Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[spidermel]

MU win, Arsenal lost... i can smelly EPL champion on the way to Old Trafford

[alex18122003]

Originally Posted by spidermel

MU win, Arsenal lost... i can smelly EPL champion on the way to Old Trafford

Very great score results @ Old Trafford.
Glory Glory To All Red Devils Fans.

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by MelbSJ

but have to be very cautious.. got Arsenal visiting Old Trafford and MU going to Stamford Bridge.

it was indeed a fantastic easter sunday for united with a thrashing of pool and the gunners going down to chelski.
looking at the title run-in of 7 remaining games, with the gunners visiting OT and united still to go to stamford bridge, the current 5 point cushion may not be enough.
however, using a very simplistic way of calculation, if united are to avoid defeats against both ars and chelski, and match their results for the rest of the games, the title is definitely staying at OT for another season.
looking forward to that and hopefully the champion's league too.
cheers!

[alex18122003]

Scholes holds the key

Sir Alex Ferguson is confident that Paul Scholes has returned to top form in time to inspire United to a successful end of the season.

The veteran midfielder has been feeling his way back to fitness and form after being dogged by knee problems, but Sir Alex is confident that his display against Liverpool last Sunday suggests a timely return to his devastating best.

“Last Sunday's win over Liverpool was a great sign for me in terms of the confidence and composure of the team," he told his weekly press conference.

"But what pleased me most was the performance of Paul Scholes. After three and a half months out he’s taken time to get back to real Paul Scholes form.

“He was absolutely head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch – and there were some fantastic performances. His form over the next few weeks will be important for us.”

Scholes remained at Carrington during this week's international programme, leaving him fresh for the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday - a prospect which is sure to daunt Villans manager Martin O'Neill, who is a huge admirer of the midfielder.

"Winning is about being able to compete week in, week out,” said O’Neill. “All you have to do is look at Paul Scholes.

“He’s won umpteen Championships and he still plays as if he’s 18. That comes from within and from being really successful and hungry."

[dc7176]

Man Utd v Aston Villa: Preview

Sir Alex Ferguson has derided international friendly matches as "a waste of time'' and "futile''.
The Manchester United manager is angry at losing Darren Fletcher for six weeks, starting with the home match against Aston Villa, after he sustained a knee ligament injury in midweek in Scotland's 1-1 draw with Croatia.

It was George Burley's first match in charge, but Ferguson took issue with the former Southampton manager at the length of game time Fletcher had.

"Darren should have played only 45 minutes, 60 minutes at most. But instead he was heading for a full game before he got injured,'' said the United boss.

"He had gone up to Scotland with a bad chest cold, which caused him to miss our last game (the 3-0 victory against Liverpool on Sunday).

"It is a bad blow losing Darren and again shows the futility of playing friendly games. It is crazy.

"Supporters will stop going anyway, given the kind of money they are paying and the kind of travelling they have to do.

"Every manager knows deep down these games are a waste of time.''

Rio Ferdinand will again marshal the back line at Old Trafford as United head into an important week at home and abroad.

They follow the Villa match by facing Roma in Italy on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

With seven games remaining, Ferguson's leaders are five points ahead of Chelsea, six clear of Arsenal and have an impressive goal difference of plus 49.

The Scot has taken great heart from the emphatic victory against Liverpool and called for more of the same in the coming weeks.

He said: "I need to have one eye on Roma when it comes to team selection because it is such an important fixture.

"But that must not lessen our thoughts about the match against Villa.

"We must use the performance against Liverpool as a barometer. That game was a great sign for me. The composure in our play was top class.

Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg is poised to return to the side for Saturday evening's clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Swedish international, who is bound for Juventus in the summer, was suspended for the shock home reversal by Sunderland after his red card at Portsmouth but is set to replace Craig Gardner.

Martin O'Neill has to decide whether to keep faith with on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson who has looked short of confidence in recent games and made crucial errors.

Villa will be looking to end a run of four games without a win but have not beaten the Red Devils in the Premier League for 12 years.

Martin O'Neill has challenged his side not to allow a season of steady progression to fizzle out.

He is looking for his team to recapture the form that saw them come within a few seconds of victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium only three weeks ago and rekindle their European push.

O'Neill believes Villa should have taken great confidence from that 1-1 draw but instead they collected only one point from the next three games including a shock 1-0 home reversal by Sunderland last weekend.

