Darren Fletcher has predicted a more rigid Manchester United will be on show this season.

With Cristiano Ronaldo now settled in at Real Madrid and Carlos Tevez moving down the road to Manchester City, Sir Alex Ferguson has had a bit of adjusting to do this summer.

And, according to Fletcher, the outcome is an orthodox 4-4-2 formation that he believes will be good enough to terrorise opposition at home and abroad.

"We have always been tight at the back because we have a great defensive record but maybe we have been a little bit too expansive at times," he said.

"The ethos of the club is about attacking football. However, you can't be wide open and attacking all the time.

"You also have to be disciplined and I think you are going to see a more rigid 4-4-2 formation this season."

At Wembley on Sunday, Fletcher was right at the heart of that formation, partnering Michael Carrick in the centre of midfield.

Maybe it should not have been a surprise. For, as the close season dragged on, so Fletcher's abilities grew as reasons for United's lamentable Champions League final display were unearthed.

The inescapable conclusion to draw was that United were passed to death by Barcelona duo Andres Iniesta and Xavi because Fletcher was suspended for the Rome showdown, consigned there due to the needless red card he picked up when the semi-final at Arsenal was already won.

Not that Fletcher is about to let the adulation go to his head.

"The only thing people have said to me this summer is that United missed me in Rome," he said.

"It is nice to hear and I did feel I made a big step forward last season.

"But sometimes you become a better player by not playing. People notice you because you are not there. It is easy to sit in the stand. I was desperate to be out there."

Undeniably, last season's was Fletcher's best and most consistent.

The 25-year-old made 42 appearances last term and the vast majority of his contributions were telling ones in a season that ended with a third Premier League title if not a place in Rome.

"There are some great midfielders at the club but I managed to get into the team for the start of the season and stay there for most of it," he said.

"My performances improved because of the continuity of playing most weeks.

"Now I feel as if I am right in there competing for a place in the starting line-up each week, although I can't take anything for granted because there is so much competition."

Yes...his game is improving each match..even me last time criticize him now have to admit his ability...but I still think that he is good in the middle but crap at wings

if Foster keep injury, and PIG cant perform, no surprise if we go for another hands

we cant keep goin with VDS, he is getting older.

ei? today so 'sejuk'?? not 'hot' anymore?? tarak 'debate' ka??

still pondering whether to cancell my astro sport pakej anot, now that i'm moving to a new job that doesnt need to work weekend.

ei? today so 'sejuk'?? not 'hot' anymore?? tarak 'debate' ka??

still pondering whether to cancell my astro sport pakej anot, now that i'm moving to a new job that doesnt need to work weekend.

ei? today so 'sejuk'?? not 'hot' anymore?? tarak 'debate' ka??

still pondering whether to cancell my astro sport pakej anot, now that i'm moving to a new job that doesnt need to work weekend.

United fans shouldn’t fret if Ben Foster joins Edwin van der Sar in missing Sunday’s big kick-off against Birmingham City.

Ex-Reds defender Lee Martin believes Tomasz Kuszczak can fill their shoes, after witnessing the Pole’s fine display in last week’s friendly against Valencia.

"Every time I've seen Tomasz play, he's not let anyone down,” Martin told MUTV.

“He's not had many opportunities because of Edwin's form but when he's played, he's done very well and made some great saves. I wouldn't see any problem in throwing Tomasz in there and playing him for the first ten games.”

Kuszczak has made only 32 starts for United in three years, including seven to Foster’s nine last term, and the press linked him with clubs including Zenit St Petersburg earlier this summer.

“I think a lot of players in Tomasz's position would want to leave but he's been patient and waited for his chance,” said Martin.

“I think you need six or seven games in a row to adjust to the speed of the Premier League and build some consistency. Tomasz has never had a run of games at United but maybe  this is his time.

“He’ll probably see that he's got a good chance now of playing against Birmingham, depending on how Ben Foster's injury is. Tomasz will be relishing a run in the side, just as Ben would have done before getting a knock and missing the England game.

“I think Ben took the knock on Sunday in a collision when Carvalho scored for Chelsea. I hope his injury’s not too serious and who knows, we might yet see him play against Birmingham.

“I think Ben’s going to be the number one keeper here for the next ten years and if you asked the boss, he'd probably tell you the same thing.

"But we've also got Tomasz, and behind him there’s Ben Amos and Tom Heaton. So there are three or four good young keepers. When Edwin retires, the club will be in good hands, literally."

