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troy andreas 03-12-2012 10:48 PM

Re: Manchester United - News and Rumors
 
Kalah Citeh gagal bisa jadi fokus mereka di BPL bisa semakin menjadi

Quote:

Ferguson: Kegagalan di Eropa Bakal Hantui City

http://klimg.com/bola.net/library/p/...0000098610.jpg

Bola.net - Manajer Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson merasa jika mental sang seteru, Manchester City akan sangat terpengaruh dengan kegagalan mereka di pentas Eropa.

City sudah tersingkir dari pentas Liga Champions. Mereka butuh kemenangan atas Borussia Dortmund sembari berharap Ajax tidak mampu mengalahkan Real Madrid di laga terakhir grup pekan ini, demi bisa sekedar hijrah ke Liga Europa.

"Saya tak pernah merasa kekalahan untuk klub besar adalah hal sehat. Di sisi lain Anda bisa lebih segar di paruh kedua musim, namun bagaimana Anda bisa membuat mereka semua bahagia? Mereka sudah tersingkir dari Capital One Cup, dari Liga Champions," sindir Ferguson.

Tanpa kompetisi lain, City tak bakal memainkan banyak laga dan di mata Ferguson itu akan mempengaruhi momentum tim di mana para pemain butuh terus mengasah kemampuannya tiap pekan. "Beberapa pemain bahkan harus tampil setiap pekan. Itu kenyataannya," sambung Ferguson.

hendiplast 16-12-2012 05:36 AM

Re: Manchester United - News and Rumors
 
United's academy in world's top five... but not as good as Rennes!

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/...28_468x319.jpg

Manchester United produce more first-team players for Europe’s five big leagues than any other club in England - but not as many as French side Rennes.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s academy is the fifth best in the world behind those at La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid as well as Ligue 1’s Lyon and Rennes, according to research by Sporting Intelligence.
Twenty players who spent their formative years at Old Trafford are currently appearing in either the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga 1 or Ligue 1. For Rennes it is 21.
Highly rated midfielder Yann M'Vila came from the Rennes academy and is still at the club

The top 10 academies in the world:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/...43_468x139.jpg

Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Jonny Evans, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck are some of the home-grown players still in the squad.
Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross, Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley and Everton’s Phil Neville are other Premier League performers to have left, while Paul Pogba and goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler went further afield, to Juventus and Hannover 96 respectively.

Players to come out of Rennes include QPR midfielder Stephane Mbia, former Milan forward Yoann Gourcuff, and French international Yann M’Vila, who is still at the club.
A club is deemed to have primarily produced a player if they spent three or more years there between the ages of 15-21.

The figures were provided by CIES Football Observatory in Switzerland, who studied 2,286 players at the 98 clubs in Europe’s top five divisions.
Unsurprisingly Barcelona came top, producing 36 players, with Lyon second on 31. Real Madrid were third with 27.
In England, Aston Villa came second behind United with 15 players, Arsenal have 14, while Tottenham and West Ham each produced 13.

Michael Essien came from Lyon's academy before a big-money move to Chelsea
Nick Harris, Sporting Intelligence editor and Mail on Sunday writer, complied the numbers and found that some smaller clubs were punching well above their weight.

Conference team Luton have four academy players plying their trade in the top-flight, including Leon Barnett at Norwich and Matt Taylor at West Ham. League One Crewe, meanwhile, sold Nick Powell to United this summer, while David Vaughan is at Sunderland.
Boca Juniors are the highest ranked non-European side in the world list. They have produced 15 players currently competing in one of Europe’s big five leagues.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-

zudomiriku 18-12-2012 12:31 PM

Re: Manchester United - News and Rumors
 
Manchester United's Next Generation: Who's On Track, Who's Not Making the Grade?

It is a growing source of frustration for Manchester United fans that Sir Alex Ferguson appears to be dragging his feet on his commitment to youth development.

In a recent issue of Inside United, the club's review magazine, Sir Alex had the following to say about youth development at Manchester United:

Quote:

"Over the years, we've been as good as anyone in the country, probably the best, at doing that.

You look at the way Barcelona have produced players and we're not far off that.

We've had so many players come through down the years and, more recently, we've had the likes of Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley and Rafael come into the first team. Then you've got players like Ryan Tunnicliffe, Jesse Lingard and Michael and Will Keane, who are all part of a successful youth team.

