JAAP Stam seemed such a nice quiet chap.

Yet here he is telling the world that Alex Ferguson made an illegal approach for him.

Not such a great shock as I'm sure illegal approaches are part and parcel of football.

A bit more surprising is Stam's view that Michael Owen is over-rated and that defenders have got the measure of him.

That would be why Stam was left red-faced when Owen nipped in to score in the Charity Shield on Sunday then, wouldn't it?

The Charity Shield also sorted out those who wondered if Ruud van Nistelrooy would fit in.

It takes a special kind of person to play for United. You need a certain attitude and the sight of Van Nistelrooy chasing the referee around moaning about decisions proved he's just the man for the job.