Manchester United FC

[Jabster uk ll]

Yeah that save was class. So were the goals by Rooney, and hopefully his good form continues.

[jasondask]

All goals from Boro FA Cup game can be found here:

http://bigjet.free.fr/manchester_united/videos.php

Just click the corresponding windows media player icon thing to start the download. (15mb) Definately worth it for those rooney goals, and even O'sheas was pretty dam good.

[Jason Holm88]

Arsenal v Manchester United
FA Barclays Premiership

Preview

Tonight it's the battle of the second place in the league, the battle of which team will try to catch up with Chelsea, or as it is also known as: the Pizza war - Part 2. Let it be Manchester United who wins it.

I think it will be.

I'm not gonna say we are in better form at the moment, form doesn't matter now. When Arsenal and Man United meat both teams can allways win, no matter how poor form they are in. Both teams want to catch up with Chelsea as much as the other, "unfortunately" it can only be one team.

Since last we met United have been going better than Arsenal, and if we win tonight, we pass them. Right now, it isn't anything I would like more.

It seems Darren Fletcher and Alan Smith will miss this game too. That's bad news for United, especially about Fletcher since he has been showing great form in the latest games.

Missing in Arsenal is Kolo Touré, who's suspended after elbowing Alan Shearer in the game against Newcastle. Gilberto Silva is still injured.

If I'm ought to give a prediction, I'd say that United will win. But there will probably only be with one goal, and it wouldn't surprise me if our Wayne Rooney is the one who does it. Ryan Giggs does also sound like a possible goal scorer. Though I don't care who score the goals, it could be Arsene bloody Wenger who score the goal(s), as long as United win the game I'm happy, oh so happy...

[imnotreyes]

also you need to add that cygan is likely to start.

[Saintsfanuk]

United are bound to win if cygan is playing

[imnotreyes]

cygan has got to be one of the leading scorers for defenders----mostly own goals.

[Saintsfanuk]

Told you they would win with Cygan playing

[Jason Holm88]

Arsenal v Manchester United 2-4
FA Barclays Premiership

Review

The game of Britain (in my opinion) ended in a 6-goal story. 2 for the home team, and 4 for the away team Manchester United.

Arsenal is probably out of the title race now, but if United loose one game and Arsenal win one, we are back at the point we were before last night. It's vital that United win all their coming games (including Chelsea) to even have a chance to win the Premiership. I still hope and think United can win it. But all they can do is to win their games, and hope that Chelsea looses some of theirs.

Last night's game then. We got an awful start, Arsenal had most of the ball in the first 8 minutes. It was around then where Arsenal captain scored 1-0 after a corner. After that United started playing as United. And the payment came in the 18th minute when Giggs ended a beautiful attack by United. Must also add that the goal was pretty lucky. Giggs' s shot got deflected on a Arsenal defender. Perhaps it would've been a goal otherwise too, but this really made it hard for Almunia in the Gunners' goal.

United's happiness dissappeared when Bergkamp scored the second (and last) goal for Arsenal after good play by Arsenal. The score 2-1 held in the rest of the first half.

The beginning of the second half was pretty equal but when Cristiano Ronaldo scored 2-2 with a very decent finish after good throw pass from Ryan Giggs United got control of the game. About 4 minutes after the equalize Ronaldo scored again. Even this time the pass was signed Ryan Giggs. Giggs had a lot to thank Arsenal goalie Almunia, who did a very bad intervention.

10 minutes after, Mikael Silvestre got sent off after heading Fredrik Ljungberg. A straight red card, no question about it. The question is; what did Ljungberg do to Silvestre so he lost his mind?

Now when Arsenal had one more player on the field they had all the possibilities to equalize. But that never happened. United didn't play a very well organized defence the whole time, but what they did were successive. The certain execute of the game came after a significative United attack. They took advantage of Arsenal's poor defence and free with Almunia was subsitute John O'Shea (Fletcher injured). O'Shea did nothing wrong when he made a wonderful lob over Almunia who had no chance.

The game was no completely over.

