Man United
(Video) Rooney still out for two more weeks – Man United
YouTube.com: Wayne Rooney return delayed
MANCHESTER (Sporting Alert) Manchester United were hit with further setback in the return of Wayne Rooney, following the news that the striker will be out for another two weeks because of an injury.
Rooney injured his knee during a Christmas Day training session and has been on the sideline since.
Initially he was expected to return next week, but Manchester United are confirming that the England international return has again delayed.
The club medical staff admitts that the knee injury was taking longer to heel than expected, which means Rooney will not only miss Saturday’s FA Cup tie at West Ham, but he will also be out of the English Premier League clash with Liverpool next Sunday.
“Wayne’s still injured, and it looks like going to be out another two weeks or so,” Sir Alex Ferguson said Friday on www.manutd.com.
“It’s a surprise as he was meant to be back training now. So he’ll be out for longer than we thought and I don’t think he will be fit for the Liverpool match.
“The injury is nothing serious.
“He just got clipped behind his knee. Nothing shows in the scan but he’s still feeling it. Hopefully in two weeks it’ll be sorted but nonetheless it’s a loss.”
With Rooney continue to be out, Ferguson will give more playing time to the likes of Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck, who are expected to start against West Ham on Saturday.
Robin van Persie will sit this game out.
EPL Scores, Video: Wins for Arsenal, Man United, Man City – Dec.29
LONDON (Sporting Alert) Theo Walcott scores a brilliant hattrick and Arsenal hammered an injured hit and fatigued Newcastle United 7-3 in the English Premier League on Saturday.
In other Premier League results, Manchester United beat West Bromwich 2-0 at Old Trafford, while there were also wins for Manchester City, Wigan, Tottenham, Swansea City and Reading.
EPL SCORES – DEC.29
FULL-TIME- Arsenal 7 vs 3 Newcastle
FULL-TIME– Norwich 3 vs 4 Manchester City
FULL-TIME- Stoke 3 vs 3 Southampton
FULL-TIME- Reading 1 vs 0 West Ham
FULL-TIME- Manchester United 2 vs 0 West Bromwich
FULL-TIME- Aston Villa 0 vs 3 Wigan
FULL-TIME- Fulham 1 vs 2 Swansea City
But the best game was saved for last and it was indeed a thriller, as eight of the ten goals were scored in the second half at Emirates Stadium
Walcott, who completed his hattrick with a fine chipped finish in stoppage time, got from support substitute Olivier Giroud, who scored in the 85th and 87th minutes and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski, who each added a goal apiece to the tally.
Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger said on Arsenal.com: “The game was not as comfortable as the result indicates.
“We suffered for big parts in the game, especially in the first half when I felt we played with the handbrake, we were a bit nervous, not free of the chest.
“We had problems to win the ball back from them. Every time they came back but we kept going and in the end of course it became easy, but it was a difficult game for us.”
Demba Ba, linked strongly to Arsenal, according to the latest Premier League transfer rumors, netted a brace for Newcastle.
At Old Trafford, leaders Manchester United maintained its seven point advantage at the top of the league table with the 2-0 win and a clean sheet over West Brom, with striker Robin van Persie coming off the bench to score his team’s second goal and moved to 14 goals in the league.
“He (Van Persie) changed the game for us. When I brought him and Paul Scholes on they settled the game down for us,” Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said.
A ten man Manchester City held off a spirited Norwich side to win 4-3 on the road after midfielder Samir Nasri was sent off shortly before half-time.
Edin Dzeko had a quick brace, after scoring in the 2nd and 4th minutes to help The Citizens kept pace with Man United.
Russell Martin also scored twice for Norwich in the defeat.
“For me, I think that we played fantastic for 25 minutes and should have scored three or four,” Man City boss Roberto Mancini said.
“The guys played very well. It was like at Sunderland but this time we scored. Today we showed we are there for the title.”
In the early kick-off, Aaron Lennon netted a game winner for Tottenham to score a come from behind 2-1 win over Sunderland.
Wigan handed Aston Villa its third successive defeat in the Christmas period, following their 3-0 results, while Reading grabbed a much needed win over West Ham.
Elsewhere, Jonathan de Guzman scored a second half winner for Swansea to edge Fulham 2-1 and Stoke City came from 2-0 down to earn a 3-3 tie with Southampton.
