Red Then, Red Now And Red Forever....

2000 And Beyond

The Belfast Boy

How Was It For You?

How Was It For You 2?

The Vultures Are Hovering!!

2007-08 Plus Loads More........

Why Do You Support Manchester United? & Why Do You Not Support A Local Team? - These are two questions that I have often come across in my forty odd years of following United. The first one is easy, in the early sixties it was my love of music and especially The Beatles that I came across a footballer who the media at the time were calling 'The Fifth Beatle'  and so I started to follow the career of a young Irishman called George Best, he was my hero and hence I became a Manchester United supporter. I am not from Manchester, I am from a town in the north east of the U/K (Yes I know yet another 'out-of-towner' , is Man. Utd. the only club to have supporters from places other than the club's home town/city, get a life!!), anyway none of my local teams had such a player as George and so I pledged my allegiance to United in those early sixties and the bond is just as strong to this present day. In the many years since I have had a lot more United heroes but George is still the best United player ever to pull on the famous red shirt.

I have always had a passion for Manchester United, ever since the sixties, I started to compile scrap books on United (I still have scrapbooks dating back to 1967!!),  I would also collect anything that had something to do with United, books, magazines, jigsaws...anything!! I had been to see them on numerous occasions before my illness both home and away, but because of transport problems and work obligations these trips were rare, since the start of my illness these trips to Old Trafford became even rarer, however in 1992 I was taken down to see United at Old Trafford by a friend who I found out was interested in watching them play on a regular basis, as I now had no work commitments and my illness was only just starting to cause problems, I could manage getting in and out of a car and as long as I was dropped off near the ground I would be o/k and so we started to go down to the Theatre Of Dreams every home game, he would drive me down and park as near to the ground as possible so that I did not have far to walk and I used to forget all about the aches and pains of the R/A, it was brilliant seeing my heroes again especially every other week. Away games were a different story because of parking close to the grounds and managing stairs into the ground.

We continued to visit Old Trafford having season tickets for the West Stand (it will always be The Stretford End to me!!), however even though we were parking the car as close as possible to the ground even this was becoming too much for me because every step that I was taking was in severe pain, I had wrote to Man Utd and inquired about a disabled spot in the ground where I could sit in my wheelchair which was supplied to me by the health authorities but I was informed that the waiting lists for such places were very long indeed. I explained my situation to them and they went out of their way to help me letting my friend park his car practically in the ground, now it was a matter of a few steps and I was in the Theatre Of Dreams watching my favourite team and at least for an hour or so forgetting all the aches, all the pains and all the suffering that comes with Rheumatoid Arthritis and so thank you very much to Manchester United, especially the staff of the general office for helping me cope with my illness and still see my heroes play..            

My illness now is so bad that it has limited my days of travelling to see United, I am now fully dependant on my wheelchair and there are far too few disabled (wheelchair) places at Old Trafford (you would think that with all these ground improvements they would have considered their many disabled supporters a bit more). Anyway I am still a season ticket holder and I will continue to go and see United play as long as my body allows me to. I have enjoyed the good times, bad times and more recently the tremendous times following United. I am not and never will be a 'Bandwagon' supporter or a 'Day-tripper' which seems to make up about 50% of today's football supporters of the top clubs. I can say that I stood on the Stretford End in those days of Boot-Boys & Bovver in all kinds of weather, I was with United through bad times and the relegation season. My only regret is that I have never seen United play away in Europe, true supporters, the one's who follow their team through thick and thin in all kinds of weather cannot get tickets for the big games these days because of 'suits' and day-trippers who get tickets through a friend of a friend of a friend!!. It is amazing how many of these 'hanger-on,s' managed to get tickets for United's two recent big games (Finals - May 99) against Bayern and Newcastle and supporters who were just one voucher short on their voucher sheets failed due to the infamous 'postal ballot' even though they made every other home game that season, most supporters like me & my friend missed one game because of holiday commitments the previous summer.

