[BB_Fan2012]

Originally Posted by Legend killer

did anyone see Pogba run the show for juve vs Milan yesterday i told you at the time it was one of fergies poorest decisions ever

I saw this bit of skill, it was SICK!!!

Youtube video

Some pics from Robin Van Persie at Old Trafford, Manchester, 17 August - if anyone cares

[bbfan1991]

Robin Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa are fit for the Wigan match at Old Trafford tomorrow. I do not think they will be risked though with the Champions League starting and Liverpool game after this fixture.

Phil Jones out for 10 weeks, gutted but I wish him a speedy recovery.

Darren Fletcher has been named in tomorrows squad, what an acheivement after his illness but he is still making progress in terms of how he deals with it but this is a positive sign.

[bbfan1991]

Match Preview:

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

[bbfan1991]

Anders revels in rivalry

Anders Lindegaard has revealed his friendship with David De Gea is helping to inspire both to compete for the goalkeeping jersey at the club.

In an exclusive chat with Red Voices, the official ManUtd.com podcast, the Dane explained how the rivalry between the pair ensures Sir Alex Ferguson always has a difficult choice.

When asked if the rivalry affects their friendship, Lindegaard replied: "Not at all. I can say, with hand on heart, not at all. I have a very good relationship with David. We are very good friends. I have a lot of respect for him and I feel he has a lot of respect for me too.

"I would say it's more the opposite. We support each other very much. From the first day he came to the club, we have both been telling each other: 'I think you can try to solve this situation in a different way'. I'm a bit older than him and he's a bit more experienced than me in terms of playing games. So we can help each other in a lot of things.

"I think the whole environment created for us by Eric Steele is very good. I'm sure it's not an easy job to have two qualified keepers who both want to play as No1. Obviously, there can only be one so it's not an easy job to keep us both happy, keep us both motivated and keep our character where we want to play for him and perform for him, as we want to perform for the manager. Eric is doing a fantastic job with that."

[bbfan1991]

Shinji Kagawa & Alexander Büttner giving the finger http://instagr.am/p/PmoWjOIIak/

Ha Ha.

[bbfan1991]

First half was disappointing for United vs Wigan but the second half was more exciting with Scholes scoring on his 700th appearance for the club, Hernandez scoring and Buttner/Powell scoring on their respective home league debuts.

[bbfan1991]

ManUtd Stuff‏@ManUtdStuff

Today also marks Sir Alex's 500th home league game in charge of Manchester United.

Today's game marks Ferdinand's 400th game for United, Giggs's 600th league game for United & Scholes's 700th game for United.

Amazing acheivements.

[bbfan1991]

Debutants impress at OT

Debutants Alexander Büttner and Nick Powell opened their goalscoring accounts during the 4-0 win against Wigan Athletic with Sir Alex Ferguson also spotting plenty of other positive aspects in their play.

After Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa netted on their first appearance for the Reds at Old Trafford, the new signings are wasting little time endearing themselves to the home supporters.

"Some of Büttner's play was good but I think he was a little bit rash at times," the manager admitted to MUTV. "He has a great engine and great enthusiasm for the game but he's raw with a lot of rough edges there.

"We think we can develop that and hopefully he can be a really good addition to the team. He scored a lot of goals in Holland and was determined enough to get that goal. It was a little bit lucky, I don't know if it got a deflection or not, but he showed his willingness to get in there and deserved it."

Powell continues to earn plaudits from Sir Alex after taking his impressive training-ground work onto the big stage.

"Nick Powell is going to be a really good player who, we hope, will fill Paul Scholes' boots in terms of he's got terrific vision, good temperament, two great feet, is quick and is a great striker of the ball. For a boy of 18, he's not 19 until next March, it's been a terrific day for him."

[bbfan1991]

Sir Alex's European focus

Sir Alex Ferguson feels the UEFA Champions League can continue to produce upsets but is adamant his Manchester United side will not be on the receiving end again this year.

The Reds failed to progress from the group stages in 2011/12 after losing in Basel in the final fixture but there is a real determination to put things right - starting with Wednesday's home match against Galatasaray. Sir Alex clearly remains focused on trying to land a fourth European Cup for the club.

"We've had opportunities in the competition," he stated. "We've lost two finals to Barcelona and won two in the last decade or so but we want to do better. Certainly, we'll do better than last year - no question about that.

