Still Following the Trawler

Via  BBC Sport : 20-year-old academy graduate Tyler Blackett has signed a new contract, keeping him at United until June 2017 with the option to extend for a further year. The defender, who was drafter into the first team this season as a result of our injury crisis at the back early on in the season, has made 10 appearances since his debut against Swansea City on the opening day. Louis van Gaal said: "I am delighted that Tyler has signed a new contract. He is another young player that has risen through the Academy system to break into the first-team squad this season. Tyler has great potential and I believe he is at the right club to continue his development and progression to become a great defender." Blackett added: "I'm thrilled to have signed my new contract. I have supported United all my life and have been here since I was eight years old. To come through the Academy and make my debut this season was a dream come true. I want to keep improving within the firs...

So our unbeaten run came to an abrupt end when Swansea completed the double over United for the first time ever. And to top it off, our injury-prone days seem to have made an unwanted return. Joining the potentially injured RVP, who left the Liberty stadium last Saturday on crutches, is James Wilson who suffered a dead leg on Monday's Under 21 game . So it looks like Falcao will return to the side alongside Rooney in attack. I feel the back four I've picked is United's strongest (even though McNair and Rafael - when fit - often prove to be more popular choices for LVG at right back), and Blind sat in the defensive-midfield role is also working well. Herrera should definitely keep his place too after impressing (and scoring) in United's last two games.

Via  the Manchester Evening News : Luke Shaw has today insisted that Old Trafford is indeed the feared arena it once was. While it's clear to see that United are struggling to string a run of solid performances together, we do in fact have one of the best home records this season - second only to top of the league Chelsea. We have won an impressive 10 of our 13 league games at Old Trafford, which is already more than we managed in David Moyes sole campaign (nine, in case you're wondering). "We always get that extra push at home from the fans and they’ve also been amazing away from home as well,"  said the England defender. "At home it’s always different - when teams come to Old Trafford they can feel that atmosphere and it can be a scary place for other teams. "It’s a big pitch and United have always been strong at home and won a lot of games here so that’s a very important factor as well. "I always look forward to playing every game, but we’re especial...

Via  the Express : After last Saturday's awful defeat away to Swansea, Ander Herrera - United's goal scorer in the 2-1 loss - has come out and said that there is no room for error. As United dropped from third to fourth, replaced by Arsenal, he has stated that every game is now the biggest of the season. Speaking about this weekend's game against Sunderland, he said: "I think it's the biggest of the season, the next game is always the biggest. "We can regain third position. Our goal is to be in the top four, to get Champions League football and win the FA Cup - we don’t want to drop out of the top four. "We didn’t beat Sunderland at the start of the season, and now we have a good chance to beat them at home. We respect all our our rivals, but we must start the game on top."

Via  Sky Sports :

Yep. That's right, people. Van Gaal has today come out and said his United side - the same team that ruled themselves out of the title race some time ago, while also being the same side that he has openly admitted have not played well for an entire game since he took over last year - are the best in the Premier League. Here's the quote, supplied by Audio Boom : listen to ‘Van Gaal: "Man U are the best team in the Premier League"’ on audioBoom

Via  Esquire : The Oscar's goody bag, presented every year to the host of the event plus the nominees in the best actor, actress, supporting actor/actress and director categories (21 in total), has always been a thing of infamy, wonderment and excess...for once giving some truth to the term "everone's a winner". And this year, with the prizes valued at $167,586.76 (£109,000) per bag, it has broken all previous records. So what the hell is in such an OTT party bag?? Esquire  have revealed the full list of items: $36 worth of vegan lip gloss. A $68 pack of herbal tea lollipops, wrapped in 24ct edible gold leaf. A $69 traveller's pillow. $75 in Washington state apples. A $250 vibrator. $280 of organic maple syrup, salad dressings and mustard, plus a certificate of adoption for a Maple Tree in Notre-Dame-Des-Bois. A $300 silk tie. 10 sessions with a celebrity trainer, worth $900. $1,200 worth of health products including: skin serum, protein powder, a hair growth stim...

...not football related (obviously) but in anticipation for Sunday's ceremony just thought I'd post this awesome cover, as I think it's bloody superb.

Following on from my post-match blog after the Preston FA Cup win , it's only right I stick to my guns and continue championing the 4-4-2 formation that was deployed so effectively towards the end of the game. The back five is unchanged from the previous match, however with an orthodox four-man midfield I am playing Di Maria on the right ( assuming he is fit ) and Young (who did a good job after coming on against Preston) playing on the left. With Herrera and Blind occupying the central midfield spaces this is the exact midfield four that finished against Preston. Up front I've gone a bit old school. I know LVG is a fan of Fellaini and boasted about his ultimately good decision to play him alongside Rooney in attack, but if Van Persie is fit I say start him. Falcao needs to be left out for a couple of games - I was surprised he started in the Cup, with Wilson my preferred choice. In fact I would say either Wilson or Van Persie should start with Rooney. Anyone but Falcao at the ...

