European Capital of Trophies

[shantanu_rooney]

UEFA Champions League - Matchday Two Results
30th September, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring a screamer

Wednesday, 30th September 2009

Group A
Real Madrid 2-0 Celtic
Xabi Alonso 9, Ronaldo 27.

Unirea Urziceni 0-2 Chelsea
Essien 54, Cole 71.

Group B
Anderlecht 1-1 Wisla
Van Damme 6 ; Jirsak 9.

CSKA Moscow 3-0 Sevilla
Necid 10, Guilherme 21, Berezutskiy 63.

Group C
Fiorentina 2-1 Bayern Munich
Gamberini 5, Albin 36, Pasqual(s/o) 89 ; Schweinsteiger 63.

Zurich 0-2 Marseille
Diawara 5, Guatelli(og) 90.

Group D
Liverpool 2-0 Besiktas
Torres 73, Mascherano 85.

Wolfsburg 1-0 Inter
Grafite 23.​

​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Carling Cup Third Round Draw
30th September, 2009

Carling Cup Fourth Round draw​

Norwich City have been handed an away date with holders Manchester United in the fourth round of the Carling Cup. The Canaries' reward for their victory over Q.P.R last time out is an Old Trafford showdown with Sir Alex Ferguson's troops.

Liverpool will tackle their city rivals Everton at Anfield as the two go head-to-head in yet another Merseyside Derby. Manchester City will have high hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals after being drawn against Championship side Swansea at Eastlands.

West Ham are also up against lower league opposition, with Plymouth the visitors to Upton Park. Arsenal will tackle Cardiff at Emirates Stadium, while Chelsea welcome Preston North End to Stamford Bridge.

Fulham, who saw off Wolves in the last round, face Midlands opposition with West Brom making the trip to the Craven Cottage. Struggling Portsmouth will hope for more cup cheer when they come up against Burnley at Turf Moor.

Man Utd v Norwich
Chelsea v Preston
Liverpool v Everton
Arsenal v Cardiff
Burnley v Portsmouth
West Ham v Plymouth
Fulham v West Brom
Man City v Swansea​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Mourinho collects gong
1st October, 2009

Jose Mourinho: Manager of the Month​

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been named the Manager of the Month for September.

The in-form Red Devils ended the month with three wins, extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven games. This is the fourth time that Mourinho has won the Manager of the Month Award. He also joins the group Sam Allardyce, Joe Kinnear and Gordon Strachan who have the award four times.

Mourinho's side began the month with a 1-0 victory away to Tottenham Hotspur before beating city rivals Manchester City 2-1 at Old Trafford. The Red Devils finished the month with an away 1-0 win at difficult to beat Stoke City.

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Three and easy for Red Devils
3rd October, 2009

Dimitar Berbatov celebrates his goal with Darren Fletcher​

Manchester United produced another stunning performance to claim the lead at the top of the Barclay Premier League table

The Champions were second best to Sunderland for large parts of a full-blooded encounter at Old Trafford but hit the visitors with three goals in the second half. In a blistering 20-minute spell, United - earlier indebted to goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak and the crossbar for keeping them in the match - snatched victory through Nemanja Vidic, Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney.

United's sixth successive win put them above leaders Chelsea at the top of the table with Chelsea playing against Liverpool the next day. It was a second successive defeat for the Black Cats and, like last week's 2-0 loss to Wolves, was one in which the scoreline barely reflected their effort.

The result could hardly have been anticipated at the break after the visitors enjoyed a number of opportunities. Sunderland took an early grip on the match and earned their first opportunity from a free-kick on the edge of the box after Patrice Evra brought down Darren bent. Ried's deflected effort was easily gathered by Myhill but left-back Evra picked up a knock in the challenge and was limping out of position as the Black Cats attacked again.

Bent found Kenwyne Jones with a fine through ball but Darren Fletcher cleared over his own bar as the Trinidad and Tobago striker looked for Malbranque in front of goal. The visitors were then denied by both Kuszczak and the crossbar from the resulting corner as Fabio Firmani's drive was parried and George McCartney headed the rebound against the woodwork.

Jones still almost scrambled the ball in by the post but United escaped and boss Jose Mourinho, with just 16 minutes gone, replaced the struggling Evra with John O'Shea. Sunderland continued to press and Lee Cattermole picked out Wes Brown with a fine cross but the defender headed straight at Kuszczak on his Old Trafford return.

Manchester United had a chance at the other end when Sunderland failed to clear a Rooney corner but Flecther shot well wide. Sunderland were incensed not to win a free-kick as Jones went to ground under a challenge from Rio Ferdinand as he chased a long ball. Perhaps in frustration, Firmani clumsily went in on Vidic to earn a yellow card.

