If Ozil humiliates United, Fergie may be forced to buy him

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?

Real Madrid vs. Manchester United, 2013 UEFA Champions League Draw: The undoubted tie of the round

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.

7 Steps to Ensure a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign

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!

WSJ says Foxconn involved in development of tech that could power Apple wristwatch

Some of the technology to power Apple's rumored smartwatch is in development at longtime supplier Foxconn, according to a new report, and the Taiwanese company isn't just making the technology for Apple.

The Wall Street Journal carried a report on Sunday backing up an earlier report from the New York Timesthat Apple is working on developing a smartwatch device. In exploring devices beyond its currently hot-selling iPhone and iPad, Apple is said to have discussed a smartwatch with Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as by its U.S. trade name Foxconn.

Foxconn is said to be working on multiple technologies that could appear in wearable technologies. The Taipei-based company is looking to lower power-usage and to strip down the chip technologies that would go into such devices. In particular, the report claims that Foxconn is working on the underpinnings of wearable technology for more customers than just Apple. The Journal does not detail for which other companies Foxconn might be developing the components.

Google is known to be working on its own wearable technology, a glasses-mounted heads-up display known as Google Glass. That device is currently in testing with developers, and Google has targeted early 2014 as a consumer release window. Shortly after Google Glass was unveiled, an Apple patent emerged, showing off similar technology aimed at solving issues arising from such displays.

Many industry observers believe that "wearable" computing is a near-inevitable next step for mobile technology. In January, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster predicted such technology would ultimately replace the iPhone, much like the iPhone has replaced the iPod. 

Apple is likely to leverage its existing patents on creating curved glass to bring to market a product its competitors could not quickly and easily imitate. Such a device might also intermittently satisfy Wall Street investors, who have pummeled Apple's stock in recent weeks due to concerns over competition, and possibly plateauing profit growth and innovation.

The Journal was the second major news publication on Sunday to leak details on a possible Apple smartwatch, lending credence to the notion that such a device is in development or at least under consideration. The past months have seen increasing speculation on the existence and capabilities of an "iWatch." 

In December, rumors emerged that Apple was working with Intel on a smartwatch accessory that would feature a 1.5-inch OLED display and low-power Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. That device was said to work alongside a user's iPhone, with the ability to access simplified iOS functions.

And just last week, prior to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reports, Bruce Tognazzini opinedin long-form on his blog about the possibilities of an iWatch. Tognazzini — creator of Apple's Human Interface Guidelines — based his predictions on his knowledge of the way Apple operates, saying an iWatch would "fill a gaping hole in the Apple ecosystem" and would complement all of Apple's other devices.

Apple is notoriously secretive about products in development. Chief Executive Tim Cook, during Apple's most recently quarterly conference call, would say only that Apple's product pipeline is "chock full" of "incredible stuff," but that Apple would only reveal its plans when the company feels the time is right.

North Korea Is Suspected of Conducting 3rd Nuclear Test

While North Korea’s official news outlets were silent about the test, many nations detected seismic activity centered near the same location where the North conducted tests in 2006 and 2009. The United States Geological Survey said it was only a kilometer underground, an indication consistent with a nuclear blast. And in Vienna, the organization that monitors the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty said that tremor had “clear explosionlike characteristics.”WASHINGTON — North Korea appeared to conduct its third, and probably largest, nuclear test on Tuesday, according to American and Asian officials, posing a new challenge for the Obama administration in its effort to keep the country from becoming a full-fledged nuclear power.

Preliminary estimates suggested a test far larger than the previous two conducted by the North, though probably less powerful than the first bomb the United States dropped on Japan, in Hiroshima, in 1945.

If confirmed, the test would be the first under the country’s new leader, Kim Jong-un, and an open act of defiance to the Chinese, who urged the young leader not to risk open confrontation by setting off the weapon. In the past few days a Chinese newspaper that is often reflective of the government’s thinking said the North must “pay a heavy price” if it proceeded with the test. But it was unclear how China would act at the United Nations Security Council, which was heading into emergency session as news of the suspected blast played out.

