retired_tnovo

Tuesday 4th December 2007

uefa.com

Manchester United 3 Lyon 0

They are looking good at the moment. A weakened Manchester United completed their group campaign with a comfortable victory over Lyon at Old Trafford tonight. Alan Smith gave United an early lead which was added to by Marc-Andre Kruska's volley minutes later. A second goal from Smith late on in the second half secured a fantastic victory against a full strength Lyon outfit. The result was fully deserved as although Lyon had more possession, the hosts did more with their share and scored the all-important goals. United manager Faiz Khan named a second string XI which included starts for fringe players such as Eduardo Ratinho, John O'Shea, Kruska and Giuseppe Rossi. Lyon coach Gerard Houllier made just one change from the victory against Lorient as the suspended Eric Abidal made way for Jeremy Berthod.

On a dry but very cold evening in Manchester, referee Erol Ersoy got this final Champions League group match underway. After just four minutes, the hosts opened the scoring. Kieran Richardson swung in a corner from the right and Smith was there at the near post to flick his header into the roof of the net. Six minutes later, United had a good opportunity to double their lead. Park Ji-Sung went running down the right wing and he sent over a dangerous cross to the far post where Richardson's header was well stopped by Gregory Coupet and the ball was cleared to safety. On 11 minutes, United were very unlucky not to double their lead. Richardson swung in a corner from the right and Rossi's bullet header crashed against the crossbar and Wes Brown struck his rebound into the arms of the grateful Coupet. The visitors were clearly stunned by the start to the match and they fashioned out their opening two minutes later. Juninho Pernambucano won the ball from Brown and teed up Sidney Govou from 25 yards but the France international sent his firm shot just inches wide of the far corner. After 15 minutes, the hosts increased their lead. Eduardo Ratinho played a freekick into the area and when Berthod cleared out to Kruska, the young German midfielder crashed his volley past Coupet into the roof of the net - his 1st goal for the club and what a goal! Three minutes later, Lyon missed a great opportunity to pull a quick goal back. Kruska's loose ball was intercepted by Juninho who set up Fred from 12 yards out and the Brazilian striker balooned his effort well over the crossbar. The hosts started to settle down in possession and were relaxing at the same moment. Just before the halfhour, Smith was fouled by Cris 25 yards from goal and Richardson curled his freekick just inches wide of Coupet's near post. On 31 minutes, the visitors were nearly back in the game. Francois Clerc played the ball to Govou on the right side and he crossed into the area where Fred's towering header was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Tomasz Kuszczak. Four minutes later, Richardson played in a dangerous freekick into the area and when Coupet made a flap of his punch, Brown sent his header sailing over the crossbar. Just before the interval, Lyon almost pulled a goal back. Robin van Persie did very well to ride a couple of United challenges before playing Fred through on goal but just as he was about to score, Brown did superbly to snatch the ball away. The half came to a close at Old Trafford and the scoreline was Manchester United 2 Lyon 0.

Khan was delighted with the way some of fringe players took the game to their opponents in the first half. But he warned not to think the three points were already in the bag. The second half was underway at Old Trafford. After 54 minutes, Richardson played a cheeky freekick into the path of the untracked Brown and the England centre-back sent his effort just inches over the crossbar. On the hour, Patrice Evra sent a ball down the left channel which Smith ran onto and continued into the area before crashing his shot into the side-netting from a tight angle. Four minutes later, Rossi went running at the Lyon backline with pace and played the ball onto Smith whose powerful effort took a deflection which made Coupet's save all the more easier. Midway through the second half, Lyon had a good opportunity to get back into this match. Juninho played in a beauty of a corner from the right and the unmarked Fred's bullet header was well blocked by Kuszczak and the ball was cleared to safety. The match quietened down for a while as the visitors started enjoying a long spell of possession but were unable to put United under severe pressure very often. On 79 minutes, Lyon missed a good opportunity to make the last few minutes uncomfortable for the hosts. Kim Kallstrom spread the ball out to van Persie on the left flank and he crossed to the near post where substitute Andriy Voronin sent a free header over the crossbar from 6 yards out. And a minute later, the hosts made Voronin pay for that missed opportunity by adding the killer third goal. Substitute Sergio Aguero spread the ball wide to Richardson who produced a fantastic cross which Smith powerfully headed past Coupet at his near post. There was time for one last chance in the match and it fell for the visitors. Kallstrom spread the ball out wide to van Persie on the left wing and he crossed all the way to the back post where Govou sent a smart header past Kuszczak but also past the far post by a matter of inches. The final whistle went two minutes of stoppage time later and the final score from Old Trafford read Manchester United 3 Lyon 0.

