Manchester United Season 2010-11

[Dodomeki]

Chelsea v Manchester United: match preview

By John Ley 6:00AM GMT 17 Dec 2010

Chelsea v Manchester United

Stamford Bridge

Kick-off: 16.00 GMT

Chelsea (Possible, 4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Essien, Malouda; Kalou, Drogba, Anelka.
United ( Possible, 4-4-2): Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Park, Scholes, Anderson, Nani; Berbatov, Rooney.
Referee : Martin Atkinson. Matches: 14. R7 Y51.

Tale of the game

Chelsea have an impressive recent home record against United; in the last nine visits – eight in the Premier League and one in the Carling Cup – they are unbeaten, winning five and drawing four.

Since United last won at Stamford Bridge, in April 2002, they have failed to score in six of their subsequent nine visits. Overall, United have won 29 and lost 21 of 68 league visits to Stamford Bridge in a fixture that goes back to 1906.

United set a club record best unbeaten start to a season on Monday when they beat Arsenal 1-0 at Old Trafford. That was their 16th game without loss, the second best start in the Premier League history with only Arsenal, who went the entire 2003-4 season without loss.

Including last season, United are unbeaten in 21 Premier League games going back to April – when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Chelsea. And United have not lost away since February, at Everton, a run of 12 games.

Chelsea have drawn their last three Premier League games, for the first time since the end of the 2006-07 season when they drew their last five. Chelsea could start with Frank Lampard for the first time since August when he missed a penalty against Stoke in a 2-0 home win. Jose Bosingwa undergoes a test but Yuri Zhirkov, Alex and Yossi Benayoun remain in the treatment room.

United test Paul Scholes, but Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia are still missing.

Last season: Chelsea 1 United 0, United 1 Chelsea 2.

Stat of the game: Chelsea need three goals for exactly 100 against United at home in the league.

Betting tip: Looks a draw; try 1-1 at 8-1.

 

[Dodomeki]

Heavy snow wipes out most Premiership matches


Heavy snow wipes out most Premiership matches <header id="leadheader" class=" smallimg">

London - The Associated Press
Published <time pubdate="" datetime="2010-12-18 09:08 -0500">Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 9:08AM EST

A blast of heavy snow wiped out most of the weekend Premier League program after the conditions made it too hazardous for fans to attend many matches across England.

Arsenal's home match against Stoke and Liverpool's meeting with Fulham at Anfield were among the four matches that fell victim to the big freeze on Saturday, while leader Manchester United's trip to Chelsea on Sunday is also off.

With Birmingham-Newcastle and Wigan-Aston Villa also postponed, only Sunderland's meeting with Bolton and Blackburn's match against West Ham were due to go ahead on Saturday.

In north London, Arsenal said three inches (seven centimetres) of snow fell over the Emirates Stadium before the referee called off the match and the north London club said there appeared to be “no apparent let up.”

There was also a huge deluge in Liverpool, with the club saying that “the conditions around the stadium and further afield for people travelling to the match” made it too dangerous to allow the Anfield match to go ahead.

Liverpool and Wigan said their pitches would have been playable. Wigan said 10 inches (25 centimetres) of snow fell overnight in the town, meaning “public transport isn't running, there are motorway closures and the general condition of the surrounding routes is treacherous.”

Birmingham cited “health and safety grounds” for the decision to call off its home match against Newcastle, saying that roads around the stadium were unsafe.

Chelsea postponed its home match around 27 hours before Sunday's kickoff after consultation with the police and the local authority.

But West Bromwich Albion's derby against Wolverhampton and Tottenham's match at Blackpool in the northwest on Sunday are still set to be played.

On Monday night, Manchester City hosts Everton.

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[Dodomeki]

Chelsea-Man U clash rescheduled


Chelsea-Man U clash rescheduled

24 December 2010

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Manchester United's postponed English Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has been rescheduled for March 1.

The game was originally due to be played on Sunday but was called off because of heavy snowfall around London.

There is a chance the March 1 date could be changed if either of the two sides are forced to play a replay of their FA Cup fifth-round ties, and may also be moved to an earlier FA Cup weekend should both sides be eliminated from the tournament prior to March 1.

In other United fixture news, Barcelona have announced on their website that Sir Alex Ferguson's side will play the Catalan giants in a friendly in Washington on July 30.

