Rooney Scores another hat-trick as Manchester united thrashed Bolton 5-0

Manchester United eased to a 5-0 win at Bolton on Saturday with Wayne Rooney bagging his second hat-trick in as many games.

United were really in the mood in the first half as they romped to a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes with a goal from Javier Hernandez and a brace from Rooney, whilst Bolton struggled to cope with their visitor’s attacking ability.

In the second period, both strikers grabbed another goal each, but could have added several more as the match neared the heights of United’s last league match, the 8-2 victory against Arsenal.

Rooney Celebrates his hat-trick with his team mates

It didn’t even take Javier Hernandez five minutes into his first start of the season before he opened his account for the year as he flicked the ball home from the near post, but a lot of credit should be given to Nani who delivered a brilliant low cross from the right.

The hosts almost hit back a minute later as Martin Petrov cross from the left, but United failed to clear it properly and Chris Eagles got a shot away, but the combination of Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand saved it on the line.

United came close to extending their lead in the 12th minute as the visitors hit Bolton on the counter-attack, but Rooney couldn’t quite reach Hernandez’ cross from the right and Gary Cahill conceded a corner.

They did however, extend their lead just shy of the 20 minute mark as Wayne Rooney got on the end of a Phil Jones cross, poking the ball out of the reach of Jussi Jaaskelainen into the bottom far corner.

Minutes later, United had their third, owing much thanks to a sublime run from Phil Jones as he skipping past several tackles as he charged down the right before eventually having a shot blocked, but Rooney was on hand to smash home the rebound from six yards.

Despite just a few minutes after, Hernandez thought he’d added a fourth, however he was flagged offside and the score remained as it was until the second half with Bolton barely registering a shot on the United goal in the first period.

The second half started with Bolton actually looking to pressurise David De Gea in the United goal, but at first he was equal to Mark Davies’ shot from just outside the box, and soon after he rose well to catch a Kevin Davies header.

Hernandez should have got his second of the day as he gambled on Jaaskelainen to make a heavy first touch from De Gea’s clearance, but after getting the ball, instead of hitting it first time, Chicharito opted for a touch and when he eventually got a shot away, it was tame, allowing Bolton to find safety.

However, two minutes later, he did get his second as Michael Carrick shot from the edge of the box, but a deflection took it straight to the little Mexican was left with the simplest of finishes.

Still with 23 minutes to go, Wayne Rooney claimed his hat-trick, smashing a Nani pass into the bottom left corner after the Portuguese winger received a brilliant pass from Ryan Giggs and picked out the England international in the D of the penalty area.

That goal consolidated a remarkable feat with Rooney becoming the first player in Premier League history to score eight goals in four matches.

United came close to adding a sixth five minutes from time as Nani found Hernandez in the box with a clver pass, but when through on goal, the Mexican tried to square the ball to Anderson, but the pass was just too far ahead of him.

In all honesty, Bolton were never really in the game with United's lightening quick start effectively ending the match as a contest minutes after starting as the Premier League champions completely outclassed their hosts.

Manchester United fans' outrage at new Glazer plans

The sagging popularity of Manchester United's American owners has touched a new low with the $1 billion flotation plan in Singapore that would consolidate the Glazer family's control over the Premier League giants.

Manchester United Fans expressing their rage

Sources have revealed the club plans to use a two-tier system of shares in Singapore.

This would minimise any new shareholders' influence, something that clearly has not gone down well with fans at home.

"It is certainly disappointing," Duncan Drasdo, chief executive of Manchester United Supporters Trust, said.

"Clearly the degree of control by one majority shareholder has to be a major concern for any conventional investor thinking of purchasing shares primarily seeking a return on investment."

Manchester United wants to raise cash to help reduce its near-$500 million debt pile but many of the club's estimated 333 million global fans are sceptical of the Glazers who bought the club in 2005.

"We want to see the majority of the profits that Manchester United generates invested back into the football club," said Drasdo.

"There are so many better uses for Manchester United's profits than sending the money to Florida or into interest or debt payments on the Glazer's debts which they transferred onto our club or indeed into excessive dividend payments resulting from an excessive valuation at IPO."

Season ticket holder Paul Davidson was harsher in his criticism.

"They (the Glazers) will still control the purse strings and the political machinations," the teacher said.

