Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[alex18122003]

Despite a 3-0 win over Aalborg, former England defender Paul Parker is yet to be convinced by Manchester United's early season form.

"Three wins out of three, Wayne Rooney is back on goalscoring form and Dimitar Berbatov has opened his goal account - after a shaky start to the season, things are starting to look up for United.

Or are they?

I'm still not entirely convinced the champions have hit their stride yet. Just over two weeks ago I said there was still more to come from them and, despite the recent upturn in fortunes, that view has not changed.

United's win over AaB Aalborg in the Champions League capped off a run of three wins and two draws - including one away at Chelsea - in all competitions, but for me performances are just as important as results.

Forget about the three points, there's nothing better than a good performance to give players the confidence they need to go and win the next match.

And on the pitch over the past few weeks United have failed to demonstrate that they are the finished article quite yet.

Take the game in Denmark. United gave the ball away cheaply and did not convince against one of the poorest sides in the competition. That the Danish side have Marek Saganowski - a player who could not even make the grade in the Championship - leading their line speaks volumes.

If it had been Arsenal playing at the Energi Nord Arena, the Danish champions would have ended up on the receiving end of a mauling - but United never threatened to do that.

They gave the ball away far too cheaply when they should have been dominating possession and giving Aalborg the run-around.

We've seen it before and United's away form in the competition still worries me. And with trips to Celtic Park and Villarreal still to come, it's not going to get any easier for them. Ferguson can definitely expect more of a battle in Scotland and Spain than the one his side got in Denmark.

But it was good to see Berbatov get on the scoresheet, although his muted celebrations after having found the back of the net were a little odd. His reaction to the first in particular was akin to that of a player who has just netted the sixth goal in an FA Cup drubbing of a lower league minnow, not his first in a United shirt in a Champions League game.

He still seems to be trying to understand what it means to score for a club like United. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to scoring in a 'bigger' Premier League game.

One other pleasing aspect of the game was the introduction of Rafael Da Silva in my old position at right-back. The young Brazilian did well enough and, although on occasion he is too keen to go to ground, he seems to pose a real threat coming forward.

That is something that Wes Brown doesn't really give United, although I don't agree that the England man has been overtaken in the pecking order by Rafael. I know the boss had said he would not experiment with his side in such an important game, but the Brazilian got the nod ahead of Wes purely because it was as good a time as any to give him a run out. I'm sure Wes will be back in the starting line-up for the next game.

Rafael was not born to defend - he was born to run at defences with the ball at his feet - but with coaching, the defensive side of his game can only improve. And at United, the boy is in the best possible place to make that happen."

Agreed with Alex.

While the rest of the Big 4 seems to have improved over last year, Man U looks weaker - complacent and the signing of Berba has caused an upset and a rethink in Man U's attack. Morale is also low over the long running Madrid-Ronaldo saga.

I see them finish 4th this year..

[-1688]

This seasons MAN U will not win any CUP. mark my word.

[yinyang]

Originally Posted by -1688

This seasons MAN U will not win any CUP. mark my word.

Bet your fortunes on it? Your word the very powderful 1

[dom01]

heard Owen Hargreaves going to be offloaded at 15 million...

[dom01]

Hargreaves signed for United in 2007 for around £17 million from Bayern Munich and won the Premier League and the Champions League in his first season at Old Trafford.

However, he was far from a regular in the side due to a catalogue of injuries which restricted him to only 16 league starts.

This season has been no different and Hargreaves has made only one league start, in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, this season following a persistent problem with tendonitis.

The injuries have also kept Hargreaves out of the England squad and forced him to miss the recent successes against Croatia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The News of the World reports that Ferguson would be willing to sell his injury-prone midfielder as early as the January transfer window should an acceptable offer be received.

It is thought that the champions would be willing to take a slight loss on the midfielder and accept an offer in the region of £15 million for Hargreaves.

Certainly the Red Devils are well-stocked in midfield with Anderson, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Rodrigo Possebon, Paul Scholes and now Ryan Giggs all competing for the central positions.

Despite his problems with fitness, Hargreaves is likely to be in demand should the club prove willing to sell the 27-year-old.

The News of the World speculates that both Manchester City and Barcelona would be interested in signing the England international, although United would undoubtedly be unwilling to sell him to neighbours City.