 

[Dodomeki]

Premier League reports

Manchester United beat Sunderland 2-0, Newcastle United defeated at home 1-3 by City and West Ham United enjoy away-day win 1-3 at Fulham.

Centre of attention: Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov is mobbed by his team-mates during their defeat of Sunderland Photo: AP
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[Dodomeki]

Premier League: West Brom 1 Manchester Utd 2

2 January 2011

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Manchester United rode their luck to open the new year with a rare away win against West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday.

West Brom will regret a sluggish start that allowed Wayne Rooney an early opener as well as a second half penalty miss before Javier Hernandez struck late on to cancel out James Morrison's leveller as the match finished 2-1 at the Hawthorns.

Both team's lined up with four changes each from their respective midweek games, with Rooney immediately justifying his inclusion as he headed United in to a third minute lead.

Gabriel Obertan's neat footwork allowed Patrice Evra time to pick out Rooney who directed a downwards header past Scott Carson's sluggish dive to finally register his first goal in open play since March 2010.

Despite being on a three match losing streak, West Brom soon showed they were up for the fight thanks to James Morrison's spectacular equaliser on 14 minutes.

Morrison confidently ran on to Nemanja Vidic's headed clearance to dispatch a first time volley past Tomasz Kuszczak to bring the Baggies level.

Gary Neville was lucky to see his last gasp tackle on Graham Dorrans escape punishment.

From 12 yards out, the Scottish international seemed set to apply the finishing touches to Morrison's long pass before Neville's challenge clearly took the man and not the ball.

Dorrans, Chris Brunt and Paul Scharner all narrowly fired wide as the host's further exerted themselves on the league leaders.

And that pressure finally forced referee Chris Foy to point to the spot with an hour gone as Rio Ferdinand took away the trailing leg of the lively Jerome Thomas to present Albion with a penalty.

However, Peter Odemwingie scuffed his shot past the left hand post to gift United another reprieve.

And the hosts were made to pay for their profligacy, United again allowed too much space in the box as Javier Hernandez flicked home a 75th minute winner following Rooney's corner to seal only their second success on the road this season.

 

[Dodomeki]

Premier League: Man United 2 Stoke 1

5 January 2011

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Manchester United moved three points clear at the top of the English Premier League with a 2-1 win over Stoke City on Tuesday.

The Red Devils picked up the win without hitting top gear at Old Trafford after going ahead in the first half through Javier Hernandez's clever back heel - his second in a week.

Stoke threatened to sneak a point when Dean Whitehead headed an early second-half equaliser, but Nani's 62nd minute winner ensured that the pressure is on the chasing pack, who are all in action on Wednesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson made six changes from the side that beat West Brom at the weekend with Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand among those rested after a busy Christmas schedule.

Several young player s were given the chance to show their stuff, but it was veteran Ryan Giggs who looked the sharpest in the opening exchanges.

The Welshman's run and shot was deflected to Dimitar Berbatov, who poked his shot just wide, before Giggs found himself in acres of space minutes later, but was denied by a last ditch Ryan Shawcross tackle.

United finally made the breakthrough in the 27th minute when Hernandez flicked in Nani's driven cross from four yards.

The Mexican went close to a second shortly afterwards when he got the end of Nani's headed cross, but his effort went over from eight yards out.

The hosts started the second half sloppily and Whitehead equalised in the 50th minute when he rose unmarked to head home Tuncay's cross from six yards.

But the Red Devils were back in front just after the hour when Nani turned on the edge of the box and lashed in a 20-yard left-foot strike, leaving Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic with no chance.

United controlled most of the possession in the final half hour but couldn't add to the scoreline before full-time.

 

[Forvendet]

If MU keeps cool, it looks like a BPL and ECL double season.

 

[Gallego99]

Man. City would likely be the team to push Man. Utd to the title. The Red Devils cannot tahan losing out to their neighbors.

 

[Talking Donkey]

Listen to me and i mean it,Man U is going to win the EPL this year!

What happen to all the Liverpool,Chelsea,Gunners and Hotdog thread,looks like everyone is half dead already

 

[Dodomeki]

Premier League: Tottenham 0 Manchester United 0

17 January 2011

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Ten-man Manchester United held on in an entertaining goalless draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Defender Rafael Da Silva was shown two yellow cards, however the home side could not take advantage of the extra man.

