Peterborough United are to sign 20 year-old Manchester United centre-back James Chester on a month's loan today.
James Chester is an agile, tough-tackling central defender from Warrington.
He was first spotted by United scouts playing for his local team, Winwick Athletic. James began playing for the team when he was five, when he played with boys four years older in the Under9s.
By the age of eight, United had taken an interest and invited him down for training sessions at the club. Since then he has risen through the ranks at Old Trafford and graduated from the Academy in 2007.
Chester became an integral part of the Reserves' defence in the latter half of the 2006/07season and throughout the following campaign.
James was the Reserves' top appearance maker during the 2007/08 campaign, playing a key role as the Reds ended the season with success in the Manchester Senior Cup final.
Chester will cover for Welsh international Craig Morgan who suffered a suspected broken toe during Saturday's League One defeat at Huddersfield.
2 min: The first attack for Manchester United - who, incidentally, are wearing black armbands for the 51st anniversary of the Munich disaster, which falls next Friday. Tevez, Ronaldo and O'Shea ping it around down the left, but the final ball of a crisp move is chipped through straight to Howard. Everton have barely touched the ball yet.
4 min: Fellaini clips the back of Carrick's legs just outside the Everton area. Ronaldo takes the free kick, but it's straight into the wall; Fellaini makes up for his earlier misdemeanour by spiriting the ball upfield and away from danger.
6 min: Cahill gets on the end of a long Howard punt and, running down the inside-right channel, unleashes a low shot towards the bottom-left corner. Van der Sar is forced to tip round the post, but there's no corner as Cahill is judged - incorrectly - to have been offside.
8 min: Park hits a cross from the right-hand edge of the box which somehow nearly creeps into the bottom-left corner. Howard fingertips away brilliantly, and the danger is cleared. This is a lively end-to-end start.
10 min: Some nice interchanges between Fellaini, Osman and Cahill on the edge of the United box. Fellaini looks to have sprung clear down the left, but again the offside flag goes up. The linesman is on a bit of a hair trigger today by the looks of things, because again that decision was marginal at best.
12 min: A superlative challenge by Hibbert here. Ronaldo was about to latch onto a Tevez pass down the left and scoot clear of the Everton defence, until the full-back's boot pops up to deny him.
13 min: More staunch defensive work from Everton, this time from goalkeeper Howard. Berbatov returns a poor Lescott header straight into the Everton area, and the ball ends up at the feet of Tevez, six yards out and facing the goal. It's surely the opener, but... well, think Shevchenko v Dudek at the end of extra time in the 2005 European Cup final, and that's pretty much what happens here. A wonderful save from Howard at point-blank range.
16 min: Vidic takes a smack in the mouth after smashing his face into the back of Fellaini's head, the Everton midfielder's luxurious bouffant failiing to cushion the blow.
18 min: Both teams are flinging crosses into both boxes from either side. At some point one of these keepers is going to make an almighty ricket. At the moment, however, they're both claiming tricky high balls with ease. A really open game with both teams going for it, this.
19 min: Ronaldo nearly scoots free on goal but is flagged offside. Hibbert was across to slide in just before he reached the box anyway, but that's yet another dubious decision from the linesfolk; Lescott looked to be playing him on in the centre.
21 min: Cahill nearly gets on the end of a deep free kick at Van der Sar's left-hand post. But doesn't. Still, at least Everton are getting forward regularly.
24 min: Tevez tears down the inside-right channel. Baines can't make a challenge as the United striker races into the box. Tevez dinks a ball across the front of the six-yard box. It's dangerous, and it's brilliantly cleared by Jagielka.
28 min: United are beginning to turn the screw a bit. Ronaldo has another whack at goal, a much better curling strike from the left of the D which nearly creeps in the top-left corner. Howard palms the effort over the bar. The corner is a complete waste of time. 30 min: United are flinging a lot of high balls into the Everton area. Everton are just about dealing with them, but there's a sense their opener is just a matter of time. That means their manager should take off Berbatov and replace him with Brown. Yes, I've been reading 'How Not To Lose Games But Still Alienate People: The Art of Football Management' by Rafa Benitez."
33 min: Neville rolls a simple ball straight down the middle, into the United area. For some reason Fellaini - free in the centre - lets the ball roll through his legs, when it would surely have been simple enough to trap the slowly-moving pass, turn, and have a crack at goal. United fell asleep there.
34 min: Carrick tries to hook a shot home from an acute angle on the left. His effort is just wide.
36 min: Baines bustles free down the left. He reaches the byline but his attempt to dink a cross over Van der Sar is weakly hit and the keeper snaffles the ball without fuss.
39 min: United have taken their foot off the gas a bit here. Fellaini and Baines are seeing a lot of the ball down the left at the moment.
41 min: Baines has got the better of Neville, for whom it might all be over sooner rather than later on this evidence, six or seven times down the left. If he'd managed to put in one decent cross, Everton could be a goal up. As it stands, every single time he bowls into space, his crossing is either panicky or ponderous.
44 min: GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Everton. Carrick bustles into the Everton area down the inside-left channel. Arteta nicks his ankles. Carrick attempts to stay on his feet, but it matters not: the ref points to the spot. Upon which Ronaldo places the ball and hammers it straight down the middle as Howard dives off to the right.
HALF TIME: Manchester United 1-0 Everton. Carrick has a wallop from 25 yards out. Howard makes a right song and dance about holding onto the low shot, the ball squirming towards the lurking Berbatov for a split second. And that, pretty much, is that for the first half.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United teammates spared him little sympathy after his recent Ferrari crash.
After Ronaldo wrote off his £315,000 Ferrari, his team-mates, including Anderson and Wayne Rooney, are said to have bought him a pedal car as a joke.
Ronaldo said: "I feel very fortunate to be able to play at this club with this bunch."
How embarassing for him. But he wont be too worried as a car of this value only represents three weeks wages for him. What a crazy world we live in.....Back To Home Page...
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed his intention to offer Ryan Giggs a new contract.
Giggs, 35, is coming towards the end of his latest one-year rolling contract and recently suggested he could retire at the end of the season.
But Ferguson is hoping the offer of a new contract will persuade the former Wales international to extend his record-breaking Old Trafford career.
Giggs is the club's all-time leading appearance maker after 19 years in the first team.
"Ryan will be offered a new contract of course. He has been fantastic for us this season - he seems to be getting even better with age," Ferguson told the Sunday Mirror.
"He could win the footballer of the year award and it would be fitting if he did after the career he has had.
"He seems to be one of those rare people who find that age and injuries don't catch up with them.".....Back To Home Page...
Manchester United knocked Spurs out of the FA Cup albeit by only two goals to one. But to be honest United outplayed them for long periods of time during the whole match.
Goal number one would have been a spectacular effort by Paul Scholes but as it took a deflection from Huddlestone it was marked down as an own goal. Then Carrick played a superb through ball to Berbatov who took it superbly with one touch and fired it home for United's second goal in 90 seconds after Pavlyuchenko had given Spurs a one goal lead after just four minutes.
So, a victory for United and they march onto the fifth round.
For me though, I was particularly impressed with two guys today and they share man of the match in my opinion. First was 17 year old Danny Welbeck. He was amazing. Every pass that was launched at him, he casually brought it under control and played the ball simply and acurately all afternoon. His raw talent is amazing. Even if Scholes fired on of his masterful 60 yard cross field passes to him, Welbeck just seems to stick his foot out and the ball sticks to it. He is also capable of making strong runs into the box and getting the defenders in a right frenzy.
Second man of the match is Carlos Tevez. What can I say about this guy. Along with Ji Sung Park he must be one of the most hard working guys you will ever lay your eyes on in the Premier League. Today he covered a monstrous 15.2 km or ten miles !!! Yes that's right, TEN MILES !!! Considering most of it is in fast bursts of acceleration followed by a slow jog then springting he must be immensely fit to do this. Strong - he is as strong as on ox and today he showed us what hard work is all about.
Manchester United reach the fifth roud but I was more impressed with Welbeck and tevez. Absolutely fantastic performances.....Back To Home Page...
MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is the most powerful person in British sport ahead of London Olympic Games chairman Sebastian Coe and Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour and that is official.
The Times newspaper make a Top 100 of Britains most powerful every year and they placed Sir Alex at the head of it saying: "He has been shaping our sporting lives for decades, to the extent that he is atop our summit, and the hard part is not establishing where his power starts but where it ends."
Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's billionaire owner, was listed at No.6 with footballer David Beckham seventh, England manager Fabio Capello eighth and Richard Scudamore, the chief executive of the Premier League, in 10th.
67-year-old Ferguson, who has been in charge of Manchester United since 1986, has won more trophies than any other manager in British football after early successes at Aberdeen. Currently United are world, European and English champions and lead the Premier League table.
Putting Sheikh Mansour at No.3 on the list, the newspaper said the impact of his riches 'has been seismic'. His investment in Manchester City, who reportedly made an unsuccessful bid of more than 100 million pounds (S$207 million) for AC Milan's Kaka last week, has turned the long under-achieving club into the richest in the world.
'There is every chance he will top this list next year if he achieves his goal of transforming City,' the newspaper said.....Back To Home Page...
Injury-riddled and out of form, Spurs should have no chance at Old Trafford tonight. Except that Harry Redknapp has a long history of knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup.
Currently his team Spurs are riddled with injuries and struggling at the foot of the table....
Not that Redknapp will be fazed by that. He has already beaten Manchester United with three different clubs in the FA Cup – Bournemouth, West Ham United and Portsmouth – each time against the odds.
The last victory is understood still to rankle with Sir Alex Ferguson as it denied United another treble.
"Does it?" said Redknapp with mock regret, "I'm sorry he's got upset about it but you can't win everything. I was quite pleased really, to tell you the truth."
Do Spurs have a chance of making it four for Harry or will they get a right good whooping ?
It is very rare indeed that Fergie will miss a trick but he has missed a big one with regard to this weekends FA Cup tie with Tottenham. If there is a draw between the teams there will be a replay and with United crippling injury list that is just what the doctor DIDN'T order. But if they looked at the rule book a little closer they could have saved themselves a big headache.
A little-known FA law states that clubs can agree between themselves to play 30 minutes of extra time at the end of the original tie in a bid to avoid having to play the match again.
With United manager Alex Ferguson facing a crippling injury crisis as his side chase trophies on FOUR fronts at home and in Europe the last thing he needs is a replay in London squeezed into an already packed schedule, especially with the Champions League about to resume.
Likewise, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, whose side will face United in the League Cup final, has vowed to field a "mish-mash" side for a match he described as secondary to their relegation six-pointer against Stoke City next week.
A quick glance at FA Cup Rule 12b may have spared both men the inconvenience of an unwanted extra fixture but Ferguson appeared unaware on Friday when he read out a long list of players unavailable for Saturday's tie.
The rule states that extra time can be played at the end of match if both clubs agree in writing within seven days of the draw being made and the referee is notified before kickoff.
In normal circumstances there is only extra time at the end of a replay with penalties to follow if it is still level.
"Someone has informed me that I could apply to The FA to have extra time tomorrow," Ferguson told reporters. This has come out this morning, I've never heard of this in my life.
"It's in the articles of The Association that both teams can apply to have the game decided tomorrow and notify the referee before the game.
"I'm going to speak to David Gill and ask him first of all if this is actually correct. I've never heard of it. The criticism would be that we're not adhering to the principles of the FA Cup or the spirit of it -- but why have The FA got it in there?"
An FA spokesman said on Friday that the rule has not been invoked from the first round proper onwards for at least 50 years but is sometimes used in preliminary rounds to spare amateur clubs huge travel costs.....Back To Home Page...
Nicolas Anelka obviously still claims Chelsea can win the Premier League despite Manchester United's brilliance. The Frenchman reckons that league leaders United are ‘brilliant’, but he believes that Chelsea’ last-ditch victory over Stoke will boost his troops’ morale.
Anything is possible in this league as we have seen in the past and the league's top scorer assumes that The Blues feel good enough to add another trophy to their collection. Anelka has said that finishing at the top of the goalscorer’s table is ‘secondary’ to him, as he is focused on collective targets.
Anelka, speaking to 'Les Dessous du Sport' said: “Against Stoke, we scored two goals in a short space of time to claim the victory. Winning after adversity is always positive. It proves that what goes around comes back around. This game can boost our confidence regarding our title chances. Manchester United are top. The Reds are hard to beat, they are really brilliant. But it’s still possible. Okay, I haven’t scored in The Premier League lately. But I scored in the FA Cup. Besides, I was played on the right wing in some games. I scored goals in the past. What I want to do is win titles. Happy days if I can finish top scorer, but it’s secondary.” .....Back To Home Page...
Nani has admitted that he struggled to find his form in the opening part of this season for Manchester United. However, he has made a bright start to the new year having got his chance to shine in a few games and he scored with a spectacular strike in the Carling Cup victory against Derby on Tuesday.
That goal set United up for a place in the final at Wembley on March 1 when they will face Tottenham after their nail-biting win over Burnley on Wednesday night.
Nani is looking forward with confidence to the coming weeks and months.
"Last season was good. I was pleased with my games and my contribution to the team," he said in an interview in the Manchester Evening News. This season I hoped it would be better. When I get my chances my aim is to do better than I did at the start of the season. I would like to play more times but it hasn't been the same as last season. I am still confident. It is difficult when you play one game and then are out for two matches. You want to stay in for a run of matches. You really need three, four or five games for your confidence to build and your fitness to be right. You can do anything when your confidence is high."
Personally I have not been over-impressed with him so far. I don't doubt he has skill in abundance and he has the desire to win. But in a squad as good as Manchester United have you must grab your chance when it comes and perform out of your skin. The failure to do so will result in you just slipping back into oblivion and becoming a bit part player for weeks on end.
Can Nani become a first team regular. I have doubts for him but wish him the best of luck.
Two years ago I was foolish enough to make the suggestion that Ryan Giggs might like to consider retirement as an option. That he was too slow, his dribbling skills and his endurance had left him, he was finished as we had younger players who could do his job.
Since then he scored the winner against Wigan last year to secure the Premier League win for Manchester United. He then scored the winning penalty in Moscow against Chel$ki to secure the Champions League.
Last week against Chel$ki again, he was immense, he was awesome and add to this a further 100 superlatives. HE OWNED CHELSEA BIG TIME.
So I apologise Mr Giggs, even at his age he has a lot more to offer than players 12 years younger than him.
Micheal Carrick said of him recently:
Ryan is as motivated as anyone in the dressing room, that is why he has been here for so long and achieved so much. If you win a league title, a lot of players might think 'that is not bad, I will settle for that.' But you can't get away with that here and Ryan is the obvious example of that.
"As players coming in you look at Ryan, see how motivated and determined he is and realise that is the way to be. He commands the respect of everyone in the dressing room. People look up to him. It is not so much asking his advice, it is to see what it takes to be a success in the game."
Manchester United's new signing Zoran Tosic (pictured left signing for Manchester United) could make his debut in tomorrow night's Carling Cup Semi Final second leg against Derby County.
Tosic was unveiled last week following his £8m move from Partizan Belgrade and the United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, initially suggested it would be the end of February before the 21-year-old was ready to meet the physical demands of playing in England.
But Ferguson appears to have had a change of heart and is considering naming the winger, who is a regular for the Serbian national side, in his squad to face the Rams, who hold a one-goal advantage from the first leg.
As Manchester United were outplaying, out thinking and totally outclassing a lacklustre Chelsea side last week, the United fans at Old Trafford and the 11 on the pitch were making all the right noises – something Rafael Benitez had failed to do on the previous Friday.
Benitez had claimed at his press conference that United’s result against Chelsea would not matter ‘if we (Liverpool) win at Stoke’. Unfortunately for Benitez, Liverpool failed to beat Stoke (17th in the table) for the second time this season and United went on to thrash Chelsea.
United’s fans and players seemed inspired in what was arguably our strongest performance all season. It was as if they had been given the motivation and inspiration to show the rest of the Premiership exactly which team are the Champions. Coincidentally this came after Benitez’s untimely press conference.
For the best part of two months it has seemed like Liverpool fans have been becoming increasingly confident, smug and celebratory as their team has occupied top spot. Despite only being January, the majority of Liverpool fans have been happy to announce how sorry United would be in May and how disappointed Fergie was going to be that he hadn’t equalled Liverpool’s 18 titles. It was after watching Benitez’s press conference in full and having noticed the premature celebratory mood from Liverpool fans that I thought to myself that when United inevitably lift the title in May, this years Premiership title will be the sweetest yet.
Then I got the feeling I wasn’t the only one. In between the ironic cheers for John Terry, Old Trafford roared and asked; ‘Are you watching Merseyside?’
At his press conference Benitez told the waiting press what he thought about Mr Ferguson as he had scrawled a few ‘facts’ on a piece of A4 which he wanted to share. Admittedly, the timing could have been great, Liverpool could have battered Stoke and United could have lost or even drawn.
Upon first seeing the ‘Rafa rant’ I thought aspects of it were quite funny, particularly the suggestion the Fergie should compile the fixtures and send them to other Premier League managers. I am sure even the most ardent supporter would have chuckled at some of his comments. Then, the hilarity of it really began to sink in as Stoke held Liverpool to a goalless draw the following day.
The suggestion made by the press that Benitez was having a Kevin Keegan moment is perhaps a little inaccurate - inaccurate because Keegan could be forgiven. He was caught at a highly emotional moment without the opportunity to prepare a detailed response like Benitez did. He exploded in a rash moment of madness. The fact that Benitez went to the effort of finding examples, scenarios and ‘facts’ shows the man has been truly affected by the mind games from the master.
This carefully documented tirade would surely not have come from a man who is confident that his table toppers will continue their excellent form and win the Premier League. The bait laid by Ferguson should have been brushed of with a simple ‘we are top of the league, end of story’. If Benitez would have left the press conference after his first remarks then his credibility would have most definitely remained intact. Claiming Ferguson was nervous that Liverpool are top of the league would have sufficed in gaining an advantage in the mind-games stakes. As it is, Benitez has heaped pressure upon himself and his team by embracing Ferguson so early in the season.
While United have endured a disjointed spluttering start, Liverpool have, the majority of the time, been playing their best football and have built a small advantage at the top. Recently it had been suggested in some quarters that United were scared and worried about Liverpool being top. This was probably true of the majority of United fans, but, after the annihilation of Chelsea and with Benitez seemingly back to his ‘Tinkerman’ best, United fans are now filled with a sense of anticipation and excitement.
Of the 10 Premiership trophies won since Liverpool last claimed the title, there have been a few which have stood out as being sweeter than the rest. Winning it the first time, winning it in the treble year, last years victory and the title which ended Mourinho’s seemingly unstoppable reign were all special. For me though none of these would compare with the delight United fans will have when we beat Liverpool to the title. United and Ferguson seem to be finding some form at just the right time as Benitez and Liverpool are firing blanks. I suggest Liverpool fans and Rafa Benitez make room in the record books as Mr Ferguson is coming to collect United’s 18th title and, like many other United fans, for me this one will be the sweetest………………………………Back To Home Page.
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They seem to think Bolton and Manchester United drew 1-1 yesterday.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is putting on a brave face now his team have been knocked off their f*cking perch by Fergie AGAIN!
He maintains their title bid is still on track.
United beat Bolton 1-0 on Saturday which in turn lifted them a point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand and Liverpool have the small matter of a Merseyside derby to contend with in order to take poll position again. For the next 48 hours I am a big fan of David Moyes and his team.
Benitez said: "The situation does not change, no matter what they do. We have to get three points in every single game and especially in the derby. I think it is important to understand when people talk about the title and your position in the table that I didn't expect in August to win the title in January. No-one can expect this. If you keep calm and analyse the situation you will know if you want to win the title it has to be maybe in May and to have Chelsea, Arsenal, now Aston Villa, and United in the title race is normal.
"We will try to stay there and if we cannot be [top] one week then the next week we have to think about getting three points and getting ahead again. I have a lot of confidence in my team."
More confidence than I have I'm sorry Rafa. Manchester United are renowned for putting on a prolonged good run after new year and Liverpool are famous for falling away as the season progresses. History tells us it is all over now. I feel very confident of winning the Premier League again this year. Confidence like this can often leave you with egg on your face though, but hey.....Glory Glory Man United.....Back To Home Page...
'Rafa's cracking up,' rang out around Old Trafford last Wednesday night, it was not a concerned cry from Manchester United supporters, they were merely laughing at Rafa and his recent antics in trying to upset Sir Alex Ferguson, the 'King Of The Mind Games'.
Benitez's outbursts are more an act of mental disintegration and as Gideon Haigh pointed out, this is a unique talent of the England cricket team that they were able to inflict mental disintegration on themselves rather than their opponents. Many believe Benitez did the same thing when he produced his piece of paper last Friday week, seeing it as an act of appeasement on a par with Neville Chamberlain.
Nobody knows anything and they know even less when dealing with Alex Ferguson. Last week a Sky reporter admitted that he hadn't wanted to ask Alex Ferguson his views on the latest revelations in the Patrice Evra case having already asked him about Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid. You get out while you're ahead was the general tone of his report, suggesting that while enjoying an audience with Alex Ferguson you don't want to do anything that would upset him so it was one tricky question per turn. Nobody ever feels that way in a Rafael Benitez press conference. They ask him anything they like and feel comfortable diong so. With Sir Alex they tread very carefully indeed!
At a time when Liverpool and Chelsea should be enjoying 'relative safety' from United after their trip to Japan, they find themselves both behind them as the New Year celebrations are left behind and the run-in to the season is about to begin.
Chelsea and Liverpool could have been 16 points clear of United on their return from the World Club Cup but they blew it big time. Since Japan United have won five straight league games and have not conceded a goal for ten straight matches either, equalling Chelsea's record.
The fact that United again scored a very late winner yesterday against Bolton doesn't mean they are the luckiest team in the world either as most opposition fans seem to think. Why do you think Chelsea and Manchester United do this so often and with consistency? It's because neither team will give up for one single second during a game and they will fight until the final whistle. This is why the two supposed 'luckiest' teams score so many late winners.
Against Bolton yesterday United had a hat full of chances any one of which could have gone in. It just so happens that it was a late effort from Dimitar Berbatov that won the game for them.
Now, instead of still being well clear of United after the Japan adventure, both Chelsea and Liverpool find themselves chasing them again and if you ask me, it will be a futile chase once again. To beat United you obviously must score and for the last 900+ minutes of football, no one has managed to figure out how to do this.
HULL City were so happy with the loan of Frazier Campbell they tried to buy him. That is until Spurs took him on a season long loan in part exchange for Dimitara Berbatov. Now they have come back for more in the shape of Manucho our Angolan striker.
The 25-year-old Angolan has received a work permit and will go straight into the squad for today's Barclays Premier League clash against Arsenal at the KC Stadium.
Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves was born 7 March 1983 in Luanda and is better known as Manucho. He moved from Petro Atletico to Manchester United in January 2008.Before playing a game for United, however, he was loaned out to Greek side Panathinaikos for the remainder of the 2007–08 season, due to issues with obtaining a UK work permit.Manucho received a work permit soon after returning to Manchester United for pre-season training in July 2008, and made his debut for the club in the League Cup against Middlesborough on 23 September 2008. Short of first team opportunities at Old Trafford, however, on 16 January 2009 he joined Hull City on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season. He is also a member of the Angolan national team.
Manucho is Hull's second signing of the January transfer window after Thursday's permanent capture of winger Kevin Kilbane from Wigan.....Back To Home Page...
Premier League Champions Manchester United should beat Bolton Wanderers and hit the front of the race for the title for the first time this season. They play on Saturday evening and Liverpool have a long wait until Monday night when they host ~Everton at Anfield. By then, the pressure will be well and truly on them.
Victory at Bolton Wanderers would lift United one point clear of Liverpool, who are not in action until Monday night when they host Merseyside rivals Everton.
With one game in hand, United have the chance to add to the pressure on Liverpool, who were held to a goalless draw at Stoke City in their last match. Remember also that Manchester United have played ALL the top 12 teams AWAY from home and they all must come to Old Trafford now, with the exception of Chelsea of course who had their visit last week and got a hell of a beating.
"You don't mind when you go top, but top is definitely the place to be," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. "Hopefully that's where we'll be by Saturday night."
With nine successive clean sheets United have a rock solid defence. Five of their past seven league matches have been won by 1-0. Injuries to Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra mean they will have to rearrange the team somewhat at Bolton, but with such strength in depth they will still be a handful for Bolton.
Speaking of recent injuries Fergie said: "Carlos (Tevez) limped through the second half and Jonny (Evans) limped through virtually the whole game," he said. "We will have to assess them and see how they are. We need our best team on Saturday because Bolton are a big side."
Will these two matches this weekend see Manchester United hit the front and stay there or do Liverpool have the nerve and strength of mind to come back at them?
Manchester United Football Club are plotting a move for Wilson Palacios.
The 24-year-old Honduran international has established himself as one of the best midfield players in the Premier League since arriving at Wigan Athletic.
Tottenham Hotspur have made him a top target this month, yet Harry Redknapp’s opening offer of £10million was dismissed by the JJB Stadium club.
To make matters worse for Spurs, their attempts has awoken interest from Sir Alex Ferguson, with the United boss said to be hopeful of landing Palacios for £14million.
Manchester United are off to Asia again in July for a pre-season tour this time visiting China, South Korea, Malaysia, and, for the first time, Indonesia, chief executive David Gill said on Wednesday.
The tour will actually begin on July 16 when Manchester United depart for China where they will play in a yet-to-be-decided city. After this they will move on to Seoul for a match on July 20 and then down to the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta for the first time, where they will take on an Indonesia Super League Select at the massive Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on July 24.
The European and Premier League champions wrap up the tour against a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur July 26. Vietnam offered to pay United $2.47 million for a one off game but this has been declined so no fixture for them there.
David Gill who is currently in Macau finalising the details for the tour said: "Our tours to Asia are always special, the atmosphere generated by the supporters is amazing. The club enjoys unrivalled support across the continent and it is great to give those fans the opportunity to see their heroes in action in their own country. This tour takes in some new areas with a game in Malaysia, where we haven't played since 2001, and one in Indonesia, so it promises to provide some exciting new experiences."
United are hugely popular in the region and television revenues from Premier League games shown in Asia are big, but Gill insisted they wouldn't be making significant money from the tour.
"But our presence allows us to deal and have relationships with multinational companies," he said. "That presence enables us to have that extra income which is then invested back into the club. Also it allows us to get closer to the fans."
United last toured Asia in 2007 when they visited China, South Korea, Japan and Macau but a date in Kuala Lumpur was scrapped after they found themselves embroiled in a spat with the Asian Football Confederation, which insisted no foreign team should be playing when the Asian Cup was being held in Malaysia.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson told the club website the players were already looking forward to Asia after their hugely successful trip to Japan in December when they won the Club World Cup and were treated like kings.
"The players are really looking forward to our Asia tour. For some, the Club World Cup in Japan was the first time they had experienced the passion generated by the club in Asia and they enjoyed it immensely, we know we will get terrific support in each of the locations and we will be going to put on a show for our millions of fans over there. Indonesia will be a new experience for us and one I'm especially looking forward to."
By utilising these tours to Asia as United have done, they have been able to finance their continued success off the back of the marketing income earned from these trips. Something that Liverpool failed miserably with during their time of non-stop success in the late 1970s and 1980s. We have the likes of Peter Kenyon, David Gill and Sir Alex Ferguson to thank for this, despite Kenyon moving across to Chelsea. .....Back To Home Page...
Peterborough United are to sign 20 year-old Manchester United centre-back James Chester on a month's loan today.
