Man Utd 3-0 West Ham
Wayne Rooney ended his five-month goal drought by scoring a penalty as he set Manchester United on their way to a comfortable Premier League win over West Ham.
Rooney’s 33rd-minute penalty after Jonathan Spector had fouled Ryan Giggs will hardly enter his personal haul of fame.
Second-half efforts from Nani and Dimitar Berbatov, who took his tally to three in four games, sealed victory to keep United in touch with early pace-setters Chelsea.
But for West Ham, the international break only provides further opportunity to worry.
Without a point under Avram Grant’s stewardship and unconvincing in Carling Cup triumph against lowly Oxford at Upton Park on Tuesday, the Hammers are now bottom of the table and facing a fight to preserve their top-flight status.
Fabio Capello’s whistle-stop tour of the north-west had taken him to Blackburn and Blackpool. It probably brought a black mood as well when he discovered Frank Lampard would miss the Euro 2012 double-header against Bulgaria and Switzerland. Continue Reading >>
Anderson recovering at Carrington
Lucky guy Anderson can’t wait to return to action after recovering from serious knee injury which he sustained in 2009/10 season and escaping an almighty scare.
Brazilian Anderson damage his cruciate ligament in February and travelled to Portugal for his recovery and he could be in contention for a first-team place sometime next month.
The 22-year-old told the club’s official website: “I’m so happy and excited to be back again after six months without football. I’ve been so happy ever since I got back to Carrington and I just can’t wait to play again.
“I’m feeling good. I’ve been training for two weeks and I’m very happy. I think maybe very soon I’ll come back again and start playing normally with the rest of the team. I have had no problems at all with the injury. I’m just running and training now really hard.”
Anderson may struggle to to force his way back into Red Devils’ midfield after a poor showing that came prior to his injury against West Ham.
Fergie’s summer signings
Sir Alex Ferguson completed his summer signing with the unexpected arrival of Bebe from Vitoria Guimaraes in a £7 million deal, despite having only joined the Portuguese club on a free transfer from a third-tier side five weeks previously.
Little was known about the 20-year-old but it quickly turns lighting strike fascinating story, having previously spent time on the streets. Continue Reading >>
Man Utd 3-0 Newcastle Utd: Scholes Masterclass
Dimitar Berbatov repaid the faith of Sir Alex Ferguson by sending Manchester United on their way to a comfortable season-opening Premier League win over Newcastle, but it was Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs who stole the show.
Berbatov was handed a starting berth alongside Wayne Rooney and responded by drilling home an excellent 33rd-minute effort at Old Trafford.
The Bulgarian should have had another goal after half-time but, after Darren Fletcher had doubled the Red Devils’ advantage shortly before the break, it was evergreen substitute Giggs who extended his remarkable record of scoring in every Premier League season when he latched on to Scholes’ inspired pass and sent a first-time volley bouncing past Steve Harper.
It was part of another masterclass from man-of-the-match Scholes, who with every game must make Fabio Capello cringe at his failure to lure the 35-year-old out of international retirement for World Cup duty in the summer.
The only real disappointment for United was another blank day for Wayne Rooney, who has now gone 13 matches for club and country since he last scored, against Bayern Munich in March. Continue Reading >>
Man Utd vs Newcastle: Preview
Both Manchester United and Newcastle United go into the new season with something to prove. Sir Alex Ferguson’s 11-time Premier League champions are desperate to regain the title and have looked in imperious form during pre-season, while Chris Hughton is aiming to consolidate his side’s status as a top-flight club on the Magpies’ return to the big time.
Having relinquished their crown to Chelsea, and narrowly missed out on a chance to overtaking Liverpool’s total of 18 league titles in the process, Ferguson’s side have plenty of motivation ahead of the new season. They made a statement of intent in last Sunday’s curtain raiser – beating reigning champions Chelsea 3-1 in the Community Shield – and with Wayne Rooney ready to be unleashed – the stirker looking to atone for a poor showing in South Africa – it could be a case of wrong place, wrong time for newly-promoted Newcastle.
Hughton has thrown out the big egos and sculpted a squad that is low on narcissism and high on team spirit. But having strolled to the Championship title, Newcastle can take nothing for granted on their return to the Premier League. While the signing of James Perch raised some eyebrows, the arrivals of Dan Gosling and Sol Campbell could prove astute and the key for Hughton is motivating the players who remain from the club’s last stint in the top flight to prove they deserve to be back at English football’s top table.
Hughton was certainly dealt a cruel draw by the fixture computer, and without a win at Old Trafford since 1972, the Magpies will have their work cut out to improve on a record of three victories from their last 11 Premier League opening day fixtures.
source: www.soccernet.com
Ferdinand a month from fitness
Rio Ferdinand is still a month away from returning to action, according to Sir Alex Ferguson. The England captain has spent the last two months recovering from the knee ligament injury which happened in a freak accident with Heskey during training at England camp.
Ferdinand will miss the start of the new Premier League season and making him a major doubt for England’s opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and September 3 and Switzerland four day later.
Rio has had a bad 12 months campaign last season which saw him with succession injuries in back injury, groin injury and the freak knee ligaments injury.
“Although the knee ligaments wasn’t what you’d call a serious one, it was a hard one. You have to take time with knee ligaments”, added Ferguson.
Audi R8 of Anderson
Anderson has moved to ease fears over his well-being by insisting he emerged unscathed from his weekend car crash.
The Manchester United man reportedly had to be pulled out of his car after it thundered into a wall in the early hours of Saturday.
The midfielder, who is recovering from a cruciate knee ligament problem, was taken to hospital for treatment but has claimed he suffered no major injuries.
“I am very lucky because the accident was serious,” Anderson told the Daily Mail. “I knew the road well, but the car lost control at a curve and we crashed against a wall. I remember people coming to help which I am grateful for.
“I just want to tell United fans I am fine and I will continue my rehabilitation so I can help the team. I’ve had lots of calls and have assured my friends not to worry, but it was a big scare for me.”
