Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[qbdp]

Warnock slams Sir Alex after Blades are relegated

Bitter Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock took a swipe at Sir Alex Ferguson after his team were relegated on the final day of the season following a 2-1 home defeat by Wigan.

West Ham survived, beating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, where Ferguson left Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes on the bench and consigned former Hammer Rio Ferdinand to the stands.

An angry Warnock said: 'I thought Sir Alex would play a stronger team today and to see him celebrating on the pitch [after being presented with the Premiership trophy] leaves a bitter taste.

'You can blame everyone really can't you? What goes around comes around. I'm looking forward to the [FA] Cup final and the Champions League final.'

That seemed to be a reference to the full-strength teams Warnock expects United and Liverpool to turn out in those matches, Liverpool having turned out a weakened side at Fulham who won 1-0 to clinch safety.

Warnock then turned on referee Rob Styles, who denied the Blades a penalty at Old Trafford in April - Warnock's team lost 2-0 - and also gave Liverpool a controversial penalty against United at Bramall Lane, denying them an opening-day victory.

'There were two penalties from Rob Styles this season but he won't be bothered tonight. He won't be hurt. There were some other decisions, the commission [ruling that West Ham would be fined and not docked points over the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano].

'It's easier for Sheffield United to be relegated than West Ham... it will be fish and chip paper by Tuesday.'

Warnock added: 'A lot [of people] will be quite happy at the club being relegated. We couldn't climb the final hurdle. It's a horrible time, you feel sick in the stomach.

'You feel very bitter. It seems to be one thing after. It's very difficult at this moment.'

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If his team had beaten Wigan last night and still got relegated then everyone can understand his anger. But they cant even beat Wigan and yet he dare to kpkb. Another newly recruited VIP member of Club Mourinho.

[imom]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Warnock slams Sir Alex after Blades are relegated

Bitter Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock took a swipe at Sir Alex Ferguson after his team were relegated on the final day of the season following a 2-1 home defeat by Wigan.
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...Another newly recruited VIP member of Club Mourinho....

Sheff Utd only had to DRAW, not even win, to avoid relegation. Playing on HOME GROUND. It was all in their own hands and they did not need other results to go their way. They had the easiest job of the three who were in danger of being relegated.

Sour puss. I'm glad he failed. Kick his arse down to the Championship. Perhaps League 1 by next year.

Kudos to West Ham for doing the league double over MU this season. Curbs is good.

[yinyang]

Originally Posted by imom

Sheff Utd only had to DRAW, not even win, to avoid relegation. Playing on HOME GROUND. It was all in their own hands and they did not need other results to go their way. They had the easiest job of the three who were in danger of being relegated. Sour puss. ..Kick his arse down to the Championship. Perhaps League 1 by next year. Kudos to West Ham for doing the league double over MU this season.

Lame excuse.. knn, what about his injustice to hammers who ran their guts out? No eyes see our triple substitution with Ron, Giggsy and overwhelming missed goal shots after meh?

[qbdp]

Stat's all folks! 2007 reviewed



DID you know?

THERE were only 931 goals in 2006-07, fewer than in any other Premiership season.

ARSENAL were awarded 12 penalties, more than any other side. They scored 10 of them.

WEST HAM got just two penalties, a Premiership low.

BLACKBURN conceded 11 spot-kicks, more than any other side.

LIVERPOOL gave away only one penalty, the division’s lowest, and were the only side not to have a player sent off. (Yet their fans dared to poke their noses into Utd not conceding penalties)

JOSEPH YOBO, Richard Dunne, Ivar Ingimarsson and Phil Jagielka were the only outfielders to play every minute of this season.

MARCUS HAHNEMANN made 164 saves for Reading, more than any other keeper.

ARSENAL’S Jens Lehmann was booked eight times and dropped more balls than any other keeper, 11.

PEPE REINA kept a Premiership high of 19 clean sheets for Liverpool.

ARSENAL scored the most goals in the last 15 minutes, 21.

CHELSEA let in only one goal in the opening 15 minutes of games.

JERMAIN DEFOE of Spurs conceded nine handballs, more than any other player.

