Lyon give Man Utd's Ferguson food for thought
Friday, December 21, 2007, 23:34:54 HRS


Sir Alex Ferguson, seen here December 16, believes Manchester United have been handed the toughest possible obstacle to Champions League glory after being paired with Lyon in Friday's draw for the last 16 round.

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United have been handed the toughest possible obstacle to Champions League glory after being paired with Lyon in Friday's draw for the last 16 round.

Premiership champions United, who tackle Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday, will travel to France for the first leg in February to face Alain Perrin's six-time French champions.

Lyon finished second to Barcelona in their group, edging out Rangers with a 3-0 victory at Ibrox in the final group game earlier this month, and Ferguson admits that United could not have landed more difficult opponents.

He said: "Lyon is maybe the hardest of the five opponents that we could have got. They have won their championship for the last six years now which is an incredible record.

"They've lost some players, such as Diarra, Abidal, Essien and Wiltord, but they can still produce players of good quality, so it won't be an easy game.

"But hopefully, by the time that we get to the game, we will have all of our squad available. That is a pre-requisite of the challenge anyway, being able to pick who I want, but I think we will have a good chance.

"You never expect easy games at this stage of the European Cup, but hopefully we can navigate that and go on to bigger things.

"I don't know whether being at home in the second leg is so important. I've had different experiences of that, but hopefully we can come back with a good result and then Old Trafford will be at a good volume to give you the advantage in the home match. But it's an interesting tie."

Lyon manager Alain Perrin, speaking from France, concurred with his Scottish counterpart about the difficulty of their opponents.

"I wanted to avoid a team like Manchester because they are doing well right now. Let's hope that's not the situation once we meet them in the spring," said Perrin, who knows United only too well having played against them while manager of Portsmouth.

"It will be a difficult tie but I think English football has characteristics that can suit our style of play. Their football is a lot more open than that of the Italian teams for example.

"At this level, all the big European teams have great attacking potential, us included."

United have endured a turbulent week with 19-year-old defender Jonny Evans at the centre of rape allegations following a Christmas party in Manchester on Monday. No charges have been brought and Evans has been released on bail until February.

And with the the club at the centre of the media spotlight following the alleged events, Ferguson remained tight-lipped when asked if he was willing to put forward his thoughts on the matter.

He said: "No. Why would I say anything? Alex Ferguson has been dealing with situations like this for twenty-one years and I know exactly what we are doing."

One player Ferguson could expect back in time for the first leg against Lyon is South Korean midfielder Ji-Sung Park.

Ji-Sung could make a return to the squad for the Premiership clash against in-form Everton, despite having a comeback game in the reserves postponed due to a frozen pitch on Wednesday.

Park has been sidelined since March with a cruciate ligament injury, but Ferguson insists that his fitness is not in doubt ahead of the busy Christmas fixture programme.

He said: "Ji-Sung will play over Christmas. I was actually going to the reserve game on Wednesday until I heard that it had been called off. I was only going to see Ji-Sung play because his training has been excellent -- first-class -- in the last few weeks and far beyond our expectations.

"Players who are out for nine months, you often expect a long and slow recovery, but he has come back into training and been terrific. He will get some games over Christmas, there is no doubt about that."

- AFP

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United sign Angola striker Manucho
Saturday, December 22, 2007, 03:00:56 HRS


Manchester United signed Angola striker Manucho Goncalves on a three-year contract from Petro Athletico on Friday.

Manchester United signed Angola striker Manucho Goncalves on a three-year contract from Petro Athletico on Friday.

Manucho impressed Sir Alex Ferguson during a three-week trial after being discovered playing for his Angolan team by scouts working for United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz.

The 24-year-old, whose full name is Mateus Alberto Contreiras Goncalves, will move to England in January subject to a work permit.

Manucho, who will be part of the Angolan squad for the African Nations Cup, has scored twice in 10 appearances for his country and was top goalscorer in the Angolan league for the last two seasons.

"We have had Manucho here for a three-week trial and have been impressed enough to offer him a three-year contract," Ferguson said.

