36 year old Alexandre da Silva Mariano, a.k.a. Amaral, is not one player that you would expect to be the (unofficially) most polite footballer.

Previously playing in footballing danger zones such as Italy (Parma; AC Fiorentina) and Turkey (Besiktas), representing Brazil 31 times, and winning an Olympic Bronze medal (Atlanta 1996), nobody anticipated that the former grave digger would have written a thank you note to his most recent club, Perth Glory.

Click to continue reading...

Jogaram amistosamente na cidade de Vinkovci, no Stadion HNK Cibalia, as seleções da Croácia (8º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção de Liechstesntein (143º no ranking da FIFA).
Esse foi o primeiro jogo, das 2 seleções.
Não temos a confirmação do árbitro desse jogo. Click to continue reading...

From Stamford Bridge, Attendance 41,836 , Referee Martin Atkinson Chelsea 1 0 Manchester United

John Terry (76)

View Video Highlights Chelsea Team Statistics Manchester United 1 Goals 0 6 Shots On Target 2 3 Shots Off Target 9 3 Shots Blocked 7 0 Corners 7 1 Offsides 2 13 Fouls 15 3 Yellow Cards 3 0 Red Cards 0 46. Click to continue reading...

It's the top of the table clash already, Chelsea vs. Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. The new boy, Carlo Ancelotti taking on the wily old fox, Sir Alex Ferguson. So far Chelsea's first "Big Four" encounter has ended in victory, thumping Liverpool 2-0 also at The Bridge whereas Manchester United has met two "Big Four" teams and while they beat Arsenal, the Red Devils hardly got going against a fired-up Liverpool. Click to continue reading...

The economics of the game in South America demand that the region's best players spend the prime of their careers in Europe.

Fans of even the most prestigious clubs such as Boca Juniors and Flamengo must savour watching their young prospects because as soon as they demonstrate an ounce of class they will be snapped up and shipped out.

Click to continue reading...

Dieter, Dietmar . . . close enough.

Dietmar Beiersdorfer, the new sporting director for worldwide Red Bull soccer operations, has descended upon New York and has brought with him a cloud of speculation. Is he here to hire a new GM? Perhaps weigh in on the coaching situation?

Click to continue reading...

A word of advice for Rio Ferdinand, you will have plenty of time to attend movie premieres, start a music label and run your very own magazine when you decide to hang up your boots. Until then, as long as a fat cheque comes to your house every week signed by Manchester United Football Club, kindly concentrate all your energy and effort on the pitch.

Click to continue reading...

Manchester United have submitted a claim of mistaken identity to the Football Association after Fabio da Silva was booked by referee Chris Foy against Barnsley in the Carling Cup.

Instead the offender for a challenge on Jamal Campbell-Ryce was his twin brother Rafael.

The only way the twins can be separated around training is because Fabio wears a wedding ring, it begs the question why they don't swap shirts to avoid suspensions, or a free substitution maybe?

Click to continue reading...

After beating Barnsley 2-0 on Tuesday, Man United carries on with they're Premier League duty against Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford. Blackburn has been one of the main football clubs who have been suffering with Swine Flu (obviously not the club themselves but the players). Click to continue reading...

Reports today suggest that both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are both doubtful for Saturday's match at home to Blackburn Rovers, presumably meaning we will have to rely on Jonny Evans and Wes Brown to play in the centre of our defence.

Both Vidic and Rio have been criticised for their recent form, particularly in light of the Liverpool game, when Rio was out-muscled and out-run by Fernando Torres, and Vidic was sent off for his third game in the row.

Click to continue reading...

It has emerged that referee Chris Foy booked the wrong da Silva win during Man United's 2-0 win over Barnsley. Fabio played in central defence and Rafael was playing in midfield.
Foy booked Fabio for a challenge on Barnsley's Jamal Campbell-Ryce, but it was Rafael who fouled the player. Click to continue reading...

A case of mistaken identity Sir Alex Ferguson has previously joked about swapping the shirts of the Da Silva twins, Fabio and Rafael, in order to trick officials. But his plans to confuse the identities of the Brazilian youngsters were pre-empted by referee Chris Foy, who booked the wrong twin during the Carling Cup tie at [. Click to continue reading...

