Ferdinand: Best is yet to come

The underlying message from Rio Ferdinand sounds ominous for Manchester  United's opponents: we might be in pole position but we can still improve.

Although the Reds have now beaten Arsenal and Chelsea in successive league games, the defender admitted his team have yet to find top gear over a sustained period; the complete performance and with it a comprehensive victory, remain on United's wishlist.

"Yes it's been good but we're aiming for better," said Ferdinand, when asked to reflect on that significant pair of victories.

"I don't think we have hit a real purple patch yet, which we are really searching for. We played quite well today as a team and we defended well. But getting it all in one package and doing it all in a ninety minutes at the right times, we're still aiming for that and it will come soon, don't worry."

Whether it will come in the next few weeks remains to be seen, with United heading into four away games on the bounce.

But should everything fall into place on the road, or back at Old Trafford towards the end of the month, it seems inevitable Robin van Persie will be involved.

"He's been doing well for us, he's a natural born goalscorer and long may it continue that he keeps scoring the goals," praised Ferdinand, after witnessing van Persie's tenth strike of the season on Saturday.

The defender commended his colleague for the way he played against his former club Arsenal for the first time.

"Those games against your old team go one of two ways normally," said Rio. "Either you get a goal, you play well and you win, or you have an absolute beast, get sent off and lose the game. So it was good to see Robin get on the scoresheet and he celebrated in the right way I think. He showed a bit more class than probably  their fans did towards him."

"It's been good [beating Arsenal and Chelsea] but we're aiming for better. We're still aiming for the whole package in 90 minutes - and it will come soon, don't worry."

- Rio Ferdinand

Team P GD Pts

1.Man Utd 10 +12 24

2.Chelsea 10 +12 23

3.Manchester City 10 +9 22

4.Everton 10 +6 17

5.Tottenham Hotspur 10 +3 17

6.Arsenal 10 +7 15

7.Fulham 10 +5 15

8.West Ham 10 +2 15

9.West Bromwich Albion 9 +2 14

10.Newcastle United 10 -2 14

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Papers: Robin's the new Ruud

Martin Blackburn writes in The Sun…

RVP's the new Ruud

Patrice Evra says Robin van Persie has given everyone at Old Trafford a Ruud awakening. The Dutch Master bagged his 10th goal of the season for Manchester United when he opened the scoring in the 2-1 win against his old club Arsenal on Saturday. And stand-in Red Devils skipper Evra believes the £22million summer signing is similar to United goal-scoring legend Ruud van Nistelrooy. Evra said: “People can now see that Robin is strong mentally. He seems like he has played for us for many years and he reminds me of Van Nistelrooy. I played with Ruud when I signed for United and remember what a great player he was.” Asked why he believes they are similar, Evra smiled: “First of all, they are both Dutch! But it’s the class and the touch they both have when you pass the ball to them. Robin is just a top-class player and you can see why United wanted him and why the gaffer worked so hard to get him. He has started so well and I just hope he can keep going because, at United, you have to do that in every game and we have to do everything we can to make sure he feels good. He can be one of the best.”

Evra is central to a debate which continues to rumble on after Saturday's victory over Arsenal, centring around the Frenchman's role in Jack Wilshere's second yellow card. The defender insists: “I think he didn’t look for the ball," while Arsene Wenger claims: "The players dive like they have been killed."

The Daily Mail highlights the behaviour of both sets of supporters during Saturday's game, with Wenger and van Persie subjected to distasteful chanting from opposing fans.

Staying on managers, The Sun quotes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on suggestions that he could replace Sir Alex Ferguson. “I’m not naive enough to say I can do that job but in life you should have big dreams and big goals," says the Norwegian, currently managing Molde. “It’s a dream but let’s take just one step at a time."

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Robin revels in 'new' position

Robin van Persie believes his flexible, interchangeable partnership with Wayne Rooney has forged a new position up front for Manchester United.

Since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer, the Dutchman has been in sensational form and is enjoying an irresistible attacking alliance with his English team-mate. He feels their fluidity and tactical knowhow means they no longer fit the classic definitions of 'a number nine' - normally the poacher in the penalty area - and 'a number ten' - the more creative player linking midfield and attack.

