This Moment Has Been A Long Time Coming

What a disappointing fall from grace. Champions of England for a 19^th time crash out of champs league at the first hurdle in a group most accurately described as a “the easiest group draw of them all”. I feel sick to my stomach.

Europa League. Say it again with me, Europa League. The competition is both embarrassing and a huge hassle for a club with our history and stature. Thursday night football. Never in my life, and throughout Fergie’s glittering career, have we had to endure such a disgraceful spell of form which has resulted in us relegated to the ugly sister of the Champs League. We can only hope that the harsh realisation of our situation will propel Fergie, and the players, to action.

Unsurprisingly, the writing has been on the wall. We couldn’t beat either team (home or away) in our group and when you don’t win your home games, you can have no complaints. But in truth, we have not played a great game of football since Arsenal in the 8-2 mauling, and that was a very long time ago.

Since then we have seen our team be embarrassed on more than one occasion. City 1-6. Knocked out of the League Cup by Crystal Palace and now failing to qualify for the last 16 (from making the final last time round) against Basel. Basel?! It’s not Madrid, Barca, Munich or anyone remotely in with a chance of actually winning the competition. Remember a few years back when we needed to WIN against Porto away from home and we did it. We didn’t even need to win last night but still we could not do the job. These embarrassing performances have become more and more frequent, rather than the occasional slip.

Team selection sincerely worries me. Fergie selected the midfield consisting of Nani, Giggs, Park, Young & Jones. That is 4 wingers and a defender. No proper centre midfielder. Why not start Fletcher, the branded “big game player”? Has Fergie lost faith with him? Surely alarm bells should be ringing which make SAF realise we are deeply lacking in this department. It was spoken about all summer, the need for a “Scholes replacement”. No-one arrived and now we must suffer the consequences. Even if we want to rectify it, we can’t. January is not the time to buy the kind of player we are looking for. We needed someone from the start and panic buying is not Fergie’s style either, so the chances of anyone coming in are slim. Also, the ideal player would cost a fortune and most likely still be playing Champs League football, so why would he move now?

I understand injuries and suspensions play their part, but the truth is even with a fully fit midfield we have nowhere near the quality of players which grace most other top teams in Europe. We have no heartbeat. No X-factor. No Match winner. And last night, on a night where only a draw was needed to progress, United could not find the goal. No moment of brilliance was created when it mattered most. It really is just so poor and in years gone by we would have found it.

I’m not talking about dismantling the team and getting rid of everyone. We have a great, youthful foundation to work with. We have plenty of good players, however many of them have not performed in the past few months. But we are missing the gel which COULD HAVE brought the team together. That experienced bit of genuine quality to see us through the transition and teach the youngsters. But now it is too late.

We could have bought a game changer. We could have bought that moment of brilliance. We could have instilled that fear factor once again. But right now, the fear is gone. Palace came to OT and knocked us out. Basel & Benfica earned draws at OT and Basel ultimately knocked us out. City ripped us apart. We couldn’t even break down Newcastle at home. Teams believe that they can beat us, where in years gone they might have not fully believed they could do it. It’s worrying and honestly we are just not the team of old.

Looking forward, how can we salvage the season? We face City in FA Cup which I don’t see us getting through. Then it’s just the League because there is no way I will take the Europa seriously. I don’t care if we win it; I do not consider it a true trophy. Winning the league would make up for the disappointment of this season so far but who honestly believes we have enough to it? I still do. But with City looking extremely strong with strength in depth, Spurs in the form of their life and if Chelsea put a run together we are going to have to buck the fuck up, and quickly.

I leave you with quotes from former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane: "I think [going out] reflects what United have done in truth – they haven't scored enough goals and they haven't beaten Basel or Benfica.  "People have talked about the young players - you've had [Phil] Jones, [Chris] Smalling, [Ashley] Young coming in, everybody building them up but they've got a lot to do, it's a reality check for some. I'd be getting hold of some of those lads, saying 'you'd better buck up your ideas'. "I think their best player tonight was Ryan Giggs. That sums it up - he's 37 or 38, you can't be depending on him. United got what they deserved tonight. "It's a reality check for the Premier League and I wouldn't look beyond the Spanish teams Real Madrid and Barcelona this season.

The Benefit of Hindsight

The benefit of hindsight. Oh what a wonderful thing. If you could look back at the decisions you or your team have made, were they the correct ones? Would you change them?

Looking at the season so far and the events that have transpired, I think to myself, were United correct in the purchases they made? Did we miss out on the one big name that could have made the difference?

Anyone who knows anything about football and followed the last transfer window will know exactly which players I am referring to. But that is not the focus, I’d rather analyse what we do have and their contribution to the team thus far. 

Starting with the biggest amounts paid for our footballers and working down, we commence with our speedy new winger, Ashley Young. Most people were not jumping up and down at the prospect of this Premier League proven quality player joining the ranks. However, since his arrival, he has managed to win over a number of doubters with some great goals, assists and general contribution to the team.

Although brought in for his set piece & crossing ability, he only seems to be able to deliver a top quality ball 1 of 4 which is not a good enough return. Young also tends to take that second too long to put the ball in which allows defenders to block the shot or cross. I’m sure Fergie will sort that out sooner rather than later. He has plenty room for improvement, and although his ability should not be doubted, he still has some way to go to satisfy the price tag. An injury hindered his progress in recent times and he looked slightly out of form just before, but looking forward I believe he will push on and play a crucial role for United this season.

Next on the list is the mercurial young talent that is Phil Jones. I cannot heap enough praise on a player who initially worried about whether he would get enough game time at United in his first season.  It so turns out he has played the most out of everyone in the squad! This 19 year sensation has shown he is not only up for the challenge, but ready to embrace everything that is United. His performances thus far have been nothing short of exemplary, defending with courage and carrying the ball up from the back with a presence and determination.

