Henry Winter, The Telegraph
On his 25th anniversary, Sir Alex is being hailed as one of the greatest managers of all time. Rightly so. He possesses the four qualities that shape the finest leaders of footballing men: he buys well, bonds well, prepares well and exudes an aura. Never underestimate the power of an aura in a sport where psychology is key.
Everybody salutes Ferguson, the ultimate football man. His greatest achievements? Barcelona, yes. Moscow, of course. But there’s so much more to him. I’ve been covering football for 25 years and have never met a more fascinating, multi-faceted individual. So let’s celebrate the man, as well as the manager. A few years back I enjoyed the rare privilege of being in Ferguson’s office in Carrington and mentioned I was going away to Glasgow with the kids. He recommended three museums to visit, all science and shipping stuff, two of which he was patron of. Typical Ferguson. He can talk about science, shipping, politics, wine, horses, antiques, art and big bands. And more. Sir Alex: so much more than a football man. You’re lucky to have him.
Daniel Harris, On The Road and The FCF
Working out Fergie’s greatest achievement is difficult and easy at the same time. On the one hand, there’s so much to consider, yet on the other it’s so obviously the 92/93 title win. Everything that’s come since then is a direct consequence of it, and before it happened, it was all that we wanted – the rest is gravy. Hawksmoor bone marrow gravy, but gravy nonetheless.
I only passed ten years of my consciously United-obsessed life without seeing us win the league, but it was more than enough, and though the European Cup took a fair bit longer, the desperation to possess it was nowhere near the same. Once we won the league, anything was possible – not even possible, but inevitable – whereas the title was something that happened to other people, and always those we didn’t like (with varying degrees of intense hatred).
But while we’re here, it’d be rude not to consider the treble. The biggest compliment I can pay it is that over the last couple of seasons, when United have been in with a chance of it, part of me wonders if them doing so would denigrate the feat of the ’99 lot. They were a very special side – far, far superior to what we’ve had recently – and if anyone ever does emulate them, then it ought to be a team of requisite quality.
Both the ’93 and ’99 sides were true to all that we love about United: men, mavericks and local lads playing fast, hard, attacking football, boiling with attitude and zest. And a lot of that is down to Fergie, who, for all his faults, is a preposterous, inspirational, incredible character and concept, responsible for joy that we could never have imagined. A salut.
Of course our gaze gets captivated by all the trophies in the cabinet, understandable considering we’ve won so much under Sir Alex, that you’d have to get an Abacus (google it, oh young readers) to count up exactly just how many we’ve welcomed. We stopped counting Charity Shields, when once upon a time we’d be giddy about ‘winning some silver early’.
But come with me on a journey, because whilst the room almost continually stocked full of trophies since 1990 is the clearest definition of his success and achievements,it is not just his trophy cabinet which actually defines him. Leave that room, past the spanky ever growing museum which now includes his own history and that of his players and walk along the corridors of both power and passion, where normal fans can sit, near to prawn sarnie munchers, pacing through the updated facilities and at time unwholesome corporate ornaments on view, and look at how Old Trafford and Manchester United has grown and changed along with Fergie.
United have always been on the forefront of ground development, and we have always been the bottom line to pay for it, but if pretty much none of this would have been possible without the Red Army, certainly the club owes the debt for enabling all its way and all it has done to the man who has become part of the fabric. Certainly, these past 6 years and more, he has kept it all together, he is the one the scent of Ginge must thank.
United have always been good at, pretty much (don’t mention the Frank O’Farrell debacle, from both sides) of staying loyal and keeping managerial upheaval to a minimum, and if we are blessed to have had two men in the same mould as Sir Matt and Sir Alex, what makes the latter and his time that much more remarkable is the pace of that around him. Football spiralling out of control, yet somehow he manages to ooze control over club, team and players.
You just run out of superlatives. You can say he shaped a dynasty, the success laid out for all to see, like a embryo growing in the womb, the shoots of 1990, growing with each phase, the tiny patter of a ECWC in 1991, and then re-born in 1993. Such is his way, you can pluck a cliche out of thin air. But they work. Not standing still on a moving bus as he used to say (though I doubt he’s travelled on many of those since coming down), accepting every challenge; try and don the cap of Sherlock Holmes to work out where it came from, the ingredients that combined like pure science (or our sort of religion) so Eric like we clicked and then some, but that first Holy Grail we’d have accepted with glee and pretty much then put up with normality. Yet he tore the script up, so we went on and on. 1994, 1996, 1999. To some everything else since 1999 appears a bit dimmer; how can you beat that? But incredibly, him just trying, is worthy, let alone what we actually have achieved since that barmy night. Every year we seem in with a shout of a repeat. Never able, perhaps never will, but the feat of wanting it again, whilst the very players who’d got him there were questioned not long after the Nou Camp for resting on their laurels, gazed themselves at a manager who would accept nothing less, however able or unable the squad at that time around him, however limited or limiting, to eye such treasured heights. But no words, eulogies, do it – his drive, his determination, his stubborness, his ‘mix’ – justice.
Then and now. United, he, we. We’ve all changed. But we’re all the same, somewhere, and when you look at our lives, and then the world around us, it’s mad to think there is a man, greyer, as fearsome if not as often, still doing the jig, still wanting it. It’s almost scary. The Presidents and Prime Ministers, the Dictators and despots, they may well have gone from their own realms, but our leader, facing the occasional grumblings of discontent from his people, remains. In a scary world, he is less scary and our focal point. We may moan about him – some way too often – but he keeps us, the United world I mean, safe.
Now we’re on the Old Trafford pitch, having walked through a different tunnel, a stand just for Families (nice if more kids would be allowed elsewhere….), and where once we joked it resembled the film set of Vietnam it was so bad, now it is pretty much able to cope with concerts, rugby, Rooney overhead kicks and Diego Forlan stripping. We’ve a third tier, so high we can’t see them, and they can’t see us.
It’s all changed.
In 1987 when Red News sat down with Fergie for the first time for an interview, the hotel was fairly ramshackle on a pre-season tour of Scandinavia. There were no groupies, bar us oddballs waiting for him, and he called the group in to an empty breakfast hall as he pondered cereal and greater plans for what was to become his club. Able to get away with calling it ‘his club’ where others might be scorned because he’s ingratiated himself so well into the fabric, the custodians allow it. There have been mistakes, and some have called him for them. I haven’t liked some decisions, but as with my own frailties in life, I have always said that, sadly, even the perfect aren’t quite as perfect as you’d want them to be. I look in the mirror, and hush loud calling.
Nobody came into that breakfast hall. No photographers, no stalkers (bar us, again) and in between the egg cups and coffee pots he laid out a vision. ‘To make Europe once again take notice of United’. We’ve always been big, if not the biggest, but now we are in a different universe to then, again of his making, again not all great, all of which the bean counters should be grateful for, but here he laid our his plan to put United back on the map. A map remember all screwed up because, because of them, we weren’t even allowed into European competition back then. He’d argue time and time again behind the scenes for reinstatement – he had a plan you see.
At times we doubted the plan in those early days. He talked of playing ‘total football’ in one programme before a game where I struggle to remember seeing any type of football, but we know now. Not settling to just concentrate on the first team and save his skin. If we remove ourselves away from Old Trafford, look at Carrington; he was working not just on the XI we were watching, but the ones that would come afterwards, and those in ten years time. He picked up Sir Matt’s blueprint, long since discarded. And had a go.
In his time we’ve seen the road we all share littered with glory and trophies – Warwick Road itself is now Sir Matt Busby Way. The core and essence is still there, what we stand for, thanks primarily down to him whatever our recoil about those above him and those he has to deal with it, but every facet; the Cliff, gone, terracing, gone, Assistant Managers coming and going, yet he has not just stayed, and remained, he’s evolved. He’s finger tipped a connection between then and now. And not let go like a Taibi short connection.
Steve McClaren was supposed to be the innovater of our first changes into Sports Science, Carlozzz into defence, tactics, but it devalues and doesn’t give credit to the man who employed them, and took something from all of them. We have quibbles as any family does, but the man picking cereal is now a Sir, the ground all seated, the trophy cabinet full. In changing times, Thatcher in charge, then Grey, then Blair, etc, we have our constant. As I conclude the Ed in the RN 25th edition: “It’s only when he’s not in charge any longer that it will just sink in just what he’s achieved. And how much were going to miss him.”
I talk to younger Reds and they can’t believe some of the horror stories from the 70s and 80s. There is a fear of that cycle returning if this one ends. But not under SAF, time and time again seeing the media throw him into the water for sharks with ‘crumbling empire’ talk, he calmly walks to shore, drying off, and eventually sitting on his lounger, laughing his tits off. Wondering how to carry all the treasures he’s just picked up.
