Ferguson fearful after Fulham run riot

December 20, 2009


Manchester United’s resources may have made them the envy of world football but Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted a lack of defensive depth may cost them a fourth straight English Premier League title.

United are struggling to cope with a crippling injury list which has deprived them of six senior defenders in recent weeks – a scenario which, even for a club with their swollen bank account, has proved untenable.

Having already slumped to a surprise defeat at home to Aston Villa this month, United’s makeshift back-line crumpled again on Saturday, as they were beaten 3-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Ferguson, having been denied the services of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown, Gary Neville, Jonny Evans and Edwin van der Sar through injury, cited his cluttered treatment room as mitigation for this latest loss.

United spurned this chance to leapfrog Chelsea at the league summit and a poor return from a crowded Christmas schedule could leave a severe dent in the club’s title aspirations.

“There’s a fragility at the back at the moment and this was a difficult day for us all round,” said Ferguson.

“With the way the league is, it’s damaging and we just hope it’s not the one that costs us the league.

“We need to start getting some of our players back to give us a proper chance. The guys are doing their best to get the players back, working overtime, but there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.

“Maybe the fragile nature of the players at the back has given some of the others a reason to feel sorry for themselves.”

“Fragile” is a kind way to describe the nature of the back-line United deployed on Saturday.

Having shoe-horned his side into an awkward 3-5-2 formation, Ferguson’s team began with Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Ritchie de Laet as a central defensive trio.

They didn’t enjoy the experience and the narrowing of the visitors’ defence allowed Fulham space to exploit behind United wing-backs Patrice Evra and Antonio Valencia.

In the circumstances, United could ill afford the sort of sloppy individual error committed by Paul Scholes in the build-up to Fulham’s first goal as the ex-England midfielder allowed himself to be dispossessed by Danny Murphy, who advanced and shot home from 20 yards.

Tomasz Kuszczak had already been forced into one superb save from Zoltan Gera as United drifted listlessly around a frozen Craven Cottage, but if their ears were singed by Ferguson’s half-time team-talk, it did not show.

Within seconds of the re-start, Bobby Zamora had lashed in from close range for, as Ferguson termed it, “the killer goal” and it was left to Damien Duff to rattle in the third in the 75th minute after more good work from Zamora

Roy Hodgson’s Fulham side have made a habit of bloodying the noses of the great and good in recent seasons and this was arguably their most impressive result ever in the Premier League.

“It’s a mark of how far we have come,” Hodgson said. “Our major ambition is to sustain the standard we have set.

“I would be wary to say we should try and raise the bar even higher. It’s like the elastic band story – you can pull it so far and then it breaks.”

At present, though, it is United’s resources which are more likely to snap.

LONDON (AFP)

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Fulham treble dents United title bid

December 19, 2009


Manchester United’s English Premier League title ambitions suffered a setback as they slumped to an abject 3-0 defeat by Fulham here on Saturday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side delivered one of their most toothless displays of the season at a bitterly cold Craven Cottage and were deservedly beaten thanks to goals from Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff.

Defeat ensured United did not overhaul leaders Chelsea and they could be six points adrift of the west Londoners at Christmas – not an irretrievable position, particularly given the club’s habit of reserving their best form for the new year, but hardly ideal.

There are, without question, serious problems for Ferguson to address.

Injuries have deprived the Scot of the majority of his first-choice back four and the defence which was pulled apart so easily on Saturday took the term ‘makeshift’ to a whole new level.

Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick were both pulled back from midfield while Ritchie de Laet made just his third league start at centre-half: none enjoyed the experience.

Fulham’s attackers duly feasted on the unexpected swathes of space which opened up in United’s defensive third and Ferguson must now consider whether he has to spend in January to plug some of those gaping holes.

The focus, inevitably, will be on United’s deficiencies following their heaviest defeat of the season but that is unfair on Fulham, who were little short of magnificent.

The south-west Londoners have won five of their last seven games and no longer have an inferiority complex when they are confronted by members of the Premier League’s elite.

