Manchester United news and links

Berbatov pays tribute to Rooney after an inspired display at Hull.

Wayne Rooney was happy to take the points after an eventful game at Hull.

Victory at Hull and the return of Brown and Vidic delight Sir Alex.

Wayne Rooney scores one and makes three as United win at the KC Stadium.

Chelsea end 2009 atop the Premier League after a dramatic win over Fulham.

• Man Utd offer Nani to Benfica as part of deal for Di Maria
• Nani not keen on a return to Portugal as agent looks elsewhere

Nani’s inability to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United has led to the Portugal international exploring the possibilities of a move to Spain or Italy in the January transfer window.

After an encouraging start to the season Nani’s form has become such a concern for the United manager Sir Alex Ferguson that the former Sporting Lisbon player has been offered as bait in a possible cash-plus-player exchange with Benfica for the Argentina international Angel Di Maria.

Benfica informed the Premier League champions they did not want to lose their best player midway through the season unless one of his many suitors, Manchester City included, met a release clause of around £30m in his contract.

Nani is also reluctant to move back to Portugal but his agent, Jorges Mendes, has sounded out possible buyers in Spain and Italy.

Cristiano Ronaldo allegedly urges Real Madrid to sign Wayne Rooney.

Back in March 1991, Ryan Giggs took the first steps on an epic road at OT.

In 1991, the UEFA Super Cup was staged at Old Trafford for the only time.

Paul Scholes is next in our countdown of the best Reds of the noughties.

Roy Keane is next in our countdown of United’s best players of the last 10 years.

Wayne Rooney was pleased to avoid Sir Alex Ferguson’s displeasure after making a potentially costly error in Manchester United’s win over Hull.

• ‘Manager would not have been too pleased,’ says United striker
• ‘It’s not a nice feeling,’ recalls Rooney after making error

Wayne Rooney admitted the fear of incurring Sir Alex Ferguson’s wrath had been the catalyst for his match-winning performance in the 3-1 defeat of Hull City that saw Manchester United close the gap on Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.

Rooney opened the scoring but was then guilty of a misjudged back-pass that led to Craig Fagan making it 1-1 just before the hour. The England international’s instinctive reaction was to put his head in his hands and look across to Ferguson in the dug-out but the striker redeemed himself by forcing Andy Dawson into putting into his own net and then brilliantly set up Dimitar Berbatov for the final goal.

“It’s a relief,” Rooney said. “When they got their equaliser it was a mistake by myself. It’s the first time that’s ever happened to me and it’s not a nice feeling. I didn’t want to let down the lads though I was more worried about what the manager might say. But thankfully we got the win, which I’m pleased about because the manager would not have been too pleased.”

Rooney now has 13 league goals for the season, making him the joint leading scorer with Didier Drogba and Jermain Defoe, but it was the way the striker responded to his error that most impressed Ferguson.

“He was a threat all game; his penetration behind their back line was very good,” the United manager said. “Yes, he made a mistake with a wayward ball for their goal but that was his one bad moment and otherwise I thought he was exceptional. He’s a natural winner and he’s always got that determination to do well. He would have been sicker than anyone that he made a mistake but he rectified it in a nice way.”

The win moves United to within two points of Chelsea in what Rooney described as a “mad” title race because of the way the top teams were regularly dropping points. “It’s looking more and more like it’s going to be a really tight league,” Ferguson said.

“It’s certainly different because we are seeing some unusual results. Experience will come into it. The team that steers clear of injuries will also have an advantage. Other than that, if you make mistakes in this league you are going to get punished. If we can eradicate mistakes we have a great chance.”

Manchester United move back to within two points of league leaders Chelsea with a processional win over Wigan.

James Robson rates the Reds as their Premier League title bid got back on track in Hull.

WAYNE Rooney admitted his relief after playing the central role in United’s second-half rally to beat struggling Hull after his error almost cost them the points.


The England striker gave his side the lead moments before half-time at the KC Stadium, but his woefully misplaced pass allowed Hull to win a penalty from which Craig Fagan equalised.

UNITED closed the gap at the top of the Premier League to just two points with a hard-fought victory at the KC Stadium.


Wayne Rooney scored in first half time injury time and despite a Craig Fagan equaliser from the spot, the Reds secured a vital three points with an Andy Dawson own goal and a Dimitar Berbatov tap-in.

Hello again Seeing as I’ll be rolling directly over to this game from the Arsenal v Aston Villa minute-by-minute I guess I better get in here early with a pre-preamble. Not that I’m planning to go for an actual amble at any point later on, though, you understand.

Anyway, the good news for Manchester United fans is that it looks like Sir Alex Ferguson has at last stumbled across the solution to Manchester United’s defensive problems: Hull. Only Stoke have scored fewer Premier League goals so far this season, and the Tigers’ joint-top scorers, Geovanni and Stephen Hunt, have just three each.

Hull have also gone three games now without a goal, but so far this season all four of their wins have come at home. They have also averaged - wait for it - more than one goal a game at home.

All of which does bring me on to a question I asked yesterday … but will ask again because so far I haven’t had a decent answer.

Why are some teams so much better at home than away? I appreciate crowd noise can be a factor - but top-flight grounds in particular aren’t as noisy as they used to be and teams could surely have worked out by now how best to minimise the impact of travelling on match preparation. Some of it comes down to tactics, of course, but if that’s the main factor then why do people bother changing their tactics at all?

Afternoon again Right, I’m here properly now, having wrapped up the coverage of Arsenal v Aston Villa. Let’s see if I can’t rustle up some team news.

Here they are Manchester United welcome back Rafael Da Silva, Nemanja Vicic and Wes Brown in defence, meaning Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick can both move back up into midfield. Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov both also start. Three changes for Hull, with Bernard Mendy, Seyi Olofinjana and Jozy Altidore replacing Paul McShane, Nick Barmby and Geovanni.

Hull: Myhill, Mendy, Gardner, Zayatte, Dawson, Garcia, Boateng, Olofinjana, Hunt, Altidore, Fagan. Subs: Duke, Barmby, Geovanni, Kilbane, Ghilas, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Cairney.
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Foster, Owen, Park, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva, Obertan, De Laet.
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

Time for an email “Did anyone notice the picture on the wall behind Phil brown in his office,” demands Anthony O Connell. “No it wasn’t his family it was, yes, Phil Brown. The man is in love with himself.”

