Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[aLinux]

Man U always tend to play badly after an CL's match.
and they will be missing their top goal scorer - Rooney for this match.
i hope all the players can forget about the disappointment of making the SF of CL and concentrate on EPL.

[richie_rich]

United fail to win again after a CL game.....title hopes hanging by a thread now.


FERGUSON: CHELSEA IN BOX SEAT

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted the Premier League title was slipping away from Manchester United following the goalless draw at Blackburn.

United remain a point adrift of Chelsea, having played a game more than the Stamford Bridge outfit, and with just four matches to do something about it.

To make matters worse, Rio Ferdinand picked up a groin injury, Ryan Giggs was forced off with a hamstring strain and John O'Shea also left the field early as he started for the first time since November.

It made for a pretty bleak afternoon and Ferguson was not trying to hide his disappointment.

"It was a bad result," he said.

"We had to win every game going into today and we didn't do it. That is the disappointment.

"It has slipped away from us today.

"It is going to be very difficult to win this league. We have a lifeline if Chelsea blow it.

"But to my eyes they have an easy game against Bolton on Tuesday. We would expect them to win that and it will put them four points clear."

Ferdinand had already been in the wars, dislocating his finger in a collision with Martin Olsson.

But it was the groin injury he sustained near the end that will worry Ferguson more, and probably Fabio Capello as well as the World Cup starts to loom into view.

"Rio dislocated his finger but ended up with a groin injury," said Ferguson.

"We effectively had 10 men on the pitch at the end, which is not good when you are chasing a victory."

Although United dominated possession, with Wayne Rooney out with an ankle injury, they created few clear-cut chances.

Antonio Valencia had the best one just before the break when he found himself clear inside the penalty area.

But Paul Robinson produced a fine save to repel the Ecuador star and United came no nearer even though they spent long periods camped in the Blackburn half.

"We had so many opportunities in the last third of the field and our decision-making has let us down," said Ferguson.

"The ball just jumped up on Valencia a little bit. He should have scored.

"That would have put us in front just before half-time and Blackburn would not have come back at us."

After spending Thursday with Ferguson at Aintree Races, Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce dispelled the theory he might do his old friend a favour.

His side are now firmly entrenched in mid-table and are proving very difficult for the big boys to overcome, particularly at Ewood Park.

"Nobody gets it easy here," said Allardyce.

"We have had Chelsea here twice, we have had Liverpool here, now we have had Manchester United here and none of them have managed to beat us. It shows how much we have grown."

Indeed, Rovers have lost just three home matches in 28 since Allardyce took charge last season - a run Chelsea no doubt hope continues given Arsenal, now their closest rivals, have still to travel north.

For United, it marks the end of a miserable fortnight, which has seen their hopes of glory on the European front ended and in the league almost snuffed out too - not that Allardyce is throwing in the towel on their behalf.

"We have done a good bit of damage to their title hopes," he said.

"But when Chelsea drew here everyone said they were finished. Look what they have done.

"United might win all four games and Chelsea might slip up somewhere along the line."

[richie_rich]

UNITED PREPARING TO SELL BERBATOV - REPORTS

Manchester United are reportedly prepared to 'take a massive hit' on Dimitar Berbatov by offloading the £30m flop in the summer - with David Villa and Karim Benzema top of Sir Alex Ferguson's wish-list for next season.

According to reports, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has turned his attention to next season in the wake of his side's recent mini-slump and is set to sell the Bulgarian after losing faith in his record signing in order to finance the arrival of new strikers at Old Trafford.

'His No 1 target a year ago, Karim Benzema, will be back on the market this summer after a poor season at Real Madrid,' reports The Sun.

'Ferguson could get his man for the £25m he originally offered before Real stepped in with a £35m bid.'

A concurring Daily Mirror also reports that Berbatov is facing the axe at Old Trafford.

'United will look to bring in three or four new faces, but Berbatov's potential exit is the big issue as a sale would make way for an expensive replacement to make sure Wayne Rooney is not the only match winner in their team,' it declares.

'Berbatov's transfer value will drop after next summer as he grows older - and any bids of around £20million this summer could tempt United to sell and give Fergie room to bring in a better striker.

'Valencia's David Villa remains a United priority but the only way of financing that move would be for Berbatov to be sold. United would not run with two strikers of the same age as competition and cover for Rooney.'

Both newspapers claim that Ferguson is scheduled to sit down with his staff later this week to make a full appraisal of his squad and the requirements for the 2010/11 campaign.

'Ferguson will try to persuade Manchester United chiefs to spend big in the summer after their season dramatically fell apart,' says The Sun.

'The Old Trafford manager wants £60million - around twice as much as in recent seasons - to spend on Karim Benzema and David Silva.

'He wants those two to underpin the 'tweaking' of a squad who crashed out of the FA Cup and Champions League, then seemingly handed the Premier League title to Chelsea with a tame draw at Blackburn. If Fergie gets the go-ahead to splash the cash by debt-ridden United, he will make just a few minor, if expensive, adjustments.'

