Manchester United FC

[imnotreyes]

what'll be utd lineup while rooney is out?


smith and bellion? smith and giggs? smith? smith and o'shea (he plays anywhere), smith and ronaldo? smith and fergie (out of retirement)?

utd needs some help. Who would of thought smith is their number 1 at the moment? All that investment in rooney---he needs to keep his cool. Van and saha and rooney must be loads of money. unlucky.

oh well utd should win while rooney is out for the next 3. when is saha coming back?

[Jason Holm88]

Originally Posted by imnotreyes

what'll be utd lineup while rooney is out?


smith and bellion? smith and giggs? smith? smith and o'shea (he plays anywhere), smith and ronaldo? smith and fergie (out of retirement)?

utd needs some help. Who would of thought smith is their number 1 at the moment? All that investment in rooney---he needs to keep his cool. Van and saha and rooney must be loads of money. unlucky.

oh well utd should win while rooney is out for the next 3. when is saha coming back?

Since Giggsy's been in such a form lately i would like to see him up front (atleast almost)

this seems like a possible starting eleven:


lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalaSmith
lalaGiggs lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalaRonaldo

lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalaScholes

lalalalalalalalalalalaKeanelalalalalalalalalalalaFletcher


Heinze Silvestre Ferdinand G. Neville

[jasondask]

Im pretty sure I heard Saha would be back mid Jan.
The Rooney ban is pretty lalalala, but all Man U fans would say that, and all non Man U fans will obviously say he deserved it so the arguement won't really work out to well. In my opinion, he does need to cool down. He has a small tendancy to get angry at times and I hope this will teach him a lesson. I think he does deserve something for it, but not as far as a three match ban. I would think a 1 match ban is more suitable, but if you really want to remove these problems from football, you have to issue large bans.

Look on the bright side. I'd prefer Rooney to be sitting out over Smith, scholes or giggs (judging by current form). Also at least its not three full weeks he is missing out on. You never know, this short break could do wonders for him. Another positive is that if Man U can go through this tough period, once Rooney returns, Saha should be back shortly after and Oshea should also be back. The last postive I can think of is that the third match is against Exter or something like that, which is a game you would expect United to be fielding their reserve side against, so Rooney wouldn't have been playing anyway.

Im more annoyed about van Nistelrooy's absence this season. First he start the season missing a few matches due to injury or whatever it was, then he cops a three match ban after the Arsenal game, then after that he gets injured! Hes played barely any premiership games, but he has been looking in great form from the champions league performances. Hopefully when he returns he wont enter a slump as they really could use all the firepower they can get. Imagine an in form side consisting of attacking players - Rooney, Smith, Van Nistelrooy, Giggs and Scholes!

[Jason Holm88]

Agree with you jasondask.
__________________________________________________ _________

And a good win today we usually have problems with Boro but today United seemed to win pretty easily..

And congratulations to Fletch for his first Premiership goal in his career

[Smarties250]

I'm so excited about the Chelsea match this month for the carling cup! I think Utd. will beat them, especially since they sort of shocked everyone beating Arsenal in the semi final for the F.A. Cup!

I friggin well hate José Mourinio!! So I'll be way lalalalaed off if his team knock out Utd. like Porto did last season in the CL! It'll be a good match, I think Utd. will do it :P

[Jgiblin12]

ye hopefully. god dammit chelski were v lucky to beat liverpool. a deflected goal in the last 10 minutes after liverpool shudve had at least one penalty in the first half. theyre just scraping these wins, theyll lose eventually.

[Jason Holm88]

yeah, imo their latest wins have been founded of luck.

[Jason Holm88]

Manchester United v Tottenham
FA Barclays Premiership

Preview

Both teams are in great form, and they also have many injuries.

This will be a very tough match for United, they will probably only win by one goal (if they win, which i think they will).

Really hoping that either/both City and Boro can grab a point or three against our rivals tonight, because if we ever gonna catch up against them, they will have to drop some.

