A big sigh of relief at the end of the game but why did we have to sigh at the end when it was so comfortable for so long in the match? It was because once Manchester United took a 2 goal lead,...
Continue to the full story

David Silva is behind more goals than any other midfielder, having a total of 17 goals and assists, followed by Gareth Bale on 16. Nani and Mata are tied on 13, Valencia and Nasri on 10, Giggs with 9 and Young on 7. However, when you take in to consideration the games they've actually played in, specifically focussing on starts, Giggsy comes out top with an impressive 1.

The massive clash at Stamford Bridge this weekend could see Chelsea put out a back-four with two new starters Ryan Bertrand at LB and Gary Cahill at CB. They could be joined by two of Luiz, Ivanovic, and/or Bosingwa ... Continue reading →

Not the debut we hoped for

A 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United with each side coming on top in one half is not the worst of results. However, the manner in which we lost the game, left a bitter taste in the mouth. After what happened in the reverse fixture early in August, many Arsenal fans (including me) wanted to exact revenge but also conscious of the fact that we want to avoid another thrashing.

Sir Alex Ferguson proved why he is the best manager ever in the Premier League and earth after beating Arsenal 2-1 in their home at Emirates Stadium. United knew they needed a win to keep chasing...
Continue to the full story

manc1034 by arsenalist "VIDEO: Valencia Goal vs Arsenal" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

The final whistle is blown at the Etihad Stadium and it is safe and fair to say that Manchester United fans the world over breathed a huge collective sigh of relief. Pre kickoff, we had the shock...
Continue to the full story

First game in the new year and we commenced it with where we left off in 2011, with a defeat but the defeat this time, our third in the league already this season was a resounding one. The defeat was...
Continue to the full story

In my post-match review cum pre-match preview in the aftermath of the 5-0 trashing we handed out to Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day, I had warned that the greatest danger Manchester United faced now...
Continue to the full story

As most people around the world, unwrapped their Christmas gifts and opened the boxes to see what is in store for them, there was a big box awaiting Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Theatre of...
Continue to the full story

4-1 is what the score board read at Old Trafford at the end of 90 minutes in Manchester United's first game after the massive disappointment of the very early exit from the Champions League. Pre-...
Continue to the full story

Two exits within the space of a week. That is the reality of the season so far for Manchester United; one that started so brightly with good, positive football that had us all purring and brimming...
Continue to the full story

szólj hozzá: Ald 0-1 Mnu

szólj hozzá: Ald 0-2 Mnu

szólj hozzá: Ald 0-3 Mnu

"VIDEO: Berbatov, Owen and Valencia's Goals vs Aldershot" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

szólj hozzá: Ald 0-3 Mnu

Antonio Valencia scores his first goal of the season with a fantastic goal struck from over 20 yard's out as United go 3-0 up against Aldershot in the Carling Cup.
Visit Soccer.com! for the best deal's on Sports equipment.

The press lazily claimed Antonio Valencia was our replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo when he joined in the summer of 2009. Having scored just a handful of goals over a couple of seasons, the media and rival fans scoffed at the idea of Sir Alex Ferguson believing this relative nobody from Wigan was going to replace the Best Player In The World (TM) who had been our top scorer for the past three years running.

FC Basel's warm-up mats are ridiculously organized but they won't know it from down there! Anyway, before you write off the Swiss side's chances completely against powerhouses Man United later today, listen to what coach Thorsten Fink has to say. Sure, he sounds like the ice-cream man who knows he is running out of cones, but in football, there are always waffle, chocolate cones, cups, etc.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images(Bleacher Report)It is truly almost that time. This weekend sees the Barclay's Premier League fans get a glimpse at two of the most talked about teams for next season. With Manchester United out to defend their record 19th English Championship, their cross town rivals Manchester City hope to knock the mighty Red Devils off their perch.

Antonio Valencia, who had two years remaining on his current deal at United, has agreed to sign what is believed to be a new five year contract with the club.

"We are in the process of finalising that," said Gill. "Antonio has been away at the Copa America and we've been away here in the US, but that's broadly sorted out.

I had an interesting interaction with a reporter/writer that I was not familiar with until yesterday. His name is Tom Williams and he can be found on Twitter at @Tomwfootball). His original Tweeted premise, on the occasion of Patrick Vieira's retirement as an active player, was spot on. There is an entire generation of lanky midfielders - mostly French or French-speaking West African - who have

Ducky's Note: Through the course of an entire Championship-winning season, United got by with playing practically a central-midfielder light. No wonder then, that all the clamour was for us to bolster our midfield NO MATTER WHAATT!!!! as expressed on most forums. Therefore it is indeed a bit of a surprise that our midfield purchase so far has been an out and out winger in Ashley Young.

Ducky's Note: Through the course of an entire Championship-winning season, United got by with playing practically a central-midfielder light. No wonder then, that all the clamour was for us to bolster our midfield NO MATTER WHAATT!!!! as expressed on most forums. Therefore it is indeed a bit of a surprise that our midfield purchase so far has been an out and out winger in Ashley Young.