Match Verdict - final group match saw the group winners field a weakened side but still coast to an impressive victory over a full strength Lyon side. Khan will be very excited about the strength in depth at his disposal.

Man Utd - Kuszczak 8, Eduardo Ratinho 8, Evra 7, Brown 7, O'Shea 7, Park Ji-Sung 7, Richardson 8, Kruska 7, Gourcuff 7 (Carrick 74, 7), Smith 10 (Ronaldo 81, 6), Rossi 7 (Aguero 74, 6).

Goals - Smith (4, 80), Kruska (15)

Booked - Evra & Aguero

Lyon - Coupet 6, Clerc 6 (Muller 80, 7), Berthod 6, Cris 6, Cacapa 7 (Hima 72, 7), Juninho Pernambucano 7, Diarra 7, Kallstrom 7, Govou 7, van Persie 7, Fred 6 (Voronin 72, 7).

Booked - Clerc, Cris & Kallstrom

Man of the Match - Alan Smith - the powerful striker certainly seems to be relishing the chance given to him by his manager at the moment. Another two headed goals has given Khan more selection headaches but he wont mind that.


Other Champions League Group Results

Fenerbahce 0 Werder Bremen 0
Steaua Bucharest 3 Real Madrid 0
Athletic Bilbao 0 Porto 1
Sampdoria 0 Basel 1
Ajax 5 Anderlecht 1
Club Brugge 0 AC Milan 2
Panathinaikos 0 Chelsea 1
Barcelona 0 PSV Eindhoven 0
Rapid Bucharest 1 CSKA Moscow 2
Liverpool 3 Brondby 0
Salzburg 1 Hamburg 2
Besiktas 1 Dortmund 4
Inter Milan 2 Sporting Lisbon 1
Arsenal 3 Shakhtar Donetsk 0
Benfica 1 Nantes 1

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Midweek Premiership Results

Blackburn 1 Aston Villa 2
Bolton 2 West Ham 0
Man City 2 Charlton 0
West Brom 1 Newcastle 2
Wigan 0 Middlesbrough 0

retired_tnovo

Thursday 6th December 2007

uefa.com

The draw for the 2008 European Championship in Austria and Switzerland has just been made at the UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. England have been handed another battle with old enemies Germany in a group which also includes past underachievers Spain. The supposed group of death must be Group B which includes Holland, world champions Italy and the nation to host the last event, Portugal. Here is the draw in full:

Group A

Switzerland
Belgium
France
Sweden

Group B

Holland
Italy
Portugal
Romania

Group C

Austria
Czech Republic
Greece
Turkey

Group D

England
Germany
Russia
Spain

retired_tnovo

Sunday 9th December 2007

Sky Sports News

There is some breaking news coming from Upton Park and it is not good news for the Hammers' supporters as the first managerial casualty of the season has just transpired. Following rumours of players having lost confidence in Alan Pardew, the West Ham board have decided that they should install a new man in the hot seat. Pardew's contract has been terminated with immediate effect with the Hammers worryingly close to the relegation zone.

There are rumours going on about Pardew's replacement at Upton Park and the name supposedly at the top of the list is Koln manager Marius Lacatus. Other names being thrown about around Upton Park at the moment include former West Ham player Alan Curbishley, Fulham boss Chris Coleman and Coventry boss Micky Adams. Only time will tell who will be brought in to replace the man that took the Hammers to the 2006 FA Cup Final.

retired_tnovo

Sunday 9th December 2007

premierleague.com

Manchester United 2 Bolton Wanderers 0

It was easier than everyone thought. Manchester United established 2nd place in the Premiership after coasting to victory against 8-man Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford this afternoon. Sergio Aguero's early cracker set United on their way and the match was made a little easier when Nicky Hunt was harshly dismissed late in the first half. Michael Carrick saw his deflected effort find the bottom corner just after the hour until Bolton lost their heads with both Tal Ben-Haim and Ricardo Gardner being shown red cards. The victory was thoroughly deserved as United dominated from start to finish. Faiz Khan brought back players that were'nt used in the victory against Lyon with Edwin van der Sar returning to the bench after his brief injury spell. Bolton manager Sam Allardyce made just one change from the XI that beat West Ham with Hunt coming in for Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye.

