It comes around quickly doesn’t it? That time of year when more than ever your life revolves around football. That time of year when the morning of any game feels like the morning of the biggest game. That time of year when you celebrate any goal scored against your rivals as though they were goals your own team had scored. That time of year when champions are separated from challengers.
Last weekend, after turning off the Chelsea game at 3-1, when it became apparent that West Ham, as usual, weren’t going to do us any favours, I hoped Hull might have something to offer. Ok, so only Portsmouth are below them in the table, but they’re up for a good scrap and maybe they could pull off the unthinkable. They almost did! Despite going down to ten men in the first half thanks to the idiotic and dangerous behaviour of George Boateng (who is, in case you forgot, a prick) Arsenal needed an injury time winner to secure three points. As United fans, we’ve no place to bemoan late winners, but it should provide us with some positivity to see the Goons struggle. If the ten men of Hull are almost too much for them, they’re going to find their trips to Spurs, Birmingham and Blackburn a lot more trying!
Regardless, before last weekend you would have pencilled both those results in as wins for Chelsea and Arsenal, so there wasn’t much to complain about.
But it was ahead of our game against Fulham that the nerves started to creep in. Whilst I had been confident of our chances before the game, the closer it got to kick-off the more panicked I became. I started thinking about horrible scenarios. Own goals, injuries and failing offside traps dominated my pre-match thoughts. We should beat Fulham… but what if we don’t? We’ve still got to go to Liverpool and City yet, as well as face Chelsea, so we really can’t afford to drop points here.
Then the game started and we were playing well. We created plenty of chances and we always looked like we were going to score, we just needed the break through… but what if that didn’t come? What if we hit the post and Schwarzer had a brilliant game and our lads didn’t put their shooting boots on?
The goal did come though, thankfully, right at the start of the second half. We were bossing the game and all was looking good. We just needed that second goal to wrap up the result and we’d be laughing. The chances kept coming but the goals didn’t.
Then, with 15 minutes to go, Nemanja Vidic let the ball roll past him and Bobby Zamora was in, one on one with Edwin Van der Sar. That sickening feeling in the stomach, the churning that comes when you know that you are about to concede, kicked in.
But Vidic got back at him and made a great tackle so we were off the hook, but with your heart rate struggling to return to normal.
We had to wait until 6 minutes from time before the second was scored, then in to injury time before it became 3-0, and I start to wonder what we do this for.
Thinking back and reading all of that, it sounds like sheer agony. Why do we put ourselves through this?
But the answer is obvious. Because it feels fucking fantastic when you win! And winning at the expense of teams who are painfully close to achieving your shared goal is even better. Even though it’s excruciating with it being so close at the top it is seasons like these that you remember most fondly.
The season after the Treble we didn’t even need to try, finishing 18 points clear of second placed Arsenal. It’s brilliant to win, of course, but that feeling of having to wait until the final day of the season is unmatched by anything else. How great was it in 98-99 when we beat Spurs, after going a goal down? How brilliant did you feel after Giggsy buried the ball against Wigan at the end of the 07-08 season knowing that made us Champions? All that tension and stress and pressure and frustration explodes out of you and is replaced with total joy and madness.
If someone offered me the title now, obviously I’d take it, but the game doesn’t work like that and we’ve got to be grateful of what we have. How many fans have even been involved in a title race over the past two decades apart from ours? Villa, Blackburn, Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool? We’re so fucking lucky it’s untrue.
“They’re a long time dead,” my mum used to say to me about my grandparents when I was kid, with a Sunday outing to Timperley being met with groans. I wanted to stay at home or knock about with my mates or play a bit of footie. I didn’t want to go and sit around with my nana and grandad, bored whilst the adults chatted away. I loved them and all, and as far as grandparents went, they were pretty cool, but you imagine them always being there. Sadly, that’s not how life works and you’ve got to appreciate them whilst you have them because most people will spend the majority of their lives without them.
Our title challenges are the same, and however painful they may be at times, we shouldn’t ever take them for granted. Most people will spend the majority of their lives without ever seeing their team in the top 6, let alone challenging for titles, let alone winning them year after year! We’re a privileged group and sadly shouldn’t presume we’re going to be in this situation all the time. Think of the people who follow teams in midtable mediocrity, who don’t get to enjoy the thrill of the relegation battle or title charge, and what they would give for the ache we have in our bellies before matches at the moment!
So yes, it does feel horrible, and the thought of 1.29pm on Sunday is enough to make my tummy flip, but this is what it’s all about! These are the moments that make it so great to be a United fan and we should treasure them, bottle them up for a time in the future when we may crave the success we’re enjoying so freely right now.