Via  the Manchester Evening News : According to various news sources today United have signed the Belgian 16-year-old Indy Boonen. He has been handed a three year contract after impressing on trial. "He becomes the latest prospect to be given a chance by Louis van Gaal, following the signing of Salford City defender Sadiq El Fitouri and the loan deal for Bolton youngster Andy Kellett," according to the Manchester Evening News. And here is Kristof Terreur, football journalist for Belgian paper 'Het Laatste Nieuws', breaking the news on Twitter ... Story about Indy Boonen in today's newspaper. @hlnsport @HLN_BE pic.twitter.com/6bTPVR9Pmx — Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) February 19, 2015 Indy Boonen: "It's like in a dream. The training sessions are hard, but I don't feel the tiredness when I realize I have signed for #MUFC ." — Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) February 19, 2015 Story about Indy Boonen in today's newspaper. @hlnsport @HLN_B...

So a few things have worried me about van Gaal's latest admission that Marouane Fellaini is United's secret weapon this season. Aside from suggesting that Fellaini, i.e. the scapegoat of last season and representation of Moyes' failed tenure as United manager, is the difference between United succeeding and failing this season; the fact he is bragging about successfully instilling the full effect of said "secret weapon" against Preston is a little embarrassing and raises the question: "would it not have made sense to play this way from the start and thus avoid the potential of being knocked out of the FA Cup by a League One side"? By replacing the doomed Falcao with Young and playing Fellaini up-front alongside Rooney United did indeed experience our most effective period of the game, scoring all three of our goals and, in the end, winning the game comfortably. But the change came only after a poor half of football and Preston going 1-0 at the start of ...

VIDEO: FA Cup: Preston 1 Manchester United 3 (Wayne Rooney 88')

Via  the Telegraph : It has been revealed in today's Telegraph that while on loan at Preston North End, today's FA Cup opponents, in 1995 David Beckham earned only £400 a week, with a £50 bonus for being named in the first-team squad. "David Beckham played down here on loan and I have his contract on my office wall," Paul Bradley, Preston's stadium manager, said. "I was told to get rid of it by a former chairman, but I was sensible enough to keep it." "We have quite an affinity with United. Bobby Charlton also had a spell down here, we have had a few players moving here from United and we also had Fergie junior in charge, although that went a bit sour in the end. "I remember the last time United played here. I came with my dad and my brother and it was in the days when all the children would be passed down to the front, so I sat on the grass at the side of the pitch. "I went home crying, though, because they beat us 2-0. "I just hope ...

15th February, 2003 United 0-2 Arsenal FA Cup 5th Round

The first in a new series, ahead of the weekend’s (or in this case, next Monday’s) game I’ll be making my predicted team selection - feel free to ridicule away in the comments section, or even give it a go yourself on www.footballformation.co.uk . It’s worth noting that these will pretty much always be a reflection of who I think you should play, rather than who is more likely to play - two things that haven’t necessarily gone hand-in-hand with LVG’s team selections this year! Explanation... With Smalling coming on in place of the injured Jones against Burnley during the week - scoring an unlikely brace in the process - he is the obvious starter at CB. Partnering him I have gone for Blackett as LVG has opted for youth at the back in this season's FA Cup (McNair started the previous game against Cambridge United), plus I feel he's due a start. Valencia (rested) and Shaw (suspension) missed the Burnley game so I reckon they will be selected on Monday. In midfield, Blind should ke...

Via  the Daily Mail : He may be only 15 but it looks like young Brooklyn is already taking after pops. Here he is playing for Arsenal's youth team and smashing a worldy off the crossbar...

Every week, as another game approaches, it feels like yet another opportunity for United to turn a corner and show the world that the new United is really just like the old United. Yet it never happens. The romantic football fan in me still gets excited when I see those superstars line-up for United – I had to pinch myself when I saw Falcao, Di Maria, Rooney and Van Persie start together for the first time – yet that feeling of expectation is soon transformed into disappointment. And, just like the performances, to be a United fan is currently unenjoyable and monotonous. So many questions, all beginning with a confused ‘why’, run through my head every time I have watched United play this season. Why is van Gaal so stubbornly sticking with his 3-5-2 formation when his ‘philosophy’ clearly isn’t improving or benefiting the team? Why is our defense, complete with some shiny new acquisitions, still so poor? Why is Herrera consistently left out of the starting XI? Why has it not worked as w...

