Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[CibLover]

Originally Posted by Mafan

This guy is 6"2 so should consider a tall striker.

Angolan striker Manucho has spoken of his delight at securing a deal that should see the 24-year-old join the Reds after January's African Cup of Nations.

The centre-forward, who has topped the Angola league's scoring charts for the past two seasons playing with Petro Atletico Luanda, told MUTV he's living in dreamland after agreeing to a move to Old Trafford.

"I have been a fan of Manchester United from when I was very young so now I will work very hard to get into the first team," Manucho said.

"I am very happy to be here and I have worked very hard to make my dream a reality. I have found the adaptation easy because all the players have given me their support… and players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson all speak my language [Portuguese]."

Although Manucho's work permit still needs to be granted, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident the player has the necessary traits to make an impact in the Barclays Premier League.

"He's a very quick, aggressive forward, a big lad about 6"2'," Sir Alex told MUTV. "We've had him on trial for three weeks and he's done very well. We're delighted to have made an agreement with his football team."

Manucho isn't expected to see much first-team action this season, although Sir Alex conceded it all depends on how well he settles into life at United.

"I think he'll need a few months to adjust," he said. "In saying that, he's done very well in training and you never know how players will progress.

"I said the same thing about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he arrived. I thought I'd give him a year or two in the Reserves but after three or four games he was in the first team.

"It all boils down to the boy himself, how he adapts to the change and how he commits himself to learning. Every young player has to learn."

[CibLover]

Double post deleted. Pai seh.

[yinyang]

Sunderland v Man Utd

Stadium of Light
Wednesday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
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Sunderland striker Michael Chopra is a doubt with a heel injury he picked up at Reading on Saturday.

Liam Miller is still suspended, while Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring), Kieran Richardson (back) and Russell Anderson (ankle) are not yet ready to return.

Park Ji-sung could return to the Manchester United squad for the first time since March after knee surgery.

Edwin van der Sar (groin) is definitely out, while Rio Ferdinand (foot) and Owen Hargreaves (back) should be fit.
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Sunderland (from): Gordon, Ward, McShane, Halford, Harte, Higginbotham, Collins, Yorke, Etuhu, Leadbitter, Wallace, Whitehead, Kavanagh, O'Donovan, Jones, Chopra, Connolly, Murphy, Stokes, Cole.

Man Utd (from): Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, O'Shea, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Nani, Eagles, Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Tevez, Rooney, Saha.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Sunderland manager Roy Keane on recent refereeing decisions:
"You just keep hoping that over the course of the season these decisions will even themselves out.

"It hasn't for the last few weeks but we hope, come May, that we look back and say 'well some went for us and some went against us'.

"At the moment they are all going against us."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"December is a very important month.

"If we get through Christmas, we have tough away games at Sunderland and West Ham and Birmingham at home, and are still with Arsenal we have a chance.

"We have Nani, Saha and Park all back in the squad, but there won't be a lot of changes."

BIG-MATCH FACTS
Third bottom meets second top at the Stadium of Light; Roy Keane comes up against his old boss for the first time on home soil.

Manchester United have won more league games on the road (four), than Sunderland have managed home and away (three).

The Black Cats have registered one win in 12 league outings; the Red Devils have won four on the bounce.

Sunderland have a 50% win record in Premier League matches on Boxing Day; won three of six, but not since the 0-3 triumph over Blackburn at Ewood Park in 2001.

Middlesbrough beat Manchester United on Boxing Day in 2002. It was the only occasion United have lost a Premier League fixture on 26 December, they have won 11 of 12, including the last four.

United are unbeaten in 11 Premier League matches against Sunderland. They've won eight and drawn three since losing 2-1 at Roker Park on the 8 March 1997.

CLUB FORM
SUNDERLAND

Club stats
Fixtures
Highest realistically achievable: 16th
Lowest could fall: 19th

1. Won only six of their last 76 games in the Premier League.

2. This season's three victories have all come at home and against bottom-half clubs; Tottenham, Reading and Derby.

3. Need a draw to total 100 league points under Roy Keane.

4. Scored 17 goals, at one every 95 minutes (one hour 35 minutes) of Premier League football played; only Derby's attack is inferior to that, with a paltry eight goals netted.