In case you didn’t realise Today’s referee is Alan Wiley. The same Alan Wiley who Sir Alex Ferguson accused of being ‘not fit’ during Manchester United’s draw with Sunderland in October. Unless I’m very much mistaken this is the first United game Wiley has taken since then.

Thoughts on home and away form “The answer to your question is that once a suitable standard has been reached, sport is 90% psychological,” says David Acaster. “Teams believe they will win at home, so they win at home. If they believe they will win all the time, the probably will. The manager’s job is to instill this belief.”

1 min We’re off. Wayne Rooney has gloves on. Tsk.

3 mins The two teams take turns to roll the ball about in the middle of the park but so far nobody’s making any real headway. Hull’s midfield are sitting very deep and very flat.

5 mins Hull win the first free-kick of the game about three yards into United’s half after Brown takes down Altidore. The ball is pumped long in towards the box, but Boateng nobody can get a clean touch on the ball and it eventually is scuffed behind for a goal-kick.

6 mins Finally some better football from United, as Rooney feeds Valencia down the left channel and the winger eases in towards the edge of the area before chipping the ball back across the area to Giggs, whose first-time effort flies just over the bar. That would have been a very nice goal.

8 mins “It’s all about preparation and the psychological side,” insists Russell Richardson following my earlier question about teams doing so much better at home than away. “I remember reading how Liverpool in the 70s were the first to book hotels and a training ground for their European Cup away games, and took their own chefs - arriving a day early. This gave them a huge advantage (rested, bonded, well fed) while their opposite numbers sometimes arrived off a flight on the matchday The combination of a more solid away result and huge home dominance were (according to Liverpool) the reason they did increasingly well up to the Heysel disaster.
“Now, maybe a close look at teams’ travel arrangements would be interesting. I doubt that many teams travel a full day ahead (e.g. from London to Manchester) but it’d be intriguing to know. What, for instance, do Burnley do compared with Manchester United?”

10 mins Hull win another free-kick just inside the United half, but this time Stephen Hunt’s attempt to lump the ball forward is cleared at the first attempt by United. The visitors break quickly with Rooney racing down the left before checking back inside and threading a pass through too far ahead of Valencia on the far side. Or at least I think it was a pass. It may have been a bad shot.

12 mins Craig Fagan receives treatment after an overenthusiastic leap takes him right over the back of Da Silva and ends with the Hull player landing on his own shoulders. He seems to be alright, mind.

14 mins Boateng arrives late and chops down Carrick about 35 yards from the Hull goal. Giggs stands over the free-kick for United …

15 mins … but fails to clear the first man with his eventual delivery.

17 mins United win another free-kick inside the D after Zayatte brings down Rooney - and it was nearly a penalty actually, with the striker having one leg inside and one outside the box - and this time Giggs is so close to giving United the lead, whipping the ball up over the wall and just inches wide of the left-hand post.

18 mins That Giggs free-kick seems to have scared Hull into life, as Fagan exchanges passes with Hull down the left before the latter thumps in a cross with the outside of his boot that Vidic has to react sharply to head clear.

19 mins Fantastic challenge from Bernard Mendy to deny Rooney what would surely have been the opening goal. United got lucky twice in the build-up - the ball ricocheting back to Fletcher after a loose touch and then into the path of Rooney after his team-mate attempted a shot from 18 yards, but just as the striker put his foot through the ball Mendy was able to dive in front and block.

20 mins Mendy actually had to receive treatment after that block, but he’s back on his feet now and seems OK.

21 mins Big penalty shout for Hull, as Wes Brown brings down Garcia as the Hull players chases onto a throughball from Fagan in the United area. Wiley waves the appeals away, and the first two replays suggest he got the call right, but a third angle clearly shows Garcia himself had nudged the ball away to the left before Brown came in and failed to reach it. That should have been a penalty.

23 mins And now Kuszczak has to get down sharply to block an effort from Garcia.

24 mins Hull appeal in vain for an infringement that I’m just not seeing after Berbatov lifts a neat ball into Rooney behind the home defence, but the latter sees his shot parried over the bar by Myhill. This game’s beginning to open up a little.

27 mins Now Mendy sends the ball in towards Altidore with a meaty swing of his right boot but this time Vidic clears.

28 mins Nobody managed to cut out the cross that time and United again have Kuszczak to thank after he shows sharp reflexes to block Olofinjana’s volleyed effort from 10 yards out. It was a really nice run from deep by the midfielder, but to be fair the shot was close to the keeper in the end.

31 mins Sir Alex Ferguson prowls the touchline looking grumpy as Rooney attempts another speculative effort across goal from some 25-yards out. The shot bounces gently into the hands of Myhill.

32 mins Patrice Evra picks up the first booking of the game after appearing to hold back Garcia as the winger sought to break free down the right. Actually the replay makes it look like he tried to grab Garcia’s shirt but failed, though there may still have been a tangle of legs.

34 mins What a mess! Myhill sliced a backpass horribly off the outside of his boot and it looked for all the world as if Rooney was going to end up putting the ball into an open goal, but the ball sat up in the air long enough for the keeper to recover and force the striker into passing the ball back to Fletcher. That gave Myhill time to recover and the defence then blocked Fletcher’s shot anyway, but the ball still seemed to ricochet around the Hull area for an age before eventually being hacked clear.

37 mins So far Man Utd have had five shots, but only two on target, while Hull have had three shots, all of which have been on target. Or at least that’s what Sky tell me.

38 mins The cameras have just picked up Steve Bruce sat in the stands. I’m not going to lie, he looks bored.

39 mins Absolutely calamitous miss from Hunt. Olofinjana won possession in midfield and came striding forward to feed a totally unmarked Hunt racing into the left-hand side of the area. From 10 yards out Hunt opted for a simple side-footed finish but somehow managed to roll it right across the goal and wide of the far post by a good few yards.

40 mins United almost makes Hull pay for that miss, Berbatov racing onto a ball down the right channel but finding only the side netting from close range.

