Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[machoman]

Originally Posted by tenggiri

I hate to say it, but i was right when i posted the above in June. Haha, now CR trying very hard to do damage control with all MU fans. Fergie must have promised him certain stuff to make him change his mind about leaving for RM. But i am of the opinion that CR shd be free to go next season!

Well done, bro... you were spot on.

Well, it seems certain that CR will make a move next year. SAF has to make sure that Nani, Anderson, etc are ready to take over from Giggs, Scholes, Ronaldo, etc who are retiring or leaving the club.

The process of rebuilding a team or any other organization is never ever finished...it's always ongoing.... more like a works in progress.

[Melatonin]

At least Ronaldo is man enough to come out and admitted the mistakes he made. Hopefully that will settle the team ahead of this Sun's clash with Spurs. Abit thin on firepower upfront, but Scholes can always play behind the main striker anytime.

[dc7176]

Manchester United Vs. Portsmouth

FA Community Shield 2008

10th Aug. 2008


GOALS

Manchester won by penalties 3-1
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EXTRAS

Lost chance for Man. Utd by Giggs 26'
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Great skill by Nani 40
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Shot hits the crossbar by Fletcher 49'
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Nani shot 69'
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Tevez shot 70'
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Good chance by F.Campbell 81'
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Gary Neville holds the shield
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[alex18122003]

Premier League - United spot on to lift Shield




Gary Neville lifted Manchester United's 13th Community Shield after the Premier League champions beat Portsmouth 3-1 in a penalty shootout at Wembley.

Spot kicks were needed after 90 minutes of normal time had failed to separate the two sides in the traditional curtain raiser to the new season.

Man-of-the-match Carlos Tevez, Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick were on target for United as Lassana Diarra, Arnold Mvuemba and Glen Johnson all missed for Portsmouth. Summer recruit Jermain Defoe was the only Pompey player to find the back of the net.

United were deserved victors after having enjoyed much the better of play in normal time. Indeed, the European champions should have finished off Pompey without even having to go to the lottery of a shootout.

That they did not was down to a combination of profligacy in front of goal, some good goalkeeping from David James and one poor refereeing decision.

The major talking point of the game centred on the latter, after Peter Walton failed to point to the spot when Herman Hreidarsson pulled Carlos Tevez to the ground in the box with just 15 minutes remaining.

Walton - officiating in place of the suspended Mark Clattenburg - waved play on, sparking a petulant reaction from the Argentine who grabbed Hreidarsson by the throat in anger. He was lucky to stay on the pitch.

United should already have been a goal to the good after Darren Fletcher was presented with a glorious chance to open the scoring on 36 minutes.

Nani caught Glen Johnson in possession in the right-back position and delivered a cross that a true centre forward would have gratefully gobbled up. Midfielder Fletcher somehow conspired to fluff his lines from close range.

That glaring miss aside, Fletcher put in a solid display in the absence of several recognised starters and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when a well-measured lob with the outside of his boot was tipped onto the bar by a back-peddling James just after the half-time break.

United boss Alex Ferguson was forced to field a weakened side due to a mixture of injuries, illness and international duty but was nonetheless able to recall Neville to make a first domestic appearance since March 2007.

Deprived of Cristiano Ronaldo, still recovering from an ankle operation, and virus-affected and unfit Wayne Rooney, United had to rely on Tevez to pose an attacking threat.

And it was the Argentine who first menaced the Pompey goal, heading wide from Fletcher's cross with a diving effort after 17 minutes before forcing another good save from James with a snap shot from the edge of the area midway through the second half.

While James enjoyed a good work-out at one end, Edwin van der Sar at the other was a relatively peripheral figure. The Dutchman - hero of May's Champions League final shootout in Moscow - was rarely brought into action as Pompey's new-look strike force of Jermain Defoe and £11 million summer recruit Peter Crouch failed to fire.

Defoe had few opportunities to run at the United defence with the ball at his feet, making his way through just twice. On the first occasion he managed to get a sliced shot off at goal while on the second he was crowded out by Nemanja Vidic.

Crouch did not have as much joy and was well marshalled by Vidic and Rio Ferdinand throughout as United started the season exactly where they left the last - winning silverware.

[slyer]

Congrats to Man Utd on winning our first trophy for the new season hope more trophies come to our cabinet this season glory glory man united

[imom]

Premier League - Berbatov on verge of United deal
Eurosport - Wed, 13 Aug 10:04:00 2008

Dimitar Berbatov will become a Manchester United player within the next 48 hours, according to newspaper reports.

