Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[lacoruna69]

Another draw at home ground.....

what is worrying is the goals seemed to come from Chicharito yet again....

and only 1.....

SAF need to get this fixed....cannot switch Rooney between midfield n forward constantly.

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by S.B.Y.1

Man U 1- Newcastle U 1

Man U lost 2 points

Mas mr_missile any thoughts

hi pak. nice of u to drop by this thread. yes, it's 2 points dropped at home. the penalty decision really made the difference.

united is currently undergoing a slump of sorts. injuries to key defenders midfielders cleverley and anderson, plus the recent loss of form of young and even rooney to some extent, put an end to the swashbuckling attacking play in the early matches of the season.

let's see if sir alex opens his wallet to buy a creative midfielder during the transfer window in jan.

but i'm sure we'll recover to challenge for the title come jan irregardless.

glory glory man united!

[mr_missile]

Fergie: Result was a travesty

Sir Alex Ferguson labelled Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Newcastle "a travesty" after the Magpies' controversial equaliser at Old Trafford.

United could now fall seven points behind leaders Manchester City if they win at Liverpool on Sunday.

But the result hinged on a highly dubious penalty call, when United were leading through Javier Hernandez's second-half effort.

When Rio Ferdinand slid in on Hatem Ben Arfa, referee Mike Jones indicated a corner, only for assistant John Flynn to signal a spot-kick.

TV replays indicated Ferdinand's challenge had been legal but after discussing the decision with Flynn, Jones refused to overrule his assistant and Demba Ba tucked home the spot-kick.

"Everyone was astounded," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"The referee was so near. He was only eight yards away.

"Whether he ever gets a game again the assistant referee is not for me to decide.

"But it was an absolutely shocking decision. It costs you that.

"Two years ago when the linesman gave an offside goal for Chelsea it cost us the league."

Although Ferguson did not claim the officials were unfit, as he did of Alan Wiley in 2009, a statement he was forced to apologise for and still received a two-match touchline ban, he did make one quite pointed remark.

"The problem is the referees are full-time and the linesmen are not," he said.

Ferguson recounted an incident in the home game against Sunderland earlier this month, when a linesman flagged for a penalty, only for referee Lee Mason to, correctly, give the decision in United's favour as an example of what should have happened.

"We had a situation a few weeks ago," he said. "The linesman gave a penalty for a handball, which was obviously an opponent's hand.

"He was put in a terrible quandary. He didn't know what to do.

"But he knew fine well it was a handball from an opponent and overruled the linesman. That is what he should have done today."

Ferguson confirmed he had not spoken to Jones after the final whistle.

"I never speak to referees, never," he said. "There is no point."

United players surrounded Jones at the final whistle, with Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney particularly upset as they made their way off the field.

Even Newcastle manager Alan Pardew accepted his team had "got a break", although he did feel Ferdinand had taken a chance by sliding in.

"It was a good spell for us," he said.

"We put them under pressure and you can get something when you do that, even against the best teams.

"I thought the tackle was risky.

"He definitely played the ball. I have seen it.

"Whether the referee thought he took a bit of Hatem before he got the ball is debatable.

"If it was against me I would be very aggrieved.

"We got a break but we still had to score the goal and Demba was very cool. The place was going mad. I wouldn't have liked to take it."

Newcastle deserved some credit for the barrage of late attacks they managed to withstand, despite having Jonas Gutierrez sent off.

Tim Krul made a string of fine saves, former United defender Danny Simpson denied Hernandez with a magnificent goalline clearance and the Mexican had an effort ruled out for offside deep into stoppage time.

"It was a fantastic performance by us and an incredible result. To not get the three points from that is just a travesty," said Ferguson.

"I could see us scoring because we kept creating chances and the normal pattern of these 15-minute surges is that we create chances and we are okay.

"They put their bodies on the line. I give them credit for that.

"We absolutely slaughtered them but we just couldn't get the result.

"It is disappointing but if we play like that every week, I will be very happy."

After playing both Manchester clubs away from home on successive weekends, Pardew declined to say who he thought would end the season on top.

He does think last weekend's loss taught his own side a valuable lesson that helped them immensely today.

"It is going to be about when they come up against the top teams," said Pardew.

"That is going to be the difference. To say which one I favour would be unfair on either camp.

"I do know we sat off Manchester City last week.

"We made an error doing that. I felt we were better today.