[Roaring Tiger]

just like their rival - Liverpool,who depends on Torres to get their goals.
Man U is turning into one man's team,last few season it was C. Ronaldo and now it is W. Rooney. A lot of those senior players that were groom from the youth are already in their 30's and their stamina & desire to win is all but not so strong.

it will be a right decision to sell Dimitar Berbatov,he is not suited to MU's style of play.

[richie_rich]

ROONEY FIT FOR RETURN

Wayne Rooney has declared himself fit for the rest of the season after recovering from his ankle injury.

Having aggravated the problem during his surprise comeback against Bayern Munich last week, Rooney has since undergone intensive treatment and is reported to have assured Sir Alex Ferguson that he will be available for this weekend's Manchester derby.

The striker's return will be a much-needed boost to United after their title hopes took a significant dent in his absence with just one point garnered from the two league matches he missed.

'His availability has to be approved by the club's medical staff but, unless there are any complications in the next few days, Rooney will now almost certainly be involved in a match that could be critical to United's now slender hopes of a fourth successive title and City's aspirations of preserving their fourth-placed position to reach the Champions League qualifiers,' reports The Guardian.

'The latest diagnosis will also be good news for Fabio Capello, the England manager, who has been kept in regular touch via updates from the Football Association's medical team, liaising directly with their counterparts from Old Trafford.'

[EightPoints]

Originally Posted by richie_rich

HERNANDEZ SIGNS FOR UNITED

Manchester United have completed the signing of Mexico international Javier Hernandez for next season.

ManUtd now is like Liverpool, no money to compete to buy established players. Can only buy players who have potential & take the chance hopefully they turn into another Ronaldo.

That's what happened, ManUtd & Liverpool have been spoiled by American milionaires who do not have the money. Unlike ManCity & Chelsea, their owner are rich with lots of money.

Sponsor of ManUtd = AIG = American Idiot Glazer

[richie_rich]

Originally Posted by EightPoints

ManUtd now is like Liverpool, no money to compete to buy established players. Can only buy players who have potential & take the chance hopefully they turn into another Ronaldo.

as what SAF has claimed, it's not that United does not have money, it's just that he does not want to pay over the board for players.

last year when ronaldo was sold, he didn't use the money to buy any player because he thought that prices were going crazy. a deal worth 25m pounds for karim benzema was on the cards until real madrid came in with a 35m pound offer to lyon. SAF refused to be drawn into a bidding war. benzema then signed for real and we now know he is not a 1st choice player there. united are rumoured to be going for him again this season and hope to land him for less than what real paid for him.

if u read my earlier post, u will have found out that berbatov may be sacrificed (sold) to finance the purchases of benzema and david silva (valencia).

if these 2 players have been bought earlier, i would think that the 4th consecutive BPL would already be in the bag. now, we can only hope and pray that chelski stumble in at least two of their last 4 games while united win all of ours. else, it's bye bye BPL.

[richie_rich]

The Gossipy Gossip

FERGUSON MAKES HIS MOVE FOR LLORIS

But here's a story in the Mail :

'Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stepped up his efforts to recruit French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris as a long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar.'

According to Mr Ladyman, 'Ferguson will have the 23-year-old watched as his club Lyon play Bordeaux on Saturday after identifying the French international as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe.

'The United boss has been consulting goalkeeping coach Eric Steele about a replacement for Van der Sar and is expected to try and tie up a £15m deal with Lyon before the World Cup.'


REAL BEAT UNITED TO SILVA

The bad(ish) news for Manchester United in the Daily Mirror is that 'Real Madrid are determined to beat Manchester United to the signing of Spain star David Silva. Spanish giants Real want to clinch a £22m deal before the start of the World Cup to beat off competition from United.'

According to the reports you may have read earlier in the week, Silva, along with Valencia team-mate David Villa, is a reputed target for Sir Alex this summer as he plots an overhaul of the United squad.

'But Real Madrid are determined to steal a march on United, Liverpool and Barcelona, who have also looked at the Euro 2008 winner.

'They want to use Silva as the main piece of their rebuilding work this summer after a disappointing campaign.

'Valencia are demanding closer to £30m but may have to settle for less as there have been few concrete bids and Real Madrid are the only club ready to pay £20m-plus.'

[machoman]

Premier League title race run-in

Thursday, April 15, 2010, 17:15:35 HRS

The race for the Premier League title is heading into the final stretch, with only 4 matches left.


MAN UTD

Man City (a) April 17

Tottenham (h) April 25

Sunderland (a) May 1

Stoke (h) May 9


ARSENAL

Wigan (a) Apil 18

Man City (h) April 24

Blackburn (a) May 1

Fulham (h) May 9


CHELSEA

Tottenham (a) April 17

Stoke (h) April 25

Liverpool (a) May 1

Wigan (h) May 9

[Tengz]

hope man u can achieve this premiership title!

