We only showed urgency when we were 2 nil down. I have to say, even though we have been on a winning run a few games back i do not recall Man United imposing ourselves on opponents. Few season's back when opponents faced us, they would park the bus with they're tails between they're legs expecting us to put an almighty onslaught on their goal.

Bolder tactics from "smaller" teams? or we have not played up to our standard? 

GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!!!

just sharing my opinion...did u watch all the game that we won this season? in SOME of em, we were lucky. dont u think..with better players, we MIGHT have won many more games?

i kinda agree with ken. there's too many average players in our team. try comparing the LEVEL/QUALITY of football man utd played during the rooney-ronaldo-tevez era with the current team. (and which team won us MORE cups and titles)

its hard to think SAF (of all ppl) didnt see that we're do not have enough quality to be reckon as major force. but if he cant see that..then he's in 'decline' state. (need someone to b****-slap him and tell him that we need quality players or change the tactic)

man utd badly need a playmaker who can do a good job in distributing the ball from defend to attack + score goals. and plz plz plz...i dont wanna hear the same excuse: "there's no value in the market". macam la dalam current team ade value sangat..haih...

on another note, one thing that thrilled me watching yesterday's match was that Villa fans celebrated the goals like their team won the CL. so yea, MU is still the team to beat.

Villa were so close to ending 15 years of hurt on home soil against Manchester United - but the Red Devils came roaring back with two late goals.

It was in August 1995, after Villa's previous home top-flight victory over United, when Alan Hansen famously said: "You'll never win anything with kids."

People forget that form is temporary but class is permanent. It's normal player will perform this week but next week they might having a bad day.

Once Scholes hang the boots , then we will buy a new player.

Well, that's the most successful Fergie's fledgling that anyone could remember. I am not sure how many knows that Ebanks-Blake was a product of our academy. Robbie Savage even.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has confirmed that Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken with him about Jordan Henderson.

Manchester United and Manchester City are both thought to be keen on the highly-rated midfielder - who has just been handed his maiden call-up to the England squad.

The 20-year-old has been in excellent form for Sunderland over the last 12-months which has not only propelled him into the international scene, but has also seen him linked with a big money move.

And now Bruce has admitted that Ferguson has asked to be 'kept informed' over Henderson.

"Only once has Fergie talked about one of my players, and that was [Antonio] Valencia, and bugger me he bought him!" joked Bruce in the News of the World.

"He had spoken to me about him. 'Keep me informed' were his words, then he signed him.

"He has said the same about Jordan, but to be fair they have all asked to be kept informed.

"What has caught most of their eyes is his ability to get up and down the pitch now is huge. You looked at Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Cesc Fabregas, they are all great players but they can get up and down the pitch to get the mileage, and you need that in the modern game.

"He has caught the eye because he is a very good player. If you are Chelsea, Manchester United, or Liverpool, there is a 20-year-old who is playing in the Premier League week in, week out. There are not many you can look at.

"He is a Sunderland player, and a Sunderland lad and we will do our utmost to keep him but we can never stop speculation.

"He has huge respect for this football club and he will do the right thing. Jordan has a good grounding."

dear god. your ex-employer asks you to keep him informed about your own player.

scary.

yesterday's game was awful in my opinion. United doesn't seems to get a goal at all in first 60 minutes. but it was a great comeback from the team, another dropped point, hopefully both of them drop point as well.

i wonder what will Alien say about this.

i bet he say let's make another petition for sheep to put Chelsea, Arsenal and City into ur signature... hahaha

i know i know. don't take me serious. i'm just one of the guys that nobody in the M.U.S.T that is taken serious anymore.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could return from his ankle injury in Saturday's home game against Wigan.

The 25-year-old was initially expected to be out until late November and went to the United States for a week's intensive conditioning on the problem.

But he is set to return to full training this week as he nears a return after almost a month out.

"Will he play? We will have a look and then build towards next weekend," said assistant manager Mike Phelan.

"Wayne has trained very well and we will assess him during the week.

"The exercise that we have put in place for him has worked well."

---

Added on November 16, 2010, 11:30 amBtw, more and more Chelsea players are out injured ... The latest victim is malouda.... sheep has done some magic here...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ain-months.html

John Terry: "I know I won't play on Saturday against Birmingham City, but beyond that there are no clues. It could be weeks, it could be months."