The Obama administration has already threatened to take additional action to penalize the North if it conducts a test, through the United Nations. But the fact is that there are few sanctions left to apply against the most unpredictable country in Asia. The only penalty that would truly hurt the North would be a cutoff of oil and other aid from China. And until now, despite issuing warnings, the Chinese have feared instability and chaos in the North more than its growing nuclear and missile capability, and the Chinese leadership has refused to participate in sanctions.

Mr. Kim, believed to be about 29, appears to be betting that even a third test would not change the Chinese calculus.

The apparent test set off a scramble among Washington’s Asian allies to assess what the North Koreans had done.

The United States sent aloft aircraft equipped with delicate sensors that may, depending on the winds, be able to determine whether it was a plutonium or uranium weapon. The Japanese defense minister, Itsunori Onodera, said Japan had ordered the dispatch of an Air Self-Defense Force jet to monitor for radioactivity in Japanese airspace.

Japan’s new prime minister, Shinzo Abe, told Parliament that “based on precedents, Japan believes that this quake was triggered by a North Korean nuclear test,” and said the country was considering “its own actions, including sanctions, to resolve this and other issues.”

But the threat may be largely empty, because trade is limited and the United States and its allies have refrained from a naval blockade of North Korea or other steps that could revive open conflict, which has been avoided on the Korean Peninsula since an armistice was declared 60 years ago.

It may take days or weeks to determine if the test, if that is what it proves to be, was successful. American officials will also be looking for signs of whether the North, for the first time, conducted a test of a uranium weapon, based on a uranium enrichment capability it has been pursuing for a decade. The past two tests used plutonium, reprocessed from one of the country’s now-defunct nuclear reactors. While the country has only enough plutonium for a half-dozen or so bombs, it can produce enriched uranium well into the future.

No country is more interested in the results of the North’s nuclear program, or the Western reaction, than Iran, which is pursuing its own uranium enrichment program. The two countries have long cooperated on missile technology, and many intelligence officials believe they share nuclear knowledge as well, though so far there is no hard evidence

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Exclu : 10+ blogueurs donnent leurs revenus pub

Ah la difficile question des revenus publicitaires des blogueurs, interrogation récurrente de tous, sujet tabou par excellence… mais visiblement pas pour tout le monde ! La très grande majorité des blogueurs que j’ai contactés à ce sujet m’a répondue (oui Monsieur, ma phrase est grammaticalement correcte… à priori). Et c’est avec grand plaisir que je remercie tous ceux qui m’ont répondus.

Place aux résultats de ma demande. Mais au fait, quelle demande ?

La question des revenus publicitaires sur les blogs

Les blogueurs que j’ai contactés devaient répondre à la question suivante : en admettant que la personne gagnant le plus de monde dans la sphère High-Tech engrange 100, combien vous rapporte votre blog ?

La base 100 étant bien sûr Presse-Citron. Enfin bien sûr, disons sans doute, car celui-ci n’a pas daigné me répondre. Attention, je ne le blâme pas, je comprends qu’il ait d’autres choses à faire et que la question du revenu lui revient souvent dans la tronche. Je n’ai donc pas eu la confirmation sur le fait que ce soit lui qui ramasse le plus, mais admettons-le, ça doit bien être le cas.

Vous donner le classement des blogueurs contactés n’aurait pas de sens, dans la mesure où je n’ai pas fixé mes demandes sur la base d’un quelconque classement, au risque de me faire (encore) tomber dessus. Non, je ne favorise pas les blogueurs VIP du nord de la france quand il ne neige pas. Enfin, pas tous. 

