Red Army Fanzine 5

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34 | Red Army | Issue 5

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welcome Red Army Fanzine would like to thank you for taking time to read our latest edition which we hope you will enjoy reading. Red Army Fanzine is made by the fans for the fans and as fellow supporters we know that following our football team can cost a lot of money, and although it is worth every penny it is nice to have a little extra cash in our pockets at the end of the football season. In order to assist with this, Red Army Fanzine not only offers you a free monthly magazine created by dedicated Manchester United fans filled with in-depth articles and features written by top quality journalists; over the season we will provide discount coupons for you to save money on travel costs, hotels and eating and drinking in Manchester when you come to see your heroes on a match day.

To save further money please visit our website redarmy.co.uk and see what offers are available to you this season. With these combined offers Red Army readers could potentially save hundreds of pounds over the course of the season.

As Manchester United fans, football is our life and our passion and many of us will do anything to get to the Theatre of Dreams, but in order to keep our regular loyal supporters from being priced out of the game, we aim to provide a more enjoyable experiences for our match day readers without the extra costs.

This is a non-profit publication and our sponsors cover the cost of the production.

For this we thank the businesses that have chosen to advertise in Red Army Fanzine as without their support, we could not provide this free service for the world’s greatest supporters.

This season is shaping up to be to be one of the most exciting in recent history and we hope that as fellow Manchester United fans we can enjoy this journey together and help change your match day experience for the better.

Lierre Twitter @redarmyfanzine Editor Red Army Fanzine.

inside

p8

08

UsainBolt

exclusive interview

10

p10

United History.

1973 - Anything but vintage

14

From Wythy to Wembley

Two die-hard United fans from Wythenshawe and how they got to 1968 European Cup Final.

17

p14

To Pay is to Fail

money money money

19

The Millenium dome of Manchester

looking towards the Manchester derby

20

David May’s United Nights

p22

Ex United Legend introduces his latest project

22

Focus on: Bryan Robson

feature on ex United captain and legend

p25-31

25-31 25 Years of Sir Alex Tribute to the most successful British Manager

52-53 Overseas supporters club Global support gets its voice

p52-53

WRITERS: SEAN MCGUIRE, PAUL LIPTROT, JON BREWARD, MARK SEATON, NATHANIEL HOBBY, RICHARD COLE, PAUL BIENKOWSKI, STUART DAVIES, KAMAL ALI, ADAM CRAFTON, CHRIS VERITY, DARREN LAMB, LEE MATTHEWS. DESIGN: MIKE DIVER, ANDREW WILLIAMS, JOHN HORNER, ANSHUL SOOD. Issue 5 | Red Army | P3

News - Interviews - Columists - Features

to pay is to fail?

It’s fair to say that most, if not all, United fans have been pleasantly surprised with not only the start we’ve made to the season but the brand of quick, attacking football that has been on display. This, bear in mind, achieved whilst avoiding bending to Wesley Sneijder’s will and want, and completing our business early on in the transfer window with the capture of three, young and exciting talents. The transition of these three players into the United team has been quick and almost seamless. Testament to Sir Alex’s Players Purchased Fee efforts to conclude business early Phil Jones £17,000,000 and quickly, to allow the settling in £18,900,000 period to last over pre-season. We David De Gea were all drawn in to the “will he, Ashley Young won’t he” saga that Sneijder (and his agent) teased us with all summer. But United refused to be drawn and refused to lavish the bags of gold upon Wesley that he demanded. And it is this steadfast resilience that forms the backbone and belief of United.

Whilst many of our rivals were spending big on big names that demanded big salaries, United concluded their business rather modestly. Yes, we still spent relatively big on the fees but I doubt for one minute that either Ashley Young, Phil

massive salaries (see Aguero and Chelsea’s failed efforts for Modric) and whether you are of the opinion that United’s debt means they can’t compete, or whether you believe that we build a team rather than spend millions on wages for big names, United were nowhere to be seen.

City have bore the harsh end of this reality when just this summer they found themselves with the best part of a starting XI all earning around or over the £100k mark...and all surplus to requirements. No other clubs could afford to take these players on, not on their current salaries, I mean, seriously is Wayne Bridge good value at approx £100k a week??

City have rightly £17,000,000 acknowledged that it is Total £52,900,000 unsustainable to keep these spending sprees up year after year but they have set themselves a precedent with the contracts they offer. Any player going to City is going to expect a sizeable increase on his last salary.

I’m not suggesting that Young, Jones and De Gea are on minimum wage.

And I’m sure people will point to United breaking the bank last year to keep Rooney. All fair points. But you don’t see United offering contracts

Jones, or David De Gea are commanding anything like the salaries of Sergio Aguero, Juan Mata, or Samir Nasri. Whilst United were linked with Nasri it came down to a choice for him: either go for the history and tradition of United, or be lured by the extra few zeros on his weekly pay packet over at City. He chose the latter. Both City and Chelsea made bids for players during the summer that were weighted with Issue 5 | Red Army | P4

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the size of which City and Players Purchased Chelsea are now accustomed to laying on the table. Instead, Stefan Savic United bring in younger Gaël Clichy players and ingrain them into Sergio Agüero the mentality of what it means to be a Manchester United Costel Pantilimon player. To never give up and Samir Nasri have the will to win. It is this Owen Hargreaves that will see United remain ahead of the chasing billionaires pack because you can pay someone all the money in the world...but you can’t buy spirit.

by Paul Liptrot

Fee £9,000,000 £7,000,000 £38,000,000 £6,000,000 £22,000,000 Free Total £82,000,000

worth £100k

???

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2006 - 2011 Manchester City Chelsea Liverpool Tottenham Aston Villa Sunderland Stoke City Manchester United

Purchased Gross £537,670,000 £267,100,000 £309,540,000 £238,300,000 £168,550,000 £146,900,000 £72,725,000 £217,200,000

Sold £100,550,000 £122,200,000 £225,530,000 £162,100,000 £100,400,000 £84,225,000 £11,520,000 £160,350,000

Nett £437,120,000 £144,900,000 £84,010,000 £76,200,000 £68,150,000 £62,675,000 £61,205,000 £56,850,000

Per Season £87,424,000 £28,980,000 £16,802,000 £15,240,000 £13,630,000 £12,535,000 £12,241,000 £11,370,000

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News - Interviews - Columists - Features

RED ARMY NEWS • Race for 17 year old ace Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are preparing for a £30m transfer battle for Everton’s 17year-old midfielder Ross Barkley.

The fee would shatter the world record paid for a teenager, which stands at the £26.5m United gave Everton for Wayne Rooney.

• Chicharito Signs new deal Javier Hernandez has signed a new five-year contract that not only makes him one of the clubs top earners but it also quashes any rumours about a potential bid from Real Madrid for the Mexican striker.

Chicharito’s agreement makes him one of 13 first team players tied down on long term contracts, which includes the recent commitment of Tom Cleverley and the imminent extension for Fellow loan return Danny Welbeck.

United have been eager to tie the

‘Little Pea’ to a longer more lucrative contract since the preseason after the striker scored 20 goals for the Reds last term and the number 14 now sees himself as one of the top earners at Old Trafford.

• United ‘eye’ Dutch striker Manchester United have reportedly been linked with Dutch international striker Ricky Van Wolfswinkel who plays for Portuguese club Sporting CP. Since his move Utrecht to Lisbon in the close season, Van Wolfswinkel has impressed by scoring four goals in six appearances.

• Fergie: No Plans to retire Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he no longer thinks about retiring and is looking forward to bringing further success to the club.

The 69-year-old is approaching 25 years as United manager however in the past he has suggested that would step down if his health or hunger for the job deteriorated.

“I just don’t think about retirement any more,” said Ferguson.

“We’ve got a good young team and a lot of youth at the club as well as some tremendous staff.

The future is good.”

Sir Alex added: “When you’ve been on the treadmill for so long, 25 years in my case, and my health is good at the moment, it’s just a matter of looking forward to being the manager of Manchester United, rather than worrying about Alex Ferguson.

“The great part for me is still to be out on the field with the players and coaching them. As the game has changed, I have had to change with it.

For example, sports science in the last decade has seen a phenomenal improvement and that has become a major development in the game.”

• Other News: After his impressive start to the season, Tom Cleverly has been rewarded with a new four year deal until 2015.

Bonjour 19x The banner arrived exactly on 12:40 to the minute. It then circled Anfield 3/4 times before being ushered away by police helicopter it was arranged by Michael icdj Sullivan, and was in response to this banner displayed at Anfield in 1994.

Breaking News Issue 5 | Red Army | P6

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660 Chester Road, Old Trafford M16 0GU Issue 5 | Red Army | P7

News - Interviews - Columists - Features

Usain Bolt

World Champion and Manchester United fan

Since Usain Bolt gained world-wide fame for being ridiculously fast at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he's been able to mix in visits to his favourite club, Manchester United, his other favourite club, Real Madrid, and more between running ridiculously fast. In the past, he's talked about playing as a "left-sided defensive midfielder" when he was in high school, but now he's seriously talking about his future as a footballer and not just his past.

2) Who is your favourite a)current player and b)all time player of all time?

Rooney is my favourite player at the club now. His work rate is just something to admire and he is a great striker as shown over the years and how he has started the 2011 season.

Player of all time is hard to pick for me.

3) You have been quoted as saying 'you are good enough to play for Manchester United'- if you got the call up, what position would you play?

Think I could be a great winger because of my speed and agility.

4) in 2009 you trained with Manchester United at Carrington, how did you find the experience and who was the fastest player?

That was a dream come through to train with the club and an unforgettable experience. Ronaldo was the fastest player in my estimation as that time.

5) What is your favourite Manchester United memory?

Oh there are so many..I remember almost being late in catching a flight once, because I was at a game which was so intense. I almost missed the flight. I can't recall who we were playing at the time.

Issue 5 | Red Army | P8

“

Ideally, if I was to play football, I'd sign for my favourite team -- Manchester United. People say it's not realistic but nobody has seen me play so you never know.

If Alex Ferguson saw me in one of those charity matches he might think I could replace Ryan Giggs.

“

1) How did you start supporting Manchester United?

I started supporting Man Utd when Ruud Van Nistelrooy was their striker.

6) Do you get to go to many matches?

I catch a few matches when I am in England not as much I would want to.

7) How big are Manchester United in Jamaica?

Man Utd is very big in Jamaica.

Either people cheer or don't cheer for the club either way Man Utd is on everyone lips when they're playing.

8) How did you get into athletics?

My cricket coach saw that I had speed and recommended me to try Sprinting and that's how I got started.

9) If you could pick between winning an Olympic gold medal, or watching Manchester United win the treble-which would you chose?

Come on guys...you know I am going to have go for winning the Olympics that's what I train hard and dream about since I got into track and field

10) If athletics was on channel 1, and football on channel 2 which would you watch?

