As easy as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

5 words for this picture: FIVE ASSISTS AND A CAPTAIN.

Don't let that title fool you. Easy ends at three, you don't agree? Well, let's see how many Nos you will have for these questions;

1. Can you count one to five in five different languages?
2. Can you write Welbz's five names without checking on Wikipedia?
3. Can you name the five Reds who made their debuts on this date (November 28th)?
4. Can you name five celebrities that Rio hasn't met?
5. Can you name five UCL records that Man United are yet to break?

Ready or Not: Cardiff City

The last time we played Cardiff it was a 4-0 win and most of us can only read about that. The match was played in 1975! As for the history books, we have won more games away to Cardiff than we have hosting them at Old Trafford. The overall record is not that impressive, +10 goal difference, 13 wins and 7 loses. For any other club that would be good news, but we have different standards. We want a goal difference in three digits, like Arsenal's +106.

Cardiff have kept 7 points from their five home games while United have collected 9 from away games. As we seek our 10th unbeaten match in all competitions, Cardiff will come with confidence too as they managed three points from Noisy Neighbors in a 3-2 home win and another 3 from Swansea.

Cardiff allowed 13 goals in the league while United's back four have the weight of 15 goals. Looking at stats, this game might be decided by forwards where United have scored a double of Cardiff's 9.

After today, the best we can do is second position while the worst is tenth. As for the teams above us, things will not be easy either. Arsenal (top of the league) will host Southampton (3rd place), Liverpool will travel to Everton and Chelsea to West Ham while Man City will host Spurs. Of all the teams in the top 8, only United and Chelsea will play teams out of the top 8.
Translation: Points will be dropped, guaranteed.

van Persie has scored in each of our past four league games adding two assist just for fun while Rooney has assisted once in every one of our past four league games adding two goals just to keep things balanced.

Glory Glory Man United!

Ready or Not: Fulham

A few hours from now Man United will be facing Fulham. This is the first away game for United since Oct 5th. The Champions will step into this determined to keep the unbeaten run going. So far, we haven't lost any of our past six matches in all competitions, and we have played all completions; Champions League, Capital One and the league.

Questions, Troubled Kind Evra

A group photo that managed to represent every United fan's reaction after that Saints' goal. Jones for those who couldn't watch it, Evra looks angry, that guy who couldn't believe that we conceded and had to stand and take a closer look, Rafael is hiding, De Gea looks confused and beat, that woman holding her face is definitely crying. Look closer and you'll see your reaction represented here. Kudos to manutd.com photographers for capturing this moment.

 

 

Well, at least we have Januzaj for the next five years and looks like he is on the right track. The kid was voted Man of the match against Southampton which is his second in a row! Moyes and Ed, while we are still into signatures how about getting Rooney to putting one down?

Robin is back into scoring! We can all drink to that.

Robson to Bruno Gomes and everything in between

Captain Robson and his team landed in Kilimanjaro yesterday and as of this morning he is starting doing what brought him and his team to the beautiful land of Tanzania; climbing the greatest Mount Kilimanjaro. I wish I was a tour guide, a help or just a fly in that team but being towns away from Moshi (that's where Mt. Kilimanjaro is) I will just have to settle for stalking following the action through Twitter.

Some accounts that you can follow and keep up with the #KiliTrek: @MU_Foundation, @ThomasCasserlys, @miss_larrisab and the official trek photographer and videographer @j_lester. And of course @ManUtd and @MUFCTanzania for the #Kilitrek and for Man United issues.

And in supporting Robson, manutd.com have dedicated this week to the Captain. For some of us who did not get to see him play, this is a good chance to get to know the longest serving Captain in the history of Manchester United/Newton Heath.

From last night.

Reds marching to Brazil

Until 19th we will just have to be satisfied with seeing the team in pieces as they represent their countries.

Here is who to watch and when:

 

 

Luis Nani - Portugal are a point behind Russia in their group but have one advantage: They play their next two matches at home. Portugal hosts Israel on 11th and Luxemburg on 15th.

Shakhtar Donetsk: A cold point

Picture perfect.

We would all have loved 3 points but a point is not so  bad. As group standings, we are second to Shakhtar but we have same points and same goal difference. On 23rd this month we will host Real Sociedad and Shakhtar will host Bayer Leverkusen.

Our next opponents are yet to win a match. They suffered a 0-2 home defeat to Shakhtar and lost 1-0 to Leverkusen. Bring on Real Sociedad.

Rooney picked another injury during training! It doesn't seem to be serious as Moyes planned to use him as a sub but decided against it as to not risk any further complications. Moyes also promised that Rooney will be ready for a trip to Sunderland this week end. And this time it was Welbeck. Does Welbz have a magic touch like Jones? Only time will tell....

