Arsenal trio Alex Song, Gervinho and Emmanuel Frimpong are suspended. Jack Wilshere saw a specialist on Friday but the club are still waiting for an update on his ankle injury which is expected to keep him out for three more weeks. Nicklas Bendtner is sidelined with an ankle problem and Sebastien Squillaci is also out, along with Kieran Gibbs (hamstring) and Abou Diaby (ankle). Defender Thomas Vermaelen will have a fitness test on Saturday but is expected to be fit and Laurent Koscielny came through a similar check on his back problem on Friday morning.
Midfielder Darren Fletcher will return to the squad. The Scottish international has been suffering from virus which limited him to just two appearances between March and May last season and has so far kept him out of United's side this term. Rio Ferdinand and Antonio Valencia are back in training but Nemanja Vidic will be absent for another month.
MANAGER QUOTES
Sir Alex Ferguson on Arsene Wenger's critics: "I would like to know who is going to replace him. The work he has done in the 15 years he has been at the club is the best in Arsenal's history. Yes, he has not won a trophy for six years but what does that mean? The quality of his side has not been reduced."
Arsene Wenger: "I will try to strengthen the squad in depth because at the moment we are a bit short number-wise but if we get two or three players in we have the quality to challenge. I am anxious yes because I want to do it and I try everything to do it. But I am confident as well because we have some good young players who can make a big step very quickly."
MATCH FACTS
Arsenal haven't failed to score in their opening three league games since the 1953-54 season.
Arsenal have scored just eight goals in 19 Premier League visits to Old Trafford.
Man Utd have won six and lost one of their last eight matches against Arsenal in all competitions.
Arsenal have won only four of the last 18 Premier League meetings with Man Utd.
Wayne Rooney has scored in three of his last five appearances against Arsenal and missed a penalty.
Arsenal have won just two of their last 13 Premier League matches.
Arsenal have taken 13 points from the last 13 games - the worst run under Wenger. The last time the Gunners had a worse run was in 1995.
In the last 10 games Howard Webb has officiated at Old Trafford he has awarded five penalties to Man Utd, including one in each game when Arsenal were the visitors.
United have won 21 and lost none of their last 22 Premier League matches at Old Trafford.
Arsenal have won just one of their last eight Premier League away matches, versus relegated Blackpool.
Man Utd have posted the best shooting accuracy in the Premier League so far, hitting the target with 58% of their shots.
MATCH ODDS
Man Utd 1/2, Arsenal 11/2, Draw 10/3.
- Posted using my iPhone
Friday, 26 August 2011
Friday, 12 August 2011
Squad numbers announced
Manchester United’s official Premier League squad numbers have been announced for the 2011/12 season.
The new signings – David De Gea, Ashley Young and Phil Jones – will retain the numbers they wore on the recent pre-season tour. De Gea takes Edwin van der Sar’s no.1 shirt, Ashley Young will wear Paul Scholes’ vacated no.18 jersey, while Phil Jones takes the no.4 shirt, previously occupied by Owen Hargreaves.
All other first-team members will remain the same, apart from Jonny Evans, who moves from no.23 to no.6 following Wes Brown’s departure, and Tom Cleverley, who moves into Evans’ now vacant no.23 shirt.
Full squad: (1) De Gea, (3) Evra, (4) Jones, (5) Ferdinand, (6) Evans, (7) Owen, (8) Anderson, (9) Berbatov, (10) Rooney, (11) Giggs, (12) Smalling, (13) J.S. Park, (14) Chicharito, (15) Vidic, (16) Carrick, (17) Nani, (18) Young, (19) Welbeck, (20) Fabio, (21) Rafael, (23) Cleverley, (24) Fletcher, (25) Valencia, (27) Macheda, (28) Gibson, (29) Kuszczak, (32) Diouf, (34) Lindegaard
Www.MANUTD.com
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The new signings – David De Gea, Ashley Young and Phil Jones – will retain the numbers they wore on the recent pre-season tour. De Gea takes Edwin van der Sar’s no.1 shirt, Ashley Young will wear Paul Scholes’ vacated no.18 jersey, while Phil Jones takes the no.4 shirt, previously occupied by Owen Hargreaves.