"He is a tall, agile, quick forward and, through contacts that Carlos Queiroz has, he was brought to our attention around six months ago."

- AFP

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Man Utd v Everton

Old Trafford
Sunday, 23 December
Kick-off: 1200 GMT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manchester United expect Rio Ferdinand, Carlos Tevez and Wes Brown to have shaken off minor knocks.

Park Ji-sung is unlikely to figure, having this week missed a reserve-team game against Oldham, but he is expected to feature over the festive period.

Tim Howard, Ayegbeni Yakubu, Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill and Joseph Yobo could all return for Everton after being rested against AZ Alkmaar.

Everton will be without Leon Osman, Alan Stubbs and Leighton Baines.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Man Utd team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evra, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Hargreaves, Park, Giggs, Saha, Rooney, Tevez.

Everton team (from): Provisional squad: Howard, Wessels, Neville, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Valente, Pienaar, Carsley, Arteta, Cahill, Gravesen, McFadden, Yakubu, Johnson, Anichebe, Vaughan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson:
"Everton have done exceptionally well this season and David Moyes takes all the credit for that. "It is a young team with a future which augurs well for Everton. They will be a handful and we'll need our best form.

"David has put youngsters on long-term contracts to keep some continuity and made some good buys to strengthen."

Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta:
"We are on a very good run and must try to enjoy it.
"Old Trafford is my favourite away ground, they are always very hard games but we'll try to get something from it.

"I love Cristiano Ronaldo, his development has been unbelievable. He handles pressure so well and is improving all the time."

BIG-MATCH FACTS
The top two clubs on the Premier League's "Last Six Form" table go head-to-head at Old Trafford; Everton have claimed 14 of the 18 points, Manchester United 13.

The Red Devils are on the longest current winning sequence in the highest league of three games; the Merseysiders are on the longest current unbeaten run of seven.

Both clubs are ever-presents in the Premier League, each playing their 600th match. United have won more than any other club (379); Everton have lost more (236).

Manchester United have won more Premier League matches against Everton than any other club, and the Merseysiders have lost more games in this league against the Red Devils that any other side (24).


CLUB FORM
MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won 17 of 21 in all competitions, and lost one of 15.

2. One of two clubs with as many as 12 Premier League wins; the other is Arsenal.

3. Boasting the tightest defence in the highest league; just eight goals shipped in 17 outings, at one every 191 minutes (three hours 11 minutes) of Premier League football played on average.

4. Won 12 of the last 14 Premier League matches, losing just one of the 14.

5. Kept clean sheets in nine of the last 14 league outings, and failed to score in one of their last 14 league games; the 1-0 loss, away to Bolton on 24 November.

6. Not lost in any league game this term in which they have scored; won 12 and drawn two of 14.

7. Scored first in an unequalled 13 Premier League matches; won 11 and drawn two.

8. Conceded only two goals in the last 15 minutes of Premier League matches this term; only Arsenal and Liverpool can match that.

9. One of four clubs still unbeaten at home in the Premier League, having conceded just two goals; fewer than any other club. Hoping to add the scalp of Everton to those of Spurs, Sunderland, Chelsea, Wigan, Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Fulham and Derby gained in the last eight outings at the Theatre of Dreams.

10. Next is a Boxing Day visit to Sunderland, and a trip to West Ham three days later, before the New Year's Day fixture home to Birmingham.

EVERTON
Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won the last five in league and cup, and undefeated in 13 (11 wins, two draws).

2. Unbeaten in seven Premier League games; won five and drawn two since the 1-2 loss, home to Liverpool on 20 October.

3. Scored 31 Premier League goals; only Arsenal have netted more (34).

4. The best behaved Premier League club with just 18 cards shown (two red, 16 yellow).

5. The most lethal side in stoppage time of Premier League matches when an unequalled six goals have been scored.

6. Not conceded in three league games, or 315 minutes (five hours 15 minutes) since Dwight Yorke scored Sunderland's consolation in the 7-1 thrashing at Goodison Park on 24 November.

