the Ego has Landed ...

It should make for an interesting season. Certainly a better one than under the unfortunate Moyes.

I'm looking forward to it.

the Class of '92 ReUnited on familiar ground ..

It just had to happen, didn't it ? Sir Alex Ferguson has been working so hard on bringing back United alumni to the club in various capacities that it was just a matter of time before the most famous of his Fledgelings flocked together at Old Trafford and Carrington. It's just that most of us had not figured that it would happen quite so soon. Or in such sad circumstances.

 Still, the sight of these guys puts a wide smile on my face; with Phil having survived the cull of Moyes' staff due to his Class of '92 ties.

It's time to bring my United back - Attack! Pace! Power! Attitude! Fergie Time!
Have these elements in place, and most United fans can live with defeat (just not too often!)

For the first time in a couple months, I'm actually eagerly looking forward to United's next match. What will a Giggs team look like ? How will he set them up ? Who will he select ? Will he play himself ? Will the team actually be happy and play like the United team I know they are capable of ?
What I do know is that Giggs has asked for a return to the United way of playing. It has been greatly missed.

as Bad as it Gets ... only it gets Worse ..

I'm not talking about results or performances on the field. The time for that has long past. And anyway, Moyes has proven that he can extract one terrible performance after another out of this squad. I've pretty much given up and the latest performance against Everton was just another in a long, long ..... long ... list.

It's this photo doing the rounds which draws the ire

Losing 0-2 against Everton - and really, it could have been much worse - and Steve Round responds by whipping out a booklet of set plays. Powerpoint slides and clip art with bells and whistles, no doubt. Is this part of the much ballyhoed improvements behind the scenes that I keep hearing about ? Is putting in a few iPads enough to convince the Glazers that Moyes deserves more time ?

Not that the set plays booklet made much difference anyway, as United didn't change their pattern of play at all. Nor did Moyes respond when Seamus Coleman was steaming through the inside left channel causing havoc. That Martinez had targeted that area was obvious within the first 10 minutes of the game. And boy, did it look potentially damaging. But Moyes didn't respond - and potential became reality.

It is beyond doubt now - and has been for some time - that Moyes is making Man United a much, much lousier team than they actually are. It is also becoming apparent that the United job is turning Moyes into a lousier manager than he was at Everton. The guy's been found out. He's out of his depth. Please put him out of his Moyesery.

There's been a lot of Talk about the 'Moyes Out' Banner ...

but let's just say that the fly past has backfired as Moyes ended up getting support from fans inside Old Trafford. It MAY be that many fans have misgivings about Moyes, but they're not demonstrating their frustration yet for whatever reason - loyalty to SAF, Man Utd's 'tradition' of giving their managers time, not wishing to lose the moral high ground to the likes of Chelsea where changing managers is as common as Elizabeth Taylor changing husbands, whatever.

As for me, I remain convinced that David Moyes is out of his depth. I only hope that the Glazers will not give him too much time to wreak havoc on the playing squad. I mean, the guy's a good manager for a mid-table team, but he's not Manchester United quality. There have been lots of articles and insights about what's gone wrong for Moyes at United. I won't regurgitate them - some have been reasonable, some have been idealistic, some have not recognized Moyes' good qualities, lots of them have been about his tactics (whether stone age, rigid, muddled, or blitzkrieg air bombardment).

It's this observation from Tim Howard, who kept goal under Moyes and SAF that I found interesting. He wasn't talking about Man United. He was talking about Everton under Roberto Martinez.

There's been talk that the United players are short on confidence. A bit more than talk, actually - Evans has admitted it explicitly. Except for the occasional Barcelona game, SAF has always tried to impose United's style on their opponents. There may be a little tactical tweak here and there but attack was the overarching theme. Under Moyes, it would appear that not losing is the raison d'etre, defence is the default team setting. You can't win the league by avoiding defeat ...