"I don't know where to start with the second half. It was all going off.

"Our attitude and defending deserved a point. The heroism in that penalty box was unbelievable. They were Geordie heroes."

[lacoruna69]

Originally Posted by mr_missile

let's see if sir alex opens his wallet to buy a creative midfielder during the transfer window in jan.

but i'm sure we'll recover to challenge for the title come jan irregardless.

glory glory man united!

So....Wesley Sneijder will again be targeted?

Inter not doing well in Serie A, can SAF tempt him away?


"Come get me, Old Fergie.....I'm not scared of your hair dyer treatment coz I got not much hair to begin with....."

X'mas is coming....5 pts off Man City......Pool nearly did a great favor for SAF.....but well.....have to be content with a draw.
Getting a top spot at X'mas will be crucial.

Who can stop Man City?

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by lacoruna69

So....Wesley Sneijder will again be targeted?

Inter not doing well in Serie A, can SAF tempt him away?

X'mas is coming....5 pts off Man City......Pool nearly did a great favor for SAF.....but well.....have to be content with a draw.

Getting a top spot at X'mas will be crucial.

Who can stop Man City?

sneijder's wage demands was the main stumbling block when sir alex expressed interest to buy him before the start of the season. i seriously doubt if saf will go back to inter for him again as he will be "cup-tied" in the champs league this year.

a good buy will be modric of spurs. but it will definitely cost a bigger bomb now to sign him (earlier chelski offered around 30m pounds for modric and spurs didn't sell). another stumbling block is that modric expressed his desire to join the blues and not united. saf doesn't like to sign players who do not profess to want to join united, assuming spurs is willing to do business.

yes, pool did us a favour by holding city last nite. else city would have been 7pts ahead already. proves that city can stumble too.

one thing that may work against united is that if city is really knocked out of the champs league, they will have one less distraction of euro football (i doubt if mancini will take the europa league seriously) and will therefore concentrate on winning the premier league. they will take some serious stopping then.

[lacoruna69]

Originally Posted by mr_missile

yes, pool did us a favour by holding city last nite. else city would have been 7pts ahead already. proves that city can stumble too.

one thing that may work against united is that if city is really knocked out of the champs league, they will have one less distraction of euro football (i doubt if mancini will take the europa league seriously) and will therefore concentrate on winning the premier league. they will take some serious stopping then.

Up to this point, still not sure what Mancini's priorities lies.
UCL is $$$$ pot.
Yes...talking of UCL....
Seemed like Serie A mid table Napoli got a way to stop Man City.
They draw at Eastlands and beat them at San Paolo......
Cavani scored all the goals.

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by lacoruna69

Up to this point, still not sure what Mancini's priorities lies.
UCL is $$$$ pot.
Yes...talking of UCL....
Seemed like Serie A mid table Napoli got a way to stop Man City.
They draw at Eastlands and beat them at San Paolo......
Cavani scored all the goals.

i don't think mancini is targetting the UCL this season. he mentioned something like man city won't win the UCL in a news report recently.

city won the FA cup last season to break their duck in terms of trophy-less seasons. they will gun for the EPL this time round.

the bookmakers have installed them as early favourites to win the EPL. united is 2nd favourites followed by chelski.

napoli played very well in the 2 games vs city. not just cavani, but marek hamsik too. and city are rumoured to be interested in buying these 2 players already.

[omnia]

if i were the 2 mancs...i wld be more concerned abt Spurs...

Originally Posted by mr_missile

the bookmakers have installed them as early favourites to win the EPL. united is 2nd favourites followed by chelski.

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by omnia

if i were the 2 mancs...i wld be more concerned abt Spurs...

hi bro, welcome to the thread.

you do have a point there. current favourites are as what i have posted. spurs' odds have been slashed though, reflecting their current hot form.

even the gunners too. they were 4th favourites at the start of the campaign and saw their odds shoot up with the drop in form for the 1st few games. now their odds are being slashed again. thks to a certain rvp!

oh ya, got to thank u reds for holding our "noisy neighbours" on sunday.

[mr_missile]

Fergie fumes at United showing

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson apologised to fans after his side were dumped out of the Carling Cup by Crystal Palace.

Glenn Murray headed an extra-time winner as the Championship outfit claimed a memorable 2-1 quarter-final win at Old Trafford.