Another positive characteristic about the guy is his versatility and ability to adapt into different roles. With United’s current injury problems, this is working to the team’s benefit. However, I believe Fergie needs to start playing him in one position more consistently; otherwise in the long run his versatility may become more of a hindrance than an asset. Once again I state that I’m sure Fergie knows this already and is merely seeing what options are available from this awesome talent. Personally I see him with Smalling in the middle of the defence for the next 10 years; however it's good knowing when injuries hit, we have options. And for the record, he is not a midfielder.

David De Gea. I have absolutely no doubt that he is the right choice for us and will make making many match winning saves for years to come. You can see how well he reads the game, distributes the ball and makes sharp shot-stopping saves. Yes, he may still be a tad careless and yes he did start he career with a few fumbles, but look how strong he has come back. Does that alone not show the character of the guy? What were you doing at 20 years old – it surely wasn’t recovering your form, settling into a foreign country where you can’t speak the language and playing for one of the biggest teams in the world in front of 75 000 fans? 

De HEYA has a bright future ahead and hopefully the lure of going back to Spain doesn’t come around for the next 15 years (at least).

And I end off with the combined analysis of Danny Welbeck & Tom Cleverley. As I mentioned, these “new singings” have given United a breath of fresh air, with their youthful exuberance injected perfectly into the team. Mates on and off the field, they have both staked a claim for starting berths in the team.

Unfortunately, due to our lack of quality in the middle of midfield, there has been a huge amount of additional pressure placed on Cleverley. Admittedly, he did make a difference in the games he has played thus far, but he is still young and needs to be given time. He is a part solution to our midfield dilemma. We still need the “experienced x-factor match-winner” for him to learn from. Fletch & Carrick have the experience but no x-factor, Anderson (sadly) is not one to look up to and Giggs cannot keep going forever.

For Welbeck the reality of having 7 strikers available presents a different type of pressure. It’s the situation whereby you have to take your chance when the opportunity presents itself. I believe he has done just that and done so with a touch of class. Both these players will part of the English foundation of United, along with Smalling, Jones & Rooney, for the next decade.

So looking at the progress of our signings I think they have all contributed and shown that they have the quality to succeed. News just broke today regarding Anderson’s latest injury blow which rules him out until February next year. Cleverley is currently sidelined too. Once again, the concern is completely focussed on the centre of the park, an area which Fergie did not sufficiently address and we may pay the consequences for it. 

Moving our best player out of position to compensate for the missing quality surely proves this? Rooney is class and can play anywhere, and hopefully when he reaches 30 he can drop back into midfield, but now is not the time. We have options everywhere except in the engine room of the team. Let’s trust in Fergie once more and try push through with what we have.

So in hindsight, if Fergie knew what he knew now, would he have pushed harder for Sniejder or Modric? 

The Best of Enemies - Liverpool Reality Check

It’s always interesting getting an opinion from the other side of the fence. Most times we won’t agree but occasionally you come across those few fans that appreciate game and watch their teams without those tinted/bias specs on, something I struggle to do. So I was pleasantly surprised to read how realistic and grounded this Scouser actually is.

Liverpool Reality Check

Reality - the state of things as they actually exist as opposed to how they may appear or may be imagined.

In the case of Liverpool football club, a serious dose of reality was handed to players and supporters alike, over the last two weekends, as a virtually fully-fit Reds side labored to a 1-0 loss at Stoke City and then proceeded to get hammered 4-0 at Spurs. Reminiscent of losses to the likes of Blackpool, Wolves, as well as Tony Pulis’s men last season, much of the hype and euphoria of the recent changes at the club were somewhat diminished following more unproductive away performances.

Positive results against a weakened Arsenal side and a struggling Bolton, along with the opening day home draw with Sunderland, meant that The Reds were off to their best start in recent memory, earning a respectable 7 points from their first three premiership encounters. Fans and players were oozing with optimism and positivity but both sets of sentiments have now been somewhat dampened as a result of the two most recent setbacks. Granted that both The Britannia Stadium and White Hart Lane are never easy places to go, let alone win, a point was a necessity from both games to convince fans and players alike that Liverpool are genuine top four contenders once again.

Not for one second am I dismissing the magnitude of the turnaround that the club has undergone since the disgraceful previous American owners and, more recently, Roy Hodgson left the club, but the recent Stoke defeat, as well as the day-to-forget at White Hart Lane, came as a timely reminder that this is all still very much a work in progress.

I have no doubt that with King Kenny at the helm, accompanied by the likes of Steve Clarke and Damien Comolli, Liverpool will once again be a force to be reckoned with. The signings since January are indicative of the direction in which the club is going but these players are still in the process of jelling as they attempt to complement each other in the best possible manner.

As oppose to looking at a bench laden with inexperience and mediocrity, the depth at Dalglish’s disposal is a rare luxury that hasn’t often been afforded to managers of Liverpool in times gone by. While Benitez settled for the likes of Milan Baros and Florent Siname-Pongolle to act as game changers during his tenure, King Kenny can now call on the likes of Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy and Jordan Henderson, to name a few, to positively impact any match.

While there is seemingly adequate depth and cover in the attack and midfield departments, I’m of the opinion that a re-shuffle is needed in defence. A fully-fit Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly make the right fullback slot the most accomplished in the defensive structures while the real issues lie in the central department. Jamie Carragher is not getting any younger, and while he still reads the game like a book, it’s becoming more and more common to see him falling short when asked to match strikers for pace. Daniel Agger may be able to complement Carra and provide cover for the 33-year old if need be, but the constant concerns surrounding his fitness mean that he’s only made 98 appearances during his 5 years at the club. Martin Skrtel was an ever-present last season, and was solid enough alongside Carra, but one gets the feeling that Liverpool require a more accomplished world-class presence in the heart of the defence should they wish to challenge for top honours once more.