As for George Best, people make me laugh when they say that Besty would not last two minutes in today's game, when George was playing he had players like Billy Bremner, Norman Hunter, Tommy Smith & Ron 'Chopper' Harris to cope with, players that make Vinnie Jones seem like one of the Telly Tubbies. But none of them could catch him let alone tackle him. He was playing his football on pitches that resembled ploughed fields (a bit like Old Trafford these days, United v Bradford City, December 99!!) but he could still control the ball, just as if it was attached to his boots with elastic. Everyone knows that he ruined his career through drink and money but he was still the best, he did no worse thing then than most of today's players are doing now but unfortunately it brought a premature end to his United career. When I recently watched Ryan Giggs run at and destroy the supposedly best defence in the Premiership to score a brilliant goal (United v Arsenal - F.A.Cup Semis), It reminded of the days I used to watch a young George Best doing the same thing week in, week out. Thanks for the memories George.

For Me it All Started With These Guys

2000 And Beyond!!

What does the year 2000 hold for United & football, I mean what can possibly eclipse last season's fantastic outcome? One thing is for sure there will be even more recruits to the Anti-Man Utd brigade, what causes these sad people to be like they are? the answer is simple....ENVY, I'll bet that given the choice between United winning the Championship or their own team being relegated most of these 'saddo's' would rather see the latter!! You know these people, they do not care who beats United just as long as they do beat them!! Even rival teams that they usually cannot stand are applauded if they manage to overcome United, sad or what!! How many of these people are over the moon that United failed miserably in Brazil, loads I can tell you. We all know that United should have boycotted the Brazilian tournament in favour of our own F.A. Cup but they didn't and that is now history, look at it this way at least it gives someone else a chance to win the Cup!! My thoughts on who was to blame for United's decision to pull out of the F.A. Cup is this, it is the same thing that is ruining football altogether, money & politics!! Bring back the days when players felt it a privilege to pull on their team's colours and not doing so because they are getting £12000 - £15000 a week to do so!! The days when the only televised soccer was M.O.T.D. on a Saturday night and football attendances were in the sixty-thousands every game....no, these days are long gone and we have to put up with either paying a fortune to go to a game and pay the same price for a pie at half-time that it used to cost to get into a ground to watch a game, or watch it on the television from every angle possible (when the technology works that is!!) showing repeated slow motion replays on the most exciting bits of the game, no not the winning goals but where the referee was at fault in not spotting something or the managers faces when one of his players nearly scores!! For me personally whatever happens this at the end of this season I know that United cannot repeat the success of last season, I still think that they will win the Championship but even if they finish with the season with just the Toyota cup then I will not be too disappointed because whoever picks up the trophies in May 2000 I can say, been there, done that, seen that trophy, bought the t-shirt!!             

The Belfast Boy!!

March 10th 2000 - Well George, it looks as if the drink has finally caught up with you, something that opponents on the pitch could never do!! The reports on your health are varied, some say that you are seriously ill others say that you are in hospital after collapsing in pain but you are comfortable. I hope and pray that you are o/k but believe me it will kill you eventually, but I suppose you already know this. Whatever happens over the next couple of days can I just say a big thank you for all the pleasure you gave me and thousands of other United fans who had the pleasure in seeing you play and a special thanks for introducing me to the greatest football team ever way back in those sensational sixties.

......He was his father's only son, his mother's pride and joy, and dearly did his parents love -

The Wild Colonial Boy........

How Was It For You??

