Question of the day - can West Brom count?

The answer, sadly, is no. The eagle eyed among you may have noticed this from its official website.

“Eleven games are set to be ‘category A’ and priced at £40 adults, £25 seniors and £20 seniors, young adults and students, and £15 juniors (under 16s).”

Unsurprisingly, United’s trip to the Hawthorns on Tuesday January 27 is a category A game.

So why are the 2,400 tickets we’ve got priced at £42 for adults?

Even more intriguingly, Newcastle are the next team after United to play West Brom and it’s a category A fixture and – guess how much they are paying.

Yep, that’s right, £40.

Sure, you can argue it’s only £2, but, as anyone who coughed up £35 for Birmingham away games a few years back, £35 as a habit of becoming £40 and then £45 and £49.

Also, why are West Brom/United not offering the concessionary price of £25 to young adults and students?

It’s been allowed for the Southampton game, so why not West Brom?

Anyway, if you would like to apply, executive members have from now until 8am on Monday by calling 0161 868 800 and choosing option 1.

Season ticket holders have 48 hours to apply from 8am on January 7 online or by phone (see above).

It's interesting to note that manutd.com says nothing about season ticket holders having to have attended automatic cup scheme games.

Results will be out on January 12.

Southampton travel guide

Southampton
St Mary's Stadium
FA Cup Round 3
Sunday January 4, kick off 4pm

Tickets
Out of a 32,689-capacity stadium, United got 4,700 tickets.

They cost £30 for adults, £20 for over 65s and for students and £15 for under 16s

All of them have been sold and have been posted out.

Though it's sold out, a fair few spare tickets should be available in pubs around the ground on match day and on United message boards beforehand.

TV
The match will be shown live on Setanta Sports at 4pm and the programme begins at 3pm.

Travel

We recommend: If you can't drive or get a lift, take the official coach down. It might take five hours, but £30 is pretty good compared to the extortionate train fare. But if you are going by train, go back from St Denys station.

Car - £52.22

If you're looking for road directions to the ground using a Sat Nav or a routeplanner, use the postcode SO14 5FP.

The journey takes about four hours and is 236 miles each way, costing £26.11 in petrol, plus £8 if you choose to go on the M6 toll road.

Parking wise, it's similar to Stoke:
There is hardly any parking at the ground. It is recommended that you buy a parking ticket from Southampton in advance by calling 0845 688 9288.

There are no places to park for free near the ground and your car will get towed/a ticket if you park illegally.

You can park in a paid-for car park in Southampton city centre. It will typically cost £5 and it's a 20-minute walk to the ground. Be warned though, you'll spend about an hour getting to the motorway after the game from here.

The best spot to park in is the Marina, which again costs £5, has pubs and food places and is a 10-minute walk to the ground. It's much quicker to reach the motorway from here.

If you get off the M27 at Junction 8, you can either use the free park-and-ride away fans' buses clearly signposted opposite a Tesco supermarket that take you right to the ground.

Or you can get off at the same junction and follow the A3025 to Woolston on the other side of the Itchen Toll Bridge.

There are free parking spots there and it's a 20-minute walk to the stadium

Train - £88.70

There is one direct train to Southampton. The rest are indirect and one delay and you could well be missing the match, but there is a perfectly timed direct train back.

You're looking at a five-hour journey time typically though.

All one-way services cost £44.35. Ask for an off-peak single.

Manchester Piccadilly to Southampton Central

Option 1

Leave Manchester: 08:27

Arrive Southampton: 13: 42

Option 2

Leave Manchester: 08:27

Arrive Reading: 11:40

Leave Reading: 11:50 THIS IS A BUS SERVICE

Arrive Winchester: 13:04

Leave Winchester: 13:11 Arrive Southampton: 13: 36

Option 3
Leave Manchester: 09:20
Arrive London Euston: 12:07
Leave London Euston: 12:07 THIS IS A TUBE SERVICE
Arrive London Victoria: 12:30
Leave London Victoria: 12:47
Arrive Clapham Junction: 12:52
Leave Clapham Junction: 13:03
Arrive Southampton: 15:01

Option 4
Leave Manchester: 09:27
Arrive Birmingham New Street: 10:58
Leave Birmingham New Street: 11:12
Arrive Bristol Temple Meads: 12:37
Leave Bristol Temple Meads 13:10
Arrive Southampton: 15:20

From the station, it's a 30-minute walk to the ground, though there is a shuttle bus that leaves from outside the station.

