Third Round 2011-12 Football League Cup: Leeds United Will Defeat Manchester United

Manchester United, bulldozing through the 2011-12 football campaigns, will lose to Leeds United in Third Round Carling Cup action. Here's four reasons why.

1. Ross McCormack: The 25-year-old Scottish attacker is en fuego right now with four goals in his last three matches for Leeds. The forward netted six already this year and will look to add to his tally against United.



2. It's at Elland Road: If this match was at United's pitch than Nani, Rooney and Co. would be walking away winners; feeding off the crowd will push Leeds to victory.

3. Ramón Núñez: El Principito finally is settled in at Leeds and the playmaker is beginning to showcase his talent for the English side. The former MLS (FC Dallas, Chivas) right-footed midfielder will make Hondurans the world over proud with his performance against Manchester United.



4. The Letdown: Manchester United has to lose sometime, right?

Manchester United Transfer: Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard joins the Premier League club

26-year-old Danish international goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has formally joined Manchester United but will be unable to play until the transfer window reopens in January.

He joins United via Aalesund and has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with the EPL club.

Is Lindegaard the long-term successor to 40-year-old Edwin van der Sar?

Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Michael Owen to look to MLS to finish career?

Via a report from an Italian website, comes the speculative rumour that 30-year-old forward Michael Owen may look to end his career in North America's Major League Soccer.

Owen has played for super-clubs Liverpool, Real Madrid and United.

[Source - Footballpress.net]

Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Sir Alex joins chase with Chelsea for Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger

Via Daily Mail and referenced by other U.K. media outlets:

Bayern Munich made it clear that the club intends to keep their midfielder, even though Bastian Schweinsteiger would like to make the jump to the EPL.

Chelsea and Manchester United have been noted in several speculative transfer rumours regarding the 26-year-old German international.

Schweinsteiger appeared in 10 games (9 starts) with 1 goal and an assist for the Bundesliga club so far this campaign.

Liverpool Transfer Rumours: Manchester United told to stay away from Pepe Reina

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, speaking with the Liverpool Echo, delivered a message to Manchester United -- Pepe Reina is not for sale.

"It was just one of those stories that seems to occur - it's just disappointing and annoying," Hodgson said.

"We have heard nothing from Manchester United and, more to the point, we don't want to hear anything from Manchester United."

Liverpool Transfer Rumours: Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina are more-and-more likely to leave now that the club is under new ownership via tabloid reports

Soccer City FC first noted this Liverpool transfer rumour earlier in the week.

Rumour mill, Daily Mirror, reports that Liverpool's Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres will both be more than likely be leaving the club during the January transfer market season.

Reina is gaining attention via Arsenal and Manchester United via the report, with Torres being tracked by a host of clubs -- Manchester City, Juventus, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Barcelona.

+ Shop for your favorite Liverpool kits, shirts, jerseys and other items now at one of the Internet's best price comparison and consumer review websites

Liverpool Transfer Rumours: Diego Forlan to join Fernando Torres at Anfield?

Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan could leave the La Liga club and return to the EPL where he once competed at Manchester United.

Multiple reports list Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur as transfer rumour destinations for the 2010 World Cup hero.

Forlan, a 31-year-old Uruguayan striker, played at Old Trafford from 2002-2004 where he scored 10 goals.

Forlan and Fernando Torres could form an impressive attack partnership at Anfield should this transfer rumour turn into reality.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Per Mertesacker off to London?

Via Italian online media reports, Arsenal has joined London rivals Tottenham along with Manchester United in the chase for the 26-year-old German international centre back.

In the the report, it is noted that Werder Bremen value the defender at 15 million Euros.

+ Shop for your favorite Arsenal kits, shirts, jerseys and other items now at one of the Internet's best price comparison and consumer review websites.

[Source - Footballpress.net]

Manchester United's Javier Hernandez with the brace against Stoke City - Time to get your Chicharito shirts

Sure, Wayne Rooney may dominate the headlines but Javier Hernandez is the key to United's success right now.

