A fond memory of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for many reds took place when Manchester United hosted Newcastle at Old Trafford.
Before that match, United had been top of the league for 6 months, but now, towards the end of April, we were losing our grip on the title. There were three matches remaining after this match and it was must win.
United went a goal behind after eleven minutes before David Beckham levelled the score with his head before half time. 1-1 wasn’t good enough and United needed a win if they were going to fight off Arsenal to win the league.
Solskjaer was brought on with ten minutes to go, like usual, to try and win us the match. However, it wasn’t his attempts in front of the Newcastle goal that helped us that day.
With a couple of minutes left to play, United were determined to get that all important winning goal, and threw all their men forward. Beckham played a ball in to the box which was cleared faster than anticipated.
Rob Lee bombed after the ball and would eventually be one on one with goalkeeper Raimond Van der Gouw, certainly confirming defeat and a titleless season.
Solskjaer was the fasted player back though and caught up with Lee, swiping his leg out at the Newcastle player and tripping him. He knew he wouldn’t get his foot to the ball in time to stop a goal being scored so tripped up the player instead. This seemed to sum up his attitude as a United player, prepared to take the punishment and criticism for the sake of the success of the team.
However, Ole has reflected on how Sir Alex Ferguson view his act of self-sacrifice.
“I stepped out of line and he put me in my place in front of everyone,” said Solskjaer. “I was called into his office next morning and had to pay a fine. He wanted us to win but he did not want us to cheat. He didn’t want to be associated with that and he was right.”
Man Utd News 24/7
indeed a fond memory along with Nou Camp 99 and the FA cup winner vs the Dippers the previous February
I don’t mind that moment. Personifies the unselfishness of Ole. He fouled him, he saw a deserved red. Alas, no cheating imo.
Newcastle have still to win at Old Trafford in decades. Thanks to Ole.
But he “HAD TO”
That was then, because I dont think he fined Fabio against Wolves last season ….
Off topic, Villa Preview: Don’t Get Mugged By The Villains ….
http://www.theunitedreligion.com/2010/11/villa-preview-dont-get-mugged-by.html
@Ghtt
too right mate…..”he had to’
Right from the night in Nou Camp to the Nottingham Forest game, too many Ole memories. Baby faced Assassin!
One of my favourite moments from 2O LEgend.
Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBrFlDpQudY
Can (and have) watched this endlessly!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1328996/Jose-Mourinho-tells-Manchester-United-Chelsea-make-Premier-League-horse-race.html
Hes right United in title winning seasons always have a few losses but vvery few draws………
sorry Fergie, but it was a decision took in the moment, you made the right choice ole
ill be 35 by the time youre manager, and ill be just as excited as i am now
yeah i remember that episode well… still think Ole did well on that occasion… sorry, gaffer
Lol he was miles behind at the start!
It should’ve only been a booking there was nothing clear cut about the scoring opportunity, it was Rob Lee after all!
I feel for Ole here, Ronaldo seemed to get away with worse.
Phelan speaking about Rooney today:
“He’s been doing really well… training hard… our people out there have been really pleased with his attitude and approach.”
He also said that “he’ll be back tomorrow and at training Monday.”
arijc – I heard the Wigan game is what there looking at, hopefully any way.
willierednut – Sounds like he should be ready for the game against Wigan. Not that I feel like welcoming him back, but he is most effective of the lot at playing up front on his own.
Further from the Phelan press conf, Rafael and Gary Nev out of #MUFC game at #AVFC. Scholes suspended. Also several players still suffering from virus.
evra trained today as well? he could be ready for villa?
Yeah, looks like Evra will make it. Good news. But they still haven’t dealt with the virus? It’s been over 2 weeks now.
united.george
Yep, Evra trained today.
Solskjaer made the right choice for him, Fergie made the right choice for him. It helped the team but I couldn’t help feel a bit dirty about the whole thing.
@Whiteside Curler … nah, much as I love Ole, and think he did the right thing, but it was a clear red card. He says himself that he knew that at the time. The rules don’t say the the attacking player must have been about to score, or even likely to score, only that he has a “clear opportunity” to score. Whether he stood a good chance of actually scoring is irrelevant. One-on-one with the goalie like that, there’s no doubt he had an opportunity to try, and that’s all that counts.
But watching Ole streak across the field in pursuit, and then bring him down like that … what a sight!
legend! nuff said…
asked that allready in the other thread but nobody was answering =(, is there a GIF of that rafael vs. shitface incident ?
thx in advance
@rat1p theres a video of it on united latest
If Torres/Henry/Drogba had done this they’d be called cheating cunts no doubt.