Good thing I have three tv sets in my room so I would be watching both... smile 11) As a sportsman, what is more important training or natural ability?

Natural ability is great but training harder is even more key for me. One has to train to develop the natural ability which makes it a little easier.

12) How do you rate Manchester United's chances this season?

I see Man Utd a being able to win every title this year. When the additions of the new players and the experience of the old Man Utd is going to a season to be remembered.

13) Would you give up athletics, if you got that all important call from Ferguson?

Athletics is what I do now and have no intentions of leaving until I have done the unthinkable to ensure I am a legend.

After I retire I would be with Man Utd in an heart beat if I got a call up.

14) What can we expect to see from you this year?

My aim is to go to London Olympic Games and retain my 100m and 200m titles, so look for that.

15) One final question, tell us an interesting fact that nobody knows about you?

Smile..I will think on that some more and send you an answer. interview by Sean McGuire

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Issue 5 | Red Army | P9

1973 - anything but vintage!

The 70's started where the 60's left off!

Hippy ideas and fashions were becoming part of mainstream culture.

In the 70's, everyone wore flares; technological advances brought many improvements to home life, and travel abroad became accessible to many more people. The big new luxury for many people in the 1970's was colour television. Nearly all programmes in the 70's were broadcast in colour, and more people were able to stretch to afford a colour set.

For some the 70's is the golden era of British television with programmes such as 'Fawlty Towers', 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' and the colour Issue 5 | Red Army | P10

episodes of 'Dad's Army'. The 70's gave people a taste of a computerised future. High-tech gadgets, such as pocket calculators and digital watches, became status symbols in the early years. In 1971, Britain gained decimal currency and abandoned the age-old system of pounds, shillings and pence. Old people hated it, and shoppers thought the change was an excuse to put up prices. Football, however, was still at its glorious best and Manchester United went into the decade on a high, with a European Cup success and three European Player of the Year winners in the team. The 1972-73 season saw the end of one era merge with the start of another.

With new manager Frank O’Farrell in charge at Old Trafford, there were plenty more changes to come as the curtain fell on one of United's greatest-ever teams, and rose again to reveal, arguably, one of our worst, as an ageing, disunited team complete with errant stars battled against relegation. So let’s go back in time… In the first match of the season, Denis Law scored what was to be his last Old Trafford goal. The ‘King’ of the Stretford End was in his swansong season, as the once European Player of the Year tried in vain to recapture his old form in a team that lacked its customary conviction. The team failed to win a league game, however, until 10 games into the season, scoring only 4 goals in the process. With decimalisation in its second year, the manager decided to spend his pounds and pence for the first time.

With United’s stars ageing and a serious lack of young strikers available, O’Farrell signed three new strikers - Wyn Davies, Ted MacDougall and Trevor Anderson.

These signings appeared to make an immediate impact, as Davies scored on his debut in a 3-0 win over Derby County in September. This was a false dawn, however, as the three strikers would only manage 10 goals between them throughout the rest of the season. As Emmerdale Farm took to our screens for the first time, our new strikers looked like ducks out of water. This season will also be remembered for the last time the ‘Holy Trinity’ of Charlton, Law and Best would ever play together. This came in the league game against Spurs in October that year, which United lost 4-1. Law made only fourteen appearances in 197273 and scored just two goals.

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Bobby Charlton, however, was the club’s top scorer, with seven goals.

Best impressed in parts, but further trouble loomed just around the corner for the Belfast Boy, and the ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ sounded out in the charts almost ominously for the Reds.

The dressing room was not a happy place. Relationships were strained between the manager and some of the senior players. Personal animosities undermined team spirit, and everyone seemed irritated by the antics of Best. Everyone wore flares, but it was flair that was lacking out on the pitch. Soon, the bell-bottom became rock-bottom as, by December, United were at the bottom of the League.

The board was seriously concerned and, on the 19th December following a 5-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, Frank O’Farrell was dismissed. Three days later, it was announced that Tommy Docherty, then manager of Scotland, would take over. ‘Cum on Feel the Noize’ was number one at the time.

However, it would be more than the Old Trafford noise that Docherty would feel after his arrival as United boss. Docherty was Busby’s choice.

Unlike his two immediate predecessors, Docherty seemed able to cope with Busby’s continuing presence.

Docherty realised that Manchester United needed a new team and, within a few weeks, had bought five new players (Alex Forsyth, George Graham, Lou Macari, Jim Holton and Mick Martin). Four of these five were Scots.

Results didn’t suddenly improve, but a good run in March and April, which included six wins in nine matches, enabled the club to finish in eighteenth place. Before Docherty arrived, Manchester United had been knocked-out of the League Cup by Third Division Bristol Rovers and, shortly after he took over, Wolves knocked the Reds out of the FA Cup

at the first hurdle. George Best only played for about half of the season.

He trained sporadically, turning up one day then missing the next. He received a fine and then a suspension. He talked of retirement, then he returned to the first team only to announce his retirement again. At 12p for a pint of beer, who could blame the man! The Doc soon put Best on the transfer list, and then took him off it again. During the springtime whilst on holiday, he developed a thrombosis in his right leg and had to return to Manchester for an operation.

Georgie Best’s frustration at this time was paralleled by the fans, as they feared this would spell the end of his career. As one of the greatest footballers that ever lived struggled to exorcise his demons, poignantly the film ‘The Exorcist’ was a box office hit at the cinema. The 1972-73 season did however see the end of Bobby Charlton’s magnificent Manchester United career. After 758 appearances and 249 goals, a record that still stands to this day, Charlton hung up his boots. After standing out as United’s best player that season, there were suggestions that the great man could play on, but the gloomy atmosphere and unsettled side seemed to have sapped his enthusiasm. By the end of the season, optimistic supporters believed Docherty may be the man to turn the tide. Others were not so sure.

It was obvious that some serious rebuilding was needed, and clear that Manchester United had to get worse before they got better!

Issue 5 | Red Army | P11

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the

story so far

Ashley Young Movement, creatively and intelligence are all attributes which the new United winger possess and he has shown these in abundance so far this season.

It has been a long time since I have seen a player slot right into the United side with such ease. His ability to intelligently move around the pitch has brought the best out of Wayne Rooney. His interplay between Wayne Rooney, Nani and Tom Cleverly was breathtaking, particularly at the beginning of the season. Right from his first touch, he has been an integral part of the United side.

I was sceptical when Young arrived at Old Trafford. Despite knowing he was a good player at Aston Villa, I simply could not see the need for him.

However, having watched him play so far this season, he has become a huge asset and no doubt an absolute bargain at around £15million. He has been instrumental to the side which until now has torn through the heart of the Premier League.

To name a few of the key moments so far, it is hard to ignore; His impact on the 3-2 win against City in the Charity Shield His fantastic goals in the rout against Arsenal His last gasp equaliser in the disappointing draw at home to Basel Young has already proved to the United faithful that he has the temperament, desire and ability to be a huge hit at the club.

His partnership with Wayne Rooney is only going to increase in strength, his movement, along with Tom Cleverly has at times made us far more effective than last season and his eye for goal is not to be underestimated.

Young is also performing on an international stage.

He is consistently providing England with game-changing pieces of play, superb goals and he has undoubtedly been the most influential player in the England squad over the last few months.

In my opinion, if a player is playing well for England, it means he’s performing at club level and Ashley Young is certainly doing that.

For these reasons, it is hard to deny that Ashley Young has been the ‘Star So Far’, his all-round play, inter-changing runs and fantastic goals have developed him into a player who is one of the first names on the team sheet for many Reds.

by Mark Seaton.

Issue 5 | Red Army | P13

News - Interviews - Columists - Features

From Wythy to Wembley 1968

by Frank Diver & Steve Stubbs

Frank

Steve

“

We would done anything to get there

“

It’s the best part of 200 miles to Wembley from Wythenshawe, where I grew up with my brother Mick and cousin Steve idolising the reds, and following them religiously both home and away - whenever we could blag a ticket!

Issue 5 | Red Army | P14

But on that fateful night, 43 years ago, we were on a totally different planet as we watched Sir Matt, Nobby, George, Bobby and the rest of the boys celebrate wildly after an extratime win against the then mighty Benfica, inspired by the genius that was Eusebio. They were revelling in - as we all were becoming the first-ever English club to win the European Cup, and gloating with Mancunian pride at getting one over on the Cockneys in the process.

The national pecking order had also been re-established, with Celtic beating Sporting Lisbon a year earlier to become the first British club to lift the world’s most coveted football trophy.

Most poignantly, guys like Sir Bobby and big Billy Foulkes were also remembering their mates - Eddie Colman, David Pegg and of course Duncan Edwards who weren’t there to revel in what was a momentous achievement for the club.

Steve (who was also my best man at

my wedding two years earlier) and I had followed the boys (as the famous Busby Babes song goes) throughout that famous European Cup run, starting with a routine 4.0 win over Maltese minnows, Hibernians, before victories over Sarajevo, Górnik Zabrze and, of course, the nail-bitingly narrow first leg victory over Spanish giants, Real Madrid settled by Bestie - a first-half goal which, in the end, proved decisive following the epic 3.3 draw in the Bernabéu 3 weeks later.

So we were there finally... the European Cup Final. Even better, it was on home turf - kind of - at Wembley, referred to by many in and around the game as the “home of football”, though us reds beg to differ on that one, don’t we?

People didn’t leave the estates of Wythenshawe much in those days, except for work...and Steve and I

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a Wythy red, leaving a spare which, can you believe we gave to a copper to give away!!!

Wythenshawe, like so many other suburbs of Manchester was a very different place back then.

were hardened hitch-hikers as we were both self-employed bricklayers who got jobs on sites all over the UK, and always we had to make our own way there. No travel expenses in them days lads, it was up to you to get there with your tools and find digs locally... all of which came out of your weekly pay-packet from an invariably sullen and nitpicky foreman.

All the fortnight after the first leg of the semi against Real at Old Trafford, Steve and I ducked and dived all over Manchester, Stockport (don’t believe the myth about Stocky being BLUE, it’s not) and Salford searching for someone with tickets to sell.

We were ready to give up on our dream of watching the reds (or all NAVY BLUES as it turned out on the night) at Wembley when, practically at the last minute, Steve got hold of some tickets from a bloke who was working on the same site as him over in Stretford.

That was it, we were in. But how would we get there?

The Bricklayers Express, of course, hitch-hike down to the Big Smoke on HGVs and follow the boys, as we’d always done in the past. Stamford Bridge, Highbury, Craven Cottage, White Hart Lane, Upton Park... even Brisbane Road to watch ‘em play Orient...you name the ground, and the chances are me and Steve had been there. Never before to Wembley though.

