Monday, November 1, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Reds face Hammers
United will play away at West Ham in the Carling Cup quarter-finals.
Following Saturday's draw, the cup holders will travel to Upton Park the week commencing 29 November.
It'll be only the second meeting between the two sides in the League Cup. The first and only clash took place in October 1985 with United running out 1-0 winners at Old Trafford.
This season, victories away at Scunthorpe United in round three and at home to Wolves last Tuesday have ensured United's progression to the last eight.
After coming from behind to thump Scunthorpe 5-2 at Glanford Park, the Reds had Javier Hernandez to thank against Mick McCarthy's men last Tuesday after he struck a last-minute winner following a battling display from Wolves at Old Trafford.
Elsewhere in the draw, Arsenal will host Wigan, Aston Villa travel to Birmingham and Ipswich entertain West Brom.
Following Saturday's draw, the cup holders will travel to Upton Park the week commencing 29 November.
It'll be only the second meeting between the two sides in the League Cup. The first and only clash took place in October 1985 with United running out 1-0 winners at Old Trafford.
This season, victories away at Scunthorpe United in round three and at home to Wolves last Tuesday have ensured United's progression to the last eight.
After coming from behind to thump Scunthorpe 5-2 at Glanford Park, the Reds had Javier Hernandez to thank against Mick McCarthy's men last Tuesday after he struck a last-minute winner following a battling display from Wolves at Old Trafford.
Elsewhere in the draw, Arsenal will host Wigan, Aston Villa travel to Birmingham and Ipswich entertain West Brom.
Carling Cup draw
Quarter-finals
Arsenal v Wigan
Birmingham v Aston Villa
West Ham v United
Ipswich v West Brom
Ties to be played week commencing 29 November.
Arsenal v Wigan
Birmingham v Aston Villa
West Ham v United
Ipswich v West Brom
Ties to be played week commencing 29 November.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Squad sheets: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United are the only unbeaten side in the division but are five points behind Chelsea, largely because Sir Alex Ferguson's team have already drawn more games than in the whole of last season. Tottenham have gone 25 games without beating United in all competitions, their last victory at Old Trafford all the way back in 1989, a 1-0 win courtesy of Gary Lineker. Wayne Rooney will be absent again for the home side but that is not as significant a setback as it would have been this time last year and the biggest threat to Spurs may be Javier Hernández, with three goals in the last week. Daniel Taylor
Venue Old Trafford, Saturday 5.30pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season Manchester Utd 3 Tottenham 1
Venue Old Trafford, Saturday 5.30pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season Manchester Utd 3 Tottenham 1
Friday, October 29, 2010
Carrick: We've got positive vibes
United have come through a turbulent start to 2010/11 that included worrying dropped away points and a crisis over the future of the team’s star player. With both matters seemingly resolved, midfielder Michael Carrick says there is left behind a positive feeling that the team can get on with challenging for honours.
The Reds have won three games in a row and, even when Stoke City equalised at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday, looked like a team galvanised with intent, determined to take all three points.
“We need to focus on putting a good run together,” Carrick told. “But you can’t look too far ahead and start planning how your run will pan out. We’ve got a huge game against Spurs and we’re focused on that first, but around the camp the atmosphere is bubbly and the lads are happy. It’s a really positive vibe at the moment. Hopefully that carries us through.
“The games come thick and fast now, and thankfully we’re in the cups and fighting in the league. The challenge is there for us to stick together and really mount a challenge. That’s what we’re focused on. The games we’ve drawn, we feel like we’ve thrown them away. But we’re still unbeaten, which gives you confidence, and we’ve got three wins in a row.”
Carrick faces former club Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday tea-time, but he's taking no comfort in United’s unbeaten home record against Spurs in the Premier League. “Records like that won’t affect the game,” he says. “If we’ve had a bad time somewhere, we go into it as a fresh game. It’s all new. We need to be on our guard because it’s a big test. They’re playing well and have had some great results. They’ve got such a strong squad that it’s going to be a challenge. But we rise to challenges, hopefully we do that again.”
The Reds have won three games in a row and, even when Stoke City equalised at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday, looked like a team galvanised with intent, determined to take all three points.
“We need to focus on putting a good run together,” Carrick told. “But you can’t look too far ahead and start planning how your run will pan out. We’ve got a huge game against Spurs and we’re focused on that first, but around the camp the atmosphere is bubbly and the lads are happy. It’s a really positive vibe at the moment. Hopefully that carries us through.
“The games come thick and fast now, and thankfully we’re in the cups and fighting in the league. The challenge is there for us to stick together and really mount a challenge. That’s what we’re focused on. The games we’ve drawn, we feel like we’ve thrown them away. But we’re still unbeaten, which gives you confidence, and we’ve got three wins in a row.”