7. Failed to score in one of the last 10 Premier League matches; that was the goalless draw at Portsmouth on 1 December.

8. The next defeat will be their 150th away from home in the Premier League.

9. Won only one of their last 10 Premier League matches against the "big four" clubs; the victory being the 1-0 home triumph over Arsenal on 18 March 2007. Also, yet to beat a fellow top half club this season; drawn three and lost four of their seven fixtures against clubs currently in the top 10.

10. Home to Bolton on Boxing Day, and Arsenal three days later, before the New Year's Day game at Middlesbrough.


KEY PLAYER NOTES
MANCHESTER UNITED
Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer with 14 goals.

RONALDO is also their leading Premier League marksman with nine. He jointly leads the race for the Barclays Golden Boot, alongside Arsenal's Emmanuel ADEBAYOR, and Ayegbeni YAKUBU of Middlesbrough.

Rio FERDINAND is the only remaining player to have started all of Manchester United's Premier League matches this season.

If selected:-

Wayne ROONEY will be facing a former club. The 21 year old England international striker made 77 appearances (67 in the league) and scored 17 goals (15 league) for Everton at the beginning of his professional career from February 2003 to his £20m move to Old Trafford in August 2004.

If on the field from the outset:-

Nemanja VIDIC will be making his 50th Premier League start in a Manchester United shirt.

Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).

Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.

EVERTON
YAKUBU is Everton's top scorer with 11 goals; five in his last three league and cup games.

YAKUBU is also the clubs' top Premier League marksman with nine. He jointly leads the race for the Barclays Golden Boot, alongside Arsenal's Emmanuel ADEBAYOR, and Cristiano RONALDO of Manchester United.

YAKUBU is one of 12 players contributing to the Everton Premier League goal tally. It is the joint longest goalscorers list in the highest league, alongside Tottenham's.

James McFADDEN is now just one shy of 50 club career goals.

Tim HOWARD will be facing a former club. The 28 year old United States international keeper made 77 appearances (45 in the league) for United between July 2003 and his move to Goodison three years later.

Phil NEVILLE will also be opposing former club mates. The 30 year old England international made 389 appearances (263 in the league) and scored eight goals (five league) between July 1994 and his transfer to Everton in the 2005 close season.

If selected:-

Leon OSMAN will be making his 150th career league appearance (Everton, Carlisle and Derby).


HEAD TO HEAD
Manchester United are unbeaten in five Premier League matches against Everton, and have won the last three.

Duncan Ferguson scored the only goal of the game in the Toffees' last victory over United at Goodison Park on 20 April 2005.

Peter Beardsley, Robert Warzycha and Mo Johnston scored without reply in Everton's very first Premier League visit to Old Trafford on 19 August 1992. It's their only maximum in this league at the Theatre of Dreams.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Man Utd 68 wins, Everton 52, Draws 37
Prem: Man Utd 24 wins, Everton 5, Draws 2

at Man Utd only
League (inc PL): Man Utd 43 wins, Everton 15, Draws 20
Prem: Man Utd 11 wins, Everton 1, Draws 3

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester United 3-0 Everton
29 November 2006 - Ref: Mark Halsey
Man United scorers: Ronaldo 39, Evra 63, O'Shea 89

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Everton 0-1 Manchester United
15 September 2007 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Man Utd scorer: Vidic 83

REFEREE
Howard Webb (Yorkshire)

__________________
You only live ONCE, pass this way but ONCE..

Van der Sar signs one-year deal

Van der Sar joined from Fulham in June 2005. Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has signed a new one-year contract extension, tying him to the club until the end of the 2009 season.

The 37-year-old had been considering retirement at the end of this season.

"He is number one at the moment, but you can't guarantee players a position and say they'll definitely be in your team," said boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

"Edwin will want to be number one next season but Ben Foster will be back and I am sure he will want to be too."

England international Foster is currently sidelined after cruciate knee ligament surgery.

There were suggestions Van der Sar could be handed a role on the Old Trafford backroom staff as goalkeeping coach Tony Coton is currently sidelined following a recent knee operation.

But Ferguson stressed the Dutchman's new deal was "totally as a player".