42 mins Stunning save from Myhill! Hull’s players all stood and appealed for offside as Carric threaded the ball into Rafael, but the United full-back was in fact being played on by both Hull full-backs and his smartly-taken shot was arrowing right into the bottom corner before Myhill shot down to get a firm hand on it. United wanted a corner afterwards, but Berbatov clearly got the last touch as he attempted to stop Myhill from claiming the ball at the second attempt.

45 mins Hull win another free-kick just the right side of half-way - they’ve had a few of those today - but Mendy’s long-ball forward is dealt with effectively enough by United.

45 mins (+1) We’re going to have two minutes of injury time and United have just won a corner … but it’s headed clear

GOAL! Hull City 0-1 Manchester United (Rooney 45 mins (+2)) With just under a minute left in the first half Rooney breaks the deadlock, sliding the ball home from close range after Giggs had helped on Fletcher’s cross from the right with a tidy little flick of the heel.

45 mins (+2) Almost immediately Hull pump a long ball forward to Altidore, who heads it down for himself before turning and letting fly with a volley from a good 25-yards out, but it’s not quite clean enough and Kuszczak gets down to save.

Peepety-peeeep! That’s half-time, and it’s hard not to feel at least a little sorry for Hull. They gave as good as they got in that first half, but neither team looked entirely convincing at the back and you always suspected United were that little bit more likely to take their chances when they came. Back in a tick with some half-time thoughts and emails.

On home and away performances “I’ve heard it said in several US sporting contexts that star performers tend not to be influenced by venue but less talented players are,” ponders Greg Crawford, a US ex-pat and self-professed ‘football novice’. “If true (and it seems plausible), perhaps this is felt more keenly in football, where coordination of effort is presumably most important to good play (i.e. a team is only as strong as its weakest players)? Baseball is most dependent on individual performances and therefore has the weakest home-field advantage, although the same predictions for American football (some home-field advantage) and basketball (strong home-field advantage) don’t exactly line up …”

On dressing rooms “Re your question as to why some teams play much better at home: if you’ve ever looked round the inside of a stadium you’ll have noticed the blatant difference between the home dressing room (spacious, luxurious, well-equipped) and the away one (cramped, dark, claustrophobic). I went on a tour of one football team’s ground where the guide claimed with an absolutely straight face that the away teams’ lockers, which were tiny and awkwardly low down, had been deliberately placed to maximise the risk of injury to the opposition.”

On a small box in Dartmoor “I am in the middle of nowhere on Dartmoor in Devon, standing as close as I can to the wireless internet box so I can follow this minute by minute, as so far this Christmas holiday I have been entirely deprived of any football-related action,” whimpers Maudie Spurrier. “Hopefully Manchester United will make it worth the effort as I write this balancing in the most awkward of positions to get a stronger connection.”

46 mins An ominous thought for Hull to start the half with: United have won every game this season in which they have had the lead at any point. No subs for either team at half-time.

48 mins Wiley gives Fagan a talking to after Fagan attempts to give Wiley a talking to. “I think Manchester United should only turn up to play added times,” ho-hums Stephen in Brussels.

49 mins Altidore shows off a deft touch to create a yard of space in which to turn on the edge of the box, then a preposterously heavy one to pass the ball straight to the attendant United defender. From the sublime to the subpar in, quite literally, two easy steps.

51 mins Scrappy start to the second half so far, as both teams take turns to give the ball away. Hull’s fans let out a loud ironic cheer as the flag goes up against Rooney for offside, then harangue Berbatov with a round of “what a waste of money”.

53 mins Fletcher feigns his own death after Olofinjana treads on his foot inside the centre circle.

55 mins Olofinjana looks for Fagan with a direct but tidy ball forward from half-way but his team-mate can’t quite get ahead of Wes Brown. The defender heads the ball back to Kuszczak, and Fagan then runs into the keeper for no good reason, which is fairly foolish for a man already on a yellow card. Wiley does not feel moved to punish him though.

57 mins “That’s Altidore in a nutshell,” sighs Chris in Maryland, USA, following my ’sublime to subpar comment (49 mins). “One minute he shows that he could be a player, but the next he goes and gives it away carelessly. He has carried a threat today, but in a typically haphazard way.”

58 mins Penalty to Hull! Wayne Rooney’s woeful backpass was seized on by Fagan, whose cross into the middle had hardly presented Altidore with the easiest of headers but Da Silva ran into the back of him and the striker goes down. Da Silva picks up a yellow card for the foul.

GOAL! Hull City 1-1 Manchester United (Fagan 59 mins) Geofanni’s missed penalty was arguably the turning point in Hull’s defeat to Arsenal, but Fagan makes no mistake, slotting the ball calmly into the bottom right corner after the keeper had already committed himself the other way.

62 mins Manchester United come sweeping forward with a predictably renewed energy, but here are still plenty of errors. Carrick chances his arm with a left-footed drive from just outside the D and though it was probably going wide, Myhill threw himself at it and pushed it behind to be safe.

63 mins The corner is met by a United player and seems to be looping it’s way towards goal before Myhill, under pressure from Rooney just gets a finger to it and pushes it back over the bar.

64 mins And now Hull manage to clear Giggs’s delivery from the far side.

65 mins Ji-Sung Park is on for Antonio Valencia. “Greg Crawford has clearly been an ex-pat for a long time,” chortles Allan Castle as Altidore receives treatment following an aerial collision. “Basketball has not been played on a field since the mid 1980s.”

66 mins So nearly a second goal for Hull, as Hunt’s outswinging corner from the left is headed just wide of the far post by Garcia.

68 mins Evra risks a second yellow by kicking the ball away after United give away a free-kick inside their own half, but Wiley is obviously in a generous mood.

69 mins And Evra is even luckier to escape a second caution there after wrestling Fagan down as the Hull player tries to control a clearance on the half-way line. Wiley calls over Evra and Giggs and gives them both a talking to, but really he would have been welll within his rights to send the United player off.

GOAL! Hull City 1-2 Manchester United (Dawson og 73 mins) A lightning-fast break from United after the corner provides them with their second goal. It will go down as a Dawson own goal but in reality it’s harsh on the defender, who had little hope of cutting out Wayne Rooney’s square ball across the face of goal but equally will have known that Park was waiting behind him if he failed to cut it out.