O'Neill said: "The performance against Arsenal should have been the spur for us to kick on and I thought it was going to be.

"But the two home games against Middlesbrough and Sunderland have been particularly disappointing, occasions when we haven't created much and we have looked poor.

"You would be hard pressed to give a proper reasoning for it after the performance against Arsenal. We have not lacked the desire but we have certainly lacked a fizz.

"I was low after the Sunderland game. If we had played Sunderland off the pitch, created lots of chances and lost, I could have genuinely accepted that.

"But we were disappointing and I don't want us to be disappointing when it is important for us not to be disappointing. That is what we have to learn. Now we have to get back on track.

"At a time when we haven't exactly excelled ourselves at all in our performance against Sunderland, you would like to think you could try and iron out a few things if at all possible.

"But we have been working with four or five of the squad and some of them only got back on Friday.''

[dc7176]

Before we hav a update on tonight match, let hav another look at CR7 MOM performance againist Aston Villa

Click here

Roma v Man Utd: Preview

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar looks set to return to the side against Roma in the Champions League quarter-final.
Van der Sar was on the flight to Italy on Monday morning after missing the 4-0 Barclays Premier League victory against Aston Villa with a groin injury.

Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs all travelled after coming off on Saturday with knocks.

Mikael Silvestre was a surprise addition to the party after recovering from a knee ligament injury, sustained in September.

However Nani was again missing and ruled out of the first-leg match because of a thigh strain.

Meanwhile, Paul Scholes has named Cristiano Ronaldo as his best ever team-mate in a glorious 14-year career at Manchester United.

It is a remarkable tribute to the Portugal winger, who is looking to improve on his 35-goal tally against Roma.

Scholes has played alongside the likes of Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Mark Hughes and David Beckham, not to mention the evergreen Ryan Giggs, collecting seven Premier League winners medals in the process.

However, it is Ronaldo that gets the midfielder's vote as his top team-mate at Old Trafford.

Scholes, who is due to make his 99th Champions League appearance in Italy, said: "I've been quite lucky to have played with a lot of great players.

"Cristiano has to be at the top now, purely for what he has done this season. Scoring the amount of goals from his position has been nothing short of amazing.

"It is not just that, though, it is the way he makes chances and the threat he poses to other teams.''

Ronaldo has not just reserved his scoring form for the domestic game either.

He has bagged six in seven Champions League matches heading into the quarter-final encounter.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for Ronaldo to maintain his momentum as they go for glory at home and abroad.

Ferguson said: "You have to remember Cristiano has only just turned 23.

"We have seen a development in every part of his game in domestic football.

"That's why we are delighted to bring a player back to Rome who has made an incredible improvement in the last year.

"Cristiano's goalscoring performances have been a big advantage to us as we all know.''

Meanwhile, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is confident his side can overcome the absence of Francesco Totti and beat a Manchester United side he rates as the "best in the world''.

The Giallorossi take on United at the Stadio Olimpico without skipper Totti, who has been ruled out due to a thigh injury.

Spalletti believes his Serie A high-flyers have enough quality, however, to beat the Barclays Premier League leaders without their talisman.

"Totti is Totti,'' he said. "But a team that is not able to play without a player does not have the right mentality.

"To have reached this stage of the competition means we have a strong team even without Totti.

"I have a lot of confidence in my players, who I am sure will take on more responsibility as they have done in the past when we have played without Totti.''

Mirko Vucinic will lead the attack in Totti's absence and Spalletti knows the Montenegrin forward will be up to the task.

"We are all ready, including Vucinic,'' he said. "Vucinic has helped us win games and I am sure he is determined and ready.''

[alex18122003]

In the run-up to tonight's Champions League quarter-final, Luciano Spalletti has mocked Manchester United's away record in Europe - and looking at the statistics, the Roma coach might just have a point.

Led by the magical Cristiano Ronaldo, United head into the first leg at the Stadio Olimpico in terrific form, top of the Premier League and confident of claiming a 10th semi-final appearance in Europe's premier club competition.

The statistics make uneasy reading for United fans - their side have won just three of their last 18 games on the continent, and in Italy, their record is no better.

Out of 14 games played over there, United have lost 10 and won just two. Indeed, their winless streak in Italy was only broken in Turin just under nine years ago - when Roy Keane's header kick-started the now-famous semi-final comeback against Juventus on their way to being crowned European champions in 1999.