Vidic was not affected and flashed a header wide from a David Silva corner soon after. Owen, scorer of spectacular goals against Rangers and Stuttgart in the Champions League, attempted another after finding space 10 minutes before the break but Craig Gordon dealt with his long-range effort.

Kuszczak made an even better save from Bent moments later after the striker beat Ferdinand for pace on a powerful run into the box. He shot across goal but Kuszczak just managed to tip his effort wide. Jones went close with a delicate volley on the stroke of half-time but the ball just dipped over.

Manchester United caught the visitors with the sucker punch two minutes after the restart as Rooney broke clear and crossed low into the box. Michael Owen failed to make contact but Silva touched to Carrick and the Englishman's effort almost crept in after a deflection wrong-footed Craig Gordon, but the keeper recovered well to concede a corner.

Yet Manchester United are starting to find corners a rich source of goals and they benefited again as Silva's cross dropped between defenders and was volleyed in by Vidic. Sunderland attempted to hit back but Brown saw another header deflected for a corner and Bent was denied by a superb Ferdinand tackle.

Cattermole then forced another superb save from Poland international Kuszczak with a low shot from 30 yards. Sunderland paid for their profligacy as United doubled their lead following another moment of inspiration from substitute Berbatov after 64 minutes. The former Tottenham striker knocked the ball forward for Rooney, who brilliantly flipped the ball back in his direction with his first touch and Berbatov dived to head in.

Moments later it was 3-0 as Rooney raced onto a poor header by Anton Ferdinand and calmly clipped the ball past Gordon. After that Sunderland were barely a threat and failed to test Kuszczak as United's fans enjoyed the countdown to the final whistle and confirmation their six straight win in the Premier League.

__________________________________________________​

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: "We rode our luck in the first 15-20 minutes and that happens when you are flying high. In the last 15 minutes before the break we started to get our game together. We are in some good form of late having won last 6 matches in a row and if we continue this run we could be in good position to win the title by new year."

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce: "We created enough chances to put the game to bed in the opening half. There was lots of decent play in between the boxes but we have to improve in both boxes. We cannot continue to miss chances when they come along. I think the 3-0 scoreline was harsh but we have the ability to bounce back from negative results."

__________________________________________________​

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Evra(O'Shea 16), Ferdinand(C), Vidic, Rafael, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Silva, Rooney, Owen(Berbatov 50).
Subs Not Used: Foster, Evans, Giggs, Scholes, Anderson.

Booked: Fletcher, Rooney.

Goals: Vidic 48, Berbatov 64, Rooney 67.

Sunderland: Gordon, Osorio(Richardson 68), Brown, Mensah(Ferdinand 45), McCartney, Malbranque, Firmani, Cattermole, Reid, Jones(Campbell 88), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Turner, Nosworthy, da Silva.

Booked: Firmani.

Att: 72,856.

Ref: L Probert.

Man of the Match: Nemanja Vidic.​

 

[mattfb]

Important that they won that game to pull ahead of Chelsea. The fact you guys managed to not conceed when Sunderland were piling the pressure shows a team on form.'

Great work mate. kiu.

 

[hedger_14]

You should be looking at an easy win in the 4th Round Carling Cup against Norwich. Very good performance and Man Utd are in top form.

 

[m_vaughan]

Sad that Chelsea have lost top spot but United put in a solid performance there.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Barclays Premier League - Matchday Eight Results
5th October, 2009

Steven Gerrard: Scores the winner at Stamford Bridge

Saturday, 3rd October 2009

Bolton 1-2 Tottenham
Elmander 13 ; Keane 39, King 54.

Burnley 1-1 Birmingham
McCann 90+1 ; O'Shea(pen) 45+2.

Hull 2-2 Wigan
Vennegoor of Hasselink 27, Gardner 63 ; Scharner 29, Thomas 59.

Wolves 4-2 Portsmouth
Maierhofer 6, Milijas 20, Henry 54, Knighty 90+2 ; Smith 32, Boateng 42.

Man Utd 3-0 Sunderland
Vidic 48, Berbatov 64, Rooney 67.

Sunday, 4th October 2009

Arsenal 3-0 Blackburn
Van Persie 5, 54, (pen) 76.

Everton 2-1 Stoke
Jo 27, Donovan 52 ; Kitson 73.

West Ham 2-1 Fulham
Diamanti 49, 73 ; Gera 88.

Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
Gerrard 64, Skrtel(s/o) 86.

Monday, 5th October 2009

Aston Villa 1-4 Man City
Carew 21, Petrov(s/o) 46 ; Wright-Phillips 19, 25, Tevez 38, Robinho 41.​

​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Rampant Reds destroy Bolton
17th October, 2009

Wayne Rooney celebrates United's second goal​

Edwin van der Sar makes his return to the first team after recovering from an injury as Manchester United's title defense continues apace, with Bolton Wanderers the latest to be swept aside at Old Trafford.