Wayne Rooney almost got the visitors off to the best of starts, however he could only flash his shot narrowly wide after a measured through-ball from strike partner Dimitar Berbatov, returning to the club where he spent two years of his career.

Rafael van der Vaart then wasted a free-kick in a great position with 10 minutes gone, firing straight into the arms of fellow Dutchman Edwin Van Der Sar in the Manchester United goal.

Spurs striker Peter Crouch should have given the home side the lead moments later but his volley from Alan Hutton's accurate cross flew inches wide.

With Gareth Bale tormenting Da Silva down the left flank, Tottenham looked the more likely team to score, and their task of breaking the deadlock should have been made easier after the Brazilian's ugly lunge on Spurs' midfielder Wilson Palacios.

The defender let the ball run away from him and slid in on Palacios who had retrieved it, however referee Mike Dean chose only to book Da Silva when he perhaps should have been given a straight red card.

The last action of the first half saw Tottenham almost go in at the break ahead, but van der Vaart's header from a neat Bale cross hit the side of the net rather than the back of it.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side started the second half with plenty of attacking intent, and went close when Michael Carrick, another ex-Tottenham player in the United ranks, headed Ryan Giggs' corner just wide.

Rooney then surged at the Spurs' back-line before releasing a low drive which Heurelho Gomes did well to palm around the post.

But Tottenham were given a major boost with 15 minutes to go as Da Silva's luck ran out - a petty trip on Benoit Assou-Ekotto saw the right-back shown a second yellow card and subsequently trudged off down the tunnel as cheers rang around White Hart Lane.

And van der Vaart should have won the game when a corner broke to him 15 yards out but the former Real Madrid man curled his shot narrowly over and with it went Tottenham's hopes of three points.

 

[Dodomeki]

On 7 April 2010, Rafael was sent off for the first time in his United career, receiving two yellow cards either side of half time against Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie, despite winning 3–2 they were knocked out on away goals with the aggregate score ending 4–4.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15">[16]</sup> On 16 January 2011, Rafael was sent off for a second occasion, collecting two bookings, firstly for a feet-off-the ground tackle and secondly for a coming together with Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

"Oops.. i did it again sorry." :(:p


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[Dodomeki]

Premier League: Manchester United 5 Birmingham 0

23 January 2011

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Dimitar Berbatov fired in his third hat-trick of the season as Manchester United cruised past Birmingham 5-0 in a one-sided encounter at Old Trafford.

The Bulgarian was at his stunning best as he made it 17 goals in 18 league starts to cement his place at the top of the English Premier League goal-scoring charts.

Veteran Ryan Giggs, who was as fresh and energetic as anyone on the pitch, and Nani got the others as United maintained their top-of-the-table form with their 11th win from 12 at home.

For Alex McLeish the future looks far more ominous. Sitting perilously close to the drop zone, Birmingham's normally solid defence were run ragged without the dependable Scott Dann, who has been ruled out for the season.

It took just 90 seconds for United to open the scoring. Nani won a corner after Liam Ridgewell dithered and from Giggs' dead-ball cross, John O'Shea flicked on for Berbatov to nod home from a yard out.

Ben Foster, who left Old Trafford in the summer, did well to keep out a Berbatov blast minutes later after the striker pounced on the keeper's miscued clearance.

The second finally came just after the half hour when Roger Johnson sloppily gave away the ball in his own half and Wayne Rooney worked the ball through to Berbatov to cut inside and smash in from eight yards out.

United added the third on the stroke of half-time when Berbatov intercepted David Bentley's cross-field pass and the ball ran to Rooney, whose low cross was fired in by an unmarked Giggs.

While Berbatov cannot stop scoring, his strike partner Rooney has scored just once from open play all season and the England man missed a sitter just after half-time - heading wide from two yards out.

But he had a big part in United's fourth in the 53rd minute. Rooney was the only man alert to Edwin van der Sar's long clearance and he gave the ball to Giggs, who crossed for Berbatov to fire in off the underside of the crossbar.

Birmingham had a golden opportunity to pull a goal back in the 57th minute but Keith Fahey miscontrolled the ball two yards out in front of an empty net. Nani, who had a largely frustrating afternoon, added a fifth in the 76th minute when he cut inside and hit an 18-yard shot beyond Foster.

