Mesut Ozil is a name which has been linked to Manchester United pretty regularly over the past three years.If Mesut Ozil plays well against Manchester United on Wednesday night, it may oddly force Sir Alex Ferguson in trying to buy him again.
Ozil is an experienced and high profile player who would fit in superbly at United as a possible replacement for Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs.

If he produces a midfield performance which makes neutrals purr then Ferguson may be very tempted into trying to buy him at the end of the season.Ozil will give United a glimpse of what they could get their hands on if he’s selected to play against them in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie in Madrid this week.
United have done superbly to all but wrestle the Premier League title back from Manchester City this season and the departure of Scholes and the impending retirement of Giggs means Fergie will be on the hunt for real quality.
It all depends on whether Ozil is selected to play because Real Madrid are spoilt for choice when it comes to talented midfield players.
It’s the calibre of the player and the quality that oozes from them which Sir Alex will be looking for.
As things stand he may have no real interest in signing Ozil because of the cost involved and the current desire of the player.
However, he could become transfixed by a solid Ozil performance in the same way that he became transfixed by Robin Van Persie’s goalscoring record last season for Arsenal before demanding to sign him.
The midfield man that he ultimately brings in to replace Scholes or Giggs has to do all of the basics right and play passes across the pitch just as effectively as over a ten yard space.
It’s an odd sort of shopping window for Ozil because he’s already stated that he’s happy in Spain and isn’t looking to move away.
It’s a shopping window because it’s a chance for Ferguson to take a look at him up close and personally in the sort of high pressure situation that he demands his players are used to on a weekly basis.
There’s a massive list of midfield players who could walk in through the door at United at the moment but Fergie has to select at least one at the end of the season.
If Ozil wins Real Madrid this first leg then there could be a cheeky bid going in for him from Fergie at the end of the season. He could do a lot worse.
Do you think Ozil will start on Wednesday and play a key role?
18:30
Jasper Juinen
It's surely the highlight of the round, and this is a fixture packed with great matchups, context, emotion, and best of all, it's almost impossible to pick a winner.
Manchester United will play Real Madrid for the first time since that game in 2003, when a Ronaldo hat-trick earned a standing ovation from the home crowd at Old Trafford as it sent the hosts out despite a 4-3 victory.
That game is dripping with historical significance because it provoked Alex Ferguson to finally destroy that great Manchester United side, but this one will be important for another matter: Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese winger has not played against United since making his world-record transfer to the Spanish giants, and you can bet that no matter what else happens, it will all be about him. Yet aside from that, this is a well-balanced tie. Real have the better team on paper, but in big, two-legged encounters like these, have a recent history of playing well below themselves while United, by contrast, tend to bring their A-game. This also gives us a managerial match-up of Sir Alex Ferguson vs. Jose Mourinho - the last time, Ferguson prevailed by defeating Mourinho's Internazionale on the way to the final. This time, things could be different.

Key player

Cristiano Ronaldo. Obviously. The winger has constantly spoke highly of both the club and Ferguson since he left, while songs are still sung about him at pretty much every United away game. It'll be an emotional encounter for everyone, but also a pretty terrifying one if you're in a red shirt. Ronaldo is the match-winner to end all match-winners - with him in the game, United will know they are never entirely safe.

Matchups to watch

Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Patrice Evra - If Mourinho has any sense - and he does, he's Jose Mourinho, for christ's sake - then he'll deploy Ronaldo to threaten United's vulnerable left flank. Patrice Evra's form has declined alarmingly in recent seasons, particularly the defensive side of his game, so in theory Ronaldo will be able to have his wicked way with him throughout the whole 180 minutes plus. Ferguson's not that daft though, so you'd imagine he'll have a plan to aid the Frenchman. What it could be will be open to question.
The entire Real Madrid team vs. David de Gea - The young Spanish goalkeeper has been linked with a move to Real Madrid already, and with the form United's defence are in, he'll have to be at his best to keep the scores low. Fortunately, the keeper is both well-accustomed and well-equipped to desperate strings of shot-stopping in lieu of a decent defence, and it's pretty much nailed on that he'll have to do the same here.
Shinji Kagawa\Wayne Rooney vs. Sami Khedira\Pepe - For all United's 'midfield problems', at the sharp end of the middle of the pitch, they're remarkably strong. They can attack the hole with Wayne Rooney in his position there, and Shinji Kagawa is almost certain to feature at some point too. Both are energetic, hard-working players who can't be left alone, so it's unlikely Madrid will be able to just put Xabi Alonso there. They'll need better cover, and it'll come from Pepe and Khedira, whether they're stepping up from defence or playing there. Whether they have the discipline to match Rooney's physicality and deal with Kagawa's trickery will be intriguing.

Prediction

A penalty shootout, because it's almost impossible to call. Real Madrid are the better team, but they have a history of not living up to that in this competition, while United tend to play above themselves in these sorts of games. Having said that, it's often down to Ferguson picking a better team than his counterpart, but he's made some odd choices lately and he's up against Jose Mourinho, who is no idiot.
Real Madrid are in poor form in La Liga, while United are playing well at the moment and historically tend to be playing at their peak around the time this tie will take place. On the other hand, Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Luka Modric and Mesut Ozil will be lining up against Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley and Anderson. There's an equal argument to be made for both sides.
18:15


We all read the stories about how crowdfunding could earn you thousands of dollars in just days. Some imagine it happening for our own projects. The good news is that money is indeed out there in the cyber world. The bad news is that it isn’t going to magically appear just because you start a crowdfunding campaign.
The success of your campaign will depend on the foundation on which you build it.
Follow these simple 7 steps to ensure that your crowdfunding campaign gets started on the right foot.

1) Select a Project with Significance

Don’t bother creating a ho-hum project or one that others have no passion about. Simply put, crowdfunding will only be successful if you create a project that has some real significance behind it. Ask yourself why this project matters. Think about whether a stranger would care about your project and why.

2) Craft a Killer Pitch

Creating a pitch that will get a large group of people excited about your project isn’t always simple. A winning pitch will hook your reader through crafty headlines, images, and answering their questions. Potential readers will want to know who you are, what your project is about, and why they should care (and donate).

3) Choose Your Funding Goal Carefully

Your funding goal is dependent on your project’s objective and appeal. It’s easy to get a bit carried away with your project and assume you’ll get more funding than what is realistic. A good way to determine your funding goal is by calculating the minimum cost for the reward you promise to deliver in your pitch.

4) Create a Limited Time Offer

Limited time offers create a sense of urgency to donate. A 30-day donation time frame can dramatically boost your campaign success if done properly. For this time offer to work, you will need to build up interest and momentum before starting your campaign. This will give you a major head start.

5) Film an Engaging Project Video

In today’s world, there are no questions about whether a promo video is helpful or not. The majority of potential donators will feel more compelled to donate after watching an engaging video rather than reading text alone. Keep it under 3 minutes and don’t forget a call to action!

6) Let Your Donors Know You Care

It’s easy to forget that your donors aren’t just a source of funding when you get caught up in your campaign. You can show them you care in a number of different ways. Give donors an exclusive look at your project, a limited edition copy of your product or even a discounted rate on your services.

7) Don’t Forget to Expand

Expanding doesn’t just mean staying on top of your social media networks and sending out batches of emails. You need to build more awareness for your campaign and your project. Expanding your project goes hand in hand with engaging your audience. One of the best ways to engage your audience and expand your project’s potential is to always remain authentic.

Have you tried a crowdfunding campaign or plan to implement one in the future?

Let us know in the comments below!
17:53
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