Ferdinand´s England captaincy ´will boost United´

February 7, 2010

Ferdinand´s England captaincy
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United can benefit from Fabio Capello’s decision to make Rio Ferdinand the new England captain.

Ferdinand served the second game of his four-match suspension as United returned to the top of the table with a 5-0 victory over Portsmouth.

The defender, 31, was watching from the stands just 24 hours after taking the England skipper’s armband from John Terry, who was stripped of the captaincy by Capello on Friday following allegations about his private life.

Ferguson admits he is proud that a United player will captain England at the World Cup in South Africa later this year and hopes the accolade has a positive effect on Ferdinand’s performances during the Premier League title run-in.

He said: “We’re pleased for him and it’s great for Manchester United to have one of our players captaining his country.

“Over the years we’ve had Gary, Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson for 60-odd games or something so we?re very proud of that.”

Ferguson was happy with the patient display of his team against Avram Grant’s strugglers.

United took until the 40th minute to make the breakthrough but Ferguson thinks that his team, who have dropped just two points against bottom-half teams, were rewarded for their calm approach.

He added: “We had a lot of pressure and possession of the ball but we were patient enough and that?s important when teams come and sit in the way they did here.

“Portsmouth were there to make it difficult but we got the goal just before half time and it was a bit fortunate with the second one but that opened the game for us in the second half and it was a good performance.”

Ferguson admits he is willing Arsenal to take points off Chelsea when the two London teams meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The United manager added: “I don’t know if I’ll watch it or not because I’m going up to Glasgow but I’ll be thinking about it.”

Grant insists that Portsmouth, who face a winding up order, will continue to fight despite their position looking more and more dangerous.

The club are working under their fourth set of owners of the season and are seven points from safety at the bottom of the Premier League.

But the former Chelsea manager is hoping that the Fratton Park club have turned a corner.

He said: “We need to do our job even if it feels like it is going against us.

“I hope that the club will be more stable now. It was almost impossible in the last matches with all the mess around the club and uncertainty.

“I hope now it will be more stable and it’s important for the club. It’s a unique club the whole city is behind the club.

“On the pitch we are doing very well and when you look back over the years, the team at the bottom you see a lot of difference from them to other teams but there’s not a lot of difference between us and tenth place.

“All we want is stability at the club because it will be very difficult to continue like this.

“Positive thinking is always better than negative thinking and as long as we have the chance we will fight.”

United took the lead when Wayne Rooney scored his 23rd goal of the season and Anthony Vanden Borre’s own goal gave the champions a two-goal half-time lead.

Just before the hour, Michael Carrick’s shot looped in off the bar off Richard Hughes and Dimitar Berbatov added a fourth with a fine solo goal.

Portsmouth’s embarrassment was complete when Marc Wilson volleyed into his own net from Patrice Evra’s cross.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

John Terry stripped of England captaincy – your views

February 6, 2010


John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy following revelations about his private life.

Here is England coach Fabio Capello’s statement:

“After much thought, I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry.

“As a captain with the team, John Terry has displayed extremely positive behaviour. However, I have to take into account other considerations and what is best for all of the England squad. What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice.

“John Terry was notified first. When I chose John Terry as captain, I also selected a vice-captain and also named a third choice. There is no reason to change this decision.”

That implies Rio Ferdinand now becomes captain.

Is the decision fair? Does it affect England’s chances in the World Cup?

Source

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Fergie bills Gunners clash as biggest game of season

January 29, 2010


Alex Ferguson has billed Manchester United’s visit to Arsenal on Sunday as a match that could make or break his squad’s season.

“I think the game on Sunday, to my mind now looking at the way the league is shaping up, is the biggest game of the season for us,” the Scot told reporters at United’s training ground on Friday.

“Arsenal have gone on a consistent run and it’s amazing how this league has changed.

“The team that is most consistent will win the league now and Arsenal’s current form has been very good and I’m looking forward to it.

“At the moment the league is looking like a three horse race but there have been so many changes and different result from the top sides that you cannot be 100 percent certain.”

Just two points separate Chelsea at the top of the table and Arsenal in third with United in between. “Of course Chelsea have the advantage of the game in hand and if they win that they go four points ahead of us,” Ferguson added.

“So that is the catch up part we are in and that means Sunday has a great relevance to both of us because we have a genuine chance to win the league.”

Ahead of the match, Ferguson has appealed to United’s travelling supporters to get behind his players in a positive way rather than indulging in the personal abuse of his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger which has been a regular and unpleasant feature of meetings between the two clubs.

“I think it’s unavoidable in the way that managers get abused today,” Ferguson said. “Sometimes I can’t hear these chants and I can’t make them out but I know there’s been some terrible abuse from our fans to Arsene Wenger and there must be a line drawn and I think our fans must know that themselves.