Sunday Premier League Fixtures
Everton vs Chelsea
QPR vs Liverpool
Manchester United Transfer News: Lewandowski set for summer move?
MANCHESTER (Sporting Alert) Robert Lewandowski is set to make a move to Barclays Premier League side Manchester United, according to British and German news media.
Transfer Fee Already Agreed?
Lewandowski has been heavily linked with a summer transfer dream move to Old Trafford and the Daily Mail and German newspaper Bild are both reporting that the Borussia Dortmund forward will join the league leaders at the end of the season.
The reports claimed that Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund have agreed on a £18million transfer fee for the 24-year-old, who has impressed Sir Alex Ferguson for a while now.
It is believed Ferguson plans to shake up his squad again this summer and he sees Lewandowski as a possible valuable signing who could play with the likes of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and his former teammate Shinji Kagawa, who joined Man United in the summer.
Big Time Problem For Man U?
But will it even make sense to bring in another attacker to join the list of stars still wanting playing time?
If these reports are indeed true, Ferguson, who already has a major problem on his hand with trying to satisfy four strikers currently, could be setting himself up for further headaches.
The likes of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez are already on the waiting list behind Rooney and van Persie and adding Lewandowski to that group, several pundits believe, would make no sense as it would potentially create more unsettled times for those already wanting to play.
There are also concerns over where Kagawa will play when he comes back, although the signs are showing that he will now line-up alongside Michael Carrick in midfield with Rooney continuing to play behind Dutchman van Persie.
More Transfer news about Manchester United
Nani is almost certain to leave Old Trafford, while both Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, despite Ferguson playing down the reports, will not return next season – opening more gaps to be filled.
Anderson, despite playing some of his best football this season, could also be sacrificed with a move away from the Red Devils not totally convinced that he will be able stay fit for an entire season when he comes back.
NOTE: Manchester United have already scored the most goals in the Premier League this season at 48, with van Persie netting 13 of those. Lewandowski is having an amazing career in front of goal – scoring 40 league goals in 83 games for Dortmund.
For Manchester United gossips, as well as football transfers and rumors, follow here
Manchester United Transfer News: Jores Okore Flattered by Man United link – Agent
LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Manchester United have been linked with a transfer move for FC Nordsjælland Jores Okore and it is believed that the defender is “flattered” by the news.
The January window is set to reopen in less than a week and a number transfer speculations have seen several types of players, including Okore, being linked with Manchester United.
However, the agent of Okore, who was recommended by former Red Devils goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, has admitted the Denmark star would welcome a move to Old Trafford.
“I am flattered and I am sure that Jores is flattered too,” Nikola Juric reportedly told bold.dk. “I believe that there are a lot of clubs interested in Jores but I have not heard anything from Manchester United.
“I only know that Peter Schmeichel has recommend Jores to Alex Ferguson.
“It is normal for teams in England to use two types of defenders, a stopper and a ball-playing defender like Daniel Agger.
“There are not a lot of these ball-playing defenders like Jores available.
“There is interest from Russia, England, Germany, France and the two big clubs in Ukraine, Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Kiev and Jores is open for anything.
“The most important thing for him is that any potential suitor really believes in him.”
Follow The Latest Manchester United Transfer News
Shinji Kagawa sings Gangnam style, steals the show at Manchester United party
Watch Video of Shinji Kagawa singing Gangnam style
MANCHESTER (Sporting Alert) — Shinji Kagawa stole the show at the Manchester United Christmas party when he delivered the famous Gangnam style lyrics for the cheering crowd.
Summer signing Robin van Persie also showed that he has settled in well already at the club and his performance of ‘Glory Glory Man United’ proves that he’s loving the new life at Old Trafford.
The Dutch striker, who was snapped from the hands of rivals Manchester City by Sir Alex Ferguson from Arsenal in the summer, celebrated by signing the club’s signature song during the Christmas party held at Rio Ferdinand’s Rosso restaurant in Manchester.
The 29-year-old has been lethal for Manchester United so far this season – scoring 15 goals in 21 games and helped the team moved six points clear of defending champions City at the top of the Barclays Premier League standings.
