Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Man United v Stoke preview

Team news ahead of Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash between Manchester United and Stoke at Old Trafford.

Ashley Young returns to the United squad after a two-month absence ahead of the game against the Potters.

Young has recovered from a knee injury and is in contention to face Tony Pulis' men.

Chris Smalling (foot) will not be considered even though he is closing in on full fitness.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will assess the condition of Glenn Whelan and Michael Owen ahead of the game.

Midfielder Whelan, who came off in the 0-0 draw at Liverpool with a hamstring problem which kept him out of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Faroe Islands, is rated "50-50" by Pulis.

The manager has also said he expects striker Owen, missing from the Liverpool game after tweaking his groin, to only be fit enough for a place on the bench at best, but defender Andy Wilkinson is available again after completing a three-match suspension.

Man United (from): De Gea, Lindegaard, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Buttner, Valencia, Nani, Fletcher, Anderson, Scholes, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, Kagawa, Rooney, Van Persie, Hernandez, Welbeck.

Stoke (from): Begovic, Sorensen, Huth, Shawcross, Cameron, Upson, Shotton, Wilson, Whelan, Etherington, Delap, Palacios, Jones, Jerome, Crouch, Walters, Kightly, Whitehead, Adam, Edu, Nzonzi, Owen, Ness, Wilkinson.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Glory Glory Man United! Will be watching tonight! Hopefully Nani can play to redeem himself for the poor display since the start of this season.... :)

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Watched Russia vs Portugal and Nani was not bad in that game... Hoping to see Powell play in this game and beating Stoke should not be much of a problem. One eye will be on the West Brom vs Man City game where West Brom always gets the best out of our noisy neighbours :D

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Yo, did you all catch fergie's bit on how tall/physical stoke players are? And Owen might need a ladder even;)

Let's W Brom do in moneyed neighbours nose in the mud:D

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Haha yup... We are facing a rugby team tonight... Only way to beat them is with pace:D

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YAY!!

We made it. had some nerve wrecking moments, esp when Rooney had an own goal in, but was glad that he later made amends and an overall good performance from the team !!:D

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

pace and creativity bro.

rvp crossed for rooney to equalise. then valencia slid the ball to rvp for united to take the lead before half-time. almost immediately after the break, rooney sent a teasing cross to wellback to nod into the net. and lastly, an rvp corner fell to rooney and he made no mistake from there.

valencia had a decent game. can't say the same though for nani & chicharito (maybe they came on too late in the game to do much).

the combination and understanding of rooney and rvp are beginning to tell as they play more together. i thought wellback should have scored more as he was presented with more chances.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

the baggies gave our noisy neighbours a good fight. i thought hosay liao when milner was sent off in the 1st half. but city's bench again rescued them : bloody hell, which other team in the league can call upon kun kun and dzeko from the bench and scored 2 late goals to win the game? damn!

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Erm....just went missing. No action. Lol.

Thks. Good to see this thread alive and kicking.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

haha. no action? nevermind lah. just glad to see u back here.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Ferguson: No issue with Rio

Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to offer Rio Ferdinand a one-year contract extension after resolving his communication breakdown with the defender.

Ferguson was furious with Ferdinand on Saturday when the 33-year-old defied his order to wear a T-shirt backing the Kick It Out anti-racism campaign.

However, the pair held clear-the-air talks at United's Carrington training HQ yesterday, during which Ferdinand put forward a "compelling argument" for why he adopted his solo stance.

As a former shop steward, Ferguson remains committed to the idea of collective action, and also did not take kindly to being undermined in such a public way.

However, with their respective positions aired, the United boss is more than happy to concentrate on Ferdinand's attributes on the field.

"Rio can play for two or three years," said Ferguson.

"He has different issues from Paul (Scholes) or Ryan (Giggs) in terms of injuries over the last couple of years.

"He is not as quick as he was but that is not a big problem because his experience is important.

"He is still a great footballer and, even at 33, there is no reason why he can't stay on.

"We have always adopted that policy of offering one-year contracts, so we will see as the season progresses.

"I didn't even realise his contract was up. You are making me panic."

It was not panic that made Ferguson react the way he did on Saturday.

The central component of his entire managerial philosophy is that his word is law.

At 70, it is hardly an opinion that is going to change.

And rather than back down from their respective positions, it seems the Carrington summit resulted in an amicable agreement to disagree, with Ferguson insisting any issues Ferdinand has over the FA's handling of John Terry's racism case with brother Anton should be taken up with the governing body directly.