ASTON VILLA started and ended the season with a nine- game unbeaten run.

READING got the biggest win, 6-0 against West Ham.

WEST HAM’S 109 substitutions was a high.

MANCHESTER CITY scored only 10 goals at home, a new record low in the top division.

TOTTENHAM conceded goals to players from 24 different nations, more than any other.

BOLTON hit fewer shots than any other side, 296.

MANCHESTER UNITED were denied by the woodwork more than any other team – 19 times. (wow...enough chances to win another 10 games)

NO ONE hit the woodwork more than Sheffield United’s Rob Hulse — seven times. (Wonder if Warnock blamed him as well?)

CESC FABREGAS and Wayne Rooney were the top creators, both ending with 11 assists. (Both youngsters have done well.)

THERE were only three hat-tricks and just one (Peter Crouch v Arsenal) came in 2007.

BOLTON scored eight goals from indirect free-kicks.

WEST HAM conceded 11 goals from corners.

CHELSEA highs were six goals direct from free-kicks, 16 headed goals and midfielder Frank Lampard’s seven long-range goals.

MICHAEL BROWN (Fulham) and Kevin Davies (Bolton) both conceded 91 fouls, a league high.

EVERTON’S Mikel Arteta was fouled the most, 102 times.

SPURS were caught offside 149 times but Blackburn’s Benni McCarthy was the player caught offside most (64).

READING received the least yellow cards (38).

WIGAN scored 15 second-half goals, no team bagged fewer.

SPURS conceded the most long-range goals (14).

DIDIER DROGBA’S 20 goals prevented 2006-07 being the first year since 1999 when no player reached that mark.

CRISTIANO RONALDO hit the most shots — 145. (Bobo shooter! )

BLACKBURN’S Morten Gamst Pedersen scored the most direct free-kick goals — three.

FULHAM and Manchester United scored 10 goals from corners.

WEST HAM skipper Nigel Reo-Coker was booked 13 times.

RICARDO VAZ TE of Bolton was the most used sub, 23 times.

KANU (Portsmouth) was taken off the most times, 22.

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Soccer-Manchester United penpix for FA Cup final

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) - Penpix of Manchester United players ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final with Chelsea:

GOALKEEPERS

1-EDWIN VAN DER SAR, Age 36. Former Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus and Fulham goalkeeper who is also the Netherlands' most capped player with 119 appearances. Joined United from Fulham in May 2005 for 2 million pounds ($3.96 million) and has had a fine season, although his form wavered slightly in the later stages of the campaign.

29-TOMASZ KUSZCZAK, 25. Polish international and competent reserve for Van der Sar. His performances this season have mainly been restricted to League Cup and FA Cup matches.

DEFENDERS

5-RIO FERDINAND, 28. Has re-established himself as a top-class defender since his eight-month ban in 2004 imposed for missing a drugs test. That cost him a place in the team that won the FA Cup in 2004 so he will be even more delighted to get his hands on a winners' medal on Saturday. Signed from Leeds for an English record fee of 30.0 million pounds in 2002.

6-WES BROWN, 27. His career has been curtailed by a series of injuries, but he is a dependable centre-back or right-back who has played in the majority of United's matches this season. Has also won 10 England caps. Joined United, his only club, in 1996 and was in the 2004 Cup winning team against Millwall.

15-NEMANJA VIDIC, 25. Has progressed hugely during this, his second season at United after joining the club from Spartak Moscow in January 2006. The Serbian centre-back is a physically tough defender who imposes himself on opponents. Injury kept him out of last year's World Cup in Germany.

3-PATRICE EVRA, 26. The Senegal-born French international was vying with Gabriel Heinze for the left-back position for much of the season until the Argentine took possession of it after recovering from injury.

4-GABRIEL HEINZE, 29. One of the finest left-backs in the world game, has a German father and an Italian mother but is an Argentine international with an Olympic soccer gold medal in his possession. A knee injury cost him a place in the Cup final against Arsenal two years ago and a later injury meant he was out for an entire year from September 2005. Now back to his best but might find himself starting on the bench on Saturday with Evra in the starting line-up.

