Manchester United defender considers International retirement

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is reportedly considering to hang up his boots for International football to focus more on his Old Trafford carrer.

Ferdinand has represented England 81 times though he currently is not a regular starter for his country because of both uncertain form and injury. He was left out of the England squad to face Montenegro earlier this month and was also dropped yesterday for United's away game against Everton.

He has been facing some problems after some young  talents such as Smalling, Jones and Gary Cahill came infront of  The Three Lions. Ferdinand has been linked with a move away from United though he looks to hang up his boots for International football to nail his spot in the United starting line-ups.

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United to face Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup quarter finals

Manchester United have been drawn at home to face Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup quarter finals.
United have seen off challenges from Leeds and Aldershot Town and now face Championship side Crystal Palace for a place in the last four.
The tie will be held on Monday, 28th November

Full drawChelsea v Liverpool
Arsenal v Man City
United v Crystal Palace
Cardiff v Blackburn

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Mixed injuries for United

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has been ruled out for a month with a broken foot as the injury was confirmed by Sir Alex Ferguson.

"Smalling has a small fracture in his foot," said Sir Alex "I think he will be out for a month and it's unfortunate that one" 

The news is good for United midfielder Cleverly as he has been expected to be fit for United's next game against  Sunderland.

"He's felt his ankle again," the manager told MUTV. "It's nothing serious, just tightness and tiredness. It's his first real game back, although he played on Tuesday [at Aldershot] of course. He should be okay next week and it was an excellent performance from him in the first half."


Ashley Young also has been ruled out for a couple of weeks and he might miss United's clash against Everton as he is suffering from a toe injury.

"Ashley Young has a toe injury that is not going away so he could be out for a couple of weeks."

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Match Report: Everton 0 Manchester United 1

United the defending champions came with a 3 pointer away from home as they returned home with a 1 goal win. The Mexican tapped in 19 minutes for the visitors from the low cross from Evra.

The Red Devil's boss came with five changes to the team that lost to City last Sunday. With Wayne Rooney drawn alongside Cleverley and Darren Fletcher, and Jonny Evans returning after serving a suspension at Aldershot.

In a breathless opening, the home side were the first to engage opponents Goalie, David De Gea within the first 18 seconds and Tim Howard got a chance at the other end when Ji-sung Park tried to convert a Danny Welbeck cross inside two minutes.

United took a firm grip on proceedings and some sustained pressure led to a well-worked opener. Cleverley and Welbeck assembled ball wide to Evra before the full-back's low cross was tapped in by Hernandez with his left foot in the 19th minute.

De Gea saved from Osman after Fellaini beat Evans in the air. Jack Rodwell fired wide when afforded far too much space after Evra conceded possession cheaply. The hosts were unlucky not to draw level with 40 minutes gone as Fletcher's foul allowed Leighton Baines to curl a free-kick over the wall and past the stationary De Gea but against the bar.

Everton ended the half on the front feet as Louis Saha twice worked De Gea. After introducing young Ross Barkley at the break, home side continued keeping the visitors on pressure but De Gea blocked a Rodwell drive after Evans gifted the ball to Coleman on the right.

The Reds dealt a blow when the bright Cleverley was forced off injured and continued to make heavy weather of a tough assignement. Cleverly return from the injury today ended with a injury and is expected to be out for 2 weeks. 

Welbeck finally brought Howard into action when the striker's shot from Hernandez's intelligent pass with the team's only real goal attempt of the second period. But, after making all three subsitutions, United struggled to find any rhythm and Everton built up another head of steam. Saha dragged wastefully wide when Coleman was better placed and was then blocked during a real goalmouth scramble.Despite their weary legs, the hosts ensured it was a nervous finale for everybody of a Red persuasion. Coleman managed a couple of efforts through to De Gea but the Spain Under-21 keeper was rarely over-extended, in truth.

Six minutes of injury time were agonising for the away fans and Evra escaped when Magaye Guaye went down under his challenge inside the box with Mark Halsey making the right call and waving away the desperate penalty appeals. It wasn't pretty but it's three away wins in the league already this term after only five were secured during the title-winning campaign last term.

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The Sneijder saga still alive

                                             The Saga Continues

Wesley Sneijder has again been linked with Manchester United as Inter look to offload the midfielder to make way for new signings. 

The Dutchman was heavily linked with United in the Summer and the Champions were close to bringing him at Old Trafford though the signing could not be completed as it asked a lot of money. 

However, Inter are looking to sell Sneijder this January to fund a move for Lille's midfielder Eden Hazard. 

Sneijder looks to be affordable for City and Chelsea though the 1-6 humiliation  looks to force Sir Alex to bring in a player who can fix all the holes seen in United's play.