On a very cold Sunday afternoon in Manchester, referee Chris Foy got this match underway. Inside four minutes, United broke the deadlock. Paul Scholes' sent a searching ball down the line for Aguero to take inside the area before unleashing a bullet from a very tight angle past Jussi Jaaskelainen into the far corner. Bolton missed the opportunity to respond just two minutes later. Ze Roberto played a freekick into the area and the unmarked Nicolas Anelka sent his header sailing harmlessly over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Rooney played a slick one-two with Carrick before unleashing a fierce strike but the problem was that it was straight into the arms of Jaaskelainen. The match started to settle down after a fast start and the visitors enjoyed a little spell of possession but they didnt look like cancelling out the early goal. Halfway through the first half, Rooney played a short freekick to Gary Neville and the skipper teed up Scholes around 30 yards from goal and his firm effort went just inches over the crossbar. Four minutes later, Adranik Teymourian was tripped by Carrick and Teymourian picked himself up to send his freekick harmlessly over the crossbar. On 34 minutes, the visitors' task was made all the more harder. Hunt pushed Rooney in the chest in full view of the referee and quickly pulled out the red card and Hunt was down the tunnel immediately. Six minutes later, United were very close to adding a second goal. Ryan Giggs played a freekick into the area from the left and Rio Ferdinand's towering header was cleared off the line by a scrambling Ze Roberto and the ball was cleared to safety. As the first half was heading into injury time, the hosts missed a great opportunity to double their lead. Giggs played a one-two with Gabriel Heinze down the left flank and his cross found Neville all alone in the area but he skied his header well over the crossbar. The half was over after three minutes of injury time and the latest score from Old Trafford was announced as Manchester United 1 Bolton Wanderers 0.

Khan was somewhat pleased with his players' performance which started brightly with the fantastic early goal. He encouraged them to take advantage of the numerical advantage and push on for the three points. The second period was underway at Old Trafford. Early on, Cristiano Ronaldo was held back by Gardner on the edge of the area but Giggs sent his freekick high, wide and not very handsome. After 56 minutes, substitute Diagne-Faye was penalised for tripping Rooney on the right wing and Giggs sent an audacious freekick from a very tight angle crashing into the side-netting. The hosts were clearly setting about clinching the three points with the numerical advantage and they doubled their lead just after the hour mark. Heinze threw the ball to Rooney inside the area and the England striker pulled the ball back for Carrick to send his deflected shot into the bottom corner. Midway through the second half, a wonderful sweeping move almost resulted in a third United goal. Superb one touch passing from the United midfield ended with Giggs crossing dangerously for Rooney but his close range shot was well blocked by Jaaskelainen and the ball was cleared to safety. Two minutes later, the visitors lost their discipline. Ben-Haim pushed Aguero to the ground and the referee promptly brandished the red card and when Gardner started to protest, the referee showed him his second yellow card, followed by the red card. The hosts were relaxed now knowing that victory was clearly ensured and started to enjoy passing the ball around effortlessly without threatening to score. On 80 minutes, United almost added a third goal. Substitute Yohan Gourcuff spread the ball out to Giggs on the left wing and he crossed to the far post where Ronaldo's towering header was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Jaaskelainen. With four minutes remaining on the clock, United almost scored a third goal. Substitute Kevin Davies tripped Gourcuff on the edge of the area and Gourcuff placed his freekick towards the near corner until Jaaskelainen got his fingertips to it and the ball was cleared to safety. The final whistle sounded around Old Trafford and the final score was Manchester United 2 Bolton Wanderers 0.

Match Verdict - this was a comfortable workout for the champions as their early goal settled down and then their opponents' ill-discipline made the rest of the match a no-contest. Doubt United will get an easier game all season.

Man Utd - Kuszczak 8, G Neville 7, Heinze 8, Ferdinand 8, Brown 8, Ronaldo 8, Giggs 9 (Park Ji-Sung 81, 7), Carrick 7, Scholes 7 (Gourcuff 70, 7), Aguero 8 (Smith 81, 6), Rooney 8.

Goals - Aguero (4), Carrick (61)

Bolton - Jaaskelainen 7, O'Brien 7, Gardner 6, Ben-Haim 6, Hunt 6, Teymourian 6, Diouf 6 (Diagne-Faye 34, 7), Etherington 7 (Tal 71, 6), Nolan 7, Ze Roberto 6, Anelka 6 (Davies 71, 6).

Booked - Gardner, Teymourian & Nolan

Sent Off - Hunt (34), Gardner (71) & Ben-Haim (71)

Man of the Match - Ryan Giggs - the legendary Wales international ran Bolton ragged all afternoon as his silky running and passing caused problems throughout the match. Very unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet.


