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Moving Home...

2007-10-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

After over a year and a half on Blogger, TheRepublikOfMancunia.com is making a move to WordPress. The ever so helpful Ahmen from SoccerLens.com has helped with the move, and from now on, it is the WordPress site you will come to.

To go to the new site click here. See you over there!

Rooney Is Too Good For England...BBC Take Note

2007-10-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Wayne Rooney has come under some criticism from England fans over the past few years. The man (boy?) who single-handedly dashed the team’s Euro 2004 hopes when he went off injured, has become a figure of both love and hate.

Chants of “you fat bastard” are heard when United travel around the country whenever Rooney misses a shot or is tackled, yet the hopes of the country are repeatedly put on his shoulders. He is public enemy number one when he travels to fans’ grounds, but as soon as he pulls on the England shirt, they hypocritically chant his name.

When he was injured in the close of the 2006 season against Chelsea, John Terry and Frank Lampard weren’t the only ones unable to hide their disappointment. The World Cup was approaching, and travelling to Germany without Rooney was a depressing idea for England fans. The fuss that was made in the press was unbelievable, all urging United’s young forward to make a miraculous recovery. The BBC posted fans’ reactions on their website. “I would rather take a one-legged Rooney than the rest of the strikers put together!” said an Arsenal fan. On the same day, the BBC posted the reaction of more high profile people. "I think it is impossible to have a successful World Cup without Wayne,” said Steven Gerrard. "It's depressingly sad. Without him we would go from possible World Cup winners to outsiders," said Sir Bobby Robson. The Times described Rooney as “the player on whom England’s hopes of World Cup success were pinned.” The reaction of The Guardian was to call Rooney “England's most influential player” and went on to say that “If Rooney cannot play in Germany, his absence will seriously diminish England's chances of capturing the World Cup.”

In the lead up to England’s game against Estonia, Rooney honestly admitted that he wanted to do better for his country. He had gone sixteen games without a goal, and the country was on his case. "I've not played as well for England as I have for Manchester United," stated Rooney. "I don't know why the goals have not come for my country. When I first started playing for England I did really well, but the last couple of years have not gone as well as I would have liked. It has been frustrating and I have read about it, listened to things said and watched people talk about me.”

England went in 3-0 up at half time, Rooney scoring the second goal, after being inches away from scoring a beautiful chip earlier. Previous to either of these events, the commentators were guilty of making scandalous comments about our striker. Rooney had challenged for the ball in the air, resulting with the Estonia player falling to the ground. “Did Rooney use an elbow there?” Lawrenson questioned, without seeing a replay. “It’s yet to be seen, but it appears as though Rooney caught the player with his elbow” they said. Replays show that no, in fact Rooney had challenged for the ball fairly. “No elbow” they stated, without any regret for unfairly accusing him of elbowing a player. Minutes later, Rooney was then blamed for making a nasty challenge on Piiroja. Replays again show Rooney fairly going for the ball, catching the player slightly, but clearly not intentionally. “Oh, that wasn’t bad,” Motson confessed, backtracking from his earlier statement.

If it had been Gerrard or Terry involved in these incidents, would the commentators have been so quick to lay blame? Of course not. Yet for some reason, Rooney is always targeted. Of course we all know he is not a stranger to rash challenges and is guilty of having a hot temper, but does this mean he should be unfairly judged by BBC commentators whenever he is involved in a challenge? Whilst Rooney is capable of lashing out, he does not commit fouls which are dangerous, or likely to cause damage, as we have seen Gerrard do time and again for club and country. Just ask former Everton defender Gary Naysmith. Yet he is England’s prince, whilst Rooney is repeatedly subjected to unfair criticism.

Rooney works his arse off for his country, and admittedly, this doesn’t always produce the goods, but his effort can never be faulted. For whichever shirt he wears, he gives 100%, yet the country will always give him stick when they can.
The BBC's post match section, lead by Lineker, who is no stranger to slating United players (Ronaldo in particular), praised Rooney, and hailed him yet again as their hero. By this time, he’d scored a goal and had ninety minutes of great football. His genius should have set up England’s fourth, which Gerrard clumsily wasted in the dying moments. I'm sure England fans would appreciate more of their players working their bollocks off and contributing everything possible for the good of the team.

He's a born winner, but amidst the boos, whistles, and dash the car park, the England fans seem to miss that. He deserves better than that. Whilst he'll go a few matches without a goal for United, and can suffer dips in form, the Old Trafford crowd sticks with him, chanting his name and encouraging him to do better. That attitude seems foreign to the mugs following England, and their "support" does not warrant a player of his quality and passion representing them.

Just as the England fans cynically booed Lampard, a player they’ve hailed time and again in the past as a great player, and emptied the stadium with ten to fifteen minutes to go, the BBC were again guilty of such hypocrisy when it comes to England players.

Rooney is a class act with a magical touch, a warrior who fights tirelessly for his team, and if England cannot recognise and appreciate that, then they do not deserve him. I, for one, am tired of the treatment the BBC dish out to our players, marveling at their brilliance, and then tearing them apart. He walked off the field showing his “English and Proud” tattoo, and all I could think was “You can stick your fuckin England up your arse.”

Rooney will face Russia midweek, and I await the rave reviews/harsh criticism which will follow…

Click here to let the BBC know what you thought of their commentary team's unfair judgement of Rooney in England's match vs Estonia

34 Years and Counting... The Legend Sir Bobby Charlton

2007-10-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

1 World Cup: 1966
3 League Titles: 1957, 1965, 1967
1 European Cup: 1968
1 FA Cup: 1963
1 European Footballer of the Year: 1966
1 Football Writers Association Player of the Year: 1966

International career:
106 caps (two players in history have more caps for England), 49 goals (highest ever goalscorer for England). Only English player to feature in four World Cup squads.

United career:
759 appearances (most appearances ever made for United), 249 goals (highest ever goalscorer for United)

Sir Bobby Charlton encompasses everything which is great about football. His ability, his loyalty, his dedication, his honours list, his passion, he has it all. To have such a great man as an ambassador for our club truly makes us privileged, and our club, and this country, owe him a great deal. It has been thirty four years since he left United, and thirty seven years since he retired from playing for England, yet he still has pride of place in the record books for club and country.

If we go back to the beginning, we can see Charlton had no choice but to pursue a career in football, coming from a line of footballers, three of his uncles playing for Leeds, amongst other clubs, and his mum’s cousin, Jackie Milburn, proved as a legend for Newcastle.

Charlton signed for United when he was fifteen years old, turning a professional just as he became seventeen in 1954. Charlton was a part of the Busby Babes, the team which should have dominated English football for the next ten years or more. He made his debut in 1956, whilst undertaking his National Service in Shrewsbury, alongside team mate Duncan Edwards. He won the FA Youth Cup with United in 1954, 1955 and 1956.

United won the league in Charlton’s first season with the first team, but were robbed of the Double, after Villa’s McParland viciously followed through minutes in to the game on United’s keeper, Ray Wood, breaking his cheek bone and leaving him concussed. These were before the days of substitutions, so Jackie Blanchflower, our centre half, filled in between the sticks. United lost 2-1, but they would see, along with Charlton, their share of glory in the coming years.

First though, they were to endure great tragedy, as the Munich Air Disaster claimed the lives of our youngsters. Having reached the semi finals of the European Cup the season before, as the first English team to succeed so significantly in the competition, United were looking to win the trophy in 1958. United played away in Yugoslavia against Red Star Belgrade, Sir Bobby scoring two goals in a 3-3 draw, taking United again to the semi finals.

With an important game against Wolves to look forward to at the weekend, the Busby Babes boarded their flight home, with the visions of a Treble awaiting them come the end of the season. As we all know, that flight never landed back home. Charlton, who was just twenty years old, and feeling uneasy with the two aborted take offs preceding the fatal attempt, swapped places with Tommy Taylor (a true great in the making). It was this move which spared Charlton’s life, at the expense of Taylor’s, but it wasn’t plain sailing. Harry Greg, then the most expensive keeper in the World, saved Charlton by dragging him by the trouser waistband from the plane, despite feeling he was too late, and that Charlton was actually dead. (Greg also single-handedly saved the lives of Sir Matt Busby, Dennis Violet, and Jackie Blanchflower).

Charlton was treated in hospital for cuts to the head and severe shock, after captain Byrne, and team mates Taylor, Pegg, Jones, Whelan, Colman and Bent were all confirmed dead at the scene. Duncan Edwards died two weeks later, Sir Matt Busby was inches away from death on several occasions, and was read his last rites twice.

Charlton had played in a team full of such promise and hope, and it all fell apart at the seams. With the loss of nine players, United went on to lose to AC Milan in the semi finals of the European Cup, fell away in the league, and lost in the FA Cup final.

As the years rolled by, Charlton established himself as a great attacking player and goalscorer for both club and country. Finally, in 1963, Charlton picked up an FA Cup winners medal, and two years later, Sir Matt’s work was starting to pay off, with the league title coming back to Manchester.

The World Cup followed a year later, with Charlton shining in the run up to the final. He scored England’s first goal of the tournament against Mexico, a completely self made goal, which started with Charlton picking up the ball in his own half, and ended with a beautiful strike in to the top corner.

England then went on to beat France, then Argentina, and faced Portugal in the semi-final. Charlton scored both goals in England’s 2-1 victory, the second of which in the form of another scorcher.

(apologies for the odd commentary)

The rest, as they say, is history, with England going on to win the World Cup, something which moved Charlton to tears, and lots of them!

The following year, United won the league again, their second in three years, pipping Forest to the post. Charlton was a United and England hero and had been the cornerstone to Sir Matt’s rebuilding of the squad. As captain, in 1968, he lead United through the European Cup, with no other English teams yet to leave their mark. Ten years had past since that dreadful day in February, when Manchester mourned not only the lives of our lost players, but the lost potential. Charlton was just a lad back then, and now he was a man, eager to add the final trophy to his collection of honours.

United beat Benfica in the European Cup final, with the game finishing 1-1 after Charlton scored in the 53rd minute. Three minutes in to extra time, George Best made it 2-1, Brian Kidd taking it to 3-1 a minute later. A further five minutes saw Charlton score his second of the game, and the final goal of the game. United were crowned Champions of Europe.

Charlton has now been associated with the club for over half a century, working as an ambassador for football in his role as director for United. As great teams have come and gone, domestically and internationally, Charlton’s name still shines brighter than everyone else’s.

Ryan Giggs has just over thirty games to go before he equals Charlton’s record, and with a new deal in the pipelines, barring injury, Giggs is set to do just that. Last month, Charlton spoke out about this possibility, and sounded like a true fan, rather than a man whose glorious record was about to be smashed. "I would love it if Ryan got the record," he said. "It would be so fitting and I would be pleased to have the opportunity to go onto the pitch and present him with something. In fact, if they didn't ask me, I would pester them until they did. When I finished, I could not believe anyone would play more games than that. I did so much running, for so many years, I just didn't think it would be possible. But Ryan is almost there now. To physically put your body through what he has is very difficult and that is why I am so delighted for him."

Although Giggs is still short of Charlton’s goals (141 goals for Giggs, compared to the 249 of Charlton) and appearances, he has lifted more league titles than any player in the history of English football, and as Charlton said, it would be extremely fitting for him to be the man to push the barrier higher. United have been blessed to have such dedicated and committed players over the years, and whilst thirty three years have past since Charlton set the standard, it seems almost impossible for another player to achieve such a record with a club as big and successful as United, if/when Giggs goes on to do so this season or next.

However, it’s not just Charlton’s United record at stake this season, but also his England record too. With Michael Owen recently returning from his latest spell of injury, he is just ten goals short of becoming the highest scoring player ever for England. Despite his constant injury worry, he is only twenty seven, and Charlton believes it won’t be long until that record is beaten too.

"Michael is certain to beat my record as long as he keeps fit and does not get any more injuries," he said. "That would please me immensely because he is a great little player. I admire anyone that has bounced back from a career-threatening injury like Michael has. I never had a serious injury, but it must have been lousy for him - so I'm really delighted for him now.”

That is what is so special about Charlton, his desire to see his club and country succeed. In the day of the modern footballer, wrapped up in his own success and praise, his own goals and records, his own glory and adoration, Sir Bobby is a true devotee of the game and the team.

His records should be beaten this season, and whilst it will be sad, it has to be said they will go to two worthy winners. However, the sheer length of time it’s taken for any player to get anywhere near his achievements prove what a great he is.
So here’s to Bobby Charlton, the legend. Thirty four years and counting…

VIDEO: All goals vs Wigan

2007-10-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

United walked all over Wigan, as usual, at Old Trafford today. Tevez opened the scoring, Ronaldo bagging two, before Rooney got his first league game of the season. Following the months of criticism, the lads finally clicked, despite the list full of injuries.

To watch the goals, just click the links below:

Click here for Tevez's goal

Click here for Ronaldo's first

Click here for Ronaldo's second

Click here for Rooney's goal

VIDEOS: From the stands vs Wigan

2007-10-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

Celebration of Ronaldo's goal

"He plays on the left, he plays on the riiiiiight..."

Celebration of Rooney's goal

Red Flag at 4-0

United's Goals - I hate to say I told you so...

2007-10-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I wrote an article about United's goalscoring, following the criticism we've faced this season. The article finished with, "Our time to come good is upon us, and sooner or later, we’ll see the goals pouring in. And you can hold your breath on that one!" Even I, as optimistic as they come, was not expecting the 4-0 demolition today. If I had given more thought to our opposition maybe I could have predicted the result.

When Wigan first came up to the Premiership in 2005, Christmas came early for United as we battered them 4-0. Rooney scored a couple, with Ruud and Rio bagging the others. We faced them again just a couple of months later in the League Cup final, where again we saw them off 4-0. Rooney scored two again, with Saha and Ronaldo scoring the other two. Last season, both game ended with four goals scored, on both occasions three in favour of United and one for Wigan. It was the 3-1 win on Boxing Day 2006 which saw Ronaldo score two against them.

Yesterday, it appeared to be a tough task at half time to keep up with our four goals a game record against Wigan, but the Champions showed they were up to it. Tevez opened the scoring with a brilliant goal. "Give it or shoot!" and then he took on another player. "Give it or shoot, now!" and then he took on another player. "For fuck's sake, pass the ball on or shoot" and he slotted the ball perfectly in to the goal. Anderson, who had an impressive game, unleashed Tevez with a great ball, who was far more patient than the fans to make sure the ball ended in the back of the net.

Five minutes later Ronaldo headed home to make it two nil, and less than twenty minutes later, allowed Rooney to do the hard work whilst he effortlessly guided the ball in to the goal from a perfect pass from Rooney. That's four goals in five games now for Ronaldo, showing he is on track to meet his target of equalling last year's scoring total.

Rooney, who had a brilliant game, was rewarded for his effort and generosity all match, when Danny Simpson provided him with a great ball to header past YSB Kirkland.

Just what the doctor ordered. A great result, a great performance, particularly in the second half, and now we're top of the league (at least until tomorrow) again. Back to where we should be. Like a lot of United fans who have been following Sunderland this season, I will have my fingers crossed for them tomorrow. If they could just take a point off the Gunners, it would be great news for us, and no manager will be keener to do so than Roy Keane. In a pre-match interview this week, Keane spoke about the rivalry between United and Arsenal. "It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Usually my preparation for a game on a Saturday if we were playing Arsenal would start on the previous Sunday," Keane said. "Your body just knew you were going to play Arsenal, just psychologically, your body would get ready for it. It was the same for all the players, and I am sure it was the same for the Arsenal players. Those games were brilliant, absolutely fantastic, the best. United against Arsenal - if you could go back for one game, then that would be the game. Both teams were usually fighting it out for the title - it was fantastic. You would give anything to play in one of those games again." So come on Keano!

However, I do have two moans about the Wigan match. Firstly, the injury crisis which is now upon us. The international week has come at just the right time for us, giving the players with knocks to get themselves ready for our next match, away to Villa. However, based on the performances of Simpson, Pique and Anderson today, we appear to have our bases covered. They looked top notch, but an away trip against tougher opposition will provide the real test for them.

Secondly, the shocking refereeing. Two weeks running, United have had two stonewall penalties turned away. Joe Cole flattered Evra last weekend, and the referee who had a good view, waved it on, too spineless to award an Old Trafford penalty. Today, Ronaldo was knocked over right in front of referee Riley by that thug Brown, who stamped on Giggs last season and got away with just a yellow card. Every person in the ground could see it was an obvious penalty, but somehow, Riley couldn't. For all the talk there is of penalties at Old Trafford, we don't half get a lot of obvious shouts turned down. When a team attacks the box and spends as much time in the area as United do, then of course there are going to be plenty of situations where penalties should be given. Halsey awarded United a penalty for Ben Haim's lazy challenge on Saha last week, but only in the last minute, when there was little doubt of who would be picking up the three points that day. Still, mud sticks, and the incompetent tabloids will continue to spout rubbish about United always getting their way with the ref at Old Trafford.

Still, we got the points, we needed a goal boost, and we should have known we could have relied on Wigan to provide us with it. Our goal difference is now a more respectable nine, just three short of Arsenal, and the players should now have the confidence and self belief back. We are the Champions, and today, finally, we played like the Champions. Let's keep it up now.

Are United back? Can Villa expect similar treatment?

LATEST NEWS: United's Injury Madness

2007-10-06T08:04:00.001-07:00

The extent of our injuries has now become beyond a joke. The injuries we end the day with are: Edwin Van der Sar, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Patrice Evra, Louis Saha, John O'Shea, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves, Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic, Ben Foster, Park Ji-Sung, Mikael Silvestre. Is someone taking the piss??

Wes Brown (Knee injury) - Should be fit to face Villa on October 20th

Edwin Van der Sar (Ankle injury) - Should be fit to face Villa on October 20th

John O'Shea (Dead leg) - Should be fit to face Villa on October 20th

Owen Hargreaves (Knee injury) - Should return for Boro on October 27th

Darren Fletcher (Broken leg) - Should be fit in time for Blackburn on November 11th

Michael Carrick (Broken elbow) - Expected back for Bolton away on November 24th

Ben Foster (Cruciate Ligament) - Return expected to be before the New Year

Park Ji-Sung (Knee injury) - Expected January 2008

Mikael Silvestre (Cruciate Ligament) - Around March 2008 should see him back

Louis Saha (Knee injury) - Felt it in the warm up, no return date

Nemanja Vidic (Concussion/double vision) - "Double vision" kept Scholesy out for half a season, let's hope it's different for Vidic. No return date.

Patrice Evra (unknown) - He was the first off the field, jogging towards the tunnel as soon as the final whistle went. Would have been subbed off had we not made all three substitutions.

Gary Neville (Thigh injury) - Has been "2/3 weeks" away from returning since March. Back in training, so we should expect to see him back in the next "2/3 weeks". Playing for the reserves against Liverpool next week.

Not great news really, is it? We've been getting by so far in the league, and until today, haven't done much to impress. Do we have the squad capable of handling these masses of injuries when we travel down to Villa?

The Stats Which Prove United Will Succeed

2007-10-05T01:11:00.000-07:00

United have faced quite a bit of stick this season, and rightly so in my opinion, for the lack of goals we’ve been scoring. I was the first to criticise Chelsea the two seasons they won the league after the amount of 1-0’s they scraped out to aid them on their journey of lifting the trophy, and I see no reason why United should be exempt from that criticism now. Of course, the reasons why we have been scoring few are different to why Chelsea were getting their results. We’ve been without Ronaldo, Rooney and Saha, our highest scoring players, for large proportions of the season already. This doesn’t effect just the games they are missing, but there is then a delay on the goalscoring due to them finding form again (which has certainly been the case for Ronnie and Rooney, not so much for Saha). Whilst Chelsea’s style was defensive and controlled, United have been on the attack, but haven’t had the right players on the field to put the ball in the back of the net. Regardless, as United fans, we expect to see our team getting by with something more than a 1-0 win. Even with our main goalscorers missing, the amount of chances we are creating every match should be finished off by someone.

In our opening game of the season against Reading, we played with Giggs and Rooney up front, only to see Rooney subbed off at half time due to injury. Rooney was replaced with Nani, meaning we were left with only wingers playing as our strikers. Still, we had 24 shots (9 of those on target) and Giggs saw a volleyed attempt come back off the woodwork. In the next game away to Portsmouth, we were forced in to playing Tevez up front alongside Giggs, despite him not being match fit after going a month without football. We managed 14 shots (7 of those on target) but again came away with one point with the game finishing 1-1. Next was our trip to the Council House, where we had arguably our best performance of the season so far, and the match ended with no points for us after losing 1-0. This time we were missing the suspended Ronaldo as well and totalled 14 shots (3 of those on target).

So far this season, we have only scored more than one goal during a game once, and that was against Chelsea, who were the team we beat most convincingly out of all our opposition this season, and that was through a late penalty. Still, we had an impressive 17 shots (9 on target to Chelsea’s 0). The games that followed ended with 11 shots against Spurs (3 on target), 14 shots against Sunderland (9 on target), 10 shots against Everton (3 on target), and 10 shots against Birmingham (3 on target). Clearly we are playing the attacking football we as fans are used to, if less fluid than usual, but we just can’t seem to find the back of the net.

With the players we have in this team, the goals will come, that is not up for debate as far as I’m concerned. You can’t have the skill and creativity of players like Rooney, Tevez, Saha, Ronaldo, Giggs, Scholes, Nani and Anderson and go too long without banging them in. When the first XI is better established, and when the new players click, the goals will come. That is the United way.

When we talk about “football taught by Matt Busby”, we’re talking about the exciting, goal-filled football we have become accustomed to as United fans. When Sir Matt’s side won the league in 1956 they racked up 83 goals, averaging at 1.98 goals per game. The following season they bettered this with 103 goals, averaging at a massive 2.5 goals per game. When Busby won the league again in 1965, we averaged 2.1 goals per game, and when we won it again in 1967, an average of 2 goals per game. Clive Tyldesley hit the nail on the head that night in 1999 at the Nou Camp when he proclaimed “they always score.” That’s what United do, and have always done in the peak of their success, score a hell of a lot of goals.

So for now, we’re treading water. If we can grind out three points and a 1-0 every week whilst waiting for our team to establish themselves, then I am happy. If we went through an entire season of 1-0s and won the league at the end of it, I would have to agree with Rio, and say that I still would be happy. In the years we waited between winning the league in 2003 and 2007 we were taught a serious lesson. It didn’t matter who played the most attractive and exciting football for the majority of the time, what mattered was who could pick up three points on a regular basis. I never thought I would be the person who agreed that three points is more important than playing great football, but in this day and age, that is the way it has to be. However, I don’t think there should or has to be a compromise, not for United at least.

Our greatest period of domination has been since the Premiership started fifteen years ago, where we have picked up nine league titles whilst all other teams collectively have won six. In that time we have scored 1,141 goals. That means an average of 1.9 goals a match. Can you believe it? Over a period of fifteen years, we have managed to average almost two goals a game. It’s phenomenal when you think about it.

So whilst the ABUs will whinge, and whilst some reds will worry, I sit back and relax with anticipation of what is to come. You can never count your chickens, and no title is ever won in October, but the fact that we are second in the league after playing, by our standards, pretty average football, fills me with massive hope of retaining our title. This of course has been aided by the recent demise of Chelsea, and to some extent, Liverpool. Both teams were tipped to be our fiercest title challengers, but neither have struck me with any kind of fear. I am not forgetting Arsenal, of course not, but I have ruled them out time and again. They certainly are playing great football, and have the quality there to do well. Do they have the strength of character, the ability to beat great opposition, and depth of squad to win the league? I don’t think so. Just as I don’t think City, who are one point behind us, and three points behind Arsenal, have what it takes to go the distance. Great starts and great football do not guarantee a league title, and Arsenal, in my opinion, are lacking the experience of winning a title within their players. If I had a pound for every Arsenal player who has quoted “You’ll never win anything with kids” to me when I’ve said that, I’d be a rich man. The difference is, this Arsenal team does not have an Eric Cantona, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin, Paul Parker etc.

So United fans, relax a little, and take the pressure off. As Champions of course we have high expectations. Just as we could play free flowing football without the pressure of being favourites (and in fact, completely written off as finishing forth) at the start of last season, Arsenal are enjoying that luxury now. But our time to come good is upon us, and sooner or later, we’ll see the goals pouring in. And you can hold your breath on that one!

"Beautiful" Ronaldo Will Be Back

2007-10-04T01:33:00.000-07:00

Towards the end of United's 1-0 win over Roma on Tuesday, Ronaldo received a blow to the head, causing blood to gush from above his eyebrow. He later had four stitches put in, although as yet, has not revealed the damage.

The lad is promoting his new book, which goes in to detail over what happened that day in the World Cup, winks an' all! He showed up with a baseball cap and glasses. For any of you who may be worried about the man who even Rooney confessed was good looking, don't. Ronaldo let the press know, "it is OK. In four or five days I will be beautiful again." Phew. And there was me worrying about whether he would be featuring at the weekend or not.

My estimation of Ronaldo increases all the time, in terms of his ability and his attitude. Just like Beckham after his World Cup incident, Ronaldo has risen above the scorn and hatred, silencing the boos with his skill, and went on to play a vital role in us winning back our trophy. Despite getting kicked from pillar to post in every match, and getting jeered and booed everytime his legs are taken away from him, Ronaldo has vowed to continue to play the dazzling football he's famous for. "It will never intimidate me, never stop me from displaying my skill. My boss does a great job in trying to protect me. He says everything." Good to know.

The message we keep getting from Ronaldo is that he is here to stay, which is a commitment I never expected from him. Whilst I don't believe he'll be doing a Neville/Keane/Giggs/Scholes and spending the vast majority of his career with us, it's nice to know he has the best of intentions. It is naive to think that he is going to stay here until he's in his thirties, but he certainly seems to be growing closer to the United family. He's starting to feel like one of us and I'm more than happy for him to stay as long as possible. If he could reach the peak of his career with us, that would be fantastic. Anything more would be a bonus.

Ronaldo has said that he is going to stay with us until we tell him to go, which is something I simply can't imagine (unless he gets on the wrong side of Fergie, of course). "I have enjoyed playing for this club for five years and I want to keep going like that," he said. "Sometimes in the past I have thought about other clubs but I took a decision to stay because this is the right place for me. It is not just about the club. It is the people, the players and the supporters. You have everything here. No-one knows the future but only when the club says they don't want me will I leave."

We are likely to hear even more from our young winger over the next few weeks as he really starts to hammer the publicity for the book. So far, I'm liking everything I hear. Keep up the good work Ronnie!

How long do you think Ronaldo will stay at United for?

Ron: He Did It On Purpose

2007-10-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

Ronaldo left the field last night with blood pouring from his face. The most fouled player in the Premiership 06-07 underwent a few loose challenges before finally he was elbowed in the face by Vucinic. The Roma player's elbow clashed with Ronaldo just above the eye, and our winger claims it was done on purpose.

In the post match interview, Fergie said, "I did not see it but Cristiano said he was elbowed. He had four stitches in his eyebrow. It was unfortunate because the game was played in a good spirit and there was a good atmosphere."

Ferguson has called for protection already this season, claiming Ronnie is unfairly targetted by the opposition, being punished for being too good. Maybe Ronaldo can have some sympathy for the United fans who were subjected to the violence of Roma last season. For all their talk of revenge, Roma couldn't find the back of the net, so took out their frustration on our lads.

United started to play some proper football again last night, and whilst Roma created enough good chances to warrant a draw, we were again solid at the back. Playing without Brown and Van der Sar did not spoil our clean sheet tally for the season, despite playing against arguably our toughest opponents so far. Rio Ferdinand made an incredible tackle and block towards the end, working hard, as always, to keep the three points.

Perfect start to our Champions League campaign so far. We are taking it easy, whilst starting to turn on the class. The one touch passes and through balls were refreshing to see, after going some time without playing football the United way. Rooney took his goal so well, and hopefully this will open the flood gates on his scoring. His European goals are really starting to mount up now.

The only misery of the evening was the absent Hargreaves, who was tipped to make a return to the first team. Reports today suggest it wil be a further month before he plays again, leaving us with great frustration after seeing how much he was capable of, which he showed particularly against City.

Onwards and upwards. Six points from six is just the start we need this season, and I feel confident about us retaining top spot in the group. Follow, follow, follow, cos United are going to Moscow.

Was Ronaldo's injury accidental?

Gerrard Goes Too Far

2007-10-02T04:55:00.000-07:00

Steven Gerrard sensationally claimed in his autobiography that he wanted Manchester United to die, highlighting the hatred there is between the two clubs. His hatred is somewhat of a recent hobby though, when as a lad, he ran about the fields of Merseyside proudly wearing a United shirt with Robson's name and number on the back.

Whenever the two clubs meet, he is given the hardest time of all the players, which comes down to the fact he is a bloody good player, and that he is a scouser. Whilst you will have seen pictures of Gerrard as a lad, kitted out in an Everton shirt and shorts, he is now a representative of Liverpool. Throughout his life, of swapping his shirt from red, to blue, to red again, it appears he hadn't learnt much, when on two different occasions he handed in a transfer request to his beloved team to try and play in the blue of Chelsea. The Liverpool fans who were burning his shirt back then will be thankful for all the death threats he received to keep him there.

Regardless, he hates United now and wants us to die. It might be worthwhile if a copy of his autobiography is handed to the judge in his case for compensation after breaking the leg of a little lad. Ten year old Jamie Hellawell, who is a keen United fan according to his grandad, Reg, was hit by Gerrard's black Bentley yesterday. He was stable last night, and transferred to Alder Hey.

Of course, I am only joking, I just want all the bases to be covered :D

It appears as though "big and fuckin hard" Gerrard is actually quite the softie, and was extremely concerned for the little red. An eye-witness reporting to The Telegraph, said "Stevie Gerrard stopped the car and got out and ran over to the boy. He was kneeling over him and you could see there were tears in Stevie's eyes. He was really upset to see the little lad like that. Steve was really pale and shocked. He stayed with the lad while the paramedics were treating him and giving him oxygen before they moved him."

Awwww.

[edit]. Whilst banter is more than welcome on this blog, comments about Munich will not be accepted. Will you please refrain from making such remarks, and join the human race.

Ronaldo's Arrogance On Roma Begging

2007-10-02T04:39:00.000-07:00

A man who scores goals in the League Cup final to bear his waxed muscular chest, who wears diamond earrings, who shags beautiful women, who models clothes, and who at 22 years old, received a clean sweep of the individual player awards, is not going to be a man who can add modesty to his list of skills. That is why it comes as little surprise that Ronaldo, in his autobiography, has written such a pleasingly arrogant account of our 7-1 drubbing of Roma.

It was hard to pick a man of the match that day, with Giggs, Carrick, Evra, Rooney and Ronaldo all trying to steal the limelight, and all playing so well. However, Ronaldo has revealed that one of the Roma players begging him to stop playing as he was.

"When we were already winning 6-0 one of their players said 'don't do any more dribbles, you're already winning by six', almost begging," Ronaldo said. "Obviously I won't reveal his name, as these are comments brought about by occurrences in the game. Other players ask me to go to play on the opposite side, and others don't show any sense of humour when they make threats to my physical integrity. I know that they are merely trying to scare me. But these comments are worthless, for I keep playing exactly the same way."

Ronaldo bagged two goals that evening, and played the way we dream of him doing in the European Cup. After disappointing showings in the big games since then, the semi finals vs Milan and the FA Cup final vs Chelsea, I’m hoping that Ronaldo can yet again pull something out of the bag, and set the competition alight again.

He scored his first league goal of the season on Saturday, working his magic following a defensive error, which I hope that has wet his appetite and set the ball rolling for a season of goals.

There’s no questioning it, the lad has a remarkable talent, and after reaffirming his love for the club and fans this week, I want him to be the name on every fans lips when drawing up their dream team. There’s only one Ronaldo!

Will Ronaldo show up tonight?

Ultras, Stab Our Police Horses Will Ya?

2007-10-02T04:15:00.001-07:00

Beating Roma last year was one of my most magical experiences at Old Trafford. After the horrific goings on in the away leg, with the police beating the shite out of our fans, it felt as though justice had been done when we humiliated them so badly.

On the way to the ground, reports came in on the radio about the Roma ‘Ultras’ stabbing our police horses, and confronting the police. As we walked closer to the ground, we could see that trouble was brewing. Police vans were parked all along the road, with police on horses walking up and down between the crowd. The Roma fans were fenced off, but they weren’t shielded from the larger cans and bottles which kept being hurled in their direction. We were all haunted by the dreadful images of bleeding men being clubbed over the head, and we had all read the stories of women and children being attacked.

