[bbfan1991]

Welbeck will be needed

Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley will have key parts to play in the remainder of the season, according to Manchester United manager David Moyes.



The two homegrown talents are hoping to represent England in the World Cup finals and are determined to prove their worth at domestic level ahead of this summer's showpiece tournament in Brazil.

Welbeck came off the bench against West Brom on Saturday to display a cool head in front of goal, stroking in the third goal at The Hawthorns when Jonas Olsson was unable to cut out Wayne Rooney's through ball.

"Wayne played him in with a great pass before then but it was a bit of a narrow angle and the pitch was really lively," explained Moyes to MUTV. "When he was played in down the side, he opened up and finished terrifically well. I'm pleased Danny is looking sharper and getting back ready. We're going to need him."

Cleverley was not involved in the 3-0 triumph on Saturday with the boss explaining the thinking behind the decision.

"I just felt he wasn't required today," he stated. "I wanted to make sure Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs were involved. We've got a lot of big games coming up and Tom will be involved in a lot of these in the coming weeks."

[bbfan1991]

Originally Posted by Ryan57

Here's hoping the petition spurs him on. Needs to grow a pair and return to the Cleverley of the early parts of 2011/12 that could of developed into a pretty good player.

I agree, he has the potential to improve and I feel sorry for him with this abuse. People are entitled to their opinions, but it is getting OTT now.

Obviously the Managers he is playing under for both United and England see something in him and the players like him, so that is one positive he can take from this tough situation.

[bbfan1991]

Mata's blog: One fine away day

Each week, Juan Mata keeps Manchester United fans around the world up to date with his own personal blog. Here's an extract from this week's piece...



Our win on Saturday - 3-0 at West Brom - was really important.

I'm talking about the three points, of course, but also about the performance. We saw samples of what the team is capable of, and we got very positive feelings.

I enjoyed myself on the pitch and at the end of the day that's what you want when you play football. At all levels.

I would like to highlight our three consecutive clean sheets in the league. It's important for our work not to concede, as that eventually will take us closer to our goals. In order to reinforce that we have a great challenge ahead this coming weekend: Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The so-called North West Derby is always a big game in England, even more this season if you look at the league table.

At this stage, every match is important. There are less and less games to play and we want to get all the points. I hope we continue to play the way we did on Saturday and delight the fans.

I want to thank you, the fans, for the Manchester United Player of the Month award I was honoured to receive last week. It means a lot to me because it's voted for by you. This award gives me so much confidence and I hope it will be the first of many.

[bbfan1991]

Carrick relishes Liverpool clash

Manchester United kicked off a mammoth month of March with a 3-0 away win over West Brom but now the tension is ramped up with a run of home games that takes in league clashes with Liverpool and Manchester City, sandwiching the Champions League last-16 second leg against Olympiacos.



"It's a big month ahead, we're well aware of that,” Michael Carrick told ManUtd.com after helping the Reds to beat the Baggies on Saturday. “It’s Liverpool next and that's a big one. Regardless of where both teams are in the league it’s an important fixture.

“In recent times, with this rivalry, we’ve been on top of them in the league and it's the other way around at the moment. But I don’t think league places affect the game. We’d say it if we’re top of the table that form goes out of the window against Liverpool, it counts for very little, and that’s the case now. It should be a good game and we’re all looking forward to it.”

United’s performance against West Brom brought with it plenty of promise – a display which combined a solid defensive foundation with good possession play and, crucially, the taking of chances when they arose. That followed on from a solid display against Crystal Palace in the league, with Carrick describing the subsequent 2-0 defeat to Olympiacos as an anomaly, not the norm.

“I know we’ve had an up and down season but I think performance-wise in recent times we’ve been pretty good," Carrick told us. "That Olympiacos game was a bit of a shock to everyone and afterwards we just wanted to get back to where we were. I thought we did that against West Brom, so we need to build on that now."

Two players who were crucial in the victories over Crystal Palace and West Brom are still relatively new additions to the squad – Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini. Mata’s wand of a left foot inspires creativity in attacking areas, while Fellaini is beginning to prove to be the midfield minder he was brought in to be. Both men could play in their first United-Liverpool fixture this coming Sunday, introducing them to a rivalry like few others in the English game.

“Juan and Marouane both did really well against West Ham,” said Carrick. “That’s two league games in a row now in which they’ve both performed well – Palace and now West Brom. But while they did well individually, I thought collectively, as a team, we looked really dangerous going forward.