__________________
You only live ONCE, pass this way but ONCE..

Cristiano Ronaldo spared Manchester United's blushes as he scored a late penalty to give his side a hard-fought 2-1 Premier League victory over Everton at Old Trafford


With the scores level and the home side mounting attack after attack, Steven Pienaar brought down Ryan Giggs in the area with two minutes left, leaving referee Howard Webb with little option than to point to the spot.

Ronaldo, who had already given his side a first-half lead, cheekily chipped the ball into the roof of the net as Tim Howard dived left.

It was his tenth goal in eight matches and his 11th league strike of the season, taking him ahead of Bolton's Nicolas Anelka and Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor as the overall top scorer.

What was to follow was unexpected in a scrappy opening to the match, which saw Webb dish out four yellow cards in the first 15 minutes.

When enough passes were strung together to mount an attack from either side, it became clear that we had the makings of a high-quality match here, and that's exactly what it became after 20 minutes.

The home side, who had already come close when a close-range shot from Carlos Tevez was cleared off the line by the excellent Phil Jagielka, finally broke the deadlock after 22 minutes.

After receiving a pass from Giggs, Ronaldo sidestepped Lee Carsley and fired a left-footed shot beyond Howard from 20 yards out.

Going behind seemed to inspire Everton, and they got back on level terms only six minutes later. Steven Pienaar, who was acting as playmaker in the absence of Mikel Arteta, exchanged some neat passes with Joleon Lescott, who was up from the back line.

He then beat his marker Danny Simpson and crossed in for Tim Cahill, who then out-jumped Evra to head in his seventh goal of the season beyond the helpless Tomasz Kuszczak, who was standing in for the injured Edwin van der Sar in between the stick

Phil Neville missed a decent chance to score against his old club when he shot over from the edge of the box, but United were far more guilty of not taking their chances, particularly as the half neared its conclusion.

First Wayne Rooney's spectacular volley was cleared off the line by the head of Lescott, and Ronaldo then spurned the worst chance of all, shooting over from six yards out after a superb cross from Giggs.

The second half was all about the Red Devils, with Everton keeper Howard - who spent two years with United - making no less than seven first-class saves. The best of them came when Anderson fired a shot in from the edge of the box, forcing the American to use all his body to stop a shot he did not even see until milliseconds before it was on him.

Despite his magnificent performance though, which also saw him stop two Rooney volleys and a well-worked effort from Tevez, it was not to be Everton's day, as Ronaldo's penalty proved.

The defeat keeps Everton in sixth place in the Premier League. They are ahead of Portsmouth on goal difference.

__________________

This guy is 6"2 so should consider a tall striker.

__________________
Retired

Angolan striker Manucho has spoken of his delight at securing a deal that should see the 24-year-old join the Reds after January's African Cup of Nations.

The centre-forward, who has topped the Angola league's scoring charts for the past two seasons playing with Petro Atletico Luanda, told MUTV he's living in dreamland after agreeing to a move to Old Trafford.

"I have been a fan of Manchester United from when I was very young so now I will work very hard to get into the first team," Manucho said.

"I am very happy to be here and I have worked very hard to make my dream a reality. I have found the adaptation easy because all the players have given me their support… and players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson all speak my language [Portuguese]."

Although Manucho's work permit still needs to be granted, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident the player has the necessary traits to make an impact in the Barclays Premier League.

"He's a very quick, aggressive forward, a big lad about 6"2'," Sir Alex told MUTV. "We've had him on trial for three weeks and he's done very well. We're delighted to have made an agreement with his football team."

Manucho isn't expected to see much first-team action this season, although Sir Alex conceded it all depends on how well he settles into life at United.

"I think he'll need a few months to adjust," he said. "In saying that, he's done very well in training and you never know how players will progress.

"I said the same thing about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he arrived. I thought I'd give him a year or two in the Reserves but after three or four games he was in the first team.

"It all boils down to the boy himself, how he adapts to the change and how he commits himself to learning. Every young player has to learn."

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Sunderland v Man Utd

Stadium of Light
Wednesday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunderland striker Michael Chopra is a doubt with a heel injury he picked up at Reading on Saturday.