Other Premiership Results

Arsenal 1 West Brom 1
Blackburn 2 Coventry 2
Charlton 2 West Ham 4
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Liverpool 1 Watford 0
Middlesbrough 0 Aston Villa 0
Norwich 0 Newcastle 3
Portsmouth 1 Tottenham 2
Wigan 1 Man City 0

retired_tnovo

Monday 10th December 2007

premierleague.com

After being involved in the professional victory over Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon, Manchester United trio Tomasz Kuszczak, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs were selected in the Premiership Team of the Week. Here is the team in full:

Tomasz Kuszczak (Man Utd)

Guy Demel (Blackburn)
Adam Eckersley (Coventry)
Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye (Bolton)
Daniel Agger (Liverpool)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
Ryan Giggs (Man Utd)
Didier Zokora (Tottenham)
Stilian Petrov (Aston Villa)

Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal)

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Tuesday 11th December 2007

Sky Sports News

The rumour mill got this one correct indeed. The West Ham board have named Koln manager Marius Lacatus as their replacement for the sacked Alan Pardew. The now former Koln was just introduced to the world's media at a press conference at Upton Park and the Romanian declared himself delighted to finally be in the Premiership. Many pundits inside the footballing world have already said that a manager of Lacatus' calibre and class was the kind of experience that West Ham needed to stave off relegation from the top flight.

retired_tnovo

Wednesday 12th December 2007

Football365.com

The website is exclusively claiming that Spanish giants Real Madrid are in the transfer marker for a right winger and they have identified Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo as the ideal addition to the squad. And the situation has intensified as Ronaldo's agent has been quoting as to saying that his client could be tempted by a move to the Santiago Bernabeu in the near future.

This understandably upset everyone at Old Trafford as Manchester United have told Real Madrid and any other team interested in signing the Portugal international that he is not for sale at any price. United boss Faiz Khan told this website that Ronaldo was a very important part of the squad at Old Trafford and would not allow him to leave at all costs.


Midweek Premiership Results

Blackburn 2 Wigan 0
Charlton 0 Bolton 2
Chelsea 4 Portsmouth 0
Coventry 2 Arsenal 2
Newcastle 1 Watford 2
Norwich 2 Man City 1

retired_tnovo

Friday 14th December 2007

uefa.com

The draw for the knockout stages of the Champions League has been made at the UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland and it has thrown up a mouth-watering prospect of fantasy football. Faiz Khan's Manchester United will face Spanish giants Barcelona in easily the tie of the round with the first leg taking place in the Nou Camp. Some other interesting ties include Liverpool's visit to France to face champions Lyon and AC Milan's battle with Portuguese giants Porto. Here is the draw in full:

Athletic Bilbao v Werder Bremen
Steaua Bucharest v Chelsea
AC Milan v Porto
Barcelona v Man Utd
Lyon v Liverpool
Dortmund v CSKA Moscow
Hamburg v Arsenal
Shakhtar Donetsk v Inter Milan

retired_tnovo

Saturday 15th December 2007

premierleague.com

West Bromwich Albion 0 Manchester United 3

They're coming into form now. Manchester United kept up with leaders Chelsea with a convincing victory against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns this afternoon. The champions took an early two goal lead through strikes from Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. A further goal came just before the hour mark with Sergio Aguero finishing off a wonderful team move. It was a result very much deserved as United dominated this match for long periods and could have won by a bigger margin. This result keeps West Brom just above the relegation zone. United gaffer Faiz Khan made one change from the victory over Bolton Wanderers last weekend with Edwin van der Sar returning in place of Tomasz Kuszczak, Nemanja Vidic making his return from injury among the substitutes. The Baggies boss Alan Curbishley made two alterations from the XI that drew at Arsenal as Neil Clement and the injured Jason Koumas made way for Paul McShane and Kamil Kosowski.

On a very cold and wet Saturday afternoon in the Midlands, referee Dermot Gallagher got this match up and running. Inside the first minute, the hosts almost took a shock lead. Paul Robinson played the ball to Kosowski on the left flank and his cross was headed goalwards by Mauricio Pinilla until Paul Scholes produced some great defending to clear the ball off the line and away to safety. Four minutes later, the visitors had their first opportunity to take the lead and should have taken it. Michael Carrick played the ball into Aguero and when his deflected shot fell for Rooney 6 yards out, his close range effort was superbly tipped away by former United keeper Luke Steele. But from the resulting corner, there was no stopping Rooney and United. Ryan Giggs played in a corner from the left and when the ball fell for Rooney, he shot on the turn through Steele's legs. And seven minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead. Giggs went on a mazy run past a couple of West Brom defenders and crossed to the near post and although Scholes' close range shot was parried away by Steele, Ronaldo followed up to tuck home the rebound from a tight angle - his 5th goal of the season! After a bright start to the match, the hosts were clearly rattled by the champions' response but they almost pulled a goal back midway through the first half. Robinson played a nice one-two with Nigel Quashie down the left side and he crossed to the far post where Zoltan Gera's brave header drifted just inches wide of the far corner. Just before the halfhour, Rooney was tripped by Curtis Davies and Giggs stepped up from around 35 yards to send his very ambitious freekick fizzing just inches wide of Steele's near post. After 35 minutes, Jonathan Greening spread the ball wide to Kosowski who crossed into the area where Pinilla's firm header just missed the far corner by a matter of inches. The game quietened down a little bit as United were spraying the ball about with a champions swagger. Just before the break, Ronaldo went past Robinson all too easily down the right wing and his dangerous cross was brilliantly pushed away from danger by Steele. The halftime whistle went after two minutes of stoppage time and the latest score from the Hawthorns read West Bromwich Albion 0 Manchester United 2.

