With the international break over, Manchester United returns to Premier League action with the visit of West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. While Sir Alex Ferguson has few fresh injury worries, his squad returns to action with more headlines about Wayne Rooney’s future at the club. It’s a distraction Ferguson could do without.
Despite more than one media outlet drawing misleading conclusions from Rooney’s apparent contradiction of his manager over the striker’s ankle injury, the 24-year-old will certainly start against the Baggies at Old Trafford. The striker missed United’s draw with Sunderland and the visit to Valencia in the Champions League.
Moreover, Rooney desperately needs a solid performance on Saturday and not solely to refocus the media’s attention from off-the-field problems. After all, with just one goal for United this season, Rooney’s contribution to the team has been minimal to date with questions now being asked of his role in the team.
But Ferguson brushed off talk of a rift between player and manager, despite Rooney’s indiscreet interview in midweek.
“It is water off a duck’s back to me,” Ferguson said.
“I don’t know where all these things come from. The boy is always in the spotlight and being addressed by the press. It is important how you handle it in my experience. But it just runs off me. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Potential dispute aside, United needs to regain momentum after the draws with Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland that have seen Ferguson’s side slip five points behind leaders Chelsea. Indeed, the Baggie’s visit marks the first of nine matches in 29 days, including next month’s trip to Eastlands and the visit of Arsenal, in which United cannot win the Premier League but could certainly lose ground.
Ferguson is set to pick from a full squad against the high-flying visitors, with only Park Ji-Sung reporting injured from international duty. The South Korean captain missed his country’s fixture with Japan on Tuesday with knee pain.
However, Owen Hargreaves will not feature on Saturday according to Ferguson, despite the player’s surgeon suggestion otherwise last week. Hargreaves, 29, has not started a match for United in more than two years and featured for just 37 seconds last season. The midfielder is now suffering from a calf strain.
“Owen is not ready,” said Ferguson.
“He is injured. He has missed training for the last few days. We are having difficulties with the doctor in Colorado coming out with statements that are not accurate.
“It is not fair to the player for him to say Owen is going to be playing tomorrow. It is ridiculous. I pick the team and I have been doing it for quite a while.
“We have this small interference, which is causing some confusion. He is out with a calf injury.”
In midfield Paul Scholes has rested for a fortnight, while Ryan Giggs is fit again after a hamstring strain. The manager is likely to pick a midfield four, with Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Michael Carrick competing for one spot along side Scholes.
With Stoke City away to come after Bursaspor in midweek, it is probable the United manager will use his full squad resources in the upcoming games.
Meanwhile, West Brom could be without lightening quick striker Peter Odemwingie, who is struggling to recover from a knee strain and will have a late fitness test. Marc-Antoine Fortune stands by. Midfielder Jerome Thomas is also a doubt with a calf injury.
Despite winning at the Emirates recently and lying sixth in the Premier League table, West Brom will arrive at Old Trafford seeking a first win in more than 32 years.
“Our win at Arsenal probably gives the players a bit more belief in their own ability,” said boss Roberto di Matteo.
“But that win is not going to change our attitude because it was always good, very positive and very committed.”
United’s underwhelming performances in away games aside, Ferguson’s team is still unbeaten this season. Amid the turmoil of financial uncertainty and Rooney’s problems that fact is often forgotten.
“You have to recognise that performance at the Emirates Stadium. To score three goals there tells you something. This will be a tough game, make no mistake,” Ferguson added.
Opposition
West Brom – 451 – Carson; Olsson, Shorey, Tamas, Jara; Morrison, Brunt, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Scharner; Odemwingie. Subs from: Cox, Myhill, Pablo, Tchoyi, Barnes, Reid, Fortune, Mattock, Pablo, Bednar, Zuiverloon, Meite.
United squad
Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Amos, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, O’Shea, Evans, Rafael, Fabio, Brown, Anderson, Bébé, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Gibson, Fletcher, Hernández, Berbatov, Macheda, Rooney, Owen, Obertan.
