“We are so happy to bring the trophy back to Old Trafford but we are by no means satisfied and we will not stop here.”
Erik Ten Hag
Official publication of the Manchester United Supporters’ Club Malta
editorial team
Clint Camilleri · Braden Galea · Dr. Michael Calleja
advertising executive
Glenn Lucas contributors
Dr. Michael Calleja Clint Camilleri
Jude Cauchi Braden Galea
Robert Mizzi Kevin, Justyn and Wayne Tabone
Iain McCartney Silvio Scicluna
Kenneth Abela Alex Dudley
Julian Tabone Ray Calleja
Stefan Attard Cleo Zarb
Daniel Cuschieri Teresa Green
printing Progress Press
graphic designer
James Trapani patron
Sir Alex Ferguson
club founder
John Calleja
club president
Joseph Tedesco
club committee
Joseph Tedesco President & Match Tickets Coordinator
Robert Muscat Vice-President & Tours Coordinator
Clint Camilleri Secretary. Media & Design Coordinator
Kevin Tabone Treasurer & PRO
Braden Galea Asst. Secretary & Webmaster & Publishing Coordinator
Egidio Sciberras Assistant Treasurer
Robert Mizzi Membership Secretary
Marvin Grech Events Manager
Glenn Lucas Advertising Executive & Sports Activities Coordinator
Matthew Portelli O’Toole Venue & Facilities Coordinator
Etienne Tabone Souvenir Shop Manager
MALTA FOUNDED 1959 MALTA
Quarries Square Street, Msida MSD 1101 Malta. Telephone: +356 21223531
E‑mail: info@manutd‑malta.com
Website: www.manutd‑malta.com
Based in Msida, Malta, we are a non‑profit organization designed to bring the Manchester United experience to United fans here in Malta. We are the only Official Manchester United Supporters’ Club on the Maltese Islands. We are also the oldest Manchester United Supporters’ Club in the World.
THE VIEWS IN THIS MAGAZINE ARE NOT NECESSARILY SHARED BY THE CLUB.
business partners
It has certainly been an exciting season so far for our beloved club! With the arrival of Erik Ten Hag as manager, we have seen renewed energy and warmth within the team. The mercurial Dutchman’s impact has been felt both on and off the pitch, as he has raised the bar and standards at the club. One of the most significant changes has been the introduction of a stable centre-back partnership in Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. This partnership has brought much-needed stability to our backline and has been instrumental in our recent success.
Ten Hag’s tactical brilliance has been evident in his ability to make changes at the right time and motivate the players. We saw this on full display in our recent League Cup win against Newcastle United. It was a long-overdue victory and the first trophy we have collected since the UEFA Europa League Final in 2017. The game was fantastic, and the players showed great composure to seal the victory. This win has filled the fans with confidence and has given the team a much-needed boost.
We cannot overlook the recent epic win against Barcelona in the Round of 32 of the Europa League. Nobody gave us a chance before the draw was made, but our team played brilliantly in the second half, and the atmosphere at Old Trafford was second to none. Goals by Fred and Antony sealed the victory, and it was a tremendous achievement for the team. To advance to the next round was rather pleasing, and it showed that our team can compete at the very highest level. The win against Barcelona was a significant moment in our season, and it has filled us with even more confidence heading into the business end of the campaign.
Another critical factor in our success this season has been the form of our new holding midfielder, Casemiro. The Brazilian has, undoubtedly been absolutely brilliant, bossing the holding midfield position and dictating play. He is just what we needed, and under Ten Hag’s guidance, he will undoubtedly reach his full potential.
We also cannot overlook the rise of precocious starlet Alejandro Garnacho. His recent stunner against West Ham in the FA Cup, coupled with his last-minute winner against Fulham, showed why the kid has amazing potential. He could seriously be the next Cristiano Ronaldo. His form will be crucial as the Red Devils navigate the business end of the season.
While things are looking up for us on the pitch, we cannot ignore the tumultuous period we are currently experiencing off it. The potential sale of the club is causing uncertainty, but regardless of who purchases the club (or if the current owners remain), massive investment in infrastructure is needed. If not demolished, Old Trafford certainly needs major renovation, the club must improve its training grounds, and continuous investment in the squad should be maintained. More importantly, we hope that any new owners will engage more with the fans.
A new stadium has been a topic of discussion for many years, and I believe that it is time for the club to take action. Old Trafford has been our home for over 100 years, but it is starting to show its age. The stadium needs significant renovations, and it is not feasible to keep patching it up. A new stadium would provide us with stateof-the-art facilities, and we could finally catch up with other top clubs in Europe. The club has been lacking in investment in recent years, and a new stadium would be a statement of intent.
Finally, whilst the club has made some significant signings in recent years, we still have work to do. Management need to ensure that we have a world-class squad, capable of challenging for trophies on multiple fronts. Ten Hag has done an excellent job so far, but he will need backing with necessary
funds to compete at the very highest levels of European football. It is high time that the club retained its seat amongst the greatest clubs on the continent.
In conclusion, the future is certainly bright for Manchester United fans. Finally, we can all agree that in Erik Ten Hag, the club has a manager who has brought new energy and tactical brilliance to a faltering team, a side that has now shown great potential, and a passionate fan base that is eager for success. We have taken a step forward with our recent League Cup win, but there is still a long way to go. The sale of the club is causing some uncertainty, but we hope that regardless of who owns the club, there will be significant investment in infrastructure, and most importantly, a closer relationship with the fans.
We want to thank all the readers of our magazine for their continued support of Manchester United. As an editorial team, we are confident that with Ten Hag at the helm, and the right investment in infrastructure and the squad, the glory days to this beloved club are just around the corner!
Sa issa ċertament kien staġun eċitanti għall‑klabb maħbub tagħna! Bil‑wasla ta’ Erik Ten Hag bħala maniġer, rajna enerġija mġedda u għaqda fit‑tim. L‑Olandiż merkurjali kellu impatt li inħass kemm fuq il‑piċċ u lil hinn minnu, u għolla l‑livell u l‑istandard tal‑klabb. Waħda mill‑bidliet l‑aktar sinjifikanti kienet l‑introduzzjoni ta’ koppja stabbli fid‑difiża ċentrali b’ Raphael Varane u Lisandro Martinez. Dan ġab stabbiltà fuq wara u kien strumentali għas‑suċċess riċenti.
Il‑brillantezza tattika ta’ Ten Hag kienet evi denti bl‑abbilt à li jagħmel il‑bidliet fl‑aħjar mumenti u jkun ta’ motivazzjoni għall‑plejers. Rajna dan fis‑sħiħ fir‑rebħa riċenti fit‑Tazza Carabao kontra Newcastle United. Kienet rebħa tant mistennija u l‑ewwel tazza li rbaħna mill‑UEFA Europa League fl‑2017. Il‑logħba kienet fantastika u l‑plejers urew kalma kbira sabiex jakkwistaw il‑vittorja. Din ir‑rebħa mliet lis‑segwaċi tat‑tim b’ kunfidenza u tat spinta tant meħtieġa lit‑tim.
Ma nistg ħux ma nsemmux ir‑rebħa epika riċenti kontra Barċellona fir‑Rawnd ta’ 32 fl‑Europa League. Ħadd ma emmen li għandna ċans meta ttellgħu il‑poloz, iżda t‑tim lagħab logħba bril lanti fit‑tieni nofs tal‑partita, u l‑atmosfera f’ Old Trafford kien inkomparabbli. Gowls minn Fred u Antony ssiġillaw ir‑rebħa, u kienet kisba tremenda għat‑tim. Li ngħaddu għar‑rawnd li jmiss kienet ta’ gost kbir, u turi li t‑tim tagħna kapaċi jikkompeti fl‑ogħla livell. Ir‑rebħa kontra Barċellona kienet mument sinjifikanti fl‑istaġun, u timliena b’ kunfidenza għall‑aħħar xhur kruċjali tal‑kampanja.
Fattur kritiku ieħor fis‑suċċess ta’ dan l‑istaġun kienet il forma tal‑midfielder ġdid Casemiro. Il‑Brażiljan kien bla l‑iċken dubju assolutament brillanti, fejn għamel tiegħu il‑pożizzjoni ta’ holding midfielder u ddetta l‑logħob. Huwa dak li kellna bżonn, u taħt il‑gwida ta’ Ten Hag, bla dubju jista’ jilħaq il‑potenzjal massimu tiegħu.
Ma nistg ħux ma nsemmux ukoll il‑qawmien taż‑żagħżugħ prekoċi Alejandro Garnacho. Il‑gowl mill‑isbaħ kontra West Ham fl‑FA Cup, flimkien mal‑gowl rebbieħ fl‑aħħar minuta kon tra Fulham, urew kif dan it‑tifel għandu potenzjal straordinarju. Serjament jista’ jkun il‑Cristiano Ronado il‑ġdid. Il‑forma tiegħu għandha tkun kruċjali fl‑aħħar ftit xhur tal‑istaġun.
Sakemm l‑affarijiet jidhru sejrin ferm tajjeb fuq il‑piċċ, ma nistgħux ninjoraw il‑perjodu turbolenti li qed nesperjenzaw barra l‑piċċ. Il‑bejgħ potenzjali tal‑klabb qed jikkawża inċertezza, imma irrispettivament minn min jixtri lill‑klabb (jew jekk jibqgħux is‑sidien preżenti), investiment massiċċ fl‑infrastruttura huwa ferm meħtieġ. Jekk ma jitwaqqax, Old Trafford ċertament għandu bżonn rinnovazzjoni maġġuri, u l‑klabb għandu bżonn itejjeb il‑faċilitajiet tat‑taħriġ, kif ukoll investiment kontinwu fl‑iskwadra. Nisperaw li s‑sidien il‑ġodda jkollhom kommunikazzjoni aħjar mas‑segwaċi.
Stadju ġdid kien suġġett ta’ diskussjoni għal ħafna snin, u nemmen li wasal iż‑żmien li l‑klabb jieħu azzjoni. Old Trafford kien id‑dar tagħna għal aktar minn 100 sena, imma issa qed juri iż‑żmien li għadda minn fuqu. L‑istadju għandu bżonn rinnovazzjoni sinjifikanti, u mhux fattibbli li nibqgħu inraqqgħu fih. Stadju ġdid jiprovdilna
faċilitajiet state‑of‑the‑art, u fl‑a ħħar inkunu nistgħu inlaħħqu ma’ klabbs oħra Ewropej. Il‑klabb kien nieqes mill‑investiment fl‑aħħar snin u stadju ġdid ikun dikjarazzjoni b’ saħħitha ta’ intenzjoni fejn il‑klabb sejjer fil‑futur.
Finalment, hekk kif il‑klabb g ħ amel akkwisti sinjifikanti fl‑aħħar snin, għad fadal xogħol xi jsir. It‑tmexxija għandha tassigura li jkollna skwadra ta’ klassi mondjali, kapaċi li tikkom peti għat‑trofej kollha li nipparteċipaw fihom. Ten Hag għamel biċċa xogħol brillanti s’ issa, imma għandu bżonn is‑sostenn finanzjarju sabiex nikkompetu fl‑ogħla livelli tal‑futbol Ewropew. Wasal iż‑żmien li l‑klabb jerġa’ jieħu postu mal‑aqwa timijiet fil‑kontinent.
Biex nikkonkludu, il‑futur jidher sabi ħ għas‑segwaċi ta’ Manchester United. Finalment nistgħu naqblu li f’ Ten Hag, il‑klabb għandu maniġer li ġab enerġija ġdida u brillantezza tattika f’ tim imfixkel: tim li issa qed juri poten zjal kbir, u segwaċi passjonat jistennew bil‑ħerqa is‑suċċess. Għamilna pass ‘il quddiem bir‑rebħa riċenti tat‑Tazza Carabao, imma fadal triq twila. Il‑bejgħ tal‑klabb qed joħloq inċertezza, imma nisperaw li ikun min ikun is‑sid tal‑klabb, isir investiment sinjifikanti fl‑infrastruttura, u ak tar importanti minn hekk, f’ relazzjoni aktar mill‑qrib mas‑segwaċi.
