Welbeck, Smalling, Cleverley.. Rooney still young too. 

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Added on September 9, 2010, 10:03 amIt's always greener on the other side. Just see this thread, or anywhere else that involves discussion between fans. You always get all kinds of views. Just the way it is.

Will Keane's first half penalty and John Cofie's first Reserves goal gave United a third successive Manchester Senior Cup victory, and put the Reds firmly in control of the competition's group stage.

The only negative aspect to the evening was provided by an ankle injury to Anderson. The Brazilian midfielder landed awkwardly after taking a shot early in the second half, and left the field. Positively, he was soon back in the United dugout rather than seeking treatment.

From his new vantage point, the Brazilian witnessed a second half continuation of the first period's trends; namely Magnus Eikrem pulling the strings for United and County goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams repelling almost everything thrown at him by the hosts.

The visitors had the ball in the net inside two minutes, but Jake Simpson's stabbed finish was correctly ruled out for the striker's foul on Scott Wootton in the build-up. Keane responded with United's first meaningful effort, but his speculative volley drifted comfortably wide.

Fon Williams was soon called into action, as Ritchie De Laet's curling shot forced a spectacular parry, and the County goalkeeper was regularly involved thereafter. He was given a let-off in the 15th minute, however, when Keane fired wastefully over after Corry Evans' shot had been impressively blocked.

At the opposite end Johnstone, making his first competitive Reserves start, showed quick reflexes to turn away Jordan Rose's close-range volley, but Fon Williams was soon back in the spotlight with a sharp low stop from Nicky Ajose.

As United's pressure grew, Stockport's defending became increasingly desperate; a trend characterised by Reiss Lee's rash challenge on De Laet as the Belgian sought to pull back for a colleague. Keane assumed the penalty-taking duties, and clinically fired his effort inside Fon Williams' post.

Two minutes later, Evans appealed for another spot-kick, but was left disappointed as Andy Halls' shoulder barge escaped censure, and caused the Northern Irish international enough discomfort to skew his shot wide.

Ravel Morrison, Anderson and Ajose all fired off-target as the first half wound to an end, but Fon Williams was called upon within two minutes of the restart to beat away Keane's fierce effort.

Ajose then had a goal chalked off for handball, having used his forearm to control a magnificent pass from Anderson, and the on-song winger then forced Fon Williams into a back-pedalling tip over the crossbar with a wonderfully measured chip.

Stockport's attacking threat was non-existent after the interval, with Wootton and Wes Brown untroubled in the centre of defence, and it seemed inevitable that United's pressure would soon tell.

Anderson was replaced by Cofie, and the in-form striker quickly got involved by chesting down Eikrem's chipped pass and volleying just off-target. Norwegian playmaker Eikrem then released Ajose, but his cute lob rattled the crossbar with Fon Williams well beaten.

Although United suffered quickfire scares when Danny Pilkington failed to connect with Jamie Proctor's superb cross, then fired over from the edge of the box, Fon Williams produced a marvellous double-save to thwart Ajose's cross-shot and Morrison's piledriver.

For all Stockport's admirable resistance, however, they will view United's clinching goal as entirely avoidable. Evans' threaded pass released Reece Brown, whose cross drifted behind a cluster of bodies to Cofie, and the striker had oodles of time to fire between three defenders and their unsighted goalkeeper for his first Reserves goal.

Cofie could have quickly doubled his tally, but fired against the crossbar from six yards after a fabulous nod back across goal from Keane. Victory assured, United continued to hunt for further openings, with eye-catching displays from Eikrem, Morrison and Ajose at the heart of the Reds' best industry, but two goals was sufficient to retain a perfect start to the new season.

United: Johnstone; R Brown, Wootton, W Brown (Gill, 65), De Laet; C Evans, Eikrem, Anderson (Cofie, 57); Ajose, W Keane, Morrison.
Subs not used: Devlin, Brady.

Michael Carrick's bid to regain his place in United's engine room has suffered a setback.

The Reds midfielder has been ruled out for three to four weeks with an Achilles problem that he's been nursing for a while. With the rest of the squad now almost fully fit, the decision was taken to send Carrick to a specialist and he'll now have an enforced rest following an injection.

"We have had a little setback with Michael Carrick," confirmed Sir Alex Ferguson at Friday's press conference.

"He's had a problem with his Achilles, it's been bothering him for a few weeks now and we sent him to a specialist in London yesterday.

"He's had an injection and we're hoping that settles him down. He'll be out for maybe three weeks, at the very most a month. We've been considering for a while what we should do about it. I think the best thing to do, with everyone else fit in the squad, is to get him treated and get it out of the road."

Another midfielder, Anderson, will also play no part in Saturday's trip to Everton after sustaining an injury during the reserves' win over Stockport County.

"Anderson came off with a little niggle last night but it was nothing serious, I don't think," reported Sir Alex. "I think it's just a matter of he's been out for a long time and he's coming back. I don't think this will knock him back for any length of time. Other than that, everyone's fit for tomorrow."

Rio Ferdinand is in the squad, however, after some impressive training performances.

"Rio could have played in the reserves last night, he wanted to play but his training performances have been so good, he's in the squad now. We've got three games in eight days - Everton tomorrow, Rangers on Tuesday and Liverpool next Sunday - and he's back in the fold."

hi guys, i'm back. I plan to design the latest first 11 for Man utd t-shirt this year. Would like to ask you guys who do you prefer as the first 11 in the team?

i still have your first edition...love your design 

  thanks.

Mind to provide me the 1st eleven player for this year so that I can draw them ?

  thanks.

Mind to provide me the 1st eleven player for this year so that I can draw them ?

CLEVERLEY ARRIVES AT LATICS

Posted on: Thu 09 Sep 2010

"I can play in a number of positions and it's just wherever the manager wants me to play. I see myself as a goal-scoring midfielder, but I am willing to play wherever I am of use."