Liam Miller is still suspended, while Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring), Kieran Richardson (back) and Russell Anderson (ankle) are not yet ready to return.

Park Ji-sung could return to the Manchester United squad for the first time since March after knee surgery.

Edwin van der Sar (groin) is definitely out, while Rio Ferdinand (foot) and Owen Hargreaves (back) should be fit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunderland (from): Gordon, Ward, McShane, Halford, Harte, Higginbotham, Collins, Yorke, Etuhu, Leadbitter, Wallace, Whitehead, Kavanagh, O'Donovan, Jones, Chopra, Connolly, Murphy, Stokes, Cole.

Man Utd (from): Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, O'Shea, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Nani, Eagles, Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Tevez, Rooney, Saha.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Sunderland manager Roy Keane on recent refereeing decisions:
"You just keep hoping that over the course of the season these decisions will even themselves out.

"It hasn't for the last few weeks but we hope, come May, that we look back and say 'well some went for us and some went against us'.

"At the moment they are all going against us."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"December is a very important month.

"If we get through Christmas, we have tough away games at Sunderland and West Ham and Birmingham at home, and are still with Arsenal we have a chance.

"We have Nani, Saha and Park all back in the squad, but there won't be a lot of changes."

BIG-MATCH FACTS
Third bottom meets second top at the Stadium of Light; Roy Keane comes up against his old boss for the first time on home soil.

Manchester United have won more league games on the road (four), than Sunderland have managed home and away (three).

The Black Cats have registered one win in 12 league outings; the Red Devils have won four on the bounce.

Sunderland have a 50% win record in Premier League matches on Boxing Day; won three of six, but not since the 0-3 triumph over Blackburn at Ewood Park in 2001.

Middlesbrough beat Manchester United on Boxing Day in 2002. It was the only occasion United have lost a Premier League fixture on 26 December, they have won 11 of 12, including the last four.

United are unbeaten in 11 Premier League matches against Sunderland. They've won eight and drawn three since losing 2-1 at Roker Park on the 8 March 1997.

CLUB FORM
SUNDERLAND

Club stats
Fixtures
Highest realistically achievable: 16th
Lowest could fall: 19th

1. Won only six of their last 76 games in the Premier League.

2. This season's three victories have all come at home and against bottom-half clubs; Tottenham, Reading and Derby.

3. Need a draw to total 100 league points under Roy Keane.

4. Scored 17 goals, at one every 95 minutes (one hour 35 minutes) of Premier League football played; only Derby's attack is inferior to that, with a paltry eight goals netted.

5. Managed one clean sheet in 17 league matches; the 1-0 home win over Derby on 1 December was the only shut-out since the opening day 1-0 home victory over Spurs on 11 August.

6. Lost one of the last six home league matches; the 1-2 reverse to Blackburn on 29 September.

7. Scored one goal in each of the last five at the Stadium of Light.

8. Entertain Bolton on Saturday, before visiting Blackburn on 2 January.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd

1. Won 18 of 23 in all competitions, and lost one of 16.

2. One of two clubs with as many as 13 Premier League wins; the other is Arsenal.

3. Boasting the tightest defence in the highest league; just nine goals shipped in 18 outings, at one every two games, or 180 minutes (three hours) of Premier League football played on average.

4. Won 13 of the last 15 Premier League matches, losing just one of the 15.

5. Kept clean sheets in nine of the last 15 league outings, and failed to score in one of their last 15 league games; the 1-0 loss, away to Bolton on 24 November.

6. Not lost in any league game this term in which they have scored; won 13 and drawn two of 15.

7. Scored first in an unequalled 14 Premier League matches; won 12 and drawn two.

8. Conceded only two goals in the last 15 minutes of Premier League matches this term; only Arsenal and Liverpool can match that.

9. Beaten Everton, Aston Villa, Birmingham and Liverpool on their league travels.

10. Next is a trip to West Ham on Saturday, before the New Year's Day fixture home to Birmingham.

KEY PLAYER NOTES
SUNDERLAND

Kenwyne JONES is Sunderland's top scorer with four Premier League goals.

