Good one, alien. I am new to this forum, but has been browsing through this thread for quite some time now. It's really annoying when you have a person who keeps mocking everyone's opinion, as if he is the only so called true supporter here.

It's a double edged sword. It doesn't matter who is leading at the beginning of the season. What matters is who is leading at the end of the season. If they start losing points at the tail end/lose form/injuries/etc, the pressure will be on them.

there is few years  Man Utd chasing at behind when starting and won the titles at the end , i don't think is a problem for chasing behind   

it can be done, but it is will be harder to do it, MU this season look a bit odd, they use to be the one scoring late goal to clinch the game, but now they are the one conceding late goal. maybe too many aged player on the field causing the lapse in concentration at end of the game?

Please fergie,please,dont waste talent some more...

I see last season is Marcheda..now Hernandez,but where is hernandez?

Nah, we were just tasting back our own medicine (scoring late goals)

I am still unsure why Gibson did not come on when it looks set to be a double substitution 

Striker Wayne Rooney showed no signs of his off-field concerns as he trained with Manchester United as usual on Monday morning.

The England international is expected to return to Sir Alex Ferguson's starting XI for Tuesday night's UEFA Champions League clash with Rangers at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports HD 2 and 2 and Sky 3D.

Ferguson took Rooney out of the firing line against his former club Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday in a bid to protect him from 'terrible abuse' following a series of lurid allegations over his private life.

Another theory which has emerged is that Rooney was being punished, with reports suggesting Ferguson had read the riot act to the talented 24-year-old.

Ferdinand

However, Rooney seemed happy enough on Monday morning, laughing and joking with his team-mates at the start of United's final training session prior to their meeting with the Scottish champions, Ferguson's old club.

And it would be a major shock if Rooney did not face Walter Smith's men as United look to make a positive start to their European campaign and erase the memory of Saturday's incident-packed 3-3 draw at Everton when they conceded twice in stoppage time.

It seems Ferguson will be picking from strength as, with exception of Michael Carrick who is out for three weeks with an Achilles injury, all Ferguson's 25-man squad were training.

That number includes Rio Ferdinand, who has yet to make an appearance this season but is fit again after suffering a knee ligament injury at the World Cup.

There aren't too many footballers around with more experience than Ryan Giggs. In fact, only Paulo Maldini and Raul have made more Champions League appearances.

A Manchester United legend, Giggs is about to embark on his 20th European campaign and sat down with ManUtd.com to discuss Europe's premier club competition.

Like every team that comes to Old Trafford, Rangers will want to claim the ultimate scalp in football. Do you enjoy knowing everybody wants to beat you?
Yeah, it’s nice to know everybody wants to beat you. Sometimes you can lose sight of that a little. It’s only when you go 1-0 down away from home and the supporters are celebrating as if it’s the most amazing thing that’s ever happened that you remember how much it means to people to beat Manchester United. Sometimes the fans even celebrate a draw against us as if it’s a win.

Fans were pleased with the draw, but the away games won’t be easy. Rangers and Valencia can be tough places to go and there’s a trip to Turkey...
The first time I played at Rangers it was ferocious. I remember it well and that sort of thing always makes it tough for visiting teams. I'm sure we'll encounter the same this season. I've played in Valencia, too, and the Mestalla is a great stadium and Valencia a top team. As for Bursaspor, we expect a similarly hostile reception to the ones we received at Besiktas and, before that, at Galatasary. They're fanatical over there. So I think we're going to come across some big atmospheres, but they're atmospheres I'm looking forward to.

Big atmospheres and European competition seem to go hand in hand...
Yeah, and to be fair we’ve seen our fair share at Old Trafford on so many occasions. The crowd can help carry us over the finishing line. It’s certainly not very nice when you’re an opposition player and you walk into a big atmosphere. It definitely affects you. Certain players thrive on it and love it, while others wilt and don’t perform as well as they should. It’s a very real factor.

We know all about Rangers and Valencia. What about Bursaspor? They’re something of an unknown quantity…
They are, but it's not a worry because our scouts will do their homework and watch plenty of DVDs. But you're right, there is a little element of the unknown. We can watch Valencia and Rangers on the TV quite regularly but we don't get to see a lot of Turkish football. We'll be well into the campaign by the time we play Bursaspor, though, so we'll be able to have a look at them in their games against Rangers and Valencia.

This is your 20th European campaign. What makes European football so special?
I think it's the challenges it throws up. You have to take so many more things into account – the travelling, the unfamiliar opposition, the atmospheres you may face. But it's not just about playing away from home – it doesn’t get any better than playing the big teams at Old Trafford. My happiest memories of my time at United involve big European games at Old Trafford because the atmosphere and, sometimes, the performance is unbelievable.

