United's New Boy Suffers Injury Setback

Manchester United's new January signing, Ritchie De Laet, will be sidelined for one month after gaining an injury during training.

De Laet joined United from Stoke City in a transfer that came out of the blue as he had never made a single first team appearance for Stoke.

De Laet signed for Stoke City for an initial £100,000 fee, on 17 August 2007, from Belgian club Royal Antwerp who, interestingly are a 'feeder' club for Manchester United, signing a three-year deal.

In July 2008, De Laet joined Bournemouth on trial, and played his first game in a friendly against Portsmouth, a 4–1 defeat. However, he later returned to Stoke City. In October 2008, he joined Wrexham on a one-month loan deal, making his debut in a 2–0 victory over Lewes in the Conference National. He made a total of three appearances during his time at the club before his loan spell was terminated in order for him to undergo a hernia operation.

On 8 January 2009, De Laet was signed by Manchester United on a three-year contract. The fee to be paid by Manchester United will depend on De Laet's performances for the club.

De Laet did feature for Manchester United reserves against Liverpool recently, but will be unavailable for one month now due to ankle ligament problems.....Back To Home Page...

City Fans Asked To Come Forward

THE Football Supporters’ Federation has urged Stoke fans to get in touch if they believe they were wrongly issued with Section 27 orders before City’s game at Manchester United on November 15.

Greater Manchester Police forced around 80 fans to leave the city before the game and put them on coaches back to Stoke-on-Trent.

Greater Manchester Police has since apologised to a small number of those supporters and reimbursed the cost of their match tickets.

The force is also reviewing the way it uses section 27 orders.

However, publicity about the episode has led to more Stoke fans contacting the federation to claim they were also unfairly treated.

Section 27 orders allow police to remove individuals from an area for up to 48 hours if they believe there is a threat of alcohol-related crime or disorder.

However, the Football Supporters’ Federation is campaigning against the use of the orders on football supporters.

Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke has urged individual supporters to get in touch sooner rather than later, to allow the organisation to focus on its campaign.

He said: “It’s a case really that if there’s any one else there, step forward now or forever hold your peace.

“In terms of the campaign, I would say it is so far so good. But we are still some way from the finishing line.”

The Football Supporters Federation can be contacted on 08702 777777.

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Manchester United "Primed To Take The Premier League Title" Claims Sir Alex

SIR Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United are on course for another surge towards the Barclays Premier League title. Manchester United are, after all, renowned for their form once the Xmas and New Year celebrations are out of the way.

United's win against Stoke City was a gritty performance on Boxing Day, despite leaving it late to take all three points from the Britannia Stadium as Carlos Tevez converted Dimitar Berbatov's cross with seven minutes to play. The win kept Ferguson's reigning champions hot on the heels of Chelsea and Liverpool and the United boss expects his team to be much stronger in the New Year.

"If we could get to New Year's Day a couple of points adrift of the leaders we would be very happy, we expect to kick on. We'll give ourselves a great chance if we get into that position."

Ferguson was impressed with the way his players coped with the demands of playing a fired-up Stoke team just days after returning from winning the Club World Cup in Japan.

"Coming back from Japan we were worried about how it would affect the team but you could see their energy was good. There was no problem with that and they handled it very well,".

Ferguson admitted he was about to replace Tevez with South Korean winger Park Ji-Sung when the Argentine forward made the breakthrough.

"At that point I was saying to myself this could be a draw so I wanted Park on for some width. But Carlos scores important goals and he's come up trumps again."

The only downside of United's day was the absence of Rio Ferdinand. The England defender was forced to pull out just before kick-off with a recurrence of a long-term back injury.

"We have to get to the root of this because he has had this back problem too many times," Ferguson added. He'll be out against Middlesbrough on Monday. I think in maybe 10 days he should be OK.".....Back To Home Page...

Rio Ferdinand Out Of Manchester United Team For Ten Days

Rio Ferdinand will be sidelined for up to 10 days after suffering a back injury while warming up for yesterday's match with Stoke City.