What the police were able to stop the fans from doing before the match, our team managed to do on the field. We absolutely murdered them.

Less than six months have gone by since our 7-1 victory over Roma and tonight we are facing them again. It could be said that out of all the teams in the competition, Roma are the ones we least wanted to face. Whilst our lads will walk out on the field tonight hungry for a win, our desire to pick up three points won’t come close to Roma’s need to redeem themselves on the European stage. They are going to be up for this one, and I have a feeling we could live to regret the mocking “Totti, what’s the score?” chants from the last match.

We will be without Van der Sar due to his injury in the first half of the Birmingham game, meaning Kuszczak will make his Champions League debut. In the fourteen full matches he has featured for us, he has managed to keep five clean sheets. His impressive save following Rio’s deflection on Saturday will have gone far to instil some faith in him from the fans.

Vidic and Brown are doubtful after picking up knocks at the weekend, however, with little more option than O’Shea, Pique and Bardsley to fill in, I imagine one or both of them will be in the starting line up. Defensively, we have been superb this season (on paper at least) and regardless of the injuries, we’ll be wanting to keep solid at the back. Fortunately, the added bonus of Hargreaves, who may be starting tonight, should help with that department.

All European games are tricky, and you can never take any opponent for granted (just ask Roma after they came to Old Trafford after a 2-1 victory over us at their place), particularly not an opponent who desperately seeks revenge. They come to Old Trafford on the back of a 4-1 drubbing at home against Inter Milan, so an early goal for us may be enough to force them in to the depths of despair.

Something feels very right about the European Cup this year, and the sooner we can top the group and get on to the next round the better. Here’s to picking up all three points against Roma.

Do you think we will win tonight? Or will their revenge hunting be enough to steal the points for them?

Does Giggs Deserve A New Contract?

2007-09-30T05:35:00.000-07:00

Ryan Giggs has been receiving a hammering from his own fans recently, just as talk of him renewing his contract has come about. I read comments from Giggs in the MEN on Friday (which referred to Giggs as the winger who had eight Premiership titles to his name. Where have they been?) and whilst I want him to stay on, and sign an extension, I wonder how much of that desire springs from sentimentality.

Ferguson has today spoken out about Giggsy’s future, claiming it is certain the winger will still be with us next season, and could break Sir Bobby’s appearance record by the end of the season. “He will not play every game for us this season but he will be here next season, that is for certain. He could even catch Bobby before the end of May.”

Football fans are very fickle, and the moment Giggs plays a lazy flick which lands nowhere near a player in red, you’ll hear reds screaming for him to get off. “He’s a load of shit, that Giggsy” they’ll moan in the local. This season, yeh, I’d say that is a pretty fair assessment, Giggsy has been a load of shit, but I struggle, like a lot of reds, to say too much against the man.

My dad reckons that Giggs has lost his hunger for football, and I hate to say that I am slowly starting to agree with him. Towards the end of last season, Giggs really looked to be struggling, and when you’re 33 and playing twice a week, you can expect the haggard look. But after a summer off, and more recently, an international break, Giggs doesn’t look to be any more fresh.

Too many times we’re seeing Giggs give a way the ball in such a lethargic manner, not tracking back with the vigour he should, and giving up far too easily all over the field. Too many times, whether on his arse or stood with his arms flung out, Giggs is stopping and turning to the ref. “Don’t you know who I am? I’ve won the league nine times, now give me a free kick for being second to the ball.”

My frustration is added to by his lacklustre efforts as the captain. I loved seeing Giggs and Neville lifting the trophy together last season, and that will be such an iconic and moving photograph in ten, fifteen, twenty years time. However, Giggs is no captain, and like I said in my article, Rio Ripe For Demotion, it’s time the armband was given to someone else.

Giggs needs to have that fight and hunger put back in him, and maybe we could see that if he was dropped for a period of time. Whilst we can’t expect to see him playing the way he did ten years ago, for large chunks of last season he looked as good as ever. His strengths are not the same as they were, as there will be a lot of full backs who are able to cut out his runs these days, and who beat him for pace, but new strengths have developed with his experience. However, we’re not seeing those strengths at the moment, and it only seems logical that Ronaldo and Nani man our wings until Giggs sorts his head out.

Clearly, he wants to be a United player, and after taking a cut in wages to sign a two year deal last time, we have no reason to question his loyalty or feelings about playing in our shirt. However, he does seem to have a certain nonchalance in regards to the new contract. “We trust each other, which comes from 15 or 16 years in the first team. I don't think I need to play well in specific games otherwise I won't be offered a contract. Generally speaking, if I am doing well, everything else will take care of itself. You could easily get caught up in `I have only got a year left so I need to play well' and put that added extra pressure on yourself. But the pressure playing for United in itself is enough you don't want to put added pressure on.”

I have to disagree with him. He does need to be putting some pressure on himself, because clearly, his relaxed attitude is not producing the goods on the pitch. Whilst he is set to get a contract regardless of how he is playing at the moment, for the club, he needs to be putting on the pressure and needs to be playing well.

Any other 33 year old would maybe have to be worry about their future playing for the Champions if they were not playing well. Fortunately for Giggs, he isn’t just any other 33 year old, he is a 33 year old who has nine league titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, and one European Cup. He is close to featuring more heavily in our history books, with just a few appearances short of being the player to represent our club more than any other, and it is that which sets him apart.

Ryan Giggs is a Manchester United legend, and I don’t use that term lightly. He was my hero when I was a lad and whatever he does, however he plays, I’m going to love him. He’s had the kind of career modern professionals (and fans) can only dream about, and it’s going to take a really special player to ever rival him on ability, experience, loyalty and honours. Of course he deserves a contract extension, and of course he deserves our patience to come good again.

So next time you want to throttle Giggsy for giving the ball away, just remember all the great things he’s done for this club and how your life as a football fan has been improved by him. If you need a reminder, watch this…

What do you think of Giggs’ recent displays?

Vidic On £50k For Four Years

2007-09-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

Nemanja Vidic has won over the fan's heart with his battling nature and brave commitment to the cause. His name is sung week in week out and he has quickly established himself as one of the greatest defenders we've ever had at the club.

Less than two years in to his current deal, United have offered him an improved contract for a further four years, seeing him earn £50,000 a week.

Ahead of United's trip to Birmingham, plenty of comparisons have been made between the Serbian defender and United's former captain and current Brum boss, Steve Bruce. Gary Pallister was the latest to make the comparison is yesterday's Evening News.

Ferguson's has boasted to the press this morning on his brilliant £7 million find, saying, "the quality Nemanja has is that he is so brave. He is a great defender and he's a real threat up front as well. He can play too but, importantly, he doesn't mess about at the back. He is prepared to put his head in and that always makes him a threat up front. He can easily get 10 this season."

Following his late winner against Everton a fortnight ago, Vidic has confessed he is up for bagging a lot more goals for the club. "I plan to score lots of goals this year," he said. "If they come of my head, my feet or stomach, I don't mind. I want to help the team win more matches. I understand there is a lot of concentration on our attacking players. But you have to defend to win football matches. Myself and Rio have a great understanding and I think it is getting better. We aim to get as many clean sheets as we can."

He'll Fuckin Murder You at RoM.org's Shop

Ronaldo: I Regret Ever Wanting To Leave

2007-09-29T04:10:00.000-07:00

The summer of 2006 was a very stressful time for United fans. Ronaldo was blamed for England's exit from the World Cup, after being one of the five Portugese players to crowd the ref as it appeared his team mate got stamped on the bollocks by Rooney. It appeared as though there was no hope in keeping Ronaldo, with Real Madrid and Barcelona more than happy to take the player of our hands.

Ronaldo has confirmed again today that United fans have Ferguson to thank for keeping him at the club.

"Sir Alex is a very caring coach and I have a relationship with him that goes far beyond what is usual between a player and the coach," Ronaldo said. "In fact, I can even say I signed for United because of him and it is down to him that I am still with United in England. At the end of last season (2005/06) he was one of the most influential people in my decision."

Newspapers all over Europe were quoting Ronaldo as saying he wanted to leave United, but wasn't sure to which club yet. He feared the reaction he was going to get in England, after family members were abused in the street and their homes vandalised.

"There are moments in life when we all react on impulse when it would be wiser to stop, take a breath and think in a more rational way," Ronaldo added. "That's what I should have done after all that controversy concerning Rooney and me. I acted in haste when I said there were no circumstances under which I would stay. Everybody makes mistakes. But the story had a happy ending. I assure you the best is yet to come. And the best will be more titles, which are the icing on the cake."

Will he stay forever? Probably not. But I am more than happy to see him running down our wings and helping us win trophies over the next few years. He's starting to think and play like a proper red, and long may that continue!

What If Rooney Grabbed The Red Card?

2007-09-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to be at Old Trafford to watch the lads batter Chelsea last weekend. At half time, I watched the highlights, with Rooney coming close to scoring in the opening minutes, with Mikel getting sent off for his foul on Evra, Tevez clinching his first United goal, Joey Cole bringing Evra down in the area...and whilst watching this, I couldn't quite get over John Terry's reaction to Mikel's red card.

It reminded me of the World Cup 2006. I'd gone to the bogs when Rooney got sent off (so as you can imagine, I got quite a lot of stick for it. Wayne didn’t get sent off because the ref felt he stamped on Carvalho, he got sent off because I was in the toilet, and me leaving the room meant the dreadful events occurred. Oh to be a superstitious twat eh?) and I still remember the sickening feeling I got when my mate said “Rooney just got shown the red card.” Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t because I’m a massive England fan, far from it, but because I knew the grief he was going to get for it. One of your players letting down England is one of the worst possible things, because whilst you can win the Treble on the back of your star man getting sent off for England in the World Cup, or just the Premiership as was the case last season, the stick you have to get for the year/s following is annoying beyond belief.

When they showed the replay, I wanted to take the red card out of the Argie bastard, Elizondo’s, hand, but it couldn’t be done. It would have been a dream scenario to stop Rooney from getting sent off, to swipe the card and pretend like it hadn’t happened, but of course, this wasn't possible.

When Mikel got sent off for his foul of Evra last weekend, I imagine lots of Chelsea fans wanted to take the card out of Dean’s hand. Life without Mourinho was depressing enough, and no Chelsea fan wanted to see that happen days before travelling to play the Champions at Old Trafford. To see one of their players get sent off with half an hour played must have unbearable, and what those lads wearing those luminous yellow shirts would have given to make the refs actions undone. However, that’s not possible. As much as we may disagree, the refs word is final, and there’s nothing you can do about it…

…well, unless you’re John Terry, that is. If you’re John Terry, strutting your stuff with the captain’s arm band whilst playing for Chelsea and England, it seems you feel slightly differently. If you have the country constantly talking you up, telling you you’re the bravest, most committed and strongest defender of the lot, it seems as though you feel you’re above the usual rules of football. You’re special, you can do what you want. Aside from the usual sporadic handballs, you also have the power to change the referees decisions. If your manager leaves, the special bank of “Chelsea team spirit” is close to empty, and one of your players get sent off, it’s alright for you to grab the red card from the ref. Right?

John Terry was so passionate, dedicated and loyal to his team (not the team of his father though, I hasten to add, who is a die hard United fan and was desperate for his lad to sign for us) that he reacted as any true and proper fan would, and grabbed on to the red card as the referee tried to hold it up to Mikel. Whilst it is unacceptable to hold your badge up after scoring an injury time winner, the FA deem it totally acceptable to hold on to the ref’s red card when he’s sending off your team mate. It all depends on which badge you’re grabbing, and which team’s player got sent off, of course.

I wonder if the passionate, dedicated “thug” Wayne Rooney tried to take back a referees decision, if it would be met with such nonchalance. Whilst Chelsea have been charged for failing to control their players (again), no action has been taken on John Terry. Would Rooney be let off the hook if he took hold of the referees red card when his team mate was being sent off? Would Rooney be the victim of a poor refereeing decision if he was shown a red card for miscontrolling the ball and then showing studs in the resulting challenge?

Chelsea have been guilty of four charges of being unable to control their players in the past eighteen months, and whilst the punishment has yet to have been dealt out, it is likely another fine will be dished out to the blues. Considering the man in charge is so rich he could drop £20,000 out of his back pocket and feel too lazy to pick it up, the FA are kidding themselves if they think their petty fines are going to make any difference to the poor behaviour of Chelsea FC.

Chelsea faced trouble in March 2006 against Fulham, when the blues lost 1-0 and Gallas gestured to the fans following his sending off. Fans of both teams invaded the pitch and kicked off. Two weeks later, with sanctions from the FA proving a waste of time, they were in hot water again. Makelele was fouled by former red, Wallwork, in a game which saw Robben sent off earlier. The players surrounded and pressured the referee. Most recently, the big fight between Arsenal and Chelsea in the Carling Cup final earnt Chelsea more time in the FA’s bad books.

So Chelsea can thank their lucky stars that yet again their poor behaviour will not be dealt with successfully. It is worth their while to put pressure on the referee (it certainly stopped Halsey from sending off J Cole after his dreadful challenge on Ronaldo at the weekend. His protests of innocence make it all the more frustrating) as the worst punishment on offer is a few thousand being dropped from Roman’s account. Until the FA provide punishments which act as a deterrent, Chelsea will continue to act as though they are above the rules.

I can’t imagine the reaction of the country if Rooney had been the one to behave as John Terry, and that is expectation we have upon a twenty one year old. Why the expectation upon Terry is not higher is beyond me. Why this country doesn’t put more pressure on the England captain to behave suitably than it does its young striker, is beyond me. It surely can’t all be to do with the colour of their shirt, can it?

Whilst Ronaldo is getting booked for being fouled in the area, and Ashley Cole is permitted to throw himself to the ground wherever he wishes and goes unpunished…whilst John Terry isn’t even highlighted for acting as though he is beyond the rules in his response to the referee, and Rooney is vilified for swearing at the referee for making a wrong decision… then what can we expect?

We’re the Champions, we’re going to get a raw deal (regardless of what the lazy journalists who quote facts about penalties awarded in front of the Stretford End ten years ago want to say) and we need to rise above it. If our players conducted themselves in the way Chelsea’s have over the past few years (post Jose as much as during his reign) they would have been ripped to shreds, and I challenge any rival fan to sincerely state the contrary. And that’s not fair, and that’s life. If we can win whilst playing fair, as we have done all season so far, then I am more than happy.

Onwards and upwards.

We’ll Never Die.

VIDEOS: The Crowd vs Chelsea

2007-09-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

Beating Chelsea in such convincing fashion last weekend was just what the team needed to boost their confidence after a few weeks of below par performances.

The crowd was the most lively it had been in some time, heightened by the fact we were playing our biggest title rivals, they'd just lost their manager, and a player who snubbed us for them got sent off early on.

Before kick off, the Chelsea fans were reminded, as if they could forget amidst the deafening "Championees" chants, that it was United who won the league last season, with a picture being carried across the Stretford End. A piece of cloth which covered the whole lower stand moved from one side to the other, showing proudly Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs lifting the trophy.

If you fancy seeing a few snippets of the crowd that day, check out the videos below.

"Fuck Off Mourinho"

"Championees"

Booing Mikel

"Cheerio"

Celebrating Tevez's Goal as he runs to the corner flag

"We shall not be moved"

Saha's penalty

Applauding the players off the field

Who Cares About The League Cup Anyway?

2007-09-27T03:45:00.000-07:00

When Manchester United won the Carling Cup in 2006, it was met with a lot of criticism. The competition we had long dubbed the Worthless Cup (after Worthington were the sponsors) was now the only trophy in our cabinet. "Oh, it's good enough for you now?" people sniped.

If anyone cares to look at the stats, since the early 90s, Manchester United have played in more League Cup finals than any of the other top four teams. Has it ever been our first priority? No. Will it ever? No. When we won it in 2006 did we suddenly change our mind and say it was a great cup to win? No. Am I gutted we got booted out in the first round last night? No.

If our youngsters had a good run in the competition, that would have been great. Arsenal's youngsters achieved great things in the League Cup last season, and it would have been lovely to emulate that success, but it wasn't to be. Our mish mash team, of youngsters, new signings, and players trying to get match fit, just looked second class. Coventry were deserved winners, as Ferguson said in his post match interview, and we can have no complaints.

In 2006, we weren't good enough to win the league, we got dumped out of the FA Cup by Liverpool at Anfield, and didn't get past the group stages in Europe. Yes, back then, the League Cup would have to make do. I'd rather win it than not win it, or not win a thing, and back then, we needed something after our least successful season in donkeys years the season before, when we finshed third and won nothing.

We have bigger fish to fry this season, however, as Champions of England and reaching the semis of the European Cup. If come the end of the season we win nothing, then maybe there would be some regret after underestimating Coventry and overestimating our second string so wildly. But essentially, we're playing with the big boys this season. We want to win our title again, and we want to win the European Cup. The League Cup serves as a distraction from these two goals, and the consolation would not be great enough. To go from League Champions to League Cup winners is certainly not something I'd like to see.

I'm sure they'll be plenty of stick dished out over the next week or so, about United's arrogance or disrespect of a cup they relied on just the season before last. But stick is something we're used to, and I won't be losing any sleep over that, or over knowing we won't be the winners of the League Cup this season.

So onwards and upwards. We've got a difficult week ahead, with an away trip to play Bruce's lads at the weekend, then a home tie against Roma and their band of Ultra thugs midweek. The sooner we forget about the League Cup, and focus on what we really want, the better.

We'll Never Die.

After Chelsea, We Shall Not Be Moved

2007-09-25T04:15:00.000-07:00

Sunday was everything I could have hoped it to be. It was vitally important we took three points at home (and finally got ahead of City) for our own well being. To do so without even having to break in to much of a sweat was all the better. Like usual with these games of hype, the quality of football was nothing to get us too excited, but the utter humiliation of Chelsea added to what was a great day.

I was at Old Trafford a couple of seasons ago, and had to suffer the pain of watching our lads applaud Chelsea, the new Champions, on to the field. With five minutes to go, the Chelsea fans (who had not sold out the away end at Old Trafford) chanted “easy!” at us, and it hurt. Our precious team was crumbling away, and Chelsea easily cast us aside. I wasn’t one of the thousands who left early that day, I hastened to add, and endured the painful lap of our honour as the Chelsea players celebrated with their fans.

Winning the title so convincingly last season was everything we dreamed of, after suffering through two season dominated by Chelsea. Beating them at Old Trafford on Sunday, with them not even managing a single shot on target (and just three shots in the direction of the goal all game), and watching the away section empty before the final whistle, felt like justice. It felt as though things have finally returned to how they should be.

People can speculate over the decisions all day long (and don’t worry, I will be giving some time to that later on), but what can’t be ignored is how the deflated men of Chelsea were outclassed from start to finish, with United looking superior in all positions. As a Chelsea fan said to me in a text as I drove back from the match, there is no room for Chelsea to feel hard done by, because they did not show up. It was an utterly toothless performance from a team whose self confidence and team spirit has taken a serious battering over the past few weeks, and United left the field worthy winners.

Decision 1: Evra Penalty vs Joe Cole
Joe Cole could have quite easily been given his marching orders for a clumsy tackle on Evra in the area with just quarter of an hour played. Cole brought down the left back before making any contact with the ball, and what should have been a penalty and red card for being the last man. The ref, rattled by the crowd, and the reputation which precedes Old Trafford (although it’s time somebody updated the stats, and looked at the amount of penalties given for and against United at Old Trafford over the past two seasons. Both Wigan and Arsenal were awarded penalties, Arsenal's in front of the Stretford End) bottled it and awarded nothing.

Decision 2: John Obi Mikel’s sending off.
It couldn’t have happened to a better player really, could it? The Nigerian youngster signed a deal with us, only to change his mind and claim he was forced in to the deal. Apparently, the smiling photographs of him holding a United shirt were all fake, and deep down, he’d always wanted to play for Chelsea. He undergoes a year with no football, and finally gets his wish to play for Chelsea. It is sod’s law that the team he fought so desperately not to move is the team that wins the league, isn’t it? He received his third red card in Chelsea’s shirt for a dangerous tackle on Evra. Evra flew a few feet in the air as Mikel’s studs crashed in to Evra’s foot, after winning the ball. Was a red card? From the stands I wasn’t expecting it. From the replay, I can understand why it was given, whilst still seeing it as rather harsh. Mikel lost control of the ball and it was a desperate challenge. Credit to him for winning the ball, but he followed through with studs in to the player. United fans will remember two seasons ago when Ronaldo made a one footed challenge with studs showing against City, and was dismissed despite not making any contact. I don’t remember many pundits at the time saying that wasn’t a straight red though…

It’s been a while since the Old Trafford crowd has had anything to get worked up about, and despite John Terry trying to take the red card out of the refs hand, the sending off sent the crowd wild. Mikel protested on the field (although managed not to throw a temper tantrum after this particular red card) and lingered, giving us all the more time to boo and whistle. United had the upper hand as it was, and it was only a matter of time from this point on until the game was wrapped up.

Decision 3: Tevez’s Goal
What a goal and what day for Carlos Tevez to open his scoring account with United. Ryan Giggs’ perfect cross in to the box, after Wes Brown headed the ball to him, met Tevez’s head as he dived in front of Cech. The problem is, this all occurred after the two minutes of injury time had finished. As Giggs ran over to the corner flag it felt as though his ball in would be the last touch of the game. However, the ref found time for Chelsea to clear the ball, only for Wes Brown to pass it on to Giggs.

It appears as though referees are getting a more lenient with time allowed, if City’s game at Fulham is anything to go by, when nearly three minutes of injury time were played on top of what had been announced by the fourth official. If Geovanni hadn’t selfishly gone for goal from the freekick deep in to this time, the ref would have had a few people to answer to.

In the case of Tevez’s goal, it was scored in the third minute of injury time, when just two minutes had been held up on the board. Is this a big deal? It could have been. As it is, I don’t think Chelsea fans have much room to complain on this one. Of course it’s frustrating. If the referee had blown his whistle when he was supposed to, Tevez would not have scored when he did.

However, we can’t change what happened, we can only speculate. Our second goal aside, if I was a betting man, I’d put good money on United scoring another goal in the half which followed regardless, as we utterly slaughtered Chelsea. We strolled around the field, pushing attacks, and came inches away from scoring on number of occasions, whilst the Chelsea players sat back and let us. If we had been without the comfort of knowing we were a goal ahead, you’d be wise to think United would have scored another independent of the penalty. Regardless, no team who can’t muster a single shot on target deserves any points from a game.

Decision 4: Wayne Rooney’s Stay
Chelsea fans are likely to feel aggrieved that Wayne Rooney stayed on the field whilst Mikel was sent off. Rooney received a yellow card for stupidly shouting out at the ref. He had been tracking back alongside Ashley Cole. Just as the skinny twat broken in to our half, he dived on to the ground, and the referee awarded a free kick. Naturally, Rooney was frustrated the referee had been so blind, but that does not excuse his reaction which earned him a yellow card.

Moments later, Ashley Cole was in his box, when Rooney charged him down, intentionally pushing him. The referee called Rooney aside for a chat, rather than for a second yellow. A red card for Rooney and ensuing ban would have been a disaster for us, after only just getting him back playing in the Premiership after he was injured on the opening day.

Instead of bringing out a second yellow, and enjoying the celebrity of sending Rooney off, the referee took him to one side and had a chat with him. It had been a cynical move by Rooney, and there couldn’t have been too many complaints if he’d been sent off.

Decision 5: Dean’s drop ball
Petr Cech stormed out of his goal line and collided with Rooney, with our striker receiving a blow to the head. As he lay motionless on his front in Chelsea’s penalty area, Rio Ferdinand kicked the ball out for a throw in. Once Rooney was back on his feet, the ref opted for a drop ball instead.

Instead of behaving in a sporting manner and giving the ball back, Chelsea kept possession. We let them know what we thought of this, and spend the majority of the remaining twenty minutes booing whenever they were on the ball. A needless decision from the ref which could have caused a few problems if Chelsea had converted their possession in to a chance. However, it wasn't Chelsea's day to benefit from that kind of good luck.

Decision 6: Is Joe Cole still on the field?
As Ronaldo charged down the right hand side of the field, Joe Cole slid in, getting nowhere near the ball, and took Ronaldo out at the ankle. He made no effort to reach the ball, and could have caused some serious damage. With fifteen minutes to go, finally the referee punishes Cole, but he only receives a yellow, in a game where he made arguably two red card fouls. Ferguson responded angrily to the referees decision, saying, "Joe Cole should have been sent off. Tackles like that are a danger to players. He went right down the back of his leg and could have done some real damage. It is the type of thing Cristiano is facing all the time now but Cole got off with it because the referee was balancing things out after the first sending-off.The referees are not punishing tackles like that in the right way. I was very angry about it."

Decision 7: The Penalty
No question, it was a penalty. Ben Haim made a lazy tackle on Louis Saha and didn’t touch the ball. Saha made a meal out of it, flailing his legs and falling to the ground. Embarrassing, sure, but that does mean it wasn’t a penalty? Of course not. On a day when the referee was clearly having problems, Saha made it as obvious as he possibly could, and then slotted the ball down the centre of the goal as Cech dived out of the way. I'd rather see my players not behave like that, but in a situation where it was a certain penalty, I can learn to live with our foreign players doing it.

All in all, the referee made a pig’s ear out of most of the decisions, that is certain. Would United have got the same result if the referee had been on good form? Who knows. Chances are yes, with the Chelsea team not looking close to scoring over recent weeks, and looking dreadful on Sunday.

After the match, Ferguson summarised the events well, saying the referee spent the game working a balancing act, making wrong decision after wrong decision. If on the seventeenth minute he had awarded a rightful penalty against Joe Cole, we could have seen a different game, but that wrong decision had a knock on effect. If with less than twenty minutes gone, with Chelsea down to ten minute and a goal behind, what would the outcome have been?

As it is, I don’t really care, if I’m honest. United picked up a well deserved three points, and are finally starting to look like a team again. We still have Gary Neville and Owen Hargreaves to come back in to the first XI (although it must be said, Carrick had a great game, winning the ball from important tackles, and providing good passes forward) and Rooney to settle in after missing weeks of football. Things are just started to click for us, whilst for Chelsea, our supposed main title rivals, things are coming apart at the seams.

I concur with Tevez, that justice was done on Sunday. We picked up all three points as we deserved, but on a greater level too, Chelsea are starting to feel the pain of success slipping away. As they rubbed our noses in it three seasons ago, chanting “easy” at us, I bet they never dreamed so that so quickly they’d be travelling to Manchester to see their team put on such a dismal performance. The "easy" chants were not returned at the end of the match on Sunday, however we belted out a couple of rounds of "We shall not be moved" and "Championees" as we filtered out of the ground. And that is how it feels, as though we will not be stopped from winning the title again. Before kick off, the Stretford End carried over a material flag showing Giggs and Neville lifting the trophy, reminding our fans what we'd won, and the Chelsea fans what they'd lost.

Just as the title wasn’t lost after the first three games, it is not won after the first seven, however we can see just how quickly things change in football, and how quickly they've changed in our favour. Of course Liverpool and Arsenal are still fierce competitors, and it is by no means all over for Chelsea…but I certainly have great confidence that come May, the black and red ribbons will be staying on our trophy.

We’ll Never Die.

VIDEO: United vs Chelsea

2007-09-23T06:47:00.001-07:00

Just a short video to get you in the mood for today's game, showing some of our best moments and goals against Chelsea over the past few seasons.

Why United With Mourinho Would Be A Disaster

2007-09-23T04:11:00.000-07:00

Slightly hungover, I woke up earlier than I should today, with the butterflies over today’s match keeping me awake. It is a big game and I really would like to add to the Chelsea depression by getting a good result against them today. Whether this will happen or not is a different matter, but we will certainly get enough mocking chants off the ground to meet the Chelsea fans who do travel to Manchester for the game (but if less than 25,000 could be bothered to show up at Stamford Bridge this week, I wouldn’t hold my breath on seeing many of them on the M6 today).

Of course the focus of most of these chants will be Jose Mourinho, the self obsessed drama queen, who has seemingly put our country under a spell, forcing us all to be obsessed with him as well. Ashamed I admit, his departure has absolutely fascinated me. I’m hungry for any bit of information about why he left, who he rowed with, and where he is going next.

If asked two months ago would I fancy seeing Mourinho as the man to replace Ferguson, it would have been an outright “no”, however over the past week when the press started suggesting this could be the case when Sir Alex retired, my opinion had softened slightly. Is it a scenario I would be happy with? Would he be good for the club? Could he be successful here? Could we love him? I thought I knew all the answers to those questions, but now that he is not with Chelsea, I didn’t feel so sure.

I read an interview with him today in the News of the World, where he says he wishes he could gather all the fans together and say goodbye, but concedes this wouldn’t be possible, as they’d crush him with their love for him. I think that sentence alone reminded me why I had been so sure about my feelings on Jose and United, and I carried on thinking about it.

I was just a lad when Ferguson was appointed manager of United, and the only United teams I have known and loved were the ones he created. He is United to me, he’s the man that made all our dreams come true in the 90s, he’s the man we’ve backed for years in rows and disagreements, he’s the man who has built team after team of Champions, and if any manager is special in the World today, it’s Sir Alex Ferguson. Maybe it is my love and admiration for our current manager which makes it impossible to imagine Jose Mourinho or any other man in charge of our club, or does it run deeper than that? Are my feelings against Mourinho more personal than merely not wanting to contemplate anyone replacing Fergie?

For years on forums I have discussed Mourinho with Chelsea fans, who rant and rave about how amazing he is and how his record speaks for itself. My objections to that can soften now that he is not associated with a club I have grown to hate. Of course he has had a successful career, and for a young manager too, but is he good enough for United? The Chelsea fans would have cried “of course he is”, but would they be right?

Mourinho was appointed as Chelsea manager following his successful stint in Portgual, finishing the season as European Champions. He had lead Porto to success in the league and in Europe, and therefore, along with his charismatic personality, was an obvious choice for Abramovich to lead the team he wanted to dominate the globe. On paper, he had it all going for him, but in reality, do his past achievements make him good enough for United?

In the 2004 Champions League, Porto came second in their group, winning half the games they played, finishing below Real Madrid and ahead of Marseille, then the seventh best team in France. In the first knockout stage they beat United, after scoring an injury time equaliser at Old Trafford, after Paul Scholes’ second goal of the night was wrongly ruled out for offside. They then went on to beat Lyon, Deportivo and Monaco, to be crowned Champions of Europe. The only giants of Europe they beat that year were us, and that was thanks to the poor judgement of the linesman. Does that mean Jose is a great manager? But hold on, let’s not forget the league titles he won in Portugal too, right?

In the season before Mourinho took charge of Porto, they were the second best team in the country. They had lost out on the title to Boavista by just one point. He then guided that team, who were just one point worse than the Champions, to two league titles. Winning the league anywhere has to be an achievement, but winning the league in Portugal after being handed a team painfully close to already achieving that goal, is not something I would get too carried away with.

So then he came to Chelsea, after previously saying he was more interested in joining Liverpool than he was the London outfit. He inherited another great team, this time from Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the semi finals in Europe, and second in the league behind Arsenal’s unbeaten side. He spent huge amounts of money in his first season, with Drogba and Carvalho (who cost £44 million between them) the only two worth spending much time on. Mourinho’s greatest players were the ones there before he arrived, Lampard, Cech, Terry, Makelele, Robben, Gudjohnsen and Duff to name a few. In his three year spell with the club, he has record in the transfer market has been pretty poor. The Chelsea team which will walk out at Old Trafford today is not of the same quality as the team that played us on the opening day of the season in 2004. He has spent masses of money, but the only players which stand out as being great buys, are the high profile players all top managers were interested in. Masses of money has been spent, but is the team any better for it?

Ferreira, Kezman, Tiago, Jarosik, Del Horno, Maniche, Hilario and Boulahrouz are just a selection of the poor signings Jose has made in three years. These players cost a fortune, and most were sold on at a loss within a season or two. Drogba shone for Chelsea last season, but only when Mourinho was forced in to playing a formation he didn’t want, after Shevchenko was introduced to the club by Abramovich. Essien, who broke Chelsea’s previous record transfer fee, is a worker and a quality player, one which we were very keen to sign, as were most if not all the big clubs in Europe. Out of the twenty or more players Mourinho has signed, for a figure totalling hundreds of millions of pounds, those two are the only two which deserve much praise. The likes of Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Ashley Cole are by no means flops, but we have yet to see really what they are capable of. In the same time period, Ferguson signed Heinze, Saha, Rooney, Van der Sar, Vidic, Evra, Carrick and Hargreaves who have(/will) hold down first XI places in our team.

