Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

agree totally. read report below. sir is baffled! i personally thought that rio would have to shoulder most of the blame - read goal scored by bale for spurs and another similar one conceded against stoke. the opposing forwards used their pace to outrun rio and there was just nothing he could do to stop them. sigh....

we need vidic or jones to be back fast!

Defensive frailties baffle Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson admits he has no idea what is causing his Manchester United side their defensive headaches.

For the eighth time in 12 games this season, United found themselves behind to Braga at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Thanks to two goals from Javier Hernandez either side of Jonny Evans' second in three games, United were able to roar back for a 3-2 victory that almost certainly guarantees a place in the knockout phase of this season's Champions League.

However, with Chelsea to come twice, and a Premier League home game against Arsenal before the rematch with Braga in a fortnight, Ferguson knows unless he finds a solution, his team could be in massive trouble.

"I can't get to the bottom of it I am afraid," he said.

"If you analyse the goals we are losing, they have come from throw-ins, crosses, cut-backs, all sorts, and they are finding players free in the box.

"It is difficult to put your finger on it, and it is a concern because it is making it difficult for us."

This time United paid for resting Rio Ferdinand, who was replaced in central defence by Michael Carrick.

The England man was at fault for Braga's second when he was turned far too easily by Eder, who provided Alan with the easiest of finishes.

At that stage, United were already trailing as Alan had opened his account after just two minutes.

But Hernandez prompted a fightback and after pulling a goal back from close range, he also bagged the winner 15 minutes from time after he got on the end of Tom Cleverley's far post cross.

"The boy is improving all the time," Ferguson said of the Mexican.

"His goal ratio is fantastic and the way he bent his run for the second goal was terrific.

"He is a fantastic trainer and he has given me a problem, which is good."

It was the first time United had recovered from two goals down in a European game since they beat Juventus in the 1999 semi-final, although Ferguson could do without the omen.

"I would rather be without it," he said.

The victory did not come without its pain either as Shinji Kagawa was forced off with a twisted knee that will be assessed tomorrow.

In addition, Anders Lindegaard has a thumb injury that will prevent him from being involved in Sunday's title clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Hmm we just have to survive and wait for the return of vidic, smalling and jones!!! Chicharito and Welbeck will get their playing time against Chelsea anyways either in the capital one cup or premier league :D . Love that brilliant cross by Cleverley to Chicha for the 3rd goal!!! Definitely will be hoping Cleverley starts this sunday:D

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chelski's midfield has hazard, mata and oscar. all very fast and creative.

united's midfield at present cannot match them in my humble opinion. if i were sir alex, i would play rvp upfront and a 5 men midfield of rooney, carrick, valencia, anderson and cleverley.

anderson and cleverley to give the energy needed to match the chelsea midfield. carrick the defensive guy while rooney and valencia the attacking midfielders. :)

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

If you were the old geezer, I guessed we would not have comeback victories le :D . I would agree with you definitely we will play 4-5-1 with RVP in front, hmm time to take advantage of a terry-less defense.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Rear really lau sai. And we have to rely on comebacks to win games? Not only unfair burden to strikers (at home some ore!) but also sucks if we have to kena go out on goal difference again:o

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

bro, if i were sir alex, i would have retired when we won the 2nd champs league title and now stay at home kiao kah and be a couch potato.

i would have asked my good pal mourinho to take over me. of cos, he has to promise to bring with him cr7. :D

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

News came in that Sir Fergie prefer to have Pep Guardiola taking over :D, perhaps bringing messi along??? Hahah just wishful thinking.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Here goes!!!! Tonight against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge :eek: There will be no John Terry so there should be no debate rumbling on about whether handshaking is necessary. A tough match even from the neutral's point of view. Hope Scholes will be assisted by Carrick, Cleverley and Welbeck as Scholes is only dangerous with the ball and without it he was be just a lost soul in the game. 4-5-1 with RVP as the lone striker and Wayne in the 5 man midfield, I dunno Fergie will start with Valencia or Nani but the backline will form themselves up naturally with the injuries. Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra and De Gea at the back. This meeting is more important than the next against them as I rather we take the win here in the league than the Capitol One Cup. My money will be on Man Utd 0.25 all in :D