Ferguson, who had made 10 changes for the tie, paid tribute to the visitors but was far from impressed by the performance of his own players.

He told MUTV: "I don't know where to start to be honest.

"My apologies are to the fans because that was not a Manchester United performance.

"I don't want to take anything away from Crystal Palace. I wish them every success and hope they get to the final because it was a fantastic, mammoth effort from them tonight. Every one of their players worked their socks off to try to get to the semi-final.

"I am just very disappointed."

Palace took the lead with a stunning goal from Darren Ambrose on 65 minutes but United looked the most likely to progress after Federico Macheda replied from the penalty spot.

Yet Palace dug deep and grabbed the winner in the 98th minute when Murray, despite being close to straying offside, nodded in an Ambrose free-kick.

Ferguson said: "When it went to extra time I thought we must win but it was not to be.

"Obviously the goal was offside - the second goal - from what I have seen.

"We are not getting any luck from linesmen just now but I can't take that away from Crystal Palace. They fought hard to get the result and they deserve it."

Goalscorer Ambrose savoured a "great occasion".

"It's fantastic," Ambrose told Sky Sports 1.

"It was a great occasion coming here against the champions.

"It was a massive occasion for the fans."

Cardiff await in the last four after the draw was made following the match, meaning one npower Championship club will take on either Manchester City or Liverpool at Wembley.

Wednesday night's win was made all the more remarkable by a poor run of Championship form, which has seen Palace go five games without a win or a goal.

"We've had a quiet period in the season but we came here in confident mood and the spirit is fantastic," Ambrose continued.

"We've got a great team spirit, it's a lot different from last year - we can beat anyone, and we showed that tonight.

"We weren't worried about the lack of goals, we've got goalscorers and that showed tonight, it was a great finish from Glenn on the second."

Manager Dougie Freedman, who has earned plaudits for his work since taking over a cash-strapped club midway through last season, added: "It's a wonderful night for the club, especially given the position we've been in the last few years.

"To play at Old Trafford tonight, we're privileged, the lads learnt a lot from tonight.

"I think we deserved it. We played some stuff, some good football.

"We thought if we came with a gameplan that could be stuck to and everybody played eight, nine, 10 out of 10 we could do it."

[omnia]

tks for the warm welcum bro...

to me Spurs look like a big real threat for this season's title...in fact i think Spurs hv the best midfield attack at the mo...perhaps even better than Citeh...if they r able to maintain such form n i dont c why not becoz this time rd they do seem to hv that strength in depth which they lacked previously then they sld be there r thereabts cum next May...more so now that spurs look headed out of the europa league so not much distractions left...

cuming to the red devils...looks like they r now appearing to miss paul scholes badly n the young ones still need time to find their way...if fergie cant get it right in midfield by the close of the winter transfer window then i think man u shall struggle to retain the title...in fact i wld even stick my neck out further n say united may even struggle to be in the top 2...

gooners?...think they r too reliant on van persie n their young ones still need more time to find their way...so dont think they will be in the top 2 or even top 3 cum next May...particularly wif Wilshire still out of action...however if arsene pulls out a magic rabbit r two cum the winter transfer window than u never can tell what may happen...but as it stands i cant see this happening...

must also give a headup to the magpies...interesting to c where newcastle lie in the table after xmas/newyr period...

as for my beloved reds...on balance think the reds sld hv taken the full 3 pts off Citeh on sunday...still it was a great match n if u told me the match was going to be a draw beforehand i wld gladly hv taken it, just being greedy mate!...also enjoyed the antics of that wonder boy/man twat Balotelli especially his exchange wif mancini when he was sent off n his tantrum in the dressing room later where he apparently broke the dressing room door in a fit of anger!!:...as an aside big sad blow for the reds at the bridge on tues night notwithstanding a great win agast the Chavs wif Lucas getting a cruciate ligament injury which rules him out for the rest of the season...now going to be real tough for the reds to get a top 4 spot

cheerios

Originally Posted by mr_missile

hi bro, welcome to the thread.

you do have a point there. current favourites are as what i have posted. spurs' odds have been slashed though, reflecting their current hot form.

even the gunners too. they were 4th favourites at the start of the campaign and saw their odds shoot up with the drop in form for the 1st few games. now their odds are being slashed again. thks to a certain rvp!

oh ya, got to thank u reds for holding our "noisy neighbours" on sunday.

