Preview – West Ham vs Man Utd | Cometh the hour, cometh the kids?
Nov. 30th 2010
Kids and Fringe players to get a chance
West Ham play hosts to an in-form Manchester United who are one of only two unbeaten sides in European football.
Avram Grant has tried to rally the troops by saying his side can be the ones to break United’s run, but the Hammers’ boss will be without Manuel da Costa (ankle), Jack Collison (knee), Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh), Anthony Edgar and Peter Kurucz (both knee).
Scott Parker hasn’t recovered from a virus and will sit out, while Valon Behrami recovered from a thigh injury in time to play a part.
VIDEO – Goals from Welbeck & Cleverley + Loan Watch Summary
Nov. 30th 2010
Loanees complete fantastic weekend for United
As if going top of the league by thrashing Blackburn Rovers 7-1, while our rivals dropped points wasn’t enough, several red youngsters out on loan found the back of the net, completing a fantastic weekend for Manchester United.
Tom Cleverley scored his first ever premier league goal, while Danny Welbeck made it 4 goals from 3 matches and James Chester scored a late winner for Carlisle.
Here’s the video of the goals. Full credit goes to the excellent www.SimplyReds.com:
This week we look focus on three players – one currently playing for the club; one out on loan; and one true Red legend. After three defeats in four games we also assess what’s going on at our rivals, Chelsea.
In recent weeks, I have grown increasingly frustrated with Manchester United players showing their frustration with themselves and with their team mates whilst on the pitch. It is immature and childish. While it is one thing to be passionate and wanting to win, it is another thing altogether to gesticulate in a childish manner in front of thousands in the stadium and millions of fans around the world watching the match on TV.
Chief culprit of this is Dimitar Berbatov, but others have been guilty of this too and the frustration is easy to explain: Manchester United’s play in the final third has been dreadful for most of this season until last night’s demolition of Blackburn Rovers.
It is no coincidence that last night’s demolition coincided with the return of Anderson, as well as Rooney’s continuing return to form.
Without these two, United have had to rely on Nnai, who has been incredibly effective this season, but who also continues to frustrate. Wayne Rooney made no secret of his admiration and admiration of Antonio Valencia, for the the simple reason that Rooney could rely on him to deliver the ball where he wanted it. Both Rooney and Valencia knew what the other was going to do next and it worked a treat on many occasion last season.
With Nani on the right, it is a completely different proposition. Part of what makes Nani such a good player is his unpredictability, but it is a double-edged sword. It is difficult for both Rooney and Berba to time their runs and they never quite know if the ball is going to reach them or not. Sometimes, Nani will inexplicably pull a ball back, which the strikers thought would be swung in across goal and at other times, Nani will decide to take on three defenders even when his team mates are in a great position and a man up.
Another factor which has contributed to the frustration is the poor usage of the ball in the final third and the entire team’s difficulty to get the ball into the final third quick enough. Several players have been guilty of this throughout the season with some remarkably poor passing and decision-making., so it was nice to see a marked improvement last night against Blackburn.
Below an illustration of Fletcher’s passing vs Spurs and Evra vs Villa. Uninspiring.
VIDEO: Sir Alex confirms the transfer of Anders Lindegaard
Nov. 27th 2010
Danish keeper puts pen to paper
Manchester United have completed the transfer of Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard from Norwegian club Aalesund. The player will join the club in December and will be able to play for the club when the January transfer window opens. Having witnessed the succession of horrors that followed Peter Schmeichel’s ext, I can only hope that the United scouts and Eric Steele got it right on this occasion.
Japanese electronics manufacturer becomes latest sponsor
Last Friday, an Austrian paper had mistakenly reported that Epson had purchased Manchester United, because it had convened a press conference to announce a “Manu Acquisition”.
Today, the club officially announced that it had agreed a new sponsorship deal with the Japanese electronics giant.
Six Manchester United Players Nominated for FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010
Nov. 25th 2010
Edwin, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Berba and Rooney
From FIFA.com:
The worldwide players’ union FIFPro and FIFA today announced the 55 players shortlisted for the FIFA/FIPro World XI 2010 (see full list below), which is to be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on 10 January 2011.
The 50,000 professional footballers belonging to the players’ unions across the world that form FIFPro received voting forms in a secret ballot to nominate their peers for inclusion in their World XI – choosing the best four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and goalkeeper of 2010.
World champions Spain lead the way with the most players in the shortlist with ten, followed by nine from Brazil, eight from Argentina, six from England, four from Germany, three each from the Netherlands and Italy, two from Portugal and one each from Uruguay, Wales, France, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
Spain’s Primera Division attracted the most nominees with 18, followed by England’s Premier League with 17 and Italy’s Serie A with 15. Four nominees came from Germany’s Bundesliga and one from France’s Ligue 1.
Cameron Stewart has moved to the KC Stadium for his second loan spell of the season. Stewart had previously joined Yeovil on a 6-month loan earlier this season, but that stint was cut short, because of Yeovil’s inability to field the player.
Stewart will now get a second chance to play first-team football for Hull City. The Manchester United reserves’ winger has been signed up in time for Saturday’s away game to Middlesbrough at the Riverside.
Unfortunately this week The Busby Way have had some technical issues. If we are able to fix them we will include answers from The Busby Way as a later amendment.
This week we discuss a potential new player; take on the contentious topic of PIK and debt; consider Kiko’s progress; and we try to settle the club vs. country conundrum.