It is not yet clear how the Glazer family were able to raise the money to pay off the PIK (payment in kind) loans but significantly it is not with funds from the club.

The Glazers are most likely to have borrowed money from other financial institutions at more affordable rates to refinance the PIKs.

At the Henderson family home on Wearside there is a holiday snap that sums up the extent to which England have turned to youth. It shows a three-year-old Jordan Henderson sitting on Ryan Giggs's shoulders, the toddler giddy at meeting the Manchester United star on a Majorcan beach. "I remember it vaguely but I was really young," said the Sunderland midfielder. "I don't think he'd recall it at all."

But Henderson has also revealed that as a boy he was a United fan, saying: “When I was little my heroes were David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane. I’ve always liked the way Manchester United play the game.”

how many players we have away in the useless friendly??i know rio is there.this is tough man, we have a week end league affair and then midweek cl, and back to the league.

i cant see the ones playing for their national side starting both the wigan/rangers game.

Rio and Smalling only i think.

good lord!!not the twins too!!this is really insane!!they are playing in the middle east...ayak just as far as going back to brazil......

Tyler's Starting Stat - United's Villa thriller

I was at Villa Park to see Manchester United maintain their 15-game unbeaten run at Aston Villa - just about! Since their last league defeat there in 1995, they have won 10 times and drawn five, although they did lose a League Cup tie 3-0 to Villa in October 1999. That was their only defeat in their last 24 visits to Villa Park (including FA Cup semi-finals), so it's very much their second home.

Federico Macheda's strike reminded us of his debut in April 2009 when he scored late to beat Villa at Old Trafford. All four of his Premier League goals have come as a substitute.

Marc Albrighton scored his third goal in his last four Premier League starts, and his first at Villa Park, while Ashley Young scored his first goal against Manchester United in 10 attempts. His penalty was Villa's first successful spot kick of the season after John Carew missed at 0-0 against Newcastle and Stiliyan Petroiv missed at home to Rapid Vienna in the Europa League.

United are edging closer to matching the 15-game unbeaten start they made under Ron Atkinson in 1985 when they won 13 games and drew two before losing at Sheffield Wednesday. Overall, they are unbeaten in 26 games - and have not been behind at half-time in any of those 26 games.

LUCKY 13?

Dear Martin. The column has been really good this season, keep up the good work. As a Manchester United fan, I'd be interested to find out how many teams have been unbeaten after 13 Premier League games. And of those teams, how many went on to win the title? Kind regards, David Welling (Manchester United fan)

MARTIN SAYS: Manchester United are only the fourth side in Premier League history to go unbeaten in their opening 13 games of a season. However, of the other three, only one went on to win the title.

That team was, of course, the 'Invincible' Arsenal side of 2003/04, who not only avoided defeat in their first 13 games, but went the entire season unbeaten on their way to winning the title.

Arsenal were also unbeaten after 13 games of the 2007/08 season, but lost their 16th match (2-1 at Middlesbrough) and eventually finished third in the table behind United and Chelsea.

In the very same season, Liverpool were also unbeaten after 13 games - a run which ended in game 15 against Reading when they lost 3-1. The Reds eventually finished that season in fourth place.

And of the four sides in Premier League history to have been unbeaten in their first 13 games, the current United side have the worst record in terms of wins, goal difference and points accrued:

Records of sides unbeaten in first 13 Premier League games:

Arsenal (2003/04): P13 W10 D3 L0 F28 A10 Pts33
Arsenal (2007/08): P13 W10 D3 L0 F29 A10 Pts33
Liverpool (2007/08): P13 W7 D6 L0 F22 A6 Pts 27
Man Utd (2010/11): P13 W6 D7 L0 F26 A15 Pts25

SCORES TO SETTLE

I have heard that Everton have conceded 77 goals to Arsenal since the Premier League began. This sounds like an awful lot. Can you tell me if any other team has conceded more goals to the same opponent? Thanks, Ian F.

You are correct, Everton have conceded 77 goals to Arsenal since the Premier League began - and that's a record for the number of goals conceded by one side against a single other side.

In fact, the record changed hands on Sunday. The 76 goals conceded by Everton to Manchester United was the previous record. Manchester United have also scored 71 Premier League goals against Tottenham and 69 against Newcastle - as you can see from the table below.