5. Managed one clean sheet in 17 league matches; the 1-0 home win over Derby on 1 December was the only shut-out since the opening day 1-0 home victory over Spurs on 11 August.

6. Lost one of the last six home league matches; the 1-2 reverse to Blackburn on 29 September.

7. Scored one goal in each of the last five at the Stadium of Light.

8. Entertain Bolton on Saturday, before visiting Blackburn on 2 January.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd

1. Won 18 of 23 in all competitions, and lost one of 16.

2. One of two clubs with as many as 13 Premier League wins; the other is Arsenal.

3. Boasting the tightest defence in the highest league; just nine goals shipped in 18 outings, at one every two games, or 180 minutes (three hours) of Premier League football played on average.

4. Won 13 of the last 15 Premier League matches, losing just one of the 15.

5. Kept clean sheets in nine of the last 15 league outings, and failed to score in one of their last 15 league games; the 1-0 loss, away to Bolton on 24 November.

6. Not lost in any league game this term in which they have scored; won 13 and drawn two of 15.

7. Scored first in an unequalled 14 Premier League matches; won 12 and drawn two.

8. Conceded only two goals in the last 15 minutes of Premier League matches this term; only Arsenal and Liverpool can match that.

9. Beaten Everton, Aston Villa, Birmingham and Liverpool on their league travels.

10. Next is a trip to West Ham on Saturday, before the New Year's Day fixture home to Birmingham.

KEY PLAYER NOTES
SUNDERLAND

Kenwyne JONES is Sunderland's top scorer with four Premier League goals.

Michael CHOPRA is a double shy of 50 career league goals (Newcastle, Watford, Barnsley, Cardiff and Sunderland).

Last season's top scorer David CONNOLLY needs one goal to total 100 in his league career (Watford, Wolves, Wimbledon, West Ham, Leicester, Wigan and Sunderland).

If selected:-

Danny COLLINS will be making his 100th appearance for Sunderland.

Dickson ETUHU will be making his 250th club career appearance (Manchester City, Norwich, Preston and Sunderland).

Anthony STOKES will be making his 50th club career appearance in England and Scotland (Falkirk and Sunderland).

Andrew COLE, Danny HIGGINBOTHAM, Kieran RICHARDSON and Dwight YORKE will be facing a former club.

HIGGINBOTHAM will be playing three days before his 29th birthday.

Suspended:-

Liam MILLER

MANCHESTER UNITED

Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer with 16 goals.

RONALDO is also their leading Premier League marksman with 11, and leads the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.

If on the field from the outset:-

Wayne ROONEY will be making his 150th start in a United shirt.

Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).

Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.
=
HEAD TO HEAD
United have won eight and drawn three Premier League matches since Sunderland's 2-1 win on 8 March 1997, when Michael Gray and John Mullin scored the decisive goals at Roker Park.

The Black Cats have recorded one subsequent 2-1 home victory over the Red Devils, winning a Worthington League Cup fourth round tie after extra time on 28 November 2000, at the Stadium of Light.

It was a losing first return for Roy Keane, when he took Sunderland to Old Trafford for the reverse fixture in September. That leaves the Red Devils with the possibly of completing the double over the Wearsiders for the third time in five attempts.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Sunderland 37 wins, Man Utd 46, Draws 26
Prem: Sunderland 1 wins, Man Utd 9, Draws 3

at Sunderland only
League (inc PL): Sunderland 26 wins, Man Utd 15, Draws 13
Prem: Sunderland 1 wins, Man Utd 3, Draws 2

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Manchester United 1-0 Sunderland
1 September 2007 - Ref: Martin Atkinson
Man Utd scorer: Saha 72

REFEREE
Uriah Rennie (Sheffield, Yorkshire)

[CibLover]

Feels good to be where we belong!!

GLORY, GLORY MAN UTD!!!!