I fancy us to win the title this year, but if we don’t, we look forward to next year. It is not our divine right to win the league, whatever we may like to think, and the hurt of missing out this year would just make the desire to win it next year even stronger, and the feeling of winning it again all the more enjoyable. But to be named champions in a couple of months time would make us the most successful English club of all time, with a record 19 titles and a record of 4 titles in a row, something no other club has done before. The hope and anticipation that comes with daydreaming about the end of the season make right now the best part of the season and I really can’t wait until May!
Man Utd News 24/7
Well-written article, Scott.
I say we show those dippers and the rest of the world that Man Utd will be on the top for many years yet. It’s not our divine right to be so, but we are the Red Devil, so who cares about that? Long may our reign continue.
Well said, Scott. Always appreciate it when you put things in perspective — far too easy for us to lose sight of that.
And now I really can’t wait till Sunday.
O the joys of being a lifelong supporter…..always the end of season rush brings such a climax and when its over i feel empty and bereft (fucking big words i know) and have to rely on the Repulik of Mancunia for my Utd fix over the summer ….. keep up the good work Scotty
Well, you know it’s squeaky bum time when I start watching Arsenal and Chelsea games! Given what has happened, we are still in a good position. If we manage to get through the next 3 games unscathed, then our chances will increase.
This is the time of the season when the men are separated from the boys, or what saf calls it squeaky bum time. ps this Barca team will take some stopping
@Costas
Same post lol.
@willierednut
Lol yeah. Barca look to have sealed it. Here’s the catch for them this year. They haven’t wrapped up the Spanish title, so their attention won’t be only on the C.League. It’s an interesting Quarter final line up. No clear favorite yet, but us and Barca have a slight edge.
Good article and as much as I hate to think of it, there may come a time when we have another barren spell. If you’d told United fans in 1967, that we wouldn’t win another title for 26 years, they’d think you were mad. Likewise, if you’d told the scousers in 1990 that by 2010, they wouldn’t have won another title and United would equal them, they wouldn’t believe it.
Football is a funny old game and it throws up surprises and things you don’t expect. We have to celebrate each trophy likes its our last, because you never know when it will be your last.
The best is yet to come, the bad was in the past
Best moment(s) of the season so far: Putting the bitters to the sword, twice!
Worst moment of the season so far: Leeds scum beating us at home, no doubt about it, still hurts.
I will comment on this later but sorry to go off topic for a sec. I REALLY do hope we get Barca in the semi’s or Final if we get there. I am fucking sick to the teeth of Southgate and that cunt commentating is it Peter Drury banging on about how great Barca are and “by far the best team in the world”. These mugs actually think that the reason they pissed it in Rome is because they were just so much better than United, which on the night they were but it was a fucking ghastly performance by United that night with key players missing and half the team carrying injuries. I really want to put that night right. Barcelona obviously are good but on their day United are as good or better. Really am pissed off with them talking United down all the time. They are playing NINTH in the German league not a fucking world beater. Its the equivalent of a Fulham or a fucking Birmingham at present. Good goal by Messi like but NOBODY at the minute will give United credit. Like the cunt’s on talk sport saying how the Rentboys are favourite to win the title. Why the fuck are they? Anyone would think THEY were top of the league, in great form, 3 times Champions and getting better by the game. They just will not risk looking cunt’s after all the shit they have given us all season about not replacing Ronaldo and Tevez and our midfield being shit. I bet they won’t give us any credit til the day we pick the fucking trophy up. They are so determined for ABU to win the league and it really fucking pains them that United are looking great at the minute. Fucking Cunt’s the lot of them.
Rant over, sorry lads. (and lasses).
@Costas
Yeah, Barca and Madrid are gonna be neck and neck for la liga, Madrid will want to win the league more than ever, now there out of the champions league. On the draw, i really don’t care who we get, any thing we do in Europe is a bonus for me, though better leaving Barca for the final if we get there.
@bchilds
Beating the bitters twice when they were so confident of Knocking us down. PRICELESS. We had to win and we did.
Leeds scum caught us out unfortunately, we learn from our mistakes.
Just can’t wait to give them Scouse shite some stick now Sunday can’t come quick enough. With all our injuries still can’t believe we’re top, any other team would have fallen by the wayside.
We have some tricky games especially Away like Bolton, Blackburn and Shity so it the time of year when I become fingernail less.