Officials
Referee: Mark Jones
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Andy Garratt
Fourth official: Kevin Friend
Form
United – DWWDWD
West Brom – LDWWWD
2-2 draw with rio motm
vds
rafael rio vidic evra
nani carrick scholes rooney
berbashite hernanshite
away win
faffing ensues
LKHF
If United are seriously going to challenge Chelsea, they will need some of Bebe’s fighting spirit. I would hope SAF starts Bebe against West Brom. Fans really don’t know much about Bebe, but they will find out soon! He can lift the team morale, SAF needs to put him on the field, not on the sub bench.
2-0 United
or 0-0
Have an awful feeling Gibson, Owen and Park will play
we lose…uncleknobhead wins..I quit this forum….
vds rafa rio vidic evra nani carrick anderson giggs hernandez berbashite
rooney bench with six others
VDS
Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs
Berbatov, Hernandez
…according to MatchTracker
should be able to beat the brummies with that team sheet
aye… we are 5 goals away from 1000 prem goals at old trafford
any links about??
and not that myp2p shite or veetle.
obi one thingy me is out for them
terry – fsicrew.info
I’ve for ESPN US streaming now.
NO ROONEY – WTF?
VDS
Rafael Rio Vidic Evra
Nani Carrick Anderson Giggs
Berba Hernandez
Do NOT like that central mf pairing.
http://entertainmenow.net/channel2.php
HI HAN , WEST BROM are not brummies it is in sandwell 5 miles north of brum, but who cares, come on reds
That’s like saying somebody from Stockport isn’t a Manc.
Hernandez
to score today
sorry monkey
good to see u back
get in mexico
1-0
lol herdandez has a knack of being in the right place
said Hernandez would score yesssssssssssss.
good to be back working to much lately
sweet peaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Nice, Berba looks like he’s actually arsed again.
That’s like saying somebody from Stockport isn’t a Manc.
yes they are from the black country, yam yams, and therefore are not brummies, but feck them we are 1-0 up.
lets get a few goals today reds.
berbs should have made it 2
nani 2-0
another fucking goal and assist for nani
Great goal… 2-0
nani has though………
Arse down 0-1 at home to the Brummies.
Giggs finished.
I’d bring on Rooney, to play centre mid, and move Anderson out to the left.
arse 1-1
hmmm
gibson on for giggs
link?
faffing time
fuck that
2-2 here we go again ffs, cant defend.
2-2
cap takes the points unless west brom scores again
so VDS is still great? TWATS
Lol!!
We are shit.
LOL… awesome…
wankers.
bring on super-sub Rooney, the fat cunt should be able to manage 20 mins
2-3 I take the points
love the way Anderson just gives the ball away – he is SO shit – fucking youtube cockend
come on reds ffs
we will win this – LKHF
is that Gibson being booed!
gibson and anderson in midfield – LOLOLOOLOLOL – faffing
outstanding faffage
in fairness, the match and this topic were dull as fuck before this
come on Reds – you can do this
come on Nani – be the inspiration
Stimks of cabbage.
all about nani – he can make things happen, come on you cunt
The wheel’s have well and truly come off the Manchester United era… we can no longer be class as top two…Fergie to retire at the end of the season and we then go into a 20 year slump like the bindippers!!
bring on Shrek and Mecheda – anything for Andershit and Gibsucks
fucking hell FERGIE – GET GIBSON OFF – he hasn’t touched the ball for 10mins
what the fuck is taggard waiting for – bring on the subs – he is ruining this for United
come on Scholes and Shrek – this is what we want to see – fresh legs and some serious power
come on Rooney show the world what you are made of
Come on Scholesy…
Bit of Ginger magic.
come on united
what the fuck has berba done this half?
so scholes is gonna play midfield on his own then
come on lads put a fucking shift in – at least look as if you give a fuck about this game, ffs. no red shirt gives a cunt.