Michael CHOPRA is a double shy of 50 career league goals (Newcastle, Watford, Barnsley, Cardiff and Sunderland).

Last season's top scorer David CONNOLLY needs one goal to total 100 in his league career (Watford, Wolves, Wimbledon, West Ham, Leicester, Wigan and Sunderland).

If selected:-

Danny COLLINS will be making his 100th appearance for Sunderland.

Dickson ETUHU will be making his 250th club career appearance (Manchester City, Norwich, Preston and Sunderland).

Anthony STOKES will be making his 50th club career appearance in England and Scotland (Falkirk and Sunderland).

Andrew COLE, Danny HIGGINBOTHAM, Kieran RICHARDSON and Dwight YORKE will be facing a former club.

HIGGINBOTHAM will be playing three days before his 29th birthday.

Suspended:-

Liam MILLER

MANCHESTER UNITED

Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer with 16 goals.

RONALDO is also their leading Premier League marksman with 11, and leads the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.

If on the field from the outset:-

Wayne ROONEY will be making his 150th start in a United shirt.

Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).

Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.
=
HEAD TO HEAD
United have won eight and drawn three Premier League matches since Sunderland's 2-1 win on 8 March 1997, when Michael Gray and John Mullin scored the decisive goals at Roker Park.

The Black Cats have recorded one subsequent 2-1 home victory over the Red Devils, winning a Worthington League Cup fourth round tie after extra time on 28 November 2000, at the Stadium of Light.

It was a losing first return for Roy Keane, when he took Sunderland to Old Trafford for the reverse fixture in September. That leaves the Red Devils with the possibly of completing the double over the Wearsiders for the third time in five attempts.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Sunderland 37 wins, Man Utd 46, Draws 26
Prem: Sunderland 1 wins, Man Utd 9, Draws 3

at Sunderland only
League (inc PL): Sunderland 26 wins, Man Utd 15, Draws 13
Prem: Sunderland 1 wins, Man Utd 3, Draws 2

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Manchester United 1-0 Sunderland
1 September 2007 - Ref: Martin Atkinson
Man Utd scorer: Saha 72

REFEREE
Uriah Rennie (Sheffield, Yorkshire)

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Feels good to be where we belong!!

GLORY, GLORY MAN UTD!!!!

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Cut and paste story

KEANE IMPRESSED BY UNITED


Sunderland boss Roy Keane is convinced former club Manchester United will retain their Barclays Premier League title after witnessing a romp on Wearside.

United maintained the pressure on Arsenal with a comprehensive 4-0 victory at the Stadium of Light to leave Keane's Sunderland deep in relegation trouble.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men simply had too much for the top-flight novices and raced into a 3-0 lead before the break.

Louis Saha's 86th-minute penalty simply cemented a win which had long been in the bag to leave Keane in little doubt as to the season's outcome.

He said: "I have been asked this question for the last month or two and I have said before my money is still on United and today has not changed that, it has not wavered it one bit.

"Any team that wins the league, history will tell you - and the manager of United has got so much experience - that they will get stronger as the season goes on.

"We did not kid ourselves when we were beaten 1-0 down there. It's like ourselves, it takes eight, nine, 10 games to get into the swing of things, even more so for the big boys who might have brought in one or two big signings.

"United, as the manager has said, if they are there or thereabouts coming into the new year, they will have a hell of a chance and I would not disagree with that one bit."

United were on their way with just 20 minutes gone when Wayne Rooney ended his six-game wait for a goal with an unerring finish.

He then turned provider to allow Saha to double the lead on the half-hour, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who had earlier forced Craig Gordon into two important saves from free-kicks, finally beat him with a third in first-half injury time.

From then on, it was simply a matter of by how many United won, although they had to wait until the death for number four.

Ferguson was understandably delighted with his strikers in particular.

Asked about Saha's goal, he said: "It will do him a load of good, his confidence.

"We were having no problems at all - he and Rooney worked particularly well together and they were a real threat today."

Keane, who handed a debut to 17-year-old striker Martyn Waghorn, was defiant after a defeat which left his side just one place off bottom.