76 mins Hull will once again feel hard done-by after controlling much of the play here in the second half, but once again it must be acknowledged that this is one of the key differences between the two teams: United have the sorts of players who only need one chance to score, whereas Hull have had plenty of opportunities yet only managed to find the net from the penalty spot.

78 mins Hull withdraw Garcia in favour of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, while United bring on Gabriel Obertan for Ryan Giggs.

79 mins An impressively optimistic shout for a penalty goes up from the home support as Vennegoor of Hesselink goes up for a ball in the area. I’d say it’s going to have to be fairly clear-cut before Wiley considers giving another.

GOAL! Hull City 1-3 Manchester United (Berbatov 82 mins) That’s just a wonderful pass from Rooney, who looks for a way past Zayatte, realises there isn’t one and so instead just checks back and rolls slides an inch-perfect ball across to Berbatov on the far side of the box. The Bulgarian, who hadn’t really done much in the game so far, makes no mistake from five yards out.

83 mins Hull were preparing a double substitution before that goal and now they’ve made it anyway - Geovanni and Kamel Ghilas coming on for Boateng and Altidore.

85 mins Fine chance for Mendy to reduce the arrears as Vennegoor of Hesselink gives him a clean run on goal with a neat backheel inside the area, but the Hull midfielder’s shot finds only the side netting.

87 mins Carrick’s attempted clearance cannons off Gardner and loops all the way over to Fagan on the far side of the box, but his first-time volley fizzes just wide.

89 mins Ghilas sees another effort deflect away over the bar and you certainly couldn’t accuse Hull of a lack of effort in in this game. They’ve kept coming at United and if they were a bit more clinical in front of goal it might have been a very different result.

90 mins We’ll have four minutes of added time.

90 mins (+2) Obertan thrashes the ball wide and high after from an acute angle - not sure if that was meant to be a cross or a shot to be honest.

Peep! Peep! Peeeeep! Hull win a pair of corners right at the death but United deal with both and tie up a win that takes them back to second in the Premier League - now just two points behind Chelsea at the top. The scoreline is harsh on Hull, and they might reasonably point out both that they should have had another penalty and that Evra could easily have been sent off with the score level at 1-1, but they also must take stock of their own failure to convert chances into more goals. For now they remain 19th. Thanks for all your emails, sorry I couldn’t use more.

• Manager’s position is sacrosanct at Old Trafford, says Scot
• Manchester United battle through injury crisis for visit to Hull

Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United would never behave in the way Manchester City did in sacking Mark Hughes halfway through his second season – and has also revealed that he advised his son, Darren, to quit Peterborough in the summer “before things turned nasty”.

“If I was just coming in today I think United would give me enough time to prove myself,” he says. “The manager is always in a strong position at Manchester United; his position is always sacrosanct as far as the directors are concerned. I was given time back in the 80s and I think the same thing would happen now. When I go whoever replaces me will get plenty of time, I’m sure of that. We are just that kind of club.”

Ferguson is critical of City’s short-term view on their rebuilding project, and says of Hughes: “I know he was still suffering when I phoned him the following day.” Darren Ferguson was another to suffer. After leading Peterborough to promotion last season he was sacked by the Championship club in November.

“He had more faith in the players than I had, but these things only come with experience,” Ferguson Sr says. “Management at that level hasn’t really changed over the years, but the job at United is completely different now to what it was when I arrived. I had to have my hands on everything when I started out but I couldn’t possibly manage the club the way I did in 1986. When I came there was just me and my assistant and about five people to help us, and that was it. Now we have five physios, three fitness coaches, two video analysts, a doctor, an optometrist, a podiatrician, a weight trainer, two reserve coaches and all the academy staff. We must have 40 people at least. Delegation is all important now. I rely on good people who have been with me a long time, 20 years in some cases.”

Having been a graduate of the Ferguson/Old Trafford school, Hughes tried to lay similar foundations at Manchester City though he did not get the time to see the project to fruition. While sympathising with his former player, Ferguson is hopeful that the League Managers Association’s outstanding record in winning contractual battles on behalf of dismissed managers will make clubs think twice before using the exit door as an easy option in the future.

“Managers don’t get as much protection as players. If I have a player I don’t like I can’t just get rid of him, whereas clubs can just pull the plug on managers and not even honour their contracts. You would hope clubs would start realising they are dealing with a different animal now in the LMA. They are a substantial outfit with tremendous legal backing. If we can get to a position where clubs have to pay up contracts immediately on sacking a manager they might start to think a bit longer before doing it.”

Besides worrying about other managers, Ferguson has his own injury crisis to think about as well as a trip to Hull City made more daunting by United’s recent form. Ferguson admits he has never known a time when so many defenders were unavailable. “To have to go into games with just one recognised defender [Patrice Evra] is an unusual situation, to say the least. We have players coming back though, and once we get the regular backline back I’ll be pretty confident.

“I am surprised that we have lost five games already, but once I can pick my regular back four we’ll have a better chance. I don’t know if we can win the title after losing so many games, but I certainly hope we can. Getting a few defenders back will make a hell of a difference.”

Liquid football at Aston Villa, meltdown at Portsmouth and time for Gary Megson to look away as the season reaches the halfway point

Arsenal, 3rd, Bernard Azulay, GoonersDiary.blogspot.com

Expectations were inflated by an early-season glut of goals until Chelsea and injuries burst our bubble. But given that we were tipped as the team most likely to fall off our top-four perch, we can’t complain.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Alex Song and Tommie the Tank Vermaelen have been great, and Arshavin and Eduardo are bearing the goalscoring burden. No flops.

Happy with the gaffer? Many feel the big-eared European prize offers Arsène the best chance of glory. But whatever this season has in store, it’ll be one hell of an entertaining ride.

Who should he sign? I won’t be holding my breath, but an old-fashioned No9, a dominant keeper, and unless Diaby is going to do the business, a forceful personality to grab tight games by the scruff of the neck.