Khan was delighted with his side's composure in front of goal in the first half but saw enough about West Brom to suggest to his players not to get too carried away. The second half got going at the Hawthorns. On 53 minutes, Carrick won the ball in midfield and teed up Rooney from 25 yards out and his low effort was easily smothered by the grateful Steele. Three minutes later, the visitors produced a brilliant third goal. Substitute Yohan Gourcuff spread the ball to Gary Neville on the right side, cut inside before playing the ball to Ronaldo and the winger flicked the ball through arrogantly for Aguero to strike an emphatic shot past Steele into the top corner. The hosts started to settle more freely on the ball now that the game was effectively over but they didnt really cause any uncertainty in the United ranks. After 65 minutes, Gabriel Heinze played the ball to Aguero who took a couple of touches forward before unleashing a fearsome effort which flew just inches wide of the far corner. Five minutes later, United missed a great opportunity to add a fourth goal. Giggs exchanged passes with Heinze on the left flank and he crossed to the near post where Aguero's volley was superbly tipped wide by Steele. After 74 minutes, United almost extended their lead. Neville sent a wonderful deep cross from the right side and it was met by substitute Park Ji-Sung's perfectly executed volley which was beaten away Steele and the danger was averted. Five minutes later, Gourcuff was upended by Davies and the Frenchman stepped up to curl his long range freekick just inches over the crossbar. And three minutes later, Davies handled the ball from around the same position and Gourcuff's latest attempt went well wide of the far corner. With just two minutes left on the clock, Neville's high cross was poorly cleared out to the United skipper and he sent his fierce effort flashing just inches over the crossbar. The match was brought to a halt after four minutes of stoppage time and the final score at the Hawthorns was West Bromwich Albion 0 Manchester United 3.

Match Verdict - this match was just too easy for the champions as their fast start enabled them to coast through to another three points. Chelsea must be looking over their shoulders constantly at the moment.

West Brom - Steele 7, Andersson 6, Robinson 7, McShane 6, Davies 6 (Riggott 89, 6), Stalteri 6, Greening 6, Kosowski 6 (Kamara 78, 6), Gera 6, Quashie 7, Pinilla 6 (Kluivert 70, 6).

Man Utd - van der Sar 8, G Neville 8, Heinze 7, Ferdinand 8, Brown 8, Ronaldo 8, Giggs 7 (Park Ji-Sung 71, 7), Carrick 8, Scholes 8 (Gourcuff 45, 8), Aguero 7, Rooney 8 (Smith 71, 6).

Goals - Rooney (6), Ronaldo (13), Aguero (56)

Injured - Scholes (45)

Man of the Match - Rio Ferdinand - there wasnt much defending to do this afternoon but when there was, the former Leeds and West Ham defender was as composed as ever with his precise passing and great defensive work.


Other Premiership Results

Aston Villa 2 Charlton 1
Bolton 0 Wigan 1
Coventry 2 Middlesbrough 3
Everton 1 Blackburn 1
Man City 2 Portsmouth 0
Newcastle 4 Liverpool 2
Tottenham 1 Chelsea 2
Watford 1 Arsenal 1
West Ham 2 Norwich 1

retired_tnovo

Saturday 15th December 2007

manutd.com

After being carried off earlier this afternoon, the fears have been confirmed. It has been announced that Manchester United's central midfielder Paul Scholes has sustained strained knee ligaments after turning awkwardly during the victory at West Bromwich Albion this afternoon. The club's physio has stated to manager Faiz Khan that the attacking midfielder will be ruled out of action for between a month to 6 weeks and this will no doubt be a major blow for Scholes. Khan has said that losing Scholes is a big blow but the squad can cover for his absence, with Yohan Gourcuff likely to step in alongside Michael Carrick in the United engine room.