Les revenus du blog Presse Citron

Commençons directement avec les gains de Presse Citron. 100 Keegflouz, c’est mignon, mais ça fait combien en euros ? Les gains de Presse Citron s’élèvent à… 4 000€ (bénéfices), en tout cas pour certains blogueurs qui m’ont répondus. D’autres estiment le double de cette somme, mais ça me parait surestimé, tout comme des billets sponsorisés à 5 000€. Il me semblait plus que les quelques billets sponsorisés qu’a pu faire Eric étaient de l’ordre de 500€ à 1500€, ce qui est déjà fantastiquement intéressant.

Les revenus des blogueurs

Et les blogueurs que j’ai interrogés alors ?

J’ai peut-être été un peu trop réticent à demander les revenus, j’ai même eu un reproche, du genre : « Putain le nobrain, pourquoi tu ne me demandes pas mes revenus cash le revenant ? » (bon, j’exagère légèrement). En tout cas, certains m’ont donné leurs revenus en Keegflouz, d’autres n’ont pas hésité à donner leurs revenus en euros, que je vais donc vous communiquer juste après. Ces gentils blogueurs (slurp !) sont bien entendu au courant qu’un billet va voir le jour.

Number One du plus gros salaire, j’ai nommé Roget. Il m’annonce pour décembre 2009 unrevenu de 750€ pas mal non ? Il faut dire que son blog est clairement bien visité, et qu’il y a aussi pas mal de publicité. D’après ma dernière étude, sa page d’accueil contient 25,5% de publicité, soit le plus gros taux des plus gros blogueurs High-Tech français.

Derrière, on retrouve Autour du Web, qui s’estime non sans mal à 15 Keegflouz, soit 600€. Mais bon, comme il me dit, c’est un peu la merde… il ne connait pas les revenus de Presse Citron… Un chiffre à modifier Cédric ? Sa transparence est sans faille, croyez-moi.  Je pense même qu’il serait capable de lancer une intifada contre tout blogueur n’annonçant pas de chiffre. Au dernier relevé, sa page d’accueil contenait un petit 2% de publicité, seulement.

Autour d’un Café tourne lui à un joli 400€ par mois (un peu plus en décembre), ce qui est vraiment intéressant. D’ailleurs, pour tout vous dire, j’ai été un peu surpris… mais pas tant que ça. En y regardant de plus près comme ceux qui ne suivent pas plus que ça son blog, on s’aperçoit que son rythme est impressionnant. A l’heure où j’écris ces lignes, il en est déjà à 5 articles publiés. Rien ne tombe tout seul, c’est déjà une première leçon.

Ensuite, on retrouve Techtrends et Slydnet. Tous les deux s’estiment à 5 Keegflouz, soit environ 200€. Attention, il s’agit pour ces 2 blogs de prendre ces chiffres avec des pincettes, aucun des deux ne m’ayant donné des chiffres directs ou encore l’évaluation du salaire de Presse Citron. Pour l’un d’entre eux, le revenu pourrait être visiblement plus conséquent… en affrontant les impôts en frontal.

Klakinoumi se situe juste un peu derrière, mais visiblement, c’est à des années lumières d’être sa préoccupation, et je le comprends aisément. Je cite une de ses phrases lors de sa réponse par mail, qui me semble très pertinente et à laquelle on peut adhérer sans grande difficulté :« L’expérience utilisateur est pour moi bien plus importante que le rendement du blog. [...] C’est ma philosophie. »

Goonline, blog belge (encore un^^) plus modeste en terme d’audience, mais très intéressant, s’estime lui à 1 ou 2 keegflouz, soit entre 40€ et 80€. Gagner quelques euros grâce à sa passion, c’est toujours ça de pris.

Par ici, ça blogue gratos, ou presque

Et puis il y a les autres, ces derniers de classe, tous ces blogs bidons incapables d’avoir un minimum d’audience pour gratter ne serait ce que quelques centimes… Non je plaisante, il s’agit de putains de blogs ayant choisi (ou non-choisi) de ne pas gratter un rond avec leur petit bijou.