Since then, United have travelled to Italy six times, but managed just one further win - a 3-0 rout of Juventus back in 2002-03 - losing four more times and drawing once.

Hardly a record on Italian soil to strike fear into a Roma side who are currently pushing Internazionale for the Scudetto and who are vastly improved on the team that capitulated 7-1 at Old Trafford a year ago.

Even without their injured talisman Francesco Totti, Roma will be a different proposition altogether tonight, and with United's poor recent history on the peninsula, eyebrows should not be raised too high if the hosts are able to grab a first leg advantage.

Those six games in Italy since the Treble-winning season in 1999:

1999-2000 - Second group phase - Fiorentina 2-0 United . United fall to goals from Gabriel Batistuta and Abel Balbo but still manage to top the group. Eventually go out to Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage.

2002-03 - Second group phase - Juventus 0-3 United. An imperious performance from United, and two-goal Ryan Giggs in particular, gives United their second win at the Stadio Delle Alpi in four years - but again it is Real Madrid who end their hopes in the quarters.

2004-05 - First knockout phase - Milan 1-0 United. Hernan Crespo adds to his first leg strike in Manchester to fire Milan into the quarter-finals 2-0 on aggregate.

2006-07 - Quarter-finals - Roma 2-1 United. Rodrigo Taddei and Mirko Vucinic - both likely to start tonight - seal victory against 10-man United, but it is Alex Ferguson's side who go through 8-3 on aggregate following their stunning 7-1 win in the return leg.

2006-07 - Semi-finals - Milan 3-0 United. One of the most disappointing United performances in Europe of recent times. Kaka, Clarence Seedorf and Alberto Gilardino overturn a 2-3 deficit from the first leg in fine style to send the eventual winners through.

2007-08 - Group phase - Roma 1-1 United. Gerard Pique's header is cancelled out by Mancini as Roma claim a point. United still run out group winners before being drawn against Lyon in the first knockout phase. A 2-1 aggregate win over the French champions sees them book tonight's clash with Roma.

[dc7176]

Originally Posted by dc7176

Match Highlight

Panucci Header (Min 15)
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C.Ronaldo Free Kick (Min 20)
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Vucinic Shoot (Min 28)
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0-1 C.Ronaldo (Min 38)
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Tonetto Shoot (Min 50)
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Tonetto Chance (Min 51)
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Panucci Chance (Min 52)
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0-2 Rooney (Min 65)
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C.Ronaldo Shoot (Min 68)
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Carrick Shoot (Min 71)
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C.Ronaldo Volley (Min 90)
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Roma 0-2 Man Utd: Rooney and Ronaldo sublime
Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney put Manchester United firmly in the driving seat going into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Roma.

Then to heap more misery on the Italian title-chasers Wayne Rooney extended United's lead in the second half after a defensive mix-up in the six-yard box.

It was a marvellous show of composure from United, who went into the match on the back of six straight Barclays Premier League wins.

Given they had taken four points off Roma in the group stages this season, it was little surprise they approached this match with confidence.

And although the Italians had a lot of possession in the first half they found their opponents hard to break down.

Park Ji-Sung's inclusion in the United side was a surprise and he got into a good position after 12 minutes only for Christian Panucci to take the ball off his toes as he shaped to shoot.

Roma hit back and Mirko Vucinic should have tried his luck on goal but opted instead to pass to Alberto Aquilani and the move broke down.

This was a good spell for the home side and Mancini saw his effort deflected to safety by Vidic. Then Panucci headed over the top from Rodrigo Taddei's corner.

Play broke down the other end and Rooney released Anderson but the Brazilian, who has yet to score for the club, blazed a shot over the top.

Ronaldo tried his luck with a free-kick from all of 30 yards only to see his effort go wide of the post in the 22nd minute.

Roma carved out a good chance in the 28th minute when Vucinic escaped his marker and cut inside, only to rattle a shot over the top.

Vidic then needed treatment after landing badly following an aerial challenge with Vucinic.

The Serbian seemed to have twisted his knee and was forced to come off.

He was replaced by John O'Shea, who partnered Rio Ferdinand at the back.

Ronaldo was anxious to improve on his 35-goal tally but not surprisingly was finding himself closely marked.

However, he broke free of his shackles in the 39th minute to make the breakthrough.

Rooney released Scholes on the right and he delivered a delicate chip into the area.

Ronaldo ran from deep and headed the ball beyond Brazilian goalkeeper Doni for a brilliant solo effort.

