Manchester United Images from Otelul Galati match and training session. #mufc

It is international games this weekend so no United match for me to watch.  It should give me a chance to get myself sorted for the Swansea game.  I expect it will be a tough match for us; Swansea fans will be very noisy for this and I expect their players to be really up for it.  We still have a large list of injuries in the squad so who knows what the lineup will be.  I hope some of our lads get a rest this week; I know Fabio has made the Brazil squad so I hope he doesn't pick up an injury whilst away.

Here are a bunch of photos from the Otelul Pre match training session and the UEFA Champions League group game itself. 

Training

The match:

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Manchester United images VCs Otelul Galati and my most tragic Derby ever. #mufc

Well what a crap weekend it's been!!  I suppose we had it coming the way we started the season.  All too often we have failed to really punish teams after dominating posession and our midfielders have left our defence exposed time and again.  I feel we gave too many chances to Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Basel.  I remember Norwich wasting chances at Old Trafford too.  I hope that now we can really start to address theses issues and I am sort of glad that we are no longer in our comfort zone, I hope to see a big reaction from the players and staff at Carrington.

I am off to Everton on Saturday but I won't be at the Aldershot game unfortunately so I will have to wait until then to see our response.  I believe we will see a totally different team tonight anyway.  Hopefully Berbatov and Owen will get time on the pitch and maybe even Paul Pogba.  I need to see a few games now to rid the painful memories of the Derby from my mind! I really couldn't believe the result as at half time I thought we were watching a repeat of the Charity Shield, safe in the knowledge that we'd soon score and go on to win the game.  I couldn't have been more wrong and I was dismayed as I saw Johnny Evans sent off.  I couldn't see what happened from the Stretford End so was left guessing as to why he was sent off.  From that moment I felt we would really struggle and we did.  Oh well, it's in the history books now and hopefully won't mean much by the time Christmas comes around.

                                                                                           Here are some images from the Otelul Galati match in Romania.  From HQworld.net.

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10/17 Latest Stories, Video, and Commentary about Manchester United | BBC