First-half goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney kept Mourinho's men at the top of the Barclays Premier League, and it could have been more but for the reflexes of Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Mourinho had never met Gary Megson before and had spoken of his admiration for the teams the Bolton manager has produced - but this crop simply had no chance as United gave them a first-half masterclass in passing and movement.

Bolton had been billed as the team to put pressure on United's unbeaten record this season, with the likes of Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor enough to trouble most sides. As it was, United defence went untroubled as most of the action was ahead of them.

Rio Ferdinand, partnering the Serbian Nemanja Vidic in central defence, said before the match that he wanted to play even if it was on one leg - and he probably could have done that in the first half, such was United's dominance.

Jaaskelainen's busy afternoon in goal for Bolton started with two early saves. The first effort was from Paul Scholes, who fizzed a drive from 25 yards, then David Silva had a go from the left flank at a similar distance. Anderson had the first clear opening of the match, in the 18th minute, when Rooney found him with a cross, only for the Brazil midfielder to head wide.

Anderson, however, set up the opener three minutes later after Gary Cahill's clearance fell to Silva. Silva slipped the ball inside to Anderson, who in turn helped it on to striker Berbatov. Berbatov took one touch and lashed his finish past Jaaskelainen and inside the near post, his sixth of the season.

Rooney could have doubled the lead when he cracked a drive from 30 yards but his effort smashed against the crossbar - starting the onslaught on Jaaskelainen's goal. The Finland goalkeeper parried a Anderson free-kick and also denied Silva with another skidding drive.

He also made a double save in the 43rd minute, but could not prevent Rooney tapping in the rebound. Patrice Evra had crossed from the left, Scholes's drive and Rooney's follow up were saved - but the Englishman made sure with his next effort. It was Rooney's last contribution as he was taken off at the break for Owen, while Bolton took off Knight and Nicky Hunt, with Gretar Steinsson and Mark Davies coming on. Lee Chung Yong did have an effort saved by Edwin van der Sar - but then there was more attacking from United.

Worryingly for England manager Fabio Capello, who was watching from the stands, was the sight of Ferdinand dropping his shorts for treatment on his back. Then midfielder Silva picked up his apparent foot injury and hobbled down the tunnel, with Ryan Giggs taking his place. Wastefulness from Scholes at close range, then a brave block from Jasskelainen to deny Giggs, kept the score down. Giggs also had a volley disallowed for offside - and another goal would not have flattered the hosts.

__________________________________________________​

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: "It was one of the best performance of the season. We played a fantastic game in the first 45 minutes. We have had some injuries this week and the players played very well. It puts us in first place. It's a big game and the three points are very important. We need to win more games at home."

Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson: "We're learning all the time but that was a harsh lesson. We need to regroup and start again. We want to be up there with the top seven sides, otherwise what's the point? They played exceptionally well and we didn't. We can play much better. From start to finish they were strong and comfortable on the ball."

__________________________________________________​

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael(O'Shea 77), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Silva(Giggs 56), Scholes, Anderson, Valencia, Rooney(Owen 46), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Flecther, Evans, Carrick.

Booked: Vidic.

Goals: Berbatov 20, Rooney 44.

Bolton: Jasskelainen, Hunt(Steinsson 46), Davies, Knight(Davies 46), Robinson, Davis, Lee, Taylor, Davies(C), Elmander.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, O'Brien, Riga, sh*ttu, McCann.

Booked: Taylor.

Att: 76,212.

Ref: S Tanner.

Man of the Match: Jussi Jasskelainen.​

 

[treva]

Edwin van der Sar makes his return to the first team after recovering from an injury as Manchester United's title defense continues apace, with Bolton Wanderers the latest to be swept aside at Stamford Bridge.

May wanna change that Shan. Also you spelt Manchester wrong on the interview header

Easy win for United, going well so far this season. It looks like it'll be a straight fight between Chelsea and Man United for the title.

 

[m_vaughan]

Shame about the injury worries but a good win overall.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Owen and Anderson take United past Salzburg
20th October, 2009

Michael Owen and Anderson celebrates United's equaliser​

Anderson's first UEFA Champions League goal earned Manchester United an invaluable comeback victory at FC RB Salzburg.

Patrick Muller had given Salzburg a deserved half-time lead but injuries weakened the home team and Michael Owen equalised early in the second half. Manchester United were edging an open game though there was a touch of fortune about their winner on 80 minutes – Ryan Giggs' free-kick was headed straight at Cristian Mora by Anderson but the goalkeeper allowed the ball to slip through his grasp.