[Cum_Luver]

FifPro team: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Kaka (AC Milan), Xavi (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United).

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named FifPro World Footballer of the Year. It is the first in what is expected to be a host of individual honours for the 23-year-old, who scored 42 goals for Manchester United on their way to Champions League and Premier League title glory last term.

Congratulation to Manchester United's supporter and Cristiano Ronaldo. He fully deserve it.

[alex18122003]

Giggs wants home double

Liverpool may be leading the way in the title race after finally bringing Chelsea's unbeaten home record to an end. But no-one is panicking at Old Trafford, especially not United's most experienced campaigner.

Ten-time title winner Ryan Giggs is experienced enough to knows prizes aren't handed out until May.

Nevertheless, the 34-year-old is well aware of the importance of keeping in touch with the Premier League pace-setters and, having only managed a point at Everton last Saturday, it's vital the Reds secure back-to-back victories this week.

"The fact that we're behind the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea means we need to get back on track as soon as possible," he told MUTV.

"The good thing is we've got a game on Wednesday against West Ham in which to try and do that and another home match with Hull [on Saturday]. Hopefully we can get back to winning ways."

[alex18122003]

Champions League - Team news: United trio out

Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville and Wes Brown have been left out of Manchester United's squad to face Celtic in the Champions League.

England defender Brown (pictured with Van der Sar) has an ankle problem that has seen him sidelined for the last two matches and missed training at Carrington on Tuesday morning.

Neville, who has fought with 18-year-old Brazilian Rafael da Silva recently for the right-back berth vacated by Brown, has also been ruled out. Rafael will therefore start on the right side of defence against the Hoops.

Long-term absentees Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves were the other absentees as the English and European champions flew to Scotland for the Group E clash at Parkhead.

Former Netherlands goalkeeper Van der Sar will be rested by United manager Alex Ferguson ahead of Saturday's match against Arsenal at The Emirates.

He will be replaced in the starting line-up by Ben Foster, who will make his Champions League debut.

"I want to play in as many games as possible, although it is nice to get a little rest once in a blue moon," Van der Sar told the Red Devils' television station.

"I realise you cannot win things with 11 or 12 players."

Ferguson decided not to take 19-year-old reserve team skipper James Chester, who had been expected to make the trip north, while Angolan striker Manucho also misses out.

If United win the match, they will progress to the knock-out phase of the competition having taken seven points from their opening three matches, the same as Villarreal. Celtic and Aalborg have both earned one.

Full squad:

Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Foster; Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, John O'Shea, Rafael da Silva, Jonny Evans; Rodrigo Possebon, Anderson, Darren Fletcher, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Darron Gibson, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Park Ji-Sung; Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney.

[alex18122003]

Premier League - Ronaldo shines as United thump Stoke

Two Cristiano Ronaldo free-kicks set Manchester United on the way to a 5-0 Premier League win at home to Stoke City.

The winger rifled the ball home from long range three minutes in, and set up Michael Carrick for the second just before half-time.

Dimitar Berbatov volleyed home from close range before Danny Welbeck netted a stunning 30-yarder on his top-flight debut.

Ronaldo then ended the game as he began it, scoring another free-kick, this time a low, curling effort from the edge of the box.

United leapfrogged Arsenal to go third in the table following the Gunners' 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa.

Sir Alex Ferguson went into the game without three of his main men.

Wayne Rooney, battling a chest infection, the injured Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville did not feature in the squad, meaning starts for Jonny Evans and John O'Shea at the back, and Carlos Tevez up front.

Fears that United might be caught out were eased after just three minutes, when Ronaldo scored his first free-kick of the season from more than 30 yards.

When Amdy Faye fouled Tevez on the left side, it appeared to be out of even Ronaldo's range, but he struck a fizzing, dipping drive that deceived Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

However powerful the shot, the Dane will be very disappointed not to have got a touch on the ball as it slammed into the middle of the net.

Then came Stoke's best, in fact their only, chance of the first half, courtesy - of course - of a Rory Delap long throw.

The Irishman's throw from the left flicked off John O'Shea's head and Edwin van der Sar clawed it away with a brilliant, instinctive save.

The Dutchman was subsequently less secure, coming on a risky sortie out of his box, then missing his punch entirely from an Andy Griffin free-kick.

But, with United enjoying over two-thirds possession, the scares were few and far between.

