Manchester United Online

Match Date: August 17 2008 - English Premier League

Manchester United started off the 2008-09 season with a home draw against Newcastle United.  Missing many of the first team players, Manchester United displayed glimpses of their championship winning form early in the first half.  The goalkeeper of Newcastle United kept the team in the game.

Obafemi Martins, not exactly the tallest man on the field,  scored with a header in the first half, with the two central defenders of Man U, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic nowhere near him.  Darren Fletcher replied less than two minutes to level the game which stood at the scoreline till the end.

With Carlos Tevez given time off to visit his family back at Argentina due to a close family member’s death, and Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs both got injured during the game, Sir Alex Ferguson are facing more selection headaches for the forthcoming games.

Frazier Campbell show flashes of brilliance, and given time, this kid can develop into a very good player.  Wayne Rooney was his usual hardworking self.  The rest of the team seems normal at best.

In actual fact, Man U were lucky to escape defeat, given Newcastle’s dominance in the second half. If the opponent had been Chelsea, Arsenal or even Liverpool, Man U may have suffered a defeat instead of gaining a draw.

With all the other big three teams winning (and Chelsea really showing its class at Portsmouth), Man U is trailing early season.

It is still early in the season, and like Alex Ferguson said, we still have 37 more games to go.  Let’s hope we improve for our next game.

Full Time: Manchester United 1 - 1 Newcastle

Scorer: Obafemi Martins (Newcastle), Darren Fletcher (Man U)

Match Date: August 10 2008 - Community Shield

Manchester United won its first silverware of the season by beating Portsmouth on penalties after a goalless match in normal regulation time.

Despite missing several first time players, Manchester United dominated largely dull game with little excitement. It is quite obvious the firepower of Rooney and Ronaldo were missed.

Carlos Tevez put up a Man of the Match performance. Man U’s defense, with Gary Neville back in the first team, were hardly tested. Portsmouth, like Man U, still has a lot of work to do to get the team gel together.

Darren Fletcher missed a glorious chance to finish the game in regulation time. Nani showed glimpses of his previous season form, but he will be out of the Premier League season opener against Newcastle due to a ban.

In the end, the game ended in penalty-shootout. It can be said it is a fairer result to Man U as they dominated most of the game.

Full Time: Manchester United 0 - 0 Portsmouth

Penalties:

Defoe (Portsmouth) - Diarra, Mvuemba, Johnson all missed their kicks

Tevez, Giggs and Carrick all scored from their kicks

Next on - Against Newcastle (Premier League)

Scorer: NIL

Match Date: August 06 2008 - Friendly

Manchester United and Juventus played out to a goalless draw in Man U’s last pre-season friendly.

With the Community Shield game against Portsmouth just four days away, Sir Alex Ferguson still send out a strong squad, including Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes, Carlos Tevez, Ryan Giggs. Young players like Lee Martin and Rafael Da Silva also played.

While it is not exactly a boring game, the game certainly lacked excitement. In the end, it is fair result given that both teams seem to be conserving themselves for a long season ahead.

Next on - Against Portsmouth (Community Shield)

Scorer: NIL

Match Date: August 04 2008 - Friendly

Manchester United was lucky to escape with a 2-0 victory over Peterborough in another pre-season friendly game.

Peterborough, managed by Alex Ferguson’s son Darren,  could have scored a famous victory if not for the excellant performance of Tomasz Kuszczak.  The game also saw Daron Gibson, Rafael Da Silva, Frazier Campbell putting on-par performances.  Hope to see more of them in the coming season.

However, Louis Saha was left out of the game, despite being fully fit, and the fact that Wayne Rooney is out due to illness, Sir Alex Ferguson started with Carlos Tevez and Frazier Campbell instead.  Looks like a transfer for Saha is pending.

In the end, Man U scored through an own goal by Russell Martin in the first half and another goal from Daron Gibson (an excellent strike!) settled the match, with family bragging rights going to the senior Ferguson.

Next on - Friendly against Juventus

Scorer: Russell Martin (o.g.), Daron Gibson (Man U)

Promising full-back Danny Simpson has joined Blackburn on a one-year loan.

It has appeared that Simpson’s chances of first team action would be limited due to the return of Gary Neville, it is a wise move for both the player and team.