April 23rd 2000 - When United clinched the Premiership against Southampton was it a bit of an anti-climax after the heroics of last season? If so then where do United go from here? Win the European Cup for the next couple of seasons (plus winning the Championship of course!!), even then United would still not be great in the eyes of the Anti United Brigade. I have just read a letter in one of the tabloid press, it is from a Liverpool supporter who still insists that the United teams of the Nineties and today could not match the Liverpool team of the Seventies. Supporters could disagree over this subject forever but the fact is that we will never know, the two periods were a completely different type of football, then the footballers in the old first division were 90% English, there were no £15 Million price tags around their necks and footballers got stuck in without the worry of red cards, video evidence & tribunals, today's footballers are different!! I would have liked to have seen George Best in his prime playing in today's game, he would have tormented and crucified the Premiership's defenses and if Van Nistleroy is worth £19 Million what price would Besty bring today!! Another point that could be raised is, what if the Munich disaster never happened, the young team that perished were on their way to becoming possibly the best team in England and it could have meant that they were going to be the dominant force of English football. Going back to the Liverpool 70,s & United 90's / 2000 teams, comparing them in the European Cup is also debatable, I myself do not think the competition was as hard to win then as it is now, yes I know United only managed it once in 68' but I think United's recent teams are far better than the team's of the late sixties and early seventies (even though they seemed to be Liverpool's bogey team when it mattered!!). Apart from the European Cup winning team of 68' the best team of that era was The Doc's team of the Seventies, he brought back an attacking style with wingers and transformed a relegated team into a decent team with the same fighting spirit as today's teams. He set the mould for the type of team everybody who supported United wanted and Alex Ferguson has completed the task of awakening the sleeping giant. Going back to that Liverpool supporter's letter, nobody will ever know which era's team was better because even if United dominate the Premiership for the next decade and win a couple of European Cups along the way they would still not be the best team in the like's of his eyes simply because he does not want to accept the fact that up until the present time United have dominated the English game for the past decade.

How Was It For You 2 - The Sequel??

19th April 2001 and United's season is all but over apart from a 'Cup Final' day for Man City and the usual picking up of the Premiership trophy probably against Derby on May 5th, United could have picked up the trophy against City this Saturday but according to the FA that could incite a riot!! United have once again dominated the Premiership despite doing things the other way around this year by being stronger before Xmas and stuttering this last few months, this of course has cost them dearly by being knocked out of the European Cup by a revenge seeking Bayern Munich team who seemed to have a stronger desire to win. United paid dearly for defensive errors giving Bayern two more goals to add to the goal already scored in the first leg at Old Trafford, Giggsy did pull one back but in the end it just was not enough.
Of course now everyone is asking the question, "Is Man United's domination of the Premiership over?", with teams such as Liverpool & Leeds starting to put decent teams together, plus the fact that Sir Alex is supposedly packing up his tracksuit after next season. Remember though that this is the earliest that the league has been won (it was really won on the 25th Feb when United destroyed the Gunners at Old Trafford), I myself think that unless United change things slightly with some new 'big name' players then this could indeed be the beginning of the end of the domination of a very successful team and manager. What I would like to see is Fergie bring in somebody like Rivaldo, Davids, Batistuta and even Nistleroy, this would not only strengthen a very good side but rivals would face new players with a different way of playing because teams today are getting wise to United's way of dominating games. If Fergie is going to 'retire' next season then it is up to his team to see that he goes out at the top, win him the Premiership again and give the European Cup once more, I also think that if this did happen then he would be very reluctant to hang up his chewing gum and stopwatch!!
Whatever the outcome next May nobody can deny the fact that for the past decade United & Fergie have entertained and thrilled us all with their style and play and the reason that teams in the Premiership are starting to put decent teams together is because they are emulating United's method and play. Well done United on yet another trophy to stick into 'Fergie's Expanding Trophy Cabinet' with another Championship winning season.

The Vultures Are Hovering!!

Nov 2001 - Here we go, the moment all the Anti-United Brigade have been waiting for, the cracks are starting to show in the United armour. Bad defensive mistakes and stupid goal keeping errors (which no world class goalie should be making ) have led to too many goals against already this season, I must admit that the competition is a bit better this season with Liverpool, Leeds & Arsenal (as ever) showing promise but United have faced teams better than these and beaten them in the past few years especially in Europe, so what is going wrong? There are far too many critics with their own versions of the cause of United's  slip up's, so far we have had, 'The team have been together too long', 'Bad signings', 'It's Fergie's last season so does he care?', 'The team have lost the hunger' etc. etc. My opinion is that United are still good enough to make it a record four titles off the belt but they must tighten up the defence now before it is too late, whether Fergie likes it or not we are missing Jaap Stam and rather than just sign over the hill defenders who are looking for a final money making fling, Fergie should sign one or even two good solid defenders. He should have broke the bank to bring Sol Campbell in or a similar player, defenders who can command the back line, remember Brucey & Pally? they had their critics but they did the job. Another point is that United must revert to the good old attacking style that brought them so much glory, never mind this lone striker roaming about up front waiting for a long ball and then hoping he has beaten the offside traps, get two strikers on. Fergie cannot play all his top players at once and all I can say to the players who moan about not getting picked is to take a leaf out of Ole's book and just get on with the job, get the United that we all know back on track. If United do finish second, third or even fourth in the Premiership we cannot grumble, look what they have accomplished this past ten years or so, one thing is for sure this bad run will weed out the 'day trippers' & 'bandwagon jumpers' and then the true supporters will be better placed to get tickets for games!! Come on United give Fergie something back for all his years of glory and make him proud in his final year at the helm, he surely deserves it!!

