[gazzae]

Howard to join Everton on loan

Manchester United keeper Tim Howard will join Everton on a 12-month loan deal this summer.

After arriving from Major League Soccer outfit New York Metrostars in 2003, Howard initially appeared to be the answer to United's long-standing goalkeeping problems. However, high-profile blunders in European games at the end of his first season with the club and the start of his second put the US star's place at risk.

Despite those problems, and his recent omission, Sir Alex Ferguson remains a big admirer of a player who has played 77 times for the Red Devils.

And, with Van der Sar's contract due to expire in 12 months' time, the United boss has sanctioned a loan move to Goodison Park during which he expects the keeper to prove he is worthy of reclaiming United's number one jersey again.

http://www.football365.com/news/story_184934.shtml

---------- Post added at 11:12 ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 ----------

'Ruud out after Ronaldo dad jibe'

More details emerged last night of the sensational training ground bust-up that has resulted in the seemingly inevitable departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy from Manchester United.

A training ground bust-up between the two in January ended with punches being thrown, and a second incident on Saturday morning reignited the ill-feeling between the two players.

During 'a heated exchange' Van Nistelrooy told the young Portuguese to go and talk to "his dad" - a disparaging reference, says The Independent, to United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz.

The remark carried particular sting, as Ronaldo lost his father in September - a bereavement that has been widely seen as responsible for the very loss of form earlier in the season that Van Nistelrooy was so critical of. A 'clearly upset' Ronaldo replied that he 'did not have a dad'.

http://www.football365.com/teams/man...y_184927.shtml