O'Shea is also doubtful with a calf strain. I was puzzled why he came off against Sunderland, now I know why.
Midfielder Nicky Butt is hoping to return to action for Manchester United next week. Probably not against Portsmouth.
20 year old Frenchman and Sunderland striker David Bellion is linked with a 3 mil move to Old Trafford according to the Manchester Evening News and The Sun.
BBC article: Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has dismissed reports linking him with a return to Italian football - for the time being.
I was beginning to get worried. There hasn't been a "Veron linked with return to Lazio" story in over a month.
Actually, there hasnt been many rumours of United players moving out for a while, until the Giggs stuff popped up. I
giggs wont go anywhere i will admit hes needed a kick up the arse but the boy is class. i think hell come in to form now hes looking sharper but needs to take people on a bit more . come on giggs we are still behind you welsh wizard
Manchester United will dig up their troublesome pitch on Wednesday for the second time in two months. The new pitch will cost £100,000 and United face a race against time to get it ready for the Manchester derby against City on 9 February.
seen the pitch being ripped up what a waste of money doing it again in the summer why dont they do a good job in the first place .look at some lower league side some of them have great pitches, with no money. i agree we need the best surface for our style of football but get our act together with that pitch bring on the scum cant wait come on you reds
Turfing United can throw money at the pitch till the cows come home, but it will rip up again quickly. Problem is, there is not enough undersoil for the grass to get its roots into (Its a grass-roots problem!). Apparently, if there was another inch of soil, Unite could have one of the best pitches around. I am only telling you what an agriculture specialist told me...
another grass theory According to a groundskeeper I saw on tv the problem with Old Trafford and other stadiums is that there is not enough air circulation inside the stadium.
Actually, I hear it's because the stands are so high, not enough direct sunlight can get through to the pitch to keep it healthy...
Its diddly to do with sunlight. After all, a lot of the new stands have the glass panels to let sunlight through. Its to do with air circulation. And another problem is that the pitches are not deep enough. OT has a pitch about an inch and a half thick where the grass can root. This is not enough. If there where another inch of soil, then the grass could root properly, and not cut up as bad as it does.
Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero will miss both Champions League matches against Manchester United. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/news/Kind=1/newsId=52208.html
BBC article: Inter Milan have moved to end speculation linking them with a move for Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs.
BBC link: Manchester United skipper Roy Keane says his hip injury will force him to retire "sooner rather than later".
Cantona tips United for title "I believe the United players are stronger mentally and with the pressure of the Championship they are better equipped for the few games remaining before the end of the season."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was today fined £4,600 (10,000 Swiss francs) by UEFA for his remarks suggesting the Champions League quarter-finals draw may have been fixed. BFD
New Signing 'Manchester United have signed Anderlecht youngster Floribert Ngalula. United have agreed a four-year contract with the highly-rated Belgian Under-16 international, beating off competition from Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Bolton. The defensive midfielder is the younger brother of current Anderlect defender Junior Ngalula and is a product of the club's youth system, but turned down the offer of a contract there.