Good luck Danny, show them what you’ve got!  Hope to see you back a much better player.

Match Date: August 02 2008 - Friendly / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Testimonial Game

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s played his last game for Manchester United when Man U beat Espanyol 1 - 0 in the testimonial game for Ole, undoubtedly one of the heroes of modern day football.

Solskjaer came into the game late and almost scored on two occasions.

It was Frazier Campbell who scored in the end, putting another strong case for him to be on the first team in the coming season.

Next on - Friendly against Juventus

Scorer: Frazier Campbell (Man U)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be making his farewell appearance in a Manchester United shirt tomorrow in his testimonial game against Espanyol.  He has always been that humble, never-complain, hardworking player who never wants to be in the spotlight.

When Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Molde back in 1996, not many people have heard of him.  A lot of critics were fast to say Ferguson signed a player not of Man U’s class.  How wrong were they.

Solskjaer has earn his deserved place in the history of the Red Devils, having scored the ultra-late winning goal against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.  Who can forget that final?  Who can forget he came on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest and knocked in 4 goals!  Who can forget he tracked all the way back from the opposition half to bring down Rob Lee and earned himself a red card, and in turn, earn Man U an all-important point?

Despite his scoring powers, Solskjaer is restricted to be the “Super-Sub” most of the time.  No one can argue with Sir Alex when Solskjaer was used to perfection.  Every time when he is called upon, when Man U needs the little bit extra, the goal that makes the difference, Solskjaer almost always deliver.

Cash raised in his testimonial will go towards the building of 10 schools in Africa, that speaks a lot of this unassuming player.  In modern day football, where mercenaries are aplenty, it is a refreshing to find someone in the mould of Solskjaer.

Little Stats of Solskjaer:

Joined Manchester United from Molde in 1996.  Scored 126 goals in 365 games (dont forget he is a substitute player majority of the time). Scored the winning flick to win Man U the Champions League after decade of waiting. Won SIX Premier League titles, TWO FA Cups, ONE League Cup and not to mention, ONE European Champions League title.  Retired last season due to injury which had bothered him for two to three seasons.

To Ole, we will never see another Red Devil like you.  As a fan of Man U, I would like to thank you for your contribution towards Man U’s success all the years.  I am just glad you are now the Reserve Team head coach.   Salutes!

Its confirmed.  Chris Eagles has just signed for Burnley for an undisclosed fee.

Eagles who joined the Premiership champions at the age of 14, has failed to impress Sir Alex Ferguson enough to make himself a first team regular.

Eagles, despite figuring prominently in the recent African friendly tour, has decided his future lies elsewhere.

Good luck Chris.

Words are going around saying Roy Keane has (or is going to) made a £10m offer for Louis Saha.

Most would comment that this is going to be a good deal for Manchester United.  It is going to be a good deal for Sunderland too if Saha can remain injury free.  Saha will be remembered for being there when Man U needs a break, when he is fit. He is able to break down the toughest defences with his intelligent positioning, and ability to score crucial goals.

Saha is a striker who can knock in 20+ goals a season for your team, with him teaming up with Diouf, we can expect a tough strike force to be dealt with by the defences of Premier League teams.

He will be remembered as the player who forced out Ruud Van Nistelrooy just a couple of seasons back with his impressive form.

Match Date: July 27 2008 - Friendly

Manchester United wrapped up their tour of South Africa with a close win over Portsmouth, a team  they are meeting for the Charity Shield in the season opener and again in two weeks time after that for the Premier League.

Man U again played several young players, giving them the opportunity to shine.  Chris Eagles, though he scored, should have gotten several more.  Carlos Tevez, in the midst of news that he will become Britain’s most expensive player, missed a penalty but made up with a goal.

Frazier Campbell showed his pace, running rings round the Pompey’s defence but has nothing to show for.  Jonny Evans and Nemanja Vidic put in a creditable performance in the center of the defence, with Rio Ferdinand back home to be with his pregnant wife.

Jermaine Defoe, in his partnership with the newly signed Peter Crouch, scored a late goal for the Pompey.

The Red Devils should have scored far many than its opponents.  Both teams are expected to put on a better showing when they meet again for the Charity Shield.

Next on - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s testimonial.

Scorers: Chris Eagles, Carlos Tevez (Man U) / Jermaine Defoe (Portsmouth)