Foster's condition is likely to be discussed in Sir Alex Ferguson's weekly press conference on Friday (14:00 BST). In the meantime, England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence suggested on Talksport today that Ben could be fit for the start of the league season, despite missing the international friendly against Holland.

Kuszczak's United record

2006/07: 13 games (all starts)
9 goals conceded, 5 clean sheets

2007/08: 16 games (12 starts, 4 sub)
8 goals conceded, 10 clean sheets

2008/09: 8 games (7 starts, 1 sub)
5 goals conceded, 4 clean sheets

Overall: 37 games (32 starts, 5 subs)
22 goals conceded, 19 clean sheets

2010 World Cup hosts South Africa had coach Joel Santana back in charge after a bout of illness.

But his return did not inspire Bafana Bafana, who went down 3-1 at home to Serbia.

It was 0-0 at half-time but Serbia took the lead in the 57th minute through Manchester United's Zoran Tosic.

Danko Lazovic added a second after 69 minutes and then Tosic, a second-half substitute, scored again to make sure of the win with just over 10 minutes to go.

any news on Nani's injury?

MU is strongest than Arsenal

Sir Alex in sweat at Evans is KO'D
Manchester United are facing a defensive crisis ahead of their Premier League opeCner against Birmingham on Sunday. Centre-back Jonny Evans quit the ­Northern Ireland squad last night and flew to Manchester nursing an ankle injury and will be assessed by United’s doctor this morning. With Evans a major doubt, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has a big problem at the back as Nemanja Vidic is already out with a calf injury, along with Wes Brown who injured a thigh on the tour of the Far East in July. And right-back Gary Neville, who has often filled in at centre-back, is also struggling with a groin strain.
Bill Thornton, Daily Star

Meanwhile, The Sun follows up the MEN's claim that Sir Alex is chasing Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The tabloid claims the boss is trying to wrap up a £5million deal for the stopper before Bayern Munich increase their bid for the 23-year-old.

ZOMG
the injury camp got real pretty nurses?
everyone is rushing to bang them
we're only left with Rio as CB
so it's either Cathcart or JOS partnering him i guess

Nani returns for Portugal

United will welcome back a host of stars from international duty today, including Nani, who played 17 minutes for Portugal in Wednesday night’s 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein.

After injuring his shoulder in Sunday’s Community Shield loss, Nani was reported by some media outlets to be expected to miss up to several weeks. But the Reds winger appears to have made a speedy recovery and could now feature in Sir Alex’s plans for Birmingham City’s visit on Sunday.

Elsewhere, United’s internationals enjoyed mixed fortunes overnight. England drew 2-2 with Holland in a friendly in Amsterdam, although it’s a night Rio Ferdinand will probably want to forget. His error gifted Dirk Kuyt the game’s opener before Fabio Capello’s men fell further behind after another defensive blunder, this time from Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry. Wayne Rooney looked sharp during his 59-minute spell, while Michael Carrick played 45 minutes after being introduced at half-time. It was another substitute, Jermain Defoe, who rescued England with goals in the 49th and 77th minutes.

Two Reds – Darren Fletcher and Patrice Evra – were involved in competitive World Cup qualifiers. In Group 7, Patrice Evra played 90 minutes as France edged past the Faroe Islands with a 1-0 win. Andre-Pierre Gignac, who some papers linked with a summer move to Old Trafford, found the net on 42 minutes.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s World Cup qualifying chances took a nosedive in Oslo as George Burley’s men slumped to a 4-0 loss against Norway. Darren Fletcher captained the Scots and played the full 90 minutes but he and his team-mates never really recovered from Gary Caldwell’s early red card. Goals from John Arne Riise, Morten Gamst Pedersen (2) and Erik Huseklepp sent the home crowd away smiling, while Scotland are left in third place in Group 9.

Darron Gibson and John O’Shea will return similarly downcast after the Republic Of Ireland were soundly beaten 3-0 by Australia in a friendly at Croke Park.

Dimitar Berbatov, however, will be all smiles after Bulgaria beat Latvia 1-0 in a friendly in Sofia. Berbatov played 45 minutes before being replaced by eventual match-winner Dimitar Rangelov.


Northern Ireland drew 1-1 with Israael in Belfast, although Jonny Evans was sent home to Manchester prior to the game to allow United to treat a minor ankle injury.