It’s not just been a remarkable journey, it’s been a life shared. We have walked each step, we have grown old, been born, had kids ourselves, become men from kids, all during his reign, and that’s what it feels like, like a fiefdom such its length. Ruled over maybe, but connected. We’ll pick out on field memories to translate that quarter of a century into specifics that makes it easier to comprehend, none more so than the Nou Camp, we’ll think of off field moments – Eric signing, Keane gone, in an instant – but it is he who touched every one. If you’ve met him, you won’t forget it. It may have been but a second, but he carries the aura that only the greats like Sir Matt and Bestie can.
Blessed to have both he and Sir Matt, only Manchester United could have both. Its story, his story, they sort of merged somewhere. Manchester United’s journey will continue of course, as it always has, but for now, pause for thought about when you joined this marvellous adventure, and all the changes then and now (the FA were still after us, so no rare change there then), and that is as defining as all the silver that glistens. That United coped in a football industry that suddenly speeded up and mutated, whether we liked it or not. Fergie is that link between past and present, and bloody hell, hopefully more future too. Because, yes, I really do. I love him like every single one of us.
Forget the 36 trophies, and incredible longevity for a second, and think about the groundwork laid by Sir Alex Ferguson for success. That is his greatest achievement. Recognising Manchester United as a club on its knees – almost bankrupt, with a decaying stadium, and booze culture among a group of average players – Fergie set about rebuilding from the ground up in a way no manager will be allowed to do again.
Ferguson is a long term thinker, and this has paid off almost every time. He reignited the club’s youth policy – a decision that would bear fruit almost a decade later. He change the mentality of his squad, perhaps even the club, from one of winning an occasional cup, to seeking glory at every turn. And he set about this with an obsessive degree of control, and attention to detail, that is uncommon among his peers. In an era when administrators and even supporters are obsessed with the balance sheet, Ferguson truly is United’s greatest asset.
In a word, youth. Michael Keane became the 80th teenager to be given his first team debut by Fergie, at least three a year – a phenomenal achievement particularly given how much the game has changed. Every time the squad has been rebuilt he’s chosen to combine youth with some marquee signings – to do that once and succeed is something of a masterstroke but to do it time and time again is pure genius.
After winning the league last year, Fergie exclaimed, “That’s the future of Manchester United, young people”. People always want to know the secret to his longevity; it probably lies within that statement – youth. Young people keep him hungry; they provide new managerial challenges and a sense of pride if they develop through the club to the first team.
Carrying on the traditions of Sir Matt Busby, he’s continued one legacy and built another. The Ferguson era will never be replicated. The story of Fergie’s Fledglings will be told for generations to come. That’s his greatest achievement – not just achieving success, but achieving it with a core nucleus of young players.
Rebecca Stephenson, Freelance sportswriter and broadcaster
When asked to put down on paper Sir Alex Ferguson’s greatest achievement of his 25 year tenure at the helm of Manchester United, I could turn to my heart; my spine tingling memories and some of the most amazing moments of my (almost) Ferguson-encompassing life.
But during a recent visit to Carrington I decided not to answer instinctively with the moment that gave ME the most pleasure, but by opening my eyes more and focusing on the picture that far outweighs one goal, game, season, trophy haul or signing.
As you stroll through the corridors of Old Trafford and Carrington in 2011 you realise that this one man has formed an empire. Much as Microsoft and Apple echo to the personas of Gates and Jobs. Manchester United, is now a reflection of 25 years of one man.
The glorious history of the Busby Babes and the tragedy of Munich, may well have occurred decades before the man from Govan was ever a dot on the horizon of the club, but his staunch adherence to the culture initiated by Sir Matt Busby has intrinsically linked him with the entire entity of Manchester United.
Today, it is difficult to see where Sir Alex Ferguson stops and Manchester United begins, or to imagine that one will eventually have to function without the other.
25 years of teams constructed, destructed and rebuilt; 25 years where legends were born; formed and consigned to history; 25 years of footballing structural, economic and Bureaucratic revolution.
The footballing world and the Manchester United of today is almost unrecognisable from 1986, but one man remains a constant. A chameleon who has adapted to every twist, turn and explosion to keep the club atop of the ever changing tide of football, and continue to deliver those superficial tokens of the underlying successes.
A dream world of trophies, pulse-raising players and goose-bump inducing moments and memories. All fruits of the achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson
So how can you define his greatest achievement? Perhaps it is as abstract as his workplace itself. Old Trafford isn’t Manchester United, nor a shirt, nor a crest. So his greatest achievement is Manchester United and what it is today. That and the legacy that will engulf it until the club’s heart no longer beats.
Rob Blanchette, The Faithful MUFC and The Midfield General
I used to love Big Ron when he was United manager. Dripping with jewellery and diamonds. Looking like a car sales man that would give you the best deal on earth. Woollen coat so big and thick you could smuggle Gordon Strachan in there, and he would think it was a three bedroom house. The man was the walking epitome of what United was back then. If that specific history was happening now the kids of today would call it ‘swagger’.
Of course, the swagger was lined with a huge problem. And that was the inability to win trophies. ’83 and ’85 brought us two fantastic FA Cup wins, when that was about the maximum we could expect to achieve in any given season. Big Ron had brought us Bryan Robson, and he was our king. And the teenage talents of Whiteside and Hughes gave us hope for the future…
But ultimately we knew our place in the food chain. We were the team every neutral loved because we were the glamorous losers of English football.
The day Atkinson was sacked I felt ill. I was just a child of 10 years old. I knew nothing and no one different. So when we recruited a dour looking Scot as his replacement I didn’t really blink an eye. The club had survived on the glamour of the past so long that when we were faced with a bit of reality (we were second to bottom in November when Ron was sacked) it really was the most depressing of things. I could smell we were about to be relegated. How would I face all my mates who supported Liverpool and Everton when we went down to Division 2?
That season Ferguson saved us and we ended up mid table. I was deliriously happy with 11th place! 25 years on, and as a Manchester United supporter I’ve lived a fairytale life with my team.
I was always brought up to believe that United would play well, and then probably lose. It wasn’t a completely defeatist attitude to football. It was just how many non-Liverpool fans felt about their clubs in the 1980s. Everyone tried to win… and then Liverpool took the trophy home. I never had the choice of supporting Liverpool. It was impossible in the dynamic of our family. You supported United through every trial, and grinned and bared it as you watched Hughes, Hansen, Souness, or a Dalglish lift the big trophies.
When Fergie bought Steve Bruce, I thought “Who the fuck is Steve Bruce?” I wanted heroes to follow. I wanted more Robsons! What we got was Viv Anderson, Jim Leighton and Brian McClair. I actually liked McClair as I watched him be prolific for Celtic. But all in all it was a bit of a yawn fest to sign these names. However, finishing 2nd to Liverpool back in 1988 felt like a huge step forward. The scousers didn’t even blink an eye as they cantered to 9 points clear of us but it produced real hope for United fans.
The following year we came 11th again. Order had been restored. Hope had been put back in permanent storage.
The next couple of years were tempestuous. I was stood in the Stretford End as we beat the newly crowned champions Arsenal 4-1, with Neil Webb’s volley almost flying down my throat, only being stopped by the goal net from where I stood. But a few weeks later we got stuffed 5-1 at Maine Road and life was depressing once again.
I had little time for Ferguson. I didn’t ‘get’ him. I knew he wanted the best for the club, but I could see no way of him achieving it. And that’s why 13 year old boys, like I was then don’t run football clubs!
I remember Mark Robins goal that saved the manager’s job at Nottingham Forest. History has warped that part of Fergusons reign slightly but I remember it all clearly. Fergie was a goner. Lose in the Cup and he was sacked. It was more ‘expected’ than a possibility. Somehow we shaded a very good Forest team out of the Cup, and despite being entirely rubbish in every other tournament, we went on to win that blessed old trophy. Winning the 1990 FA Cup was up to that point the greatest thing I had seen in football. I just didn’t believe it got any better than that.
So twenty one years have passed since us beating Crystal Palace for that FA Cup at Wembley. I don’t need to list all the titles we’ve won since then. I don’t need to list the heroes that Sir Alex has cultivated, from your Cantonas to your Giggs, Rooneys to Ronaldos. But what I will testify is this: Lady Luck shined down from the heavens when she delivered us a nutjob from Aberdeen. Nobody knew it back then. No one could possibly believe that the man would win us one solitary league championship, yet alone be knighted for his incredible achievements for us. But Fergie is the modern footballing architect. The Godhead who equally builds and destroys. A man who refuses to live on past glories, and only looks forward. It is him ALONE that we owe the last 21 years of success to..not the players. He is the true creator supreme.
And soon, he will be gone. We don’t know when. Reality always gives me a sharp jab when I think of Jock Stein (Fergie’s mentor of sorts) I watched him die on the sidelines on my TV. You can’t help but think Fergie’s fate will be the same in some morbid poetic fashion. But the truth is Manchester United will have to survive without him in full capacity in the not so distant future. The Blue Menace and its cross-town monies are upon us, and the future may well look nothing like the 1990s and 2000s did. Football is cyclical. Maybe it’s another clubs time?
But Fergie has given us the attitude that we need not think like that. That if we dig in, and search your heart and use your experience, that you can beat anyone, at any time.