[Jason Holm88]

Rio Ferdinand was the main character of yesterday's and today's What The Papers Say

Rio To Get New Deal
Rio Ferdinand will be handed a new five-year contract by Manchester United at the end of this season. The England defender signed a five-year deal when he moved to Old Trafford from Leeds for £30million in July 2002. But the club want to make sure there is no messing over his long-term future and plan to get a new contract sorted this summer. Ferdinand’s reputation has been enhanced since joining United despite an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test. Recently boss Alex Ferguson said: “Rio has been in incredible form. He is the best centre-half in the world."
Neil Custis, The Sun

Rio Forever: Keep Ferdinand Until 2010, Alex Tells United
Manchester United are ready to offer Rio Ferdinand a contract designed to keep him at Old Trafford until 2010. England defender Ferdinand has two-and-a-half seasons left on the £70,000-a-week deal he signed for a record £30million in the summer of 2002. But such has been the 26-year-old's development since he returned in September from an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has told his board they must tie him down further as soon as possible.
Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail

The Daily Express report a slightly different angle...

You Can Kiss Rio Goodbye
Rio Ferdinand will be offered a new contract worth a staggering £25million this summer by Manchester United - but it will not be enough if the England defender opts to take the best deal on offer. The Daily Express can reveal that Chelsea are prepared to better United's five-year deal by £1m a year in order to get their man. That translates to more than £6m a year, or £125,000 a week. All the early indications are that United cannot match the salary earmarked by Chelsea and they are not trying to head off only Roman Abramovich and Co. Ferdinand is also wanted by Arsenal, who will similarly struggle to match Ambramovich's terms, plus Real Madrid and Barcelona - who have deeper pockets than the Gunners.
Richard Tanner and Harry Harris, Daily Express

[Smarties250]

I'd say United will have no problem with Spurs. Their record is awful against United at Old Trafford! Plus, Defoe is out too...

With regards to Chelsea and Boro, I think it'll be a draw or something...it would be great if Chelsea lost....Boro (to me) are one of those real uncertain teams....they can really surprise at times! I hope they beat Chelsea...does anyone know if Hasselbank is playing?

[Jason Holm88]

Originally Posted by Smarties250

I'd say United will have no problem with Spurs. Their record is awful against United at Old Trafford! Plus, Defoe is out too...

With regards to Chelsea and Boro, I think it'll be a draw or something...it would be great if Chelsea lost....Boro (to me) are one of those real uncertain teams....they can really surprise at times! I hope they beat Chelsea...does anyone know if Hasselbank is playing?

Yeah, their record on Old Trafford is as you say, awful. But I don't think you should think to much on earlier matches (even though tradition sometimes can be a big thing) because they are in a very good form. Even though I'm glad that Defoe is injured, his substitute Kanoute has been playing very well.

Yeah, you are right about Boro, one match they can beat the leaders, the other match they lose against the team that's last in the table. Hopefully they'll have a match as the first alternative. I think Hassel is playing, he did against United?

[Smarties250]

No, I don't think he was playing....oh well it doesn't matter anyway.....Chelsea won 2-0

AND Arsenal equalised with City 1-1

AND it's still 0-0 with United & Spurs

[Jason Holm88]

Manchester United v Tottenham 0-0
FA Barclays Premiership

Review

We should be happy with a draw, the ref's mistake in the end of the game was scandalous.

And they did another mistake a minute after when they gave Ferdinand a freekick instead of a penalty when the tackle was made in the penalty area. This may not be as scandalous as the first thing, but still a bad jugde by the referee.

Both teams should be glad that it ended in a draw. Though I'm very dissapointed that we didn't manage to settle the game with atleast one of our many chances.

[Jason Holm88]

Carroll's (and ref's) mistake:

http://www.aftonbladet.se/sport/0501/05/taavla.gif

[Jason Holm88]

Fergie: 'Giggs Injury Not Short Term'

Influential winger Ryan Giggs is facing a spell on the sidelines after being forced out of the 0-0 draw against Tottenham due to a hamstring injury.

The winger has been in sensational form of late, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson is fearful that he will be without the Welshman for some important games; the Reds face away trips to Liverpool and Arsenal in the next four weeks.

"It's a hamstring injury and it is not a short-term thing," is the disappointing prognosis from Ferguson, quoted on Sky Sports.

The Welsh winger's recent influence goes beyond his three goals in three games over the festive period.

His surging forward runs are a constant outlet for counter-attacks, and put the opposition on the back foot.

Giggs' early exit from the clash with Tottenham proved costly, according to the Reds boss. "Losing him so early on in the game killed us," he said.