"The European Cup is incredible. There's an atmosphere in the build-up to a European final and great charisma about it. Also, without question, it elevates your status within the game like the Real Madrids and AC Milans. We want to be up there in terms of the number of trophies won in European football."

When asked if the standard of some of the perceived lesser lights in the Champions League has improved recently, the manager replied: "We've seen some examples of that over the last few years. For instance, the Cypriot team [Apoel Nicosia] getting to the quarter-finals and Basel beating us and getting to the next stage against Bayern Munich.

"There are a couple of other examples of the lesser-known teams doing well and Monaco played Porto in the final one time, which was a surprise. But, at the end of the day, you always think one of the big ones is going to win it.

"It doesn't do the competition any harm, to be honest with you and who would have predicted Chelsea winning it last season?

"The only thing you can think about is qualifying. Manchester City are with Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Real Madrid and it's going to be a tight group. It doesn't mean to say City can't get through as the other teams will be saying City are strong but the two who go through will deserve it.

"If we don't go through, we will be criticised and pilloried for it and quite rightly. We've had our warning and I don't anticipate going out this time."

[bbfan1991]

Video: Wigan action

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

[bbfan1991]

Powell eyes plenty more goals

Nick Powell was delighted to display his goal threat after capping his United debut with a superb long-range effort in the Reds' victory over Wigan.

The 18-year-old cracked home the fourth goal of a rousing second half display from the hosts, and is keen to bring attacking menace to United's midfield after excelling as a striker with Crewe Alexandra last term.

"It's great to make my debut," Powell told MUTV. "To then cap it off with a goal is what I've been working for. Dario (Gradi, Crewe's director of football) used to say my game isn't just attacking and defending, it's about goals as well and I proved that last season and hopefully I can do that for United."

Despite his impressive cameo, however, the summer signing from Crewe insists that he will keep his feet on the ground and continue learning from his elder peers. "My dad will keep me in touch, I'll tell you that," he laughed. "No, I'm just going to go home, have this great feeling and I'll keep myself on the ground.

"When I first came on it scared me a little bit, to be fair, because I'm only used to 5,000 people now and then, but it's a great atmosphere - the fans are great. It wasn't the hardest game because they made it easier for me but I'm happy to be on the pitch getting minutes.

"I learn every day, especially from the midfielders - Scholes, Carrick, Giggsy - they're all great, they've all been through it and won trophies. That's what I want to do, so I hope to learn off them every day."

[bbfan1991]

United, disappointing performance overall even though we improved in the second half but a win is a win!

[bbfan1991]

Rafael: My best goal

Rafael was delighted to play his part in helping the Reds beat ten-man Liverpool on Sunday after netting his "best goal for United".

The Brazilian right-back cancelled out Steven Gerrard's opener with a sublime left-footed curling effort on 51 minutes, before Robin van Persie's penalty conversion sealed victory.

"It's a very important three points," Rafael told MUTV. "It wasn't a great performance from us but in the last five years we haven't won here so we're very pleased.

"It's definitely the best goal I've scored for United. It was a good moment to get it because it was so quick after they scored. If we hadn't had scored them we might have got a little bit nervous so it was an important time to get the goal.

"I was so pleased [to score] for the fans," he added. "They always give me such great support and I know this is an important game for them so I'm very happy."

[bbfan1991]

Match report from yesterday.

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

[bbfan1991]

Giggs: It was tough

Ryan Giggs was pleased with the three points at Anfield but disappointed with the overall performance.

The United skipper refused to entertain any thoughts that the occasion affected the display as he instead paid credit to Liverpool for their showing, particularly with 10 men following Jonjo Shelvey's first-half red card.

Rafael equalised Steven Gerrard's opener with a perfectly-placed curler before Robin van Persie kept his nerve to score the winner from the spot.

"I think, in the last three or four years, we've come here and played a lot better and lost," he told Sky Sports. "That's the way it goes sometimes.

"It's always tough, especially against a team like Liverpool who keep the ball well, even when they go down to 10 men, they don't change. The crowd got up and we didn't play well. We didn't keep the ball well enough. It was great to see Rafa's goal go in and it probably lifted us.

"I think it's a tough place to come. Obviously, Liverpool wanted to put on a performance because of the occasion and they did that. I think Liverpool made it tough for us but we could have played better."