Nixtiequ nirringrazzjaw lill‑qarrejja ta’ din ir‑rivista g ħas‑sapport kontinwu lil Manchester United. Bħala tim editorjali, ninsabu kunfidenti li b’ Ten Hag fit‑tmun, u bl‑investiment meħtieġ fl‑infrastruttura u fl‑iskwadra, iż‑żmien ta’ glorja għall‑klabb maħbub tagħna huwa fil‑qrib!
2,000,000
1) Can you tell us something about yourself (your personal life, age, marital status, work/profession)? What are your favourite past times apart from football? What was your favourite holiday destination?
I’m 39 years old, divorced and the father of a 16-year-old boy. I’ve worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 15 and a half years at TEVA Malta.
In my free time (when United are not playing), I usually go for a long walk or a trek in the countryside, playing good music. This is my way of relaxing in Malta. However, I enjoy travelling alone. I’ve been to 19 countries, and although New Zealand is my favourite, I must mention Asia, Vietnam in particular.
2) How did you start supporting United? What is your best memory of United? How many times have you visited Old Trafford? Who is your favourite current player and club legend? If there was one thing you could change at United, what would it be? If you were a Man Utd manager with an unlimited budget, which player would you bring to
United and why? Which team would you support if Man Utd did not exist?
I started supporting United when I was ten years old, but I recall the 1996 FA Cup win as the match that made me a Red Devil until death. I’ve been to Old Trafford over 20 times. My best memory happened last February. On the 65th Anniversary of the Munich Air Tragedy, I had the opportunity to lay the wreath together with Kevin Tabone on behalf of our Supporters’ Club in Trudering, Munich.
Casemiro is my favourite current player, and it is safe to say that he is one of the best midfielders we’ve had since Roy Keane, while Eric Cantona is my favourite Club Legend.
If I had a magic wand, I would change the Old Trafford atmosphere because, in my opinion, it’s flat.
With an unlimited budget, I would buy PSG’s star, Kylian Mbappe, because his numbers are incredible at his age.
If Man Utd did not exist, I would probably be
supporting Parma FC because I used to watch them play when I was young, and I’ve also been to Parma.
3) What attracted you to join the Supporters’ Club? What made you contest the Committee election? Describe your role in the club. Why would you recommend a United supporter to join the world’s oldest Man Utd supporters’ club?
I was always aware of the Supporters’ Club, but I joined during the 2008 season, the season that I started to watch games at the Supporters’ Club in Msida. I was offered the opportunity to help present the radio program ‘Action Replay’, which made me contest the committee election in 2013. At this moment, I am the secretary of the club and also the Media & Design Coordinator in which I oversee the Club’s Social Media and design printed material such as the membership card.
I would recommend every United fan to join our Supporters’ Club because it is a special supporters’ club with special people, followed by supporters worldwide.
1) Can you tell us something about yourself (your personal life, age, marital status, work/profession)? What are your favourite past‑times apart from football? What was your favourite holiday destination? What are three words that describe you?
I’m 32 years old, I live in Luqa, I have worked at Medirect Bank for the past six years and I am a certified public accountant, tax advisor and auditor, graduating from the University of Malta and the Malta Institute of Taxation. I am in a long-term relationship and when I am not watching football, I am passionate about travel, finance, photography, music and politics. My favourite holiday destination is China, which I visited with my girlfriend in 2018, visiting the cities of Harbin, Beijing and Yangshuo. Other destinations which are top of my list are Sofia, Seville, Porto and Edinburgh. Three words that describe me are: determined, loyal and honest.
2) How did you start supporting United? What is your best memory of United? How many times have you visited Old Trafford? Who is your favourite current player and club legend? If there was one thing you could change at United, what would it be? If you were Man Utd manager and had an unlimited budget, which player would you bring to United and why? Which team would you support if Man Utd did not exist?
I do not recall the point when I started supporting United, but it was after the 1999 treble and at a time when most of my friends in primary school were avid Juventus supporters. However, I was always an England supporter and naturally I was attracted to the best team in England and one of the best in the world, at the height of the golden era under the guidance of the great
Sir Alex. My best memory of United is actually quite recent as I attended the Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle at Wembley earlier this year. It was a case of second time lucky, as I had also attended the Wembley Final of the FA Cup in 2018 which we had lost by the score of 1-0. The atmosphere of Wembley is unforgettable, and it is with a heavy heart that in my opinion, it does not come close to the atmosphere at Old Trafford, which leaves much to be desired and it is something I would definitely change. I have been to Old Trafford seven times in total, but I must admit that I enjoyed the away experience significantly more when I watched United win away to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in 2017. My dream is to watch United beat Liverpool at Anfield. Two moments which remain etched in my memory while watching United from home are the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final penalty win against Chelsea, and the thrashing of Arsenal by the score of 8-2 on my birthday on the 28th August 2011.
My favourite current players is without doubt David De Gea, which in my opinion is a legendary goalkeeper who saved us a huge amount of points since the retirement of Sir Alex when times were challenging on the football field. My favourite club legend is the great Wayne Rooney, a player who I have admired ever since joining from Everton and scoring a debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce. If I had a rewind button, I would bring Erling Haaland to Old Trafford at all costs, but given the unlikelihood of this ever happening, I would bring Kylian Mbappe to Old Trafford if I had an unlimited budget – a hugely successful player who still has his best years ahead of him. If United did not exist, I have a soft spot for Inter and I think they would have been the team I would have followed.
3) What attracted you to join the Supporters’ Club? What made you contest the Committee election? Describe your role in the club. Why would you recommend a United supporter to join the world’s oldest Man Utd supporters’ club?
What attracted me to the Supporters’ Club was actually this publication, when club president Joseph Tedesco invited me to start contributing articles to the flagship magazine of the club. Since then I have gone from writing a quarterly article, to joining Committee through co-option thanks to Joseph Tedesco’s recommendation, and becoming the chief editor of this prestigious publication which is in its 50 th edition. Apart from Echoes, I am deputy secretary, doing translation and proofreading as well as deputising during meetings when the secretary is unavailable, and alongside the club secretary I am responsible for the club’s website, which was a project I drove forward for the club to have a responsive website through which members can follow the club and pay their membership much more easily than with the previous legacy unresponsive website. When one goes abroad representing the supporters’ club, one realizes how much the local supporters’ club is respected and held in high-regard by foreigners, as the oldest United club in the world. I had the opportunity alongside club president Joseph Tedesco, whom I admire greatly for his leadership skills that drive the club onwards and upwards, to represent the club in the branches conference in October 2022. The amazing atmosphere during matches at the club should attract all supporters of Manchester United to join the local supporters’ club and encourage their friends to join as well.
It was all going so well.
A good consistent run of wins. Comebacks. Progress in the FA Cup and in the Europa League. A never-say-die-attitude. Belief. Old Trafford once more looking like a fortress. Top - 4 looking good. A trophy. Everything pointing towards a fantastic season. Confidence.
Then, we went to Anfield. And in a horrifying second 45 minutes, it felt like all the progress made would disappear in thin air! It was a shocking throwback to last season, when heads used to drop and tools downed as soon as the team would go behind. It is a worry and if anything, it proved there’s so much left to be done.
But let’s not let that freak result define our season.
After all, this Manchester United side went to
the Nou Camp and deserved to win.
This Manchester United side has produced glimpses of scintillating football very much reminiscent of some of the best sides of the past.
This Manchester United side has shown togetherness and a resilience to grind out results when it mattered most, synonymous to top winning sides.
This Manchester United side is still in contention on four fronts.
This Manchester United side, since coming back from the World Cup, right up until the 0-0 home draw with Southampton, has played 23 games: won 17, drew 4 and lost only twice.
And, for the very first time after a long while, it really feels like we are starting to build something.
Ten Hag has been using the squad to great effect. He’s been rotating the players around his favourite formation of 4-2-3-1 in such a productive way that whoever comes in, there is no disruption and the rhythm does not change.
The spine of the team is quite obvious.
Varane, Casemiro and Rashford should be kept in cotton wool.
Others such as De Gea, Bruno Fernandes, Martinez, Luke Shaw and until he got injured Eriksen too, are also almost invariably amongst the first names on the starting team-sheet.
The remaining places in the first 11 are always up for grabs. Players such as Antony, Sancho, Malacia, Wan Bissaka (after the World Cup) and Dalot (before the World Cup), Fred, McTominay, Lindelof and Maguire have been
rotated sparingly to good effect too. Same thing for the exciting talents of Garnacho and Pellistri.
In January, Weghorst along with Sabitzer came in to fill in the holes of Martial, Eriksen and Van de Beek. But we all knew those two would not be enough.
So, what’s missing? It’s a no brainer really to understand that we are playing without a proper striker. Weghorst is undoubtedly pulling his socks up and Ten Hag is trying to utilise him as best as he can. He’s employed him in different positions but we all know that a proper number 9 striker will make a big whole difference to our attack.
What’s missing? Midfield back up. We are really short in numbers in midfield too. Quite clearly, Casemiro and Eriksen are Ten Hag’s first choice. Fred is a useful deputy whilst Sabitzer, McTominay and Van De Beek are
good squad players. A look at the youngsters coming up, Kobbie Mainoo and Dan Gore look to be very promising. But it is abundantly clear we need more than that if we are to compete for the biggest prizes.
What else is missing? Defensive back-up, as well. Once again. Varane is a great leader and brings bags of experience. Martinez is the warrior we all love to watch play and Lindelof is a valuable back-up but that is basically it. Maguire has lost his place and has not been himself ever since he’s had to endure off field troubles. In addition, he slows down the play and gives the impression he is out-of-place.
The English Premier League is not just the best league in the world, it is also the toughest league because it is so intense. Playing 3 games a week is not easy and can take its toll. Injuries become inevitable, fatigue creeps in and in the long run you’ll get exposed and caught as we found out to our detriment in recent games.
Re-enforcements are needed. Squad depth needs to be addressed. Ten Hag must be trusted. Solid foundations need to be restored.
And that is another thing that is currently missing: adequate support and expertise when it comes to recruiting players. Stability. Financial steadiness. It is the (only) way forward in modern-football, I believe.
The whole club ownership saga is set to take long and it risks ruining Ten Hag’s summer plans. New wealthy owners can take the club to the next step, to the next level and can make sure that the club is competitive enough.
The Ten Hag effect is great to watch. He really is a genius but he is no magician and he deserves to be supported. In the coming weeks or months, all Manchester United fans will be hoping for that missing link to be filled! The rest will then follow, naturally.
have your say on info@manutd-malta.com
Dear All
The beauty of this game we all love so much. Try to figure out any mathematical or logical sense in the series of results below:
21 Feb: Liverpool vs Real Madrid 2-5
23 Feb: Man Utd vs Barcelona 2-1
26 Feb: Man Utd vs Newcastle 2-0 (Carabao Cup Final winners)
2 Mar: Real Madrid vs Barcelona 0-1 (Madrid 0 shots on target)
5 Mar: Liverpool vs Man Utd 7-0
5 Mar: Real Betis vs Real Madrid 0-0
9 Mar: Man Utd vs Real Betis 4-1
11 Mar: Bournemouth vs Liverpool 1-0
Football bloody hell!
Now waiting for Real Madrid vs Liverpool, return
match. Could this be another freak? (hope not).
The Cherries were beaten by the Scousers 9-0 way back on 27th August. Sweet revenge beating them 1 0 when they finally thought they were well and truly back following that incredible 45 minute debacle at Anfield Road. It’s the third time this season Klopp’s team scored seven or more – they beat Rangers 7-1 at Ibrox in October. But what’s the real benefit from such high score margin results at the end of the season or competition if you end up winning nothing at all? Maybe it’s the fun and banter. That’s all. The rest remains just an inquisition of how what has been defined as ‘the greatest team since the Premier League kicked off’ were on the verge of an unprecedented quadruple last season and ended up hoping for a top four finish this season.