He said: "We are where we are. The best team will win the league and the three worst teams will go down - and I believe we are not one of the three worst teams in the Premier League.

"But it would be nice to back that up with some positive results and some wins.

"We are doing okay. We have got lots going for us in terms of the spirit of the players, the attitude of the players, and I am very lucky with the support and the staff I have got.

"But again, I keep saying, we do need a few more players of real quality."

__________________
A HARD MAN IS GOOD TO FIND

Arsenal slipped behind Manchester United to second place in the Premier League after being held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Portsmouth side at Fratton Park.

It is the first time Arsenal have failed to score in the Premier League all season, thanks in no small part to a quite excellent defensive performance by man-of-the-match Sol Campbell who shackled his former club in world class fashion.

Campbell and defensive partner Sylvain Distin were immense as Pompey set their stall to soak up a predictable Arsenal and occasionally threaten on the break.

David James only had one real save to make - a comfortable catch from a long range Tomas Rosicky effort in the first half - while the same man had Arsenal's second best chance when he drilled just wide late on after being set up by substitute Nicklas Bendtner.

The best opportunity for the Gunners had been and gone, William Gallas volleying over from close range after he cottoned onto Cesc Fabregas' mis-hit shot. But the most clear-cut chance of the game fell to Pompey, Benjani bursting clean through with 16 minutes remaining but knocking the ball too far when rounding Manuel Almunia and losing the ball when he really should have scored.

The first half had been a fairly inconsequential affair, Arsenal looking a touch tired and lacking a truly killer final ball, although the width offered by Emmanuel Eboue and Rosicky - Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy overlapping well - was wasted with only Emmanuel Adebayor foraging a lonely furrow up front.

Eboue fired over on five minutes after playing a deft one-two with the Togo striker that brilliantly carved open the Pompey defence, while Niko Krancjar sent a low drive just wide after turning Sagna on the edge of the box.

Both sides were effectively nullifying each other with packed midfielder, with Benjani operating more on the flanks for much of the game, and the burst in activity later in the second half came when Pompey shut up shop, asked Arsenal to come at them and solely attacked on the break.

Arsenal now have 44 points, one behind Manchester United - who thrashed Sunderland 4-0 at the Stadium of Light - while Pompey stay 7th after Everton made light work of Bolton.

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Papers: Dimi to join Reds?
31/12/2007 09:37

Berba: I'm off

Dimitar Berbatov has sensationally told Spurs he would like to join a ‘big’ club — putting Manchester United on red alert. In a bombshell interview with SunSport, the Bulgarian superstar’s agent Emil Dantchev last night revealed: “I have already spoken to the Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, and told him that if a club that corresponds to Dimitar’s class and ambition comes in with an offer that suits his current club in January, he would like to be allowed to go. Dimitar is OK at Tottenham. I would not say he is happy. But his performances for the club are a testament to his commitment to the fans and his team-mates. He has never stopped trying and scoring goals to help the team. Fans must understand Dimitar is 27 next month and time is running out for him to play for a club that can match his ambition.”
Antony Kastrinakis, The Sun

In other news, Sir Alex Ferguson has told United to win the Champions League as a reward for Cristiano Ronaldo. "Six players in today’s squad have won a Champions League medal — Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Owen Hargreaves and Edwin van der Sar, as well as Paul Scholes who was suspended for the 1999 final," said the boss. "I know the others are keen to join them. We are rating Cristiano Ronaldo the best player in the world. But he needs the medals to prove it."

Sir Alex hopes Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick will have recovered from illness when United look to bounce back from defeat at West Ham by beating Birmingham at Old Trafford on New Year's Day.

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Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle - one cannot state with certainty both the position and momentum of one's cum at any time.

Schrodinger's Cat - A girl's skills are both good and bad until one makes an observation. Then she becomes either 'good' or 'bad'. The observation thus determines the result

man u needs someone to replace giggs. nani is not that experienced yet. not to forget van der sar will have to hang up his boots soon. a better reserve keeper is needed.

who might be a better reserve keeper?
kuzscak seems competent enough.

what they really need is a right back n a left back who can switch to central defence where possible.
phillip lahm is good.


IMHO