[bbfan1991]

Sir Alex wants springboard

United's gritty victory over Liverpool at Anfield will not enter folklore as one of the Reds' greatest displays, but Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful that the result will lay down a marker for future trips to Merseyside.

A famously impressive record at the home of the Merseysiders has waned in recent seasons, and Sunday's victory - a first in almost five years - is seen by the United manager as a potential platform for future victories on hostile turf.

"In the last four years here we haven't played well," Sir Alex told MUTV. "Today at least we've got a result. Hopefully that's a turning point for us because if you look back over the years we always did really well here.

"I think it was about five, six, seven years in a row we did exceptionally well, but it goes in cycles anyway. Before we had that run they had a period in the late '80s of getting results against us, so it's maybe our turn to start."

Focusing on the short term, Sir Alex conceded that his team had been below par in procuring the victory, and only imposed themselves on the game after Jonjo Shelvey's red card.

"I thought we were poor, to be honest with you," he said. "I think the last four years we've allowed the crowd to get to us a little bit - they give fantastic support to their team and they really dominated the first half. Second half they got a great start. With ten men I thought that was a great boost to them because it was something to hold on to, but credit to the players in that respect; the second half we played much, much better, but we were against ten men. I think Scholes, Carrick and Giggs' experience got us through."

Shelvey's red card provoked a furious reaction from the Liverpool midfielder, his team-mates and the home support, but Sir Alex was unwavering in his assessment of the youngster's lunge on Jonny Evans - and he shrugged off Shelvey's finger-jabbing tirade towards the United manager as he left the field.

"I think it's a clear sending off, I've absolutely no doubts about it," said Sir Alex. "I've seen the replay. It was reckless. Jonny Evans, who has dived in, went for the ball and got the ball, no question about that, but Shelvey was nowhere near getting the ball and could have given Jonny Evans a real bad injury. He was very lucky, actually.

"He (Shelvey) came and blamed me. Why not? Why look at himself in the mirror? Just blame someone else. I think the boy's young and when he looks at it again he'll realise the stupidity of it. He may apologise, he may not." Shelvey later Tweeted that he had apologised to the United manager.

Despite the dismissal, it took Steven Gerrard's opening goal to spark United into life, and the boss was full of praise for Rafael's superb leveller, and the nerve shown by Robin van Persie, scorer of the match-winning penalty.

"[Rafael's goal] got us out of the mire," he said. "It was a fantastic goal, a good bit of football and it put us in the position where we didn't need to panic and worked our way through the rest of the game. It wasn't easy for him [van Persie], but he's taken it well, just the way I envisaged he would take these penalties. When he was at Arsenal, either side he would thunder them home. [Pepe] Reina's had a good attempt, he got a hand to it, but the power of the shot has made it safe."

[bbfan1991]

Boss explains Vidic absence

Nemanja Vidic's omission from Sunday's victory at Anfield was merely a precautionary decision, Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed.

The Serbian, who completed back-to-back outings against Wigan and Galatasaray earlier this week, was left out of the Reds' 18-man squad for the 2-1 triumph.

So soon after returning from anterior cruciate ligament damage, Sir Alex practiced prudence when Vidic subsequently felt tightness in his knee ahead of Sunday's game.

"He was just feeling a bit tight round about his knee and we decided just to give him a break today," the boss told MUTV. "Hopefully he'll be alright next week."

The Serbian may be in contention to face Tottenham at Old Trafford next Saturday, a timely boon for the Reds after Rio Ferdinand limped through much of the win over Liverpool.

[bbfan1991]

Evra elated

Patrice Evra was understandably thrilled to collect the three points at Liverpool after the Reds came from behind to win at Anfield for the first time since 2007.

The defender felt respect was the key word in difficult circumstances on Merseyside as tributes were paid to the 96 fans who tragically lost their lives at Hillsborough.

"It's unbelievable," he enthused to MUTV. "To be fair, I always say one of the best sensations is when we win at Anfield.

"We've been coming here for four years [almost five years], a long time and I've not been seeing a dressing room like that with smiles on the faces after the game. I want to win against Liverpool. If I play badly or play well, I just want to win and that is what we did."

Evra shrugged off the pre-match talk about his handshake with Luis Suarez to instead focus on the bigger picture.