They're progressing very well. So we're still good at it and we enjoy seeing them come into the first-team squad."

Now there is no question that United are as committed as any club in England, and possibly Europe, to developing young talent. This is a policy that can be tracked back to Sir Matt Busby's time at the club. Sir Alex has followed and enriched the process from top to bottom.

Something is not quite right, however.

OK so the "Class of 1992" may have been born partly out of necessity. Six players were promoted at the same time, who went on to be the nucleus of the team that won the Treble in 1999:

Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Butt, Gary and Phil Neville.

That team had won the FA Youth Cup in 1992, as the Busby Babes had won it every year from 1953 to 1957.

But United have won the trophy three times since 1992, in 1995, 2003 and 2011 and we have not seen anything like the same amount of progression and promotion to the First Team that there was in the 1950s and 1992.

It is fair to say that Sir Alex has also recruited young players from outside, but promising players who were certain to be part of the next generation have also left the club in frustration at lack of opportunity. Most notably Gerard Pique, Giuseppe Rossi, Ryan Shawcross, Paul Pogba and Zeki Fryers.

When you look at the FA Youth Cup winning team of 2011, there has been precious little real opportunity afforded to some talented young players in that squad:

Johnstone, Michael Keane (on loan), McGinty, Thorpe, Fornasier, Lingard, Pogba (left), Tunnicliffe, Morrison (left), van Velzen (on loan), William Keane (injured).

Now while it seems likely that at least the Keane twins have been earmarked for the Premier League squad, Pogba is now playing for Juventus's first team and Morrison has left (although his problems seem to be continuing).

Of the other seven, Tunnicliffe is the only one to even have had a substitute appearance.

Meanwhile Aston Villa, who haven't won the FA Youth Cup since 2002 but were runners up in 2008 have the following Academy Graduates in the team that beat Liverpool on Saturday:

Nathan Baker (21), Chris Herd (23), Barry Bannan (23), Ciaran Clark (23), Andreas Weimann (21) with Marc Albrighton (23) on the bench. In addition, Gary Gardner (20), Graham Burke (19), and NathanDelfouneso (20) have already made appearances for the first team this season.

Of United's team that played against Sunderland, only Tom Cleverley is an Academy Graduate, although Danny Welbeck was on the bench.

In addition, only Rafael, Evans, Wootton, Vermijl, Macheda and Tunnicliffe have made any appearances, although Scholes and Giggs were graduates of course, 20 years ago.

When you're a Ryan Tunnicliffe or a Scott Wootton and you can't even get onto the subs bench; or one of the four players listed in the EPL First Team squad who have never even had a game, you may be entitled to feel frustrated. Especially when you see Scholes and Giggs trot on yet again.

So is the problem Sir Alex's insistence on sticking by the tried and trusted, or is it that the quality isn't there after all?

Here we give a brief review of the players who are bubbling round the edges of the First Team squad and some of the talent who may get promoted in the next couple of years.

We've divided them into:

Those who should be let go now;

Question marks (which by definition includes anyone else not mentioned in the article);

Those on loan at present;

"Maybes"; and

The ones who we think should make it, if they are given their chance.

Let Go Now
Sir Alex Ferguson always refers to him as a striker and he can score some spectacular goals, as the Under 21s win against Aston Villa showed last Monday.

The trouble is that he has become an acute embarrassment. Nobody will ever be able to understand why United paid over £7 million for him without Sir Alex ever seeing him. He may have six caps for the Portuguese U21s, but surely he will be on offer in every transfer window until he is sold.

Sadly that fate may also befall Federicho Macheda, once regarded as the best natural finisher in the club, who burst on the scene as a 17-year-old by rescuing United again against Villa (he also scored on Monday).

He has had disappointing loan moves to Italy and QPR but he seems to have slid sideways. He doesn't look as sharp as he used to, so he may be on offer in January.

Joshua King is currently on loan to Blackburn Rovers, thanks to the Henning Berg connection. Although Rovers haven't won a match since the big Norwegian arrived, he has made five appearances and scored a goal already.

If they make an offer, maybe he should accept and stay, because he needs to be playing games and has had only one substitute appearance in each of the last two years. Despite being a full Norwegian international, he doesn't seem to be on Fergie's radar.

Finally, Larnell Cole also seems to have gone sideways for the last year or so. While he featured on United's pre-season tour and can play on the wing or through the middle, he hasn't looked particularly impressive in the U21s. He can either stay and make up the numbers for them every week, or at least seek a loan move elsewhere.

