Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[mr_missile]

Fergie rocket lifts Cleverley

Tom Cleverley received a half-time rocket from Sir Alex Ferguson before his first Manchester United goal helped them defeat Newcastle 2-1.

Cleverley had been sent through by Javier Hernandez when the contest was still goalless.

But amazingly, with only goalkeeper Rob Elliot to beat, Cleverley fired wide.

Although Anderson fired home an excellent 25-yard effort to put United ahead at the break, Wayne Rooney confirmed Ferguson was not happy.

"The manager wasn't too pleased with Tom because of that miss in the first half," said Rooney.

"But it was a nice goal by him and a great strike by Anderson.

"I am delighted for the two of them, especially Tom because it was his first one."

The prize for victory was a dubious one as it set up a fourth round encounter with Premier League pace-setters Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next month.

It represents a major test for United, not least because of their growing number of injured defenders, Nemanja Vidic and Phil Jones will both still be sidelined for certain.

The departure of Alex Buttner before the end of tonight's contest was another worry for Ferguson.

However, there was consolation in the performances of youngsters Scott Wootton and Michael Keane, who until the final 20 minutes when Papiss Cisse scored a minute after his introduction as substitute, kept Newcastle at bay in impressive fashion.

"For two young centre-halves playing against top strikers they were fantastic," said Darren Fletcher, who was making his first start after 10 months out combating a chronic bowel condition.

"They were talking to me the whole game."

Keane went into the match with just one substitutes' appearance under his belt, whilst Wootton was making his debut.

Marnick Vermijl was also handed his debut at right-back, whilst Robbie Brady and Ryan Tunnicliffe - whose dad landed a hefty wager at 100-1 that his son would play a first-team game for United, struck when the midfielder was only nine - were also given their first experience of senior combat.

"Newcastle had a stronger team than us physically but we played some fantastic football and we deserved to win," said Ferguson.

"We want to progress as far as we can in this competition and will do our best to do that."

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was disappointed with the outcome, believing his side had done enough to at least take the tie into extra-time.

However, their best chance disappeared when Cisse's overhead kick came crashing back off the crossbar near the end.

"There are a lot of positives to take out of tonight," he said.

"The media can't hang that tag round Papiss' neck that he has not scored anymore.

"That goal means everything to him. There is nothing in his work-rate that has changed. Sometimes a goal can make a difference.

"You could see that little bit of exuberance return to his game with the overhead kick. I thought that was in."

[VoltaRedonda]

I found Marnick Vermijl poor in the Carling Cup 3rd Round game but afterall he needs alot of polishing. Goals by Anderson and Cleverley just proves why I feel they should be in the 1st team partnership as both of them were the ones who led us to 5 straight wins at the start of last season.

[mr_missile]

marnick, along with the rest of the many youngsters like keane, wooten, brady and tunnicliffe in the capital cup (former carling cup) still need as much polishing as possible before they can make the step up to the 1st team.

exposure (games) is what they need. playing alongside seniors like rooney, fletcher (who were both returning from injuries), cleverley and anderson will certainly gain them precious experience.

as for cleverley and anderson, they will get their chance. but for now, carrick is on top of his game. and scholes? well, scholes is really still indispensable at the moment.

[mr_missile]

SAF hopes defensive woes ease

Sir Alex Ferguson is crossing his fingers Manchester United can limp through the next week before finally seeing their defensive woes ease.

With Chris Smalling and Phil Jones already sidelined, Ferguson last week expressed the hope his remaining centre-halves would remain fit.

That desire was dashed on Tuesday, when it was confirmed skipper Nemanja Vidic had undergone knee surgery that will keep him out for another two months.

It leaves Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans as United's only fit central defenders for Saturday evening's encounter with Tottenham.

And as his side also have a Champions League trip to Cluj, and a Premier League match with Newcastle before the next international break, Ferguson must feel like wrapping Ferdinand and Evans in cotton wool.

"Everyone knows the situation with our defenders," said Ferguson.

"We are having a hard time with that.