[Smarties250]

lalalala!!!!!! THAT IS SCANDELOUS!!! I didn't actually see the match, so I didn't see the dissallowed goal.....omg, you could get a measuring tape out to measure the distance between the ball and the line!!

Poor Spurs!!! That must be v. frustrating for Martin Jol.....I was watching Sky Sports News this morning and I caught a little bit of an interview with him, and he was livid!



Poor Giggsy! he was doing so well this season! He's scored what, 3/4 goals already?

[Sportfriend4]

i have to post this again

[Jason Holm88]

Giggs has scored 4 goals this season. 3 goals in the 3 latest games (not counting with the Spurs game).

Hopefully he will hold on to his form and play as good as he have lately when he comes back

[Jason Holm88]

What The Papers Say

A Dutch of bad news for Ruud
Ruud van Nistelrooy could be out for three months after returning home to Holland for urgent treatment on his Achilles injury. The Manchester United striker has suffered a further setback in his battle to make a full recovery and is expected to undergo treatment for up to a month in Eindhoven. Van Nistelrooy was initially ruled out for eight weeks and was expected to recover in time for the first leg of United's Champions League tie against AC Milan at Old Trafford on February 23. But the 28-year-old is unlikely to be baclalalalail late March. As well as the Milan games, van Nistelrooy will miss Premiership clashes against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Ryan Giggs faces six weeks out after tearing a hamstring against Spurs.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror

Fergie is stuck with his crocks
Sir Alex Ferguson has been told he must sell first if he wants to strengthen Manchester United's injury-hit squad. It is understood that the Old Trafford board do not view the injury situation serious enough to break from their agreed policy of not spending until the summer, when a goalkeeper will certainly be Ferguson's priority. The United manager will make a move in the transfer window only if a player unexpectedly becomes available on loan - ior if he sells and can raise money by offloading the likes of Kleberson or John O'Shea.
Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail

Drop the red donkey
Roy Carroll is to be axed by Manchester United following his high-profile blunder against Tottenham that has been the talk of football. Despite getting away with the howler, even though the ball clearly crossed the line, Sir Alex Ferguson has decided it's time to give Tim Howard the chance to regain the goalkeeping slot. Although Carroll, 26, has kept clean sheets in his last four games and conceded just 11 goals in his last 21 matches, he has not looked his usual commanding self of late. His calamitous 90th-minute balls-up against Spurs from a 50-yard Pedro Mendes shot was preceded by another blunder just before half-time, when he spilled an easy catch. Given Carroll's contract runs out at the end of this season - and he has yet to agree a new deal - his latest error could not have come at a worse time for the Northern Ireland international.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror

Are we supposed to laugh?
Pedro Mendes is furious at being robbed of the chance to become a football god like David Beckham. Mendes fumed: “I have never seen anything like it in my life. What are we supposed to do now — have a laugh about it? It would have been a fantastic goal for me. I know David Beckham once scored with a lob like that and it would have been great. It would have been a superb goal and it would have been something to remember for ever, scoring the winning goal at Old Trafford and in that way.”
Shaun Custis, The Sun

Players must toe the line
Before they turn football grounds into Playstation arcades of beeping balls, flatscreen replays and crossbars that light up in neon whenever a goal is scored, isn't there something else that could be done to help referees? Couldn't players stop cheating? Couldn't Roy Carroll have confessed to the referee that the ball had crossed the line by at least a yard?
John Dillon, Daily Express

Goals on film
The goal that wasn't dominated talk among players, managers, officials and fans yesterday as the world of football accepted it can no longer resist technology. And Sir Alex Ferguson, whose United side profited from the high-profile howler, claimed it would take just 30 seconds to clear up such controversies in future. "At some point in the Premier League they will have video evidence," said Fergie. "I was reading about the coach of Bologna recently, who was suggesting the introduction of videos on the side of the pitch. And if the referee can't make up his mind within 30 seconds, which is the time it takes some clubs to take a throw-in or corner-kick, the game should go on. That isn't a bad idea actually because what you don't want is people sat in the stands freezing while a decision is being made. That's a deterrent to video evidence, and that's why I was against it. But progress is progress and I wouldn't object to it now."
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror

Now how do you like it Fergie?
Frank Lampard halalalala back at Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that Chelsea get all the luck with a pointed reference to Manchester United's outrageous let-off against Tottenham. Lampard said: "In a way, we were pleased because it just goes to show that these things do happen. People have made a lot of our luck but these things do even themselves out over a season."
David Hytner, Daily Express