Question Marks
These are listed here because we don't have enough evidence yet, to determine whether they will make it.

Luke Hendrie is the son of former Leeds United and Bradford City player John Hendrie. He looks a useful player who can play at full back or in midfield.

Like Hendrie, Luke McCullough is only 18. He was skipper of the Academy side last year and has all the credentials to develop into a fine Ryan Shawcross type defender. Finally, Reece James,younger brother of Matty, was given a full time contract this year.

For all of these it could come down to luck or being given a chance because of injuries. They have to get a regular berth in the U21s first and then we'll see what they're made of.

On Loan
Robbie Brady was also on the preseason tour, where he was tried wide left and at left wing back. He is an uncompromising tackler who already has four full Irish caps, including one goal and a couple of assists.

He has been told he needs to be playing regularly to become a fixture in the Irish team. He has made 47 appearances for Hull City in the last two years, but only one substitute appearance for United. If Hull make him an offer maybe he should take it.

Michael Keane is on loan at Leicester City but has already impressed for the first team, including on tour, where he was one of only three centre backs, along with Wootton and Ferdinand. Some people were surprised to see Scott apparently promoted ahead of Michael, but the latter and his twin brother are surely a bright part of United's future.

Reece Brown is currently on loan at Coventry City, for whom he has made nine appearances this season. However, he wasn't even on the bench for their sparkling win at the weekend. He is arguably at least as good as brother Wes at the same age, but United have a bundle of centre backs coming through the ranks.

Giovanni van Velzen is on loan at Royal Antwerp. Still only 18, he is a gangly winger who also scores goals. In some ways he resembles Danny Welbeck at the same age. He may turn into a giant of a player with great finesse. Let's wait until he returns to Old Trafford before making a conclusion.

Finally, John Cofie looked if anything an even better, bigger, stronger striker than Josh King. He is still only 19 and is on loan to Sheffield United for whom he has made 14 appearances. Again we may need to wait for his return to the U21s, where he will have plenty of competition (unless Macheda, Bebe and King leave), to come to a conclusion.

Maybes
There is no doubting that Petrucci is a cultured midfield player. It may be that he is waiting in the shadow of Michael Carrick, because that is the role that appears to suit him best. The Italian has had wretched luck with injuries, but is now captaining and leading the U21s, so he must be held in high regard.

One would assume that Ryan Tunnicliffe is ahead of him in the pecking order for the next midfield opportunity. He must have been disappointed to see Nick Powell come in and leapfrog him into the First Team squad.

Others who find themselves in a similar position include:

Sam Johnstone (England U21 keeper) who would have De Gea, Lindegaard and Amos ahead of him when the latter returns;

Tyler Blackett, who has been tried at left back and similarly has seen Alex Buttner come straight into the squad;

Freddy Veseli, who was released by City last year, but could yet make a statement as a utility player like John O'Shea before him;

Michele Fornasier, a fine young centre back with Wootton and Keane ahead of him;

Jesse Lingard who can't be pleased to see all the speculation about Wilfried Zaha, Tom Ince or James Rodriguez. Jesse has been a disappointment this season;

Sean McGinty is an interesting case. He is huge at 6'3" for a left back. He is strong and uncompromising but skilled enough for wing back. He came from Charlton and is highly regarded, hence his No. 23 shirt. Probably now ahead of Tyler Blackett;

Tom Thorpe also suffers from being a centre back but can at least play in midfield. He is a former Academy captain and may yet get a chance;

Tom Lawrence is one to watch out for. Undemonstrative, he is as clinical a finisher as there is in the youth ranks. Almost like an old-fashioned inside forward. He is only 18 and may yet make it;

Charni Ekangemene is a highly rated Belgian who resembles a young Cheick Tiote in his play. He also has no little skill and is still only 18.

Luke Giverin has already caught the Boss's eye and featured in the Harry Gregg testimonial. He is only 19 and this is a big season for him.

Yes
Surely its only a matter of time before Ryan gets his chance, although he might be knocked back if United actually sign Kevin Strootman.

Some people have likened him to a young Roy Keane and you have to admire the fact that his performance level hasn't dropped at all in the U21s, unlike one or two others, even though he hasn't yet made the breakthrough.

United have a difficult FA Cup tie against West Ham coming up. Could that be the match where Ryan makes his breakthrough?