[mr_missile]

Cut and paste story

KEANE IMPRESSED BY UNITED


Sunderland boss Roy Keane is convinced former club Manchester United will retain their Barclays Premier League title after witnessing a romp on Wearside.

United maintained the pressure on Arsenal with a comprehensive 4-0 victory at the Stadium of Light to leave Keane's Sunderland deep in relegation trouble.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men simply had too much for the top-flight novices and raced into a 3-0 lead before the break.

Louis Saha's 86th-minute penalty simply cemented a win which had long been in the bag to leave Keane in little doubt as to the season's outcome.

He said: "I have been asked this question for the last month or two and I have said before my money is still on United and today has not changed that, it has not wavered it one bit.

"Any team that wins the league, history will tell you - and the manager of United has got so much experience - that they will get stronger as the season goes on.

"We did not kid ourselves when we were beaten 1-0 down there. It's like ourselves, it takes eight, nine, 10 games to get into the swing of things, even more so for the big boys who might have brought in one or two big signings.

"United, as the manager has said, if they are there or thereabouts coming into the new year, they will have a hell of a chance and I would not disagree with that one bit."

United were on their way with just 20 minutes gone when Wayne Rooney ended his six-game wait for a goal with an unerring finish.

He then turned provider to allow Saha to double the lead on the half-hour, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who had earlier forced Craig Gordon into two important saves from free-kicks, finally beat him with a third in first-half injury time.

From then on, it was simply a matter of by how many United won, although they had to wait until the death for number four.

Ferguson was understandably delighted with his strikers in particular.

Asked about Saha's goal, he said: "It will do him a load of good, his confidence.

"We were having no problems at all - he and Rooney worked particularly well together and they were a real threat today."

Keane, who handed a debut to 17-year-old striker Martyn Waghorn, was defiant after a defeat which left his side just one place off bottom.

He said: "We are where we are. The best team will win the league and the three worst teams will go down - and I believe we are not one of the three worst teams in the Premier League.

"But it would be nice to back that up with some positive results and some wins.

"We are doing okay. We have got lots going for us in terms of the spirit of the players, the attitude of the players, and I am very lucky with the support and the staff I have got.

"But again, I keep saying, we do need a few more players of real quality."

[alex18122003]

Arsenal slipped behind Manchester United to second place in the Premier League after being held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Portsmouth side at Fratton Park.

It is the first time Arsenal have failed to score in the Premier League all season, thanks in no small part to a quite excellent defensive performance by man-of-the-match Sol Campbell who shackled his former club in world class fashion.

Campbell and defensive partner Sylvain Distin were immense as Pompey set their stall to soak up a predictable Arsenal and occasionally threaten on the break.

David James only had one real save to make - a comfortable catch from a long range Tomas Rosicky effort in the first half - while the same man had Arsenal's second best chance when he drilled just wide late on after being set up by substitute Nicklas Bendtner.

The best opportunity for the Gunners had been and gone, William Gallas volleying over from close range after he cottoned onto Cesc Fabregas' mis-hit shot. But the most clear-cut chance of the game fell to Pompey, Benjani bursting clean through with 16 minutes remaining but knocking the ball too far when rounding Manuel Almunia and losing the ball when he really should have scored.

The first half had been a fairly inconsequential affair, Arsenal looking a touch tired and lacking a truly killer final ball, although the width offered by Emmanuel Eboue and Rosicky - Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy overlapping well - was wasted with only Emmanuel Adebayor foraging a lonely furrow up front.

Eboue fired over on five minutes after playing a deft one-two with the Togo striker that brilliantly carved open the Pompey defence, while Niko Krancjar sent a low drive just wide after turning Sagna on the edge of the box.

Both sides were effectively nullifying each other with packed midfielder, with Benjani operating more on the flanks for much of the game, and the burst in activity later in the second half came when Pompey shut up shop, asked Arsenal to come at them and solely attacked on the break.

Arsenal now have 44 points, one behind Manchester United - who thrashed Sunderland 4-0 at the Stadium of Light - while Pompey stay 7th after Everton made light work of Bolton.