Latest links: Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux, striker); Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria, striker)

Aston Villa, 4th, Jonathan Pritchard, Observer reader

Something has really clicked. Reintroducing a fired-up Heskey, getting Downing fit and moving Milner into a central role have galvanised us. This new attacking potency, on top of an already very solid back four, has made it easy to dream of a top-four finish. We’ve a much stronger squad than last year and there’s no European distraction. Someone put me in a darkened room: I’m almost bullish.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Milner, Gabby, Dunne, Cuellar … I could go on. Sidwell is the only disappointment.

Happy with the gaffer? The way he sends out his teams ready to die for the club makes him a Holte End darling right now.

Who should he sign? We desperately need cover for Agbonlahor: a cheeky bid for a disaffected Bellamy might work?

Latest links: “I don’t see us signing anyone unless somebody leaves,” says Martin O’Neill .

Birmingham 8th, Kym Ypres-Smith, SmallHeathAlliance.com

It’s a marathon not a sprint, blah, blah… but so far it’s well exceeding expectations. To have 24 points by this stage is nearly Bluenose Heaven. There’s a long way to go and a whole transfer window to negotiate, but I’m cautiously optimistic.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Best: Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer – the bad boy turned good. As for the worst: Cameron Jerome is often a banjo frantically looking for a cow’s backside.

Happy with the gaffer? Fantastically. There was whingeing about 4-5-1 at the start of the season, but we had a lot of injuries.

Latest links: Graham Dorrans (West Brom, midfield); Jan Novak (Kosice, striker); Giles Barnes (free agent, midfield).

Bolton, 18th, Shaun O’Gara, Supporters’ Club

Inconsistent performances, rumours of dressing-room unrest: it’s a very unhappy ship. We’re lacking in real quality – crying out for the likes of Okocha, Djorkaeff , Hierro, Campo, Diouf, Anelka and Stelios .

Star man and biggest underperformer? Gary Cahill, Lee Chung-yong and Ivan Klasnic have impressed. The worst? Taylor, Muamba, Knight, Robinson, Ricketts…

Happy with the gaffer? When he arrived we were in the bottom three fighting relegation. Two years and £40m later, we’re still there, with a far weaker squad. Our most unpopular manager since Phil Neal.

Who should he sign? A creative midfielder, an experienced centre-back, two full-backs, and Klasnic on a full-time deal.

Latest links: Matthew Kilgallon (Sheffield Utd, defender; Benjani (Man City, striker); Victor Moses (C Palace, winger).

Burnley, 13th, Jamie Smith, Observer reader

We’re still pinching ourselves at being in the division. Some of our defending hasn’t been good enough and we don’t seem to be learning from our mistakes, but we’re just delighted to be involved. I only hope we don’t “do a Hull” and freefall in the New Year.

Star man and biggest underperformer? The best: Tyrone Mears, Steven Fletcher and Stephen Jordan. Captain Steven Caldwell has struggled more than most to adapt, and some hairy moments from our goalkeeper Brian Jensen have cost us. Andre Bikey’s inconsistency is frustrating.

Happy with the gaffer? It’s been a steep learning curve for Owen Coyle and at times our attacking mentality has seemed naive. But we’re just hugely grateful for what he’s done: we hope he’ll be here for many years.

Who should he sign? An experienced centre-back. I’d also like a left-winger, and to see David Nugent’s loan extended.

Latest links: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal, midfield, loan); Matthew Kilgallon (Sheff Utd, defender); David Nugent (Portsmouth striker, permanent deal).

Chelsea, 1st, Karen Childs, Observer reader

A brilliant start, but it’s turning into a bumpy ride. The high point was the convincing victory at the Emirates; but then there was the defeat at Man City and our shocking defensive display at home to Apoel. But we’ve been given the ultimate Christmas gift: the draw against Inter. It’ll be a corker.

Star man and biggest underperformer? No flops. Drogba, Anelka and both Coles have all impressed so far.

Happy with the gaffer? We’re not chanting his name yet. He’s hard to read: disgruntled and grumpy, and that’s on a good day.

Who should he sign? David Villa.

Latest links: Angel Di María (Benfica, winger); Luís Fabiano (Sevilla, striker). But Carlo Ancelotti says he will “run around naked in the snow” if Chelsea sign a new forward.

Everton, 14th, Dave Anderson, Observer reader

We’ve again been torn apart by injuries, and the delays and confusion over the ground move have held us back. In that context, it’s easy to see why we’re struggling. We’ve had some really shocking results, though.

Star man and biggest underperformer? The Yobo/Distin partnership is totally chaotic. Cahill and Fellaini are struggling too. We badly, badly miss Mikel Arteta.

Happy with the gaffer? Wouldn’t have anyone else. He’s battling on.

Who should he sign? If some money turns up from somewhere, a creative midfielder, a centre-back (Lescott?), and a striker.

Latest links: Graham Dorrans (West Brom, midfield); Nicolai Larsen (Lyngby, gk – on trial); Ivan Rakitic (Schalke, midfield).

Fulham, 9th, David Lloyd, There’s Only One F In Fulham

It’s warming up nicely! Beating Liverpool and Man United on merit is a clear indication of real progress, and our top 10 spot suggests Premier League durability. And still being in the Europa League is a well-deserved bonus.

Star man and biggest underperformer? I guess we’ve seen the best and worst of Zamora, but, like others, he’s worked tirelessly and the goals are flowing – so he can justly give it back to the critical minority.

Happy with the gaffer? Sir Roy? Yes. A club like ours can’t aim for overnight world domination, but it can target steady improvement and then reap the benefit. Our eloquent gaffer has us all believing that the upward curve can be maintained. He’s improving our vocabularies, too.

Who should he sign? A fit striker to support/cover Big Bob.

Latest links: Therry Racon (Charlton, midfield); Victor Moses (Crystal Palace); Coulibaly Kafoumba (Nice, midfield).

Hull, 19th, Rick Skelton, HullCityOnline.com

So far, it’s what we expected. I didn’t think we’d make a dent on the top half but didn’t feel we’d be cast adrift either. We’ve done fine for the most part, and could stay up.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Jimmy Bullard has been the star, obviously, but Stephen Hunt has settled in nicely too and Kamikaze Kamil Zayatte continues to impress. Dean Marney looks worse by the week, though. Very few of our summer signings have made an impression.

Happy with the gaffer? He struggles on.

Who should he sign? We could do with a pair of full-backs, an all-action midfielder, a right-winger and a strike force. On a budget of next to nothing, that’s going to be difficult.