That is Sir Alex Fergusons greatest gift to us, The Red Army. Not the 37 trophies he’s brought us. Even when the man is gone, a statue of him will stand outside of our grand old stadium. And it will always remind that the truth is: We are Manchester United. The greatest football club the world has ever seen.
Man Utd News 24/7
STR in top form today and rightly so, its the great man we are celebrating ……
Brilliant read again, cheers pal
Sorry i know this is not the right time to post this but. My condolences go out to Patrice Evra and his family on the sad loss of their brother. R.I.P MR EVRA. May God be with patrice and his family in this time of need.
Martin Jol ‘When we had a meeting in Geneva, Mourinho addressed Sir Alex as ‘boss’
Funny hearing Ed from United Rant eulogise about the great man, he once banned me from United Rant for taking umbridge with an article he wrote demanding Sir Alex be sacked after failing to qualify from the Champions League group stage. He even went as far as mocking up a P45 filled with Sir Alex’s name etc and titled it ‘The Price of Failure’. It seems a u turn has been made.
SIR ALEX… Should be Lord Ferguson of Old Trafford
Never ever thought I would say this, but I do respect Dalglish (Just for the moment mind you)
His words to tribute Sir Alex touched me….. Credit where its due
Cedars, and rightly so!
Some young punks nowadays do not use their brains before they spout nonsense like “SAF is past it” or “SAF needs to go, we need Mourinho/Guardiola”. Wait till their own kids tell them they’re “out of touch” with the world then. Punks!
Just seen the banner in the Stretford end for tomorrows game. The impossible dream….25 years Sir Alex Ferguson! Hope the lads put a much improved performance in for him. He deserves it.
Willie
Tomorrow should all be about the great man, if those 11 out there do not play their hearts out then I will be angry….. You wouldn’t like me when I am angry!
anyone got a link to the banner?
http://www.stretfordendflags.com/index.php/41-25-years-of-sir-alex-the-impossible-dream-made-possible
Heres the link lads.
I think that Sir Alex is the epitome of the word legend, and what he has achieved at our club is beyond awesome, when we fans think about what he has done to give us enjoyment and happiness, whom amongst us can moan, the short answer is we cant can we! i think beyond the 25 years managing United his greatest achievement is yet to come for us, Sir Alex is all about the future, he is a river yet to find the ocean, he just goes forward as do we fans with him, what a hell of a ride it has been and will continue to be. my personal favourite memory was in ’99 in the Nou Camp I was out for a friends birthday his 21st infact, well i was hiding in view of the big screen in the pub we were in and Ole pops up (cue ITV sports playback in my mind) and i nearly drowned in my tears. So much to be thankful for, here’s to the future.Sir Alex…
@jonnyC:
Aye, mate..
Read article on “kick on the grass” site last season which stated Fergie has past it & the end of United’s glorious era had just begun, all bcause we didnt sign Joe Cole (could you believe that? But thats true!) thats why I stuck with ROM. More optimistic United blog, most update news, great articles with many great posters around here too. Just like a dreamland for United faithfull like me..
SAF thank you Boss.
So much still to read.
I will read and check back in.
@cedars:
i wonder are you getting green now? Hehehe…
In all means of the game in every challenge in every way back Sir Alex Fergusons Manchester United has continuously outstripped the opposition in pursuit of the greater achievement.
To do this once is an achievement in itself. To do this twice is remarkable. To do this three times is legendary.
To carry on doing it past four past five and on and on is what no words can describe.
Therefore we are witness to the greatness and the humility that our gaffer has given us and has instilled within us. It is not just for the players to say that they have become men because of him some of us have measured up quite well too. Ultimately that’s what he has done made us better too.
I don’t believe in a lot of things but in Sir Alex and in United I believe
We will do what we have to. We will hunt city down and we will hunt Barca down – where their is a challenge United have always stood up and taken it on.
If you don’t believe me look back. History doesn’t lie.
We created it that way.
Sitting in Malaysia airport on the way back home.
19
MG – Hello mate! Safe passage home pal. 19!
Willie
Thanks mate
Off to catch the flight to Dubai then back to Birmingham
Will hopefully catch up with you tomorrow
19 it is my good friend
These tributes are great and all but its a bit premature, Im sure he’ll say himself he has a few more decades ahead of him, at minimum SAF will retire in 2018, do you think he wants to miss out on the likes of Cleverley,Welbeck,Pogba, Tunni, Da Silva’s, Jones,Evans,Smalling,De Gea, Chicha becoming Club greats and regulars?
I doubt SAF will shun the opportunity to turn Bebe & Ando in to brazillians babes.
@MG
Love your post.
That’s right, whoever’s been a challenge to us over the years, we’ve stood strong, fought back and emerged victorious. In recent times, it’s been the cash cows chelsea and shitty. They’ve attempted to flaunt the cash and try to buy their way to success, but we’ve successfully overcome that in chelsea’s case, and we will do that with shitty. Sorry, i just don’t accept these 2 entities (see i’m not even calling them team cos they don’t deserve it) as anything but cash cows. As with Barca, they are a target, a standard we have to achieve and we will, they play fantastic football with good values, despite their synchronized diving, and so you have to give them credit when due. And we will reach that stage, soon.
And how lucky have we been to get Sir Alex. Any words to describe this man would be an understatement, so i’m just going to go for LEGEND. It pains me to even think that he’s gonna have to retire some day, and really if any of you are thinking of the portugese egg tart, really be careful what you wish for. He’s an interesting personality, will bring a team success but it’ll be temporary, and for that temporary success we’ll be facing a debilitating team spirit. Which is insane cos we’re a family team. We’d be in ruins in the long run.
And just something i felt like writing about, what Costas tapped on one of the previous posts. It’s disheartening to know how we fans are quick to insult a player, not knowing what’s happening in his personal life. Like in the case of Pat. To still play against shitty, knowing his brother just died, takes courage. And yet we slate him all along for his poor performance. Of course, that doesn’t correlate to the idea that we shouldn’t point out mistakes or unsatisfactory performances. Just felt like saying this as some food for thought.
MG safe travel home!!!
Great banner.
Rooney’s natural progression.
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/rooney-sees-his-long-term-man-utd-future-midfield-2029751
Travel safe MG
Big Jonny Evans will play his 100th game for United tomorrow. Proud of the lad.Home grown and has proven his worth on a number of occasions. Don’t care what the bashers and the plastics think, the truth is that Jonny has been fabulous for 90/99 games and the haters can’t wait to stab him in his back for the odd bad game he has. The boy is 23 lay off, he’ll make huge strides towards being a world class performer within the next 4 years. SAF knows this, I know this, True reds know this too.
Heres Jonny !!!! 100 caps WoooHooo
Remember Jones is 19, Smalling 21,Clevs 22, De Gea 20, Welbeck 20, Fabael 21….plenty more mistakes to come
Have a safe trip MG, RoM is never the same without you
When you think about it, between them Sir Matt and Sir Alex have given United almost 50 years and still going….. FIFTY years shared between just 2 men…. BLOODY hell
Lets all move like Cedars!
I said it already but tomorrow should be all about Sir Alex…. Hope the fellas at the Stretty sing their hearts out for and the 11 on the pitch do the job and salute him
Cedars do not move, they stand tall and be admired!
Wonder how Leeds fans feel when they look over and see what the great man has done to our club…. Must hurt like fuck…… Moses, do you agree?
Imo there are no words to describe what Fergie has done for the club and his fans. Nothing can be said to acknowledge the history he created for the sake of the club.
Sir Alex=Manchester United
Come to think of it Sir Alex is very much like a cedar tree….. Beautiful, firm, stands the winds of change, never buckles and will always be there for you
KingOfStretfordEnd
No he’s not
i have to admit that am a newbie compared to the lot of you guys . . yet you can’t call me a plastic because i started following epl and then united when maureen was winning things with rentboys . . watched united play ,fell in love with the style of play, i often wondered who the old man who has the looks of a respected mafia boss whose single stare was enough to sink a grown up man.
as the time passed by the respect grew for the man and when i started to know more about him ,i sometimes thought if it was real or just made up ! how could someone achieve what he had done and still be so enthusiastic and determined to go on and better those achievements again ?
today after supporting united for 7-8 years and educating myself about the history as much as i can ,i stand here and confidentiality declare as
“if any person can be better than sir Alex then its the great man himself ”
thank you sir for all the memories ,please carry on as far as possible . .
i am not sure how i will feel watching the old man walk to his seat from the tunnel next to touch line although i ll be watching on the telly . .
25 years and counting . .
people have dreams they want to achieve in life. . i have two, watch a game at OT ,meet the great old man one fine day.that ll be the day of my life.
*confidently declare
Damn these typos !
One of his greatest quotes recently ‘I am too old to retire’ Genius
football bloody hell !
brings tears down your eyes at times !
kiccha
Whether you’ve been a United supporter for a day or for 50 years as long as its from the heart no one can call you a plastic or otherwise my friend
Why CedarsDevil?