Scott Wootton, Will Keane, Nick Powell and Ben Amos have already done enough in our opinion to expect to be First Team squad regulars for years to come (if Amos stays after his loan spell). We have discussed them at length in previous articles.

Marnick Vermijl looks like he has the makings of understudy to Rafael at right back. He has pace, skill, scores goals and his tackling is improving steadily. He is surely a future Belgian international in a country brimming with young talent.

One assumes that Sir Alex wouldn't have added Angel Henriquez to his collection of strikers without believing that he is a star of the future. He fought off other Premier League clubs for the 18-year-old's signature at just under £4 million.

Angel has adjusted to English conditions and is looking much more professional and impressive in the U21s than Macheda, who he may well displace this January.

So these are seven young players who we are confident Sir Alex has earmarked for the future. That doesn't mean that some of the others we have mentioned won't make it as well. If we have missed anyone it is because they probably won't.

When you look at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Chicharito, who were apparently plucked from nowhere, there is sometimes no saying who will be a future star. Ravel Morrison was supposed to be the next Paul Scholes, with outrageous talent, but he appears to be imploding even after being sold.

On the other hand, Tom Cleverley is a shining example of what can be achieved. He was tiny until he was 16 and still isn't huge. The coaches were worried he was too frail to make it but, like David Beckham, he stuck at it and worked his socks off. Saturday's goal announced his arrival for certain.

And before you fret about some of the younger players we haven't mentioned, the last section is a selection of Academy players who will, or might, in our opinion make it to stardom in the best football club in the world.

Academy Prospects
Son of failed Manchester United manager, Wilf McGuinness, Paul is entrusted with bringing the best out of the cream of United's Academy, the U18 side.

The philosophy in the Academy has three important elements among others:

Develop every skill possible for each player.

Rotate players to try every position on the pitch before they are 16 to find where they are best, but give defenders a taste of attack and vice versa.

Playing as a team the Manchester United way is more important than winning for winning's sake.

However, of course all teams love to win and McGuinness's teams are always at the forefront of U18 competition.

Sad at losing the likes of Pogba and Morrison, he is no doubt licking his lips at some of the prospects he has access to for his squad, some of whom are underage because they are so good.

Dutch born Kenji Gorre, Sean Goss (signed from Exeter against stiff competition), James Rothwell and Luke Grimshaw are all players to watch out for if you have MUTV or manage to otherwise catch the Academy.

The cream of the crop, however, include several underage players:

Mats Daehli will surely replace Ryan Giggs in due course. He can tear a defence to shreds, is very intelligent and can play on either wing or through the middle. Sir Alex has probably taken the phone off the hook to stop calls from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for this talented young Norwegian.

Adam Januzaj is so highly rated that he played in the preseason friendly against Aberdeen and didn't look remotely out of place. First spotted doing tricks at half time in the Anderlecht stadium, he is yet another outrageously talented Belgian.

Jack Barmby is the son of former England international and Hull City manager, Nick. Jack is a precocious talent who already looks ahead of Tom Cleverley at the same age. He can be played through the middle or up front and scores goals for fun.

Talking of scoring for fun, James Wilson is so good that he might even beat Will Keane to become first choice United striker, despite being still only 16. Where Will reminds of Dennis Bergkamp, James is like a young Duncan Ferguson and that will appeal to Sir Alex.

He has already set a United record by scoring five goals in an Academy match. He makes it look so easy. Surely he will become a fixture in the U21 squad very soon?

Finally, keep an eye out for Anders Pereira. He may be the most talented midfielder United have had at the tender age of 16. Yet another Belgian youth international, he was born in Brazil. He has exquisite skill, scores goals, is intelligent and is excellent at free-kicks. Not bad really.

Code:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1447645-manchester-uniteds-next-generation-whos-on-track-whos-not-making-the-grade

Red Stain 18-12-2012 01:13 PM

Re: Manchester United - News and Rumors
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by hendiplast (Post 453384)
United's academy in world's top five... but not as good as Rennes!