Latest links: Matthew Kilgallon (Sheff Utd, defender); Sol Campbell (free agent, defender). Chairman says focus is on selling players, not buying.

Liverpool, 7th, Steph Jones, Observer reader

So far, so grim. No one wanted last season to end, then this one started badly and has gone downhill since. The owners failed to invest as promised, and early defeats and injuries added to growing unrest.

Star man and biggest underperformer? A hard one. No one has been on top form for more than a game or two.

Happy with the gaffer? Benítez “gets” LFC: he’s building for the future and trying to win the title with no money. But in today’s game, he’ll probably be hounded out of the club he loves.

Who should he sign? We’re stuck until Hicks and Gillett go, and they should take the phone-in, Sky-generation fans who do nothing but berate the club with them. Of course we need a couple of new players, but we’ve got as much chance of that as we have of winning the league this season.

Latest links: Bruno Ecuele Manga (Angers, defender); Victor Moses (C Palace, winger); Erik Huseklepp (SK Brann, striker).

Manchester City, 6th, Robert O’Brien, Observer reader

A mixed bag: we’re electric going forward and terrible at the back. The formation Hughes played allowed teams to get at us.

Star man and biggest underperformer? The star: Tevez, for his direct swashbuckling style. The underperformer: Garry Cook – a disgraceful handling of Hughes’s departure.

Happy with the gaffer? Hughes was never the right man. It was nothing to do with overinflated expectations – he just wasn’t a good manager. Poor formations, poor team selections and failure to engage with star players: that’s his legacy. Mancini is ticking all the boxes. A maverick, an entertainer: something we’ve always appreciated at City.

Who should he sign? No one. We have a fine squad. We just need to tighten the defence.

Latest links: Maicon (defender), Mario Balotelli (striker, both Inter), ); Angel Di María (Benfica, winger).

Manchester United, 2nd, Shaun O’Donnell, Observer reader

It’s been good overall – the Fulham result was down to our threadbare defence, but we’re within touching distance of the top. I still feel we’ll push on and claim a record fourth consecutive title. The best bit so far: beating City at our place. The worst: being beaten by an average Liverpool team.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Stars: Patrice Evra – he plays every game as if it’s his last. And Darren Fletcher has forced one of the biggest reversals of fan opinion anyone can remember. The worst, sadly, is Nani.

Happy with the gaffer? To be where we are despite the injuries is good, but we’ve lost five matches: things feel a bit too fragile.

Latest links: David Silva (Valencia, striker – post-World Cup deal more likely); Luís Fabiano (Sevilla, striker); Franck Ribéry (Bayern, midfield); Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon, winger).

Portsmouth, 20th, Colin Farmery, Pompey-Fans.com

Where do I start? A total disaster. The annoying thing is that our meltdown has come in a year when the Premier League isn’t exactly packed with quality opposition.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Younes Kaboul has shown admirable, if at times reckless, leadership qualities and popped up with a few goals too. Aaron Mokoena has, let’s say, struggled to adapt…

Happy with the gaffer? They say it’s better to be a lucky manager than a good one. On the evidence so far, Avram is certainly the former. The latter remains to be seen. Paul Hart was neither.

Who should he sign? What do we need in January? A miracle, please.

Latest links: Miguel Vítor (Benfica, defender, loan). Club have attacked “malicious rumours” of a January fire sale: “The new owner will invest.”

Stoke, 11th, Robert Holloway, Observer reader

It’s been a stop-start first half of the season. Winning at Spurs will go down in Potters folklore, but inept performances against Man Utd, Wolves, Hull and Portsmouth (twice) leave a bitter taste…

Star man and biggest underperformer? Robert Huth has settled in well and turned in a string of excellent performances.Mentions also to Shawcross, Etherington and Wilkinson – but Whelan, Whitehead and Delap have yet to find their feet.

Happy with the gaffer? His reluctance to play Tuncay until recently, infrequently using Liam Lawrence, a well-publicised battle with James Beattie, over-relying on unfit Rory Delap and playing the ineffective Dean Whitehead have us concerned.

Who should he sign? A striker (Kenwyne Jones) and a central midfielder (Scott Parker).

Latest links: Graham Dorrans (West Brom, winger); Federico Nieto (Colón de Santa Fe, striker); Landry N’Guémo (Celtic, midfield).

Sunderland, 10th, Pete Sixsmith, SalutSunderland.com

August, September, October – really encouraging, good football, good results and a misty dream of breaking into the top six. November and December – the ghosts of McCarthy and Sbragia start to appear, as we begin our annual slide down the table.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Bent, Cana and Cattermole have impressed, Gordon has begun to look like a top-class keeper, and Reid’s weight loss has made him a regular. On the other hand, Campbell has yet to look a top-flight player and McCartney has proved the old maxim: “never go back”.

Happy with the gaffer? Steve Bruce will be a success, but there are times when he’s a little one-dimensional.

Who should he sign? We need two full-backs who can tackle, pass, support the wide midfielders and not get caught out of position.

Latest links: Graham Dorrans (West Brom, winger); Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, defender); Victor Moses (C Palace, winger).

Tottenham, 5th, Dave Mason, Observer reader

The usual Spurs paradoxes: go to Villa and Everton, play them off the park yet not win; lose at home to Wolves and Stoke, yet be in contention for a Champions League place. I’ve seen some of the best displays for years, and yet also watched as we shrivelled up like a salted snail at Old Trafford.

Star man and biggest underperformer? When Huddlestone can play at his own pace his touch and passing are sublime; but against the good teams he becomes Two-Ton Tommy, the oh-so Credible Hulk.

Happy with the gaffer? Yes. And he handled the “Beano with Keano” affair well.

Who should he sign? King and Woodgate don’t seem to be good long-term prospects: a central defender would help.

Latest links: Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, defender); Nikola Zigic (Valencia, striker); Asier Riesgo (Real Sociedad, gk – has been on trial at Spurs, but Sociedad says they are yet to receive an offer).