Not any manager could win the league with the team Mourinho inherited from Ranieri and the money spent, but I’d say any good manager could. The manager doesn’t have to be special to turn the second best team in England, with the quality players they had and the money he was given, in to the best team in England. You do not get listed alongside the best managers in the World for doing that, and then to lose the title because you don’t have a squad capable of dealing with injuries, despite the hundreds of millions spent, then your reputation certainly should take a knock.

Jose Mourinho was hired by Abramovich to win the European Cup, and after three years of trying, after millions dished out on players, Mourinho came no closer to winning it than his predecessor.

Speculation suggests one of the reason Mourinho was forced out is because Roman craved a more exciting style of football. Whilst Chelsea had been successful with their effective, defence minded strategies, Abramovich wanted to see his multi-million pound team striking fear in to their opposition with their blinding attack. With all the money in the World, with skilful and exciting players like Joe Cole, Arjen Robben and Eidur Gudjohnsen, to name a few, Mourinho could not, or would not, do this. United’s whole ethos is based on attacking and exciting football. Would Mourinho be able to change and be successful promoting that style with our team?

Now whilst this is all doom and gloom, and anti-Mourinho, it is important to remember his good qualities, if we are going to assess the situation seriously. For all his arrogance, for all his petty comments, for his false accusations, for his tapping up scandals, for his failure to accept blame, and for his extreme hypocrisy, Jose Mourinho gives the players the self belief to succeed. As the Chelsea players sobbed when Mourinho told them goodbye, they would be sure to be contemplating their future. Can Joe Cole perform like he has for Mourinho with a different manager in charge? Can Drogba keep the golden boot without Mourinho’s confidence and belief in him? On top of their ability, Mourinho instilled the hunger and passion to win in to them. Whilst all their “team spirit” bollocks makes me feel a bit sick (and I only hope all the players don’t go around hugging each other again before kick off as they did last time they visited Old Trafford), it certainly seems to do the trick.

Jose Mourinho as he is though, he is not a manager I’d want at United. As both United and Chelsea have suffered from less than perfect starts to the season, United’s likely due to the missing fire power of Rooney, Saha and Ronaldo, and Chelsea suffering the same, with no Drogba and Lampard, Mourinho is the only manager to constantly remind the press this is the case, making excuse after excuse. When Chelsea won the title the season before last, with United plodding through a season to finish eight points behind, struggling with more injuries than I’ve seen us go through in over a decade, Ferguson did not do interview after interview talking of how being without so many key players for so long prevented us from being Champions, and our players graciously followed suit. When Chelsea were outclassed for the entire season by United last year, Jose Mourinho lead the excuses, blaming the injuries, stating they would have been the Champions if it was not for their injuries, and his players ungraciously did the same.

If Mourinho was to go away, learn some humility, be humbled by opposition, struggle to turn a good side in to a great side, then maybe he could have a future at this club. The Chelsea bubble should have well and truly burst by then, large proportions of their fans returning to “support” Arsenal and United, and we could have the new and improved Mourinho leading us to success. But for me to be happy about Mourinho taking over in the future, as has been reported, he would have to change a lot. Is that possible?

The News of the World interview asks was he at fault at all for the breakdown of his relationship with Roman, and therefore his exit from the club. "Do I blame myself?" he said. "No. I'm Jose Mourinho with all my good qualities and all my bad qualities. I'm Jose Mourinho and I don't change. I don't want to change anything I do — so blame myself? No, no, no!”

Jose Mourinho to manage Manchester United? Don’t hold your breath!

Solskjaer and Roy Keane At Old Trafford

2007-09-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

I know it's delayed, but I thought the videos taken from the Sunderland game might be of interest. It was a great day seeing Keane return, and Solskjaer getting a chance to say goodbye. Legends.

Keano Walks Out On To The Pitch

"There's only one Keano"

Solskjaer Waving Goodbye

"You are my Solskjaer"

The Best Natural Defender In England

2007-09-22T10:18:00.001-07:00

Wes Brown's perfectly delivered cross in the Champions League midweek was met by Ronaldo's head, and ended up in the back of the net. The Longsight lad has scrubbed up well for us, and whilst the seemingly never ending wait for Neville to return still goes on, it is reassuring to have a player of Brown’s quality and experience to fill in.

I remember seeing him playing back in 1999, with the crowd urging him on down the right flank, as he filled in at right back. He was only twenty then, but already the fans had a strong affinity with him.

The chant “We’ve got Wesley Brown” is not one of the most heard in Old Trafford, but that doesn’t take away from the sentiment. We are lucky to have a player like Wes at the club, not just for his ability, but for the passion he has for the team.

“Love, life, loyalty” reads the tattoo across his ribs, and it is that loyalty to the club he’s played for since being a young lad that earns him the respect of our fans. His career has been blighted with injury, and that has perhaps prevented him from becoming an even better player. Regardless, he’s racked up an average of 29 games a season for us since making his debut in 1998.

He’s underrated outside of Old Trafford, but well loved and appreciated within it. Ferguson once called Wes the best natural defender in England. He can make the last ditch tackle, he has the strength to muscle the opposition off the ball, and he can read the game well.

When talk of contract renewal came about at the end of last season, Brown was quick to confirm he saw his future at United. “I love playing for United and talk of me leaving this summer was rubbish. I have never thought of going anywhere else because it would be a step down.” He talks like a fan and plays like a fan, and it is players like these you need in your team.

Brown has spoken out about his future again today, saying, "I have always tried my best for the team. I have been here nine years now and I would do anything for the club. It is good to know how highly I am valued by the manager. It is certainly hard to imagine ever playing for anyone else. Hopefully that won't happen. I am happy here and hopefully I can stay here."

Gary Neville is a proper red, but in terms of ability and passion for the club, you couldn’t ask for a better fill in than Wes Brown. He’ll have a tough game tomorrow, and it is unknown what effect Mourinho’s departure will have on Chelsea. Having players like Brown, Giggs, Scholes and Neville is what sets us apart from the other top four teams, we have the extra fight when it counts and the extra effort when it’s needed. I hope these players show their hunger tomorrow, and give us the result we need to properly re-establish ourselves this season.

So here's to Wes Brown, and his future at the club.

Chin Up Mourinho

2007-09-20T01:44:00.000-07:00

Peter “United for life” Kenyon spoke to the press the day before yesterday, claiming that Jose Mourinho was key to Chelsea’s success. Kenyon said he saw in Mourinho the winning streak he’d seen in Sir Alex, and believed Chelsea were lucky to have a man so hungry for success in charge of the team.

As the pitiful 24,973 fans booed Chelsea off the pitch at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, after a disappointing 1-1 draw with the weakest team in their group in the Champions League, little did they know this was the last time they’d watch Chelsea with Mourinho as the manager.

He was loved by many when he first came to the Premiership, “a breath of fresh air”, but as time has gone by, his words have become more stale, and his actions more petty. False accusations of opposition coaches talking to the refs after failing to get wins against Barca and United, tapping up scandals, constantly blaming referees when the team didn’t get the result he wanted, and generally becoming more of a special whinger than a special coach. The wrong players were sold on in the summer preceding last season, and the wrong players were brought in. Jose sold off his wingers and forward men, brought in poor replacements for defence, and when the injuries began to take their toll, Chelsea cracked and conceded the title.

Mourinho has become the manager people love to hate, and whilst I’ve already heard from fellow reds who think it is a shame he’s gone, I am over the moon, for several reasons. Firstly, for the sake of my sanity, which seemed to be dwindling away every time Mourinho released another ridiculous statement. Secondly, for the disruption this is likely to cause the Chelsea team. They have all rallied behind him over the past year, when speculation has mounted over his future at the club. They all desperately wanted him to stay on as manager, and it will be bitterly disappointed to see their special one leave so abruptly. “Team spirit” is something splashed around all the time from the Chelsea camp, how great theirs is, and what impact it has. When Chelsea scrape out a result, it’s because of their “team spirit”, something which Mourinho has formed, not sheer good luck. As the final nail went in to Chelsea’s coffin last season, picking up a 1-1 draw against Arsenal, meaning United were the new Champions, Mourinho told the fans to keep their chins up (something which we mocked a week later, met with the Guard of Honour Stamford Bridge, singing “Chin up Mourinho”) and the fans took hope from that. Where will that hope be now that their special one has gone?

So, what does the future hold? If less than 25,000 fans can be bothered to show up to support the club in the Champions League (Rangers vs Stuttgart: 50,000, Arsenal vs Sevilla: 60,000) and then go on to boo them, how resilient are they going to be over the coming months? How pleased are they going to be when they find out that Roman Abramovich, who leaves Chelsea in a sticky situation, owing all their success to him, whilst resenting the fact his presence forced Jose out, will be appointing his mate, Avram Grant, in charge of their club. Grant is a man who has proven very little in his career in football, with posts at Portsmouth and Israel the only noteworthy entries on the CV.

But thirdly, the reason I am so over the moon, is that Jose chose to jump ship just days before coming to Old Trafford. Chelsea are set to be without Drogba and Lampard, their goal machines, and Terry is likely to feel the weight of the World on his shoulders, with some papers reporting today that he is part of the reason why Mourinho left them. The former manager had been disappointed with John Terry’s recent performances, and enquired with the club’s medical department if they knew the root of the problem. It is reported John Terry reacted furiously upon hearing this, and word made it’s way to the board. Whilst United work on the ethos that no one player is bigger than the club, Chelsea have yet to clock on to this, and news of super John Terry having a ruck with Jose is said to be the icing on the cake for the manager, whose relationship with the club has been strained for some time. Jose Mourinho did not have what it took to turn £100s of millions worth of players in to a team that could play stylish and exciting football, like rivals United and Arsenal, and European rivals Barcelona, and finally, Abramovich had enough.

Whilst we are far from having three points in the bag on Sunday when the blues travel up to play us, this is certainly the boost we needed after some pretty average displays. Of course there is also the possibility of the Chelsea lads pulling out a result, striving to show everyone that they’re not dead and buried now their special one has left them. But tension will be high and morale will be low, which should make the perfect combination to put them on a plate for us.

Three days to go. Are the points all ours now?

Ferguson Or European Cup? Choice Is Yours

2007-09-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

When we won the European Cup on that magical night at the Nou Camp, it seemed to be no surprise that it was also the day of Sir Matt's birthday. What would have been his 90th birthday was celebrated with United bringing home the European Cup for the first time since Sir Matt's team won it in 68. That evening was special, winning the trophy in injury time, after going unbeaten throughout the competition.

Years have gone by since 99, and whilst we have reached the quarter finals three times, and the semi finals twice since then, we have failed to win it. However, this year marks the 40th anniversary of us first winning the European Cup, and the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, when the Busby Babes lost their lives when returning from a European fixture. Can the magic happen again?

Sir Alex Ferguson has made his feelings on the trophy well known, and whilst he has, thankfully, always prioritised the league, he is desperate to lift the European Cup one more time. He believes these special anniversaries are inspiration enough to see the cup return to Old Trafford.

Whilst Ferguson won't speculate on when he is going to retire, it is believed that if he was to win the European Cup again, he would call it a day. A manager who has achieved so much deserves to go out on a bang, and whilst I'll hate to see him leave, can do nothing other than respect his decission.

However, this poses a serious question, and not one we as the fans can actually effect, but it certainly caused me to think. If we the fans had a choice between winning the European Cup again this season, meaning Ferguson would leave, or going another season without and Ferguson staying, which would we pick?

Of course Sir Alex is a man we admire greatly, but we'd be foolish to think he's still going to be here in ten years, five years even, so would winning the Champions League be worth it, if the cost was Ferguson leaving a little sooner than we expected? Or do we need Ferguson to fully form his latest team, bringing through signings Anderson, Hargreaves, Nani and Tevez, as well as nurturing the likes of Eagles, Evans and Pique.

What do you think? Leave a comment or check out the RepublikOfMancunia.org Forum.

Liverpool Guilt In Heinze Tapping Up Is Icing On The Cake

2007-09-16T04:46:00.000-07:00

If Heinze's move to the dippers had been cleared this summer, it would be a pretty humiliating situation for United. We'd made it known how much we loved the player, and to see him wearing the red of the scum week in week out would have been a lot to stomach. As soon as Heinze went back on his claims that his life in Manchester, playing for United was "perfect", and announced he was interested in a move to the dippers, we wanted shot of him, and any club but Liverpool would have done for me.

I was hugely relieved when a deal with Real Madrid was agreed, especially considering we made a profit on the 29 year old, who is past his best. Ferguson was clearly still livid, in disbelief that a player he had bent over backwards for would stab us in the back, betray us in the worst possible way. When Palace announced that a deal had been in the pipelines for them to buy our Argie, and then sell him on to the dippers, Ferguson got just the therepy he needed. He wanted revenge, and here was the perfect way to get it.

"We are looking at Liverpool's whole role in this," said Ferguson. "David Gill is working on it at the moment. We will get to the bottom of it and see what comes out because we are not letting them off with it." When asked whether he suspected there had been some 'tapping up', Ferguson fumed, "We will see."

The situation wasn't given much time to cool, when Rafa Benitez launched a ridiculous attack, losing the plot Mourinho style. When asked about his feelings on the Premier League tribunal's decission to deny the transfer to Liverpool to go through, Rafa exploded, "How can a player with a signed agreement be treated like this? He has a document that is clear, but the Premier League prefers to believe the word of someone else who made a mistake. I know there were accusations against Liverpool in the hearing which were unbelievable. How can this be allowed? Then I would ask why is it that Liverpool always plays the most fixtures, away from home in an early kick-off, following an international break? We had more than the top clubs last season and we have four already to prepare for this season. Then I want to ask the Premier League why it was so difficult for Liverpool to sign Javier Mascherano, when we had to wait a long time for the paperwork, but it was so easy for Carlos Tevez to join Manchester United? It's going to be very difficult for us to win the Premier League because the other teams are so strong, but we will fight to cope with our more difficult kick-off times and all the other decisions which are going against us."

The once cool, calm and collected Benitez appeared now to be off his trolley, making snipes about the fixture list and the embarrassingly ridiculous claim that the Tevez "transfer saga" was a simple process for us.

Ferguson faught back, easily putting Rafa in his place, saying "I am really disappointed with Rafa. He is going on about Saturday fixtures after European games. Well, he wants to look at our fixture list over the last two or three years. Maybe then he would have something to complain about. As for Carlos Tevez, it took about three months."

Whilst you may be forgiven for thinking the hostility had ended between the two managers for the time being, after Fergie backed Rafa's comments on kick off times following internationals, you'd be wrong. Reports today suggest United's claim of Liverpool tapping Heinze up is being investigated, as well as the claims made by Crystal Palace. Both are being looked in to by the Premier League, with two large fines up for grabs if Liverpool are found guilty.

It would be the icing on the cake if the dippers were punished for trying to sign Heinze, but I won't hold my breath on the Premier League announcing they are guilty of anything. Lest you forget, Robbie Fowler running to the United fans showing his four/five pudgy fingers deserved no punishment, apparently, whilst Neville's badge kissing cost him £5k. Mellor and Gerrard's red cards in the Amsterdam Tournament 2003, as well as Gerrard's punch in the pre-season just gone by, were worthy of no further punishment, apparently, whilst Scholes and Rooney were each handed a three match ban in the league for red cards in the same tournament in 2006. I therefore won't get too hopeful of the Premier League panal discovering any wrong doings, despite what Crystal Palace representatives have to say to the contary.

Meanwhile, Heinze is sitting on the Real Madrid bench, and the Premiership trophy is sitting in our trophy cabinet. Perfect.

[edit.] Wow this picked up a lot of dipper reaction. Maybe they're all just a bit embarrassed that Rafa fought so hard to sign one of our bench warmers? Who knows, but do stop littering this United blog with your moronic insults and sick Munich remarks. Such comments will continue to be deleted, so time to give up.

What Were You Saying, Terry?

2007-09-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, Manchester United were five points behind Chelsea, and being ruled out of retaining their title already. Alan Hansen said the title certainly was not won in the first month of the season, but it certainly could be lost.

John Terry spoke out about United's situation before August had even ended, saying, "Five points is a hell of a gap to have this early on. It's going to be difficult for United."

Then Chelsea draw with Liverpool, lose to Villa and drew with Blackburn today, whilst United pick up three points against Spurs, Sunderland and Everton. Now we're third in the league, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference, and Terry is left with egg on his face. Clearly Terry was overestimating Chelsea's quality this season, as catching up the five points hasn't been difficult at all, and certainly wasn't the one "hell of a gap" JT thought it was. Whilst we, the fans, would say the past three games have been difficult, in terms of the effect the dying moments have had on our hearts, the team, riddled with injuries and missing players, has scored a goal a game whilst playing football in their second gear.

Jose is outraged that his side were robbed of three points by the officials, only picking up one point at home, feeling as though Kalou's goal should have stood. How quickly he forgot the point his side left the dippers with only a matter of weeks before, after the officials wrongly gifted his team a goal. Swings and roundabouts Mr Mourinho.

We've yet to put our foot on the gas, but have managed to pick up maximum points from our last three games. It's been vital for us to get these wins, snatching goals against teams who'd feel a draw was a fairer result. We've had 70 minutes out of Saha, 45 minutes out of Rooney, three games from Ronaldo after today, and Tevez gaining match fitness with each match he plays, still settling in to our side without his preferred formation of a striker playing in front of him.

Both United and Chelsea have been below par this season, which sets the scene perfectly for next weekend's match at Old Trafford. Hopefully by then Rooney and Saha will have had more game time under their belts, and Ronaldo can benefit from more match time after playing his first game in a month today, when we face Sporting midweek.

Those who hit the panic button a few weeks ago will be feeling gladly foolish and the ABUs will be feeling disgruntled. What a difference two weeks make. Roll on next weekend.

We'll Never Die.

Can You Shake It Like Tevez?

2007-09-15T03:29:00.000-07:00

Time to celebrate our new signing, Carlos Tevez, by trying to imitate him. Now, none of us are going to be able to score goals like him...

...but maybe there are some of you who can dance like him

Now, this isn't really a dance competition as such. We're not necessarily scouting to find "the best" red dancer, but we're looking for someone who can entertain us. So whether you're having a laugh, or taking it seriously, whether you need to sink a couple of pints before hand, or can strut your stuff sober, we want you to send in your Tevez Dance. It's just a bit of fun, and we hope as many people as possible have the balls to do it.

The winner will receieve a United > England hoodie, and they'll be some other RoM United Merchandise up for grabs for our runners up.

You have until Saturday September 22nd to get your entries in. E-mail them to Republik_of_Mancunia@hotmail.co.uk. You can either e-mail the files, or preferably, upload them to YouTube and send us the link. The music choice is entirely up to you.

So be brave, and get recording!

Ronaldo To Avoid Trap Of Inferior Players

2007-09-15T02:41:00.000-07:00

Ronaldo is the most fouled player in the Premiership, and every foul on him is welcomed with a loud cheer from the opposition fans. Yeh, he deserved to get his legs taken away from him, yeh go on, break the bastards legs. It's entirely acceptable to feel this way right, because...well, it's his fault Rooney got sent off in the World Cup right?

When action is taken by the referee on the fouling player, it is met with boos of disgust from the opposition fans. At the council house last season, Ronaldo was kicked from pillar to post, and on the few times the referee took action, the booing was deafening. Nothing was awarded when Michael Ball tripped Ronaldo, and then stamped on his stomach. Instead, Ronaldo faced jeers and abuse every time he went near the ball from that moment on.

Granted, the only way to stop Ronaldo at times is to foul him, and teams are expected to do all they can to get in the way. The winger scored a massive 23 goals last season, so of course, you don’t want him getting anywhere near your goal mouth. But something greater needs to be done against the players who are consistently fouling him, and consistently winding him up. But for the most part, we see no reaction from Ronaldo. When players kick him, stamp on him, push him over, or attempt to slice him in half, he doesn’t retaliate or give them a taste of their own medicine. Is he commended for this? Course not.

So when he got sent off back in August for a “head butt” against Portsmouth, I was livid. Partly with Ronaldo, because it’s stupid to give the referee any excuse to send you off, but mainly with the game. Week in week out Ronaldo is kicked around the park, and we’ll see a free kick here and there, sometimes a yellow card, whilst no real deterrent is shown by the referee. Is it worth tripping him when he runs at full pace towards the box? Is it worth pulling on his shirt when waiting for a corner kick? Of course it is. The referee is either going to presume it’s a dive, Ronaldo’s reputation of previous years damaging him now, or throw a free kick United’s way (and in case anyone hadn’t noticed, our free kicks are always utter shite). Either way, you’re not going to lose.

Ronaldo protested his innocence for the week that followed, and whilst it would be soft to call what took place at Fratton Park a “head butt”, it was stupid. Touching heads with another player on the field is only going to get you in trouble, particularly if you wear the red of United or your name is Cristiano Ronaldo. Double whammy. Was his offence as damaging, wrong or cynical as the countless fouls that he is subjected to every time he plays? Course not. But that is irrelevant, it seems.

Ferguson gave Ronaldo some wise words at the time, saying, “He has got to learn from this. He has got to tell himself that they are inferior players and not to fall for these things. He has fallen into a trap and paid the penalty." It was a costly lesson for him, and for the team, but maybe it was one which was well over due. As he brushes off provocation with ease usually, he hadn’t been forced to feel the disappointment and the guilt he felt after that match against Portsmouth. The first two games of the season drawn, and he knew he couldn’t play for the following three. Things were looking pretty desperate.

However, Ronaldo is now back, and despite undergoing the disappointment of losing to City, we’ve won our last two games on the trot, and are playing on a high, with the anticipation of adding Ronaldo back to the mix.

"I've learned a lot from this punishment," he said in the papers today. "Now I am mentally prepared to tolerate anything my rivals throw at me. They cannot provoke me any more. This is a promise I've made to the manager. It will never happen. I wouldn't wish the experience of the past few weeks on anybody and I know I'm of no use to the club if I'm not on the field. It has been an incredible feeling not to be able to help the team. I live for football and during the last few weeks I've suffered more than at any time in the past three years."

So hopefully Ronaldo has learnt his lesson, but the huge injustices still occur. That cannot be our focus for the time being, and we need to capitalise on Ronaldo’s return. With Rooney unlikely to play, Ronaldo will certainly be in the spotlight for the abuse of the Goodison Park crowd, and that is the kind of atmosphere he thrives in. Like Saha made the best possible comeback in our last match, I hope for similar things from Ronaldo today. A valuable lesson learnt, now let’s make the most of it.

Rio Is Ripe For Demotion

2007-09-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

I never have and never will be the biggest fan of Rio Ferdinand. Whilst his injury time winner against the dippers allowed the majority of fans to kiss and make up, nothing can be done to entirely repair the damage done after he missed his drugs test. After demanding more money, after serving a lengthy ban during the crucial second half to what became a failed season, he showed us something that can never be undone. He is not a proper red. Whilst it is unrealistic to expect all our non-Mancunian players to love us in the same way the likes of Giggs and Neville do, it is not going to do any player any favours to show themselves for what they are. They will not become adopted in to Mancunia, and they will not become one of us. We have seen a number of foreign/non-Mancunian players over the years commit to and love us the way we want, and sadly, Rio Ferdinand will never be one of them.

Regardless, over the past season or so, I have come to love and admire another characteristic of Rio’s, and that is his desire to win. The hunger we see from him in every game he plays is certainly the quality I want to see in one of my players. To have someone who loathes losing so much is just what you need when you have you’re eye on winning a lot. When Van der Sar came charging away from his goal line at Fratton Park last season, and Rio watched his back pass role painfully over the line, he was mortified, he was seething, he was absolutely livid. He saw his team’s tight grip on the title start to losen, and he couldn’t stand it.

When Ferdinand first donned our captain’s armband, I was none too pleased. The captaincy should go to a player who loves the club, as a representative of both the team and the fans. Whilst Rio certainly has the presence to pull it off, I didn’t like that a player, who so soon after they’d shown they were not as committed to the team as we’d expect, was the captain. However, as I’ve softened, (and another goal against the dippers is put away) I see more than ever the real need to have Rio as our captain, currently. Despite Gary Neville’s continuous “two to three weeks away” claims, we cannot rely on this to be accurate. Whilst Giggs will always be loved at United, what he shows in love for the club and experience, does not compensate for his lack of leading abilities. Ferdinand is the man who, for the short term at least, should be leading our team out, instilling the same desire to win, and following that up with action.

Ferdinand had a great season for us last year, along with Vidic, and was an integral part in us winning our trophy back. He played more games for us than any other player, picking up just three yellow cards all season, two of those in the league, showing his ability to tackle clean on top of well. He was egged on more and more to come forward, and a number of occasions we saw him bursting in to the box (including the memorable occasion when he booted the ball in to that woman’s face after the moronic ref blew his whistle too late).

Oliver Holt, whose ABU bullshit has earnt him the prize of Sports Journalist of the Year a couple of times on the trot, wrote an interesting piece about Ferdinand a fortnight ago. Our defender is given constant bashing by England, and has faced the axe from the team for below par performances. When however, during the past World Cup for example, he bails out the entire defence (including John “can’t put a foot wrong” Terry) nothing seems to be said about it. England were shockingly poor in that World Cup, with Joe Cole, Owen Hargreaves and Rio Ferdinand being probably the only three who could return with their heads held high. Of course, Holt forgets about this, as he launches in to yet another damning piece about United.

“Steve McClaren might have a lot of players missing. But the man the country’s missing most is the man who shrunk back into the shell of the player who will take the pitch alongside John Terry at Wembley… The system chewed him up and spat him out as an Average Joe… Ferdinand has got to the stage where he's ripe for demotion…He could have been the jewel in England’s crown. Instead, he’ll run out at Wembley one more bad performance away from being dropped. It’s sad to say it but it looks like Rio’s on the way out. Going without having fulfilled a magnificent talent. What a waste.”

As if you hadn’t guessed, I’m not England’s number one fan, and the dismal football they’ve been playing for years makes it easier to feel as nonchalant about them as I do. The 3-0 win over Israel, whilst not setting the World alight, showed some of the most creative football we’d seen from them in years (I know, which doesn’t say a lot), and I’m beginning to think maybe their matches are more worth watching these days (although I do struggle to show an interest when our lads aren’t representing the country). There’s always a groan in the local when someone like Lampard scores for England. “Why did it have to be him?” As the ball hit the back of the net for the third time last night in England’s Euro 2008 qualifying game against Russia (following a wicked Michael Owen goal), it was nice to be able to cheer in a very genuine way, for a change. Whilst somewhat clumsy in his skill, it was still a top class goal, tricking the defender, and rifling it with such power, making it difficult for any keeper.

Rio likes playing for his country, and scoring for England can only mean positive things for United. It can only mean the best for us. All going to plan, he should turn up at Goodison Park at the weekend with all the determination, fighting spirit, and confidence we could hope for.

If England don’t want him, fine, their loss. They can happily drag back Ledley King or Jonathan Woodgate for all I care. It won’t be the first or last time a red has been screwed about by England.

He’ll never be my favourite, but he certainly is growing on me, and I’d like to see him raise his game this season. He’s got what it takes to go down in our history books, and I hope years in to the future he is remembered fondly. Whilst he’s given a lot of stick, he can be the difference between us winning and losing, between giving up and fighting on, and that is the kind of player I am more than happy to see wearing United red, and for now, the captain’s armband.

One Nils Will Do...For Now

2007-09-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

Our least convincing performance of the season could be found on Saturday, just beating our display against Spurs, yet both of these games saw us pick up our only three points of the season. We hear lots of talk about “That’s why they’re champions”, and it always used to be said when the trophy was at Stamford Bridge, and they ground out a 1-0 win. When Chelsea beat Portsmouth a couple of weeks back, to put us five points behind, John Terry said, “speaking to some of the Manchester United players, they should have beaten Portsmouth away, but they only picked up a point. And Portsmouth maybe deserved something from us at the weekend but they left with nothing. That’s the thing that really pleases me. We’ve got that ability to grind things out.” Yes, the ability to grind out a result is important if you want to win the league, but I certainly don’t want us to become renowned for the 1-0 win. When Chelsea last won the league, they racked up six 1-0s in the league, and twelve the season before that!

I’m not particularly worried of us becoming a team like that, and agree with Ferguson’s pre-match programme notes which talked of the vital 1-0s we got away to Blackburn and Liverpool last season. You do need to grind out a result when you’re going through a rough patch, and that certainly is the case for us at the moment. We’ve created plenty of chances, more than most if not all teams so far this season, but we haven’t had a finisher on the field.

Our luck changed somewhat on Saturday though. Reverting back to more likeable 442, with Carrick losing his place in the centre of midfield, and Giggs losing his spot on the wing to Eagles, we again created the chances, and again couldn’t put them away. Up until Louis came on to field, and he put the ball in the back of the net from a quality Nani corner (something Giggs, Ronaldo and Carrick all seem to fail in offering).

The important thing to do in the absence of Rooney, Ronaldo and Saha, was to the keep afloat. We didn’t have the players on the field we needed to find the net frequently, but we just needed to make sure we didn’t fall too far behind. Thanks to Chelsea’s result on Sunday away to Villa, following talk from Captain Terry on how it would be hard for us to catch up, we are still in it, and the ridiculously dismissive talk about us a couple of weeks ago looks pretty ludicrous now. A weekend can change everything, and two weekends can make the World of difference. When we next play, with Saha available for all 90 minutes (fingers crossed) and Ronaldo back from suspension, we need to start fixing the problems which have cost us points so far.

There’s a long season ahead, and we haven’t even really got started yet. When you look at the team which beat Sunderland, we were playing with half a team of newbies (Tevez, Anderson, Eagles, Nani, Hargreaves), who are still finding their feet, but more importantly, learning to play with each other. It is unrealistic to expect new players to come in to the team and fit in straight away. Whilst I have been massively impressed with how quickly Nani and Hargreaves have slotted it, it is more than expected that not all players can do that. Now that Tevez has a striker to play in front of him, I expect to see a lot more from him, and as the weeks and matches go by, our new players should get more used to how we do things.

This current team has the potential to be the best we've had in years, with a seemingly perfect mixture of ability, experience, youth, skill and hunger. If we can just be patient with these players, give them time to settle in, then we could be on the verge of seeing the best football we've had from the team since 99.

I expect much better than what we have seen already, and am confident that will come with time. We can't push our luck for much longer though, and we do need to be scoring more goals. It was vitally important for Saha to score on his return, to boost his confidence, and I look forward to Tevez banging in his first.

"Can Manchester Unite score? They always score." 1-0's have been good enough to do the job so far...now we need more.

Why We Love Keano

2007-09-01T05:20:00.000-07:00

Today is a day I've been looking forward to since the fixture lists were announced. It's the day that Roy Keane returns to Old Trafford. I was one of the lucky 70,000 fans who got to say farewell to Keano at his testimonial, and the crowd was fantastic. Keane embodied so many qualities in a player that United fans were looking for. Ferguson summed this up perfectly.

"He wasn’t the best player [I've ever had] in terms of ability but in terms of influence he was the best player," said Sir Alex. "You’ve got to understand what I mean about that. Certain people do well in life, with the determination and fire in their stomach to get them there. Robson had it, Willie Miller at Aberdeen at it, he was the nub of the team. Robson was part of the team I inherited but Keane was the nub of the team from then on.

"He was a fantastic influence, with the determination to win, fire and everything you would expect. I see myself, that’s why I always say he’s the best player. There’s a certain pride in that. I think most managers like to see themselves on the pitch and, in Keane, I saw parts of me like that, like with Robson and Miller.

"Through certain, I wouldn’t say limited ability, not true that, good ability but not the ability of a Cantona, a Giggs or a Scholes. They could take themselves above that with drive and ambition to get there. Even in sprint sessions, Roy was not the quickest but if you put a ball there he was the quickest to the ball."

United forums all over the net have been following closely the progress made by Keane since taking over at Sunderland. Secretly, and not so secretly for some, we want Keane back at United, as our boss, instilling the same drive, determination and commitment to winning he had when in the centre of our midfield. He has learnt from the best, and it would be a dream come true for him to emerge as a manager capable of stepping up when Sir Alex retires.