Manchester United did an excellent performance, both in defence and in offence. In the other half of the second half it got a bit too defensive, but it was the best to do when only being 10 man on the field. Every player in United did an excellent game, Silvestre also, before his dumb header.

So now United are on 2nd place in the league, are we there to stay?

[Smarties250]

I'm so annoyed I didn't get to see that match!!

[Jason Holm88]

What The Papers Say

Heinze's crush on Gunners
Gabriel Heinze believes Manchester United shattered Arsenal's morale with their crushing 4-2 victory at Highbury. United defender Heinze hailed the win as one of the greatest of his career and claimed the defeat broke the spirit of Arsene Wenger's side. The Argentina international said the victory was the springboard United needed to launch one of their famous late charges in a bid to catch runaway Premiership leaders Chelsea. "The win over Arsenal showed that we are still in the race for the title," said Heinze. "Arsenal are out of the title now - the blow to their morale from that defeat is enormous. We performed better as a team than Arsenal and every player played their part. Cristiano Ronaldo was spectacular. He scored two fantastic goals." Defender Gary Neville said Chelsea were likely Premiership winners with their 11-point lead but added: "It can just change in one match. I've looked at our run-in and there is nothing there that scares me."
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror

Ronaldo: We'll hunt you down
Manchester United's Highbury hero Cristiano Ronaldo has warned Chelsea: We will hunt you down. Sir Alex Ferguson's side have overturned an 11-point defecit with Arsenal since beating them at Old Trafford in October, and Ronaldo insisted: "After beating Arsenal we are now gunning for Chelsea. The first objective of overtaking Arsenal has been achieved. Now we are going for the title, and we all believe we can do it. We hunted Arsenal down and we will do the same thing to Chelsea. Arsenal lost their nerve. The title race is now between Chelsea and us - and we'll go for it."
Danny Fullbrook, Daily Star

I swear I will behave
Wayne Rooney insists he will not duck the FA Cup showdown with his former club through any fear his suspect temperament will be exposed in a cauldron of hate. The England striker has confided to friends that he is desperate to face David Moyes' Everton on February 19 and has no intention of avoiding the potentially explosive tie. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will make the final decision on whether to play him. But Rooney is ready to reassure Ferguson that there will be no repeat of the foul-mouthed outburst he directed at referee Graham Poll at Highbury earlier this week.
Paul Joyce, Daily Express

Mourinho: It's over
Jose Mourinho last night claimed the title race is over - and Manchester United and Arsenal are fighting it out for second place only. Mourinho said: "I think they have a big fight for second place and they are fighting each other to see which one can be more comfortable in second place." The ultra-confident Stamford Bridge boss, whose side are still chasing an incredible four trophies, added: "I don't care about Manchester United and I don't care about Arsenal. I just care about us. Manchester United are in second place. A couple of days ago Arsenal had second place. It's not a problem. Eleven points is the biggest lead we have had. Before these two days of games we needed 11 victories and now we need nine victories and one draw. We don't care about other people and we are just concentrating on what we have to do. All we are thinking about now is our next game against Manchester City on Sunday."
David Anderson, Daily Mirror

Fergie's Forl guy
Manchester United reject Diego Forlan yesterday blasted former boss Sir Alex Ferguson for not backing him. Uruguayan striker Forlan has been impressive for Spanish side Villarreal this season, with 13 goals already. But the 25-year-old insists he will never return to the Premiership. He said: "Ferguson did not rate me as much as his other strikers. He didn't give me enough time to become a success at Manchester United - he lacked patience. I got tired of being a substitute for van Nistelrooy. The manager only had eyes for the Dutchman." Forlan added that United's latest crop of strikers were not a big improvement. "I don't consider myself to be a worse player than Alan Smith or Saha, for example," he said.
Staff reporter, Daily Mirror

Jaap slam
Jaap Stam insists Alex Ferguson made a big mistake by selling him and he is ready to make Manchester United pay. The 1999 Treble winner said: “Manchester United know they made a mistake in selling me. I know they made a mistake but I am happy at Milan. I was settled at Manchester United, I had even just ordered a new kitchen, but they wanted to sell me. If a club want to sell you, there is nothing you can do. You can be sold like cattle. In what other industry can a good employee be ushered out the door against their wishes? Of course, you can refuse to go, but then the club have the power to put you on the bench. I don’t agree that players control the game.”
Dave Kidd, The Sun