[mr_missile]

Jones goal keeps United in hunt

Phil Jones scored his first career goal as Manchester United cut the gap at the top of the table to five points with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa.

Jones struck after 20 minutes as United extended their unbeaten league run at Villa Park to 16 years.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side climbed back above Tottenham, who had briefly gone second with their win earlier this afternoon, and remained five points adrift of Manchester City after dominating for long periods.

The down side for the Red Devils was the early loss of striker Javier Hernandez with a serious-looking ankle injury, though they overcame his absence with relative ease.

Jones was given licence to go forward in midfield with Michael Carrick operating in the holding role, while Chris Smalling also did well in shackling Villa's most potent threat in Gabriel Agbonlahor for long periods.

Villa, meanwhile, confirmed winger Charles N'Zogbia had been left out of their match plans for an undisclosed breach of club discipline.

But they also suffered a double injury setback during the game with keeper Shay Given (leg) and Jermaine Jenas (ankle) both stretchered off.

Villa looked more threatening in the second period but could have no complaints with the outcome.

United winger Ashley Young was greeted with boos from some sections of the home fans on his return to Villa Park.

United suffered an early setback when Hernandez appeared to twist his ankle when it became caught in the Villa Park surface after turning sharply.

There was a lengthy delay while Hernandez received treatment but he was unable to continue and was stretchered off and replaced by Antonio Valencia.

It came as no surprise when Jones put United ahead with a clinical finish after 20 minutes.

Patrice Evra released the overlapping Nani and his cross was met by Jones who volleyed past Given from close range.

Villa could not get a foothold in the game and it needed a fine save from Given to prevent United doubling their lead.

Young provided the probing cross from the right of the area and Nani's powerful header was turned aside by the Republic of Ireland keeper.

There was a brief moment of danger from Villa when Barry Bannan ran on to a reverse ball from Agbonlahor inside the United box but he over-ran the ball.

But United were the dominant force and Antonio Valencia curled a 25-yard effort just wide after no-one had closed him down.

Given had to be replaced by Brad Guzan after 38 minutes after hurting his leg when racing out of his area to clear.

The second period began in the same vein as the opening 45 minutes with United dominating proceedings.

Wayne Rooney tried his luck from 25 yards out and his shot skidded just past the post.

Then Bannan made a crucial block on Nani's shot from near the penalty area, then Anders Lindegaard clung onto a teasing cross-shot from Agbonlahor in a rare Villa attack.

Jenas became the third player to be substituted after 64 minutes with a serious-looking ankle injury and he also had to be stretchered off.

Villa substitute Emile Heskey almost made an instant impact as he headed wide at the far post after Richard Dunne had flicked on a corner from Bannan.

Young dragged a low 20-yard effort only a couple of feet wide after brushing off the challenge of Bannan.

But Villa were at last showing some menace with Lindegaard turning over a Collins header from a Dunne centre.

Young curled a sot straight at Guzan after good play by Ryan Giggs but could not score against his former team-mates before being substituted after 78 minutes.

Rooney had a quiet afternoon but was just too high with a snap shot after exchanging passes with Carrick.

Substitute Danny Welbeck had the ball in the net in the 90th minute but had strayed offside.

[mr_missile]

City to host United in FA Cup

Holders Manchester City face rivals United in the FA Cup third round, Arsenal host Leeds, Spurs face Cheltenham and Tamworth travel to Everton.

United defender Rio Ferdinand welcomed the cup clash with neighbours City.

The teams will meet again on the weekend of January 7-8 in a rematch of last season's semi-final which Roberto Mancini's side won before going on to lift the cup with victory against Stoke.

Ferdinand tweeted: "3rd round FA cup game vs mancity..great game to kick off this yrs FA cup, can't wait."

[mr_missile]

Basel brush off United hopes

Manchester United surprisingly crashed out of the Champions League following a 2-1 defeat at Basel on Wednesday night.

They were always up against it at St-Jakob Park once Marco Streller had given the hosts a ninth-minute lead.

Though they grew in dominance as the match went on, the elusive equaliser would not come.

Wayne Rooney, who faces a UEFA disciplinary hearing in nearby Nyon on Thursday, wasted their best chance, with Markus Steinhofer belting the ball against his own crossbar midway through the second half.

Alexander Frei added Basel's second eight minutes from time, although United did not go down without a fight.