Keane’s day will be shared with Solskjaer now though, and I imagine the atmosphere to be as electric as it was on that day we said goodbye to Keane. Keane and Solskjaer are possibly the two most important players in bringing the European Cup back to Old Trafford in 1999. Without Keane’s heroic and gutsy performed against Juventus, as well as scoring the goal that started off our comeback, and without Ole’s toe guiding the ball in to the back of Oliver Kahn’s goal, we wouldn’t have had that fantastic night at the Nou Camp. I have been at Old Trafford to see Andy Cole, Nicky Butt and Teddy Sheringham return with their new clubs, and all have received a fantastic reception, with us singing the same songs we sung back in 99 for the players who made our dreams come true. I can’t imagine any of their welcomes will compare to what will happen today. Ferguson yesterday gave his opinion on this.

"He will get a great reception," he said. "I think that’s one of the things that makes me proud of being manager of our football club and it tells you what a great club we are. When we have players come back to play against us, or in the case of Roy tomorrow and in the last few years Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce coming back (as managers), they get a fantastic reception."

So just in case you needed reminding, here is a short video showing a selection of the reasons why we love Roy Keane. KEANO!

You Are My Solskjaer

2007-08-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

To honour Ole, in light of his retirement, we have added a new design to the shop. The design lists all the major trophies Solskjaer won with us in his 11 year stay at the club.

The UK based shop ships to: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Cyprus, Iceland and Japan.

The US based shop ships to: USA, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, China, Australia, New Zealand, Korea and Japan.

Breaking News: United's Champions League Group

2007-08-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

For the superstitious amongst us, it was no surprise in 1999, when we won the European Cup for the second time, on Sir Matt's birthday. Some things are just meant to be.

This season marks the 50th anniversary since the Munich Air Disaster, when eight of our players were robbed of their lives in Germany, returning from a European Cup match. This season also marks the 40th anniversary since we first won the European Cup, when Sir Matt Busby's men, Charlton, Best and Kidd, scored in our 4-1 win over Benfica at Wembley. Is this enough to convince us of victory in Europe again this season?

The Champions League groups were revealed today, with United being drawn in Group F with Roma, the team we beat 7-1 at Old Trafford last season, Sporting Lisbon, the club we signed both Ronaldo and Nani from, and FC Dynamo Kiev.

...and Solskjaer Has Won It

2007-08-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

Whenever I am introduced to a fellow red, I joke over the amount of time it will take for us to get started talking about 99. We seem to find it impossible to go a night without mentioning that night at the Nou Camp with a United fan we’ve just met. "Where were you?" "Yeh I was still celebrating the first goal when the second one went in, and was confused at the replay too." We talk of the celebrations, how the match was for the most part pretty naff, how screwed we thought we were when we saw the line up, and exactly what it meant to us. It was the single most amazing evening of our lives. The happiness and emotion we may feel when we pass our driving test, at graduation, on our wedding day, when our child is born etc., may all vary in their degrees of excitement and meaning to us, there are several occasions we may have which we will class “the best day” of our lives…but I can’t see how any event will match the feeling of knowing we were on the brink of winning the European Cup that night. No event will leave me jumping up and down and crying and shouting and losing my mind in quite the way I did that evening.

It is United’s “never say die” attitude that gave us that wonderful day, and it is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who gave us the goal that made it.

We all have our favourite Ole memories, whether it's him flooring Rob Lee, scoring the goal that knocked the dippers out of the FA Cup in the last minute back in 99, bagging four goals in the final ten minutes against Forest, the 26 goals he scored in 2001-2002, his brave stance in support of SU against the Glazers, or his general love and loyalty to our club and fans. What is undeniable is the legendary status our Ole holds at the club. He is admired for his professionalism and likeability by most outside of Old Trafford, and he is adored inside Old Trafford.

Solskjaer has spoken out about his time at United, thanking the club and fans for all their support. "I would like to thank the manager, the coaching and medical staff and most of all the supporters, who have supported me through my career," Solskjaer said. "They have been fantastic and were a real inspiration to me when I was out injured. The support the fans and the staff showed me during that time was the main motivation for me making my comeback. I feel proud to have represented Manchester United for 11 years and have some very special memories."

Like the greats before him, we will sing his name every week at Old Trafford. We will buy shirts for years to come with Solskjaer 20 on the back. We will miss singing "Ole, Ole, Ole" when he runs on to the pitch. We will miss his goal celebrations with the crowd. There are so many things we're going to miss about the fella, but fortunately, we won't have to miss him as much as we might, with him staying on at the club. It's looking as though he will take on a coaching role and even follow in the footsteps of Sir Bobby with an ambassador for the club.

He will go down in our history books, and stories will be passed down for generations about our baby-faced assassin. You will get to say you remember the days when he played for us, and how he saw out his last season helping us to win back our trophy. So, thank you for it all Ole. 20legend.

Jol: Wes Brown Is A Wizard

2007-08-27T05:29:00.000-07:00

We got our first win of the season yesterday, but today's talk revolves around the penalty decissions referee Howard Webb got right. On first viewing, Vidic's challenge on Berbatov, as well as his blocked shot by Wesley, you'd be forgiven for thinking Spurs should have been awarded a penalty or two. However, video replay shows that clearly neither incident was a penalty. That, of course, doesn't stop today's press giving United a hammering. Pete Gill at Football365 writes, "The Daily Telegraph prioritised scandal over sense, permitting ex-Liverpool defender Alan Hansen to devote his entire column to the apparent conspiracy. Hansen's version of events is so myopic that it borders on a lie. The entire 700-word piece collapse on the fallibility of his centre tenet - that 'Wes Brown clearly handled the ball.' Firstly, from Webb's vantage point, Brown clearly did not handle. Secondly, replays are inconclusive and tend to suggest, as the player insisted, that the ball struck his chest. That, too, was the verdict from Hansen's colleagues on MOTD. Presumably, Hansen was among those seething Liverpool supporters who demanded an apology from Rob Styles last week. It will be fascinating to learn if an apology to Webb is forthcoming from Hansen later this week."

However, Martin Jol has confirmed what we all knew about our fans' favourite Wesley Brown. He is a wizard. "Everyone could see it was a penalty. You would need to be a wizard to keep that ball out. Brown used everything like a goalkeeper - but he's a defender."

We've got Wesley Brown, we've got Wesley Brown, we've got Wesley, we've got Wesley, we've got Wesley Brown.

The Truth Behind The Heinze Saga

2007-08-26T21:14:00.001-07:00

Ferguson gets a lot of stick for selling on some of our best players. Despite the fact he always ends up proving people wrong (e.g. winning the league with an average of more than two goals a game the season following selling Ruud or buying Cristiano Ronaldo as the replacement for Beckham or winning the Double the season following selling Hughes, Kanchelskis and Ince etc.) I wrote about this issue last May in my article When In Doubt, Blame Fergie.

Now that Heinze has finally left the club, after stating publicly his desire to join the dippers, somehow, Sir Alex has managed to get some negative press. He is currently pressing to bring the dippers to justice for the underhand methods of trying to sign our second choice left back. It was revealed at the hearing for Heinze that a deal had been proposed for Crystal Palace to sign the defender, only for Liverpool to buy him from them before the transfer window closed, as a way to get around Ferguson’s refusal to sell him to Liverpool.

Heinze is a quality defender, and despite making a profit on the player (sold on for a sum surpassing £8 million, substantially higher than the £6.8 million we paid for him, and the same £6.8 million Liverpool bid for him), who is soon to turn thirty, Ferguson has been given some stick for his stubbornness in this deal, particularly from the Liverpool boss and the Argie. It appears as though Heinze can’t keep his gob shut when it comes to talking about us, just like the last player we sold to the Spanish champions, Real Madrid.

"I had to leave United because I am convinced Ferguson would not give me a minute all season,” he said. "Now I would love to play United in the Champions League. I thank the United fans, but they are very different to the directors. My relations with him were normal until my bad knee injury in September 2005 and my efforts to play in the World Cup at the end of that season. I went to Spain for recovery but Ferguson thought it would be impossible for me to play in Germany in the proper condition. You could say I won the bet but I upset him and from that moment on, things were different between us."

Ferguson has put Heinze in his place, as he did with Ruud, putting a stop to the sob story account which has come from our once loved former players. "He started playing for us in 2004 and his first season was fantastic," Ferguson responded. "Then, the following season, the day before we played Villarreal in Spain and he got his bad knee injury, his agent came to our hotel and asked if we could sell Gaby. After one year I thought it was an absolutely distressing signal to put out. It was in 2005 that he came and asked away. Or his agents did. Whether Gaby knew about that, I am not sure. He got his injury the next day, a bad one. We allowed him to train in Spain and really he prepared to have himself fit for the World Cup, which we couldn't do anything about. We were not happy with that. He came back unfit from the World Cup. We had to rehabilitate him again and meanwhile, all through that time, they kept having meetings with David Gill asking to leave. Or double his money. So the last few months was only a culmination of the drip-drip-drip effect you get when you deal with agents. Absolutely one thing in mind, to make money themselves, as far as I'm concerned. They wanted him to be the top-paid player in Manchester United, which is absolutely ridiculous given the quality of players as forwards."

Heinze was asking for over £100k a week for us to keep him, a sum which just was not going to be met for a player warming our bench. This was a man the fans adored, and all along, he was just after more money from us. I’m rather sad now, upon learning what a complete wanker he is, that Liverpool didn’t sign him. I would have thoroughly enjoyed booing him when showing up at our ground in their shirt, and I would have revelled in knowing Liverpool had a player who couldn’t give a shit less about them, but loved the money more than any club. As it turns out, he has gone where most money hungry players go, Real Madrid, and I agree with him, hoping we do meet his side in the Champions League.

Ferguson showed who was boss, yet again, and was shown to be entirely correct, yet again. I’m sure this isn’t the last we have heard from Heinze though, and I’m sure he’ll have a few more bad words to say against Sir Alex. I’m sure he won’t be able to forget us as easily as we’ll forget him. Why? Because he knows he had something good at United, and he’ll soon learn the Real Madrid fans will never love him like we did.

I’m glad this has finally all come to an end, and that we’ve actually done rather well from it all. I’m not filled with confidence that Silvestre and O’Shea are the best cover we now have for Evra, but I’d rather those players, who have battled for a place in our team ever since getting a game, than a money hungry waster like Heinze. No one player is bigger than this club, and that rule certainly applies to Heinze, who would be warming our bench this season if he had stayed.

The thought of Ruud and Gabby sat in the dressing room bitterly bitching about Ferguson and Mancunian weather is enough to keep me smiling for a while. This situation is disappointing, but not devastating like we first thought. He pulled the wool over our eyes, and now it’s over with. So ta ra, and fuck off.

We'll Never Die.

What Penalty? Three Points In The Bag

2007-08-26T19:17:00.001-07:00

Listening to a match on the radio is one of my most hated things. The commentators are far too excitable for my liking, and I often find myself celebrating a goal, only for me to hear “…and it’s gone wide” midway through my cheers.

I was unable to get to the Spurs game on Sunday, so was forced to listen to it on Five Live. It was horrendous. A dull 0-0 can be pretty painful with these volatile commentators, so a game with penalty appeals, goal line clearances, and hit woodwork was close to unbearable. The final whistle couldn’t come soon enough, and 1-0 was certainly good enough for me. With great chances from Rio, Giggs, Carrick and Scholes, I was just relieved that finally, we’d put one in the back of the net.

I had been given the impression that Nani’s goal was a scorcher, but that really, United should have had two clear cut penalties against them prior to the goal. And you know what? I couldn’t care less. For those of you who read my articles often enough, you will have seen my last article “Time For Penalties, Own Goals and Deflections.” Up until today, we couldn’t buy a goal, and whilst our rivals were being handed goals on a plate from the opposition and referee, we were hitting the woodwork and watching the ball roll painfully close to the line. As far as I was concerned, it was about time we got the luck and could start the ball rolling, and I couldn’t give a shit less what Spurs had been denied.

From the ten minutes or so I got to watch in the highlights, we looked pretty good. Not as good in our three previous games where we failed to pick up maximum points, but we put some good moves together and had some great chances to go ahead. 433 doesn’t work for us, and I look forward to the return of Ronaldo so we can sort out our midfield, but we got what we needed from the game.

I eagerly awaited the penalty claims, just to see how severely Spurs were robbed. Up came the first incident, where Vidic had fouled Berbatov in the area. But then, when you watch it, rather than listen to an eccentric commentator, you can see that clearly Vidic has his eye on the ball, Berbatov is the one to collide with the defender, and it was never a penalty. Thankfully Rio was around to clear before it got to the line. The second incident was then shown, where Brown handles in the area. Yeh fair do’s, that was a penalty, Wes blocks the ball with his arm. But then you watch it again, and just as Sir Alex and Wesley said post match, the ball was actually blocked with our defender’s chest. MOTD2 kindly zoomed in and highlighted the incident, just in case there was any doubt, and reinforced the truth, that is too was not a penalty.

I hope Alan “dipper” Hansen, who was quick to get his match article out, is left blushing now after seeing the replay. “Wes Brown clearly handled the ball,” he said (tee hee). “It would have been one thing if Howard Webb had given a penalty but, had he done so, he should also have sent Brown off.” Oh, how embarrassing Mr Hansen. I hope the Sports Editor at The Telegraph has words. The Independent, however, whose article was not written by a scouser lover, reported the incidents more truthfully, stating that “the replay showed it struck his (Wes) chest, and once again Webb waved away the appeals which were especially forceful second time around. The week after Rob Styles' aberration at Anfield, Webb made two excellent decisions.” Yes there was a poor decision made in the favour of Chelsea last week, but that has nothing to do with the referee making two correct calls at Old Trafford on Sunday. The commentators were all too quick to quote stats on penalties at Old Trafford over the years though of course. I hope they are left blushing after watching the replay as well.

So it wasn’t the most convincing performance, not by a long shot, but it’s points in the bag, and that is what counts. Without our two best players, who both score and assist more goals than every other player in our team, then I am happy to take the points and the goal against Spurs. And what a goal it was.

We have seen impressive goals from Nani in the pre-season, and whilst I have been impressed with the transition he’s made from the Portugese league to the Premiership, something which took his role model Ronaldo far longer to accomplish, we had yet to see him produce the goods in our league. However, today’s goal was an absolute beauty, and a superb way to open up his scoring for our club. He created the goal for himself, bringing the ball away from the defender, and unleashing a great strike to beat England’s Number One.

So at least we’re getting there. Beggars can’t be choosers, and whilst I’d love to see us play the football we did against City and pick up three points (which no doubt we will do on countless occasions this season), right now, we have to put the emphasis on the points. There were mistakes and there were slip ups, but we did play good football, and we did score a cracking goal.

This part of the season just feels like damage limitation. I don’t see any real leadership on the field without Gary Neville, and whilst creative and exciting, we don’t seem to have the convincing and terrifying element Rooney and Ronaldo provide us with. We need a player who can finish, and with no Louis Saha, we’re relying on a player who is just about match fit, who isn’t an out and out striker, and who can count the games he’s played for us on one hand. We need to be picking up the points and trying to get as close to the top as possible. When Nani, Hargreaves, Anderson and Tevez settle in, and when Rooney, Ronaldo, Neville, Saha and Solskjaer return, then we can expect the best from them. Then we can expect them to play like Champions as well as score like them. Until that point, I’m happy to scrape by. Although my blood pressure will be considerably higher if every match is like the Spurs match, I’ll take it if it means three points in the bag every week until we have our best team available.

We have Sunderland on the way, and I cannot wait to welcome Keano back to Old Trafford. It really will be a special day, and whilst I fully expect him to be hard faced and assert his loyalty to Sunderland, I hope and expect the crowd welcome him as warmly as we did when we saw him off. Still, I’d take a 1-0 over his lot any day, and enjoy an afternoon of booing Richardson (something I retrained myself from doing whilst he was still a red). Let’s hope Sunday’s result was the beginning of our season, and that we can keep hitting the back of the net every week. We’ve still got a long way to go, and life is far more difficult than it needed to be, but we’re on our way back.

We’ll Never Die.

Video: Nani's Wonder Strike vs Spurs

2007-08-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

Nani opened up his scoring in style in United's 1-0 win over Spurs today. A frustrating game, with action at both ends, was wrapped up with this magnificent strike from our "next Ronaldo". Nani revealed this week that Sir Alex had not asked him to stop his flamboyant goal celebration, which contradicted what had been previously reported. He celebrated the goal with his trademark flip, later being joined by his joyous, and relieved, team mates. Hopefully the first of many.

Manchester United V Tottenham 26.08.07 MotD highlights
Uploaded by trickstar89

Let's All Laugh At Heinze

2007-08-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

It has been confirmed today that Gabriel Heinze will not be granted permission by the Premier League to join the dippers. Gabby has made his feelings more than clear over recent weeks about his desire to leave, feeling he deserves the clubs' blessing after the "loyalty" he has shown to us over the years.

Ferguson stuck to his guns, and despite Rafa "Red Riding Hood" Benitez claiming the player would be Anfield bound, Heinze has lost his appeal. Sir Alex was not going to be the first manager in decades to allow a switch between the two clubs, and it is remarkable that the dippers would go to such effort to sign our second choice left back.

The official statement read, "The hearing concluded that nature and intention of the disputed 13 June 2007 letter, especially when taken in context of verbal discussions and Manchester United FC's transfer policy, was unambiguous in that it envisages only an international transfer.

"Furthermore the hearing finds the letter constitutes an 'agreement to agree', and did not create an obligation or binding agreement for the club to transfer the player to any particular club.

"In other words the letter is evidence of an intention to negotiate, both between the parties and with potential buying clubs, and not evidence of any intention to create legal relations."

The future is now rather bleak for our once loved Argie. He made it when he joined Manchester United, and if he is not careful, his career could go up in smoke. To quote him just a month or so ago, everything was "perfect" for him in Manchester. He had been a champion, a captain, and the fans loved him. Why he was determined to move away from the club still baffles me.

His options are rather narrow now however, and his life will be far from perfect if he is to stay in Manchester. Ferguson claimed last week that he would not allow the fans to dictate to him whether Heinze played or not. I imagine this was just talk to get the Premiership panel on board (as I can hardly imagine it going down well Ferguson admitting he was never going to play the lad again and that he couldn't wait to get shot of him...as long as it wasn't to Liverpool) as I can't see how there is any way he can walk out at Old Trafford wearing our shirt again. I can't see how the fans will ever forgive him for this.

So either he can return to France and play for Lyon (who would be likely to settle for Heinze, even though they recently confessed mighty Silvestre is their first choice target), rot in our reserves, or hope that one of the bigger clubs who had been previously linked with him put in a bid.

One thing is for certain, no club will love him like we did, and he will be reminded of that everytime he hears Tevez's Argentina chants and sees Tevez's Argentina shirts and flags in the crowd.

Time For Penalties, Own Goals and Deflections

2007-08-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Another match gone, more points dropped, and the talk of “crisis” is upon us. Despite dominating Sunday’s derby, yet again we failed to put the ball in the back of the net. We hit the woodwork, again, we watched the ball roll painfully close on the wrong side of the post, again, and Micah Richards had probably the best game of his career so far. And give a shit, right, because we’ve picked up two points from a possible nine after bigging up our chances all summer?

It’s painful, and it’s upsetting, and it’s frustrating, and I write this feeling as though there is very little I can say or do which is going to cheer me up at the moment. So bear with me.

Since Arsenal’s unbeaten season, there has been a lot of attention given to having a good start. United have historically won their titles in the second half the season, when they put their foot down and really start to steam roll. We’re told you can no longer afford to do that. Now that we have given Chelsea the advantage, it appears as though our fate this season is in their hands as much as it is in our own. Forget how many points we drop, we need Chelsea to drop more. Last season they did, the season before last they didn’t.

Last season, between August and December, Chelsea dropped 16 points, and between the January and when the title was won, they dropped 11 points. In contrast, United dropped 10 points in the first half the season, and 10 in the second half up until the day the title was won. Our strong start to the season put us in a better position at the turn of the year, but we also managed to have a stronger end to the season as well. We were stronger than Chelsea in both halves of the season. That is why we were crowned champions.

It was a different story with Chelsea the season before however. They were crowned champions because in the first half of the season they dropped just 5 points. However, in the second half of the season, up until the day the title was won, United and Chelsea picked up exactly the same amount of points. Despite having a team ripped apart by injuries, lead by O'Shea and Giggs in the centre of our midfield, and despite already being so far behind, we showed we had the mental strength to fight back. We showed we could go head to head with a fully fit Chelsea side, even when our chances of winning in the end were slim. We all know this is not the first time we have done this, and it will not be the last. That season, our fighting spirit wasn't enough to enable us to claim the title, we were simply too far behind. With thirty five games left to go, we have it all to play for. It is ludicrous to think we are too far behind already.

Over the course of the 05/06 season, we dropped too many points, and the points we lost that season mirrors exactly that of Chelsea’s 06/07 season, with both teams finishing the year on 83 points, both teams coming second. Slow starts cost both teams in those years, however I'm curious to see how our lads would have done without a primadonna wantaway striker, and with a fully fit first XI in the second half of the season. (It is important to note at this point that Cech returned to the Chelsea team in January of last season, and that Terry missed just 6 league games between January and the end of the season). I would love to know how close we could have got to our title that year. Can you have a slow start but fight hard enough later on the claw it back?

With three games gone, doubts are starting to arise amongst United fans. This isn’t the start we’d envisaged, and it’s making us panic. Fans on the forums are trying to work out what the problem is, and I’m sure if you popped over to 606 you’d find “United fans” calling for Ferguson’s head. I think Ferguson does have a problem though, and don’t really know how he can solve it. Everywhere on the field, we are working as we should. We’re playing great football, football of a much higher standard than the football we saw give us three points against the likes of Watford and Spurs at the start of last season. So what can Ferguson say to the team? “Right lads, keep doing everything you’re doing, but next match, just, well, score a goal.”

Our out and out strikers, Saha and Solskjaer, who you can often rely on just sticking the ball in to the back of the net, are both out injured, and are set to make returns over the next couple of weeks. Rooney, who we not only rely on for scoring goals, but for creating them as well, is out injured, and we won’t be seeing him back until October (and therefore almost definitely going to miss the Chelsea game). Ronaldo has a further two games out for his “headbutt” at Pompey (although, I’m all ears to anyone who wants to explain the difference between that incident and Terry’s “headbutt” on Torres at the weekend), and again, is a player we rely on to score and provide our goals. It is not really any surprise then that we’re not bagging goals aplenty at the moment, is it? Should we have other players on our team who are capable of stepping up to the plate? Of course. Am I too worried that we’re not getting the best from them yet? No.

If we’d had an own goal in our favour on the opening day of the season to gift us three points like Liverpool, then we’d be happy. If we’d had a penalty awarded for nothing on our second away game of the season like Chelsea, then we’d be happy. If we’d had one of our long range shots deflected in to the goal for three points like City, then we’d be happy. If Giggs’ shot against Reading hadn’t hit the woodwork, and equally, Vidic’s header against City, then we would be happy. But it’s not happening for us at the moment. It feels as though things can’t get much worse, but they most definitely could. You only have to think back to a few years back to remember that. At least we are playing good football, at least the only missing piece is finding the back of the net. That is a problem which is far more easily solved than being a few world class players short of a great first XI, or having a team of unmotivated players. We've got the ability, we've got the desire, now we just need that extra bit of luck on our side to get us going. We need to see the ball ripple the net by whichever means necessary. We need to get it started.

When our players start returning and when the goals start coming, we’ll certainly have catch up to play, as we’ve already dropped seven points, in contrast to just the two that Chelsea have dropped. But let’s remember we lost and drew five games last season, and still won the league by six points. The season before, Chelsea lost five and drew four, but still won the league by eight points. We still have a lot of room to work in. Less room than we would have had if we’d had a good start, but the walls aren't closing in on us just yet. At the very least, let's see how Chelsea get on without the likes of Drogba, Essien, Kalou, and Mikel in January during the ACN, a period where we really start to pick ourselves up. People are quick to underestimate how quickly things can change.

Alan Hansen has said our game against Spurs is a must win, and the last team you want to be playing in this situation is a team who desperately need a win themselves. These are difficult times, and I’m not going to bury my head in the sand about our current situation. This season could blow up in our faces, and it could be one of the most disappointing we have had for a long time. But equally, these could be the stories we talk about at the end of a hugely successful season. “Christ, remember the dreadful start we had? Thank fuck things turned around for us so quickly.”

I look at our first XI, and I don’t think any team beats it. Hargreaves looked sensational against City, one of the best debuts I’ve seen for a while. He just looked like the missing piece. Whilst I’m pleased with the signings of Tevez, Nani (and Anderson, I guess, although I base that on his talked up potential, rather than what I’ve seen of him), Hargreaves just looks like what we’ve needed for a while, and he was one of the few positives that came from Sunday.

So the lads are testing us right now, without a doubt, but whoever wins the league this season will certainly lose more than one game and will draw more than two games. No title will ever be won or lost after three games. We never do things the easy way, and I hope this season will result in further proof of that.

We'll Never Die.

Fergie: Let's All Laugh At City

2007-08-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

I was one of the lucky 2,000 reds who got to sit in the away end at the Council House last May. We were on the brink of winning the league, and the excitement of picking up the vital three points at City's place was high. We walked in to the ground, to be met with Munich chants, and took our place behind the goal. Then, before kick off, the most extraordinary thing happened. The City fans were instructed to twirl around their blue and white scarves which had been given out free. I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like it. For those of you who didn’t get to see it, watch the video below posted on YouTube by a City fan. “City fans wave their scarves in a breathtaking atmosphere,” it is described as.

The ridiculous music died down, they stopped twirling their scarves, and we sat in silence, taking in what we had just seen. The City fans were smiling proudly, and for a few seconds we stared at each other. Then, out of nowhere, the away end erupted with “What the fuckin, what the fuckin, what the fuckin ell was THAT?” Magic.

It was their last game of the season at the council house, and, as always, they got their highest attendance of the 06/07 season. Unfortunately though, despite a penalty after they dived in the box, there was no goal for the blues at home in 2007.

When we travel across town for derby day on Sunday, we will be playing a very different City team. We will be playing a City team who will be above us in the league whether they win, lose or draw. We will be playing a City team which even the most devout blues still can’t name. And we will be playing this team without our two best players, our captain, or any match fit strikers. Chances are, it won’t be our finest moment.

However, silly things like that won’t stop Ferguson having a laugh at City, which he did so easily in today’s press conference. "Last year was amazing," he laughed. "They spent a fortune on those blue-and-white scarves for all the fans and they never had a shot at goal, or tried to beat us. We were trying to win the league, and they were quite happy." It is statements like that which reaffirm our love for you Sir Alex.

Regardless of the result or the events of the upcoming derby game, even if we get stuffed, or worse, play well and get robbed, remember, things could always be worse. You could have been a City fan for the past thirty one years.

We’ll Never Die.

United Draw Again - The Title Is Ours

2007-08-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

The second to last time I felt the way I do now was on a miserable and rainy day as I walked out of Old Trafford last April. Richardson scored that day, getting his name on the scoresheet after Rooney did all the hard work. We drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough with four games left to play, and all Chelsea had to do was beat Newcastle away, and they would be just one point behind us. This was with a trip to Stamford Bridge still to come, as well as away trips to Everton and City to think about. It felt like agony. It made me feel like maybe I cared too much. Surely it can’t be normal for your chest to feel like it had collapsed and your stomach ripped out.

But we were let off the hook, and Chelsea drew 0-0 the following day. However, just seven days later, I was back in the depths of depression, and this time, it felt even worse. Fifty minutes played at Goodison and we were 2-0 down, whilst Chelsea were 2-1 up at home against Bolton. This just couldn’t be happening. Week in week out I had watched United walk all over the opposition, winning convincingly, always looking like the better side. And here we were, with just a couple of games left to play, and we were about to throw it all away to a team who’d looked so inferior to us all season. You have got to be shitting me.

Quickly things changed though. Bolton got an equaliser, O’Shea pulled one back for us after a ludicrous drop by Turner, Phil “still a Red” Neville put us on level terms, Rooney took the lead in splendid fashion, and just to really rub it in, youngster Eagles scored a sublime goal in the last minute. United were back on top. There were just twenty nine minutes between us being 2-0 down and Chelsea being 2-1 up, to us leading 3-2 and Chelsea drawing. It took twenty nine minutes for sickening agony to turn in to one the greatest feelings I’ve experienced as a United fan. That was the day it felt as though the trophy was really coming home.

There have been many occasions over the years where we’ve had that agony, only for the gaping hole of pain to be filled to the brim with ecstasy. A year we experienced more of these moments than ever was back in 98/99. It’s been a while since I’ve talked about the Treble, so hey, if ever there’s a time to talk about it, it’s on the back of the results we’ve had against Reading and Portsmouth.

In January 1999, we were drawn Liverpool in the 5th round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford. Michael Owen took the lead after just five minutes, and after hitting the woodwork and tirelessly working to equalise, it just wasn’t happening for us. We were on the brink of getting knocked out of the FA Cup at the hands of Liverpool. Then, magically, we came back to win 2-1 with goals from Solskjaer and Yorke in the last minutes of the game. For eighty five minutes we’d been contemplating the bragging rights they’d have and the pain of losing to our biggest rivals, and within two minutes, we were on top and the bragging rights were all ours.

Three months later, we’re at Villa Park, playing Arsenal in the FA Cup semi final. We go a goal ahead after a cracking shot from Beckham, but midway through the second half Arsenal equalise. Four minutes later, our captain and most influential player is sent off. The agony didn’t kick in until the end of normal time though, when Phil Neville gave away a penalty. As Bergkamp stood over the ball, looking at Peter Schmeichel who had his thigh strapped up due to injury, my stomach turned. After one 0-0 which went to extra time, and 90 minutes of a replay, our FA Cup was going to go up in smoke in the last minute. It was all over. Then magically, Schmeichel saved the penalty and Giggs went on to score the greatest ever FA Cup goal in injury time.

A week later we were in Turin, in the second leg of the European Cup. After ten minutes we’re two goals behind. On Italian soil even going one goal behind is a bad move, but two goals made our situation undoable. Here we were, painfully close to achieving what was dubbed the “impossible” Treble after Liverpool failed to do it, and with just ten minutes gone of the semi, it was all over. Then, fourteen minutes pass, and we’re 2-2, which would see us through on away goals, but just to really take the piss, we take the lead and win 3-2.

Another month goes by and we’re in the Nou Camp and have been a goal behind since the sixth minute. We’ve no Keane or Scholes, Beckham is playing in the centre (where he never played), Giggs is playing on the right (where he never played), and Blomqvist on the left (where he did play, and was shite). Things don’t look good. I won’t go on and on about this. We won, it was the best night of my life, and your life, and we did it after overcoming the agony of believing it just wasn’t going to happen. We won it all, and in all three competitions, there were times when it looked like it just couldn’t and wouldn’t happen. There were times when you had to be off your head to think we had a chance in hell. As I wrote about in October of 2006, The Comeback Kings, we have a history of beating the odds and achieving what people say we won’t.

As the final whistle went on the draw with Portsmouth, I can’t remember my exact words, but they were along the lines of “We are totally fucked now.” Two games gone, four points dropped, whilst Chelsea have picked up maximum points. Despite having over 40 shots in total against Portsmouth and Reading (no, I am not shitting you), we have scored just one goal. Whilst definitely this can be in part attributed to the fact we had one striker on the field for half of the Reading match (and no strikers for the other half), and one striker who hadn’t played any football in a month for the Portsmouth game, this still is not good enough. After a summer of high hopes and big talk, it is not good enough to come out and not win our opening two games. The worst may be yet to come though, facing a City side who have gelled faster than anticipated and picked up six points already at the weekend. It could quite easily go from bad to worse in just a few days, especially now we’re without Ronaldo, on top of Rooney, Saha, Neville and Solskjaer (and Heinze booooo), after his ridiculous behaviour.

So is that it then? With two games played and four points between us and Chelsea, we’re going to rule ourselves out? I’d certainly hope not. I feel the sickness, I feel the pain, but we’re not dropping these points with a handful of games to go, on the contrary, this is just the beginning. We always stress the importance of a good start after Arsenal’s unbeaten season, the Chelsea title wins following, and our title last season. It feels essential to keep up or lead the pack from the first whistle, and to have fallen behind so early is desperately disappointing. But we need to get a grip. This isn’t the first time we’ve drawn the opening two games of the season. When was the last time, I hear you cry… 1998/1999.

This hasn’t been the start we hoped for, but there’s a long way to go yet. We’ve changed our luck before, and we will change it again. Chin up, get behind your team, and support the Champions.