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/...28_468x319.jpg

Manchester United produce more first-team players for Europe’s five big leagues than any other club in England - but not as many as French side Rennes.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s academy is the fifth best in the world behind those at La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid as well as Ligue 1’s Lyon and Rennes, according to research by Sporting Intelligence.
Twenty players who spent their formative years at Old Trafford are currently appearing in either the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga 1 or Ligue 1. For Rennes it is 21.
Highly rated midfielder Yann M'Vila came from the Rennes academy and is still at the club

The top 10 academies in the world:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/...43_468x139.jpg

Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Jonny Evans, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck are some of the home-grown players still in the squad.
Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross, Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley and Everton’s Phil Neville are other Premier League performers to have left, while Paul Pogba and goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler went further afield, to Juventus and Hannover 96 respectively.

Players to come out of Rennes include QPR midfielder Stephane Mbia, former Milan forward Yoann Gourcuff, and French international Yann M’Vila, who is still at the club.
A club is deemed to have primarily produced a player if they spent three or more years there between the ages of 15-21.

The figures were provided by CIES Football Observatory in Switzerland, who studied 2,286 players at the 98 clubs in Europe’s top five divisions.
Unsurprisingly Barcelona came top, producing 36 players, with Lyon second on 31. Real Madrid were third with 27.
In England, Aston Villa came second behind United with 15 players, Arsenal have 14, while Tottenham and West Ham each produced 13.

Michael Essien came from Lyon's academy before a big-money move to Chelsea
Nick Harris, Sporting Intelligence editor and Mail on Sunday writer, complied the numbers and found that some smaller clubs were punching well above their weight.

Conference team Luton have four academy players plying their trade in the top-flight, including Leon Barnett at Norwich and Matt Taylor at West Ham. League One Crewe, meanwhile, sold Nick Powell to United this summer, while David Vaughan is at Sunderland.
Boca Juniors are the highest ranked non-European side in the world list. They have produced 15 players currently competing in one of Europe’s big five leagues.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-

Ngeliat ini sedih plus bangga.. Masih yg terbaik di Inggris

fredrian.seven 18-12-2012 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zudomiriku (Post 453765)
[B]Manchester United's Next Generation: Who's On Track, Who's Not Making the Who's Not Making the Grade?

Artikel bagus. Menurutku sebaiknya masuk thread youngster. Setelah (agak) suramnya generasi Morrison :P sekarang ada generasi yang tampak lebih potensial. Moga bisa ikut jejak Cleverley.

Red Stain 19-12-2012 08:20 AM

Re: Manchester United - News and Rumors
 
selalu ada kesempatan bagi Pemain muda.. ini yg gw demen,..

rondwisan 20-12-2012 09:40 AM

Re: Manchester United - News and Rumors
 

ManUtd.com - 19/12/2012 13:31
New wheels for Reds



While Sir Alex Ferguson makes himself heard in press conferences, from the dug-out and in the dressing room, he might*drive past you this Christmas and you won’t even notice.


Sir Alex recently took possession of an extended range electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, as part of the club’s partnership with the global car manufacturer. The Volt can travel up to 50 miles emission free in virtual silence before the on-board generator kicks in to add a further 300 miles of extended range.

The United manager is delighted with the car and is looking forward to making many journeys in it. "I think the Volt is absolutely phenomenal," he said. "A friend of mine drove one in the States and kept going on and on about it, so when I had the opportunity to drive one I wanted to try it because it’s the car of the future. I’m very pleased with it.”

The Chevrolet Volt is available in Europe's largest automobile markets and won the prestigious European Car of the Year 2012. The Volt can drive up to 50 miles using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16.50 kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt's battery runs low, a gas-powered generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles on a full tank.

Chevrolet Volt owners in the U.S. have collectively driven more than 100 million all electric miles since the vehicle went on sale two years ago. The average Volt owner travels more than 65 per cent of their time in the car in*pure electric mode as the car was designed – only using the gasoline-powered generator for longer trips. By charging regularly, Volt owners can drive approximately 900 miles and go a month and a half between fill-ups.

Chevrolet is currently United’s Official Automotive Partner and will become the club's shirt sponsor from the start of the 2014/2015 season. A number of players and other staff will also receive Chevrolets as part of the partnership agreement between the club and General Motors. These include Reds' legend Sir Bobby Charlton who was recently given*a seven-seater Chevrolet Captiva.

-------------------------------

Wah dapet jatah boil nih ...... :):D

troy andreas 04-01-2013 05:17 PM

Re: Manchester United - News and Rumors
 
Papers: RvP for PFA award
04/01/2013 09:33

Darren Lewis writes in The Mirror...