Roy Hodgson’s side were the more polished outfit.

Disciplined in defence, combative in midfield and creative in attack, Fulham penned their illustrious guests in their own half for long spells and might have won by an even greater margin.

United were grateful to their stand-in goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak in the 18th minute, the Poland international producing a superb reaction save from Zoltan Gera after the striker had met Zamora’s chested pass on the volley at close range.

Kuszczak deserved the thanks of his team-mates but, instead, they repaid him poorly, leaking a dreadful opening goal just four minutes later.

After Paul Scholes dawdled on the ball just inside his own-half, Murphy snaffled away possession, advanced 20 yards and struck a low, bouncing shot that found the bottom corner.

Another slip from the former England international in the 32nd minute almost gifted Fulham a second, Clint Dempsey seizing on his error and releasing Gera in the area.

The Hungarian’s chipped cross was just too fractionally high for Zamora at the back post, whose header slid wide.

Ferguson undoubtedly subjected his side to some of his infamous ‘hairdryer’ treatment at the interval but, for once, it failed to have the desired effect.

Instead, within seconds of the re-start, United were further behind.

Duff charged down the right and looped a teasing cross to the back post, where Dempsey rose above Darren Fletcher and nodded down to Zamora. The striker lashed in from close range for his fourth goal in three games.

Ferguson flung on Dimitar Berbatov to join the ineffective Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney as the away contingent bellowed “attack, attack” but it had little effect.

Instead, Fulham rubber-stamped their triumph with a well crafted third in the 75th minute, Duff volleying in from Zamora’s lay-off.

LONDON (AFP)

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Ferguson faces defensive headache as injuries mount

December 6, 2009


Sir Alex Ferguson admits he is struggling to field a recognisable back-four in Wednesday’s Champions League clash at Wolfsburg after Wes Brown and Gary Neville were forced out of Manchester United’s 4-0 victory at West Ham.

Goals from Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney completed a comfortable victory on Saturday for the reigning champions, who are now just two points behind Chelsea following the leaders’ defeat at Manchester City.

But the victory was achieved despite Ferguson having to make late changes to his plans when Nemanja Vidic withdrew from the trip to Upton Park after suffering from flu.

That forced Ferguson to pair Neville and Brown in central defence, with midfielder Darren Fletcher operating as a makeshift right back.

But he was forced into further changes when Neville hobbled out of the action after just 34 minutes with a groin problem that is expected to keep the former England defender out for a number of weeks.

Midfielder Michael Carrick was introduced from the substitutes bench to partner Brown and is now certain to continue in that role against Wolfsburg.

By then Ferguson hopes Vidic will have recovered in time to partner Carrick while young defender Ritchie De Laet is also likely to start.

“It’s becoming a headache to us,” Ferguson said. “Losing Vidic to flu, we put Gary Neville to centre back and he goes off after 30 mins.

“Michael Carrick did very well and then Wes Brown had to come off towards the end. I’m hoping we’re going to have a back four for Wednesday. Vidic should be okay and I’ll probably play Michael Carrick and Nemanja again.

“We put Michael as substitute in case anything happened to the back four because he has the height, the composure, the pace and experience to play there.

“There was an option to play De Laet but away from home at West Ham is difficult and I felt an experienced player was important.

“I would have liked to play him from the start but I had to err on the side of caution and I’m glad I did.”

Scholes’ goal in first half added time had set United on their way and came after the midfielder, 35, had this week hinted he may consider retiring at the end of the season.

Ferguson, though, believes Scholes is playing as well as ever and is exerting a positive influence on Gibson and United’s other young players.

He said: “Paul Scholes is an incredible player and he’s conducting play so well just now. He’s making it look good for us.

“Darron and Anderson are young boys, both 21, and are going to be great players. But they have to accept that in Paul Scholes they see the finished article, a man who has been doing it for 15 years at the highest level and it’s a great example to them and it will rub off I’m sure.”

