Manchester United Blog | The Stretty Rant

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Manchester United kept up their 100% record in this season’s Champions League against German side Wolfsburg but the victory had a huge degree of luck as they had to come from behind.

The team selection prompted a few questions. Was Kuszczak’s selection a sign Foster had been dropped? The decision to play both Giggs and Valencia a similar sign for Nani? The decision to give Carrick and Owen game time seemed slightly straight forward but questions were being asked of the collective unit after an uncertain first 20 minutes in which United discovered that there was more to the German champions than their highly documented strike force.

Continue reading Match Report: Manchester United 2-1 Wolfsburg

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On my way back from the capital earlier this week the long train journey afforded me an indulgence I don’t take too often, that being the reading of the good old fashioned printed word. Of course I keep upto date with all things football but that generally is done either online or via Sky Sports News.

There was an interesting piece in the Telegraph by Henry Winter that was invitingly titled “Premier League missed a trick with Manchester United centenary fixture “. The article is essentially referring to the 100th anniversary of United playing at Old Trafford which is due to be celebrated on the 19th February 2010.

Continue reading Fixture List Manipulation and FA inconsistencies

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What increasingly looked like a banana skin for Manchester United ended up as a comfortable routine 2-0 at Stoke City that sent the Champions to the top of the table for the first time this season, but only thanks to divine intervention that came in the form of two Ryan Giggs’ assists as the Welshman came from the bench to rescue the game.

Continue reading Match Report: Stoke City 0-2 Manchester United

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Manchester United take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow – having won five of their past six games. Stoke City have also had a decent start to the season – beating Burnley (already one thing United haven’t done this season), Bolton and earning a point against newly promoted Birmingham – away from home. The Potters were also unlucky to lose to Chelsea at home – after a late Malouda strike.

United last played Stoke on boxing day last year – where a single Carlos Tevez strike was enough to ensure all three points. United also beat Stoke 5-0 at Old Trafford in November – with Danny Welbeck (pictured above) netting at absolute screamer – right in front of the Stretford End.

Continue reading Match Preview: Stoke City vs. Manchester United

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Don’t you just hate it when you predict something, whether it be the ability of a future international defender such as William Prunier (just for the record – I didn’t do that) to whether your attire on a night out is considered a serious lady magnet (ripped jeans and pulled up socks – always a winner), and it goes horribly wrong? You may recall my foolish write off of Michael Owen last week – indicating that his style of play was from another era that was no match for the ‘technical superiority’ of today’s modern game and even had the cheek to bring Didier Drogba into the equation – good grief. This blog looks at my week in Cyprus, delirious celebrations at Michael Owen’s goal and my groveling explanation of my original comments.

Continue reading Michael Owen, Cyprus and Craig Mc

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- View 2009/10 statistics for Darren Fletcher

Its quite a remarkable rise from a player who was so widely criticised on the terraces, bars and pubs (and the MUTV studios) – in my opinion rather harshly. Darren Fletcher has always a been a good player – a very good player – however, when he was learning his trade United were in transition and was quite often or not made a scapegoat by fans who didn’t appreciate the Scot’s quite brilliant closing down of play combined with at times some excellent passing. His performances in the 2004/05 season – helped to free up Roy Keane and gained him a place in the FA Cup final.

The following article hopes to examine the importance of Fletcher in the team today and how he has improved over time. We will be using screenshots from the Guardian’s excellent Chalkboard - which I encourage every Red to use. This may go horribly wrong but we’ll give it a shot and see what we come up with!

Continue reading Fletcher and his rise in the United ranks

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that his Arsenal team is ‘stronger’ than both Manchester United and Manchester City – despite losing to both teams within the past month. Wenger believes that on the basis of those matches – in which Arsenal conceded six goals and scored three – Arsenal have a claim to be the stronger team. Wenger also cited injuries to key players being a main factor.

Continue reading Wenger: Arsenal are stronger than United

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Carling Cup holders Manchester United, with a complete first XI switch, began the defence of the trophy with a comfortable but unconvincing display against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Continue reading Manchester United 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

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So.. the Carling Cup.

The Football League Cup is a curious animal for United. Just take our last four campaigns – as many humiliations as success stories.

It is a snapshot of our modern history in the competition, particularly since Sir Alex Ferguson (or just plain Alex as he was then) decided to use English football’s second cup as bleeding for his wet behind the ears youth prodigies.

Continue reading United should be proud of League Cup History

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Well, let’s concentrate on the positives. Where are the goals going to come from?

Selling Ronaldo was taking 68 goals out of the team, we were told, and without Tevez’s guile we would struggle. Of course these are just over hyped opinions that had no basis in reality – no team just suddenly scores, for example, 40 goals less. They move on. And just how, with United putting in three performances already this season that were better than anything we saw last year. 15 in the first 6 games compared with 8 last year and and 4 the season before would suggest we’re improving all the time. Going forward we look more industrious, more energetic – more like a team. It may have been missed by everyone given the sensational end but Rooney’s goal made sure he kept up a goal a game average in the league – he has assumed the responsibility laid out to him and is living up to all United supporters hopes.

Continue reading Derby Day Musings

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