“The performance against West Brom was better than the one at Palace, so that's something we have to take forward into some big games in this important month.”

[bbfan1991]

Reds unveil new medical facility

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

Good news.

[Brother Leon]

Meh. He's a media savvy guy. No way he will want to stay under this clown of a manager that doesn't know how to use him.

[bbfan1991]

Originally Posted by Brother Leon

Meh. He's a media savvy guy. No way he will want to stay under this clown of a manager that doesn't know how to use him.

You are right about him being media savvy, but he is a straight forward guy and I am glad he is broken his silence. He could be really annoyed at the speculation and him being happy could be his genuine feelings.

He's getting accused on Twitter of lying, even though he has made this statement so the guy can't win either way.

[Ryan57]

Would be fantastic news if he stayed. However, numerous players have said they'll stay and then end up leaving.

[bbfan1991]

Preview: Liverpool

http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-An...er-League.aspx

Big game, hopefully we get the win and it will be extra special against that lot!

[bbfan1991]

Gearing up for Liverpool

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

[bbfan1991]

Rooney proud to be a leader

Wayne Rooney has revealed he would jump at the chance to be a future Manchester United captain and admits he enjoys being one of the Reds' senior squad members.



In an exclusive interview with April's Inside United magazine, the striker discussed his role in the side and increased responsibility as he prepares to mark a decade at Old Trafford in August. With Nemanja Vidic leaving for Inter Milan in the summer, there has been speculation that David Moyes could consider the no.10 as a long-term candidate for the armband.

Although keen to stress the manager has a number of options, Rooney admits it is an honour he would relish if the opportunity to skipper the club arose.

"I've done it a few times and, if the manager wants me to be the captain, I would have no problem with that," he explained. "I would take it with both hands. However, it is down to the manager, because it's his decision on whoever he feels is the right person to lead the team. I'm sure he'll make that decision when the time comes.

"I think, whether you've got the armband or not, I always feel I'm quite vocal on the pitch. I try to help the players when I feel I can and say what I think. I believe that's the most important thing, to be honest and say what you feel. If you say what you believe are the right things, you need to keep doing that."

Rooney is already acting as a role model to some of the younger players and revealed he is keen to assist Adnan Januzaj with his development.

"I've stayed out after training with Adnan a few times," he added. "Even just working on free-kicks and crossing. It actually benefits me as well and it benefits him.

"I am trying to help him get better and better, which I feel he is doing, and I think young players need to practise all the time, especially coming into the side. Senior players also need to keep practising to stay on top of their game so it works for both of us."

I think Wazza will be our next Captain.

[bbfan1991]

Neville relishes Liverpool clash

Phil Neville says the intensity of Manchester United's rivalry with Liverpool has never dropped, regardless of their varying fortunes over the years.



The Reds welcome Brendan Rodgers' second-placed side to Old Trafford on Sunday, looking for victory to close an 11-point gap in the Barclays Premier League table.

The sides have beaten each other once this season, with United knocking Liverpool out of the Capital One Cup at home in September, three weeks after going down 1-0 in the league clash at Anfield.

It's a fixture first-team coach Neville has always relished, having played against the Merseysiders 15 times as a player with United.

"When I was in the United first team, Liverpool was the biggest game," Neville says in the latest issue of Inside United.

"The rivalry between the two teams was intense. Both clubs have great history and great success, which always made for some cracking matches. These are the games all the fans want to watch and all the players want to play in.

"Funnily enough, you normally find the little knocks and injuries players are carrying die down in the week leading up to the match. Suddenly, everybody's fit because everybody wants to play!

"This year, Liverpool have had a great season and it'll be a fantastic game but, as always, we'll be looking for maximum points."

[Brother Leon]

Originally Posted by bbfan1991

Rooney proud to be a leader




I think Wazza will be our next Captain.

Makes me feel sick tbh.


Jones for captain.

[Brother Leon]

Nani can fit in well with this inverted 4231 inverted wingers formation when Adnan needs a break. Just hope he can recover some form.

[bbfan1991]

Originally Posted by Brother Leon

Nani can fit in well with this inverted 4231 inverted wingers formation when Adnan needs a break. Just hope he can recover some form.

I agree and Nani would thrive from that, we need to keep a consistency in first team selection too. So I hope the team that played vs West Brom starts on Sunday.