"Nemanja Vidic being out is a blow to us and we simply cannot take a risk with defenders.

"We just hope if we can get through the next two league games it will give us a little breather and we can start to get one or two of them back."

As Jones is out for a similar length of time to Vidic after undergoing the same operation, Smalling's recovery from a broken metatarsal is what Ferguson is pinning his hopes on.

The former Fulham man will not be back this weekend though, so, with Wayne Rooney recovered from his gashed thigh and Tom Cleverley finally opening his United scoring account, Ferguson may decide attack is the best form of defence against Spurs.

Cleverley could not have picked a better time to score either as England coach Gary Neville was in the stands for the 2-1 Capital One Cup win over Newcastle on Wednesday, with Roy Hodgson a week away from announcing his England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland.

"It (not having scored for United) has been playing on my mind a little bit," said Cleverley.

"I have always scored goals when I have gone on loan, so it was bugging me that I had not been doing it for my club or my country.

"I have got the first one out of the way now. Hopefully they will all come at once."

[mr_missile]

Man United v Tottenham preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash between United and Tottenham at Old Trafford.

Antonio Valencia is Manchester United's major injury concern.

The Ecuador wide-man suffered a nasty knock on his ankle at Liverpool last week and Sir Alex Ferguson rates Valencia as "doubtful".

Darren Fletcher and Scott Wootton are both in the United squad but are unlikely to play from the outset and Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney could start together for the first time.

Brad Friedel will return in goal for Tottenham.

Hugo Lloris will be on the bench and defender Kyle Naughton could return after missing last week's win over QPR with a foot injury he sustained against Lazio.

Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring), Scott Parker (Achilles), Jake Livermore (groin), Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) are out.

Manchester United (from): Lindegaard, De Gea, Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Wootton, Evra, Buttner, Nani, Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson, Cleverley, Carrick, Kagawa, Rooney, Van Persie, Welbeck, Hernandez.

Tottenham (from): Lloris, Friedel, Gomes, Cudicini, Smith, Gallas, Dawson, Walker, Vertonghen, Caulker, Naughton, Falque, Huddlestone, Mason, Bale, Lennon, Sandro, Dembele, Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Carroll, Townsend, Defoe, Obika.

[VoltaRedonda]

Rooney and Kagawa plays the same position of shadow striker right? I hope Rooney shed a few pounds more before we get the old him. For now, Rooney and RVP have yet to gel to provide Man Utd with a lethal strike force. Valencia would definitely play given Nani's torrid form, hopefully Nani starts playing better or he better go to Zenit

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by VoltaRedonda

Rooney and Kagawa plays the same position of shadow striker right? I hope Rooney shed a few pounds more before we get the old him. For now, Rooney and RVP have yet to gel to provide Man Utd with a lethal strike force. Valencia would definitely play given Nani's torrid form, hopefully Nani starts playing better or he better go to Zenit

yups bro. both rooney and kagawa can play in the "hole" behind rvp. but rooney can also play in rvp's position - that is, the main striker. but if sir alex plays the 2 of them together, likely kagawa will have to settle for a place on the bench.

valencia got a knock to his ankle in the game vs pool so he is unlikely to be playing tonite. agree with u that if valencia is fit, he should be given the nod ahead of inconsistent nani. afterall, valencia can also switch to right-back if ever it is needed. zenit offered to buy nani. but the deal was scuppered by nani's sky-high wage demands.

[VoltaRedonda]

Yea bro agreed, our first half display against spurs was rubbish but our second half showed why we were a team to beat!!!! Chances wasted but luckily its still early in the season. Lets look forward to CFR Cluj tonight!!!!!

[mr_missile]

RvP at the double in United win

Manchester United were again forced to come from behind as Robin van Persie's double earned a 2-1 away win over Cluj in the Champions League.

Named in the same team as van Persie for the first time, Wayne Rooney created both goals in the Group H encounter in Romania on Tuesday night.

And the winner, four minutes after the break was simply sensational as the 29-year-old took his tally to six for his new club.