It seems the ABU (Anything But United) fans and media were totally baffled on how this Dutch manager turned things around at Old Trafford in such a short space of time. The numbers speak for themselves. Maybe that was the reason why everyone in the ABU group, but Everyone, celebrated emphatically that
7 0 defeat. What is more mind baffling in that game is that until their first goal just before the stroke of half time we were the better team on the pitch with the best chances to score. Hence why this was a freak! This is not comparable to the 5-0 and 4-0 defeats of last season. At the time we were vulnerable and ready for the taking. The frame of mind going into this game was completely different. Hence the huge disappointment of the Man United fans. But the mentality this manager has instilled in our players is the type of strong mentality required to bounce back from freaks.
5 years waiting for a trophy for a Club of the stature of Manchester United seem to be an eternity. We lost 2 finals on the way, finishing second in the league twice. Hence why the Carabao Cup success was so very important. It broke the duck which Ole did not manage to break in his tenure. It gave Erik his first trophy of what looks to be the first of many more. It gave the fans around the world something to cheer about. And it put Man United back on the perch of the football club in England with the most number of trophies won, 67 against the 66 in the trophy cabinet of the 7UP team.
Hopefully there will be more this season.
At the moment I am following closely the Club ownership situation. It seems that at time of writing the bids from the Qatari investment group led by Sheikh Jassim and from Ineos group led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe have both cleared the first hurdle in the race to buy Man United and have now reached stage two of what is being described as a three-stage process. Elliott Investment Management, the US hedge fund that oversaw the sale of AC Milan in 2018, also launched an 11th-hour proposal prior to the deadline and have now progressed to the second stage of the sale process. However, Elliott’s offer seems to be a little different. Rather than an offer to buy the club, it is a financing proposal, either to facilitate another bid or to allow the Glazers to retain control. From what is being reported the over valuation of the Glazers is way above the bids from Qatari and Ineos but the two groups are still awaiting more detailed financial information regarding a possible deal.
Man Utd could be on the verge of stardom again and the option of Glazers retaining their control in conjunction with the Elliott fund is being deemed as the worst possible nightmare at the end of what was being perceived as the light at the end of tunnel for the 18-year old feud between the American owners and the global Manchester United community. Personally, I am not acquainted enough in
the investment world to have an opinion based on the financial sources of Qatari and Ineos. They both have their pluses and minuses I presume. In my eyes I do not fancy these money-making machines from the Arab world (not a racist comment at all and not based on human rights issues) toying with football clubs. We have seen what is happening with PSG and Citeh. People may argue that both Clubs do not generate a fraction of the economy which Man Utd generate and hence the financial irregularities from their respective owners. But I am still not convinced the greatest football club in the world should be owned by people whose link with football is only their obsession to organize the last World Cup. I do not have
enough knowledge to make any assessment on the Ineos group. What I really care about is that whatever happens between now and the end of April is that this Club is cleared from all debt and have owners who can somehow reproduce the balance between success, income generation and fans’ welfare which existed in the Ferguson/Gill era. In my opinion, I am just dreaming.
I take the opportunity to wish all our esteemed readers of this fabulous magazine a Happy Easter!
Yours United Teddy
A STUNNING new addition was made to the Duncan Edwards Room at Dudley’s Copthorne Hotel when a replica of the stained glass window in St Francis Church was unveiled.
The event was hosted by Jim Cadman, chairman of Duncan Edwards United, who for the past 20 years has worked on keeping the Manchester United and England footballer’s legacy alive in the Black Country and beyond.
Also present at the unveiling were the artist Steve Melgie Merry, Edwards’ cousin Betty Cooksey, Revd Canon Hugh Burton, the Rector of Dudley, members of the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation and team-mates from Edwards’ schooldays.
The original stained glass window shows Edwards memorialised in United and England kit with the words ‘God is with us for our Captain’ and ‘Though there be many members yet is there one body’ adorning ribbons across his chest. Underneath the depiction of Edwards in United’s red and white kit, an inscription reads: ‘Thanking God for the Life of Duncan Edwards, died at Munich, February 1958.’
A plane carrying Edwards and his United teammates, staff, fans and journalists crashed following take-off on February 6, 1958 after a refuelling stop in Munich, Germany. Two weeks later, Edwards lost his life. In total, 23 people died in the tragedy.
The football world came together in grief and support of United, who lost eight players, and St Francis Church, which is located on the Priory estate where Edwards spent his childhood, made an appeal for Football League sides to help finance a stained glass memorial to their local hero.
Manchester United, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Wrens Nest Bowling Club responded to the plea and their individual crests are
Teresa Green Photos: Steve Burden. The stained glass window in the Duncan Edwards Room at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley.incorporated into the window, which was unveiled in 1961 by Sir Matt Busby, United’s manager at the time of the tragedy.
Hugh Burton said: “I am fortunate to see the original stained glass window most days and it was remarkable to view the craftsmanship and likeness of the replica to the original.
We will continue to welcome visitors to St Francis Church to see the original window but this new installation gives hotel visitors the chance to find out more about Duncan’s life and career.
The unveiling was also an opportunity to meet the dedicated people connected with Duncan Edwards United and I look forward to working with them to help keep his legacy alive.”
Duncan Edwards United website: https://duncanedwardsunited.com
Oh how much the Tabone boys have missed the feeling of seeing their club winning a trophy! More of the same please…
With all this talk about the takeover, who would you prefer - Qatar, INEOS, Elliot Investment Management hedge fund or keep the Glazers and why?
Wayne: The Glazer family has owned Manchester United since 2005. Their ownership has been controversial among many fans, who believe that the Glazers have prioritized profit over on field success. So I would definitely not choose the Glazers to keep the club as they don’t have the club’s best interest at heart. I would choose Qatar as they have already proved that they are willing to put in the money required for the club to succeed, as shown for the huge French side, PSG. With some signings the manager could add to the team, it could lead to more titles.
Justyn: Out of all the options one thing is for certain, the Glazers need to go. They have filled the club with huge amounts of debt from the beginning of their reign. There has also been a lack of investing in the infrastructure of the club. Moreover, there has been a clear lack of communication with fans.
In my opinion, the two best options are Qatar and INEOS. Qatar has shown that they can manage a football club and are not shy to invest in the club to make it one of the best in the world. A clear example of this is PSG. Although Manchester United is a different animal in terms of stature, I believe that they will be looking to bring the club back to its former glories. As promises they have realised that the club has been held back from having a top notch stadium and training centre. The only thing that worried me is that Qatar has
always been in the limelight for lack of human rights. Effects of any slipups might be huge on the club and I think this needs to be taken into consideration. However, I think so far they will be the best owners to go with.
Kevin: Whilst there’s loads of speculation on who will be the new owner of our beloved club, as far as I’m aware there are only 2 concrete bids. Being fair, Glazers’ family statement said that they were looking to “explore strategic alternatives”. This doesn’t necessarily mean selling the club. From the two known bids, the Qatari one and Ratcliffe’s, given a choice I would go for Ratcliffe’s. I feel that the Qatar bid will not help in keeping the club’s soul and principles. Manchester United will only be like a toy to a kid to them. Ratcliffe is Manchester
born and this is reflected when he said that he wants to “put the Manchester back into Manchester United”. One also has to say that the financial muscle that can be provided by Qatar far outweighs Ratcliffe’s. Having said all this, in my opinion it is far too early days to know the full details of the takeover.
Imagine you are the lead consultant to the new owner...which three main areas you would invest in first and foremost and why?
Wayne: The first thing that is required to change is the stadium, obviously not whilst the season is going on, but as soon as the club is finished from this season I would look to rebuild Old Trafford again. I would use same location, increase to a 100,000 capacity and make sure
it will be the best stadium in the world. I would then change the current CEO, Richard Arnold and get the best CEO in the sporting industry. I would also add some of the best people in the recruitment department. I would then ask the manager Erik Ten Hag for a list of target players he has in mind.
Justyn: I think that the most important is to get rid of the massive debt the club is in and to invest in the infrastructure of the club. The stadium is growing old now and the fans know that it is not up to standard with what other clubs have. I don’t think that building a new stadium will be a good idea because there is too much connection with Old Trafford. The renovation of the stadium is needed and so is that of the training centre. Again clubs like Tottenham have state-of-the-art training centres and a club like Manchester United should have one of the best if not the best training grounds.
Kevin: I would advise the new owner to build his strategy around 3 principles -
Imagine you are Erik Ten Hag and you have all your players fit for tomorrow’s Cup Final. Who would be your starting eleven? (This question was answered a day before the Carabao Cup Final match)
1. Sporting & Commercial Balance
3. Facilities.
2. Academy Excellence
1. Sporting & Commercial Balance - I would start off by making sure that there is a balance between the commercial and sporting decisions. One has to appreciate that we’re not living in dreamland and completely eliminating the business aspect from the club is never going to be a possibility. Football has become a very good business prospect throughout the world and will continue being so. However, a better balance than that applied by the existing owners can definitely be found.
2. Academy Excellence - Manchester United has always been known as having one of the, if not the, best academy in the world. The record of always having at least one youth player in every first team squad since 30 October 1937 speaks for itself. The Busby Babes or the Class of 92 are the most known examples of this but there are thousands more players who have come out from the academy. This is all thanks to the club’s policy to nurture youngsters. One that should be cultivated and remain as one of the core elements of the club.
3. Facilities – It has been well documented that our stadium has fallen behind other more recently built grounds. Late last year I had the opportunity to attend a match at Tottenham Hotspur’s new ground. Everyone kept telling me that it’s state-of-the art, so my expectations were high. As soon as you arrive you immediately realize that these expectations are not only matched but exceeded big-time. The whole experience was a brilliant one – starting from The Dare Skywalk, up to the match experience. And they even have more plans to come! So we have ground (excuse the pun!) to make up on this front. However, there are other facilities that we need to improve on. Ronaldo’s comments about the training facilities also have to be taken on board, giving the fan the ultimate experience are other examples of this.
Wayne: I would first start off by putting De Gea between the sticks followed by Lisandro Martinez and Varane as his partner. On the left I would start Shaw and on the opposite side I would put Dalot because he is more offensive than Wan-Bissaka who has great defensive abilities. In the middle I would pair Casemiro together with Fred. This pairing, as shown in previous matches, is simply outstanding. Casemiro’s defensive and creative abilities complimented by Fred’s energy makes them my choice. In front of them I would put Wout Weghorst, who as he so ably proved in the Barcelona game is very good in the 10 position with his non-stop press and perseverance to win back the ball whilst also creating a spaces for Rashford. In the right wing role I would go for Bruno Fernandes. Since Ten Hag’s arrival he has selected Fernandes countless times. Bruno’s has hawk-like vision together and also excellent passing range. On the right I would put Anthony for his 1v1 skills and his ability to beat his player. He would also create chances from nothing. Finally, the man that has risen to his full potential, Marcus Rashford who’s seen as a goal scoring machine at the moment.
So to recap my first XI will be : De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Fred, Casemiro, Fernandes (c), Antony, Weghorst, Rashford.
Justyn: For the goalkeeper spot, there is only one option really and that is David de Gea. He has been very good this season and has improved with his distribution as well. The back line would consist of Dalot, Varane, Martinez and Shaw. Wan Bissaka has been very good as of late, however, I think that Dalot is better going forward, and I see us having more possession than Newcastle. The centre-back pairing have been by far the best all season for us. Both of them complement each other very well and offer perfect balance for what you would want from them. Shaw has also been excellent and offers good deliveries into the box for players to get on to. In midfield I
would go with Sabitzer and Casemiro. I think Sabitzer is better on the ball than Fred and also is a threat going forward. Behind the striker I would go all out and play Antony, Bruno and Rashford. Antony is our best right sided player and can be very effective when cutting on his favoured right foot. Bruno and Rashford have been two of our best players this season. Both of them can create a lot and also are deadly in front of goal. Up front I would play Weghorst, who starts the press very well and also has very good hold up play.