Carrick faces former club Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday tea-time, but he's taking no comfort in United’s unbeaten home record against Spurs in the Premier League. “Records like that won’t affect the game,” he says. “If we’ve had a bad time somewhere, we go into it as a fresh game. It’s all new. We need to be on our guard because it’s a big test. They’re playing well and have had some great results. They’ve got such a strong squad that it’s going to be a challenge. But we rise to challenges, hopefully we do that again.”
Hernandez eases the burden
United are without two experienced front men for Tottenham's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday as Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen face extended spells on the sidelines. But the form of Dimitar Berbatov and emergence of Javier Hernandez as a ready-made Red means United are in good shape.
Chicharito has six goals this season, including four in his last four games and two winners in the last two matches. “We’re all pleased with him,” says Sir Alex. “Everyone at the club is excited about him. He has the right desires, trains well and is very receptive to coaching. He looks after himself, and he’s got good pedigree, everything's in his favour.”
That’s some endorsement. But Sir Alex isn’t completely surprised by how quickly Hernandez has settled since swapping Mexico for Manchester. “We’re not surprised - we identified a lot about him before we signed him. We did a lot of work on him. Seeing him in pre-season and in training, we thought he'd do well and he has.
"You never know with a young boy coming from Mexico because it’s a different culture. But he speaks the language and that’s important. His winning goal on Tuesday demonstrated again that he’s a very good finisher."
It’s not just Hernandez that has instigated a turnaround in fortunes for United, now with three straight wins. “The players are focused,” explains the boss. “It was a great result at Stoke. Everyone knows how difficult it is there. It was good coming back from losing a goal. Given our record this season, it could have been a killer. But it galvanised the players and we played our best football after that. The fans were brilliant too. It was a big lift for everyone.”
Chicharito has six goals this season, including four in his last four games and two winners in the last two matches. “We’re all pleased with him,” says Sir Alex. “Everyone at the club is excited about him. He has the right desires, trains well and is very receptive to coaching. He looks after himself, and he’s got good pedigree, everything's in his favour.”
That’s some endorsement. But Sir Alex isn’t completely surprised by how quickly Hernandez has settled since swapping Mexico for Manchester. “We’re not surprised - we identified a lot about him before we signed him. We did a lot of work on him. Seeing him in pre-season and in training, we thought he'd do well and he has.
"You never know with a young boy coming from Mexico because it’s a different culture. But he speaks the language and that’s important. His winning goal on Tuesday demonstrated again that he’s a very good finisher."
It’s not just Hernandez that has instigated a turnaround in fortunes for United, now with three straight wins. “The players are focused,” explains the boss. “It was a great result at Stoke. Everyone knows how difficult it is there. It was good coming back from losing a goal. Given our record this season, it could have been a killer. But it galvanised the players and we played our best football after that. The fans were brilliant too. It was a big lift for everyone.”
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Brown backs Reds rookies
Ravel Morrison may not have touched the ball but taking to the field was still a feat to behold, according to his captain on the night Wes Brown.
The 17 year-old attacking midfielder replaced Ji-sung Park in injury time, just in time to make his debut as the Reds played out the final moments of the Carling Cup win over Wolves.
"Ravel’s a great player," enthused Brown.
"He’s been training with us, on and off, since the start of the season. I think the gaffer really likes him, he’s very talented and he’ll obviously be delighted to have come on, even if it was for just a couple of minutes and he didn’t touch the ball. He’s a good lad and hopefully he can keep on progressing."
It was also a big night for Bebe - the 20 year-old Portuguese plundered his first goal on the occasion of his first senior start for the Reds.
"Coming to Manchester United is a very different experience for Bebe," said Wes. "But he’s settled in well and he’s training well. Games like this will really help him. He's shown a little bit of what he can do and we know he’s capable of a lot more."
The close-fought victory over Wolves was testament not only to the talent of the young players, believes Brown, but also to the staying power of the entire side, including elder statesmen like his good self.
“I think I was the oldest player in the team by a good few years so I got the armband tonight," said
The 17 year-old attacking midfielder replaced Ji-sung Park in injury time, just in time to make his debut as the Reds played out the final moments of the Carling Cup win over Wolves.
"Ravel’s a great player," enthused Brown.
"He’s been training with us, on and off, since the start of the season. I think the gaffer really likes him, he’s very talented and he’ll obviously be delighted to have come on, even if it was for just a couple of minutes and he didn’t touch the ball. He’s a good lad and hopefully he can keep on progressing."
It was also a big night for Bebe - the 20 year-old Portuguese plundered his first goal on the occasion of his first senior start for the Reds.
"Coming to Manchester United is a very different experience for Bebe," said Wes. "But he’s settled in well and he’s training well. Games like this will really help him. He's shown a little bit of what he can do and we know he’s capable of a lot more."
The close-fought victory over Wolves was testament not only to the talent of the young players, believes Brown, but also to the staying power of the entire side, including elder statesmen like his good self.
“I think I was the oldest player in the team by a good few years so I got the armband tonight," said
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