Howard's quote is revealing and suggests that Moyes' is setting this United team to avoid defeat rather than going for the win. Moyes has made a few quotes that suggest as much (Freudian slip, perhaps ?). And in talking up the opponent's strengths, he is forgetting that his own team is chockful of good players as well. Not that his squad would believe it after the way he's trampled them with 'they're aging and don't have enough quality' quotes spread out over several press conferences. Does he imagine that his players wouldn't notice his comments ?

SAF was well known as a great motivator. From where I'm standing, it sure looks like David Moyes is a great demotivator. And I can't see how this works out well for Man United. The 'Wrong One - Moyes Out" banner may well have been ill conceived, but there are many who agree with the sentiment. Count me among them.

At least he's Consistent .... is, David Moyes

This infographic says it all. David Moyes is a mid-table manager - a good mid-table manager, but a mid-table manager nonetheless. I remember telling a friend a few months ago, give him Stoke's resources and he'll put them in Everton's position; give him Man United's resources, and he'll still put them in Everton's position ! After 29 league games, this has proved startlingly true. 

Let's not even talk about the cup exits, stone age tactics, defeatist press conferences, confused purchases, surprise team selections and puzzling substitutions. From where I'm sitting, it's patently obvious that the playing squad don't have the heart for the fight - at least not for David Moyes. And this is with me having reduced expectations for the season. I would have accepted 4th place even without a trophy to show, but what's really galling is that the performances have been so poor, so often. You'd be hard pressed to believe that this self same squad cantered to the League last season.

It'd take too long to go through the list of things that have gone wrong this season, but it's clear to me that it started with the appointment of Moyes as manager. So here's an appeal to the Glazers and Sir Alex,

Come the end of this season, please put Moyes out of his misery. You'll have to pay him another five years wages, but believe me, he'll cost you a lot more otherwise.

yet another Arsenal player heads to Manchester ...

Unlike recent years, to United this time.

Robin Van Persie for GBP 22.5 - GBP 24 million.

29 years old and has only had one full season without injury. Wonderful talent nonetheless and he makes United a lot stronger. Strong enough for me to believe that United have got what it takes to win the Premier League this season. The return of Vidic and settling in of David de Gea can't be underestimated in terms of importance as well.

I can believe, even with the depth of talent in Man City's squad. Even when United's replacement for Paul Scholes is Paul Scholes himself. Even when the right back spot does not have a regular starter, and we're still dependent on Evra and a creaking Rio Ferdinand.

Hope lies eternal because Sir Alex Ferguson is recreating his Gang of Four from the 98/99 squad in Var Persie, Rooney, Welbeck and Chicharito. If nothing else works, he'll just load up on attack and hope to score enough goals to win. In buying Van Persie, SAF's made a statement that he intends to do exactly that.

Pity Berbatov, though.

Things that make me Happy ....

Cruel, I know.
But man, it feels GOOOOOD.

900 not out

It just had to happen. On his 900th appearance for Manchester United, Ryan Giggs scores the crucial winning goal. In injury time, no less - classic Man United style. 21 years after his professional debut for Man United, the guy is still producing the goods.

Guess they'll have to change this poster now.

In Honour of Sir Alex Ferguson

We didn't have a stadium stand to name in his honour and we weren't at Old Trafford or England to join in the occasion. But we couldn't let Sir Alex Ferguson's 25th anniversary as Manchester United manager pass by without notice. We took a photo instead.

So here we are - all 4 of us dressed up in Man United jerseys. A photo taken in honour of a man who's been a part of my life for the past 25 years. He's brought much joy to us with the work that he's done at Man United.

Here's hoping that he will continue to do so for many years more !

Lee Martin's take

In light of SAF's 25 years as Manchester United's manager, stories, memories, anecdotes and accolades have been coming out of the woodwork from all and sundry. Many of them from players that I knew of from my youthful days.

One of the more memorable ones is from Lee Martin, scorer of the winning goal in the FA Cup final replay vs Crystal Palace in 1990 - SAF's first major trophy as Manchester United manager.

Martin, at left-back that day, said: "With an hour gone, I heard a shout from the bench with the boss yelling 'Get forward!'. So I put my head down, ran towards the box and got on the end of a brilliant ball from Neil Webb to score what proved the winner.