"It was not an easy game," he stressed. "There was a lot of tension and emotion beforehand and, in the end, we get the three points. It's all we talk about - winning - because we have done our job and well done to everyone.

"I think the most important word today was respect because it was a game between two big clubs that have both had big tragedies. That's why, although a lot of people were talking about me shaking hands with Suarez, the story of the clubs is bigger than that. It's why I think if I didn't shake his hand, I didn't respect the story of both clubs.

"In the end, this time, he shook my hand and it was more important to respect the families who lost a lot of people."

Rafael and Robin van Persie's goals brought praise from the full-back as his team-mates made the difference.

"When you are losing 1-0 at Anfield, it's really difficult to recover," he explained. "It came straight away and what a goal! Rafael is different class and he scored with his left foot so I'm so happy for him!

"I said to Rafa I think he deserves it as he's working very hard. It's difficult to find a place now in this XI as the boss has many players who want to play. He said today it was a game for men and we showed that. I think we showed great character. I don't think we played especially well but we showed big character and that was most important today.

"I was anxious for the penalty. The player [Daniel Agger] was on the floor and taking his time and I was like: 'Whoah, what's going on here?' When Robin shoots, Pepe Reina went the right way but I think it was a good penalty with power and that's why he scored. It's why we buy some big players - for big games - and we need them."

Respect Patrice and nice one.

[bbfan1991]

Cup changes excite Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand is excited about the prospect of potentially seeing some of United's younger faces in Capital One Cup action against Newcastle.

Although the Magpies will provide tough opposition, Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to promote a handful of promising Reserves into the squad, as has often been the case in this competition. Ferdinand, like the supporters, is aware of the extra focus on the announcement of the squad for the fixture.

"It’s great and I’m looking forward to maybe seeing our new signing Angelo Henriquez, who has come in from Chile," he told ManUtd.com.

"I’m sure Nick Powell will play and I’m looking forward to seeing him again too as he’s a very exciting prospect. I’m excited to perhaps see Jesse Lingard play and I think Larnell Cole [could feature] as well. There are loads of them and I could go on and on and be here all day. We have some really talented, young players and I’m looking forward to seeing them. There is Michael Keane at the back too and hopefully they can stamp their authority on the cup this year."

The cultured centre-back appreciates his responsibilities as a senior player at the club having seen some experienced figures, the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Ji-sung Park, leave this summer.

"I just think it’s a natural progression for the senior players and it becomes your duty almost to not force it on the young players but to lead the way and lead by example," he stated. "When you need to talk to players or give them a nudge in the right direction, you’re there to do that. That’s what comes with being a Manchester United player after a few years."

After helping the likes of Scott Wootton and Tyler Blackett ease themselves into action on the DHL tour, he appreciates what needs to be done in terms of nursing any new faces along at first-team level.

"We just try and make it as easy as possible," he added. "As comfortable and normal as possible for the young players coming into big stadiums, in front of big crowds with big expectations. It’s a new world they are entering and, as experienced players, we want to make that a much smoother ride if we can."

Spot on Rio. The current United crop of youngsters are promising indeed.

[Brother Leon]

It's really hard to hate Evra.

""I think the most important word today was respect because it was a game between two big clubs that have both had big tragedies. That's why, although a lot of people were talking about me shaking hands with Suarez, the story of the clubs is bigger than that. It's why I think if I didn't shake his hand, I didn't respect the story of both clubs.

"In the end, this time, he shook my hand and it was more important to respect the families who lost a lot of people."

Really top bloke. Always interacts with the fans brilliantly after a goal too, just like Rio

[bbfan1991]

Evra like Rio know what United is about and respect the history of the club.

Evra needs to improve his performances because if Buttner continues to impress after his debut he will have competition on his hands for that LB spot.

[Brother Leon]

Yeah, needs to up his game. Wasn't as bad as I thought he would be Vs Sterling yesterday though. Got back a few times after being skinned. Thought Sterling would cause him havoc.

[bbfan1991]

SAF really needs to address our CM issues either in January or in the Summer of 2013.

In a way it is good he is loyal to the current players there but we are crying out for more quality in that position to make our team stronger.

[Brother Leon]

We need an energy midfielder. Our pressure off the ball is non existent.

[bbfan1991]

Nemanja Vidic out for eight weeks after having knee surgery, gutted.

http://bit.ly/Q5TuRg