UCL: Inter Milan vs Manchester United - 25th Feb 2009: UNITED COULD NOT FIND THE GOAL AT ITALY

It was a very fast paced football played at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Possession was pretty much balanced put but it was United who had the best chances of the game during the first 20 minutes of the encounter.

Ronaldo's header following a corner kick almost gave the champions the lead but Julio Cesar was up to the task at that time. So did Giggs' chance on the 26th minute after beating the last man of Inter's defence but his shot just went straight towards Cesar. Cristiano Ronaldo's second free kick attempt also almost gave United the away goal that they desperately needed but the super drive of Roanldo's right foot was saved brilliantly by Cesar yet again.

It was all United from 20 minutes onwards winning every free kick, making every passes count, but they just could not muster that one goal needed.

The second half started very differently from how the first half ended for United. The Red Devils just wasn't that much with pace, probably due to the extremely fast tempo during the first half. Other than that, there's pretty much nothing to report. Rooney came in on the 80th minute, but other than getting an unfair yellow card, that was all he could do for United.

Final Score:
Inter Milan (0) vs Manchester United (0)

EPL: 21st February 2009 - Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers: UNITED WITH ANOTHER WIN!

United started the match against Blackburn strongly. As expected, Wayne Rooney made the starting lineup and Fergie's choice proved to be incisively spot on when Rooney scored his 4th goal in 4 games in between his injury. A lovely pass from Nani from the right flank was the key factor for Rooney's goal on the 23rd minute.

After 22 hours of not conceding a single goal, United had to accept the fact that an opposition goal was coming sooner or later. In this case, it was in this game (32nd minute) when Santa Cruz scored a beautiful right footer towards a pretty much open goal mouth after Kuszczak and Rio Ferdinand could not stop the big Striker from producing Blackburn's leveller.

The English champions could have gone 2-1 up on the 44th minute after a corner from Nani arrives on Evans' head and it went into Blackburn's goal mouth however, the referee disallowed that goal blowing the whistle for a foul against the United young defender instead. Replay suggested the goal was legitimate. Oh well.

A fierce free kick goal from Cristiano Ronaldo gave United a massive boost 60 minutes in. A foul by Andrews on Evra right on the left side of the penalty box gave the Portuguese the opportunity to take United 1 goal ahead and that he did. Ronaldo exhibited the skill which made him adored by United fans all over the world.

Manchester United really have the superiority in possession and shots on goal on each and every games they played this season. With a superb team like this and a perfect team understanding, it wouldn't be surprising if Man Utd wins 4 trophies this season.

Final Score
Manchester United (2) v Blackburn Rovers (1)

Goals Video Highlights for United

Rooney 23"


Ronaldo 60"

LATEST NEWS - AS OF 21st FEB 2009

1. Wayne Rooney will start the game against Blackburn tonight - Fergie.
2. Gary Neville has signed a new contract which will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2010.
3. Anderson is back on the training ground. He may be available to play in the Carling Cup final.

EPL: 18th Feb 2009 - Manchester United vs Fulham: UNITED WIN BIG AGAIN

United was on a quest to be way clear ahead of the pack with this one against Fulham. As well, with Van der Sar's clean sheet quest to be Europe's longest clean sheet holder record was on course.

Having left out Berbatov and Tevez few days back against Derby in the FA Cup, both the strikers starts up front and Ronaldo is back where he belongs. The English champs started the first 10 minutes with pace but nothing serious really came out of it.

Not until the 11th minute that is, when a typical United corner kick reaches Scholes' right foot outside the centre of the penalty box and squashes his drive towards Schwarzer goal. The Fulham goalie manages to get a hand to the shot but somehow the ball rolls in the line amazingly. 1-nil to United thanks to a Carrick corner kick plus some classic Scholes right footer. Manchester United dominated the whole pitch from then onwards and managed to get their second through Dimitar Berbatov's easy tap in. The build up for that goal was beautifully crafted as the passing technique of United could really be seen prior to the goal.

The first half ended with strings of chances for United, including a second disallowed goal for offside.

The second half started rather slowly for United during the first 10 minutes, giving away cheap possession, though nothing serious was done. Wayne Rooney was introduced on the 60th minute mark as he made his comeback from a rather long injury haul. Berbatov gave way. Not long following his entrance, Rooney scored a goal and made United even more comfortable. Credit goes to Park for his shot-cum-pass.

Another win for United, which seals their superiority on the top of the league table and another clean sheet for Van der Sar.

Final Score: Manchester United (3) v Fulham (0)

Video Highlights

Scholes 11"


Berbatov 30"


Rooney 63"

UNITED WILL FACE EITHER SWANSEA OR FULHAM FOR THE FA CUP QUARTERFINAL

Manchester United has been drawn against either Swansea or Fulham on the weekend of 7th March 2009. The only bad news about this is that Manchester United will be away against any of these two teams.

UNITED THROUGH TO FA CUP QUARTER FINALS WITH EASY WIN - FA CUP 15th February 2009: Derby County vs Manchester United

The third meeting between Derby County and Manchester United in the last 6 weeks took place at their 5th round FA Cup encounter. Evans, Ferdinand and Evra was expected to start after having injuries and start they did. The weird thing for United this time around was that I could not tell who was playing up front. Berbatov, Rooney and Tevez were not on the starting lineup so it was pretty much a guess between Ronaldo, Park and Giggs.