On commence avec Blogmotion qui a décidé contre vents et marrées de ne pas monétiser son blog. Il estime tout de même qu’il pourrait atteindre 10 Keegflouz, soit 400€ mensuel. Son choix est simplement motivé par une volonté stratégique de ne pas modifier la ligne éditoriale de son blog. Mr Xhark a d’ailleurs une pensée que je me suis empressé de relever, qu’il a d’ailleurs modifiée dans un second mail, le risque d’attentat contre son chat était trop important à supporter mentalement parlant. « Les blogs pro (dont l’auteur en tire des revenus significatifs) sont parfois plus amateurs que les amateurs sur la qualité et la pertinence du contenu ainsi mis en ligne » (NDRL : dans le sens où les amateurs sont des pros en activité).

Freewares & Tutos ne monétise lui non plus pas son blog, qui fait pourtant une grosse audience. Pire, il fonctionne même avec Adblock, outil fort intéressant que j’ai moi-même utilisé dans le passé mais qui me semble avec le recul des années véritablement trop border-line (mais c’est une autre histoire). Cela dit, il ne semble pas forcément réfractaire à l’idée d’y ajouter un peu de pub, et j’imagine que les quelques chiffres que je donne ici vont lui permettre de prendre une décision.

En dernier lieu, on retrouve une utilisation du blog qui me semble fort intéressante. Il s’agit de celle de notre cher Lionel de Websourcing. Aucun revenu direct pour lui… non aucun. Sauf que son blog lui sert de vrai tremplin au niveau de son job. Il réalise indirectement, grace à son image, des missions d’audit et des prestations pour ses clients. Pas mal non ?

Blog et revenu, au final ?

On a fait le tour de l’ensemble des 11 blogueurs, en tout cas il me semble. Le billet est peut-être un peu long, mais il fallait au moins ça pour faire le tour des choses, en espérant que cet article vous ait aiguillé sur la publicité, la monétisation, mais aussi la façon dont un blog est utilisable. En dernier lieu, je souhaite lancer un avertissement si des internautes novices tombent sur ce billet. Les blogueurs dont j’ai parlés sont globalement reconnus, avec un certain talent (voire un talent certain) et passent de nombreuses heures par semaine à bloguer, avec tout ce que cela comprend. Car bloguer ne consiste pas qu’à écrire un billet.

Le bonjour à votre compte Adsense.

Real Madrid v Manchester United: Sir Alex Ferguson cannot wait to be reunited with Cristiano Ronaldo

It was a moment that Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo will long cherish, a moment when manager and player seemed almost father and son. The moment came when, arms entwined, faces smiling, they descended the steps at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in 2008, having collected their Champions League booty.

Their hair was soaked from the driving rain, their gleaming medals swinging from side to side, almost tangling, as they journeyed back down to the pitch where Ronaldo’s team-mates were getting the party started. Ronaldo draped his right arm around the shoulder of the man he call his “father in football”, the mentor who took a teenager out of Sporting Lisbon for £12 million and turned him into a champion of Europe, a Ballon d’Or winner and eventually a superstar who cost Real Madrid£80 million.

As they reached the bottom of the steps, Ferguson put his left arm around Ronaldo, giving him an affectionate, congratulatory touch before pushing his No 7 towards the throng of red-shirted players assembling for the explosion of streamers, flashbulbs, fireworks and corks. Whatever happens on Wednesday night in the Bernabéu, and particularly when Ronaldo returns to Old Trafford with Real on March 5, they will always have Moscow and that deep mutual respect.

Re-acquaintance with Ronaldo brings many joyous reminiscences for Ferguson and the Stretford End. There are the memories of his skewering of Arsenal right-backs down the years: Lauren, Bacary Sagna, and particularly Justin Hoyte in 2008. Poor Hoyte was transfixed by Ronaldo’s parade of step-overs, touches, nudges of the ball and sway of the hips down by the corner-flag. Hoyte’s self-restraint system blew and he dived in on Ronaldo, kicking his tormentor on the right shin.

