Fighter jet crash kills 5 in Libya

2014-09-04 08:49

Cairo - A Libyan security official says a military jet has crashed in the country's eastern city of Tobruk, killing the pilot and four other people.

Libyan official said the plane crashed because of a technical problem. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The crash came amid fierce clashes in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi between Islamist militiamen and forces loyal to General Khalifa Hifter.

A video, posted by a Libyan civilian who said he fights against Hifter, showed what he said was the jet crash and explosion.

The video, which was consistent with independent AP reporting and was checked against known locations and events, shows a black plume of smoke rising above Tobruk.

The poster, a Facebook account holder called "One Zero", refused to reveal his identity. The video was shot by one of "One Zero's" friends in Tobruk.

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Radamel Falcao can DIE HAPPY now he's signed for Man Utd - Eric Cantona

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Eric Cantona believes Radamel Falcao an die happy now he has signed for the club.

By Colin Harvey / Published 3rd September 2014

DEATH WISH: Cantona says Falcao can die happy now he's signed for United [GETTY]

Cantona is held in god-like status at Old Trafford for incredible goals and swagger during his five years at the club.

And the Red Devils will be hoping for more of the same from Falcao.

Cantona believes the Colombian striker has now reached the pinnacle of the game after joining United.

Cantona said: "Falcao can die happy. He has now reached the top of football.

"After Manchester, you can only go down."

Falcao joined United late on deadline day in a £6m season-long loan deal and can have the option to the deal permanent next summer.

Cantona was famous for wearing the No 7 shirt at Old Trafford and while Falcao is a big signing for the club he has opted to take No 9 with British-record signing Angel di Maria snapping up the seven shirt.

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Who will be the Premier League's best striker this season?

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The best in the business?

Manchester United's signing of Radamel Falcao marked the arrival of one of the world's great talents in the Premier League.

But he's far from the only global superstar forward in the English top flight. Our friends at Squawka.com take a look at the Colombian up against the star strikers leading the lines for the Premier League's top five clubs: United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. 

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Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw were the early summer arrivals, while they were followed by Argentine duo Marcos Rojo and Angel Di Maria.

Deadline day saw Ajax star Daley Blind come in, but it was the signing of a Colombian superstar that really had the fans out of their seats. Falcao arrived at Old Trafford on a season-long loan for a fee in the region of £6 million - and with the deal including an option to buy at the end of the season, the 26-year-old could be a star at the Red Devils for many years to come.

The prolific Monaco striker, once of Atletico Madrid and Porto, will be hoping to recreate the form he displayed prior to his serious knee injury. So with Falcao now in the Premier League and claiming the number nine shirt, do Manchester United have the best striker in the league?

We've decided to compare his recent stats with those of the key strikers for Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal… and also with that of United's highest-rated striker last season, Wayne Rooney.

The Colombian had his first season in flashy Monaco cruelly cut short due to knee surgery, but he still managed 17 appearances in Ligue 1. To make the comparisons as fair as possible, these figures are all based on the players' stats per 90 minutes played:

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Manchester United Balls: Radamel Falcao And Angel Di Maria Thought They’d Joined Manchester City

by Anorak | 3rd, September 2014

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson (second r) watches his new team for the first time as they crash to a 2-0 defeat to Oxford
Date: 08/11/1986

MANCHESTER United fan Oliver Holt wites for the Daily Mirror. He has felt United’s slip from the top of the Premier League to also-rans. It’s like the 1980s all over again at Old Trafford. But Holt knows what United need to get back to the summit. No, not a brilliant young manager marshalling a fabulous youth team. They need to spend. They need to be like Manchester City.

Holt wrote on August 19:

“To sit at Old Trafford last Saturday afternoon and watch Manchester United being outplayed by Swansea City was to feel a rising sense of bewilderment.Sure, many of us thought United might slip from the summit briefly when Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

But nobody – nobody – thought they would fall this far, this fast. They had been so good for so long, it just did not seem possible…

Everyone knew they needed to sign four or five world-class players this summer to have a chance of bridging the gap that had opened up between them and the rest. Instead, they signed two very expensive prospects, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera – then fiddled while their empire burned.

Then they spent a fortune on the talented Angel Di Maria and the great Radamel Falcao. United also bought Dutch World Cup player Daley Blind.

Was Holt happier? He writes today:

A club associated for decades with long-term planning and stability has turned with frightening speed into a short-term, panic-driven basket case, writes Oliver Holt…

But they bought world-class players.