[Ryan57]

Would prefer to see only one of Rooney and RVP start on Sunday. The pair do not work together. I'd much rather see the likes of Kagawa or Mata played behind one of them.

Never going to happen though.

[bbfan1991]

Originally Posted by Ryan57

Would prefer to see only one of Rooney and RVP start on Sunday. The pair do not work together. I'd much rather see the likes of Kagawa or Mata played behind one of them.

Never going to happen though.

Rooney works much better with Mata and Kagawa than with RVP. RVP is a better Striker than Rooney, but IMO Rooney is a better player overall in terms of his versatility.

I think Rooney/RVP are still working hard to gel and it will come together eventually, these things take time.

[Ryan57]

I'd personally go Rooney over RVP as the main striker.

I don't see them ever gelling. They didn't gel last season and haven't done this campaign, although they have both been injured. Both are at their best as the main striker. Rooney just isn't a number 10. Unfortunately, Moyes is a bottler.

[bbfan1991]

Juan Mata should be in the CAM position, he isn't a winger and will never be.

I really do think United are prepared to spend big in the Summer, things are looking up a bit in terms of news recently despite our awful season, which is one of transition and kind of expected.

The news of a new mega deal Nike sponsorship deal is going to be expected at some point too- £70 million a year the press are reporting. Nike obviously don't want to lose United and both have a good business relationship.

[Ryan57]

He'd work in a 4-2-3-1 on the right. That should be the formation we play from now on. Not the totally outdated 4-4-2.

[Brother Leon]

4312 tbh. **** wingers.

Fellaini
Carrick
Jones (c)

Mata

RVP
Rooney


Only way they can both play. Rooney is no number 10.

[Ryan57]

Don't fancy playing with just 6 players.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ryan57

Don't fancy playing with just 6 players.

[bbfan1991]

Moyes ponders transfers

Manchester United manager David Moyes has revealed he’s "getting prepared" for the summer transfer market and may look to make signings before the start of the World Cup.



Brazil 2014 kicks off on 12 June and it's believed many clubs will try to do their main transfer business before it begins, to head off the inevitable surge of interest should their targets star for their countries.

Moyes has made no secret of his desire to strengthen his squad in the close season and, while he can’t do much business yet, he’s already thinking about potential incomings.

Asked by reporters if he wanted to sign players before the World Cup, he said: "Yeah, I might do. We are getting ourselves prepared now.

"We can't do an awful lot until the end of the season but we will prepare as much as possible. You don’t always get all your ducks in a row but we will try to get as many of them as we can.

"I know it has been difficult for a lot of people to accept and understand what is going on but we will make changes. We have said that now and everyone is well aware of it."

Moyes rejected the suggestion that Robin van Persie’s desire to stay at United will help him bring in new players.

"I don’t think Robin saying that makes it any more of an attractive proposition for players," the boss added. "It just tells you that people have tried to find reasons why things haven't gone as well for us.

"A lot were saying that was down to Robin van Persie or the manager but I always said that wasn't the case and hopefully now you have heard it from Robin as well."

[bbfan1991]

Liverpool clash still top

Manchester United and Liverpool still merits the highest billing in English football, according to David Moyes.



United can dent the second-placed Merseysiders’ title hopes with victory at Old Trafford on Sunday, a fact that will add more spice to what is always a keenly-contested encounter.

Manchester City’s rise in recent seasons has elevated the importance of the crosstown derby for many Reds but as far as Moyes is concerned, Liverpool remains the big one.

"I think it’s the biggest game in the Premier League," the manager told journalists. "There has been great history between the two clubs over a long period.

"Every game of football is important and any game that features United and Liverpool is massively important.

"[Winning on Sunday] would be a big boost. It would be an important three points. We’ve played them twice this year and they’ve been tight games."

Asked if it was accurate to say Liverpool are favourites to win on Sunday, Moyes replied: "It may well be. Their league position suggests they’re ahead of us and they possibly do come here as favourites.

"Liverpool are having a very good season. They’re our next game at home and we have to do all we possibly can to beat them. We’ve got big games coming up this month so it will be important."

Liverpool are seven points behind Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea with a game in hand but Moyes insists he’s not motivated by the potential to stop them winning the title.

"Our motivation is to make sure we keep progressing," he said. "I think we’ve played well in recent weeks with the exception of Olympiacos. We’ve been progressing and improving.

"Continuing to improve is the most important thing for me and we want to see signs of that. I see signs of it in training. The players are looking well and sharp."