“I call it a nine-and-a-half because you have two positions, the nine and the ten, and we are both nine-and-a-half ,” says van Persie. “We are just helping each other out. We both play behind and a bit higher up. It seems to be working well and I am very happy with Wayne - hopefully we can keep it going.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, a former centre-forward who scored an impressive 186 goals in just under 350 appearances as a player, agrees with van Persie’s theory and says there is more to come from the burgeoning strike partnership.

“I think he's right,” the boss declared. “There's flexibility there and the right type of movement. They also both have the courage to play in these positions. Robin’s not far away in that respect.

“They're both mobile players and good footballers with a great desire to play and win. I don't think you saw the best of them as a partnership against Arsenal.”

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Rooney's high five honour

Wayne Rooney marked his first competitive match as England captain by firing his way into the national team's top five goalscorers of all time.

The Manchester United forward entered the World Cup qualifying game against San Marino on 29 goals but a first-half penalty and a second-half strike enabled him to leapfrog a famous trio - Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse and Alan Shearer - and move into fifth place with 31. The only men now above him are Michael Owen (40), Jimmy Greaves (44), Gary Lineker (48) and United legend Sir Bobby Charlton (49).

"Obviously it's a great honour for me, there are some great players there," Rooney told ITV Sport. "To be in England's top five goalscorers of all time is something I'm extremely proud of. Hopefully there are many more goals to come. I'm still only 26, I've got a long way to go, so hopefully I can score a lot more."

England won 5-0 thanks to Rooney's double, a brace from Danny Welbeck and a final flourish from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but some pundits expected a bigger margin against the part-time minnows with only one international win to their name.

"We possibly could have scored more," admitted Wayne. "We created some good chances and their goalkeeper made some good saves. There was maybe a bit of poor finishing but it's not that easy when the opposition get ten or eleven men behind the ball and defend. It was difficult to break them down at times. We just had to keep moving the ball quickly and create chances. We managed to do that and we scored five goals so it wasn't a bad result."

"To be in England's top five goalscorers of all time is something I'm extremely proud of."

- Wayne Rooney

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Reds double up for England

Two braces from two Manchester United players – Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck – helped to ensure there was no embarrassment for England at Wembley in Friday night's World Cup qualifying match.

Some might quibble that statement, however, given that opponents San Marino have only ever won one of their 100-plus international fixtures and there is only one full-time professional footballer in their ranks. The sell-out England crowd could certainly have been forgiven for expecting more goals in the first half than the pair from Rooney and Welbeck.

It took Roy Hodgson’s side 35 minutes to break the deadlock – shortly before he scored his first goal of the season from the penalty spot, temporary England captain Rooney missed the target with a diving header at the far post from Tom Cleverley’s first-time cross. He stepped up to convert from 12 yards though after Welbeck was fouled by goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini. The player who won the penalty doubled England’s lead with a reprise of his sublime Euro 2012 strike against Sweden, flicking home Aaron Lennon’s low cross with his back foot.

Of the four United players who started, Michael Carrick was the first to come off after 66 minutes when he was replaced by Jonjo Shelvey, who was last mentioned on this website when he was sent off against United in September. The Liverpool midfielder made a more positive impact on this England debut, however, delivering a cross that led to Rooney putting 3-0 England up with a first-time shot after Lennon lost control of Leighton Baines’ header back across goal. Just as he did in the first period, Welbeck followed his senior strike partner onto the scoresheet within two minutes, this time stabbing in at the near post from Cleverley’s centre. Cleverley also assisted England’s fifth goal, curled in by Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, shortly after Rooney was substituted.

Darren Fletcher was on the wrong end of a more closely-fought contest in Cardiff, where he made his first appearance for Scotland since November 2011. He was on course to be the winning captain after a first-half strike from West Brom's James Morrison but then two goals in the last ten minutes from Tottenham's Gareth Bale - one a long-range screamer, the other a penalty - secured a 2-1 victory for Wales in qualifying Group A. Nani was on the losing side away from home too, as Portugal were defeated 1-0 by Group F rivals Russia.

Another United midfielder Shinji Kagawa had more joy on the road, playing a full 90 minutes as Japan beat France 1-0 in a friendly match. Old Trafford team-mate Patrice Evra looked on as an unused substitute. Robin van Persie also remained in the dug-out as Holland won 3-0 at home to Andorra in qualifying Group D.