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Match Preview: Everton vs Manchester United

Kick Off time : 12:00 GMT ( 4:45 NST (Nepali Standard Time))
Venue : Goodison Park

Manchester United will be desperate to prove their critics wrong as they take on Everton at Goodison Park and return back to the winning ways after drubbing last week at the hands of City.

SAF will be desperate to make a point but Everton are a tough nut to crack. They play with 10 men at the back and hit other teams on counter, so it will be interesting to see which team will Ferguson go for.

Ashley Young is out injured with a toe injury, whereas there have been rumors that Ferguson will leave Evra and Ferdinand from the squad. Jonathan Evans is suspended for this fixture so will take no part in this game. Tom Cleverly is back and played Carling cup match against Aldershot which is a major plus point for the team.

Everton will be aware of wounded Man Utd. but will be eager to play it safe but being a good them they will expect at least a point from this game.

Probable line ups:

Manchester United

De Gea; C. Smaling, Jones, Vidic, Fabio; Nani, Cleverly, Valencia; Rooney, Hernandez

Everton
Howard; Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines; Bilyadetinov, Cahill, Fellaini, Rodwell, Drenthe; Saha

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'No Evra and Ferdiand' for the trip to Everton

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to leave Ferdinand and Evra at home for their away clash against Everton.

The Daily Star says Sir Alex is still fuming at City disaster and is ready to leave both Fredinand and Evra at home while other 'big boys' travel to Everton.

Sir Alex blamed both Ferdinand and Evra for the fact that United conceded three 'humiliating' late goals at Old Trafford.

Both Ferdinand and Evra have produced average form for United this summer and now have been punished for that as Sir Alex looks to ring changes at the back.

Cleverly and Vidic have been recalled after injuries and Chris Smalling and Jones are willing to partner Vidic in the central defence.

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Park : We are ready to bounce back from the disaster

Park Ji-Sung is confident that United can bounce back from the Manchester City disaster at Goodison Park.

Sir Alex described the City loss as the "worst ever day" in his and the teams career as he looks to fix all the problems seen in their teams performance hopefully with a win against Everton.

United have not won at Goodison Park in their last three visits conceding two late goals to lose 3-1 in Feburary 2010 and two more to draw 3-3 last season.

After the City loss United have already beaten Aldershot with 3 goals though a Premier League win is the concern for Sir Alex.

United have Cleverly and Vidic back in the team which is a plus point for Sir Alex and he might put them on the field against Everton as Park feels Goodison is an ideal place for United to show their winning character.

“We have to concentrate and everyone has to turn up to show the City game has not affected us. We have to get over that,” Park said.

“We have to put it right on the pitch and we have to prove it. It’s a very important game to us and we have to go there and fight to get the points.

“It’s not an easy game at Goodison Park, it’s always difficult there. Just look at last season, when we were winning 3-1 and in injury-time they scored two goals.

“As a team we have to fight, not just individually, so we can stop them as a team. Then we have to think about our attacking side as well as our defence.”

“It’s all about recovering for Saturday now. No matter how disappointed we are, we have to recover and turn the page for United.”

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England not my priority - Smalling

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is keen to play at both London Olympics and Euro 2012 next year but he insists that he is only focused to perform for the Red Devils.


"I have to say that England is not my first target at the moment and neither are the Olympics," Smalling told the Manchester Evening News. "United is what I am thinking about. But towards the end of the season I will be looking towards that and hopefully I might get into the England squad.


"Obviously I'd love to go there [Euro 2012]. There is also the Olympics as well. A lot of the lads who went to the Under-21 Championships last summer will be able to play in it. Whether it is the Euros, the Olympics, or both - you would like to be involved because these opportunities do not come around too often."


"Everybody's career is not plain sailing," he said. "I have been very much enjoying how it has gone over the last couple of years and hopefully it will stay on course. But I will be ready if there is a setback and I will work hard.

"When I was younger I stopped playing for a professional club after being at Millwall's academy. I was at school and I thought the chance in the pro game might not come again.

"But I was always going to give it a go and keep at it and worked hard. I never gave up and the reminder of that will always help me in the future.

"That will be the same response if I get a setback in the professional game. I learned from that. You cannot take anything for granted."

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Loss, Boss and the Transfer Window

Sir Alex Ferguson

After United have suffered the 1-6 defeat, Sir Alex looks to cover the loss with some spendings in the transfer window.

 United look to step up their scout operations after it was reported that the Champions had sent scouts to take in the Napoli Vs Udinise clash. It was not so clear whom United's scout were watching though "The Red Devils" have been linked with many of Napoli's players boasting the likes of 'Hamsik', 'Cavani' and 'Lavezzi'.