MIDFIELDERS

22-JOHN O'SHEA, 26. Can play in either defence or midfield and is particularly dangerous when he moves forward on set-pieces. Scored the only goal to secure a crucial last-minute 1-0 win at Liverpool in March to keep the title in United's sights and is a reliable member of the squad.

16-MICHAEL CARRICK, 25. Cost United 18.6 million pounds when they signed him from Tottenham Hotspur last year and after taking time to settle down at Old Trafford, he has been in outstanding form recently, scoring two particularly fine goals in United's 7-1 Champions League rout of AS Roma last month.

18-PAUL SCHOLES, 32. Has been at United for his entire career after graduating from the youth academy and has previously won the FA Cup with United in 1999 and 2004. An eye problem caused him to miss the second half of last season, but he has been outstanding this season and is still one of the best creative midfielders in the game.

7-CRISTIANO RONALDO, 22. The Portuguese winger has had a memorable season after being widely vilified in England for the role he played in Wayne Rooney's sending-off in the World Cup against Portugal last year. His electrifying displays and 23 goals earnt him the rare joint accolade of being named the Players' Player of the Year and the Footballer of the Year in the same season.

11-RYAN GIGGS, 33. Will become the joint-most decorated player in the history of English football if United win on Saturday. The Welsh winger has won 16 major honours with United, and can equal the 17-major medal haul of Liverpool's Phil Neal with another FA Cup winners' medal, of which he already has four. The only survivor of the 1994 final between United and Chelsea, he could well break Bobby Charlton's all-time appearance record for United in the next 18 months.

24-DARREN FLETCHER, 23. The Scot has impressed with a series of industrious midfield displays this season and despite not being among the star names at Old Trafford has already played in the Cup finals of 2004 and 2005. Has had his best season at the club with 39 appearances in all competitions.

FORWARDS

8-WAYNE ROONEY, 21. After a miserable 2006 which saw him injured against Chelsea and then sent off in the World Cup, Rooney has had a good season with 23 goals in all competitions. Usually does well on the big occasion and likely to give the Chelsea defence plenty to worry about.

14-ALAN SMITH, 26. Now fit again after missing virtually a year of his playing career with serious leg and ankle injuries. His natural position is as a striker but he is also an outstanding midfielder with a tenacity reminiscent of former United skipper Roy Keane. Likely to start up front with Rooney.

20-OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, 34. Another United player whose career was blighted by injury. After playing for United in the 2004 final against Millwall he did not play regularly again until the start of this season. The "baby-faced assassin" is sure of his place in United's folklore for ever after scoring the winning goal in the dying seconds of the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

[Theme1]

SOC: Chelsea seek to salvage Cup from wreck of quadruple dream
SOCCER By Chris Lines

LONDON, AAP - A month ago, the FA Cup final was set to be part two of an epic conclusion to the English football season, fought out between the established power of Manchester United and the nouveau riche Chelsea.

The pair were neck and neck in the race for the Premier League title, were only one tie away from facing each other in the Champions League final, and their FA Cup final clash was already scheduled.

At Chelsea the FA Cup was third priority, but an integral part of a shot at history.

No English club has ever won the quadruple of Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in one season.

In fact, only United has won the treble (Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup), in its epic 1998-99 season.

With the League Cup already in the trophy cabinet, history beckoned for Chelsea, but reality bit.

The west London club stumbled to draws against Newcastle and Bolton to hand the Premier League title to United and then nemesis Liverpool beat them in the Champions League semi-final.

So now the FA Cup is the most Chelsea can hope for.

Time was, not so long ago, that an FA Cup and League Cup double would constitute a good season for Chelsea, but now in the era of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, it barely gets a pass mark.

The raised expectations of the Abramovich era explain why such a pall has hung over Stamford Bridge this season.

The campaign began with the usual promise of big-money signings, this time Andrii Shevchenko - one of the all-time great strikers - and German captain Michael Ballack.

Signings like that, added to a team coming off successive Premier League crowns, meant a third straight was in the offing and the continental polish looked sure to boost chances of winning that elusive Champions League crown.

But beneath the surface, all was not well.