What can players learn from European football that you can't from the domestic game?
You can’t take anything for granted in Europe because of the skill of the opposition. You can be 3-0 up in a second leg and yet one goal could change everything. Ties are so finely balanced that one mistake can be the difference between victory and defeat. It’s like that in the Premier League to some extent but in Europe it’s magnified.

We welcome Rangers and Liverpool to Old Trafford in the space of five days. Is that prospect as exciting for you as it is for United fans?
Absolutely. It’s been a stuttering start to the season with the international breaks so it’s really pleasing to be involved in a big week like this one, with Everton, Rangers and then Liverpool in eight days. You can’t help but feel that we’re properly down to business now. And that’s pleasing – it’s what you want as a player. So far we’ve had a game a week, but to me it doesn’t really feel like the season’s kicked off properly until you’re playing midweek as well and the games are coming thick and fast.

How does preparation differ when you face a big week like this one?
The whole squad knows you have to be at the races and we’re all focussed on what needs to be done. So far this season there may have been some players who have been left out of teams or rested, but with so many big games in a short space of time you know you’re going to get a chance. It’s important you’re ready to take that opportunity.

You're almost 37: there must be aches and pains after matches these days…
I’m not too bad, actually. In fact, I’m probably better than I was a few years ago. I don’t run as fast or as far as I used to and I have this routine of doing yoga and taking ice baths – that seems to help and I feel quite good after games. The area where it’s probably changed is that I now struggle a bit to play Saturday, Wednesday and then the following Saturday again. I used to be able to do that without a problem but the energy levels after a game aren’t what they used to be. As for stiffness, though, it’s not really a problem.

Michael Owen has emerged as a January transfer target for Aston Villa.

United’s bit-part striker is being lined up for a mid-term swoop by Villa Park’s newly-installed manager Gerard Houllier.

The Frenchman and Owen had a productive time at Liverpool together.

And the new Villa chief has already said he would have no problem working with some of his former players again, having  met Owen at Jamie Carragher’s recent testimonial.

“At Jamie Carragher’s testimonial last weekend, I came across a few players that had left during my time there at Liverpool,” said Houllier. “There was not a problem and there will be no problem. We can work together.”

Houllier’s period as Anfield boss from 1998 to 2004 saw Owen top Liverpool’s goalscoring chart every season.

Appearance

The year 2001 was a sensational year with Houllier engineering five pieces of silverware with the UEFA Cup, Super Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield.

Owen won medals in all five triumphs and his European exploits saw him win the European Footballer of the Year Ballon D’Or award nine years ago.

It was only when Houllier was sacked in 2004 that Owen’s Liverpool career ended and he left for Real Madrid.

Now the Anglo-French axis is being eyed as a spearhead for Houllier’s new era at Villa Park.

Owen has failed to gain a regular place at Old Trafford since his free transfer move in the summer of 2009 after his contract at Newcastle ended last year.

Last season he started 11 matches and came on as a substitute in 20, scoring nine goals.

The 30-year-old started the Community Shield against Chelsea but has only made a 16-minute appearance as a sub at Fulham and the same amount of time against Newcastle.

Only last week the striker said he was keen to play for England again, but he would need regular football if he is to have any chance of that and Houllier could possibly offer him more pitch time.

drawing away to everton and fulham are not exactly bad results.
we lost both of these fixtures last season i think.
but to draw in such a way, hurts so bad.

No offense but you need not to reply if all you want to do is always mocking other's post who just purely stating their opinion or what they feel/think.

This is a public forum so everyone has the equal right to express their personal opinions.

Its getting ridiculous that some of the frequent posters here are constantly posting in this sort of behavior. I have seen enough of those sarcastic posts towards others and enough is enough.

and here you are coming out of nowhere just because you dont like what you see.and then goes away and comes back again after few weeks. can you show me exactly what constructive post did you post here these past few games?
i am butthurt? ahaha.. thats very cynical since you are the one coming here now once in a while to attack the forumers and then dissapear.. and i am the one butthurt? look at the mirror will you

its very easy actually, why dont you just move on if you dont like what you see? why must you insist on attacking them? why cant you just let it be? i wonder what wrong with you regulars. seriously man, you people tend to make this thread like your own.

the season is just started , why talk so soon about the title challenge , as i said just now few game prove nothing Man Utd tend to chasing behind and win the title
And Barcelona just lose 0-2 did i need to said everything already over too ? haha
P/S : just my 2cent