Manchester United's Fixture/Injury Pile Up Gets Worse

Manchester United's clash with Everton has been moved forward 48 hours to Saturday January 31 due to Everton's FA Cup replay with Liverpool. Steven Gerrard's FA Cup derby leveller for Liverpool may have unwittingly handed Manchester United a problem.

United are without 12 senior players for Tuesday's Premier League trip to West Brom, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson to pick through his squad for a team of fit players.

Ferguson was hoping the situation might have eased in time United's next league game against Everton - with both Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown tipped to be available after long-standing back and ankle problems respectively and Park Ji-sung on the brink of a comeback from a minor hamstring complaint.

But the Old Trafford encounter with David Moyes' men will now be played 48 hours ahead of schedule - moving forward to Saturday January 31 from Monday February 2 to clear the way for Everton's FA Cup replay with Liverpool on February 4.

It robs Ferdinand, Brown and Park, or anyone else among United's walking wounded who might have had a chance of returning against Everton, of two extra days' preparation.

The late change is part of a confusing February fixture list for United.

Their remaining outstanding game against Fulham - originally postponed in August because of United's presence in the European Super Cup - has been pencilled in for February 17. But that will be dependent on neither side requiring a fifth-round replay.

In addition, United's home match against Portsmouth on February 28 has been postponed because of their appearance in the Carling Cup final the following day

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Milos Krasic

Manchester United face competition for CSKA Moscow winger Milos Krasic. Portsmouth and Porto are also showing interest in the dynamic Krasic ahead of the January market.

After starting out with his hometown side Rudar Kosovska Mitrovica, Krasic's extraordinary talent was noticed by FK Vojvodinain 1999 and he made a switch northwards at still only 14 years of age. He spent the next 4 and a half seasons in Novi Sad where he further raised his level and became the team captain.

In January 2004, Russian powerhouse CSKA came calling and Krasić was on his way to Moscow where he featured in three games during the club's 2004/05 UEFA Cup winning run, including a cameo appearance in the final. He also helped them win the 2005 Russian title. With PFC CSKA Moscow he also won the Russian Premier League in 2005 and 2006, the Russian Cup in 2005, 2006, 2008, and the Russian Super Cup in 2006 and 2007. This is the reason why some of the bigger clubs have come knocking at the door for him .....Back To Home Page

United Boys Back With A Bang !!

The hard work has already begun for the United
squad after they reported back for pre-season
training on Wednesday.

Ryan Giggs joined up with his team-mates - minus
the Euro 2008 contingent - back at Carrington for
the start of a rigorous regime ahead of the 2008
/09 campaign.

The Welshman enjoyed a six-week rest after last
season's triumphant exploits, including a relaxing
break with his family in Portugal. But he admits
that's soon forgotten once the squad's punishing
pre-season schedule begins.

"Obviously last season ended brilliantly for the
team and for myself, and it’s good to be back, but
I’m not really looking forward to pre-season training,
" he told ManUtd.com.

"Wednesday was just testing to see where your fit-
ness is at. Thursday is another treadmill fitness test
which will be quite hard, and that will start to build
things up. I’m not really looking forward to it.

But you’ve just got to get through it haven’t you?

"Long distance running gets easier as you get older,
I think, it’s just the quicker stuff that is quite hard.
But you’ve done it all before and just use your
experience to get through it."

The Reds have a hectic schedule of matches over
the coming few weeks. A United XI will travel to
Aberdeen on 12 July, before the first team squad
head to South Africa for the Vodacom Challenge.

The trip will encompass three matches against
local sides Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates
(United will play one of them twice).

On their way home to Manchester, the squad will
stop off in Nigeria on 27 July where they will face
Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth, whom they will
also be up against at Wembley in the Community
Shield on 10 August.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's testimonial clash with
Espanyol at Old Trafford takes place on 2 August
and that will be followed by two more friendlies -
first up a trip to London Road to take on Sir Alex's
son Darren and his Peterborough side. The Reds
then entertain Juventus at OT on 6 August.

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