Talk emerged that the two banner signings, particularly Shevchenko, were made at the behest of Abramovich rather than charismatic manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho's success, firstly at Porto then at Chelsea, had been largely due to tight squads, fanatical dedication to one another, producing cohesion on the pitch.

Being forced to accommodate players he did not intend having corrupted that esprit de corps, and on top of that the team has had to cope all season with defensive injuries.

Rumours raged that a peeved Mourinho would quit Chelsea at season's end, with Real Madrid - always the scapegoat for anyone trying to push up his price - mooted as his destination.

Somehow against this backdrop, with Shevchenko misfiring, Ballack less than astounding, talisman Frank Lampard inconsistent, and their most forceful midfielder Michael Essien constantly deputising in defence, Chelsea remained a contender to the death.

Now perhaps, without the injured Shevchenko and Ballack, Chelsea can belatedly rediscover its all-for-one mojo and win the FA Cup.

But to do so, they must beat a United side that is a rightful Premier League champion after a season that is a study in contrast to Chelsea's difficulties.

The biggest change at Old Trafford in the pre-season was not an arrival, but a departure as goal machine Ruud van Nistelrooy was sold to Real Madrid.

The Dutchman has a formidable strike rate, but became an unsettled dressing room presence and the latest player to discover that falling out with manager Alex Ferguson can lead to the exit door.

With that problem solved, a new headache arrived out of nowhere during the World Cup quarter-final between Portugal and England when United's Cristiano Ronaldo beseeched the referee to send off his United teammate and England striker Wayne Rooney.

His pleas were met, a furious Rooney dispatched, and Ronaldo memorably acknowledged his role in the red card with a cheeky wink to his bench.

English tabloids all but called for Ronaldo's scalp on a pole, and were convinced that he and Rooney would never be reconciled and a crisis was visited upon Old Trafford.

It is in situations like this that a manager earns his corn, and the 65-year-old Ferguson called upon his oceans of experience to heal the rift before it opened.

His management nous has been rewarded in spades, with Ronaldo a unanimous choice as player of the season in England, and Rooney overcoming a slow start to return to his inspiring best.

How those two perform, and the plans Chelsea has to negate their influence, will be a key to a final where star names and appetising battles will be spread across the pitch.

United's attacking threat is also posed by Ryan Giggs - who has now won as many championships as any player in English history - and the canny Paul Scholes.

For Chelsea, much will hinge on burly striker Didier Drogba, who was only just behind Ronaldo in player of the year stakes, while the fit again Joe Cole demands close marking.

And the appeal of the match will not just be on the pitch but off, as the final belatedly returns to its spiritual home of Wembley Stadium, whose painfully long redevelopment is finally over.

Some nay-sayers claim the FA Cup has lost its sheen of late as European competition grows exponentially in status and public interest, while others say it has become too predictable, dominated by the giant clubs.

This year's final will only add to the evidence for that latter argument, but when the anthem sounds, when the first whistle goes, the atmosphere and appeal of this year's final will be as grand as any.

[chickenzip]

Originally Posted by MelbSJ

do u guys think we really need him? as in...carrick is already doing a good job,

hi bro...IMO, SAF wanted to sign Owen Hargreaves as a long term replacement for Scholes...like Giggs, with age catching up, Scholes is going to have fewer and fewer matches soon. Next season would be a good time for the arrival of hargreaves, sharing some match time and work loads with Scholes...and learning from him too.

[imom]

Originally Posted by MelbSJ

...Hargraves will complete his move to MU this summer...

do u guys think we really need him? as in...carrick is already doing a good job....

Originally Posted by chickenzip

hi bro...IMO, SAF wanted to sign Owen Hargreaves as a long term replacement for Scholes...

IMO, Hargreaves and Carrick can and will play together in future.

Although Carrick can do the same defensive midfield job as Hargreaves, he is a lot more creative going forward and he's more likely to succeed Scholes in that respect. We have already seen his assists and quite stunning goals when he is allowed to go forward in attack.

Hargreaves on the other hand, is at his best playing that defensive midfield role. But, I must admit I haven't seen Hargreaves play as often as I've seen Carrick, so the jury's still not quite completely in on Hargreave's creativity in attack.