On one occasion in Europe, Ronaldo kept twisting Sulley Muntari so much that the Inter Milan player could respond only illegally, leaving him on the floor. Amusingly, Mario Balotelli raced over to admonish Ronaldo for allegedly showing a lack of respect for his opponents.

Ronaldo developed wonderfully under Ferguson. The player himself had a drive to improve and a hunger to take on the world but the manager provided the road-map. Ferguson gave him the advice to cut out the simulation, explaining the need to apply his remarkable gifts for the good of the team. “When he first came he wanted to display his tricks and his technical abilities but he overcame all the little flaws in his game and became a fully-rounded player," said Ferguson

So many goals. Many were right-footed, and unstoppable such as the unforgettable moment in 2009 when he raced across Porto’s Estadio do Dragao pitch, moving faster than Fernando, Rolando and Bruno Alves before propelling a blistering 35-yarder past Helton.

Such range. Manchester United fans remember the back-heel againstAston Villa, the header against Chelsea in the Champions Leaguefinal and the occasional slalom in from the right and left-footed finish, as when cutting inside Everton’s Lee Carsley and shooting past Tim Howard.

United frequently celebrated his free kick prowess. “David James stands like a statue," screamed the man from MUTV as one Ronaldo free kick flew with power and dip into the Portsmouth net in 2008. In the dressing-room afterwards, Ronaldo paused to admire the television replay of the goal. Narcissistic tendencies are never far away. A year later, Ronaldo was sending a 40-yard free kick past Arsenal’s Manuel Almunia in the Champions League semi-final. Note to Robin van Persie: don’t foul Ronaldo (as happened then).

Ronaldo practised hard, still does. He honed his dead-ball technique with Nani, Anderson and Ryan Giggs in particular at Carrington. “He would practise half an hour after every training session," continued Ferguson. “It’s a simple route to become a complete footballer. The more you practise the better you become."

In the penalty shoot-out in Moscow, Ronaldo failed to outfox Petr Cech but his stuttering run-up, committing the keeper, has so often paid off – as seen in emphatic 2007 spot-kicks against Watford and Spurs.

Ferguson helped enhance Ronaldo’s tactical intelligence, inviting him to switch flanks, setting opposing full-backs new tasks. In a 3-0 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford on Jan 11, 2009, Ronaldo first ran at Ashley Cole, getting some crosses in, then moved across to work over Chelsea’s right-backs, first Jose Bosingwa then Juliano Belletti.

He withstood a physical battering: Frank Lampard kicked him, Cole body-checked him, Ricardo Carvalho pulled his shirt and tripped him while eventually Belletti got close enough to clatter him. Ronaldo refused to be intimidated.

When Ronaldo left Old Trafford that summer, Real acquired a man and player who had matured under Ferguson. He has continued to refine his trade. Ronaldo now looks the complete athlete, strong and fast. The goals fly in, even more rapidly. Again, it is the range that is breathtaking: whether a dribble through Almeria’s defence, a left-footed shot against Ajax or more set-piece pyrotechnics. Against Marseille on Dec 9, 2009, Ronaldo made a 30-yard free kick easily clear a jumping wall but then drop down suddenly to beat Steve Mandanda.

On Feb 26, 2012, he kept Mourinho’s side on course for the La Liga title with a back-heeled goal against Rayo Vallecano, superior even to the Villa one. Last month, he scored the perfect hat-trick against Getafe, running on to Mesut Ozil’s pass to score left-footed, heading in Angel di Maria’s cross at the far-post before converting a right-footed penalty.

“With Ronaldo’s form you have to say he is pivotal to everything they (Real) do," added Ferguson. “179 goals in 178 matches tells its own story. He’s a fantastic player. I knew he would improve tremendously. He was still young when he left us but it was obvious he was going to be the top player in the world.”