Fucking belter of a post Scott lad. Summed the feelings of fans up perfectly. I can’t even enjoy watching United especially on the TV. I am not so bad at the game but a bag of nerves sitting at home. My stomach is in knots, I cannot settle, I am sat at the edge of the seat, I ask my wife to kindly leave the room as I firmly believe she is a bad luck symbol!! I never used to be like this but the joy the rivals get from seeing United fuck up just ups the ante. I just love sticking two fingers up at them. Like you said Scott why do we bother? Because we fucking LOVE United. It must be awful supporting mid table teams like you say Scott. What is your yard stick? Finishing 10 instead of 11? Getting one over your rivals in your “cup final” much like the dippers? How fucking boring, I just love watching the lads winning trophies and gloating to my dipper mates. But then I remember the 80′s when they were winning everything in sight and our highlight was getting one over on them twice a season or winning the odd FA Cup. Thinking back I still got as much enjoyment out of those days. I firmly believe with everything that has gone on we will create history this season and if we do then Fergie, the coaches and the lads deserve a HUGE amount of credit for having to rebuild, adjust and gel in one season . What an achievement that would be.
@willierednut
I do have a few concerns about the Quarters sandwiching the Chelsea game, but I wouldn’t say that I am terrified by any opponent. Like you, I would like to save Barcelona for last. The problem with the current bunch of teams, is that we have played against them in recent times. We have played against Barca, Arsenal, CSKA and Inter over the last 12 months. That leaves Bordeaux, Bayern and Lyon as potential fresh challenges. I would like something new.
bchilds – Yeah could not agree more about the highlights being the battering of the bitters twice but mainly the 3-1 in the league cup semi. They were SO close to wembley but alas….
The Leeds scum defeat still hurts now. I still to this day 3 month on keep getting stick from the cunts. Small mentality scum bags.
Spot On…..I Want Number Nineteen So Much To Beat The Murderers Titles And 4 In A Row Would Be Better Than The Treble….Or Is That Me Been Daft????
Best moment of the season for me is the Mikey Owen goal. Rooney’s goal against the bitters is second with the Owen goal against Villa third. I liked that goal because it showcased the very best of Berba and Owen.
Worst moment? Well, living outside England, I can’t relate to the Leeds thing as much. For me it was the defeat to Chelsea. Should have buried them that day.
@ King Eric
Yes love your rant. The Cunts on the BBC As well. Used to piss me off but can’t be arsed with em now. Just reminds me of the bitters fans something to laugh at.
Mancunian
The Treble gave me the biggest amount of joy I have ever experienced as a United fan so, for me, nothing will ever top that. Four-in-a-row will be a sweet and enjoyable experience though!
Oops, Olympiacos are one goal away from knocking Larry White out and Bordeaux are down to ten. Better take a look.
As much as i want revenge over barca they look unstoppable at the moment. Messi in great form again.31 goals this season. Rooneys tally under threat.if the draws are favourable it could be a repeat of last years final.inter are the main threat.hope we avoid them
Highlight for me has to be Owen’s winner against the Berties, closely followed by the dipper going out of the champions league. The low, well there is no low’s following this great club. @King Eric calm down mate you’ll give yourself a hernia lol.
aig – Are they fuck unstoppable mate. They are playing NINTH in the German league. Equivalent of a Fulham. You give them far too much respect and forget which team you are following. NOT the dippers, NOT the gooners or Chav’s but MANCHESTER UNITED the magical club. We can beat anyone . God you have added to my rant now!!! Only messing.
willierednut – Just get fucking pissed off with it all mate. Like tonight the ginger bastard Durham saying the only reason the rentboys went out is because they were cheated by the ref! What goes around fucking comes around.
Top post King Eric
I had to turn off the Barca vs Stuttgart game purely because of the OTT commentary. It’s almost like everytime a British commentator has to work on a game they take an Andy Gray excitement pill overdose and shoot their load over their TV screens.
You’re spot on by explaining that Stuttgart are NINTH in the Bundesliga, if we would completely outplay Birmingham at Old Trafford we’d not get an ounce of credit for it because it’s expected.
It’s the same with players, a week ago Messi was struggling according to British commentators, now because he scored a hat-trick against Valencia and has had a good game tonight suddenly he is not the best player in the world.
Such tosh, it is so painful to listen to!
Here is a prime example. United beat European giants and one point off the top of seria a by a similar score to what Barca are beating Ninth place Stuttgart. The fucking hyperbole coming out that cunt Peter Drury’s mouth in comparison to what folk said about our result is leagues apart. We NEVER get enough credit. This is the same cunt that when Tevez scored at Eastlands was fucking gloating like fuck. “Bet you wish you had signed him up eh Fergie”? In my mind Barca get the same sort of over the top plaudits that Arsenal do except theirs is more deserving.