The Mexican international added to his fine form against Stoke City in this weekend's EPL action.

Time to go get our Chicharito shirts...

Liverpool Transfer Rumours: Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente tops the transfer market list?

25-year-old Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente is one of the club's main targets according to numerous online media outlets.

Other top clubs eager to snap up the Spanish international including Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Will Llorente be the only transfer addition at Liverpool in January of 2011?

+ Shop for your favorite Liverpool kits, shirts, jerseys and other items now at one of the Internet's best price comparison and consumer review websites.

The Best Eleven: Chart: Premier League Top Team Evolution - 2001-20...

The Best Eleven: Chart: Premier League Top Team Evolution - 2001-20...: "A chart showing the final league positions of the seven Premier League teams that have never been relegated from the PL. From the 2000/2001..."

---> Click on the above link to check out a fantastic EPL chart at The Best Eleven blog. I used the "blog it" tool at The Best Eleven. First time utilizing and I must say, pretty impressive little Blogger tool.

Transfer Rumours: Manchester United Transfer Rumours - Wayne Rooney releases statement regarding his recent contract talks with Sir Alex Ferguson

Below follows Wayne Rooney's statement regarding his failed contract talks with Manchester United that he released earlier today:

"I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad. I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract. I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say yesterday and surprised by some of it.

It is absolutely true, as he said, that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract. During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world.

I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC. How could I not have done given its fantastic history and especially the last six years in which I have been lucky to play a part?

For me its all about winning trophies—as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified.

Despite recent difficulties, I know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt. He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18. For Manchester United’s sake I wish he could go on forever because he’s a one off and a genius."

UEFA Champions League 2010-11: Glasgow Rangers - Valencia 1-1: American Maurice Edu scores both goals as Rangers stay unbeaten

U.S. international Maurice Edu scored via header for his side -- Rangers -- as well as the 'Gers adversary -- Valencia -- at Ibrox in 2010-11 UEFA Champions League group action tonight.

Rangers remains unbeaten in Champions League play and sits second in the Group C table two points behind Manchester United and one above Valencia.

Manchester City Transfer Rumours - Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Wayne Rooney ready to take the Eastlands by storm?

Just like Carlos Tevez before him, Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could soon find himself at Eastlands on the Blue side of Manchester.

Media out of the U.K. including The Daily Mail speculate that Rooney has informed his teammates the he could be moving to Manchester City.

The English international is reported to have informed Sir Alex Ferguson that he will not be extending his current contract.

City could pay as much as £230,000-a-week to the superstar in order to sway Rooney's decision -- he would then be the highest paid player in the Premiership.

With Rooney's wife unlikely to leave England due to a family illness, City and Chelsea look to be the leaders in the chase to land the world-class striker.

Ah, imagine the class at the front of City's lineup with Tevez and Rooney together again. Will it happen? Anything is possible...

Norway's Football Future: Markus Henriksen leading new generation of Norwegian footballers aiming for Euro 2012

18-year-old Rosenborg midfielder Markus Henriksen earned his first senior international cap this Ocotber when Norway faced off against Croatia in a friendly match.

If Norway is to qualify for Euro 2012, Henriksen and several of his recent Norwegian U-21 teammates will have had a hand in the qualification.

Players include:

-- Håvard Nordtveit - defender - Arsenal

-- Abdisalam Ibrahim - midfielder - Manchester City

-- Tarik Elyounoussi - forward - Heerenveen

-- Magnus Eikrem - midfielder - Manchester United

-- Christer Kleiven - midfielder - IK Start

-- Harmeet Singh - midfielder - Vålerenga

2010-11 UEFA Champions League: Will Manchester United's Bébé factor against Bursaspor

Manchester United's 20-year-old attacker, Bébé, another product of the Portugal-to-Old Trafford pipeline has already seen action in League Cup (vs. Scunthorpe) and Premiership (vs. Sunderland) competitions.

A member of United's 25-man roster for the Champions League group stage, will the winger/striker now make an appearance against Bursaspor when the club faces the Turkish side this week?

