2009 November | Utd Kids Wife

Archive for November, 2009

Rooney warned over comment to TV cameras

Posted by admin on November 9th, 2009

Wayne Rooney has been warned about his future conduct by the FA after apparently mouthing “12 men” into a TV camera following yesterdays defeat to Chelsea

Rooney made the comment as he left the pitch at Stamford Bridge, an obvious reference to the great bias towards Chelsea shown by the ref, Martin Atkinson.

An FA spokesman said: “Wayne Rooney has been warned as to his future conduct following remarks made yesterday.”

Sir Alex will not face any action following his criticism of Atkinson. Ferguson condemned the decision to award the free-kick that led to Chelsea’s winning goal as “absolutely ridiculous” and said such decisions mean people “lose faith in refereeing”.

Not sure how other people feel but having been involved in such pressurised games and then having a positive result taken away from you it’s only natural for a player to make such an off the cuff remark. At least he didn’t do a Drogba style rant at the cameras like he did last season against Barcelona!

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United fall at The Bridge

Posted by admin on November 8th, 2009

I guess writing this directly after the match isn’t the best time to do so as I am still seething at the result. To be honest prior to the start of the game when I saw Uniteds lineup I thought we looked weak defensively and in attack. Rio and Vidic were replaced by Evans and Brown who hardly gave a good account of themselves on Tuesday against CSKA leaking in three goals at home. How would they cope with a rampant Drogba/Anelka partnership away from home? Added to this the fact that Berbatov was ruled out and Rooney was asked to play alone upfront.

Despite this Uniteds midfield played very well harassing the Chelsea players and cutting the supply line to Drogba and Anelka. This was mainly due to the return of Fletcher whose stock has risen considerably in the past season. There was none of the hesitancy they displayed against Liverpool a few weeks ago which frustrated most fans.

We all know that those are the types of games where we take our level of play to the next level. The early signs were encouraging. United started really strongly with Rooney wrongly given offside when Cole had clearly kept him onside. If the referee had allowed the game to go on Rooney was clear with just Cech to beat. Worse was to follow a few minutes later when Terry clearly brought down Valencia in the penalty box. Valencias darting run towards the box was too pacey for Terry and he had to resort to pulling his shirt and then leaning on him to such an extent that both players fell to the ground. Unfortunately the referee wasn’t strong enough in character to give the obvious decision.

United kept plugging away but with the lack of a killer pass they couldn’t really test Cech. Meanwhile Evans and Brown were doing a very good job of containing Chelseas attackers with Drogba particulrly resorting to long-range efforts and hardly looking like the guy that has been terrorising most defences all season.

Ultimately as is often the way in big matches like these the result hinged on a bad decision. In the 75th minute Fletcher got the ball and rode a few tackles to get clear of his markers but was wrongly adjudged to have fouled Cashley Cole (sorry couldn’t help having a joke at his expense). The resulting free-kick was met by Terrys’ head and despite Drogba being offside as the ball flew in Uniteds protests where met on deaf ears. The referee was never going to disallow it making his intentions clear early on by denying United a clear penalty.

The goal prompted Sir Alex to bring on Owen and Obertan to try to get more purpose to our attack but Chelsea where always going to try to grind out a result having been under pressure for long periods prior to the goal. The end result is that United are now 5 points behind Chelsea and are 3rd in the league with Arsenal having a game in hand. Both Arsenal and Chelsea will suffer a blip at some point this season (Chelsea will particulrly struggle when the African Nations starts in January) so it’s upto United to capitalise. On todays performance with Fletcher and Hargreaves (to hopefully return to the side soon) our midfield should gain some much needed strength and provide ammunition for our strikers. We just have to ensure that when we meet the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool at Old Trafford that we show no mercy!

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Rio sits out Blues showdown

Posted by admin on November 6th, 2009

Defender Rio Ferdinand will miss Manchester United’s Premier League showdown with Chelsea on Sunday as he continues to be troubled by a calf injury.

Ferdinand has missed United’s last three matches with a calf injury which manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes could be linked to the defender’ long-running back problems.

“We don’t know where the calf injury is coming from. It could be the lower back” he explained ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.

“A calf injury usually means two to three weeks out. But there’s no sign of recovery from that injury.

“We’re looking at whether it’s coming from his back, but in the meantime he’s out. There has been no improvement, so obviously we’re looking at something different.”

However, United will welcome back both of Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov after they missed the midweek 3-3 Champions League draw with CSKA Moscow.

Midfield duo Ji-Sung Park and Owen Hargreaves remain absent through injury while club captain Gary Neville is suspended.

“Vidic has trained for the last three days and he should be okay for Sunday,” said Ferguson.

“Berbatov got knock and we’ll see what he’s like in training today but he should be okay.

“Rio and Park are both out and Gary is suspended of course. Other than that, the rest are fit and we’re ready for a big game.”