Looking ahead to the home game against Wolves this weekend, anything less than a convincing victory over Mick McCarthy’s men will be unacceptable. It is imperative that Liverpool show the rest of the league that they are better than what they have produced of late and in turn earn another victory in front of a packed Anfield crowd. The timely and long overdue return of Steven Gerrard will be another reason to expect victory as Kenny attempts to rally his troops once more and avoid any further reality checks with games against Everton and United on the horizon. 

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When Will Fergie Bring Back The "Old" Guard?

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Does Fantasy Football Influence Your True Football Feelings?

The Premier League is back! From my side, I’m happy for United to have begun the campaign with a win, but there is a long way still to go. The best league in the world always has twists & turns, excitement & heartbreak as well as the final month’s glory & disappointment for everyone involved. It’s the moments deep in the second half when your team is defending a lead or pushing for the winner, and you are feeling your heart is pumping harder than usual, that you know it’s back. That feeling is pure. Its passion flowing through your veins and it makes you realise why you love the game and your team.

But for a while now there has been something which could be seen as an invasion on your true football feelings. This “game within a game” creates an unnatural feeling towards opposing teams and players which should not be there in the first place. I thought I could also repress these feelings, but while you are in the game, there is no denying it. I’m talking about the game that everyone gets fickle over, especially when you are at the bottom, and that’s Fantasy Football.

I was watching the opening fixtures last weekend with a group of mates and noticed something horribly wrong. When Stoke won a free-kick in the dying minutes of the game against Chelsea, a mate piped up and said: “Hold up Chelsea, I need that clean sheet!”  Was this die hard football fan cheering for the “wrong” result? That’s when I knew things had already started off on the wrong foot, yet again. All of us who play, and please note that I have been an active player since 2004, have had those moments when we hope for that goal or clean sheet to happen for the teams we are supposed to despise. That just is not good enough. That part of me, my mates and all others who play Fantasy football, who hope for those immoral results to happen, need to have a rethink. We are betraying our teams and ourselves. For what? A few more points? Come on now, we all need to do better!

How should you be feeling?

Let’s recap how you should feel if Fantasy was not involved. You should want what’s best for your team in terms of the matchday result (i.e. victory). You should want your rivals to drop points. You should WANT to see them concede in injury time, making the damage of the dropped points hurt even more. So why does a part of us not want to see the ball land up in the back of our opponents net? For pride? Respect? Let’s ask ourselves, what do we get if we win a Fantasy league amongst our mates? A few hundred bucks? Surely the glory you get from mocking opponent fans for conceding late on or winning the league come the end of the season trumps it?!

How do you end up feeling?

It’s just so much fun when you get it right. When your captain scores a double, 2 of your defenders provide assists and your keeper keeps a clean sheet, you just feel like you understand football and are able to predict what happens next. You gloat amongst your friends and let them know who is boss. However, football changes very quickly, and your feelings are completely different the next gameweek when not a single player performs and you see the dreaded red arrow pointing down. You get over it and wonder why you play. It all seems quite fickle to me, but it’s all part of the fun! You have to take the good with the bad, and that should start from the top, where the real game is happening. And let’s also all agree that we all wish we knew the weekend’s results on the Friday, imagining if we had picked the defender who scored a double, kept a clean and got all the bonuses as captain?!

However, Fantasy does have another positive aspect to it. It allows you to find interest in games that you may not have watched in the first place – like a Wigan vs. Blackburn or a Wolves vs. West Brom (not disrespect). You hope for Al-Habsi to keep that clean, Samba to score, Jarvis to assist a goal or Odemwingie to grab that elusive winner. In turn, you are exposed to new teams, players and managers which you may previously had known little about. That is one big benefit of Fantasy football for the game in general.

My point is that however fun the game is, we all need to keep it in perspective. We must acknowledge that it is a game based on the real game and wouldn’t exist without the real football. Your team and football in general deserves better than for you to be cheering for the “wrong” results. If you are a neutral and enjoy the game just for the actual football, then by all means cheer on whoever you want. But if you are a United supporter and you AREN’T cheering for Liverpool, City, Chelsea or Arsenal (in that order) to concede in the last minute because you have their defenders in your team, then you should feel ashamed and know that you are betraying your team. The occasional slip is fine, but when it’s happening week in week out, then you should reconsider where your passion actually lies. But like real football it’s an addiction which I struggle to under control. 

Transfer Season - Reading Through The Bullshit

Sifting Through The Lies

As we all long for the football season to return, the majority of us find “satisfaction” in following a variety of different sources through the various mediums available – trying to find latest breaking news which direct us towards which players could ultimately sign for our respective clubs. Whether people want to believe it or not, even the true football fans can be swept away and get overly excited about prospects that the media, bloggers and “people in the know” throw in our faces. What all of us need to understand is that all these people understand the needs of the public and are sometimes willing to put whatever headlines are necessary to gain the publicity. More often it is the lower tier bloggers and young journalists who instil a false (and sick) sense of hope that certain players will be joining our clubs. 

It’s so easy to jump on the bandwagon. As a huge fan of Twitter and a big Tweeter myself, I have built a solid stream of everyone I consider credible and who, on occasion, obtain “inside” or breaking news before others. These few newspapers, journalists and editors truly understand the game and have an excellent overall knowledge which can be admired and commended. And to those people I raise my hat and salute you. You are few and far between.

For the rest, I urge you to get a life and gain some humility. Being in the online industry and having studied marketing, your reputation (especially online) is crucial. And you only get one chance. If your reputation is damaged, the chances are firstly that you will be found out and secondly, no one will ever trust you again. That is why whenever I find an interesting article I always credit the person who wrote it and if I give an opinion, I do so with thought and the understanding of consequences. I know many people can get away with their crimes, but I believe people are finally starting to see these vultures for what they really are. I am no journalist or person in the know, I’m a football enthusiast, a fan, a passionate follower of the beautiful game and I most importantly, I am a realist.