Most Premier League goals conceded v single team (data from Opta):

Team Opponent Goals conceded v opponent
Everton Arsenal 77
Everton Manchester United 76
Tottenham  Manchester United 71
Newcastle  Manchester United 69
Tottenham  Chelsea 67
West Ham  Manchester United 67
Newcastle  Liverpool 66
Middlesbrough Arsenal 62
Tottenham  Liverpool 61
Southampton Manchester United 61

Wayne Rooney's American boot camp has had a miracle effect, with the striker arriving back this week half a stone lighter.

And that means the new-look trim Manchester United forward will go straight into the side for the weekend match against Wigan, with boss Sir Alex Ferguson delighted with the results of the intensive training programme.

Rooney was allowed a holiday break in Dubai after breaking down with a troublesome ankle injury, and was then sent to the States for rehabilitation at Nike's Portland headquarters.

While in Oregon the striker was given a specially tailored schedule which covered his comeback, and included dietary planning, after being accompanied by United medical staff.

And it has done the trick with the England forward now half a stone lighter, and in perfect condition to begin his quest to rediscover his very best form that has deserted him so far this season, after finally getting the conditioning programme he missed in the summer because of the World Cup.

Rooney has missed 13 of United's 20 games so far this season and has scored just one solitary goal for the club, which came way back in August. His last start was against Bolton in September, and he has effectively been sidelined since then.

But after recovering from the ankle problem and emerging through the most difficult period of his career, when he seemed destined to leave Old Trafford after criticising the club's lack of ambition, he was sent to Oregon to rediscover his sparkle.

And United boss Ferguson confirmed that seems to have happened with the encouraging weight loss, when he said: "Wayne's had a good week.

"He's trained very hard, two days two sessions, three days three sessions, we've achieved what we wanted to achieve."

That has put him back in shape to return to the United line up, and he will do that at Old Trafford on Saturday when he plays against Wigan, following another week training at the club's Carrington training ground.

And it can't come too soon for Ferguson, who has seen his side struggle badly in the striker's absence, with centre forward Dimitar Berbatov in particular missing his partner's presence.

Berbatov hasn't scored for nine games, and he will welcome the weight of expectation that Rooney's return will lift from his shoulders.

You could forgive Chicharito if he were feeling just a little daunted. After all, he’s been thrust into the spotlight with the expectations of a nation on his shoulders. Overwhelmed? Not a bit of it. The first Mexican to play for United is taking it all in his stride, determined to eventually add his name to the long list of legendary Reds front men…

How would you describe yourself to United fans as a person and a player?
I enjoy playing football and I always want to be a happy person. I’m quite quick and I like to score goals, though the team is always most important to me. I’m a family man, I approach everything in my life in a positive way, and I want to take full advantage of the opportunity that God has given me. That means working hard, being professional on and off the field, and enjoying myself.

When did you first hear that United were interested in signing you?
[United’s head scout] Jim Lawlor spoke to me about a year ago. He said he’d been watching me play for Chivas de Guadalajara and told me United were interested, so I was very excited. Before that he had spoken to my father, and when my father told me the news I cried because I couldn’t believe it. As a kid in Mexico, my dream was to play for the best team in Mexico and then move to Europe. But to be told not just any European team, but Manchester United, were interested, was unbelievable.

It’s amazing that you considered quitting football altogether 18 months ago – can you tell us about that?
I was not getting many opportunities in the Chivas first team, which led me to ask myself, "Is this the life I want to lead?" I questioned whether I was good enough to make it as a footballer. But I talked with my family, who said I needed to be patient, work hard and enjoy all the things involved in the game: not just playing in matches but going to training, resting, media work – everything that comes with this profession. When you’re playing it’s about learning to accept the bad times as well as enjoying the good. Confidence is all part of football. Nobody here is going to play 38 great games a season, we’ll all have good and bad days. But the key when you’re not playing so well is to find out why and to work on those aspects of the game that need improvement so that you can get better day by day.

It’s been a remarkable couple of years for you since then…
Yes, it’s really amazing how much my whole life has changed: I played a lot of games in Mexico, went to a World Cup and now have this incredible opportunity at United. It’s unbelievable and I’m thankful to all the people who believed in me, especially my family, without whom I would not be here.

You’ve had a while to settle in now. What are your impressions of what United is all about?
The biggest thing that has struck me is this: everyone around the world knows about Manchester United; when you’re on the outside it seems like a huge club, but now I am here, it doesn’t seem so big. I feel comfortable, it’s like a small family. I’m very happy.