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CHELSEA v MAN UTD PREVIEW

Posted by admin on November 5th, 2009

CHELSEA v MAN UTD PREVIEW
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday 8^th November
KO: 16:00
Live on Sky Sports 1 (UK)

After grabbing a dramatic late draw on Tuesday night against CSKA Moscow, Manchester United head to a tricky away game against leaders Chelsea on Sunday. This is potentially one of the biggest games of the season for United trailing Chelsea two points in the league despite not playing to our potential lately (Tuesday night was particularly nervy perfectly highlighting Fergies mantra that we always like to do things the hard way!).

In theory it promises to be a riveting match with Drogba, Lampard, Rooney and Giggs all playing scintillating football so far this season. Uniteds main concern is likely to be in defence. Ferdinand and Vidic both missed the game on Tuesday with Ferdinand looking to miss out due to injury. Those looking to come back into the side after missing out on Tuesday are Vidic, Berbatov and Giggs. United have lacked fighting spirit recently but I fully expect them to fight hard on Sunday and having Fletcher back in the squad should see to that.

I’m predicting a 1-1 draw with Rooney to score and do the Brazilian-style baby rocking goal scoring routine accompanied by the lads! A win would be priceless though and would show our intentions to win the Premier league for an unprecedented 4 times in a row! Game on!

Rooney celebration

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FLETCHER FOCUSED ON PERFORMANCE

Posted by admin on November 5th, 2009

By Simon Stone, Press Association Sport Chief Football Writer

Darren Fletcher is not allowing himself to get affected by his new tag as Manchester United’s “big game player”.

Fletcher returned to action after a month’s absence with an ankle injury against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night, just in time for Sunday’s crucial Premier League showdown with Chelsea.

And it would seem the Scot will be one of the first names on Sir Alex Ferguson’s team-sheet too.

Certainly, United missed Fletcher’s battling qualities against Liverpool a fortnight ago, with the hole his injury left proving just as troublesome to fill as it did in Rome last May, when Barcelona ran riot in the Champions League final.

Ferguson is unlikely to leave his team similarly exposed at the weekend now Fletcher is a proven top-class performer.

For a player whose early days in the Red Devils’ first-team were dismissed rather crudely, the plaudits must sound nice.

But Fletcher insists he is not taking them too seriously.

“I take the compliments with a pinch of salt,” he said.

“I enjoy these matches as much as anyone and I put pressure on myself to perform more than anyone does.

“The challenge of playing against the top-class players that Chelsea have is one I look forward to and I will be doing my best to win the match.

“But I am not going to make-or-break a games like this.”

As someone who, during Jose Mourinho’s time with the Blues, scored a winner against Chelsea at Old Trafford, Fletcher understands completely how tense such affairs can be.

With the Londoners currently sitting on top of the Premier League table and United two points adrift in second, there is no reason to believe Sunday’s showdown will be any less fraught.

Not that Fletcher feels it will have a massive bearing on who eventually goes on to clinch the championship. There is far too much football to be played for that.

“Sunday is a massive game. Games against Chelsea always are,” he said.

“It is not going to make-or-break who wins the league by any means, although it is an important benchmark.

“Maybe psychologically it might have an effect. But Chelsea are a top-class side and we will respect them.”

It is seven years since United enjoyed the taste of victory at Stamford Bridge.

They have managed a couple of draws there in the last three years, although they are split by the ill-tempered defeat in April 2008 which landed Patrice Evra with a four-match suspension.

Respective combatants from both sides are hoping for a less fractious affair this time around, with Fletcher purely focused on collecting those long-awaited three points.

“It would be good to win,” he said.

“We have had a couple of draws down there but we have still not managed to win in the league and we are desperate to do it.

“But we will go there with a game-plan and try to get a result.”

Fletcher will hope to emerge from last night’s outing in slightly better shape than he went in.

His latest injury has been a frustrating one to recover from and he knows it will take a bit of time to regain full fitness.

“It is nice to get back into the team and get 90 minutes under my belt because I have not played for a while,” he said.

“I felt fine, which was the most important thing, although I was not 100% with my touch and awareness on the pitch but the game will help and, if selected, I should feel the benefit on Sunday.”

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Edwin Van der Sar

Posted by admin on November 5th, 2009

GOALKEEPER

An excellent shot-stopper that provided the stability that United were missing since Schmeichel left.

Has solid experience with an illustrious playing career.

Considered one of the best goal-keepers of all time.

(more…)

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United chants

Posted by admin on November 4th, 2009

SIR ALEX FERGUSON

FERGUSONS RED & WHITE ARMY

Ferguson’s red and white army [clap, clap, clap]
Ferguson’s red and white army [clap, clap, clap]…

FERGIE GIVE US A WAVE!

Fergie, give us a wave,
Fergie, Fergie, give us a wave…

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US LOVES ALEX FERGUSON

Oh, every single one of us,
Loves Alex Ferguson,
Loves Alex Ferguson,
Loves Alex Ferguson…

(more…)

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Manchester United History – The Story So Far

Posted by admin on November 4th, 2009

Manchester United was founded in 1878 under the original name of Newton Heath L&YR FC (L&YR being the work football team for Lancashire & Yorkshire Railways).

