Manchester United v Arsenal

[ShearerTheLegend]

Sunday 28th August 2011
Kick-off: 17.00 (live @ Sky Sport 1)
Old Trafford



Manchester
United
(2nd)
v
Arsenal FC
(14th)

Non poteva esserci trasferta peggiore per l'Arsenal che quella all'Old Trafford, un campo dove non vince da ben cinque anni. Un Arsenal ancora a digiuno di successi in Premier, alla ricerca del primo gol in campionato; bisogna tornare indietro di 42 anni per trovare un precedente simile. Di tutt'altro spessore invece l'avvio del Manchester United; con il successo sul Tottenham, i Red Devils hanno centrato la diciottesima vittoria interna in 19 giornate, malgrado Sir Alex abbia schierato un undici iniziale dall'età media di 23 anni e 191 giorni, più giovane di 14 giorni di quello sceso in campo tre stagioni fa nell'ultima di campionato contro l'Hull.

[woody87]

Sir Alex Ferguson hits out at Arsène Wenger's 'cynical' critics

• 'Work he has done is best in Arsenal's history,' says Ferguson
• Ferguson also lashes out at FA for treating United 'like shit'



Sir Alex Ferguson believes Arsène Wenger was right to cash in on Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... ene-wenger

Spoiler:

Sir Alex Ferguson has issued a robust defence of Arsène Wenger, insisting the Frenchman remains indispensable to Arsenal, was right to cash in on Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri and is a victim of the "cynical" modern game.

Relations between the Manchester United and Arsenal managers have improved as their title rivalry has faded in recent years and, ahead of their latest encounter at Old Trafford on Sunday, Ferguson paid Wenger his warmest tribute to date. The United manager claimed no other coach could match Wenger's achievements at Arsenal and they are far from the club in turmoil that has been portrayed. Ferguson's respect did not extend to the Football Association, however, who he accused of treating the Premier League champions "like shit".

Addressing the suggestion that some Arsenal fans want a new manager at the Emirates Stadium, Ferguson said: "I would like to know who is going to replace him. The work he has done in the 15 years he has been at the club is the best in Arsenal's history. Yes, he has not won a trophy for six years but what does that mean? The quality of his side has not been reduced. The competition is far greater now.

"When Arsenal and ourselves were going head-to-head, that went on for about eight years. It is a bit unfair of course, but who understands fairness and unfairness today? It is quite a cynical world. Supporters are far less easy to please than they were 20 years ago. But Arsenal answered everybody back on Wednesday [beating Udinese to qualify for the Champions League]. A lot of people thought they would go out. I didn't. I thought they would win it. The game on Sunday will be another stepping stone for them."

United have made a 100% start to the new season while Arsenal have yet to win in the Premier League and would fall eight points behind the champions with defeat at Old Trafford. But Ferguson cautioned: "They still have an array of talent up front who can beat anyone and score against anyone. It is easy for me on Sunday to have my team prepared because they know themselves they are playing a team with some quality."

Ferguson empathised with Wenger over the departures of Fábregas and Nasri, a player he coveted before Manchester City secured his £24m transfer this week, and claimed United's experience with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gerard Piqué demonstrated no club is immune to major losses.

He added: "The contract situation today is difficult. You have to be pro-active. We try to be pro-active in terms of getting players new contracts long before that period comes. We have had the same issues at times with players getting into the last year. We are not alone. It is a difficult period.

"When you face that inevitable situation where a player is not going to sign a contract you can threaten to do what Arsène did with Nasri and keep him for another year and not get anything for him or capitalise and get the money the previous year like he did. I think that is sensible to take the money. If he is not going to sign why throw away money? We had the same situation with Cristiano. He had two years when we let him go but we had had him for six years. The issue is how long do you think you are going to have European players? Fabregas wanted to leave. He wanted to go back to Barcelona. We had the same situation with Gerard Piqué. The important thing is to try and do your best for your club and make sure you prepare for these moments."

Ferguson confirmed Darren Fletcher will be included in United's squad for the first time this season having had "a terrible time" with illness and, still simmering over his touchline ban and Wayne Rooney's suspension for swearing into a television camera last season, was scathing regarding the FA.

Eight United players could be on England duty next week and their manager said: "It is fantastic. The FA may one day realise who has produced more players for their country than any other club in the world. Maybe they will get some joy from it at some point in their lives and realise how important we are to England. They treat us like shit."

[Cooney]

Ferguson che va in soccorso "mediatico" di Wenger.
Il 2012 è sempre più vicino

[pietro92]

Stavo guardando le quote di Bet365... Non sono da big match...

Manchester United --> 1.50
Pareggio --> 4.33
Arsenal --> 6.50

[EricCantona]

Sono fiducioso...e come non esserlo visto l'Arsenal rimaneggiatissimo e spogliato dei suoi più grandi talenti

[TNS_87]

Speriamo non azzecchino la gara dell'anno domani.

Spoiler:

Coon tirami un pò su il morale

[RED DEVIL]

Stavo guardando le quote di Bet365... Non sono da big match...

Manchester United --> 1.50
Pareggio --> 4.33
Arsenal --> 6.50

Non mi sarei mai aspettato quote del genere. Vedere non soltanto l'Arsenal quotato tanto, ma anche il pareggio fa capire quanta poca fiducia circondi questa squadra.

[The Chief]

quote invece giustissime.
non vinciamo da 5 anni, negli ultimi confronti all'Old Trafford ci hanno sempre rullato, siamo una squadra imbarazzante mentre il Man Utd sembra ancor più cinico e devastante dell'anno scorso.
guarderò la partita ma senza stare troppo male se, cosa molto probabile, perdessimo.
mi aspetta un anno intero così...speriamo solo passi in fretta.

ps basta con queste continue difese a Wenger.
vi rendete conto che tutti parlano al passato quando fanno complimenti all'alsaziano?
questo vuol dire che quello che ha fatto in passato è stato grandioso, ma quello che sta facendo adesso invece è disastroso.

[Cooney]

Man Utd
De Gea
Smalling, Jones, Evans, Evra
Nani, Cleverley, Anderson, Young
Rooney, Welbeck

Subs: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Berbatov, Giggs, Park, Hernandez, Fabio Da Silva.

+

Arsenal
Szczesny
Jenkinson, Djourou, Koscielny, Traore
Ramsey, Coquelin
Rosicky, Walcott, Arshavin
RvP

Subs: Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh, Lansbury, Miquel, Ozyakup, Sunu.

Mio dio, il nostro starting XI mette i brividi.

[McGregor93]

primo gol per ashley young............e che gol