Stuart Mathieson

September 22, 2009

UNITED'S midfielders have picked up the gauntlet thrown down after the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson demanded that the engine room would have to improve their support of the attack and improve their goal return this campaign.

The department has answered that call to arms. Never was it better illustrated than in Sunday's outstanding derby performance.

Striker Wayne Rooney got the ball rolling in the sensational 4-3 showdown and fellow hitman Michael Owen hit the glorious late winner.

But sandwiched between the two goals from the forwards was a brace from midfielder Darren Fletcher.

It was the kind of contribution Fergie was looking for having lost the 118 goal Old Trafford career effort of Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

United have scored 16 goals this season and nine have come from the senior attacking trio of Rooney, Owen and Dimitar Berbatov.

Rooney is leading the charge with six, Owen has hit two and the Bulgarian is on one strike.

But the midfield has weighed in six goals between them.

Nani is off the mark with one against Wigan, Ryan Giggs scored at Tottenham, Anderson broke his United senior deadlock after two seasons with a hit against Spurs and Paul Scholes headed the Reds' Champions league winner against Besiktas in Turkey last week.

Fletcher goals

Now Fletcher has come to the party with only his second two-goal effort in his five and a half year United first team career.

The previous double for the Scot came against Arsenal in the FA Cup in February 2008 in another classic showdown.

Fletcher has become United's big-game talisman and now the 25-year-old hopes his headed double against the Blues will be a launch pad to an increased personal tally.

"I was pleased with my derby goals because it finally got me off the mark for the season," Fletcher told M.E.N. Sport.

"I had missed a few chances at the start of the campaign. I had a great chance against Birmingham in the opening match at Old Trafford and then another against Wigan at the DW Stadium.

"They were two open goals that I didn't take so I was very disappointed with that.

"My job is to get back and help the defence but also to get into the opposition penalty box when I can and I will always look to get goals. I know that is expected of me.

"I want to build on that every season and see where it can take me. I scored five last season and I want to improve on that. That would be great.

"It is important that if you get in there you finish your chances and I will look to score in every game.

"If I keep getting chances the way I have been in the first few matches of the season then I will be disappointed if I don't score more.

"The most important thing is that I am doing the job for the team and if the goals come that will help.

Ronaldo exit

"With Cristiano gone everybody needs to chip in with a few more goals. We will all look to do the same and I think you are seeing an improvement.

"Different games ask for different things of course and it is not always possible to go marauding into the opposition box.

"Sometimes you are asked to hold in midfield and sometimes you are asked to get into the box.

"But whenever I get the opportunity I will make the effort and then it is up to me to finish.

"We do create a lot of chances at United and so the openings are there if you can get in amongst it like I did against City."

Fletcher's double against the Blues came from two Ryan Giggs assists.

His first was a floated cross and the second a pinpoint free kick.

Michael Owen's dramatic winner was also laid on by a superb threaded Giggs pass and Fletcher paid tribute to the evergreen 35-year-old.

"Ryan has re-invented himself and has been absolutely superb," he added.

"He creates chances all the time. He is always looking for that killer pass.

"Three assists in the derby is magnificent and fortunately we were able to do those assists justice.

"He is a credit to the game. He is a real professional and an inspiration to all the young lads. He just gets better and better and long may that continue.

"With his kind of service we should all be getting putting a few away."

Stuart Mathieson

September 22, 2009

TOMASZ Kuszczak is set for his first senior action of the season in the Carling Cup against Wolves at Old Trafford.

The Polish keeper has not been on the park for the first team since the final day of the Premier League campaign at Hull last May.

He has fallen behind rival Ben Foster and is now the Reds third choice behind the present holder and injured veteran Edwin Van der Sar.

The Dutchman is now about a fortnight away from full fitness after his thumb operation during the pre-season.

But Foster has been blamed for his part in two of City's three goals in the Manchester derby on Sunday and another round of speculation over new goalkeepers is bound to follow.

After Foster's shaky Community Shield debut the Reds were linked with Schalke's 23-year-old talented German Manuel Neuer.

The club were also reported to be keeping tabs on Russian Igor Akinfeev.

The 23-year-old will have his chance to impress when his club CSKA Moscow have back-to-back Champions League group matches against United starting next month.

Akinfeev

The fact Akinfeev does not speak English has allegedly cooled United's interest.

But Old Trafford goalkeeping coach Eric Steele insists that nothing that has happened in his department this term has forced him to urgently update his spy dossiers.

"At this football club what would you expect other than that we will always be looking," Steele told M.E.N. Sport.

"If we know that Edwin is retiring and there maybe an injury at some point to any of the keepers then we will always be looking.

"I am looking now as I was this time last year when we had Edwin, Ben and Tomasz fully fit.

"The work I am doing in terms of preparing if something happened to our number one, two or three - whichever order - the same work is going on now as it was last year and it has to.

"The manager wants the best available squad and it is my job in the goalkeeping department to make sure we have got potential targets that I have checked out.