Phil Jones grabbed a lifetime near the end but the visitors were unable to conjure up a miracle second, leaving Basel to celebrate the greatest night in their history.

In stark contrast, United are counting the massive financial implications of exiting at this stage for the first time since 2005, the lost millions hitting the Glazer family where it hurts the most.

On that occasion, United at least avoided the humiliation of appearing in the Europa League.

Not this time though. After the catastrophe of their 300th European game, United's 301st will be played on a Thursday night.

By half-time, a night that started with the prospect of having to face a fellow European heavyweight in the last 16 was turning towards the prospect of a meeting with Vaslui, Legia Warsaw or Maccabi Haifa.

Although they had started well, United suffered an early hammer blow Ferguson cannot have expected.

A penalty area collision between Nemanja Vidic and Chris Smalling offered Xherdan Shaqiri the opportunity to collect a loose ball and drive a long way down the by-line before drilling a cross across the visitors' goal.

It was not an easy moment for David de Gea. But the young Spaniard might have chosen a better option than to lunge at the ball with his feet, succeeding only in turning it to Streller, whose first-time shot bounced in.

For a good while afterwards United struggled to find an answer to Basel's blanket defence, an ominous sign in itself given the essential need for a goal.

Nani was their best hope, daring opposition defenders to lunge in before escaping their presence with a burst of acceleration.

He must have thought it had done the trick when he sent a low cross to the far post that appeared to set Rooney up with a tap-in at the far-post. Inexplicably, the striker failed to make proper contact.

Park Ji-sung could not react quickly enough either and Yann Sommer snuffed out the danger.

Sommer denied Nani and Ashley Young as the pressure began to mount, with Phil Jones having a shot blocked too.

But the second shattering moment of the half came in the final minute when Vidic and Streller chased down possession, got their legs tangled up and hit the deck.

The Serbian immediately called for assistance and medical staff wasted no time stretchering him down the tunnel, triggering the introduction of Jonny Evans and much half-time soul-searching within the visitors' ranks.

It was the type of situation Roy Keane excelled in.

Sadly for United, the Irishman's presence was limited to that of touchline TV analyst.

Rooney was presented with yet another opportunity four minutes after the restart when Giggs sent him clean through.

The angle was not great but, after opening his body to make room for the curling shot to the far corner, the effort sailed wide.

Even for a team of United's stature, hauling themselves back from two goals down would have been virtually impossible, so De Gea's brilliant fingertip save to turn over Alexander Frei's goalbound free-kick was priceless.

And the visitors so nearly benefited from an outrageous slice of good fortune when, in attempting to hack Nani's cross clear at the far post, Steinhofer succeeded only in rattling the crossbar.

It was one of those moments when fans start to wonder whether this is going to be their night. Rooney heading Nani's cross over from close range was another although, as the striker was offside anyway, it did not matter.

United plugged away for a bit longer but it seemed the life had gone out of their challenge as Frei finished from close range.

Typically the visitors rallied, scoring through Jones, but it was not enough.

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...league?cc=4716

Fergie: We plan to win Europa League
December 9, 2011

ManU manager SAF has revealed his team will be going all out 2 win the Europa League aft crashing out of the Champions League.

In the immediate aftermath of United's exit fr Europe's flagship tournament in Basel on Wednesday, Ferguson claimed being dumped in2 UEFA's secondary club competition was a "punishment''.

However, on Friday he moved 2 clarify his comments & insisted tat United will be fully focused on lifting the only European trophy they hv never won.

"The Europa League is a good competition & a strong competition,'' he said. "You only need 2 look @ the teams left in it.

"I made the point the other night tat it's a punishment 4 us 2 be in the Europa League. Wat I mean by tat is for 20 years tis club has only thought abt the Champions League. We've only thought abt winning tat European Cup.

"That's the punishment in terms of the disappointment of not being able 2 challenge 4 it tis year, esp having been in 3 finals in the last 4 years.

"It's not a slight against the Europa League - it's a competition we 1 2 win. We're in it & we'll try 2 win it.''

United hv won the European Cup, or Champions League, on 3 occasions - 1968, 1999 & 2008 - & the Cup Winners' Cup 1s - in 1991 - but hv never lifted the UEFA Cup, which is now the Europa League.

Their last game in the competition came back in September 1995 when they went out on away goals in the 1st round against Rotor Volgograd, despite an 89th min equaliser @ Old Trafford fr goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.