Knowing the NON Credible Sources

One of the key points of the article is also help you determine who the unreliable sources are, the ones who fabricate stories just to generate excitement, hype and lies amongst the public. These people lack substance, lack the backbone to follow through on their statements and are practically writing articles and headlines which satisfy the public’s thoughts. They give us hope, tap into our inner emotions and tug at the heart strings which are connected to our clubs. These people should be lynched.

Example 1: Goal.com

When it comes to bullshit, Goal are the primary candidates. These guys will do anything to drive traffic to their website. When it comes to analysis and interesting articles, I can’t fault them, but when you read about a signing or fee agreed, be cautious and think twice. It’s generally going to be bullshit. Always check the quotes and their sources. Or maybe just don’t visit the website.

Example 2: Caughoffside.com

These guys (so I hear) are most definitely NOT journalists and are just guys looking to create hype and generate headlines. They are not credible sources. They have the exact amount of “inside information” as us fans have – none. Do not believe what they say and do not get excited about any headline you read. In fact, if you are following them on Twitter, unfollow them because they will just get you excited over nothing.

Transfer Examples & Predictions

As far as the transfer window predictions go, here are some examples and predictions for the rest of the transfer period. I have used these 2 examples as I’m a United fan and they quite possibly have some similarities as to the outcome. 

1. David de Gea

Synopsis:

I will not go through the timeline of quotes that came out of this boy’s mouth. But for everyone who can read through the bullshit, we all knew he was going to join United the moment Fergie came out and said it. He claimed he wanted to wait until the end of the European U21 Championship to decide his future, but he was merely waiting for his new agent’s contract to come into effect and the deal was done.

Outcome:

He joined United almost immediately after the tournament and expressed his delight at joining one of the biggest clubs in the world.

2. Wesley Sneijder

Synopsis:

Warning – this is a touchy, complicated and tiresome subject. This is my simplified take on the whole transfer saga.

Paul Scholes has retired. Owen Hargreaves has been released. United’s midfield already lacked creativity even with both these players. It’s time to find a solution, to install some of that “x-factor” which has been missing since Ronaldo left. There are 3 options of players who suite the mould of a United player in terms of quality, creativity and experience. These players are Luka Modric, Samir Nasri & Wesley Sneijder.

Now before I continue, let me put my personal preference of the player I want at United. It’s Wesley Sneijder. I have wanted him for over a year and believe he is perfect of us. This is debatable with numerous people arguing their case for each player. I don’t care. If he comes, he will be awesome.

Modric – This is not happening for 2 reasons – firstly Spurs don’t want to sell and secondly he prefers a move to Chelsea in London. Finished.

Nasri - We “bid” for Nasri 3 weeks ago. Wenger is in a serious predicament as the player won’t sign an extension, has 1 year left and if they don’t take the offer, and he will leave for free at end of the season. But how can he sell him to a rival? It’s a toughie, I won’t lie. In terms of United, I don’t think he will come for numerous reasons – but mainly he is going to go to City because (and I hate to say it) they are on the up and they are a serious threat and will be for many years. Oh yes, and they will pay him a fuckload more.

Sneijder - To sum up and conclude on everything I have just said. I have always believed Wesley was going to come. He has the chance to stay with us for the rest of his career, play under the greatest manager of all time, in front of a 75 000 strong Old Trafford crowd and join the Champions of England. He has won in Holland, Spain & Italy. It’s time for him to reach the pinnacle of his career with the most successful club in England.

Is he coming?

He has stated he is happy in Italy, he loves the fans etc. He has to say that. If not, his price would decrease and therefore hurt the fans and club he loves. And look at the sources of the information. He spoke to Vanity Fair the other day and said how his wife is happy in Milan. She was probably sitting right next to him.

People need to get a grip of the situation and read closer into it. There have been meetings that have taken place last week with the Milan board. So logic dictates that anything that is said from anyone other than one of the people in that meeting is most likely BULLSHIT. 

Lastly, Wesley needs to WANT to come to United. And he seriously cannot demand wages bigger than Rooney. This will cause problems and if he is not willing to come for the whole greater picture that comes with it, then we deserve better. His Dutch coach, all United fans and many journalists say he is coming, whereas Inter’s directors, fans and players think he is staying. I believe (hope) that he will come. I have my doubts and my feelings seem to swing each day, but I urge everyone to have the same attitude as me – 

Don’t stop believing until the transfer window is closed

Conclusion:

Logic needs to dictate your thoughts on which players could join certain clubs. Even though it makes sense to YOU, that doesn’t mean it will happen. The media are powerful, they are cunning and they are clever – they see the logical transfers and create the rumours which seem to make sense. Be cautious, don’t get overly excited until the picture with the manager and player holding their new club’s shirt starts circulating. Even then, it could be photo shopped. This is a dangerous game being played and people’s reputations get damaged. Make sure you are not one of them and trust in your managers, I know I do.

Note:

In my opinion, the most trusted media sources are: The Guardian, The Telegraph and Official Man United Writers. I have also found certain journalists such as Henry Winter, Daniel Taylor and Oliver Kay are all credible, fair and knowledgeable. There are many more but the focus of this article is to call the bullshitters.

Post Season Updates

Post football season would be extremely boring if it wasnt for the transfer gossip that occurs daily. Stories can change so drastically from one day to the next, its difficult to keep up and determine which ones are accurate and true. So I have started an Updates posting whereby I will post only the relevant, truthful stories as well as some interesting off-season links.

• Ashley Young in United Medical

http://yfrog.com/h815439894j - Picture showing his arrival at Bridgewater Hospital 

• Van Der Sar confirms handful of players to be involved with his testimonial

1. Rio Ferdinand
2. Nemanja Vidic
3. Paul Scholes
4. Gary Neville
5. Alessandro Del Piero
6. Mark Overmars
7. One of the de Boer brothers

• Chelsea name Andre Villas-Boas as new Manager

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7001161,00.html

• Spurs stand firm on Modric - follow through with him as their model for new kit

http://aggbot.com/link.php?id=13976067&r=tw&c=46

• List of Total Transfer Ins & Outs So Far

http://aggbot.com/link.php?id=13976067&r=tw&c=46

More links & updates to follow as they happen.