Suarez and RvP for Player of the Year
Kevin Keegan believes Luis Suarez is rivalling Robin van Persie for this season's PFA Players' Player of the Year award. Voting forms for the gong, awarded by the players' union, are set to go out next month, with Van Persie the hot favourite following his heroics for Manchester United. But Keegan, a two-time European Player of the Year with Hamburg, believes the modern-day star striker at the club where he made his name is more deserving - because of the magnificent work ethic he's shown in carrying Liverpool's team. Keegan said of the Uruguayan: “Don’t forget, he is paying for a side in transition. He is not playing in a stable team that is used to winning things, like Van Persie has had at United. Liverpool are not where Man United are. I am not being disrespectful, they know that. He is ploughing a lone furrow at times in that side.” Former Gunners defender Martin Keown, however, believes the Dutchman, who also won the award last season, leads the Player of the Year field because of his immediate impact at Old Trafford. Keown said: “There is a long way to go but what we can say now is that his goals are having a major say in the title and who is going to win it. As an Arsenal fan, it hurts as it looks like you are making a team much stronger. But for me, van Persie is playing with a hunger and drive, almost like on a personal crusade. He’s giving United a different dimension. If you took him out of the team now I don’t think they would be seven points clear.”

The same paper reports how Rio Ferdinand has called for UEFA to take action against Italian fans after AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng walked off the pitch mid-match in protest against racist abuse coming from the stands. The Reds defender, an active campaigner against racism, tweeted: “If the stories about KPB walking off the pitch with teammates after being racially abused are true, fair play to him... Well done.”

rondwisan 05-01-2013 02:02 AM

Re: Manchester United - News and Rumors
 
Manchester United pitch to go
MEN - January 04, 2013

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/41.$plit/C_...2013:29:50:865

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Manchester United will rip up their Old Trafford pitch in the summer after it became so heavy Darren Fletcher has been unable to play on it.

Scotland international Fletcher has been a notable absentee during United's packed festive programme.

After battling back to fitness after being struck down by a chronic bowel condition, Fletcher was involved in four matches in the space of a fortnight at the end of last month.

However, he was on the pitch for just a minute of United's festive campaign, being introduced as a late substitute in the Boxing Day win over Newcastle.

And the reason, according to Ferguson, lies in a surface he says has simply "collapsed".

"The pitches over the last few weeks have not suited Darren," Ferguson said. "They are really heavy pitches. Unfortunately, Old Trafford seems to have collapsed in the last two weeks.

"We have had six great years out of the pitch. Our groundsman, Tony Sinclair, has done a fantastic job. But it is looking tired now and I think we will have a new pitch in the summer."

zudomiriku 11-01-2013 01:44 PM

Re: Manchester United - News and Rumors
 
6 Areas United Could Improve in 2013

Manchester United currently sit seven points clear atop the English Premier League and seemingly in complete control for the remainder of the season.

Their attack is the most dominant and explosive in the league and, unlike last year, they sit in strong positions in both European and domestic competitions. Sir Alex Ferguson's men are just in cruise control at the moment, and they are traveling along very, very comfortably.

Having said that, however, the Red Devils are far from perfect and still face several major issues and concerns in the remainder of the current season.

Read on to find six areas United could improve in 2013.

Become More Stable at the Back
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...psf5d23cd4.jpg

There is little doubt that Manchester United's biggest area of concern in 2013 is about their defense, and their ability to play without glitches every single week.

Granted the Red Devils have been crippled by injuries to key players this year and they have posted back-to-back clean sheets, but they simply haven't looked like a strong and untied force in defense this year—and their opponents know it.

Of their 21 league matches so far, Manchester United have posted just five clean sheets on the season. By comparison, nine matches have seen their opponents score two or more goals—conceding three goals on three separate occasions this year.

Jonny Evans has come a long way in his game this season, and Patrice Evra has also proven why he isn't likely to end his career soon either. In fact, the same could be said for all of United's defenders individually this year.

But for whatever reason, they have simply allowed too many cheap and easy goals and don't look like a cohesive and stable unit at the back. The return of captain and star defender Nemanja Vidic will hopefully help fix this problem for United in 2013.

Control Central Midfield
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...pse7678d44.jpg

Tom Cleverley has come along rapidly in his development this year as a central midfielder—taking his game from being good and solid to being very, very effective at times this season.

The England international has combined well with Michael Carrick in central midfield to form the duo that Sir Alex Ferguson seems most comfortably using in the must-win games for the Red Devils.