West Ham, 17th, Pete May, hammersintheheart.blogspot.com

We’ve had some decent displays against the bigger teams, but we’ve shown a terrible inability to keep a lead. It’s been grim all round: Davenport’s stabbing, the Millwall trouble, the debt, selling James Collins, letting Lucas Neill go with no replacement…

Star man and biggest underperformer? Scott Parker, Carlton Cole, Diamanti and young Zavon Hines have impressed; Kovac, Spector and Faubert have not.

Happy with the gaffer? Zola’s commitment to good football is admirable but we need more passion and defensive organisation.

Who should he sign? We don’t need anything much in January. Just a new owner, a right-back, a centre-back, a midfield enforcer and a striker. And for Zola to refuse to take all calls relating to Parker, Upson, Cole and Green.

Latest links: Adriano (Flamengo, striker – agent says a number of European clubs have made approaches); Alan Hutton (Tottenham, defender).

Wigan, 16th, Dave Whalley, Observer reader

We’re brilliantly consistent at being inconsistent: outstanding wins against Villa and Chelsea, plus batterings at Portsmouth and (ouch) Spurs. In fairness this was always going to be a transitional season so still to be in the Premier League next season has to be the first and main target.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Best: Mohamed Diamé has made a great start, Charles N’Zogbia is showing why he’s so highly-rated, Hugo Rodallega has improved since last term and Paul Scharner is revelling in his attacking midfield role. Worst: Jordi Gómez and Jason Scotland.

Happy with the gaffer? Roberto’s liking for total football all over the pitch leads to some scary moments, but he’s still adapting.

Who should he sign? A striker or two, plus a right-back and left-back to add depth.

Latest links: Matthew Kilgallon (Sheff Utd, defender); Waldo Ponce (Velez Sarsfield, defender); Sol Campbell (free agent, defender); Michael Ball (free agent, defender).

Wolves, 15th, Arthur Williams, North West Wolves Supporters’ Club

There’ll be Tidings of Comfort and Joy for Wolves fans: the ultimate present of not being cursed with being bottom at Christmas. Three wins from the last four games mean that we have five more points than we did the last time we were in this league on Christmas day.

Star man and biggest underperformer? I can’t label anyone from our team of triers as the worst performer, but I don’t think anyone will argue against me saying that Jody, walking in his own Craddock Wonderland, has been top of the pile.

Happy with the gaffer? Old Trafford aside, I haven’t had a great deal to complain about, but Super Mick in his own inimitable style has given us the chance to “dream the impossible dream” of survival come May 2010.

Who should he sign? James Beattie might be up for a move after recent events: him, a couple of full-backs and two wingers would do for me.

Latest links: Paul Baysse (Sedan, defender); Rob Hulse (Derby, striker); James Beattie (Stoke, striker).

Chelsea drop another two points away from home for second week running.

MANCHESTER United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has had an injection in an attempt to ease his long-standing back complaint.


The 30-year-old has been out of action since the end of October, and although United manager Sir Alex Ferguson played down fears of a long-term absence at the time, Ferdinand has now missed 13 games, plus England’s friendly defeat to Brazil in Qatar.

Ruud van Nistelrooy continues our player countdown from 2000-2009.

United’s 1989/90 season began amid unusual, unforgettable scenes.

Injured pair Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans are nearing a return.

In November 1986, Alex Ferguson helmed United at OT for the first time.

Small number of tickets available to One United Members…

Betfair expect United to get back on track with an easy win on Sunday.

SIR Alex Ferguson is ready to rush Brazilian brothers Fabio and Rafael Da Silva back into his Manchester United line-up for Sunday’s trip to Hull.


The teenage duo have both been absent with shoulder problems but as United’s defensive problems continue could be unleashed against Phil Brown’s men.

Manchester United move within two points of Premier League leaders Chelsea after edging past Hull City in an error-strewn game.

Sir Alex hails Steve Bruce’s ‘loyalty’ to former team-mate Mark Hughes.

• ‘For some reason Christmas brings out the worst in directors’
• Manchester United manager critical of Mark Hughes’s ousting

Sir Alex Ferguson has branded Manchester City’s handling of Mark Hughes’s dismissal as “unacceptable”. City have come under fire this week for the whole way they have gone about installing Roberto Mancini as Hughes’s successor after he was sacked immediately after last Saturday’s victory over Sunderland.

The City chief executive Garry Cook has attempted to defend his position, although that has managed only to draw more ire from Ferguson.

“It was unacceptable behaviour,” said Ferguson. “It doesn’t matter whether you have lost 20 games or two, there is a way to treat people. For some reason Christmas seems to bring out the worst in directors. I do not know how you can do something like that.

“From Saturday morning the rumour mill was working and Mark must have realised it was his last game. It was a terrible position to be in.”

The Bolton Wanderers manager, Gary Megson, has also added to the criticism of City, suggesting that the sacking of Hughes underlines the impatience of modern-day football. Megson feels that rich owners have no understanding of the game and are to quick to get rid of managers unable to live up to their impossible standards set.

“It [Hughes’ sacking] didn’t surprise me because nothing ever does surprise you in football,” remarked Megson. “It was really sad because you had a manager losing his job, and yet they’ve only lost two games all season.

“They were doing okay, people were talking about it taking a while for everything to bed down, and then he was not given a while. I think it’s just purely and simply the nature of football in general, and the Premier League in particular.

“These people, when they put their money in, a draw away from home at Bolton or Birmingham, isn’t an acceptable thing any more. It’s as if the opposition doesn’t exist, and just because you’ve spent a huge amount of money, you can plough on regardless and you are going to beat everybody. It doesn’t work like that.”

Sir Alex Ferguson brands Manchester City’s conduct in Mark Hughes’s dismissal as “unacceptable”.

SIR Alex Ferguson has branded Manchester City’s handling of Mark Hughes dismissal as “unacceptable”.


Hughes was sacked immediately after last Saturday’s victory over Sunderland, even though it had been common knowledge throughout the day that his time as Blues chief was up.

Rafael and Fabio will return from injury to boost United’s depleted defence.

SIR Alex Ferguson may be convinced United are on the verge of a record fourth successive Premier League crown - but history is not on his side in his bid to overhaul Chelsea at the top of the table.


The United manager has never lost five league games before Christmas and gone on to win the title.

Rio Ferdinand has played a vital role during a successful decade for the Reds.