Anyhow, I just feel that they would compliment each other more than compete with each other for the same midefield spot. That Carrick can do the same job is a bonus - when injuries strike!

[epsilon]

Fergie's veterans verdict
Tue, May 15 2007 09:42


Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs can stay at the top with Manchester United for another two years, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The veteran duo have been integral to the club's 16th Premiership title, Giggs' ninth and Scholes' seventh, and have been backed to carry on - to potentially set more club records.

Giggs is now just 44 matches behind Sir Bobby Charlton's Manchester United appearance total of 759 - a record that many thought would never be beaten.

"I think Ryan without question will play for the next two years, because of the way he's looked after himself, the type of physique he's got, he's retained most of his pace," said Ferguson.

"Scholes is another, I've got no worries about getting another two years out of them."

Meanwhile, Gary Neville has been told he can stay at United for another four seasons.

The United boss said: "Nev - his age, he's a defender, should be able to play through until he's 36."

[epsilon]

Ronaldo's respect for peers reciprocated
Tue, May 15 2007 09:26

Cristiano Ronaldo was voted Manchester United's Player of the Year by the fans and then again by his team-mates on Monday night.

The Portuguese star picked up the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award at the end-of-season awards dinner at Old Trafford after a fan poll of over 100,000 Reds.

Ronaldo, looking at the Sir Matt Busby award, joked: "That's bigger than Patrice [Evra]". He added that this season had been "a pleasure playing at this club and with these great players".

His team-mates echoed that sentiment by awarding him their accolade for Players' Player of the Season.

Paul Scholes took the Goal of the Season award for his stunning 30-yard volley against Aston Villa.

Defender Kieran Lee was named Reserves Player of the Year, while youth team captain Craig Cathcart received the Academy Player of the Year award.

[epsilon]

Ferguson blasts back
Mon, May 14 2007 10:14

Sir Alex Ferguson has defended his choice of team for United's 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham that helped relegate Sheffield United.

Blades boss Neil Warnock has blasted Ferguson for, in his view, fielding a weaker side in the 1-0 defeat against the Hammers at Old Trafford.

But Ferguson hit back and insists his side's first-half display should have saw them go in front at the break.

"I feel for Sheffield United but we did our best and I don't think anyone can criticise us," Ferguson said afterwards.

"We had 25 strikes at goal, four shots off the line and a penalty turned down. When Neil Warnock sees the stats he will understand we were unlucky."

"West Ham have been in championship form," he added. "They were the team in the best form coming into these fixtures.

"Whether West Ham should be in the league is not for me to say but their keeper made a couple of fantastic saves at the end and we did all we could.

Ferguson was pleased with his side's first-half showing and said: "The first half was a one-horse race, then they scored right at the end of it, which was disappointing for us but they got encouragement from it.

"We had our best team on the field at the end but we won the title last week and it is understandable that it took the edge off our game a little bit, so in that sense it was a good time for West Ham to play us."

[epsilon]

Giggs the great to skipper Reds

Twenty years ago Sir Alex Ferguson eyed a 13-year-old spindly young winger rampaging down the left flank and knew one thing for certain: this boy was going to make it.

Two decades on and Ryan Giggs, the player Sir Alex was so adamant would live up to his expectations, will lead United out at Wembley, eyeing a fifth FA Cup winners’ medal, which would equal the record set by Arthur Kinnaird, a principal of the Football Association and a leading footballer in the late 1800s.

"With Gary unavailable, Ryan will be captain," confirmed the boss. "And it completes a marvellous season for the lad.”

It certainly does. An English league record ninth title success came in a season where Giggs ticked over the 700 appearances mark. After Saturday, he will be just 45 matches off beating Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time club appearances record.

Sir Alex often describes signing a young Giggs as his first major coup as manager at Old Trafford, ensuring he did not go to local rivals Manchester City.

“We pay particular attention to local talent,” said the Scot. “And you hope that when you run a youth programme you are going to produce players that play for a long time in the first-team and be successful.

“When Ryan came to us as a 13-year-old lad, he’s the only player we’ve ever had that I knew was a certainty to make it, even at 13. I said to Bobby Charlton, ‘you need to come and see this kid play’.