What was it like when you met Sir Alex Ferguson for the first time, and what did he say to you?
I’ve been telling the media in Mexico about him. He’s like a ‘sir’, a gentlemen both during matches and away from the game. That’s why I think he’ll be regarded as the greatest manager in the modern era. When I first met him he just told me to enjoy myself here. That helped to take any pressure off me, so now I can concentrate on working hard and trying to play well.

Was it nerve-wracking to meet and play with United legends such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes?
Of course I was a little nervous at first. I was used to seeing players like Giggs and Scholes in the newspapers and magazines and on TV back home, and then all of a sudden they were my team-mates! But the nerves were normal and not overwhelming because I soon realised we’re all team-mates and have the same goal: to help United win trophies.

Who was the first United player to make you welcome in the squad?
Nani at first because he speaks a little Spanish. I also get on with the da Silva twins, and Ando and Valencia because of their similar languages. But really, everyone helped me to settle very quickly and they are all happy to give me advice when I need it – especially experienced players like Scholes, Giggs, Rio, Wes and Sheasy.

Ryan Giggs says you’re a ‘born goalscorer’ – and he’s seen plenty of players over the years that he’s been at Old Trafford. How does that make you feel?
Very happy, of course, that players like Ryan talk about me in that way, because they’ve been here all their careers and enjoyed incredible success. That’s why their words motivate me to work hard. And the other strikers here, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, are extraordinary players – that’s why they are in this team. They always play at a high level and I can learn a lot from them.

Does it help to have two other young players – Chris Smalling and Bebe – joining the club at the same time?
Of course that helps, because it means there are other players who are learning with me. They are both really good guys, and what we have in common is that we all want to stay at Manchester United for a long time and to reward the confidence that the club have in us. Bebe is a great talent, with a lot of skill and speed. Chris is a great defender: he’s strong and calm on the ball, and he’ll only get better in the next few seasons. We are all enjoying ourselves a lot and just want to improve – that’s the most important thing.

You play with a smile on your face – have you always been like that?
That’s the way I’ve always approached the game, because there are people in the world with bigger problems than us. We need to enjoy ourselves because we are privileged both to play football and to play for Manchester United. I get angry sometimes – that’s just part of the game – but even then I try to look for positives.

Your father and grandfather were both footballers. How much do they advise you?
They talk to me about all aspects of the game and what to expect as a footballer in the future, so I can be alert and prepared. It’s nice to have two great former players and coaches in my house! Then the female members of my family, like my mother and grandmother, advise me on other things.

What are your ambitions, both for this season and beyond?
I was often asked this question in Mexico, and my answer is that I never set myself a goals target. The most important thing for all of us is that the team wins – it doesn’t matter who scores the goals. And personally, as long as I am performing to the best of my ability, have the right attitude and do what the manager tells me, I am happy. Of course I want to play as much as possible and to help the team win. If I score goals on the way that’s a bonus. I have no long-term goals – my focus is only on helping the team win as many trophies as possible. I just need to work hard, be patient and enjoy my football. Whether I’m playing, on the bench or not in the squad, I have to keep supporting the team.

Glentoran's Matty Burrows will go head-to-head with Lionel Messi for Fifa's coveted Goal of the Year prize.

The pair have been named on a 10-man shortlist for the Fifa Puskas Award, along with the likes of Arjen Robben and Arsenal's Samir Nasri.

Burrows' incredible 20-yard back-heeled volley against Portadown last month has been seen by millions on the internet.

The player admitted: "I could maybe try to do that 100 times and it would only come off once - I caught it perfectly."

The 25-year-old's audacious goal came in the 92nd minute of Glentoran's 1-0 home victory in Northern Ireland's Premiership on 5 October.

When Burrows found out he had been nominated for the Fifa prize, named after Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas, he confessed: "The whole thing is unreal and it's only just sinking in."

Messi scored his nominated goal for Barcelona against Valencia when he wriggled past three players before rifling into the bottom corner.

Nasri has been rewarded for a similar effort against Porto, while Robben's was a fine individual effort for Bayern Munich, culminating in a sweet curled finish.

Retired Netherlands captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst is also in contention for his spectacular 30-yarder in the World Cup semi-final defeat of Uruguay, as is South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala, who scored the opening goal of the tournament against Mexico.