WBA: The Aftermath

Majanga!

Rooney, Evans and Januzaj doing the walk of defeat as Big Dave looks so small!

If I thought the derby was something I needed to forget, I had second thoughts after that shocking unpredictable loss to West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford. And that what makes it even worse, it was at our very own home and it was West Brom! I don't know what hurts more, losing at home to a team that we have been beating back and forth for years or loosing at OT. The combination is killing me!

It started with Robin's injury. Then followed a number of missed chances. Then a very disappointing Rio. Is age catching up with Rio or was he just having a bad day? We don't expect him to be as quick as when he was in his mid 20s but that was one disappointing (sorry, I don't know what other word to use here) show from him.

A Derby To Forget

It will get better.

There is absolute nothing I want to remember about yesterday. Rooney's goal was a beauty but if I have to go through four very painful events to get to it, then No thank you, I'll pass.

I wish I could call Damon the vampire and he could do that vampire thing he does to make people forget.

But I will just have to live with it. Besides, If I forget that bad experience I will not fully appreciate and celebrate the better days that are surely coming.

Rio's Tour Diary 2013: Episode 3

Rio's Tour Diary 2013: Episode 2

Who to watch and When

 Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck.

vs Moldova, September 6th.
vs Ukraine, September 10th.

U12: Nick Powell, Michael Keane, Tom Thorpe, Wilfried Zaha and Jesse Lingard

vs Moldova, September 5th.

vs Finland, September 9th.

Yokohama F. Morinos vs Manchester United: Sponsored by Shinji Kagawa

If you watched the game you will understand why I say the it was sponsored by Kagawa! If AON were aware of the attention Kagawa would get, they would have tattooed AON on his forehead and not bother with branding the jerseys and the stadium!

In the Land of The Red Samurai

Location: Japan

Date: 22nd July 2013.

Smile boys, it doesn't hurt!

    That on the front is definitely Rafael/Fabio!

They Got My Attention: Fabregas, Red Soldiers, Rooney, De Gea, Alcantara + Welbeck

ONE: Fabregas

Are you all having a fabregas Tuesday?


So, we are back to Cesc Fabregas! This one I like and hate at the same time. Like it because I would loooove to see Fabregas in a red MUFC shirt and hate it because after the Alcantara issue, I am not sure I can handle another heart break!

The Sun say their source confirmed that Cesc would rather go to Old Trafford than a trip back to Arsenal. I just hope it is not the same source who said Alcantara signed a 5 year deal with MUFC.

Sky Sports reports the same thing adding that Manchester United has made a

£25m bid for the midfielder but Barcelona think Cesc is worth more than that. 

Last month Cesc said;

Kagawa Initiation

Every club has its own traditions and one of Manchester United's is that a new player has to either give a speech or sing a song.

You can imagine a speech was not an option for Kagawa as he was English challenged (Though would love for him to do a speech in Japanese and see the looks on players' faces)! So he had to sing a song!

Here is Buttner explaining what exactly hapenned;

"He barely speaks English, that’s why he stood out in the middle of Rio Ferdinand’s restaurant while the whole squad was watching him. He then screamed ‘I don’t speak English’, put on the music and started dancing Gangnam Style alone. It was legendary, everybody was on the floor laughing."

You don't believe Buttner? Watch this

The original story is here and an English version is here.

Buttner and Kagawa. Word on street, that 'sign' means Number One in Japanese. And if that's not true these two got some explaining to do.

2012/2013 Report

Most Appearances

Robin Van Persie	48
Michael Carrick	46
Patrice Evra	42
David De Gea	41
Rafael Da Silva	40
Antonio Valencia	40
Danny Welbeck	40

 

 

Top Goal Scorers

Robin van Persie	30
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez	18
Wayne Rooney	16
Shinji Kagawa	6
Ryan Giggs	5

Most Man of the Match Nominations

Rafael da Silva	19
Robin van Persie	17
Wayne Rooney	17
Michael Carrick	16
Patrice Evra	15

Most Man of the Match Awards

Wayne Rooney	9
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez	6
Robin van Persie	6
David de Gea	4
Ryan Giggs, Rafael da Silva, Phil Jones, Shinji Kagawa	3

 

Total votes

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez	62,542
Robin Van Persie	54,184
David De Gea	41,176
Wayne Rooney	37,687
Shinji Kagawa	32,283

 

Most Player of the Month Points 

Robin van Persie	46
Michael Carrick	44
David de Gea	34
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez	34
Shinji Kagawa	32

 

 

Most Over-all points

Robin van Persie	133
Michael Carrick	115
Wayne Rooney	111
Rafael da Silva	98
David de Gea	86

  

 

Most yellow cards

Paul Scholes	10
Rafael da Silva	8
Wayne Rooney	7
Antonio Valencia	7
Patrice Evra	5

2012/2013 season in pictures....