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

But of course:p Scholey, alamak ..he was never the same after his eye operation awhile back. Likelihood of his yellow carding on late tackles:o

On the offensive, rather have Chicharito than Wellback fella

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Hernandez secures controversial win

Javier Hernandez was Manchester United's match-winner
Roberto Di Matteo and Sir Alex Ferguson had to be separated as Manchester United ended their 10-year wait for a Premier League win at Chelsea with a controversial 3-2 success.

The Blues finished with nine men and were beaten by an offside winner as United made up for all the bad luck they perceived they had suffered at Stamford Bridge in one fell swoop to cut their opponents' lead at the top to one point.

Referee Mark Clattenburg wrongly sent off Fernando Torres for diving after Chelsea had fought back from a David Luiz own goal and Robin van Persie's ninth of the season to equalise through Juan Mata and Ramires.

Branislav Ivanovic did rightly see red five minutes before Torres, whose second yellow card prompted furious exchanges between the rival managers, and that was before Javier Hernandez's winner.

Ferguson did not need to bother with mind games against Chelsea last season, so far adrift were they of United in the league.

But he did not waste any time prior to this fixture, branding the side built by Jose Mourinho seven years ago as better than the current league leaders, in defiance of the plaudits earned by Di Matteo's men this season.

His opposite number refused to be drawn into the phoney war, knowing the worst thing to do ahead of the game was to stoke up any ill feeling.

Rio Ferdinand thought so too, duly wearing his 'Kick It Out' T-shirt during the warm-up and shaking Ashley Cole's hand before kick-off.

Ashley Young - a surprise starter after more than two months out injured - was the only player on either side to snub the anti-racism initiative, while the home supporters jeered and taunted Ferdinand mercilessly.

It had no effect on the defender, who was celebrating a two-goal lead after 12 minutes as United became the latest top side to ruthlessly expose Chelsea's shortcomings.

It took less than four minutes, the Blues losing possession and Van Persie crashing a shot against the post, the ball rebounding in off the luckless Luiz.

Ivanovic was fortunate to escape a booking for clattering into Young before United struck again, Ferdinand this time the architect.

The defender was predictably booed as he ambled out of defence and found Rafael, who fed Antonio Valencia, with the winger's low cross instantly swept home by Van Persie.

It was a goal of embarrassing ease against a Chelsea side Di Matteo had warned about the way they were starting games, but the European champions finally woke up midway through the half when Michael Carrick chopped down Ramires.

He should have been booked but Luiz almost punished him anyway with a brutal free-kick which David De Gea inexplicably elected to save with his legs, the Spaniard deviating from the goalkeeping coaching manual again to keep out Gary Cahill's header.

Torres was having another shocker but his failure to react to a corner missed by everyone else was forgivable and his header was only kept out by a brilliant De Gea save.

The goalkeeper could do nothing when Wayne Rooney needlessly upended Eden Hazard with a revenge tackle a minute from half-time - earning a booking - and Mata stepped up to curl a sumptuous free-kick into the corner.

Mata would have equalised moments later had De Gea not made amends for a horrendous clearance before Torres earned his first booking for a foul on Tom Cleverley.

But Chelsea needed only seven minutes of the second half to deservedly level as Mata took the game by the scruff of the neck.

After scuffing a right-foot shot, he showed sublime control to keep Oscar's ball in play, allowing the Brazilian to cross again for Ramires to head home.

Hazard had two more sniffs before United got a grip.

And they were given a golden opportunity to snatch all three points as disaster struck for Chelsea when Ivanovic and Torres were both sent off in the space of five minutes.

