31 December 2010

Birthday Boy cites this year's Premier League as DREAM LEAGUE!

Sir Alex or Fergie as we may call him on this special day has turned 69 today! With a glorious past with Manchester United, he would enjoy this day with his team at the top of the league!

Although he isn't being too confident of this year's title. He has stated that five teams are quite capable of winning the title and hence he says winning this time would be more like a dream!
"It is there for everyone to win or lose," the Manchester United manager said. "So many times over the last few years, people have spoken about the top four when there has been one of those periods where we are all within a couple of points of each other and said this could be a really exciting league. But by the end of the year, two teams are contesting it.

"That could happen again this season but on the other hand, if it were to be five or six involved right until the end, it would be fantastic for the league. It is the kind of league we dream of."

A difference of merely 5 points separates the first and the fifth team, therefore the competition is scary.

The new year is not going to be easy for the Red Devils, West Bromwich Albion, who, while having slipped a little recently, already boast a win at Arsenal and an Old Trafford draw among the highlights of their return to the top flight.

"West Brom have been a refreshing team this year," Ferguson said. "They play the right way, they are a good threat and their goal tally has been very good. It is perfectly correct for us to expect a tough game."

We, the TRDS Team, wish you guys a very Happy New Year!

28 December 2010

Review 18: Berbatov's elegant goal not enough to win at St. Andrews

Birmingham City 1-1 Manchester United
Berbatov 58' Bowyer 89' 
St Andrews, City of Birmingham Stadium


Finding the net often these days- A happy Dimitar Berbatov
The last game of the year 2010 pretty much reflected the story of the season: Away Draws. 18 games on, United are still struggling with away form. 7 of the 8 draws that United have suffered have occurred at opponent's ground. This is something United would be keen to improve in the second half of the season beginning 1st January, 2011! So Berbatov was the last Red Devil to score in 2010. Congratulations to him, this was his 15th goal for United.. his highest with United in a single season so far!


Birmingham hosts Manchester United in tonight's Tuesday fixture, will Rooney score?

Birmingham City vs Manchester United
20.00 GMT KO
St. Andrews, City of Birmingham Stadium
Capacity 30,079

This week has been quite eventful for Manchester United so far with Chelsea slipping up disastrously against Arsenal last night. 3-1 was the final score of last night's clash of the two top London clubs. Though a draw would have been favourable for United as one would want Arsenal to stay away from the Red Devils. However, the sights of Chelsea losing are definitely mouth watering! Not to forget this was Chelsea's second defeat in which they conceded three goals or more!

Arsenal's victory over Chelsea meant Arsenal reduced their gap to 2 points from Red Devils while the difference between Chelsea and United remained constant at 6. Not to forget, United have still a game to catch up on which is happening tonight away to Birmingham City.

If United wins tonight, which I'm sure they will, the Red Devils will reign at the top spot 5 points clear of Arsenal and 9 points away from Chelsea. However, victory away at Birmingham is quite a hurdle to cross. The facts suggest the toughness of the Birmingham team under the management of Alex McLeish, the Birmingham manager. There have been only five goals scored in the last four Premier League meetings between United and B'gham. The Previous fixture at this ground ended up in a 1-1 draw. Even Patrice Evra is damn weary of the Birmingham team.

Facts in favour of United have been rather mind-blasting. They are unbeaten in their last 23 matches in all competitions against Birmingham since losing 5-1 at St. Andrews in November, 1978 

As far as this season goes, United are still unbeaten for the 17 games they've played so far - a feat never achieved by Sir Alex with Man United. Althought they must be weary of the fact that they've drawn six of the last 12 away games is rather worrying and they MUST avoid this to stretch their lead over Arsenal and Chelsea to a comfort zone. 

The facts have been very favourable for Wayne Rooney who has scored four goals in his last six Premier League games against Birmingham. Is this his day? Will he be able to end his 9 month goal draught tonight and leave out all the rest. Well time will tell, till then sing along GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!

Check out the Wayne Rooney tribute. This video features all the awesome moments of Wayne Rooney in 2009-2010 season, its EPIC by nature. The video also features Rooney's and United's first goal of the season against Birmingham City in the Opening match. 