The Tottenham striker has long been linked with a move to Old Trafford but United have so far refused to meet Spurs' £30 million valuation of the player.

A £20m bid was rejected earlier this summer but a substantially improved offer is now thought to have been accepted by the White Hart Lane club.

Most newspapers report that a £28m deal will be concluded by the end of the week - in time to feature in United's official squad photograph, scheduled to be taken on Friday.

With striking options in short supply at Old Trafford, United boss Alex Ferguson has made Berbatov's acquisition a top priority this summer.

But the arrival of the Bulgarian, who old has made clear his desire to leave White Hart Lane, will not have been without controversy.

Spurs are unhappy with United's pursuit of the 27-year-old over the past 18 months; club chairman Daniel Levy reported the champions to the Premier League last month over alleged 'tapping up' of the player.

But a £28m deal will ultimately please both parties.

Spurs will be able to cash in on an asset who has drastically increased in value during his time at White Hart Lane - he cost £10.9m from Bayer Leverkusen two years ago - and who apparently no longer has a desire to play for them.

Meanwhile United will be able to secure a player they have coveted for some time, albeit for a hefty fee. But with Alex Ferguson yet to delve into the transfer market this summer, he still has transfer funds available to him.

Should Berbatov put pen to paper with United, his arrival is likely to herald the departure of injury-prone Louis Saha, who has been linked to Wigan and Sunderland.

And Spurs are expected to use the money to lure Russian duo Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko to north London.

[imom]

Originally Posted by mozorider

So berbatov move is final? I wonder how fergie will manage formation with him. We have rooney, tebez, and now berbatov for attackers. Quite interesting.

I think Berbatov will be the outright striker. Either one of Rooney or Tevez will play the support striker role - my guess is Tevez while Rooney will be employed out wide in midfield, like he has frequently been used by SAF. That's if he wants to play all three. SAF might also rotate the trio, playing two of three each time.

[slyer]

i think berbatov is on his way to old trafford... hope to see a surprise new player in man utd line up against newcastle hope to see either berbatov or david villa

[alex18122003]

Rooney fit for season opener

Wayne Rooney has shaken off the effects of a virus and could start against Newcastle on Sunday at Old Trafford.

The striker fell ill during the club's pre-season visit to Nigeria at the end of last month and it was feared that Sunday's big kick-off would come too soon for the 22-year-old. But after a solid week's training, Rooney is fit and ready to take on the Magpies.

“Wayne Rooney is fit and he will play on Sunday, which is good news for us," Sir Alex said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"He’s trained all week and has done very well. He even trained last Sunday on the morning of the Community Shield. From then on he has been progressing really well."

Rooney's return is a major boost for United, who are already without Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha in attacking positions, and midfielders Owen Hargreaves, Anderson, Nani and Ji-sung Park.

“Nani is suspended so he is out," added the boss. "And Hargreaves, Ronaldo, Park and Saha are all still injured and Anderson is at the Olympics. So in terms of attacking options, we're down to the bare bones."

However, Sir Alex feels his squad still has the strength to overcome Kevin Keegan's men at Old Trafford on Sunday. “The backbone will be the midfielders and defenders we have available," he said. "We have a good variety there.

"Hopefully that’s enough to get us over this first hurdle against Newcastle, which is always a good, exciting game. Newcastle always come and have a go, so it should be an open type of match."

[High till Dry]

Yesterday Sir Alex was in the match between Everton and Blackburn. Maybe he is geting Santa Cruz?

[slyer]

Originally Posted by High till Dry

Yesterday Sir Alex was in the match between Everton and Blackburn. Maybe he is geting Santa Cruz?

haha.. man utd attacking seems to lack of something. we have problems scoring goals.. lets hope fergie can buy 1 or 2 attacking players before the transfer deadline

not the best start but still we got 1 pt which is not bad. considering man utd opening games often end up draw

[dc7176]

VS

Manchester United vs Newcastle United
EPL Matchday 1
Old Trafford
Aug 17 2008

Man United kicks off the 08/09 EPL
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Campbell's header slams Given in the head 7'
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1st Goal for Newcastle - Martins 22'
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1st Goal for Man United - Fletcher 24'
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Campbell's shot is barely saved by Given 57'
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Vidic's header hits the crossbar 74'
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[alex18122003]

Premier League - Newcastle hold Manchester United

Manchester United were held 1-1 at Old Trafford by an impressive Newcastle United in their opening match of the Premier League season.