[<<<SUCHINDA>>>]

West Ham winning 2-1 confirm will be tomorrow's headlines

[imom]

Papers: Dimi to join Reds?
31/12/2007 09:37

Berba: I'm off

Dimitar Berbatov has sensationally told Spurs he would like to join a ‘big’ club — putting Manchester United on red alert. In a bombshell interview with SunSport, the Bulgarian superstar’s agent Emil Dantchev last night revealed: “I have already spoken to the Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, and told him that if a club that corresponds to Dimitar’s class and ambition comes in with an offer that suits his current club in January, he would like to be allowed to go. Dimitar is OK at Tottenham. I would not say he is happy. But his performances for the club are a testament to his commitment to the fans and his team-mates. He has never stopped trying and scoring goals to help the team. Fans must understand Dimitar is 27 next month and time is running out for him to play for a club that can match his ambition.”
Antony Kastrinakis, The Sun

In other news, Sir Alex Ferguson has told United to win the Champions League as a reward for Cristiano Ronaldo. "Six players in today’s squad have won a Champions League medal — Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Owen Hargreaves and Edwin van der Sar, as well as Paul Scholes who was suspended for the 1999 final," said the boss. "I know the others are keen to join them. We are rating Cristiano Ronaldo the best player in the world. But he needs the medals to prove it."

Sir Alex hopes Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick will have recovered from illness when United look to bounce back from defeat at West Ham by beating Birmingham at Old Trafford on New Year's Day.

[virginlovers]

Originally Posted by kchang

man u needs someone to replace giggs. nani is not that experienced yet. not to forget van der sar will have to hang up his boots soon. a better reserve keeper is needed.

who might be a better reserve keeper?
kuzscak seems competent enough.

what they really need is a right back n a left back who can switch to central defence where possible.
phillip lahm is good.


IMHO

[CibLover]

Newcastle have bid rejected for Utd's Brown.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'We have had an inquiry from Newcastle for Wes Brown but we have turned it down.'

The 28-year-old England international will be out of contract in the summer and has recently turned down an improved final deal from Old Trafford.

The Manchester Evening News reported that Newcastle came through with a firm offer, believed to be approximately £2million, for the versatile defender.

Although Ferguson has reject Newcastle's initial offer has not ruled out a deal taking place if the player is interested.

'The matter rests with Wes and his agent,' Ferguson said. 'We'll just wait and see what happens. Our offer is still there - it's now up to Wes.'

Brown has spent most of the season deputising for the injured Gary Neville at right-back and if United manager Ferguson decides to accept an offer, rather than lose the player for nothing in the summer, he may be left short of defenders.

Toon manager Sam Allardyce is under serious pressure on Tyneside as his team has struggled home and away and sees the addition of Brown as key to bolstering his side's shaky defence.

The former Bolton boss is also maintaining his interest in Tal Ben-Haim, whom he tried to sign on a free transfer from his old club during the close-season, but was beaten to the punch by Chelsea.

The Israel international has found his chances limited at Stamford Bridge, although has been involved in recent games because of the absence of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho.

However, the Blues are said to have placed a £2million price-tag on his head.

================================================== =======

Looks like we have a rebel on our hands!! I'll say let's sell him off for some $$ and get a better righ-back to deputise for Gary. Brown is just an okay defender IMHO.. not great.

I'm sure the Gaffer already has someone in his mind.

[alex18122003]

Familiar feeling for O'Neill as Villa face Man Utd in FA Cup tie

It would be no surprise if Martin O'Neill was sick of the sight of Manchester United but the Aston Villa manager has every reason to believe his side can finally end a frustrating run of failure against Sir Alex Ferguson's team.

The two clubs come into this third round clash having faced each other at this stage of the competition three times in the previous six seasons with United triumphing on each occasion.

But with Villa playing as well as they have done for years - and United having stuttered unconvincingly through a difficult festive programme - a repeat victory for Ferguson's side at Villa Park is not a foregone conclusion.