[Ole Ole Ole]

Man City 0 Red Devils 1



Paul Scholes headed a priceless last-gasp winner at Eastlands to keep United in the hunt for the Barclays Premier League title.

After a tense, tight derby encounter, the midfielder popped up in the final minute of added time to nod home Patrice Evra's superb cross and move the Reds to within a point of Chelsea, ahead of the league leaders' late-afternoon trip to Tottenham.

Amid the Reds' ongoing chase for a fourth straight title, the subplot of City's challenge for local and, ultimately, national supremacy had seemed set to hog the headlines. But Scholes had other ideas and just a day after penning a one-year contract extension, the 35-year-old illustrated his enduring value not only with his winner, but by dictating play in a masterful midfield performance.

Of United's three pre-match injury doubts, two recovered sufficiently to join the starting XI. Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs were both available, but Rio Ferdinand's groin injury prompted a return for Jonny Evans alongside Nemanja Vidic in the centre of defence.

Both sides started the game with evident intent to attack. Darren Fletcher fired a 25-yard effort inches wide of Shay Given's post, with the Irishman well beaten, before Carlos Tevez's top corner free-kick drew a fine full-length catch from Edwin van der Sar.

Despite coming out of their corners swinging, both sides quickly displayed an awareness of the potential cost of failure. United bossed possession by virtue of an extra man in midfield, but refused to overcommit in support of Rooney, while City sat deep, costing themselves the chance to offer quick, accurate service to Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Scholes scuffed a shot wide from 25 yards, before a slip from Vincent Kompany allowed Rooney to race into the Blues' area. The Belgian's blushes were spared, however, when Kolo Toure blocked two attempted pull-backs from the striker. That characterised a first half largely comprised of chances snuffed out in their infancy. Giggs' in-swinging free-kick and Craig Bellamy's low ball across the six yard box both begged for conversion, but were instead left unfulfilled.

United spurned the two clearest openings of the half in its final five minutes. Both chances were created by the industry of Antonio Valencia, who held off Wayne Bridge to head across for Rooney, only for the striker to fire uncharacteristically off-target, before the Ecuadorian's low cross was stabbed straight at Given by Giggs.

Level, but having been comfortably outplayed, City began the second half with greater purpose. Kompany and Adam Johnson both picked up yellow cards in quick succession, before a counter-attack from the home side was wasted by Bellamy, who blazed wide instead of squaring for Tevez.

Despite that scare United were still bossing matters, and the Reds' need for victory was layed bare when Nani replaced Gibson. Roberto Mancini responded conversely, sending on midfielder Patrick Vieira for winger Johnson. The two substitutes were soon involved. A patient United move culminated in Giggs sliding an enticing ball into the area, which Nani slid wide under heavy pressure from Vieira. As the game entered its final 20 minutes, both teams began to open up.

Gareth Barry, largely anonymous in the midfield battle, had a glorious chance after latching onto Adebayor's neat through-ball, but the England midfielder opted to cut inside and tumble under Neville's attentions rather than pull the trigger. No penalty met his half-hearted appeal, and as play continued he was indebted to Given's close-range save from an attempted lob by Giggs.

Dimitar Berbatov replaced Rooney, who looked short of full fitness, while Valencia made way for Gabriel Obertan as United continued to press. The Bulgarian's first contribution was almost a telling one, as his glancing header from a Nani cross sneaked just past Given's post.

At the other end, Vidic produced two brilliant interceptions in quick succession to keep City at bay, first flicking a cross away from the lurking Nedum Onuoha, then toe-poking away the danger in an almighty goalmouth scramble.

United's menace continued to linger, though. Agony was etched across Giggs' face when he just failed to reach Nani's cross in the final minute of normal time, but those emotions flipped entirely just as time seemed to be up.

Evra led one final foray down the left flank, exchanged passes with Obertan and floated a superb cross into the centre of the City area. There, onrushing in trademark fashion, was Scholes to execute a perfect header which nestled just inside Given's post.

The goal prompted near-feral scenes of delight among players, staff and supporters of a Red persuasion. The saying goes that lightning never strikes twice. How about thrice? Just as the Blues had seemed set to curtail the Reds' hunt for history, United struck a winner in injury-time for the third of four meetings this season. For now at least, Manchester resounds to status quo, rather than new order.

The bigger picture for United is one of silverware. There must be favours from other clubs in order for history to be re-written, but if the champions are to be dethroned, it won't be without a fight.
.

[justlovesex]

another piece of good news.
Tottenham just defeated Chelsea 2-1.
look like Spurs is red hot at this moment.

[imom]

Originally Posted by justlovesex

....look like Spurs is red hot at this moment.

And MU faces them next....

[machoman]

Originally Posted by imom

And MU faces them next....

IMHO, our next match against Spurs at Old Trafford next week & Chelsea's away match against Liverpool at Anfield are crucial in the title race.

[mangoesteam]

We are not gonna give up our trophy that easily! We'll fight till the end and you'll have to pry it off our hands!