er... troll gone?

Dimitar Berbatov is set to be handed a new three-year deal by Manchester United.

Despite being left on the bench for the weekend's Manchester derby, Berbatov is seen as a key part of United's future and talks have already begun over a contract extension.

Berbatov, United's top scorer this season with 19 goals, has 17 months left on his current deal, which expires at the end of the 2011-12 campaign.

The striker's agent, Emile Dantchev, flew to Manchester last Friday to begin preliminary talks with United chief executive over a new agreement for his client.

Berbatov, 30, is likely to be offered a new three-year contract, worth £175,000-a-week, which will keep him at Old Trafford until the end of the 2015 season.

Although United's usual policy is to only offer 12-month extensions to players in their thirties, Berbatov has only turned 30 a fortnight ago and handing him a longer deal is not viewed as a risk.

Berbatov became United's record signing when he joined from Tottenham in a £30million deal on transfer deadline day in August 2008, signing a four-year deal.

After struggling in his first two seasons at Old Trafford, Berbatov has excelled this season, surpassing his best goal return for United in a campaign that has included hat-tricks against Liverpool and Birmingham and a club record-equalling five against Blackburn.

United are keen to recognise that with a new deal and Berbatov will become one of the club's highest-paid players under the terms of the new deal, although still a long way behind fellow striker Wayne Rooney, who earns £250,000-a-week.

Despite United's willingness to offer Berbatov a new deal, Fergie does not seem to have faith with the Bulgarian forward when it comes to the 'big' games where so much is at stake.

Berbatov has started only 21 of the club's 43 'big' games - Champions League knockout ties, Premier League matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and City, Carling Cup semi-finals, finals and the Club World Cup - since joining United.

JOLEON LESCOTT has revealed how he tried to get immediate revenge on Wayne Rooney after his wonder goal won the Manchester derby - and failed.

Just hours after the Old Trafford clash, the England pals went head-to-head again - at FIFA 2011 on the Xbox.

And while there was no repeat of Roo's spectacular overhead kick from United's 2-1 win, the striker did the double over the City defender.

Lescott will hope he can finally get the defeat out of his system when Roberto Mancini's side return to action against Greek club Aris here tonight.

The ex-Everton man, 28, said: "I just smiled at Wayne after the game but spoke to him later that evening through the Xbox.

"I just said 'That was a great goal' - you have to take your hat off to a goal like that. Wayne is a smashing player.

"I played FIFA with him. I'm all right but he's better.

"And, although he beat me, I'm almost there now - I think I can almost take him!"

In his first few seasons at Old Trafford, Nani, like so many of his team-mates, found himself in Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow.

The promise was undeniable, but Nani struggled to replicate the sort of consistency we came to expect from his prolific compatriot. One week he'd terrorise defenders, the next he'd drift in and out of the game as he struggled to stamp his authority on the English league.

But ever since the beginning of 2010 - and this season in particular - Nani’s talent has yielded an unarguable return of goals, assists and game-breaking play. In short, he's become one of United's most influential and effective players.

There's little doubt the Portuguese winger is now an established attacking figure in Sir Alex's strongest XI. Combining elements of classic wing play – the pace and whipped crosses so crucial in the absence of Antonio Valencia – with the cut inside and a ferocious shot, Nani now has a full palette of attacking colours to choose from. And his strength with either foot means defenders are constantly kept on their toes.

No other United player is as effective striking from outside the box (Nani has netted four of the nine scored in total this term), he leads the Barclays Premier League assists table with 13 (15 in all competitions) and his 10 goals thus far is already a seasonal best. And, don't forget, there are still more than three months of the campaign to play.

If you drill down further and look at goals where Nani has played a significant role (eg. his defence-splitting pass at Blackpool to Darren Fletcher, which the Scot then squared for Berbatov to tap in, or the teasing cross at Stoke that Nemanja Vidic then headed back across goal for Javier Hernandez to nod in), you can add another seven goals to Nani’s 2010/11 scrapbook. That’s 32 vital contributions in 30 games.

Whichever way you slice it, there’s no doubt Nani has come of age.

Making progress

2010/11 (so far)
Apps: 22
Goals: 9
Assists: 13

2009/10
Apps: 23
Goals: 4
Assists: 10

2008/09
Apps: 13
Goals: 1
Assists: 4

2007/08
Aps: 26
Goals: 3
Assists: 6

Stats for league games only

hi peeps, first time check-in IN this thread but not LYN,
wanna ask, anyone have any idea will The Devils change their Kit design next season?

ok already google-ed one...
with smaller white V throughout the chest like past season..
am i correct?
ahh...need to keep track on this thread edi...fans of ManUtd and will be give the Old Trafford a visit this June!!