The Steamtrain Is Back On Track!!

March 2002 - Well what a difference to my last report, Fergie has decided to stay, Keano is staying and Blanc & Barthez are playing to the best of their capabilities and to top it all United are back at the top of the Premiership. As for making it a record four titles on the run, well it could (and I hope will) happen and I think the United v Arsenal match could be the deciding factor as to where the trophy will be displayed at the end of the season. As usual the Gunners are once again the main threat. United's bad spell at the beginning of the season could cost them dearly, I remember Fergie once saying that a team could not afford to lose more than four games in a season to win the league and this season to date (March 9th) United have already lost seven with Arsenal only losing three. With eight games to go it looks like being one of the most exciting conclusions to the Premiership since it was formed, whatever the outcome we cannot complain after the dreadful start to what looked like being one of the worst seasons ever in the Premiership for United. As for the European Cup, well United have once again qualified for the quarter-finals of the competition so who knows Fergie could have his dream of picking up the trophy in Aberdeen come true.

How Was It For Me!!

May 2002 - Well, what a rollercoaster season that was, in the end it was not to be, No record four titles off the belt, No European Cup final appearance in Scotland for Fergie and worst of all No Trophies!! No one can deny that Arsenal deserved the title because the statistics show just why they won it. It seems strange that United have failed to pick up any trophies but it was not to be, they did very well to pick up after the dodgy start to the season but the injuries to vital players such as Keane & Beckham cost them in the end. I still say that United lost the title against Derby County, winning 2-1 with ten minutes to go and then conceding a goal to share a point and lucky not to be beat 3-2 with that dodgy penalty claim, and then to lose at home to Middlesborough, well that sealed their fate, those are not games that win titles. Arsenal were never going to drop many points if any, the rest is history. What I do know is that we will not have to wait another thirteen years for another Premiership title, I just hope that it is Fergie who wins it before he retires, for me he is still the best manager in the Premiership, he will probably change things a bit next season, sell a couple of players and buy a couple, if he does buy players I hope they are players with Keano's attitude to playing for United because if a few more of United's players had shown his grit and determination this season, then it would have been United who were celebrating a title win and not Arsenal.

Here We Go Again!!

August 2002 - The first day of the new season and already United have injury problems, especially in defence with new boy Ferdinand missing the start of the season and Wes Brown picking up an injury in the Euro first leg qualifier. The Euro game was a shambles, playing against 'minnows' and losing to a last gasp goal, it even caused United fans who had travelled to watch the game to turn on Beck's blaming him for not giving 110% to United and stating he cares more about playing for the national team rather than United. This is the kind of thing that Keano has blasted several United stars for, not giving their all for United. He is right of course, certain players have done it and won it and now the 'hunger' has gone from their game, they get far too much money for doing half their job, it is time to stand up and be counted, don't let the season start off on a sour note, o/k so they won their first Premiership game against West Brom with Ole coming to the rescue once again but it is time to start playing in the style that won Championships and Cups.

Well done Keano on the book that is already causing uproar even before it is officially released. It is about time somebody had the nerve to tell the real truth behind many of stories that fans only get the 'official' version of. As an example, why should Keano be made the scapegoat for the Irish World Cup fiasco, there are always two sides to a story.

We've Got Our Trophy Back!!