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola conceded his side had been well beaten although their cause wasn’t helped by an illness to Rob Green that led to the keeper vomiting in his penalty area during the second half.

Zola said: “Their finishing was excellent – especially the first two goals.

“We had worked on our defending all week and we were succeeding. The second goal was just a fantastic strike and from then on we were chasing the game and we got hit on the counter-attack.

“Our approach was working quite well but it’s fair to say that we didn’t threaten them enough. Don’t forget that they are the champions and are a great team.

“Rob Green felt sick at the start of the second half and later on he vomited in the goalmouth. We decided to take him off after the fourth goal.

“We have a lot of injuries but I don’t really have too many options to strengthen the team in January. Maybe I might be forced to pull my boots on myself.”

LONDON (AFP)

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Gibson double sees United into League Cup semis

December 2, 2009


Darron Gibson scored both goals as holders Manchester United defeated Tottenham 2-0 to book their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder found the net with two stunning long-range finishes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side coasted into the last four without hitch.

Ferguson had come under fire last week after watching a relatively young side surrender the club’s long unbeaten home record in the Champions League as Besiktas triumphed 1-0 at Old Trafford.

But 22-year-old Gibson showed there is decent young talent at United.

Tottenham were disappointing and never looked like causing an upset as their hopes of making it to a third successive final sank without trace.

Despite failing their Champions League test against Besiktas six days earlier, the Turks ending United’s 23-match unbeaten home record in Europe, Ferguson once again put his faith in his young players as the hosts looked to take a giant stride towards winning the cup for a fourth time.

Five of the 11 that started were aged 22 or under including Belgian defender Ritchie de Laet, who was starting his first game of the campaign, while the highly-promising France under-21 winger Gabriel Obertan and striker Danny Welbeck also featured.

Yet it was another young talent who broke the deadlock in the 16th minute in what was a re-run of last season’s final, which United won on penalties.

Gibson still had an awful lot to do after being teed-up by Anderson just outside the area.

But he dispatched a crisp effort which beat Heurelho Gomes for pace and power as Gibson scored the fourth goal of his fledgling United career.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, whose team are third in the Premier League table, claimed before the tie he is more focused on qualifying for the Champions League than winning a trophy.

But despite leaving England’s Peter Crouch on the bench, Tottenham still fielded a strong side – Aaron Lennon, Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios and Jermain Defoe all on duty.

Defoe has been in awesome form this season, 15 goals already to his name after scoring five in his side’s recent nine-goal trouncing of Wigan.

But the England international will hope Fabio Capello, his national coach, did not witness his shocking 21st minute miss.

That served as a wake up call for the hosts as Gibson lifted the lull with another stunning long-range finish, curling the ball past Gomes seven minutes before half-time.

Redknapp reacted by hauling off midfielder Palacios and replacing him at the start of the second half with Tom Huddlestone.

Although Huddlestone’s introduction failed to spark a comeback, the visitors at least looked lively for the first time.

United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak justified his inclusion ahead of England’s Ben Foster with a fine stop to deny David Bentley following good work from Gareth Bale.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Chile and Belgium draw in Kirin Cup

May 29, 2009

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CHIBA, Japan (AFP) – Midfielder Kevin Roelandts scored his first goal for Belgium, but his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Chile in the three-nation Kirin Cup football tournament on Friday.

Seven-time World Cup participants Chile kept the initiative by exchanging short passes and sending effective long balls to the front, while Belgium played rather defensively at the beginning.

But it was Belgium who opened the scoring in the 15th minute after forward Mujanji Bia sent a heading pass to the front, where Kevin Roelandts fired a shot that hit goalkeeper Miguel Pinto and went into the net.

Chile retaliated soon afterwards. In the 20th minute, forward Esteban Paredes hit a shot, which Belgian goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen saved, and then Edson Puch hit the rebound, forcing Stijnen to save again.