“I was really proud of the way they supported us (in the League Cup win over Manchester City) on Wednesday. We don’t need to worry about anyone else — they should be proud of the team they are supporting.”

Ferguson meanwhile has hinted that United will not appeal against the ban that has ruled Rio Ferdinand out of the club’s next four matches despite what he sees as blatant inconsistencies in the handling of violent conduct cases.

Ferdinand was charged by the Football Association after flooring Craig Fagan with a swinging arm in United’s 4-0 win against Hull last weekend.

The mandatory three-match ban was increased to four after the FA deemed United’s appeal to be “frivolous” and Ferdinand will miss Sunday’s encounter with Arsenal as well as further games against Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Everton.

Ferguson initially announced that United would try to have the decision looked at again only to later contradict himself by insisting the incident is now finished with.

“We have to decide if we appeal it because there are conflicting ways of viewing some of these decisions,” he said. “I watched Charlton and Leyton Orient the other night and the Leyton Orient goal came after an elbow on the Charlton player three times and nothing happened.

“So there’s a lot of confusion in terms of these decisions but we accepted he is banned and we will get on with it – there’s nothing we can do about it.”

If United were to appeal again, they would risk the ban being increased to five matches which would rule Ferdinand out of the League Cup final at the end of next month.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Man Utd´s Rio Ferdinand gets four-match ban

January 29, 2010


Rio Ferdinand was banned for four matches on Thursday after failing in an appeal against a Football Association charge of violent conduct.

The charge related to an incident in United’s 4-0 win over Hull on Saturday in which Ferdinand, returning from three months out injured, appeared to catch Hull’s Craig Fagan in the face with a swinging arm.

The offence would normally result in a three-match ban but Ferdinand’s appeal was deemed “frivolous” by the FA disciplinary panel which examined the appeal and an extra match suspension was added.

The ban takes effect immediately, ruling Ferdinand out of United’s Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.

The 31-year-old will also sit out matches against Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Everton next month but he will be available for the League Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley on February 28.

By appealing against the charge, Ferdinand delayed the FA’s announcement of his punishment until Thursday, ensuring he was able to play in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final against Manchester City, which United won.

Nemanja Vidic was on the bench for that match following his own recovery from injury and the Serbian centreback is expected to partner Jonny Evans against Arsenal.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Ferdinand charged by FA over Fagan clash

January 26, 2010

Rio Ferdinand was left facing the prospect of a three-match ban after being charged with violent conduct on Tuesday by the Football Association.

The Manchester United defender faces disciplinary action after clashing with Hull forward Craig Fagan during the second half of Saturday’s 4-0 Premier League victory at Old Trafford that saw champions United return to the top of the table.

England international Ferdinand has until 1800GMT Wednesday to respond to the charge.

A regulatory commission will hear the centre-back’s case on Thursday.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

United eye return to the top

January 23, 2010


With Chelsea and Arsenal otherwise engaged on FA Cup duty, Manchester United can steal a march on their rivals and return to the top of the Premier League table with victory over Hull at Old Trafford.

United’s third-round defeat by League One Leeds ensured United were able to bring forward their meeting with the Tigers, originally scheduled for the middle of next week, and they can’t afford to pass up the opportunity of three points.

Arsenal moved to the top of the table with a 4-2 win over Bolton in midweek but United could return to the summit with a win over Phil Brown?s side.

United manager Sir Ferguson surprised some with the strength of the team that he fielded in the League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City on Tuesday.

That match ended in a 2-1 defeat and now Ferguson must decide how many of his first-choice players he can afford to rest on Saturday ahead of the second leg against City at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Ryan Giggs is likely to sit out the Hull match and Gary Neville may feature while Dimitar Berbatov’s knee problem could mean a rare Premier League start for Michael Owen.

The game looks likely to come too soon for Rio Ferdinand, who is working his way back from several months on the sidelines with a back injury and Ferguson is still digesting the news that John O?Shea is likely to miss the rest of the season with a leg problem that he picked up in November.

Even though United were beaten at City, assistant manager Mike Phelan saw some promising signs and insists they can string some victories together if they start taking their chances.

Phelan said: “We want to keep some consistency in our game. At City there were signs that Manchester United are on the way forward.

“If we can stick the ball in the back of the net we are in business

“People keep saying the League Cup is not on anyone’s priority list but it is a cup game.

“When you get to the semi-final of a cup you want to get to the final. Both clubs are desperate for that.”

Hull boss Phil Brown is hoping that his side’s relegation battle can be boosted by the return of captain Ian Ashbee before the end of the season.