United given nod for 76,000 fans
Manchester United last night received permission to complete the expansion of Old Trafford. Council planners agreed to proposals to fill in the north west and north east corners of the ground. The development will raise the capacity of the stadium by 7,900 to 76,000 and could net the Red Devils an extra £5million per season. Work will start before the end of May and should be completed before the 2006-07 season. The increased capacity will mean Old Trafford will be second in size only to the new Wembley among football stadia in this country. United director of communications Phil Townsend said: “This is great news. It will be of huge benefit to the club, the fans — and the council.”
Staff reporter, The Sun

There goes the neighbourhood
First the good news for Sir Alex Ferguson.. the empty house next door has been sold. Now the bad news..Robbie Savage has bought it. Blackburn's new signing, released by Fergie as a youngster at Manchester United, has told friends he has chosen this £1million pad in the same road as the Old Trafford boss, following his move from Birmingham. The six bedrooms and four reception rooms are ample space for Savage, wife Sarah and young son Charlie. Savage claimed he wanted to leave Birmingham to be nearer his sick parents who live in north Wales, and the house is 50 miles from their home in Wrexham. The previous occupant of the house in Wilmslow was Kevin Campbell, who has just moved from Everton to West Brom. However, while Fergie may open his door to Savage if he runs out of sugar, he won't be offering him use of his toilet.
Mike Allen, Daily Mirror

And finally, potentially title-affecting news...

Chelsea guilty
Chelsea's secret summit with Arsenal ace Ashley Cole DID take place, The Sun can sensationally reveal today. We obtained concrete proof that Blues boss Jose Mourinho and chief executive Peter Kenyon tapped up the England defender at a plush hotel. A hotel employee, who has given us a sworn affadavit, revealed: "They were definitely talking about a transfer. I clearly remember the words, 'This is what we're prepared to do if you come to Chelsea." If Arsenal lodge a formal complaint the Blues could be docked points.
Thomas Whitaker and Mark Irwin, The Sun

This could blow the title race wide open
Chelsea's illegal approach to Arsenal's Ashley Cole could blow the Premiership title race apart. The leaders face the possibility of a four point deduction after admitting a breach of rule K3 which forbids clubs talking to players contracted to any other team. Last night a Chelsea source confirmed to The Sun that the club would no longer be denying that the meeting took place.
Mark Irwin, The Sun

[Jason Holm88]

More information about the expansion of Old Trafford...

Club Confirms Go-Ahead For Stadium Expansion

Old Trafford Gets Expansion Go-Ahead

Old Trafford as it will look after building work is completed for the start of season 2006/07.
Feature: When Will The Work Be Completed?

Manchester United confirmed on Friday that Trafford Council has given the green light for the expansion of Old Trafford to a 76,000-seater stadium.

On Thursday evening, the Council's Planning Committee approved proposals to fill in the north-east and north-west corners of the ground to make it the largest club stadium in Britain.

Subject to tender, work is expected to begin by the end of the current season, with the work set to be completed by the start of the 2006/07 season.

Chief Executive David Gill welcomed the news, saying: "This is an important project for the Club. Last year we turned away 12,500 fans for every game we played at Old Trafford. The new seats will mean more of our supporters will get the chance to see their heroes at Old Trafford.

"There is still a way to go before work can begin, but I am confident this latest chapter in Old Trafford's 95 year history will enhance the look and the atmosphere in the ground, making it one of the best and most imposing stadiums in world football.

"We have made a commitment to work with Trafford and other local agencies to ease the burden that cars place on the local road network."

The Gorse Hill Partnership played an influential part in obtaining planning permission. It was originally set up when work began on expanding the East and West Stands in season 1999/2000, aiming to reduce matchday traffic in the residential areas around Old Trafford and improving transport to and from the stadium.