Sir Alex= Manchester United but not the other way round i feel.
Clap your hands for the boss!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap……..
25 years of proving ABUs wrong!!!!
KingOfStretfordEnd
The reason I said that was because no one man is Manchester United, even the great man himself….United existed long before he was born and will exist long afterwards…..He will forever be written about as part of the club’s great history, no doubt about that
Hope this point is properly understood
Willie
Try clapping and then slapping your own face, feels good….. You red nut
Cedars, I planted 50 Cedars on my place some 10 years ago. There were some there already. Great parable.
@Kiccha, for I am similar, in 2003/04 Gunners undefeated run is when I became an PL then Man Utd fan. That summer they added Rooney. Then Chelski raised the bar and SAF retooled his team to beat them. Gone was my favorite player Keano, then Becks followed by Ruud. People were calling for SAF head. I was amused, the great man stood firm and created the R&R attack. Royals Royce. Rooney and CR7. Then by catching and passing Chealski he won the CL as a result of that. With 2 other CL finals. He is retooling again to keep up with Shity and Barca.
cedars ,thank you . .
some people easily say that term . . just wrote what words came from my heart there .
hope the fans sing their hearts out tomorrow . .
i have this uneasy emotional feeling at the thought that he will retire soon. . just can’t imagine united without sir Alex !
all good things come to an end one day, but his legacy will remain forever . .
one thing sir Alex and united has taught us :
‘whatever shit that life throws at you, stand firm ,fight back and you ll win sooner or later . you will emerge victorious if you strive for it ‘.
I wanted to write something about SAF. No chance. No words can describe what I’m thinking about him.
KingOSE, I thought the same thing until, I was taught of Sir Matt Busby. Even SAF is not bigger then the club. And he is setting up the club to make sure when he leaves, Man Utd will just keep chugging along.
Clint Eastwood thinks SAF is the man.
Zibbie
Lovely trees are they not? Just like our boss…. You simply have to love them/him…. so I take it you like Rooney then eh? hahaha
kiccha
You’re welcome…… Do not worry about people giving you silly labels, as long as you love United with all your heart you will always have the last laugh because we are simply the best
I’ll try that Cedars!
Haha @Cedars and Zibbie
Had i written Manchester United= Sir Alex, your points are right. I wrote Sir Alex=Manchester United, which i meant that he is entirely made of Manchester United. We’re all thinking the same, the stupid equals sign created the confusion.
Sorry for the confusion!
I think this Rooney lad could turn out to be a good player. You are so perceptive.
I have not said to much because people make choices and I respect that. Now I say,
SMARTALEX, KING ERIC AND KING I would love your thoughts of the great SAF!!!!!!!
Damn i just wrote a long post and it wasn’t published because my phone categorized ‘zibbie’ as a swear word ! :s
KOTSE, I’m so easily confused!!!
As I start to write this, I am feeling great joy and happiness and want Sir Alex to keep going on for a long time yet! But, with this feeling of happiness, there is an inner fear of what it would be like when he leaves this great club. Sir Alex is not only a special human being but he is an institution! And, the way Manchester United play with so much determination, never say die attitude is a form of expression of the values the great man has instilled at each and every corner of the club! We all should be grateful to him for the standards he has set and the success he has brought to this wonderful institution!
We have been spoilt for success and you just need to see how miserable could life be being a City/Pool supporter to realize what he has brought to the club! It’s incredible to think that some of us still manage to criticize and question him after a bad result and some even go to the length of saying that he has lost it! But tell you what people, the Mourinho’s and Guardiola’s of this world can probably bring instant success with them, but never ever will they be able to breath and live this club as the great man does!
On a personal level, it has been a remarkable journey seeing him chewing his gum, raging the team to go for the winner on the touchline in the closing moments of a game, celebrating with a kid like enthusiasm every time a goal is scored, scaring the fuck out of some journos
and above all transforming this club in historic proportions! It is a given that Manchester United would never be the same without him. but even if he were to leave the club within the next few years, I am sure he will have the future of this great club safeguarded and will never let it go downwards!
May we have lots more years ahead with him in the dugout and may Manchester United enjoy unprecedented success in the coming years with him in charge!
Long live Sir Alex, long live Manchester United! 
P.S – Apologies for the long post, but had to get this out from within me!
kiccha, in Lebanese,
Zib= Dick
Zibbie= My Dick. hahahahahaha
Just a share of the things I endured during my time in Manchester ….
‘So you’re Lebanese?’
‘Yes’
‘What the fuck are you doing here’
‘Err, I live, study and work here’
”Think you’re a United fan then you foreign bastard’
‘Err yes I do, what’s wrong with that’
‘Its just that you’re a foreign prick’
That conversation ended with one of us having severe bodily injuries…. And that person was not me by the way
kiccha, so when I say high to my Lebanese brother of another mother, if I say Zibbie say hello! Well there you go!!!
My Dick loves Man Utd!!!!!
KingOfStretfordEnd
Understood! No worries buddy
sir Alex in his life has seen off too many challenges greater than city or barca . he ll topple them before he retires . that’s a certainty .
@Kiccha
Same story here mate, started watching pl and Man Utd 7 years ago. Same dream to fulfill as well. My dream is to visit Old Trafford, though meeting Sir Alex is one thing which wont be possible, as i still have a long way to go before i can earn enough to even visit England, still a student. Which country do you belong to?
Well I must go make money! BBL
BEAT SUNDERLAND!!!!!
kiccha
Sir Alex had one main aim when he took over and that was to knock Liverpool off their perch and that he did…… Now I am sure in heart he would want a few more CL titles as he feels that is what United deserve
zibbie
) . . saving a small portion of my earnings for the cause , hopefully in a year i ll able to visit England .
Jim : i am from India . . and yes am a software engineer(
We love you Fergie, we do!
We love you Fergie, we do!
We love you Fergie, we do!
Oh Fergie we love you!!!!
RedNut loves Fergie tooooooooooooooo
I think most Indians are either into high tech or finance…… Bloody geniuses (Especially those that love United of course!)
I love you Willie I do
I love you Willie I do
Oh Willie I love you……
Hello guys. Miss me, anybody? No? Carry on, then!
Not much to say about Sir Alex that’s not been said, I just wanna thank him.
@Kiccha
Hey I am from India too, from Mumbai.
@Cedars
Haha, you are right..my studies involve finance!!
Cedars- Good evening/night mate! All us Indians are geniuses/genii(?), indeed!
cedars thanks mate. . i say most of us are intelligent thus support united
who in their right minds would support Liverpool and idolize kenny ?
i can’t help but dream that united will beat barca in the cl final to make it five and make stevie starfish to shove his 5 fingers salute up his arse
theboogeyman
I for one have missed you my young friend!
jim
I know! Good luck with those exams buddy
boogeyman in the house!
As long as we get numbers 20, 21 and 22 with Sir Alex I would not be bothered about the CL to be honest, although the great man may disagree! Stevie Me can take his five fingers and….. Well you know!
Jim ,great to hear that. one thing . . don’t give up on your dreams . . strive for them . . sir Alex won’t go anywhere away from united even after he retires . . he ll be around just like sir Matt and sir bobby.
Cheers to all fellow Red Devils!
@Cedars
How are you buddy?
@Cedars,
Thanks, just 5 more days to go, then good break for a few months, and more importantly back to watching all United games!!
Moses
Just thought of you again as my pills kick in……….. Must still hurt after that stuffing Blackpool gave you eh? Must hurt even more reading us reds celebrating our great boss….
Enjoy life in the lower leagues you Leeds supporting scum
@kiccha,
Very correct.
And i think someone mentioned it yesterday and Balaji keeps on saying it, Sir Alex is perfect description of Albus Dumbledore..it will be so difficult and different to see United without Sir Alex. Manchester United is more than just a club, it is a way of living.
prasan
Evening my friend! Blimey, another Indian…. You guys are taking over RoM! hahahaha…. Thing is the whole Lebanese population would amount to a tiny suburb of Mumbai! hahahaha
Love you all guys
oops ! that comment projects me as a 40 year old!!
but again ‘advice’ is the only thing that you get in abundance and for free in India !
Moses
I am being honest and serious here, do tell us how you really feel….. Must be a sad life supporting a crap team and being part of the worst set of supporters that ever existed ……
Leeds are the scum of the earth
cedars
Bring in Sandeep and Balaji and this would be RoM of India! hahahahahaha
Just in the mood for a good laugh guys….. Its just there are so many of you its scary…
Cedars- Cheers old sir.
Us Indians are taking over everything, there are too fucking many of us lol.
willie- Good evening mate.
theboogeyman,
Cheers, the United fever is gripping India, agreed many just support the team that has recently just won the PL and barca ofcourse, but there quite a few true Red Devils and many of them here at ROM.
@prasan,
You too from India, i am guessing because last night you were there till around 3.15 and if I am not wrong it was around the same time of the night here in India.
Cedars,
Want to visit Lebanon too, seems a very beautiful country from what I have heard, very peaceful too.