Ronaldo’s face was a picture of frustration when Barcelona’s Lionel Messi won a fourth successive Ballon d’Or last month. “You can have your debates about the best player in the world but both have records unsurpassed at both clubs," said Ferguson. “So Ronaldo shouldn’t really worry about that. I know it is maybe denying him World Player of the Year. Messi has won it four years in a row, quite rightly because the goals he’s scoring is uncanny. I’ve just heard from Madrid this morning that when Messi signed a new five-year contract, all the centre-halves resigned! He’s only 25, Christ!"

In assessing Ronaldo’s place in Real legend, Ferguson name-checked Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos and Raul. “But I don’t think any of those players were as good as Ronaldo. Zidane – fantastic player. Figo – fantastic player. But not as good as Ronaldo. He’s beaten all the records there. He’s beaten Di Stefano, Puskas, Hugo Sanchez, all their records. He’s indelibly printed in their history now.”

United’s manager felt that Ronaldo must “miss some parts" of life in England. “The glare of publicity he gets in Madrid will be different from here. Everyone knows in Madrid there are cameras everywhere." There are fewer cloggers. “Him and Messi — it’s amazing these great players don’t miss games. I don’t know if it is the kind of protection they get in Spain as opposed to here."

Ferguson does not envisage Ronaldo returning to the Premier League. “Everyone talks about that but I don’t see it," said Ferguson. “He has two-and-a-half years on his contract and if you were to try and buy him back you are talking about hundreds of millions. That rules out everyone, including Barcelona. I think Madrid are trying hard to get him a new contract, I think that’s happening." So had United sold Ronaldo too cheaply? “I know, I know! I told them (David Gill and the United board). Should have asked for 150. Would have got it probably!”

Champions League watch

Tuesday 7.45pm, ITV1
Celtic v Juventus
Top of Serie A, Juventus have survived a wobble but will fret on the fitness of Andrea Pirlo. Their midfield is phenomenal, their strike force less so, and Neil Lennon will want to disrupt the Italians’ passing game. The return of goalkeeper Fraser Forster could be crucial but defender Efe Ambrose is still at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Wednesday 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1
Real Madrid v Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson has indicated he will rotate his players for today’s match against Everton and he could take a defensive line-up to the Bernabeu to keep the tie 'alive’ going into the second leg. Stopping Cristiano Ronaldo will be key but Madrid, riven by injuries and discontent, have to be equally aware of Robin van Persie’s threat.

Tips For an Awesome Social Media Campaign

For small businesses and international corporations alike, social media platforms have become an essential part of marketing strategies. It’s relatively inexpensive, and a great way to reach out to new customers, and give existing customers a platform to discuss your business. But it’s not easy. Millions of users are posting information on a daily basis, and social media sites exist primarily as an avenue for community interaction. To attract attention to your business, you’ll have to utilize plenty of creativity, prepare a precise plan, maintain consistency in your interactions, and find a way to gauge success.

Get Your House in Order

Before you begin a social media campaign, you’ll want to ensure your website and blog are set up for easy navigation and search engine optimized. The last thing you want is to drive a bunch of people to your blog or landing page and not deliver the goods. Create an online environment that informs, entertains and offers something unique to users. Then, register on all the social media sites you feel are relevant. You want to secure your brand and build and maintain a presence as many places as possible, within reason. Make sure your website and blog communicate with the same voice and expertise as your social content. If you start to attract fans in the social sphere, they’ll expect consistency.

Select a Platform and Set Clear Goals

What are you hoping to gain from your social media campaign? Are you trying to reinforce your brand identity to consumers with short bursts of advertising? A Twitter campaign may be best. Do you want to offer promotional competitions or organize sponsored events? Facebook may be your answer. Are you going to focus on business to business transactions? Linkedin may be the way to go. Identify your target audience and formulate a plan that addresses their interests and desires specifically.