"I spoke to Rio," said Ferguson.

"The issue is pretty simple. There was a communication problem.

"He felt I should have spoken to him on Friday and I didn't anticipate there would be any problem in the dressing room as far as the T-shirt was concerned.

"I have listened to the conviction of Rio and I think it is quite compelling. I can understand his stance.

"But I think you are always stronger as a union. There's more solidarity than as a single unit.

"The advice I would give is that he should take it up with the proper authorities. It is only through that he will make his voice heard.

"Obviously as the manager of the club when you lay down policy you don't want to see it being ignored. That's where my anger came on Saturday.

"But we have resolved the situation, there are no lingering problems and we move on. That is the end of the matter."

Anxious that his selection should not be viewed as any kind of punishment, Ferguson broke with tradition by confirming Ferdinand and skipper Patrice Evra would not be in his starting line-up for Tuesday night's Champions League encounter with Braga at Old Trafford.

Instead the pair are set to be replaced by Scott Wootton and Alex Buttner as Ferguson schemes for the tough domestic challenges that await.

"Tomorrow, so your false teeth don't fall out, I am not playing Rio," he said.

"We have a game at Chelsea on Sunday at Chelsea, which is a big one for us, so we will leave two of the older players, Rio and Patrice Evra, out tomorrow."

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Actually to me Galatasaray is the strongest in our Champions League group as they have so good players like Uruguay's Muslera, Turkey's Altintop and Felipe Melo of Brazil. But after seeing Braga beating them 2-0 away it seems to me tonight would be a 'tough' match for us. Braga is currently 3rd in Portugal and I hope this time we will score the 1st goal and 2nd goal so that we can rest RVP or Rooney for the showdown against Chelsea this sunday!!! Good to see that Ashley Young will be back playing tonight as well. Lets see how it goes tonight :D

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

[SIZE="4"]Hernandez heads United to victory
[/SIZE]
Manchester United came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at home to Braga and secure their third straight victory in this season's Champions League.

Approaching the 26th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson's appointment as Red Devils manager, the comeback was a suitably fitting way to preserve his side's 100% record and means, barring a complete collapse in their final three games, they will advance to next spring's knockout stage.

However, with two games against Chelsea and a home encounter with Arsenal to come before the return fixture in a fortnight, Ferguson must harbour serious concerns about United's fragile defence.

Incredibly, they have now fallen behind eight times in 12 games this season.

Tonight it took less than two minutes to surrender the initiative.

And they fell further behind before Hernandez struck, the Mexican capping a fine display by nodding home the winner from Tom Cleverley's cross 15 minutes from time.

It had been established in the five times United had gone behind since Michael Carrick had been eased out of central defence that he was not responsible for his side's repeated inability not to find themselves playing catch-up.

There had been evidence in the performances of Scott Wootton and Michael Keane in the Capital One Cup against Newcastle last month that there was an alternative should the need for an emergency central defender arise.

With Chris Smalling and Phil Jones still at least a fortnight away from full fitness and Rio Ferdinand rested to the bench, an assurance already received from Ferguson that it was solely to do with Sunday's visit to Chelsea and nothing to do with the weekend T-shirt spat, this was one such occasion.

Yet Ferguson again went for Carrick as Jonny Evans' partner, presumably on the basis Braga would not offer much of a physical threat.

Carrick lacks defensive nous though, and having shepherded Eder to the by-line, his failure to trap the Portugal international there was suicidal.

After turning sharply, Eder scampered towards the goal before cutting a cross back to provide Alan with an easy finish.

This would have been bad enough. The fact Braga were already in front raised serious concerns about United's ability to pull through.

Barely a minute had elapsed when Alan pulled to the far post and climbed above Alex Buttner, replacing Patrice Evra for the first European game of his entire career, and steered it past David de Gea.

It was the eighth time they had fallen behind this season, and the fourth occasion in the last five games, a quite shocking statistic that cannot continue if United are going to be serious challengers for silverware this term.

Predictably, a team skippered by Wayne Rooney and including Robin van Persie and a host of other stellar attacking talents, the hosts were a force at the other end.

A wise advantage by Serbian referee Milorad Mazic allowed Shinji Kagawa to profit from a foul on van Persie, crossing for Hernandez, who nodded home.

The pair would have combined to haul United level had an offside flag not been raised against Kagawa as he darted on to Van Persie's through ball before rolling another cross into Hernandez's path.

Ferguson noted that mistake, and a few others, in his half-time assessment of proceedings.