"As we were celebrating in the dressing-room afterwards, he came over and said 'When I shouted about getting forward, I wasn't talking to YOU!'

Approaching SAF's 25th Anniversary

The Sun UK's Tom Barclay has selected this first eleven as Sir Alex Ferguson's best team during his tenure. If you're an avid Man United fan, or English football fan, these faces should be familiar to you. And if you're not, you really don't have to read any further.


I don't really have any quibble with the players he's chosen, by and large. An argument could be made for Bryan Robson in central midfield but I'm fine if it remains Keane and Scholes. Where I strongly disagree is Rio Ferdinand being in this team. Jaap Stam and Steve Bruce have far stronger claims as far as I am concerned.

Where it gets interesting is the headcount that would last the match. With Vidic, Scholes, Keane, Cantona and Rooney selected, half the team is a red card waiting to happen.

As for the substitutes, they'd make a pretty strong team by themselves too.

Torresgate

As bad as Torres's missing of an open goal was - and it was really, really bad; in my mind it was already 3-2 - you have to feel some sympathy for the guy. There comes a point when even all that money he has in the bank is not enough consolation for that point he has reached. How much lower can he go ?

You can rest assured that opposing fans will be taunting him for weeks and months to come.

The point of reference that keeps on coming up for comparison is Ronny Rosenthal's miss. Which miss was worse ? I'd say Ronny's.

Man United 8 vs Arsenal 2 ? Yeah, right !

Arsenal maybe aren't too bad going forward, but defensively they're crap. But this is not the forum to discuss players, Arsene's philosophy or tactics so .........

The ultimate insult that Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to deliver :

He hasn't offered to loan any players to Arsenal yet.

the new 'Baby-Faced Assasin'

Much has been made and said about the similarities between Chicharito and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - the clinical goal scoring skills, the 'super sub' tag and yes, the baby face. So, to no one's surprise, the British press have dubbed Chicharito as the new 'Baby Faced Assasin'.

Unfortunately, sometimes words and nicknames get lost in translation, as this Mexican magazine proves.

I hope that the nickname translates well in Mexico, cos in English 'Baby Killer' has a totally different connotation.

NB. My personal opinion of Chicharito ? There are some striking similarities with Solsjkaer but Chicharito reminds me more of another Old Trafford hero - Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Like Ruud, Chicharito is totally focused on scoring goals, often plays on the shoulder of the last defender, can't hold the ball up, isn't very good at involving other team mates in play and scores practically all his goals in the penalty box. He's also a master of the tap in, scoring a ship load of goals with the goalkeeper nowhere near him to attempt a save. And, unlike Solsjkaer, I could never imagine Chicharito playing at right midfield.

As things stand, it looks like Chicharito will be scoring many, many goals for United in years to come. Just like Ruud used to do.

Paul Scholes retires

This announcement came as no surprise. You could see it coming as Scholes was relegated to a squad player in the 2nd half of the season; in the misplaced passes when put under pressure.

But at 36, having given United fans so much joy in the years when he was spraying inch-perfect 60-yard passes, belting in 30-yard net busters and ghosting in to head the odd goal - we can hardly complain. And I'm glad that he got the chance to atone in 2008 for missing the 1999 Champions League final.

And I'm happy that he's joining the United coaches. More than skills, Scholes' eye for a killer pass and shot was an extension of a brilliant football brain - and I'm glad that he will be imparting some of that knowledge to United's youths.

Heck, I'll even miss the sight of Scholes getting a yellow or red card ....

What it Takes ....

It's that time of year again - moving into the stretch run of the European football season - with United still in the running for the Premier League, FA cup and Champions' League. With a maximum of 11 games to go, there is talk of the Treble ....

I, for one, find it incredible that this season's team is even in a position to be challenging on 3 fronts.

* Ferdinand - injured for half the season for one reason or another

* Johnny Evans - absolutely terrible

* right back - O'Shea injured for months, Rafael is liable to get a yellow card or two during a match, Gary Neville was so bad he decided to retire

* Paul Scholes - approaching the end of his career at 36, limited games due to age

* Darren Fletcher - where's he been the last few months ?

