sheep's jinx is reverse psychology...so if he give numbers, those number wont kena la unless he gives ALL number except 1, then that 1 number will win 

Manchester United's defensive underbelly is rising to the Old Trafford challenge.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, with 550 Reds appearances between them, command first choice status when it comes to the centre-back positions.

But Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, with only 78 appearances collectively, are the future heart of United’s back line.

The young pairing suffered a tough night at Upton Park in December when Sir Alex Ferguson’s Carling Cup side were battered 4-0 by West Ham.

Since that Hammer horror, only Smalling has been entrusted again.

The £10m summer import from Fulham played 40 minutes against Valencia in the Champions League and 90 in the 2-1 win against Stoke on Tuesday night.

But Evans, who has confessed this season has been a huge learning curve after an impressive campaign last year, hasn’t played since that night at Upton Park.

Fergie, however, has given both understudies a huge boost as they build their cases to eventually oust Ferdinand and Vidic.

“Smalling was magnificent against Stoke,” said the United boss. “He did really, really well and it is difficult for me because I also have Jonny Evans who had a fantastic season last year and he is starting to come into form again now.

“His training performances have been absolutely superb in the last few weeks so I have two great talents there.”

Smalling has edged ahead of Evans as the deputy for Ferdinand and Vidic since the Northern Ireland international’s progress hit a brick wall.

And the 20-year-old is keen to make the most of it.

“The manager let me know on Monday he was going to give me a game. I am always ready. It was great to play my part.

“It has been a really good six months for me

“I was pretty nervous when I met Sir Alex for the first time. I didn’t really know how to break the ice, but it was easy. He has done so much but he just chatted like a normal guy.

“I feel my career is in safe hands with him. It was one of the main factors that persuaded me to come here. He has a reputation for giving young players a chance. It has been a real journey so far but I feel I am rising to the challenge.”

Sir Alex Ferguson is primed to send out a strong Manchester United side against arch-rivals Liverpool in Sunday's blockbuster FA Cup tie.

Ferguson has an excellent record in the world's oldest cup competition, winning the trophy on five occasions.

However, last season brought one of his least favourite moments as United were dumped out in the third round for the first time since he arrived at Old Trafford in 1986.

Even worse, defeat came at Old Trafford, at the hands of a Leeds side who were trying to gain promotion out of League One.

So, with the standard of opposition far higher, and the rivalry just as intense, Ferguson has no intention of making life easy for the Merseyside giants.

"It was a bad result last season against Leeds, especially considering the rivalry between the two clubs," Ferguson told Inside United.

"In hindsight I could have picked a stronger team. I won't be making that mistake this time."

Having left Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Edwin van der Sar out of his starting line-up to face Stoke last night, Ferguson has experienced options at his disposal.

He also has a former Liverpool player in Michael Owen, who was on target for the Reds when they last travelled to Old Trafford for an FA Cup tie in 1999.

That game was remarkable for the fact Liverpool led for 85 minutes, yet contrived to lose thanks to late goals from Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"I don't forget Michael Owen's goal," recalled Ferguson.

"It was a header and Gary Neville was caught napping at the back post. But we battered them after that."

United famously went on to beat Newcastle in the final, completing the second leg of their momentous Treble.

And though they have been to three finals since, they have won just one, when they beat Millwall at the Millennium Stadium in 2004.

It is a statistic Ferguson feels needs to be put right.

"It is an important trophy so there is a strong desire to get our hands on it," said the United boss.

"We haven't won it since 2004, or been to Wembley in the final since we lost to Chelsea in 2007.

"So we definitely want to get back there. And we want to win it."

United could have Edwin van der Sar, Wayne Rooney and Ferdinand all back in action for Sunday's FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool as Sir Alex Ferguson promised to "pick the right team".

The boss is, of course, referring to changes he made to his team for last season's 1-0 third round defeat to Leeds at Old Trafford. Sir Alex does not want to make the same mistake again.

"I picked the wrong team last season against Leeds. I hope I don't pick the wrong team this time," he told reporters at Carrington on Friday.

"I hope to have Edwin van der Sar and Wayne Rooney fit for Sunday. Rooney has been in good form lately and Edwin is obviously valuable for his experience.

"Other than that, it's the same squad as Tuesday. Rio Ferdinand is OK, we just rested him against Stoke."

There was also an update on Owen Hargreaves, but there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. 

"Hargreaves went to Germany to see a specialist to treat a hamstring injury," said Sir Alex. "There's no further update on that. He's still injured."

Manchester United club captain Gary Neville will retire at the end of the season because he accepts he can no longer perform at the highest level, Goal.com UK can reveal.

Neville has told friends he does not want to play for another club and would like to take on a coaching role at Old Trafford after he ends his 19-year playing career in the summer.

The 35-year-old has made just four first-team appearances this season and struggled badly last weekend, when he was lucky to escape a red card against West Bromwich Albion as he looked desperately off the pace.

Neville feels his body is giving up on him and would rather retire as a one-club man and a United great than finish his career elsewhere with his best days well behind him.

One option for the right-back is to take over the United reserve team in a similar way to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has just taken the hotseat at Norwegian side Molde after two-and-a-half years on the coaching staff at Old Trafford.

Neville's decision marks the end of an era at the club, with goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar also set to retire at the end of the season. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are both on one-year deals that expire in the summer but could continue for another year.

Neville has played 602 games for United since making his debut in 1992 and is fifth on the club's all-time appearance list. Although never blessed with outstanding ability of some of his contemporaries, he has always been appreciated by United fans for his consistency and commitment.

He came through in a famous United youth team alongside the likes of Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and David Beckham before becoming a regular in the 1994-95 season.

Neville has won eight Premier League titles during his Red Devils career and was a key part of the side that won the Champions League in 1999. He was also capped 85 times for England and was first choice right-back for a decade after making his international debut in June 1995.

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he could make a single swoop in the transfer window to bolster his Manchester United resources.

The United boss stated last month that he would "definitely not" be dipping into the transfer market in January, insisting he was satisfied with his current line-up.

However, the Red Devils have recently been linked with a move for Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra, as well as Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson and Newcastle full-back Jose Enrique.

And Ferguson has performed a U-turn on his earlier comments by admitting United could make a solitary signing this month.

Strengthen

He told the Sunday People: "I'd like to get one player in during the transfer window if I could."

Ferguson feels making mid-season signings often means the full potential of the player is not seen until some time later, as he has witnessed with Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra.

"With some deals done in January you don't get the benefit until a year later - such as with Vidic and Evra," he added.

"Clubs have different training methods and when you have a player coming in mid-season into your club, and their training routine might be completely different to yours, you are trying to change them."

Padan muka ko, starfish! lunging like that and what u expect? an ice-cream?

LOL jerat red card.....

LOL. Starfish sent out.

no.. starfish has that reputation of going in like thug.. he deserves it...

MU = king of bribery

U want vaselin ?

i will support any team that play against man utd