The Early Years

1902 – Club is on the verge of bankruptcy with debts totalling £2500. Things took a turn for the worse when bailiffs closed the stadium. The teams saviour was JH Davies who was the MD of the local Manchester Breweries. If only he could see today how well his investment has turned out!

1908 – Man Utd win their first league title and follow it up with their first charity shield trophy.

1909 – United win their first (of many!) FA Cup trophy.

1910 – Man Utd move into Old Trafford (aka The Theatre of Dreams). Their first game is against local rivals Liverpool.

1914 – The 1^st World War means competitive football is put on hold until 1919.

For the next few decades Uniteds performances mean they are constantly struggling to remain in the 1^st Division with relegation following on a number of occasions.

The Busby Years (1945 – 1969)

The appointment of Matt Busby as Man Utds new manager in 1945 heralded one of the most successful periods in the clubs history.

1948 – United win their 2^nd FA Cup after somewhat of a barren spell.

1952 – Another league title. Busby adopts his notorious policy of bringing in youth players into the first team. As is to be expected there was a transitionary period due to this but more silverware was to follow!

1956 – Another league title for Busby. The youth policy is starting to pay dividends and this was typified by the fact that the average age of the title winning team in this year was only 22. The young players were affectionately known as “The Busby Babes”.

1957 – The third league title for Busby. They become the first English team to compete in the European Cup and make it all the way to the semi-finals eventually getting knocked out by Real Madrid.

1958 – The darkest year in Manchester Uniteds’ history by far. On route back from a European Cup match the plane carrying the team crashed on take-off in Munich. The crash claimed the lives of 8 players – Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, Liam Whelan and the jewel in Uniteds crown, Duncan Edwards who died in hospital a fortnight after the crash.

What followed inevitably was a rebuilding process. With established stars like Bobby Charlton and Denis Law in the side Busby continued to implement his youth policy. Undoubtedly the most promising young talent that broke through the ranks was a young lad from Belfast named George Best.

1963 – United win the FA Cup.

1965 – Busby guides his team to another league title.

1967 – Another league title.

1968 – The pinnacle of The Busby Babes achievements resulted in United winning the European Cup for the first time. United beat Benfica 4-1 with Best cementing his place as a world-class talent on the biggest stage with 2 goals in the final. The win also marked the 10^th anniversary of the Munich Disaster.

1969 – Sir Matt Busby retires.

Busbys retirement brought a period of instability with 3 bosses taking charge before United won their next trophy.

1977 – United win the FA Cup under the guidance of Tommy Docherty.

1983 – United win the FA Cup under the guidance of Ron Atkinson with a comprehensive 4-0 victory against Brighton.

1985 – Another FA Cup victory this time beating Everton 1-0

1985 – United win their first ten league matches and by October are 10 points ahead of their rivals. Unfortunately a run of bad results meant they didn’t win another title and the following year Atkinson was fired as a consequence.

The Legend Arrives

1986 – Alex Ferguson is appointed the new manager. Ferguson took a few years to settle in and rumours abound that he was on the verge of getting sacked in 1990 for a lack of silverware (thank God that never happened!).

1990 – Fergusons first trophy was the FA Cup with his side beating Crystal Palace 1-0

1992 – Ferguson makes probably one of his most astute buys poaching Eric Cantona from Leeds for a paltry £1.2m. The arrival of Cantona (and Schmeichel the previous year) means the wait is over! United win their first title for 26 years.

1994 – Win the Premiership title and FA Cup.

1996 – The previous seasons relative failure results in Ferguson selling established stars Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis with the intention of bringing in a batch of promising youth players. After losing their first league match the TV pundit Alan Hansen famously remarked that United would “never win anything with kids!” They went on to become the first team to win the Premiership and FA Cup twice (aka The Double Double)

1997 – Another Premiership title but Eric Cantona decides to retire from football at the age of 30. Many pundits claimed this would halt United run of trophies with Cantonas arrival in 1992 sparking the teams lust for silverware aided by his abundance of talent.

1999 – The clubs most successful year culminated with an unprecendented Treble – Premiership title, FA Cup and an amazing European Cup victory with United clutching victory from the jaws of defeat.

2000 – Premier league title number 6 was acquired this year

2001 – To be followed by another title! 3 in a row.

2003 – Premiership title no.8

2004 – Win the FA Cup beating Millwall.

2005 – Malcolm Glazer launches a takeover of the club.

2006 – Carling Cup victory followed this year.

2007 – Lead by the precocious talent of Cristiano Ronaldo United win yet another title (losing count now!)

2008 – Yet another double. This time Premiership title no. 10 and beating Chelsea on penalties in the Champions League final. Viva John Terry!

2009 – United win their 11^th title and the Carling Cup alongside the World Club Championship. Uniteds latest title takes them level with Liverpool on 18 helping Ferguson achieve his initial aim upon taking over to “knock Liverpool off their f***ing perch!”. Ronaldo leaves for Real Madrid for a world-record £80m.

2010 – More trophies to follow!

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