Aston Villa Transfer Rumours - Lille OSC Transfer Rumours: Gervinho could be plying his trade in the EPL this January

23-year-old Ivorian international forward Gervinho appears a target of EPL side Aston Villa as noted by reports out of the U.K.

Two years ago, Gervinho arrived at Lille via Le Mans for a £6million fee.

At that time, he was a speculative target of Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Now after his fine 2010 World Cup performance -- most memorable coming in the 3-2 win over Serbia where he scored one goal and set up the other two -- Gervinho finds himself back as a target of the Premiership clubs.

Is Aston Villa really in need of more firepower? Perhaps, if Norwegian striker John Carew leaves the club.

Manchester United's Gary Neville will descend into the Earth upon his retirement from the game

England wants all homes to be carbon neutral by 2012. United's Gary Neville really took this decree to heart as he has recently began construction on his 8,000 square foot home that will be....carbon neutral!

The building takes the shape of a flower – with a huge kitchen at the center of the structure. From the kitchen, six off-shoot like petals will house bedrooms, bathroom, a swimming pool, a gym, an office, dining rooms, and a garage.

Oh, did we mention, he is building this structure underground?

The building plans have been compared to a 'Teletubbies' house.

Via Manchester Evening News

Here is a link to the Teletubbies home -- Ben Lawson Flickr Account

The battle of Manchester begins

It was a special night. On a personal level, this first leg League Cup victory over the old enemy was one of the most memorable City matches I have witnessed.

Build up to a spectacle
The drama of last season’s UEFA Cup quarterfinal against Hamburg was a hard act to follow, but this match surpassed that in every way. In large part that was down to both the quality and, of course, the identity of our opponents. From the second the lights were dimmed, bathing the stadium in light blue, it became one of those nights. United fans played their part, upping the ante by setting off a couple of red fire crackers in retort. City fans responded by belting out a rapturous ‘Blue Moon’ Already electric, the atmosphere thickened as the pressure flowed from the stands onto the pitch.

After all the debate, Ferguson emerged from the bowels of Eastlands with a strong side, arguably his strongest available. No Wellbeck, no Macheda, no Gibson, no Obertan, no De Laet. Rafael Da Silva was the nearest United got to fielding inexperience, and that young full back is certainly no shrinking violet when it comes to Premier League football.

United’s team selection revealed much. Most tellingly it spoke of Ferguson’s true perception of the City threat and of his desire to defeat it. The fierce rivalry that has simmered and burned across Manchester for decades remains as bright as ever, indeed perhaps as close to boiling point now as it ever has been. Roberto Mancini deployed the best team available to him on the night. There were always going to be clear weaknesses throughout the team given the injury situation and international duties. No Bridge, no Lescott, no Toure, no Ireland, no Santa-Cruz, no Adebayor. Dedryck Boyata came into the defence to partner Kompany at centre back, Zabaleta moved to the left side of midfield whilst Bellamy was pushed up front with Tevez.

The battle is joined
For the first 30 minutes or so, we did not show up. It was no surprise when United opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a Giggs tap in. The bad start may have been partly down to Mancini getting the initial formation wrong. Bellamy is at his best when marauding down the left flank and Zabaleta was certainly no match for the tenacious Rafael. But it is more likely that we started the game in the wrong frame of mind. We seemed far too nervous and gave the United midfield far too much time on the ball when we should have been pressing.

We were generally wasteful in possession, with Kompany, Wright-Phillips and Boyata being particularly slack. The post match reaction of certain elements in the media seemed to heap praise on the young Belgian, but I felt he was a little out of his depth. He obviously has a future and will benefit greatly from this derby experience, but his selection represented a massive gamble on the part of Mancini. Perhaps a better option would’ve been to place Zabaleta at right back, move Richards across to partner Kompany with Bellamy replacing Zabaleta on the left flank.