Be Creative and Stand Out

How does your audience interact with social media? Try to formulate a strong campaign theme that will stand out amongst the rest of the chatter. Effective social media campaigns require a large dose of imagination and should include clear calls to action. They are also all about timing. Keep a keen eye on what’s trending in Google, attempt to forecast fan activity, and implement your campaign at the right time. In addition to knowing when to launch, you’ll want to know when to bring an end to your campaign. Even if users genuinely enjoy participating, there is always the matter of fatigue to consider. You don’t want to alienate your fans by overwhelming them. And whatever you do, don’t spam. Everything you say should be entertaining or offer a creative solution to a problem.

Stay Engaged

Social media marketing is not about speaking at potential consumers or clients. It’s about speaking with them. It’s fairly easy to get users to “like” your post, or even repost it. But you should be seeking more than that. Try to initiate a conversation. If people are acknowledging your posts, acknowledge them right back. Ask open-ended questions and don’t be afraid to be provocative. Remember, the more people actively engage with you and your business, the more they become invested in what it is you have to offer. Make it easy for users to participate and reward them for doing so. Additionally, don’t be afraid to address negative comments. If you simply ignore negative feedback, other readers and viewers will notice and wonder why you’re being evasive. Address concerns and supply answers with a human voice. If someone is obviously trolling and purposefully trying to damage your business without good reason, keep a positive attitude and remain polite. Don’t get dragged down to their level. Other users will notice that you took the high road.

Track

Do you best to analyze which social marketing methods are working best. Track actions that users are taking. Which posts and on which platforms are they responding? Experiment with different versions of Tweets or posts to determine what is generating discussion and action. Once you begin to understand how users are discovering your social outlets and how they are interacting with your brand, you can begin to tweak and make adjustments until your social media rewards are worth your investment of time.

Long Hairstyles For Men

Long hairstyles for men are generally avoided by guys who don’t have the confidence to try something a little different – but, done right, a long haircut can add a lot of flair and pizzazz to your look.

A lot of guys who want long hair make the mistake of letting it grow wild, while the messy look can work well with long hair, it does pay to make sure that it’s styled in the right way to avoid looking like you have no pride in your appearance.

Girls pay a lot of attention to the effort guys put into their grooming and in particularly, their hair style.

Your best bet with long hair is to model yourself on a celebrity who has a similar shaped face to you. If you ever get told you look like a particular famous person who has had a long hairstyle at some point in their career, that’s what you should be using as a model.

The Shag

The name of this cut should hopefully give you some idea of what it looks like – it’s a long cut which is intended to look a bit messy and unkempt. It involves a lot of layering in the hair. There’s a lot of flexibility with this style – it doesn’t necessarily have to be a mess, it can be more smooth and tailored. Think Sawyer from the TV series ‘Lost’ (Josh Holloway) for a good example of this type of cut. His style can look good both messed up, on a desert island, and preened and perfect for the red carpet.

The Surfer Style Cut

This is a really messy style that suits guys with extreme personalities. It’s a form of the shag style, generally worn with a little bit of styling product for a wet look so that it hangs free. It’s a good style if you hate standing in front of the mirror preening yourself – just put some product in, give your head a few flicks and you’re done. Think Matthew McConaughey in the film ‘The Surfer Dude’.

The Russell Brand Look

This image is becoming popular these days, particularly since Russell tied the knot with Katy Perry. But this look is hard to pull off if you don’t have the style and confidence to go with it. Done wrong, you’ll just look like a computer game addict who forgot to get a haircut, rather than a world famous celebrity.

Be aware also that sporting this look will change the type and number of women who are attracted to you. Some girls just don’t like beards and long hair, end of story. But there is a percentage of the female population (many of them very attractive) who can’t resist the rugged rock star look when it’s done right.

Tom Cruise, Last Samurai

Regardless of what you think of Tom’s antics, he’s definitely shown off some good long hairstyles for men over the years. His hair from the movie ‘The Last Samurai’ is a good example, where the hair is parted at the side and sweeps back over the ears, framing the face.