Ashbee has been out since May with a hamstring injury but has also been diagnosed with a recurrence of the degenerative bone condition that he struggled with early in his career.

Brown said: “I would never write Ian Ashbee off, never. Even if he said he wasn’t fit, I still wouldn’t write him off.

“The beauty of Ash of late is that he’s got a new focus in life, and that is that he can see light at the end of the tunnel.

“When anyone can’t see that, I can understand how they must feel and how hard it is to motivate yourself.

“But all of a sudden, I can see a realignment of his focus and I think he can see an end to all of this. We are seeing a different Ian Ashbee now, and long may that continue.”

Amr Zaki, the Egyptian striker who is joining Hull on loan, will not be considered for this weekend’s match because he is not fully match fit.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Man City have more to lose in derby semi: Ferguson

January 19, 2010


Sir Alex Ferguson has tried to up the pressure on Manchester City by claiming their League Cup semi-final against Manchester United matters more to them than to his team.

United travel to Eastlands for the weather-delayed first leg on Tuesday with their local rivals desperate to end their long wait for silverware.

City have not appeared in the final of a major tournament since 1981 and have not lifted a trophy since winning the League Cup in 1976.

By contrast Ferguson has presided over the most successful period in United’s history with 11 league titles, two European Cups and five FA Cups among the trophies the Scot has brought to Old Trafford since joining from Aberdeen 24 years ago.

However, expectations at City have multiplied since they were taken over by the wealthy Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008 and they hope to break into the Champions League places this season at the very least.

“A semi-final against United when they haven’t been in a final for so long is the biggest motivation City could have so far this season,” Ferguson said.

“So it’s a bigger, more important game for them than us,” he added. “It’s a game for the fans and their emotions.”

Ferguson has already confirmed the likes of Darron Gibson and Rafael and Fabio da Silva are likely to feature against Roberto Mancini’s team.

And while he is keen to give some players a break, he insists he is not taking the tie lightly and intends to be in a strong position going into the home leg.

“You don’t underestimate these things and I’ll pay particular attention to it. Once you?re in a semi-final, you want to be in the final. We want to be in a healthy position back at Old Trafford for the second leg,” he said.

Ferguson is likely to be without Dimitar Berbatov, who may need surgery on his knee problem, and the game is likely to come too soon for Rio Ferdinand to recover from his calf injury.

Mancini goes into this match on the back of his first defeat as City manager, following his team’s 2-0 league loss away to Everton on Saturday.

But City midfielder Nigel de Jong hopes striker Carlos Tevez’s desire to prove Ferguson wrong after being released by United and then signed by their Manchester rivals at the end of last season will work in the home team’s favour.

The Argentina forward has scored 15 goals for City so far this season and de Jong said: “Every player needs to be loved. I don’t know what Carlos’s situation was at Old Trafford. I’m just glad he’s here.”

United and City shared seven goals in a Manchester derby thriller in September with reigning league champions United triumphing 4-3 thanks only to Michael Owen’s stoppage-time winner.

“People still talk about what happened at Old Trafford in the league, but that game is in the past, we don’t want to keep looking back,” de Jong said.

“This is a new game. We want to look to the future,” the Dutchman added.

Instead de Jong said he thought United’s recent shock FA Cup exit at the hands of third-tier Leeds United would be of more relevance to the outcome of the tie.

“I don’t know whether their manager is going to play his full-strength team or his reserves after their FA Cup misery!,” de Jong said. “It’s up to Ferguson, he’s the manager and he knows his squad the best.

“I don’t think it is a sign of disrespect if he doesn’t pick his strongest team. He made it clear at the beginning of the Carling (League) Cup that he would try to rest players because other competitions were more important.

“But it is a semi-final and they are playing a derby against their biggest rivals,” he added.

“It’s a semi-final, one of the biggest games for City in a few years, so we have to do our best to reach the final, whoever it is we play against.”

Aston Villa appear in control of the other semi-final after a 1-0 first-leg win away to Blackburn Rovers.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Berbatov injury not as bad as Fergie feared

January 18, 2010


Alex Ferguson has downgraded Dimitar Berbatov’s latest fitness problem from a recurrence of a knee injury to a dead leg.

The Bulgaria striker, United’s record 30.75-million-pound signing, now still has an outside chance of playing in Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City at Eastlands.

Berbatov scored the opening goal in champions United’s 3-0 Premier League win over Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday but was substituted before full-time.

After the match, Ferguson said the former Tottenham Hotspur forward had suffered a recurrence of a knee injury which Berbatov has been advised requires an exploratory operation.

However, Berbatov had in fact only suffered a dead leg and while he may not be fit enough to face City, he should be available for Saturday’s league match against Hull.