Leeds scum loving Moses thought he had us fooled…. Fucking prick, this is a United blog you tool…
I washed you out like shit out of a dirty sock you scum loving cunt
Piers Morgan has been arrested for indecent exposure.
Police took one look at him and saw a cunt.
jim
Lebanon is beautiful indeed buddy but its all about the babes here…… Bloody gorgeous the lot of them! hahaha
Oh and Leeds are scum
@Cedars,
Can you tell something more about Brian Mclair, i noticed him when i saw the 92-93 season review, thought he was a striker, but his goal scoring stats arent to great though i did notice that he was involved in many of the goals scored by us, and Sir Alex has stated him along with Ince, Hughes, Robson, Cantona as one of the best players he managed.
TonyBee
Hahahaha, you old bastard! Funny as fuck
cedars , no problem mate , the reason i started to follow Rom is that you regulars accept us as one of your own and its not the same elsewhere . . now Rom has become an irreplaceable part of my life . . just love walking down the memory lanes with you guys , its a privilege really . .
its 1am here . . need to get some sleep now . . catch you later . .
jim
Brian McClair was a terrific player, sort of the Berba of that era. i.e. regularly bashed and never given enough credit to what he brought to the team. Was not an out an out goal scorer say like RVN but his link up play especially with Sparky was brilliant… Besides Sir Alex loved him…. He went on and did great at coaching roles in the club
@ Cedars
Hahaha..well, be it from anywhere but we all have a common love and that is United!
So I see Moses and LUFC White still haven’t turned up. They must be a miserable lot right now!
@ Jim
Yes buddy, me too from India and you were right I was there till 3:15 a.m initially, but thanks to Cedars and the great George Best..ended up till 4 a.m here last night!
I see you are from Mumbai..I was there for about 2 years mate in New Mumbai! Where are you located my friend?
@Cedras,
Thank you, i liked him too, sometimes you just instantly like a player and i dont know why but i really liked Mclair, seemed very enthusiastic and celebrated all the goals scored by the team as if he has scored them. Was great to watch that season on youtube, around 100 min video,saw it in instalments and had great fun, and how fittung that Robson scored the last United goal of that season away to wimbledon if i am not wrong.
@prasan
Ghatkopar, it is in the suburbs. Having a great experience here in ROM with fellow REDS and learning a lot too.
Kings, King Eric & smartalex
I would bet my left nut that you guys are reading the blog……. For fucks sake guys, we need you here.. I have already made so many pleas…. Come back and let us just discuss what we enjoy the most and together bash the hateful bastards….
Breaking: CR7 wins the Golden Boot in front of Messi.
Got something like 100 goals in 107 games for the virus. Guess spainish league isn’t all that.
But enough to say, well done to Cristiano!
kiccha
You do not need acceptance from anyone here my friend…. Love United and post away.
Yes over time you build a sort of a bond with regular posters but that only happens if you post more often!
prasan
Scum hide their heads in the dirt at night buddy
FletchTHEMAN
Would never be ungrateful for what Ronaldo did for us but in all honesty I do not give a flying fuck what he goes on to achieve
Goodnight ROM, have a great match day!!
Totally random thought? How good is Javier Hernandez?
Goodnight jim, study well!
Where is every one? Damn, I feel like I am talking to myself…… Do most of the time mind you
@ Jim
Ghatkopar..Ha, used to work at Vikhrolli and used to visit R City a lot! And, I echo your sentiments too my friend!
@ Cedars
Dirty lot the Leeds scum are! Howz Kelly Cates buddy?
Willie!
Fuck you’re here! Our Little Pea is a gem….. An Ole in the making if you ask me
@ Jim
Good night buddy and all the best for your exams!
Patrick Barclay is too busy writing his piece on Wenger’s 15 years?
prasan
Kelly Cates? Not fit to lick the feet of my Nigerian nurse….. Mind you that would be a nice sight! hahahaha Sexy she may be but still the daughter of Dalglish, although his tribute to Sir Alex earlier today made me pull the breaks on the hate messages
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, more so Greeks critical of medical teams! hahahahahahaha
Just pissed my self AT my self! hahahaha
Another random thought? Busty Blondes, or freaky Red heads?
Too much pissing Cedars. You should consider cutting back on the alcohol.
Cedars
Hahaha..some sight that would be i’m sure!
Can’t stand Dogleash but yeah he had some really nice words to say about the great man so full marks there! I think he was more genuine in appreciating what Sir Alex has done as compared to someone like Wenger who started off with something like “People are talking about it a lot at the moment” and then gave his due in a short way to him! Thought was slightly disrespectful but probably i’m reading too much into it!
Costas
Alcohol? I wish my friend, just medication that make alcohol feel like a soft drink! hahaha
Willie
Freaky red head any day of the week….. Yummy
Mother of all thunder storms going on outside…. Just imagined our poster Moses at the end of one of them lightning bolts and just smiled!
Just enjoying Manchester United’s best goals from 2010/2011..loved Berba’s 3rd against Blackburn and how can you not love Chicharito, the way he celebrates a goal just makes him so much more likeable!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wK4WJLNnqc
Right! Lets have your Fergie Elevens:
My is as follows.
Big Pete
RedNev Brucie Rio Irwin
Keane Scholes Giggs
Ronnie Rooney Cantona
Beat that team!
Tough fucking choice. If it was a 442….it would different. I’d probably have Becks in there. So many options!
Rarely post.
but feeling the love tonight on ROM.
wonderful to support the best club in the world
going tomorrow with my old man who is a fan from back in the Busby era (even to wembley in 68)
going to sing our hearts out and believe that we can support the boys into celebrating 25 of SAF in style by beating Sunderland with some style (though I’ll take a scrappy 1-0)
Love United
Love SAF
believe 20
Willie
Way off
here it goes
Shmikes
RedNev Bruce Palli Irwin
Becks Robbo Keane Giggs
Cantona Cole
*years even…
think some of Cedars drugs are having an effect on my fragile work addled brain…
3Generations
Post more often buddy and you will get addicted for sure!
team
great Dane
irwin bruce vidic parker
giggs scholes keane beckham (best. midfield. ever.)
hughes v.nistleroy
this could all change next time you ask me though
Think I miss Scholes, no wait I miss Robbo, or is it Keane, Ole, Cantona, Best, Bobby, Cole, Irwin, Bruce, Moses, Palli, Parker, Shmikes, VDS, errrr I cannot go on
Fucking love United
Evening all,
Sir Alex, legend! Love him even more if he gets us 3 points tomorrow! Ok my Sir Alex team.
Scmeichal
G.Nev
Stam
Rio
Irwin
Robbo
Scholes
Giggs
Becks
Eric
Rooney
Cedars – No match for my team!
seriously though, it’s fucking hard picking a 11 under Fergie? You see, if i was going for a 442….I’d love a partnership of Cole and Rooney. The latter just playing off Coley. Then you’ve Yorke, Eric, RVN lol. the list goes on!Not forgetting sparky either. Bloody hell!
Cedars, willie-
My team is biased towards the 2000s, because I wasn’t around to watch a lot of the older players. Here goes
VDS; Nev, Rio, Vidic, Irwin (scored FKs and penalties); Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs; RvN, Rooney
To be fair picking a best Sir Alex 11 is something we would never be able to do, it would change every few minutes depending on the mood….. He’s produced so many great teams and great players over the years
By biased towards 2000s, I meant only those who’d played in the 2000s lol.
With that, I head to bed.
Night guys.
PS: Where are Kings, King Eric and smartalex? Miss their posts.
Also, how under – rated was Denis Irwin? Great going forward, but was a proper defender. We stole him from Oldham!
Stam is one of the greatest CB’s United have ever had in my opinion. One of Sir Alex’s rare mistakes letting him go!
If football was a 50 man a side game with a bench of 30 then may be we would have a chance at this!
Evening Mikekelly
FIIIIIIIIIVE CANTONAS!!!!!
Willie
If I had a gun to my head and was forced to write down my ALL time best United 11 then Irwin would be in that team….. Fucking loved him to bits
Evening Cedars
I’m not feeling any yip jaap stam love in these teams tonight. Are we all ready for another nail bighter at Old Trafford tomorrow. I hope and pray we are entertained! Me and my mate have been trying different turnstiles to try and change our luck!
Night boogeyman
Night Boogeyman!
My vote is for freaky Red heads?
It’s an impossible task really to pick out a best XI as we’ve had so many great players over the years. But I would go with the following line up:
Schmeichel
Red Nev
Stam
Rio
Irwin
Roy Keane
Ginger Prince
Giggsy
Becks
King Eric
Ole
Would go off now as it’s 2:45 a.m here in India. Cheers fellas have a good night’s sleep…Hopefully, the lads will put in a great performance tomorrow against stealth United and give a nice present to Sir Alex! GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!
Welcome 3Generations.
IBM came to Dubuque Iowa 2 years ago, we are getting Indians moving here, we now have an Indian Restaurant !!!!! Love the Indian people so colorful.
