Showing posts with label Rooney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rooney. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Smalling shatters Manchester United's derby dreams

Manchester United slipped to their fourth consecutive derby defeat on Sunday after losing 1-0 to champions City at the Etihad Stadium.

Defender Chris Smalling was the villain for the visitors, after being sent off in the first half after picking up a second yellow card, a booking manager Louis van Gaal later branded as "stupid".

With an extra man, City went on to win the game with Sergio Aguero, scoring the only goal on 63 minutes to close the gap on leaders Chelsea and move seven points ahead of their city rivals.
Monday, November 3, 2014 11:40

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Van Gaal desperately seeking Manchester United balance

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admits he is still trying to strike the right balance between his horde of creative talents and a more solid back-line.

The Red Devils claimed a last-gasp draw away to West Brom on Monday night, and while the Dutch coach was happy with his side’s performance he was dismayed that they failed to win the game.

But while he is ready to add more physicality and strength to his line-up, he is not going to sacrifice his team’s flair – even with a clash with Chelsea on the horizon.

We have to look for physical balance and maybe that is our problem,” Van Gaal told reporters. “I am always looking for creative players and in England you need physical players as well, maybe [Marouane] Fellaini brings that.”


Tuesday, October 21, 2014 14:00

Monday, September 29, 2014

Fiery Rooney reaches boiling point

Just as Louis van Gaal finally caught a break, with Manchester United picking up a 2-1 victory over West Ham, he was also dealt a blow as skipper Wayne Rooney picked up a red card.

The England international had opened the scoring at Old Trafford on Saturday, but hacked down Stewart Downing as the winger looked to lead a break away and was duly shown his marching orders.

It was Rooney's first red card in a United shirt since 2009, though his manager was keen to play down the maliciousness of the challenge and felt it was merely a "professional" foul.

Nevertheless, the Red Devils will be forced to make do without their new captain until November, with a three-match ban ruling him out of fixtures against Everton, West Brom and Chelsea.
Sunday, 28 September 2014 11:30

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Di Maria finally heralds new Van Gaal era


Angel Di Maria's exemplary display for Manchester United on Sunday finally got Louis van Gaal's reign at Old Trafford underway as a goal and an assist saw the Red Devils cruise past QPR 4-0.
Monday, September 15, 2014 11:55

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Van Gaal spending spree threatens Manchester United identity

Manchester United’s identity has been “broken” by the club’s recent spending spree, according to former coach Mike Phelan.

Manager Louis van Gaal has enjoyed a busy summer bringing in six new faces including deadline day deals for Radamel Falcao and Daley Blind.

The departure of youth product Danny Welbeck to Arsenal has also disappointed some fans as United bid to return to the Premier League top four.
Wednesday, 3 September 2014 12:43

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Van Gaal's selection dilemma at Manchester United

The surprise loan signing of Radamel Falcao from Monaco may have bolstered Louis van Gaal’s attacking options at Manchester United, but the Dutchman now faces a selection headache for the remainder of the season.

With an attack also consisting of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Juan Mata, Angel Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj - who will Van Gaal leave on the bench?
Tuesday, 2 September 2014 12:00

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Ghost of Moyes haunts Van Gaal at Manchester United

Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United reign got off to the worst possible start as he watched his side lose to Swansea City at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The defeat was the first time the Red Devils have lost on the opening day since 1972 with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s winner handing Garry Monk’s side a 2-1 victory.

The result is in sharp contrast to last season when United also faced Swansea on the opening day and won 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium under David Moyes.
Sunday, 17 August 2014 11:48

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Van Gaal begins work at Manchester United

Louis van Gaal arrived at Manchester United on Wednesday to begin life as the Reds Devils’ new manager.

After leading the Netherlands to a third-place finish at the World Cup, the Dutchman has refused to take a holiday before starting his new job at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal is expected to lay down the law at Old Trafford with double training sessions, fines and discipline on the agenda as a new Manchester United regime begins.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 13:10

Friday, June 20, 2014

Suarez pushes England towards World Cup exit

A World Cup campaign that began with cautious optimism appears to be over after just one week and two games for England, as a double from Luis Suarez in Sao Paulo consigned the Three Lions to their second successive 2-1 defeat in Brazil.

Roy Hodgson's men are not quite out of the tournament just yet, but now require a miracle to progress from a competitive Group D. England must hope Italy can beat both Costa Rica and Uruguay, while must overcome the former themselves in their final match.

But no side has ever lost their first two group games at a World Cup and still progressed to the knock-out rounds, while only one team - Chile in 1998 - has qualified with just three points (since three points were awarded for a victory). Thus, Suarez's brace appears to have handed England a premature flight home.
Friday, 20 June 2014 13:00

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Stark reality bites in Spain's Roja wedding

It's over, it's finally over. Spain, reigning world and European champions have been dumped out of the World Cup thanks to a colossal performance from Chile.

Jorge Sampaoli's side, also nicknamed La Roja, scored twice in the first half in a frantic end-to-end game of football in Rio de Janeiro.

And for Vicente del Bosque's team it was very much a case of one tournament too far for a group of players who have defined an era. There will be casualties from this exit, not least if they fail to even take home the wooden spoon in their final game against Australia.
Thursday, 19 June 2014 12:46

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Out of this world: Blatter predicts interplanetary football

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has insisted there is no reason why football could not be played on other planets in the future.

Speaking at a Fifa congress in Brazil, the 78-year-old said future tournaments could be contested between planets, rather than countries.

"We should wonder if one day our game will be played on other planets,” he said.

“Why not? And then instead of a World Cup we would have an inter-planetary competition.”
Thursday, 12 June 2014 12:15

Sunday, June 8, 2014

World Cup party about to get started

With the dust having settled on most nation's World Cup warm-up friendlies, attentions can now be turned to the main event with the World Cup just four days away.

England concluded their preparations in a feisty encounter against Honduras and can next be seen taking on Italy in Manaus on Saturday, while hosts Brazil kick off the tournament on Thusday.

The Three Lions flew from Miami to Rio de Janeiro straight after their 0-0 draw, while plenty of other sides, including the likes of Germany, have finally touched down in Brazil.
Sunday, 8 June 2014 12:45