…the pace with which England’s most famous club has changed its philosophy is frightening. United has gone from a club associated with long-term planning and stability to the ultimate short-term, panic-driven basket case. This summer, they have instituted a galactico policy in all but name. The last few months have been a triumph for style over substance. Give it another six months and they’ll be charging fans to get into Old Trafford for the presentation of the next star name.The club that once had a manager for 26 years, that prided itself on bringing kids through the youth set-up, just paid £20m to bring a 28-year-old player on loan for a year.”

So. Buying four or five world-class player was a bad idea?

When the team you support slips, unless it wins again eveything it does is wrong…

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Radamel Falcao's father compares Manchester United striker to trousers that Real Madrid tried on but did not want to buy

Radamel Falcao's father has revealed Real Madrid were unwilling to make a financial effort to sign his son.

The Colombian international was strongly linked with a move to the Bernabeu stadium this summer but the deal did not materialise.

Falcao instead joined Manchester United on a season-loan loan from Monaco on the final day of the transfer window.

"The deal with Real Madrid did not happen because if you have money and you go to the market to buy a shirt or a pair of trousers, you have to decide whether to buy it or not," Falcao's father Radamel Garcia said to Colombian radio station LA FM.

"Real Madrid chose not to. I don't know, I have the feeling they wanted the player for free with a number of conditions.

"In any case, they bought the trousers and shirt they wanted and they considered that to be better. We have to accept it."Falcao was initially offered to Real Madrid but they decided not to pursue him

Despite being turned down by Real, the 28-year-old forward had plenty of offers on the table, according to his father.

"The clubs that showed an interest in him were Juventus, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal at the last minute," Garcia said. "Fortunately, he has arrived to Manchester United, a great club.

"Thank God everything came through with United.

"Radamel is a person who has given a lot in Europe and has always deserved the best for all the effort, all the sacrifices he has made during his football career.

"United is the most important team in England and one of the most powerful from an economic standpoint.

"Now it's his (Falcao's) turn to give his best, to be ready and continue to win titles."

Garcia is confident his son will adapt quickly to the Premier League just as he did at Monaco, whom he joined in June 2013 from Atletico Madrid..

"Fortunately, he has adapted to European football," he said. "In the teams he has been since he left (River Plate) Argentina (in 2009), his integration has been very easy.

"He was very happy at Monaco but unfortunately, they changed the original plan and decided to sell the players they had bought."

Falcao scored 11 goals in 20 appearances for the Ligue 1 side last season before sustaining a knee injury in January that kept him out of the World Cup.

The South American will wear the number nine jersey at United and is expected to make his debut at Old Trafford against Queens Park Rangers on September 14
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Louis van Gaal thanks Manchester United board for spending heavily this summer rather than rollicking him for a poor start

Louis van Gaal has thanked Manchester United's hierarchy for their continued investment in his squad rather than dishing him out a dressing down for the club's poor start to the season.

Van Gaal is yet to taste victory in the United hotseat with two defeats and two draws from his opening four games in charge.

The Red Devils are currently 14th in the Premier League with two points after three matches, but the Dutchman's low point in his early tenure at Old Trafford came in a humiliating 4-0 thrashing at League One side MK Dons in the Capital One Cup second round.

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Thumbs up: Louis van Gaal has thanked Manchester United's hierarchy for investing in his squad

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Embarrasing: Van Gaal could only watch on as United were thrashed 4-0 by MK Dons in the Capital One Cup

Despite the alarming start, United's board have backed the 63-year-old by spending over £150million this summer - with Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao both arriving on transfer deadline day.

The spending spree at Old Trafford has come as a welcome surprise to Van Gaal who recieved a heavy rollicking for a similar poor start whilst in charge of Bayern Munich by general manager Uli Hoeness.

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Stellar signing: Radamel Falcao is one of Van Gaal's summer transfers to Old Trafford

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All smiles: Daley Blind joined United in a £14million move from Ajax on transfer deadline day

'My start at Bayern Munich was just as bad as my start with Manchester United. But the big differenre was that at Bayern I had already been called in for a major showdown with director Uli Hoeness, who wanted an explanation,' he told the Daily Mirror.

'And what have United done? They have just bought more players for me. They kept buying players. They are supporting me.

'That is a sign of trust in the manager. I feel their trust and belief in my ability. It is not just a matter of believing in my football philosophy, but in me as a person too.'

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'Jealous of United signings!' Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea fans praise Red Devils spending

Manchester United spent a fortune this summer, over £140m to be precise, on the likes of Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao.

Given Falcao's reputation as a goal machine, it's understandable some Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea supporters were slightly envious, despite their clubs signing Mario Balotelli, Danny Welbeckand Diego Costa.

Do you think the Colombian will fire Man United into the top four and a return Champions League?

Below is a selection of tweets from rival fans who believe the Red Devils have done good business.

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