[EPL] Man Utd 5-0 Wigan

[drivemein]

High five! Manchester United blitz gives Sir Alex Ferguson perfect early birthday gift
-dailymail.co.uk-


Manchester United gave manager Sir Alex Ferguson the perfect birthday present by closing the gap on leaders Chelsea to two points with a stunning 5-0 victory over Wigan.

Ferguson, 68 on New Year's Eve, saw Wayne Rooney deliver another masterclass as second-placed United turned up the heat in the Barclays Premier League title race by also cutting Chelsea’s advantage in terms of goal difference to just two.


That's for you, boss: Rooney, who produced another brilliant display, celebrates his goal

After goals by Rooney, Michael Carrick, Rafael, Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia, delighted Ferguson said: ‘I think the first 45 minutes were the best we have seen this season. It was marvellous stuff.’

It was also a good night for third-placed Arsenal as they demolished troubled bottom club Portsmouth 4-1 at Fratton Park.


High five: Antonio Valencia completes the rout over his former club to cut down Chelsea's lead at the top of the table

They are now only four points behind Chelsea with a match in hand and manager Arsene Wenger made it clear the title race is very much on, saying: ‘We’re up for it. We’re ready for the fight.’

[drivemein]

Martinez - Rout unacceptable
-skysports.com-



Wigan boss angry with defending in United mauling

Roberto Martinez accused Wigan of playing like individuals in their 5-0 mauling at Manchester United.

The Latics were on the receiving end of identical punishment by the Red Devils, who managed to replicate their five-goal success at the DW Stadium in Wednesday's Old Trafford encounter.

United ended the year in style as goals from Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Rafael da Silva, Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia heaped more misery on a Latics side that look in big trouble going into the second half of the season.

Their latest rout - the fifth time they have conceded four goals or more in a game - has left Martinez questioning his side's ability to play as a team.

"We never gave a game to United," the Spaniard told Sky Sports. "We were extremely, extremely disappointing in all the things we have to do to be a team.

"You come to places like Old Trafford and it's not good enough to be good - you have to be perfect and be solid and earn the right to express yourself and try to win the football game.

Punished

"Today we started everything the other way round and we played like individuals and never looked like a team and when you do that you get heavily punished.

"It has happened too many times this season and it's unacceptable and we will have to correct it.

Another blow to Wigan was Chris Kirkland's failure to return for the second-half.

But Martinez expects his regular shot-stopper to be fit for Saturday's FA Cup third round clash against Hull.

"It shouldn't be that serious," the Latics boss added of Kirkland's substitution.

"I think he has been under the weather - he has had a cold and it is something that he could not carry on but it's not a problem at all."

[drivemein]

Sir Alex Ferguson hails 'marvellous' Manchester United win over Wigan
-guardian.co.uk-



• The whole team played well, says manager
• Wayne Rooney was 'absolutely fantastic'

Sir Alex Ferguson said he had an "uncomfortable" Christmas after two damaging defeats but he is in the right mood to celebrate his 68th birthday, and the new year, after Manchester United hit top form to demolish Wigan 5-0 and move up to within two points of Chelsea, the Premier League leaders.

The United manager believes his team are well placed to go on the sort of run which burned off all opposition after Christmas last season. They won 11 league games in succession then, to overhaul Chelsea and Liverpool, and are looking to do the same to retain their title.

Ferguson said: "I think the players realised there were goals there to be scored tonight and they took their chance. That was good because, who knows, goal difference could be important at the end of the season."

To Wigan's chagrin, the architect of their demoralising defeat was Antonio Valencia, the Ecuador winger they sold to United for £16m during the summer. Valencia, signed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, unhinged his old team's defence time and again, setting up three goals before scoring the fifth himself, and Ferguson said: "The really important thing for us is that Antonio scored another goal [his sixth of the season]. That was key for him. He'll get a lot more."

After praising Valencia and describing the form of Wayne Rooney, who scored his 14th goal in 19 league games, as "absolutely fantastic", Ferguson added that he preferred not to single out individuals on this occasion. "The whole team played well", he explained. "They all need to play their part, and at the moment they are certainly doing that. It was marvellous stuff tonight.

"Defeats against Aston Villa and Fulham gave us an uncomfortable Christmas, and five defeats in the first half of the season is already one more than we had in the whole of last season. That's a concern, but the way the league is going it's not fatal. I just hope that we haven't damaged ourselves too much.

"There have been a few shock results this season that hopefully might mean the title is taken with fewer points than usual."

Rooney, enjoying what the England striker regards as his best season, expects at least eight more goals, which would eclipse the 23 he scored in all competitions in 2006-07. "If I don't do that, there will be something seriously wrong," he said.

The manager said he intended to pick a "very different" team for Sunday's FA Cup tie at home to Leeds United. "There will be a chance for a couple of the younger players, and we also have Gary Neville available. Johnny Evans is back in training and Rio Ferdinand has started and is running well. He's not that far away."

