Stretford Enders.net | Manchester United Blog - Manchester United blog

Last season I suggested that March would shape our season, but this season, there’s a 37 day window which, once elapsed, I think will make very clear where the destination of multiple trophies is headed!

It all starts this weekend, with an early kick off at Anfield in the FA Cup, a fixture which toppled us in 2005 thanks to a Peter Crouch winner. While participation on all fronts will occur during this period, I think it says it all when our ‘easiest’ fixture is against the rigid and tough to beat Stoke City at Old Trafford. (more…)

Thierry Henry has undoubtedly been one of the best players in the Premier Leagues history, but thankfully for United, it looks like the Frenchman may not feature against the English champions this Sunday evening.

Henry who is currently on loan from the New York Red Bulls, is facing the possibility of a late fitness test on a troublesome calf problem, which at the moment is seemingly ruling him out of the fixture. (more…)

Two or three weeks ago, if you told me that there was the chance that Thierry Henry and Paul Scholes could be playing against each other for Arsenal and United respectively in the League fixture on January 22nd, I’d expected to have seen men in white coats following closely behind you.

Who’d have imagined this a few weeks ago, but it’s now a very possible situation after Ferguson and Wenger turned to players who many felt had paid their dues to their clubs. Desperation on the clubs’ part? Hard to say really. If I’m totally honest, it smells of more desperation on United’s part if anything, seeing that Henry is still playing competitively, albeit at a lower standard. (more…)

(more…)

I think it’s safe at this stage to say that Ferguson has managed to get two very capable goalkeepers at United now, to replace the legend of Edwin Van Der Sar. Anders Lindegaard and David De Gea probably cannot decide between them who’d play in an FA Cup final for example, if United were to make it that far this season.

I asked on Twitter a few weeks ago, who would you start in between the sticks next week if we had a Cup final on the cards. And as I somewhat expected, 50/50 was virtually the split with arguments for and against both goalkeepers. (more…)

If you don’t live in Ireland, this won’t be available to you unfortunately. But for those who do, and have access to the national television channel, RTÉ 1, ensure you keep your evening free on December 29th at 10.35.

RTÉ are broadcasting a documentary on United’s only manager to, so far, have come from outside the United Kingdom. Frank O’Farrell, hailing from Cork took control of the reigns at United from June 1971 to December 1972.

It’s quite rare to see documentaries on United’s managers, other than Ferguson and Busby. O’Farrell does have the ability to say that he took over from Sir Matt Busby also. (more…)

Well, after City suffered their first League defeat of the season yesterday evening against Chelsea, they all popped off afterwards to enjoy their fancy dress Christmas party. And one man present at the event, was our former midfielder, Owen Hargreaves.

Hargo opted for the Batman costume, maybe trying to say he’s a real super hero, playing a pun on his awful injury history. Sergio Aguero took the Harry Potter route, Mario Balotelli went for the Western Bandit and Gareth Barry was seen dressed up as Where’s Wally. (more…)

Well, a weekends football action has come and gone again the Premier League, bar the minor meeting of Chelsea and Manchester City tomorrow evening. One thing which has incensed me however, was the officiating of Chris Foy at Stoke City this afternoon.

The decisions he made were simply bewildering at times, failing to see corners, harsh yellows, missed hand balls, missed other implications, and an all round biased performance against Spurs I felt. Why do I care you ask? Well what’s stopping Foy making a hash of a decision in our next game? (more…)

Due to the Olympics in London next summer, the FA have announced that the traditional curtain raiser for the football calendar, the Community Shield, will be played at Aston Villa’s home patch, Villa Park.

Old Trafford is believed to have been rejected due to the belief that one or both Manchester Clubs will be involved in the annual competition, currently held by United after last summers enthralling encounter with Manchester City. (more…)

Been reading a few of the comments on the Twitter line this morning and I’m a little surprised by some of the comments regarding the Europa League and the situation United now find themselves in. The draw for the Round of 32 will be made next Friday morning in Nyon, along with the draw for the Round of 16. Details of the competition and further nuggets of information can be found here.

But are we going to be in it to win it? Personally, I’d like to think so. Yes, it means that our league fixtures are going to be pushed back onto the Sunday of that week, but is it really that big of a deal? (more…)