It’s Been Said That I Have No Soul

The main news this morning hit too late to make the actual paper papers (I think anyway, not having looked at an actual paper paper...) - the news that the Indonesian leg of the pre-season tour has been cancelled:

Sir Alex Ferguson said the attacks in Jakarta that forced Manchester United to cancel its trip to Indonesia were "terrible news".

The Red Devils boss said it was "very disappointing" the club had to cancel the game against an Indonesian XI on Monday.

"We got the news as we landed and it is very disappointing. I have never been to Indonesia before and I know the Indonesian FA have worked very hard on this.

"It is terrible news but we have taken what I believe to be the right decision in terms of safeguarding our players."

In a statement released earlier, the club said: "Following the explosions in Jakarta - one of which was at the hotel the team were due to stay in - and based on advice received, the directors have informed the Indonesian FA that the club cannot fulfil the fixture in Jakarta on the 2009 Asia tour."

Onto what is in the papers. Ronaldo had a few words relating to us at his press conference yesterday:

"I arrived at Manchester when I was 18 years old, and I was there for six years. It is a long time, and I won many things, both collectively and individually. I met very good people there so it is not easy, but life is a challenge, and I think it is a good move. I hope to be as happy here as I was in Manchester."...

Not only did Ronaldo stress that he had "never" considered crossing the Manchester divide, his response to the suggestion that Mark Hughes's side might qualify for the Champions League next season was similarly candid. "I hope not," he joked.

And some words on Owen:

'Michael Owen is an experienced player who has played for some of the biggest clubs. He doesn't have to feel extra pressure just because he has the No 7.

'I think Manchester United did well giving him the shirt. He is a great player and an English player and he has everything you need to win. It was a good decision to give him the No 7.'

On the basis that, in 1997, Michael Owen played for England in the World Under-20 Championships in Malaysia, 2 papers reprint Sir Alex's words from the Owen unveiling press conference as new. That's The Mirror and The Star. The Mirror at least just omits where/when they came from, The Star presents them thus:

And as he prepared to give 29-year-old Owen, his bow, he couldn’t resist suggesting that he would have handled his early career with more understanding of ‘burn-out’ problems.

He said: “We had Ronnie Wallwork and John Curtis playing in that England Under-20 squad in Malaysia in 1997 and when they came back we gave them six weeks off. But Michael went straight into the Liverpool first team then a year later was playing in the World Cup for England.

“That was unfair to a young player to have that kind of strain and intensity one summer after another.

“I wouldn’t have done that but he was such a talent that Liverpool needed him in the team and then England needed him in the World Cup.”

Erroneous comma as well I notice...
The Times report that we're not willing to overpay for Douglas Costa:

United opened negotiations with Grêmio last month, but discussions are unlikely to resume this summer unless the Brazilian club dramatically reduce a prohibitive £20 million asking price for the teenager.

The bid for Douglas, 18, was thought to be an exception to Sir Alex Ferguson’s claim this week that United would make no further additions to their squad because of inflated prices in the transfer market, but it is among several proposed deals that have persuaded him about the lack of value this summer. The number of agents involved in the proposed transfer is another factor that has led the club to walk away from the negotiating table.

The Telegraph talk about the money involved in our pre-season tour.
And Terry Venables uses his column to advertise the tournament of which he is "an ambassador" for but dresses it up as saying we really, really, need to sign up Eto'o. I won't quote from it - I'm tempted to not even link to it, I'm not an advertising hoarding, but here it is. Just don't click it.