27 December 2010

Tom CLEVERLY strikes again!


While Berba's foot is constantly kicking the rival's glory, our secret weapon , Tom Cleverly is doing the same for his present club. He has scored 3 goals already for Wigan Athletic, where he is on a loan. Sir Alex has hinted that he would be back at Old Trafford the next transfer season. We can already see the devastation of the other clubs as Manchester United would ease themselves to the Premier League title and lets hope for the Champions League Trophy too!


Last week we heard rumours that Cleverley may not be interested in returning to Old Trafford where he will face some serious competition for the first team play and would have to struggle in the Reserves. 
But performances and goals like these will force Sir Alex Ferguson to play the lad every single game and against every other club! 
Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck, who is off to Sunderland on loan is also in terrific form with 5 goals so far. So lots and lots of potential waiting to be associated with the Red Devils!


Let's hope both Cleverley and Welbeck return to Old Trafford next week when the transfer window re-opens.

Prepare for Apocalypse as United take on Barcelona next summer in the US!



With so many exciting news buzzing around before the new year, get ready for one more! Manchester United are all set to play Spanish Giants Barcelona in the 91,000 capacity FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on July 30.


And very certainly this is a clash even the titans would sit and watch. When they last met in 2009, Manchester United wasn't a team it is now. They were too much dependent on C. Ronaldo and hence the result went out of favor.


But the present team, it has all the legends required to tackle the Spanish. The news that Bastian Schweinsteiger can be soon playing at Old Trafford, the scent of a win has become stronger.


Lets see what is in for us, our wishes always with the devils! 

26 December 2010

Match Review 17: Berbatov crushes Sunderland on the Boxing Day


Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland
Dimitar Berbatov 5' 57'
Old Trafford
Attendance: 76,259

Roy Hodson, Alex McLeish were the guests on Boxing day
Manchester United's festive (or rather hectic) journey of 4 fixtures in 10 days started off in fine spirits as Dimitar Berbatov's brace against Sunderland helped United clinch the top spot, 5 points clear of Arsenal.
One can arguably say that United would be sitting comfortably on top for a long time leaving Chelsea and Arsenal to catch up on points. And with the second half of the season about to start, United will only get better and better.


22 December 2010

Andy Carroll to Manchester United in the January transfer window?



21 year old Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll is being watched closely by boss Sir Alex Ferguson as he looks to bolster his striking options.

Undoubtedly, United are looking for another striker to fill the voids set by Michael Owen and cocky Federico Macheda.

Ferguson is likely to face competition for the striker if he decides to make a move in January.

While Dimitar Berbatov leads the Premier League scoring charts, Ferguson is reportedly keen to strengthen, as England star Wayne Rooney continues to misfire after his return from injury, and Michael Owen is expected to leave in January, or the summer.

In terms of other options, Javier Hernandez has impressed but is not yet an automatic first team choice, while Federico Macheda is still untried and has been linked with moves back to Italy.

United manager Ferguson is also expected to be given £50 million to spend over the course of the next year and remains among the favourites to capture the troubled striker.

United-Chelsea fixture MAYBE postponed till the end of the season


"The Sun" has been speculating of a possibility of two back-to-back United-Chelsea fixtures towards the end of the season, and if that occurs then we're all set to witness an interesting end to this rather strange Premier League season so far. 


CHELSEA and Manchester United face a potential end-of-season title play-off as Premier League bosses struggle to cope with a fixture backlog.

The rivals are already due to play at Old Trafford on May 7 in a match which is sure to have a huge say in the championship race.
But they could meet again 10 days later after Sunday's Stamford Bridge match was cancelled.
Contingency plans are being put in place following last weekend's snow-hit programme.
And with further postponements looming over Christmas and New Year, England's top teams face a chaotic season's finale.
United have already had two games postponed. The Blackpool visit will now take place on January 25 but a slot for Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea looks harder to find.
Both clubs face a possible 15 games in April and May due to possible Champions League and FA Cup commitments.
The Premier League sets aside four contingency dates each season.
But the first three - January 11 and 24, plus April 19 - are dependent on FA Cup replays.
That leaves the midweek of May 17 and 18 as the only other available slot, just days before the final league games on May 22.
League chiefs are sure they can avoid a pile-up. A spokesman said: "We will work with affected clubs to get new dates agreed."