May 2003 - Who would have thought around Nov 2002 that United would be celebrating yet another Premiership winning season in May 2003?? What with all the injuries and other 'minor' incidents at the first part of the season United were indeed stuttering. But the team came good showing all the critics that United are still THE dominant force of the Premiership, eight titles in eleven years proves that. The team's form for the last part of the season was excellent and the hunger returned....Well done lads.

If all the rumours are true United may indeed lose Beckham in the summer break (as usual money talks!!) but the team will cope with that, the up and coming youngsters at the club will see to that and if Becks does decide to leave the best club in the world then surely Fergie will draft in one or two big names to replace him if that is at all possible. No one man makes a team, I have seen some of my greatest heroes come and go at United.... Besty, Law, Charlton, Jordan, Buchan, Robbo, Kanchelskis,  Hughsie (twice), and of course Eric the King.. The list is endless but United is made for heroes and others will always grace the Old Trafford turf....Just ask Ruud.

Here We Go, Here We Go!!

September 2003 - Four games gone and the usual two are at the top of the Premiership, Arsenal have the edge after United's long unbeaten run came to an end at Southampton. It looks as if it is going to be the same old story with these two fighting it out for the title despite Chelsea spending millions to try and grab some long awaited glory but I have my doubts, too many changes at once, it may take a season or two for the players to get it together. It is early days of course, things should become a bit clearer around the Xmas mark.

As for United's transfer business, well as I expected Becks decided to jump ship. Nobody knows what really went on behind the scenes leading up to his departure and I definitely do not believe all of 'his side of the story', yes a lot of the stuff is true and I just wish that players would not 'sell their souls to the devil' when leaving clubs, surely Becks does not need the money for 'his' story. The simple fact is that David's attitude changed these last few years he cannot seem to make his mind up whether to be a 'celebrity' or a footballer, he or his manipulators want both and it does not work that way. It is football that he his best at so he should stick to it, I had the privilege of seeing him play as a fresh faced kid who was proud to be in a United shirt giving his all and playing alongside his heroes, remember those days David and remember when United and the fans stuck by you when you were public enemy No. 1. Who knows he may one day decide to do the same as Hughsie once did and return to the club and fans who he is supposed to love so much!! Still best of luck to him with his new club and best of luck to the players that Alex has brought in to the United team, we shall miss Becks but as I have stated before, no one man makes a team.

Will our new no. 7 become as big at United as the former stars who have wore this shirt, hopefully he will. I suppose a lot of fans would have preferred the 'original' Ronaldo but according to a lot of people this new Ronaldo is going to be even better if that can be possible. Anyway let's hope United put all this transfer business behind them and get on with doing what they do best.

They Think It's All Over...!!!

...And it probably is!! April 2004 - What a crap season this is turning out to be, three league games to go and instead of fighting for the top spot United are trying for second or third position. Do not get me wrong Arsenal fully deserve the title, any team that goes all season in the Premiership unbeaten (so far) deserves to be champions. United were also dumped out of the Champions League too and as a consolation they do have a Cup Final game against Millwall at Cardiff to look forward to.

What exactly has gone wrong at United this last year? Players that were once proud to pull on the red shirt cannot get on with each other and cannot wait to leave Old Trafford for other clubs. It was bad enough losing Becks last season (it will be even worse if he returns to a rival Premiership team next season) but now if we believe all the rumours Ruud & Keano are in the departure lounge!! Who knows what goes on behind the scenes at Old Trafford but reports of players fighting amongst each other and falling out with the manager when they do not get their own way are rife in all the daily newspapers, a lot of it will be bullshit but a lot of it will also be true, take last years farce with Becks. United cannot afford to lose players like Becks, Ruud, Keano &  Butt etc. and still expect to be competing with the best, to be the best you need the best. I was going to say that it will be some consolation that Rio will be back next season but there is even talk of him leaving too!! How come what is supposed to be the richest football club in the world cannot hang on to great players and always fails to bring in the best players.

I look forward to watching United play Millwall in the cup final and as we all know there are no certainties in the cup final, I expect Millwall to give it their best and all I ask of United is to play as they did against Arsenal in the semi's and give all us United fans at least something to brighten what as been a dull season.