Fletcher had a decent chance twelve minutes in when a slick passing play between Fletch, Ronaldo and Giggs ended back on Fletch's right foot. But his drive went straight towards Bywater. United's finest effort came on the 29th minute, when Nani striked a right footed unstoppable shot. 1-nil for the red devils. It was not the end for United then, when Ronaldo's free kick ricochets off the wall and gave Gibson the opportunity to score, which he did sublimely with a low right foot drive.

3 minutes inside the second half, it could not get any better than a Ronaldo goal. A typical Ronaldo goal who connected a corner kick with his big head of his. 3- nil up and United were cruising to the 6th round with more than 40 minutes to go. Derby Counnty did get one goal back on the 56th minute with an Addison header. The action packed game did not end there and Welbeck's introduction to the game provided him with the opportunity to score United's fourth goal.

A comfortable win and United gets through to the last 8 without any problems whatsoever.

Final Score
Derby County (1) vs Manchester United (4)

Nani's Goal - 29th Minute




Gibson's Goal - 44th Minute




Ronaldo's Goal - 48th Minute




Welbeck's Goal - 81st Minute

Ferdinand, Evra and Evans Available For Derby County

Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Jonny Evans are all set to be available for United's FA Cup match against Derby County.

Wayne Rooney on the other hand would not be ready as he is still nursing a hamstring strain.

RYAN GIGGS SIGNS ON ONE MORE SEASON AT UNITED

Ryan Giggs has put pen on paper and will be available for United until the end of the 2009/2010 campaign.

Giggs said, "This is an exciting young team and the spirit is great in the dressing room. I want to be a part of that and achieve even more success."

Sir Alex Ferguson also paid tribute to the living United legend, stating, "Ryan is a true professional of the game,".

"His lifestyle, the way he looks after himself, his desire to always want to win is a credit to him and also an inspiration to any young kid who wants to become a footballer.

"He is like a young boy in the way that he plays and, although he wants to play every game, he understands that by using his experience when it matters is a benefit to him and the team.

"It would be easy for him to be complacent after all he has achieved but he isn't and that speaks volumes of why the club wanted to extend his services and use that experience."

Park Leveller Helps Sout Korea Stay Top Of Group

80 minutes in, South Korea was still trailing Iran's 1 goal lead. With nine minutes to go, Park Ji Sung snatched a late equaliser, giving the Koreans a huge point at Azadi Stadium, Iran. The United midfielder helped S.Korea maintain its top position for the AFC World Cup Qualifying round.

West Ham v Manchester United 8th Feb 2009 - Another Clean Sheet, Another 1 - Nil Win

Twelve Premier League clean sheets in a row for Manchester United and they go back to the top of the table after a workmanlike performance, enlightened by a Ryan Giggs special.

The Welshmen slotted in United's again 1- Nil win away from home. Giggs put United ahead on the 62nd minute after a subsequent play following a corner. Scholes found Giggs on the left flank alone, unmarked and Giggs passed 2 West Ham players to release a low right foot drive pass Robert Green.

United were still without Rooney and Evra and were rather unconvincing against the hammers this time around. West Ham looked to be the more composed side and they did manage to get 14 attempts towards Van der Sar's goal mouth. Despite United's ineffectiveness in possession, Sir Alex only did one substitution, Tevez for Park.

Nonetheless, Manchester United picked up the win and goes back on top after Liverpool overtook United 24 hours ago.

West Ham (0) v Manchester United (1)

Ryan Giggs Goal Video

Carrick & Rio named in Capello's England squad for Spain Friendly

Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand are in Fabio Capello's England Squad List for the international friendly against Spain on February 11.

Spain, unbeaten in 28 matches over the last two years, have usurped Brazil at the top of the FIFA World Rankings and will prove to be a stern test for Capello's impressive progress with the national side since taking over 13 months ago.

Tevez Driving in UK without a Valid License

And his Bentley Continental GT Speed is impounded. He was initially stopped for having a rather illegal dark tint on his car's windows.

Funny boy...

6 February 1958 - Darkest Day for the Red Devils

On 6 February 1958, a charter plane carrying 44 people crashed after refuelling at Munich Airport.

The accident claimed 23 lives, among them eight Manchester United players and three club officials.

***Extracts from manutd.com:

February 6th will forever be circled on the calendars of everyone connected with Manchester United.

On that day in 1958, the darkest day in United's history, 23 people - including eight players and three members of the club's staff - suffered fatal injuries in the Munich air crash.

Flying back from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade, the team plane stopped in Germany to refuel. The first two attempts to take off from Munich airport were aborted; following a third attempt, the plane crashed.

Twenty-two of the people on board died instantly, while Duncan Edwards - one of the eight victims from the team - died 15 days later as a result of the injuries he sustained.

The tragedy is an indelible part of United's history, as is Sir Matt Busby overcoming his injuries to build another great team which won the European Cup 10 years later.

Roger Byrne (28), Eddie Colman (21), Mark Jones (24), David Pegg (22), Tommy Taylor (26), Geoff Bent (25), Liam Whelan (22) and Duncan Edwards (21) all died, along with club secretary Walter Crickmer, trainer Tom Curry and coach Bert Whalley.

Eight journalists died - Alf Clarke, Tom Jackson, Don Davies, George Fellows, Archie Ledbrook, Eric Thompson, Henry Rose, and Frank Swift who was a former Manchester City player. Plane captain Ken Rayment perished, as did Sir Matt's friend Willie Sanitof. Travel agent Bela Miklos and passenger Tom Cable also died.

We will never forget.