"We're working to a tight programme. The hope is that we will be able to accommodate the extra seats by the start of the 2006/07 season."
George Johnstone,
Group Property Manager

Manchester United's Group Property Manager, George Johnstone, told ManUtd.com: "It is a partnership made up of a core of the local Council, community representatives and the club.

"It is also involves the local authorities - the police and any other bodies such as the Passenger Transport Executive - and has the aim of reducing the impact of our activities on the local community.

"We have committed to extend that partnership and to bring in other bodies such as train operators to help us improve public transport provisions to and from the stadium."

Directing matchday traffic away from the residential areas around Old Trafford was also a key issue in the project.

"That is part of it," Johnstone added. "We want to encourage people to come to the stadium through Trafford Park and to park in Trafford Park as well."

David Gill concluded: "We have worked hard to plan the construction work to minimise the disruption to local residents. Plans are also well advanced to refocus matchday traffic away from residential areas and into Trafford Park."

Report by Ben Hibbs


Old Trafford as it will look after building work is completed for the start of season 2006/07.

[Saintsfanuk]

Should be good, I just hope we are still in the Premiership so I get to go there

[Jason Holm88]

So you can get totally destroyed by Roon & Co in front of 76 000 instead of 68 000

[Saintsfanuk]

Yup

Altough there is the odd ocassion we do ok at old trafford like the 3-3 draw when Le tissier took a long range shot and it went straight through Taibi. Although we do also get hammered there think a few season ago it was 5-1 with a Ruud hatrick

[Jason Holm88]

Oh yeah, remember Taibi

But didn't we win with 7 to 1 a couple of years ago?

[da premiership]

Fergie's Forl guy
Manchester United reject Diego Forlan yesterday blasted former boss Sir Alex Ferguson for not backing him. Uruguayan striker Forlan has been impressive for Spanish side Villarreal this season, with 13 goals already. But the 25-year-old insists he will never return to the Premiership. He said: "Ferguson did not rate me as much as his other strikers. He didn't give me enough time to become a success at Manchester United - he lacked patience. I got tired of being a substitute for van Nistelrooy. The manager only had eyes for the Dutchman." Forlan added that United's latest crop of strikers were not a big improvement. "I don't consider myself to be a worse player than Alan Smith or Saha, for example," he said.

thats cos you were lalalala m8. When you were given the chance to play you didnt really score or play well. Best game was liverpool away and everyother game you were lalalala!

And to the chelsea deduction...i hope so if they do get deducted points that will be a blow to their moral and could drop in form

[Jason Holm88]

True about the Forlan thing.

About Chelsea deduction, it would be nice, but if United passed Chelsea because of that i would have mixed feelings.. but I wouldn't mind at all.. and if now Chelsea did have that meeting with Ashley Cole they must be punished for it.

[da premiership]

mixed feelings my lalalala if they wanna break rules then they should be punished. And by punished i mean finish second how ever many points they have so we get 1st n they finsh above the lalalala

[Jason Holm88]

Omg, how nice it would be to win the prem again, even though it was only about 2 years ago it feels like it was a long time ago

[da premiership]

It does, it does. Or even the Champs league again, or having said that, the treble *cough*arsenal only 49 unbeaten, need to taste real achievement*cough*

[Saintsfanuk]

Originally Posted by Jason Holm88

Oh yeah, remember Taibi

But didn't we win with 7 to 1 a couple of years ago?

Most likely we usually get a thrashing from some team every year

[Jason Holm88]

Originally Posted by da premiership

It does, it does. Or even the Champs league again, or having said that, the treble *cough*arsenal only 19 unbeaten, need to taste real achievement*cough*

Oh yeah, CL this year would be great.. and I don't think it's impossible at all

[Jason Holm88]

Originally Posted by Saintsfanuk2

Most likely we usually get a thrashing from some team every year

This is not "The Thread of Pity"

[Saintsfanuk]

Gone for a 2-0 United win tomorrow, hopefully Scholes will score and Rio keep a clean sheet, would really help my fantasy team

[da premiership]

Originally Posted by Saintsfanuk2

Gone for a 2-0 United win tomorrow, hopefully Scholes will score and Rio keep a clean sheet, would really help my fantasy team

if your team fails then theres always ya fantasy team to take its place