Fucking hell what a shower of fucking shite been sorting foto´s and the last time I looked United were leading 2 – 0 now its 2 – 2 as Knobhead says FAFFING
“last time I looked United were leading 2 – 0 now its 2 – 2”
Good fan, really.
stop fucking givening WBA chances, please – hold onto the point.
abject shitness on all counts.
we are fucked
Yes, we are.
apparently Shrek is playing
any chance we can bury gibson in a mine in Chille? maybe he would be more useful then
come on reds!!
ronaldo will bail us out
fucking rubbish
Pffft…
One point gained I’d say.
fucking gonads
at home and yet sweet fuck all in terms of ideas or creativity
sort it knob head and quickly ffs
well done WBA
do we need anymore proof that Anderson and Gibsonson should be sold to Sunderland – fuck off
do we still think VDS is the man – fuck off
Rooney – what a joke of a player, clearly does not give a fuck, mind you know one seems to, not even Fergus
What an abject shower of shite from a abject shower of cunts each and every player, the manager and the fucking training team need to hang there heads in shame at the dross and shite there serving up this season.
As the old saying goes it doesn’t matter if you lose, its how you lose.
Of course it matters if we lose!
I’m sort of glad I didnt watch the game, I had too much work to do so I just listened on BBC radio. Not seeing it w/ my own eyes lessens the pain of 2 fucking draws in a row.
5 draws in 8 games and all bar one of those drawn games we were leading in strong positions – what the fuck has happened to us this season
shrek looks about 45 – totally out of it
berbatoss looks pretty dis interested agian
rent boys laughing all the way to the title and we cant even so much as put up a decent fight
Fucking awful
And they were booed off at full time. It’s hotting up big time
We could be 7 points behind Chelsea by the end of the day
are we going down?
ffs one goal away from spike leaving forever
saf needs to look at that and give these sad fucks a good pasting
fucking buy shrek a whore or 4 if he can start scoring like last season when he was burying his nuts in the tarts
we have some serious issues to deal with and he should start by looking at the lack of any spark from that side in the second half
agree with that but Berba together with Nani, Rio and Vida were the only ones who did something called play football which apparently the other 8 cunts were also supposed to do
we are fucked on that front, that is true – our only chance is a vintage return from Giggs, Fletcher coming back strong, with a bit of luck Anderson and Gibson will be struck down by lightening so that we can get the reserve midfielders in
also clear that Fergus and Rooney need to have a chat – by all media accounts, they are not seeing eye to eye so Taggart needs to “manage” him and sort out the problem.
Shrek is all over the place and laughing and piss-taking aside, it’s not nice to see at all.
Trying to find a positive in this rubbish, and it might be this… The neccessary suffering is happening, and the sooner the better… let’s get it over with.
As long as United are winning and competing at the top, it’s really hard to win round the naive and deluded, that think all is well, and the Glazers are doing a decent enough job in charge.
We’re going to have to suffer a bit… like the Verrrmin have had to, to wake up the apathetic, and generate some fuckin passion.
The Glazers WILL NOT walk away from United… it’s a money machine… they will need to driven out like the parasites that they are… and only a unified, and angry fan base will be able to do it.
i thought Ando did well in the first half up until Giggs got injured.
but then the great youth prospect Gibson came on and stayed well away from the ball from then on.
He really was poor wasn’t he… he didn’t even flash any hopefull long shots.
Fuck he was shit.
I used to loathe Fletcher back in the day, but at least Darren showed effort. This Gibson twat looks like he has made it cos he plays for Man Utd. He really offers nothing to the team.
Lets be honest with ourselves, we was pretty awful last season as well. Not replacing Ronaldo (with anyone of a similar ilk) was always gunna leave us short. Chelsea are far too strong and even if they lose at Villa today it’ll not change anything. United are treading water. Vidic has lost 5 yards, Van der Sar is obviously far too old, Scholsey and Giggs cant keep getting wheeled out, as for Anderson, Carrick, Owen, Gibson,Jimmy Spark, O’Shakey, well they should’nt even be playing in the prem let alone United. Third or fourth finish i’m affraid.
Playing 4-4-2 with Anderson & Carrick in the engine room only leads to one thing – disappointment.
They lined up together in a 2 man middle of midfield against Burnley (A) & Leeds (H) last season too – you thought the lesson would be learnt by now!
If these two are going to play in the same side it has to be in a 4-5-1. Same goes for Gibson.
The bottom line is as last season – if we have to play our 1st choice side every game to ensure a good chance of victory. Rotate the squad & anything can happen.