Ronaldo buzzed with endeavour, focussing his intentions on the left wing, while Tevez appeared determined to capitalise on his opportunity, providing the industry and invention normally supplied by Rooney.

Park Ji-Sung went close twice more in the first half, bringing a particularly good save from Sorensen when he was played through one-on-one and the Dane made a superb block at the edge of the box.

Carrick made it two in first-half stoppage time. Stoke backed off Ronaldo as he ran down the left, expecting another shot.

But the Portuguese played a simple ball inside to his midfield colleague, who took a touch and smashed his left-foot shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

If Stoke harboured any hopes of staging a remarkable comeback, they were quickly extinguished four minutes into the second half.

Tevez found Berbatov with a deft low cross from the left, the Bulgarian took an touch and volleyed past Sorensen from close range.

Tevez was clearly desperate for a goal of his own but his finishing was uncharacteristically poor. He failed to locate the far corner with a right-foot chance and shot wide on several other occasions.

Ferguson took a rare opportunity to fringe players Welbeck, Darron Gibson and Manucho.

Welbeck made it a dream debut, crashing a long-range shot into the top-right corner with six minutes remaining.

There was still time for Ronaldo to give the rout a neat symmetry, sidefooting his second into the bottom-right corner.

[imom]

Premier League - United move for new Solskjaer
Eurosport - Mon, 17 Nov 12:40:00 2008



Manchester United are understood to have made an offer for Norwegian star Mohammed Abdellaoue - branded the 'new' Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 23-year-old, Norwegian born but with Moroccan parentage, is a full international having made his debut for Norway earlier this year against the Republic of Ireland.

He is now back in the squad for their match with Ukraine after he helped Valerenga win the Norwegian Cup final.

A host of English clubs were present at the final when Abdellaoue fired a brilliant brace and that has now seen the interest in the striker intensify.

Now United have seemingly leapt to the front of the queue to land the player after inviting him to train with them, something which is possible given the domestic season in Norway has finished.

It is reported in Norway that Jim Solbakken, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's agent, has helped to broker the move.

Valerenga would not confirm that Abdellaoue would be heading to Old Trafford until the finer details had been settled.

"We can't comment on anything before we have anything formalised," Valerenga director Pal Breen told Verdens Gang.

The player's personal advisor Erik Moe also refused to comment on the United offer.

"This is up to Valerenga to comment," he said.

"Moa has only one focus now, and that is the international against Ukraine on Wednesday. It is important."

[spotter542]

Alex Ferguson has said he will make a late decision on whether to include record signing Dimitar Berbatov in the derby match against Manchester City on Sunday.

The forward has missed Manchester United's goalless draws at Aston Villa and Villarreal since suffering a hamstring on international duty with Bulgaria.

Berbatov was set to return to training on Thursday and United manager Ferguson was keen to monitor his progress on Friday and Saturday before deciding whether to include him at Eastlands.

Berbatov has never had hamstring problems before and his Scottish boss is wary about exacerbating the problem.

"With hamstrings you've got to be careful and it's not an easy one," Ferguson told reporters here Thursday.

"He's never had a hamstring injury before and we have to judge whether it's wise to use him on Sunday or put him on the bench and that depends on how he does over the next couple of days."

Ferguson has, however, hinted that Paul Scholes could return to action next week, either in the League Cup game against Blackburn or in the Premier League match with Sunderland.

The veteran midfielder has been out of action since suffering knee ligament damage in September and had targeted the trip to Tottenham on December 13 for his return.

But Ferguson has now admitted that Scholes could be back in action against Blackburn or the Black Cats and he added: "Scholes may be involved next week sometime but definitely not this game."

Meanwhile, Ferguson believes City must follow the model set by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich at Chelsea if they are to convert their new-found wealth into sustained success.

City, currently eight points behind third-placed United, are now one of the richest clubs in the world after they were taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group at the start of September.

Their new-found spending power was evident when City manager Mark Hughes, a former United striker, who played under Ferguson, signed Brazil star Robinho for a British record 32.5 million pounds (50.1 million dollars) on the last transfer deadline day.

Sunday's clash at Eastlands will be the first time Ferguson has come up against City since the takeover but he insisted Hughes had plenty of work to do before they can be considered genuine rivals to the Old Trafford club.