....It Is Now!!

May 2004 - FA Cup Winners...A lot of players have been compared to George Best since he hung up his boots, Giggsy in my opinion being the nearest to show similar ball controlling skills and mesmerising runs during games but now we have a young player who could become the new 'Besty', the new number seven simply ran rings around the Millwall players, he may have a name that brings another brilliant player to mind but Ronaldo - the young version can be even bigger than his namesake. Fletcher too proves that United do have the young players to build yet another great side that could emulate the team that has dominated the Premiership this last decade.

First Aid Room!!

September 2004 - What a crap start, four games one defeat and three draws.. With all the injuries that United have I might have been better shoving this bit on the Hospital page!! I suppose the mini break (internationals) will give us time to get all the injured players back in the first team but will they be good enough to compete with Arsenal who are becoming a bit of a thorn in the side...the United side that is!! Who knows if United do sign Rooney and get all the players back from suspension and off the treatment table they may kick start us off to a decent season...Time shall tell.

May 2005 - Well United ended up with Sweet FA. After dominating the FA Cup Final they lose out on penalties, what happened to replays?? Finishing third in the Premiership would be an achievement for most clubs but not at United, like I have said before United supporters have become spoilt over the last ten years or so, I can still remember the days when United were fighting relegation. It has not been a bad season and I suppose if the present team can stay together for a season or two (Rio take note!!) then there is no reason why they cannot reclaim their dominance. United have some great young players in Rooney, Ronaldo, Fletcher etc. so maybe if they can bring in some fresh players to eventually replace the old guard well things could be good again. As for the Glazier takeover, well I have been saying for years now that MONEY is spoiling football, what with Sky telling clubs when they want the teams to play,  rising players wages, ticket prices shooting through the roof and smaller clubs going bust, football is just not the same anymore. If United had to be taken over by a money mad millionaire why could he not be like certain other club buyers and at least be interested in football, after all it has been proved that with plenty of money behind them clubs can even buy the Premiership crown!!

Here Come Those Pesky Vultures Again!!

November 2005 - What on earth is happening at Old Trafford, the 4-1 defeat at Middlesboro has got to be the last straw, something has to be done now. As for Keano getting rapped for his latest outburst, well I think he was right. Remember he is the team captain and he should have the right to slam players not pulling their weight even when he is injured, somebody has to awaken these players and try to get them to earn the right to play in the first team. If they are not prepared to give 110% then It is time for fresh faces, decent players to rejuvenate the team, the premiership is long gone for this season so why not start building for the future. Glazer wanted Man Utd saying he wanted the club as a football concern and not just for money reasons so it is time to start investing in new players. It is a pity the team against Boro did not show the same fight as Besty is as he lies in a hospital bed!! Get well soon George and all the very best.

The Keano Is Gone Long Live The King!!

November 2005 - Call it 'left by mutual agreement' or 'sacked', the fact is that Keano is gone. He has got to be one of the best players ever to pull on a United shirt rating alongside Robbo, Eric The King & Shmikes in being inspirational, whatever happened this week at O/T it has been building up for the past five or six months. Roy has always spoken his mind and this time it looks as if has been his downfall, now the question is who replaces him as team captain?? To be a team captain in the mould of Keano you need authority and the gift for getting a team going and to not be afraid of offending players (even if they are your own players!!) who springs to mind?? well nobody really, Giggsy's and Gary Neville are too nice too stamp authority, Van Der Saar shouts a lot but does anyone take notice?? With a couple of years under his belt Rooney could be a contender but until then, well Fergie himself may have to take to the field. Thanks for the great memories Roy, you will be missed..

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Simply The Best......

November 25th 2005 - Well George you are fighting till the end but it looks as though this is it. I have had many hero's over the years but you were the greatest, thanks for introducing me to Manchester United all those years ago. I had the privilege of seeing you play when you were in your prime and I will never forget those memories, those fantastic times when you simply mesmerised us all with your genius. Many players have been compared to you over the years I suppose the nearest one that came close to you is Giggsy but in my eyes there is only one George Best. I remember the game against Northampton Town when you scored SIX goals and the player that was supposed to be marking you was to have said 'The nearest I got to him was when I shook his hand at the end of the game', he summed it up with that quote because nobody ever came close to you....You were simply the best.