Mikekelly
Stam is very much like Vidic, both hard as fucking nails, perhaps Stam a bit harder…. Love them both, but when that question comes along I could not choose either of them over Bruce and Palli…
Just an affection think I suppose!
Hope its not nail biting tomorrow, mind you would never be United otherwise! buggers
Enjoy the day my friend and a good win I hope
Prasan
Yes, a fellow jaap stamian! Very similar line ups pal.
These 2 pregnant Indian women walk past my office every day with their long flowing colorful traditional dress. So cool.
Cedars
I hear ya. The Dollie and Daisy partnership has a special place in my heart. We all hope it won’t be nail bighting but we’re too long in the tooth to think it would be anything but!
I remember the gooners beat us 3 0 in the charity shield. That was Stams debut, I think? Anyway, he didn’t have the best of games. The media of course went into overdrive. flop Stam they were calling him. Jaap the flop. If you didn’t know by now, we done the treble that season.
He who laughs last…..
Zibbie
I get it now….. So Iowa is a type of steak? Ha? hahahahaha
Moses – Where are you? Seriously where are you? Nothing better than a Leeds fan to vent out swear words at when you are wasted with drugs….. Come out darling
My all time team would be what I have seen, and would do no justice to Best, Duncan and the rest.
_________________VDS_____________
G. Nev____Rio________Vida____Evra____
CR7______Keano__Scholes___Giggs____
_______Ruud______Rooney____________
@ MikeKelly
Absolutely pal, a beast of a defender!
Your name just reminded me again of Kelly Cates and if you ask Cedars he would always take her over that Nigerian nurse! 
@ Zibbie
Planning a trip to India in the near future, are you?
@Willie Lil Pea is an Emerald, a gem of Crown Jules quality.
On the flip side I also have a lot of love to share…… soren, where are you my love?
I would love to.
First I had neck and back surgery when I can travel again I will go to Old Trafford in the spring If all goes well, I got to see SAF from 4 feet away in Chicago this summer, I said how fucking cool, we made eye contact and he smiled.
If all goes well I will retire in 5 years and will visit India for a month. And travel the world for 5 months out of the year.
prasan
Never! If you fancy Kelly then you can have her…. No where near as hot as my African babe
Legal drugs are fun
I’m Irish and Italian and dark of skin, I look Indian, I made friends of Indian origin in San Diego in 85, dated some Indian women, and ate their mamas food, ooohhhh so so good.
Zibbie
Be sure to let us know when u head to Old Trafford, we’ll grab a beer.
King Eric – we still need to grab a beer, get your arse into gear!
Mikekelly
I think someone here fancies you…. Seems our friend prasan imagines you as Kelly Cates! hahahaha
Let us know how that relationship moves on eh? hahaha
Cedars you got it man, Iowa is steak. The promised land of milk and honey!!
I’m Northern Irish….seen more troubles than some could ever imagine. Would never discriminate concerning pussie. Love United and hope to be president one day! What the fuck I’m I taking about?
Zibbie
Would love to catch up with you someday pal! Hope you stay healthy and stay happy!
@ King Eric, Kings & SmartAlex – Please come back pals…we all are missing your posts!
Was just wondering how good would it be to see Danny boy put the winner past Sunderland tomorrow!
Cedars
Ha ha, get in, I can still pull em eh!!
Mikekelly12 you got it man. Cheers, if all goes well it will be March or April and would love to meet some RoM people there. If my health lets me I want to see 2 games in between see Ireland.
Zibbie
You are Italian and Irish and look Indian, you also use a Lebanese word as your user name
FUCK…. I am confused ….. (I am not actually, just a good thing to laugh at) hahahahaha
Iowa steak…..mmmmm
Good looking people are great for race relations, hehe relations!!!
@ Cedars
Hahaha..No my friend, won’t want Kelly Cates either! (Sorry Mike..hahahaha)
I love my fellow Indian girls!
Willie
Always knew it was Northern of some sorts but where Samoa come into my head?
Mediterranean men are loved the world over.
Merci very much Zibbie ….. You are too kind
Becks played hard last night. LA won.
I think I kept repeating it…..’Willie come from Northern Samoa’ ‘Willie comes from Northern Samoa’
It sort of stuck…. Turns out the bugger is Irish
I honestly thought he was from North Samoa
prasan
Enjoy them Indian babes buddy….. I mean there are enough to go round! hahahaha
Fuck me I am wasted
Well my lady just showed up, we have a small dinner party tonight. I must start the prep work. BBL.
BEAT SUNDERLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy the buzz Cedars and get better!!!!
my fave 11
SCHMEICHEL
IRWIN
STAM
VIDIC
EVRA
RONALDO
ROBSON
KEANE
GIGGS
CANTONA ROONEY
Thanks Zibbie, I do feel better…. would love to meet you one day. I mean that
@ Cedars
Haha..will surely enjoy in every sense my friend when I find my life partner
..but for now, fantasizing is good enough..Although, at 26 and still a virgin, I do feel odd and strange when I see around! 
Samoa Joe. Will I am
subs
VAN DER SAAR
BRUCE
HUGHES
KANCHELSKIS
VAN NISTELROOY
INCE
SCHOLES
I have best friends and family members that support City and Liverpool, hard to put up with but I live with it…. Its the Leeds ones that I cannot put up with….. Seriously I hate them
Too much info prasan. Get out there mate! Plenty of ripe females to be had!
@ Zibbie
Good night pal! Cya..enjoy the party!
Joe’s gonna kill you…
prasan
WHAT? No need to share that buddy! Still a virgin at 26? goodness gracious….. In that case keep enjoying the United orgasms my friend!
May you have the best blast eventually my friend…. Sure to be some blast! hahahahaha
@ Willie
I know.. I guess the drugs Cedars has taken is having a ripple effect on me as well!
I am sure I will find the pleasures at the right time buddy..there are lots out there for sure! 
@ Cedars
Hahahahaha…I certainly hope so my friend..got carried away a bit with emotions you see..damn your drugs!
He comes from Samoa, northern part may I add and he is a red ……. Love my Willie
What are these pills ur poppin cedars ? Could use some this end!
prasan
No worries my red loving friend! Always up for a laugh here…. Glad you took it the right way pal
Zibbie
Would be a pleasure pal! Enjoy your entertaining tonight.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Manchester-United-transfer-gossip-Paul-Pogba-is-target-for-AC-Milan-and-Inter-Milan-article826983.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Fergie sign him up.
Mikekelly
No clue buddy, they are white…. Ask me to spell their name now and I would collapse!
No fucking concentration whatsoever
CedarsDevil
Hello mate, Liverpool and city are hated rivals but somehow Leeds fans take it to a different level. Racist inbred scum. They spout their shit about their 70s side and Don fucking Revie claiming that they were better than the busby babes. Fucking bollocks, probably the most over-rated side and manager ever.
@ Cedars
Same here buddy..it’s a great place to have a good laugh and having a pop at the dirty fucking Leeds scum!
On that note, would sign off finally…it’s close to 4 a.m here..Good night fellas…keep the red flag flying high! Glory Glory Man United!
Cedars
Ha ha, they sound pretty potent pal. My phone is down to 4% and I have no charger so forgive me if I make an abrupt exit.
My Team would be ;
—————–VDS—————
Neville—Jaap—Vidic—Irwin
Beckham—Keano — Scholes—Giggs
——-Cantona——–Ronaldo———
Subs*:
Schmikey – I just love Edwin more
Parker
Bruce
Robbo
Ole – when he was a winger at right mid and left mid.
Mark Hughes
Ruud
Red Neck
Where the fuck have you been? (Drugs talking here)
I agree of course being old school…..Leeds are pure fucking scum…. Of course we hate City and Liverpool but Leeds are just pure vile, they disgust me …… The mere mention of their name makes me throw up
Mikekelly
Phone down or found you some pussy to shag? Lucky bugger
He’s found pussy galore. Bond adventure he ho he ho he ho
They call it the battle of the roses when we play Leeds no? What fucking roses? Them whites are busy shagging sheep while we play football….
Do you agree Moses? Scum cunt
I prefered Moses when he was Bill Knob. Less biblical, easier to humiliate.
CedarsDevil
Hope the players turn it on for Fergie against Sunderland. The man deserves to have his 25th year in charge marked with a top performance and a win. Come on united.
Red Neck
Hope so too buddy…
Costas
The Knob is a Pool fan, Moses is Leeds scum and hence my over drive
@ Ed Barker United Rant
Booze culture among certain players. I think its well documented that a drinking culture existed among some of the UNITED players but average.NAH!, never average, Robson,Mcgrath,Whiteside and Moran+fringe swillers ,were drinkers yes,but never average players.These players were sold [with exception of Robbo] for the eventual good of our club BUT average players,never,just part of a story that makes up our glorious club.