You can imagine the disappointment of United fans after the derby defeat to Liverpool but I am pretty sure the Carling Cup game against Barnsley put a smile on their faces. First team players Owen, Obertan, Evans and Brown proved they've got plenty to offer in team's quest for trophies, but it is the youngsters that impressed me the most.

Click to continue reading...

Persijap v Bontang 1-0 (Edvaldo da Silva)
It was a nervy last few minutes for Persijap keeper Danang as he looked to keep his unbeaten run going for a fourth game. He punched clear a drive from Bahtiar and was rather fortunate for the ref to blow for an infringement instead of allowing Aldo Baretto's tap in to stand and deep in injury time he flung himself to his left to keep out Ali Khaddafi's header. Click to continue reading...

Man United are through to the final eight and one step closer retaining the Carling Cup after beating Barnsley 2-0. United were down to 10-men for half and hour after Gary Neville was sent of for a high challenge with his studs showing.
Sir Alex made 11 changes to the side who lost to Liverpool last Sunday. Click to continue reading...

From Oakwell, Attendance 20,019 , Referee Chris Foy Barnsley 0 2 Manchester United

Danny Welbeck (6)
Michael Owen (59)
Gary Neville (s/o 63)

View Video Highlights Barnsley Team Statistics Manchester United 0 Goals 2 4 Shots On Target 5 12 Shots Off Target 3 1 Shots Blocked 2 9 Corners 9 2 Offsides 1 15 Fouls 9 3 Yellow Cards 2 0 Red Cards 1 44. Click to continue reading...

From Anfield, Attendance 44,188 , Referee A Marriner Liverpool 2 0 Manchester United

Fernando Torres (65)
David Ngog (90)
Javier Mascherano (s/o 90)

Nemanja Vidic (s/o 89)

Liverpool Team Statistics Manchester United 2 Goals 0 5 Shots On Target 3 6 Shots Off Target 2 5 Shots Blocked 3 5 Corners 1 1 Offsides 3 20 Fouls 13 2 Yellow Cards 3 1 Red Cards 1 42. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool:

-Reina
Johnson-Carragher-Agger-Insua
Mascherano Lucas -
Benayoun Aurelio
-Kuyt -
Torres -

Bench: Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Degen, Skrtel

Manchester United:

Van der Sar
O'Shea Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Scholes Giggs
Berbatov Rooney

Bench: Foster, Neville, Owen, Anderson, Nani, Fabio Da Silva, Jonathan Evans

Click to continue reading...

Sir Alex Ferguson is happy with our 1-0 away win against CSKA Moscow last night with Antonio Valencia bagging the winning goal.

"I think we should be proud of it," said Ferguson. "It's not easy away from Europe because we've been to some fantastic places over the years. Maturity there is a way you play in Europe away from home and I think you saw tonight we showed good patience in the game and kept good possession, I think that's a key factor.

Click to continue reading...

Last night Man United took on Russian side CSKA Moscow, a win for United would take them one step closer to the knockout stages. The last time United played in the Luzhniki Stadium they beat Chelsea on penalties to win the Champions League trophy in 2008.
Man United starting XI- Edwin Van Der Sar, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Fabio da Silva, John O'Shea, Anderson, Paul Scholes, Antonio Valencia, Luis Nani and Dimitar Berbatov. Click to continue reading...

From Luzhniki Stadium, Attendance 37,500 , Referee Claus Bo Larsen CSKA Moscow 0 1 Manchester United

Antonio Valencia (86)

CSKA Moscow Team Statistics Manchester United 0 Goals 1 2 Shots On Target 8 3 Shots Off Target 7 2 Shots Blocked 2 2 Corners 5 2 Offsides 8 11 Fouls 9 0 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 45 Possession 55 78. Click to continue reading...

You would think having identical twins playing mirrored positions of right back and left back was fairly unique, as is the case with our Brazilians Rafael and Fabio da Silva. CSKA Moscow are giving us a run for our money though with their identical full back twins, Aleksei and Vasili Berezutski.

Click to continue reading...

Due to the critisim of the official FIFA world rankings system, alternative rankings systems have surfaced over the years. The most prominent of these awards is the World Football ELO rankings. As the name suggests the system is based of the ELO ranking system designed by Hungarian mathematician Dr.

Click to continue reading...