Shut up...we will not crack
Frank Lampard believes Arsenal and Manchester United's attempts to unsettle Chelsea prove their title rivals are running scared. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his Gunners counterpart Arsene Wenger insisted the west Londoners would crack under the pressure of trying to maintain their lead. But Tuesday's win against Middlesbrough put Chelsea seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal and 11 ahead of United. "I don't remember Arsenal speaking too much last year because they were the best team and that was it," said Lampard. "Now all of a sudden they are speaking all the time. So are Manchester United. But we won't speak, we'll just keep our heads down. When you're playing well and doing your stuff you don't need to speak. We are winning games so I don't even think we need to react."
Darren Lewis, Daily Mirror

And finally, Pedro Mendes will be hoping Portugal don't get him...

Blundering linesman's off to the World Cup
The official who failed to spot Tottenham’s 'goal' at Manchester United could be linesman at next year’s World Cup final. Rob Lewis was promoted to FIFA’s elite list on January 1. Lewis is deemed competent to officiate at any match on the planet — including the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Yet he did not see Roy Carroll fumble Pedro Mendes’ 45-yard shot over the line.
Shaun Custis, The Sun

[Jason Holm88]

To sum up: Not very good news for Manchester United.

[Jason Holm88]

I got good news for all Man U fans

Ryan And Ruud On Road To Recovery

United have been handed a double boost with the news that Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy are recovering well from their respective injuries.

Sir Alex Ferguson was keen to dispel rumours that Giggs and van Nistelrooy's injuries are worse than first diagnosed.

The Reds boss insists his in-form Welsh winger should be available within a fortnight, while Ruud is in line to return for the crucial Champions League last 16 clashes with AC Milan.

"Ruud has got every chance of being ready for the AC Milan game," said Ferguson. "We expect him to be ready for those games."

"In the case of Giggs, I would put it down to two weeks," he added. "He should be back in two weeks."

Reports in the press suggested Giggs, who was substituted against Tottenham with a hamstring injury in midweek, would be missing for at least six weeks; a rumour Ferguson strenuously denied on Friday.

"Ryan has a hamstring injury. It's not going to be six weeks, as has been reported in the press, but then who is going to stop that story?

"There was nobody from Old Trafford that even predicted that kind of time-scale.

"We know the situation with Ryan; he gets these injuries from time to time, and we've handled them well over the years. The time factor in his recovery is now much better."

Van Nistelrooy, who was originally suffering from a calf injury which then spread to his Achilles, is still doing remedial.

The Dutchman has divided his recovery time between United's Carrington training base and his native Holland.

"His injury has not got worse at all. He is on remedial," the boss confirmed. "We have let him do part of it here and part of it in Holland.

"We think that helps him mentally; when players, particularly those from other countries, are recovering from long-term injuries it is a bit easier if they are surrounded by their family and friends."

Meanwhile, Sir Alex confirmed that Tim Howard will start the next two games in goal for the Reds, against Exeter City and Chelsea.
Report by Ben Hibbs at Carrington, and Steve Bartram

[Jason Holm88]

Manchester United v Exeter 0-0
FA Cup 3rd Round

Review

Since I didn't see the game I can't give a review. But not to win easily against a team like Exeter (all honour to them) is bad. Apparently their goalie made the game of his life.

[Jason Holm88]

Liverpool v Manchester United
FA Barclays Premiership

Preview

Time for the classic game on against the Scousers on Anfield!

Both teams are missing important players from injury, but both teams has also got strenghtened for this game. Good news for United is that Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand are back, even though they wont play from the start atleast. Good news for the Scousers is that they have purchased Morientes from Real Madrid, and he will most likely play.

Back in United are also Louis Saha, John O'Shea, Quinton Fortune and Wes Brown.

Last year we won 2-1 after two goals by Giggsy. I don't see it impossible that it will turn out exactly like that now. Hopefully it will.

[Tjcoul]

it's gona be pure game lets hope it isn't an anti climax i recon itl be better than mcfc v palace which im going to

[Jason Holm88]

I actually have a good feeling about the game. I allways think United are going to win, but I usually don't have this feeling that I'm having.

Hopefully there wont be, as you said, an anti climax.