Red View: Carrick on Wolves, Butt on midfield, Best wallpaper + more

CARRICK TARGETS CHRISTMAS CUTBACK Michael Carrick wants to get closer to United's neighbours over the festive season - by helping the Reds to reduce Manchester City's lead in the league. The champions are currently five points behind the Blues but it could all be very different by Christmas Day with three league matches apiece to be played in the meantime - starting with United vs Wolves at Old Trafford this weekend. "We're quite happy with the way things have gone in the league," Carrick told United Review, the official match programme. "Of course, we'd prefer to be on top, but we're actually in a better position than last season [in terms of points won] and hopefully we'll be even closer to City come the end of the year." Suspension caused Carrick to miss the agonising Champions League exit in Basel but he's eligible to return on Saturday, against a side who beat United at Molineux last season and were on course for a draw at Old Trafford until injury time. "Ji's winner was a huge goal for us," said Carrick, recalling Park's late strike in November 2010. "Wolves are always well organised and they have a lot of energy in their side. Their [2-1] result against Sunderland last weekend was a big one and it will have given them a boost ahead of our game. We'll take nothing for granted." More: Carrick relishes City cup tie | Rooney ban reduced BUTT ASSESSES MIDFIELD ISSUES Nicky Butt knows a thing or two about patrolling the midfield for United and is convinced Sir Alex will find a settled central pair as the season progresses. After Tom Cleverley and Anderson worked in tandem for the first four Barclays Premier League games, United have tried 13 other partnerships in the engine room and not had the same duo for consecutive matches. "I think it's difficult to pick the four starting across the midfield," Butt admitted to ManUtd.com recently. "In years gone by, everyone knew who the strongest four or five was. It's different now but we've still got some good players. "I think Sir Alex'll be looking to try and get a steady pairing in the centre. He's had injuries to Darren Fletcher, Cleverley and Anderson so it's been difficult to get a regular line-up in midfield. It helps when you can get everyone on a roll and playing well together." Despite the injury problems, Butt doesn't think his former manager will focus solely on midfield when the buying season begins again. "Every team can improve, no matter who they are," he added. "Even Barcelona can improve so I'm sure Sir Alex will sign players, whether it be in midfield, defence or up front. He's always looking to enhance his squad." More: Scholes backs Reds to recover | ManUtd.com podcast   QUIZ: SEASONS ENDING IN 8 Did you miss door number 8 on ManUtd.com's Advent Calendar? If so, you missed this quiz... 1. Who scored the first goal, and who were the opponents, in United's 2007/08 European campaign? 2. United won 7-0 and then 6-1 in successive league outings in 1997/98. Who were the opponents? 3. The Reds came back from 1-3 to draw 3-3 at Liverpool on Easter Monday 1988. Who scored for United? 4. Which England winger, who later managed Manchester City, was the only man to play every United game in 1977/78? 5. Matt Busby's men won the European Cup in 1967/68, but where did the team finish in the league? 6. Who were the opponents and what was the score in United's last match before the Munich air crash? 7. Who captained United to victory in the 1948 FA Cup final? 8. Who made his Reds debut in the 1937/38 season before going on to net 211 goals in 424 appearances? Find the answers here.  | For more quizzes, wallpapers & videos, go to the Advent Calendar.   This email was sent by:Manchester United Sir Matt Busby Way Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0RA, United Kingdom. This email is designed to be viewed in HTML email clients - if you cannot see the images above, please open an HTML-compatible email account and then register the new address with ManUtd.com. If this email has been forwarded to you by a friend, please register with ManUtd.com to receive the MU Foundation newsletter directly in future. The articles and images in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of Manchester United FC. If you do not wish to receive this email please send a blank email from your subscription address to unsubscribe@manutd.co.uk. We are committed to respecting your privacy. Please see our Privacy Policy. Please DO NOT reply to this email.