To walk, turn left out of the station' s southern entrance and walk up Western Esplanade, which becomes Civic Centre Road.

Remain on the Civic Centre Road and walk between the Civic Centre and the Marlands Shopping Centre.

Eventually a crossroads is reached with the Nationwide Building Society on one corner and Lloyds Bank on another.

Cross into New Road and follow this road across a park and past a college. Eventually you will reach a complex road junction with a number of traffic lights.

Cross Kings Way into Northam Road and follow this road for quarter of a mile until you reach the ground on your right.

Southampton Central to Manchester Piccadilly

Option 1
Leave Southampton: 18:25
Arrive Basingstoke: 18:58
Leave Basingstoke: 19:07
Arrive Reading: 19:30
Leave Reading: 19:40
Arrive Birmingham New Street: 21:20
Leave Birmingham New Street: 21:38
Arrive Manchester: 23:13

Option 2
Leave Southampton: 19:15
Arrive Manchester: 23:40

Option 3
Leave Southampton: 20:15
Arrive Coventry: 22:22
Leave Coventry: 22:51
Arrive Rugby: 23:03
Leave Rugby: 23:19
Arrive Manchester: 00:58

St Deny's station is a 20-minute walk from the ground. It won't give you a better way to the stadium than the ones above, but it will give you a decent way back away from the crowds.

Option 1
Leave St Deny's: 18:04
Arrive Southampton Airport Parkway: 18:09
Leave Southampton Airport Parkway: 18:22
Arrive Manchester: 22:40

Option 2
Leave St Deny's: 19:04
Arrive Southampton Airport Parkway: 19:09
Leave Southampton Airport Parkway: 19:22
Arrive Manchester: 23:40

From the stadium to St Deny's station
It's a 25-minute walk. From the North Stand. go through the underpass which brings you out onto Radcliffe Road.

Pass the mosque and the road changes into Mount Pleasant Road. Turn right into Dukes Road and keep walking past the industrial units and Mount Pleasant School.

Turn right onto Dukes Road and go over the Horshoe Bridge which goes over the railway line. Pass the Junction inn and the South Western Arms Pub and you'll reach the station.

Official coach - £30
The club is running coaches leaving from the W2 car park at Old Trafford at 9.30am and is due to return by 11pm. Places cost £30 per person. Book here.

Public coach - £62.50
National Express runs services from Manchester to Southampton with a change in Birmingham, but you're looking at a journey of more than eight hours each way. It costs £62.50 return.

Leave Chorlton Street: 07:15
Arrive Birmingham: 10:10
Leave Birmingham: 11:15
Arrive Southampton Coach Station: 15:20

Leave Southampton Coach Station: 18:15
Arrive London: 20:50
Leave London: 22:30
Arrive Chorlton Street: 02:30

There are no Megabus services that fit in with the match.

Plane - £200
You can fly direct from Manchester to Southampton and back on flybe. There are flights there on the day of the game, but you can only fly back the day after.

Manchester to Southampton
Sunday
Leave: 14:00
Arrive: 15:00
One-way price: £85.64

You can get a train from Southampton Airport Parkway to St Deny's, which takes six minutes.

Southampton to Manchester
Monday
Leave: 06:50
Arrive: 08:00
One-way price: £113.34

Leave: 08:30
Arrive: 09:35
One-way price: £96.24

Leave: 11:10
Arrive: 12:10
One-way price: £75.34

Leave: 15:25
Arrive: 16.30
One-way price: £75.34

Stoke 0-1 United

Highlights

Our end

Police issue Stoke travel guidance

The following was issued by Staffordshire Police today:

Football fans travelling to Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium this Boxing Day, Friday 26 December, are being urged to allow plenty of time for their journey.

The televised match gets underway at the Britannia Stadium at 12.45pm.

Superintendent Andy Franks, match commander, said: “With no train travel on Boxing Day and another capacity crowd at the Britannia Stadium I would advise all fans to allow plenty of time to travel as we are expecting congestion on all routes around the Britannia Stadium.

“Car drivers may have difficulty finding a suitable parking space near the ground as there is only a limited amount of car parking.

“Fans are reminded that cars parked illegally on grass verges surrounding the football stadium will be towed away.