"All our opinions were absolutely correct. It’s very difficult to see a 13-year-old boy and say he is a certainty to make, very difficult. I’ve never said it since, but he is the one player I did say it about.

"The contribution he has made to us since... it's an amazing thing that he carries on looking after himself and his fitness,” said Sir Alex. “Hopefully he has a very successful day on Saturday. But it doesn’t matter if you’re equalling someone else’s record, if you get five winners’ medals then that is brilliant.”

“He stands high [in the list of United legend], regardless of what happens on Saturday. The number of games he has played alone says that. For the last 15 or 16 years he has been going up and down that wing, and there is no player who has done that in the Premiership. It’s unbelievable.”

And the boss believes Giggs will be a vital figure in helping guide the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano to even more success at the club in years to come.

“Players like Wayne and Cristiano are influenced by what he has achieved,” he said. “There is no doubt that, in a quiet way as he often does, he will give advice to all the players - the right advice as well.”

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by MelbSJ

Fergie fed-up as Saha injured for Man Utd's awards night!
tribalfooball.com - May 15, 2007

Saha was at Old Trafford on Sunday to collect his Premiership winner's medal but he later submitted a doctor's note explaining that he was unable to drive and would therefore not attend the club dinner. Although he was given permission to stay at home, it is felt by some inside the club that he could have made it.

Yes, club doctor confirmed Saha aggravated his knee injury while hoisting the EPL trophy on Sunday.

[qbdp]

United Awards 2006/07


Players' Player of the Season Award


Sir Matt Busby Fans Player of the Season Award

[Theme1]

10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE FA CUP FINAL
PAUL MALARSKI

1 Manchester United will be appearing in a record 18th final having won a record 11 times and lost six. Arsenal has played in 17 finals for 10 wins and seven losses. Manchester United and Chelsea have met just once in the FA Cup final - in 1993 when the Reds triumphed 4-0.

This will be Chelsea's eighth FA Cup final appearance. They have won three and lost four.

2 The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world, beginning in 1871-72.

3 Only four Australians have played in an FA Cup final. Joe Marston was on the Preston North End team that went down 2-3 to West Bromwich Albion in 1954, Craig Johnston scored in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Everton in 1986, Tim Cahill played in Millwall's 0-3 loss to Manchester United in 2004 and Harry Kewell picked up a winner's medal in Liverpool's penalty shootout win over West Ham last year.

4 Former Manchester United great and now Sunderland manager Roy Keane appeared in a record seven finals between 1991 and 2005 - six with the Red Devils and one with Nottingham

5 Liverpool striker Ian Rush scored a record five goals in his four Cup fi nal appearances, with four of the goals coming against Mersey rivals Everton in the 1986 and 1989.

Chelsea midfi elder Roberto Di Matteo holds the record for the fastest goal scored in a Cup fi nal - after just 42 seconds in the 1997 fi nal against Middlesbrough.

6Six clubs have completed the FA Cup and League double - Preston North End in 1889, Aston Villa in 1897, Tottenham Hotspur in 1961, Liverpool in 1986, Arsenal in 1971, 1998 and 2002 and Manchester United in 1994, 1996 and 1999.

Forest. He won four and lost three.

7 Manchester United teenager Norman Whiteside is the youngest player to score in a Cup final.

He was just 18 when he scored in Manchester United's 4-0 win over Brighton in the 1983 final replay.

Millwall's Curtis Weston is the youngest player to appear in an FA Cup final. He was 17 years and 119 days when he lined up for the Lions against Manchester United in 2004.

8 In the history of the competition, only eight teams playing outside the old first divison or Premier League, have won the Cup - the most recent being second division West Ham, who beat Arsenal 1-0 in 1980.

9 Saturday's match will return to the new Wembley Stadium for the first time since 2000, with the last six finals played at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.

Before that Wembley hosted every final from 1923.

10 Manchester United defender Kevin Moran was the first player to be sent off in a final when he was dismissed in Manchester's 1-0 win over Everton in 1985.

Arsenal midfielder Jose Reyes was also sent off in the 2005 final against Manchester United, in what was the first Cup final to be decided by penalties.