Right I am off for a smoke now to calm the fuck down!!
*remove the word ‘not’ from the sentance regarding Messi and the best player in the world tag!
Can somebody tell me what did we do to deserve Jim fucking Beglin? He ruins every fucking football match that he does on telly.
bchilds – I tell ya man. Glad you are on the same wave length mate and its not just me over reacting!!
You’re on fire tonight King Eric – I couldn’t agree with you more, it’s like you’re reading my mind and that’s not a nice thought!
You’re right though, Peter Drury is being such an annoying twat!
Xyth – Beglin is a dipper cunt. Bangs on all the time about Rooney then changes his tune to Messi. The ONLY commentator I can stomach is Clive Tyldsley. Steve Rider the plastic face cunt and Southgate need a fucking bullet as well.
King Eric
Take this for example for the guardian’s minute by minute:
“FULL TIME: Barcelona 4-0 Stuttgart. And that, Europe, is that. If they keep playing like this, Barcelona are going to be lifting their European Cup at the home of Real Madrid in May. And nobody should be writing off Argentina for the World Cup either, Manager Maradona or no, because Lionel Messi… oh my.”
Argh!!!!
Fucking brilliant post Scott, one of the best articles you have written. I have absolutely falling in Love with this site. Thanks for putting into perspective. Luckily I was born in 1986 so all I have witnessed since I can remember is Man Utd winning, but I have to realise that won’t last forever. So long live Fergie and Man Utd.
LUHG
Right last post for a couple of hours but Southgate really has just taken the biscuit. In comparing Messi and Rooney he comes out with this gem “The difference with Messi is he just has that individual brilliance that can win a game”. What unlike Rooney you fucking goofy world cup penalty shoot out bottling cunt!! Hull x2, Milan x2, Carling Cup Final, Citeh, Fulham, Arsenal etc etc.
Ignorant to the fucking core.
United and barca are two best teams in the planet by some distance. Both are not only winning also playing great football as well both have world class players in thier team in rooney and messi. I wish they play the final at the benabau and United win it.
bchilds – Exactly mate, you have just posted a prime example of the premature shite they come out with. It beggars belief mate.
Gareth Southgate is fast becoming the biggest the worst co-commentor/pundit on the box. He is vile to the core with views that don’t mean anything or carry any substance.
I remember the Milan game in Milan when he was asked “What’s it like playing in the Champions League against opposition as experience as Milan?” – how the fuck should he know, he never did either of those things!
@King Eric
Did you run out of decaf today?
Don’t worry about it, lol.
My preference for the draw on Friday is Bordeaux. It’s a short trip, they have already exceeded themselves and we will get to say hello to an old dear friend.
Here’s my dream draw:
Bayern – Arsenal
Inter – Barcelona
Lyon – CSKA
United – Bordeaux
Here’s what I am dreading might happen:
United – Bayern
Inter – CSKA
Barca – Bordeaux
Arsenal – Lyon
Come on lads, southgate is one of the greatest football minds around today lol.
@Costas
No-one scares me at present, I’m firmly of the belief that to be the best you have to beat the best so I really don’t mind who we draw because I think we’ll get a result. Of course Barcelona would be the one team, if you could avoid them you’d opt to but other than them I can’t see us getting knocked out by anyone else.
Is this a straight open drawer, i.e. could we get drawn at home/away first leg or is it ‘seeded’?
bchilds- He certainly is pal.Another gem just now ” Barca just have that x-factor that the others don’t, they are too powerful in the midfield, United tried to mix it up in the final last year but EVEN they couldn’t cope” Does he seriously think that United performance is any indication? As I keep saying we just didn’t turn up, our two central defenders Carriick and Anderson both had injuries. God I do hope we meet them again. Time for Fletch to boss the greasy Xavi and Iniesta. How the fuck can he compare when both Fletcherino and Hargo were missing? Mug.
Costas – I know mate I don’t know what is up with me. Well I do and its just United do not get the credit we deserve. Example Southgate said we are a “threat”. Of course we are a threat, we ain’t some fucking 2 bit club who has chanced it. We have appeared in the last TWO finals, winning one. Fucking takes the piss. I have a sneaky feeling we will get Lyon.
Right I really am going for that smoke now.
@bchilds
Nothing is seeded now mate. It could be any team, from any country and the first leg could be at OT. The good thing is that we will know our semi final opponents too. And if we play our quarter final tie over 6 days, we will play the semi final over 8 days and vice versa.