So to recap my first XI will be : De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Sabitzer, Casemiro, Fernandes (c), Antony, Weghorst, Rashford.
Kevin: I’m writing this a day before the match, so if I get this completely correct it’s not because I already know the first XI. De Gea in goal is an obvious choice. Who would have thought that the choice between WanBissaka & Dalot would be such a difficult one. I’m going to go with Dalot for the simple reason that Newcastle are a counter-attacking team so they will sit and wait for us to attack. Varane & Martinez are the obvious centraldefence pair for me. Shaw & Malacia is also an interesting one but I will go for Shaw simply because he has more experience than Tyrell has. Casemiro & Fernandes are automatic choices. The dilemma I have is their partner in midfield. Will it be Fred or Sabitzer? I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Marcel but surely Fred’s performance against Barcelona the other night deserves to be rewarded. The front three in my opinion will be Rashford on the left, the Brazilian Antony on the night and Weghorst up top. Rashford’s brilliance this season speaks for itself. Anthony didn’t start the other night and the winning goal he scored against Barcelona will do his confidence a world of good. Starting Wout might raise a few eyebrows amongst United supporters. Yes he’s not a natural finisher but in my opinion Ten Hag has found the perfect person that fits the profile he was after. Such a hard worker for the team!
So to recap my first XI will be : De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Fernandes (c), Antony, Weghorst, Rashford.
As transfer deadline day approached at the end of January, contrary to most previous deadline days this year I was optimistic that Manchester United would do some business, simply and purely because they just had to. In reality it was inevitable. The midfield personnel situation had become precarious. Firstly we had the sad news of Donny van de Beek’s season ending injury. This was followed by the news in January that Christian Eriksen was also going to miss the majority of the remainder of the season through injury. And as the deadline approached, United also had to contend with a short term injury to Scott McTominay. In effect, for a while this would have left United with only three fit and available central midfielders in Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Fred. This was not only unsustainable but potentially detrimental to United’s hopes of continuing to fight on all four fronts for the remainder of the season.
In the days leading up to transfer deadline
day, journalists asked Erik ten Hag whether United would dip into the market with the above scenario in mind. As always, the boss did not name any player in particular but did not deny that the club is always ready to pounce if the right opportunity to sign a player came up. However, as deadline day dawned there were still no solid reports linking United to any particular midfielder, apart from the usual fake news and unsubstantiated speculation. But as the day progressed news started filtering through from trusted sources over in Germany that United were interested in signing midfielder Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern Munich on loan for the rest of the season. Soon enough this lead was picked up by the UK media and before you knew it, all the sports news television and radio stations plus the social media platforms were breaking this news. The moment I saw the clip showing Sabitzer on his way to the airport in Munich I knew that this was happening. And in all honesty I was very excited and hoping it would
be sealed before the deadline because he is a really good player. In the end we did not have to wait until midnight because by early evening the deal was signed and Marcel Sabitzer was officially announced as a United player on a six month contract.
Marcel Sabitzer was born on 17th March 1994 so at 28 years of age is at the peak of his powers. He began his career in his native Austria with Admira Wacker, making 45 appearances and scoring 11 goals. He then moved to Rapid Wien where he stayed for only one season, 2013-14, again making 45 appearances and scoring 10 goals. He rose to fame when he got his breakthrough move to Red Bull group. He first played a season on loan at Red Bull Salzburg in 2014-15, making 33 appearances and scoring 19 goals and then went on to play for six full seasons between 2015 and 2021 for Red Bull Leipzig in Germany, making 177 appearances and scoring 40 goals. It was in Leipzig where Sabitzer really established himself as on of
the best midfielders in Europe. By now he had become captain of the Austria national team for whom, to date, he has amassed a total of 68 international caps, scoring 12 goals. His fine and consistent showings earned Sabitzer a well-deserved move to a top club when in the summer of 2021 he signed for German and European giants Bayern Munich on a four year deal, reportedly for a transfer fee of €16 million.
I had always admired Marcel Sabitzer from afar. He has such a versatile playing style. Predominantly he excels as a central midfielder where he can play both as a holding midfielder, the typical number 6, or as a more advanced number 8. However he can also slot in as a number 10, and is also comfortable as a second striker (or a false nine) or on the flanks, either side of a striker. He has an eye for goal too, as his goalscoring ratio per appearances amply demonstrates. One quick search on YouTube will show you some of the spectacular long range strikes he has by now made a name for himself for.
At the time of writing this article, Sabitzer
has played four times for United already. He came on as a substitute for his debut in the 2-1 home win over Crystal Palace. Incidentally, this match proved how crucial it was to have signed Sabitzer because Casemiro was sent off for a straight red card which automatically incurred him a three
a significant improvement from the team in the away match at Leeds, Sabitzer included. In fact he had a crucial role in starting off the move that led to the first goal in a 2 0 win. He was unfortunately suspended for the first leg thriller against Barcelona at Old Trafford by way of three yellow cards previously amassed in European competition this season for Bayern. But Sabitzer immediately returned to the side for the 3-0 win over Leicester at Old Trafford where he was instrumental in the first goal by winning the ball in midfield through his impressive counter press.
match domestic suspension! Sabitzer then started the double header against Leeds. The first match at home ended 2 2 and the whole team was off colour, especially in the first part of the match. Thankfully, a point was saved and this was subsequently followed by
For some reason Sabitzer had fallen out of favour in Munich and could not force his way past the likes of Kimmich, Goretzka and Musiala for a starting spot in their midfield. It is being reported that Bayern Munich may be willing to listen to offers of around €20 million for the permanent transfer of Marcel Sabitzer next summer. If that truly is the case, for me it is a no brainer. Bayern’s loss is Manchester United’s gain and the club should go all out to make this transfer permanent.
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The Children’s Christmas Party was organized on Friday, 9th December. This was the first one after the Covid-19 pandemic. This was a huge success, thanks to Marvin Grech and Matthew Portelli O’Toole. The following week, on Friday 16th December, the members’ Christmas Party was organized at our premises in Msida. The MUSC Malta, Christmas Lottery Draw, took place during this party, and below are the winners.
1. Air Condition 12000BTU Earth Frost from OK LTD
Mario Fava - Naxxar
2. 2 Nights Weekend Break at The Grand Hotel in Gozo on a B&B Basis
John Bezzina Xewkija Gozo
3. Gymstars one-term voucher worth €180
Paul Sammut - Msida
4. Mini Hi-Fi System from SATHOBBY
Joe Pisani - Msida
5. €100 voucher from THE NOTEBOOK CENTRE
Joe Camilleri - Qormi
6. Bluetooth Speaker from DIGITAL ZONE (x3)
Camilleri & Cushcieri Consulting Engineers - B’Kara
Joe Camilleri – Qormi
Arthur Galea - St. Pauls Bay
The following day, MUSC Malta has taken the children of St. Rita Home in Tarxien to the Illumination Trail. Thanks to Matthew Portelli O’Toole, Joseph Tedesco, Kevin Tabone and other helpers who have made this fantastic experience for these kids a huge success.
On 21st December, before the first Premier League match after the World Cup, MUSC Malta donated €800 to the Smiling with Jerome
Foundation, €500 of which was donated by a member of MUSC Malta.
Kevin Tabone and Clint Camilleri went to Dar tal-Providenza in Siggiewi for the 1 st January 2023 Marathon and donated €500. The donation was presented from the Christmas Lottery the month earlier.
On 5 th January, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Manchester United Women’s Team Manager Marc Skinner, Captain Katie Zelem, Hayley Ladd, Rachael Williams, Hayley Bugeja (Orlando Pride USA)), Alexandra Gatt (Durham Cestria UK). The event was open to everyone free of charge. Angie Laus, a popular TV presenter in Malta, has presented the Q&A with all the players and the Team Manager. The Manchester United Women’s team were in Malta thanks to Visit Malta (Official Global Partner with Manchester United). The next day, the team played a friendly match against Birkirkara FC Women’s team at the Tony Bezzina Stadium in Kordin.
Sunday, 8 th January, the Gozo Branch has organized a start-of-year lunch. This event was a massive success for the Gozo Branch, organized at the Grand Hotel, thanks to Silvio Rapa. This was followed by the Munich Air Disaster remembrance mass and meeting with the Gozo members on Sunday, 29 th January 2023.
The Munich Air Disaster 65 th Anniversary was remembered in Malta, with the mass celebrated on Sunday, 5th February. For this anniversary, 40 Maltese people (including six from the Bayern Munich Supporters’ Club Malta) have travelled to Munich, 9 of which travelled to Belgrade before coming to Munich.
In Belgrade, MUSC Malta was invited by the MMMF (Manchester United Munich Memorial Foundation), where our Club President had the honour to speak at the Metropol Hotel in front of Ronnie Johnsen (Man Utd representative), MMMF and representatives of Red Star Belgrade & Partizan Belgrade respectively. During this event, the MMMF donated a plaque to the Metropol Hotel, where the Manchester United team stayed in 1958. In Munich, the
by Clint Camilleri
The members’ Christmas Party.
The Illumination Trail visit.
Maltese contingent participated in ‘The Pledge’ at Marienplatz on 5th February. Every Man Utd supporter gives a scarve to the Munich people to thank them for caring for the team in 1958 after the tragedy. On the anniversary, 6th February started by visiting the Klinikum rechts Hospital in München, followed by the official ceremony in Manchester Platz, Trudering. During the ceremony, a permanent showcase was unveiled by Bryan Robson, MMMF, The Red Docs, and Bayern Munich President Herbert Hainer in the presence of Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, respectively. Kevin Tabone and Clint Camilleri laid the wreath on behalf of MUSC Malta.
Manchester United Women’s Team visit. Together Hayley Bugeja (Orlando Pride USA)), Alexandra Gatt (Durham Cestria UK).
Kevin Tabone and Clint Camilleri presenting the Dar tal-Providenza donation.
In the not too distant past, players could more or less be guaranteed to win a medal or two when playing for Manchester United, but there have been numerous lean years, particularly if you venture way back in history
when silverware around the club was simply little more than cutlery. However, there is one name from that distant past who won countless medals, not to mention some considerable sums of money, but neither the medals nor the money came from kicking a ball. Step forward Mr. F. E. Bacon.
Fred was born in Boxted, Essex around 1871 and I could type out everything I have on the man, but to save time, I will begin his story with an extract from the ‘Sporting Chronicle’ of March 2nd 1907, which gives you a clear insight into the man who was the Manchester United trainer when the club won the First Division and F.A. Cup for the first time.
In perusing the carefully-compiled list of Fred E. Bacon’s complete athletic performances, one can appreciate the phenomenal career
of one of the greatest runners of all time. His compilation occupies some sixteen pages of type-written foolscap, and it make one sigh for the time when the path will have such another ornament and such a brilliant exponent as the subject of this sketch. The reference can only be quite casual here to the many performances accomplished. His path history ran into so many years, and his feats were so numerous, that it requires a book to tell the tale properly. The early athletic days of the soldier athlete are interesting. At the age of 19 he had become a member of Her Majesty’s forces, and was a private in an infantry regiment. In regimental races and contests it was soon recognised that he was a runner of more than ordinary merit by the easy manner he overcame all his opponents. From this early recognition of his talent came an
equally ready desire on the part of his officers that he should take his part in the everyday world of athletics. In this respect he was perhaps fortunate, for he had full opportunity to display those talents and the same time perform his military duties. Contrary to general belief, Bacon completed his full time in the army - twelve years, and did not purchase his discharge.