Kumi Yokoyama of Japan is the only woman shortlisted, with the nominees completed by Neymar (Santos), Hamit Altintop (Turkey) and Linus Hallenius of Sweden's Hammarby, who in one fluid movement took the ball on his chest, flicked it over his head with his right foot and volleyed in with his left from the edge of the box.

All 10 goals can be seen on the Fifa website.

Did we just pre-signed De Gea ??

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/uni...ea-2425462.html

"With Gareth Barry and Rio Ferdinand's injuries we needed a senior player on the pitch. I'm upset about Gerrard."
.
.
Peter Crouch's late strike for England did little to ease the disappointment of a poor performance by Capello's men, and injuries to Gerrard, Barry and Ferdinand have only made matters worse.

Rio Ferdinand has played down concerns about his fitness after being taken off during England’s friendly defeat to France.

The Manchester United defender continues to deal with a long-standing back problem that has plagued him over the past couple of years, while a knee injury sustained prior to the World Cup kept him out of the Red Devils' line-up for several weeks at the start of the campaign.

And there were some fears that his injury problems had returned during Wednesday night’s game against the French at Wembley, when Ferdinand was replaced at half-time of the 2-1 loss.

But following the defeat, the 32-year-old centre-back moved to allay any worries by telling Sky Sports News: “It was precautionary.

“We have played quite a few games of late a few of us, so I just came off as a precaution.”

Nani ruined the goal..

its all tabloid talk tho...nothing from our camp actually.

Wayne Rooney may make the bench for United on Saturday against Wigan Athletic, despite not having done any football training this week.

Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed this in an interview with MUTV on Friday morning. It follows the 25-year-old forward's return last weekend from Nike World Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, where he'd been focusing on intensive conditioning work.

Rooney arrived back in Manchester after United’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and, whilst again focusing on fitness this week, he could play some part against the Latics. Sir Alex told MUTV: "Wayne's done a week of intense work, so he’s not done a lot of football work. We need to assess that a little more closely. He could make the bench, but I don’t think he’ll start.

“[We sent him to America] to isolate him in an intensive situation so the concentration was purely on the training. He went to the Nike World Headquarters and it’s a good set-up. I’ve taken the team there myself. So it was a good platform for him to get into intense training.”

Sir Alex also said that United’s medical team would need to assess the fitness of defenders Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling, who both picked up groin injuries whilst away with England. “We don’t have any serious injuries or anything like that,” said the boss. “We have to consider Rio, he came off for England with a groin strain, and Chris Smalling picked up a groin strain in training.”

The Reds will make a late decision on the readiness of winger Nani, who only returned to Carrington today (Friday) after his midweek international exploits with Portugal. However, the winger, who turned 24 this week, should be fit to play. However, the same cannot be said for Rafael and Ryan Giggs. Rafael has a dead leg and might not be ready to play against Wigan, while Giggs will not be rushed back as he has already once aggravated a hamstring strain.

Javier Hernandez has revealed he was brought to tears when he first learnt of Manchester United's interest.

The Mexico international joined the Red Devils in the summer and has already impressed in the Premier League with three goals to his name, including a match-winning brace against Stoke.

Hernandez, who has been given a regular run in United's starting XI of late following Wayne Rooney's ankle injury, admits he is on cloud nine to be playing at one of Europe's superpowers.

And the 22-year-old striker has confessed he cried when he discovered that Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign him 12 months ago.

Unbelievable

He told The Daily Star: "Chief scout Jim Lawlor spoke to me about a year ago.

"He'd been watching me play for Chivas and he told me United were interested, so I was very excited.

"Before that he'd spoken to my father and when my father told me the news I cried because I couldn't believe it.

"As a kid in Mexico, my dream was to play for the best team in Mexico and then move to Europe.

"But to be told United were interested was unbelievable.

"My whole life has changed. I played a lot of games in Mexico, went to a World Cup and now have this incredible opportunity at United."

Trophies

Hernandez, whose father and grandfather were both Mexico internationals, once feared he would never follow in their footsteps.

He added: "I was not getting many chances in the Chivas first team and I questioned whether I was good enough to make it as a footballer.

"But my family said I needed to be patient.

"When you're playing it's about learning to accept the bad times as well as enjoying the good."

Now he has set his sights on helping United win more silverware, adding: "The most important thing for all of us is that the team wins - it doesn't matter who scores the goals.

"Of course, I want to play as much as possible and to help the team win. If I score goals on the way that's a bonus."