Anderson tops fan poll

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...ch-vs-qpr.aspx

Anderson named fans MOTM after the QPR game and rightly so:).

Boss: Anderson picks himself

Sir Alex has confirmed Anderson will start against West Ham United on Wednesday night.

But the boss is still without Nani and will wait until Tuesday afternoon to make a decision on fellow winger Antonio Valencia, who's nursing a hip injury. Paul Scholes is also unavailable due to suspension.

ManUtd.com users voted Anderson United's Man of the Match following his performance against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday – a choice Sir Alex certainly doesn't disagree with.

"I thought Ando won the game for us," he told MUTV.

"His performance was outstanding. He took the game by the scruff of the neck and he was so positive and determined in his play that he picks himself on Wednesday.

"We'll see what Antonio is like today and tomorrow. Nani is still going to be out [but] Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were on the bench on Saturday and they're available.

"It's good to have them as back-up and in the back four things are much healthier. We've got plenty of options in the midfield and up front – it's just the two wide positions [where we have problems in terms of availability]."


Good news:). Anderson deserves a start for the West Ham game!

Twelve days of Cantona

Twenty years ago today (26 November), Sir Alex Ferguson pulled off the transfer masterstroke that defined his reign at United, signing a talismanic player who would go on to have an impact like no other in the club’s history.

In four-and-a-half short, trophy-laden seasons at Old Trafford between 1992 and 1997, Eric Cantona inspired, enthralled and very occasionally appalled, helping to transform United from also-rans to the most successful club in English football.

It wasn’t just the Frenchman’s memorable goals, leadership or influence on the team’s talented youngsters that fans loved. It was his swagger, his artistry and passion, his refusal to conform and his unadulterated love for everything connected to United and Manchester.

Colourful, controversial, enigmatic and, above all, supremely talented, Cantona remains in the hearts and minds of every Reds fan. His legacy lives on, most patently in the chants that still fill the air on matchday.

In homage to one of those songs, ManUtd.com is running 12 days of special Cantona content, looking back at his career highs and lows, enjoying every one of his goals and reliving some classic Eric interviews.

We’ll show 'Le Roi' through the eyes of fans, journalists and team-mates, and there’ll be iconic imagery, wallpaper downloads, a podcast special and more.


King Eric!:amazed::worship:

Rooney seeks Manchester United improvement

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes the players still have plenty of room for improvement, despite sitting top of the Premier League table with a third of the season gone.

The Red Devils lead local rivals Manchester City by a point, despite having lost three times already this campaign, whilst the reigning champions remain undefeated.

But, Rooney has urged his team-mates to up their game, following a series of under-par performances, which has seen Sir Alex Ferguson's side ship 18 goals in 2012/13.

"Clean sheets are the foundation we hope for, we know we have players who can score goals and win us games," said the 27-year-old. "If we can get a clean sheet, then I'm sure we can get them at the other end and win games.

"As a team, we've played some good stuff at times but we've also ground results out as well. To lose three games this early is something we need to put right.

"We're lucky that we've won all the other games and not drawn any. It means we're still in a good position in the league. So we need to make sure we are full focused now and try to kick on, try to go on a good run."

United's leaky back-line has seen them concede first in 12 of their last 20 matches, including in Saturday's 3-1 victory over basement boys Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford.

It's a trend that Rooney is keen to end, by addressing the team's form and tightening up in defence with a renewed emphasis placed on keeping clean sheets.

"I don't know why it is but it's happening too many times," he continued. "We need to just go out now and try to get the early goal. As soon as we get a goal, the team settles down and the game settles.

"We tend to take control of the game. But more often than not we've conceded first and made it hard for ourselves to try to get back in the game then go on and win it."

Next up for Manchester United is the visit of West Ham, who travel to Old Trafford off the back of a 3-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, having won just one of their last six games.

Schmeichel: I admire De Gea

Reds legend Peter Schmeichel has spoken of his admiration for United no.1 David De Gea.

From the moment the Spanish goalkeeper arrived in England in the summer of 2011, he's been the subject of criticism, with some media outlets reguarly questioning his suitability for the Old Trafford role.

Throughout it, though, Schemichel says De Gea has carried himself with grace.

"I admire the fella,” Schmeichel told PA Sport and the Manchester Evening News last week.

"I cannot remember anyone coming into Manchester United and being criticised the way he was criticised. He was ridiculed every day. He was the subject of every debate in the media.

“Every programme possible was talking about him and debating the situation. Yet he still went out there with a smile on his face."