“I would also ask local motorists to steer clear of the area before and after the match to prevent any delay to their own journey as well as help ease the expected traffic congestion.

“I particularly ask for fans to be patient after the match as the police balance public safety and the maintenance of public order with the need to ease the traffic congestion at the earliest opportunity.

“We know that people want to get back home as soon as possible, this however must be balanced against our other priorities of maintaining order.

“I thank fans in advance for their patience and understanding with regard to this.”

All fans are asked to note that cars parked illegally on grass verges surrounding the football stadium will be towed away with owners having to pay around £150 to get their vehicle back.

Advice on getting to the Britannia Stadium can be found by visiting www.staffordshire.police.uk/football where a downloadable map and leaflet is available.

Stoke City travel guide

Stoke
Britannia Stadium
Friday, December 26, kick off 12:45pm

Tickets

Stoke’s stadium holds 28,383, United have got 2,800 tickets priced at £35 adults, £24 for over 65s, £20 for under 17s and £17 for under 11s.

All tickets have been sold and you can find out if you have one by checking your online booking history or by calling 0161 868 8000.

Home end tickets are also sold out. Internet touts are charging £262.90 for tickets.

TV
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports 1. The programme starts at 12.30pm.

No MUST Chub Club event has been announced yet but we’ll post it here if there is one.

Travel
We recommend: Travel by coach, minibus or car as there is no public transport on Boxing Day.

Car – £15.82
http://www.greenflag.com/routeplanning/
If you’re using a sat nav or a routeplanner, use the postcode ST4 4EG.

The journey takes 55 minutes, which is 48 miles and should cost £7.81 on average in petrol in each direction.

The standard route is south on the M6, exit at junction 16, then take the A500 and the A50.

Parking at the stadium is pretty difficult as, in a similar way to Bolton’s Reebok Stadium it’s in the middle of nowhere, only there are few surrounding streets in which to park.

So you can either

1. Park in the city centre and do the 15-minute walk to and from the stadium

2. Buy a parking pass for £4 from Stoke for the South and Trent Car Parks in advance on 0871 663 2007.

You can’t pay for parking on the day. Access these car parks via the A50 or Trentham Road.

3. Park on the Power League complex in between the stadium and the academy tent.

There are only a few hundred places, priced at £4, so arrive early. It’s a pay and display car park.

4. Park at Heron Cross School and Bowling Club. There a few hundred spaces priced at £1.50.

It is on the other side of the A50 to the stadium, next to the footbridge.

To get to it, pass the stadium on your right and come off at the slip road signposted Heron Cross. Turn left and you will come to some traffic lights.

At those lights, turn left (following signs for Stoke) and half a mile down the road you can turn right into this car park.

Train
There are no trains running on the day of the game

Club coach
United are running coaches to the game with places priced at £17 per person. They leave from the W2 car park at 9.45am and expect to be back at 4.45pm. To book click here.

Other coaches

Red Issue/UWS will be running a coach to the game, with places available to be booked through the usual channels.

Neither Megabus or National Express run services on Boxing Day.

Pubs

Unfortunately, we can’t recommend any pubs because of the likelihood of trouble at this game.

But this might change, as Staffordshire Police are set to issue guidelines for fans in tomorrow.

United crowned world champions!

Amidst all this talk of Japan and Milan…

…let us not forget our domestic commitments over the Christmas period and into the New Year. So here’s a brief housekeeping update:


Stoke in the league on Friday December 26. All tickets have been sold and tickets have been sent out.

There’s no public transport for this game so book your parking tickets from Stoke City in advance by calling 0871 663 2007. Go here for more details about parking.

A full travel guide will be posted on Monday.



Southampton in the FA Cup on Sunday January 4. All tickets have been sold and tickets have been sent out.

A full travel guide will be posted on Tuesday.





Derby in the Carling Cup on Wednesday January 7.

All tickets have been sold and tickets will be sent out shortly.

A full travel guide will be posted after Christmas.




Bolton in the league on Saturday January 17.

United have got 2,800 tickets for this game, costing £27 for adults, £21 for over 65s and £13 for under 16s.

Box holders and executive members can apply by post or by calling 0161 868 800 (option 1) from 8am on Monday through to 8pm on Boxing Day.

Season ticket holders who went to the home cup games against Middlesbrough, QPR, Villareal, Celtic and Blackburn can apply online here by phone from 8am on December 29 until 8am on December 31.