@King Eric
Gareth Southgate is a right nobhead. And the other guy saying we all know 1 team the other 7 will wanna avoid. Even on skysports scorecentre it says “hand up those who want to face Guardiolas team in the next round….no thought not.”
Perhaps it is Barcelona who are more wary of facing United!
I would prefer United meet Barcelona in the final but if we meet them on the way we don’t mind.
WE FEAR NO ONE.
@King Eric
Yeah I know, but it isn’t worth it. Show me a pundit and I will show you someone who hasn’t been able to cut it as a manager. The fact is that Barcelona had 80 better minutes than United last season. That’s the difference. It was one night. If we get them again, hopefully we will have Fletch and everyone will see the difference.
Costas is right it’s an open draw, don’t no why you’s are getting worked up over Southgate, the guys a balloon.
@Costas
I’d argue they had 70 better mins that United after watching the first 20 mins the other day.
We are supposed to be weaker without Ronnie but the Rooney has made up for him.
I hope we meet one of the French clubs. As Costas said, short trip and I like listening to french commentators. You know they want the french club to win but they also love Fergie and always speak with awe about United
King Eric- you are fucking king of this site (except Scott obv).
Barcelona. Who cares. United will beat them if and when we play them. Bordeaux under Larry White are the ones we should avoid but the league is much more important.
@ costas
Please let’s keep Munich ’til the final!
@ everyone else
Every minute of football from now until the end the season is “squeeze-yer-bum” time – I genuinely believe this is the best United side of all time and I believe they will show us their quality over the next couple of months – defense is the key – and ours is back!
United for the treble!
@King Eric
Skipped all the posts after your rant to say that I FULLY AGREE!
I got equally pissed off when they were commending Barcelona’s attitude. They were saying that after winning the trophies last year, they have shown an amazing attitude to come back this year and get through to the quarters. I vividly remember screaming “WE’VE MADE TWO STRAIGHT FINALS, WON ONE, LOST ONE AND NOW WE’RE IN THE QUARTERS AND WE WON THE LEAGUE IN BOTH OF THOSE YEARS!! YOU CUNT!!!”
I like Barca, but I can’t wait for us to fuck them up. I was thinking that maybe it’d be good to get them in the quarters with the form that we are on. Can’t wait to pit Fletcher up against those pretty little passers and see how they get on. Let’s fuckin show up these holier-than-thou, wannabe-purist TWATS in the media and in Calatonia.
UNITED!!!
Would you prefer Barca over two legs (in quarters/semi’s) or in one game in the final?
Just wanted to know what you guys think?
Personally, I’d prefer two legs:
1) I think we have greater chance to set up tactically over two legs (Sir Alex seems to set his teams up really well in taking advantage of the away goals rule)
2) Messi, is slowly starting to build up his case for when the individual accolades get handed out. If Barca gets knocked out by United earlier in the tournament, that gives Rooney every chance to trump Messi in the the awards.
3) I still get chills from mental images of last year’s final.
4) We can potentially enter the Champ Lg Final as more experienced than our opponent, (for me, the less squeaky bum, the better)
In any case, when it comes to United
B E L I E V E
@Ryan
I totally agree. I said in the post before that it may be better to get them in the quarters.
You’re right. Over two legs Ferguson and the United team are tactically more astute than Guardiola and Barca. They could get caught up in the emotion of a final and play beautifully. Have you noticed how much emphasis continental teams place on “The Final”? Whereas we play each game. The Final is useless to us without a performance in the last 16 or last 8.
2 legs also limits the chance for misfortune like that which we had to face with the ban of Fletcher in the final last year.
I think I’d rather play them now. As you said, again, it would put us in an even stronger position in the later rounds if we have defeated Barca in the quarters.
Scott … this blog totally confirms why I come to this web site! It captures exactly how I feel at this time of the year and eases the mixture of joy and pain to know I’m not alone. Great stuff.
(I’m actually fine when I’m at the matches live but watching on TV does my head in. The ability to pause live action and FF means that I seldom watch our away games LIVE!!!)