Alex Ferguson said: "Rio suffered a back spasm -- he has done it a few times this year -- and will miss Monday's match against Middlesborough. We have got to try and get to the bottom of the problem. But we will manage without him. Jonny (Evans) is an outstanding player. We are fortunate to have such a talented boy to call on. At 20 he shows such maturity. He reads the game well, he uses the ball well and his pace is good. He has all the attributes of a top player."

Talking about yesterdays result, Ferguson added: "You start to worry a bit as the second half looked a bit of a stalemate. Then Dimitar (Berbatov) showed great balance and turned the defender brilliantly before playing the ball across to Carlos (Tevez) to finish it off. We were delighted about that."

Ferguson was pleased with the way his side responded and shook off any lingering effects of jet lag.

"Hopefully we will look back and say this was a significant win for us. If we get to New Year's Day and are only a point or two away, then we will have a chance, it is not easy coming here. Stoke have beaten Arsenal and gone close against Chelsea and had some good results at home. Stoke are very resilient, determined and gutsy. However there is no question it was a sending off as it was a rash challenge by their player.".....Back To Home Page...

Another Late show By Manchester United As Tevez Nets The Winner

Carlos Tevez secured three Barclays Premier League points for Manchester United in another late show against 10-man Stoke at the Britannia Stadium with the only goal of the game seven minutes from time.

The Argentinean was set up by substitute Dimitar Berbatov whose volley to the far post allowed Tevez to tap home from close-range. The match had been well contested but United always looked the most likely to get the breakthrough and there task was made easier when Andy Wilkinson was sent off for the home side.

United were without captain Rio Ferdinand who was injured in the pre-match warm up and was replaced by Jonny Evans. Evans allowed Ricardo Fuller to get away from him in the opening moments of the match but the Potters striker blazed over the bar.

Manchester United then took control of the match but were met by some solid defending by Stoke who were prepared to get men behind the ball. Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney both went close with headers but United becoming visibly frustrated by their inability to break down the Stoke defence.

At the start of the second half Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen was twice called into action but managed to save well from Tevez and later from Paul Scholes. Fuller went close again for Stoke as they had a rare foray into United territory.

The striker almost benefitted from a mix up between Edwin van der Sar and John O'Shea on the edge of the box but the United duo managed to clear.

A game that had experienced some niggling incidents – notably involving Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo – then exploded once more as Wilkinson clattered into the back of Ronaldo and was sent off for a second-bookable offence. Alex Ferguson brought Berbatov on and his presence seemed to lift the visitors.

The Bulgarian headed over the bar soon after coming on before setting up Tevez for the winner seven minutes from full time. Gary Neville crossed the ball which Berbatov collected and he volley on towards the far post where Tevez was lying in wait.

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Sir Alex Notches Up 50 As Ronnie Makes It To 100

ALEX FERGUSON celebrated 50 years in the game by leading Manchester United to their biggest win of the season. Cristiano Ronaldo joined in the party with his 100th goal for the club as Stoke were swept aside. Fergie started his playing career with Queen's Park and five decades later the scene could hardly have been more contrasting as nearly 70,000 packed Old Trafford expecting an easy win.

And the fans weren't disappointed as Ronaldo sparked a goal rush with his landmark strike inside three minutes. Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and debut boy Danny Welbeck netted before Ronaldo rounded off a fine day with goal No.101. Welbeck's effort must have put an extra wide smile on the face of his boss who hit the target on his first game against Stranraer back in 1958.

Ferguson hailed Ronaldo whose campaign didn't start until September as he recovered from an ankle op. The boss said: "That is nine for the season now and I am sure he'll be into double figures soon. Overall he has scored 101 times in 253 appearances which is unbelievable for a winger.

The only negative for Fergie was seeing three players pull out of midweek internationals. Darren Fletcher went off with a knee injury after 63 minutes and misses Scotland's match against Argentina. Worried Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney failed to start against Stoke and have been pulled out of England's squad to face Germany in Berlin. Fergie is worried for the rest of his players in action, especially those travelling to Brazil. He added: "We have Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson going over there so God knows what time they will get back. It is not an easy trip and we have Aston Villa away on their return."