The result means back-to-back wins over Braga will take United into the last 16 with two games to spare.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson cannot be entirely happy with this trip to Transylvania, and was left spitting blood as his team fell behind for the sixth time in nine games.

The Scot could not have made his position any clearer either when he delivered his forceful pre-match address on Monday night: "It will be the last".

It was a direct ending to being quizzed about his side's woeful record of conceding the first goal.

But after 14 minutes, staring down at him to his left from an otherwise pitch black sky, there it was again. Cluj 1 Manchester United 0.

And whilst the Romanian champions could congratulate themselves on the effectiveness of the counter-attack Ferguson had primed his side for, from United's point of view it was all rather disappointingly simple.

Rafael Bastos swept a superb pass out wide to Modou Sougou, who exposed Patrice Evra's defensive frailties, then whipped in a low cross which Kapetanos finished in fine style.

Speaking to ITV before the second half began, Ferguson branded it "an absolute shocker".

It is fair to assume his assessment within the confines of United's dressing room was not quite as measured and for a short while afterwards, the visitors looked nervy and uncertain.

Rooney dropped ever deeper in search of possession, which, considering he was starting behind the front two, took him virtually in front of United's defence.

The visitors good fortune came in the departure of Sougou through an injury that cost Cluj much of their attacking zest.

And within five minutes, United had taken advantage.

Van Persie had already come agonisingly close to levelling when he latched on to an inspired Tom Cleverley lofted pass.

But when Rooney floated over a free-kick from the left, United enjoyed their second slice of luck.

Had van Persie made a firm contact with his header, Mario Felgueiras might well have saved.

Instead, the Cluj keeper was committed when the ball looped off Van Persie's shoulder and was helpless to prevent it dropping over him into the net.

It was the former Arsenal man's 19th goal in 49 Champions League appearances. His 20th arrived four minutes after the re-start.

There was no luck involved this time. This time it was pure class.

Again Rooney was the provider. On this occasion the delivery came from the right.

Stationed in a central position about eight yards out, Van Persie watched the ball drop, then steered it into the bottom corner with a delicate touch of his left foot.

It was the kind of sublime moment Ferguson was buying when he persuaded the Glazer family to splash out £24million on a player with relatively little resale value in the summer.

The noisy - if respectful - home fans thought they were celebrating an equaliser as they rose to acclaim Cadu's goalbound effort.

But not for the first time in his short United career, David de Gea's athleticism got his team out of trouble as he repelled the Cluj skipper with a magnificent reaction save.

Van Persie came close to completing his second Red Devils hat-trick when he slid in to reach yet another Rooney cross. This time, though, he could not quite get there.

Scott Wootton was introduced for his European debut 11 minutes from time, after which the visitors needed to survive only one scare when De Gea pushed Bastos' diving near-post header behind.

In pure results terms, Ferguson has got exactly what he asked for after last season's group stage debacle.

However, the 70-year-old will be acutely aware he must find a remedy for those bad starts if United are to stand any chance of winning silverware this term.

[VoltaRedonda]

Amazing that we started the match without natural wingers, with Newcastle away on the horizon, it was good to see that we won without playing Nani and Kagawa. Cleverley and Anderson combination was deadly and instrumental in building the attack but Anderson do need to train on his shooting . Overall good performance and Rooney and RVP are starting to gel well!!!!

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by VoltaRedonda

Amazing that we started the match without natural wingers, with Newcastle away on the horizon, it was good to see that we won without playing Nani and Kagawa. Cleverley and Anderson combination was deadly and instrumental in building the attack but Anderson do need to train on his shooting . Overall good performance and Rooney and RVP are starting to gel well!!!!

nani has not been consistent. wait, has he ever been consistent? lol.

with sir alex opting to play rvp and rooney together, i doubt he will put kagawa to be in the same line-up. rooney took over the "hole" behind rvp. and he did so with much effect setting up both assists to rvp's goals.

cleverley and anderson needed the game. and they seem more suited for the "european" stage.

sir alex may be toying with the idea of one line-up (with de gea, cleverley and anderson) for the champions league and another line-up (with lindegaard, carrick and kagawa) for the premier league.

