TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Metzelder unlikely to extend Real stay La Liga: Real Madrid defender Christoph Metzelder does not expect his contract to be extended next season guardian.co.uk |
Sir Alex Ferguson furious at Manchester United's dismal FA Cup display • Sir Alex Ferguson will change team for City semi-final• Manchester United manager criticises referee's timekeepingSir Alex Ferguson is ready to make changes after admitting he was shocked by Manchester United's abject performance against Leeds.Jermaine Beckford's first-half goal consigned United to a first third-round FA Cup exit, and their first defeat by lower league opposition, since they were beaten at Bournemouth in 1984.Ferguson could offer no excuse or explanation for his side's defeat, though he could not resist an aside at the referee Chris Foy for adding five minutes' stoppage time at the end of the match. The United manager thought more should have been allowed.Having declared he would rely on many of the younger players involved for the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final at Manchester City on Wednesday, Ferguson has had an immediate change of heart."We have a semi-final on Wednesday night and a lot of these players today won't be playing," he said. "You have to view that performance in its right light. I am shocked by the performance because our preparation for the game was very good. But we never got going. The quality of the passing and whole performance was bad."On Foy's time-keeping after a second-half punctuated by petty disputes and an injury to Beckford, plus five substitutions, Ferguson said: "The referee gave five minutes. That is an insult to the game and the players out there."It also rather deflected from the paucity of the home side's performance, and Ferguson admitted Leeds had shown more determination."Leeds had far bigger appetite than us," admitted the manager. "Human beings can always surprise you but we didn't expect that today. We didn't start right, Leeds got their goal and it was something to hold on to. We spoke about Beckford's pace up front and we were caught napping."Ferguson excused only the substitute Antonio Valencia from criticism, which presumably also included Michael Owen, who had a couple a decent chances to pull United back on level terms but failed to take them."I don't think any of them can say they had a good day," said Ferguson. "It took us 10 minutes to find him but only Valencia can say he had a good performance. You have to get over these kind of results quickly. We have to make sure we are ready for Wednesday."FA CupManchester UnitedSir Alex FergusonLeeds Unitedguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Togo Mourns 2 Killed in Attack on Soccer Team LOME, Togo (AP) -- Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Togo to remember the two victims of an attack on the national soccer team in Angola. feeds.nytimes.com |
Injured Dempsey faces long layoff United States midfielder Clint Dempsey is facing World Cup heartbreak after suffering a serious knee injury in Fulham's 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers. foxsports.com.au |
Manchester City set to unload Robinho at last with loan move to Santos Big money flop could make final Man City appearance in FA Cup tie at Scunthorpe before moving to Brazilian club on loan. telegraph.co.uk |