Right at the last minute, my brother dropped out of the trip of a lifetime for

Wednesday night in London, United playing in blue, beer costing an arm and a leg and no gravy at the chippy on the way there. It really was an unique evening from the very beginning. The first half seemed to go by in a heartbeat, before Bobby opened the scoring for us with a fantastic header early in the second half to make it 1-0.

on his 19th birthday. And that was it, sheer pandemonium and ecstacy for all the Mancs, Salford lads, Wythy boys (like us) and even the out-oftowners who’d be drawn to the club following its heroic rise from the ashes of the Munich Air Disaster, ten years earlier.

God knows what time we left the ground to wander about North London trying to snag a lift to the North Circular, before thumbing it all the way back to Northern Moor but it didn’t matter a jot to us. Me, my best mate and our team were on top of the world that night and it’s a memory that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.

The Portuguese equalised with only 10 minutes of normal time remaining through Graça and that was it... extra time... no triumphant quick dash (fast lane all the way) back up to Manchester in the car, like nowadays.

Steve and I were there for the long haul, just like the 99,998 others (English and Portuguese) packed into Wembley that night.

Two minutes into extra time, Bestie put us ahead again, elegantly slipping round their keeper and gently tapping it over the line. This was soon followed by two more United goals, one each from Sir Bobby and Kiddo (remember “Eusebio and I say Kiddo” to the tune of the Beatles’ Hello Goodbye)

I’m sure Barcelona and Moscow were special evenings for those who were there... but, for me, nothing will ever top the night Steve and I saw United rip the best team in Europe (which Benfica were in the late sixties) apart, before coming back bleary-eyed the next afternoon like all-conquering (and knackered, maybe even a little hungover) heroes.

Up the Reds!

Issue 5 | Red Army | P15

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Issue 5 | Red Army | P16

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Rejuvenated squad; revamped style?

It is no secret that Manchester United have enjoyed a wonderful start to the 2011/12 Premier League season, having scored 21 goals in the League so far, winning a maximum number of points from their first five games.

A large part of this success has been attributed to the roles of Ashley Young, David De Gea and Phil Jones.

Manchester United’s summer signings have flourished in the starting eleven this season alongside other players such as Tom Cleverley, Anderson and Chris Smalling. These players would not have been considered for a starting place last season but a rejuvenated team that romped to five victories in a row in their first five games thanks to the contributions that these players have made.

But it is a change in the style that Manchester United has played that has perhaps been the most surprising element of the Red Devils’ exciting start. Illuminating statistics provided by the team at Opta point to a tactical shift from the Old Trafford club.

For instance, David De Gea made 28 saves in the first five games this season, more than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League and far more than Edwin Van Der Sar had made at the same stage of the season last year. It seems that the young shot-stopper has been called into action on numerable occasions to prevent goals.

Opta Sports also provided statistics that the first three teams to visit Old Trafford this season (Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea) have been afforded at least 20 shots on goal.

Whilst this may not sound extraordinary it needs to be put in perspective as only two teams in the previous five seasons have managed to match this feat.

Whilst 25 goals were scored in all competitions up to the fifth Premier League game, United also conceded seven goals – a fact that has been lost amongst the jubilation of goals and wins.

It would appear that the style of play has evolved as the team has made its summer transition. It could be said that the best form of defence is attack for this Manchester United side; as they bound forward they are leaving themselves susceptible at the back, as the above statistics seem to show.

This could be attributed to the absence of defensive rocks Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic but it could also point to a riskier tactical element to this young Manchester United side. As the team attacks in number it contributes players such as Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to their assault – resulting in goals. But it may also result in goals conceded and shots fired by the opposition team as defence is occasionally left wanting.

This point can be further summed up by taking a look at the way that Manchester United performed in the second half against Chelsea recently.

With United already leading 3-1 the team continued to push forward for more goals. On more than one occasion Phil Jones could be spotted bounding forward from his centre back position, almost playing amongst the strikers as his hunger for goals continued to the adulation of the fans. Whilst previous Manchester United squads may have been happy to sit back and defend their lead, save energy and frustrate the opposition – this Manchester United squad continue to attack with a purposeful obsession for more!

Their determination and resolve to score and entertain is being enjoyed

by Manchester United fans all over the world but it is a style of football that has rarely been seen inside Old Trafford. A formidable frontline has plenty of support as Manchester United’s dominance and goal-scoring ability delights the crowd and impresses the pundits.

So who is the unsung hero of this new gung-ho style of attacking football?

My suggestion is David De Gea.

As stated above, he has made 28 saves in the first five Premier League games alone; a contribution that may have gone unnoticed compared to the goal-scoring antics of Wayne Rooney and lively wing-play of Nani and Ashley Young.

The young goalkeeper has had his share of critics and unfair comparisons have been drawn between the Spaniard and former Manchester United stalwarts Peter Schmeichel and Edwin Van Der Sar. But it seems that as Manchester United’s attack has flourished, so has De Gea. His shot stopping ability and confidence in goal has allowed Manchester United to play with an attacking verve that has not been seen in such abundance in previous seasons.

And long may it continue!

The buzz and expectancy at Old Trafford has once again risen as fans have been treated to multi-goal score-lines and dominant displays. I, for one, share the same hope that this dominance can continue and that in years to come, this will be a season of transition that we can look back on with pride as a change in personnel was matched with a change in tactic and hopefully a trophy too!

Written by Nathaniel Hobby For more Manchester United news and opinion you can follow me on Twitter @nathanielhobby (As stated above, statistics were published by Opta Sports – the work they do is phenomenal and if you are on Twitter FOLLOW @OptaJoe – not doing so would be crime!)

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Redarmy.co.uk

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Man City: The Millennium Dome of Manchester

by Chris Verity Biggest derby of all time? That is the question that is seemingly posed before every Manchester derby of recent seasons; after years of routine wins and occasional shocks which had very little effect over the course of a season, it is difficult to disagree that the derby has gained a more glamorous appeal for both Reds and Blues since Sheik Mansour’s arrival.

We have had some great moments over the last two years: last minute winners from Owen, Rooney and Scholes, not to mention Rooney’s wonder goal last season, but the FA Cup semi final at Wembley left a bitter taste in the mouth and let us not hide the fact that taking down the ticking time banner in the Stretford end was a humiliating end to the halcyon days of civic superiority. City fans are certainly revelling in their newly found status amongst the European elite; sharing with us their ‘unique’ goal celebrations and milking the Tevez stories within an inch of their life to maintain their monopoly on the back pages. But it would take the most rose tinted of red to deny that City are actually playing good attacking football and at this relatively early stage in the season look like they will pose a threat to United’s title ambitions.

With both teams making a roaring start to the season, the press have been falling over themselves in declaring Manchester as the new capital of World football; the names certainly back up the assertion: Rooney, Aguero, Giggs, Nasri, Nani, Silva, Hernandez, Toure, Vidic and ahem...Lescott. So is Manchester the new Milan or does Barcelona’s dominance mean that the Catalan capital is the centre point of the football universe? And what is so special about being ‘the capital city’ anyway? Surely the term has become

redundant since the laughable commendation of Liverpool as the capital of culture in 2008.

Let us take the metaphor further; think of the great capital cities of the world, London, Paris, Rome; Buckingham Palace, Le Louvre and the Coliseum; a capital city encapsulates the ideology and ethos of a nation but never forget that you are only ever a couple of streets away from a pissed up tramp and a rampant sex district. Capital cities show us the best and worst of society and Manchester is certainly making good on that in respect to the beautiful game. An exciting new team on the pitch guided by committed old warriors have thus far given United a level of attacking football that has us thinking that Barcelona may not escape so lightly if we gain the privilege of facing them again, and Ferguson, the wizard, remains as potent as ever.

Old Trafford on a match day is still hard to beat but there will always be old timers moaning that the atmosphere isn’t as good as it was in their day even in the face of the burgeoning capacity. I do not doubt that the seventies and eighties were a magical time to follow the club despite the trophies not flowing anyway near as freely as they do now, but think of Chelsea in the league in April, the City games in 09/10 and Barça in 08; think of the holy trinity statue, the Busby sculpture and the Munich clock; like the Trevi fountain, the Arc de Triomphe and the windmills of Amsterdam, our history and identity is preserved and passed down before a ball is even kicked.

Can a city fan from across the way really say in all honesty that the identity of the club which they love is being maintained as the outfit faces a major brand development across

the world? This is a club whose chief executive openly admitted to getting rid of a dedicated stalwart in Richard Dunne because he had limited appeal to potential customers in the far eastern markets. This is a club that is based around money and money is the only thing that matters; just look at the band of pirates that they have employed: Carlos Tevez thinks that sitting on a bench is enough to warrant £130,000 a week, Mario Balotelli cruises down Deansgate in his Maserati on Friday nights looking for the best way to splurge his millions and Samir Nasri abandoned a club that made him the player that he very nearly is at the time of their greatest need. Mansour’s promise to develop a world class youth development program on the Etihad complex is a noble idea but look how Chelsea’s plethora of youngsters have fared since Abramovich’s similar pledge. If you will allow me to return to the capital city metaphor then compared to United’s royal and historical palace, Manchester City must be the Millennium Dome, an over expensive, ugly and vacuous shell that can occasionally play host to top grade acts but is just as likely to be filled only with hot air.

Now I don’t mean to suggest that United are a complete beacon of elegance and sophistication; we all know too well that our greedy American owners will rabidly market our history and tradition for stick on a plastic lunchbox appeal, and their disregard for the working class fan is just as criminal as City’s sponsorship deals, but with Ferguson at the helm and young dedicated lads like the Da Silva twins, Smalling, Jones, Cleverley and Welbeck carrying the flame, Old Trafford will remain the football coliseum of Manchester, England and the world.

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News - Interviews - Columists - Features

After a rough month of recovery for Tom Cleverley, the Basingstoke-born midfielder has reason to be happy.

His return to fitness after his injury, a classic case of Kevin Davies handiwork, and a brand new contract should put Tom back in the mood to make the centre midfield position his own.

Tom Cleverley’s new four-year contract is a testament to the faith shown to him by the club and most importantly, the manager. The 22year-old’s start of the season has been impressive, from his debut performance in the second half of the Community Shield vs. Manchester City, to the wins over West Bromwich Albion, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal until his injury at Bolton Wanderers have shown the first makings of a player who could solve United’s much bemoaned “midfield problem”.

His partnership with Anderson in those games seemed to bring out the best of both young midfielders.

Anderson’s progress is one that has been greatly interrupted with injury and with inconsistency but when paired with Cleverley he looked like the Anderson that was expected back on his arrival in 2007 and has shown signs of emergence intermittently.

The two’s partnership may not have been the most secure centre-midfield duo – with none of the players really a “defensive midfielder” despite Anderson’s occasional roles in that position. Yet the two player’s passing and energy seems to bypass the need for that holding player that has become so popular now that most teams play at least two of them. It's perhaps no surprise then that since Cleverley's injury Anderson's form appears to have dropped off.