[mr_missile]

Wootton eyeing United start

Scott Wootton would not wish injuries on any player, but will not complain if he is thrown into the Manchester United team against Newcastle.

Wootton has been catapulted into United's first-team squad thanks to the injury crisis that has already robbed Sir Alex Ferguson of three central defenders, and leaves him at risk of being without a fourth if Jonny Evans cannot shake off the effects of a dead leg.

Wooton made his first senior start against Newcastle in the Capital One Cup and came off the substitutes' bench in Tuesday's Champions League win over Cluj in Romania.

And while Ferguson cannot wait for his fitness worries to ease, Wootton could be forgiven for wanting it to carry on a little bit longer.

"The last week or so has been amazing," said the 21-year-old. "To make my competitive debut in the League Cup and then to come on and play in the Champions League is a great feeling. It's something I'm made up with.

"It is always the way. As a young player, obviously you don't wish injuries on someone, but that's how you might get your chance.

"I got my chance against Newcastle through injuries. It's just the way it is."

Wootton had a rather unconventional route to the United first team in that he hails from Birkenhead and was initially on Tranmere's books.

However, it was not long before Liverpool were showing an interest and he moved to their academy.

United always kept in touch though, and when Wootton hesitated over signing scholarship forms with the Anfield outfit, the Red Devils made their move.

"I wasn't too sure whether I was going to sign (for Liverpool)," said Wootton.

"United invited me down for a week's trial and said they wanted to sign straight after that. It was really good."

Wootton is showing welcome signs of being completed unaffected by the transformation in his status.

He still changed with the reserve players last week at the Carrington training ground, and when United took on Liverpool at Anfield last month he was able to sneak into the visitors' end without anyone taking too much notice.

"I was never a Liverpool fan or anything like that, so I just went mad like everyone else when Robin van Persie scored," he said.

How quickly Wootton has gone from cheering Manchester United's latest glamour boy to sharing a dressing room with him.

Yet Wootton insists he is trying to do everything just the same.

"You want to progress as a footballer and these are the next steps," he said.

"For young players at a lot of top clubs the League Cup is where the managers embed them into the team, so obviously I was delighted with that.

"But in all these situations, it would be wrong to do anything different than you would normally.

"Obviously there are some extra special things like the team talks, coming away with the first team and the fans, which are different from what you're are used to.

"But you just try and concentrate on your football just the same."

It is not quite the same though, not when you are having to mark Papiss Cisse, as he did in the League Cup and may have to do again on Sunday.

"Everything is that extra step quicker," said Wootton.

"You've always got to concentrate; you can't switch off for one minute."

[mr_missile]

Newcastle v Man Utd preview

Team news for Sunday's Premier League clash between Newcastle and Manchester United at St James' Park.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is likely to draft a quartet of big names back into his starting line-up.

Defender Davide Santon, midfielders Jonas Gutierrez and Hatem Ben Arfa and striker Demba Ba were all rested for Thursday night's 3-0 Europa League victory over Bordeaux, which saw full-back Danny Simpson return from a hamstring injury.

Keeper Steve Harper will resume after taking over from Rob Elliot against the French side when he suffered a groin injury, with 19-year-old Jak Alnwick providing the back-up from the bench, but number one Tim Krul (elbow), defenders Fabricio Coloccini (hamstring) and Steven Taylor (calf) and utility man Ryan Taylor are still out.

Manchester United will have experienced midfield trio Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick available for the trip.

Giggs and Carrick missed the Champions League trip to Cluj on Tuesday through illness while Scholes was rested.

Defender Jonny Evans has also recovered from a dead leg and could feature but Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic and Phil Jones are not yet ready to return.

Newcastle (from): Harper, Alnwick, Simpson, Tavernier, Ferguson, Perch, Williamson, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Anita, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux, Obertan, Vuckic, Abeid, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi, Ba, Cisse, Shola Ameobi, Campbell.