"In their defence they did spend a fair whack on those three players in the transfer window (Ashley Young, David de Gea and Phil Jones) which has gone some way to suggesting they have put cash into the team on the odd occasion... but I'm still very sceptical about it all," he added.

"I can't help feeling there's some sort of Machiavellian motive. I'm not convinced it's ultimately going to benefit the club.

"They (the Glazers)... don't give a flying monkey's about what people think."

Six teams can win Premier League: Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson believes as many as six teams are in the running for the Barclays Premier League title.

Chelsea and Arsenal are always there or thereabouts, while big-spending Manchester City, rejuvenated Liverpool and ambitious Tottenham Hotspur will also have their eyes on the prize.

 Sir Alex Ferguson

United manager Ferguson concedes that the race to secure top honours in English football will be keenly contested, with the competition increasing year on year.

"I think you could say that five or six teams will be involved," he said.

"It's always hard to win the league. It's a league that if you look at it, in the south you have the London teams like Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea and then you have ourselves, Manchester City and Liverpool in the north. It's a really, really difficult league to win."

United have put considerable faith in their youngsters this season and Ferguson admits it is important to inject new blood into a side on a regular basis if you intend to remain competitive.

David Beckham on the Verge of Premier league return?

QPR are set to launch an audacious bid to land former England captain David Beckham.

The LA Galaxy star is out of contract at the end of the MLS season which ends in October, and he is reported to be considering a return to the Premier League.

Beckham is desperate to play for Team GB at next summer's Olympics and believes another stint in England's top flight could see him seal a place in the squad.

Beckham

According to The Sun, new owner Tony Fernandes is prepared to spend big to bring the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star to Loftus Road. 

A source is quoted as saying  'Tony promised Neil Warnock plenty of support in the transfer market and proved that in the recent window.

'But bringing Beckham back to England next month would top the lot - and it's not a pipe-dream.'

Beckham has been offered a new contract by the American side but has so far failed to commit to a new deal.

"First of all, I'm not retiring" - Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving Manchester United in the near future as he considers who might one day become his successor.

Ferguson will bring up 25 years in charge of United on 6th November, before celebrating his 70th birthday at the end of December.

He planned to stand down almost a decade ago but changed his mind and has not looked back since, leading the Red Devils to another period of success.

The debate about who should eventually replace Ferguson has raged for years, and the man himself believes it would have to be somebody with great experience.

But the Scot feels it is virtually impossible to predict the identity of the next manager, as a host of names have been linked with the role in the past.

At various times, Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren, Mark Hughes,Martin O'Neill and a host of top continental bosses have been connected with the post.

Current favourite to replace Ferguson is Jose Mourinho, although a mounting disciplinary crime sheet at Real Madrid is not helping his cause.

Yet, speaking to the Italian media at an awards ceremony at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Ferguson confirmed he is going nowhere.

He said: "Over the years I've had the question who do I think could replace me? Now in those years, some of the coaches they were talking about to replace me don't have jobs anymore.

"So it becomes very difficult because someone who I think has potential may be sacked by his club and disappear.

"I think you would need someone very experienced in the long term. But I have absolutely no idea... first of all, I'm not retiring."

Chelsea remain a "big threat" in the title race this season - Ferguson

Sir Alex.

United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen had branded Chelsea's squad 'too old' to provide any real competition for the title this season.

However, Ferguson is not of the same thinking and believes Chelsea will be up there challenging as he has a lot of respect for their experienced squad.

"They have tremendous experience with the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, John Terry, Alex, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres - there aren't any young kids in that team," Ferguson said.

"But they don't have 36 or 37-year-olds like Ryan Giggs. Lampard and Drogba are 33, Anelka is 32 - not dissimilar to (Michael) Carrick and Rio Ferdinand, and we wouldn't be saying they are dead and buried, would we? So why should they be?

"They'll still be a big threat and we expect them to challenge.

Ferguson will lock horns with new Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas for the first time later this month and Ferguson admits he does not know a great deal about the Portuguese.

"He has a different set-up there to me, but I'm sure he'll get plenty of advice from others and he'll do fine. I don't know much about him," added Ferguson.

"He's a young man and it's a big step coming into the Premier League from the Portuguese championship, but given time and support anything is possible."