Of course, the best way to combat criticism is to prove yourself on the pitch and Schmeichel says De Gea can be proud of his performances.

“He managed to dig himself out of it. By the end of last season people were starting to say this guy is a good goalkeeper. But at the beginning he wasn’t.

“I admire someone who has the mind to do that. Very slowly he is working his way away from what people thought of him 18 months ago.

“There is no doubt in my mind that this fella has a strong mind and to play for Manchester United you need a strong mind.

“You don’t see him in the newspapers defending himself or trying to shift the blame elsewhere. He just gets on with it. United players are like that.

“They just get on with it. Can you remember any United player at a high level that ever complained?

“I have racked my brains and cannot think of anyone. David is like that. He just gets on with it."

Rooney sees Carroll threat

Wayne Rooney admits Andy Carroll is likely to pose a threat in Wednesday's Barclays Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.

West Ham's loan signing from Liverpool got off the mark for his new club with a consolation effort in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham and is likely to be the focal point for many of the Hammers' attacks.

Rooney has worked with Carroll at international level and thinks the £35million hitman will pose problems for the United back four.

"Andy Carroll is a handful," said Rooney. "I am sure if you ask any defender, they find it difficult to play against someone like that who is good in the air and on the floor. He is physical and he makes it difficult. That type of player doesn't always get all the goals but they can cause trouble up front and create problems. I am sure that is what Sam Allardyce wants him to do."

The Reds go into the West Ham clash top of the table after Manchester City and Chelsea played out a goalless draw at the weekend.

"We know City and Chelsea will be looking out for our results as we look out for theirs," accepted Rooney. "But it is important for us to concentrate on our own performances and make sure we get the wins because there are a lot of games coming up. It is tough. I am sure the manager will use his squad. It will have to come through for him."

Ruud: Reds can rely on Robin

Ruud van Nistelrooy is backing Robin van Persie to become another Dutch Manchester United legend.

Van Nistelrooy netted 150 goals in just 219 games for United between 2001 and 2006 and believes the former Arsenal striker (whose current strike-rate almost mirrors Ruud's 0.68 goals per game) can score just as many.

"I hope so," Ruud said. "My time has gone and now others have taken over, so I hope he does [score as many as me].

"Robin has proved he's fitting in easily. It's like he has always played for the club.

"He didn't need any time to settle in. He was straight on his level, scoring important goals and winning games for the team."

Van Nistelrooy was in Manchester last week for Sir Alex Ferguson's statue unveiling and admits he caught up with United's current Dutch striker during the trip.

"I spoke to him [before the statue ceremony]," he said.

"He feels very good at the club. But that's the feeling everybody gets when you come here. I felt the same. I felt very comfortable.

"You feel part of the family and of a tradition. You just want to go out and perform and Robin's doing that now."

Although van Nistelrooy and the United manager had their differences towards the end of the Dutchman's spell at Old Trafford, Ruud says the pair's relationship has been repaired now and he's confident Sir Alex will help Robin van Persie thrive at the club.

"I think he will," Ruud said. "That is what the manager does: he makes you feel strong and gets the best out of people.

"Robin's style – the way he wants to play, the way he likes to play – fits United so well. I'm happy for him that he’s made such a great start because he deserves it. He’s a great player and I hope he can continue like this for a long time.

"It’s not just scoring goals, either. He's great in his ability to get involved in the play as well as his finishing, which is fantastic."

Lindegaard wary of West Ham

Anders Lindegaard admits he's been impressed with West Ham United's bright start to life back in the Barclays Premier League.

The variety of playing styles in England's top-flight demand instant adaptation on a game-by-game basis, and Lindegaard is looking forward to facing Sam Allardyce's side should he keep his place ahead of David De Gea. The Dane told ManUtd.com: "Teams like West Ham offer a different kind of challenge for a goalkeeper.

"You have to reset your mind when you play against Barcelona or Arsenal because there's a lot of short passing so you have to be on your toes in and around the box all the time. But when you play against teams like West Ham, Southampton or Stoke for example, you also have to be aware of crosses and set-pieces and get ready in your mind to deal with them.

"Other leagues around the world might look at English football and think it's just a physical game. But I found that it was more physical where I played before, in Norway, where there was little quick play around the box."

The Hammers have earned a place in the top half of the table on merit, by deploying an efficient, dynamic midfield and by looking to the wings to deliver the ball into the box.