Manchester Utd (from): De Gea, Lindegaard, Rafael, Buttner, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Wootton, Keane, Powell, Cleverley, Anderson, Fletcher, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Tunnicliffe, Lingard, Hernandez, Rooney, Welbeck, Van Persie, Kagawa.

[mr_missile]

Red Devils make Magpies pay

Manchester United's blistering start blew away Newcastle as the visitors won 3-0 on Sunday to move up to second in the Premier League table.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men were handed a flying start as the Magpies' makeshift defence crumbled horrifically on two occasions inside the opening 16 minutes to allow first Jonny Evans and then Patrice Evra to head home.

Alan Pardew's men rallied in determined fashion and might have been back in the game five minutes into the second half, but Demba Ba's header came back off the bar and Papiss Cisse's follow-up was clawed on to the post by keeper David de Gea with the home contingent claiming the ball had crossed the line.

But Tom Cleverley's 71st-minute strike from long range ensured the visitors avenged their 3-0 defeat at St James' Park last season in fine style.

The bulk of a crowd of 52,203 trudged away knowing their team had contributed to its own downfall with the kind of calamitous defending which has plagued them for years, but had, until Sunday, become less common since their return to the top flight.

United dominated possession for long periods and had greater invention with Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck repeatedly stretching their hosts as Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye struggled to exercise any real control in the middle of the park.

On a day when Newcastle found themselves linked with a sponsorship deal with loans company Wonga - it is understood the stadium naming rights are not involved - Pardew's players were handing out gifts for which there was no need for repayment.

Firstly, former Sunderland defender Evans left both Mike Williamson and Ba for dead to apply the finishing touch to Van Persie's right-wing delivery with eight minutes gone, and as many minutes later, Evra, hardly the most imposing of figures physically, was similarly unaccompanied as he reached Wayne Rooney's set-piece from the left with the same result.

Newcastle's defending was simply shambolic and while they could point to the absence of Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini, four certain starters in their first-choice back five, the men handed the marking jobs in their absence failed miserably in their tasks.

As the chaos unfolded, minds turned back to Arsenal's visit to Tyneside two seasons ago when Van Persie struck twice as the Gunners surged into a 4-0 lead by half-time, but only emerged with a point after being hit by a second-half blitz.

A repeat looked unlikely, but as Newcastle gradually climbed out of the hole they had dug for themselves, the mood inside the stadium began to change.

The movement of Rooney, Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa behind lone striker Welbeck had left the Magpies chasing shadows, and Pardew opted to switch Hatem Ben Arfa to the right to give his side a better shape and a greater attacking threat.

Gradually, his players worked their way into the game, Jonas Gutierrez dragging an 18th-minute shot just wide and Cabaye only just missing the target with a curling effort.

Ba turned a Cisse cross over the bar under pressure and Cisse headed wide from a Cabaye free-kick, but crucially, the Magpies failed to test keeper David de Gea.

A full-blooded 45 minutes saw five men booked by referee Howard Webb - Tiote and Gutierrez for Newcastle and Kagawa, Rio Ferdinand and Van Persie for United - and there was little sign of the tempo abating after the break.

Indeed, Newcastle thought they were back in it within five minutes of the restart when Ba got to Shane Ferguson's cross ahead of De Gea, but saw his effort come back off the bar.

Strike-partner Cisse headed the rebound towards goal, where the keeper managed to divert it on to the post with the striker insisting the ball had already crossed the line, but to no avail.

Ba headed wide from another Cabaye cross, but United continued to threaten on the counter and might have extended their lead when Welbeck held off Davide Santon and laid the ball off for Cleverley, but the midfielder skied his 57th-minute effort.

Keeper Steve Harper had to get down well to keep out Rooney's skidding left-foot effort three minutes later with the visitors pressing once again.

The home side kept plugging away with Hatem Ben Arfa dragging a well-struck left-foot shot marginally wide, but the game was over 19 minutes from time when Cleverley accepted Rooney's lay-off on the left wing and curled the ball right-footed across Harper and into the top corner.

[machoman]

A well-deserved victory, keeping a clean sheet after so many defensive errors recently.

Well, done to the team.