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Tom Cleverley That Cleverley/Anderson combination is a welcome return to an exciting midfield pairing after the pragmatic approach last season. It has led to fluid football – and possibly some of the best Old Trafford has seen since the exciting 2006/2007. It’s the kind of football that can lead to 7-1 wins over Roma or 8-2 thrashings Arsenal.

We must remember that this is Cleverley’s first true season at the club and despite his excellent early form we must not expect a worldbeater so soon. The comparisons with Scholes are unfair on him and any other young players to be on the receiving end of such a compliment – Scholes was a special player and, although it may be a cliché, Paul Scholes can never be replaced.

Cleverley’s loan to Wigan Athletic seems to have been a positive influence on his development. Of course, not every loan deal can be a benefit to a player, just look at Giuseppe Rossi’s spell at Newcastle United and Rodrigo Possebon’s time at Braga. Some credit must go to Roberto Martínez then for allowing Cleverley game time and progressing his career further – don’t be surprised if you see more United players on loan there in the future.

It’s rare for a Manchester United player to owe too much to the England set up but Tom Cleverley’s time with Stuart Pearce’s England U21 side. The summer spent playing along side Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck in the UEFA European Under-21 Championships no doubt helped all of the players involved gel together and will have benefited hugely to Tom Cleverley bedding in with the first team.

It’s the maturity that has impressed

many, not only in his intelligent play on the pitch, but his off field maturity is highlighted in any of his interviews.

It is often said of any young player that fails to make a fool of himself in an interview that he is “beyond his years” – hardly a compliment as far as footballers go.

Cleverley though seems down to earth in spite of his rise at the club that seems to have projected him from promising youngster to firstteam starter with no real gap in between. His interview recently with Nick Coppack on the official Manchester United site, shows it well; “I’m still the same player and I’m still the same guy. Just because I’m playing in United’s first team, that doesn’t all of a sudden make me a great footballer.”

At the start of the season Tom Cleverley took Manchester United’s 23 shirt after having previously worn the 35 shirt in his previous United performances - on the bench in Carling Cup games. The 23 squad number may have a great mystique with David Beckham and Michael Jordan but at Manchester United there’s been no one to make the shirt their own. Past wearers include Jonny Evans, Kieran Richardson, Ben Thornley, Phil Neville and, in the first year of Premier League squad numbers, Mike Phelan.

It’s time then for Cleverley to put a stamp on that shirt and to justify his brand new contract. Should he kick on from here he started the season there’s a chance Tom Cleverley could have a huge impact on the club’s future fortunes for this season and many seasons to come. by richardcole17@gmail.com

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David May talks about his latest project:

Bringing united fans and players closer together The Ex- Players love meeting United fans from all over the world, talking about old times, telling & listening to crazy stories. So United Nights decided to organise regular supporter’s club charity evenings in Manchester for the fans & players to get together.

The "United Nights" events are often held at the Walkabout just off Deansgate, Quay Street in Manchester. They are the day before a game, doors open at 7.00pm till around 10.00pm.

Then it turns into a club, there’s drinks discounts at the bar, a buffet, raffle, charity auction, a Q&A, pictures & autographs.

These nights are very relaxed and designed for any United fan, you can wear United shirts, bring flags and banners to hang up, chat directly to a player, even buy them a drink!!!

A superb Manchester band will be there getting the fans going, singing Utd songs & playing classic tunes!!!

All for just £20 a head. You do have to be over 18 to attend.

Cheers David May www.unitednights.com

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FOCUS ON Bryan Robson

legend

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Robson was awarded the OBE in the January 1990 New Year's Honours. In 1998, he was named among the list of Football League 100 Legends, and was made an Inaugural Inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 in recognition of his impact on the English game as a player. He was named as one of Manchester Uniteds greatest ever players.

Robson married Denise Brindley on 2 June 1979. The couple have three children: Claire, Charlotte and Ben.

"‘With this player you’re not taking a gamble, what you’re buying is pure gold’" Ron Atkinson

Robson moved to United for a British record transfer fee of £1.5 million on 1 October 1981 and signed the contract on the Old Trafford pitch two days later.

The record was not broken for six years, when Liverpool paid £1.9 million for Newcastle striker Peter Beardsley in the summer of 1987. Robson made his United debut on 7 October 1981 in a 1– 0 defeat away at Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup. His league debut for his new club came three days later, in a goalless draw against Manchester City at Maine Road. This was his first appearance in the Manchester United number 7 shirt, which he went on to make his own. Robson scored his first goal for United on 7 November 1981 in a 5–1 win over Sunderland at Roker Park. He ended his first season at United with 32 games and five goals.

Meanwhile, his England career was flourishing as the World Cup neared; he scored in a 4–0 thrashing of Northern Ireland at Wembley and added a brace in the last warm-up game in Helsinki against Finland. Robson tore his ankle ligaments during the 1983 League Cup Semi-final victory over Arsenal, meaning that he missed the final, which United lost to Liverpool. He regained his fitness in time for the FA Cup Semifinal, again versus Arsenal, and scored in a 2–1 win. The final against Brighton ended in a 2–2 draw. Robson scored twice in the replay, but declined the chance to become the first player in 30 years to score an FA Cup final hat-trick, instead allowing regular penalty taker Arnold Muhren to convert a spot-kick to seal a 4–0 victory and enable Robson to lift his first trophy as United captain.

Although this was United's fifth FA Cup triumph, Robson was only the second English captain to lift the trophy for United, and our first since Charlie Roberts in the 1909 final; as United had been captained by an Irishman in their 1948 and 1963 triumphs, and a Scotsman in 1977. The following season, he helped the club enjoy a great run in the Cup Winners Cup. Robson scored twice in the 3–0 Quarter-final second leg victory over FC Barcelona at Old Trafford, overturning a 2–0 first leg deficit to progress 3–2 on aggregate. He missed both legs of the Semi-final defeat by Juventus, due to a hamstring injury but while in Turin for

the second leg, Robbo was given permission by United to speak to Juve regarding a proposed transfer. The move never took place as neither Juventus nor any other club were prepared to meet United's £3 million asking price. Robson's injury also meant that he missed several crucial late-season games as United's title challenge slipped away and they finished fourth, with Liverpool becoming champions for the 15th time.

Robson instead extended his contract with United in 1984, signing a sevenyear deal worth around £1 million, which would keep him there until at least 1991. In 1985, he captained the club to another FA Cup triumph; this time over Everton where a Norman Whiteside goal denied their opponents the chance of a unique treble, as they had already won the League title and the European Cup Winners' Cup. Robson and United began the following season in fine form with ten successive victories which suggested the Championship could be on its way back to Old Trafford for the first time since 1967. But their form slipped after Christmas and they finished the season trophyless, in fourth place behind champions Liverpool, runners-up Everton and third-placed West Ham. Injuries, notably a dislocated shoulder suffered in February 1986, restricted Robson to just 21 out of 42 league appearances for United in 1985–86, though he did manage seven goals.

Robson remained in favour with his employers after Ron Atkinson was sacked as United manager, in November 1986, and replaced by Alex Ferguson. But it was not until 1990 that Robson was to lift another trophy. He scored United's first goal in the FA Cup Final against Crystal Palace in the first match which ended in a 3–3 draw.

United won the replay 1–0 and this became the first United captain to lift the cup three times. Robson had faced his familiar fight against injury once again in that 1989–90 campaign, restricted to 20 appearances out of 38 in the league, as United finished 13th – their lowest finish since relegation in 1974. Robson's testimonial match took place on 20 November 1990 and saw United lose 3–1 to Celtic at Old Trafford.

During 1990–91, he was restricted to

17 league appearances due to an injury suffered at the World Cup, and didn't make a first team appearance until December 1990. During his absence, United had been captained by fellow midfielder Neil Webb, but Robson regained the captain's armband on his return. He was fit for the European Cup Winners Cup Final in which United beat Barcelona 2–1 in Rotterdam with both goals coming from Mark Hughes. He scored on the final day of the season against Wimbledon – it was his only senior goal of that campaign. By that game, United were Premiership champions and Robson finally won the league championship medal that he had been trying to gain since his days at West Bromwich Albion some 15 years earlier. It was not just injuries that were restricting the 36-year-old Robson's first-team chances. Eric Cantona had been signed during the 1992–93 campaign and played upfront with Mark Hughes, while Hughes's former strike-partner Brian McClair had been converted into a midfielder. This counted against Robson and the biggest blow came in the summer of 1993 when United signed Nottingham Forest's Roy Keane.

But Robson was still able to make enough appearances for another Premiership Champions medal in 1993–94, and scored one of their four goals in the FA Cup semi-final replay victory over Oldham at Maine Road.

Unfortunately, he was dropped from the squad for the FA Cup Final, a decision which manager Alex Ferguson later admitted was one of the hardest of his career. His very last appearance in a United shirt came on the last day of the season, 8 May 1994, when United drew 0–0 at home with Coventry City. He had played 461 times for them in all competitions, scoring 99 goals, and was widely regarded as one of their finest players ever. The last of his goals had come in the FA Cup semi-final replay against Oldham. In the league, his final goal had come on the opening day of the 1993–94 season (15 August 1993) in a 2–0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road. He had also scored a European Cup goal that season, in the second round first-leg tie against Turkish champions Galatasaray in a 3–3 draw at Old Trafford.

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Sir Alex Ferguson A Quarter of a Century at United I started supporting Manchester United around the time Sir Alex Ferguson took over as manager in November 1986. I have Scottish blood in my family and that part of the family share the same surname as Sir Alex. I was 7 years old and thought he was a relation of ours, he’s not unfortunately!! That was the main reason I was not a Liverpool fan, as all my friends were at the time, some have now changed to other clubs, based on their glory, but United and Alex Ferguson run n my blood.

I never knew much about Sir Alex, when he was announced as the new manager, just that he had the same surname as some of my family. That was all it took to get my attention. I would always get tormented by my friends, the Liverpool fans through school as at the time they were more successful that we were, but I defended my club.

That night in Rotterdam in 1991, winning the European Cup Winners Cup was a feat in itself for Sir Alex, beating Barcelona, the team that would come back and haunt him twice within 20 years. It was a great game, which I watched in full some years later, but not my most memorable.

Over the next few years I would learn more about Sir Alex which would enable me to compare him to Sir Matt Busby. I got more into football when the games started to appear live on the TV and not just on Grandstand on a Saturday afternoon. I remember the FA Carling Premiership starting in the 1992/93 season. I had my first new Manchester United shirt that season, which I wanted so much.

Winning the first League title for Manchester United since 1974/75 season was a great achievement for the gaffer, even though it took 6 full

seasons for it to come, it was the start of the most successful period our club would achieve. Winning the Premier League 12 time in 20 years take a special kind of manager, this is what we have in Sir Alex.

The best part of Sir Alex’s career at United to me is him bringing through young talent, especially the class of ’92. This saw the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Gary & Phil Neville and David Beckham all come through the ranks at United and help create the United we all know and love now.