Ryan Giggs made his 130th UEFA Champions League appearance yet on 19 minutes he lost midfield colleague Paul Scholes, who limped off to be replaced by Michael Carrick. RB Salzburg, despite the absence of Marko Janko due to a twisted ankle injury, had made the better start and on the half-hour they really picked up their play. There was a warning for United when Giggs was tackled by Rabiu Afikabi and the ball fell to Sasa Ilic, who shot just wide. Two minutes later, Salzburg made the breakthrough – Alexander Zickler supplied Sasa Ilic, and the playmaker found Patrick Muller, who bamboozled Jonny Evans before brilliantly chipping goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Giggs sought to celebrate his 130th Champions League appearance by making an equaliser as his fine right-wing cross was flicked on by Owen, but Danny Welbeck was off target with his diving header. At the other end, Barry Opdam was sent clear but O'Shea's persistent presence prompted a weak shot straight at Foster. The first half ended unhappily for the Austrian title-holders, however, as first Dudic was forced off with an ankle injury and then Christoph Leitgeb departed with a nasty gash in his left leg. Rene Aufhauser and Simon Poulsen came on, and the reshuffled Salzburg defence nearly conceded when Christian Schwegler's clearance hit Barry Opdam and had to be saved by Mora.

The Salzburg goalkeeper was beaten, though, within eight minutes of the restart. A clearance was nodded back towards the penalty area by Michael Carrick and inadvertently touched on by Zickler, allowing the grateful Owen to pounce. Manchester United were having the better of the play now, although Ilic nearly carved out a goal as his free-kick was met by the head of Somen Tichoyi whose effort failed to get past Foster.

Wayne Rooney replaced Welbeck just after the hour and the substitute twice threatened, nodding wide and then having a shot blocked, while Muller's angled attempt deflected wide. Zickler was also denied when his header from a Ilic centre was cleared off the line – and that proved a crucial moment as not long afterwards Anderson ended a 74-game wait for a Manchester United goal, to Mora's horror. Ilic went close late on, yet his team remain with no points while United have nine and know a draw against FC RB Salzburg at Old Trafford in a fortnight would take them to the later stages of the competition.

__________________________________________________

RC Salzburg: Mora, Schwegler, Dudic(Aufhauser 36), Opdam, Afolabi, Leitgeb(Poulsen 42), Zickler(c), Ilic, Augustinussen(Tunchev 77), Tichoyi, Muller.
Subs Not Used: Rodler, Berger, Boussaidi, Pitak.

Booked: Tichoyi, Aufhauser.

Goals: Muller 33.

Man Utd: Foster, Neville, O'Shea, Evans, Evra, Giggs(C), Anderson, Scholes(Carrick 19), Park, Owen, Welbeck(Rooney 62).
Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, Ferdinand, Berbatov, Flecther, Valencia.

Booked: Anderson.

Goals: Owen 54, Anderson 80.

Att: 15,800.

Ref: V Hrinak.

Man of the Match: Ryan Giggs.​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Red Devils unsure of Scholes injury
20th October, 2009

Paul Scholes after the 2009 Champions League final​

Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan is unsure as to the severity of Paul Scholes's knee injury suffered against FC RB Salzburg on Tuesday.

The Manchester United and former England midfielder crumpled in a heap early on against the Austrian Champions following an innocuous-looking challenge from Sasa Ilic. After a few minutes of treatment Scholes returned to the fray, but after his first involvement upon returning to the pitch his knee gave way once again. This time the midfielder hobbled off the field and was swiftly replaced by Michael Carrick.

Phelan admits Manchester United do not know exactly what Scholes had done and that only scans on the blow on Wednesday will ascertain the full extent of the damage. "We don't know what that is to be perfectly honest. He twisted badly as he went into the air. Whether that's been generated from his lower back into his knee I don't know. We'll assess the situation when we get back in the morning and see where we go."​

 

[m_vaughan]

Salzburg provided a good fight but United bounced back to win it in the end. Hopefully (for United) the Scholes injury is not very serious.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Scholes blow for Red Devils
21st October, 2009

Scholes: Ruled out for four months​

Manchester United star Paul Scholes has been ruled out for four months after suffering a serious knee injury. Scholes sustained the knee injury during his side's 2-1 Champions League win over FC RB Salzburg in midweek.

Scans have shown the former England international has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament meaning he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho admitted he was very disappointed to lose the midfield playmaker for the next four months of the campaign.

"I am very sad for Paul to have suffered this injury and I am disappointed to have lost a very important player for me and the club at such a vital moment in the competition," Mourinho told the club's official website. "However, I believe that with his spirit, Paul will come back to Manchester United even better than before."

The defending champions were given another injury blow ahead of their trip to Anfield as Ryan Giggs(gashed leg) and John O'Shea(thigh strain) both have been ruled out of the important match against Liverpool.​