* Ferguson talks about title prospects:
"There's always huge expectation at our club and it wouldn't matter if we had won the league the previous season or two years ago. We always have to win the league. The length of time we have gone without it just does not matter. It's always the same and quite right as well. That's the barometer for us because we are the best. Ours is a very young squad and we hope to see an improvement that will bring us closer to challenging Chelsea next season because I still think they are the team to beat. They've added two very experienced players in Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko, but I can understand that in terms of their European challenge. These signings suggest to me that they are going to concentrate on Europe and try and win that."
* St Nick of Gorton gets praise from Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder:
"Nicky hasn't had a great reception in the last couple of games but he turned jeers into cheers by scoring two goals in the last game. He hasn't sulked or put his head down and when he's in that frame of mind you can see why he played for England and won so many medals. You can never say never and I think our supporters at Newcastle are the most forgiving I can think of. I can think of many players who have upset the crowd and they've been forgiven due to their performances."
* Giggs on the new season:
"We just hope that, come the first game of the season, all of our lads have had at least two or three games under their belts. The lads at the World Cup needed a rest and you just hope they are fit for the start. Chelsea have proved over the last couple of seasons that you can't afford to make too many mistakes. But we got closer to them last year and we hope we can get closer this time. We have six games in three days in the opening week and it's vital that we start strong."
* Gaz Nev:
"The club has come a long way in 20 years, but if you had told the manager when he arrived 20 years ago that he would still be here in 2006, he would have said ‘No chance!', It's incredible what he has done and achieved here and what he continues to do and 20 years in this job is an amazing feat. But what's most important for the club and the team, and it will also be in the manager's thoughts, is moving forward this season and trying to bring more success. What has been in the last 20 years is great and you do think about it, but the big thing for us is what is ahead of us and what will hopefully be a successful season for the club."
* The Guardian report that Reyes move is closer:
Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic has dropped in on Arsenal, expecting to conclude a deal for José Antonio Reyes.
* Ashley Cole - Chelsea say they are not budging from their £20m offer.
* Rent-a-quote returns from his jollies to talk about Ronaldo:
"He'll move on. When he gets to the big grounds away from Old Trafford it will take its toll on him. When he goes to Everton, Liverpool and Arsenal he will get terrible abuse.
"Every away match he plays for United he's going to get slagged off and he can only blame himself.
"Since the day he arrived at Old Trafford, he's been diving all over the place and the referees no longer know if he's diving or if it's a genuine good tackle.
"His biggest failure is what he's been just been accused and slagged off for and that's diving.
"You just look at him and he falls over. He has to prove to people in this country that he can play without diving and if he is pulled down, then he should get up as soon as he can."
* Carlos Tevez's agent says he is staying put at Corinthians.