Author: isport

Manchester United vs. Newcastle United

Top of the table Manchester United host Newcastle United on Boxing Day, hoping to return to winning ways after dropping points last time out against Swansea City.

Sunday’s draw was the Red Devil’s first of the season, and the result saw their lead at the top cut to just four points following Manchester City’s late winner against Reading a day before.

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to make several changes to his starting line-up, with Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Darren Fletcher all in contention, though Rafael may miss out through injury.

Top scorer Robin Van Persie is the 4.0 (3/1) favourite to get the first goal of the game, just ahead of Wayne Rooney who is a 5.0 (4/1) shot with Ladbrokes.

The hosts are odds on at a best price of 1.25 (1/4), with Newcastle as highly priced as 13.0 (12/1). The draw is widely available 6.5 (11/2).

The visitors ended a run of three straight defeats with a 1-0 victory over struggling Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, and now sit in fourteenth place, five points above the relegation zone.

Alan Pardew will be without Check Tiote who serves a one match ban while Hatem Ben Arfa, Steven Taylor, Yohan Cabaye and Ryan Taylor are all out injured.

Top scorer Demba Ba is generously priced with some firms at 13.0 (12/1) to score first while Shoala Ameobi, who got his first league goal of the season at the weekend is 19.0 (18/1) with Bet 365.

VALENCIA BACKS RVP

The Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia has said that he feels that the former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie will surely score against his former club when Manchester United and Arsenal meet each other at Old Trafford this weekend.

The Dutchman made his £ 24 million move from North London to Manchester in the summer, and he will be coming up against his former club for the first time since doing so. Hence, he is extremely motivated in training in order to score at least three goals according to the Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia.

Robin van Persie has had a very good start since completing the move from Arsenal after he has already scored nine goals in the Premier league alone. However, he will score even more goals in the future and in the match against Arsenal according to Valencia. The incredible form of the 27-year-old has been able to keep Nani out of the first team action. It is also rumoured to be extremely close to getting Nani out of Old Trafford in the summer. Valencia, though, has said that he is happy to be a basis by the manager, and has confirmed that every selection is down to the manager alone.

“RVP is a big forward. No one can question his quality or experience of the game in England. He merged quickly into our system and has maintained his great record. But this week I’ve noticed how focused he has been. Robin has been 100 per cent professional from day one. But there is no doubt facing Arsenal is a very special match for him. I am convinced he is heading for a big day. Selection is down to the manager,” said Valencia ahead of Arsenal match. Manchester United can top of the table if results go their way.

VALENCIA NOT 100 PERCENT YET

The manager of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, has made it clear that Antonio Valencia isn’t 100% fit at the moment and there is not much possibility of him being a part of the team in the match against the Spurs on Saturday. Valencia had discovered an ankle injury while playing in the match against Liverpool last Sunday.

In the Press conference ahead of the Saturday’s clash, Ferguson said, “I am not sure if Valencia would be able to get fit before the match. He is still feeling some pain in his ankle. But, fortunately, there is no fracture. So, we can expect him to come back in a few days. If he doesn’t get fit for Saturday’s match, he would definitely make it for the Champions League match against CFR Cluj-Napoca.

The two star strikers of Manchester United, Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney, haven’t started any match together in the ongoing season so far. But, Alex Ferguson hinted that these two high-profile players might be included in the Starting line up together for Saturday’s match. The Manchester United manager said, “Robin and Wayne are high class players, there is no doubt about that. They haven’t yet started any match together because of Wayne’s fitness problems, but, there is a good possibility of both of them being included in the first XI on Saturday.”

When asked whether he is concerned about the defense of the team, Ferguson said, “We are hugely hampered by the injury of some of our senior defenders. Nemanja Vidic’s injury is a big blow for us. But, the two youngsters who were given the chance against Newcastle played quite decently. Tottenham would be a slightly tougher opposition, but, I have got full faith in these young boys and hopefully, they would deliver in Saturday’s match.”

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VALENCIA IS PERFECT 7

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has said that Antonio Valencia is the perfect man to get the famous No.7 shirt at Manchester United.