* Michael Carrick - hasn't been the same player ever since the Champions League final against Barcelona in 2009. Nowadays, if he plays a pass forward, he gets a standing ovation.

* Anderson - injured for most of the season, as usual

* Owen Hargreaves - he's still around ?

* Antonio Valencia - injured for most of the season

* Park Ji Sung - 2-3 months out when he went to play in the Asia Cup

* Obertan, Darron Gibson - squad players who should really be on their way out after this season

* Rooney - off form for large chunks of the season

* Michael Owen - can't remember the last time we sighted him in a match

With all this going on, how did this particular United team get into a position where the possibility of the Treble is mentioned ?

I've got to say that even though many of their performances have been under par, they've been winning matches based on some individual moments of brilliance, and frequently just on sheer blardy mindedness. I guess that would be the 'will to win' part of what it takes to play football for Manchester United.

I won't go much into some of the very good things that have gone into making United's season a potentially great one but

* Van der Sar - why is he going to retire ?

* Vidic - solid as a rock

* Chris Smalling - his emergence minimized Ferdinand's absences

* Evra - just keeps on going

* Ryan Giggs - just keeps on going

* Berbatov - his emergence in the 1st half of the season led to some very vital wins. Hard to believe that United's 3rd choice striker is currently the Premier League's leading goal scorer.

* Hernandez - his emergence has been an absolute revelation. Looks to be United's first choice striker for years to come.

Still, Harry Redknapp says that this is United's worst team in years. I agree, but they just keep on winning. Could it be that they have 'What it Takes' ?

7 Defenders ?

I can't believe that Arsenal, who played the strongest team they had available,


just got beaten by a Man United team with this team list :


That's 7 defenders in the team, with 6 of the team being squad members.

My first thought on seeing the team list was "what in the world is SAF thinking ? Seven defenders ??"

But it worked. And it was fun watching it work :-)

Giggsy

Hard to believe that Ryan Giggs made his first team Manchester United debut against Everton all of 20 years ago today. 20 years of consistently excellent, frequently brilliant football. 20 years worth of memories in which that man Giggs has graced.

There were many highlight moments, of course, but like most Manchester United fans, my abiding memory of Giggs will always be THAT goal against Arsenal in the 1999 FA Cup semifinal replay (here). I must have been jumping and shouting and screaming when he scored that goal cos I don't remember much about what I did then.

So I'll raise a glass tonight for Ryan Giggs. Thanks for the memories and I hope that there will be more to come.

on Gary Neville's retirement

He was never universally liked and was often derided for the quality of his play. There were frequent comments that he only made the England team because he was playing for Manchester United.

But having seen his many years of service in winning Manchester United teams (8 EPL titles and 2 Champions' League titles amongst others), his consistency and determination, and the fact that 5 different managers chose him as the first choice England right back ............ leads me to conclude that his detractors have under valued his contributions. There were the odd mistakes, but those were notable mainly because it showcased how remarkably consistent he was throughout his playing career.

And it was a long and fulfilling careeer - the guy was Man United's first choice right back for some 11-12 years, for goodness sake. That must count for something considering that it spanned the most successful period of the club's history.

But anyway, as Gary Neville rides off into the sunset of retirement, it's time to say "ciao !". As his play proved this season, it was time to go. Even as Gary leaves the playing staff, you can practically hear Sir Alex thinking, "where can I put him in the coaching set up ?"

Comings and Goings in Manchester

It wasn't that long ago, 14th July 2009 in fact, when Carlos Tevez signed a contract to play for Manchester City. We got this :

As far as I know, nobody has ever come forward to claim responsibility for this billboard - it did rile up Sir Alex Ferguson quite a bit, though.

Now that Carlos Tevez has handed in a written transfer request to Manchester City, the Manchester United fans are claiming full responsibility for this :

NB. Tevez is a good player, but man, the amount of baggage that he brings .........