One would require to be a statistician to analyse the whole of these performance. They vary from a 600 yard handicap to a 10 miles crosscountry, a 15 miles path event, and a one hour’s attempt at record. The exact figures of his wins would be interesting. As an amateur he won a few prizes short of two hundred, and this does not include all the championships he won - club and otherwise. In what might be termed real championships, vix: English and county championships, Bacon I make it out won over twenty, but when one includes club and similar championships, the record is more than doubled. Perhaps the most coveted performance of a runner is to hold the one-mile record. Bacon had this honour accorded him in winning the one-mile championship of the A.A.A. in 1895, and on more than one occasion prior to this he was credited with having tied with the record in competition. For three years, 1893-4-5, he held the A.A.A. one-mile championship; in 1895 he held the tenmiles championship of England, and I believe he is still the holder of the Scottish 1,000 years and the one mile record made in 1895.
Although the distances Bacon ran were various, like most men he had one which he favoured most. Taking a line through his list of successes this stands out prominently as the mile, and perhaps next in order comes the four miles. He had more than a moderate fancy for the steeplechase, and of course he won renown as a cross-country runner. In between he ran at all distances successfully, and as proof that he was a stayer it should only be necessary to quote his famous feat soon after he joined the professional ranks, when he beat the long-existing record of Deerfoot’s for one hour. As an amateur he took full advantage of the opportunities
affording him of travelling, and his list shows that he ran in almost every county in England, and in the chief cities of the United Kingdom. As a professional, his career in England was very successful, and before his running days were over he made a profitable tour on the Continent of Europe, running and winning in Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Brussels and many other cities. Extending the trip to North Africa, he ran in Algiers and beat some of the famous Arab runners.
After all, the glamour of such a life, full of restraint as well as glory, has a limit, and it can be said that Bacon retired before the ordinary limit was reached. There was many a good race left in Bacon when he left the world of pedestrianism for his present occupation---trainer to the Manchester United Football Club. That he possesses more than the necessary skill in this department is evidence by the fact that he has been with the club five seasons and he helped in no slight degree to lift the club from the Second to the First Division of the League.
I have known Fred Bacon well since he ran in 1894 at the Manchester Wheelers’ July Meet at Fallowfield. I that day announced him as making an attempt to beat the one-mile record in a handicap specially framed by the late T. R. Sutton. Bacon failed owing to the state of the track, which was dried up, and not fit for such an attempt, but he was a great attraction, and as one of the first items of the meet, which might be termed novel and out of the common, he might claim his share in building up the biggest race-meet in the kingdom. A few days ago I renewed my acquaintance with him by asking him if he would favour me with his methods of training as a runner.
But like numerous excellent performers in a variety of fields, the genius had a flaw and the man who ran his first race at Macclesfield, at the age of twenty, on August 23rd 1890, finishing third, blotted his copybook more than once.
The summer of 1896 saw him suspended by the Amateur Athletic Association for breaching the rules, forcing him into the world of professionalism, while some five years later, he found himself up in court, charged with assaulting a policeman and also damaging his uniform “to the extent of 15s”, pleading guilty to both charges.
Apparently under the influence of drink, he had assaulted his wife and was also reported as having said he was going to get a gun
He confessed he never had a special diet, but lived on plain wholesome fare, with as much fruit as he could get. He was an early riser, and believed in getting eight to nine hours’ sleep. He would have a walk before breakfast, which was substantial, and when possible he would have a run every day. Although not always able, he had a spin when possible with the barriers on Saturdays. When he was at his best he weighed 9st 6lb, and his height was 5ft 9in.
He has a strong objection to smoking, and himself abstained when racing.
and blow the policeman’s brains out. He was ordered to pay the damages and also 14s.9d costs, due to him being a first offender.
Bacon’s wife was from Carlisle and not only was she assaulted by him in the summer of 1901, she had him charged with desertion as the year drew to a close.
Having taken up a post as trainer at Alloa [not the football club], he had only sent his wife £1 over the course of five and a half weeks, which had left her and the couple’s child destitute. He did not appear in court, but had sent his wife £1, as he said it was all he could afford as he only earned ten shillings a week.
Perhaps he was being poorly paid, but over the previous years, he must have earned a
Stimulants in moderation in his opinion do a man no harm, a glass of beer to dinner being beneficial. Water he abstained from altogether as a beverage. He has little belief in massage, he never used embrocation, one a little olive oil, and never had a breakdown in his life. When the muscles are tired through overexertion he oftimes found bathing in hot water and soda very good. His methods in training varied much, according to the distance of his race; for a ten mile race he would run at top speed four or five miles three or four times a week; for shorter races he would run all out for a quarter of a mile, after doing preliminary work. His opinion is, a good mile runner with training ought to be able to run ten miles, although he is an advocate now of one man one distance. For a young runner who wishes to become a stayer he would recommend three times a week a spin of three or four miles, and if on a track put a hurdle in for a jump every quarter-mile. He would use dumbbells for developing the chest, and is a firm believer in the skipping rope; the latter exercise, if properly carried out, brings into play every muscle in the body, but care must be taken that the exercise is taken under proper advice. Like all others who have won fame as runners, he would have all men who wish to be stayers spend most of their spare time walking, whether it be on a track or a day’s hard tramp on Saturday or Sunday in the country.
F. W. H.considerable sum, as many of his professional races saw £100, or even £200, being up for grabs. Not only that, it is quite possible that he made a few shillings adding his name to adverts for Andrews Liver Salts.
Fred Bacon was appointed Manchester United trainer in January 1903, with a newspaper of the day saying: “Bacon should prove the right man in the right place, as the United players have lately shown a decided lack of stamina.” Another added that he united officials had been dissatisfied with the physical condition of the men, and the fact that the players have generally failed to stay the course of a hard game has justified them seeking another trainer.
With United going on to lift both the First Division and the FA Cup not too long following his appointment says much about Bacon’s ability, but it is his ability as a runner that will always see him remembered, with a list of his achievements on the back of his business card proving this.
Bacon left United at the end of the 1911-12 season and he moved into the world of massages and chiropody, taking up a post in Cleethorpes where he died in 1954.
Certainly not a big name in United’s history and as I mentioned earlier, not one that many would know, but a unique sportsman in his own right and someone of a character.
I know it will interest all Refereaders to hear how the finest amateur distance runner that ever put pumps on cinders trains, so I purpose telling them what I gleaned from Bacon himself during his last visit North. But whether budding distance runners will do well to copy the champion’s methods is a different question. It must always be remembered that
“One man’s meat is another man’s poison.”
One of the oldest training maxims is “early to bed and early to rise.” Well, Bacon breaks the latter part of it at any rate. He likes to be abed till nine o’clock and thinks, albeit he has generally shaken off the drowsy god by six o’clock. When i used to run I lay as long as I could also, but I slept and thought not. Like most other athletes I believed strongly in cold water, but Bacon never takes a cold bath at all. If he feels off colour he indulges in a warm one; and instead of the usual cold tub has three tepid ones per week. Nor does he believe in rubbing down, for the asserts - and there is great truth in what he says - that cold baths and constant rubbing make a man’s muscles so hard that there is a great RISK OF BREAKING DOWN, whereas if the muscles are kept soft and pliable when in repose there is not the slightest fear of getting “crocked.” Plenty good running, he maintains, along with good, plain food, will do everything that is wanted. When he can manage is, Bacon believes in running twice a day. If he is training for ten miles he runs three or four miles morning and afternoon, and puts in plenty good walking in addition. Occasionally he runs the length of six miles, but not often. For miles his training gallops consist of half-miles and quarters, with sprints three of four times a week. If he perspires after running in hot weather he just wipes the moisture off gently and has done with rubbing; but in cold weather he occasionally RUBS HIMSELF WITH WHISKY
before he races. He dislikes racing across country, and says he prefers ten miles to any other distance on the track. When he races over long distance he says he just starts at a good pace, and keeps slogging along without thinking about the race at all until the bell ringing brings him back to the track, and he gathers himself together for his final sprint. I asked him why he always gazed so serenely on the sky or clouds when sprinting his hardest to the tape, and he replied that he couldn’t exactly say why he did so unless it was because he fancied he got over the ground. Unfortunately, Bacon caught a severe cold when up here, but says he will speedily shake it off, and hopes to be in his best condition by the end of the month, when he leaves for New York with the London Athletic Club team. He fancies the heat across the Atlantic will suit him. Warm weather always does. He intends waiting over for the CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Bacon has a great idea of young Welsh as a miler, and considers F. W. Bruce is the best distance runner he has run against in Scotland. He has also a great idea of Duffus, but has never had an opportunity of seeing Hannah at his best. Setop, he says, is the fastest finisher he ever ran against, and he admits he was never harder put to it than in the 1,000 yards at Powderhall last week. I never met a more modest champion than Bacon, and hope he may give us many more samples of his prowess before he retires from the path.
“The save of the season?” Could be. With Lewandowski through on goal, and the ball beating De Gea, the long legs of one Raphaël Xavier Varane kept the ball from rolling into the net. It would have been an
“Tall and athletic, there’s a presence about Varane, an understated authority,” writes Spanish football expert Sid Lowe. “But not exactly the loudest in the dressing room, nor immediately charismatic or flamboyant,
was on the 29th of August 2021 that Raphaël Xavier Varane made his competition debut for the Red Devils. Our opponents were Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was 28 years and 126 days old. Prior to his move to United, he had joined Real Madrid from Racing Club de Lens. With Real, he won multiple Champions League titles and scored eight goals and provided five assists. He is considered as one of the best defenders of his generation, due to his defensive prowess and speed.
Asked why he had opted to leave Real Madrid and join the Reds, the centre-back had replied, “I came here because I wanted new emotions and it was exactly what I expected and bigger”.
Last season, for Manchester United, Varane made 22 Premier League appearances. He also managed to notch his first goal for United in his debut season, volleying home from a corner in our comfortable 3-0 win over Brentford in May. He also provided one assist.
Boss Ten Hag tends to selection rotate Varane more than other players, it being believed that he is on the “fragile side”. In fact since joining United, Varane has had his fair share
of injuries, notably knocks (out for 5 weeks in 2022), hamstring (4 weeks in 2022), an ankle injury (3 weeks in 2022) and groin injuries (9 weeks in 2021). As a matter of fact, although the Manchester United defender made his 50th appearance for the Reds in the 2-2 Europa League draw with Barcelona, this had been only his second game for the club in the Europa League. He had missed three matches in the competition through injury this season and was rested for the other two group-stage clashes. As a result, his presence in Europe had been missed this campaign, but against Barcelona, he helped keep one of the most dangerous strikers on the planet off the score sheet.
One of the matches that Raphael had played in the Europa League was in United’s win over FC Sheriff. After the game, the United Manager lauded Varane’s leadership qualities. “The reason (for another clean sheet) is we were good in possession and we defended very well,” Ten Hag told MUTV. “With Raphael Varane there as the leader, he puts everyone in the right position, he fits really good together with Licha Martinez and also the two full-backs did their job really good”.
Having played for two years with the French U-21 side, Varane subsequently played in four major tournaments since his first appearance in 2013 for the senior Les Bleus, registering 93 caps, five goals and 36 clean sheets. He is one of the most decorated players in world football and cemented his status as one of the greatest centre-backs by lifting the World Cup in 2018 in Russia. The 2022 World Cup Final, in which he was a runner-up in that thrilling showpiece defeat to Argentina, was Varane’s last appearance for his country. Although reports had suggested that Varane was in line to take the captaincy armband permanently following Hugo Lloris’ retirement, Varane shocked the football world by announcing he had retired from international football with France. The announcement marked the end of his 10 year run with the national team. Varane said to Canal+ via MEN: “I gave everything, physically and mentally. But the very highest level is like a washing machine, you play all the time and you never stop. We have overloaded schedules and play non-stop. Right now, feel like I’m suffocating and that [Varane] the player is gobbling up [Varane] the man.”