Sunday is going to be a perfect example. That thin line between it being a day you never want to end and one you can’t wait to forget. I nearly just want to be put coma and woke up when United have won. (or if they don’t …let me die!!) Chelski game will be the same thing.
united never get the credit they deserve. all the press and all the pundits keep raving on about arsenal, the chavs, FUCKING CITY!!!! not even going to mention how they can’t stop fawning over barca. yea of course, barca is a great team and one of the clubs i really respect, but beating ac milan 4-0 and stuttgart by the same score line…those are on 2 different levels.
whatever. fuck the press. fuck the commentators. fuck the refs. united just need to do what they’ve done countless times over the years, and prove everyone wrong. not that it’ll matter much. the most you’ll hear out of anyone else is how “united is a good team and i respect them…but blah blah”. can’t believe the fuckin press actually write tripe like “fergie’s lost it” but people like wenger, benitez etc don’t win anything for years.
the biggest joke is how apparently giggsy, scholes, rio, fletch, carrick, park, nani and countless others are not “good enough”, but yet have managed to win 3 fuckin premier league titles in a row, with a cl, 2 carling cups and a club world cup thrown in for good measure.
all the talk about the debt probably caused a certain outbreak of erections in the sky/bbc office, just thinking about how finally with united out of the way, their pathetic teams might actually win something.
@CaerdyddCoch
Yeah, I saw your post appear right after I submitted the comments. haha.
I was like, ‘Wow – I was just thinking the exact same thing” Love this site.
Agree with your posts too. At United, there is this sense of taking one game at a time in the Champs Lg. You get the feeling that Sir Alex and the boys have a degree of respect for the competition and do enjoy each round and the different challenges that it poses. (It’s like the players know, “We’re a good team and we are good players, but to win O Big Ears..boy, we’re gonna have to play our best and play well tactically)
United fans too, don’t seem to take for granted the recent success in this competition. That’s good. And long may that continue.
-Rant out-
definitely would prefer barca over 2 legs than in the final. they’d def be the toughest team to beat in the cl, and it would be better to get the tricky opponents out of the way first. plus barca’s away performances have left much to be desired. can you really picture any of the other teams knocking out barca? it would def be upto united to do so..
@Ryan
Plus, Ferguson and his staff have much more tactical know-how. If, for example, we lost and got outplayed in a first leg, they’d look at the game and know how to rectify it with tactical changes. Whereas Barca have played the same way for years. They rely on their talent and they use that three-pronged attack at all times, just changing the personnel. Their football is beautiful, but it is always the same. If we lost the first leg 2-1, we’d win a second leg 2-0. If they lost the first leg 2-1, they’d come out in the second leg with the same formation and same mentality but possibly one or two personnel changes amongst the front three.
Give us two legs and we will do them.
eddieTheRed – I like your blind support for united but Cmon, this is not the best united side of all time, the current side is nowhere near has good has the greatest united side under ferguson which is the 1994 side, look at the starting lineup of the 1993/1994 outfit
schmecheal
parker
bruce
pallister
irwin
keane
ince
kanchelskis
giggs
cantona
hughes
that entire 11 would walk into the current united side. I would pick 1994 cantona in his prime ahead of wayne rooney thats how good of a side the 1994 side was and that side would destroy all the european sides and premiership sides today, that side I would guarentee would win the european cup with ease. can anyone tell me what side today could live with the 93/94 united outfit, it had pace power veriaty and seeing schmeicheal at his very best, keane driving through the middle with kanchelskis and giggs in their prime tearing defences apart out wide, with the guile and grace of cantona and the shear terror sparkey taking on defences and scoring breathtaken goals and massive goals when it was needed.
but which player of the current side would walk into the 93/94 lineup?
I would say Evra for Irwin and Rooney for Hughes
And imo Rio and Vidic fit are equal to Pallister and Bruce
And current Giggs is much better than the young one hehehe
Valencia or Nani as good as the russian?.. maybe in few years well see..
Fletch is the new Keano, not as good.. but as good as Ince? call me crazy
And I would say our current squad is what makes us so great.. Did anybody notice that Owen Hargreaves hasnt played for almost two years? He was a world class midfielder and others just took his place.. no problem. Same with Anderson, same with our unearthly defensive injuries, and our gk injury, Giggs performing sensationally this season, gets injured and our performance doesnt get worse..there are always class players to fill in.
We have so many squad players that turn up when they are called upon and perform well for the team. Park is the best example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzkresBOxnQ
this is exactly how i feel about united!
@King Eric
My god…..What did I miss last night…!
You were on fucking fire mate……..and SPOT ON!
Its as if they all have their personal agendas and vendetta against United….
come to think of it….almost all of these so called pundit-cunts have been hammered or showed up by United in their playing or managing days or are just classless dippers plain and simple…….it’s just their way of getting something back….
