Manchester United ~ General Chat & Latest News

[Freddy Adu]

Man Utd boss Ferguson warns England over plastic pitch

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned England they face "a big problem" playing on an artificial pitch against Russia next week. The Euro 2008 qualifier in the Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday night will be the first time England have played an international on artificial turf and the Manchester United boss believes Russia will benefit from their experience of the surface.

United have two plastic pitches at their Carrington training ground but Ferguson prefers his players to train on grass because the surfaces play differently. He told the Independent, "There is no problem with safety - on the old [artificial] pitches you used to get a lot of grazes on hips and knees when players went in for challenges, but the surfaces of today are terrific - there's no problem with that.

"The problem they will have is the bounce of the ball, the speed of the ball and, of course, Russia will be far more used to it than English players. That will be a big problem, it's not easy to handle that."

One of United's artificial pitches is outdoors and the other indoors - but the players hardly ever use them. Ferguson added: "In my time here at Carrington we have used the indoor pitch just once - for work on set-pieces."

***

[D. Stankovic]

It's going to be sad seeing the assistant coach go.

[GloriousReds]

MANCHESTER UNITED are on the brink of signing Partizan Belgrade wonderkid Stevan Jovetic for £7million.


Sir Alex Ferguson has already made the huge bid for the 17-year-old Montenegro international.


United’s bid is a massive one for a teenager but Jovetic is special and Ferguson is acting quickly to snap him up.


The striker made his senior international debut in a friendly against Hungary last season.


Jovetic has played 54 games for Partizan and bagged 18 goals, including six this season.

[Freddy Adu]

Dyn. Kyiv vs Man.United

Liga dos Campeões 2007/2008 | Fase de Grupos | Group F

Dyn. Kyiv Man.United

Date 2007-10-23 19h45 City Kiev Stadium Olimpiyskyi National Sports Complex Referee

Last Matches

League	Home	Result	Away	Tournament
CL	Dyn. Kyiv	0-0	Man.United	Liga dos Campeões 2000/2001

[Freddy Adu]

Like I said I hope Kiev kills United and I hope Ronaldo gets hurt

[Freddy Adu]

Aston Villa v Man Utd

BIG-MATCH FACTS

Aston Villa and Manchester United are both in the top three of the Premier League's "Form" table.

Villa are chasing a fifth successive home win; United are out to extend their winning league run to seven games.

The Midlanders have conceded a goal a game on average; the defending champions have kept an unequalled seven Premier League clean sheets, including six in a row and have not let in a goal in 10 hours.

United are bidding for a 10th consecutive Premier League victory over Villa. They've kept clean sheets in each of the last five winning league trips to Villa Park.

Villa have lost more times to Manchester United in the Premier League than they have to any other club (21).

CLUB FORM

ASTON VILLA

Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 4th
Lowest could fall: 10th

1. Won 50% and lost 25% of their Premier League matches; four and two of eight, respectively.

2. The current tally of 14 points after eight games is on a par with last season, when they went on to finish 14th.

3. Lost one of the last seven league outings.

4. Completed 19 Premier League matches since losing by more than a single goal; 2-0, away to Reading on 10 February.

5. One of six clubs with a 100% record from Premier League matches in which they opened the scoring (won three of three).

6. Used fewer players in Premier League competition than any other, with the exception of Blackburn. Both have fielded just 17.

7. Claimed 12 points out of 12 at home, and lost just once in 10 league games at Villa Park; 1-2 against Liverpool on the opening day, 11 August.

8. Kept clean sheets in the last three home league matches, and not conceded in 354 minutes (five hours 54 minutes) of Premier League soccer at Villa Park since Clint Dempsey's early opener for Fulham on 25 August, in a match Villa won 2-1.

9. One goal short of shipping 400 in home Premier League matches all time.

MANCHESTER UNITED

1. Won the last three in all competitions, and eight of nine.

2. Won two thirds of their league fixtures (six of nine).

3. On the joint longest winning run in the Premier League with Arsenal of six matches.

4. Not dropped a single point since the 1-0 defeat, away to Manchester City on 19 August; their only loss in nine league outings this term.

5. Boasting the tightest defence in the top division with just two goals conceded all season, while their nine matches have yielded a lower aggregate than any other of the 20 clubs; 13 (11 for, two against).

6. Scored 11 goals in 11 Premier League matches (including the last two fixtures of last season).

7. Opened the scoring in more Premier League games this term than any other club; seven.

8. Not conceded in six Premier League matches or 599 minutes (nine hours 59 minutes) of Premier League football since Geovanni scored the winner for Manchester City on 19 August.

9. Built a three-match winning sequence in league and cup games away from home.

10. This match precedes the Champions League Group F clash in Ukraine, against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.

KEY PLAYER NOTES

ASTON VILLA

Gabriel AGBONLAHOR, Gareth BARRY, Olof MELLBERG and Ashley YOUNG have all been on the field for every minute of every one of Villa's Premier League games this season.

AGBONLAHOR and Shaun MALONEY are Villa's joint leading scorers, with three goals each.

All three of AGBONLAHOR'S have been league goals - making the 20 year old the club's leading marksman in the Premier League.