But he added English and European champions United would relish a new challenge from across town.

"At this moment in time, our threats are still Chelsea and Liverpool who are sitting above us at the moment.

"The rest is the future and that's what Mark Hughes has got to decide how he uses his money and how he shapes his team.

"We experienced it with Chelsea when Abramovich came in and they bought all these players that summer and they won the league in the next two years.

"There was an immediate impact and of course what we had to do then was sit back and accept the challenge.

"The one thing you have to say about this club is that we can accept a challenge and do something about it. We had to do something about it or we'd have been second forever more.

"With Chelsea, it has worked and you have to say their success rate has been good," he added.

"They've been at the top all the time and they're not spending money the way they did when he (Abramovich) first came on the scene.

"They've built up a strong squad of players, very experienced internationals and they've coped with the situation quite well, bringing all the big players in together."

[alex18122003]

Man City 0 United 1

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the second time in a Manchester derby, but Wayne Rooney’s first-half strike was enough to hand United all three points at Eastlands, Ronaldo’s two yellow cards – the second for a bizarre deliberate handball – meant the Reds had to play the last 22 minutes with 10 men. But City didn’t threaten until stoppage time and United held on to claim a deserved derby-day win.

Sir Alex’s men controlled the game from start to finish, proving class and ability on the pitch counts for far more than wealth and ambition off it. Certainly, when City’s new owners took over in the summer, expectations in the blue half of Manchester rose astronomically. Almost immediately, the owners outlined a wish to win the Champions League within just three years. On the evidence of the 151st Manchester derby, however, City still have a lot of work to do.

Dimitar Berbatov made a surprise return to the Reds’ starting line-up after missing United’s last two matches with a hamstring injury. His inclusion alongside Wayne Rooney meant Carlos Tevez had to be content with a place on the bench.

Elsewhere, Ji-sung Park was given the nod ahead of Ryan Giggs and Nani on the left side of midfield, while 18-year-old Brazilian Rafael started at right back in his first Manchester derby. He showed little sign of nerves, darting down the wing early on to add an extra man to the Reds’ attacks.

It was from the right that United’s first real chance came, although it was Ji-sung Park and not the young Brazilian who fizzed the ball across the Blues’ box. It reached Rooney at the penalty spot, but the England international’s shot was straight at Joe Hart.

[alex18122003]

Premier League - Ronaldo awarded Ballon d'Or

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded the Ballon d'Or after inspiring the club to a Champions League and Premier League double this year.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi came second and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres third in a poll of 96 journalists from all over the world organised by France Football.

The 23-year-old Ronaldo follows former United greats Denis Law (1964), Bobby Charlton (1966) and George Best (1968) as a winner of the prize previously known as the European Footballer of the Year award. He scored 42 goals for the club last season.

Ronaldo earned 446 points with Messi on 281 points and Torres on 179.

"It's one of the most beautiful days in my life. I've been dreaming of this trophy since I was a child," said Ronaldo, who will be officially presented with the trophy during a French TV show on Sunday.

Ronaldo is the third Portuguese player to win the award after Eusebio in 1965 and Luis Figo in 2000.

"I was not scared because I was aware of what I had done in the season," Ronaldo added.

"Thank you to my team-mates, who helped me be the best, thank you to those who set me up for these goals.

"I will now work to be good on Saturday. This morning, arriving at the training session, I will be the same lad. What is sure is that I want to win again because it is so good."

He also became this year only the second player to win England's Footballer of the Year award in successive seasons.

However, he failed to make an impact at the European Championship in Austria and Switzerland as Portugal bowed out to eventual runners-up Germany in the quarter-finals.

During a pre-season dominated by speculation about a move to Real Madrid, Ronaldo underwent ankle surgery but he has scored eight goals in 11 league games since returning to action in September.

Ronaldo, who was second to Brazil playmaker Kaka last year, is the first Portuguese to win the award since Figo and the first Premier League player since Michael Owen in 2001.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was the top-ranked English player in 10th position, ahead of Wayne Rooney (13th) and Frank Lampard (15th).

Torres was one of seven Spanish players to win votes, as the Euro 2004-winners dominated the list.