"West Ham are playing towards percentages," acknowledges Anders, "and it's a clever way of handling it in their first season after coming back up. They know if they put so many crosses into the box they are going to score so many goals. I imagine coming up as West Ham did from [the Championship], the first year is all just about survival, then you can build on it. I can understand why they've had success with their style and you have to respect that."

De Gea relishes Reds pressure

David De Gea admits the pressure of being a goalkeeper for Manchester United is more intense than at other clubs, but the Spaniard insists he is relishing the challenge.

The former Atletico Madrid stopper has been exposed to close scrutiny since moving to Old Trafford in 2011 as a long-term replacement for the retired Edwin van der Sar, despite producing a series of impressive performances throughout his 51-match career with the Reds.

The good form of Anders Lindegaard, who has impressed whenever called upon, has also sparked debate over who is Sir Alex Ferguson’s first choice this season. Thankfully, De Gea is enjoying the competition and hopes to produce his best form as a result.

“I’m at a huge club and there are big demands on you,” David told United Review. “As a goalkeeper I’m well aware that any mistake can be magnified by the press and the fans. That’s always the case for goalkeepers, no matter where you play.

“But it’s true that here at Manchester United there’s added pressure. It’s bigger than it was for me at Atletico Madrid and also for the Spain Under-21 team. It’s a challenge that’s enjoyable and it ensures you’re always striving to operate at 100 per cent.”

United have conceded the first goal in 13 matches this season, salvaging a victory from eight of those games. It's a worrying habit, yet it also highlights the never-say-die attribute that has helped define Sir Alex’s 26-year reign.

Although such comebacks are typical of United, De Gea has been surprised by the frequency of turnarounds - admitting he loves being a part of a team with so much self-belief.

“I have been surprised. Certainly, when I was in Spain I’d heard about this aspect and seen for myself on TV the way the team always seemed to conjure up a late goal to either draw or win matches. So it’s great to be a part of it myself.

“I think dramatic comebacks are part of the heart and soul of this club and it’s almost written in the history of Manchester United that these sorts of things happen so often. I love being a part of it and experiencing it for myself.”

United v West Ham preview

8:00 PM kick off:).

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...Ham-match.aspx

Glad that United won 1-0 vs West Ham thanks to RVP's goal at 32 seconds:):D. A few more goals would have been nice for GD, but we kept a CLEAN SHEET at last!

Match Report:

http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-An...ch-report.aspx

Sir Alex set for marathon

Sir Alex thinks it's going to be a long season for United with Manchester City only a point behind the Reds in the table.

United scored after 31 seconds through Robin van Persie but it became a nervous night against West Ham on Wednesday with the victory not assured until the final whistle.

Manchester City's 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic keeps them in contention with the derby taking place at the Etihad Stadium on 9 December after United's trip to Reading at the weekend.

"We've got the three points and are still ahead in the league," the boss told MUTV. "Chelsea drawing tonight means it draws us away from them a little bit further. City are still on our tails so it's going to be a long season."

Sir Alex was pleased to keep a clean sheet and praised defenders Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Rafael for their stellar performances.

"It was a hard night and we played a lot of good football but we never quite finished them off," said the manager. "West Ham fought really hard and made it difficult for us.

"It was a great start and hopefully you go on from such a great start but we never quite finished it off.

"They had skirmishes around the box and played high balls in there but you've got to defend them really well. They had a few blocked shots and that kind of thing but, in the main, we did defend very well. Evans, Smalling and Rafael, in particular, had fantastic nights.

"Rafael is maturing. He's 22 years of age but came here as a young kid and was in the first-team at 18. He made rash mistakes because he's such an enthusiastic boy but he's maturing and is learning from that."

Sir Alex refused to accept that a lack of a width was an issue with no out-and-out wingers in the starting line-up, although Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck played on the flanks when coming on as substitutes.

"We've operated with a diamond quite a few times this season so I don't think that's any excuse," he stated.

Nice praise by SAF:).

Rafael earns rave reviews

Sir Alex, Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans all praised right-back Rafael following United's 1-0 win against West Ham on Wednesday night.

The Brazilian, who's on our shortlist for the Man of the Match award, produced a defensive masterclass against the Hammers, winning almost every tackle and ball he contested.

The Reds boss repeated his recent claim that Rafael is "maturing and learning from [past mistakes]", while Carrick believes he'll get even better.

"He has progressed every year he has been here," Carrick told MUTV. "He came across at a very young age and it was a big change from Brazil and what he was used to.