Former France winger Jerome Rothen has labelled the decision a “disaster” as he insisted Varane had a duty to play for Les Bleus.“I think that at this age and when you play in a club that allows you to be at a very high level, you have a duty. It is to bring your talent to your country. It is a disaster,” Rothen told AS. “You have a long history, congratulations! He won the most beautiful of competitions, the World Cup in 2018. We saw all his contribution to the last World Cup. There was scepticism because he was coming off an injury, but he performed very well.”
The retirement is of course good news for
the Red Devils. With injuries having been a prevailing issue throughout his career, now, playing just at club level significantly reduces the risks as he will have adequate time to rest in between United’s hectic schedule.
Varane could have actually become a United player in 2011. Sir Alex Ferguson was then looking for a long-term replacement for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, and according to his book, was very interested in a young Varane. Our legendary boss personally got involved in the negotiations. However Real Madrid’s new sporting director Zinedine
Zidane stepped in and Varane joined the Bernabeu club in late June 2011, starting a 10-year association in which he was, largely, a fulcrum in one of the Spanish club’s most storied sides.
There is no doubt that our Number 19 is happy as a Red, says Varane, “I love playing, and I was saying the very same thing just the other day to Casemiro. There’s something really special going on here, a real buzz about the place and emotions are running high. I’m really glad that I’ve integrated into the team and to my life over here so well.”
by Alex Dudley
only exemplified just how far this crop of players has come under the short tenure of ten Hag to this point, and it was an exciting journey that ended at the very top of the famous Wembley steps.
game, but this is a new team with a contrasting direction to 12 months ago. United powered through to the fourth round with a stunning display in the final 12 minutes, with Bruno Fernandes finally putting the Red Devils ahead, before Scott McTominay ensured a place in the fourth round in the 91 st minute. United needed to ride their luck, but once the chances presented themselves, we weren’t about to let them go to waste.
When Erik ten Hag arrived at the club, he promised to lead Manchester United back to the place where they deserve to be: at the very top of English football. All fans will only be too aware of how far the standards at our great club have dropped following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, and it would be foolish to suggest that United will be back competing for the UEFA Champions League title and sustained Premier League dominance in the coming seasons.
But, ten Hag has at least done something that few Ferguson successors have managed to do: allowed the fans to dream. United’s journey in the Carabao Cup this season has
Those that have followed United for any prolonged amount of time will only be too aware that the Red Devils very rarely do things the easy way. Comebacks were a trait through the famous Ferguson teams, and that is something that appears to brushing off in this new era under ten Hag.
The first example of that came in the third round of the EFL Cup, as United twice needed to come back from behind against a spirited Aston Villa side at Old Trafford in a pulsating second half. Anthony Martial had dragged United level, before Marcus Rashford fired home a second equaliser just six minutes after the Red Devils had gone behind for a second time at the Theatre of Dreams.
In recent seasons, United may have let the opportunity slip and faded back out of the
It would be fair to say that United were slightly fortunate with the draws throughout the Carabao Cup run, highlighted by the fact that they were drawn at Old Trafford against Championship and League One opposition in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. However, a showdown against Burnley before Christmas always appeared to be an acid test, as Vincent Kompany’s side have been flying in the second tier throughout the campaign, and many of United’s top stars were playing for the club for just the first time after the World Cup break.
The Red Devils once again started quicker than their rivals, and a deserved lead was taken inside half an hour through a Christian Eriksen strike. Marcus Rashford later wrapped up the win in the second half, which would kickstart his monumental scoring run for the Red Devils in the second half of the campaign.
Defensively, United were solid throughout that tie, allowing a free-scoring Burnley just a single shot on target.
Back at Old Trafford just a few weeks later, United once again came up against EFL opposition, as Charlton Athletic were the visitors to Old Trafford. Antony produced a memorable curling effort from outside the box to put United into the lead, before Rashford scored a brace in the final four minutes of injury time to put the cherry on top of the cake.
It is easy to see why many United fans would have been nervy before the semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest, as a Wembley showpiece hadn’t been achieved since Jose Mourinho’s final full season in charge. However, in front of a passionate City Ground home support, United took full control of the tie inside the opening 45 minutes. Rashford scored an excellent solo goal after just six minutes, before Wout Weghorst scored his first for the Red Devils on the stroke of half time. United’s place in the final was effectively secured in the final moments, as Fernandes added an excellent third in front of a big traveling support for the Red Devils.
Ten Hag showed how much respect he was paying the cup competitions in the second leg at Old Trafford, as United went incredibly strong despite holding a 3-0 aggregate lead. Forest made it harder in the return fixture, but goals from a returning Anthony Martial and Fred wrapped up a 2-0 win.
However, the most pleasing moment for many fans was the long-awaited return of Jadon Sancho, who had been given extra time to recover by the boss. That faith looked to have paid off, as the winger was in dazzling form when he came on to the pitch, and all fans would have been delighted to see the talented Englishman back playing with a smile on his face.
The Carabao Cup final between United and Newcastle at Wembley was certainly one that caught the imagination given that the Magpies are just over a year into their new ownership with Saudi Arabia. However, there was a sense that United needed to get over the line to indicate that they are truly back on the scene for the top prizes.
The best player on the pitch broke the deadlock for United after 33 minutes, as Casemiro nodded home past Loris Karius. Marcus Rashford later added a second, which was later awarded as his goal despite going down as an own goal at half time. That was the first goal that the winger had scored in a club final, and signals that a burden may have been lifted off his shoulders. In truth, Newcastle dominated the ball for much of the second half, but it was United that looked the most dangerous on the counter-attack, with both Fernandes and Marcel Sabitzer missing chances.
However, the most pleasing aspect for many would have been just how resilient United were throughout the match. The experience of players such as Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, and Raphael Varane proved to be key, as United ended their six-year wait for a piece of silverware.
But, we will all be hoping that won’t be the only honour United get their hands on this term, as the Red Devils remain in the hunt for Europa League and FA Cup glory.
In the previous issue I had written on the potential bidders for the takeover of Manchester United. Since then, I am sure that practically sure that all true fans of Manchester United know something about the potential takeover. This short article is an attempt to shed some more light on the confirmed bidders and what happens next.
Fast forward a few months from the date the Glazer family put Manchester United up for sale and we now officially have two bidders with competing visions for our beloved team which has been described as a British cultural asset with huge global reach.
all — will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more.”
“The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the Club supports.”
A bit of background here - Sheikh Jassim’s father, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, is one of the tiny Gulf state’s richest men. Known to many as HBJ, he was the face of a Qatari investment spree in the UK that included Harrods department store and the Shard building and was previously head of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund.
by Robert Mizzithe club he has supported since he was a child.
A bit of background about Sir Jim Ratcliffe
- British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is from Oldham, a lifelong Manchester United supporter and already owns two football clubs in the form of OGC Nice and Lausanne-Sport, as well as Formula 1 team Mercedes, through his company. His personal fortune exceeded £20 billion three years ago and he is believed to be working with JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs for financing his bid.
Some quotes following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid: “His aim is to be a long-term custodian of Manchester United and set the standard for a progressive approach to club ownership. As locally born, he wants to put the Manchester back into Manchester United.”
“Football governance in this country is at a crossroads”, INEOS said. “We would want to help lead this next chapter, deepening the culture of English football by making the club a beacon for a modern, progressive, fan-centred approach to ownership.”
The first bidder that went public was Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the son of Qatar’s former prime minister, when he announced his intention to buy the club he claims to have supported since the age of 10.
Some quotes following this bid: “The bid plans to return the Club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and — above
Shortly after confirmation of Al Thani’s bid, reports surfaced of a second bid from INEOS owner and boyhood United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The 70-year-old is one of Britain’s richest men and has long been interested in a takeover of
While also acknowledging the need for investment, Ratcliffe’s opening pitch hinged more on rebuilding fractured ties with the United fan base and halting the march of foreign ownership in English football. Presently, only a handful of the Premier League’s 20 teams are British-owned and my personal opinion is that in the globalized world that we are living in, this can hardly be avoided.
I liked the fact that Ratcliffe’s company was up front in favour of the eventual release of a UK government white paper which outlines the scope of a new football regulator. The push for an independent body to oversee the game came after the attempt two years ago to launch
a breakaway competition, the European Super League, which, please remember, the Glazers were part of along with owners of five other Premier League teams.
Raine, the investment bank running the sale process on behalf of the Glazers, has remained tight-lipped on whether there are other bidders in the running. The bank, which handled the record-breaking auctions for both Chelsea FC and Olympique Lyonnais last year, had set a soft deadline for those seeking to put forward investment proposals. It declined to comment on any bids.
At this stage it is worth pointing out that since plans for a possible sale were announced last November, United’s New York-listed shares have doubled, giving the club an enterprise value of about $5bn. Cunningly, the Glazers have not committed to a full sale, leaving open the possibility of taking in minority investment. Personally, I am keeping fingers crossed that a full sale happens.
While both Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe voiced their determination to win over supporters with their initial public pitches, unsurprisingly, both drew clear dividing lines related to the perceived shortcomings of the Glazers’ tenure. I could of course list a whole catalogue of shortcomings but then again, I am not bound to be diplomatically correct!
The Glazer family has been rightly criticised by United fans for burdening the club with acquisition debt and extracting hundreds of millions of pounds in dividends since their leveraged buyout in 2005.
Meanwhile United’s infrastructure, including Old Trafford, its 74,000-seater stadium and the Carrington training ground are no longer the envy of the football world. In an open letter to potential investors in December, the Manchester United Supporters Trust said the club needed “urgent capital investment” in the stadium and training ground.
To conclude…
More recently, Sheikh Jassim’s representatives were at Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe himself attended a presentation by senior management staff at Old Trafford the following day.
Talks with the Qatari delegation were held across 10 hours - a lot longer than expected. The focus of this visit was to get a perspective on what they could do with their capital investment regarding infrastructure, youth development and the women’s team.
As a result, it is expected that a second bid will be submitted imminently, probably before this article is even published. It was previously understood that the Qatari bidders were determined not to pay over the odds for the
club, but that stance has seemingly softened following the delegation’s visit to Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also expected to make a second offer for Manchester United after visiting the club in person, accompanied by a high-powered delegation from INEOS, including the two co-owners, Andy Currie and John Reece. Sir Dave Brailsford, who used to be the director of cycling at Team Sky and now INEOS’ director of sport, was there too.
Interesting also to note that Elliott Investment Management has also made it through to the second stage of the process, despite the fact that the firm is said to be offering funding rather than a takeover.
Our beloved club is at the crossroads, as they say. While on the pitch we have witnessed considerable improvement (barring a particular result that should be buried ASAP), there is no doubt that the club desperately needs a new injection of investment that will allow it to rise from the state of neglect it has been left to in recent years. Be it the Qataris or Sir Jim, my hope if that whoever is the new owner stick to their promises, allow the manager to build a strong team, and ensure that the team is supported by a strong state-of-the-art infrastructure from the grassroots to the top.
Numquam Moribimur…
by Jude Cauchi
which includes Mourinho’s Europa league victory over Ajax in 2017.
“Everything
of May’’.
From a personal perspective, May is a nice month as unofficially it opens the season for a nice summer after the cold and rainy days of winter. From a football perspective, May is also the month where the curtains of an entire football season are closed and significantly, the period during which European finals are decided. Manchester United supporters have had the fortune of witnessing great European finals during this month, in particular victories over Benfica in 1968, Bayern Munich in 1999 which sealed the treble and nine years later the conquest in Moscow over Chelsea which will always be remembered as one of the greatest nights in Manchester United’s glorious history. There have been other more recent triumphs
Conversely, May is also likely to bring some heartbreaks and frustration for the losers of the competition. The 26th May 2021 was the last time Manchester United competed in a European final and despite being heavy favourites to lift the trophy in Stockholm, a very poor performance by the players and inability to respond to mediocrity from a coaching perspective condemned the Red Devils to a defeat on penalties at the hands of Spanish side Villareal FC. Following this anti-climax, many supporters took their frustration on social media and players like Marcus Rashford were accused of not being fit for purpose. Some people also disgustingly choose to use racial adjectives in order to hurt the player.