Due to the critisim of the official FIFA world rankings system, alternative rankings systems have surfaced over the years. The most prominent of these awards is the World Football ELO rankings. As the name suggests the system is based of the ELO ranking system designed by Hungarian mathematician Dr.

Click to continue reading...

Last night Man United winger Gabriel Obertan and defender Rafael da Silva finally recovered from injuries and played for United's reserves. Obertan made his debut for United and it his Old Trafford career got off to a great start after United won 3-0.
Rafael has been out with a shoulder injury for what seems like ages but both players got through last nights match unscathed. Click to continue reading...

Rafael da Silva will make his long awaited return from injury tonight as he is lined up to play against Oldham Athletic for the Reserves in the Manchester Senior Cup.

Rafael had an impressive debut season at United which saw him nominated for PFA young player of the year award but has been kept out of action so far this campaign as he recovered from a shoulder injury.

Click to continue reading...

It looks like we could finally have some good goalkeeping news. Ben Foster hasn't had the best of times in the Man United goal but now we could have Edwin Van Der Sar back.
Van Der Sar is set to return for Man United's reserves against Everton today. trip to the Stobart Stadium, Halton in Widnes kicks off at 19:00 this evening. Click to continue reading...

From Old Trafford, Attendance 75,114 , Referee Alan Wiley Manchester United 2 2 Sunderland

Dimitar Berbatov (51)
Anton Ferdinand (o/g 90)

Darren Bent (7)
Kenwyne Jones (58)
Kieran Richardson (s/o 85)

Manchester United Team Statistics Sunderland 2 Goals 2 5 Shots On Target 3 7 Shots Off Target 2 8 Shots Blocked 0 15 Corners 1 0 Offsides 1 12 Fouls 17 2 Yellow Cards 3 0 Red Cards 1 62. Click to continue reading...

This evening Man United could go three points ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League. Man United face Sunderland at Old Trafford and tomorrow, Chelsea play Liverpool at Anfield.
Today's game won't be a walk over, especially considering the form Sunderland striker Darren Bent is in right now. Click to continue reading...

DC United rolled over San Juan Jabloteh at RFK Stadium on Wednesday night, beating them 5-1. Christian Gomez opened the scoring in the 13th, followed by Helbert Carreiro Da Silva (30th) and Boyzz Khumalo (43rd) to make it 3-0 at the half. It was Gomez again in the 68th before Jerrel Britto got Jabloteh on the board in the 83rd. Click to continue reading...

From Old Trafford, Attendance 74,037 , Referee Viktor Kassai Manchester United 2 1 Wolfsburg

Ryan Giggs (59)
Michael Carrick (78)

Edin Dzeko (55)

Manchester United Team Statistics Wolfsburg 2 Goals 1 8 Shots On Target 2 7 Shots Off Target 8 3 Shots Blocked 2 4 Corners 5 8 Offsides 0 10 Fouls 13 1 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 56. Click to continue reading...

I was a bit disappointed to see Fabio da Silva sent off against Wolves in midweek. The Carling Cup has been a platform for our young players to show their mettle and prove themselves. So I was really keen to see them line up against Wolves and put on a performance. So, being reduced to 10 men wasn't going to help them prove their worth was a shame Macheda had to be sacrificed as a result, but I digress.

Click to continue reading...

It's always a good sign seeing a young English striker score a goal like that. A piece of magic was needed as the game looked as if it could go into extra time as Wolves had fought hard throughout the game.

Danny Welbeck has huge potential. Terrific one-two, terrific finish. It was obvious that Man Utd were going to field a weaker side from the Carling Cup and didn't play too badly however there is room for improvement with some of these fringe players.

Click to continue reading...

The English Carling Cup continued on Wednesday with several of the Premier League clubs playing each other in crucial matches including Manchester City v Fulham, Chelsea v Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United v Wolverhampton. Here's a recap of these matches along with video highlights.

Chelsea edges Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Video Highlights

Chelsea rested several of their regular starters as they struggled in the first half to get a lead on Queens Park Rangers.

Click to continue reading...

I'm sure many of us are still riding high on the peak of cloud nine following the last gasp events of Sunday afternoon and who in their right mind can blame us! In fairness, you could even be forgiven for allowing this evening's fixture against Wolves to have slipped the mind and altogether dipped off the radar.

Click to continue reading...