How We Can Limit The Effect Of Rooney's Injury

2007-08-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Twelve months ago we grabbed the attention of the Premiership when we thrashed Fulham 5-1 on the opening day of the season. I wrote about this game, and called it the “ideal start”, something which we needed to show people we were serious about winning our title back.

So as I left Old Trafford yesterday, the chants of “Championees” distinctly more quiet than on the way in, I couldn’t really work out what had gone wrong. After a summer of such promise and high hopes, how is it that we were leaving the ground after a 0-0 draw with Reading?

The first half was more than comfortable, with Rooney terrorising the Reading defence. They packed their box and managed, along with the help of the woodwork, to keep our attempts out. Rooney has had a great pre-season, and this overflowed in to the first game. So when just before half time he could barely walk and had taken his boots off, things weren’t looking good.

We’ve seen enough games like this to feel confident enough about the second half, and when we started the second as we did the first, all fires blazing, then it looked as though it wouldn’t be long before we broke the deadlock. Michael Carrick came the closest to scoring, along with numerous good efforts from Giggs, Scholes and Ronaldo, but there was no one on the field who could put it in the back of the net. When the game finished with our 20 shots on goal to their two, with our 75% possession, I couldn’t quite believe the game had finished 0-0. Reading played much of the second half with five men in defence, and when their striker was sent off, they played no one up front. Their tactics worked, and credit to them, but many more teams are going to attempt to frustrate us in the same way, and we need to find a way to overcome that.

Currently, we have no match fit strikers, and are just two days away from our next Premiership game, an away trip to Fratton Park, where we lost towards the end of last season. Ferguson has confirmed today that we are not going to buy a new striker, and that Tevez, who has not played a game since the first week of July, is going to get thrown in to the team. This is not how we envisaged the start of our title defence.

Whilst we’ve been subjected to the talk of the “injury crisis” at Stamford Bridge, as we were last season, it is important that we stay focussed on our goal here. Chelsea are without John Terry, so are forced to play the lowly Carvalho and Tel Ben Haim in the centre of their midfield. What we would give for cover for our strikeforce of the quality Chelsea have over their injured positions. That isn't our problem though.

We can’t avoid our injuries, we’ve got them, and we’ve got to deal with them. However, there are weaknesses in the team that need to be addressed. We need to deal with the problems we do have control of, rather than complain about the issues which are out of our control. Firstly, after watching the Reading game (and I couldn’t bring myself to watch the highlights, so I’m just judging from one viewing from the stands) whilst it was clear we missed the finishing of a striker, what bothered me most was the indecisiveness of the players. Maybe knowing we didn’t have a striker on the field unsettled them, but too many players lacked the confidence we usually rely on. Carrick and Scholes, who formed a great partnership last season, looked like headless chickens at times, with Scholes too afraid to have a shot and Carrick looking lost. He didn’t know what to do with the ball, and too often just stood stationary outside of the area, waiting to get the ball taken from him. This needs to change.

After a few scares in the pre-season, I was pleased to see a solid defence in the form of Brown, Ferdinand and Vidic. Admittedly, they had very little to deal with, but on the odd occasion Reading got in to our half, they left me with nothing to complain about in the way they dealt with the situation. However, a second problem we can address is our team selection, and Silvestre was a disaster area. If the poor Reading attack can make him look like a mug, then there’s no way I’d trust him against any half decent players. We need to play Evra back in position, as despite doing a half decent job against Chelsea in the Community Shield, he contributed little yesterday. After spending money to strengthen our team, it makes no sense to play our current players out of position rather than giving our new players a shot.

Portsmouth will be difficult, but you can’t rule out Tevez having a storming debut. It should also be time to introduce Hargreaves to the midfield, to give us a bit of grit. Derby day has come around all too quickly this season, and after Sven’s new team have appeared to gel instantly, it’s not a game I am relishing. I am grateful for small mercies, and playing Tottenham “we’re going to finish top 4 this season” Hotspur at home rather than White Hart Lane fills me with more hope. That takes us to the end of the month, by which point, I’m hoping we’ll have Saha back, and the partnership between him and Tevez can start to develop.

I’m a hell of a lot less hopeful about this season than I was just two days ago, as we know how important a good start is. The odds have to be against us having a good start now, and that is hugely disappointing. But you’d be a mug to write United off, ever, and I certainly won’t be doing with just one game played. The loss of Rooney is a massive one, when added to the problems we already have with our strikers, but it is not the end of the World. So, chins up, grit your teeth, and let’s all get behind supporting the Champions of England. We'll Never Die.

Stand Up For The Champions

2007-08-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

All summer I have been eagerly awaiting the first day of the season. I was looking forward to seeing our new signings, I was looking forward to seeing some great attacking football, and essentially, I was just looking forward to our title defence starting.

Growing up attending Old Trafford, it felt as if every season we were singing songs about being Champions. When Chelsea came to Old Trafford at the end of the 2005 season, singing "Champions", I felt very odd. That was our song.

Well finally, the season has started, and now we can sing our songs again. Check out this video of "Stand Up For The Champions" which now we can sing every week.

The trophy has come home.

United's Scorching Pre-Season Goals

2007-08-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

I can't remember a pre-season where I've seen us score so many fantastic goals. His a video showing the best of them.

Where Does Tevez Deal Leave Saha?

2007-08-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

When news broke that we’d signed Tevez a few weeks back, I thought it had to be too good to be true. Over the following days, that statement seemed quite literal, and it looked as though the deal was going to fall through. As we’ve waited for the FA to pull their finger out, the papers have been filled with the discussion of whether Rooney and Tevez could play together. The “two bulls”, as Mark Lawrenson referred to them, are deemed to be too alike, with similar strengths and weaknesses. The Telegraph reported, “Tevez has always been a forward who, in Argentine terms, plays "in the Maradona position" behind an out-and-out frontman. Since this is where Wayne Rooney prefers to be stationed, there may be a conflict.” However, amidst all of this, I think a more important topic is being looked over. What about Louis Saha?

Louis has become increasingly unpopular at United due to the length of time he’s spending out injured each season. Whilst initially we were split on our feelings over the Saha vs van Nistelrooy issue, Saha quickly proved Ferguson was right to rely on him. He bagged 15 goals in 30 appearances in 2005/2006, and scoring in every League Cup game we played, the competition we won that season. He started the following season well, and added to the new, slick football United were playing. Rather than having a striker who relied on others to provide him with the ball, Saha would go deeper, collect the ball himself, setting up other players as well as himself.

However, Saha played his last game for United on the first weekend in March, missing the remaining nine league games, two semi finals, and a final. Every time he came close to returning, there was always another set back. With three of our first choice four defenders out injured, the last thing we needed was our striker missing, especially at a time when Chelsea had seen the return of Cech, Terry and Joe Cole. With Solskjaer injured, and Smith making a comeback after eighteen months of no football, we were left playing old man Giggsy supporting Rooney up front, relying on Fletcher, O’Shea or Richardson to pad out the midfield in Giggs’ place, due to the injury of Park.

We won the league, got closer to the European Cup than we had in years, and made yet another FA Cup final, but Ferguson wanted more. Rumours said Ferguson wasn’t happy with Saha, because, it was believed, the problem with him was more a psychological than a physical one. Could United had an even better season if we had Saha in the team to take the pressure of other players? So that Giggs could play in position or be rested, so that Rooney wasn't left up front by himself, and more importantly, having an out and out striker on the field in our important games. Was it Saha's supposed decission not to come back which cost us another trophy this season?

As the gossip circulated, Saha spoke out about his feelings on the club. “I want to stay," he said. "I love this club and I don't want to leave. If other good strikers are coming to United I find that good, if that helps us defend our title and win others next year.”

Saha sat on United’s bench for two years before he was given his big break with the club, and he did so happily. What swayed him in favour over Ruud in my mind was his attitude, and whilst Ruud was sulking when not getting picked, Saha waited patiently on the bench for a chance. He knows he is lucky to be in the situation he’s in, knows he’s done well, and is grateful to Sir Alex. At the end of last season he was interviewed, and said, “Alex Ferguson’s support means everything to me. There are no words to explain how hard it was being out injured. My team-mates were great, and all the staff too. But the manager was outstanding. I told him after my last injury ‘Don’t look after me when I come back, I don’t deserve it’. I thought there were players that deserved more attention because I hadn’t reached the level I should have. But the way he responded to that was amazing. He reassured me and said ‘No, you’re coming back’. His reaction was the mark of a great man.”

Saha is a different kind of striker to both Rooney and Tevez, but does that mean he should get a starting place in the team? Tevez is the newbie, but does he get a starting place in the team without, like Saha before him, spending time on the bench and earning his place? Would we be disadvantaging ourselves having two similar players up front, rather than having the variety Saha brings? Would bringing Tevez on to the field with half an hour play make us unbeatable?

Solskjaer has argued for the pairing of our new Argie and Rooney, saying, "no single player is exactly the same. Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke - everyone said they can't play together, absolutely no chance, but we all know what happened to those two." Surely this is the case. Of course I don't want to tempt fate or jinx our new signing, but you would like to think any top class players have the capacity to be able to play together, and play well. Having two players with similiar qualities should not necessarily be deemed a bad thing, as which club should shun the opportunity to have "two Wayne Rooney's" on their team. Tevez could, and should, double the effect of our attack, giving us extra strength, rather than serving as a superfluous player.

Tevez is set to get a game on derby day, and due to injuries, shouldn’t have anyone rivalling his place in the team until September. This is his time to shine, and like Larsson before him, gelling with the team straight away is a must to cement a place in the team.

Regardless, whatever problems there are said to be between playing Rooney and Tevez, and of Saha's reocurring injury, I cannot wait to see our attack in full force. The options of Rooney, Saha, Tevez, Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson are absolutely terrifying, and we need to burst out of the blocks on Sunday. Here's to a repeat of the first game last season, and our attack to show the country we want to keep our title. We've got our trophy back, and with playing the most exciting, attacking football in the league, we intend to keep it.

Why United Have Nothing To Fear

2007-08-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

Manchester United were deservedly victorious against Chelsea in the weekend’s meaningless Community Shield. Whilst the press and Jose Mourinho will be keen to tell you the injuries were to blame, it might do us all some good to look at things realistically.

Chelsea struggle without John Terry, which we witnessed last season, but this is more a psychological issue than a physical one. Chelsea let themselves off the hook because he is injured, in the same way United did with Keane in his last season with us. Despite claims that Chelsea lost the league last season because of their injuries to Cech and Terry, it is important to note they boasted the best defensive record in the league. The real issue behind their failure to win the title three times in a row was a lack of creativity and their lack of goals. Despite having Drogba and Lampard in their team, who scored an impressive 31 league goals between them, Chelsea couldn’t find enough goals from other areas. They relied far too much on these players, who by the end of the season, quite frankly, looked completely knackered, and could no longer carry the rest of the team. Whilst United saw their defenders picked off one by one to injury in the last third of the season, Chelsea, with JT and Cech fighting fit, failed to capitalise on this. Why?

Chelsea do not have enough creativity in their side. Whilst being efficient and defensively strong does the trick when you don’t have strong enough opposition (which was the case in 2005/2006 when they finished eight points ahead of us, and in 2004/2005 when they finished twelve points ahead of Arsenal), it is not sufficient against top quality opposition. United won four more matches than Chelsea last season, Chelsea drew six more games than United. Despite being defensively stronger, conceding three fewer goals than United, Chelsea scored nineteen less than United.

Yet still, the absence of John Terry is heralded as the reason why Chelsea lost out on the league. Out of the twenty six league games John Terry played in last season (up until the point the title was decided), Chelsea lost two and drew six. In the twenty five league games Nemanja Vidic played in last season up until the point the title was decided, United lost two and drew three. Chelsea still dropped 18 points in the games John Terry played in before the title was decided.

There’s always an excuse, and whilst this may save the Chelsea fans and manager from the “shame” of not retaining the title for the third season, it does them no favours in going out to win it from us this season.

The season before last, the United team were ravaged by injuries, without key players for far longer than Chelsea were able to complain about last season. With no Neville, Brown (who at the time, was our starting centre back), Keane (who was arguably our most influential player as well as our captain), Giggs, Heinze, and Ronaldo who was coming back from injury (coming on in the second half), we travelled to the Riverside. Bardsley had been thrown in to the first team that season, and after half an hour, came off injured, and was replaced by Richardson. With striker Alan Smith playing in midfield alongside Fletcher (with first choice stand in JoS being required in defence due to injuries there) we got completely bossed around the field.

After the embarrassing 4-1 scoreline, with six of our first eleven out injured, Carlos Queiroz was asked how he could account for the way we played. We made mistakes, Boro played well, and we lost control of the game. There was not a single mention of the fact we were missing over half our first team to injuries. When Ferguson spoke about the game, again, not a single mention of the injuries. "It was a shocking performance," said Ferguson. "We conceded some terrible goals and we can't afford do that with what we're trying to achieve. On that form, we couldn't beat anybody. Defensively, we were very disappointing. But we will get the right response all right, that is without question." And he was right. The next game in the league we beat Chelsea, ending their 40 game unbeaten run.

If you can’t acknowledge your mistakes and weaknesses, then how are you going to address them, and how can you improve?

Jose Mourinho, John Terry, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard are among the people from the Chelsea camp to place heavy emphasis on their injuries. Rather than acknowledging their level of football was nowhere near Manchester United’s, to one degree or another, they talk about the mountains they had to climb to finish second. Out of the 38 league games, Chelsea scored just one goal in 17 of them, and scored no goals in 4 games. When your main rivals are scoring, on average, more than two goals a game, this is not something you can afford to do. Yet, not a word has been said about Chelsea’s lack of goals. No acknowledgement of their inferior goal tally has come from Stamford Bridge, which is easily masked by the amount of goals Drogba had to his name.

As the season ended and we revelled in our glory, after watching months of United playing some of the most attractive and exciting football, excuses poured from the second placed team. This is in direct contrast to just twleve months previously, when the second place team were talking about how we were to improve, that one cup wasn't good enough, and what had to happen to win back a title we hadn’t won since 2003. And it worked.

For several reasons, the Community Shield gave me more confidence over retaining the title than any signings, than any statement from Ferguson or any pre-season game. Why? Because the Community Shield is so important and both teams were desperate to win it? Of course not. The Community Shield in itself means very little, but we were able to tell certain things from it.

It appears as though Mourinho, whilst wrapped up with talk of injuries, has failed to address his problem of last season, the lack of creativity. Getting rid of Duff and Gudjohnsen was a massive mistake the season before, and he paid for it when Robben and Joe Cole spent months at a time out injured. This season they have Malouda, who made a mug of Rio on Community Shield day, but rather than being a new addition to the squad, he is likely just to be a replacement for wantaway Robben.

After the Community Shield game, which was nothing to get too excited about, but still, entertaining in parts, Jose Mourinho was interviewed. He reeled off a list of injured players, and compared that to Manchester United’s injury list, which apparently, only included Paul Scholes. Maybe he was watching a different game, or maybe he isn’t very clued up on our starting XI, but it doesn’t include Wes Brown at right back, Silvestre at left back, Evra on the left wing, O’Shea in midfield or Giggs up front. Injuries to Neville, Saha, Park, Scholes and Solskjaer left us with no option but to bring in squad players and play our first team players out of position.

Jose Mourinho also claimed, "we controlled the game against the champions so why should we be afraid of the future?" If I was a Chelsea fan, that statement alone would fill me with fear. It illustrates how out of touch with reality Jose really is. Maybe, again, he was watching a different game, but our superior possession, our nine shots on target to their three, our four shots off target to their three, and our eight corners to their four, would suggest otherwise.

The Community Shield confirmed to me that Chelsea have not dealt with their problems of last season. Claudio Pizarro, the striker who bagged only 8 goals in 33 games for Bayern last season, featured from the 50th minute on, and his only lasting impression was his weak penalty attempt. Sidwell will be decent enough cover for Chelsea, if Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Makelele, Diarra and Mikel are injured.

To improve, you have to learn from your mistakes. At the very least, you have to be able to admit you have made mistakes. For as long as the not so Special One continues deluding himself, our chances of retaining our title increase. Year by year Ferguson is addressing the problems with the squad, strengthening areas we need strengthening, and this year, we look closer to perfect than we have in years. Roll on 2007/2008.

United Come Out On Top Against Chelsea

2007-08-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

What A Difference A Shirt Makes...

2007-08-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

As the summer of 2006 came to an end, following a season where our team had been ravaged by injuries, the last thing we wanted was to be without arguably our two best players at the start of the coming season. When, ludicrously, the FA dished out three match bans to both Rooney and Scholes for incidents that happened in the pre-season, we were left feeling livid. When Neil Mellor of Liverpool was sent off in the same tournament a few years prior, or Ade Akinbiyi sending off the following day, resulted in no FA action, United fans were left to tut, roll their eyes, and talk of ABUs.

The fact that Rooney’s “challenge” was never worthy of a red card, not in any league in the World was that a justifiable red card, was irrelevant. The FA harped on about how the incident had been reported to them, so they just had to take action. The press went on about Rooney’s temperament, about how he had been sent off for a second time that summer, about how he needed to learn to control himself.

As United cruised to Community Shield victory yesterday against Chelsea, Liverpool were playing against Fayenoord in a pre-season friendly. “Gerrard, 27, appeared to raise an arm at Theo Lucius following a late tackle by Royston Drenthe on the Reds captain, which resulted in a melee,” reported the BBC. Appeared? No, it’s nothing to do with appearance. Gerrard DID raise his hand to Lucius, in the form of a fist to the face.

The BBC continues, ‘Six Reds players were booked in the friendly but Benitez said: "I do not think Steven will be in trouble. There was a lot going on. Maybe you should talk with the referee."
There were nine yellow cards overall in the game and Benitez clearly felt that the referee did not adequately control matters. He added: "Maybe these kind of games are more difficult with a local referee in charge. They become even more difficult. I am not bothered really about what went on and how the lads were treated."’

I scanned through the papers today, just to confirm what I already knew. The Mirror reports, “The game in a packed De Kuip stadium had been simmering for a while, with winger Royston Drenthe in the thick of the trouble. His late tackle on Gerrard in the dying minutes caused uproar with players from both sides converging in an angry melee, and Gerrard was seen to shove Theo Lucius.” Shove? Do you shove someone in the face? The Sun pays more attention to the “roaring and snarling” Wayne Rooney in their headlines, however, Gerrard does get a mention. “Feyenoord winger Royston Drenthe sparked the trouble. He caught Gerrard with a nasty challenge, Kop midfielder Javier Mascherano then fouled the Dutchman who reacted after Daniel Agger kicked the ball towards him. In the fracas that followed, Theo Lucius repeatedly shoved Agger before Gerro moved in and seemed to slap the Feyenoord man on the side of the head.” Seemed to slap him? Or did he actually just slap him? The Mail’s headline is merely in reference to Rafa’s comments. The Guardian’s headline reads, “Steven Gerrard and Jose Reina helped save the Reds some face in a fractious Rotterdam friendly.” The Independent’s headline reads, “Gerrard rescues Liverpool in battling finale.” The Times does not report the story.

I can’t even imagine the stories we’d be reading about today if Rooney had punched somebody in the face in a friendly. Regardless of whether he scored a goal or not, his face would be plastered all over the back pages. Talk of the thug and his petulance would be ringing in our ears.

So this is just the latest in a long list of double standards United fans will see, which we can file away for future reference the next time it occurs. Steven Gerrard is a media darling, and the dippers will continue to claim he should be England captain and that he is the greatest player in the World, despite all the diving, cheating and violence. Excuses will always be made for him, and he will always be let off the hook. After his horrific two footed “challenge” on Naysmith back in 2002, Gerrard claimed he would never intentionally hurt an opposition player, and Houllier argued, "you have these things in derbies." Gerrard punched someone last night, and Rafa simply had the referee at fault.

When Gerrard finally has the balls to hand his transfer request in and stick to it, after another failed “this is our year”, maybe even the dippers will be able to see him for what he really is. A brilliant midfielder, who is also a thug, cheat and diver.

Everything Is Perfect, eh Heinze?

2007-08-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

Gabriel Heinze won the Old Trafford crowd over pretty easily. He has grit and determination, he makes that last ditch tackle and appears to love doing so. With the shrug of his shoulders and his cheeky grin, he made us fall for him. At the end of his first year, we voted him our Player of the Season, chanting “Argentina!” with every tackle he made. Fans wearing Argentina shirts with Heinze’s name and number on the back can be spotted all around Old Trafford. We’ve made our love for him very public.

In the September 2005/2006, just four days before we had to travel to Anfield, on the back of a 1-1 draw at home against City, Heinze got injured. After such a great season with us, it was bitterly disappointing to hear he was to be sidelined for the majority of the season. As the months went by, United battling with Liverpool for second place, we were filled with some hope he would return before the end of the season, a great relief to us after we’d seen our defence ripped to shreds by injuries. He had a few games for the reserves under his belt, but he wasn’t deemed fit enough to appear for us in the Premiership.

His decision to play in the World Cup before regaining full fitness did not come as a surprise to us, but the fans would be forgiven for being frustrated. A club over country attitude is one Ferguson encourages in his players, and the feeling is usually reciprocated. However, it has been clear from the start that for Heinze, Argentina would always come first. Ferguson wasn’t best pleased when upon signing, Heinze decided to stay with his national team in their Olympic football efforts. This delayed his arrival to the team, joining us midway through September. Whilst United adopt a love for Argentina, to piss off our rivals as much as any other reason, his preference for country over club is one most have tried to forget about.

Ferguson pulled off a great transfer coup in signing Patrice Evra for a meagre £5.5 million. Whilst Heinze battled to return from another injury he’d picked up representing his country in the World Cup, Evra slotted in to the first choice left back position, putting on impressive displays. Whilst not as physically strong as Heinze, he has far more pace, and has the skills to link up fantastically with Ronaldo. Evra was voted PFA left back of the season, keeping Heinze out of the team even when he recovered.

Heinze got his place back in the team when three of our first choice defenders, Evra, Neville and Vidic were all out injured. He racked up 32 appearances by the end of the season, and was starting to show signs of the form we’d seen in his first year with the club. He lead the team out as Captain in our first game as Champions, which happened to be at the Bridge against Chelsea.

The season ended and the transfer rumours picked up pace. Heinze was being linked with top clubs all over Europe, after seemingly losing his place in the first XI to Evra. I imagine I wasn’t alone in feeling confident that Heinze would stay with the club and fight for his place, that’s just the kindof player he is, right?

"I already play for one super club and other ones such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have been mentioned," Heinze was quoted as saying in the Manchester Evening News. "For me to go the offer has to be good for everyone. I'm very comfortable in Manchester. I've been a champion, captain and the fans love me. Everything is perfect."

That’s that settled then, he is staying. However, in June, the press were reporting that Liverpool were keen on signing the player, joining Juve in the race for his signature. Heinze played down any talk of leaving the club, saying his mind was on the Copa America. In mid July, Heinze said he was extremely grateful for everything he had received from the club, yet was still flattered to be linked with the likes of Juventus, Real Madrid…and Liverpool. He was starting to push his luck a bit, but we loved him, so we awaited the redeeming statement. It never came.

Two days later, Ferguson confirmed to the press that Heinze wanted to leave. "Gaby's agent has advised us that he wants to move on," said Ferguson. "I am not too sure about that and we do not have a concrete offer from any particular club. But there is some momentum regarding the player's next move in terms of through his agent, even if nothing is close at this moment in time." From this point on, talk of Heinze joining the dippers began to mount. Ferguson was quick to put things straight, saying "I can assure you, Liverpool will not be getting Gabriel Heinze. We can put that to bed right now and we have done so. We have had a couple of offers for him and we have turned them down."

Despite repeated statements from Ferguson saying Heinze would be leaving under no circumstances, Benitez and Tom “USA USA USA!” Hicks continued to state their desire to sign the player. And as time goes by, we’ve still had no statement from Heinze. No statement confirming he wants to leave, no statement confessing he wants to stay.

I am sure we’ll see a resolution to this situation soon enough, and as long as he doesn’t sign for the dippers, I will be happy. I never thought I’d see the day where I wanted rid of Heinze, but now I passionately want him to leave. I would have felt disappointed if he opted to sign for Juve, or Real or any of the other European clubs tipped to be interested in him, but that feeling doesn’t come close to the feeling of betrayal he has left us with.

When Gill sent a fax saying that the player would be sold to a club that met the asking price, I imagine he didn’t think for one minute that Liverpool would come begging. Forty years have passed since a player has moved between the two clubs, and the phrase “over my dead body” springs to mind when considering Ferguson would be the manager to break that record.

However, it is important to note that we do have a contract with the player, and in light of the treatment Heinze has been given by the club, I imagine Ferguson would now keep Heinze rotting in the reserves than selling him on to Liverpool.

"He still has two-years left on his contract and I think we have stood by Gaby very well,” Sir said. "He had his cruciate knee operation, we looked after him and we let him do his rehabilitation in Spain which he wanted to do. We conducted ourselves in a way that suited Gaby perfectly and he was delighted the way we looked after him. I think if we take away the agent's role in this I don't think there is an awful lot wrong with Gaby's position at the club."

I just can’t quite understand how this situation arose, and I feel a mug for judging Heinze so wrongly. I didn’t think he was the kindof player who would fuck off despite us paying his wages for over a year whilst he didn’t play for us, but did manage to swan off for Argentina and get crocked again. I didn’t think he was the kindof player who would rather move clubs than stay and fight for his place. I didn’t think he was the kindof player who could so easily forget how well the club and fans have treated him, how we’ve loved him, and even contemplate a move to our most hated club.

It’s been some time since I’ve felt really bitter over a player leaving us, but this Heinze business has left a really nasty taste in my mouth. No deal has gone through as yet, but I can’t see there being any way back now. As a group of fans, we are very unforgiving, and I don’t see we could get over the humiliation Heinze is currently putting us through. The memories of me gloating to Leeds fans over Alan Smith makes this situation all the more painful, as I can easily imagine how much the dippers are enjoying this.

So, ta ra Gaby, fuck off, and I hope it makes you sick to your stomach when you’re playing for some European club who don’t give a shit about you, and you hear us chanting “ARGENTINA! ARGENTINA!” for Tevez. As is repeated time and again, no player is bigger than this club, and that certainly applies to Heinze, the cheeky Argie bastard we used to adore.

Champions Of England vs Champions Of Italy

2007-08-02T07:58:00.001-07:00

I was one of the lucky 73,000+ at Old Trafford last night to watch our pre-season friendly against Inter. I don't mean lucky because we got to see a great game of football, because we didn't, but it was so good to see the lads again. I've missed watching them this summer more than ever before, so it really was great to see them out there again, and to sing "Stand up for the Champions."

Not the result we would have wanted, but following their two dubious goals, it's nothing to get bent out of shape over. Defensively we looked pretty shocking, but on the attack we looked terrifying. I cannot wait for the season to begin.

Just When You Really Thought Fergie Had Lost It...

2007-08-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

With the announcement of the sale of Guiseppe Rossi yesterday, a player who the United faithful rate highly, and are eager to see given a chance in our squad, the familiar grumbles were once again heard. What is Ferguson thinking about? Why on earth would he sell off Rossi? I was one of those grumbling, utterly pissed off with the decision to let the lad go.

You would think by now we would be sick of Sir Alex Ferguson proving us all wrong by now wouldn’t you? That we wouldn’t be so quick to judge the situation. Afterall, what has the past taught us…? Let’s take a look.

In December 2005, The Telegraph reported that, “the media's disapproval is something Ferguson has long been able to discount but yesterday Hugh McIlvanney, the man who worked with him on his autobiography and who counts as one of his oldest friends, said in the most eloquent and elegant terms that the task of rebuilding Manchester United was now beyond Ferguson's strength and he should seek a dignified exit in the summer.” Our good old friend Oliver Holt said that Ferguson’s judgement was “waning faster than everybody thought” last summer, after his dealings in the transfer market. So now we get to sit back and obnoxiously beam at all the doubters.

The subject of Ferguson “losing the plot” has gone on for sometime now, which was sparked by his decision to make a U-turn on his retirement plans. Despite claiming he would leave at the end of the 2002 season, in the February he changed his mind and penned a new three year deal. When at the end of that season Wenger was victorious with the Double, the talk began. Had Ferguson made the right decision staying on? Despite winning his eighth title in eleven years the following season, after an incredible comeback against Arsenal, the supposed regret for United that Ferguson stayed began to pour out from the press the following season when Arsenal went unbeaten, and United finished 3rd.

Since then, the idea that Ferguson was now incapable of making United a dominating force was a popular one from the media, rival fans, and even some United fans. His activity in the transfer market was something which earnt him a lot of stick, and was deemed another tell tale sign that he was losing it. It was never an argument I fully understood though. Since winning the title in 2003, Ferguson has signed Eric Djemba-Djemba, David Bellion, Tim Howard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kleberson, Louis Saha, Alan Smith, Gabriel Heinze, Wayne Rooney, Edwin Van der Sar, Park Ji-Sung, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Tomasz Kuszczack and Michael Carrick.

Out of those fifteen players, I’d say three of them were poor buys. Out of the remaining twelve, I’d say a further three failed/have yet to prove they are of United quality. Whilst Howard was sold off, it shouldn’t be forgotten that he was the PFA Keeper of the Season in his first year at United, the same year that Arsenal went unbeaten with Lehmann in goal, and Chelsea came second with Cudicini between the sticks. Any problem with Howard was an issue of personality and confidence, rather than ability. Alan Smith could be sold off any day now, and whilst a favourite with the fans for his tireless efforts on the field, he hasn’t proved that he is good enough for our first XI. United fans shall forever have fond memories of his Man of the Match performance in the centre of midfield when we beat Chelsea the season before last, and for £7 million, he was just about worth what he has given us. I am a fan of Park Ji-Sung, and whilst he’ll never be starting XI material, he has proven to be a useful squad player, and at £4 million, a great addition to our team.

That leaves us then with Ronaldo, Saha, Heinze, Rooney, Van der Sar, Vidic, Evra and Carrick (with Kuszczack intended as our reserve keeper, and giving us nothing to complain about in the games we have seen him). Has any manager in the Premiership signed better players than those in the past three years? Even Mourinho with his unlimited cash supply hasn’t done a better job in the transfer market.

When in the weeks following lifting the title the club confirmed the capture of signings Anderson, Hargreaves and Nani, most United fans felt like they were dreaming. Three quality players brought in to show that we really do mean business. Whilst the press will quote a figure of £50 million as the combined total, it is important to note that such a price will only be paid if the players are successful and do well for the club. If this is the case, then they are worth the money. If it’s not the case, then the transfer fees for each player is much closer to the £10 million mark than the £17 million.

Next on the agenda, Carlos Tevez. Whilst this has been one of our messiest transfers in, well, all of a season (thanks Mikel), there appears to be only one outcome really, that the player will be ours. Whilst the issue of him playing alongside such a similar player in Rooney is on our minds, it is still a nice problem to have.

Things really did start getting too good to be true when Richardson was offloaded for a whopping £5.5 million. Our love for Keane is unrelenting, but just to secure a place in our hearts forever, he actually paid us a good sum of money to take Richardson away from us. However, there was still time for the bubble to burst, and it did yesterday.

Whilst £7 million for a player who cost you nothing and hasn’t ever established themselves in your team is nothing to be scoffed at, Rossi is the player who, above all others in our youth ranks, has been tipped for success. Rooney and Van der Sar are amongst the players who have named him as the best finisher at the club, and after a successful period in Italy this season, it made sense that the lad would return to us. To hear that he had been sold on was close to devastating, absolutely gutting.

But now is the time to breathe a huge sigh of relief, as Sir Alex does it again. "We have put in a clause in the contract, so maybe he will come back to us at some stage," Ferguson said. "We wish Giuseppe well and we know he will do well at Villarreal. It was a difficult decision to let him leave. I had several meetings with him to try and convince him that he would get plenty of football with us this season and all he needed was a bit of patience. But, having been on loan last season, he wanted first-team football all the time."

Now, our fears aren’t entirely alleviated. Whilst we got away with a strikeforce of Rooney, Saha, Solskjaer and Smith last season (astonishingly, some might say), there is no guarantee of the same this season. Whilst Tevez might come in and be a scoring machine, whilst Saha might stay fit, whilst Rooney might improve on his 23 goals of last season, and whilst Ole might continue on with his super-sub status, there’s every chance that luck goes against us. If we are let down by injuries or form, we could be left to rue the decision to get rid of Rossi.