Ivanovic could have no complaints, the right-back seeing red for bringing down Young, who had been played clean through by Van Persie.

Rooney fired the resultant free-kick just over before United replaced the ineffective Cleverley with Javier Hernandez and Chelsea sent on Cesar Azpilicueta for Oscar.

They were about to bring on Daniel Sturridge for Torres but the striker joined Ivanovic in the dressing room when he was controversially shown a second yellow for diving when replays showed he had been caught by Evans.

Torres was furious, trudging off and berating the fourth official, who was then forced to keep Di Matteo and Ferguson apart on the touchline.

Ryan Bertrand joined the fray instead of Sturridge but Chelsea faced an impossible task with nine men and Hernandez snatched what proved the winner 15 minutes from time from an offside position.

Petr Cech brilliantly tipped Van Persie's shot onto the post but Rafael followed up and Hernandez turned the ball home.

Mikel was booked for his protest, Sturridge entered the fray and Valencia also saw yellow as well as wasting a chance to kill the contest.

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

jackpot in your predictions! u guys are spot on (although chicharito came on as a sub)! :D

we must be doing something right, especially our attacking play, that even the "fools" are talking about our win in their thread! sour grapes perhaps? hahaha. :)

glory glory man utd! :D

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Missile sir and VR... We did good 1st half, and Chelskis reacted to be on par after. Truth be told, we got away with murder as Tores red card surprised many. Being selfish, we shd have knocked in some more after they down to 9:p We'll take it, now -1pt behind and blxxdy moneyed egos of neighbour chasing down our necks:p

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Yes, Fergie MUST n he has got to do it quick !...he shd hv learnt his lesson last yr when he lost the league crown to Man City on goal difference cos his defence keep on letting in goals...imagine even the minnows can score against them...so if he doesn't get good, solid, dependable defenders like John Terry of Chelsea he can jus abt forget being league champion again.. Rio Ferdinand shd be replaced as he is getting too old for the team n is one of the main culprits for letting in goals at the back... To be assured of winning the league n be crowned champions, the team concerned must hv good attackers as well as good solid defenders...

If ur strikers keep on putting in the goals in the opponent's half and ur defenders do not allow in any goals in ur own half, ur team wil definitely win..letting in a goal or two once in a bluemoon is o.k though...The United team during Eric Cantona's time was something like dat n they became league champions for quite a no of years...Anw i m truly glad the Red Devils won last nite's game against such a strong rival as Chelsea ! :)...though i could not stay up late to the middle of the nite to watch tis great match...Yes, glory, glory !..Manchester United ! :) ..but Fergie beta wake up n buck up fast !

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Yea bro wa damn heng and my heart will beating throughout the game!!! Heheh looking forward to wednesday night capitol one cup tie against Chelsea again ... Hopefully our youngsters will do us proud!!! Yea rickey bro I do admit we concede too much too easily but now we are delivering the important 3 points more than goal difference.... Guess we dun need the goal difference for now.... Hmm we won @ Newcastle @Liverpool and @Chelsea... that itself is huge :p

Re: Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours
 

Those fools only know how to blame others. If they are honest, they would be the 1st to admit that Suarez should have already been sent off for that atrocious tackle on Distin.

Anyway, why are we talking about those fools here? They are not even a threat anymore - read : they are not a big 4 club anymore. :)

It was an important win, albeit with loads of luck. We started off very well. That was what Sir Alex wanted I guess after falling behind 6 times from the earlier 8 games. Chelski at their own turf are more than a match for any team. The 3 playing behind Torres are more than capable of wrecking havoc (they won 4-2 at Spurs last week).

United need to tighten up and not depend on the forwards to score more than we let in (although that would make an interesting game to watch. Haha)

City will definitely strengthen their squad come January. What I fear is that they are knocked out of the Champs League early. Then they would not have any distractions and would be focused on defending the BPL title.