All other first-team members will remain the same, apart from Jonny Evans, who moves from no.23 to no.6 following Wes Brown’s departure, and Tom Cleverley, who moves into Evans’ now vacant no.23 shirt.
Full squad: (1) De Gea, (3) Evra, (4) Jones, (5) Ferdinand, (6) Evans, (7) Owen, (8) Anderson, (9) Berbatov, (10) Rooney, (11) Giggs, (12) Smalling, (13) J.S. Park, (14) Chicharito, (15) Vidic, (16) Carrick, (17) Nani, (18) Young, (19) Welbeck, (20) Fabio, (21) Rafael, (23) Cleverley, (24) Fletcher, (25) Valencia, (27) Macheda, (28) Gibson, (29) Kuszczak, (32) Diouf, (34) Lindegaard
Www.MANUTD.com
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Park signs new contract
Ji-sung Park has signed a new contract which will see the South Korean stay at Old Trafford until at least the end of the 2012/13 season.
Park, 30, signed from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2005. Since then, he has made 177 appearances, scoring 24 goals. He has won the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles and three League Cup winners’ medals.
Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Ji has been an important player for us for a number of years now. He has great ability and energy and in recent seasons has added the knack of scoring important goals in big games. He is a popular member of the squad and his experience at domestic and international level is invaluable for the younger players.”
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Park, 30, signed from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2005. Since then, he has made 177 appearances, scoring 24 goals. He has won the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles and three League Cup winners’ medals.
Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Ji has been an important player for us for a number of years now. He has great ability and energy and in recent seasons has added the knack of scoring important goals in big games. He is a popular member of the squad and his experience at domestic and international level is invaluable for the younger players.”
- Posted using my iPhone
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Manchester United 'huge favourites' to win Premier League
By Alan Hansen
BBC's Match of the Day football pundit
United were in impressive form against City in the Community Shield
After watching Manchester United beat Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, I would make Sir Alex Ferguson's side huge favourites for the Premier League title.
United put down a real marker at Wembley, simply because they were up against one of their biggest rivals and they just walked straight over the top of them in the second half.
It's unusual for me to take any notice of the Community Shield but this time I did. It was a real statement by United and, if you were one of the other sides with an eye on the title, you would start to worry.
It was not just about their performance, it was about who performed. Their new players, whether they are signings like Ashley Young and Phil Jones or people who have been out on loan like Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck, were all impressive.
That is where Ferguson is a fantastic manager. Success is easy, but continued success is the really hard part - it is difficult to break up a successful side and keep winning trophies but Ferguson is the master there.
Continue reading the main story
Ferguson is building another squad to be reckoned with. If United get Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan too, then it might be that everybody else can forget about the title.
From the looks of things, he is building another squad to be reckoned with. If United get Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan too, then it might be that everybody else can forget about the title.
The only part of United's team that might give the likes of City and Chelsea some encouragement is their goalkeeper. To replace Edwin van der Sar was always going to be incredibly difficult and we don't know for certain yet how David De Gea is going to fit in. He certainly doesn't measure up to Van der Sar yet.
I don't feel Paul Scholes will be missed as badly, however. He did not play a lot of games last season and he was not the force he once was. Scholes will be remembered as probably the most talented and most consistent midfield player the Premier League has ever seen, but he hadn't been at that level for the last couple of years.
Another way in which United have an advantage over their rivals is their team spirit - they have got the best dressing room in the top flight by a mile and their togetherness sets them apart.
Balotelli's attitude has been often criticised in his time at City
Look at Wayne Rooney. Everyone says he did not have a great season last time out but, regardless of how he is playing, the simple fact is that he will keep running and keep trying for you and that rubs off on everybody else.
Compare that to someone like Mario Balotelli at City where the effect is the opposite because of the type of player he is. Yes, they still have Carlos Tevez, who like Rooney has enthusiasm allied with great technical ability, but Tevez does not want to stay at any club and that is no good either.
That is part of City's problem. Sooner or later they will have a team but they don't have one yet. I said that last season, when they had the chance to win the league but faltered, and I think they faltered because when it came to the crunch they were not together enough.
Along with City, I expect Chelsea to be United's closest challengers but I cannot really make a case for either of them to win the league. It is a massive ask for Andre Villas-Boas to win back the title in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.
HANSEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE TOP FOUR PREDICTION
Continue reading the main story
1. Man Utd
2. Man City
3. Chelsea
4. Liverpool
United have got a great blend of youth and experience but Chelsea have got an ageing team that needs to be rejuvenated, and that means new personnel. Chelsea have got guys who have been superstars for them, but if their time is up they have to be moved on.
Breaking that team up would be a difficult job even for a manager with great experience like Guus Hiddink, but Villas-Boas is only 33.
I keep reading he is brilliant with charts and systems but football is about players and personalities, and getting the best out of them, and he has got to get them to respond to him on the pitch.
As far as I am concerned there are three other sides who are vying for fourth place.
Continue reading the main story
Liverpool fans should be quietly optimistic about finishing fourth, rather than getting carried away with expectation and anticipation of anything higher
It is a massive year for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, and he clearly has a major dilemma. The Gunners have gone six years without a major trophy while playing the best football of any side in this country.
The way they have to go now is to introduce more destructive elements in place of some of that creativity - for example a solid defence and proper holding midfielder - but if Wenger gets it wrong there is a chance they would still win nothing but without producing their great football either.
I think Arsenal and Liverpool are the two sides who need to get off to a quick start so when they play each other on the second Saturday of the season it will be a mega-game.
Dalglish has spent heavily to strengthen Liverpool's squad
You would never usually say that for such an early match but if they get off to a bad start then Arsenal could go into free-fall while, after the last few seasons, Liverpool need to show that this is not another false dawn for them.
There is always expectation at Anfield because all the Liverpool supporters think they are going to win the league. Now, that's not going to happen this season but I definitely expect them to improve.
Kenny Dalglish has bought British and tried to address some of the issues they had last year when they conceded too many goals from set-pieces.
He has bought some good players but they need to gel, which is easier said than done, and I think Liverpool fans should be quietly optimistic about finishing fourth, rather than getting carried away with expectation and anticipation of anything higher.
As for Tottenham, well the pressure is right off them. Harry Redknapp has done an amazing job there and they had a great run in the Champions League last season.
They do not have that distraction this year but, if they are going to force their way back on to the top table of European football, it is vital they keep Luka Modric and strengthen the squad they already have.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
BBC's Match of the Day football pundit
United were in impressive form against City in the Community Shield
After watching Manchester United beat Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, I would make Sir Alex Ferguson's side huge favourites for the Premier League title.
United put down a real marker at Wembley, simply because they were up against one of their biggest rivals and they just walked straight over the top of them in the second half.
It's unusual for me to take any notice of the Community Shield but this time I did. It was a real statement by United and, if you were one of the other sides with an eye on the title, you would start to worry.
It was not just about their performance, it was about who performed. Their new players, whether they are signings like Ashley Young and Phil Jones or people who have been out on loan like Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck, were all impressive.
That is where Ferguson is a fantastic manager. Success is easy, but continued success is the really hard part - it is difficult to break up a successful side and keep winning trophies but Ferguson is the master there.
Continue reading the main story
Ferguson is building another squad to be reckoned with. If United get Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan too, then it might be that everybody else can forget about the title.
From the looks of things, he is building another squad to be reckoned with. If United get Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan too, then it might be that everybody else can forget about the title.
The only part of United's team that might give the likes of City and Chelsea some encouragement is their goalkeeper. To replace Edwin van der Sar was always going to be incredibly difficult and we don't know for certain yet how David De Gea is going to fit in. He certainly doesn't measure up to Van der Sar yet.
I don't feel Paul Scholes will be missed as badly, however. He did not play a lot of games last season and he was not the force he once was. Scholes will be remembered as probably the most talented and most consistent midfield player the Premier League has ever seen, but he hadn't been at that level for the last couple of years.
Another way in which United have an advantage over their rivals is their team spirit - they have got the best dressing room in the top flight by a mile and their togetherness sets them apart.
Balotelli's attitude has been often criticised in his time at City
Look at Wayne Rooney. Everyone says he did not have a great season last time out but, regardless of how he is playing, the simple fact is that he will keep running and keep trying for you and that rubs off on everybody else.
Compare that to someone like Mario Balotelli at City where the effect is the opposite because of the type of player he is. Yes, they still have Carlos Tevez, who like Rooney has enthusiasm allied with great technical ability, but Tevez does not want to stay at any club and that is no good either.