Youth has always been a main focus of Sir Alex, as was with Sir Matt Busby and I do not fault him one bit. He has rarely bought an established player for megabucks like some of our rivals.

The best team I think Sir Alex has achieved at United would have to be the treble winning team of 1998/99, as that has got to be the most impressive season in history. We won the league on the final day of the season, beating Arsenal by 1 point, if we never came back against Tottenham, we would never have won it.

The FA Cup final was against Newcastle, which was, dare I say, easier to win. I remember after winning the double, the treble was falling into place. Only Bayern Munich stood in our way. It was the day of Sir Matt Busby’s 90th birthday, which I believe would have more to play that night, especially in the closing minutes as we were 1-0 down. I remember Beckham taking a corner and Teddy Sheringham equalising from a Ryan Giggs shot. It was as if we were settling for extra time. The next moment Becks was taking a corner again and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thumping the ball into the net and winning not only the UEFA

Champions League, but the treble for United. Amazing as I think back to that night in Barcelona!!

Sir Alex has achieved his fair share of spoils for Manchester United in his 25 years of service and the best part of it is that he feels he has more to give to the club. I am especially excited about the team he has in mind at the moment. We have some great players coming through into the first team now like Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling etc, but even more exciting is the younger players like Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba who are yet to stake their claim in the world’s greatest football club.

I only wish Sir Alex could manage the club for another 25 years but I am sure he will leave his legacy the day he decides to hang up his boots the final time….

Follow me on Twitter @paulbienkowski

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News - Interviews - Columists - Features

Fergie’s Greatest Ever Team?

Next month marks the 25th Anniversary of when Alex Ferguson took charge at Old Trafford, becoming one of the most successful managers of all time.

12 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 2 European Cups and a knighthood later, amongst many other trophies and achievements, Fergie is still going strong at the helm of the Worlds greatest football club, and shows no signs of letting up any time soon.

Peter Schmeichel Run closely by the recently retired Edwin Van Der Sar, ‘The Great Dane’ was a revelation between the sticks and provided the base of United’s success throughout the 90’s. During his prime was without doubt the world’s greatest goalkeeper, and was never truly replaced until Van Der Sar.

joined United from Spartak Moscow for £7million in 2006. He and Jaap Stam playing together in the same side would surely have but the fear of god into any strikers facing them.

Now United’s current Captain and an absolute rock in United’s defence.

Fans will always breathe a sigh of relief when they see his name on the team sheet.

Gary Neville A no brainer and the first of United’s infamous class of ’92 to make the list.

After making his Red’s debut in 1992, G Nev was an immovable object at right full back until an injury sustained in 2007, which Gary never really managed to recover from. A true red, Neville replaced Roy Keane as United Captain and will always be remembered for his emphatic celebration against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Denis Irwin Regarded by Sir Alex as pound for pound his greatest ever signing. Run closely by Patrice Evra, Denis gets the nod due to his reliability and his ability to provide vital goals for the team. A superb penalty and free kick taker, Denis collected 7 Premier League medals at Old Trafford and was another key member of the 1999 treble winning side.

Jaap Stam

Over Sir Alex’s quarter of a century in charge there have been many ins and outs at Old Trafford and he has been lucky enough to manage a whole host of stars over his time at United and has built fantastic teams from scratch, but what would be his best team of all time?

Jaap became the World’s most expensive defender in 1998 when Sir Alex splashed out £10.6million to bring the Dutchman to Old Trafford.

Despite only spending 3 seasons with United, Jaap was a true fans favourite and was a rock in United’s defence. A key member of United’s 1999 treble winning side.

Here is my ultimate team from Fergie’s 25 year tenure:

Nemanja Vidic Vida was a relative unknown when he

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Cristiano Ronaldo After arriving at Old Trafford as a 17 year old from Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo’s career continued to flourish and has not stepped ever since. Ronaldo’s ability to get forward and get goals from a wide area meant that he was a key player for United and during his 6 seasons at Old Trafford went on to become recognised as the World’s greatest player. Will be remembered for his 42 goals in a season, including opening the scoring in the 07/08 European Cup final against Chelsea.

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Roy Keane Keano was a prolific member of United’s team during his time at Old Trafford and would have been regarded as one of the first names on the team-sheet for any game. United’s Captain, Keano although often a little outspoken, did the majority of his talking on the pitch and led by example, most notably away at Juventus in 1999, almost single handedly taking United to the European Cup final despite knowing he would not be playing himself.

Regarded by Sir Alex as the best he ever worked with. Stealing Keano from under Blackburn Rover’s noses was surely one of Fergie’s shrewdest moves.

Paul Scholes Scholesy retired in the summer after a glorious 17 year career with the club.

Described by Sir Bobby Charlton as “a beautiful player to watch” he also drew praise from the likes of Zinedine Zidane. “Sat Nav” as he was known by his team mates for his freakish accuracy with his vision and passing, Scholesy moved from being a striker to become one of the World’s finest midfielders.

Managed 150 goals during his stint at Old Trafford and will go down as a true legend of the club. Will always be remembered for “that goal” in the European Cup semi final vs Barcelona in 2008.

Ryan Giggs Goes without saying. United’s record appearance holder, and the most decorated player in English football history. Giggsy continues to defy age and logic at the age of 37 as he

embarks upon his 22nd season for the reds. Giggsy could have been playing for the blue half of Manchester, after spending time at their school of excellence as a youngster before a personal visit from Sir Alex on his 14th birthday convinced him that his future was in red.

Giggs has gone on to terrorise defenders for 22 years now and has seen the honours pile up along the way with 12 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cup, 2 European Cup and 4 League Cup winner’s medals to add to his ever growing collection.

Will always be remembered for his infamous goal against Arsenal in the F.A cup Semi-final replay in 1999, setting the Red’s up for the 2nd stage of their famous treble.

two could have been one of the most devastating forward combinations ever.

Eric Cantona

David Beckham Another of the 92 class. Was second to none for his ability to strike a free kick or provide world class crosses, providing many a goal for the club.

The King. The greatest centre forward that the world has ever seen. Enough said.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy Ruud’s arrival at United was delayed a year after a devastating injury, but Fergie finally got his man in 2001 when Van Nistelrooy signed on the dotted line in 2001.

Ruud went on to become one of United’s most prolific strikers, with 150 goals in 219 appearances. Ruud netted 36 times in his debut season and proved to be more than a handful for defenders during his 5 year stint at the club. Coupled with Cantona, the

Subs: Edwin Van Der Sar United’s best keeper since Schmeichel. A big loss to the club after retiring in the summer.

Steve Bruce A rock at the back but could also chip in with plenty of goals himself. The best England never had.

Patrice Evra After a dodgy debut against Man City, Evra has gone on to displace former fans favourite Gabriel Heinze and make the left back position his own.

Bryan Robson Captain Marvel. The longest serving Captain in the club’s history. Scored 99 goals for the club from midfield.

Mark Hughes Described by Sir Alex as “the best big game player I have ever known”.

Fergie paid £1.5m to bring Hughesy back from an unsuccessful stint at Barcelona, who he then scored against twice in the 1991 European Cup Winners Cup Final.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – 1999

Agree?

Disagree?

What do you think?

Join the debate at www.redarmy.co.uk and let us know your favourite team from the Fergie era.

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News - Interviews - Columists - Features

Forever Fergie

So here we are, on the cusp of Sir Alex Ferguson’s 25th year in charge of Manchester United. For me, this fact brings a sense of order to my world. As a 24 year old I have only ever known a world where Alex Ferguson has been manager of Manchester United, I was born into a world where he was managing the Red Devils and I have grown up with great admiration for the man who has led the club I love from strength to strength.

I was recently reading the first set of program notes written by Alex Ferguson. It was his third game in charge following a 2-0 loss to Oxford United and a 0-0 draw against Norwich City on the road.

The date was 22nd November 1986 and Manchester United were playing QPR in Ferguson’s first game at Old Trafford.

The tone of the article was one of intent from a young manager who was trying to stamp his own authority and brand of football on the club. From the notes you could perhaps tell even then that Alex Ferguson was preparing for the long haul.

What follows is some of the most poignant lines of the article. Words that defined, and still do define, the job that Alex Ferguson continues to do day in, day out at the Old Trafford club; • “Taking over a club of the magnitude of Manchester United is an awesome prospect. But ultimately a football club is a football club and I shall simply try to run things at Old Trafford in what I believe to be the right way.”

• “The aim at this club must clearly be to win the championship. That is Issue 5 | Red Army | P28

the only real way to lay the ghosts of the past. We must not allow a club of this stature to reach a quarter of a century without a League title on the honours board.”

• “It quickly follows that I only want players here who are determined to achieve this for the club and for themselves... I am only interested in players who really want to play for Manchester United, and who, like me, are bad losers.”

• “A man is very fortunate if he gets the chance to manage Manchester United in his lifetime and I can assure you I have no intention of wasting my opportunity.”

The rest is history as Manchester United won the game 1-0, Ferguson’s first win, with Johnny Sivebaek getting the only goal (and his only goal for the club). But more importantly, Ferguson’s statements in his first program notes have come to fruition. He has run the club his own way from day one, never overawed by the task he was charged with.

He eventually won his first championship and has restored the League title to Manchester United’s honours board a total of 12 times.

His man-management of players has been a long topic of discussion during his tenure but his statement of intent from day one has rung true. He has instilled a winning mentality into his players and those not determined enough, or not 100% for the cause, have been swiftly moved on. His bold decision making skills in this regard has seen him build a number of different, but equally successful, teams. Whilst his decisions in moving on popular players such as Jaap Stam and David Beckham were not understood at the time, it has, in the end, been in the best interests of the club.

And finally, one thing is for sure... Sir Alex Ferguson has not wasted his opportunity! His intent on returning the club to its former stature was successful and long may it continue.

And as it turns out, it was Manchester United who were fortunate to have him. I hope that in five years time we are celebrating his 30th year in charge because a Manchester United without Sir Alex Ferguson is not one that I am ready for yet.

Written by Nathaniel Hobby

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Quarter of a century….

When I reflect on the last twenty five years, there are certain images which stick to my mind.

The blazing oil fields of Iraq, the attacks on the twin Towers, the toppling of the Berlin Wall, Nelson Madella’s release from prison and the Tiananmen Square atrocities.

These stories and images have grown to shape society and influenced a generation of people in realising that there is no such thing as right or wrong; just opposing opinions. In this respect, the greatest example can be found at each football club across the world, and the way their supporters blindly follow them.

Ask any football historian - propped up against the bar in your local pub to list the moments which have changed football over the past quarter century, there is every chance he will reel off, amongst a long list of moments, the introduction of SKY TV, the outlawing of the back pass, The Hillsborough Disaster, Italia 90, the birth of the Champions League, the Hand of God and the Cantona’s kick as seminal moments. If you really wanted, you could perhaps debate how these moments qualify to have any importance to football and how they influenced the game as a whole.