In 1985, United marked a record start to the season against Southampton.

Danny Simpson is keen to sort out his future before Newcastle loan ends.

Up-and-coming Manchester three-piece recall their finest Red moments.

Every away game will provoke trepidation until Manchester United can once more send out a group of fit, established defenders. Although Hull are no Fulham, who beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s side 3-0, they will see an opportunity. The home team are just above the relegation zone but that ought to make them all the keener to grasp any opportunity presented to them. Hull’s problem is that they, too, are vulnerable and United should attack with far more purpose than they did at Craven Cottage. Kevin McCarra

Venue KC Stadium

Tickets Sold out

Last season Hull 0 Manchester United 1

Referee A Wiley

This season’s matches 14 Y43, R3, 3.29 cards per game

sportingbet odds Hull 13-2 Manchester United 7-20 Draw 7-2

Hull

Subs from Duke, Moukoyolo, Kilbane, Mendy, Cousin, Marney, Altidore, Ghilas, Sonko, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Halmosi

Doubtful None

Injured Barmby (calf, 9 Jan), Bullard (knee, 30 Jan), Ashbee (knee, May)

Suspended None

Form guide LDLDWD

Disciplinary record Y36 R2

Leading scorers Geovanni, Hunt 3

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Fletcher, Anderson, Owen, Rafael, Giggs, Welbeck, Gibson, Obertan, Tosic, Fabio

Doubtful Giggs (hamstring), Neville (calf), Rafael (ankle), Vidic (calf)

Injured Van der Sar (knee, unknown), Brown (hamstring, 30 Dec), Macheda (hamstring, 30 Dec), Nani (ankle, 2 Jan), J Evans (calf, 9 Jan), O’Shea (thigh, 9 Jan), Ferdinand (back, unknown), Hargreaves (knee, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide LWLWWW

Disciplinary record Y29 R2

Leading scorer Rooney 12

Match pointers

• Manchester United have not drawn away from home since December 2008, a run of 19 games encompassing 14 wins and five draws

• 65% of the goals Hull have scored have come in the first half, the highest proportion in the division

• United are the only Premier League team not to drop any points from a leading position this season

• Hull have failed to score in three consecutive games, their second such run this season, they have never gone four Premier League games without a goal

• No team that has lost five of their opening 18 Premier League matches has ever won the title

• Senegalise striker finally gains work permit
• Sir Alex Ferguson enthuses over 22-year-old

Mame Biram Diouf is poised to make his Manchester United debut next month after being granted a work permit.

Sir Alex Ferguson signed the 22-year-old striker from Molde in the summer before allowing him to return to the Norwegian club on loan.

With 16 goals in 29 matches for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former club this season, Diouf certainly offers Ferguson an option in attack where goals have been hard to come by recently.

Diouf is unavailable for the FA Cup third-round tie with Leeds United at Old Trafford on 3 January, but Ferguson feels he has a promising future ahead of him.

“If you’re talking about value then you can look at our young boy Diouf,” he said recently. “He’s been training with us and is looking very exciting. That’s the kind of situation we’re good at, finding young players who can develop at the club, and at 22 years of age he’s looking very good.”

Manchester United footballer who survived the Munich air crash

By a strange and sad irony, Albert Scanlon, who has died aged 74, played what was probably his finest game for Manchester United just five days before the 1958 air crash at Munich airport in which eight of the “Busby Babes” team were among 20 killed. That performance, a match I was fortunate enough to report, took place at Highbury against Arsenal – a remarkable, oscillating affair in which the Babes ran out 4-5 winners.

Scanlon, on United’s left wing, was in effervescent form, displaying his speed and skill at their best. Three of United’s goals were set up by him as he tormented the right flank of the Arsenal defence. There was speculation then that he might be capped by England, but any chance of that was arguably ruined by the Munich disaster, in which he was seriously injured. In another twist of irony, he was also on the brink of a transfer to the Gunners before the calamity occurred during the team’s return from a European Cup match in Belgrade. The crash, which claimed the lives of three England internationals, Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor, also left Scanlon badly traumatised. David Pegg – another more skilled and certainly more consistent left-winger than the somewhat unpredictable Scanlon who until recently had kept Scanlon out of the United side – was also among the dead.

Unlike other survivors, such as Jackie Blanchflower, the Northern Ireland centre-half, and the compact outside- right Johnny Berry, at least Scanlon was not only able to play again, but did so as early as the following season, when he did not miss a league game.

Born at Hulme, Greater Manchester, Scanlon broke into the first team at Old Trafford as a teenager in the 1954-55 season, but his talents at that time were not matched by his self-confidence. On his return to the league team in 1959, he scored no fewer than 16 goals and was thought to be in the finest form of his career, though he never quite lost his reputation for inconsistency.

When, in 1960-61, Bobby Charlton was moved by Matt Busby, back in charge after recovering from his injuries, from his habitual role at inside-forward to left wing, where he immediately flourished, Scanlon was sold to Newcastle United, having played 127 league and cup matches for Manchester United, scoring 35 goals. But his career was now in decline, and his 22 games for the Magpies between 1960 and 1962 produced five goals. From Tyneside, he moved down the league to Lincoln City where, between 1961 and 1963, he played 47 league games, scoring 11 goals. Between the 1962-63 and 1965-66 seasons, he appeared for another club of modest attainment, Mansfield Town, where his 108 appearances brought him 21 goals.

On retiring from the game, Scanlon worked as a dock labourer and then as a factory nightwatchman.

• Albert Joseph Scanlon, footballer, born 10 October 1935; died 23 December 2009

Manchester United’s Senegal striker Mame Biram Diouf will be available to make his debut in January after being granted a work permit.

United’s league game with Rovers will now take place on 23 February.

Book now to see the Reds play Portsmouth at Old Trafford

Club statistician Cliff Butler recalls the career of the late Busby Babe.

HE’S the man Sir Alex Ferguson hopes will save him a fortune in the transfer market.


He has been described as the next Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and will add more firepower to United’s squad for the second half of the season.

WHEN you lose the World and European Player of the Year, it is a huge gap to fill.



And even a club of the stature of United would be hard pressed to make the transition into the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era seamlessly.

Strike prospect Mame Biram Diouf will be available for selection in January.