However, as always, I’d like to look on the more positive side to this. Tevez’s advisors are meeting up with West Ham on Thursday, in a bid to settle the transfer outside of court. If this is resolved then, it means he will be with us for the first game of the season. Rooney and Ronaldo have had an impressive pre-season and it’d be smart to imagine this will continue. We’ve got the addition of Hargreaves to put a bit of grit in our midfield. We’ve got great potential in the likes of Nani and Andersson, who we can hope not only add something to our team, but can give Scholes and Giggs a break. The latter two players could barely run come the FA Cup final last season, so the option of these youngsters will help us get the best out of our experienced veterans for longer. All of this added to the fact we were the best team in England last season.

If Rossi shows himself to be the talent we’ve all been hoping he would emerge as, then we get to bring him back to the club. If Rossi doesn’t fulfil this, then we’ve made £7 million on a player who played just five times for us in the league. This, on top of Richardson’s fee, has earned us over £12 million this summer.

I’d like to see Rossi turn in to a great player, and I’d like to see him return to Old Trafford, however, this deal ensures the best possible outcome for us. After complaints left, right and centre about Ferguson's handling in the market, being branded naive and out of depth, the club are really starting to make headway.

Come the end of the transfer window, we should have our deals settled, and I hope on top of the brilliant deals we've already made, there are a few yet to come, and that Ferguson, yet again, will get the last laugh.

Ronaldo - Maybe I'm Just Too Good?

2007-07-30T04:53:00.000-07:00

Monday 19th March 2007, FA Cup: Manchester United 1 Boro 0

Cristiano Ronaldo's second-half penalty was enough to send Manchester United through to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Ronaldo was chopped down from behind by Jonathan Woodgate with the winger clinically dispatching the spot-kick.

Middlesbrough fans accused Ronaldo of diving, but after the game, Woodgate spoke out about the incident. "Whether it was a penalty or not I don't know, I couldn't honestly tell myself. But I don't think he dived so you can't blame him. He's a fantastic player. There is a touch of genius in him and to be fair, he lights up the Premiership."

Cristiano Ronaldo, who in the 2006-2007 was awarded with the titles of PFA Player and Young Player of the Year, PFA Fans Player of the Year, Football Writers’ Player of the Year, Barclays Player of the Season, United’s Player of the Year as voted for by both the players and fans, and finally, pipped Jose Mourinho to Portgual’s Sportsman of the Year, also responded to the incident. "It is a decision for the referee. For me it is a penalty. You need to look at the television. I just don't understand as every time with Cristiano it is a polemic and I don't know why. Maybe some people don't like me. Maybe I'm just too good."

Want to really piss off all the ABU's with a t-shirt boasting of the greatness of England's public enemy number one? Check out the Republik of Mancunia shop with t-shirts from as little as £8.

Goals That Make You Go Mental

2007-07-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

As a United fan, we've been more than lucky over recent years when it comes to watching vitally important goals. Whether it's in the league or a cup, United have a tendancy to score pretty special goals. Now, to be special, they don't have to be top quality, they just have to mean a lot. Like what, I hear you ask. Like Ruud scoring that penalty against Arsenal after missing a penalty against them the previous season, and getting ripped to shreds by their players and fans. Like Cantona scoring that perfect goal against Sunderland after getting stick over his form. Like O'Shea scoring in injury time in front of the Kop to take us 12 points clear. Like Darren Fletcher scoring against Chelsea a week after us getting battered 4-1 by Boro. You know the kindof goals I'm on about. The goals that make you go mental when you see the ball hit the back of the net. The goals that make you shout and swear and have you up on the table in the boozer.

So here's a short video crammed with as many of those goals as I could fit. Enjoy!

Soaring With Eagles

2007-07-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

Since “You’ll never win anything with kids” backfired immensely on Alan Hansen, with the United kids going on to win the Double at the end of that season, and winning the unprecedented Treble a few years later, there has been an awful amount of pressure on United’s youth team players.

Since that group of kids came through, we have yet to find any other youth team players who have managed to establish themselves in the first XI. John O’Shea seemed like our brightest prospect, back in the days when he was megging Luis Figo in the Champions League. After that match, the MEN ranted and raved about the 21 year old, saying “John O'Shea's nutmeg on Luis Figo has earned the £38m Real Madrid superstar endless verbal stick from his teammates. And it has also helped convince Manchester United boss that the audacious 21-year-old Irishman possibly has a future in the white heat of midfield - possibly as a long-term replacement for Roy Keane. O'Shea has forced his way into the first-team reckoning in some style this season, and by putting the ball through the legs of Portuguese ace Figo, he showed he has no fear of playing on the biggest stage of all.” Whilst we have seen other flashes of brilliance, including his wonderful chip against Arsenal in our 4-2 victory two seasons ago, his partnership in the centre of midfield for the final third of the 05/06 season, and his performance last season between the sticks, particularly his crunching tackle against Robbie Keane, in our 4-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

Regardless, John O’Shea has been given a lot of stick over the past few years, after he failed to meet the expectations we had of him. I know I wasn’t alone in groaning when I saw Wayne Rooney make way for O’Shea with 20 minutes to play at Anfield. I think my exact words might have been something like “Oh great decision Fergie, what the fuck is John O’Shea going to do?” But we all know what happened there, and it is important to remember O’Shea started the comeback against Everton on the day that felt like we’d won the league. It should also be noted that he had over 40 appearances for us in a season where we on the title, made the FA Cup final, and the semi-finals of Europe. He is in an important squad player (and the most effective scorer in the league this season, with four goals in five attempts :D) and whilst he’ll never set the World alight, he does a job.

Similar things can be said of Darren Fletcher, who never has and never will fulfil the title of “the next David Beckham”. Like O’Shea’s goal against Liverpool bought him more time with the fans, Fletcher has a similar goal to his name. The winning goal he scored by accident against Chelsea, a week after we’d been batted 4-1 by Boro, seemed to be enough for Ferguson to vindicate his decision to play Fletcher. I’m not Fletcher’s biggest fan, but he did have a great game against Roma, I did see him work hard and it pay off in a number of games, and like O’Shea, he had over 40 appearances for us last season.

Wesley Brown is probably the best player we’ve seen come through our youth since the kids of 96, but none seem to rate him as highly as our fans. A solid defender who formed a great partnership with Rio the season before last. Unfortunately, Ferguson went and bought one of the best central defenders in Europe in Nemanja Vidic, pushing Wes out of our first XI. But as a player who you can rely on across the back four, who says he loves United and wouldn’t leave us because any other club would be a step down, he is a player I feel we’re lucky to have in our squad.

Kieran Richardson is the latest of players from our youth who was once tipped for the top, but now plays for a smaller club. Another in a long list of players we’ve had high hopes for, but just didn’t ever quite cut it. It becomes increasingly off putting to talk about our new hopeful players, with more and more pressure being put upon them to fill Beckham’s boots, or to be “the next Paul Scholes”. However, it is impossible to ignore talk of our new youngster tipped for the top, Chris Eagles.

The first time I’d heard anything of note about the lad was his goal from the halfway line last season, when on loan for Watford. "I just hit it and I knew instantly it was going to go in,” he said after scoring. “Hopefully, Sir Alex Ferguson will be impressed if he sees the video." Impressive, course, but I don’t think there was anything to get too excited about just yet, despite the comparisons being made with Beckham’s similar goal back in 96.

He made little to no impact on the 2006/2007 for United, coming back from his unsuccessful loan spell at NEC Nijmegen just before Christmas. For the months following, the only time he got to wear the shirt alongside our first teamers was in our friendly match against a European XI. Then, out of nowhere, on my favourite day of the season, Chris Eagles comes on for Solskjaer four minutes from time, just after Rooney had scored our third, and pops up with a cracking goal. He grabbed the badge and ran to the fans, met with shouts of his name.

Still, you could put that down to a one off. A great memory for the lad, as good as it’s going to get, but nothing for us to get excited about.

The preseason starts, and against FC Seoul he scored our second, after a lovely link up with Ronaldo. He placed the ball perfectly, showing again some more class.

"Chris Eagles has matured and improved a lot since he came back to us," Ferguson said after the game. "He is still only 21 and he has got a great future ahead of him." Really? The weekend goes by, Eagles plays in another victory, scoring a sensational goal.

I’m not going to get ahead of myself. I’m not going to start tipping to be the greatest thing to ever come from our youth team, but we have seen some great things from this lad, and it’s exciting to see such great potential from our youth team. There’s a real buzz about him at the moment, with discussion going back and forth over whether we’re justified in praising the lad, or whether we are getting carried away.

Who knows what the future holds, but I would love to look back at this article in a few years time, with Eagles having a whole host of medals to his name, when the cheesy headline “Soaring With Eagles” is a regular occurrence on the back pages, and laugh at myself for even questioning the possibility of whether he would be a star or not. Fingers crossed.

Evra Paid For, Thanks Kieran, Now Fuck Off

2007-07-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

Many Manchester United fans adopted Sunderland as their "2nd team" when hero Roy Keane took over at the North East club. For all the sacrifice and hard work, for all the tackles and goals, for all the spirit and passion, Keano embodied what it meant to be a United player, and we all loved him for it.

In November 2005, we could all see the beginning of the end. Cracks were visable between Sir Alex and Roy, and when our captain let loose his opinions after the battering we received from Middlesbrough, we knew what was the follow. The embarrassing display that Keane missed, due to an injury he'd picked up an Anfield, left him fuming, venting his anger on MUTV.

"I wasn't surprised by the result," said Keane. "I had been expecting one like this. The players have been asked questions and they are just not coming up with the answers. I am sick of having to say it and they are sick of listening to me. They have let down the club, the manager and the fans." He summed up how every fan felt. Although there was a spit in opinion on whether it was his place to say such things, there was no disagreement on the fact he was speaking the truth.

He didn't stop there though. Keane accused John O'Shea of strolling around the field instead of busting a gut to get back and defend. He wanted to know why people in Scotland raved over Darren Fletcher (the following league game, Fletcher scored the only goal in our 1-0 victory against then champions, Chelsea). He said Alan Smith was lost in midfield, wandering around, not knowing what to do (and in the game against Chelsea, was Man of the Match, winning the midfield battle vs Lampard, Essien and Makelele). The most damning of reports were in the direction of Rio Ferdinand and Kieran Richardson. He said Rio thought he was superstar because of his massive pay packet, but in fact his sloppy defending against Boro wasn't the only time Roy thought he had been guilty of being easily robbed of the ball. He called Richardson "lazy", and said he "deserved to get punished" for "not doing his job".

Days after the defeat, as the story goes, Kieran Richardson, who had just turned 21, was bragging to team mates about the new Bentley he had just ordered. Keane was having none of this, and a confrontation lead to Richardson cancelling the car.

Now, I was in the pub a few days back with a red, enjoying the recent rumours which linked Richardson with a move away from the club. His pompous attitude and undeserved apparent feeling of self worth has made the player increasingly unpopular amongst the fans. Now to give us a bit of perspective, all we need to do is look at Alan Smith's United career. Whilst Smith has, as yet, failed to prove he is of United quality, he has proved to have the United mentality. He works tirelessly for every minute he is on the field, and this attitude is rewarded with the fans' appreciation. I was lucky enough to be at United's FA Cup semi final at Villa Park in the season just gone. Towards the end of the game, as we were just waiting for the time to run out, and for the obvious conclusion, United were in the FA Cup final, to be announced, we sang Smithy's name over, and over, and over. He had faced close to 18 months on the sidelines after that horrendous injury at Anfield the previous season, and this was one of our first opportunities to see him play. He had a brilliant game, following on from his more than impressive display in our 7-1 battering of Roma three days before, and so we sang his name. He turned to the crowd and applauded us. This is in stark contrast to Kieran Richardson, who scored our fourth goal that day, and was met with boos from sections of the crowd when he ran over to us to celebrate. As his name was read out as he lifted the Premiership trophy a few weeks later, again, sections of the crowd booed him.

My red friend and I concluded there was no way Richardson could be going to Sunderland. Just as Scholes' and Ole's tipped departure to join Keane was bollocks, the Richardson move had to be as well. As much as we'd like to see him leave, there was no way that Keano would take him on. We hoped he'd move to City, although agreed the most likely move would be Everton.

So when a few days later I read that Keane had paid 5.5 million pounds (the price we paid for PFA left back of the season, Patrice Evra) for the prick, paying him 40k a week, I just couldn't quote believe it. "It is actually nice to get them eventually signed. They are talented players. They are a good age," Keane said, of the capture of Richardson and Chopra. "Kieran's got vast experience for such a young player. He had one or two options. We agreed a deal a bit ago with United, but of course he was away with the Under 21s and then he had a holiday," he continued. "It's always difficult for a player to leave Man United. Even if you think you're going to be a squad player. So he's been brave in that decision. Obviously we're grateful to United. I think again it's a good price, good value for us. Kieran is a good age for us. He's an England international, he's never injured."

On every match of the season, other than the games they play against us, I imagine United fans everywhere will be cheering Keane's team on. The massive success he had in his first season at the club did not come as a surprise to those who have watched him and have been familiar with his attitude throughout his career. I just hope that Keane isn't losing his way. I hope he isn't making needless sacrifices for the sake of attempted success. I hope he sticks with his hard nature. If he didn't take shit from Sir Alex, then it's a good bet he wouldn't take shit from anyone...but it was also a good bet he wouldn't sign someone like Richardson, a player who seems to display a whole array of characteristics Keane despises. A player who struts around League Cup games and England U-21 games as if he's too "big" of a player to be there. A player who brushes off humiliating defeats knowing he will pick up his pay packet at the end of the week. A player who couldn't even give 100% to a club like United. And most of all, a player who Keane so openly criticised and showed a dislike for.

I'm more than happy to see the back of Richardson, and don't doubt he will scrub up as a half decent player at Sunderland, where he is given frequent appearances and the attention of a proud man who doesn't want to end up with egg on his face. It's indeed a happy time for Manchester United, I just hope this isn't a sign of the things to come for our great, old captain.

Under Pressure Part II

2007-07-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

As Premiership champions, it seems only fair that United will be put under pressure next season. With a manager who has proved his worth over 20 great years at the club, it only seems right that we’re expected to be up at the top again next season. Whilst Chelsea have been blaming injuries and failing to address the real issues (believing if they’d had John Terry and Petr Cech fit all season we would have won the league, even though they boasted the best defensive record in the league last season without them, and it was their attack and midfield which let them down), United have been focusing on bringing back their 10th Premiership title in the coming season.

We have so far brought in three quality players in Hargreaves, Andersson and Nani, on deals which could rise to just under £50 million, but currently stand at around the £35 million mark. However, just as with past transfers for players like Carrick and Rooney, for example, the press and our rivals prefer to quote the inflated figure.

Jose Mourinho has spoken out about our spending this week, claiming the pressure is on us. "Manchester United's spending is something that we don't control, we don't want to control - we don't comment, we don't want to comment,” and then goes on to comment, "but when we spent some millions, everybody pointed at us as the team with more responsibility to win. This was because we were the spenders in the market. That's not the case this season. The only player we've bought was Florent Malouda. We are very happy with that."

Now, this summer, we have spent around £35 million, and Chelsea have spent around £13 million, as well as scooping up a couple of players on the Bosman (and hopefully, they’ll do as well as their last Bosman signing). Yep, we’ve spent more this summer, and if the only players who were competing for us next season were the ones we’d just bought, maybe there would be some logic to Mourinho’s comment, which he didn’t want to make, but couldn’t quite help himself from making.

Now we all know Chelsea have spent more than us since the Roman era began, but I thought it would be interesting to just look at how much. After the likes of Terry, Lampard, Robben, Makelele and Cech had been secured prior to Mourinho taking over, incurring hundreds of millions, the Portguese manager has spent a hefty sum too. If spending £35 million in one summer gives us more responsibility to win, let’s just take a look at how much pressure there should be on Chelsea.

If we compare our spending from the last time we won the title, to the summer preceding the year we won it, to Chelsea’s spending since Jose has taken over, maybe it might put Jose’s comments in to perspective a little, perhaps.

Over the past three seasons before this summer, United have been virtually spending what they’ve made in sales. From the summer 2003 to the summer of 2006, United made £78.7 million from transfers (David Beckham £25 million, Juan Sebastian Veron £15 million, Nicky Butt £2 million, Diego Forlan reportedly £3 million, Eric Djemba-Djemba £3.5 million, Phil Neville £5 million, Kleberson £2.5 million, John Obi Mikel £12 million, Jonathan Spector £0.5 million, Ruud van Nistelrooy £10.2 million) and spent £98 million (David Bellion £2 million, Eric Djemba-Djemba £3.5 million, Tim Howard £2.2 million, Cristiano Ronaldo £12.2 million, Kleberson £5.9 million, Louis Saha £12.82 million, Alan Smith £7 million, Gabriel Heinze £6.9 million, Wayne Rooney £27 million, Edwin van der Sar £2 million, Park Ji-Sung £4 million, Nemanja Vidic £7 million, Patrice Evra £5.5 million), leaving an overall outgoing of just £20 million, so an average of £6-7 million a season. With this, Sir Alex Ferguson created the current champions, boasting one of the very best first XIs in Europe.

From the summer of 2004 to the summer of 2006, Jose Mourinho has spent £185.75 million, (Didier Drogba £24 million, Ricard Carvalho: £19.85 million, Michael Essien: £24.4 million, Ashley Cole undisclosed, Hilarious undisclosed, Andriy Shevchenko £30, Shaun Wright-Phillips: £21, John Obi Mikel: £16, Khalid Boulahrouz £8.5, Solomon Kalou: £8, Paulo Ferreira: £13, Mateja Kezman: £5, Tiago: £8, Asier Del Horno £8) and made £44.1 million from sales, (Duff £5 million, Gudjohnsen £8 million, Scott Parker £6.5 million, Tiago £6.5 million, Huth £6 million, Kezman £5.3 million, Smertin £1 million, Babyaro £1 million, Del Horno £4.8 million), leaving an overall out going of £143.65 million, so an average of £71.8 million a season.

Jose is right to a certain extent, there will be pressure on us next season, as we are the current Champions, but to bring our spending in to it is nothing short of pathetic. If we look at the spending over the past few seasons, Liverpool and Tottenham are amongst the other clubs who have spent more than us. Has the pressure been on them? Have they had the responsibility to be the best team in the country on their shoulders?

The pressure was on us in ’93, when we won our first title in 26 years, but that didn’t stop us from going on to scoop the Double the following season. Winning the double in ’96 didn’t stop us from retaining the title in ’97. Then the season of all seasons, winning the league, the FA Cup and the European Cup in '99 didn’t put enough pressure on Sir Alex to stop him from winning the league again in 2000, and again in 2001. If anything, our manager thrives on the pressure, loves doing what he’s been told he can’t, and Mourinho’s latest comments are a help rather than a hindrance to Fergie’s pre-season planning.

Effortlessly, yet again, Ferguson managed to deflect Jose’s comments, and prove the not so special one has a long way to go before he can even begin to compete in the war of words with ol Sir. "It's an amazing statement actually," Ferguson said. "I don't think he knows I've been here for 20 years. Whether he is trying to transfer some of the pressure - maybe he's under pressure himself, I don't know. I thought it was quite funny."

Pressure is spending over £200 million on transfers in three seasons, and desperately seeking to win back a title you are now second favourites to win. Jose Mourinho knows all about that, and knows all too well his neck is on the line if he doesn’t win the league this season. Whilst he can publicly state winning the FA Cup was more important to him last season than the Premiership, winning the league is what proves you’re the best, and with £200 million of Roman’s money being spent by Jose, on top of the hundreds of million spent before him, that is something Jose needs to prove this season. What does Ferguson need to prove?

For the first time in years, United are starting the season as favourites to win the league, and that is a pressure Ferguson hasn’t felt recently, but it is a pressure he has felt time and again in the past and dealt with successfully. I certainly don’t feel the weight on my shoulders as a fan like I felt at the start of last season, and I imagine that is a feeling reflected by the players and manager alike.

These are exciting times for our club, and retaining the title is an important step in establishing our place as the country’s elite. As always, we’ll have people against us, we’ll have the press tearing us down every opportunity they can, we’ll have teams playing against us like it’s their cup final, but we are on the verge of establishing possibility one of our greatest ever sides, pressure or not. Now it's time to sit back and enjoy, soak up the pressure, and wish the next four weeks away.

Under Pressure Part I

2007-07-13T03:10:00.000-07:00

Last August, United were all but written off for achieving anything in the coming season. In fact, winning a Cup was the best we could hope for, apparently. Whilst the majority of United fans wouldn’t have put us down for first, especially after the signings of Ashley Cole, Ballack and Shevchenko for Chelsea, there was an air of bewilderment amongst us. Surely Arsenal and Liverpool don’t have better sides than us as well? Our own bias is always going to get in the way of reality, to one degree or another, but surely our bias couldn’t allow us to believe we had a decent enough side, when in fact, we were only going to be good enough to claim the last Champions League place?

There was a pressure on us that had grown for the past three seasons, and was now at bursting point. Despite not finishing outside the top three, the failure to win the league in just three seasons apparently was justification for the heaps of criticism that came our way. Sky Sports wrote an interesting piece on United’s coming season, using their fount of knowledge to put us in our place. The article cuttingly stated, “such is the expectation at Old Trafford these days that failure to win The Premiership for a fourth season in a row will be depicted as a catastrophe for Manchester United.” Catastrophic? Is that really how bad things were getting? As far as Sky Sports were concerned, we were not going to win the league, didn't stand a chance in fact, they pencilled us in for fourth, and the catasrophic United season was upon us. It was a pressure Ferguson knew only too well from his initial years with the club, when desperation for success was almost unbearable, but it was a pressure he had combated once before, and so it wasn’t too much of a shock, not to United fans at least, when he did it again. However, the headlines for the end of the season could have already been drafted, talk of Ferguson not being the manager he was, and that the competition Mourinho provided him with was just too strong. It seemed as though people honestly believed Ferguson would not be able to replicate the great achievements of the past, and Ferguson will have been the first to feel the pressure of this.

The article continued, “dominance of the domestic scene comes in cycles - just as Liverpool controlled the 80s, and United the 90s, it is now Chelsea’s turn to be the pre-eminent force and impatient Red Devils fans must be prepared to bide their time,” they said. United were dead and buried before the season had even begun, just as Liverpool faced decline after the 80’s. I don’t know how Liverpool fans cope, but I knew I wasn’t prepared to wait the sixteen years Liverpool had waited since their last title, and their period of decline had begun.

It didn't stop there though, they said “Sir Alex Ferguson is desperately trying to build a new super-team to challenge Chelsea, but with Roman Abramovich’s spending showing no signs of slowing down, it is becoming increasingly hard to keep up with the reigning champions.” United made a profit in the transfer market last summer, with the sale of Ruud van Nistelrooy and John Obi Mikel eclipsing the money paid for Michael Carrick. Whilst the press quoted £18.6 million, the real sum paid for Michael Carrick was £14 million, with the potential to rise to the press figure dependant on appearances and success. I don’t think Carrick was the first choice for any United fan, but I know I wasn’t alone when thinking the amount was fair enough. £14 million is about right for a great midfielder, especially when they carry an English passport, and if the sum rose because of performances and success, then great. I posed the question on football forums, would we would be complaining at paying an extra £4.6 million for a player who helped us win the league? Of course not. The answer remains the same. Carrick came second only to Paul Scholes for our most consistently great passer, with an 83.4% accuracy rate, scoring six goals, including those two crackers in the quarter final of the Champions league. Only Ronaldo and Rooney had more league appearances for us, those players with one and two appearances more respectively. No we couldn’t compete in terms of cash with Chelsea in the transfer market, as we couldn’t for the seasons before, but in terms of bringing in quality players, nobody has brought in more than Ferguson in the past four seasons. Michael Ballack, the player many of us had hoped would sign for us for years, was totally eclipsed by Michael Carrick last season.

There were certain scenarios the article imagined which were needed for United to have a hope in hell. It said “Cristiano Ronaldo has a big year ahead of him. Guaranteed a hostile reception at every away ground, the Portuguese winger can shrug off the misguided cheers, but a consistent end product is urgently required if United are to see the best of his talent.” There was also an opinion on Rooney, saying he had “the magic of a player few other sides in world football, never mind the Premiership, could lay claim to” and that he needed to rise to the challenge of being United’s “saviour”.

I think I’m almost getting bored of praising Ronaldo, I run out of words to describe the season he’s just had for us. It might just be easier to list off what he achieved this season. PFA Player and Young Player of the Year, PFA Fans Player of the Year, Football Writers’ Player of the Year, Barclays Player of the season, United’s Player of the Year as voted for by both the players and fans, and finally, pipped Jose Mourinho to Portgual’s Sportsman of the Year. He was the third highest scorer in the league, with 17 goals in 31 starts, and had the highest amount of assists in the league, providing 14 goals for his team mates.

Likewise, Rooney had a massive impact on our season. After a slow start following the utterly ridiculous ban by the FA, Rooney banged in plenty of goals, several of which we will see on the next “Top 50 United goals”. I could watch his goals against Portsmouth, Watford, Milan and Bolton, to name a few, over and over again. And who could forget his goal ten minutes from time against Everton, which took us in to the lead, on the day that felt like we’d won the league. He was joint top scorer for United last season, alongside Ronaldo, with 23 goals in all competitions.

However, the comments on Rooney and Ronaldo were about as good as it got. Sky Sports left us with the rather dismal summary of, “a greater impact in the UEFA Champions League will be expected, but a cup may again be the best last season’s Carling Cup winners can hope for.” Why? Because we’d sold Ruud van Nistelrooy, and we’d only brought in Michael Carrick.

With the press generally agreeing with this point of view, United had an incentive to prove everybody wrong. The fans, the players and the manager were striving for, probably more than ever, a league title to shut everyone up. We’d felt the pressure, sat in our seats at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season before the whistle blew, hoping we could start the season with something special. Little did we know then that we would win the game 5-1, that we’d go on to win sixteen of the twenty games that lead us to the end of the year, and really show our opposition, the press, and the rest of the country, that United meant business.

We saw our lads lift our 9th Premiership title, making Terry’s recent comments about feeling the title is theirs all the more laughable. We’ve got our trophy back, we’ve signed quality new players, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for Tevez, but what kindof pressure will we be facing now?

Jelly and Ice Cream When Glazer Dies

2007-05-31T06:38:00.000-07:00

FC United is a concept I understand, but not something I could follow. I understand the frustration life long fans will have felt over the Glazers taking over at our club. All the talk of United losing its soul, and of the club not being the same anymore (as followers of the old failing Labour of the 80’s feel about New Labour) is something that definitely rings true to me as well. However, United are my team, and no matter how disgusted, upset or frustrated I was about the Glazer takeover, changing my allegiances to FC United was not an option for me. This is not me taking a holier than thou approach, or me claiming I’m a bigger red than you, your mate, or your Uncle Fred, but not going to Old Trafford was something I couldn’t bring myself to do, so that was the end of FC United for me.

If the principle of the Glazers was too much for you, then the principle of becoming a .plc should have been. Yes, people half heartedly rallied around the idea of Shareholder’s United, but for the most part, we were too busy celebrating the Treble to be concerned with buying in to our club. Not being a “football club”, according to our badge, irked us in 98, but again, we had trophy after trophy to compensate for it.

When the trophies started to dry up however, and Glazer was the one to succeed in taking over, the principle did become too much. I have heard some FC United followers describe it as the final straw. Maybe I’m cynical, but it seems all too convenient to me. We had been spoilt rotten in the 90s, and between 1990 and 2003, we saw the boys lift 8 league titles, 4 FA Cups, 1 European Cup, as well as a European Cup Winners Cup, a League Cup, a European Super Cup, and an Intercontinental Cup. In the same way children would react if you spoilt them with gifts, and happiness, and all they had dreamed of for years, and then took it all away, United fans threw their dummy out, stomped away from Old Trafford, vowing to never go back whilst Glazer was there.

The worry set in over the effect the crippling debt was having on the club. We’d spent just £6 million on signings Van der Sar and Park, and the money for these players had been made through the sales of Phil Neville and Kleberson (aw, remember him?). Regardless, at the close of the Glazers first season at the club, we’d have our best league finish since we’d last won our trophy in 2003. We won the lowest priority cup, the League Cup, but still, it was better than finishing 3rd and winning nothing as we’d done the previous season. Things were looking up for United, but FC United still hit a high of over 6,000 people at a game towards the close of the season.

The summer came, and United signed just one player, Michael Carrick, for a £14 million sum, which could rise to £18.6 million dependant on what he won with the club. Which was all fine and well, but we’d just sold off our most prolific goalscorer for a meagre £10 million and managed to cash in on the rent boy brat Mikel for £12 million. So, if you look at the deals for Evra and Vidic in the January, United were virtually only spending money they had made from sales. Not the greatest sign.

United go on to have the most successful season since 1999, winning the league, reaching the FA Cup final, and the semi finals in Europe. The attendances for FC United drop, United sell out the new and improved 76,000 seats at Old Trafford every week, and we’re laughing.

Still, with failed bid upon failed bid for Hargreaves, the underlying worry is still there. United don’t have any money. We’ve won the league, but Roman will again splash the cash on World class player followed by World class player (not that Cole, Ballack and Shevchenko did much to live up to their “World class” status this season :D) and we’ll be left for dust. Right?

Wrong. Within the past few hours we have seen deals confirmed for “next Ronaldinho” Anderson, Sporting Lisbon, in the Ronaldo mould, star Nani, and finally, the man Fergie has wanted for years, Owen Hargreaves. Pinch me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m as wary as the next person over supposed “next *insert incredible player’s name here*” signings, but this kid crept in to Chelsea’s radar two years ago, and assuming he doesn’t get sent death threats, go missing, and end up in London, will be donning our colours next season. Nani has been in our sights for some time now, and Ronaldo has previously spoken out encouraging the deal. Despite Spurs’ best efforts, coming in with a late £14 million offer to push the price up, this youngster will be speeding down our wings next season, taking pressure off a tiring Giggs. The addition of Hargreaves gives our midfield the extra muscle it needed, meaning we won’t be relying on the likes of O’Shea and Fletcher as much as we have done over the past few years.

For the first time in two seasons, United are actually spending money on transfers that they haven’t made in sales, confirming the more optimistic fans’ hope, that the Glazers aren’t completely screwing us over. Now, this doesn’t make us Glazer lovers, or any happier about the fact our club is hundreds of millions of pounds worth of debt, but it at least can settle our nerves for now.

Whilst Chelsea have spent hundreds of millions over the past few seasons, United have bobbed along, spending money we’ve made in player sales. Last season, when Chelsea splashed the cash on three established players, and United overpaid for the relatively unproven Carrick, we were written off. Maybe the Glazers are smarter than we have given them credit for, is that possible? Is it really possible that they bought the few players Ferguson asked for, the players Ferguson needed at the least to build a league winning team? Is it possible they trusted Ferguson to do this, and have saved this extra £50 million to spend when we really needed it? We’re already the best team in England, and now we have strengthened our squad in all the right areas, in ways maybe even the most optimistic fan may have doubted we would.

I don’t expect spending sprees like this every summer, and chances are we will revert back to minimal expenditure in the future, but right about now, I’m more excited about the upcoming season than I have been in years. No three cheers for the Glazers just yet, but it’s just nice to see things not crash and burn in the way we expected two summers ago.

Chelsea Were Better Really, Honestly, They Were

2007-05-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

There are some things which you can now guarantee will happen in the Premiership season. Ronaldo will get booed wherever he plays, Mourinho will make a fool out of himself in the papers, Liverpool will claim that this is their season, City will only sell out their ground on derby day, and Newcastle will have an injury crisis. Maybe there’s something in the water up in the North East, or maybe they train on a pitch of concrete, but there certainly seems some kind of injury curse. Complaining about injuries, or blaming them, is something which shouldn’t sit right with any fan. It always feels like a bit of a kop out, and even though at times, justified, it should always feel awkward. Newcastle are a team whose fans should be vindicated from this awkwardness though, and there will be various teams over the years who are also exempt.

Chelsea, however, are unlikely to ever be let off the hook. With hundreds of millions spent on players over the past few seasons, there should be no excuse for injuries having a drastic effect on the season. The injuries to Cech and Cudicini aside (however it is important to note Chelsea dropped points in 1/4 of the games Cech did play in) how much is there to the excuses which are coming out of the Bridge?