Marlon HAREWOOD, needs one goal to total 100 in his league career (Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and West Ham).

MANCHESTER UNITED

RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer with four goals, and the clubs leading marksman in the Premier League, with three.

RONALDO has scored five Premier League goals for United against Villa, including three last season.

Ryan GIGGS who signed a one year extension to his contract this week to keep him at Old Trafford until 2009, is a double short of 100 career League goals.

Patrice EVRA, Rio FERDINAND and Paul SCHOLES have been on the field for every minute of every one of Manchester United's Premier League matches this season.

If selected:-

RONALDO will be making his 200th appearance for Manchester United.

Rio FERDINAND will be making his 350th career league appearance (West Ham, Bournemouth, Leeds and Manchester United).

Nemanja VIDIC will be playing on the eve of his 26th birthday.

If on the field from the outset:-

Wes BROWN will be making his 150th Premier League start in a Manchester United shirt.

Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th English league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).

Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start - all for the Red Devils.

HEAD TO HEAD

Villa have failed to beat Manchester United in 19 league and cup matches, since a 3-0 triumph in the third round of the Worthington League Cup on 13 October 1999.

The Midlanders' last home Premier League victory over the Red Devils came on 19 August 1995. Ian Taylor, Mark Draper and a Dwight Yorke penalty were the scorers in a 3-1 success.

United have gained nine successive victories on the Villa Park turf (five Premier League trips, FA Cup third round ties in 2002 and 2004 and FA Cup semi-finals against Arsenal in 2004, and Watford last season).

Home and away
League (inc PL): 42 wins, Man United 72, Draws 34
Prem: Villa 2 wins, Man United 21, Draws 7

at Villa only
League (inc PL): 32 wins, Man United 24, Draws 18
Prem: Villa 2 wins, Man United 10, Draws 3

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Aston Villa 0-3 Manchester United
23 December 2006 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Man United scorers: Ronaldo 58, Scholes 64, Ronaldo 85

REFEREE
Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)

BBC

[Freddy Adu]

Aston Villa (from): Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma, Gardner, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Moore, Agbonlahor, Taylor, Sorensen, Harewood, Davies, Petrov, Berger, Osbourne, Maloney.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, O'Shea, Giggs, Fletcher, Tevez, Rooney, Nani, Anderson.

[Amo-te Benfica]

Ronaldo only makes the bench after his game for Portugal. Nani will start, however and Van Der Saar back in the line-up. Villa unchaged.,

[Amo-te Benfica]

The game has started

[Amo-te Benfica]

6'

Aston Villa

0 - 0

Manchester U.

[Amo-te Benfica]

GOAL! Aston Villa has taken the lead, not sure who scored it but Agbonlahor is claiming it.

[Amo-te Benfica]

20'		Aston Villa [1 - 0] Manchester U.
12'	[1 - 0]	G. Agbonlahor
Copyright © 1998-2007 LiveScore.com

[carpediem33880]

score is 1-3, man u is winning

and anderson just took a nasty trip from reo-coker who earned a red card

[Amo-te Benfica]

Man United played a great game in the end they won 4-1 and Aston Villa had two players sent off. They keep up the pressure on Arsenal and are looking very strong like last season.

Anderson looks to have settled into the EPL now.

[D. Stankovic]

And Rooney is really smashing those nets!!! Man!! Amazing performance by ManU!!

[Freddy Adu]

FT		Aston Villa [1 - 4] Manchester U.
12'	[1 - 0]	G. Agbonlahor
36'	[1 - 1]		W. Rooney
39'			P. Scholes
44'	[1 - 2]		W. Rooney
45'	[1 - 3]		R. Ferdinand
52'		N. Reo-Coker
60'		N. Reo-Coker
66'		S. Carson
68'			W. Rooney (pen.)
70'		A. Young
75'	[1 - 4]		R. Giggs
89'			Nani

[Freddy Adu]

United are unstoppable.

[Freddy Adu]

Man.United vs Middlesbrough

Premier League 2007/2008 | Campeonato | Day 11

Man.United Middlesbrough

Date 2007-10-27 15h00 City Manchester Stadium Old Trafford Referee

Last Matches

League	Home	Result	Away	Tournament
PL	Man.United	1-1	Middlesbrough	Premier League 2006/2007
FA	Man.United	1-0	Middlesbrough	The FA Cup 2006/2007
PL	Man.United	0-0	Middlesbrough	Premier League 2005/2006
FA	Man.United	3-0	Middlesbrough	The FA Cup 2004/2005
PL	Man.United	1-1	Middlesbrough	Premier League 2004/05
PL	Man.United	2-3	Middlesbrough	Premier League 2003/2004
PL	Man.United	1-0	Middlesbrough	Liga Inglesa 2002/03
PL	Man.United	0-1	Middlesbrough	Liga Inglesa 2001/02
PL	Man.United	2-1	Middlesbrough	Liga Inglesa 2000/01
PL	Man.United	1-0	Middlesbrough	Liga Inglesa 1999/00

[D. Stankovic]

Manchester to win easily!! Should be a good match as well, hope Rooney scores again!