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Antonio Valencia has flown back to Manchester to receive treatment and will play no part in our tour of the US.

"Antonio has gone straight back to Manchester," said Ferguson. "He got an injury playing in the first game for Ecuador so he is back in Manchester.

El que fuera un icono del Valencia, Gaizka Mendieta, vuelve a ser noticia pero no sobre el terreno de juego. Y es que una vez alejado del fútbol, ha decidido dedicarse a su otra gran pasión, la música. Por ello, se hizo DJ y este verano actuará en el Festival Internacional de Benic ssim (FIB).

During Ecuador's Copa América match with Paraguay on Sunday, Antonio Valencia hurt the ankle he broke last year. That injury against Celtic kept him out for months last season and there were fears a recurrence had taken place.

Thankfully, Ecuador's team doctor, Tony Ocampo, has today confirmed that Valencia will miss just one game.

During Ecuador's Copa América match with Paraguay on Sunday, Antonio Valencia hurt the ankle he broke last year. That injury against Celtic kept him out for months last season and there were fears a recurrence had taken place.

Thankfully, Ecuador's team doctor, Tony Ocampo, has today confirmed that Valencia will miss just one game.

There are plenty of Premier League players participating in the Copa America tournament this month in Argentina and you won't have to miss a single goal or a single save as the entire competition is being broadcast live, ... Continue reading →

Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia does not the fear the arrival of Ashley Young, who will certainly provide him with competition for his place in the team.

The £16m winger, who joined us from Aston Villa, is only beaten by Cesc Fabregas on assists since 2007-2008, which puts the pressure on Valencia to keep his place.

(Summary is not available.)

Put all your partisanship aside and enjoy the ball in flight. It's been switched crossed field from the inside-left position by the skillful, balding, English bulldog in ballet slippers to the man on the right touch in all black boots and pomade-infused black hair. Taken out of the air with the inside of the foot and stopped dead by the simplest of grace, the game has changed from a waltz on spiked Lucozade to an aguardiente-inspired pasillo remix.

By Azeem Banatwalla

It's not often you'd find yourself in a situation that put Manchester United down as a clear second favourite, but that's Barcelona's dominance of the European game for you. Barcelona have scored more goals in just La Liga than Manchester United have done in all competitions combined.

He's played against the very best in the world for years, yet Ashley Cole will not have had a harder afternoon's work than he did at Old Trafford last Sunday. For the last decade, against the best the Premiership, European and International teams have had to offer in the shape of right wingers, he has more often than not, dealt with consummately.

What an efficient and entertaining display by the lads. Let's not forget as well that we had most of our second team out to start the game.

On to the impressions:

1. Smalling and Evans surprised me. Smalling made the most of the opportunity with a very good outing save for the misplaced pass that led to their goal.

szólj hozzá: Manchester Utd 1-0 Schalke

szólj hozzá: Manchester Utd 2-0 Schalke

szólj hozzá: Manchester Utd 3-1 Schalke

szólj hozzá: Manchester Utd 4-1 Schalke

"VIDEO: Valencia, Gibson and Anderson Goals vs Schalke" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

In my infinite capacity to mess with a good thing, and in clear violation of the fantasy rules, I've made the following trades today: Howard to Carson. I don't trust any of the cheaper keepers, but West Brom is coming off a six-match unbeaten streak. They are on the road against a Sunderland team in dire form and may see this match as their last chance for points for a while with Chelsea and @

It's March Madness here in the U.S., but let's focus on the beautiful game. Will Nani remain the main man for United this weekend or will Antonio Valencia steal the limelight on the wing? Will Rooney, Berbatov, or Chicharito score? ... Continue reading →

With Antonio Valencia on the mend and set to return to the first team over the next couple of weeks, he has reflected on the moment the injury occurred back in September.

"The injury was the worst moment of my career," he said. "The pain was terrific. I remember the impact on the ankle, a big crack and a feeling of seasickness that must have been down to the pain and the effect on my nerves.

With Nani set to miss our next three games, Manchester United fans can breathe a sight of relief when they hear the confidence that Antonio Valencia has in his fitness, after being ruled out since September through injury.

"In the last few weeks, United have not wanted to risk me but I'll be ready to play if the coach wants me," he said.

Antonio Valencia made a great impression during his first season at United, after signing from Wigan for £16m.

He had scored just 7 goals in 3 seasons at Wigan so critics questioned whether he was good enough for United. Valencia went on to score 8 goals and provide 9 assists in the league.

Antonio Valencia was due to play in the Reserves' gave against Blackpool this evening but the pitch was deemed unfit. On Monday, he played a full 30 minute each way game against our youth team. He is now set to play for the Reserves against Sunderland on March 17th.

Nani is out for 10-14 days, meaning both could be back in time for our game against Bolton.

Twos ships... Premier League - Valencia trains, Park blow for Utd - Yahoo! Eurosport Manchester United have been boosted by Antonio Valencia's return to training only five months after he suffered a horrific broken ankle in a Champions League draw with Rangers - although fellow winger Park Ji-sung was ruled out for a month with a hamstring problem.