The absence of John Terry of course would hit any team hard, but if Gallas and Huth had not been sold on, would it have been devastating? Probably not. Anyone with a football brain could see it was senseless to get rid of two covering central defenders, and in their place, bring in a left back, especially considering the one they already had, Bridge, was more than competent. However, this was done, and £9 million was spent on Boulahrouz as cover. Chelsea fans won’t need to be reminded that it was this joke of a defender who acted as the final straw in their disappearing title chase, who got sent off and gave away a penalty in the game against local rivals Arsenal which they needed to win to stay in the race. Unlucky with injuries, or poor managerial decisions in the transfer market?

Chelsea felt the injuries of Joe Cole and Arjen Robben, the latter of the two who was not starting for the club even when fit. Mourinho introduced an, erm, interesting tactic in the 05/06 season in the semi finals of the FA Cup against Liverpool. Instead of playing with any wingers, Jose opted for a 442 formation, with four central midfielders across the middle, with Lampard, Makelele, Essien and Geremi. The result? Chelsea looked poor, and Liverpool bossed the match, until Chelsea introduced width in the form of Cole, Robben and Gudjohnsen. Chelsea were close to pinching a result at the end, but the decision to play without width for much of the game cost them the FA Cup. This surely should have been lesson enough for anyone with a football brain, but alas, it wasn’t. Chelsea sold on Duff and Gudjohnsen, buying no replacement, and relied on the injury prone Robben, the out of favour Shaun Wright-Phillips (who had been chosen to play in the equivalent of just 12 league games that season) and Joe Cole. Instead of investing in width, Chelsea brought in two more central midfielders, Ballack and Mikel (for a hefty £16 million). Ballack couldn’t have appeared to give less of a shit if he tried, and Mikel, who repeatedly showed up late for training and threw tantrums on the field, managed to rack up 8 yellow cards and 2 reds in his first season. Despite having the highest scorer in the league on their team, scored 19 fewer than United, and 8 fewer than in their previous season. Unlucky with injuries, or poor managerial decisions in the transfer market?

As I have already established in previous articles, both Gary Neville and Nemanja Vidic spent longer out injured than John Terry this season, and whilst Chelsea have suffered because of the absence of Joe Cole (who made 13 league appearances) and Robben (who made 21 league appearances), United have also struggled because of the absence of Saha (who made 24 league appearances, last game March 3rd) and injuries to Smith and Solskjaer. Up steps a moment of managerial genius, with the introduction of Henke on loan, who scored goals and had contributed massively to United’s league, FA Cup and Champions league campaign, in his three month loan. Of course Ferguson had the last laugh on this decision after the media had previously scoffed.

Now, during the 05/06 season, United were ravaged by injuries. Roy Keane bowed out to injury before finally leaving the club at a time when the manager had no opportunity to replace him. Scholes played his last match of the season in 2005, before returning for the final game when the title had already been decided. United played games with a back 4 of Bardsley, Rio, O’Shea and Richardson, as we saw all of our defenders face considerable time on the sidelines at one time or another. Giggs spent the season in and out of the injury room, forced to play in the centre of our midfield due to injuries for substantial periods of the season when he was fit. If we had our first XI fit for the whole season, would we have won the league? Would we have at least come closer than finishing 8 points behind? Player for player, was our fully fit first XI better than Chelsea’s? Did beating them 1-0 at Old Trafford, when Fletcher and Smith propped up our midfield, and we had the options of Bardsley, Richardson and Rossi on the bench prove we were a better side?

United lost the title fair and square, and whilst United fans and players would like to hope we would have had a better season without the ridiculous number of injuries, nothing can be proven so there is little need to debate over what could have been. Last season, United had won and lost the title enough times to know how it felt to be on both sides of the fence, and to know how to take victory and defeat. There was no bitterness from the United camp, no claims of being superior, no attempts to belittle the Chelsea achievement. “You won the league Chelsea, but had we not had our injuries, it could/would have been different.” I don’t feel any particular pride as a fan that my team were gracious in defeat, as it should be taken as a given and be expected. I would be ashamed if our players and managers had blamed our injuries.

Now, this success business is new for Chelsea players and fans, and so maybe this is why they have been so poor at being gracious. Maybe this is why they appear so bitter to have conceded the Premiership title. Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, and John Terry were all interviewed after they lost the title, and all of them made reference to their “terrible” injuries. They talked of having their backs up against the wall, of massive problems, and having lots to contend with. None of them were big enough to say hats off to the best team, which United were, regardless of any injuries either team had.

But if you thought the Chelsea camp could leave it there, without losing too much respect, you were wrong. Ferreira is the latest to join the list of the classless, claiming Chelsea are certainly a better team than United. "I insist 100 per cent that United are not a better team than Chelsea," the Portuguese defender said. "When all our players are fit then we're still the best in the country. We played United three times this season and they did not win any of those games."

Conclusive evidence then, right? United drew with Chelsea twice in the league, on one of those occasions fielding a team almost fit to play in the reserves league, and therefore, Chelsea must be the better team. And by that logic, West Ham are a better team than United and Arsenal are better than Chelsea.

Whilst some United fans will be left frustrated by these low rent remarks, it is important to stress that this Chelsea attitude is one which will benefit United. It is clear to anyone with a football brain that United were easily the best team in the country this year, playing the most exciting and entertaining football from a team of Champions since Arsenal in their unbeaten season. Whilst Chelsea are unable to accept this, move on, and develop ways to become better than United, then United are certainly in the more favourable position. If it is the attitude of the players and manager at Chelsea that without their injuries, they would be now the Champions of England, then they are failing to address the real issue here…that Chelsea simply weren’t good enough this season. As a United fan, I keep my fingers crossed Chelsea continue to blame their failure this season on injuries, and continue not accepting their flaws, and I look forward to the new season with greater expectation than I’ve had in years.

Win Some, Lose Some

2007-05-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

On the way to Wembley yesterday, the train stopped at Birmingham train station, and we were there for a while. We started to get pretty restless, checking our watches, working out how long we had until kick off. It was still a few hours off at this point, but with no word from the driver, you could feel the slight nerves. Finally, a message came over the speakers that someone had committed suicide on the line ahead, and that we'd be running over an hour late. They apologised profusely about the fact we might now miss kick off, and assured us they would do all they could to get us there on time. If I was to believe in signs, maybe I, along with the other United fans on that train, would have been best off jumping on a train in the opposite direction back to Manchester. As it worked out, we stayed on the train, sat in Birmingham for an hour, and we did get to the ground on time, but the day didn't get much better.

United have made three FA Cup finals in four years, losing two of them after 90 minutes. Leaving Cardiff on that rainy day left me feeling sick, whereas yesterday I just felt fed up. It was a pleasure to be one of the 89,000 at the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley, but I felt quite the opposite about being subjected to the match I watched. My prior worry about the game had been realised, as United looked shattered and struggled to shine.

With our first choice striker, Louis Saha, out injured for the past three months, Ferguson has been forced in to a whole array of formations. The most successful of these has been Giggs playing up front with Rooney, although it’s not entirely popular with the United faithful. Rooney, whilst being a goalscorer, is not a lone striker, and struggles being shoved up front by himself. Thirty three year old Giggs has filled the gap for the most part, but with over forty games under his belt this season, it was clear he could not go on forever. As we’ve seen from him in recent weeks, his legs just aren’t what they used to be, and it’s ridiculous to expect him to carry that attacking role after such a long season for the United favourite. This was expected of him yesterday, however, and he failed to deliver.

Both teams looked absolutely exhausted from the moment of kick off, United passing the ball around casually, with the Chelsea players making little to no effort to win it off them. Both sides gave away possession carelessly, with groans frequently being heard from both sections of the crowd. Both sides failed to produce a top save from either keeper. Both sides failed to work up much hope in their fans.

Our spirits lifted when Rooney ran the length of the pitch, speeding past and through the Chelsea defence, only to get in to the box and find himself alone, surrounded by blues. Scholesy, who was easily the best player on the field, provided Giggsy with a beautiful ball, which he managed to reach sandwiched between two defenders, only to volley over the bar.

Neither side deserved to win based on what he was had seen so far. After Jose Mourinho had put pressure on the ref before the game, it was then no surprise that there was to be some refereeing controversy, and it came in extra time. Rooney played in a perfect ball to Giggs. Essien slid into our winger, as Giggs got his foot on the ball, and Cech allowed the ball to cross over the line, after colliding with Giggs. Watching the highlights when I returned home, the commentators said it was no goal because of a foul by Giggs on the keeper. However, no freekick was awarded to Chelsea, and it appears the goal was deemed not a goal because the ref did not think it crossed the line. He was wrong. The whole ball did cross the line. Was it a penalty? It wasn’t a stonewall penalty in my mind, but did Essien’s contact on the player, nowhere near the ball, do enough to put Giggs off? Essien made no attempt to win the ball, so what was he doing sliding in on the player inches away from the goal line? Mourinho has claimed this season that referees always favour United with penalties, and work against Chelsea. Again, Ferguson will be left to regret not putting equal pressure on to the referee.

With time running out, Alan Smith’s fresh legs and determination continued to give United the upper hand. Smith slid in on Mikel, winning the ball cleanly, which should have won back possession for his team. However, Steve Bennett, who was stood right in front of the challenge, decided it would be more fitting to award Chelsea with a free kick. From this free kick, Chelsea scored the winning goal, just minutes before penalties.

Before the game, I stressed the importance of United winning the league, that whatever the outcome of the final, we had won what we wanted and needed to win this season. If Chelsea were to have taken the lead through a good move with no controversy earlier in the game, it would have been a case of taking it on the chin and getting on with it. But to lose at the time we did, in the way we did, is entirely frustrating. It’s frustrating that we weren’t able to show our attacking flair, it’s frustrating that for so much of the game we looked like the better side but couldn’t score, and it’s frustrating that there is any sense of “being robbed”. We were robbed blind in Cardiff two years ago, and whilst the difference between the sides wasn’t as pronounced yesterday, the Giggs’ goal and the poor refereeing decision which lead to Chelsea’s goal does leave a bitter taste.

With hindsight, it is easy to look at what could or should have been done. Maybe United should have started with Smith and Rooney up front, with Giggs and Ronaldo on the wings. This would have taken the pressure off Rooney, and would have given Ronaldo more room. Every time our Portugese winger was on the ball, he instantly had two or three blue shirts around him. The addition of a second striker, as well as two wingers, would have spread Chelsea’s defence more thinly. The drawback of this however, and surely the reason Ferguson picked the lineup he did, is that we would have limited attacking options on the bench. If we were a goal down, our only move would have been to bring Solskjaer on. Whilst he has had a cracking season, particularly after fearing he would never play again, he has racked up over thirty appearances this season, as well as an injury, and it would be a big risk to rely on that. A big risk we’d expect Ferguson to take? Possibly. But if United lost 1-0 because they’d conceded early on, and had no fresh attacking options on the bench, the fresh options Smith provided us with, chances are we’d have been calling for the tactics Ferguson did choose yesterday. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

As I walked around the streets in the direction of the Wembley Central tube, Chelsea fans sung and waved their flags in the air, trying to bait any United fans that passed. Yesterday was their day, and like Drogba carried them through this season, he also won them an FA Cup. It’s what happens in football, big players need just one chance, big decisions can cost you matches, or win you matches, cost you trophies, or win them for you. When two sides, who have set themselves apart from the rest of the league this season, meet in a final, then it is going to be a close run thing. When these two sides have challenged for the title, reached the semi’s in Europe, and made the final of FA Cup, then they are going to look knackered, and it is going to be the smallest of incidents that separates them on the day. But essentially, whilst a double would have been lovely this season, to really stick two fingers up at all of Ferguson’s critics, I’ll quite happily take the league title this season… and any honest Chelsea fan would admit that, regardless of their domestic cups, they’d rather have had our season too.

Champions: Best Moments and Goals

2007-05-18T05:01:00.000-07:00

Why United Won The League

2007-05-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

1. Buying the right players

Last season Chelsea cruised to the title, and whilst our side was crippled with injuries and the hole Keane had left, we just didn’t have the squad capable of plugging all the gaps. O’Shea was certainly not a replacement for the departed Keane, Fletcher certainly was not a replacement for the injured Scholes. Bardsley was as yet, no Gary Neville, Richardson was no Heinze, Park was no Giggs etc.

When the summer came around, Kuszczak and Carrick were the only players who signed contracts with the club, whilst United’s most prolific goal scorers in years was sold on by Ferguson. The media had us pencilled in for a fourth place finish. Ferguson said the return of Ole, Scholes and Heinze would be akin to three new signings, and the press scoffed. Ferguson said Vidic and Evra, who were signed 6 months previously, would come good, and he was doubted. When the signing of Carrick became public knowledge, Mark Longden from IMUSA said, “I cannot understand what is going on. I have not spoken to anybody who, when £18.6m became available, would have spent that on Michael Carrick. But people have questioned Sir Alex Ferguson's judgment in the past and finished up with egg on their face and I hope it happens again."

In contrast, Chelsea signed Shevchenko, one of the greatest strikers in Europe, for £30 million, Ballack, one of the greatest midfielders in Europe, on a free transfer, and Ashley Cole, one of the greatest defenders in Europe, for around £15-20 million (a fee of £5 million + Gallas). There was also the token £9.5 million signing of Boulahrouz.

This season, Patrice Evra or Ashley Cole? Evra
This season, Michael Carrick or Michael Ballack? Carrick
This season, Nemanja Vidic or Khalid Boulahrouz? Vidic
This season, Dong Fangzhuo or Andrei Shevchenko… Ok, ok, that one was a joke. But Shevchenko? 13 goals in 41 starts (+10 sub appearances). Not flattering at the best of times, but especially not when you compare it to the "new signin" Solskjaer’s 11 goals in 13 starts (+14 sub appearances).

Chelsea have been criticised for “buying the title”, and whilst I can agree with that to a certain extent, everyone who knows about football knows you can’t just throw 11 superstars together, and expect them to win the league and give no credit to the manager. Look at the England national team for example. 11 players who rank within some of the best in the World, but with crap manager after crap manager, amount to nothing. So whilst Chelsea would be the “almost” team they’d been for years without Roman Abromovich, the signings of Ranieri, and to some extent, Jose Mourinho, were gelled together by the Portugese man. No, Chelsea didn’t play exhilarating football, and whilst they were in full control of most of the games they played, you’d be excused for taking up the opportunity to grab forty winks. But “who cares” Chelsea fans would say, because they won the title two years in a row.

For the most part, Chelsea’s best players have been signings Ranieri made. Cech, Makelele, Lampard, Duff, Gudjohnsen, Bridge, Robben, Joe Cole, to name a few. Whilst we’ve seen success in signings like Carvalho, Essien and Drogba this season, we cannot forget the likes of Kezman, Tiago, Del Horno, Ferreira, Jarosik etc. I suppose the point is, the impact of rich clubs is lessened when the man in charge doesn’t know how to spend the money effectively. It's no good having a blank cheque if you don't know how to spend it.

Chelsea fans have talked about injuries, which I will look at in further depth shortly, but the job of a manager, especially one with all the money he wants, is to make sure they have a strong squad, as much as they do a strong first XI. Chelsea, amazingly, have not had a strong enough squad this season.

2. Coping With Injuries

Now, the Cech injury is one which couldn’t be helped, and was worsened with the following injury to Cudicini (but whilst not trying to rub your noses in it, if both Van der Sar and Kuszczak were injured, United would have coped quite happily with Ben Foster between the sticks). Regardless, Jose can’t be blamed for not taking the precaution there.

Had Jose Mourinho kept Huth and Gallas, the injury to John Terry would not have had the impact it did. Jose of course had spent £9 million on Boulahrouz, but unfortunately for Chelsea, his performances could usually be best described accurately somewhere between comical and inept. Essien, the central midfielder was then relied upon to go in defence, and whilst he certainly worked hard, and certainly had a positive impact, his positioning was poor (as expected, he’s a midfielder, not a defender) and Chelsea could have done with his influence and presence in midfield.

United won the league, so didn’t really need to bang on about their injuries, but it is interesting to note that both Vidic and captain, Gary Neville, have missed more league games than John Terry this season. With six games left to play, United were forced in to playing Fletcher at right back and Richardson at left back, due to injuries to Ferdinand, Evra, Vidic, Silvestre, Neville and O’Shea. Wes Brown stepped up to the plate, and Heinze, whose position had been filled by Evra until his injury, was forced to the centre of defence.

Chelsea played most of the season without Joe Cole and Arjen Robben, however the latter, even when fit, wasn’t given a starting place in Chelsea’s new four man midfield. Fortunately for Chelsea Drogba finally showed up, after two years of playing a bit part in Chelsea’s success. He helped carry the Chelsea attack.

With United’s incredible goals tally, you’d be forgiven for thinking United haven’t struggled with any of their attacking players. However, Saha, who was favoured over Nistelrooy by Ferguson (leading to the question “Where are all the goals going to come from?” in the summer, which is fighting for cult status along the “You’ll never win anything with kids” remark), played his last league game for United three months ago. There have been times within those three months when Rooney has been our only available striker. Funnily enough, those kind of facts are swept under the carpet.

3. Star Men

Dider Drogba has had a great season, and has started to show why Chelsea forked out a whopping £24 million for him. Drogba racked up 13 league goals between August and the end of 2006, keeping Chelsea in the race with his goals against Everton, Newcastle, Fulham and Reading in December. However, in 2007, Drogba has just 6 league goals to his name. Whilst this isn’t a massive criticism of him, as it is difficult to keep up with the precedent he’d set, it is a contributing factor to Chelsea’s failure this season. When he ran out of steam, there was no one to take over the reigns.

This is in contrast to United. Ronaldo has claimed prizes for PFA Player and Young Player of the Year, as well as the Football Writer’s Player of the Year, and whilst currently the second highest scorer in the league, also has the highest amount of assists to his name. I'm bored of singing his praises. He's simply been amazing. Over the past few weeks he has shared the goal scoring and assisting role with Wayne Rooney, who prior to this time had had a relatively quiet season. But just as other players and other teams start to tire, Rooney has stepped up to his form of the season. When we needed that extra fight, that extra grit, Rooney has provided us with it.

---------------

All in all, United won the league this season, with two games to play, by 7 points. United thoroughly deserved to win the league this season, aside from the points and the amount of wins they’ve racked up, but because of the football they’ve played. They’ve just looked like the best team this season, and have proved that with the points they’ve picked up along the way. For anyone to even make reference to the Chelsea injuries is insulting, and takes away what is a great achievement for the players at United, as well as the manager. Sir Alex Ferguson has been doubted by many, with top football journalists calling for him to leave with this some dignity before the United Empire inevitably crumbled. They were wrong. Ferguson has now won the title with the third team he's built at the club.

The Premiership trophy has come back home, and rightly so.

We Did It

2007-05-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hopefully last Sunday will be the first and last time I jump out of my seat, grab anyone within arms length and scream like a girl, when Arsenal score a goal. Although the Gooners seemed to try very hard to throw all their points against 10 men Chelsea away, it was the moment that United won the league. Strangely, somewhat of an anti-climax, considering we didn’t have to kick a ball. I was at the City game the day before, and I, along with few other United fans (after the measly allocation we were given at the council house) celebrated the title that day. That was the day of sheer joy. Sunday was the day to drink, and drink, and drink.

I was at Old Trafford a couple of weeks before, for the Boro game, and as I was walking along to the ground with my mate, I just had a sick feeling in my stomach, a sickly excitement at least anyway. We had yet to play Milan, and I talked with my mate about how wonderful this season could be. I’d been at Old Trafford to see us batter Roma, who were more than 20 points ahead of Milan in the league, I’d been at Villa Park to see us batter Watford, and we had just five games to get through in the league. Just five more games. Please do it United. The idea of winning all three competitions seemed ridiculous, terrifyingly ridiculous. The idea of the league being ours was enough to keep me full, and like most United fans, regarded anything else as a bonus, but I couldn’t get rid of the idea of winning more than one. My imagination seemed to tease me with it. And as we were walking up the steps to our seats, my imagination taunted me with the other alternative. Chelsea beat Liverpool, Chelsea beat us or Milan in the final of the European Cup, Chelsea beat us in the FA Cup final, and United throw away the league and Chelsea beat us in that too. We’d been the best team all bloody season, and Chelsea would pinch it from us, and we’d hear commentators drone on about “that’s why they’re champions”. I couldn’t bear it.

Leaving the Middlesbrough game in the rain, devastated, that the pessimistic daydreams were the ones that were to come true. That Chelsea would get the win against Newcastle the following day, and over the closing weeks it would slip away from us. It felt almost certain, and I wanted to kick and punch the shit out of everything at arm's length whilst equally wanting to crawl under my duvets and sleep until August. It was a shit day.

Now of course, we know what really did happen next, and whilst bowing out of Europe after a thrilling 3-2 win at home, followed by a disgraceful 3-0 defeat away, the title became ours. The wonderful comeback against Everton away, the less than wonderful display at City away, in contrast with Chelsea’s draws at home to Bolton and at the Emirates, left us Champions.

Of course there have been and will be people who blame the Chelsea injuries, and I can’t say I blame them. There has to be an element of disbelief that a team that cruised to claim the title the season before, who have a “genius” manager, and who signed three of the best players in the World in the summer, played such average football, and eventually conceded the title by seven points with two games to play. How did that happen? Logically, it shouldn’t have done. It shouldn’t have even been close. So the fact Chelsea were without Terry and Cech is the only way it can be justified. They will of course ignore that both Neville and Vidic spent longer out injured than Terry did, that United have spent periods of the season with just one striker, with Ole, Smith and Saha all injured, and that United actually had to play with Richardson and Fletcher together as their full backs because of injuries. That would ruin the image of this special manager, who for some reason has managed to con the British public, and Europe to some extent, in to thinking he is one of the best in the World.

I cannot wait for tomorrow. I cannot wait to see the trophy in our players hands again. I cannot wait to see the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo with their first league title, and have the memories of this day years from now when they’re collecting yet another. I cannot wait to sing “Championees” every match. I cannot wait to realistically be able to sign well known World class players again. I cannot wait to watch Match of the Day every week, and see the opening title sequence end with Gary Neville in red, holding the trophy proudly above his head. I cannot wait to hear the commentators say, “tune in today to watch the Champions play Chelsea”. I cannot wait to be a couple of goals ahead and sing “Two nil to the Champions”. All season we have looked forward to this moment, this goal which at times seemed unachieveable, and so now is the time to enjoy it.

We did it! At long last, we did it!

A Team In Transition Or A Club In Decline?

2007-05-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

"A team in transition or a club in decline? Brick by brick, the fall of the United empire gathers pace."

Nov 2nd 2005

"Sir Alex Ferguson has been let down and he has been let down disgracefully by players who earn vast amounts of money and who should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. The cracks are so wide that not even a manager with Ferguson's motivational skills can paper over them. If Fergie can arrest this shocking and alarming slump it will rank with anything he's achieved in all his years at the club."

Nov 4th 2005

"The media's disapproval is something Ferguson has long been able to discount but yesterday Hugh McIlvanney, the man who worked with him on his autobiography and who counts as one of his oldest friends, said in the most eloquent and elegant terms that the task of rebuilding Manchester United was now beyond Ferguson's strength and he should seek a dignified exit in the summer."

Dec 12th 2005

"The Glazer family has owned Manchester United for around fourteen months now, and finally the reality of that purchase is starting to be felt by even the most optimistic of the 'wait-and-see' fans.

But 2006/7 is barely three weeks away and transition is now being replaced by decline.

As we approach the end of the third transfer window of the Glazer reign, it is clear that the club is being squeezed so hard that decline is now inevitable.

With Liverpool spending £20m and Chelsea another £50m, Manchester United have actually become nett sellers. A team that so obviously needs two high quality central midfielders has spent the summer not buying anyone. To my knowledge only one bid has been made all summer - around £10m for Michael Carrick - with United spending more energy in trying to flog Ruud van Nistelrooy than in trying to buy in anyone.

United stand on the cusp of the season likely to lose their serial top scorer - without replacing him - and without a midfield to dominate anyone but the relegation candidates. Looking dispassionately at the midfield only Ronaldo is international or world class - the rest are solid Premiership quality players, but hardly world beating. Chelsea can choose from Essien, Makelele, Robben, Lampard, Ballack, Wright-Phillips, Mikel and Cole - any three of which could stroll into the United midfield.

Last summer two small purchases (van der Sar, Park) were offset by similar sales (Neville, Kleberson); in January the gaping defensive holes were iffily plugged with Vidic and Evra costing around £12m.

At a time when United need completely rebuild the midfield, Ferguson is expected to fund it from sales. Can anyone seriously expect Ferguson to compete with Chelsea or Liverpool on that basis?

Most Premiership clubs spend millions and even tens of millions oper season (Chelsea are an exception); while United stroll everyone else is sprinting - extrapolate this for a couple of seasons and Manchester United will be in mid-table.

As Ferguson's hands are tied in the transfer market it may be unfair, but expect the 'Fergie out' chants to start ringing round the stadium as soon as he has celebrated twenty years in charge."

July 26th 2006

“If United want to muster more of a challenge to Chelsea next season, the last person - after Wayne Rooney - that they should be selling is van Nistelrooy. Selling him would be a huge step backwards and a massive blow to the club. Does Ferguson seriously expect anyone else to believe that the injury-prone Louis Saha is a better bet next season than a goal machine like van Nistelrooy. If he does, then his judgement is waning faster than everybody thought.” Holt also said “Ferguson thinks there is no need to buy a new forward when he rids himself of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The theory is that he will be OK with Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Alan Smith and Giuseppe Rossi. Which is fine, apart from the fact that Rooney's got a dodgy temperament, Saha's injury prone, Solskjaer's played seven league games in the past three years, Smith has never been a natural goalscorer and Rossi's not ready.”

Summer 2006 - Oliver Holt

Unless you're playing Man United, the council house is never full

2007-05-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

City have a habit of surprising us, and pulling results out of the bag which you’d never expect. Last season there was the crushing 3-1 at their place, and the 1-1 at Old Trafford, which we easily could have lost with minutes to go when Andy Cole almost buried the ball in the back of the net. It was only a couple of seasons before that City were fighting the relegation battle, but still managed to batter us 4-1. The season before that we were crowned Champions, but couldn’t escape the 3-1 defeat against them. Now, before we played City yesterday, they had yet to score a goal at home in 2007, and were without their best player, the man who has helped carry them through this season, their top scorer with a massive seven goals, Joey Barton. Barton was missing due to his attack on team mate Dabo, who was left unconscious, after blows to the head, and it’s suspected Barton dug his fingers in to his team mates eyes. Nice little scouser.

As we stood inside the ground, other scum bags in blue shouted and sung about Munich. These chants were drowned out by our songs, but there was certainly no love lost between the two sets of fans. As the City fans twizzled the scarves their club placed under their seats before kick off, as some desperate attempt to improve the atmosphere at the council house, we laughed at them, which only incensed them all the more, and again they retaliated with Munich.

The game doesn’t have much to report on, and with little entertainment on the field, we sought our entertainment elsewhere, namely, taking the piss out of the blue noses. As the attendance for the match was announced, some 2000 more than their highest attendance for the rest of the season, we took great amusement in applauding them. As they sung their embarrassingly camp “Blue Moon”, we responded with “One song, you’ve only got one song”. Again, they showed us we were wrong, and sung about Munich.

Ronaldo scored the only goal of the game, a penalty which came from a stupid Ball challenge. It wasn’t the first we’d seen of Ball in the match though. As Ronaldo writhed around on the ground, and Ferguson exploded on the sidelines, it was clear something had gone wrong. It was only upon watching the replay at home that we saw what had happened. That thug stamped on Ronaldo’s stomach, after checking the ref wasn’t watching. That thug continued to foul Ronaldo throughout the game, and managed to avoid a yellow card, astonishingly. Ball topped off his scum bag performance with a dive in the area, earning his side a penalty. Fortunately, City showed no desire to end their embarrassingly poor goalscoring record, and Vassell drilled the ball in the centre of the goal, straight in to Van der Sar’s leg.

Whilst United offered little in front of goal, City offered even less, and whilst United’s passing wasn’t at its best, we still had over 60% of the possession. We did “the Chelsea” and ground out the result we needed, with exerting as little effort and excitement as we possibly could. Our players aren’t just physically tired, but mentally tired. Rooney said last week every game now is like a Cup final, and simply it’s impossible to work yourselves up for that every game. Yesterday was United’s 10th game in 28 days. In that time, we’ve played in the semi finals for two competitions, and six away games.

Today though, our players do get their rest, and thanks to City not moving the fixture a day back after our away trip in Europe, we get an extra day to prepare for the Chelsea game on Wednesday. City didn't get the surprise result they desperately longed for. And whilst our players rest, Chelsea have to work their bollocks off to get a win at the Emirates, something which only one team has achieved. Today is the day the title could be won. Watch this space.

They Think It's All Over...It Isn't Now

2007-04-24T04:28:00.000-07:00

With half an hour left on the clock on Saturday, I just knew we weren’t going to score another. This was in contrast to the games against Blackburn, Fulham and Watford this season, when either we’d gone behind or were level pegging with the scoreline, and you just knew that we had more in us. We looked tired and uncreative, and when Rooney misses a handful of opportunities to score great lead-taking goals, that sinking feeling creeps in. We’ve blown it. As the final whistle went and the players applauded the fans before walking off, there were rounds of “We’ll Never Die” and “We love United we do”, but the panic could be seen in every fan’s eyes as we left the ground.

Texts got sent back and forth between my mates and me, full of frustration, annoyance and disappointment. “United can’t afford to play like that, and look like they don’t want it anymore, because Chelsea will be certain to show us how much they want it tomorrow against Newcastle.” It was depressing to read, but I thought it was spot on. I fully expected Chelsea to slot a few past the Geordies, just as they’d done at Upton Park on the back of an away trip with tired legs. I could already hear Jose’s post match comments, smug as ever, and all in all, this lead to one of the most miserable Saturday nights I’ve had in a while.

There seemed something inevitable about the Chelsea match, but regardless, I listened to it on the radio. A dull 45 minutes went by, with neither team forcing a save from the keeper, but that didn’t fill me with much hope. Another dreary half was played out, and with a few minutes to go, Chelsea still hadn’t produced a single shot on target, but this didn’t provide me with much comfort, as I was just waiting for Lampard to perfectly execute a shot in to the shin of Taylor, which would then find itself in the back of the net. The final whistle blew on a match that saw Chelsea have just six attempts at goal, none of them hitting the target, leaving the gap between us just as it was before the start of the weekend. The post match comments of Jose which I had dreaded became a source of entertainment, listening to this “breath of fresh air” manager harping on about how the rules are different for United and Chelsea. How United are always treated favourably when it comes to penalties, and Chelsea are always hard done by. Of course, he didn’t want to mention that United have had twice as many penalties go against us this season as Chelsea. There before us stood a man who for some reason bore a striking resemblance to our old friend Kevin Keegan.

Whilst on Saturday this weekend felt like the end of the World, with hindsight we can now see how much needed it was. God only knows what Ferguson said to them after the draw with Boro, but I imagine the United players went home that day feeling they’d blown their chance at a trophy they’ve had one hand on all season. Unlike Chelsea, we can look at these remaining games with a new lease of life. We’ve been given a get out of jail free card, and the motivation we need to beat any opposition is there in the feeling of that dressing room on Saturday evening. Chelsea on the other hand will be down in the dumps, aware of the opportunity they have just blown. Their result isn’t what surprises me, as we know first hand the kind of fight Newcastle can put up at home, but the way in which they got it. What greater inspiration do they need to go out and get a result than seeing us drop points to a team at home? If any team bottled it this weekend, it was Chelsea.

United’s injury list currently reads Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Saha, Park, Silvestre and Richardson, with Solskjaer unable to train yesterday. It’s hard to believe, as when Chelsea were without a couple of their players, including their captain, it was deemed acceptable for them to not be running away with the league. How were they expected to do such a thing? Afterall, they’d only spend a few hundred million on players to prepare for this situation. For Chelsea even to be in contention of winning the league was an incredible achievement. Look at how far they’ve come with all their injuries. Look, they even beat Arsenal’s second team to win a trophy!

Four games to go, and whilst Chelsea have by far the more difficult opponents, they have the advantage of home games. United never seem to be able to do things the easy way, and this season is no exception. It’s now time to get a firm grip of our trophy, and bring it back home!

Who's Lucky Jose?

2007-04-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

Jose Mourinho, the man who would like to think he is the master of mind games, attempted to rile Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday. With the gap at the top being cut down to three points after our defeat to Portsmouth, Mourinho has said we're lucky not to play them at the Bridge next weekend. "United are very lucky they don't have to play here next week. Can you imagine them here next weekend? That's the game where they will slip up, against us, so they're very lucky."