The Portugal winger was left dazed in the incident but recovered quickly to United's relief.

However Roma could have equalised in the three minutes later but Vucinic dragged his shot wide of the post.

Roma started the second half brightly and Vucinic released Max Tonetto but he sent his effort over the bar.

A minute later Tonetto's shot was superbly turned over the top by Edwin van der Sar.

Roma kept up the pressure and Panucci squandered a good chance in the 52nd minute.

He was left free at the back post but only succeeded in sending his effort wide of the target.

Roma responded and substitute Ludovic Giuly got clear down the right only to send a poor cross into the grateful arms of Van der Sar.

However Van der Sar needed to look alert to make a fine one-handed save from Vucinic's header.

This was a difficult time for United and Vucinic was proving to be a bit of a handful in the absence of Francesco Totti.

United, however, made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Park headed the ball into the area at the back post.

It resulted in a mix-up between Doni and Panucci with Rooney on hand to knock the ball home.

Then Ronaldo skipped away from his marker only to see his effort come back off the post.

With a two-goal cushion, United were knocking the ball around well and Michael Carrick came close in the 71st minute, his effort going narrowly wide.

Rooney had put in a hard shift and was replaced by Carlos Tevez with six minutes remaining as Roma looked dispirited.

Tevez saw his effort go wide then Ronaldo rattled a superb volley narrowly over the bar as United finished the match in style.

[alex18122003]

The facts and figures say Manchester United cannot fail to book a place in the semi-finals of this season's Champions League, but United know better than most that a great European comeback should not be dismissed out of hand.

Roma have a 2-0 deficit to overturn after goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in Rome last week gave United a big advantage heading into tonight's game at Old Trafford.

It is an unenviable mission for the Giallorossi, and a quick glance at some telling statistics only serves to reinforce how difficult their task is.

United have lost just seven of 67 Champions League home games but none by the minimum two-goal margin that Roma need to reach the semi-finals.

Roma have won just once in ten previous visits to England - a 1-0 victory at Liverpool in the fourth round of the 2000-2001 UEFA Cup.

Only once have Roma come back to win, when they lost 2-1 at home to Nurnberg in the 1988-1989 UEFA Cup first round but then triumphed 3-1 in Germany.

United have been in this position 13 times before in European competitions, qualifying rounds included, and have never lost a tie after winning away in the first leg.

And United are one of just two teams, alongside Barcelona, who remain unbeaten in this season's competition

[alex18122003]

Arsenal suffered another injury blow ahead of Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United when midfielder Mathieu Flamini was ruled out for up to three weeks with an ankle injury.

The Frenchman suffered the injury in the first half of Tuesday's Champions League defeat by Liverpool when he was replaced by Gilberto Silva before half-time, and the Brazilian is set to start in his place at Old Trafford.

"I believe Mathieu will be out for three weeks," manager Arsene Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.

"It's a big blow but Gilberto has a lot of quality and experience. He will come in. He can help the team recover and focus.

"Apart from that we don't have any other injuries from Tuesday. We have a few bumps and bruises but nothing special.

"Robin van Persie is available. He had two good sessions yesterday and today. He looks to be OK and we'll see how we go from here. But Bacary Sagna is out."

Arsenal almost certainly need to win on Sunday to retain any hope of taking the title.

They are third on 71 points, three behind Chelsea and six behind United, with five games remaining.

[alex18122003]

RONALDO TAKES AIM AT TWO TROPHIES

United wing wizard explains why he'd gladly swap personal awards for team glory...

Are you pleased with your form this season?
I try to improve and this season has been even better than the last. People say I need to perform better in big games; I respect that opinion, but I don’t feel I need to prove anything to anyone. I’m pleased with my progress, but I believe this United squad is the best I’ve been involved in. It’s more consistent and more mature.

In recent seasons you bet Sir Alex you’d score 15 goals; now you have 36...
That’s true! I’m happy with the improvement. I’m a better player now than I was a year ago and definitely better than when I first came here. I hope that continues. Why have I scored more goals this season? It’s hard to say, I’ve just had more chances.

Do you have a favourite goal from this season?
I enjoyed my header against Roma away. That was very satisfying. But I like the free kicks against Portsmouth, Bolton and Sunderland. It’s hard to pick one.

