Festive fixture guide

I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year and wishing United victories in the following four games...

Sunderland, Old Trafford, Sunday 26 December, 15:00

At the Stadium of Light in October, a determined defensive showing earned United a point – and left Steve Bruce ruing his luck against his former boss. For this Boxing Day return, three points will be on the post-Christmas wish list of every Red, but defence could be the order of the day again, particularly if Bruce rolls up in M16 with the same attacking gameplan that he took to Stamford Bridge.

Birmingham City, St Andrews, Tuesday 28 December, 20:00

Alex McLeish’s men are going steadily about their business this season – with the odd standout result, not least the 1-0 home win that compounded the champions’ misery a week on from the Sunderland debacle. Too many draws have, however, left the Carling Cup semi-finalists worryingly close to the danger zone – a situation McLeish will no doubt be keen to change (for the better) against his one-time boss.

West Bromwich Albion, The Hawthorns, Saturday 1 January, 12:45

Thrashed at home by Stoke, runaway winners at Goodison… West Brom are not only proving the surprise package of this season, but have made it totally impossible to predict their results. After their OT comeback, however, one thing is certain: the Reds won’t be taking the top-flight new boys lightly. And after two, potentially priceless, points dropped in that home clash, making amends is likely to be high on the agenda…

Stoke City, Old Trafford, Tuesday 4 January, 20:00

For a side that didn’t get a point on the board until the fourth game of the campaign, the Potters’ season has picked up very nicely. Home form remains the bulwark underpinning Stoke’s mid-table berth - it took a Chicharito goal just four minutes from time to eke out three points for United at the Britannia.

Source: RedView

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Chelsea game postponed

United game at Chelsea has been postponed due to the heavy snow in London last Saturday. According to The Police and the local authority, the game has been postponed. 

And finally, United have confirmed that all tickets will remain valid for the new date once it is arranged.

Written by Paul, a crazy United fan who blog about this fantastic club.

See you the next post my readers, bye bye!!

The game against The Blues is coming!

Sir Alex Ferguson, the boss of United.

Sir Alex Ferguson is in positive mood ahead of Sunday's trip to Stamford Bridge, despite not winning on Chelsea's manor since 2002.

Another striking statistic is that United's last league defeat was at the hands of the Blues, then at Old Trafford, towards the end of last season. But the Reds' unbeaten start to 2010/11 includes Monday night's victory over Arsenal, the perfect platform surely for a crack at Carlo Ancelotti's men.

“It’s a big one for us,” the boss said on Friday morning. “They’re a tough team to beat on their own ground, their home record tells you that.

"Meanwhile, our results down there have been poor over the last eight years. We’ve managed a few draws, but we’ve lost a few too.

"Our record just prior to those eight years was fantastic – in fact, Stamford Bridge was the place where we probably had our best away form."

United are set to be without John O'Shea for the match - the Irishman has a calf problem - while Paul Scholes has been ruled out until the New Year with a niggling groin injury. Otherwise, Sir Alex says he is "going into the game with a strong, confident squad. You want to go there in good form and we are in good form."

Source: RedView

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QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS: NANI

United's midfielder Luis Nani.

The Reds winger - 24 this week - gives us an insight into his life off the pitch... 

What’s your favourite TV programme?

In England, it’s The X Factor. In Portugal, I like our soaps. They’re not like the English soaps, like Coronation Street and Eastenders. They’re more like comedies.

What do you miss most about home?

My mum and my family.

Can you cook?

Yes, I like Portuguese food. My favourite dish is feijoada (stew of beans with beef and pork). I have a machine in my house that does everything! It’s from Portugal, it’s called a Bimby. If you want to make feijoada, they say put this ingredient in, then half an hour later put this in... and it does it for you. It’s nice.

What was the last book you read?

I've got Giggsy’s book (My Life, My Story) and I’ve been reading that.

Who’s your best friend at United?

I have lots of friends… the ones who speak Portuguese are all close, but I get on with the English-speaking lads too; Fletch, O’Shea and the younger lads especially. Rio is like one of the young lads - he likes to have a laugh.

If United got to the Champions League final and you only had one ticket to give away, who would get it?

[Laughs] Only one?! My mum.

Source: RedView

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Scholes: Wolves could hurt us

Paul Scholes is expecting Wolves to attack United at Old Trafford on Saturday, just as they did in last week's Carling Cup encounter.

The Reds beat Mick McCarthy’s side 3-2 but had to work hard for the victory against an extremely resilient outfit. Although Scholes did not feature in that match, he is fully aware of the threat that Wolves pose and is anticipating an equally positive approach from the visitors.

“I know they haven’t had the best of starts this season but they’ve got players who can hurt you,” Scholes said.

“They showed they are capable of scoring goals at Old Trafford, they managed two, and I’m sure they’ll have a go on Saturday as well.”

The 35-year-old Reds midfielder also shrugged off suggestions that Wolves are an overly aggressive side, claiming that teams simply employ different styles of play.

“There are some teams that might not play the most attractive football but you have to find a way of winning games,” Scholes added.

“Their managers want to get the best out of them and find the best way of winning games and they do it their own way. It’s up to us to be able to play against that and find a way of winning.”

Source: RedView

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Wayne Rooney to miss the derby

Sir Alex Ferguson is pleased with the strength of his squad, despite injury set-backs for Wayne Rooney and Owen Hargreaves.

Rooney, who signed a five-year contract after an intense few days of speculation at Old Trafford last week, is currently recovering from an ankle injury and has been told to rest. He suffered the injury in training on 18 October, so a three-week absence would have meant he was back in the days leading up to United's visit to Manchester City on Wednesday 10 November, but he has effectively been ruled out of that game now.

"Wayne's away at the moment, so there's no recovery," said the boss. "He did his remedial work before he went away, but thereafter we're happy that he's resting." Asked if the three-weeks prognosis still applied, Sir Alex added: "I think it may be longer."

Nevertheless, the form of Javier Hernandez has been a huge bonus in Rooney’s absence, and Sir Alex feels his squad is looking strong. “The only injuries to report are the ones we know about. Ryan [Giggs] should start training on Monday, I think he’s progressed quite well now. Michael Owen unfortunately picked up a hamstring injury in training. That’s disappointing for him and he’ll be out for four or five weeks. “Owen Hargreaves is still recovering from a long-term injury. I can’t see [him playing in the next few weeks]. He was making very good progress when he first came back, but it seems to have stalled a little bit and he is back with the physios now. But they’re the only injuries we have at the moment and we have quite a strong squad at the moment. We hope it stays that way.”

Source: manutd.com

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Wayne Rooney will be out for 3 weeks

Wayne Rooney was for signing a new five-year deal, but an ankle injury has tempered out and keep him out for three weeks. Rooney has been hampered by serious lesions on one of his legs against Bayern Munich in the last term.

But with his future now seemingly resolved, Sir Alex has confirmed that his talisman will be out until the middle of next month.

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