A year later following this heartbreak, United and Marcus Rashford experienced another terrible season where both fell so wide off the standards and the expectations at United in 2022. Moreover, Rashford’s penalty miss against Italy in the Euros which played a significant party in England’s defeat in the final at Wembley also made Rashford a target for England supporters and the public in general. Whilst the player was flourishing off the pitch with his determinism to combat poverty and alleviate the underclass, the England International was failing to live up to his expectations as a footballer. People were
wondering what had happened to the player who had such an explosive start to his United career. Did the player have other priorities and were the unnecessary distractions off the pitch influencing him? Could Manchester United get the best out of him again or would it be in the best interest of the club to offload him to another club like PSG? These were the questions that needed to be answered. Luckily for the club, the latter option was not taken.
Fast forward to the current season, the 25 year old is having the best time in his United career on the pitch witnessed through his massive improvement in his general performance and goals. In fact, to date, the number 10 has registered 25 goals for the Red Devils. Impressively, during the course of the season, the England International also broke a record of scoring in nine consecutive home games during the Derby win versus City which secured his name in the glory of fame matching the achievement of Dennis Viollet, who managed this in 1959. With regard to the analysis of the goals, stats suggest that Marcus Rashford have become a lethal striker capable of scoring all kinds of goals. In fact, whilst the England International is not renowned for his ability to score heading goals, this season he has successfully headed in 3 goals against Leeds United twice and West Ham. In addition to the goals, the number 10 has also improved his pace, strength, dribbling, layoffs, positioning and shots from outside the box which made
him a nightmare for defenders to deal with. The player seems to also be enjoying the confidence of a lion which is not to be underestimated. In terms of injuries, Marcus has managed to keep himself fit and he has made a total of 36 appearances including 29 starts for the team. From this point of view, it is not an exaggeration to suggest that the star has become one of the most important key players in the team alongside Casemiro, Varane and Martinez and long may that continue as United hope to achieve great success this season.
Whilst one must give credit to the player for his resilience combating the heavy criticism and for standing up and silencing the critics, a lot of credit is due to the new manager Erik Ten Hag and former Blackburn striker and current coach Benni McCarthy for the way the player has been managed. Given the impact the duo have had on Rashford, it would be naturally expected that the England International continues to improve and exceed the expectations at Old Trafford.
The development of youth players is part
of the folklore and culture at Manchester United and as a result, it makes it sweeter to see a local lad flourishing in United’s colours. Marcus Rashford was born on the 31st October 1997 in Manchester. As a local lad, the English boy joined the Manchester United youth academy at the age of seven and was also quick to burst into the first team which unsurprisingly made the supporters compare him to the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham and analysing his current performances, one would not argue against such comparisons.
At the time of writing, as Sir Alex Ferguson used to say, Manchester United have entered the business side of the season with one trophy already in the bag following United’s triumph over Newcastle at Wembley. Manchester United through their sheer determination have also overcome Barcelona at Old Trafford which definitely did not do any harm in restoring back United’s dignity and pride in Europe. In both occasions, Marcus Rashford proved to be a leader and a key player for the team. Manchester United are also still in the FA Cup with a quarter final coming up as well as a slim chance of winning the Premier League. Whilst, I am stopping short from making any predictions, with players like Marcus Rashford at the club managed by Erik Ten Hag, the future looks very bright!
The Manchester derby is one of the most exciting and intense rivalries in football. The derby is contested between Manchester United and Manchester City, essentially the two biggest football clubs in the city of Manchester, England. Interestingly, the rivalry between these two clubs dates back to 1881, and it has been filled with countless memorable moments over the years.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the best Manchester derbies as selected by the author.
1993/94:
Manchester City 2‑3 Manchester United
The 1993/94 season saw Manchester United clinch the Premier League title for the second time under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson – seeing off a stiff challenge by Blackburn Rovers. In a thrilling game at Maine Road, United came from behind twice
to win 3-2. City took the lead through Niall Quinn, but two goals from Eric Cantona and a late winner from Roy Keane sealed the victory for United. This match showcased the neversay-die attitude of United and the attacking prowess of Cantona, who was the catalyst behind United’s success in that season.
1994/95:
Manchester United 5 0 Manchester City
The 1994/95 season saw United come up short as an Alan Shearer-inspired Blackburn clinched the league title in dramatic fashion. In the derby at Old Trafford against cross-town rivals City, United put on a breathtaking display of attacking football, scoring five goals without reply. Andrei Kanchelskis scored a hat-trick, whilst Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes also got on the scoresheet. The result was a clear indication of the gulf in class between the two teams, and it remains one of United’s biggest derby victories.
2009/10:
Manchester United 4‑3 Manchester City
The 2009/10 season saw a dramatic derby at Old Trafford, which had everything that a football fan could ask for. United scored after a couple of minutes thanks to Wayne Rooney but City equalised soon after thanks to Gareth Barry. However, United hit back with a brace by Darren Fletcher before City then equalized through Craig Bellamy to make it 3-3. In the 90+6 minute of the game, Michael Owen scored a dramatic injury-time winner for United clinically dispatching the ball past the hapless Shay Given. This match showcased the intensity and drama of the Manchester derby, and it will always be remembered as one of the best.
2010/11:
Manchester United 2 1 Manchester City
The 2010/11 season saw United and City compete for the Premier League title, and the
derby at Old Trafford was a pivotal moment in the title race. United scored a great goal thanks to Nani, but City equalised in the second half thanks to David Silva. The game will forever be remembered for Wayne Rooney’s bicycle kick – which was subsequently voted as the greatest ever goal scored in Premier League history. The victory took United five points clear of City at the top of the table, and it proved to be a crucial win as they went on to win the title.
2012/13:
Manchester City 2 3 Manchester United
The 2012/13 season saw another dramatic derby, this time at the Etihad Stadium. At the home of the Champions (City having won the league title in dramatic fashion during the 2011/12 season) United took a 2-0 lead with
thanks to Wayne Rooney (x2) but City hit back with goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta. However, United secured the win in the dying moments of the game – thanks to a free kick by the mercurial Robin Van Persie. The victory took United six points clear of City at the top of the table, and it proved to be a crucial win as they went on to win the title.
2014/15:
Manchester United 4 2 Manchester City
The 2014/15 season saw a derby at Old Trafford that was a thrilling end-to-end encounter. City took the lead through Sergio Aguero, but United hit back with goals from Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Chris Smalling. Aguero scored a late consolation for City, but it was too little too late as United
secured a comfortable 4-2 victory. This match showcased the attacking prowess of United and the defensive frailties of City, and it remains one of the most entertaining derby matches in recent memory.
To conclude, the Manchester derby is one of the biggest and most intense rivalries in football. Over the years, there have been countless memorable moments and thrilling encounters between United and their “noisy neighbours” Manchester City. The six derbies highlighted in this article are just a small selection of the many classic matches that have taken place between these two great clubs. Whether it’s the drama, intensity, or sheer quality on display, the Manchester derby certainly never fails to deliver.
On Tuesday 22nd November the following announcement popped out on the official website. “Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU), one of the most successful and historic sports clubs in the world, announces today that the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club. As part of this process, the Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the Company. This will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club’s commercial operations on a global scale, each in the context of enhancing the long-term success of the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders”
The scope of this article is to understand why the Glazer family are selling, the owner’s options at this point and to analyze the main potential buyers.
Why are the Glazer family selling? In my opinion the answer to that can be divided in three: internal forces, external forces and financial opportunities.
The internal forces are the easiest to explain. Manchester United’s infrastructure (stadium, squad and training ground) needs heavy investment. For example Old Trafford is said
to need a 2 billion investment. Considering that the common consensus is that Manchester United can’t afford that on its own then the Glazers will be forced to either dig very deep inside their pockets or sell. The Glazer family has not spent one penny of their own in the club. On top of that there is speculation that most of the Glazer family want to sell the club with only Avram and Joel still committed to the project.
Which leads us to the second point. The impending world recession is set to increase debt interest rates. That’s bad news for Manchester United whose debt is said to be around the half a billion mark. United had also recorded a £115m loss throughout 2022 so the club can’t tank that hike on its own.
The good news is that there seem to be plenty of appetite for football club buyers if the price is right. Chelsea had been sold for an eye watering £4.25b while the Emir of Qatar had encouraged local private investors to invest into English Premier League clubs. That led to a series of clubs seeking external investment with United being the crown jewel of the lot.
The Glazer family has three options at this point. They can sell a minority stake, they can sell a majority stake and still remain involved at the club as silent partners or they can go for a full sale. The first option had been toyed with since last summer to the very least. Rumors of the Glazer family negotiating with the Apollo
by Cleo Zarbprivate equity investment group made the rounds in August. Considering that the club went on sale in November then we can presume that those talks led to a dead end.
That doesn’t mean that this option is completely off the table. Unfortunately rumors had since resurfaced of US hedge fund Elliott being interested in helping the Glazers out by buying a minority stake at this club. That’s quite concerning as Elliott are known for being a rather aggressive organization. Perhaps its most notorious case was the 15year battle with the government of Argentina, whose bonds were owned by the hedge fund. When Argentine president Cristina Kirchner attempted to restructure the debt, Elliott refused to accept a large loss on its investment. It instead successfully sued in US courts, and in pursuit of Argentine assets, convinced a court in Ghana to detain an Argentine naval training vessel, then docked outside Accra. After a change of its government, Argentina eventually settled and the hedge fund received $2.4 billion, almost four times its initial investment. Such hedge fund would not shy away from going to the extreme with us. If Elliott has a say on Manchester United then I wouldn’t exclude the sale of assets including Carrington and Old Trafford itself.
On the bright side I doubt that this option is preferable on the Glazers family part. Manchester United need huge investment something that they will struggle to produce
by simply selling a minority stake especially if they need to buy out their siblings’ stakes as well. The second option (i.e. selling the majority stake) is more financial viable. That would allow Joel and Avram to stay there, let the share prices go up thanks to the new owners’ hard work and then sell for even more money in the future. Unfortunately for them I can’t see any new owner wanting to work with the Glazers. Thus if the offer is right then I believe that the third option (i.e. a full sale) is the more likely event.
Which leads us to the next question: who is interested in buying Manchester United? Only two bidders have gone public so far. One comes from INEOS led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe while the other is from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani. Elliott might be tempted to buy the club on its own. However its preference is that of buying a minority stake.
INEOS is a global petrochemicals manufacturer, it generates $65 billion annually and employs over 26,000 people. Its major shareholder is Failsworth born Sir Jim Ratcliffe (SJR) whose personal worth is around the 15 billion dollar mark. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a self-made man who made his reputation in buying struggling businesses (or parts of businesses) within the petrochemical sector and then turning them into efficient money making machines. He also loves sports and has invested in various sports ventures such as football, the Formula 1 and cycling.
Since INEOS bought Nice in 2019 they had been the 4th bigger spenders in the French league. Unfortunately that hasn’t been reflected in terms of results. Nice ended 5th during 2019-20, 9th the year after, 5th last year and are currently 7th place. They changed 5 managers throughout this period as well. INEOS also own a lesser known club, Swiss club FC Lausanne Sport. Since the company
took over they have suffered relegation twice. Its seems that SJR’s elite business acumen and management which made him a legend in the petrochemicals sector has yet to work its magic in his football club ventures.
INEOS’ initial bid is understood to be around the £4.5B and looks to buy the Glazers share which hold 69% of the global shares and around 99% of all Class B shares. The latter is quite significant as they have ten times more controlling power then the Class A shares.