Kagawa, meanwhile, made sure to delight the crowd as well after singing Gangnam style.
His performance was firmly welcomed by teammate Ferdinand, who tweeted: “Kagawa is one funny guy!
“Made my night last night with the song he sang for the lads! Classic!”
Man United to up bid for Arsenal forward Robin van Persie, says reports
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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Manchester United are set to up their bid in an attempt to land targeted striker Robin van Persie from Arsenal this week, reports say.
United have been showing interest in the Dutch forward all summer, but had a £15m bid rejected by his club last month.
However, after missing out on several of his targets this recruiting campaign, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is determined to not let Van Persie slip through his fingers.
According to The Sun, Ferguson is ready to up his bid close to the Gunners’ asking price of £15m with the hope of sealing a deal ahead of the start of this weekend’s Barclays Premier League opener.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has insisted that he wants to keep his captain, despite the forward’s announcement that he will not extend his contract pass next summer when it expires.
It is being reported that Van Persie was booed by dissatisfied Arsenal fans when he came on as a substitute during Sunday’s win over Cologne in Germany.
Reports are also claiming that he doesn’t intend to start the season with the London giants and is desperate to complete a move away as quickly as possible.
Van Persie was lethal for Arsenal last season, after scoring 37 goals in all competitions, including 30 in the Premier League, which helped his side finished third.
Meanwhile, Wenger said without or without Van Persie, his side will be in stronger position than last season, with the addition of Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla, who all made their debuts in the pre-season 4-0 win over FC Cologne.
He said on Arsenal official website at www.arsenal.com: “We are in a much stronger position now because last summer we lost Nasri and Fabregas, and on top of that we lost Diaby and Wilshere [to injury].
“So we lost four players at the start of last season and that is not the case this time.
“We want to [compete for honours] and we have a desire to. We are up for it and what we want is to come out of the season and know we have given our best.
“I feel we did that last year, finishing third with the start we had.
“The first target is to do as well as we can in every single game and see where we stand at the end of the season. But of course we want to fight for the championship.”
Kagawa scores winner in Man United 1-0 win over Shanghai (w) video
SHANGHAI (Sporting Alert) — Shinji Kagawa scored the winner and played the full 90-minutes as Manchester United beat Chinese big spenders Shanghai Shenhua at the Shanghai Stadium on Wednesday night.
Watch Video Of Shinji Kagawa Goals
Kagawa, who was starting his game in the preseason campaign, fired home from inside the box, following a pass from substitute Bebe in the 68th minute of play. The goal was Kagawa’s first for the Barclays Premier League side.
The summer recruit was once again impressive for Manchester United, delivering another outing that caught the eye of his teammates.
Following his performance in the 1-1 draw with Ajax Cape Town over the weekend, defender Rio Ferdinand said: “I’ve been very, very impressed.
“He’s quick, he’s sharp, he has great awareness, he plays off both feet.
“I’m excited about playing with him and getting the season started. I think he’ll be a great acquisition.”
Ferdinand was again impressed by Kagawa’s passing and movement against Shanghai tonight.
Nick Powell, another summer signing started his first game for United and he missed a glorious chance to get off the mark in the first half.
Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba, two stars for Shanghai, did not play against United because of slight injury worries and a big game to come on Saturday.
Kagawa, Powell start for Man United, no Anelka or Drogba for Shanghai
Shinji Kagawa And Nick Powell Will Start For Manchester United In The Team’s Preseason Clash Against Shanghai Shenhua, Michael Carrick Moves Back To Play Center-Back.
SHANGHAI (Sporting Alert) — Shinji Kagawa starts again for Manchester United in game three of their preseason campaign against Chinese big spenders Shanghai Shenhua at the Shanghai Stadium.
Watch Live Coverage Form United Official Site
Kagawa played in the last game which ended 1-1 with South African side Ajax Cape Town on Saturday and manager Sir Alex Ferguson was very impressed by his showing and is excited to see him in action again tonight.
The Japan international will play just behind the main striker, who tonight will be Federico Macheda, the player that scored the winner in the opening preseason game against Amazulu.
“That’s his best position,” Ferguson revealed.
Meanwhile, another summer signing Nick Powell, who was a substitute in the last game will get his first start for Manchester United and Ferguson says he will watched his minutes as he looks to round him into shape.