Young Reds striker Joshua King came off the bench, however, to help Norway earn an away point in Switzerland. He entered the fray in the 71st minute, not long before Mario Gavranovic and Brede Hangeland traded goals in the 1-1 draw.

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Silvestre: Why I'm back at United

Mikael Silvestre has revealed the motive behind his return to training at Manchester United - his aim to sign for another Barclays Premier League club.

The French defender, who spent nine trophy-laden seasons with the Reds from 1999 to 2008, is currently a free agent after his contract with German side Werder Bremen expired in the summer. Sir Alex Ferguson invited Silvestre back to Carrington, to help him maintain his fitness as he seeks a fresh challenge.

“I am back here to train,” Mikael told MUTV and ManUtd.com. “I came a few weeks ago and had a chat with the gaffer just before the Capital One Cup game. I said I was coming back to Manchester until Christmas and he said, 'Come and train and stay fit until you move to somewhere else'.

“When you are training with the lads you feel like you are still capable of playing in the Premier League. I am fit, that is the main point, and I still have the hunger for the game. So this level is still the level that I am targeting.

“I have always kept in touch with the club and I almost know everybody here still. There have been some changes in my four years away but there is also a lot of continuity within this club."

A veteran of over 350 appearances as a versatile United defender, Silvestre is perfectly qualified to cast an eye over the left-back berth. The Frenchman believes the recent acquisition of  Alexander Büttner should inspire competition for places with his compatriot Patrice Evra.

“I only saw the highlights of the game when Alex started and scored [against Wigan Athletic]. It doesn’t get better than starting at Old Trafford and scoring a goal," said Silvestre.

"Patrice has been there and has been solid in this role, but there hasn’t been any cover for him so he has played a lot of games for United and France. That has demanded a lot of Patrice and it is important to keep the players on their toes and to have fresh legs. There are so many games so you need to rotate at some point. Especially because United full backs do not just sit back and defend, they go and attack and provide width too.”

The question of what the future might hold for Silvestre beyond a playing career remains unanswered, as he considers the different routes and roles available to him within football. However, with one business interest already to his name, the ex-Red could yet make a clean break from the beautiful game.

“I keep thinking about what I will do when I stop playing but I am not sure. Football is my life of course, but I don’t know in which position or area I might stay on.

"I have started a rum business, which is called Rhum St Barth, based in St Barth's [a French island in the Caribbean].

"We started it a year and a half ago but we are just entering the UK market. In fact I will be in London this weekend at the UK Rum Festival to promote it. We are selling in Sweden, in the States and obviously France, and we want to go global.

"So I also have rum on my mind, as well as football!"

Here is Mikael Silvestre Record: 

Joined: 9 September 1999
Debut: Liverpool 2-3 United,
11 September 1999

Games: 361
Goals: 10

Left: Summer 2008 (to Arsenal)

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Papers: Cleverley nets new deal

David Maddock writes in The Mirror...

United to double Cleverley’s money
Manchester United are ready to reward Tom Cleverley's remarkable progress - by doubling his wages just ONE year after his current contract. Talks are now underway to bring the England midfielder's salary into line with some of the superstars at the club, after he confirmed his status as one of the most exciting young players in the country with a string of superb performances. Cleverley is now a fixture in the England team, and is seen as a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson's new-look United side as he looks to create a team that can dominate the Premier League for the next decade. Crucially, the 23-year-old has begun to show the goals instinct that his manager has been hoping to see, and with his pivotal role in the United team, the Old Trafford board accept the player will demand a bigger deal. He is currently on around £40,000 a week after signing a contract at the start of last season, but that was before he made any impact in both the Premier League or on the international stage. Now though, Cleverley can expect to double his money, to reflect his status at the club... even if that will still leave him a long way short of some of the top earners at Old Trafford, such as Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, who command more than twice that figure.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mail says United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the favourite to land the vacant manager’s position at Bolton Wanderers. Club chairman Phil Gartside was apparently in London when Solskjaer pulled out of a speaking engagement at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge. The 39-year-old has also been linked with bossing Blackburn.

Finally, many of today’s papers feature Wayne Rooney, after he was made temporary England captain by manager Roy Hodgson on Thursday. The Reds striker has described the appointment as “a great honour.”

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