Via ESPN : Paul Scholes has called some of the football his old club Manchester United are playing under Louis van Gaal "miserable." Van Gaal has taken United to third in the table in his first season in charge, but some critics have had issues with the style of play employed by the Dutchman. Another ex-player, Gary Neville, caused a stir when he compared them to a pub side earlier this season while Scholes -- who won 11 Premier League titles during his long playing career with the club -- also has aired his frustrations about the Dutch coach. Writing in The Independent in the wake of the midweek win over Burnley, the former Old Trafford midfielder said: "Part of being a Manchester United player under Sir Alex Ferguson, perhaps the most important part of being one of United's attacking players, was that when you were in possession you had to take risks in order to create goal-scoring chances. It was not an option; it was an obligation. "In the periods of my ca...

Congratulations to Ander Herrera who wins United's Goal of the Month award for his stunner against Yeovil in the 2-0 FA Cup win. The goal, voted by United fans on www.ManUtd.com, obtained a whopping 77% of all votes. Here's how the rest of the voting went... Herrera vs. Yeovil (FA Cup) = 77% Robin van Persie vs. Leicester City = 11% Marouane Fellaini vs. QPR = 4% And here's a reminder of the winning strike: width="620" height="510" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=https://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?requiressl%3Dyes%26id%3Dd7975910e40fd235%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsecure_transport%253Dyes%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1500722715%26sparams%3Drequiressl,id,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D546B7ABD4E0FF6BAD2141A6E64CC2FAA3E7F19A1.8C90B1E8CD4ECF51C9AF96BB97A71F5E728C0CB0%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger...

That's the story that's making the rounds today. However by the looks of it he won't be heading back to United after his loan spell with Real Madrid comes to an end. Well, not Manchester United anyway... Via the Independent : West Ham are hoping they can sign Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez. The Mexican is currently on loan with Real Madrid where he has scored four goals in 16 appearances but his lack of game time suggests the 26-year-old will not be kept on beyond this season. Louis van Gaal has a wealth of options at his disposal at Old Trafford meaning Hernandez could slip between the two clubs. According to Spanish newspaper AS, West Ham are monitoring the situation. Hernandez has 18 months left on his United contract.

Via the BBC : Manchester United has said that its revenue fell by 12.2% to £194.4m for the six months to the end of December. The Old Trafford club lost out on payments from Nike for failing to qualify for the Uefa Champions League.  Sharp falls in broadcast and match-day revenues meant profits for the six-month period were down 52%, at £8.9m.  The club said the decline was offset by a 23% increase in new sponsorship revenues to £35.8m.  Club boss Ed Woodward said: "Notwithstanding no European football this season, our revenues... remain strong.  "On the pitch, the team is well positioned to challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League and we look forward to the rest of the season."

Following on from Big Sam Allardyce's claim that United scored our late equaliser against the Hammers through deploying the dreaded long-ball tactic , van Gaal proceeded to respond in rather bizarre fashion - by producing a four-page dossier . As he delighted in showing his pretty document to all his friends in the media, proving that it was indeed West Ham that played a more direct, long-ball style during Sunday's 1-1 draw, I couldn't help but hide my face in embarrassment and remember this... For someone as established and respected as van Gaal to allow the likes of of Big Sam - who's honours include (and end with) losing the 2004 League Cup final - get under his skin is extremely worrying. And yesterday's display just made him look a little worried and distracted; as Benitez did in 2009. There is no denying that the man is a bit of a narcissist and someone supremely concerned with his own style and 'philosophy' as a manager, but really would it not have b...

SHANGHAI, February 11, 2015 – American sports are celebrating after receiving seven Nominations for the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards. US sporting giants of today and brilliant young prospects for the future have been selected from a ballot by the world’s media. American tennis giant Serena Williams could win a record tying fourth Laureus Award after being nominated again as Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, after winning her 18th career Grand Slam at the US Open to draw level with Laureus World Academy Member Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. Brilliant young skier Mikaela Shiffrin, who became the youngest Olympic slalom champion at 18 years 345 days, is on the shortlist for Laureus Breakthrough of the Year, while NBA champions San Antonio Spurs are nominated for the Laureus Team of the Year Award after gaining their revenge over Miami Heat. Once again the US dominates the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year category with nominations for skateboarder Nyjah Huston,...

After 12 years with the club, making 342 appearances and winning five Titles, two League Cups, an FA cup and a Champions League title, Darren Fletcher has left United for West Brom on a free. A rock in United's midfield in our successful 2007/08 and 2008/09 campaigns, many United fans believe that Fletch's ridiculous and completely unjust red card  against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final second leg, and resulting ban from the final, was the reason we failed so miserably to control Barca's midfield in the final - eventually losing the game 2-0. Fletcher's last few years at the club were hampered by ulcerative colitis, a crippling illness that kept him out for a number of months and resulted in him making only 11 appearance between 2011 and 2013. Thankfully he made a full recovery and his importance in the side was pinpointed by Sir Alex in his farewell speech on the final day of the 2012/13 season. As new managers replaced Sir Alex, first Moyes and now Van Ga...