Till then, sing along GGMU!

19 December 2010

Chelsea postpone the match.. SOMETHING IS FISHY!!

The image you see above is Stamford Bridge on Saturday, taken from one of their Security Cameras. The picture clearly proves that the condition was "playable" and it was just that Chelsea decided not to play against a resurgent United side probably because of the fear of losing.

The much awaited Chelsea-Man United match was postponed because of "heavy snow across UK on Saturday".

Can anyone from Chelsea officials please explain as to how Sunderland, Leeds, Hull and even Ipswich managed to see through their respective ties?

Something is really fishy in the way that Chelsea decided to delay the time more than 24 hours before the match was scheduled to start.

Chelsea camp had criticized the calling off of United game at Blackpool by saying "In this day and age, with all the modern technology, it is very rare you get a game called off. This shouldn't happen at Stamford Bridge where we have a water pipe system which is like a big radiator pumping hot water under the pitch to keep it warm."

The club that was boasting their ground conditions a few days ago, suddenly cancelled a tough tie. And that too when they are facing a crisis, having won just once in last 7 premier league outings. Their star players, Lampard and Drogba were doubtful for the clash too. This brings us to the obvious conclusion that Ancelloti's men got scared of the mighty Reds who are at present the Table toppers and yet to be defeated in the Premier League.

United now face a crowded fixture list post-Christmas, something that every manager wants to avoid.

Park to quit his international career after Asia Cup

Park scored the only game in this week's Premier League victory over Arsenal at OT

Midfielder Park Ji-Sung will retire from South Korea's national team after next month's (2011) Asian Cup in Qatar, his father was quoted as saying on Friday.

"Ji-sung said before the World Cup in South Africa that the Asian Cup would be his last national tournament," his father Park Sung-jong told the Asian Football Confederation website (www.the-afc.com) on Friday.

"Now, ahead of the Asian Cup, there is no reason for him to change his mind.
"Ji-sung said, 'When I give way, players like Lee Chung-yong will appear. They don't have to think I should be there.'"

Park will join up with his compatriots after United's Premier League game against Sunderland on the Boxing Day fixture at Old Trafford on  Dec. 26. After this game, the 29-year-old could miss six Premier League games and an FA Cup tie while he is awayin South Korea.

United manager Alex Ferguson, who signed Park from PSV Eindhoven in 2005, said after he scored the only goal in United's 1-0 win over Arsenal on Monday that he would be missed while in Qatar.

"It is a shame he has to go, but there's nothing we can do about that," Ferguson said after the game. "He is very important for us as he proved tonight with his goal."

Park captained South Korea at this year's World Cup finals in South Africa, helping them reach the last 16.
In 2009 he became the first Asian to play in the Champions League final but ended on the losing side when Barcelona beat United 2-0 in Rome.

18 December 2010

Sir Alex to break his BBC boycott to pay tribute to David Beckham



Each one of us is familiar with Sir Alex's resolve to not to speak on BBC after a documentary by the BBC put his son Jason, then a football manager, in bad light.

Since then, he has spoken to the BBC just once, to pay tribute to Sir Bobby Robson. And now, he is set to break his resolve once more, this time to pay tribute to David Beckham.

Sir Alex and Beckham have enjoyed a healthy relation over the years with Becks going on the record to describe Ferguson as a "fatherly figure".

Beckham is set to receive the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Sports Personality of the Year, tomorrow and Sir Alex has recorded a special tribute for him.

Beckham played for United from 1992-2003, appearing in 265 matches and scoring 62 goals in his glorious career. He was then sold to Real Madrid. Now, Beckham plays for MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy. He has also played for England, at U-18, U-21 and international level. In his illustrious career, the player has won almost everything a person could dream of. He also participates actively in charity work and enjoys a healthy relation with his wife Victoria and three kids.

A true Red Devil, set to be paid a tribute by the BOSS!!

17 December 2010

A favorable draw against Marseille



VS.





So, we travel to the land of Cantona and Evra to face the 9 time French Champions Olympique De Marseille!! Gabriel Heinze, the ex-Red, currently plays for them.

A favorable draw for us? Considering the recent form of both the clubs, yeah, maybe..!!

United are at the top of the Premier League table, Unbeaten at the moment while Marseille are at 5th spot in the French Ligue 1, losing 4 and drawing 6 of their 17 games. Though, a lot can happen between now and February, when the teams will first meet.


Didier Deschamps’ men are more than capable of turning the tides in their favor and have proved their competency at the highest level on more than one occasion. Deschamps, “the Renaissance man”, as he is fondly known, guided Marseille on “an extraordinary human adventure” to the French title in his first season in-charge (reported in “The Guardian”). He keeps a regular check on the Premier League and is aware of the happenings in England. He was also approached by Liverpool to replace Rafael Benitez. Also, a few of Marseille players like Loic Remy and Rod Fenni have been regularly linked with one Premier League Club or the other. Hatem Ben Arfa, a Marseille player, is currently on loan at Newcastle United.

Last season, they couldn’t proceed from the group stages of the Champions League, having been grouped with the likes of Real Madrid and AC Milan. But, they ended up winning the Ligue 1 and Coupe de la Ligue.


Meanwhile, United have finally settled down from a nervy start, where they developed a habit of conceding late equalizers, and now look like a team ready to take on anyone and everyone. Their last match against Arsenal was a spectacular display of their defensive strength and Marseille will find it hard to score against a strong United back 4.


All in all, a comparatively easy tie for United, but still Marseille are the French champions for a reason and can’t be taken lightly, at all.


The other ties are:

CHELSEA vs. COPENHAGEN

ARSENAL vs. BARCELONA

SPURS vs. AC MILAN

INTER vs. BAYERN

SHAKHTAR vs. ROMA

VALENCIA vs. SCHALKE

LYON vs. REAL MADRID

15 December 2010

United-Arsenal HD highlights

Check out the Arsenal game's highlights...


Leave your comment about Rooney's performance.
TRDS rates this performance 8/10, perhaps a penalty could have made it 9/10

Park was the only goal scorer with an elegant or should I say a cheeky header.. perhaps that would have made Chicharito a bit jealous!

ANDO SIGNS A NEW DEAL TILL 2015..


The strong Brazilian play maker has signed a new contract with United that will keep him at OT till June 2015. The Brazilian was already under a contract till 2012 but has now decided to extend it till 2015.

After a torrid last season with United where he suffered from an injury that kept him out for almost the entire season and then a car accident in Portugal kept him busy with his off the field problems. He has also had some spats with Ferguson and the player was reportedly fined in January 2010 for making a trip to Brazil without notifying the manager.

But now the midfielder, who came to OT as from Porto as an exciting new talent in 2007 for around $20m has shrugged off all his problems and put up some strong performances in absence of Scholes.

Here's what the manager and the player had to say:

Sir Alex: "We are delighted he has signed a new contract. Anderson has developed tremendously since joining us and he has fantastic potential at only 22; he is going to be a really top player.”

Anderson: “This is the best club to be at and I would like to thank everyone for the great support I have received over the years. I am looking forward to winning many more trophies with United and I am so pleased to have signed a new contract.”

Check out Ando's latest goal against Valencia which was the most crucial goal for United in the Champions league as United topped the Champions League group table. The goal also ensured United avoids the scare of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Real Madrid and even Tottenham Hotspurs who are now a serious threat after leading Group A leaving behind Inter Milan! Friday's draw will be an interesting event for Manchester United



Anderson's goal against Valencia in Champions League.

10 December 2010

Rio fit to face Arsenal

Rio Ferdinand is fit and ready to go up against the likes of Chamakh and Van Persie on Monday. The England captain suffered from a tight hamstring while playing against Valencia in the UEFA Champions League clash and had to be substituted in the 50th minute of the game. Though, the Boss made it clear that it was just a precautionary measure but still it wasn't sure whether he would be able to face Arsenal or not. But now, the 32 year old veteran has been passed fit to feature in the Monday night's crunch tie.




However, Paul Scholes participation still remains a doubt after he suffered a knock in the training last week.

Apparently, Patrice Eva is fit to play too.

09 December 2010

ManUnited vs Arsenal: PREVIEW





















The United vs. Arsenal match on Monday will be a battle as intense as ever. If the rumors are to be believed, the two sides have already faced each other many times this season, though for signing new players. The Utd-Arsenal match is always a heated affair, with both managers getting more competitive with age and their desire for trophies seems to be ever growing. Even though Arsenal haven’t won a trophy since 2005, their youth finally looks like they could repay their manager with a piece of silverware for his continued belief in them.


On the pitch, this will be their first meeting since United thrashed Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates last season. Arsenal are the current table toppers, one point ahead of United but having played a match more than them. United’s match last weekend was called off because of unplayable conditions at the Blackpool stadium. This allowed Arsene Wenger’s side to go on the top of the premier league table.

Both teams are at their best and after winning their respective matches in the Champions League to qualify for the next round, brimming with confidence. United are still unbeaten in the league but have drawn far too many games for their liking. Arsenal, on the other hand, have tasted defeat against West Brom, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham. What’s even more worrying for them is that 3 out of 4 losses have been at home. The two sides have had an almost similar start to the season, with Chelsea dominating in the early stages. But now, after making full use of Chelsea’s slip-ups, the clubs are on the 1st and 2nd spot in the league.

Both teams go into the match with a sense of rejuvenation following the return of their star strikers from long term injury troubles. Wayne Rooney is yet to score a goal from open play but has looked sharper and fitter since his return from US. Robin Van Persie too is yet to regain his top form. But these are the kind of players who just need a sniff at goal to regain their top form and once they reach their prime, they turn into a defender’s nightmare.

Also, both the teams might go in without their main playmakers. Paul Scholes missed the Valencia match due to injury and Cesc Fabregas too missed his team’s last few matches because of an injury he picked up against Braga. Though, United’s Anderson and Arsenal’s Samir Nasri have looked like they could easily fill in the void left by the two playmakers. Both scored a goal in their midweek Champions League fixture to take their side into the knockout round.

Comparing the two teams, apart from defense, where United have a stronghold, the teams are almost similar in their approach, with both the managers showing ample faith in their youth. Though in defense, Vidic and Rio form a formidable pair, something that Arsenal lack and the injury to their main man Vermaelen has done nothing to improve the situation. Also, the young defender K.Gibbs got injured playing against Partizan and had to be substituted in the 30th minute. United seem to have finally settled their back four with Rafael, Vidic, Rio and Evra making it difficult for any player to go past them. Between the posts, Van Der Sar is still the best in the premier league. His ability to spot the players making a run is unmatched and he’s a player United are going to miss the most once he decides to retire. Fabianski seems to have taken over Almunia for Arsenal and apart from a few hiccups, his performances have been satisfactory. In the midfield, Nani and Park have been consistently playing well and scoring goals for United. Ryan Giggs has regained his fitness and that’s a good news for them. Fletcher might be fit to play after facing an injury. Arsenal have an unlikely hero in Alexis Song who has scored a few important goals this season, along with Nasri and Arshavin, the Russian winger who has scored against United in the past. Chamakh has looked like the buy-of-the-season and has been chipping in goals ever since his arrival in the EPL. For United, the return of Rooney has helped Berbatov and the duo celebrated their return as partners with a 7 goal haul against Blackburn, Berba scoring 5 of them.

Last season, United won both fixtures. The match at OT ended at 2-1 win for United, but it was decided by Abu Diaby’s header into his own net, trying to clear a Ryan Giggs’ free-kick. The match at Emirates was a rather one sided affair with United winning by a comfortable 3-1, thanks to two quick first half goals by Nani and Rooney and a third goal in the second half by Ji Sung Park. Nani’s performance in that match was described as “his best-ever” by Sir Alex Ferguson who would be hoping that the Portugese would produce another such display this time too.

All in all, an even affair and the fans can expect a thriller at Old Trafford. I go with a 2-0 victory for United with Rooney scoring both the goals. Drop in your predictions and keep humming,
GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED

So,who will we face in next round..??



United have finished at the top of the table in their group with 14 points with 4 wins and 2 draws. This means they are amongst the "seeded" teams along with likes of Schalke, Real, Barca, Tottenham and Chelsea.

The teams that are second in their respective groups are "unseeded". Arsenal, Inter, AC Milan, Lyon, Valencia, Marseille, Roma and Copenhagen are the unseeded clubs.

A seeded club will face an unseeded club.

But since we've played against Valencia in group stages and Arsenal are from the same league, we won't be grouped with them.
This leaves 6 clubs:
  1. INTER (The treble winner of 2010)
  2. AC MILAN (The team with the likes of Ibra, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Pato.. BRING 'EM ON)
  3. LYON (French Club with a few good players. Benzema used to play for them before his move to Real)
  4. MARSEILLE (The French team Gabriel Heinze plays for)
  5. ROMA (The team we thrashed 7-1 last time)
  6. F.C. COPENHAGEN (Danish club)

The draw is TODAY!! and the matches will be played in two legs in Feb-March. Lets hope for the best.

GGMU

06 December 2010

Cleverley scores a FANTASTIC goal against West Ham, clinches a revenge (Video)

Tom Cleverley strikes against Hammers!



Sotiris Ninis…Remember the name:



Once a United “target”, Sotiris Ninis, the Greek playmaker is now no more in the news. Reason? Well, in this amazing world of football everyday hundreds of “starlets” are born and with the clubs having casket full of money to spend, the players are easily linked with each one of them. The agents play an important role too. Once a player is tagged as a United or Madrid or any other big club’s “target”, his market value automatically increases manifold times.

But a player like Ninis is worth every penny spent. Still just 20 years old, the boy is the captain of his club Panathinaikos (the youngest player to be made a captain at just 18 years 125 days age) and has featured in 11 international matches for Greece. He also holds the record of being the youngest player to score for both, his club and his country. He is an attacking midfielder, much like Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal.

United are closely monitoring his growth at the club and their scouts were present to see Ninis play in a UEFA Champions League tie against Barcelona. He is under a contract with his club till 2012 with a €10m buy-out clause into the agreement for any foreign team wanting to buy him, rising to €17m for a Greek side. A switch deal is also possible with the “unhappy” Brazilian, Anderson leaving United. Anderson’s agents were recently spotted in Greece and it was rumored that a deal has already been signed for a January switch.

Ninis has already expressed his desire to snub all other offers for United, where he will get a chance to prosper under the best manager in the world.

All in all, a player with his head at the right place who can dominate the midfield with his quick runs and passing ability, he is certainly a star of the future. The news that Glazers will finally spare some money for the club has given a boost to the rumors. All that remains to be seen is that whether Fergie will sign a superstar or will he continue his tradition of signing talent and making them superstars. If he can sign an unknown player, Bebe for 7 million, certainly he can sign Ninis. Also, the time is right. An year with the midfield maestro Scholes and he will be ready to take over by the time Scholsey retires.

04 December 2010

A week full of rumors...!

Like any other week, there were numerous rumours surrounding the transfer of player to and from United. Here is a brief look at the players concerned:

1. Bastian Schweinsteiger:


At 26 ,a perfect mix of young but experienced, this Right footed German international who has been in Bayern since 1998, first in the youth team and then in the senior squad, is strongly been linked with United. The rumors gained strength when the player refused to renew his contract with the club. Schweinsteiger has won many trophies in his still continuing career including five Bundesliga titles, five German Cups and two League Cups


A versatile player who can play almost anywhere in midfield, he has excellent dribbling skills, and is a specialist at set pieces, an area where United are still missing Ronaldo. Schweinsteiger also has a hard shot, and often scores from outside the penalty area. He is also noted to have "boundless energy" referring to "Schweini's" incredible stamina and ability to motor up and down the field for the entire length of matches, while playing at a consistently strong level. Though United are keenly monitoring the player who is supposed to fill the void once Paul Scholes retires, Bayern Chairman released a statement saying “our goal is to agree a long-term contract extension. And we've agreed … that Bastian will not under any circumstances be allowed to leave until his contract ends.'' 


Though the player himself admitted that his brother, a Manchester United fan, is constantly nagging him about joining United. Though United are set to fight Inter, Real and Chelsea if they are to sign this talented midfielder.

PROBABILITY: HIGHLY LIKELY

03 December 2010

OMG!! Its the Derby day


Manchester Derby is one of the most happening events in the North-West Britain
A derby is a sporting contest between rivals from the same district. The origin of the name “Derby” has itself led to controversies with various theories being put out; no wonder the derby matches are hell lot more intense than the normal fixtures.
There are various intense derbies around the world, the El-Classico (Real Madrid vs Barcelona) in Spain, the Rhône-Alpes Derby (Lyon vs Saint-Étienne) in France, the Derby della Madonnina (Internazionale vs AC Milan) in Italy, Ajax vs PSV in Netherlands along with the Merseyside Derby (Liverpool vs Everton), Birmingham Derby (Bermingham vs Aston Villa), London Derby (Chelsea vs Spurs and Arsenal vs Spurs) being amongst the most awaited ones.
Manchester United, perhaps the most famous club in the world, too has its fair share of Derby matches with Liverpool, Manchester City, Celtic and Leeds United A.F.C. being their “bitter rivals”.
1. The War of Reds (vs. Liverpool):
It is probably one of the fiercest rivalries in English football, rather in world football. Liverpool and Manchester United are two of the biggest sporting clubs in the world. They are both proud sides with a glorious history and the fans of both teams are equally passionate about their club. The clubs have won a staggering 116 titles, 58 each, between them. The fixture is usually played at midday to discourage fans from drinking before the game.
The origins of this rivalry point towards the rivalries of the two cities since industrial times. Liverpool and Manchester were challenging for supremacy of the north west of England. Manchester was renowned for its excellent manufacturing capabilities, whilst Liverpool had long been a major city due to its port. However, once the Manchester Ship Canal was built, ships were able to bypass Liverpool to carry goods directly to Manchester. The loss in jobs in Liverpool no doubt strengthened the hostilities between the two cities.
The first match between the clubs was on 12 October 1895 which Liverpool won 7-1. There have been 152 league matches since. Manchester United have won 58, Liverpool 51 and there have been 43 draws.
Liverpool dominated English football during the 1970s and 1980s, claiming the league title eleven times and the European Cup on four occasions during that period. Manchester United however, have dominated the 1990s and 2000s, winning the league title eleven times, a European Continental Treble (European Cup, the Premiership and the FA Cup) in 1999, two domestic Doubles and The European Double of the Premier League and European Cup in 2008.
Both sets of players relish playing against each other and the build up to the match day includes intense mind games with taunts and comments flying around. Wayne Rooney, a product of Liverpool’s city rivals Everton described how, although he is from Liverpool, he grew up hating them. Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard took a film crew on tour of his home where he showed off a collection of football shirts he had swapped with opposing players as part of the after match routine. He pointed out that there was no Manchester United shirt in there and that he would never have one of them in his house. In his autobiography, he also said, “during 90 minutes of football, I want United to die.”