However, I would wager that the one thing that every historian would agree upon is the rise of Manchester United, and its impact on Football.

I wont document what Manchester United have done in the last twenty five years, nor will I point out how the club set out the blue print for maximizing sponsorship revenue, or the strides it took in globalizing a brand and team which had humble roots, yet dizzying aspirations. You don’t need me to list the numerous trophies, the players and the games

which have left us gasping for breath and staring in disbelief. I won’t even whisper the name of Sir Ryan Giggs.

What I will mention, however, is the driving force behind all of this. Sir Alex Ferguson.

the self serving nature of a man who takes his job very personally.

Manchester United have benefitted from Sir Alex’s desire and determination, as it was he who took this slumbering giant and shook it to its core. He set his target high, and having knocked the pretenders off their perch last season, he reevaluated his priorities and locked onto another seemingly impossible target; scalping Barcelona.

They say that a boxer is only as good as his opponents, and to an extent the same can be said of a football manager. When you consider the challengers Sir Alex has seen come and go, its foolhardy not to admire the scale of his achievements.

It is easy to forget how a man from Govan, Scotland, has changed and influenced so much during his time within football. Being a perfectionist, he has always strived to meet the high standards which he set for himself, whilst demanding the same commitment from those around him.

When you consider the plethora of accolades and trophies Sir Alex has collected, it is mind blowing as to how he has managed to keep himself motivated. He is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest managers to have ever graced the game, yet these accolades seem to mean nothing to him. As selfish as it may sound, Sir Alex has only ever been out to serve his own agenda.

Whether that involves being ruthless to star players, being cut throat with competing managers, blacking out the media, showing no remorse is removing coaching staff or even taking on the major share holders of the club, Sir Alex has shown time and again how he will stop at nothing to achieve his targets. Even elements of the fan base feel let down that Sir Alex did not align himself with them in deriding the Glazier’s when they took over. But this only goes to reinforce

From taking on Jack Walker’s Millions, to Roman Abramovich’ s Billions, from Kevin Keegans’ attacking Newcastle Team, to Arsene Wenger’s Invincible’s. There was also The Special One’s all conquering machine and also Rafa’s Revolution.

Yet Sir Alex has adapted to every challenge, taken stock of each perceived failure and then attacked with the same focus and ferocity you would expect from a manager who had not won a single thing in his life.

So as we celebrate Sir Alex, his 25 years at Old Trafford, what he has achieved so far and how the majority of people are only giving us a chance against the Noisy Neighbors due to his management skills, let us also brace ourselves for what will surely be a poison chalice of a job, when he does move on.

I for one can picture him now, when the day does eventually come, sitting in a wing back chair, glass of wine in his hand, reminiscing with a wry smile, eyes fixed on the floor, thinking “Football…. Bloody Hell”.

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I liken the eventual heir of Sir Alex to the conundrum that Buzz Aldrin faces, each time he makes a public appearance; they are not their as they were picked, but moreso as the better man is not available. No matter what this Sir Alex’s successor does, he will always be in the shadow of a pioneer.

And like many who have followed pioneers, the man that does eventually arrive will always face a struggle to not be compared to his predecessor.

Although the board will probably have the option to cherry pick from the managerial talent of world football, it still represents an unenviable task that both the board and the subsequent successor face.

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“

Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi! translates into

the king is dead, long live the King!

“

It was a chant that was echoed upon the coronation of Charles the VII, to mark the passing of Charles the VI, in 1422 France. It announced the transition of power from one monarch to another, instantaneously and immediately, done with the aim of avoiding any semblance of instability creeping in and, more importantly, give the impression of continuum; after all, it is continuum which maintains order. It is continuum that maintains success.

It is in the same light, the board room at Manchester United must be filling with the soft whispers as to how, when Sir Alex decides that he has achieved all that he wants to achieve with the club, the façade of continuum and stability, from the dressing room, the academy right through to the terraces can be maintained. After all, the recent success of the club has been built on the back of managerial continuum and stability, so it must surely be Manchester United’s main focus to have a replacement identified prior to Sir Alex announcing his retirement?

It’s not the collection of Trophies, or the numerous teams Sir Alex has built and rebuilt, nor the never say die attitude that he has nurtured and consequently made synonymous with the club, which makes it such a difficult task to replace him. It’s the aura of a man, so driven by his desire to succeed, that he took a slumbering

giant and shook it from the core right through to its leaves. Sir Alex played a significant role in not only transforming the team into a successful unit on the pitch, but his work was integral in transforming the club into a symbol of inevitable, unabating, relentless pursuers of success, built on a foundation of determination, skill and tenacity. “We do what we want” they sing. Quite so.

So like the decorator sent in to ‘touch up the ceiling’ in Sistine Chapel, out there must be many managers who see the challenge of succeeding Sir Alex for what it is; impossible. Yet it is often in the face of the impossible that the world reveals its greatest people. Columbus, the Wright Brothers, Sir Winston Churchill and Edmund Hilary. All faced with the impossible. All succeeded. So that makes me think, although I hope that Sir Alex’s reign long continue, who would have the acumen to take over?

For me the list is short yet precarious.

All have their strengths yet they are all also lacking.

Jose Mourinho The record speaks for itself.

Success built on the back of success.

Of all of his achievements, it is his haul with FC Porto which sticks to my mind. To have taken a team from Portugal and reached the summit of European Club football, speaks of a man who really knows how to use the resources available to him to the best of his ability. He has the knack of squeezing every milligram of effort from his players, by nurturing a siege mentality, to achieve his results. He turned Deco, Carvalho et al into household names.

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People argue that at Chelsea, Inter and currently at Madrid he inherited bloated squads, albeit with talented players, and he married his motivational skills with the cheque book policy of a banker in a champagne bar to achieve the subsequent success. But this still must not distract from the fact that this is a man who delivers. One could argue that in this result driven industry, much akin to the champagne consuming banker, he will always be given reprieve and be celebrated, regardless of the methods used, so as long as he continues to deliver success. United need to ask, would we take substance over style?

Or does Mourinho have one last special talent, to finally be able to marry effectiveness with entertainment?

Massimo Allegri Little known manager, with very little silverware to show in his career, managing VERY BIG egos, under immense pressure at one of the giants of European football. Baying fans, pressure from the board room, the archetypal nemesis manifesting itself as the tenant in your stadium, an established collection of stars set in their way, refusing to give an inch in the dressing room. And he delivered the double. At the first time of asking.

Against a backdrop of clubs owner going through one of the biggest sex scandals to have graced politics and football, and the media hoopla which came with it.

Allegri, current manager of AC Milan, is a man who seems to have won over his dressing room not through force, or using the regalia of previous medals won in a successful playing

career, but by bringing his players on board to his way of thinking. He stepped into the shoes of the revered former manager Carlo Ancellotti, and took a largely ageing squad coupled with the forced acquisitions of the pre-Madonna’s Robinho and Ibrahimovic and also a player formerly of Portsmouth and turned them into a title winning team. That was quite the achievement.

His long and documented association with FC Barcelona would mean that he probably would recognise each blade of grass on the Camp Nou playing surface, when shown a black and white picture of one. It is this level of familiarity which allows him the freedom to dictate, word for word, how his team eat, sleep, breathe and play. Yet would he be afforded such referent power at another club?

Although he did not fare as well in Europe, only making it to the second round, we can expect to hear a lot more of his name this season, especially as he has the chance to have a direct face off against our last candidate, in the Champions League group stages.

Yes his achievements alone suggest he is a modern day great, but let us not forget that he is also in charge of a team comprised of World Champions, the most talented player of our generation and also a board who back him financially through aggressive transfers; Why? Guadiola is Barcelona. And surely these elements make his life easier.

Pep Guardiola This is a football man. A gifted individual whose career was cut short through injury, yet a man revered all more as a player ahead of his time. He is a company man, who’s dripping blood would form a tapestry on the concrete mimicking the club crescent of FC Barcelona. And their in lies the secret to his success and why I think he wouldn’t succeed at United.

Guardiola exudes a level of confidence you would associate with a man who knows, no matter what happens, that he is above blame at his current club. He is held in such high regard at FC Barcelona, I suspect that he could traipse through the ground naked and only the women folk would sneak a peek, with no comments being made regarding the inappropriate nature of his stroll.

Would his words hold the same gravitas at United? Would he be, not having the god like status the fans hold him in at Barcelona, allowed an extended stay of execution by the Old Trafford faithful, even in the face of adversity? I think not.

If he came, he would need to deliver, and deliver quickly. Although he has the trophy collection to suggest his greatness, he would merely be the managerial equivalent of Justin Bieber headlining at Glastonbury. A talented man, in the wrong place.

Unlike Mourinho, who has achieved success at each club he has managed, Guadiola would not have his reputation to act as protection for too long.

I for one will be an intrigued spectator, and will keep my fingers crossed that le King may yet take up management, and decided to come back to his theatre…. Kamal Ali, 08.09.11 Issue 5 | Red Army | P31

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Chasie McGowan

In loving Memory of Chasie McGowan. 4/8/94 – 2/10/11.

Gone but certainly not forgotten. All our love Mum, Dad, Nanna, Grandad, Scott Wayne, Lindsey, Michael, Jack, Family, Twinny, all your friends and RED ARMY. A special thanks to Francis House Didsbury for their support of the family through such a tragic time.

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R.I.P Jack Marshall, Jack sadly passed away on Thursday Marshall 13th October at 11am, www.jacksfund.co.uk Donate Here: http://www.jacksfund.co.uk/Donate

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Top 10 Manchester Derbies

10. Newton Heath 5 v City 1 03/10/1891 This is where it all began - 120 years ago this month. The inaugural Manchester Derby was played at United’s first ground, North Road, where an attendance of 11,000 watched our founder club smash five goals past City. This superiority proved to be a sign of things to come as Doughty, Edge, Sneddon and two from Farman secured a 5-1 win over our local rivals - and so the bitterness ensued.

9. City 2 – 4 United 02/02/57 Reigning champions United were taking the league by storm again during the 1956/57 season, with this particular Derby being played just before the second-leg of the Red’s first European Cup Quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao. The Busby Babes did not hold back however, as their marauding, open brand of football astonished the people of Manchester with goals from Edwards, Taylor, Whelan and Viollet sealing the 4-2 win. Four days later, United overturned a 5-3 deficit against Bilbao, to book a place in the Semifinal against the mighty Real Madrid.

Sadly, three of the scorers Edwards, Taylor and Whelan died a year later in the Munich Air Disaster. The other scorer, Dennis Viollet, would recover from his injuries before leaving United in 1962 for Stoke City.