Chris Smalling was pinpointed as Manchester United’s Achilles heel in the derby – but he proved to be a defensive Trojan for the Reds.

The 21-year-old derby debutant kept the lid on 22-goal marksman Carlos Tevez to help United secure a 2-1 success and press home their title advantage.

Smalling was drafted in to replace calf victim Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand’s United experience dwarfs his junior of 11 years by over 300 appearances for the Reds but the young deputy made it a seamless transition as Nemanja Vidic’s sidekick.

But the £10m capture from Fulham told M.E.N. Sport his derby triumph was down to a chat with Ferdinand and drawing on his own experiences at Fulham last season.

“There was an emphasis on me coming into the team because Rio has been so solid, so to play my part in such a massive game and a big title match was brilliant,” Smalling said.

“The players around me make it so much easier. They are always talking to me. When I had my first touch I just felt like one of the other lads who play regularly every week.

“I was talking to Rio on Friday and he was giving me little pointers. He has played with and against Carlos Tevez for many years and seen him in training every day for a couple of years so he was giving me little bits of advice on how to play him.

Touch

“He was making the point that Carlos likes to feel the defenders at his back. So you let him have his touch before you move in and go for him. It was great advice because he is a tricky player. It was a really good challenge for me.

“To have that knowledge to tap into is incredible. You get so much feedback with players you are playing with, players who are injured like Rio and the many coaches we have. It really puts me at ease and allows you to enjoy the occasion.

“It is great to have that pre-match advice but you also cannot beat first-hand experience. You can watch as many videos as you want but until you face them it is different.

“I faced Carlos for Fulham last season and I did really well in one match and then another time he got the better of me. So to be able to re-test myself against a world class striker was good

“We played City in the Carling Cup and I did well against him but then we played at Craven Cottage in the league and I was turned too easily and he scored.

“Rio and the coaches were telling me not to do anything rash. Their comments, coupled with what I knew from last season’s experience, helped me. It paid off and I hope it showed.

“I was able to be calm before this massive occasion because I had also learnt from last season at Fulham.

“I have learnt a lot to calm down. At Fulham I think I hyped myself up too much at times and got a bit tense and then I made mistakes. Playing centre back is all about being calm and that is sinking in now. Now I feel I can relax and play my normal game.

“I am on a high now. I want to finish the season strongly. I hope I can prove to the manager that I can play a part. I am feeling really confident at the moment.”

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson added his own tribute to Smalling.

Improving

“Chris Smalling has been exceptional since he came here. There is no doubt about that. He is improving all the time. All the training sessions, he does extra all the time. He wants to be a player. He likes defending. That is the best thing about him,” he said.

Ferguson also expressed sympathy for Portuguese winger Nani, whose own excellent strike to break the deadlock was over-shadowed by Wayne Rooney’s wonder hit.

“All the talk will be about the winner, and quite rightly so, because I have never seen a goal like that in my life. It was absolutely magnificent,” said Sir  Alex.

“Nani was fantastic. I thought he and Ryan Giggs gave us fantastic width in the game. Nani has that special thing – Ryan had it 15 years ago – he threatened all the time.

“He was going by players. He had a shot from outside the box. People will forget Nani’s goal because of Rooney’s. But his goal, the control and first-touch and then sliding it into the corner of the net was a great goal. Unfortunately for him, all the talk will be of Wayne’s goal.

“Some of our football was fantastic. There was great confidence and composure in our game. It is a great result. City had some moments when they caused us a bit of trouble. But that is what you expect. They are in the top four and they are challenging. They are a force. This was a fantastic result.

“I don’t think they are out of the title race. In this league, with 12 games to go, games can be won and lost.”

Great scoreline at Craven Cottage.. watched the 2nd half of the match. The late penalty was really harsh, justified by Cech's brilliant save. The guy Luiz is a talented fella..

btw, I am Nani 17... I am sure you all love my backflips and mazey runs.. 

dunno which one u're looking at la

i watched that match this morning. Damn, Fulham played well. they really making life hard for Chelsea by playing compressed which unable Chelsea to find even an inch of space in their territory. Sidwell kept on closing down Anelka as he touch the ball. We still haven't face Fulham yet right? Quite worry when we face them later on but we've improved much since the day we've faced them so i hope we can get 3 points.

Yeah, David Luiz was pretty talented. Compliment with Terry nicely.

Anyone seen the Crawley video song made for this match? A fan from that video is banned for life for insulting the Munich Disaster.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/...h-taunt?cc=4716

the unedited version: