Transfers completed for the winter window FA Cup pics. #mufc

The window closes and United have signed just a couple of players having allowed a few to leave at the same time.  Ravel Morrison is the most surprising and has caught the headlines all week.  It seems that United failed to get through to the troubled young man.  I'm not sure if he wanted to get away from Manchester or whether United have just had enough of his crap antics.

Over the last few years Morrison seemingly survived Fergies wrath even though he brought bad press on a regular basis.  From court appearances to public shows of dissrespect the lad seemed determined to destroy his United career.  And it now appears that the predicted premature end has arrived.  I only hope this isn't the beginning of the end for Ravel because his potential is incredible.  Here's a youtube video that'll make you sad.

Transfer ins and outs

All talk, no action? Not quite.
Although this year's January transfer window failed to yield the sort of spectacular deadline-day signings the Premier League witnessed in 2011, there were still plenty of moves made and money exchanged.
Manchester United, too, was involved in its fair share of business. When the window slammed shut – it never merely closes – at 23:00 GMT on Tuesday night, the Reds could tot up nine departures (four permanent), one arrival and a surprise retirement U-turn.
Of course, set against the 57 different players that were tipped to be either coming or going during the window, that figure seems small. But, as The Gossip – ManUtd.com's rolling round-up of all the speculation and rumour-mongering – continues to prove, you shouldn't believe everything you read.
This much is certainly true, though: Darron Gibson (Everton), Mame Biram Diouf (Hannover 96), Ravel Morrison (West Ham United) and Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City)
have been sold, while Federico Macheda (Queens Park Rangers), John Cofie (Royal Antwerp), Joshua King (Hull City), Oliver Norwood (Coventry City) and Scott Wootton (Nottingham Forest) have landed loan deals until the end of the season.
The arrival? That's Frederic Veseli, a promising young Swiss defender the Reds have landed from crosstown rivals Manchester City. And who can forget Paul Scholes' reinstatement to the first-team squad? The 37-year-old midfielder, missing football more than he could ever anticipate, came out of retirement in early January and has pledged to remain part of Sir Alex's plans until at least the end of the season.
It's also worth noting that young goalkeeper Sam Johnstone (Scunthorpe) and defender Ritchie De Laet (Norwich City) returned from loans during January and will now continue their footballing education at Old Trafford. manutd.com

We have also signed a Swiss defender who captained the national side during the U-17 World Cup last year.. The 19-year-old centre-back, who plays for Switzerland Under 20s, will link up with Warren Joyce's Reserves after making his name in City's Academy side.

I'm travelling to Chelsea this weekend for what should be a top game, we're in good form,  John Terry just lost the armband from England and Ashley Cole is suspended.  I am quietl;y confident that we will improve on our not so great record there. i can't wait.  Meanwhile here are a few pics from the Anfield FA Cup tie.  Thanks to HQworld.net

It looks like Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Luis Nani and Tom Cleverley will all be back in the squad at weekend but unfortunately Anders Lindegaard is out for a month with ankle ligament damage.

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Patrice Evra to play at Anfield. #mufc

First of all I'd just like to say that I haven't given up blogging but I have been very poorly the last week.
I've probably sweated a stone of liquids out of my body, every morning when I wake up I have had a pool of sweat under my body.  It's as disgusting as it sounds and I have actually been freezing cold all the while.
Well I will be travelling to Anfield on Saturday no matter what I feel like!

I wouldn't miss this match for anything,  thousands of United fans in the Liverpool slums!  It's gonna be a top day out win or lose.  I can't really predict the outcome of this match because it's one of the only games in the season that Liverpool really shine in.  They seem to care more about beating United than they do winning the league.  Week in week out they put in shambolic performances, 'kin King Kenny (KKK) has all the hallmarks of an 80's manager and signed 80's players to suit. (Caveman Carrol)  However they have managed some excellent results this season, the desire they showed against City in the two Carling Cup matches was palpable but then they continue the spiral into mediocrity against the leagues lesser teams.

I suppose Uniteds' Premier League era dominance and their hilarious fall from grace only helps to reinforce the fact that it's the biggest game of the season for Liverpool year after year!  I mean ffs they haven't been to Wembley for 16 years.

Mike Phelan has told the press the Patrice Evra will play for United in the Saturday FA Cup tie at Anfield.
well it's gonna be interesting to see how the racist Liverpool fans behave this weekend.  After the unbelievable series of events and PR own goals that KKK and his clan have made over the Suarez debacle one can only guess as to what's gonna happen this weekend.  This surely has to be the most eagerly anticipated tie of the season.

Here's what Andy Cole, United legend had to say when interviewed by manutd.com

Cole: Anfield win is overdue

Manchester United legend Andy Cole believes the Reds’ league win over Arsenal points the way to FA Cup glory at Anfield this weekend.
The former striker feels the current players should be confident after beating the Gunners 2-1 in their own backyard and is willing Sir Alex Ferguson’s men to extend the winning streak at Liverpool’s expense.
“Look at the way we performed against Arsenal – if we go to Anfield and play like that, then we’ve got to be confident,” Cole told ManUtd.com. “Liverpool have been struggling for form recently, and if we play like we did at Arsenal then I can’t see why we can’t get a very positive result.”

Cole was speaking before Liverpool completed a two-legged win over Man City in the Carling Cup semi-final. All square on the night means the Manchester clubs’ three trips to Anfield so far this term have all ended evenly – City, like United, drew 1-1 there in the league. In fact, the Reds haven't beaten Liverpool away in four years. Cole feels it’s time for his old club to buck that trend and book a place in the next round of the Cup.

“We’re long overdue a good result at Anfield,” Cole told us. “I thought we played well there earlier this season and Liverpool aren’t scoring too many goals at the moment. I think we can go there with a real sense of belief.”
Even though United will have more supporters inside the ground than usual - due to a greater away-ticket allocation for FA Cup ties - Cole still feels the partisan home fans present a challenge.

“Even if you’ve got five or six thousand away fans there, you’ve still got to silence the thirty-odd
thousand Liverpool fans by keeping the ball and playing the way that United play,” he advised. “Liverpool will be very worried about us because they can see we're in good form. But we need to silence their crowd.”
Cole is a past master at quietening The Kop, having bagged a few goals there for United.
“When I was in the team I used to love playing at Anfield,” he reminisced. “I was very fortunate that the manager always used to play me against Liverpool because I always seemed to get myself a goal there. I don’t know what it was. It’s a special arena that always used to bring the best out of me.”

The former number nine did his personal damage in league visits to Liverpool, but he also has experience of helping to beat United’s arch-rivals in the FA Cup – in the 1996 final at Wembley and later at Old Trafford, during a daunting run to the 1999 final.

“That year we were in the ascendancy, we feared no-one,” said Cole, reflecting on '99. “We always believed that whoever we played against, we could always knock them over. Even if we were a goal behind going into the last few minutes, we’d still beat teams. That’s how it was when we beat Liverpool in the Cup that year. We were knocking on the door for 85 minutes and then finally the goals came and we won the game.
“If you’re going to win the Cup then you’re going to have to knock over the tough teams. If you do that in the earlier rounds, hopefully it won’t be as tough if you reach the final.”

Here are some images from the Arsenal away match thanks to HQworld.net, it was a very physical game and what I mean by that is Rooney and Nani were kicked all over the pitch and the referee was a complete utter c@#t.  Song led with the elbow to tag Rooney on the jaw, Nani went off injured after a tackle from behind as did Welbeck.  I hope we get some guys back for Saturday.

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HQ images from QPR away match. #mufc

My trip to QPR was a good one.  I travelled down to London the night before and stayed in a hotel.  I must say I was a bit rough for the game as it was a bit of a late night around town.  I enjoyed the game anyway even if it was freezing cold.

Here are some images from HQworld.net and the BBCnews match report:

Manchester United maintained the pressure on Manchester City at the Premier League summit with a comfortable win against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Wayne Rooney set them on the way to a victory that restored them to the top of the table - if only for a few hours - with a header inside the first minute.
And after United missed a succession of chances and were denied by QPR keeper Radek Cerny, Michael Carrick settled an entertaining encounter and gave them the winning margin their vast superiority deserved with his first goal in 70 games for United, shortly after half-time.

Ferguson thinks United were 'wasteful'

QPR were tenacious but were eventually outclassed by United's greater quality, as Sir Alex Ferguson's side continued their rehabilitation from their shock Champions League exit with a second successive league win to maintain their pursuit of a 20th title.

With Darren Fletcher ruled out for the foreseeable future through illness, Carrick was paired with Phil Jones in central midfield. And the versatile England teenager could also have got on the scoresheet in a powerful and impressive performance, hitting the woodwork and being halted by Cerny after a surging run.
United still showed occasional signs of frailty in defence without injured captain Nemanja Vidic and with Patrice Evra particularly vulnerable, but they ultimately carried far too much power for QPR, especially with Rooney restored to his familiar attacking role after a spell in midfield.

The visitors were unchanged from the win against Wolves - but had the lift of the early return of Javier Hernandez on the bench after suffering an ankle injury in the recent win at Aston Villa.

It was Rooney who made the instant impact as he stole in on Antonio Valencia's cross to send a downward header beyond the reach of Cerny in the opening seconds to subdue a typically vibrant atmosphere inside Loftus Road.

United's slick passing was proving too much for QPR in the early exchanges and Cerny needed to dash off his line to block Danny Welbeck after he was played in by Nani.
QPR, however, showed real reserves of resilience to dig their way back into a match that looked well beyond them at the start, with striker Heidar Helguson taking advantage of weakness in United's defence as he headed Joey Barton's cross just over.

For all the typical endeavour of Warnock's side, it was United who showed thrust going forward as they created a succession of chances before the interval.
Jonny Evans headed on to the bar from a corner, while Cerny saved QPR again after 28 minutes when he dived at the feet of Jones after Rooney's incisive pass sent him racing clear.

We need two or three more players - Warnock

Cerny, heroic in QPR's defeat at Liverpool last week, was in outstanding form again as he demonstrated agility and sharp reflexes to save from Valencia as he looked certain to add United's second.
QPR refused to go under in the face of United's attacking threat and created opportunities of their own as the interval approached. United keeper David de Gea blocked Helguson's shot with his legs before Jay Bothroyd's low cross flew agonisingly beyond the stretching Jamie Mackie.


United were in no mood to let any more chances slip away - and they duly punished QPR nine minutes after the break, with more than a little help from the Londoners.
Carrick dispossessed Barton with ease and advanced unchallenged towards the area before scoring with a low shot that Cerny should have made a better attempt to keep out.

It was a rare, albeit vital, blemish on Cerny's performance and he was soon distinguishing himself again with a spectacular save from Welbeck, who was promptly removed and replaced by Hernandez.
QPR, understandably, were showing signs of deflation and Jones almost increased their lead further only to strike a post, before Cerny was the barrier once more to save from Nani.

Adel Taarabt and DJ Campbell were introduced in a double change by Warnock as time ran out and created their side's best chance of the game. Taarabt's cross should have been converted by the striker, who somehow put his effort off target from right in front of goal.
It was United's final moment of anxiety - and with the door left ajar in the title race by Manchester City's first defeat of the season at Chelsea on Monday, United will be delighted with another important victory.

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Injuries add to the pain of failing to reach the semi's. #mufc

Another bunch of injuries to add to my list of gripes this week.  It's not been a good one.  Last weekend the injury list seemed to be shrinking as players returned from a variety of injuries.  However, last night was a real injury nightmare:  Rafael Da Silva has recently returned from injury only to be subbed in the game due to a new injury.    His twin brother who is also injury prone had to limp off the pitch in the first half.  I cannot believe how many times the twins have been injured, they seem to have the worst fortune ever.  Dimitar Berbatov was also added to the injury list last night,  he was seen wearing a foot cast/brace later in the evening.

So aside from the injury list growing, I am a bit depressed due to our recent results and performances.  We seem to have taken our foot right off the pedal and I hope we can retrieve some urgency in our play.  Last night against Crystal Palace we moved the ball slowly through the midfield and there was a real lack of movement from our midfield and attacking players.  I felt so depressed watching that game.

It was a similar story against Newcastle and we paid the price in that game also.  Even though from where I was stood Newcastle should never have been awarded a penalty the linesman imagined he saw a foul and mis-lead the referee enough for him to change his original and correct decision.

Anyway, next stop is Villa Park on Saturday and I will be there singing my heart out as usual.  I have just decided to do the Fulham trip on the 17th of December also.  That should be pretty awesome and I'm gonna stay overnight in London just to make sure I have plenty of shandy drinking time!

Here are some HD images from the Newcastle game at Old Trafford last Saturday:

Images from HQworld.net

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Swansea City 0-1 Manchester United Videos #mufc

I woke up late on Saturday morning so I had to rush about like a fool before getting to the meet up point for my coach.  I managed to get sorted and meet my pals just about in time and the coach arrived at the same time as we did.  We were on our way to Cardiff for a few hours, we were gonna spend 3 hours or so down there and then get back on the coaches and head into Swansea.  We arrived in good time and there was a buffet laid out for us, the very nice bar-staff served decent quality and favourably priced beers as well as supplied us with some of what were the best steak pies I think I've ever tasted.  I think me and my mates munched 10 of them before hitting the buffet!   






Once all the lads were fully fuelled on beer and pies we headed back to the coaches and hit the motorway again.  All in all we probably spent 4 hours travelling down to the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.  Once we were within a few miles of Swansea the Police escort picked us up and from there our 2 coaches were guided by Police motorcyclists to the away car-park.  All traffic was kept out of our way,  side roads and round-abouts were blocked by more police and we sailed right into the ground.  The Welsh coppers had things better organised than when we travelled to Leeds, they made sure there were no traffic jams to hold us up.  In Leeds at Elland road we went from the motorway exit-slip-road  to the ground on foot due to the traffic jams and the police were not aware of what was happening untill we were 30 metres away from 1000+ Leeds fans.  
So I had a hot-dog and lemonade before heading to the upper tier.  The Swansea fans were very loud, maybe the loudest ground I've been to this season and it was a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish.  I really wish there had been a few goals in the game as it would have been even louder had Swansea gotten a goal.                                                                                                                                 


                                                                                               
The game itself was fairly low-key and I was happy to see another clean sheet.  United have been less expressive in their play lately and although I have expected more from our front 6 players it's good to see 5 clean sheets in a row.  We still conceded possession too easily and frequently in the middle of the pitch and although Ji Sung Park was good at winning it back for us we really should have killed the game in the first half but we didn't take advantage of the momentum we built early on.

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Away trip: Swansea Vs Manchester United #mufc #soccer #football #images

I have changed my mind, I'm going to travel to Swansea now so I should have some pictures for you guys when I'm back.  I couldn't wait till the Aston Villa game so me and a few friends will be making our way down the motorway to the Liberty Stadium.  It's a bit of a trek but I think the atmosphere will make it worthwhile.

I am glad that a few of our guys have had a rest during the break for international friendlies. Wayne Rooney in particular, and I hope it's given some of the lads on our injury list a chance to recover.

Wayne Rooney missed out on the friendly match that England played but Phil Jones and Danny Wellbeck were amongst the players who managed to defeat the World and European Champions Spain at Wembley.  Both gave solid performances and finished the game injury free so I'm very happy.

Here are some high quality images from Manchester United Vs Sunderland F.C.  There are also images of Sir Alex Ferguson and the ceremony in which it was announced that The North Stand will be renamed The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand.  I had a tear in my eye as I stood there thinking about how amazing the boss is.  It was really that emotional for me.  I love that guy!

Images from HQworld.net

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