And for the most part, the pair have done very well. Yet having watched the likes of Manchester City—and to a lesser extent Chelsea—simply run riot through the middle of the field against the pair, there is still much work to be done in central midfield for United.

Neither Cleverley or Carrick is the holding midfielder that their team desperately needs and neither contribute as well in defense as they do going forward.

That's okay when their defense is sound and their attack is firing, but in tight games, when the going might not be so easy, it will come back to hurt the Red Devils—as it has done already this season in the amount of cheap goals they've conceded.

Between the two of them, the English pair need to be better at controlling midfield—holding the team together and directing the play from behind rather than blazing gun-ho into the attack. One of them needs to become Michael Essien to the Manchester United midfield in 2013.

Improve out Wide
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In the 2011/12 season, the wingers at Manchester United were seemingly unstoppable. Antonio Valencia was reaping havoc on the right wing; Ashley Young and Nani were chipping in with useful contributions from the left hand side of the field.

However in the 2012/13 season so far, the Red Devils haven't quite had the same impact that they would have liked from their wide men.

Granted, there's been some formational changes and the presence of Wayne Rooney in an almost midfield role, meaning that their attack is often more direct. But even when the ball does get out wide and the Red Devils do look for inspiration, the effectiveness simply hasn't been there so far.

Antonio Valencia is looking like a one-trick pony; Ashley Young is looking inept; Nani is looking like he'll be more valuable in a Michael Owen role on the bench.

United need the trio to step up again in 2013 and regain their dominance out wide—feeding better balls through to their talented strikers up front. If they can be as good out wide as they were last season, then the Red Devils will be truly unstoppable in midfield in 2013.

And that could lead to some very big things for United.

Show Champions League Potential
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Starting with the Champions League.

Having been sensationally funded out in the group stages last year, United have already improved on their previous campaign by progressing through to the round of 16.

Now that they're there, the Red Devils have a huge opportunity to show that they are indeed a world-class team and have a genuine chance at the European title in 2013.

United haven't made the final of the Champions League since 2009, where they were beaten by Barcelona. Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking to leave his mark on Europe once more this season, with arguably the strongest team he's had at his disposal since they last won the trophy in 2008.

To progress any further than they are now, they'll need to beat one of the best in Real Madrid. But having watched United this season, there's little doubt that they are indeed capable of beating the Spanish champions and could well do so this year.

After all, to be the best, you have to beat the best.

Not Concede the Opening Goal
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Particularly in the English Premier League, conceding the opening goal has become a major problem for Manchester United—though it hasn't cost them too many results, strangely enough.

The Red Devils have let in the opening goal in over half their league matches to date—11 out of their 21 matches in the Premier League. They've also put themselves in positions where they've had to come from behind 14 times this year.

There will come a time when United simply cannot keep getting out of jail, where their comeback won't take off the ground as they might want it to.

The solution is to fix their defense early and stop allowing the early goal—something they have been better at lately. Ferguson's men have scored the opening goal in five out of their last six games in the Premier League, showing that improvement is slowly taking place.

But compared to the other major teams, it still doesn't make for great reading, and it's definitely something they can continue to work on in 2013.

Club----------Score first---Opponent score first
Manchester United--10 out of 21------11 out of 21
Manchester City----11 out of 21-------8 out of 21
Tottenham Hotspur-14 out of 21-------6 out of 21
Chelsea-------------12 out of 20------5 out of 20

Not Over-Rely on Robin Van Persie
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The final point here isn't too much of an issue for United at the moment, but it could become one if not managed properly throughout the remainder of the season.

The Red Devils cannot over-rely on Robin van Persie this season—something that could work itself out in several different ways in 2013.

Not just in terms of scoring goals, but they must not become focused on directing all the attack through him. They must make sure that they are looking for the best option available in attack, and not just the high-flying Dutch international's left foot.

They must also make sure that they are adequately resting the 29-year-old and not burning him out by playing him in matches where he is not needed. That also means Ferguson should trust other strikers such as Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney to get the job done.

Van Persie isn't being over-relied on at United at the moment, and it isn't an issue with the club, but it could be throughout the remainder of the year. The Red Devils need to make sure that they are keeping him fresh and hungry, and that they are working well as a team in 2013.

If they can continue to do that, then they'll go a long way to winning that elusive 20th league title.

Code:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1478632-manchester-united-6-areas-united-could-improve-in-2013


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