Ronaldo got the show on the road when Amdy Faye clattered into Carlos Tevez to provide him with a free-kick to line up. The Portuguese beat Thomas Sorensen but the keeper might have done better. Ferguson had to wait until stoppage time for the second as Carrick thundered a shot through a crowd of Stoke bodies and into the net. Missing from action was the long throws by Rory Delap that have been a feature of Stoke's play all season. He was thwarted by the steep slope around the pitch two feet from the line which prevented him launching the ball into the opposition box. Just after the restart it was game over as Berbatov controlled Tevez's driven pass and volleyed a screamer past Sorensen. Ronaldo had been on the end of some harsh treatment and the red mist descended. He took a swing at ex-Rangers defender Amdy Faye but got away with it. Sub Welbeck crashed home No.4 before a fifth came from another powerful Ronaldo free-kick. Stoke boss Tony Pulis said: "We were doing okay until United scored just before half-time. It killed us......"

Manchester United To Play Blackburn In Carling Cup Quarter Final

The draw for the quarter-finals of the
League Cup was made on Saturday.
Manchester United have been handed
a home draw against Paul Ince's team
Blackburn Rovers. The bookies now
make United favourites to lift the trophy.

Blackburn reached the last eight after a 2-1 win at
Sunderland and will travel to Old Trafford in the
week beginning December 1st.

Burnley, who recorded a miraculous win against
Chelski at Stamford Bridge have been rewarded
with a home tie against Arsenal, Derby travel to
Stoke city and Watford are at home to Spurs.

According to the bookmakers Manchester United
are now favourites to win the Carling Cup with a
best priced 15/8 with Ladbrokes. They have
Arsenal second favourites 2/1, holders Tottenham
are third best at 3/1.

United and Blackburn have met in this competition
on four occasions - United claiming two wins with
two draws. The last meeting was in the 2006 semi-
final with United claiming a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park
in the first-leg, before edging the second contest by
two-goals-to-one.

The full draw is as follows:

Stoke City v. Derby County
Manchester United v. Blackburn Rovers
Burnley v. Arsenal
Watford v. Spurs

Rooney Fit Plus Other Early Team News 'v' Stoke

Wayne Rooney is expected to recover from a minor chest infection in time for
Manchester United 'v' Stoke on Saturday. Rooney missed the 1-0 Carling Cup win
over QPR on Tuesday night, but should return along with a host of team-mates.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov and Edwin van der Sar were also not involved, while Nemanja
Vidic made a brief appearance after captain Gary Neville tired in the dying minutes of the match.
United are looking to bounce back from the Arsenal defeat, after Samir Nasri's brace sunk us last
week at the Emirates.

Stoke have a doubt over striker Mamady Sidibe, so record signing Dave Kitson is on stand-by to
start at Old Trafford. The 'human missile launcher' Rory Delap is also playing so let's hope fergie is
more prepared for his attempts on goal with his throw-ins than Arse Wenger was !! .....Back To Home Page

Stoke's Tony Pulis Full Of Praise For Fergie

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has been paying Sir Alex Ferguson a few high accolades indeed. He believes the scale of Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements will only be widely recognised when the Scot leaves the club. How very true !! Even the poxy BBC still fail to mention all the hard work United do for charity ever since Fergie stopped talking to them after they accused his brother of accepting 'bungs'. Ferguson has won 20 trophies, including two European Cups and 10 Premier League titles, during his 22-year stint at Manchester United.

United face a resurgent Stoke side on Saturday and Pulis said: "The manager is a living legend but I do not think people will give Alex real credit until he has left Manchester United. You look at their success and the way he changed things around. Perhaps he was fortunate because he was given the opportunity at the time to clear everything out. It took him three or four years to do that and then he built a base. The club has gone from strength to strength. Along with Matt Busby, they are the two greatest managers in its history."

Stoke are riding high after coming up from the Coca-Cola Championship, gaining an unexpected victory against Arsenal in the process. They are currently 12th in the table and clinched a place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup last Tuesday. Pulis is relishing the challenge of facing United and has promised they will not change their approach at Old Trafford.

"This is one of games you pick when you get promoted. We know it will be a tough game but we have got to enjoy it. We are on a good run and confidence is high." .....Back To Home Page