"He hates SCOUSERS"
Gary Neville a.k.a. the “Scouse Hater” has been publicly vocal in the past with regards to his dislike of Liverpool. Following a fixture where John O’Shea scored a stoppage time winner in front of the Kop in 2007, Neville described O’Shea’s achievement as “a lifelong dream” for himself. Neville was booed by Liverpool fans for his role in celebrating in front of them in 2006, kissing the crest on his jersey and appearing to shout angrily towards the fans. The look of passionate hate on his face led to an FA review. He has headbutted Steve McManaman in the past leading to the fans singing a song proclaiming “he hates scousers”.
Nothing drives Sir Alex Ferguson more than this rivalry. During his reign as the United manager, he has seen off Kenny Dalglish, Ronnie Moran, Graeme Souness, Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez and not one of them has won the league on his watch.
The rivalry between the two clubs is so intense that since the 1964 transfer of Phil Chisnall from United to Liverpool, no player has been directly transferred.
The fans of both the teams have been involved in various regrettable incidents too. At the 1996 FA Cup Final, a Liverpool fan spat at Eric Cantona and threw a punch at Alex Ferguson as a victorious Manchester United team walked up the steps at Wembley Stadium to collect the trophy. After an FA Cup match in 2006 between the clubs, an ambulance carrying Alan Smith, who had broken his leg during the match, was attacked on its way to the hospital by Liverpool fans. At Anfield, fans are banned from going near the away team entrance on Match day following an incident in the late 1990′s where a Liverpool fan threw an egg at Alex Ferguson.
To sum up the rivalry, Sir Alex’s comment says it all:
“My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool off their f*****g perch”
2. The Manchester derby:
The rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City goes back a long way, almost as far back as the beginning of football in England. And the two clubs have been contesting a local derby, on and off, for nearly 130 years.
The first derby was played on the 12th of November 1881. A newspaper at the time called the contest “a pleasant match.” In those days the derbies between the two Manchesters lacked the intensity we see today. Indeed, it was common in the first half of the last century for fans in the Manchester area to support both clubs, attending one team’s match one week and the other team’s match the next.
Though with time the matches began to get fiercer. In 1970, for instance, George Best broke the leg of City’s Glyn Pardoe with a tackle. Pardoe’s leg break was so bad doctors feared they’d have to remove it. Pardoe was out of the game for nearly two years as a result of the injury.
In 1974, City’s Mike Doyle and United’s Lou Macari were both red-carded in a derby, yet both refused to leave the field! Only after the referee ordered the teams off the pitch did they finally accept their punishment.
Though there have been some moments that will never be forgotten for their soberness. Denis Law who played for City, then for United and then again for City refused to celebrate his goal for City against United. He was substituted almost immediately after scoring and left the pitch in sadness, his head hanging low. He never played professional club football again and retired from the game soon after.

United vs City games are always full of action and drama
City’s trophy cabinet is a smaller one than United’s and this has made City the second team in Manchester. The results of the Manchester Derby over the years prove United’s dominance. (132 games played, with United winning 52 of them, City 36, and 44 draws.)
In recent years, however, “The Noisy Neighbors” have been making noise with the injection of foreign cash to buy big name players, and their presence in the English Premier League may now be almost taken for granted.
Last season City finished 5th to United’s 2nd, and contended for a higher finish almost the entire campaign.
If the cash-rich City manages to achieve their goal and topple United from their perch as Manchester’s better team, the Manchester Derby will assume a greater importance than ever.
3. Roses Rivalry (vs. Leeds United A.F.C.)
This rivalry is considered to be a sporting manifestation of the established rivalry between the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, which can be traced back to the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars fought between the House of York and the House of Lancaster for the throne of England during the 15th century.
Both sets of fans topped in Hooliganism in the 1970s and their clashes led to some of the most violent clashes in British football. The Industrial Revolution in Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries added fuel to the fire. Manchester’s cotton industry was highly successful and it also ruined the traditional Yorkshire woolen industry, due to cotton being far cheaper to produce. This left the weavers in Yorkshire feeling undercut and a loathing for the new wealth in Manchester began to set in.

The Lancashire Rose

The Yorkshire White
There have been forgettable incidents in the rivalry. In 1994, on the death of Sir Matt Busby, a minute’s silence was held, and impeccably observed, at almost every ground. But not at Ewood Park. There, hundreds of Leeds United fans disrupted the tribute to the formerManchester United manager by chanting: “There’s only one Don Revie.”
The transfers from Leeds of Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen in 1978 made matters worse. Then there was Eric Cantona was transferred from Leeds and became a fan favorite at Old Trafford almost instantly. The hostility directed at Cantona on his returns to Elland Road was palpable. Other notable transfers from Leeds to Manchester include Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith.
4. Battle of Britain (vs. Celtic):
The name is applied to games played between English and Scottish teams. The reason of the rivalry is unknown but theories suggest that the influence and popularity of Manchester United in Ireland has led to both sets of fans getting jealous of each other.Also, two of the most illustrious figures at OT, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex are Scottish and the fact did nothing to reduce the rivalry. Since the two teams are in separate leagues, their on-pitch clashes are limited to Champions League ties.
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