Results will be out on January 2. A travel guide will be posted in the New Year.

Readers' questions - Milan

Q. I’m considering booking on easyJet from Liverpool to Nice for the Inter Milan away game in February. How long does it take by train by Nice and how much does it cost?

A. From Nice Airport (pictures right), you can get a bus direct to the train station, which costs about e5 and takes about 25 minutes.

Then the train takes about five hours to Milan. You can then get the Milan Metro to the Lotto stop for a few more euros.

But, while this journey is possible, don’t do it on the day of the match, as the flight lands at 15:05 and you won’t make it to Milan on time

If you’re arriving on Monday, again landing at 15:05 catch either one of these two trains:

Leave Nice Ville: 15:46
Arrive Ventimiglia: 16:35
Depart Ventimiglia 16:58
Arrive Milano Centrale (pictured left): 20:50

Or

Leave Nice Ville: 17:59
Arrive Milano Central: 22:50

On the way back on the Wednesday, the easyJet flight leaves from Nice at 15:30.

There’s only one train you can get:
Leave Milano Central: 07:00
Arrive Ventimiglia: 11:07
Depart Ventimiglia 11:19
Arrive Nice Ville: 12:06

A return costs e60 standard class. Get time and fare information at the German bahn European trains site or the Italian trains site.

Inter Milan travel guide

Inter Milan
San Siro Stadium, Milan
UEFA Champions League
Tuesday February 24, 2009, kick off 8.45pm local time

Tickets

The home of Inter, which is shared by AC Milan, is the San Siro, which holds 80,018. No information has been released yet, but United are likely to get about 6,000 tickets for this game, depending on what local police say about security provision.

Television
The away leg will be shown live on ITV1 and the home leg will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Travel

Organised trips

MU Travel is running a day trip for United members only for £279 per person, not including insurance

That includes direct flights from Manchester leaving on the day of the game to a Milan airport, probably Malpensa, in-flight meal and coach transfers to the stadium.

Champion Sports is also running a day trip with places costing £249 per person. The flight leaves Manchester at 7am on the day of the game and goes to a Milan airport.

The cost includes coach transfers but doesn't include insurance. Champion Sports can also secure you a match ticket if you book on this trip. They can also get you a two-night stay in a four-star hotel on request.

Travelling independently

There are several airport you can fly to in order to reach Milan. They are:

Malpensa (pictured above) (40 minutes by train)
Linate (15 minutes by taxi)
Bergamo (an hour by train)
Venice (two hours 30 by train)
Nice (four to five hours by train)
Zurich (four hours by train)
Florence (four hours 30 minutes by train)

All the following prices are checked at 12:30 today.
The prices are one way and the dates are leaving the day before the game or returning the day after it unless stated.
If the flight is with Ryanair, add on £10 if you’re booking with anything else but a Visa Electron.
Cheapest deals are highlighted in bold.

Linate
Outbound
Luton 11:15 easyJet £25.99
Luton 11:15 (Tuesday) easyJet £87.89

Return
Luton 14:15 easyJet £91.90

Malpensa
Outbound
Bristol 16:45 easyJet £22.99
Gatwick 07:15, 14:55, 17:50 and 19:50, all easyjet, all £27.99
Gatwick 14:55 Tuesday easyJet £42.99
Manchester 07:10 Flybe £119.74
Manchester 15:15 Flybe £79.75

Return
Bristol 20:15 easyJet £12.90
Gatwick 21:20 easyJet £46.90
Manchester 11:20 and 19:00 Flybe both £90.25

Bergamo
Outbound
Bournemouth 10:00 Tuesday £10.00
Bristol 06:25 Ryanair £25.22
Bristol (pictured) 12.25 Tuesday Ryanair £10
Luton 06:35 Ryanair £26.22
London Stansted 08:15, 15:50 and 18:45, Ryanair, all £29.26
East Midlands 12:05 Ryanair £52.82
Liverpool 17:50 Ryanair £112:20

Return
Bristol 15:55 Ryanair £10.01
Luton 09.55 Ryanair £35.64
Stansted 19.15Ryanair £36.11
East Midlands 10:20 Ryanair £44.11
Bournemouth 10:15 Ryanair £64.72
Liverpool 16.10 Ryanair £99.11

If you’re determined to go from Manchester and don’t mind hanging about at airports (rather than train stations), try this

Leave Manchester on Monday at 07:20, arrive Brussels S Charleroi at 09:45, leave at 19:20, arrive Bergamo at 20:45. Cost £39.54.