Speaking of Barcelona…..I just get reminded of another thing you said yesterday……
“We are Manchester United….Fear no cunt” yes, we must respect them because they are a great team, but surely we dont need to fear anything…..I am quite sure Gerard Pique must be pissing in his pants thinking about marking Rooney right now…..and Berbatov and Scholes can arguably pass the ball better than Xavi and Iniesta for Christ’s sake……!!
the media loves to lick Barca’s ass every time they give out a little fart.. gay bastards.. Barca were practically handed a place in the next round when they were drawn against Stuttgart..
dunno how but i’m damn sure that we’ll beat Barca on the way to the finals..
and after the Milan game we can see that the lads have the belief in them to win it against any team..
just hope we beat the dipper cunts this sunday and i’m damns sure we’ll win the league. i just know the Sir Alex will come up with one of his special lines which will drive the team on..
its just impossible to imagine the title going to any other team except us.. fuckin hate each and every one of them, be it Chelski or Arsenal.. WE WILL WIN IT!
Great article.
For me some of the best times of being the fan of this wonderful football club is when you lose to Milan in the champions league 0-3 like in 06-07 season. You start to love the club the players the devoted fans (Costas cheers! the morning after the Barca final still fresh in the memory) even more.
Sometimes it separates the the sheep from the goats.
But it’s easier to say right now it is not our divine right to win it every year because in the back of your mind you would hate some other teams like rentboys winning it.
i’m only 25 .. but late goals made my heart so weak .. plz reds score as early as possible ..i really want the 19th tittle
splendid post
my first set of comments on dis blog bt i av bin readin it 4 d past 2 yrs. wish i culd close my eyes and wen i open them we are champions of england and of europe bt luv d adrenalin rush
@rooney the new king,
yeah the team of 94 will always be special in my heart. the focal point sure is cantona. even now for me cantona is above all the current player including our ex ronaldo. i can remember vividly the team cantona used to play with. my only regrets was the fucking euro rules which limit with only 5 british/english players or something like that. united team in the early 90s play in europe really lack the the experience while the they tame the opponent quite easily in premier league.
@King Eric
Hi mate.
now its not that i just like to praise other teams players but when someone is special you have to stand up and applaud and little genius leo messi is a world class player and at the moment the best in the world. People say all he does is beats players. Can you tell me how many players can beat 2-4-5 players at once in todays football.I cant remember of anyone. Its great to watch a 5 and half feet little man waltzing past defences with his speed and skill and scoring some cracking goals.he has matured in the last few years. dosent throw tantrums,no showboating, no sulking.Never rolls on the floor. He is one of the very few players i love to watch apart from United players.
Can we beat Barca, of course we can ,who is denying that but the way things stand they and inter are the main threats for us and messi will be a danger man if we are drawn against them.However,being United fans should not mean we stop appreciating other class players.
Also you can only beat what is in front of you so no point saying taht is the 9th or 18th best team in Bundesliga.
King Eric, you’re a legend…
Had to sign up for this just to comment. Don’t concern yourself with Durham, he’s merely a pawn in the contrived world of Talksport. He takes the left opinion purely to provoke reaction and get calls into talksport. Calls = Money!
As for ITV, for me, their football coverage is just about better to C5, and not a lot else. They know without an English club no one’s going to watch so they have to tout Barca as the best team in the world with Messi as the best player.
@ king eric- you might need to smoke something stronger after reading this article.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=757470&sec=uefachampionsleague&root=uefachampionsleague&cc=4716
once again comparing messi and rooney and talking about how rooney comes up short because he doesn’t dribble or play “beautiful football”. for fuck’s sake, i’d think only americans would judge players on such a stupid basis. guess he’s forgotten the countless number of beautiful goals scored by rooney, not even thinking about the volleys etc over the years, but even this season, the goal he scored against arsenal was pure fucking genius. i know there were a few others this season when rooney beat several defenders and put in a great finish, which had me thinking, “wow, that looked like a goal on pro evo”, but i can’t seem to remember which games. anyway, i don’t know why this idiot is even comparing the 2, given that rooney’s a center forward, which messi is not. and as amazing and magical as messi is, would he really be tracking all the way back to left back to somehow win the ball, make a great pass and then make an electric 60 yard run to find the net? that’s pretty magical to me….not to mention the fact that messi is surrounded by “better players” and hasn’t had to carry a team in transition. not denying that messi is great, he is. but if you’re actually going to be stupid enough to compare him to wazza, you should do as FSW says and look at the “fachts”. stupid cunts…
@ aig- not sure if you were joking or not, but messi’s 5 ft 7, not 5 and a half feet. pretty sure he wouldn’t be allowed to play with the big boys if he were so little
@jellybean
lol. No wonder he runs through defenders with ease.5 and a half feet i meant 5 feet 5. thanks for correcting there
@RTNK
Surely the treble team is the best team saf has produced in his tenure at ot. The mere fact of winning 3 trophies in 1 season must clinch it, an incredible achievement by saf and the players.