Keep the Passion Alive!

The Post Domestic Football Season Starts With A Bang

Internationals:

We are all already suffering from a lack of domestic football. I can see it in the eyes (and the tweets) of my fellow football lovers. International football is one thing, but especially for me where my country does not rank up there with the top footballing nations, I find the gap between the two to be extremely large. Regardless, I do enjoy watching internationals because its football at the end of the day and at this moment, I’ll take anything. It also allows me to watch the game in an unbiased and fairly neutral manner. This is a pleasant change; it’s nice to remove the red specs once in a while and appreciate the game without any strings attached. I especially love watching England play, because for me, it works both ways whether they win or lose. I prefer seeing them win, as all of their players play in the Premier League and I watch them week in week out, so it’s good to see them perform from an outsiders perspective. However, if they lose, well I just love watching the media dismantle and shame the team like they have for all these years, as if each of the players had intentionally set out to irritate and disappoint the public and their fans. Hilarious and classic, every time. 

But overall, it seems like something is missing and will be missing for some time yet. I actually can’t wait for pre-season tours to begin, to watch the players in their new kits and see the team together again. Last year we had the World Cup and next year we will have the European Championships to pass the time, however this time round there is really only one thing that gives us a real sense of footballing pleasure (unless you’re an 

Arsenal fan), and that’s the transfer window.

Some Interesting Transfers:

Wednesday, in particular, produced a peach in terms of transfer activity. It was announced that Liverpool had signed the promising youngster, Jordan Henderson, from Sunderland for 20 Mil, with David Ngog included in the deal. A good piece of business in all honesty, as they get rid of Ngog and add some depth (and youth) to their midfield. Even though United showed some interest in the lad, the truth is we already have one of our own in Tom Cleverley and need a more experienced player to come in and do the job. Both players are English, young and creative centre midfielders. I believe Cleverley will be given his chance this season and hopefully he will grab it with both hands. Liverpool are also looking to add Charlie Adam and Stuart Downing to their ranks, along with Roma goalkeeper Doni. Let’s see which of these actually happen, but I do expect major ins and outs to happen at the Scousers throughout the transfer window.

However, the best news of the day happened a little after the Henderson deal. Just when everyone thought Liverpool had secured their next target, United popped up and grabbed him from right under the noses of the scousers. A truly Houdini type of act performed by the master Sir Alex Ferguson. Phil Jones, what a surprise coup! According to reports Jones met with Wenger last night but still chose to join United instead in a deal rumoured to be around the 15-20 million mark. At this moment in time, with the transfer market completely inflated, most clubs are going to overpay for the players they really want. Especially if the player they want are English! They have become precious commodities, prized long term assets seen as investments in the clubs’ future to ensure they meet the UEFA “homegrown” criteria. Most of the players bought do not match and warrant the price tag they are accompanied with; however, they represent an overall larger investment which has to be made by the clubs.

With that said, I see Phil Jones as an old fashioned, uncompromising powerhouse defender with bags of commitment and promise. I have not seen him have a bad game for Blackburn and stats show their winning percentage is higher when he is in the team (34% vs. 25%). Sources also say that Fergie only really wanted to bring the player in the season after next, however after Liverpool and Arsenal showed their interest, SAF knew he had to move quickly and in the end he got his man. A long term investment, and with Smalling as his English U21 centre back partner as it stands, United have some great young defenders in the team. With two Englishmen and two Brazilians in our backline, there will be a perfect mixture of youth, speed, commitment and flair which opposition teams will one day fear.

I look forward to Wesley Sneijder, Luka Modric or Samir Nasri making their way to Old Trafford in the near future. My personal preference would be Sneijder, I’ve been a fan for a really long time and it would give me great pleasure to see him don our shirt. Modric, however, is pure class, Premier League proven and a player I would take in a heartbeat. With Ashley Young and David De Gea looking certain to join United by the end of the month, this season’s transfer activity is looking to be really exciting.

Who wouldn’t want to play under Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager of all time? Play at Old Trafford, the largest stadium in the league and join up with the Champ19ns of England? Did I say I took my 

red specs off? I think they may have slipped back on sometime during this article. 

The Truth About United

The truth is obvious and the facts cannot be argued. Barca were by far the best team on the night and without a doubt, are the best team in Europe. There is no shame in losing to a team filled with creativity, precision and possession of the highest order. When the 3 nominated World Players of the Year are all in one team, no matter who you are, you will struggle to get a grip of proceedings and most likely play second fiddle to the world’s best. Add Pique, arguably with Vidic the world’s best defender & Villa, Spain’s highest scorer, and you have one mountain to climb. I thought we could do it, though I knew in my heart that going into the game we were 65/35 underdogs, but we could work with that. However, on the night, the class and experience of this Barca team shone through. Pure football domination in every aspect, from possession to shots on target to corners - they had it all and that stats don’t lie. Their combined experience of winning trophies with both Barcelona and Spain has created an unbreakable winning mentality when it matters most, which cannot be matched by anyone.

For United, it really wasn’t a case of players not performing or showing up for the big occasion. We were there, and we tried, and somehow managed to get into halftime at 1-1. But as the game went on, we grew tired of running around and chasing shadows, which unfortunately stemmed from Barca’s dominance. And even though the goals we let in could have possibly been avoided, I’m sure Barca would have found an alternative route to goal. The ref had no part in the outcome and man for man; they were and are far superior. But far superior not only to us, but to any team out there. Man for man, the only team that could possibly match them with individual quality would be Real Madrid. But as we saw over the 2 legs of their semi final, they are not half the TEAM Barcelona are. At United, we are a team but definitely do not have the players to compete with the kind of player power and class which they have in their ranks.