Leave Bergamo (pictured left) on Wednesday at 06:30 arrive Frankfurt at 07:50, leave at 11:50, arrive Manchester at 12:25, arriving back at 19:00. Cost: £18.86.

Total cost: £58.40. The only minus point, besides the waiting around, is that you’ll be probably have to get the train back to Bergamo after the match and wait there all night.

Venice
Outbound
Stansted 11:40 and 19:05 £29.46 Ryanair
Stansted 11:40 Tuesday Ryanair £27.98
Liverpool 17:15 Ryanair £35.68
Gatwick 06:35 and 18:00 easyJet £32.99
Gatwick 07:50 and 15:45 British Airways £47.30
Gatwick 06:35 Tuesday easyjet £37.04

Return
Stansted 15:00 and 22:25 Ryanair £10.01
Liverpool 20:55 Ryanair £22.17
Gatwich 21:40 easyJet £22.63

Nice
Outbound
Luton 13:45 easyJet £27.99
Gatwick 08:45 and 18:00 easyJet £34.99
Liverpool 11.55 easyJet £26.99
Liverpool 11:55 Tuesday easyJet £26.99

Return
Luton 17:25 easyjet £24.76
Gatwick 21:25 easyJet £26.76
Liverpool 15:30 easyJet £35:05

Zurich
Outbound
Luton 16:35 easyJet £26.21

Return
Luton 19:55 easyJet £32.14

Florence
Outbound
Gatwick 09:50 and 19:55 Meridiana £56.87
Gatwick 09:50 Tuesday Meridiana £56.87

Return
Gatwick 08:00 Meridiana £49.23

Italian job awaits reds

United have been drawn to play Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The first leg away is on Tuesday February 24 and the second leg at home is on Wednesday March 11.

A travel guide will follow.

Champions League draw - a reminder

But before United battle it out with Quito for the World Championship, the squad will be focused on the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League.

The reds can either get: Athletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Lyon, Real Madrid or Sporting Lisbon. The away leg will be on either February 24 or 25.

Watch the drive live on Sky Sports News from 11am today, or find video links here. This is probably going to be the most reliable video link though, provided by Eurosport.

Be warned, the last 16 stage draw has always taken ages in the past, so we probably won't know who United are playing until 11.45am.

We're going to try to embed a video in this blog.

Tomorrow afternoon, we will publish a guide to the cheapest flights and accommodation for wherever United play.

A bit about Sunday's opponents

So United are in for a Sunday showdown with Ecuadorian outfit LC Quito in the World Club Cup final.

Here's a bit of a profile about them.

Q. Are they any good?
A. To give them their full title, Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quitoare quite decent.

They are officially the best team in South America and progressed to the final with ease in Wednesday’s match against Pachuca.

Q. Do they have much history?
A. Quite a bit, actually. They were founded in 1930 as a general sports team and won their first championship in a regional league just two years later.
Since then, they’ve notched up nine national league titles and are pretty popular in their home country.

Q. How did they get this far?
A. Having won their domestic league in 2007, Quito earned a place in the 2008 Copa de Libertadores – the South American version of the Champions League.
They finished second in the group stages, then beat two pretty good Argentinean teams to reach the semi final which they won on away goals before winning the final on penalties.

Q. What's their league form like?
A. Pretty good. After winning the title in 2007, they finished runners up this season, four points behind champions Sociedad Deportivo Quito.
Though it must be said, the Equadorian League is a lot more complex than the English Premier League as it includes three group stages.

Q. Who will be their dangerman?

A. Claudio Bieler (pictured right), a 24-year-old Argentinian striker who has hit the back of the net 13 times in 26 appearances for LC Quito this season. He would been his club’s hero in the Copa de Libertadores final had an extra time winner not been wrongly ruled out.

Q. How much chance have they of beating United?

A. A fair bit. They’ll threaten United a lot more than Gamba and keep things a lot tighter at the back.
They won’t be as intimidated on the big stage as much as Gamba, as they themselves play in front of 55,000 crowds at home games. United are 1.46 to win with Betfair, Quito are 6.6 (11/2) and it's 4.4 (7/2) for the draw, all with Betfair.