[Amo-te Benfica]

Kiev is always a tough place to play and Dynamo have an excellent record against United. However, this side is nowhere as strong as it was when they could boast Sheva and Rebrov up front. They do have Rebrov, but he's quite the same play. I think United will win fairly comfortably.

Prediction: Dynamo Kiev 0-2 United

[Amo-te Benfica]

Paul Scholes has been ruled out of Manchester United's UEFA Champions League game against Dynamo Kiev.


The United midfielder has sustained a knee injury in training and will not be fit for the game at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.


Scholes will now undergo a scan on the injury upon his return to Manchester.


"Paul will miss tonight's match," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told MUTV.
"He got a knee injury in training last night and he will have a scan when we get him home.


"It is unfortunate, but these things happen and I am sure we have enough experience to cope."


Scholes has already been sidelined by one knee injury this term after being forced to fly home from United's pre-season tour of the Far East with a cartilage problem.



Sky Sports | Home |

[Amo-te Benfica]

Paul Scholes has been ruled out of Manchester United's UEFA Champions League game against Dynamo Kiev.


The United midfielder has sustained a knee injury in training and will not be fit

for the game at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.


Scholes will now undergo a scan on the injury upon his return to Manchester.


"Paul will miss tonight's match," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told MUTV.


"He got a knee injury in training last night and he will have a scan when we get him home.


"It is unfortunate, but these things happen and I am sure we have enough experience to cope."


Scholes has already been sidelined by one knee injury this term after being forced to fly home from United's pre-season tour of the Far East with a cartilage problem.



Sky Sports | Home |

[Brasil]

Half-time

HT		Dynamo Kyiv [1 - 3] Manchester U.
10'	[0 - 1]		R. Ferdinand
18'	[0 - 2]		W. Rooney
31'		P. Diakhaté
34'	[1 - 2]	D. Rincon
41'	[1 - 3]		C. Ronaldo
Copyright © 1998-2007 LiveScore.com

phony Ronaldo scored...Dynamo still has a chance

[Brasil]

77'		Dynamo Kyiv [2 - 4] Manchester U.
10'	[0 - 1]		R. Ferdinand
18'	[0 - 2]		W. Rooney
31'		P. Diakhaté
34'	[1 - 2]	D. Rincon
41'	[1 - 3]		C. Ronaldo
68'	[1 - 4]		C. Ronaldo (pen.)
78'	[2 - 4]	I. Bangoura
Copyright © 1998-2007 LiveScore.com

[Brasil]

		Dynamo Kyiv [2 - 4] Manchester U.
10'	[0 - 1]		R. Ferdinand
18'	[0 - 2]		W. Rooney
31'		P. Diakhaté
34'	[1 - 2]	D. Rincon
41'	[1 - 3]		C. Ronaldo
68'	[1 - 4]		C. Ronaldo (pen.)
78'	[2 - 4]	I. Bangoura
Copyright © 1998-2007 LiveScore.com

[Freddy Adu]

Well what else do you expect from Man U

[Brasil]

I was rooting against them lol.

[Freddy Adu]

Man Utd staff keeping spirits up for Foster

Ben Foster has revealed the dark humour of the Manchester United medical staff is keeping him going during his long fight for fitness.

Although he could yet be back in action by the end of February or the beginning of March, Foster has effectively written off the season after being forced to undergo cruciate ligament surgery last summer.

After two years on loan at Watford and with an England cap under his belt, the 24-year-old's hopes of making a lasting impression on Sir Alex Ferguson this season have been dashed.

But Foster is not getting too downhearted; United's physios have seen to that.

"The physios have a good sense of humour and are a good laugh," he said.

"It is nice to have those kind of people around you. It keeps you positive.

"They have a dark sense of humour. It is like a comedy act and breaks up the monotony."

[Freddy Adu]

Man Utd boss Ferguson: No problems with Van der Sar

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is fully fit, despite substituting the Dutchman late in last night's 4-2 victory at Dynamo Kiev.

Ferguson also confirmed Van der Sar had not suffered an injury and his decision to introduce Tomasz Kuszczak 10 minutes from the end had been pre-planned.

"Edwin wasn't hurt," said Ferguson.

"It was in my mind to bring Tomasz on even though we conceded the second. I was not going to change it."

[Freddy Adu]

Man Utd boss delighted with O'Shea, Fletcher

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hailed John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher for their performances in last night's 4-2 victory at Dynamo Kiev.

United's win was achieved without key midfielders Paul Scholes and Patrice Evra, who suffered a calf strain during the warm-up.

Scholes will have a scan on a knee injury suffered in training on Monday when he returns to Manchester and with Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick already out injured, Ferguson will hope the damage is not too serious.

"We do have strength in depth, " said Ferguson. "But the more important factor is that the changes are not affecting our performance.

"John O'Shea had to switch to left-back when Patrice pulled out and Darren obviously came into midfield.

"Both of them were excellent.

"Of course, those two players have been here for a long time and understand what playing for this club means.

"But others, like Carlos, Anderson and Nani have joined us this summer and adapted really quickly."