[drivemein]

A Stylish Farewell To 2009
-manchesterunited.vitalfootball.co.uk-



All in all, 2009 was a good year for Manchester United. Sure, we had our fair share of problems (losing the Champions League final, the departure of our best player, the endless injuries etc.) but in the end, we won our 18th league title and still have a realistic chance of landing the 19th as well.

And we said goodbye to 2009 in style: for the first time this season, Old Trafford witnessed a demolition on the grand scale. Wigan were outplayed for 90 minutes, they were chasing shadows all night and that it took as long as 27 minutes for United to break the deadlock is almost miraculous.

The Champions, for once, looked like Champions: from the kickoff we set a high tempo, we passed the ball intelligently and we had clear ideas about how to disrupt and stretch the Wigan defence. Once again, Carrick and Fletcher were deployed in midfield and it's painfully obvious that their partnership is the best we have in the middle of the park. Their high intensity game, combined with the energy and guile of our forwards brought an avalanche of chances and Wigan could have been blown away by the 25th minute.

Rooney hit the inside of the post; Berbatov should have won a penalty when Bramble clipped him from behind; Berbatov was clear on goal but lifted the ball wide of the target; Scharner cleared a Vidic effort off the line - and these were only the biggest chances before the opener.

Which was scored by the player who is in world class form and whose football is a joy to watch at the moment. Wayne Rooney is clearly relishing the increased responsibility and it must be noted that making him the penalty taker did wonders for his confidence: penalties can help him get over barren spells without developing the immense frustration that so often characterised his football. Against Wigan he was at the peak of his powers, tormenting defenders mercilessly and there was something inevitable that he got on the end of Rafael's fine cross and that he could produce a deft finish with which Kirkland had no chance at all.

And it was game over. Wigan, it must be acknowledged, had no fight in them, they simply gave up as they never seemed to believe they could get a result at Old Trafford. United did not slow down for a minute, the battering continued without a trace of remorse and soon enough our efforts were rewarded: the somewhat uncertain Berbatov produced a fine pass for Valencia, who terrorised Figueroa all night, and his perfect cutback found the excellent Carrick who elegantly sidefooted the ball into the net.

Wigan still could not muster a real chance as the United onslaught did not stop but it was only in the stoppage time of the first half that the third goal we so richly deserved came: Rafael found some space among the hesitant Latics defenders and he fired home a fine left-footed shot from the edge of the area then ran off to celebrate with his delighted brother who was sitting on the bench.

There was a danger that the second half could turn into a boring procession as the game was already over but fortunately, United seemed to realise that goal difference could be important and set out to give it a real boost. After some early pressure, Valencia's low cross somehow found Berbatov - the defenders fell in every direction... - who slotted the ball home with the outside of his right foot. Lovely finish and a deserved goal for the Bulgarian who was clearly eager to help the team.

Even then it did not become some boring, scrappy affair: Wigan had two good chances to grab a consolation goal that they barely deserved while United kept on playing some excellent passing football, not allowing the game to degenerate into some scrappy kickabout. And though Fergie planned ahead and gave Berbatov, Evra and Vidic a rest, he seemingly did not even consider taking Rooney off as he was evidently enjoying himself on the pitch. And it was worth leaving him on as the he set up the game's best goal: his defence-splitting pass found Antonio Valencia who lifted it over Pollitt (who replaced Kirkland at the interval) using the outside of his right foot to complete as good a night's work as any this season.

This was United at their best and though it does not make us a better team than we were three days ago, it was a hell of a display, a joy to watch. A fitting farewell to 2009 which, as I said, was essentially a good year for Manchester United fans and players alike.

[Red Army]

sekali lagi Kuszczak membuktikan ketangguhannya di bawah mistar, sekarang dah gak kuatir lg kalo Edwin absen. Gol2 waktu lawan Fulham & Villa semata2 bukan krn kesalahan kiper...

[Ayunda]

Originally Posted by Red Army

sekali lagi Kuszczak membuktikan ketangguhannya di bawah mistar, sekarang dah gak kuatir lg kalo Edwin absen. Gol2 waktu lawan Fulham & Villa semata2 bukan krn kesalahan kiper...

Moga2 aja Kuszczak emang udah stabil maennya. Ayo, pertahanin clean sheet!

[ecly_watchaa]

kamfreett,...PLN ngadat dr sore hingga subuh dgr berita gembira ini
malah dr temen opis,..gt ngantor giliran kantor yg gak berdaya
ama listrik yg byar pet hingga jam pulang....ampuunnn...!!!

kado spesial buat opa.... congratz...!!

[red_girl_mia]

sweetest present for Opa......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OPA...WISH U ALWAYS BE MAN U SOULMATE.....FOREVER...ENTIRE OF UR LIVE......

[rondwisan]

Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic, match statistic
SkySport