But three minutes later, forward Fabian Orellana failed to hit a shot and then defender Gary Medel struck the rebound home. Stijnen touched the ball but it landed in the net.

Belgium, who have played 11 World Cups, started to play better in the second half with forward Maarten Martens hitting the first shot on goal.

After midfielder Marco Estrada missed several shots, Chile keeper Pinto was kept busy saving shots off midfielder Ritchie De Laet and Bia in the 68th and 70th minutes.

But neither side could score a decider and the referee’s whistle sounded soon after a shot from substitute forward Jose Fuenzalida went wide.

“It’s wonderful. I’m really happy that I scored my first goal for Belgium soon after I was called up for the first time. We have a chance to win this tournament. I want to play well against Japan as well,” said Roelandts.

Belgium coach Franky Vercauteren said: “I’m satisfied with the result. We had some tough times but we played a good game. I’m looking forward to the game against Japan, I expect it to be a tough game.”

On Wednesday, Japan defeated Chile 4-0 to take three points from the win, while Belgium and Chile have one point each.

Belgium and Japan will face each other at the national stadium in Tokyo on Sunday in the last of the warm-up games for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.

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Hull survive despite United defeat

May 25, 2009


HULL (AFP) – Hull City avoided relegation from the Premier League despite losing 1-0 to an under-strength Manchester United on Sunday as Newcastle’s defeat kept the Tigers out of the bottom three.

Phil Brown’s side knew a victory would secure their safety whatever the results elsewhere, but Darron Gibson’s stunning first half strike at the KC Stadium put the pressure on.

It could have been enough to condemn Hull to the Championship but, despite winning just two of their last 29 games, they avoided the drop after Newcastle lost at Aston Villa, while Middlesbrough crashed at West Ham.

Never had a team sheet been so eagerly anticipated all season considering all the speculation surrounding who United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would pick.

There was little doubt Ferguson named a weakened team, irrespective of the fact the visitors side still contained six full internationals, including the experienced duo of Gary Neville and Wes Brown in defence, while Nani returned to midfield and Federico Macheda was given a rare start in attack alongside Danny Welbeck.

Brown must have have been relieved not to see the name of Rio Ferdinand, however. The England centre back has been struggling to overcome a calf problem and had been expected to be involved, but he was left out altogether to raise doubts about his participation in this week’s Champions League final against Barcelona.

Ferguson also handed a debut to defender Ritchie De Laet. The Belgium-born left back whose only previous action this season had been three games for Wrexham in the Conference.

Darren Fletcher, ineligible for the final in Rome, was made captain. Hull, meanwhile, had no such luxury.

Brown named the same team which earned a crucial draw at Bolton Wanderers, with the exception of Dean Marney coming in for Manucho, who was ineligible due to the terms of his loan move from Old Trafford.

Hull made a bright start and looked to take the initiative, but Craig Fagan failed to control Michael Turner’s long pass with just Tomasz Kuszczak to beat before Fagan narrowly missed a dangerous cross from Geovanni.

It took United a while to get into their stride but once they did a goal seemed inevitable. Nani tested Bo Myhill with a free kick before De Laet missed Rafael Da Silva’s cross by inches.

The breakthrough came in stunning fashion on 24 minutes when Gibson rifled an unstoppable drive past Myhill and into the top corner to stun home fans into silence.

Brown’s men could have fallen further behind but Macheda failed to convert Lee Martin’s cross a minute later before Welbeck burst past four defenders on a 60 metre run only to drag his shot wide.

Macheda followed suit two minutes later as the home defence threatened to crumble.

Andy Dawson drew a fine save from Kuszczak and Neville almost headed into his own goal but it looked increasingly likely that Hull’s fate would be decided at Villa Park, where the news was good.

Nick Barmby saw his header from a tight angle well blocked by Kuszczak as Hull looked to launch the kitchen sink at United’s defence and snatch the goal that would mean they were not reliant on events elsewhere.

It wasn’t to be but it didn’t matter as Villa handed them one of the biggest favours possible.

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