Signing of the season. Robin van Perfect himself!

MUFC shirt, Real Madrid scarf and a banner asking Ronaldo to come back and not score! How could Ronaldo break this kid's heart, and mine, and yours?

Number One at work! This save away to Real Madrid on February 13th is definitely one to be framed! 

Young Rafael at work!

SAF and his football God son after a Champions League clash at Bernabeu.

And about fathers, Little cute Lenny walking to the pitch with his father, our captain, players' DJ Evra during a league home game against Manchester City. How proud was 'Daddy' Evra!

On March 5th, Giggs made his 1000th appearance for both club and country. Here he is presented with No. 23 shirt to mark his 23rd consecutive appearance in MUFC's and league's top flight score sheet.

Nani reacting to his red card against Real Madrid. Was this the moment that cost us a spot in the Champions League quarter finals? We will never know!

The only red card in the league this season, to Young Rafael.

How do you forget RvP running to lift SAF when he scored after a ten matches drought?

Robin is just so full of energy! Anyways, anybody would lift Rooney if they received such an assist for what is a contender for the goal of the season (Robin's second goal against Aston Villa).

8th May 2013. 

9th May 2013.

Sir Alex walking to the pitch for his last ever match at Old Trafford as a manager.

Bring on the Champions!

Loved Young Rafael's T-shirt! What a tribute! It has the word 'THANK YOU' on top then a photo of him hugging SAF.

Chicharito's celebration were exceptional! I think he spent more time near the trophy than anybody else!

The Genius and The Godfather! Thank you and we will miss you.

Finally!!

The only reason this photo is in this list is because De Gea smiled! We all know how rare that smile is!

SAF's very last game as MUFC's coach! With Lindegaard's perfomance, De Gea had to scream some senses into him!

Scholes played his last game against West Brom. And how does Scholes bow out? With a yellow card. Stayed true to his style till the very last game. Respect.

We will end this post with a quote from Rio Ferdinand;

"We got OUR trophy back and we wanna win more. Next season we gon keep this trophy, don't worry about it."

A promise is a promise, right? Bring on 2013/2014!

WHY US? reason 4 & 5

By: @MUFCTanzania

Why did we bring home Title Number 20?

For reason one please go here and for reason two and three click here.

Here is reason 4 & 5 and the final version of this post....

4. The Youngsters

As the season started we had De Gea, Anderson, Buttner, Kagawa, Powell, Cleverley, Evans, Chicharito, Young Rafael, Smalling, Jones and Welbeck who were all between 18 and 24 years old. That is 13 regular players who were all below 25. 

The hunger in these boys was seen through out the season. Young Rafael was so good that he was entrusted with probably one of the two hardest tasks for any defender in the football world now, marking Cristiano Ronaldo, and he did that TWICE! Chicha came from the bench most of the times but he scored almost same number of goals as Rooney, The Red Samurai Kagawa got us wanting to sing in Japanese! It's the hunger to succeed, the need to improve, the desire to win, the determination to make history that made this group of youngsters very crucial to our 20th title. And we are looking forward to even bigger things next seasonS.

Flying high....

 

5. The Seniors' Wisdom

They might not play with speed but what they lack there they more than make up for it with experience. It's the experience that provides calmness especially in big games. And if they are not playing as much, they are showering the youngsters with wisdom and inspiration. 

We have Giggs, Scholes, Vidic, Evra, Rio and Carrick. These are players some team mates used to watch and idolize. These are the players some team mates were told to look up to by their childhood coaches. These are legends who can tell a 20 something team mate what makes a legend at MUFC. They are the players who tell stories of Lee Sharpe, Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Nick Butt, Eric Cantona, Paul Ince, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Gary Nevile, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Peter Shmeichel, Fabien Barthez, the super sub Ole-Gunnar Solksjaer, Teddy Sheringham, Wes Brown, Quinton Fortune, Roy Keane, David Beckham and many other legends (excuse me with all the names, it's not my fault we have so many great players). 

And they don't just tell stories they have heard, they tell the stories they have seen or in some cases, the lives they have lived. They tell youngsters of the legendary 1998/1999, not from what they have read, but from memories as they played in that historic season.

 

Bringing in the experience