8. City 2 – 3 United 06/04/96 This was the season when Alan Hansen assured us that you couldn’t win the league with kids. This was the season when Newcastle were 12 points clear at Christmas, and Kevin Issue 5 | Red Army | P34

Keegan had a meltdown saying he would “love it” if he beat us. Well, it was United fans who were loving it in this ding-dong of a derby. The Reds took the lead twice through Eric Cantona and Andy Cole. However City levelled both times through Kavelashvili and German striker, Uwe Rösler and looked like gaining a point. United were in need of a win though to keep hot on the heels of Newcastle and, with time running out, Giggs weaved his magic in the City half and with Keith Curle inviting the Welsh Wizard to shoot, he duly obliged by hammering the ball into the top corner from a tight angle.

United went on to win the league that year in the most unlikeliest of circumstances, as Newcastle crumbled under the pressure of Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind games. As for City, they were relegated to Division One. 7. United 5 – 0 City 10/11/94 On the back of winning two Premier League titles, United were also unbeaten in Manchester Derbies for five years. This last defeat, however, was a 5-1 win for City back in 1989. The City fans didn’t hesitate to remind the home fans about this, so the Reds decided to put this to bed. An Andrei Kanchelskis hat trick and goals from Sparky and a majestic Eric Cantona inspired United to a 5-0 win over the Blues, and any lingering memories of that day at Maine Road were well and truly forgotten. City never won a local scrap throughout the whole of the ‘90’s and this result was a measure of United’s supremacy.

6. City 0 – 1 United 17/04/10 This Derby had everything riding on it. Local bragging rights were there to

be had on this day at Eastlands, and City had the chance to nail a Champions league spot while stopping the Reds from winning the league. With the game going into stoppage time City searched and searched for a winner, coming close on several occasions. As their last attack broke down, United took the ball forward in one final valiant attempt to keep the title alive, and stop City from foiling their league ambitions. The fresh legs of Obertan carried the ball forward and his pass to Evra on the wing set the Frenchman free to cross the ball. However, this was three minutes into stoppage time at the end of an arduous league campaign, so the chances of anyone getting into the box were extremely slim. Most of the fans probably knew deep down, that getting a result would have been a tough ask, but at least Evra’s cross would run down the clock a bit to avoid further embarrassment. So United’s number 3 slung in the cross in a final act of defiance in a league campaign that would be lost in a few seconds when the referee blew his whistle. But what happened next had even the most optimistic of United fans, with the most vivid of imaginations, gasping for breath in the away section of the Council House. Miraculously, Paul Scholes defied his 35 years - and footballing logic - by meeting Evra’s cross and planting a trademark header past the helpless Shay Given in the City goal.

For the third-game running United had beaten the blue half of Manchester in stoppage time, and the usually composed Paul Scholes couldn’t contain himself as he danced into the arms of United’s travelling fans.

5. City 3 – 4 United 05/05/71 Both teams languishing in mid- table

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going into the final day of this campaign, but local bragging rights were at stake as United needed a win to finish above their old rivals, to salvage some pride from a season of relative mediocrity. United saved the best till last this season, as a topsyturvy affair ended 4-3 with United’s goals coming from the ‘Holy Trinity’.

The three former European Player of the Year winners Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best (2) secured the win for United, leaving them three places above City and confirming themselves as the pride of Manchester for yet another season.

4. United 3 – 3 City 27/10/90 United returned to the scene of the crime, a year after the 5-1 drubbing and every City fan expected the same again. They looked well on course to do this too, when David White put the Blues 2-0 up inside 25 minutes.

Hughes pulled one back for the Reds but Colin Hendry looked like sealing the win when he made the score 3-1 with 12 minutes remaining. As the City fans chanted “we want five”, United had other ideas. The trademark comebacks of the Fergie era started way before the Premier League began, and this was another one for the scrapbook as Brian McClair scored two goals in the last nine minutes to salvage a draw for United in one of the most pulsating Derbies for years.

3. United 3 – 1 City 27/01/10 City came to Old Trafford with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg of this League Cup Semi-final with an inform Tévez scoring both City’s goals.

The game was fuelled with more emotion after the Bitter Blue’s Chief

Executive Garry Cook was caught on film a few days before smugly claiming that they would beat us again. After a tense first 45 minutes, second-half goals from Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick put United ahead in the tie. However, almost predictably the Argentinian turncoat pulled one back for City to level the tie on aggregate. With the game heading into extra-time, Wayne Rooney headed home a winner which was greeted by a noise that has been unrivalled at Old Trafford for decades.

As the fans roared the Reds to Wembley, they witnessed a stoppage time victory over City for the second time that season, and as history proved, it wasn’t to be the last.

2. City 2 – 3 United 07/11/93 Four days previous to the Manchester Derby, United had been dumped out of Europe by Galatasaray, and City fans took pleasure in this by waving Turkish Delights at the Red’s travelling fans and revelled in a 2 – 0 half-time lead, after two Niall Quinn headers. Monsieur Cantona was having none of it, and took the game by the scruff of the neck. The commentator that day, Martin Tyler, described Cantona as “Having a baton in his hand and conducting an orchestra” as Eric’s influential display saw him score two goals to level the game. After each goal went in, more and more United fans were seen celebrating in the home section, and when Roy Keane made it 3 – 2 late on, more than half the stadium celebrated showing why United were indeed kings of the city, and why Eric Cantona was the leader of our football team.

1. United 4 – 3 City 20/09/10 This match was hyped up by the

return of Tévez to Old Trafford who decided to switch allegiances over the Summer, opting for money over trophies by walking on the pitch wearing sky blue. A pulsating firsthalf finished 1-1 with Wayne Rooney’s opener being cancelled out by Gareth Barry after a slip by ‘keeper Ben Foster. Soon after the restart, Darren Fletcher headed United ahead, only for Craig Bellamy to equalise from long range. In the closing stages, United bombarded the City goal and, after several attempts, were thwarted by an inspired Shay Given. Another Fletcher header looked like giving United all three points, but a mistake from Rio Ferdinand in the 90th minute gifted Bellamy his second and City’s third goal of the game making the score 3-3. United hung their heads in despair as Mark Hughes’ men had somehow earned a draw and City’s travelling fans celebrated as if they had won the league. However, there was to be a twist in the tale, a twist so dramatic that the fairy-tale writers hung up their quills for good. That little striker who had crossed the bitter divide to play for a rival club, found himself in the box with the ball at his feet, but this time it wasn’t the multi-million pound Tévez, it was free-transfer Michael Owen who’d once donned the Scouse jersey. Now, he’d became an honorary Manc by sliding home a 96th minute winner to silence the noisy neighbours and put this game firmly into Manchester Derby folklore.

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In March 2010, Ryan Giggs compared Wayne Rooney’s influence at Manchester United to that of the legendary Erica Cantona.

At this time, Rooney was at the peak of his powers, enjoying the most prolific season of his mercurial career with 32 goals to his name by the start of spring and Giggs was effusive in his praise.

It was just a fortnight after Giggs’ comments that Rooney would be seen writhing around in agony in United’s Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

For Rooney, it was a career-defining moment. It would act as a trigger for a dramatic turn of events which were to see Rooney go from the proverbial ‘hero to zero’ by the end of 2010. The next six months would be a whirlwind. A woeful world-cup showing laid the foundations for an autumn of discontent that nobody could have predicted.

In the wake of distasteful revelations appearing about Rooney’s private life, he then announced his intentions to seek pastures new. Cue a week of turbulence. A heartfelt press conference from the manager was the prelude for a group of disaffected hooded thugs to appear outside the Rooney household. Graffiti in the city centre made clear in no uncertain terms the consequences of leaving United for the blue half of Manchester,

which was far from inconceivable.

Rooney remarkably changed his mind, signing a lucrative five year contract with the club.

Why Wayne Rooney is now ready to be United’s new Cantona

BY ADAM CRAFTON All was merry again in the land of Wayne. It took him a while to rediscover his best form but Rooney proved instrumental in guiding United to the Premier League title and the Champions League final, striking up an explosive partnership with Javier Hernandez up front. Rooney scored 14 goals after Christmas, compared to just one before the festivities, emphasizing his considerable improvement. If any doubts remained about Rooney’s commitment, they were dispelled by an impressive individual display in the 3-1 defeat to Barcelona.

football, displaying a speed of passing and a style of football which is a clear throwback to the Ferguson teams of yesteryear. The devastating pace of Nani and Ashley Young combined with the guile of Anderson and the efficiency of the ever-improving Tom Cleverly gives United a balance to their midfield which has maybe been lacking in recent years. Wayne Rooney, the tormentor-in-chief, has been exceptional, pulling strings which few other players can even see, and showing a maturity to his game which suggests he is now finally ready to deliver on the biggest stage. One delightful chip on to the post in the 8-2 demolition of Arsenal was Cantona-esque in its execution.

Cantona himself was instrumental in guiding through Fergie’s fledglings. It was the likes of Beckham, Scholes and Giggs that would provide the youthful zest and exuberance but it would often be left to Cantona to produce the inspiration. With the emergence of Smalling, Jones, Cleverly and Welbeck this season, the time has come for Rooney to be that leading figure and you get the feeling that he is finally ready to embrace the role of United’s new Cantona.

A prolonged post-season break, without the distraction of any international commitments saw Rooney return in fine fettle for the new season. United have since been destroying teams through their monopolisation of the Issue 5 | Red Army | P37

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Interview with Son of Sir Matt, Sandy Busby

This month, RedArmy’s Stuart Davis caught up with Sandy Busby, son of our former legendary manager, Sir Matt Busby. He spoke to us about all things his father, Munich and his solution to keep Sir Alex at Old Trafford for the next 5 years.

RedArmy. Sandy if you could just begin by recalling your events of Munich in 1958.

It was probably the saddest occasion in football. Especially for Manchester United and people from Manchester.

At first it didn’t hit me when I heard, I phoned home and an auntie from Scotland was staying with us that week and she kept yelling, “You’ve got to come home Sandy.”

Then I knew it was serious.

I think everybody thought that the Busby family would be getting the first messages back from Munich but due to the bad weather etc, we weren’t getting a lot of information through early on. Then it started to dribble through that certain people had died.

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coma, and couldn’t talk to us.

I went upstairs into my bedroom, and I’m not a religious person, but I waspraying. Then my uncle ran upstairs shouting “He’s alive, he’s alive.” The relief was unbelievable but there was still messages coming through that Tommy Taylor and Roger Bryne had died, and they went through the 8 that had died.

The next day we arrived in Munich.

We went to the hospital and the man in charge of the hospital came down and starting going through a list of people who had died.

We went to see my Dad and in this oxygen tent there was this grey faced man, and it took 2 months for him to recover.

He never spoke about the crash, but it was always in the back of his mind.

RA: It was well documented that yourself and your family were unhappy with this year’s BBC film ‘Munich’.

What were your problems were with the film?

They had my Dad looking like a gangster with a big coat on.

