Carling Cup - Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace - All goals

Carling Cup - Manchester  United 2-1 Crystal Palace   - All goals

Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United - All goals

Manchester  United 1-1 Newcastle United - All goals

Manchester United 2-2 Benfica - All goals

Manchester  United 2-2 Benfica - All goals

Manchester United -Swansea City 1-0 Javier Hernandez Goal

Man United Sign 5 Year Old Football Prodigy

Man United Sign 5 Year Old Football Prodigy

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They say football is a man’s game but Charlie Jackson is proving them wrong – after being spotted by Manchester United at the age of three.

The soccer whizkid, from Denton, wowed Reds scouts with his control and movement and was earmarked as a future star.

But it wasn’t until he was five that United decided he was old enough to join them for training at their development centre.

Now Charlie, who trains with top-rated youngsters almost all a year older than him, is being touted by coaches as a potential superstar of the future.

And his parents couldn’t be prouder to see him with United – even though they, like him, are massive City fans!

Charlie was spotted at three while training with Footytotz, a community football programme for boys and girls.

The United scouts singled him out but said he was too young to join them.

Two years later they returned and snapped up Charlie.

Dad Andy, 38 – who has a season ticket at the Etihad Stadium – admitted it had taken a bit of persuasion to get Charlie to wear the United badge.

Andy said: “His idols are Joe Hart and Mario Balotelli and at first he was mortified that he was having to train with United - but he seems to be getting over that a bit now. 

“He loves training with the club and it’s an amazing opportunity for him.

“Everywhere we go people notice him because of his football talent, whether  it’s on the park or on holiday. 

“People just stand there and watch him – they can’t believe he’s only five because he’s so good.

“He has power in his left and right foot. For a little boy he’s so strong, he’s unbelievable. Me and my wife had to get him a bicycle to try to divert his attention because he was getting so obsessed with football.”

Charlie lives with dad Andy, mum Claire, 38, and older brother Jake, 12, in Reid Close, Denton. He combines training with United once a week with Footytotz in Denton, which provides coaching for children aged two to five, and classes at Manor Park Primary School.

Financial accountant Andy added: “My wife mithered me to take him to Footytotz to begin with because she thought he was really good and was sick of him running around the house with a ball. 

“It ended up being the best thing we ever did.

“We haven’t set him any long-term goals. The moment he stops enjoying football is the moment we look at doing something else with him. 

“There’s no pressure on him at all but it would be nice if he plays for City one day.”

Cristiano Ronaldo The Man United Years - Dribbles

Cristiano Ronaldo The Man United Years - Dribbles

Napoli target Manchester United striker Berbatov

According to reports Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis is monitoring the situation of Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgaria international comes off contract in June, though United have the option to extend it for a further year.

De Laurentiis is interested in bringing Berbatov to Italy in January in the event they become under increasing pressure to sell star man Edinson Cavani.

PSG and Galatasaray are also interested in Berbatov.

Manchester United accept Nemanja Vidic’s two-match Champions League ban

Nemanja Vidic will miss Manchester United’s Champions League clash against Benfica next Tuesday following the club’s decision not to appeal against the defender’s two-match ban for a red card against Otelul Galati last month.

Vidic was dismissed by German referee Felix Brych for a late challenge on Galati forward Gabriel Giurgiu during the 2-0 victory in Bucharest, prompting Uefa officials on duty at the game to confirm that the Serbian would receive an automatic one-match suspension as punishment.

Uefa contacted Manchester United prior to the home fixture against Galati earlier this month, however, to inform the club that Vidic would instead be banned for two games as a result of the challenge.

With Chris Smalling sidelined with a broken foot, Vidic’s absence against Benfica could prove costly if United suffer further defensive injury problems against Swansea City this weekend.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson initially described Vidic’s dismissal as “very harsh”, before conceding: “I can understand the referee’s interpretation because German football is different to England.”

United have therefore opted not to contest the decision when Uefa’s disciplinary review panel sits in Nyon on Thursday. United can secure qualification for the Champions League knockout stages if they defeat Benfica at Old Trafford.

Off the field, United’s financial productivity remains healthy, however, following the release of quarterly accounts which revealed a 16.5 per cent rise in first-quarter turnover.