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May 2006 - Another season over...If one of the local 'big' clubs up here in the north east had finished second in the premiership and won the League Cup (alright the Carling, Rumbelows, Milk etc. etc.cup) it would have been like England winning the World Cup, it would have been mass hysteria but for some Man Utd supporters is has been a disappointing season. Not me, the most disappointing thing about this season is losing THREE legends in one go. Besty, Keano and now it looks as if Ruud is in the departure lounge!! What the hell is going on at United? the best players do not want to join the club and those that are there want to be away, don't get me wrong I would have loved United to have won the Premiership and stayed in Europe longer than they did but if you do not have a good, content squad then you have no chance. Already Chelsea are buying up the best players around ready for another season but you can only field eleven players at one time and like it has been proved with Real Madrid having the highest wages bill around does not entitle you to be the best team. Come on United get your act together and give all us true supporters something to shout about.

We've Got Our Trophy Back, Once Again!!

May 2007 - Who would have forecast that United would be crowned Premiership Champions once again in 2007? With all the fuss at last summer's World Cup, the press were saying that Ronaldo & Rooney could not play in the same side and the number seven would be off to Spain, plus the departure of Ruud would mean that United would struggle but once again the old Jedi master proves them all wrong and if not for injuries to key players at vital times United could well have been celebrating another treble. United were back to playing the football of old, attacking wing play with such speed and precision that opposing players just did not know what hit them.

We've Got Our Trophies Back, Once Again!!

May 2008 - Well what a season that was, going right to the last day to retain the premiership and the European Cup thrown in as well. Some of the football that United played this season was breathtaking and they fully deserved to win the Premiership. In my forty odd years of supporting United I have seen some great teams but this one is awesome. Of course it is now the end of the season and the same old story with Real Madrid wanting to sign United's player of the season, what is the point of contracts when teams can be allowed to throw obscene amounts of money around to poach players who are still under contract!! Will he or won't he? Ronaldo must stay and United must pull all the stops out to keep him, as I have stated before though if a player wants to go and the money is right then he will go, never mind the fans, the manager and the team. Why would any player want to leave United at this time and drift into obscurity at Real Madrid. Ronaldo will go, if not now then next year. It has happened to Beckham and the Van man, who apparently has said that he would love Ronaldo to be at Real, this is the same bloke that could not get on with him at United and the bust up between the pair started the ball rolling for the Van man to leave. Money has been spoiling the game for years now and loyalty counts for nothing, Ronaldo should take a leaf out of Giggsy's book because Ryan is a true United legend. I cannot understand why some sections of the United faithful had the nerve to boo Giggs on several occasions this season, this man is United through and through, how many bad games has he had in all his years at United? not many I know.

Will He Or Won't He? !!

June 23rd 2008 - Well will he or won't he? Will he go or will he stay? Yes everybody's talking about Ronaldo, as I said before I myself think that he will go, I hope I am wrong but that is the state of football today. If he has made his mind up to go then there is no point in keeping him, the Van Man was never the same after he made his mind up to go. As for making him play in the reserves or rot in the stands well this is crazy, United should grab as much as they can and concentrate on tying up players who want to stay. Real Madrid are not talking about snatching probably the best player in the world at this present time but how many billions of euro's they can make on merchandising but that is the sad state of football today. A lot of crap has been wrote in the newspapers about this matter in the past few weeks but the following article is one of the best I have read, it is by Neil Custis of the sun, I hope he does not mind me repeating it here -