Full results:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester Utd), 446 points

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), 281 pts

3. Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool), 179 pts

4. Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), 133 pts

5. Xavi Hernandez (Spain, Barcelona), 97 pts

6. Andrei Arshavin (Russia, Zenit St Petersburg), 64 pts

7. David Villa (Spain, Valencia), 55 pts

8. Kaka (Brazil, Milan), 31 pts

9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Internazionale), 30 pts

10 Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), 28 pts

11. Marcos Senna (Spain, Villarreal),16 pts.

12. Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, Arsenal), 12 pts.

13. Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), 11 pts.

14. Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Atletico Madrid), 10 pts.

15. Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), 8 pts.

16. Franck Ribery (France, Bayern Munich), 7 pts.

17. Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Barcelona), 6 pts.

18. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), 5 pts.

19. Michael Ballack (Germany, Chelsea), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal), 4 pts.

21. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United), 3 pts.

24. Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands, Manchester United), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands, Real Madrid), 2 pts.

No votes: Karim Benzema (France, Lyon), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid), Luca Toni (Italy, Bayern Munich), Rafael van der Vaart (Netherlands, Real Madrid), Yuri Zhirkov (Russia, CSKA Moscow).

Reuters

[machoman]

Four-goal Tevez fires five-star United into semi-finals
Thursday, December 04, 2008, 06:28:18 HRS

Manchester United stormed into the League Cup semi-finals in style as Carlos Tevez's four-goal haul earned a 5-3 victory over Blackburn on Wednesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes to the United team who won at Manchester City on Sunday but they were still too strong for Rovers at Old Trafford.

Tevez was credited with the first goal nine minutes before the break, although Blackburn's South Africa midfielder Aaron Mokoena was close to turning the ball into his own net.

Nani added a second goal five minutes before the interval from Tevez's assist before South African forward Benni McCarthy pulled one back within two minutes of coming on as a half-time substitute.

Tevez grabbed his second from the spot in the 51st minute before completing his first hat-trick in English football by rounding off a move of real quality three minutes later.

Matt Derbyshire and McCarthy struck in the final minutes to set up a dramatic finale but Tevez eased United through with his fourth goal in stoppage time.

It may have been a second string side, but United were well worth their victory and Ferguson was also able to give Paul Scholes a run out as the midfielder continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury.

England goalkeeper Ben Foster had a couple of decent early touches as he pushed away Stephen Warnock's header with just three minutes gone after Roque Santa Cruz and Derbyshire had flicked on Paul Robinson's free-kick.

But soon United were in control, with Nani providing a constant threat on the left of United's three-man attack.
Manchester United's Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez (R) is chased by Blackburn Rovers' New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen during their English League Cup quarter final football match at Old Trafford in Manchester. Manchester won 5-3.

The Portuguese blasted over and had another effort blocked on the edge of the box before Darron Gibson had a header cleared off the line by Martin Olsson after he had beaten Robinson from Ryan Giggs' corner.

Foster did well to hold a Keith Treacy shot that skidded off the turf and was quick off his line to force Warnock to lift the ball well over the bar after the former Liverpool man latched on to Derbyshire's lofted through-ball.

But United were soon in front after poor Blackburn defending. Giggs lofted a free-kick from the right flank to the far post and Tevez beat Mokoena to the ball to bundle it home.

And Nani doubled the lead five minutes before the interval by skipping past Ooijer, exchanging passes with Tevez and then sweeping a shot past Robinson.

Rovers looked like they might make a game of it after the interval when manager Paul Ince, a former United player, opted to go with two in attack and after Santa Cruz and Jonny Evans failed to make contact with a long ball forward, McCarthy made Gary Neville look weak and slow and powered a shot in to the corner of Foster's net.

But the chances of a fightback were killed off within two minutes when Giggs played Tevez into space and the striker went down under Andre Ooijer's challenge in the box before sending Robinson the wrong way with his penalty.

In the 54th minute, Tevez completed his hat-trick.

Anderson picked the ball up in midfield, fed Giggs, who returned the pass with a back-heel, then swapped passes with Tevez before squaring the ball for the Argentinian to slot the ball home.

Scholes came on for the final 25 minutes as he made his first appearance since suffering knee ligament damage in September and after Giggs sliced wide from five yards, the former England man dragged wide from distance.

Derbyshire pulled another back for Blackburn with seven minutes left and McCarthy clipped in from Derbyshire's cross in added time before Tevez added a fifth for United.

- AFP