Obafemi Martins leapt to head home from a corner to give Newcastle a shock lead in the first half.

Two minutes later, Darren Fletcher finished a Ryan Giggs cross to cancel it out.

United, missing Carlos Tevez for family reasons as well as the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, were frustrated in attack by a stubborn away defence, although the Magpies had designs on snatching a victory for themselves.

Newcastle were on the ball from the kick-off. Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez epitomised the Magpies' game plan of standing firm while all the time looking for opportunities to counter, running from deep when the chance arose while working hard defensively.

Fraizer Campbell made his debut in Manchester United's attack for Tevez and the 20-year-old frontman was immediately involved in the action, winning a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area after a late tackle by visiting debutant Fabricio Coloccini.

Ryan Giggs took the kick, from a central position. The skipper's shot was blocked by the arm of James Milner in the wall; it did not seem deliberate and referee Mike Riley waved away appeals for a penalty kick.

After eight minutes Campbell almost gave the Red Devils a lead. Wayne Rooney, who seemed off-colour after his illness, sent in a welcoming cross from the left and Campbell met it with a powerful header. Visiting goalkeeper Shay Given, impenetrable for almost the entire 90 minutes, blocked the effort with his head at point-blank range.

A minute later Jonas broke free of the home midfield with a surging run down the left. With a man in the middle also to contemplate, Nemanja Vidic came across quickly and made contact with the South American on the edge of the box, who went down but referee Mike Riley waved away the indignant protestations of the Toon players.

Rooney and Paul Scholes could both have opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Given saved low down from the England striker before recovering to block the midfielder's rebound in the six-yard box.

Nigeria international Martins then stunned the Stretford End on 22 minutes when - following an ill-advised punch by Edwin van der Sar - he arrived unmarked six yards out to glance a header to the far post, where Scholes was stood but could not keep it out.

However with centre-half Steven Taylor off the pitch receiving treatment, United rallied immediately to equalise. Giggs took possession in a similar spot to the earlier Rooney cross for Campbell and whipped in a low ball with his left foot. Fletcher had made an intelligent darting run to the near post and met the delivery to finish past Given.

Michael Carrick was forced off with an ankle injury, replaced by John O'Shea, and will be out of action for two to three weeks.

Coloccini, who had looked a touch slow up against the nippy Campbell in the opening minutes, was a solid presence alongside Taylor at the back as Newcastle repelled attacks with seemingly little trouble, forcing United to shoot from distance. That belied the work that went into their game, closing down and dealing with a multitude of crosses.

Nicky Butt summed up the encounter not long into the second half, piling back to dispossess Rooney as the striking star sought to get the ball out of his feet and pull the trigger from distance. Campbell again was denied by Given after a neat twist and turn, shooting to the near-post bottom corner where the 'keeper shot out an arm to deflect for a corner.

Brazilian Rodrigo Possebon made an entrance for Giggs, who had been complaining of an injury, but had little impact.

Jonas could have snatched the lead once again for Toon when Scholes gave the ball away to Martins in the middle of the park. He threaded a pass down the left for the loping playmaker to attack; heading straight for goal he was stopped in the area by a flying, clean tackle from Serbian lynchpin Vidic.

Vidic met a corner with a downward header that looped up and on to the crossbar with Milner thanking his lucky stars beneath it. Another Brazilian, Rafael Da Silva, came on for Campbell after the former Hull man had been booked for a bad challenge; Wes Brown and Rooney also picked up yellow cards as time and patience ran low for United.

There was one last chance for the home side when Rafael was felled right on the edge of the penalty area by Butt. Riley's judgment was sound and Rooney stepped up to take a free-kick to the right of centre.

He bent it low around the wall, but also past the near post, to consign Alex Ferguson's team to a stalemate in their opening match - on a weekend when Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all won.

[yinyang]

Originally Posted by slyer

...man utd attacking seems to lack of something. we have problems scoring goals.. lets hope fergie can buy 1 or 2 attacking players before the transfer deadline
not the best start but still we got 1 pt which is not bad. considering man utd opening games often end up draw

Last night team mainly fringe players. 1st 20mins saw much action, 2nd half sucks.

Knn, kena suan by chelski fans

[mini_me]

Once the 1st team is back in action, we'll see who laugh loudest. Chelsea or Man U.