"Every season he has got better and better. He has played nearly every game this season and has been terrific. There is still more to come from him, he is still learning the game and is still improving, so it is great for him and he is having a good time."

Jonny Evans was similarly effusive in his praise and insists Rafael sets an example for others when he's on the pitch. "He's been outstanding all season," he said. "There’s not really been anybody challenging for his right-back position but he’s done fantastic.

"With his energy, he really sets the tone for the rest of the players. He’s a credit to himself. People might have thought it would be tough for him with his brother going away but he’s got his head down, he’s working hard and he’s going to be one of the best right-backs in the world, no doubt about that."

Evans checks the balance

Jonny Evans admitted Manchester United lost some attacking prowess in the process of winning to nil on a "nervy" night against West Ham United.

He was part of a defensive unit rightly praised by Sir Alex Ferguson after the Reds stopped the opposition from scoring for only the third time in this season's 14 league matches so far. But Evans accepted that a more cautious approach from the team as a whole also contributed to the shut-out, probably at the expense of a spectacle.

"We didn’t play well," he admitted on MUTV. "The game was a bit slow and laboured. It was fortunate that we got the goal early doors but we didn’t really kick on from that. It was a bit nervy towards the end in some instances - you know what you’re going to get with West Ham, they’re going to put the ball in the box at every opportunity.

"The lads did well, not conceding too many fouls which is important. We don’t want them putting free-kicks in the box to put you under pressure and push you back. The two big lads up front, Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole, are hard to deal with. They’re never really going to run away from you but you have to be prepared to stick your head in when it hurts. We're happy we managed to keep a clean sheet.

"The clean sheet is good for the confidence, even if we didn’t play in the normal United way," he added. "We probably were a bit more cautious going forward and holding our positions a bit more. I think it’s up to us to find the right balance and decide when it’s the right time to go forward and the right time to hold your position and defend. I think once we get that sorted, we’ll be okay."

Evans felt like many fans may have done when Robin van Persie got the Reds off to a flyer, but the floodgates failed to open.

"I was thinking at the time ‘this is great, we’ve got a goal early doors and we can score a lot here’ because everybody is looking at the goal difference especially after what happened last season," he continued.

"I think we all know we didn’t play to our usual standards. We'd had a tough game at the weekend or at least we made it tough for ourselves. It was quite a physical game, a lot of running was done and it was probably one of our highest running stats of the season. So there were some tired legs in the squad and I think it was all about seeing it out to get the three points."

Clean sheet is key

Michael Carrick admits Manchester United’s 1-0 win over West Ham “was not a classic”, but insists the Reds can build on keeping a third clean sheet of the season on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old midfielder also praised centre-halves Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling, who coped admirably with the towering threats posed by Hammers strikers Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole.

“It was by far not a classic,” Carrick told MUTV. “Obviously we weren’t at our best and the flowing football that you want to play and the chances that you want to create didn’t quite happen. But we got a clean sheet which was quite pleasing and I thought we defended well.

“They had a couple of opportunities and when they put balls into the box like they did, those can fall to anybody. But overall I thought we defended well - we didn’t play as well as we could have but we won the game and managed to keep a clean sheet.

“A clean sheet is the biggest plus that we can take from tonight. They pumped a lot of balls into the box, asked questions and made us defend. Our two centre halves were terrific. West Ham had two big guys – as Carroll goes off, Carlton Cole comes on – and it can be tough.

“But we got the clean sheet. It is something to build on because the performance needs to be better. A second goal would’ve put us in a much better position going into the final few minutes but, in the end, we held on and we’re still in a good position at the top of the league. We are quite satisfied.”

Robin van Persie gave United the lead at the Theatre of Dreams on Wednesday night, clipping a heavily deflected shot over the stranded Jussi Jaaskelainen after just 31 seconds to clock the fastest goal in the Barclays Premier League this season.

As Carrick admits, it was almost a novelty to see the Reds score first, having conceded the first goal on 13 separate occasions this campaign, and the midfielder is now challenging his teammates to make a habit of taking an early lead in future matches.

“It has been a while,” Michael explained. “We had a spell, about a year or two ago, when we were starting games really well and killing teams off really early. We want to get back to that because Old Trafford is a difficult place to play when you go a goal down.

“We want to make it that way, certainly in the games that are to come because going a goal down has made things a lot harder for us than they should have been. Keeping a clean sheet gives us something to build on in the future.”

Vidic could face Cluj

Sir Alex has revealed Nemanja Vidic could make a surprise return in Wednesday's Champions League tie against CFR Cluj.