These are the World Club Cup semi final highlights.

Five-star United progress to final

In this morning's World Club Cup semi final tie in Yokohama, United saw off Asian Champions Gamba Osaka 5-3.



They now progress to Sunday's final against South American Champions LC Quito who won their semi final tie 2-0 against Pachuca on Wednesday.

The match will take place in Yokohama, will kick off at 10.30am and be shown live on Five.
Links will appear here.

Gamba Osaka v United - streaming links

For those of you who can't access Five on Thursday, follow this link for links to video streams of the match, which kicks off at 10.30am on Thursday.
The streaming links will appear about five hours before kick off.

Stoke away - a word about parking

With there being no public transport on Boxing Day when United travel to Stoke, the vast majority of fans will be travelling by car to the game.

Matchday parking spots are expected to be extremely limited on the day and there.

There are four car parks available to away fans on the day of the game.

But if you want to park on the best and biggest two - the official club car parks (called the South car park and the Trent car park), you need to book in advance by calling Stoke City FC on 0871 663 2007. The club is happy for away fans to book.

Places cost £5 and both car parks are accessible from the A50 and well signposted.

The other two car parks are:

- The Power League complex next to the stadium and the academy tent. There are only a few hundred spaces but payment is available on the day at £4 a car.

- Heron Cross School and Bowling Club which is on the opposite side of the A50 to the stadium. Again, there are a few hundred car parking spaces, priced at £1.50 per car. Payment is available on the day.

To get there, pass the stadium on the A50, come off at the next slip road (signposted Heron Cross) turn left and turn left again at the traffic lights. At those lights turn left. Then, half a mile down the road, turn right into this car park.

A full travel guide to Stoke, Southampton and Derby will be posted after the World Club Cup games.

The next travel guide will be posted on Friday, for United's February trip in the Champions League last 16.

Japanese side to face United

Gamba Osaka will face the reds in Thursday's World Club Cup semi final after beating Adelaide United 1-0 this morning.

The match, which kicks off at 10.30am, will be shown live on Five.

So what do we know about this team?

Q. Are they any good?

A. Well they are officially the best team in Asia, but they concede an awful lot of goals and look dodgy at the back.

Q. Do they have much history?

A. Not really. They were founded in 1980 and were founder members of the Japanese J-League three years later and have stayed their ever since.

They won the league in 2005, these days, they get 17,000 fans for home games at the Expo 1970 Stadium in Suita, Osaka (pictured left).

Q. How did they get this far?

A. Having finished third in their domestic league in 2007, they qualified for the AFC Cup - the Asian equivalent of the Champions League.

Having won that, beating Adelaide in the final 5-0 on aggregate, they were given a place in the World Club Cup quarter finals and, after Adelaide got their via a different route, they beat them again.

Q. What's their league form like?

A. Average. The Japanese J-League ran from March 8 to December 6. Gamba finished 8th.

They played 34 games, won 14, drew 8 and lost 12, ending on 50 points - 12 short of the champions.

Q. Who will be their most threatening player?

A. Yasuhito Endo (pictured right), a versatile midfielder who scored Gamba's winner over Adelaide and notched up eight assists in the league this year.

Q. How much chance have they of beating United?

A. Well, more than Adelaide. They've beaten the Australians three times in the last two months.

But overall, they won't be much of a threat. Betfair have United as 1.02 (1/50) to win the game. It's 1.01 for a draw and 2.18 for a Gamba win.

United are 1.3 favourites to win the competition, with LDU Quito second favourites at 5.0.

Theseare the quarter final highlights.

Tottenham v United highlights

Tottenham V Man United

Sunday scouting report

Next Thursday, the current United side will go into uncharted waters and play either an Australian side or a Japanese team - neither of which we know much about.

So why not find out for yourself just how good these teams are?

Tomorrow, at 10.45am, the teams play in the quarter final to determine who will play United in the semi final.

Links to video streams of the game will be posted here five hours before kick off.

5,800 tickets for Derby

United fans will get 5,800 tickets for the Carling Cup semi final first leg match away to Derby on January 7.

They will cost £27.50 for adults, £16.75 for over 60s and £11.75 for under 16s.

