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Wes Brown enjoying life at the back

Wes Brown will be targeting three more points – and a second successive league clean sheet – when United travel to Portsmouth this weekend.

Injuries in defence have given Wes a chance in his favoured central role recently, one he grasped with both hands in the 3-0 home win over Everton last weekend.

The Longsight-born player has endured his own maddening periods on the sidelines over the years, but when fully fit he remains a top-class defender, and he'll be looking to demonstrate that once more at Fratton Park on Saturday.

"Rio and Vida have missed a few games, which has given me a chance and it’s been nice to be back in the centre," the 30-year-old says. "Throughout my career that’s always where I’ve said I want to play, but it really doesn’t bother me either way.

"I’m really enjoying it at the moment – I’m training well and when I’ve played I’ve felt 100 per cent fit. I’ve had a few frustrating seasons, but I always try my best to come back strongly and, touch wood, up to now I’ve been fine."

Wes is not the only Brown to have featured in United colours this season – brother Reece has been making a name for himself in the Academy and Reserves sides, although he's currently sidelined through injury.

"I try to watch him as much as I can," Wes adds. "We’re quite similar in the way we play, but he’s a lot taller than me and is very a powerful defender. We talk a lot about football and hopefully we’ll get the chance to play together one day."

Written by Paul Grippo, a 'Crazy' United fan

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Edwin Van der Sar may carry on

EDWIN Van der Sar is still keeping fellow keepers Tomasz Kuszczak and Ben Foster waiting for their big chance.

The 39-year-old Dutchman's performances have been of their usual top quality, leading to the belief he will sign another one-year contract.

There are even rumours of a possible return to international football with Holland at next summer's World Cup - when he will be only four months short of his 40th birthday.

"I don't know his plans," said Sir Alex Ferguson.

"When you get to that age and have a young family, there are a lot of things to consider.

"It is usually sometime in December that he outlines his plans and how long he thinks he can go on.

"He is a very intelligent man, who understands his body better than anyone. He will come to the right decision."

Sir Alex is equally confident of the future when van der Sar bows out.

"I have said all along, Ben has terrific ability," the manager stated.

"He needs plenty of game experience, which he has not got at the moment, but the future rests with him and Tomasz.

"The two of them will fight it out, I am sure of that."

Source: manchestereveningnews.com

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United 0 - 1 Besiktas

THIRTEEN years after Fenerbahce became the first team to defeat Manchester United in a European game at Old Trafford, fellow Turkish side Besiktas ended their 23-match unbeaten home record in the Champions League.

Rodrigo Tello's first-half effort did the damage, just as Elvir Bolic broke Sir Alex Ferguson's team all those years ago - goalkeeper Rustu Recber the constant - with United left to do a spot of naval gazing over the winter months.

A point at Wolfsburg in a fortnight will still secure top spot in Group B, qualification having already been achieved.

But, Gabriel Obertan apart, Ferguson knows his United team laboured badly against a side that had collected just a single point from their four previous matches.

A bit like England manager Fabio Capello in Qatar, the United boss discovered his back-up is not really cutting it just now, leaving him to cross his fingers that the watching Rio Ferdinand heads a list of returning soldiers when battle recommences in February, when, unlike now, there will be no redemption after failure.

The outcome was particularly galling for Ben Foster, who had so little to do.

To say there was a bit of pressure on Foster before kick-off was sizeable understatement.

A lot of it was self-inflicted. In grumbling quite so publicly about his perceived status as Reds' third choice goalkeeper while at the same time being good enough to start England's last two internationals, Foster ensured there would be a fairly intense focus on him the next time he was picked by Ferguson.

His recall was accompanied by words of high praise from his manager for CSKA Moscow stopper Igor Akinfeev, someone United were supposedly considering as Edwin van der Sar's replacement when the veteran Dutchman eventually calls time on his stellar career.

Ferguson's assertion that rumours he wants to sign the Russia international are “not true” will be greeted with a pinch of salt by the sceptics and certainly Foster had no reason to feel comfortable.

So, to be beaten after 20 minutes by a long-range strike that appeared to catch him slightly flat-footed was not the best way for Foster to respond.

Consolation could be taken from the slack defending that created the space for Tello to shoot.

The strike itself took a slight deflection off Rafael Da Silva that took it further out of Foster's reach but it was with a slight shake of the head and a sense of foreboding that the former Watford goalkeeper picked the ball out of his goal.

United were fortunate not to be further behind at the break but Michael Fink spoiled an otherwise excellent central midfield display by clipping the outside of a post with a 12-yard effort after the home defence had been opened up far too easily once more.

Yet on the whole, it had been an encouraging first-half for a youthful Red Devils side that only needed to preserve that long unbeaten home run to confirm themselves as Group B winners with a game to spare.

Strikers Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck both caused Besiktas problems in their own way.

The Italian was prepared to shoot from distance while Welbeck had a more nimble approach to unlocking the defence of a side that conceded eight to Liverpool on their last visit to England two years ago.

Obertan made the biggest impact.

For those still missing Cristiano Ronaldo, the Frenchman performed some fleet-footed stepovers and was not scared to use his pace down the right flank.

And, although his head seemed to drop near half-time when a couple of decisions went against him, it was Obertan who lifted flagging United spirits after an hour when he collected the ball inside his own half and sprinted past a couple of lame tackles before drawing an excellent low save out of Rustu.