The United manager's decision to criticise the Old Trafford crowd for the lack of atmosphere during the narrow new year's day league victory over Birmingham may have distracted from his players' underwhelming recent form.

But with Argentine play-maker Carlos Tevez - scorer of the only goal against Birmingham - missing with a bruised ankle, Ferguson will be forced to look elsewhere for inspiration if his side are to retain hope of improving on last season's run when they were defeated by Chelsea in the Wembley final.

Wayne Rooney's return after a two-game absence should at least compensate for the loss of Tevez, but with fast-improving Villa having moved to sixth in the Premier League on the back of a five-game unbeaten run, United's passage into the fourth round is far from assured.

O'Neill declared after the draw that "I'd have taken a home tie against anybody" and the recent performances against Spurs and Chelsea have done nothing to temper that view.

Gabriel Agbonhalor, the Villa winger who is expected to receive his first England call-up under new coach Fabio Capello, insists they must target a replay at a minimum.

United condemned Villa to a humiliating 4-1 defeat earlier this season in a match that also saw Scott Carson, the England goalkeeper, and Nigel Reo-Coker both dismissed.

Agbonlahor said: "We got on top of them last time, but against those teams, I don't think it's good to score the first goal.

"I think we got them angry and they came back at us! We've got to go out and do what we did against Tottenham and Chelsea and get at least a replay out of it.

"We've shown we can hurt them and, on our day, we can hurt anyone. We've got to try to stop them from scoring because we're capable of scoring in every game."

"They thumped us in the League. But this is the FA Cup, so you never know what to expect. We'll try our best and see what happens. We know they're so strong, especially at home, so we've just got to try our hardest and see what we can get out of the game."

[yinyang]

Commemorative piece for our beloved club (bottom below)

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Eriksson calls for Munich respect

Eriksson wants to ensure City's fans are respectful. Sven-Goran Eriksson has called on Manchester City's fans to be respectful of commemorations planned for the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

City play at Manchester United on 10 February and Eriksson has written to fans asking them to pay tribute to those killed in the Munich plane crash.

Eight United stars and former City keeper Frank Swift were among 23 who lost their lives on 6 February, 1958.

Eriksson has urged fans not to disrupt a minute's silence before the match.

Former Manchester United club secretary Ken Ramsden, who has helped organise the commemorations for the day said: "What happened at Munich was not just a disaster for United but for the whole of the city of Manchester.

"We are sure that City fans will unite with us and share in the occasion with us."

United will wear a special replica of their 1958 kit on the day, devoid of the players' names or shirt numbers on the back, while City's kit will incorporate a black ribbon with their sponsors branding removed.

[alex18122003]

Manchester United will not buy or sell any players during the January transfer window, according to their chief executive David Gill.

The Premier League champions have been linked with a £30 million move for Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov but Gill insisted they would not look to improve the squad until the end of the season.

"I don't think there will be any purchases in the transfer window," he told the BBC.

"We invested heavily last summer and believe we have a very good squad that can really go for the honours in the balance of the season.

"We will assess in the summer as well always do and see where things have gone well and not so well, and see where we can strengthen."

Gill sought to ward off any interest in their in-form duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, saying that United have never been a selling club.

He said the only major players sold in Alex Ferguson's reign - such as David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy - were those the manager was willing to let go.

"We made it clear Cristiano would never be for sale. Wayne and a number of other key players fit into that category," Gill said.

"Rooney is a world-class footballer and 22 years old, not only a great player but very popular around the club. He absolutely loves the club and we will make sure we keep him for many, many years."

Gill also rubbished reports that Louis Saha will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

The fragile Frenchman has made just 50 league starts in four years since joining from Fulham, and underwent knee surgery in the summer.

However, Gill said the 29-year-old had not suffered a recurrence of the same injury, describing the latest setback as: "A slight knock - he is certainly not out for the rest of the season."

[dom01]

It seems that our dear Saha is down and out for the season again....

[DatukSeks]

Originally Posted by dom01

It seems that our dear Saha is down and out for the season again....

we should sell the injury prone saha and buy berbatov