However, in hauling off Kagawa and introducing Nani at the break, the Scot was also signalling the diamond he feels could revolutionise United needs a bit more polishing before it is ready for public display.

The transformation was immediate as United sped down the flanks, pinning their opponents back.

As the crosses fizzed across Braga's goal, the visitors' defending became increasingly desperate.

When Evans took a fresh air swipe at van Persie's corner, the attempted clearance cannoned back off Elderson, allowing the Northern Ireland defender a second chance, which he duly prodded in.

It was Evans' second goal in three games, not a bad return considering he had only scored once in his previous 131 appearances for the Red Devils.

From that moment it was only a matter of time before United got their winner.

Tom Cleverley provided it with a superb, deep cross from the right touchline.

Hernandez, whose movement was akin to that he showed during his debut season, peeled away and headed home.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Hernandez heads United to victory

Manchester United came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at home to Braga and secure their third straight victory in this season's Champions League.

Approaching the 26th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson's appointment as Red Devils manager, the comeback was a suitably fitting way to preserve his side's 100% record and means, barring a complete collapse in their final three games, they will advance to next spring's knockout stage.

However, with two games against Chelsea and a home encounter with Arsenal to come before the return fixture in a fortnight, Ferguson must harbour serious concerns about United's fragile defence.

Incredibly, they have now fallen behind eight times in 12 games this season.

Tonight it took less than two minutes to surrender the initiative.

And they fell further behind before Hernandez struck, the Mexican capping a fine display by nodding home the winner from Tom Cleverley's cross 15 minutes from time.

It had been established in the five times United had gone behind since Michael Carrick had been eased out of central defence that he was not responsible for his side's repeated inability not to find themselves playing catch-up.

There had been evidence in the performances of Scott Wootton and Michael Keane in the Capital One Cup against Newcastle last month that there was an alternative should the need for an emergency central defender arise.

With Chris Smalling and Phil Jones still at least a fortnight away from full fitness and Rio Ferdinand rested to the bench, an assurance already received from Ferguson that it was solely to do with Sunday's visit to Chelsea and nothing to do with the weekend T-shirt spat, this was one such occasion.

Yet Ferguson again went for Carrick as Jonny Evans' partner, presumably on the basis Braga would not offer much of a physical threat.

Carrick lacks defensive nous though, and having shepherded Eder to the by-line, his failure to trap the Portugal international there was suicidal.

After turning sharply, Eder scampered towards the goal before cutting a cross back to provide Alan with an easy finish.

This would have been bad enough. The fact Braga were already in front raised serious concerns about United's ability to pull through.

Barely a minute had elapsed when Alan pulled to the far post and climbed above Alex Buttner, replacing Patrice Evra for the first European game of his entire career, and steered it past David de Gea.

It was the eighth time they had fallen behind this season, and the fourth occasion in the last five games, a quite shocking statistic that cannot continue if United are going to be serious challengers for silverware this term.

Predictably, a team skippered by Wayne Rooney and including Robin van Persie and a host of other stellar attacking talents, the hosts were a force at the other end.

A wise advantage by Serbian referee Milorad Mazic allowed Shinji Kagawa to profit from a foul on van Persie, crossing for Hernandez, who nodded home.

The pair would have combined to haul United level had an offside flag not been raised against Kagawa as he darted on to Van Persie's through ball before rolling another cross into Hernandez's path.

Ferguson noted that mistake, and a few others, in his half-time assessment of proceedings.

However, in hauling off Kagawa and introducing Nani at the break, the Scot was also signalling the diamond he feels could revolutionise United needs a bit more polishing before it is ready for public display.

The transformation was immediate as United sped down the flanks, pinning their opponents back.

As the crosses fizzed across Braga's goal, the visitors' defending became increasingly desperate.

When Evans took a fresh air swipe at van Persie's corner, the attempted clearance cannoned back off Elderson, allowing the Northern Ireland defender a second chance, which he duly prodded in.

It was Evans' second goal in three games, not a bad return considering he had only scored once in his previous 131 appearances for the Red Devils.

From that moment it was only a matter of time before United got their winner.

Tom Cleverley provided it with a superb, deep cross from the right touchline.

Hernandez, whose movement was akin to that he showed during his debut season, peeled away and headed home.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Fergie has got to do something to bolster the porous defence. Having to come back after conceding goals 8 times in 12 games this season definitely smacks of a weak defence.

Good attack but poor defence is highly undesirable!