Is Petr Cech really out for the rest of the season and will it be to our advantage in the PL.

I'm sure they are worried.

Hello all. Just joined and thought id say hello. Utd mad since i was knee high to everything and always will be. Been to a few matches which isnt easy cos im in NI but its worth it. Fav player at the mo has to be Rooney, all time has to be George Best (well he is from here!)

Hi I'm new to this site and not sure how to use it at the mo. Been a Man utd fan since I was a youngster unfortunately not been to many matches as I live in Northern Ireland.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will miss Sunday's Carling Cup final because of a back injury.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said the centre-back "felt a twinge in his back" while training and could not be risked in Tuesday's win over West Ham.

"He's had these before. He won't be playing on Sunday," said Ferguson.

Ferdinand, 31, replaced John Terry as England captain this month but may now not make the squad - to be announced on Sunday - for the friendly with Egypt.

"Rio has been training great - there had been no mishaps at all," said Ferguson, whose team face Aston Villa at Wembley in Sunday's final.

United striker Wayne Rooney added: "We'll see how it is. We know if Rio is fit, he's a top player."

When asked if he might lead England next week if Ferdinand is unavailable, the striker added: "It'd be nice, but Steven Gerrard's vice-captain so it would probably go to him."

Ferdinand had been eligible to play in Tuesday's Premier League game against the Hammers after serving a four-match suspension.

The former West Ham defender was handed a three-game ban, increased to four after making a "frivolous appeal" against it, for violent conduct during a league match at Hull City on 23 January.

That encounter was Ferdinand's first match after a three-month absence because of injury problems.

He had not played since United's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on 25 October and fears had grown over his long-term fitness.

England's game against Egypt at Wembley on 3 March is the final friendly before manager Fabio Capello names his provisional squad for this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.

Source:BBC Sport

DARREN FLETCHER has revealed he came close to leaving Manchester United.
The Scot is now a key midfielder for Alex Ferguson's reigning Premier League champions.

But 18 months ago it was a different story, with Fletcher considering a move away from Old Trafford.

He said: "I was still having doubts because I was in a fairly strong position with only a year left to run on my contract.

"If there was a time to leave it would have been a good opportunity.

"But the manager came to me. The contract talk was put to one side and our discussion was mainly about playing time.

"He said there had been offers but he didn't want me to go.

"I listened to what he had to say and just decided I did have a future at the club.

"Deep down I just wanted to show what I was capable of.

"It was never a case of going on to the pitch worried but maybe it wasn't coming across on the pitch.

"I would have hated to leave having not shown people what I could do.

"That would have been a genuine disappointment, something I would have looked back on and regretted.

"That is what drove me on and what I want to keep maintaining now because I want to be here for the rest of my career.

"I want to leave some sort of mark on the club."


taking time out from my busy day :grin: i came across this lol