Thats better Scott, don’t have to fill in my email and username now.
Yeah. Totally agree. We should not be complacent or think that we will win every trophies every season. We should be content with what we have. Support the team at any cost. For me all the players are good and contribute to the team. I don’t care about Vidic leaving rumor or Ferdinand and Owen injuries. I don’t care about Berbatov laziness,i don’t care about Nani inconsistency, i don’t care about Valencia can replace Ronaldo and i don’t care how many goals Rooney can score. What i do care and know is that all the players are working hard and trying to win us trophies. Be content and you’ll be happy.
1st of all. its been sometime i’ve been here, but WOW LOVE THE NEW LOOK
2nd, though the look of your blog changed, you havent, brilliant post!
always BELIEVE!
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/408410959?-11193
You have to read this lads.
@ rooney the new king
Fair point – I haven’t forgotten them! I would make the point that football now is much faster than it was then – The current United lineup plays a quality game at much greater pace than the side of ’94. I also think the current side has an ability to adapt it’s tactics to the opposition which the side of ’94 did not possess to the same degree.
Gary Neville’s speech “We’d rather lose both games again and win the league than beat Liverpool and not win the league.” always reassure me before games against Liverpool. Hopefully this year, we will beat them at Old Trafford, and win the league!
splendid blog scott
First
Bring Barcelona – it’s time to put that final loss right
The worst time of the season for us was the defensive crisis – had we even had our second string available we would not be here – in-fact we would be so ahead of Chelsea…
The best time for us this season was the semi final v City – or the day we beat Milan 4-0 because Becks came back and Ronaldo got kicked out of the CL – in any case here is to better days
This club will never die
@ jellybean
Loved your comments. Spot on mate!
Scott – this is why I come on your blog. Excellent article that all
United fans feel.
I watched the Barcelona game and desipte Stuttgarts best efforts
and their coach’s brave efforts , they lacked the quality, organisation and tactical discipline
To hurt Barca. Also, they never showed and creativity or immagination in the final third.
They became very predictable and Barca could handle the Germans any way they wanted.
As we approach the draw for the quarters and semis who would you prefer?
Each team we must respect and at the same time show no fear but have inner belief and trust
That if we play well as a team we will progress to the final.
I hear the argument about playing Barcelona over two legs, I think that when they face English teams over two legs they do struggle. Remember they had some favourable penalty decisions go their way
When they faced Chelsea last season, and were lucky to get to the final with that last minute wonder strike by Iniesta. On that night at the Bridge Chelsea showed how you can contain Barcelona a great side. look, even the season before we played them and would have even won at their ground had Ronaldo scored that penalty.
The reason why they bought Ibrahimovic was simply to have a plan B. A different option, especially against English sides. That’s what Pep Guadiola was thinking about this season.
I think last season , especially after demoliting Arsenal in the semis it was as though we had peaked. Reached our climax, the way we played at the Emirates showed Europe that we had arrived. But I just think that going into the final we lost focus, panicked at conceding an early goal and lost our confidence tactical discipline and know how to get back into the game. We lost our composure!
These were hard lessons to learn and at a final too! that’s why we didn’t panick when we conceded the early goal against Villa in the Carling Cup final, neither did we when Tevez scored at OT in the 2nd leg.
So whoever we are drawn against tomorrow when we do face them, we show them respect,and then beat them to progress to the semis, and repeat the same thing to progress to the final in Madrid.
And whoever we face in the final we play the game not get caught in the occasion. After all we are there to win it and yes we can win it.
The media and so called pundits will always compare two great players.
They have to sell papers or get people to phone or text I’m or even sell advertising space.
I think Barca would struggle more without Messi than United without Rooney.
KVN – its simple united lost the final because the wrong 11 was picked and fletcher missed the final, I would say ferdinands lack of match parctice ronaldos awful season was summed up in 90 minutes in rome rooney stuck on the left and fletcher missing the final. ronaldo giggs and rooney were all out of position, and if carrick anderson were injured it just added to the problems. this time round barca wont have this luxtury especially with no etoo
Best moment this year for me was derby day semi final – It was like being back in the late 80′s eraly 90′s. No Glazer rent boys telling me to sit down, grown men almost crowd surfing when Rooney scored the winner, most of all putting the them loud obnoxious blue noses back in their place! Stockport
Worst moment is still the 1-4 defeat against the dippers and this Sunday cant come round fast enough for to get revenge.