That is part of City's problem. Sooner or later they will have a team but they don't have one yet. I said that last season, when they had the chance to win the league but faltered, and I think they faltered because when it came to the crunch they were not together enough.
Along with City, I expect Chelsea to be United's closest challengers but I cannot really make a case for either of them to win the league. It is a massive ask for Andre Villas-Boas to win back the title in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.
HANSEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE TOP FOUR PREDICTION
Continue reading the main story
1. Man Utd
2. Man City
3. Chelsea
4. Liverpool
United have got a great blend of youth and experience but Chelsea have got an ageing team that needs to be rejuvenated, and that means new personnel. Chelsea have got guys who have been superstars for them, but if their time is up they have to be moved on.
Breaking that team up would be a difficult job even for a manager with great experience like Guus Hiddink, but Villas-Boas is only 33.
I keep reading he is brilliant with charts and systems but football is about players and personalities, and getting the best out of them, and he has got to get them to respond to him on the pitch.
As far as I am concerned there are three other sides who are vying for fourth place.
Continue reading the main story
Liverpool fans should be quietly optimistic about finishing fourth, rather than getting carried away with expectation and anticipation of anything higher
It is a massive year for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, and he clearly has a major dilemma. The Gunners have gone six years without a major trophy while playing the best football of any side in this country.
The way they have to go now is to introduce more destructive elements in place of some of that creativity - for example a solid defence and proper holding midfielder - but if Wenger gets it wrong there is a chance they would still win nothing but without producing their great football either.
I think Arsenal and Liverpool are the two sides who need to get off to a quick start so when they play each other on the second Saturday of the season it will be a mega-game.
Dalglish has spent heavily to strengthen Liverpool's squad
You would never usually say that for such an early match but if they get off to a bad start then Arsenal could go into free-fall while, after the last few seasons, Liverpool need to show that this is not another false dawn for them.
There is always expectation at Anfield because all the Liverpool supporters think they are going to win the league. Now, that's not going to happen this season but I definitely expect them to improve.
Kenny Dalglish has bought British and tried to address some of the issues they had last year when they conceded too many goals from set-pieces.
He has bought some good players but they need to gel, which is easier said than done, and I think Liverpool fans should be quietly optimistic about finishing fourth, rather than getting carried away with expectation and anticipation of anything higher.
As for Tottenham, well the pressure is right off them. Harry Redknapp has done an amazing job there and they had a great run in the Champions League last season.
They do not have that distraction this year but, if they are going to force their way back on to the top table of European football, it is vital they keep Luka Modric and strengthen the squad they already have.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Wesley Sneijder confirms 'unofficial talks' with Man Utd
Wesley Sneijder has confirmed he would like to join Manchester United and suggested "unofficial talks" have taken place with the Barclays Premier League champions.
Inter Milan star Sneijder has been linked with a move to Old Trafford all summer and revealed at the weekend he could be sold for the right price.
Wesley Sneijder has confirmed he would like to join Manchester United and suggested "unofficial talks" have taken place with the Barclays Premier League champions.
Inter Milan star Sneijder has been linked with a move to Old Trafford all summer and revealed at the weekend he could be sold for the right price.
The 27-year-old is also reportedly on the radar of Manchester City but he appears to be more interested in their arch-rivals.
Asked if he was keen on a move to Manchester United, Sneijder said in a video interview with www.nos.nl, translated by ESPN soccernet: "Yes, but Manchester United haven't made an official approach yet.
"There have been unofficial talks, there have been contacts, but then there are always contacts. I have contacts with everybody."
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Inter Milan star Sneijder has been linked with a move to Old Trafford all summer and revealed at the weekend he could be sold for the right price.
Wesley Sneijder has confirmed he would like to join Manchester United and suggested "unofficial talks" have taken place with the Barclays Premier League champions.
Inter Milan star Sneijder has been linked with a move to Old Trafford all summer and revealed at the weekend he could be sold for the right price.
The 27-year-old is also reportedly on the radar of Manchester City but he appears to be more interested in their arch-rivals.
Asked if he was keen on a move to Manchester United, Sneijder said in a video interview with www.nos.nl, translated by ESPN soccernet: "Yes, but Manchester United haven't made an official approach yet.
"There have been unofficial talks, there have been contacts, but then there are always contacts. I have contacts with everybody."
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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