Where to from here?

Well I’m not going to start demanding we buy players and slating the players which helped us knock Liverpool off their perch and claim our 19^th league title. As I have said many times before (see all my previous articles), winning the league was always the priority and anything else should be seen as a bonus, which we unfortunately we could not claim this time round. Considering our performances over the past 4 seasons, we can rightfully claim to be the second best team in all of Europe, having reached 3 finals in 4 years. Had it not been for Barca, we could have easily had at least 4 European titles to our name, but it’s not to be. Our squad as a whole is ideal for winning leagues, dealing with the long seasons and with Fergie constantly changing the team, it helps keep everyone fresh and in turn allows us to rest our bigger players for the more important games. In a Final, a once off game, the classier team will generally prevail, as Barca showed on the weekend.

Fergie knows that if we are to one day beat this great Barca team; we will have to invest heavily and make some wholesale changes. We do not need a complete re-vamp of the squad, however, after Scholesy yesterday confirmed that he would in fact be retiring with immediate effect, it has left our midfield extremely thin and lacking creativity. Strengthening in midfield, and of course a goalkeeper, is vital if we are to challenge on all fronts again next season. We have lost Scholes, Neville, Van Der Sar & Hargreaves for certain and players such as Brown, Kuszczak and even Berbatov could also depart in the summer. They need to be replaced with experienced players of similar quality who can come in immediately and do the job. But Fergie knows this, he is aware of who is available and what positions need attention. I’m not going to turn this into a summer transfer targets article, but Sneijder, Modric, Young, Rodwell and De Gea are the ones that come to mind. All I ask for is for United to put in the offers, be proactive and wait for a response. Put in a 30 million pound offer for Modric. Bid 35 million for Sneijder. Let’s see how “unavailable” they really are.

With everything said and done, the season has come to an end and I call for all United fans to enjoy the season for what it really was – a success. With a team that many people saw as one of the “weaker” and “less creative”  teams in comparison to those triumphant United teams in the past, winning the Premier League for a record 19 times is just fantastic and as fans we need to appreciate the kind of job that has been done. We are now entering into a transition phase; we are losing big name players with bags of experience. However, I trust in Fergie and believe that we have some promising youngsters who can hopefully step up and take their opportunities. But without a doubt, big money will need to be spent if we are to remain as dominant as we have been over the past 20 years and hopefully for more years to come.

Bel19ve in the Champ19ns!

The 19 Moments, Matches & Players Which Defined our Season

After sealing title number 19, the seemingly distant dream which has finally become a reality, everyone connected to the club is feeling extremely proud of what the manager and his troops have achieved. The league was always my priority this season, knocking those scousers off their perch always remained target number one and anything else I see as a bonus. I still maintain that stance and reiterate that beating Barcelona in the Final would be one massive bonus but I truly do not expect it. If we win, we have beaten the best team in the world and if we lose, we have lost to the best team in the world. It’s a win-win situation.

Winning the league this time round has been about consistency. I am the first to admit we have lacked the “fantasy” of previous United teams, but all the criticism that has been directed at the team has surely been proven wrong. More than any other season, it has been a team effort, with everyone contributing throughout the season rather than relying on one player. Say what you want, blame the poor opposition and title rivals, blame the luck or blame the refs, but Fergie and his Red Army have come up trumps and people should pay their dues. As Giggsy so eloquently put it in response to a reporter’s question over the quality within the team: “We’ve won the Premier League & are in the Final of the Champions League – we’re a rubbish team”.

Interestingly, on the day we won the league:

•          14 May à 14/5  = 14 + 5 = 19
•      19^th week of the year
•           19 Points Ahead of Liverpool at the time 

It was meant to be: 

Here are SOME of The 19 Moments, Matches & Players Which Defined Our Season

The Defining Moments:

1. Rooney turns his life around

I’m not going to return to the contract saga but I’m certainly not going to forget it just yet either. Football fans have the shortest memories and most have already forgiven Wayne for his ludicrous antics a few months ago. After questioning the club’s ambitions, disrespecting his team mates, manager and fans, everyone seems to love him again. This is just a reminder of the appalling actions with which he surrounded himself – both form and personal activities. But he seems to have his confidence back and has performed admirably in the last 3 months.

Yes, we needed him

    2. Valencia’s timely return

Like a new signing, the timely return of Antonio has been unbelievable for both himself and the club. No one could have envisioned him performing as well as he has in the amount of time since his return to first team action. Simply stated, he has been nothing short of superb, working hard for the team and popping up with some crucial goals and assists.

Well done and much respect

    3. Park and O’Shea

Not an exact moment in the season, but rather an overall appreciation. Let me say what I’ve been saying for a long time - whoever thinks Park & O’Shea shouldn’t be in the team doesn’t know football. These 2 members of the squad in particular have showed their worth, time and time again. They will always have their critics and yes, Sheasy might be a tad slow and Park limited in skill, but boy do they make up for it in many other areas. Their experience, work rates and ability to perform in the big games have played a large factor in our successful season.

Learn the game and appreciate the squad

The Matches:

    4. Liverpool 3-2 Berba hat trick & bicycle

Any game against the scousers is big, and this one was going well. Berbatov made it 2 nil with a sublime bicycle kick, by controlling the ball with his one leg and finishing with the other, which went off the bar and in. We then let it slip giving away a reckless penalty from Evans followed by Gerrard who scored a free kick which went through the wall. But Berba popped up to score the winner with a glancing header and claimed his hat trick.

Berbaflop? I think not

    5. Man City 2-1 Rooney Bicycle

It was a massive game, with lots of hype surrounding the fixture due to City’s possible title charge by winning the derby. It was an entertaining game which was won by the definite goal of the season, a superb bicycle kick from Rooney. I believe it was the moment which really turned his season around, giving him the confidence to go from strength to strength and find his form, which he did.