 

[Dodomeki]

Berbatov leads Man United back from the brink

By Sonia Oxley

BLACKPOOL, England (Reuters) - Dimitar Berbatov struck twice as Premier League leaders Manchester United recovered from two goals down to beat promoted Blackpool 3-2 in a thrilling game on Tuesday.

United were staring at their first defeat of the season after Blackpool dominated the first half and Charlie Adam corners created headed goals for defender Craig Cathcart and striker DJ Campbell.

United manager Alex Ferguson sent on Ryan Giggs as a substitute and the veteran's influence crushed Blackpool's dreams of a major upset in their biggest game for 40 years when Berbatov volleyed in on 72 minutes and substitute Javier Hernandez equalised with a cool finish.

With Blackpool's players visibly tiring, Berbatov snatched all three points for his side with a clinical strike in the 88th minute to send United five points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table. "We always have a chance with the spirit we have in the club," Ferguson told ESPN. "We didn't play well in the first half but you know we will always keep going.

"We knew they would get tired in the second half, we kept playing our football and got some more penetration. Ryan gave us composure, Hernandez was a threat with the timing of his runs and Berbatov has been doing that for us all season.

"In the end it doesn't matter how you get the win." It was a match that felt like a cup tie, such was the obvious disparity between the sides. The team sheets came out on a simple black and white printout rather than the colourful document produced at Old Trafford.

The stand shook when the fans leaped around in celebration, while Blackpool manager Ian Holloway had said in his programme notes he had to "commandeer the chairman's office because my office is a little too small to be entertaining Sir Alex".

INFERIORITY COMPLEX

Any inferiority complex was quickly put aside after the opener which had fairytale written all over it as Cathcart headed in at the far post against the club where he spent his youth days before being sold to Blackpool in the close season.

Campbell's goal came after another Adam corner was headed on inadvertently by Darron Gibson into the Blackpool striker's path for his sixth goal in his last seven games.

It looked like a major upset was on the cards with United struggling to create any clear chances and apparently on the verge of losing their unbeaten record.

Blackpool were denied what looked like a certain penalty following a clumsy foul by United defender Rafael da Silva and the replacement of Wayne Rooney with Hernandez midway through the second half livened up the visitors' attack.

Berbatov's first strike proved the turning point and Hernandez calmly converted Gigg's fine pass before the Bulgarian's 19th league goal of the season completed the sort of revival that champions are made of.

Rafael was carried off with what looked like a nasty injury following a clash of heads and after he had received lengthy treatment on the pitch, United hung on through 10 minutes of stoppage time to secure only their third away league win of the season.

 

[Dodomeki]

Manchester United goalkeeper Van der Sar to retire in May

By Toby Davis
10:58 GMT, Thu 27 Jan 2011

LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will retire at the end of the season, the Dutchman said on Thursday.

The 40-year-old former Netherlands international joined United from Fulham in 2005 and has made 245 appearances for the Old Trafford club, winning three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League crown. Van der Sar's wife fell seriously ill in December 2009.

"It is now time to pay attention to my family," he said on the website of his management company (www.sport-promotion.nl). "I cannot really identify a time when it (the decision) happened. "Let's just say that it was playing on my mind from the moment Annemarie had her stroke.

"She has fought back from it. We decided on another year in England and thus to stay at Manchester United. "But, once engaged in the season, the thought of saying goodbye started to gnaw a bit more emphatically." Van der Sar, who played a record 130 times for his country, began his career at Ajax Amsterdam before moving to Juventus and on to Fulham in 2001.

He set an English league record in 2009 for time without conceding a goal when he went more than 21 hours unbeaten. United are five points clear at the top of the Premier League and Van der Sar has played in 21 of their 23 league games this season.

"It is a difficult process" he said. "After a defeat, I thought differently than after playing a few good games in a row. "My age played no role,I am 40 years old, but I still feel fit. "And then the decision came suddenly. Do not ask me how or why, but suddenly you know. That was sufficient.

 

[Dodomeki]

Premier League: Man United 3 Aston Villa 1

2 February 2011

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Wayne Rooney found his scoring touch to fire Manchester United to a 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

The England striker has struggled in front of goal all season, despite impressing in all other aspects of his game, but netted two first-half strikes to set the Red Devils on the road to victory.