Latest Stories, Video, and Commentary about Manchester United | BBC SC Otelul Galati v Man Utd October 17, 2011 at 10:58 AM Preview followed by live coverage of Tuesday's game between SC Otelul Galati and Man Utd in the Champions League. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that striker Wayne Rooney will play in Tuesday's Champions League game against Otelul Galati. Rooney was a substitute for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool. "When he came on against Liverpool he was quite bubbly. He was full of energy and enthusiasm. He was desperate to get on, which is good," said Ferguson. Rio Ferdinand has been rested for the game in Romania, but fellow defender Nemanja Vidic (calf) returns. Ferguson's decision to leave Rooney on the bench at Anfield came after the 25-year-old was given a three-match ban by Uefa that rules him out of England's group games at Euro 2012. WHO ARE OTELUL GALATI? Usually adopt a 4-2-3-1 counter attacking formation. They are strong defensively, having conceded just 25 goals in 34 league games last season, and going unbeaten at home "When the news of his ban in the European Championship came through it was a definite blow for him. He didn't expect that. None of us did," added Ferguson. "Wayne will be playing [on Tuesday]." Returning skipper Vidic is expected to partner either Jonny Evans or Phil Jones at centre-back, with Patrice Evra also likely to figure in a strong-looking defence as United look for their first group win of this season's campaign. Striker Dimitar Berbatov, who missed the Liverpool game, has travelled, but midfielder Tom Cleverley (foot) and full-back Rafael (shoulder) are out. Otelul Galati, nicknamed the Steelworkers, were the surprise winners of the Romanian championship last season - their first title - and will meet United at Bucharest's National Arena as their ground does not meet Uefa standards. United drew 1-1 against Benfica in Lisbon and shared six goals with Basel at Old Trafford in their first two games in Group C. Otelul Galati defender Sergiu Costin The Romanian side lost their two opening matches to FC Basel and Benfica, and defender Sergiu Costin is well aware that their toughest challenge lies ahead of them. "I just hope we do not make a laughing stock of ourselves. Football is not mathematics. We are hoping for a big result. It's a big team." Manchester United squad: De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Jones, Smalling, Vidic, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Nani, Park, Young, Valencia, Berbatov, Diouf, Hernandez, Owen, Rooney, Welbeck. For the latest updates and reaction to this story read Sportsday Live. Have your say on Twitter via the hashtag #bbcsportsday. Liverpool's Luis Suarez 'upset' by Patrice Evra's racism claim October 16, 2011 at 3:59 PM Luis Suarez says he is "upset" about being accused of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during Saturday's Premier League match. Luis Suarez says he is "upset" about being accused of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during Saturday's Premier League match. The Liverpool striker wrote on Twitter: "I can only say that I have always respected and respect everybody. PFA's Gordon Taylor ready to mediate in Suarez-Evra race row "We are all the same. I go to the field with the maximum illusion of a little child who enjoys what he does, not to create conflicts." The Football Association has said that it will investigate Evra's claims. The United defender alleges the incident took place during the 1-1 draw at Anfield. A Liverpool spokesman earlier told the Press Association that Suarez "categorically denied" the allegation. An FA statement read: "Referee Andre Marriner was made aware of an allegation at the end of the fixture and has reported this to the FA. "The FA will now begin making enquiries into the matter." Evra was quoted as telling French TV station Canal Plus: "There are cameras, you can see him [Suarez] say a certain word to me at least 10 times." Paul Gascoigne on Rooney, Tevez and watching Bournemouth October 16, 2011 at 1:47 PM Paul Gascoigne talks to Sportsweek's Garry Richardson about controversies involving Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and his own battles to "enjoy life without a drink". Paul Gascoigne talks to Sportsweek's Garry Richardson about controversies involving Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and his own battles to "enjoy life without a drink" - and explains how he occasionally goes to watch League One side Bournemouth. Wayne Rooney England place in doubt - Sir Geoff Hurst October 16, 2011 at 12:04 PM Sir Geoff Hurst says Wayne Rooney should not be guaranteed a return to the England team if they make it to the Euro 2012 knockout stages. Sir Geoff Hurst says Wayne Rooney should not be guaranteed a return to England's starting team if they make it to the Euro 2012 knockout rounds. The striker will miss the entire group stage after his red card in Montenegro. Hurst told BBC Radio 5 live he would "without question" take Rooney to the finals but believes others can overtake him in the pecking order. "If they did well, I think the strong argument would be not to bring Wayne back [into the starting XI]," he said. Hurst kept his place in the England team that won the World Cup in 1966 after being given a chance following an injury to fellow striker Jimmy Greaves. ROONEY'S REPLACEMENTS Name Caps Goals Gabriel Agbonlahor 3 0 Darren Bent 11 4 Andy Carroll 3 1 Peter Crouch 42 22 Jermain Defoe 46 15 Daniel Sturridge 0 0 Danny Welbeck 2 0 Bobby Zamora 1 0 And he sees similarities in the current situation, stating that the Manchester United forward's suspension means there is an opening for one of England's other strikers to follow suit. Speaking on the Sportsweek programme, Hurst, 69, said: "There is the opportunity, without Wayne, for the individual strikers to perform and ensure they play well in the first three games. "If the strikers played well and scored goals, it would be a huge decision for him [Fabio Capello] to make. "Alf Ramsey made that brave decision and many criticised him for it before the [1966 World Cup] final but it all turned out fairly well in the end." Rooney's absence is a big blow for England but Hurst expects them to reach the last eight despite being without the 25-year-old for the group stage. "We should have a good enough squad of 22 players which, with injuries and suspensions, can compete in the early rounds of a European Championship," he added. "I would be very disappointed if, even without Wayne playing, we did not qualify." The Football Association may appeal against the severity of Uefa's punishment following Rooney's red card.

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