The Noisy Neighbours wouldn’t be challenging for the league this season

    6. Everton 1-0 Hernandez header

We were struggling. Distin & Jagielka were immense, having the games of their lives. We needed some inspiration. So who better to save the day than the signing of the season? Valencia provided the cross from the right wing and with the help of a slightly deflected cross, the ball looped up high, over the defenders and Chicharito rose highest to bury the ball into the back of the net with a pinpoint the header, giving us the 3 points we desperately needed.

A huge moment in the title race

    7. Chelsea 2-1 Chicharito 36 second goal

A game which was ultimately as big as it could get. A league game which had the bearings of a final. Whoever wins could put one hand on the trophy. It was United who started the stronger and after just 36 seconds we were 1-0 up after Park played a great through ball and Chicha duly converted. Vidic put us 2-0 up but they pulled one back in the 2^nd half through Lampard. Of course we had to do it the hard way and it was a nervy last few minutes, but we got over the line and finished the job off at Blackburn the following week.

Champions Performance

The Issues:

    8. Stark contrast between our Home & Away form

This is the only true “downer” of our successful campaign. I wonder where we have gone wrong away from home and why we seem to be 2 different teams when playing at different venues? At home we have dropped just 2 points all season, ruthless in all facets of the game and confident to take on anyone. Yet on our travels we looked completely useless at times, struggling to offer any kind of resistance and lacking the ability to break down opposition defences. I’m not sure how it happened this way but it’s something that needs to improve next season. That said, I’m sure Fergie will figure it out by next season.

Fortress OT

    9. Midfield

This has been a very sensitive issue this season, with many people claiming it as our only weakness in an otherwise solid outfit. I do tend to agree, however at the back end of the season, with all our players fit and in form; it seems to have been a slightly different story. I do believe we need to strengthen and find that match winning midfielder, a box to box attacking player who can complement the team. *Cough* Sniejder/Modric *Cough*.  At the moment, our strongest pairing is Giggs and Carrick, who seem destined to start at Wembley. Had it not been for our brilliant defensive unit and the emerging partnership between Rooney & Chicharito, as well as Berba’s goals, our midfield could have been found out a lot more.

Summer Transfer Window.

The Players:

    10. Nani

Over the past year he has completely changed everything about himself and one could call him a truly revolutionized player. His form particularly in the first half of the season, when Rooney was nowhere to be seen, was simply sublime. His confidence, skills and finishing have been on top form and of course his overall team contribution, in terms of both attack and defence, has elevated him and his game to another level. Recently crowned Players Player of the Year at the United Awards evening.

Transformation

    11. Vidic

My personal selection for player of the year, Vidic has lead the team by true example and shown what an incredible player he is. A rock in the heart of the defence, he takes no prisoners and protects our goals with everything he has. Without his guidance, power and truly world class defending, we would never be in the position we are in. His presence in the team cannot be understated and his qualities as both a leader and footballer can be admired.

SerbianSteel

    12. Ed

How we all wish he could continue playing, and just imagine if he was only 30 now! He is certainly playing as one in their early 30’s. Everyone in the team just feels a lot more calm and composed when he is between the sticks and I hope Fergie has chosen his replacement wisely. He will most certainly be missed. Edwin, Van Der Sar. Edwin, Edwin Van Der Sar!

Experience

    13. Chicharito

What an incredible signing for our club. There are no enough words which can truly express how much I love this kid! His composure in front of goals, his work ethic, his talent, his speed and his general attitude towards his work and the club are just exemplary. Chicha, the Little Pea, will be scoring many more crucial goals for United for many years to come.

Signing of the Season

    14. Giggs

With 12 titles now under his belt, Ryan Giggs has been tearing not only the opposition apart for years, but the Premier League seems to have become his playground. The veteran is playing the type of football many dream of in their early 20’s. His composure on the ball, the ability to see the pass and even his tackling continues to deliver. Not to mention his pinpoint crosses.

Evolutionary

    15. Carrick

What a pleasantly strong end to the season for Mickey C. I’ve been defending him for ages, sometimes unwarranted, but his return to form when it mattered most is just great to see. His partnership with Giggs in the middle of the park seems to be our best combination and will most likely start in the Champs League Final. His long distance passing range seems to have returned and his ability to protect the back four with crucial interceptions has been vital to the team’s success.

Welcome Back!

    16. Berbatov

Finally, another one I have been defending since his arrival has decided to show his value to the club. Berbatov was the league’s top scorer with 20 goals (not 21, the dubious goals panel changed one of his goals to an own goal and Tevez recently grabbed a brace against Stoke) and has continued to show the classy attributes for which the fans should love him for. Without a doubt he has showed up this season but unfortunately, the unbelievable form of Rooney & Chicharito over the past few months has limited his starting possibilities, but Berba has not complained or thrown his toys out of his cot like almost every other footballer would, he has remained a true example of a professional, a team players and one who genuinely loves United.

Touch

    17. Rooney

After the most disgraceful year, both on the field and off it, Rooney has finally come to the party when it mattered most. Think back to what he said about the club not being able fulfil his ambitions. Have you ever heard anything more fucking laughable than that?! It’s ironic to think that it was he who scored the penalty which gave us league title #19. With Barcelona currently waiting for us in the Champs League Final, one must think how he could have been thinking such ludicrous thoughts and he obviously didn’t have a clue about what he was talking about. I still haven’t quite forgiven him, but he is on the road to salvation. A quite brilliant return to form over the past 3 months he endeared him back into the United Faithful and we really have needed him to step up and find some form. I do hope he continues scoring goals and winning us games for many years to come.

What?! Fucking What?! What?!