Although United reported a first-quarter loss of £6.9million as a result of rising financing costs, the figures revealed growth in all areas, with the commercial side benefiting from the £40million sponsorship deal with DHL.

Media revenues were up from £19.4million to £22.6million, largely thanks to United’s status as Premier League champions ensuring they get a larger share of the Champions League pot, and a lucrative five-match tour of the United States.

In addition, matchday income has also grown 9.6 per cent to £21.6million, thanks to the first complete sell-out of seasonal hospitality boxes since the Old Trafford quadrants were completed in 2006. United’s gross debt now stands at £433.2million.

The club have reported a reduction in cash reserves from £151.7million at the end of last season to £65million following summer investment in the squad and stadium.

To mark Sir Alex's 25th anniversary as United manager, we relive a few memorable moments from an illustrious career...

Manager since: 6 November 1986

Games: 1409 (won 836, drawn 326, lost 247)

Honours

Premier League: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011

FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004

League Cup: 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010

Champions League: 1999, 2008

Club World Cup: 2008

Super Cup: 1992

Cup Winners' Cup: 1991

Inter-Continental Cup: 1999

Charity / Community Shield: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

  Video: Sir Alex's era

Sunday 6 November 2011 is Sir Alex Ferguson's 25th anniversary in charge of Manchester United.
To mark that incredible milestone, and to honour the myriad achievements of the most successful manager in the game, we've produced the video above.

It looks back at some of Sir Alex’s finest moments (there are so many to choose from!) in his quarter-century at the helm at Old Trafford.
Enjoy, and here’s to many more triumphs with the Reds before the manager’s remarkable career comes to an end. Well done, Sir Alex.

On 9 Novembre 2003 : Liverpool 1 Manchester United 2

Barclays Premiership, 09.11.03

Anfield, Attendance: 44,159

LIVERPOOL 1

(Kewell 76)

UNITED 2 

(Giggs 59 70)

United: Howard, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea, Fortune (Fletcher 83), Phil Neville, Keane, Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Forlan. Subs not used: Carroll, Ronaldo, Butt, Djemba-Djemba.

On this day eight years ago, two goals from Ryan Giggs earned the Reds a sweet 2-1 success at Liverpool.
The Welshman broke the deadlock just before the hour mark when his left-footed cross curled straight into the net past Jerzy Dudek. A second provided some breathing space as he collected a Diego Forlan centre and fired home via Dudek and the bar.
Harry Kewell, who had mustered a couple of efforts with the scoreline still at 0-0, pulled one back for the Merseysiders and the Reds were grateful that Emile Heskey spurned a glorious injury-time opening when an equaliser looked on the cards.
Check out the video and recall the action from Anfield.

Sunderland vs Manchester United - 0-1

 Sunderland vs Manchester United - 0-1 - All Goals

On the eve of Sir Alex's 25th anniversary in charge of Manchester United, the Reds boss celebrated in a manner he's become so accustomed to down the years: by guiding his team to victory. 

Rather cruelly for Wes Brown, though, it was his gift of an own goal, on his first visit back to Old Trafford after leaving for Sunderland in the summer, that settled the contest.

At full-time, United had moved to within two points of Manchester City, albeit without displaying much of the artistry and adventure that has characterised so many of Sir Alex's sides down the years.

It was certainly a day of big gestures and grand tributes, though. A giant banner was hung the length of the Stretford End, supporters received commemorative tribute magazines and Sir Alex himself was paraded before Old Trafford before kick-off, entering the pith through a guard of honour formed by the two teams.

Then came a bombshell: the club, for the first time in the stadium's 101-year history, had taken the extraordinary step of renaming one of its stands after an individual. Fittingly, Old Trafford's grandest structure, the hulking 26,000-capacity North Stand, that will now be known as the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand.

Of course, all this pomp and pageantry was just a prelude to the main event: a Barclays Premier League game the Reds  were desperate to win. The contest began badly for Sunderland striker Conor Wickham, though,

Otelul Galati vs Manchester United - 0-2 - All Goals

 Otelul Galati vs Manchester United - 0-2 - All Goals