Manchester United Fans Club

Carlos Tevez’s excellent first-half strike proved enough to give Manchester United a winning start to 2008.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were rarely at their best against a determined Birmingham outfit but the visitors never really looked like finding their way through a defence that has conceded just twice on home soil all season.

The beauty of Tevez’s 10th goal of the campaign, a neat finish after Cristiano Ronaldo had returned the Argentine’s overhead kick with a impish back-heel, was at odds with the fractured nature of the contest.

But, as Tevez also hit the post on two occasions, United were worthy of a 10th successive home win, even if the matchwinner’s dummy-sucking celebrations raised an eyebrow or two.

And, the sight of the already-substituted former West Ham man needing to be carried to the dressing room by two members of United’s backroom staff after the final whistle was not what Ferguson would have wanted. (more…)

Manchester United awful records against West Ham continue today, as the Red Devils slip to a 2-1 defeat having leading from Ronaldo goal in the first half. However, late goals by Anton Ferdinand (77) and Matthew Upson (82) screw United down.

Arsenal have been handed the chance to move back to the summit of Premier League by their London neighbour West Ham.

Full report from ESPN:

Manchester United’s title hopes suffered a dent at West Ham after the home side came back from behind to win 2-1. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had been on course to go four points clear of Arsenal, whose game at Everton was the day’s late kick-off, once Cristiano Ronaldo had given them a 14th-minute lead.

But last season’s player of the year then missed a penalty to allow the home side to mount a stirring fight-back that saw first substitute Anton Ferdinand and then fellow defender Matthew Upson head home from set-pieces. (more…)

Manchester United fifth away victory was rather easy at the Stadium of Light. The Red Devils barely broke sweat as goals from Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and a Louis Saha double sealed the victory.

Earlier in the day, football fans around the world were thrilled by probably the games of the season in between Chelsea vs Aston Villa which finish 4-4 with 3 red card and 2 penalty. Elsewhere Tottenham thrashed sorry Fulham 5-1 at White Hart Lane, this could be the most entertaining week of football so far.

Sir Alex re-asserted his authority over talismanic former skipper Roy Keane as Manchester United maintain the pressure on Arsenal. United will top the table for at least 2 hours prior to Arsenal away to Portsmouth game.

United 4-0 victory over Roy Keane’s side leave little doubt as to the gulf in class between the teams at opposite end of the Barclays Premier League. United victory was as comfortable as the scoreline suggest as the Red Devils cut through the Black Cats defence at will to expose goalkeeper Craig Gordon at regular intervals. (more…)

The one man to miss Manchester United’s infamous players party sparked fresh Christmas celebrations at Old Trafford as Cristiano Ronaldo’s nerveless late penalty ended Everton’s stubborn resistance and sealed a 2-1 win.

Ronaldo was busy collecting third place in FIFA’s world player of the year awards in Zurich as his team-mates made the headlines for all the wrong reasons at Monday’s ill-advised gathering.

And the Portugal winger showed exactly why he is rated so highly, coolly sent Tim Howard the wrong way two minutes from time to convert his 16th goal of the season after Steven Pienaar had tripped Ryan Giggs.

Although the South African protested his innocence, (more…)

Manchester United stole the show at Anfield with Carlos Tevez poke in his first away goal in the 43rd minute despite being the second best throughout the game.

The Red Devils currently sit top of the table with 39 points from 16 games, and will at least sit for 2 hours prior to Arsenal-Chelsea game. If Arsenal win or draw, Arsenal will move back to top of the table with 1 point advantage having played the same games.

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Prior to Bolton match, Sir Alex acknowledge that he tried to sign Nicolas Anelka on several occasion before. And, Anelka replied with what is missing for United without him in the line-up by scoring the only goal of the game courtesy a mistake from Gerard Pique.

To put salt into wound, Sir Alex Ferguson was sent to the stand by referee Mark Clattenburg for a half-time tunnel rant at a succession of minor decisions that had gone against his team. And Fergie mood could not have been improved by the sight of his side losing at Bolton for the first time since December 1978, nor for the fact that his side survived the entire Sam Allardyce era without losing at Bolton.

Ferguson was overwhelming confident about his side capability and felt sufficiently confident about registering another victory against Bolton - a side that battling to get out of regelation trouble that he gave Cristiano Ronaldo the weekend off.

Ronaldo, the only squad members to play two Euro 2008 qualifiers over the past week was missed in a disjoined opening period. However, the real problem was the absence of Vidic with a back injury. Pique was selected to partner Rio Ferdinand at the central of defense, leaving the impressive yet more experience Wes Brown to continue his right-back role in the absence Gary Neville who has been missing for much of the season. (more…)

With parts of Old Trafford populated by people who could testify to the ferocity of Sir Alex Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment, it was indicative of the importance of more modern management methods that Blackburn were beaten by a player he had sweet-talked.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace was the latest evidence of his brilliance but Brian McClair, alongside Ferguson in the home dug-out, Mark Hughes, in the opposing technical area, and Alex McLeish, in the directors’ box, have all experienced the United manager’s temper.
Yet while Ferguson’s fury has become famous, his expertise in diplomacy has proved invaluable, not least in persuading his disturbed maverick talents not to take their leave. A conversation with Eric Cantona in 1995 had a profound effect on United and, by extension, the rest of the Premier League. A chat with a disgruntled Cristiano Ronaldo after he had morphed into a tabloid hate figure during the 2006 World Cup, may yet prove still more significant.
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