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw for a large sum of cash.

Here's the five players I think should be on our radar:

1. Arturo Vidal

Until the signing of Herrera, United hadn't signed a central midfielder in six years. Although Michael Carrick has been essential in the last few years, he is nearing the later stages of his career. Vidal has played at the highest level with his current club (Juventus) and gave an impressive display at this years World Cup with Chile. It will cost a lot of money to get him, but United need someone that will fill the void that was left from players such as Paul Scholes and Roy Keane.

2. Mats Hummels

Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand have both left over the summer, leaving just Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Johnny Evans as the remaining centre backs at Old Trafford. Due to the signing of Luke Shaw, it seems Patrice Evra is about to join Vidic in Italy, which leaves United with a lack of experience at the back. We are in desperate need of a leader. Someone to organise and inspire his defensive partners. Hummels has proved to be that man for Borussia Dortmund and Germany.

3. Juan Cuadrado

It was frustrating to watch the performances our wingers gave last year. Besides Adnan Januzaj, we didn't see much flair or creativity. Ashley Young, Antonia Valencia and Luis Nani all underachieved and now would be a good time to provide them with more competition for a starting spot. Cuadrado displayed his qualities well at the World Cup with Columbia and was precise in the final third of the pitch. Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie would relish having a player of his ability providing the supply.

4. Ross Barkley

It's astonishing that Barkley has avoided transfer speculation this summer. After an outstanding burst onto the scene last season, the English midfielder has become one of the most talked about youngsters in the country. Manchester United could be appealing for Barkley, with their tendencies of putting faith into young players, and he wouldn't be the first young Englishman to trade the Everton blues for the reds of United. What amazes me is that David Moyes had seen the potential Barkley had during his reign at Everton, yet opted for Marouane Fellaini instead...

5. Toni Kroos

I hate to sound like a broken record but I stand by Paul Scholes with this one. Toni Kroos is one of the best midfielders in the world right now. It is understood that he will depart from Bayern Munich in the near future and that Real Madrid are favourites to sign him. United should do all they can to lure in his services. The boy has everything you could ask for!

There's my shortlist then. You may notice that all these players have featured at the World Cup. That's because, despite not having Champions League football this season, we are Manchester United and should still be looking to bring in the best players from around the world. With a man like Van Gaal at the helm who has quality players like the ones listed above, I have no doubt that we will be back on the path to success.

Do you have any other players that you feel should be on this list? Di Maria? De Vrij? Reus? Let me know what you think.

What The New Kit Means

It's been a good week for Manchester United fans considering the season hasn't even started yet! First off, Louis Van Gaal's Dutch squad made it through to the semi-finals of the World Cup after his bold decision to swap keepers prior to the penalty shoot out with Costa Rica. Then, the first day of pre-season training takes place, and in LVG's absence, Giggsy is the man charge. And just a few hours ago we were given our first look at the new kit for the 2014/15 season.

Not seen it yet? Here's Wayne Rooney giving it a display:

The traditional colour system is maintained, utilising the red, white and black and new style of collar has been implemented that features a little black button. The most obvious difference is the new sponsor that we've known about for some time. The Chevrolet logo is displayed in their recognised colour scheme.

So why is the new kit sparking such conversation? Truth is, this isn't just a new kit. It is a new era for Manchester United Football Club. A new manager, a new kit, a new sponsor, some new players, a new captain, and a fresh start that we can put last seasons campaign behind.

The new strip has the words "Youth. Courage. Greatness." inscribed inside the shirt. These words epitomise the meaning the Manchester United. They give us that hint of what to expect under the leadership of Louis Van Gaal with Ryan Giggs as his right-hand man.

I for one am so exciting for the new season to begin. The pre-season tour in the United States kicks off in two weeks time, where we will see a glimpse of what we might be expecting. I'll be tuning into our opening game against Swansea with the utmost attention.

Ok then, what are your opinions on the kit? Like it? Don't like it? To be honest, I couldn't care less what our kit looked like. As long as it is red and that we play like Manchester United!

New season. New kit.

Van Gaal's Brave Actions.

Almost every Manchester United fan has been in awe of Louis Van Gaal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Dutch players hailed praise upon their manager after their 5-1 thrashing of Spain, but last night, with their 2-1 victory of Mexico, was the demonstration of all the skills he possesses to be a success at the helm of Old Trafford.

The Netherlands trailed Mexico by a single goal in the 88th minute, yet turned around the result to produce a 2-1 win and send themselves into the quarter-finals, where they will meet Costa Rica.

So how many did Van Persie score? None. He was actually subbed off before the decisive final minutes. Calling this a "bold decision" by Van Gaal is an understatement. The big man on the touchline was fifteen minutes away from being eliminated from the biggest tournament on Earth and required at least one goal. What does he do? He takes off his most prolific goalscorer, who is also his captain! Yes, we all love RVP, but with the tactical changes, he wasn't clicking as he usually does. The replacement striker, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, made the difference by providing an assist and converting a penalty just before the final whistle. Van Gaal's men produced two goals. Brave, confident, and not concerned with big names or egos. He demands respect. Remind you of anyone?

A few days prior to his last sixteen match, Louis Van Gaal raised concerns with the temperatures that both teams would be experiencing. He dropped many hints that there should be frequent "cooling breaks", which the match officials did enforce. This was a big deal. These were the first of the tournament. Not only did the Dutch use this for rehydration, they used it for tactical changes. With all the players in one area, Van Gaal was able to seamlessly swap formations and switch to what he referred to as "plan B". Tactical genius who likes to play mind games. Remind you of anyone?

Finally, we can't ignore that this victory was Manchester United-esque. Late drama, last minute goals, a bunch of added time, and the sheer drive to get a result. Remind you of anyone?

Admittedly, you can't ignore the fact that the winning goal was scored via a controversial penalty decision. It's almost what you expect to see from Arjen Robben. But it's not like Louis Van Gaal won't have someone like Ashley Young at his disposal. If you know what I mean...