“I thought Dimitar had got a knock on the knee. It turned out it was a dead leg and we are having a look at it,” Ferguson said Monday.

“I am hoping he will be all right but he is a doubt and we will see what he is like in the morning.”

Ferguson added that veteran forward Ryan Giggs would not feature in Tuesday’s derby tie for the League Cup holders and nor would Rio Ferdinand, even though the England central defender is nearing full fitness after three months out with a back injury.

“Rio is training quite well now,” Ferguson said. “He is a lot closer now but he is not in contention for tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Meanwhile, with United having suffered a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of third division Leeds, Ferguson said he would include some senior players in his team to play City despite having used the tournament in the past as an opportunity to blood young talents.

“I have got to think about getting a mix in terms of the programme we have got and also the fact I have given young players a game in the past,” he said.

“I will have a strongish team but there will be some young players as well.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Van der Sar, Ferdinand give Fergie fitness boost

January 15, 2010


Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been given a twin defensive boost with the imminent returns of Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand.

Ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Burnley at Old Trafford, Ferguson has revealed that two of his defensive pillars are on the verge of getting back into his plans after recent absences.

Ferdinand has not played for United since the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on October 25 after suffering a recurrence of a back complaint that has caused shooting pains in his calf muscles, while van der Sar has been on compassionate leave following his recovery from a knee injury.

The Dutchman’s wife, Annemarie, had a brain haemorrhage before Christmas that required drastic and serious hospital treatment which prompted Ferguson to grant him indefinite compassionate leave but the 39-year-old is now ready to return.

And in further good news for Ferguson, Owen Hargreaves is also edging his way towards a first United start in 16 months as his recovery from severe tendonitis appears to be progressing nicely.

Ferguson took his squad to Qatar last week to escape the Arctic conditions in England and is confident that the warm weather training has aided his side?s preparation for this weekend.

“We have some light at the end of the tunnel during the week with Edwin van der Sar coming back to training,” Ferguson said on Friday.

“He’s done very well, he’s obviously been out for a few weeks with a personal situation but it’s great to see him back and that experience when he finally does come in will be important to us.

“We took Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves with us (on the training camp to Qatar) and both took part in some of the work we were doing and there was good light in the end of the tunnel there, particularly with Rio – he is making good progress now.”

Ferguson’s injury concerns are not completely over though as he revealed that United are still having to closely monitor the progress of striker Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian has been struggling with a knee injury for the last month which is restricting his flexibility and movement on the field, but he has told Ferguson he does not want to miss any of United?’s season and will put off a thorough examination until the end of the year.

“He wants to play through it, he doesn’t want an operation,” Ferguson added.

“The advice was to have an exploratory operation but sometimes he feels it and sometimes he doesn’t.

“He didn’t feel it in the warmer climate so he trained every day so it is something you want to keep your eye on – it’ a difficult one.”

Burnley appointed Brian Laws on Wednesday to replace the Bolton-bound Owen Coyle as their new manager.

Laws is set for a daunting first game in charge against the Premier League champions away from home. But, although Ferguson believes Burnley are in for a tough second half of the season, he thinks Laws can help the Clarets climb the table.

“Brian has experience, he has been at and Sheffield Wednesday and experience is what they need at the moment,” Ferguson said.

“I think they have to react quickly because they are at the stage of the season.

“When you are in that bottom half of the league, the second half of the season is never easy and they will be battling to avoid relegation obviously and that is not easy for them.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Van der Sar, Ferdinand set for Man U return

January 15, 2010


Edwin van der Sar might be a starter for Manchester United on Saturday, when United faces Burnley. Rio Ferdinand is also on his way back after a knee injury but won’t start on Saturday.

Van der Sar has returned from a spell in Holland where he was recovering from injury and spending time with his wife who fell ill over Christmas.

The 39-year-old goalkeeper hasn’t played a match for the Red Devils since the end of November when they beat Everton (3-0). Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is yet to decide if he will play Van der Sar against Burnley.

“We’ll see him today and see how he feels about himself (whether he can play), but he has trained every day and he is doing well,” Ferguson said on the club’s official website.

There was also good news for Rio Ferdinand. The English international made the trip to Qatar with the rest of the squad and is on the brink of a return for the Mancunians.

“Rio is making good progress now,” said Ferguson. “He won’t start on Saturday, but he isn’t far away, which is good news for us.

“That is the important issue for us – getting solid defenders back into the team. We need to get our consistency back.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Next Page »

 



Calendar

    February 2010
    M T W T F S S
    « Jan    
    1234567
    891011121314
    15161718192021
    22232425262728

Related Sites

Free Page Rank Tool

eXTReMe Tracker


TinyPic Image and Video Hosting

Click Here

Categories

.