The United captain has been sidelined after a knee operation and was tipped to make his comeback around the festive period. However, the manager feels the Serbian may be ready for midweek after starting training again with the main group.

"For the last year and a half, I think he's only played around 10 or 12 games [note: it's 13 since October 2011]," the boss stated. "The best way forward for us is to listen to Vida himself. He has the experience to know what's best for him and know when the time is right to come back into the team.

"He started training in the week and he did okay. He hasn't been involved in the real competitive part but at least he's back training with the first team. It would be nice to play him on Wednesday [v Cluj]. I wouldn't be adverse to playing him on Wednesday. I think he’s done all his work but he needs matches.

"Good defenders win you the league. I gave Rio a rest on Wednesday with tomorrow's game in mind. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones being back gives the right problem that I need."


Good news about Vida:). I hope he is not rushed back though!

Wingers miss trip to Reading

Wingers Antonio Valencia and Nani will miss Saturday's trip to Reading.

Although Valencia is expected to return for the derby with Manchester City, Nani will be sidelined for at least another month.

Nick Powell and Ryan Giggs should be fit enough to be considered for the weekend and Nemanja Vidic has started training as he bids to make his comeback soon, possibly as early as Wednesday against Cluj. Rio Ferdinand will return to the starting line-up after being rested for the win against former club West Ham.

"Nani and Valencia are still out," confirmed Sir Alex. "Nani will be out for four or five weeks. It's a hamstring injury and you have to take your time with it.

"Antonio should be fit for next week. He's got a hip injury, which is painful, but getting better.

"Nick Powell has had a virus but should be okay for tomorrow and Giggs had a slight hamstring strain but should also be okay. Nemanja Vidic has started training, which is good news, and Paul Scholes is back from suspension. It's quite late for Scholesy to get a suspension - it's usually about October!"

"It’s amazing that we’ve had defensive injuries for such a long period and now we’ve got the defenders back we’ve got two wide players injured. That’s the game for you. Everyone else is fine."

Although Reading are favourites to go down, the boss expects a difficult game against Brian McDermott's Royals.

"I think away games are getting more difficult in the Barclays Premier League," he explained. "Our game at Norwich is a good example of that.

"Norwich fought like tigers. They were really organised and motivated and made it a difficult day for us and I think we can expect the same at Reading. When Brian became manager there it took him a little bit of time to get his ideas across but look at the second half of last season – they came from nowhere to win the league.

"They’re definitely a club that are improving and although they’ve not had a lot of wins, they’re always hard games against them. I expect what we got at Norwich – a really difficult game."

Reds await FA Cup fate

Manchester United's first opponents in the 2012/13 FA Cup will be announced this Sunday 2 December.

The draw for the third round will be made at 14:40 GMT by former Tottenham Hotspur captain Ledley King and former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba.

The number 25 ball will represent the Reds in the proceedings and ManUtd.com will publish the outcome as soon as it's confirmed. The third-round ties will be played over the weekend of 5 and 6 January 2013.

United, who last won the trophy in 2004, won away at Manchester City in last year's third round, but bowed out in round four after a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

Jones feeling good

Phil Jones says he is feeling “fit and strong” since making his comeback from a long injury lay-off earlier this month.

The defender had not featured this season until the Champions League away trip to Galatasaray on 20 November following knee surgery earlier in the campaign. And after coming through the 90 minutes unscathed and a cameo appearance in the latter stages of the Reds’ win over West Ham in midweek, Jones says he is looking to kick on with his match fitness and performances in the coming weeks.

“I feel good and fit and strong,” Jones told us. “Obviously I haven’t played a lot of minutes yet, I’ve had one full game, but I felt good. I’d done a lot of work in the gym and worked on my strength and conditioning so I went into that game relatively confident in myself. I got through the 90 minutes and felt comfortable.

“Now, I’ve just got to knuckle down, train well and when I get the chance perform well. Hopefully I can get a few more games under my belt and get up to speed with my match fitness. It may take a few games to get back to that level but I’m champing at the bit and I hope I can pick up some more minutes as the season progresses.”

Jones is full of praise for his team-mates this term after coming back into a side that has qualified for the Champions League knock-out stages with ease and currently leads the way at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

“We’re playing well,” he declared. “We’re passing the ball well, creating chances and scoring goals and hopefully the clean sheet against West Ham will spur us on to have more of them. It’s nice for all of us to be sat in this position [top of the league and qualified for the Champions League knock-out stages] We’re in a great position in the league and we’re hoping to kick on and really push up.”