Now of course, Jose would like us to think he's more intelligent than he actually is, and would like to think such words are going to unsettle a man who was playing mind games before Jose Mourinho was even failing at carving out a playing career for himself. Fact remains, Chelsea are lucky not to be facing Manchester United at the weekend, and Jose knows this all too well.

In the past week, we have seen Chelsea scrape an injury time victory against Watford, who have managed just three wins all season. We have seen Chelsea draw at home to the 5th best team in Spain. And then yesterday, we saw Chelsea at home scrape another 1-0 victory against Spurs, who had been playing an away fixture in Europe just 36 hours before.

Does Jose honestly wish that Chelsea were playing United this weekend? Whilst we have a home game in the Champions League on Tuesday, Chelsea will be travelling to Spain. After conceding an away goal, the pressure is really on Jose's men for their midweek fixture. Who are the lucky ones in this situation? I'd much rather play Chelsea this weekend upon their return from Spain, following their stint of four games in eleven days.

Jose's comments are too transparent, and if he really wants to wind Fergie up, and attempt to win the league off the pitch, he's going to have to do a lot better than this!

Roma Police Attack Our Women, Children and Disabled

2007-04-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

Disturbing scenes were viewed last night as Manchester United played Roma in Italy. It has been reported that 18 Manchester United fans had to go to hospital following stab wounds and head injuries, caused by the police as well as opposing fans.

When Roma scored the first goal, their fans ran towards the United crowd, taunting them, throwing bottles and coins. There were no police in the Italian crowd section, so instead of dealing with the instigators, they turned on the United fans, beating them repeatedly.

In shocking eye-witness statements, it has been revealed that women, children and disabled people were all victims of the over zealous Italian police.

"The police were beyond control," said one eye-witness. "We were told there was going to be trouble outside the ground so we were told to be careful - as we were. We didn't expect to be battered by the Italian police for doing nothing," said another.

Businessman Stephen Fitzsimons, 53, from Stretford, Greater Manchester, was knifed in the groin as he made his way to the ground with three friends. He had two emergency surgeries and doctors told him he was lucky to be alive.

Some witnesses inside the ground spoke of terrified women and children running away from the police during one baton charge, while a disabled man was reportedly knocked out of his wheelchair.

Debbie Robertson from Rusholme said, "there was four or five police and they were coming towards me and my husband with the helmets and their batons. We were sort of pinned against a perspex panel, so he (the officer) started to shield us and say, 'You'd better move somewhere else' but there wasn't really anywhere else to move to."

Is this serious? Women, children and disabled people all being targetted by their police? Watch this space, I have a feeling shit will kick off big time next week.

Scholes: Catalyst For United's Success

2007-04-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

United are starting to resolve their central midfield problems of last season, turning to Michael Carrick to replace Roy Keane, which has unsurprisingly proved more successful than our stints with O’Shea, Fletcher and Smith taking over that role. United have had a solid back four, with new boys Evra and Vidic proving to be two of the best defenders in the league this season, alongside the ever influencing Neville and Ferdinand. This is a stark difference from the injury ridden back four last season, which saw Richardson and Bardsley as our best available fullbacks for periods of time. Ronaldo has finally found the form United fans believed and hoped he had inside him, scoring goals for fun this season, and embarrassing any defence he comes across. The departure of Ruud has lead to the goalscoring load being shared amongst our strikers, with Saha, Rooney and Solskjaer bagging 39 between them. The team look more hungry than ever for success, and their never say die attitude has pushed them to six points clear at the top. These are all reasons for United’s transformation, but one of the most important factors in our success this season is the return of Paul Scholes.

There was talk that Scholes may never play again last December, when Paul was ruled out for the remainder of the season with “blurred vision”. His surprise appearance on the last day of the season in the 4-0 battering of Charlton, which secured United’s 2nd place in the league, gave some reassurance to the fans, as Scholes slotted back in to the team with ease.

This season, I would argue Paul Scholes has been our most important player. Whilst there’s not much substitution for the excitement and goals Ronaldo has provided us with this season, there’s even less that could be done to replace Scholes’ presence for us. Ronaldo’s step overs, flicks and free kicks may leave the crowd mesmerised, but what about when Scholes picks up the ball in his own half and passes it to the feet of a player on the run 40 yards away? Scholes does this over, and over, and over again, in every match he plays in. When Scholes isn’t on the field, there’s a massive gap in the centre of our midfield, and the creativity he provides can’t be matched by anyone else.

Now, I’ve been impressed with Scholes’ passing, and after seeing the shambles of England’s central midfield against Andorra, I was curious as to how much England needed Scholes, and just how much, if any better, he is than the rest. Good old Sky Sports provided me with what I wanted to hear.

Sky Sports list in order the players who make the most passes for each club. At United for example the five players who’ve made the most passes are Scholes, Ferdinand, Carrick, Neville and Ronaldo. They then list the completion percentage of each of these players. I took the player who’ve attempted the most passes for the club, (so you’re looking at the Lampard’s, Parker’s and Barton’s of each team) and then ranked them by their passing completion. However, some clubs have players who’ve attempted less passes but have a better pass completion, so I’ve slotted them in to the rankings as well.

Not one player in the Premiership has a passing completion of 90%+, apart from Paul Scholes. Is this because he’s attempted significantly less passes than other players? No, Fabregas and Alonso (both with 81% passing completion) are the only players who’ve attempted more than Scholes. (It is also interesting to note that Carrick is a better passer of the ball than both Lampard and Gerrard).

1. Paul Scholes 1,624 91.1% (United)
Michael Essien 1,463 85.0% (Chelsea)
Alexander Hleb 1,117 83.6% (Arsenal)
Michael Carrick 1,435 83.3% (United)
Claude Makelele 1,273 83.3% (Chelsea)

2. Hayden Mullins 996 82.1% (West Ham)

3. Francesc Fabregas 2,071 81.8% (Arsenal)

4. Xabi Alonso 1,722 81.6% (Liverpool)
Gilberto Silva 1,406 80.9% (Arsenal)

5. Kerimoglou Tugay 1,243 81.0% (Blackburn)
Rio Ferdinand 1,544 80.5% (United)

6. Frank Lampard 1,571 79.6% (Chelsea)

7. Scott Parker 1,111 79.3% (Newcastle)
Pascal Chimbonda 1,011 79.1% (Spurs)
Brett Emerton 1,063 77.8% (Blackburn)

8. George Boateng 1,132 77.4% (Boro)
Steven Gerrard 1,562 77.1% (Liverpool)
Mikel Arteta 1,082 76.5% (Everton)

9. Pedro Mendes 1,050 76.3% (Portsmouth)

10. Gavin McCann 1,174 75.1% (Villa)
Steve Sidwell 1,034 73.9% (Reading)
Gary O'Neil 1,001 73.9% (Portsmouth)

11. Denny Landzaat 866 73.8%

12. Ivan Campo 1,148 72.4% (Bolton)

13. Joey Barton 1,186 71.8% (City)
Gary Speed 1,075 70.6% (Bolton)
Gareth Barry 1,087 71.6% (Villa)

14. Michael Dawson 1,060 71.0% (Spurs)

15. Philip Neville 1,192 65.1% (Everton)

16. Talal El Karkouri 985 66.4% (Charlton)

17. Gavin Mahon 889 66.4% (Watford)

18. Liam Rosenior 1,095 64.8% (Fulham)

19. Phil Jagielka 978 63.7% (Sheffield United)

20. Nicky Shorey 1,165 62.6% (Reading)

Earlier in the season, Ferguson spoke to support Scholes’ claim to player of the season saying, "I think everyone at the club and the supporters would be delighted if Paul got an honour. His football brain, and the football he produces at times, is marvellous. It would be great for him to get an award like that."

This has been supported by rival Thierry Henry, who said, "For years Paul Scholes has been one of the best players in the Premiership. He's incredible. He's come back into the team after his eye injury and he's playing so well, like he's never been away. He has always been under-rated throughout his career. He's a team player, a one and two-touch footballer who makes good decisions on the pitch and makes his team play. I don't understand why he has never won the player of the year. A guy like that should have won it long ago."

Before United played Blackburn at the weekend, Scholes gave a rare interview, talking to the club’s official website. The shy and retiring player, who always dodges the limelight, has played down his extraordinary form. "It's [his form] been all right. I know I can play better," he said. "I'd like to be scoring a few more goals and making a few more as well. Hopefully in the important last few months of the season I can contribute a bit more.”

So we’re 1-0 down at home to Blackburn, knowing our lead at the top of the table could be reduced to 3 points if we don’t turn it around. Whilst we looked like the better team, whilst we kept pushing forward, we needed that break through goal. We had too much for Blackburn to contain, but this meant nothing if we didn’t get the first goal.

Scholes calmly took the ball past the Blackburn defence, and whilst the crowd called for him to shoot, he took his time, got himself in to the ideal position, and then fired home. This isn’t the first vital goal of the season though. He broke the deadlock against Liverpool and Copenhagen, and scored both our goals against Newcastle in the 2-2 draw.

With every game Scholes is getting closer to his 7th Premiership winner’s medal, and whilst chances are Ronaldo will walk away with the individual awards, it is without doubt that Scholes has contributed invaluably to our season.

March Match of the Month

2007-04-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

This month we have decided to do something a bit different and we have two write ups on the match of the month, do all fans really think alike?

The first write up is by Atsis

At the beginning of every season when the fixtures list comes out, there are always a few games that we, as United fans, look for straightaway; amongst them the derby, Arsenal, Chelsea and last but not least Liverpool. This is the one special game that we always look for at first. Whether it is home or away, this game has a rivalry that goes beyond the borders of the northwest. Despite very few players nowadays being from both regions of Manchester and Liverpool, the tension, the passion and the hatred is as strong and present as ever. Not to mention the rivalries that have now been grown into the fans of both club internationally.

The scenes that marred last season's F.A.Cup tie at Anfield as Alan Smith was in the ambulance leaving Anfield were disgusting and shameful, yet not much was taken into account by the F.A, not to mention the behavior of the Liverpool fans when they came to Old Trafford for their F.A.Cup semi-final versus Chelsea. Yet all this was just spraying more fire on the already burning flames of hatred that has kept growing between both clubs, which was emphasized more than ever when Gary Neville celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans at Old Trafford by kissing the United crest when Rio Ferdinand scored the last minute winner in the clash between both sides in January 2006.

This season however, things have been a bit different. United have been at the top of the league since the start, and have very rarely let points drops. Before the game, all the talk was about Liverpool being on top form, having just beaten Barcelona at the Nou Camp, and Sheffield United 4-0 at Anfield, the scousers had every reason to be buzzing. Whereas, we were grinding out results, including a hard fought 2 -1 win versus Fulham in which we scored at the last minute, and a difficult 3-2 victory in our replay versus Reading at the Madjeski Stadium.

This game was the biggest obstacle we were expecting to come across in our title run-in. Some of us expected a draw, others had even already counted this as one of those defeats that will happen in every team's run-in, very few expected a win, but one thing's for sure, nobody could ever have expected what was about to unfold during this game.

Few omens, should've given us a sign about what would be. The fact that United have yet to lose to Liverpool when wearing white at Anfield should've given us a sign of things to come (not too sure about this fact, but it’s from the top of my head), but no one would've believed it. For those who pay attention to details, you would notice that almost all premier league captains(at away games), when they choosing the ball or which pitch side they want at the coin toss, choose to score where their fans are sitting during the second half. So when Gary Neville chose United to attack to the Kop end during the second half, something Liverpool obviously are not used to, ( just as United aren't used to not scoring towards the Stretford end in the second half ), you could maybe pinch yourself to believe that something different was about to happen.

The game kicked off, and was pretty even at the start. Very few chances were created by both sides, as they usually are in these northwest derbies. The first real opportunity fell to Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy but Van Der Sar was up to the task and saved comfortably. Nothing better was created following that. Shots from Ronaldo and Daniel Agger were good attempts but were unsuccessful. The closest either side came to scoring a goal in the first half came again from the troublesome Bellamy. He drove Nemanja Vidic out to the left hand side, and used his speed to outpace the Serbian defender at the by-line, until he put in a pass that was inches away from Dirk Kuyt, who probably should’ve made it 1-0 to Liverpool. But it wasn't to be. Just before the interval, Liverpool had another chance to score with John Arne Riise powering a free-kick that went just a few inches wide off Van Der Sar's goalpost, although that can mainly be due to Paul Scholes’ run out of the wall to obstruct the Norwegian’s powerful free-kick. Despite Liverpool slightly being more dominant in a very unentertaining first half, both teams went in scoreless.

The second half began with Liverpool having more intent and more determination to win the game that United did. Inspired by their captain Gerrard, Liverpool thought they'd scored when Craig Bellamy found United's net only to see it ruled offside, when Sissoko flicked on a shot from outside the box. United, at that point, were counting their lucky stars as the score line remained a stalemate. Barely a chance had been created by the visitor in the second half so far, and Ferguson started ringing the changes. Henrik Larsson, the Swede legend, playing his final Premier League game for the club, after his short term loan deal, was ineffective during the game and was replaced by the returning Louis Saha from injury. Carragher's rash challenge on Rooney left the England striker with a gashed knee and he was then replaced by United's Mr. reliable John O'shea.

In the meantime, Liverpool kept attacking, and United kept sitting back, as if playing for the draw. Riise had a good shot, that just whistled over the top bar, but one of the best opportunities fell to tall man Peter Crouch as he controlled Dirk Kuyt's cross from the right hand side, and fired a perfectly placed shot only for Van Der Sar somehow to get his fingertips to it and make one of the saves of the season. United had a huge shout for a penalty when Louis Saha was tripped by Agger in the box, but it wasn't to be as the game seemed more likely to end in a draw than anything else.

With 4 minutes of normal time left to play and tempers rising, Paul Scholes lashed out at Xabi Alonso, and got his marching orders. United were down to 10 men, playing badly, and on the back foot as the scousers kept looking for that goal. We had now entered injury time, with 3 minutes of it left to play, when Ryan Giggs on the left hand side towards the Kop End, was pulled back and the referee awarded a free-kick. Giggs and Ronaldo stood over the ball whispering to each other how they would take it. Inside the box all of Liverpool's players were present. United had few men up. Ronaldo swung it in hard and low, Saha went for it but missed it. Reina lost control of the ball and it fell to........... JOHN O’SHEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He just rifled it into the roof of the net, and the celebrations were unbelievable. United couldn't believe it. Liverpool couldn't believe it! In the 91st minute, of a game which seemed completely lost for United they come out with all 3 points! John O’shea of all people scores the winning goal at the Kop End. The look of dismay on everyone connected to Liverpool was one that every United fan was enjoying at that moment. The final whistle had gone.

Liverpool 0 - 1 Manchester United at Anfield. An unexpected result, especially considering the circumstances! The celebrations that followed were as if United had won the league! Rafa Benitez has still yet to beat United in the league, as Ryan Giggs’ celebrated his 700th game in a United jersey and Henrik Larsson his final one in the Premier League, as United for the second time this season, beat Liverpool.

From a personal point of view, I went absolutely crazy! I lost my voice for the few days that followed! I was watching the game with my cousin ( usual companion for every United game ) and my father ( who was here for a month of holidays , and is usually the most quiet emotionless man ever ) , and we all went mad ! I have never seen my father go that crazy over a United game (since 99)!

The building facing ours complained the following morning that there is too much noise coming out of the building once or twice a week and they would like to know what it's from. And they will know. Hell they will know! We are on our way, to regaining our trophy back, and if the entire neighborhood hears us, if the entire country hears us, if the entire world hears us, they will know that Manchester United will NEVER DIE!

Written by Keano16

Four days after a nail-biting 3-2 win over Reading in the FA Cup, the next game in United’s diary was a trip to Anfield, for a lunch-time fixture against Liverpool.

Every fan in the country could feel the excitement and anticipation coming from the nervous Chelsea camp as United prepared for one of their toughest fixtures of the domestic campaign.

Through-out the match, Mourinho and his staff were encouraged by a United side producing errors. For large parts of the game, Liverpool were the stronger outfit, and most notably, Welshman Bellamy won his own personal battle against giant Nemanja Vidic. Vidic, a beast and unbreakable in the centre of defence was often forced onto the flank by Bellamy, and was made to look - for once - human.

Despite this being a game between arguably the hottest rivals in the league, the entertainment value did not score highly at all. I can’t remember a more boring game between the sides.

I must tell you that I was watching this game in Shamrock’s Irish Bar. In Lanzarote. If you’re Irish, you’re either a United fan or a Liverpool fan, so I thought there was a good chance we’d get a 50/50, half-n-half support. Throughout the match, if you were a blind man, you wouldn’t know there were any customers in the place. Until the final whistle. Or not long before that.

Good teams can play badly and still go home with the bacon. Manchester United had done this many times before. But, deep into injury time, when Jose Mourinho was no doubt expecting United to drop points, John O’Shea won United the game, and I quickly realised that every customer in the bar was indeed a United fan.

March Player of the Month

2007-04-04T06:59:00.001-07:00

Written by Redom

Up until this month United had been unusually lucky with injuries, but for the first time this season we had a spate of first teamers absent for a run of games and needed someone to step up and carry the team through, unsurprisingly that player was Cristiano Ronaldo who’s had another sparkling month for United and I don’t think anyone could disagree with me choosing him as the player of the month.

He began the month by delivering the ball that led to that goal by John O’Shea and he continued influencing the team in such a way throughout March, he set up Henke for the goal that secured our place in the next round of the champions league, scored the levelling penalty to keep us in the FA cup, entertained us with his 45 minute cameo in the United vs. Europe XI game before setting up United’s first three goals in the demolition of Bolton in the premiership and then rounded off his performances for United by winning and then slotting home the penalty that sent ‘Boro crying all the way home as United progressed in the FA cup.

Whether he’s putting the ball in the back of the net himself or laying someone else in he’s always having a huge impact on the final result and it’s thanks to his outstanding form talk of the treble is still muttered around OT and United have survived key players like VDS, Neville, Saha and Scholes being out, here’s hoping that new contract keeps him at the club for years to come.

I’d also like to mention Ryan Giggs this month as well, while I don’t think he’s been quite as influential as Ronaldo I think his presence in the team has been vital while we’ve had a few experienced players out and he’s really helped keep the team out with his versatility and quality.

Ronaldo Didn't Cheat

2007-03-10T13:56:00.000-08:00

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo has been a scapegoat for a lot of things since his arrival to the Premiership, and despite his attempts to clean up his act when it comes to diving, it appears as though the damage has already been done.

When Manchester United met Middlesbrough in the league back in December, they came away with 3 points after a 2-1 win. Mark Schwarzer came charging out of his goal, making a two footed challenge in the direction of Ronaldo, making no contact with the ball or player. Ronaldo attempted to skip around the keeper, stumbled, then fell. Now, as a Manchester United fan, I’ve witnessed Ronaldo dive on more occasions than I’d like to mention, but this did not look like a Ronaldo dive. As we saw against Lille on Wednesday, Ronaldo was fouled in the area, and should have been awarded a penalty, but due to his dying swan impression, was presumed to have dived, and was booked. When Ronaldo is after winning a penalty, you know about it. This was clearly not what happened against Middlesbrough. He had an open goal to aim at, why on earth would he prefer a penalty, when he would then have to beat the keeper?

After the game, Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate launched a scathing attack on the Portugese winger, saying, "Ronaldo has a history of it. Our keeper has done everything to get out of the way, but the lad has gone down once again." When asked if he felt cheated by Ronaldo, Southgate said: "Yes - it's as simple as that.” The next day, the result was overshadowed by Southgate’s comments, with the backpages filled with pictures of Ronaldo and “CHEAT” emblazoned on top of them.

Today however, before United played Boro in the Cup, a pre-match interview with Southgate was shown on the BBC. He admitted he was wrong with his judgement on Ronaldo, and agreed with Sir Alex Ferguson, saying that he felt Ronaldo had tripped, and didn’t go down intentionally.

This of course is too little too late, and no public apology has been made to Ronaldo for the slamming Southgate gave him. Southgate said he’d watched the tapes after the game, three months ago, yet has waited until now to confess he was wrong, and in doing so, made no attempt to say sorry to Ronaldo for labelling him a cheat for his part in the penalty.

Will this admission make the back pages of the papers tomorrow? Will this admission be given a shred of the attention Southgate’s initial comments were given? I won’t hold my breath.

History Repeats For Number 7?

2007-03-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

I remember vividly the overwhelming feeling of utter disappointment in June 1998 when the referee pulled out the red card, sending David Beckham off against Argentina just after the second half had begun. Disappointment for England, sure, but disappointment for Beckham, who was the hero of 15 year old me. Disappointment for knowing that our player was going to get blamed for England’s exit from the World Cup.

Somehow, England survived through the rest of the second half and extra time keeping the score at 2-2, and then came the penalty shoot out. Liverpool’s Paul Ince and Newcastle’s David Batty were the ones that missed, and England were out.

Nobody could predict the fall from grace that Beckham was about to experience. England ripped him to shreds. The press singled him out for the blame, fans of London clubs hung effigies and burnt them outside the pubs, Beckham was booed by opposition fans wherever he played. The United faithful stuck by him though, with banners of support seen at every game “They may hate you, but Beckham we love you”. Chants for him were sung over the booing and whistling he received when he touched or came close to the ball.

We had finished the season before empty handed, and lost 3-0 to current champions Arsenal in the Charity Shield. The first game of the season was at home to Leicester, where we went in 1-0 down at half time. Things were going from bad to worse when Leicester went 2-0 up with 15 minutes to play. We immediately made a substitution, and up stepped Teddy “went to Man United and he won fuck all” Sheringham (as he was known at the time) three minutes later making it 2-1. Then in the last minute, who else could it be who salvaged something from the game, but David Beckham, netting the equaliser.

A month later, Beckham scored our third goal in our 3-3 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League. Beckham’s goal against Wimbledon towards the end of the season earned us a valuable point, after going 1-0 down early on. In the FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal, where Ryan Giggs stole the headlines with his wonder goal, it was Beckham who netted our first. Beckham scored our winning goal against Villa with just 4 games left to play, and on the last day of the season, it was Beckham who scored our first against Spurs, before Cole scored the 2nd, crowning United as League Champions. Of course, that wasn’t the only trophy Beckham lifted that season, with the FA Cup and the European Cup following in the next ten days.

Now of course, I know most will be familiar with the story of David Beckham, with him being the most famous player in the game, but it’s only this season that we can liken his story with another United player. In the World Cup when Wayne Rooney got sent off against Portugal, I had the same feeling again. The same feeling of dread that yet again, another United player was going to get strung up by England. That the press were going to hound him, that the fans were going to boo and whistle him. However, I got it wrong when I thought the blame was going to be on Rooney’s head, as in the papers the next day, it was reported it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s fault England were out of the World Cup. Just like in 1998, it wasn’t those who missed the penalties, Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher who were blamed. It wasn’t the rest of the England team who had shown one spineless performance after another. It seemed irrelevant, just as in 1998, that the sent off player made little to no impact on the result. Sure, it could be argued that had Beckham and Rooney not been sent off, those players might have scored, but essentially, England were knocked out of the World Cup in 1998 and 2006 because they have players who can’t handle the pressure of penalty shoot outs.

So, as we’d seen before, an onslaught of criticism was directed at a United player. Ronaldo, who had been one of the four Portuguese players complaining to the ref, was handed the blame. Have you ever heard of anything more ridiculous? There were plenty of reasons to dislike Ronaldo in the World Cup, namely his diving and his winning penalty, but to blame him for England’s exit is absurd. Let’s change the situation around shall we. Had Ronaldo stamped on John Terry’s balls, and the surrounding England players ran over to the ref, and Wayne Rooney just stood there looking on, what would England fans have thought? Would England fans applauded Rooney for sticking by his Manchester United team mate, even though he was playing for England? Can you imagine a West Ham or Chelsea fan saying, “Well done Wayne, that’s it, stick up for Ronaldo. Don’t get involved. When representing your country at the World Cup, your loyalty to your club team mate is far more important.” Who are we trying to kid?

Regardless, it is Ronaldo who has now faced the Beckham treatment, even with the likes of Steven Gerrard trying to stir up the hate campaign. He is booed every match, there are cheers every time a player takes his legs from beneath him, and he is currently the most fouled player in the Premiership. However, as with Beckham, the United fans have stuck by him. He will get the loudest cheer when the team list is read out (apart from when Ole is playing, of course), songs are sung for him every match, and our away fans are showing up at rival grounds with Portugal flags. What is the response from Ronaldo? 16 league goals (1 player has scored more) and 8 assists (3 players have assisted more).

Now, this isn’t to say I think Ronaldo is going on to win the Treble this season, as Beckham did following the witch hunt after the World Cup in 98, but United are certainly heading in the right direction for success. As Beckham played a key role in 1998/1999, Ronaldo has had an even greater impact for us this season. United need 7 more wins to be crowned Champions, and a win against Boro in the Cup on Saturday would move United’s trip to the Bridge until the last game of the season. All is set up for Ronaldo to come out on top, despite the boos, whistles and fouls, and he’s got 9 games to do it.

Dippers Preview Video - Liverpool vs Manchester United

2007-03-02T16:12:00.000-08:00

February Player of the Month

2007-03-02T16:11:00.000-08:00

February, whilst seeing us into the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup, Nine points clear of Chelsea in the race for the title, and with a precious 1-0 advantage in the Champions League hasn’t been the best pf months for United performance-wise. A late underserved win against Fulham providing many United fans with a reality check among the hysteria of widening the gap.

The game against Lille, again we were lucky, a dubious foul on Nemanja Vidic which lead to the disallowing of a goal, which if it had happened in the oppositions penalty box we’d fell hard done by.

You may be wondering where my player of the month is going to come into this damning diatribe of United’s performances in February. Well first I shall discuss my list of 3 candidates.

1) Patrice Evra- Has come leaps and bounds this season, firmly establishing himself as a cult hero on and off the pitch. His terrier like performances at Left Back have left a critical media and sections of our support to scoff helpings of humble pie. His run and cross for Park’s goal against Charlton was typical of Evra’s inexhaustible pace and laser guided crosses. He sometimes this month has had to fulfil the rigours of playing two positions a game when Ryan Giggs goes walkabouts. Also his improved heading ability has lead to keeping Dimitar Berbatov quiet. However a poor performance at Reading may yet cost him his ROM POM award.

2) Edwin Van Der Sar- A Goalkeeper? Player of the Month? Surely not, yet Big Dutchman VDS has proved his immense worth to United this month despite missing the games against Charlton ad Reading in the Cup. Whilst Kuszczack is a capable Keeper, VDS brings a wealth of experience and a larger sense of calm at the back, His vital save from Simon Davies shortly after Half-Time at Craven Cottage, a marvellous save from a Kevin Doyle shot in tonight’s clash, and calm controlled distribution against Lille, showed that even if you can past our imperious back four, you still have to beat United’s number 1. And even with two games out of six missed VDS is a worth candidate for the ROM POM award.

3) Wayne Rooney- The Big Man Is Back, as young Scouse Scamp Rooney was infamously quoted as saying. What a month it’s been for our Number 8, written off in January by no less than the other of this article as looking laboured and trying too hard, he’s back to his best. His link up play against Tottenham was incredible, and he seems to have struck a rapport with Henke Larsson, which has taken the heat off our enigmatic number 9, Louis Saha and injury prone Legend Ole Gunnar. Also you cannot discount that even when Wayne’s been kept quiet, he always come up with one piece of brilliance, like against Charlton, through on goal with only the keeper to beat, Rooney was foiled only for him to collect the rebound and majestically scoop the ball onto the waiting Fletcher to net the second, decisive goal. A ban against Reading, and our front line was found wanting without our talismanic genius, another reason why he’s been nominated. A gritty hard fought performance in Lille saw Rooney waste a glorious chance, but again his link up play with the midfield, especially when we were under the cosh early in both halves did he prove his worth again. Always looking for space he had been found on the left, the right and even at centre half in that game. Just like in the Charlton game, The Roon was kept quiet at Fulham, only for him to force Christinval into an error which Rooney duly proceeded to make the most of with an excellent deep cross for Giggs to net his 4th of the season.

As you can maybe tell from my glowing report, Wayne Rooney is awarded the ROM POM award for February, he’s not been clinical for us this month, but has taken a lot of pressure off the likes of Ronaldo and Scholes, who have in all fairness dipped below their awesome consistency this month, and we should be thankful for that.

Written by Tatty for RoM.org

February Match of the Month

2007-03-02T16:09:00.000-08:00

It's been a good month for United. Started the month well, but as we got further into February, the performance deteriorated, but we still managed to grind out some results. Is this the blip that Chelsea have longed for? The mark of champions is grinding out result's, sometimes even in games which we don't deserve to win.

It wasn't difficult choosing a game to cover for my match report. We have struggled in every game this month, with the exception of one. Ironically the one many thought would be our hardest. I have gone for the United Vs Spurs game at White Hart Lane on Sunday 4th February.

White Hart Lane is usually a good place for United to visit. This time around there was a bit of doubt as by that time, Spurs had only been beaten once at home. Even the Champions had lost 2-1. Spurs started on top in the game without creating any serious chances to trouble Edwin Van Der Sar. The excellent Aaron Lennon was troubling on the right, but with no real end product and Berbatov diving around like he had been shot. No real chances of note. The best chance in the opening 30 minutes fell to Cristiano Ronaldo. A corner from Ryan Giggs was flicked on by Rio Ferdinand into the path of Michael Carrick who's header was saved by Robinson. The bal rebounded to Ronaldo who clipped the bar from 6 yards out.

United were improving and should of had a penalty when Henrik Larsson was held back in the box by Anthony Gardner. Nothing was given by referee Mark Clattenburg. At the other end Berbatov managed to wriggle past Rio Ferdinand and fire a shot at Van Der Sar which he just managed to keep out.

When Ronaldo had space on the right he put in a cross which was headed straight back out to him. He took the ball worked some magic and drove into the box only to be brought down by Malbranque. Penalty. Replay's show it may have been harsh but Ronaldo placed the ball down and hit it past Robinson. 1-0 and just before half time.

United came out for the second half in the same mood. Vidic finding himself in room outside the box and hitting a superb shot tipped over by Robinson. The resulting corner fell to Carrick who managed to have a header tipped over again by Robinson. From this corner, taken by Carrick, Nemanja Vidic headed past Robinson for his 4th of the season. Only minutes later, Ronaldo took the ball on the right, drew the defender towards him and put a low cross into the box for the excellent Paul Scholes to bundle the ball over the line, unchallenged from about 1 yard out. 3-0 without breaking a sweat.

United went looking for number 4 with Wayne Rooney hitting a magnificent shot which went inches past Robinson's post and at the other end, Berbatov looked to have been shot again with a challenge under Rio Ferdinand. He then managed to get in behind Rio but his shot was well saved by Edwin Van Der Sar follwed by a header which was saved again. Spurs finally came to life, but this spark had gone shortly after. United's forth came after Louis Saha appeared from the bench who slid a quality through ball to Ryan Giggs who finished easilly past the England goalkeeper.

Another 3 points for United. In the final 10 minutes Robbie Keane manged to work his way into the box only to be denied by Edwin Van Der Sar who took a blow to the head and a boken nose for his trouble. With no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, John O'Shea stepped in for a cameo in the United goal. and did very well. Rio Ferdinand put him in trouble with a poor backpass which fell to Keane. O'Shea darted out of his goal and made an excellent challenge to the delight of the United suport.

Game over. 6 points clear. The game could have gone either way at 0-0 with chances for penalty's for both sides, but once Ronaldo scored, Spurs collapsed and United went on to earn the points with an excellent second half showing.

United 4 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Young-Pyo Lee, Dawson, Gardner, Lennon, Huddlestone, Zokora (Ghaly 56), Malbranque, Defoe (Keane 56), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Murphy, Rocha.

Booked: Chimbonda, Keane.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Ronaldo (Park 68), Carrick, Scholes, Giggs (O'Shea 80), Rooney (Saha 64), Larsson.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Heinze.

Booked: Vidic, Rooney, Larsson.

Goals: Ronaldo 45 pen, Vidic 48, Scholes 54, Giggs 77

Att: 36,146.

Man of the match: Hard one to call but in the end I had to go for Paul Scholes who was excellent. A few rash challenges but all in all a good days work for the ginger Prince. He bossed the midfield and worked tirelessly throughout with some crisp passing and a goal for good messure. He continued the form that has placed him in the running for player of the season.

Written by ManUtd99 for RoM.org