    18. The Da Silva’s

They will both receive a winner’s medal which genuinely warms my heart. The twins have both shown their qualities, which are very similar. Both have pace, attacking ability and a hunger to succeed, as well as that slightly reckless characteristic to dive in – but Fergie will shape that over the years to come. First it was Rafael, again, solidifying his spot at RB with a number of brilliant performances against some strong opposition. And more recently, it has been Fabio’s turn in the limelight, getting the nod ahead of his brother for a few big games. Fabio passed 10 appearances and I’m delighted for him! They are our future fullbacks and we should be extremely excited about it!

Viva Da Silvas

    19. Smalling

Everyone thought it would take awhile for him to get settled, that United lacked depth at the back and if Rio got injured we would struggle. Well, I can categorically state that the above words we fully proved to be incorrect and this youngster showed his worth in some of the toughest of games at a time when the team really needed him. One for the future, Smalling models his game on Rio’s and is obviously learning from him every day. Encouraging signs!

 2^nd best signing of the season

Lastly, and certainly not least, a person who doesn’t fit into the list because he wrote the damn thing! 

Take a bow:

Sir Alex Ferguson.

The man who has made all of this possible, the Generalissimo of the club – Fergie is the heart and soul of the club. There will never be enough words to accurately justify just how much he has done for the club and the impact he has made on our history. I doubt there will ever be a manager able to top his time spent at one club and the achievements which have come with it. His passion and commitment to the cause is the reason the players have accomplished what they have and he is the source of their motivation. This is his house and hopefully will be for a long time yet.

God

I dub this Manchester United team – “The Consistent Grinders”

For Those Who Have Always BEL19VED

“Are you watching, are you watching, are you watching Merseyside??!!”

The morning after the day before! What a game, what a performance and what a huge result which all but finalised United as the most successful team in England with title number 19 a single point away! Knocking them off the perch, who would have thought? Sir Alex Ferguson has done it again, proved the doubters wrong and come up with the goods. We always do it the hard way, after last week’s loss against Arsenal meant the magnitude of this game was undoubtedly as big as it could get. But we showed up this time round and when it mattered most.

Chances

We bossed the game, particularly in the first half, with 2-1 providing an extremely flattering scoreline for the visitors. It was that magical signing of the season, Chicharito, and my self-dubbed “Saviour” who ensured United would gain early momentum with another clinical finish after just 36 seconds. A through ball from the brilliant Park ensured Hernandez was clear on goal and he duly took his chance. 20 goals this season, could you ask for more from this young Mexican? Simply sublime.

We kept the pressure on for large periods in the first half, with them offering little resistance. Rooney had a long range effort saved by Cech and our relentless attacks and domination continued. The second goal came on 26 minutes, when the ever-green (Sir) Ryan Giggs crossed a magnificent ball onto the head of our Serbian enforcer, Nemanja Vidic, who converted with his head. It should be noted that his overall contribution to United, not only this season, has been nothing short of immense. Leading by example, working hard for the team, winning just about every ball that goes comes into the box and popping up with the odd goals are just some of the unbelievable qualities he offers the team. Alongside Nani, Vidic could be our player of the season.

Overall, we could, or should have scored at least 4 goals. Chicharito and Rooney both could have had a hat trick, with chances being missed by both players. After Chelsea pulled one back, it made for a nervy final 15 minutes but we stood tall and saw the game through. A performance of champions, we stood up and were counted.

The Ref

When Howard Webb was appointed to officiate the game, everyone from the Chelsea supporters to the scousers were up in arms about it. Well let me categorically state that we DID NOT get the decisions today and if we had lost or drawn the game, I guarantee that Fergie and the players would have made a bigger noise about it. Im highlighting a couple of crucial decisions which we DID NOT get and all you Webb & United haters should take note.

• Ivanovic red card

After diving in on Rooney, Ivanovic rightly received a caution for the challenge in the first half. He then committed another couple of fouls after which the referee clearly stated quite vocally and with his hand movements: “NO MORE”. So when he cynically challenged Rooney again, he should have received his 2^nd yellow card. Like Luiz at the Bridge, the ref failed to produce it.

• Lampard penalty

It was a clear penalty. Lampard’s hand was raised high above his body and the ball clearly hit his hand. A blatant penalty. But I’m sure no one is thinking about that now are they?

• General control

However, even though some potentially big decisions did not go our way, I thought he controlled the game well, kept the flow and luckily we won the game so there will be no consequences of his wrong decisions. I have merely highlighted the incidents to remind those pathetic supporters out there that there is no bias for United and to please stop worrying about us and rather focus on their own teams.

Impact

The impact of the win is obvious, with us needing 1 point from our final two games to officially secure the precious number 19! In our 4 meetings with Chelsea this year, we’ve won when it matters most. The long term psychological damage will also keep on lingering, ever since that amazing night in Moscow, we have most times had the upper hand of our opponents.

“We’ve got our trophy back”

The Next 2 Games

I don’t care where we lift the trophy, as long as we do! And if Ewood Park is the destination then so be it. I’m sure Fergie still won’t take Blackburn lightly and play a strong, but slightly changed side. Key players like Rio, Rooney and Park could be given a rest. I think Rafael, Smalling, Scholes, Ando, Nani & Berba will all start against Blackburn. We have the squad depth and quality to see off our near neighbours and hopefully end the day as champions.

As for our final game against Blackpool, with the Champions League Final in mind and the league hopefully already secured, Fergie will surely play a “weakened” team against the Seasiders. This could cause massive problems and we will surely have their survival opponents moaning about it. Personally, as we did against Hull 2 years ago, our youngsters or so called “weaker” team will most likely beat them, even though I’d like to see them stay up.

Barcelona

What must Pep be thinking now? After seeing us destroy Schalke with a “weakened” team last week and thoroughly outplaying Chelsea with our “stronger” team, who will Fergie select to try and beat the Catalan giants? I would play the exact team from last night, except include Evra for Fabio. After yesterdays win, everyone connected to United must have a lot more belief that we can give Barca a game and show up for the big occasion!

For those of you who have BEL19VED, It’s almost there!