MANCHESTER United have seen legends come and go but never have they let a player leave they want to keep. So why does Cristiano Ronaldo believe he can dictate his future now? After a shocking performance from the supposed world’s best player last night he said his future at Old Trafford was over. What a sickening message to Sir Alex Ferguson who turned a one-trick pony into the player he is today. Perhaps he has underestimated the power of the man who is adamant he will not sell to United’s greatest challengers in European football. Better Fergie gets him back to Carrington and tells him straight Old Trafford is the best place for him — as it is. United do not need to sell and do not want to sell. If the petulance of this youth means they have to then more fool him. United will go on without Ronaldo. What he risks is his place in the folklore of the world’s greatest club. He has been at the club five years and had two good seasons. Compare that to the Holy Trinity of Best, Law and Charlton and more recently such as Keane, Scholes, Beckham and Giggs. Their names will live for ever but if Ronaldo forces this move his will be forgotten tomorrow. For too long the Portuguese international has tried to be bigger than the club. Witness the moment United won their third European Cup. As the whole squad ran to embrace the real hero of the night, Edwin van der Sar, Ronaldo set off. But realising it was not all about him he stopped and fell to the ground supposedly in tears. They should have been tears of relief not joy having missed the penalty that would have cost United a season of toil but for John Terry’s slip. Instead of focusing on a true professional like Van der Sar the cameras sadly went to a big-time Charlie. We should still be talking about that incredible Double now. Instead a player — who has lived on the back of United rather than enhanced the stature of the club — has taken the headlines away from the heroics of that night. Almost immediately we were talking about Ronaldo’s future. How United fans must have wished Roy Keane was still around to give this guy his opinion. But that’s the point. The coward never talks about leaving during the season when he is in Ferguson’s charge. On Wednesday when he was pushed in his Press conference to address United fans about his position he talked about respecting a Portuguese request not to talk about his future. What about the respect he should show to Alex Ferguson and United fans who even made up a song called ‘Viva Ronaldo’. Go if you want. But no true United fan will lament the passing of a big-time Charlie who graced the stage for an instant where others will be remembered for ever. By NEIL CUSTIS

Nnnnnnnnnineteen!!

May 2011 - Well what a weird season that was, playing so-so away from home but brilliant at home, the Rooney carry-on, Fergie getting banned, so called experts saying that this side was not a patch on previous teams, Giggsy of all players playing away, the list is endless. Who would have thought that United would have been lifting the Premiership trophy at the end of it all but lift it they did and by a clear nine points. A record beating premiership trophy at that. O/k so Barcelona played United off the park at Wembley but they would have destroyed any Premiership team in that mood (yes, that includes the noisy neighbours) , as Fergie conceded afterwards Barcelona were just awesome.

So what happens now, by all accounts Berbatov is on his way, will Rooney stay? after all contracts are not worth the paper they are printed on these days. If United are to compete with the likes of Barcelona then they need two or three BIG names, I think the Premiership will be harder to win next season (I think I've said that before though). As for Fergie I had a feeling that if we had managed to beat Barcalona and lift the 'money making trophy' then Fergie might of decided to call a day so who knows? As a final thought on the season well done to the likes of Giggsy, Scholesy and Neville these are United through and through. Best of luck to Van Der Sar only Shmikes could have been better between the sticks. Here's looking forward to number twenty!!

October 2011 - In my forty odd years of following United the 6-1 drubbing by City has to be the worst home defeat I have ever known. I held off writing about the start of this season because I had a funny feeling that something was not right, we beat City for the Charity Shield but had to come from 2-0 down, beating Spurs 3-0 then the 8-2 defeat of the Gunners and then Bolton 5-0. Although we then beat Chelsea 3-1 the scoreline did not reflect how tight the game was and then the games following were more like how United really start a season not playing well but getting the results. United never seem to start a season well but get stronger around the Dec-Jan time. This latest result is a wake up call, it is time for the players to pull together and get the season back on track, they have to realise that when you are are 4-1 down it is no good doing the all out attack especially when one of your defenders has been sent off!! All this talk of 'Fergie should resign' is crap do people forget what this guy and his teams have achieved!! Perhaps United should of signed a top class midfielder to replace Scholsey and maybe a defender but Fergie has faith in his players and like him I believe they will come back from this. In these days of multi-millionaire owners buying titles and trophies I think Fergie has done a great job with the resources and cash he has had and only he will know when the time is right to step down, I have seen quite a few United managers in my time of following them and believe me it will be a sad day when Fergie does step down.

Last Updated: 24th October 2011