Executive Members and Season Ticket holders who went to cup home games against Villarreal, Middlesbrough, Celtic, QPR and Blackburn home cup games can apply for tickets until 8am on Monday by calling 0161 868 8000 and choosing option 1 twice.

The club is running coaches to the game, which leave the Old Trafford W2 car park at 4.30pm and are expected to arrive back at midnight. To book, click here.

If you're driving to Spurs...

...please be aware that a serious accident took place on the M6 motorway this morning, which has closed the motorway in both directions between junctions 6 and 7 near Birmingham.
It is likely that the road will be closed throughout today and possibly tomorrow. Check the BBC Travel pages for updates before you set off.

Reds to discover Japan opponents

United will discover on Sunday who they will face in the World Club Cup semi final, to be played in Yokohama at 10.30am UK time a week today.
This morning in Tokyo, Australian team Adelaide United beat New Zealand outfit Waitakere United 2-1 in a play off game
Adelaide will play Japanese side Gamba Osaka on Sunday in Toyota, Japan.

Possible Champions League last 16 opponents...

...are Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon, Athletico Madrid, Lyon and Real Madrid.
The draw takes place live on Sky Sports News at 11am on Friday December 19.
United will definitely be away in the first leg, which will take place on either February 24 or 25.
However, there is the possibility that, if both Liverpool and United draw Madrid sides, one of those first leg matches would take place on March 3 or 4.
If United draw Athletico Madrid, fans would be permitted to travel to the match. Athletico did get a ban on fans for two games. They served one of them against PSV Eindhoven and then had the other game ban thrown out - as long as the fans behave themselves until the end of the season.

Derby dates confirmed

United will face Derby County away on Wednesday January 7, kick off 7,45pm and play the second leg at home on Tuesday January 20, kick off 8pm. Both matches will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Tokyo tickets ready for collection

Anyone who has bought tickets for either of United's two games at next week's World Club Championship in Tokyo can now collect them from the ticket office. Take photo ID.
The club and the British Embassy in Tokyo have published this document offering important advice to those making the trip.

Saints ticket info

United have been given 4,700 tickets for the January 4 FA Cup Third Round tie at Southampton.

They cost £30 for adults, £20 for over 65s and supporters aged from 17 to 19 or that are students and £15 for under 16s.

Executive members and season ticket holders who went to home cup games against Villarreal, Middlesbrough, Celtic, QPR and Blackburn can apply by calling 0161 868 8000 and choosing option 1.

The deadline is 8am this Friday. Results are out on December 17.

If you want a student ticket and your application is successful, it will be posted to you. You must then bring the ticket to the ground and show their student ID to make sure they get the student price.

The club are running coaches to the match, with places priced at £30 per person. They leave the Old Trafford N2 car park at 10.30am and will be back by 11.30pm. To book, click here.

Derby clash awaits reds

United will face Championship side Derby County in a two-leg semi final of the Carling Cup, yesterday's draw revealed.

The reds will travel to Pride Park on the week commencing January 5 (so it'll probably be Wednesday given United's trip to Southampton the previous Sunday) and will get 5,000 tickets for the match. The kick off time and ticket details have still to be announced.

The second leg at Old Trafford will take place on Monday January 19. Season ticket holders must buy tickets or lose the right to apply for away tickets. Tickets are on open sale now through 0161 868 8000 option 1.

Tottenham travel guide

Tottenham
White Hart Lane, London
Saturday December 13, kick off 5.30pm

Tickets
Out of a stadium capacity of 36,244, Spurs have given United 1,900 tickets in the lower tier of the south stand. They cost £43 adults, £25 for over 65s and £23 for under 16s.

All tickets have been allocated. If you applied, find out if you have been successful here.

TV
This game will be shown live on Setanta Sports 1. The programme starts at 5pm.

Travel

We recommend....
Drive or take the official coach. It will be an absolute ballache to get home after this one by public transport.

Car - £53.23

If you're using a Sat nav or a routeplanner, use the postcode N17 0AP.

The journey will cost you £53.23 if you don't go on the M6 Toll and a further £4 each way if you do. It should take three hours and 30 minutes each way.

The best route is via the M6, the M42, the M1, the M25, the A10 and the A406.

Unlike neighbouring Arsenal, there is free street parking available to the east of the stadium. As always, the earlier you arrive, the better. You'll find several schools and offices offering matchday parking for £5 to £10.