Its been said before that if we didn’t exsist they’d have to make us up.I’m 32,i went to my first game in feb 87 and although i cant say ive been an ever present at OT ive followed UNITED without reservation & complete love & loyalty.Most would say that its easy too do so with the success we’ve had but still there it is.Back to my point,we’ve had far more average players since the ‘booze culture’ players but thats for the manager to consider and he’s done a pretty good job at it so far! here’s to the foundations Sir Matt started and Sir Alex continued.The future’s bright the future’s UNITED.
Bill knob and Moses would make a lovely couple wouldn’t they. Fucking deserve each other. Sad bastards.
Red Neck
Perfect couple indeed…….Bastards of the highest order
Costas
Having a biblical name should not spare one from the proper attack…. I am a Catholic so if I called my self Jesus here no one will touch me? Fuck em Leeds scum
@Cedars
Nah, but it does feel weird saying “fuck you Moses”, lol. Don’t know if it’s the same guy or not. Not sure which team they support either. They could be trolls with nothing better to do in their lives.
Costas
Hahahaha you have a point…… Mind you supporting Leeds means you have no life whatsoever… Also means you are mere scum
And yes the poster Moses is Leeds scum…. wait till he denies it. Wish smartalex was here….I cannot dig out old posts to prove it
Sir Alex often mentions Liverpool because they are true rivals, we hate them but they have history…
He has recently spoken of City and called them ‘noisy neighbors’ fair enough
I cannot recall the last time that the boss has mentioned Leeds, why? Because they are mere toilet paper…. Just flush the bastards down the toilet
Sad that RoM has become a forum for 5 or 6 visiters to have general chatter and very little to say. I havent been in for a few weeks and I think Ill leave it for another few weeks. King Erik, lads where are you. This has turned into the god awful premier league fan zone program on sky. Full of fekkin halfwits who cant understand banter and joking, cant speak English and barely a footballing brain between the lot of them. RoM has fallen down hill very fast.
Goat
Then why bother coming here? You have just collectively offended every one who still posts here…
Speaking of the English language, you cannot spell to save your life buddy….. Such a shame, someone I used to enjoy…..
Best make them few weeks a few years next time…. Trust me, no one will miss you, such a sad person
Exactly my point Cedars.
If Ive collectively offended those, as you say, STILL post on here then Im affraid you take me for someone who gives a rats arse. Maybe what Ive said has been echoed by your post “those who still post”. Dont shoot the messenger. Maybe if this blog hadnt been hijacked by 6 pals who should get a fucking hotel room and ring jerk each other instead of writing small snipits a few lines long at most discussing Ryannahs tits or some other twonks threppeny bits, Paul Pogbas fucking aftershave or god knows what then maybe a decent discussion would come of this place.
I write quickly and hence dont check my spelling, talk about the pot calling the kettle black (not a racist slur), but what I lose in spelling I make up with wit, conversation and imagination. You used to enjoy my posts, thats nice to hear, unfortunately your posts are very ordinary, very very ordinary.
Of course no one will miss me, theyve already left. Ill leave this place now for the brain dead nobodies, dull uninteresting sheep. I do envy you though, you lot really are so thick you dont even know that your sad and bored, dull and pointless. Such naivity is a blessing
For old time’s sake I will not get into an argument with you Goat, but you have seriously made a fool of your self……..
@Costas – if that mirror link is at all accurate, it’s even more baffling why he hasn’t got any playing time during regular competition with our lack of talent/injuries in midfield
@prasan Thanks for the link, amazing video.
@CedarsDevil A big Hola!.
2-0 Go United.
Hope this is Mirror rubbish about Pogba – anyone know what his contract position is? : http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Manchester-United-transfer-gossip-Paul-Pogba-is-target-for-AC-Milan-and-Inter-Milan-article826983.html
so wind up merchant goat is at it again ? cedars ignore him . . he’s trouble
so inter and Milan are interested in pogba ? tell them they ll have to buy Gibson compulsorily with pogba . .
they ll go back to where they came from
joking aside . . this must be his agent stirring ship up for a larger pay cheque . .
*shit up
i can’t spell right to save my life 
I like Goat and his knack for winding folks up, but I won’t miss anyone who clearly has problems in real life and takes it out in here.
Back to football.
@Jim
It would be nice if we heard an update on what Pogba’s contract status is. But I’ll go out on a limb and say that one reason why Fergie hasn’t been too anxious to use him frequently this season might be his contract situation. Maybe he senses that Pogba’s head might get too big and is trying to keep him grounded until he commits to the club.
Cheers to all fellow ROM’ers and Reds! All geared up for today’s match against the Black Cats..let’s put in a vintage United performance for the great man!
@ Soren
Thanks for the mention at 5:34 my dear! How are you? All set for the match tonight?
Morning all
Cannot wait for kick off, as we have all mentioned today is about the boss. I hope the lads make him proud…
soren – Hello!
NBI
Was about to post that link till I noticed you did…. Hopefully just rubbish paper talk
@Cedars, Hopefully the fans do him proud! Last few games at OT have been like watching football being played on a graveyard. And I know the usual complaint is that the fans reflect the atmosphere prevalent on the pitch. Since that has been underwhelming, so has the crowd. But to me, it is all a load of bollocks. No matter how the team perform, it is up to the crowd to gee them up and work as the 12th man, and they haven’t been doing that this season.
I hope they turn up with full voices today because this one is for Sir Alex.
Oh, and I really do hope, the “right” United turn up for the game. It definitely isn’t going to be easy and I know Sir Alex wouldn’t mind an ugly win on his 25th anniversary, but it would be great if we could give Sunderland a spanking for old times sake.
Manchester United are a philosephy, a way of life.
A lot of talk have been made of who is the best football club in the world, all of us here would without any doubts or hesitation say United loud and proud.
But to me United are not just a football club, its how i live my life.
Manchester United have been my inspiration, they inspire me to win, to try my best and give my all, they’ve inspired me to never let go of my dreams, to become the best I can become, they inspire me to live life and love, they inspire me to love my family and friends to respect my elderly and to pay respect to the dead.
You see to me they have been a part of my life even outside football, and all that wouldnt be possible without the great man himself Sir Alex Ferguson.
What more can I say?
Thank you Sir Alex.
I will be as selfish as I can be and ask for another 25 years with him.
United till I die…
Balaji
I agree with you about the atmosphere….. The problem in my opinion is partly due to the expansion, which is great for the club of course but it has not helped with the noise levels…. A large part of the East Stand on weekend games is usually filled with tourists who do not know football from basketball and are just there for the photos. That is why and by enlarge you always get a much better atmosphere at OT during European matches (Last one was an exception of course) and that is because one time visitors do not attend evening matches as the usual stadium tour and museum are not available.
I said this before, I do prefer OT back in the days when the capacity was about 43,000… The place used to rock with noise regardless of the scoreline on the pitch. It pains me when I see teams like Stoke have a much louder noise level then we do…..Its part of the price we paid for being so big. Those who travel to away games these days make us proud, by far the loudest in the land
@Cedars, Interesting. Thanks for that. Guess you learn something everyday because I certainly did not know that. Still, whatever the reasons might be, it still doesn’t excuse what we saw against City and Otelul Galati is my personal opinion, with fans leaving before full-time being the most disgraceful of the lot.
Han
A truly inspirational post! Echos my sentiments exactly
@Cedars and Han, Exactly. To me, apart from the usual personal qualities, two things form up the core of my identity – who I am. One is the fact that I am Indian. I wear that badge proudly on my chest and display it wherever I go (not literally, of course). I can’t stop talking proudly about my nationality. The only other aspect of my identity that can match and rival me being an Indian is me being a Manchester United fan. It is one more thing I wear proudly on my chest and sometimes literally display to the outside world also. It has since become part of who I am and anyone who knows me understands how I feel about. I cannot stand people talking ill of my nation and my club. They are the easiest ways to get into a fight with me and, mind you, I am not one to go looking for fights.
Manchester United is who I am.
Balaji
Believe me pal, there have been a fair few of us vocal throughout the WHOLE match! I hate it when people slate the Old Trafford crowd as a collective!! We can’t physically force people to sing. I get your point and yes there are day trippers there but please don’t tar us with the same brush. I don’t know how often you’ve been to old Trafford when we’ve played poorly or even been getting humped, but believe me it is difficult to sing your lungs out as number 5 and 6 role in, it’s like trying to muster a song at a family funeral, fucking hard, but we do and it just pisses me off when we all get labelled the same! I will be there again, belting it out with the faithful, win, lose or draw, shit performance or not. But I’ll be back here on ROM tomorrow getting slated as one of the “shit atmosphere” if we don’t do well! Awesome.
Balaji
I agree, fans leaving early is a disgrace… Hardly saw it at United before to be fair….. Back in my days you would not even dare leave before the final whistle, trust me you would be bullied and called all sorts of names… However as beer was allowed in the stadium back then you did need to make at least one trip to the bathroom during the match (always tried to save it till half time!!) and as you made your way out to relieve yourself people would start shouting things like ‘where the fuck are you going’ or ‘not leaving are you’
@Mike, Oh, I completely apologize mate, if I came across as generalizing the whole crowd. Reading back, I think that is how I came off and I am truly sorry for that. I know guys like you, Scott, NBI, NRD and a few others on ROM do go and sing your hearts out. Just like any of us International fans would do if we ever got the privilege. However, the majority have been pretty poor for the past few matches and it makes me sick to my stomach to see people leaving before the whistle has been blown. I completely agree that you cannot physically force people to sing, and that is completely true. Again, I didn’t mean it as a generalization, only to point out a majority, and no hard feelings mate.