:)

Boss: Rooney goals will come

Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has no problem with Wayne Rooney's goal dearth.

The striker has only scored from open play in one game this term, when bagging a brace in the 4-2 win against Stoke City in October. Rooney also converted a penalty in Braga but missed from the spot during the 2-1 win over Arsenal.

The boss believes it is only a matter of time before the England international is firing on all cylinders again in front of goal after he went close against West Ham when forcing Jussi Jaaskelainen to make a smart save.

"Wayne is going through a period like all strikers do," said Sir Alex. "He is not scoring. It will change once he starts to score reasonably regularly. Then it will become better for him. Also, he has missed bits of games. He has been off with tonsillitis. Wayne is the type of player who can't miss games. He needs to play all the time. I am happy with that part of his game [assisting goals], that is fine. If he can contribute to the team's success, then fine. But we would obviously like him to score more."

Any partnership with Robin van Persie is still a work in progress but the manager thinks the team are starting to learn how to bring the best out of the summer acquisition from Arsenal.

"With Robin coming, without doubt he is an up-front player," explained Sir Alex. "There is no question about that. He has experience and now our players are starting to realise how good he is. Hopefully that understanding gets better. There were some games where the way we kept possession was middle to wide, to middle to wide, without using the frontal area. We are getting more aware of the runs he's making and his movement up front."


I hope so!

Lindegaard merits his place

Sir Alex Ferguson says Anders Lindegaard is currently earning the right to keep his place in goal after some solid displays between the posts for Manchester United.

The Reds' two senior goalkeeper had been rotated for the first couple of months of the season, before David De Gea enjoyed a solid run in the side from the start of October to mid-November. But after the Spaniard was afforded some time off to deal with a wisdom tooth problem, Lindegaard has grabbed his opportunity to be first choice with both hands. And Sir Alex appears to have no plans to change anything for the time being.

“I don't think Anders has done anything wrong since he came into the team. That’s what is keeping him in,” the manager told reporters on Friday. “They are both good goalkeepers. I have no issue with that. I am going with Anders at the moment because he has not let me down.

“It’s good that you’ve got two competing for a position - that applies to anywhere in the team.

“I am not happy to rotate all the time - I don't think that creates consistency. That’s why I kept Anders in on Wednesday [against West Ham]. I could easily have changed it again but as I said before he has done nothing wrong.

“David is fine. He is still young. He had that tooth infection and had to have two teeth out which meant his jaw was quite badly swollen. We gave him that time off. But Anders has come in and done well.

“It is one of those situations where there is no actual reason to leave Anders out in terms of form. Hopefully David understands that - there is no long term issue there.”

Nemanja :amazed:

Sir Alex's away match warning

Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping his players can learn from November’s trip to Norwich City as Manchester United look to open December with a win at Reading.

The Reds lost the first away match of the season in the Barclays Premier League and the most recent one, the 1-0 reverse at Carrow Road, and even though each road trip in between yielded three points, only the victory at Newcastle was anything like comprehensive. United had to come from behind at Southampton, Liverpool and Aston Villa and were, as expected, pushed all the way by Chelsea at the end of October.

“I think away games are getting more difficult in the Premier League,” said Sir Alex on Friday morning. “Our game at Norwich is a good example of that. Norwich fought like tigers. They were really organised and motivated and made it a difficult day for us and I think we can expect the same at Reading.”

This Saturday’s hosts are in the relegation zone, only four points above last Saturday’s rock-bottom opponents QPR. But Sir Alex has seen enough in the Berkshire club to make him caution his men against complacency.

“When Brian McDermott became manager at Reading, it took him a little bit of time to get his ideas across but look at the second half of last season in the Championship – they came from nowhere to win the league. They’re definitely a club that are improving and although they’ve not had a lot of wins, they’re always hard games against them. I expect what we got at Norwich – a really difficult game.”

Whatever happens at Reading and elsewhere this weekend, the boss isn’t yet buying into the notion that only United or local rivals Manchester City can win the title in 2013.

“I don’t think you could be certain of saying it’s going to be a two-horse race at this stage," mused Sir Alex. "Over the years we’ve said that the top five or six are all capable of winning the league but eventually it ends up a two-horse race. Year after year it’s been like that – there was again space between the top two teams [United and City] and the others last year. The important thing to do is just look at yourselves – we want to be up there all the time and we need to stay up there. It’s not an easy league to do that in.”

Reading v United preview

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...er-united.aspx