@jed who do you support i’ve noticed your comments are always to get a rise out of people
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/wayne-rooneys-ultimate-team-7525692/
It’s now clear why Mr Ambition wanted to leave us
Stateside: I was only joking mate, it was about as blatant as they come. But like you say, what a sight! I just wish he hadn’t waited for the ref to pull out the card!
sayyid: Micah frigging Richards? Must be that scouse humour.
Richards desnt even start games for City
Rooney is delusional
SAF may have fined Ole, but that moment sealed Oles worth for me. What a man. Knew what it meant. Knew it was a red card. Keano would have done it and just straight away walked off the pitch. Ole stood there, respecting the referee and so never received and extra match ban. Van der Goaw knew Ole had saved the game. Beckham knew Ole had saved the game. Every United fan worth their salt stood and clapped him off.
Love Ole, but hate that moment. It was cheating, simple as. If any opposition player did it against us I’d be frothing at the mouth screaming for proper punishment. I understand why he did it, but I’d rather we’d have lost the match to be honest…
I remember that match. But the one thing I liked about the whole incident is of how he didn’t stand there and try and argue with the ref or anything. He accepted the punishment and i think he told Beckham ‘I had to do it’. Unlike players nowadays, who would stand and argue with the ref of how they got the ball and how it was a clean tackle…
i dont see this as cheating, it is what you have to do to stop the play and knowing it will cost you a red card, ejection and suspension.
It was not like it was not obvious. Cheating is trying to deceive the ref into awarding you a call. Diving, pretending to get hit in my opinion is more of what cheating is about.
Ole did this in the open, went for the guys legs to stop him from scoring. What was he supposed to do, run all the way and just watch him score?
@sayyid
That is Rooney’s ultimate team in fifa 11,a game and not in real life…and micah richards is rated v highly in fifa 11…
I don’t consider it cheating either. Not when you are punished to the full extent of the law. I was saying the same when Suarez handled the ball against Ghana.
As united.george says, cheating is when you are try to con the ref imo.
Totally agreed with what SAF had to say. His attitude was right alright, but nevertheless negative football is unhealthy, we all know that.. remember suarez hand ball inside goal post from recent worldcup?? and henry’s handball against ireland..
I still think it was cheating, its purposefully breaking the rules of football to your advantage.
To point out the Uruguay game, the guy handled on the line stopping a definate goal, was sent off with a minute left resulting in a missed penalty and his team going on to win. Was he really punished? His team got to go out the next match with 11 men, so they lost no man advantage and gained a World Cup semi final. It was a disgrace.
Ole’s isn’t as bad, but I still think its cheating. If he pressured Lee, maybe, just maybe he would have missed. He still had time and Rob Lee was still out far enough, but yeah, it was wrong IMO. I’m not gonna lambast anyone for thinking otherwise, different strokes and all that. But wish he hadn’t done it.
Yeah not arguing loughie. It’s just a difference of opinion on this matter. Suarez missed the next game and his absence was costly for Uruguay. So the red did have an effect, although not directly. We’ve seen goalies take down a striker when they are through on goal and receive a red as a result. Again, I can’t see that as cheating. The opposition is given the numerical advantage and they can capitalise on that.
Wow. That close to losing him to Spurs!? Never would’ve thought…http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1329228/Ole-Gunnar-Solskjaer-admits-hed-love-Manchester-United-return–just-days-leaving.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
I look back at this memory with fondness. It’s one of those moments that sum up one aspect of a player’s character.. this tackle summed up Ole’s great selflessness. I don’t think its cheating, he took one for the team. Its understandable why Fergie was unhappy though.
Great tribute to Ole and his last season at United:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K8WzVVYY6Q&NR=1
Ole is a great human being and footballer, considering he is humble n down to earth, not letting the fame and love from the fans to lose himself in arrogance and such.
Insights like that above on Fergie helps us fans to understand what goes on behind closed doors
at our club. Ole saved us with what he did and i am sure Fergis appreciated it but doing things the right way is in the Manutd’s DNA. We r not perfect for sure but love the foundation,structure and purpose of the club. On the right bedrock. Following Manutd is like taking courses in the Open University.
About this weekend, the squad looks good and since we dont have a game midweek,we can play the strongest side without rotating.Fergie will pick the best squad to get the job done.
The danger we face is agbonlahor,signing a new deal and just back,we need to be careful.
Otherwise with half thier key players out villa can be neutralised in this battle.
First I wish Manutd win this battle comfortably.
Then the results in the other games need to go our way.
Birmingham need to win thier battle with City.
Everton must certainily win thier battle at Goodison with Arsenal.
Brucey’s Sunderland with Gyan starting alonsgside Bent and Wellbeck in support in the wings
must surely win thier battle with Chelsea.
The other results hopefully will be helpful as well.
Lets do this Manutd,lets win today.
an excellent preview of today’s match
http://www.unitedzone.info/content/aston-villa-vs-manchester-united-match-preview-153/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=855sNvf_1fg&feature=related