@Mikekelly12
It’s definitely not the entire crowd’s fault mate. That’s why every time I critisize the atmopshere I try to exclude those that try to pick it up. Unfortunately, there’s not enough of you to make a difference. And I am not talking about the City or the Otelul game. With a few rare exceptions, the atmopshere has been like this for a good 2-3 years now.
Mikekelly
Hi buddy… As someone who went to OT back in the 80′s you would understand where I am coming from more than most…. Been back a few times since and sat at the East Stand, all I wanted to do was sing and cheer and I kept getting strange looks from some around me as if I was disturbing them!
Credit though to all who give it their best every match day, you included
FUCKS SAKE GOAT ….DONT YOU FUCK OFF AS WELL…. CEDARS DOESNT SPEAK FOR ALL ON HERE
I FOR ONE WILL MISS YOUR IRREVERANCE AND BRUTAL HONESTY…
IF IT UPSETS SOME …SO BE IT…IT IS AS THEY SAY…..A FREE COUNTRY…
TonyBee
Of course I do not speak for everyone here, I only speak for my self…. I do not want Goat to piss off either but his latest posts where an attack on all of us….. I do miss the likes of Kings, King Eric, smartalex etc but in all honesty if Goat does decide to piss off I for one will not miss him although I did enjoy his posts
This one is for Costas (from Nick Coppack): “Manchester United have fielded 14 different back four combinations in just 17 games this season. Unfamiliar.”
Sure does explain the amount of shots on target and goals we seem to be leaking this season as opposed to the last.
How can it be possible to not be in love with Manchester United? Surely you don’t need to be a romantic to be seduced when you hear the phrase ‘Theatre of Dreams’. WOW
If someone gave me a tenner for every time I’ve gone on youtube just to watch Gigg’s goal in ‘that’ semi final against Arsenal I’d own a yacht.
Gimme a tenner for every time I’ve watched Cantona’s celebration against Sunderland, surely the best celebration ever.
… and the trawler speech.
Champions league final against Bayern, depression to mindless celebration in almost an instant.
Beck’s scoring a goal from the halfway line and then blushing.
Off course our rivals sometimes do their bit … my favourite, Liverpool getting beat by Crystal Palace 4-3 in an FA Cup semi yonks ago. Liverpool had put 9 past Palace earlier in the season.
Fuck me, if it wasn’t for Manchester United I would never have watched football at all.
Sir Alex says that the class of 92 will be repeated again
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2011/Nov/sir-alex-class-of-1992-will-happen-again-at-united.aspx?pageNo=1
How each one of us would love a repeat of class of 92 is beyond question..Just hope that the likes of Pogba, Morrison, Tunnicliffe, Fryers and co. can enjoy the sort of success that batch had!
And, he pays a tribute to Steve Bruce as well ahead of today’s match
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2011/Nov/sir-alex-praises-sunderland-manager-steve-bruce.aspx?
@Balaji
Thanks mate. I appreciate it. But to be totally fair, I reported this stat last week.
It was before the Otelul game and I said that it’s 9 different partnerships at CB and 13 different back fours in the first 16 games. Both numbers of course are the highest in the last 20 years. The lowest (no shock) were recorded during 92-93 and 93-94. The Bruce-Pallister days.
Troy
Bloody brilliant! Best addiction any human can have, Manchester United
Balaji
No worries pal, and it wasn’t really you, it’s just that yours was the latest post mentioning it. Others on here bring it up time and again blaming EVERYONE in the stadium and I doubt these people have ever stepped inside Old Trafford! I do agree with you though, on whole it is poor but when your in a pocket of the crowd that is vocal it doesn’t always sound like that! I truly wish the likes of yourself, Costas et al could come and lend your support week in week out, it’s what the place needs, and it goes without saying I wish you could return Cedars with the same passion on a regular basis. Yes the 80/90′s blew the atmosphere out of the water. Most of my days being spent on United Road bouncing up and down for 90 minutes, but the reality is now that the revenue that the club chases involves a lot of corporate schmoozing and unfortunately these don’t sing. Imagine Old Trafford rocking with 70,000 voices? Now that would be a sight to see, but will never happen. If you want the full United experience, get yourself down to the next away game.
By the way, what was up with the Goat last night?
@Costas, Ah, stat-attack strikes again.
Costas strikes again …… Never want to mess with the stats man
Mikekelly
I totally agree, whilst a visit to OT for first timers is a must, an away match would them the buzz of their lives
give them the buzz………….. stupid typos
Yeah guys, I couldn’t let damn Coppack steal my thunder.
The Galati did game did feature another new back 4 and I’m sure Fergie has a few more in his locker! At least we did’t play a new defensive partnership. The boss run out of options there. 
@Cedars And I love the Lebanese too my friend – for without you, there would be no shawarma, I think! In my time in the UAE, I used to have a lebanese shawarma everyday! Sigh. One of the things I miss about living in the gulf.
(BTW, I am an app developer. So, right on about the hi tech stuff 
)
RMW
Ah, yet another Indian I missed out on! hahaha Just so many of you guys!
Shawarma is indeed Lebanese just as are kebabs (Costas, we will have this debate later!)
Been accused of over posting here and even more ridiculously accused of owning the bloody place…. In all honesty I do not give a flying fuck…. I just enjoy it, have all the time on my hands and in all honesty I love this place…. Trust me, I own nothing…Not even a car…
Oh and I hate Leeds scum, just in case you missed that one
RoM seems to have too many ‘foreign’ posters these days and in many ways that seems to get under the skin of some
@Cedars We are everywhere mate! One of the good things about being Indian is that you never feel out of place
RMW
Only ones who could argue that point are the Chinese I suppose…. But you guys are more spread out…… You could probably fit the whole Lebanese population in a Chinese building! hahahaha
Cedars – I applaud you mate. Trying to stand up to the Goat lol. You really didn’t need to bother though. The Goat is a windup merchant mate. I’ve never took his ramblings serious. Every once in a while….he’ll produce a top post. More often than not, his posts are littered with absolute nonsense. Some find it funny(like me) others take it to heart. He won’t disappear from this blog. The goal will be back, with more insane posts!
Watch this space. 
Cheers Willie
Like you I also enjoy his ramblings but I also know that the guy has serious issues, its obvious for fucks sake and last night I lost it with him, sort of got to me me! hahaha
Like I said before whether he comes back or not I do not give a rat’s ass
25 fuckin years! I enjoyed the football we played under big ron, the cup runs, flowing football, never finished out the top 4. We were a good side but we were not a championship winning team… So in comes this man i’d never heard of from scottish football? ‘eh?’ I asked me dad? lol ‘he’s from aberdeen son, they’re a good team’ and here we are. Incredible. I’ve run out of superlatives, there are no words to describe how i feel about SAF. I love the man like he was me own dad even though i’ve never met him or shook his hand. I hope one day i will. He’s given me so many happy memories, as scott says, ‘my life is considerably better because sir alex ferguson came to manage manchester united.’ That applies to me 100%… Legend/icon/hero/genius…Words bandied about too much for my liking in todays football all apply to him. I wanna enjoy every second of every minute he’s still around cos when he’s gone, we’re going to miss him. The whole of football is.
jamiemufc1974
Terrific share, loved reading it …Thanks
Mikekelly12 – I get your frustration there. I’ve been in the North stand, Stretty, South stand and behind the other nets. You get wee pockets of fans, that will sing their hearts out. But by in large, it is hard to get a proper sing song going. My advice to anyone going to OT for their first time, try and get into the Stretty. The best atmosphere by a country mile. Me and the old man were up there for the Hull game( 4 3) right up at the top! Brilliant crack, though it never come through on the TV, when you watch the highlights later.
Willie
Another 3 cheers to you and your old man….. A family of reds, just brilliant…. Sort of brought a tear to my eye, never watched a live game with my late dad…. Did it separately at different eras …Damn I miss him
Cedars – Cheers mate. Great thing about football….it can bring people closer together. I’m just happy, my old man brought me up as United fan. Couldn’t imagine supporting any other club. How can I describe it, it just feels right being a United fan! Red till I die!
No words to describe it buddy….. Hope to see a truly outstanding Irish player at United again soon….
Bet that would make you even happier eh? I know it would me
Goat should do stand up comedy like Russel Peters!
Cedars and Wille, well said on point GOAT counter point.
I find some of his ramblings funny, and some are sick drunk rants that have exposed way to much to the trained observer. I missed a sick joke then he has attacked with a psychotic rants. He needs real help mates. No shit, not mad or pissed right now. Simple as.