Villa briefly threatened a second-half comeback when Darren Bent hit his second goal since making a 24-million-pound switch from Sunderland with his only meaningful touch of the game. But Nemanja Vidic smashed in a third to seal the victory and extend United's unbeaten run to 24 Premier League games this season.

United were ahead inside 50 seconds with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar the unlikely architect of the goal. The 40-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, was alert enough to launch aquick 80-yard free-kick that Rooney got to ahead of Richard Dunne before smashing his shot into the top corner.

Nani had a penalty claim when he was barged over by Dunne and before the Portuguese winger hit a rasping 20-yard shot that brought a fine save from Brad Friedel as United tried to build on their lead.

Friedel made good stops from Patrice Evra and Dimitar Berbatov before a deserved second finally came on the stroke of half-time. Nani created space on the wing with some quick footwork before whipping in a pinpoint cross for Rooney to slot home. Villa started the second half much brighter and pulled a goal back in the 58th minute.

Stuart Downing broke at pace and laid a perfect cross for Bent to fire home past Van der Sar.But five minutes later, United's two-goal advantage was restored when Rooney laid the ball back for Vidic to smash in a curling shot from 15 yards with Friedel rooted to the spot.

Ashley Young's curling effort clipped the top of the crossbar as the visitors tried to fight their way back into the game, though the goals seemed more likely to come at the other end as Berbatov blasted high over the bar and Rooney was denied a hat-trick by Friedel.

 

[Dodomeki]

* Leaders Manchester United have a full squad to choose from for the trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday (1730 GMT).
Fullback Rafael De Silva and midfielder Darren Fletcher are both expected to return after recovering from head injuries.
"Rafael should be OK, he has trained," manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on the club's website (www.manutd.com).
"With Fletcher what happened is that his eye closed and he couldn't see the ball properly. I'm sure he'll be OK."

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Stephen Hunt will miss out for Wolves with a calf strain, so on-loan Jamie O'Hara could make his first start.

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is available after recovering from an eye injury sustained during the victory over Aston Villa.
Rafael is also expected to return after being given the all-clear from the concussion he suffered at Blackpool.
Park Ji-Sung is unlikely to be involved while he continues his recovery from South Korea's Asian Cup exploits.

<hr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); height: 1px; border-style: none;">
Wolves
Injured: Guedioura (broken leg), Hunt (calf), Kightly & Mancienne (both knee)

Man Utd
Doubtful: Park (fatigue)
Injured: Hargreaves (hamstring), Valencia (ankle)

 

[Ramseth]

Manchester United lost 1:2 to Wolverhampton Wanderers!

What the hell is going on? Is the end coming?

Wayne Piew, where are you?

 

[kingrant]

Can relax a bit lah. So far in front already of the Arsenal.

Manchester United lost 1:2 to Wolverhampton Wanderers!

What the hell is going on? Is the end coming?

Wayne Piew, where are you?

 

[Dodomeki]

I saw this news two days ago so it didn't came to me as a surprise.

McCarthy: We can challenge United

4 February 2011

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Mick McCarthy is adamant his bottom-of-the-table Wolves side is a force to be reckoned with at home - even against Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson's league-leading men travel to Molineux on Saturday and McCarthy believes his side poses a threat.

He said: "We've proved at home we can beat anyone and we keep everybody honest. Nobody turns up here and gets an easy ride and Manchester United will know that."

"Sir Alex Ferguson always says this part of the season is the business end and Manchester United kick into gear. Well they did on Tuesday night (in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa) when they got off to a devastating start. "

"Ryan Giggs, Nani, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov are terrific. They're worryingly good but they won't worry me tomorrow." Defender Ronald Zubar's error gifted a last-minute win to Bolton on Wednesday but McCarthy is sticking by his player.

He said: "I wanted to kill him on Wednesday night but he's one of our players. He runs around and puts his shift in. Do you think he's the only one who's made a mistake? I don't think so."

"There's only one bloke who never made a mistake and you know what happened to him. We're all liable to make a mistake; you don't cast him aside, you support him."

"I believe I will get the best out of him. He's been terrific for us and I wouldn't leave him out on the back of a mistake."

Adlene Guedioura (broken leg), Stephen Hunt (calf), Michael Kightly and Michael Mancienne (both knee) are all missing for Wolves.

 

[Dodomeki]

Defeat is no big deal as it's not the first.