"The manager will also have checked them out. That is what this club is all about. You have to be ready for every eventuality.

"We have had the Russian goalkeeper linked and we've had all sorts linked with us. You will never fail to have that. This football club will always be `in' for such and such a player according to the press and speculation.

"It is always going to happen and this season it has happened because they will have seen Edwin out after his operation and if Ben had had an injury we would be thin on the ground.

"We would be very foolish people if we were not prepared. That is the same in every position.

"It is no different now from 12 months ago. You work with the keepers you have, but you also have to know what else is around. You have to have that in the back of your mind. It is the only sensible way to do it."

Meanwhile, Michael Owen is set to be rewarded for his Manchester derby match-winner with a place in United’s starting line-up.

Owen has started just one game so far this term but is set to double that tally against Wolves, with Sir Alex Ferguson set to make huge changes to the side that began Sunday’s amazing victory over City.

Wes Brown should take a central defensive berth alongside Jonny Evans.

Manchester United (from): Kuszczak, Zieler, Amos, De Laet, Neville, Brown, J Evans, Dudgeon, Fabio, Tosic, Gibson, C Evans, Eikrem, Carrick, Scholes, Valencia, Nani, Owen, Welbeck, Macheda, King.

Stuart Brennan

September 22, 2009

THE Football Association are taking a long, hard look at Sunday's explosive derby, with Craig Bellamy and Gary Neville coming under closest scrutiny as the fallout from Old Trafford continues.

Bellamy is in the clear over a police investigation of his altercation with a pitch-invading fan, as no complaint was made about the incident. But he could still face a three-match ban for violent conduct, if referee Martin Atkinson, having viewed the video, decides it would have warranted a red card had he seen it.

Under the FA's fast-track procedure, he should learn his fate by 6pm today and, if found guilty, can expect a three-match ban beginning with Monday's home clash with West Ham.

Neville could be hit with a charge of improper conduct for running towards the City fans in celebration of Michael Owen's late winner, but he would have two weeks to respond.

United could also be in hot water after City's Javier Garrido was struck by a coin thrown from the crowd, although they have vowed to try to track down the culprit and also take action against the pitch invader.

A United spokesman said: "We will be looking at CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the person who threw the coin and will take the relevant steps.

"The fan who ran on the pitch will get a life ban if he is a season ticket holder and will have his membership revoked.

"We will take all steps to ensure he does not enter the ground again."

Police confirmation

City want no fuss over the coin-throwing incident, with manager Mark Hughes saying: "I don't want to dwell on it."

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that they have received no complaints over Bellamy, but said that a man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Jake Joseph Clarke, aged 21, is charged with going onto a playing area without lawful authority or excuse and will appear before Trafford Magistrates' Court on September 30.

City assistant Mark Bowen has defended Bellamy following his clash with the fan, saying his move was potentially a defensive reflex.

"Craig had been our talisman on the day and brought us back into the game twice," he said.

"A goal had just gone in and Craig was going to the fella to say in no uncertain terms to get off the pitch.

"Obviously, I can't quote exactly what he said but it was like 'Get off the pitch'. We were still in the game and it only takes a second to score a goal.

"My take is that he thought the fella might spit in his face or something.

"He came very close and moved towards him. Craig, with an open hand, just pushed the fella away."

Asked if there would be any action taken by City against the striker, Bowen said: "No. I don't think there is any need to."

Paul Pogba's agent has again insisted that money was not the main motive behind his client's move to Manchester United.

The 17-year-old's move from Le Havre to Old Trafford has caused the French club to threaten The Red Devils with legal action.

United have refused to be moved by Le Havre's threats, insisting they want a retraction over recent comments, but the French minnows insist they are in the right.

Le Havre say they will take the case to Fifa, who recently banned Chelsea from signing players until 2011, subject to appeal, after they were deemed to have illegally signed Gael Kakuta from Lens.

But Pogba's agent insists United have done nothing wrong and they simply showed belief in the player.

"Of course, it is a nice contract. But not only money makes a young player and his parents change their country," Gael Mahe stated.

"They also look at the way people talk to them, the seriousness of negotiation, the respect shown.

"Did you know what Manchester sent to Paul's mother? Not a big cheque, but a bunch of flowers. It cost €30 but the mother has been moved. She felt trust.

"The father received a book about the club's history, while Paul got a shirt with number 6 and his name in the back. It is a symbol, but they felt Manchester respected them."

Pogba's mother Yeo also dismissed claims that they have received a new house from United as part of their move to England.

"That house story made people laugh in the hotel. Why would we be in a hotel, if we had been given a house? I can assure you Manchester United didn't give us anything," she told France Football.

"Le Havre didn't take care of my son. When Paul missed classes because he played a tournament with the team, we asked to catch it up, but Le Havre didn't care.

"We understood the club didn't have faith in him. They proposed contracts to other players, but nothing to Paul. Trust was broken."