He also looped a Macheda cross onto the roof of the net, at no little cost to Ibrahim Toraman, who was carried off with a suspected broken nose after accidentally being caught by an Obertan elbow.

But Obertan apart, a malaise had gripped home ranks. The introduction of Michael Owen was followed by a Ferguson expletive as he watched Darron Gibson curl a poor free-kick straight at Rustu.

It proved to be the Republic of Ireland international's last involvement as Michael Carrick and Patrice Evra were called upon to execute one of those famous rescue acts.

The task proved beyond them, with Rustu producing two excellent flying saves to deny Macheda and Wes Brown to give himself another night to remember at Old Trafford.

Source: manchestereveningnews.com

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Foster told he isn't going anywhere

Alex Ferguson has come out and stated that Ben Foster will not be leaving the club in January and that he wants o hold on to the England international. The 26 year old keeper was the number one at the start of the season due to an injury to Edwin van der Saar but now finds himself third in the pecking order.

Foster is still in the England frame, however, and claimed his club situation was "disheartening" after playing in the defeat against Brazil last weekend.

But Ferguson said: "He is definitely staying. He will be a terrific keeper."

After playing his second consecutive game for England in Qatar, Foster expressed frustration with his predicament, pointing out that while he was playing regularly for his country he was unable to play week in week out in a Man Utd football shirt .

That led to reports that Foster could move away from United in the January transfer window in order to earn a place in England manager Fabio Capello's World Cup squad, with a loan move the most likely.

Foster made his name during two separate loan moves to Watford - but his manager insists there is no chance of another switch in the New Year.

"He has had a couple of bad mistakes in games but his performance level has been very good," added Ferguson.

"Ben is a strong lad. Without doubt he is England's best goalkeeper. Without question he has the best presence and he is the quickest. He is also very brave.

"But for a lad of 26 he has not had much game experience. That is the negative part for him and that is where maybe it will cost him his England position at the moment.

"However, I am not protecting the lad because he is my goalkeeper but when I look at the abilities of the goalkeepers in the league who are English, I don't think they are as good as Ben Foster. It is as simple as that."

Written by Mark Ferguson, a sports writer who blogs about cheap football kits

OWEN: We Can build on Chelsea Display

Michael Owen believes events at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago will help inspire Sir Alex Ferguson’s men when Everton visit Old Trafford on Saturday.

But it’s not just a sense of injustice that will fire the Reds. Owen says United will take heart from the way the team dominated at Chelsea despite the 1-0 loss.

“We don’t have that desperate desire to get out there again and prove anything to anyone,” Owen told United Review .

“When we lost at Liverpool it was a different story – we didn’t perform well at Anfield – but there was no way we deserved to lose at Chelsea. We walked away with our heads held high. There were plenty of positives to take out of that performance.”

Positive sums up Owen’s start to his United career. The 29-year-old has scored in the league, Carling Cup and Champions League since his summer arrival and choruses of “Michael Owen is a Red” have rung out around Old Trafford since his winner in September’s Manchester derby.

“I’m not sure Gary Neville’s too pleased with me nicking his song!” he joked.

“To be honest, 10 years ago I wouldn’t have dared dream I would one day play for United, so it’s a nice surprise. I’ve been very fortunate to end up here and there’s no better feeling than playing, scoring, winning and hearing the fans sing your name.”

Source: United Review

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Could Mourinho be the next United manager?

The story linking Jose Mourinho with a move to Manchester United as manager one day continues to rumble on. Mourinho has in the past hinted that he would like the job, and again this week, that he sees his long term future in England.

It would seem unlikely that a return to Chelsea would be on the cards and, going on the assumption he would only go to a top 4 club, unless there is new ownership at Arsenal then his style of play wouldn't exactly be welcomed at the Emirates which leaves Man Utd or Liverpool. Liverpool are certainly in need of a change at the moment but whether the financing would be available for Mourinho under the current owners is uncertain.

The other apparent option for Mourinho is the Man City job, where he would certainly have the financing made available to him, but the main aspect of that job that would appear to potentially rule it out is that it is unlikely it would be a long term job which according to Mourinho is what he is looking for next in his career. That leaves only Manchester United as the type of club that Mourinho is looking for. There is no doubt that he is a top manager and 5 titles in 7 seasons in 3 different countries is an impressive record for anyone, but would he be welcomed by the fans at Old Trafford?

The initial reaction by many fans would be no, but the reality is Sir Alex can not go on forever. Most of us can't really remember Man Utd without Sir Alex but there will be a day when he is no longer in charge. There have been a few names linked with possibly taking over one day including David Moyes, Martin O'Neil and Steve Bruce, but the reality is none of these guys have won titles before and are very unlikely to at their current clubs so would a risk like that be one worth taking or does the experience of Mourinho not make him an ideal candidate?

There is no doubt in my mind that Mourinho has the managerial talent to win the league at United but for him to be accepted by the fans he would need to adapt to the culture of the club. If Mourinho was in it for the long haul he could be an excellent United manager and although it would take him a while to win over the whole support he would be a success as at Man Utd. Whether the club would choose to appoint someone like Mourinho I think will very much come down to Sir Alex who will almost certainly have major say in whoever is appointed.

Written by Mark Ferguson, a sports writer who blogs about cheap football jerseys