I wonder what SAF is going say about this performance.
Most likely he will say West Brom is a hard team to beat, they have been playing well and he knew it was going to be a difficult game. He said before the game that United had no killer instinct but its his job to motivate the team. Do you United have any players with that killer instinct? Tevez was one, but he’s gone!
fergie used to be the best around at changing games with subs
back in the old days when we had good players on the bench (and on the pitch)
We had 35 mins after West Brom equalised to find a winner and we looked absolutely clueless.
Not the fault of the strikers but the lacklustre midfield and woeful defence. Carrick can shove his vision and passing up his arse – he’s a safety player. Andershite threatened to do something and then would give the ball away time and time again. Gibson is shite.
I normally try to find something else to occupy my time in order to get over bad results but I can’t get over this one.
Thoroughly pissed off and glad to see the team get booed off the pitch.
The prospect of going to the Bursaspor game in mid-week is enough of a ball ache as it is without dwelling on that shite today.
I was reading one United fan was so angry, he through his TV out the window.
That was probably Brian
Was at old Trafford library today. A couple of louts had the audacity to start singing which was met with mass disapproval. Travelling to old Trafford from London must be very stressful so I understand that noise is unappreciated. Gibson played well. For someone who can’t pass or tackle he met expectations. Its clear that he’s responded to his critics accusations of shooting on sight of goal. Now he doesn’t shoot at all. He just tries to foul the opposition.Andersons song pisses me off. He plays well for 20 minutes against arsenal 3 years ago? So what. Why does that deserve a song? It’s no surprise that Van deer Sar has finally gone senile. At 60, he needs to be replaced. West Brom deserved to win today. United were lucky. One final thing, will somebody please get Rooney a prostitute. Coleen clearly foes not satisfy him…..
Looking at that team, I would play Nani up front to partner Berbatov and play Bebe on the right wing. Why did SAF pay 8 million for Bebe to be a spectator? He was not even on the subs bench, neither was Obertan, another winger. Maybe Obertan is still having recurring back problems like Ferdinand. Also, I would play Fabio at left back because Evra still looks shaky at the moment. The midfield is shot! Maybe Fergie and Phelan should play in midfield. If Man City win tomorrow, they will be right on Chelsea’s heels. Fergie will be pleased today because United are still undefeated and Chelsea could only draw.
Whats going to happen next week when United are away to Stoke? Right now it looks like 3-2 Stoke!
What is it with you and Bebe? Seriously you must mention this – unproven, seen a few good performances abroad – player? How is seeing a few videos (and the odd junior international game) any different to Manucho? Remember Manucho? Everybody salivating over some spectacular clips seen online, then… nada.
Hopefully Bebe won’t be another Manucho. But really, stop with this idiocy of suggesting this inexperienced young lad can save our season. There’s allegedly top class pros taking home ££££££ per week. These are the ones we SHOULD be able to rely on!!!
Is there a passer more one dimensional than Gibson? A Brazilian less Brazilian (skill wise) than Anderson? Even superskill(?) Rio can’t pass to a red shirt more than 50% of the time! An ofcourse we are financially flush to rectify the problem !
Nah, Fergie is a striker. Haven’t we got enough problems without playing players out of position?
‘For me, utds two best players this season, for me, have been giggs and scholes, for me’
…says shearer
I do think age may just be catching up with SAF. If the team was playing great football and getting all these draws, fans would be less critical. But they look like a bunch of guys who have never played together before. That should be a big concern, but its amazing they are still undefeated. I still feel though that with the players they have, they can win the league, but SAF does not seam to know which players should be starting and which players to play in key positions. He will have to spend some money in January.
aye he should spend some money this january
but he dinnae have any to spend
and he is scotttish to boot so he won’t be spending on shite without any added value
We need to start signing more sicknotes like Owen on pay as you play deals. Bringing back Saha would also be a good idea. Our squad size would be increased while complementing the value principle.
“Owen on pay as you play deals.”
Most of us were against Saint Michel joining the holy grounds of OT… sell by date has expired by now, maybe Doncaster Rovers will have him?