The Qataris promise to keep the club debt free, they are planning to invest heavily on the squad, the stadium, the women’s team and the community.
While the Qatari bid seems more attractive to that forwarded by INEOS, the devil lies in the detail. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s net worth is around 1 Billion which makes it impossible for him to buy United on his own. Thus persistent rumors have resurfaced that probably this bid is done on the Qatari government’s behalf which would make the club state owned by a regime with dubious human rights track record. It would also potentially put us in collision course with both UEFA and the FA who expect full transparency on who truly owns the football clubs. That might lead to problems either immediately or in the long term, similar to what Manchester City are facing right now.
Sheik Jassim has never owned a football club. However Qatar do own PSG. Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) had invested heavily in the French league turning PSG into the dominant local force. Nevertheless they have failed in winning the Champions league and quite frankly PSG aren’t exactly run smoothly either. Rumors of players having direct access to the higher ups thus bypassing the manager’s authority are quite common within the French football circles. Then there’s the famous incident in 2022 following PSG’s game against Real Madrid when President Nasser Al Khelaifi stormed the referee’s dressing room and ended up breaking equipment.
Football wise both INEOS and Qatar has yet to prove themselves to be able to manage a football club effectively. However they have both invested heavily in trying to improve that. INEOS have just appointed former Juventus CEO Jean Luc Blanc as INEOS Sports CEO while Qatar have replaced the mercurial Leonardo with Luis Campos who is one of the finest Directors of Football in the world.
INEOS will buy the club on debt but they promised to put any new debt on the parent company (INEOS). On the other hand there are questions on whether they will also transfer any debt made by the Glazers (for example on transfers) and if they would saddle any new debt (for example for rebuilding Old Trafford) on the club.
The Qatari bid is thought to be around the £5B for 100% ownership of the club. It is being forwarded by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani who is former Qatar prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s son.
Financially wise, the Qatari bid seems more attractive as it promises to invest heavily in the club and the community while keeping United debt free. However one mustn’t discount the implications of allegedly being owned by a regime and the sanctions we might face if we are caught having a shadow owner.
Both bids would probably leave us in better shape than the one we are in presently. However there is still the risk of United being sold off to a public equity such as Elliott or the Glazers remaining at the club whom I think would make things worse. It would be very hard for Manchester United to keep on competing against the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and in the future Newcastle while concurrently still paying dividends and hefty loan repayments.
Alejandro Garnacho is undoubtedly one of the most exciting young prospects at Manchester United. Despite being just 18 years old, Garnacho has already made a significant impact at United, impressing coaches and fans alike with his skill, work ethic, and determination. This article takes a closer look at Garnacho’s career journey from childhood to his transfer to the Red Devils and his introduction to the United squad.
Childhood
Garnacho was born on May 31, 2004, in Alcala de Henares, a town near Madrid, Spain. He began playing football at a young age, showing a natural talent for the sport. He joined the youth academy of local club CD Avila in 2011, where he spent four years honing his skills and developing his game.
In 2015, Garnacho joined the youth academy of Getafe CF, which is one of the most prominent football clubs in Madrid. He quickly made a name for himself with his performances in the youth teams, showcasing his technical and goalscoring abilities. He spent two years at Getafe before moving to Atletico Madrid’s youth academy in 2017.
Garnacho continued his development at Atletico Madrid, playing for the club’s youth teams and impressing coaches with his performances. He was part of the Atletico Madrid Under-19s team that reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League in the 2019/2020 season, scoring two goals in the competition.
Despite his promising performances, Garnacho was still unable to break into the Atletico Madrid first team. His frustration with the lack of first team football led to him leaving the club in search of more opportunities. Manchester United, who had been monitoring the young forward’s progress for some time, offered him a contract in September 2020. Soon after, Garnacho was signed by United.
United U18s and U23s
Despite being relatively unknown to most United fans at the time, the young Spaniard quickly made a name for himself with his performances in the academy. Since joining United, Garnacho has continued to impress coaches and fans with his performances, showing a maturity and composure beyond his years. Following sterling performances he quickly became regarded as one of the most promising young talents at the club.
Garnacho made his debut for the Under18s team in October 2020, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a 4-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers. He continued to impress in subsequent games, showcasing his versatility and technical ability as well as his eye for goal.
As a result of his impressive performances, Garnacho was called up to the Under-23s team in December 2020, making his debut in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal. He quickly established himself as a regular member of the team, contributing with goals and assists in several games.
by Stefan AttardGarnacho’s performances have not gone unnoticed by United’s coaching staff, with Under-23s coach Neil Wood describing him as a “big talent” and a “player that can make things happen”.
The 2021/2022 season was a breakthrough year for Garnacho, as he established himself as one of the most promising young talents at United. He made 20 appearances for the Under23s team, scoring six goals and providing two assists. He also made his senior debut for United in the Premier League, coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 win over Watford in November 2021.
Garnacho’s performances in the 2021/2022 season earned him a call-up to the Spain Under-18s team, where he made his debut in a 3-0 win over Romania in October 2021. He was also named on the bench for United’s first team on several occasions, highlighting his progress and potential.
Plenty of exciting youngsters have emerged out of Manchester United’s youth ranks over the years but not all of them have made it (especially after Sir Alex’s era). It takes more than just raw talent to make it at a huge football club like Manchester United. It doesn’t matter how talented a youngster is or what magic they can perform at such a tender age if they don’t have the right attitude and mentality to put those pieces together and perform at high levels consistently. Just cast your mind back to all the hopeful teenagers making their United debuts. The big things they
promised. Only a select few have gone on to have a significant impact at the club, especially in recent years. The list has narrowed as the years have gone on.
Alejandro Garnacho certainly has the ability and he might have proven he also has the right temperament to ensure it doesn’t go to waste. Excitement was sky-high for what the Argentine starlet could achieve following his sublime displays in the triumphant FA Youth Cup campaign last season. Garnacho was the star of the young side that claimed the
prestigious trophy for the first time in over a decade, grabbing seven goals and three assists in just six games.
Senior team breakthrough
Garnacho made his first appearance for Erik ten Hag as a late substitute in the opening game of the season against Brighton & Hove where United lost 2-0 at home. The Argentine was given chances in October and went on to score winning goals against Real Sociedad and Fulham in November. Since coming in for his first Premier League start on November 6 against Villa, he has featured in every game in all competitions.
His explosive introduction to the first team fizzled out a bit as the forward seemed to make more of an impact when coming out as a substitute. However, given his age, this should be of no surprise. Garnacho is still only 18 and has a lot of developing to do. His below par performances reached a nadir following the 2-2 draw with Leeds in which he started but squandered two great opportunities to score. After the game, he took to Instagram to express his dismay over his performance.
“When you don’t understand what is happening, remember that God is in control,”
“I trust the plan you have for me.”
Alejandro Garnacho on Instagram
Four days later he would have the chance to
bounce back. And so he did. United faced off against Leeds again and Garnacho was understandably dropped to the bench. It was a much staler encounter than the one at Old Trafford and the game didn’t spring to life until Garnacho was introduced. His verve and impetus off the bench pushed United to get the opener and he sealed the win five minutes later with an excellent goal, clinically finishing after cutting in off the left.
In arguably United’s biggest tie of the season, Alejandro Garnacho was thrown on midway through the second half, and the youngster certainly inspired the team to a huge win after a disappointing first half. The youngster led the press late in the game to continually disrupt Barcelona’s attempts to build from the back.
Ten Hag praised the youngster’s ability and attitude in an interview with BT Sport after the full-time whistle. The manager said: “One part of our game plan is that we can bring Antony and Garnacho and open the wide areas you can get speed and running in behind and dribbles. “They are both so brave, they don’t fear anyone, they just take players on and I think that gives a boost to the whole team.”
With Garnacho out of contract at the end of next season, negotiations are ongoing between the attacker’s representatives and United to extend his contract. Manchester United do have the option of extending his deal by an extra year.
Iwould like to start this article by expressing my condolences to Joseph Tedesco, the club president, and his family on the passing of his mother.
This season, I like many others, have noticed a lot of improvements in many key areas and us fans are loving this revitalisation of the club especially on the playing side.
After many seasons of seeing United concede a goal, I have over the course of the season begun not to worry as this team’s attitude is different. The manager has begun to instil a winning mantra, which we had the luxury of having during the 90’s and 00’s thanks to Sir Alex. This doesn’t mean that every game must be won, but the fact that the players gave their all on the pitch. Watching exciting football and come what may.
I constantly listen to retired Manchester United players, such as Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Scholes, mostly due to their punditry. The common fact these are all share is that they know what is needed to win, this is primarily down to ethic. The working class ethics, which a lot of successful people have embedded in themselves, leads them to a successful career path most of the time, being in any professional field. During the post Ferguson era, we have seen major money being spent on players and total disregard on the attitude that they may bring to the dressing room, which can or did disrupt the long journey back to winning trophies.
This season, I had the luxury of going to watch
United against Newcastle which what I am seeing not that I didn’t see is the speed of the counter attack that United break at. After the season Ronaldo last season, I thought I was going to see something of the former, which I had seen during my first visit to Old Trafford. The only common things I saw was him throwing tantrums at his teammates. He was a magnificent player at his peak but one must agree, he is not the same and the fact he has moved to the Middle East to continue playing says a lot. One must not forget that personal trauma that he and his family had to go through during the summer. He like many others experience such unfortunate tragedies but one must always respect both sides to the
obligations that contracts stand for. I watched his famous interview with Piers Morgan, more than once so I fully grasped what he was saying. In short, I took it as, ‘my career is nearly finished I need to leave so I can play more before I retire’ and with a Machiavellian twist he put in such comments on how the club is run. His arrival did have positives as in media interviews with players, some stated that due to Ronaldo, they upped their game, diet and training regime. Hopefully his professionalism and dedication to being the best remains instilled in the players currently at the club. In recent years we have had to endure the famous Paul Pogba, which on his day can be magnificent, but not for United. He
had one good season at the club and such season under Mourinho was a successful one, with Zlatan playing I am sure wouldn’t have tolerated any let ups.
During the events leading to Mourinho’s departure I believe he had some truths in his arguments about players attitudes. The club now seems to have given full power to the manager on the playing staff and not getting playing to be marketed. With all due respect any player playing in a United shirt, once a player is playing well for the club, fans will buy the shirt. Manchester United, is blessed that the club manages to break commercial records every other
year and such records are maintained by a strong playing team. Having a star and the team not getting results does not really attract the good type of attention which is needed for the club to have interested suitors or nor does it get you the results needed to play top European football.
In recent weeks we have heard and read that Old Trafford is old and needs changing and so forth. This is nonsense, utter nonsense to have such a stadium replaced by a new state of the art modern stadium. One on the most majestic things about Old Trafford is the fact that the bricks used to erect that stadium are the roots to the culture, glamour and romance elements
of the love story which Manchester United is.
We cannot hide behind the fact that the stadium is dated but all that is needed to be upgraded are the internal facilities which I think does not need to have the stadium ripped apart. The building of south stand and erecting of corners to have four identical corners and four level stands, the stadium will look majestic like it already does. People will refer to the modern stadiums clubs have built such as Arsenal, Spurs and also Real Madrid. The former had stadiums with small capacities, hence the increase was required to keep up with demand.
Other news which has begun to gather traction is the sale of the club by the Glazer family. Some bids have been placed. The Qatari family and also Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Hopefully the new owner will have a genuine love for the club and looking to have best in class in all aspects in relation to the club. Having owners looking at the club as a pawn or as asset from which dividends are paid out, the club might as well remain with the Glazers as they are the devil we already know.
This season, the club has effected changes and even further changes will done in the foreseeable future. We have won the league club with relative ease, but the two matches against Barcelona were magical, and us fans know change is coming. Finally we were told ‘Eras come to end’. Hopefully it is in near future.
Happy Easter to everyone. May Erik bring home 3 trophies this season!