United look to build up their Mid-field and some parts of their defence in this January Transfer Window. United's Cleverly is now back in the squad and this could be a positive point for Sir Alex as he looks to choose his partner on the field.

"Sneijder", "Sneijder" and "Sneijder" the saga continues and "it will be intresting who boss picks this January to cover up the loss."

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10 Red Devils With A Win

Wayne Rooney's two penalties in the second half helped the still unbeaten United to claim their first win of this season’s Champions League campaign. The match had no much of life in the first half of the play. The home team was very resolute to give anything away to united to have their first triumph.

United failed to penetrate through the rigid defence of the Galati lads as they struggle to put the ball behind the net, even though the reds had most of the ball possessions. United had the control over the match but not really dominated as most of the devils' fan had thought.

Otelul were tireless in their efforts though, and with little in the way of movement from the likes of Rooney, Hernandez, Nani and Valencia, Anderson and Carrick found themselves short of options going forward, with little space to run into in front of them.

The wingers Nani and Valencia had not much of the answers when the opponent stood upto them. The central midfielder's did fantastic job for united to win the ball back. Especially, Carrick once again shone on the Champions League match intercepting the Otelul opportunities and making it hard for the home team to have a lead.

Otelul kept Lindegaard busy testing him in a couples of occasions. The home team could not take advantage of half chances due to some sloppy play at the back.

United looked more threatening in the other half of the play when they seemed to have more ball possessions and were getting the ball higher up the pitch. With no hope of winning the Romanian team were tackling harshly and the booking roused from the 50th minute, with Cornel Rapa being first to go into the book followed by his mates Perendija, Neagu and eventually club captain Costi.

The pressure built by United resulted in the 64th minute. Wayne Rooney drove forward with the ball, and with Hernandez alone in the box, for what would have been an easy finish. Otelul’s captain, Sergiu Costin, blocked the pass with his hand, which the referee correctly awarded a penalty for. Wayne Rooney dispatched the penalty with ease, tucking the ball into the right side of the goal. United were on a lead. But their celebration did not last more than a minute when Nemanja Vidic was sent off. The harsh dismissal of captain Nemanja Vidic for a bookable foul on Gabriel Giurgiu — balanced out by referee Felix Brych’s equally bizarre decision to dismiss Milan Perendija for an 89th minute foul on Javier Hernandez — denied United a comfortable end to a below-par performance.

United lead was doubled by Rooney in stoppage time by the second penalty awarded the night to United, taken both by Rooney when he was fouled by Galati defender. Rooney sent the ball to kiss the net for the secong time in the night to seal a frustrating win for United.

With his two goals, Rooney overtake Paul Scholes as the highest-scoring Englishman in Champions League history with 26 goals. But it will be a hard toil for United to keep off theie nieghbour, Man City this weekend.

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19th Home Win For United

The 19 times Premier League title winner, Manchester United completed a club record 19th successive home league win in the Premier League grabbing the top spot with 19 points with an unconvincing 2-0 triumph over very rock solid Norwich at Old Trafford.

The visitors played really well to make it hard to The Red Devils for the first 20 minutes of the play. United had toiled for a goal due to some good defence tactics from Norwich.

The first 45 minutes were the time of ordinary match display from United whereas the visitors were on top with ball possession and solid defending. United passes were not spot on as it were used to be. They were rather clumsy in the ground with ball. The first half of the match was not as excited as the home crowd had wanted it to be.

United survived two gilt-edged Norwich chances immediately after the break. Jones has already caught the eye this season but the 19-year-old needed to show maturity way beyond his years after Morison had given Evans the slip. Knowing Pilkington was completely on his own behind him, the teenager held his ground, denying an early cross, before lunging in on Morison and coming away with the ball.

United's good fortunate was seemingly inexhaustible. When Pilkington seized on Antonio Valencia's miscontrol, the striker was left with only Lindegaard to beat. But amazingly rolled his shot wide of the far post, missing the golden opportunity to lead the match.

The match was about to go away from Norwich when Giggs came into the field as a substitute. The legendary Ryan Giggs floated over a corner, which was met by Jones and flicked on by Rooney, to Anderson, who powered home a header from close range. And United took the lead.

Still the faith of the visitors was not down even though they were a goal down at the Old Trafford.

But the luck was not in the favour of Norwich as Pilkington's shot deflected off Anderson, onto the post and back into the grateful arms of Lindegaard, who had been helpless.

Welbeck, then scored his third goal in the week with a slide passed by tactful and selfish Park to seal the victory for the night.

But yet the victory was not well convincing as United had many flaws in the match. Norwich played their heart out but were unlucky to miss good chances to stop the unbeaten triumph of United.

It was the 19th straight home league win for the 19 times League winner.

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