“He missed a bit of the training, but came on in the last game and did well,” the boss said. “I’m not sure how much time he will play.”
Planning for the likes of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba, Ferguson did some shake up in the backline – bring in Michael Carrick to play alongside Rio Ferdinand.
However, neither Anelka or Drogba will play a part in the game, something that the boss was disappointed about.
Elsewhere, Anders Lindegaard is back in goal, while Anderson and Antonio Valencia also start.
Manchester United Team: Lindegaard; Veseli, Ferdinand, Carrick, Brady; Valencia, Powell, Petrucci, Anderson; Kagawa, Macheda.
Kagawa makes full Man United debut in 1-1 draw against Ajax Cape Town
CAPE TOWN (Sporting Alert) — Shinji Kagawa made an impressive appearance in his first Manchester United start during the team’s preseason 1-1 drew with Ajax Cape Town in the second match of the DHL tour on Saturday.
Kagawa made a brief showing in the opening game in Durban, earlier this week, but wasn’t given anytime to show his fans what he could do in a Manchester United shirt.
But manager Sir Alex Ferguson handed the Japan international a start Saturday and in wet conditions, showed that he will be a vital addition to the Barclays Premier League runners-up this coming season.
“I was very impressed with his performance today,” Ferguson said of Kagawa’s outing. “His movement and passing was good. Very impressive.”
Meanwhile, after playing to a scoreless first half and almost the entire second half, Ajax Cape Town finally grabbed a goal through Alcardo van Graan, who opened the scoring in the 87th minute.
Manchester United pushed for an equaliser and got their goal from substitute Bebe, who blasted home from close range to forced the draw in stoppage time.
Also making an appearance for Manchester United was summer signing Nick Powell, who also looked impressive in his first senior appearance.
Man United join City and Juventus in the Van Persie battle, says reports
LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Reports are claiming that three clubs are now showing extreme interest in signing Arsenal captain Robin van Persie in the transfer window this summer.
The Holland international announced earlier this summer that he would not be signing a contract extension with Arsenal and was prepared to leave.
Van Persie’s current deal is set to expire next summer.
Now it is believed that two Premier League clubs and a Serie A side are showing serious interest in taking in the forward.
According to SkySports News, Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City, runner ups and arch rivals Manchester United and Italian giants and champs Juventus, are the teams looking to make a move for the goal scoring machine.
Van Persie led the Arsenal and the Premier League in scoring last season, but revealed that it has become clear that Arsenal FC and he were not on the same page with certain directions and ideas.
He said earlier this summer: “I personally have had a great season but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days.
“Out of my huge respect for Mr. Wenger, the players and the fans I don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.”
Despite the uncertainty, Van Persie, has however, returned to training with the Gunners, but the club has not announced whether or not he will take part on tour.
Ex-Man United star Ruud van Nistelrooy retires from football
MALAGA, Spain (Sporting Alert) — Punishing striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has announced that he is retiring from football at the age of 35.
The former Netherlands international made the announcement after helping Malaga to their first ever top-four finish this season – a feat that ensured the team will make its first appearance in the UEFA Champions League next season.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star made his decision after struggling to get back close to his best since arriving from Hamburg last year.
“Yesterday was my final game as a professional footballer. I wanted to play in the Champions League, but it is the moment to leave,” said Van Nistelrooy, who scored just five goals in his 32 appearances.
“I have arrived at my physical limit and I can’t play at the maximum level. I couldn’t have had a better send-off than this.
“I feel happy that I am the one taking this decision. I would like to thank Malaga, the technical and medical staff for an unforgettable year.
“I am proud to have won collective and individual titles, but my greatest satisfaction was to be able to work day after day, year after year.”
Van Nistelrooy scored 35 goals in 70 international appearances for the Netherlands. He is also the second-leading goalscorer in the Champions League of all-time with 54 from 81 appearances.
“I would like to thank Malaga, my team-mates, the coaches, the physios, [sporting director] Antonio Fernandez, Fernando Hierro and the fans for this unforgettable year,” said Van Nistelrooy, who netted 150 goals in 219 games in his five seasons for Manchester United.
“I would also like to thank the fans of Den Bosch, Heerenveen, PSV, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Hamburg.”