Were you proud to beat George Best’s 32 goals in a season from midfield?
I don’t really want to break anybody’s record – I feel bad! I’ve seen tapes of George Best playing and he was absolutely fantastic. It’s a wonderful record to hold.

You’re tipped to win numerous Player of the Year awards again this year…
It’s nice to be recognised, but if I had the choice of winning, say, the Champions League or the Golden Boot, I’d pick the Champions League every time.

[LiverPOO]

arsenal were unfortunate not to progress into the champions league semi final.

with their season as good as over, they will want to avenge their 4-0 drubbing in the fa cup loss earlier this season.

expect tackles flying in from all angles - from arsenal players.

[stepup]

Man-U 4eva

[alex18122003]

Manchester United came from behind to earn a 2-1 Premier League win over Arsenal at Old Trafford.



Emmanuel Adebayor put the Gunners ahead early in the second half but a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and Owen Hargreaves free-kick secured a vital win for United, who established a six-point lead over Chelsea at the top of the table.

The defeat effectively ruled Arsene Wenger's side out of the title race, nine points off the lead with four games remaining.

Arsenal were impressive in the first 45 minutes. They reduced Manchester United to speculative counter-attacks and generally shackled Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo.

They also dominated in the attacking third, Adebayor guilty of no less than five glaring misses when put in good shooting positions.

Two of them were unforgivable, the first on 18 minutes when he shot tamely at Edwin van der Sar following a one-two with Robin van Persie and the second an identikit back-pass after brilliant work by Alexander Hleb on 35 minutes.

Gilberto Silva found his shot blocked by own team-mate Alex Song after United failed to clear a corner, while Cesc Fabregas shot wide from a good position.

The hosts had their chances too. Most of their attacking threat came from Rooney, who forced one good save from Jens Lehmann after an impudent flick by Ronaldo bamboozled Song on the United left.

Lehmann was standing-in for the injured Manuel Almunia, the latest instalment in their ongoing feud that recently saw Almunia declare that Lehmann "hates" him.

But the veteran German earned his coin with one superb save from Rooney, who had stroked the ball towards the bottom right after leading a counter attack. Lehmann somehow stuck his left boot out to divert the ball behind for a corner and the sides went in level at the break.

The second half continued in a similar vein and Arsenal took the lead when Adebayor exploited hesitancy between Van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand when a quickly-taken free-kick saw Van Persie cross into the six yard box.

Ferdinand stopped - one had to assume because he had heard a call - and the Togo striker nicked ahead of the Dutchman to flick the ball home with what appeared to be his hand. United's protests were waved away and Arsenal had a lead that threatened to derail Sir Alex Ferguson's title hopes.

But, as has been the case for much of this latter part of the season, Arsenal conceded almost immediately. They had been agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Ferdinand's attempted clearance was spectacularly saved by Van der Sar.

Ferdinand then hooked the loose ball away and United countered. Carrick played the ball into the box and William Gallas handballed to hand United a penalty, which Ronaldo converted twice, the first disallowed after Park Ji-Sung encroached.

The match was blown wide open, and substitute Carlos Tevez almost netted with a long-range effort while Van der Sar tipped Gael Clichy cross, deflected by Wes Brown, onto the post.

United's second goal came on 71 minutes and from two unlikely sources. Left back Patrice Evra had got forward, playing through Rooney and winning a free-kick off Gilberto on the edge of the box after the England striker's shot was blocked.

Hargreaves stepped up and asked Ronaldo to step aside. The former Bayern Munich midfielder then sent an immaculate shot that dipped over the wall and curled away from Lehmann into the bottom left for his second goal of the season, a carbon copy of his first strike against Fulham.

The stuffing was knocked out of the Gunners, although they attacked with intent late on and sub Nicklas Bendtner should have made Van der Sar work harder to save his far-post header after he was found by Fabregas.

United held on at the end, Bendtner denied by Van der Sar with another header, but the Londoners lacked a genuine cutting-edge and their title challenge stuttered to a halt while United placed one hand on the trophy.

[dc7176]

VS

Manchester United vs Arsenal
English Premier League 2007-2008
Matchday 34
April 13 2008


Goals

1st Goal for Arsenal - Adebayor (suspected handball)
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1st Goal for Manchester United - Ronaldo (PK)
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2nd Goal for Manchester United - Hargreaves
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Extras

A well built attack from Man United ends with a shot from Rooney that is denied by Lehmann
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An error from Song puts Rooney one on one with Lehmann who puts an end to the attack
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