After the departure of Michael Owen from the club in the summer, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to hand this famous shirt in the former Wigan athletic man, who has been in imperious form since arriving at the club in 2010.

The Ecuadorian winger was a £ 16 million signing from Wigan back in 2010. He has been wearing the No.25 shirt number up until now. Some of the iconic names who have worn the No.7 at Manchester United include the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and Eric Cantona.

Gary Neville, who announced his retirement from professional football recently, has said that Antonio Valencia is the perfect man to take over the mantle of wearing the No.7. Michael Owen was one of the lesser successful players to have worn this shirt number, but Gary Neville thinks that Antonio Valencia would be a perfect fit. Most of the players who have been using the No.7 at Old Trafford have been wingers like Antonio Valencia according to Gary Neville. Despite being injured for most of the last season, Valencia made a great impact whenever he played.

“He’s been a fantastic signing for United and thoroughly deserves that No.7 shirt. Having played with him for a year or two, I can tell you he’s a brilliant footballer, especially to play behind as a right-back. He does the right things at the right time, he works back to help out when you don’t have the ball, he delivers good crosses and he can beat a man,” said Gary Neville on the official site of Manchester United. Neville also expects Valencia to provide around 15 goals per season for the team.

Antonio Valencia – United’s unsung hero

Many eyebrows were raised when Alex Ferguson brought in Antonio Valencia to replace the outgoing Christiano Ronaldo in 2009.

Although Valencia was never going to emulate the quality of Ronaldo, he has certainly taken the step up wonderfully.

The 26 year old Ecuadorian has been exceptional this season, contribution more assists than any other United player, with only David Silva equalling Valencia for assists in the whole premier league.

The Winger plays with a style that few possess in the modern game. Without grabbing the limelight, Valencia is a very unselfish player who ghost behind full backs and is a superb crosser of the ball. He has been one of the more consistent players at old Trafford providing ammunition for Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck who have had contributed to the goal scoring this year.

Valencia has become a fan favourite as he combined his high level of skill with hard work on and off the ball as he is not afraid to work back. In many ways he characterises United’s fierce team work-ethic. He is the personification of the Manchester philosophy of excellence that is built on collective responsibility rather than individual brilliance.

It is of no surprise that he was included in Garth Crooks BBC team of the year and many have suggested he has been hard done by not to make the PFA official team of the season. In many ways Valencia is the unsung hero of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team. The Winger has said he is ready to prove himself once again year and with United lining up to take back the Premier league title from Manchester City, it will be players like Valencia who will be the big contributors to making that happen.

VALENCIA WELCOMED BACK

Antonio Valencia was a crucial figure in the Manchester United team that returned to form with a 4-1 win over Wolves during the weekend.

Manchester United had just been knocked out of the Champions League following the 2-1 defeat at the hands of FC Basel. Many predicted that Manchester United were not good enough to challenge for the top honours anymore, but Antonio Valencia proved that most of the predictions were baseless. Manchester United are produced a stunning performance, which began with the goal from Nani early on in the match.

Antonio Valencia was the chief creator of the goal as his has provided Nani with the opportunity to strike from distance. Wayne Rooney soon doubled Manchester United’s lead as they went into half-time with a 2-0 lead. Manchester United soon increased their advantage in the second half when both Nani and Wayne Rooney scored once again after Steven Fletcher had given Manchester United a small scare early on in the second half.

Antonio Valencia has just returned from injury and has played in a few first-team matches, but Sir Alex Ferguson would not have expected his Ecuadorian winger to be such an influence within a short space of time.

“I don’t understand people doubting these players. They have played for their country – [Danny] Welbeck, [Chris] Smalling, [Phil] Jones – so if they are not that good, why are England playing them?,” Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson responded after being questioned about the quality of the younger players at Manchester United earlier in the week. Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane was at the heart of such questions, and Sir Alex Ferguson also had a dig at his former player. Manchester United were condemned into playing in the Europa League after being knocked out of the Champions League by FC Basel.

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