Hindsight is always a wonderful thing. The main positive we can take from analysing the manager’s performance is that yet again he changed things quickly, moving Bellamy to the left wing, dropping Zabaleta back into a defensive midfield position which gave us a physically small but highly mobile three pronged attack of Bellamy, Tevez and Wright-Phillips. This allowed us to get at what continues to be United's weakspot - the central defensive partnering of Wes Brown and Jonny Evans, a weakness that is cleverly masked by the potency of United's forward play, which takes pressure off the backline.

At any rate, it was from Bellamy’s left side that we gained a penalty just before half time, justifying Mancini’s realignment. In some sense the successful penalty strike from Tevez represented a sucker punch for United, who up until this point had seemed relatively comfortable.

The second half was much better from City. Every time a Red shirt came into possession he was quickly pressed, none more so than by the magnificent Carlos Tevez. In the 65th minute, the Argentinean slightly rose to head Kompany’s hooked cross past Van Der Sar to give City a 2-1 lead. It was nothing more than the Blues leader striker deserved. His goals apart, Tevez’s contribution was that much more impossible to ignore because of his overall play. This above all remains the most important element of Tevez, not only because it helps the objectives of the team but because it sets the right message to the team that this is the level of work rate they should all be hitting. It is the kind of message that should be specifically getting through to the likes of Robinho. In congratulating Tevez on his December Barclays Player of the Month award, Mancini’s programme notes could easily be interpreted as containing a veiled warning for the Brazilian:

“He [Tevez] is a player I have admired from a distance for many years, and it is
a delight to work with him on a daily basis. His form speaks for itself, but his
success has come about through hard work on the training ground allied to his
outstanding talent. He gives everything he has for the team, and works just as
hard without the ball as when he has it. That is something that I always look
for in a player, but the bonus with Carlos is that he is such a threat in front
of goal.”

The final quarter of the match
This may be hard to stomach for some readers, but there is no doubt that United are a slick and potent attacking machine, the best I have seen at Eastlands all season. The quality of their offensive play reminds me of an animal that senses blood. This was evident as the final minutes closed in. We were under siege with very little outlet, in fact the pattern of the game was reminiscent of the dying minutes at Old Trafford earlier in the season, when our failure to clear our lines and retain possession ultimately resulted in our late, late demise.

Once again, I commend Mancini. Boyata was rightly substituted just before the 70 minute mark, replaced with the more experienced Nedum Onuoha. Then came another defensive substitution on 84 minutes, with Sylvinho replacing the tired Wright-Phillips. I’ve heard a lot of criticism about these moves but I back the manager 100%. The alternative would’ve been to bring on more attack minded players to relieve the pressure, but I believe the likes of Robinho and Petrov would’ve been muscled out in this environment. Mancini well may have invited more pressure by bringing on extra defensive capacity, but we were in a much better position defending to the hilt rather than thinning out our defence by going for another goal.

After all, we must remember that this tie was always going to be a tight affair. And whilst City are an excellent counter attacking side, we must also remember that at this point in time United are better. Their brand of quick, precise one-touch football is based entirely on the mutual understanding of their forward players. This should be no surprise because Ferguson has had a great deal of time to engrain this philosophy into the club. All the more reason why bringing on an attack minded player and thinning the defence was the wrong way to go.

Looking towards the next leg
Whilst we take a slender lead into the next leg, it is nevertheless a lead. It may seem like a strange comment, but I feel more comfortable with a one goal lead rather than to be up two or three. The latter scenarios just seem to invite defensive collapse. Perhaps that attitude is being far too ‘typical City’ for anyone’s liking.

But now, as we stand on the cusp of a League Cup Final, attitude is the vital word. We may well be able to field a stronger side at Old Trafford if the recoveries of Wright-Phillips and Ireland go according to plan, but we also know that United are strong, and that United will come knocking.

In these situations it is belief that matters. And ultimately, it will be belief that dictates whether this City side can deliver itself, and its fans, onto the hallowed turf of Wembley.

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For more posts on Manchester City, go to my blog: Without a Dream in Our Hearts.

Carling Cup 2009-2010: City 2 United 1 heading into next week's second leg