Train - £55
It's easy enough getting down there, but you'll have to be careful on the way home.

The route there is
Manchester Piccadilly ---> London Euston ---> Seven Sisters -> White Hart Lane

Leave Manchester: 07:43 07:55 08:42 08:54 09:40 09:55 10:40 10:58 11:40 11:58 12:40 12:58
Arrive White Hart Lane: 11:36 12:06 12:36 13:06 13:36 14:06 14:36 15:06 15:36 16:06 16:36 17:06

White Hart Lane mainline station is five minutes walk from the stadium

But DON'T try this on the way back, else you won't make it back to Manchester until late Sunday morning.

In fact, you've got 46 minutes after the match ends to get back to London Euston and if you don't make that train, you're screwed.

Leave London Euston at 20:01, arrive Piccadilly at 23:50
This is going to be a push.

The best, and probably only, safe option is to get a taxi to Seven Sisters tube and then get the Victoria Line south to Euston. It usually takes 12 minutes, but you'll be up against it to get to the platform on time.

If you are going buy train, the best way to get the cheapest fare is
Manchester to Euston advanced one way for £26 from Virgin Trains
Euston to Manchester advanced one way for £20.50 from Virgin Trains

Euston to White Hart Lane off-peak return on the day for £8.50

Club coach - £30
Places are available for £30 per person. The coaches leave at 11am from the N2 car park at Old Trafford and are expected to arrive back at midnight.

Public coach - £33
Megabus runs coaches from Chorlton Street to Victoria Coach Station. The only problem is that there's only one coach home and it leaves at 23:00

Manchester to London
Leave Chorlton Street: 08:45 10:30
Arrive Victoria: 13:30 15:00
Journey time: 4:45 4:30
Cost one way: £20 £20

On arrival, you can get the London Tube north from Victoria to Seven Sisters for £8 return (you need a Zone 1-3 day travelcard) and, from there, it's a 15-minute walk to the ground

London to Manchester
Leave Victora 23:00
Arrive Chorlton Street: 03:00
Journey time: 4:00
Cost one way: £5

National Express

There are coaches from Chorlton Street to Victoria Coach Station, but not on the way back. There is one way back, but it's a nightmare.

Manchester to London
Leave Chorlton Street: 06:30 07:30 08:30 11:35
Arrive Victoria: 12:00 12:45 13:00 15:45
Journey time: 5:30 5:20 4:25 4:10
Average return cost: £24.90

On arrival, you can get the London Tube north from Victoria to Seven Sisters for £8 return (you need a Zone 1-3 day travelcard) and, from there, it's a 15-minute walk to the ground

London to Manchester
You'll need to get a taxi from the ground to Golders Green bus station.

Then the NX420 coach leaves at 19:35, arrives Birmingham at 21:50.

You then have to wait until 22:30 for the NX336 coach to arrive. That'll get you back to Chorlton Street at 01:10.

Flights
Flights are available between Heathrow and Manchester and Stansted and Manchester, but you're looking at £200 return and a close call to make the return flights. It really isn't worth it.

Tokyo tournament on Five

Good news, folks - we've finally got confirmation that Five will show United's semi final clash in the World Club Championship on December 18, kick off 10.30am (yes, you read that right).
We'll find out on December 14 who United face. Adelaide United play Waitakere United on December 11 and the winners play Gamba Osakae in a quarter final tie.
So it's probably best to start buttering up your boss to ensure he or she shows a bit of a festive favour by sacrificing the office telly in just under two week's time.
Get full tournament info here.

Sunday date for Saints trip

United will face Southampton at the St Mary's Stadium on Sunday January 4, with a 4pm kick off in the FA Cup Third Round.

The match will be shown live in Setanta Sports 1. Ticket application details will be announced in the next few weeks and a travel guide will be posted here soon.

Meanwhile, application details for tickets to see United at Stoke on Boxing Day have been released.

Reds will get 2,800 tickets.

Executive members can apply up until 8pm on Friday by post or by calling 0161 868 8000 (select option 1 twice).

Season ticket holders who bought tickets to the home matches against Villareal, Middlesbrough, Celtic, QPR and Blackburn in cup competitions can apply via the same avenues from 8am on Monday for 48 hours.

United are running coaches to the game, priced at £17 per person. They leave Old Trafford N2 car park at 9.45am and are due to return by 4.45pm. To book click here.