My father was one of the first tracksuit managers after the war. And they had him with a big coat and stupid hat on the touchline.

They never mentioned in that film Roger Bryne, our captain. They never mentioned Tommy Taylor. They mentioned about three or four players, but where were the others?

Rubbish.

RA: In your opinion what could have become of that team?

Everybody says they could have been one of the best ever.

Without a doubt. The great manager of Liverpool, Bob Paisley said they

would have won everything over the next ten years, and they would have done. They had the depth and had the skill.

Roger Bryne, he was class. They had big Duncan Edwards, one of the greatest players ever. Tommy Taylor.

They were magnificent. They had just started to take the mantle off the great Real Madrid side, they were reaching their peak. And I think Real Madrid realised it.

RA: Of all the players your father managed in his time, who would he have rated as the best?

Charlton? Law? Best? Edwards?

My Dad would have said there were that many great players. He would probably have picked out two and that would have been Edwards and Best.

A great story about Duncan, when he was fifteen years of age, and playing for England schoolboys, a friend of my father’s, Joe Mercer at that time was coaching England schoolboys, and he phoned my Dad up and said there was a boy from Dudley. He said he has got everything.

So my Dad got hold of his chief scout Joe Armstrong and said “Get down to Dudley, because everybody will be after him.” And that’s how they signed him.

He had a fantastic physique, skill and a nice personality. He was a great lad.

RA: Was your father ever close to retiring after the crash?

Going back to the hospital, he was very ill and had been given the last rights twice. He knew it was serious, but he didn’t want to ask anybody what had happened.

Then all of a sudden, a Doctor or nurse said, “Have you heard that Duncan Edwards has died?”

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That night my mother went into the hospital, and he went through the players and staff to find out who had died. You can imagine the emotion of the situation. They were both very upset.

After a while he said, “That’s me finished with football.”

By my mother told him to calm down and that the lads would want him to carry on for Manchester United Football Club.

The following morning he said he would carry on.

RA: When he did retire did he have any input into appointing his successor?

No. He didn’t have anything to do with it. When he took over as manager, one of the conditions was that nobody interfered with his decisions, and he never interfered with them.

Sometimes they went to him for advice.

RA: When Alex Ferguson took over, did your father believe that this was the man to properly replace him and take the club forward?

Definitely. The first year he said he thought we had found the right man.

When Sir Alex took over, he went in and shook the carpet. The place was going a bit stagnant. He got hold of the scouts and told them to get him young boys.

Then along came the great 5, Scholsey, Giggs, Nicky Butt and the two Neville’s. Brilliant.

RA: There’s an interesting quote, that your father was ‘The foundations of Manchester United’, and Alex Ferguson ‘The resurrection’. Do you think Sir

Alex could have done what he has without your father there as inspiration?

Oh yeah. He appreciated what my father had achieved. But don’t forget Sir Alex had success at Aberdeen, and had taken on Celtic and Rangers.

When my Dad took over in 1945, Manchester United were in dire straits. Financially they were in trouble. They had no ground. But my father was a leader, and Sir Alex is a leader. My father could have been manager of Liverpool or Manchester City. A lot of clubs wanted him as their manager. The foundation, definitely my father, and the resurrection definitely Sir Alex.

would get a gun and put it to his head and say, right you’re going to sign another contract for another 5 years.

He’s a one off.

RA: How would you compare the two as managers?

I think my Dad was a bit softer than Alex.

RA: What do you make of this season’s squad and how do you rate their chances?

Brilliant. I said to a few of my pals, come this European Championships, we could have 5 or 6 players in the England side. Cleverley, Smalling, Rooney, Welbeck, Phil Jones. He’s going to be a great player.

Chicharito is a star, he’s fantastic.

The main player is Rooney of course, anyone with any sense would say that. He’s special, very special.

RA: So he couldn’t dish out the hairdryer?

No no. Some of my Dad’s old players would tell you, he did his rollocking with his tongue. I heard from a few players, Pat Crerand and Denis (Law) and a few others the way he brought them down to earth.

They’re very similar managers, both from working class families. They were brought up hard men.

RA: It’s coming to Sir Alex Ferguson’s 25th year anniversary as Manchester United manager.

How proud would your father be of everything that he has achieved?

He’d be looking down proud as punch of everything that he has achieved at Manchester United. He’d be looking down on his club, my Dad’s club, like it’s Fergie’s club.

RA: Do you still get to a lot of games?

I’m very fortunate that Manchester United Football Club have been great to the Busby family. I sit in my Dad’s seat that he sat in as President of the club.

They’ve been great. They’ve always invited my sister and myself to all the functions, the semi-finals, the finals, Moscow, Rome you name it, we’ve been there.

RA: So Premiership at a minimum this year then?

Yeah, and please God I would love it to be the European Cup again. Sir Alex is one of the greatest of two Scots managers in the game. Please God he goes on for another 5 years and gets some more trophies.

To view the full interview visit www.redarmy.co.uk

RA: How hard will Sir Alex be to replace?

Impossible. I have said to everybody I have spoken to if I was a director, I Issue 5 | Red Army | P39

News - Interviews - Columists - Features

Rooney ban exposes the F.A. as hypocrites

By Sean McGuire their team an advantage against Manchester United, anything to disrupt the best player in the Premier League.

An Astonishing Contradiction In April this year Wayne Rooney received a ban for having the cheek to show passion about scoring a hat trick after being two – nil down. He received a two match ban for swearing and consequently missed the F.A.Cup semi final against City.

As a Manchester United fan it was amusing to watch the bandwagon unfold, ex players, politicians, managers, pundits people from all walks of life suddenly reveal that they are offended by swearing on a football field. It gathers momentum – people calling for six month bans and point deductions. Anything to give Issue 5 | Red Army | P40

In football swearing is rife from grass roots to senior pros. Its always been that way, yet all of a sudden people believe that Rooney’s outburst was the first time their precious ears had been offended by such language.

I guarantee that every ex-professional who slammed Rooney for his outburst has shouted uglier swear words on a football field that have been picked up on camera. I’ve watched the live streaming of the houses of parliament - it so abusive and obscene that you would have thought someone spilt caviar down their shirt. Lastly, parents, if you think that your little boy does not swear in the playground, on a football pitch or with his friends, If you think that the culture of on-line gaming and internet trawling does not entail someone swearing down a camera at them, then you are so far detached from reality that the F.A. may be sending you an application form.

time watching football was the most gut-sickening passage of hypocrisy that I had ever seen. Until now…..

Last week England played an international against Montenegro and mid-way through the second half Wayne Rooney was sent off for kicking out at an opponent. After the red card Rooney apologised and walked off the field without showing any dissent.

This red card could result in anything between a one and four match ban.

However with England’s next competitive matches after the last qualifier being the group stages at the European championships, the F.A. are concerned that England might already be out of the competition before Wayne Rooney is allowed to play again.

The holier than though Football Association came out after the game stating that they would make an appeal to UEFA in the event that the England striker would receive more than a one-match ban.

I’m not saying that it is right, nor am I condoning it, however EVERYBODY involved in football swears, that is why this event last season in all my

A spokesman for the F.A. claimed they would appeal on the grounds that he apologised straight afterwards and that the referee commended his acceptance of the dismissal.

www.redarmy.co.uk

There are some similarities hear, because back in April Manchester United made an appeal against a two match ban on the same basis that Rooney was remorseful and apologised.

However Trevor Brooking had this to say: “The powers that be have got to sit down and say ‘look, to help everyone you’ve got to get a consistency, for the referee so they know whatever decision they take there is going to be a general support from the different bodies that are represented’,” he added.

Therefore in the words of a Football Association member, nobody should interfere with decisions that are made and that their body – the F.A. – would back any action taken by the referee.

The F.A. director of communications Adrian Bevington said that an appeal is: “something we will have to consider” and goes on to say: “We obviously have our own legal people looking through the regulations and we are fully up to speed as to where we stand with that.”

If the F.A. are fully up to speed then surely they know that you cannot appeal and get a reduction in the suspension, after all they said that under no uncertain terms should they overrule a referee last April. And, if their legal people can find a loop hole to do this – why was this not considered six months ago when Rooney’s ban was appealed by Manchester United?

Are the F.A. trying to portray that kicking someone on the field is less of a crime than swearing?

The F.A’s hypocrisy has been well and truly ousted this week and they have shown that if it is Manchester United they are willing to give the maximum punishment possible for a made-upon-the-spot charge for Rooney, however, THE oldest and THE original sending-off offence of kicking another player somehow does not apply to The F.A. and England on this occasion, despite it being the same player.

Same player, same colour card shown by the referee, but a rule about swearing that the F.A. created on April 5th 2011 just for Wayne Rooney and for Manchester United supersedes a UEFA rule that is over 1oo years old.

country’s football. Manchester is my country now; and I’m am content in the fact that I have seen them become world champions twice.

So this is what it feels like dear Football Association when the shoe is on the other foot. I hope the bully becomes the bully victim, I hope the oppressor becomes the oppressed, because after your smug antics towards the team that has provided you with all your stars over the years, after Eric Cantona’s ban, after Rio Ferdinand’s ban, after saying we cant play in the F.A. cup in 2000 because of your little World Cup bid, after Patrice Evra’s ban, Rooney’s ban, the Sir Alex Ferguson witch hunt. After David Beckham in 1998 and Rooney in 2006, Gary Neville celebrating and your amusement in England fans singing anti-United songs; I have waited a long, long time to see this bullet fly.

I love Wayne Rooney – he is my idol. However I hope that UEFA give him the maximum ban possible because for all those hypocrites at the F.A. who believed swearing was worth a two match ban – your comeuppance has arrived – your star player will not feature at the European Championships and any appeal will be dismissed just like every Manchester United appeal to you down the years.

I remember Italia ’90. I remember the Gazza posters on my wall.

I remember playing football in my back garden and shouting ‘Lineker’ when I scored. I shed a tear with Stuart Pearce. I remember three Lions on a shirt, I remember football coming home. Then one day the F.A. pulled the carpet from under me and proved to me what a cynical, jealous, tyrannical corporation is running this

Follow Sean on twitter @SeanMc1999 Issue 5 | Red Army | P41

News - Interviews - Columists - Features

RED ARMY

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City won the league back in 13 may 1968 That’s 43 years 5 months and 11 days ago Or 2267 weeks ago Or 380,856 hours ago Or 22,851360 minutes ago Or 1,371,081,600 seconds ago.

The last time City won the league, mad had not landed on the moon yet.

Since then Manchester United have won 12 league titles.

In that time Manchester City have had 23 different managers Manchester United have had 7.

Busby, McGuiness, O’Farrell, Docherty, Sexton, Atkinson, Ferguson.

Since then Manchester City have won 2 trophies.

Manchester United have won 31 trophies plus 12 charity Shields.

3,292,529,098 people have been born since City last won the league.

A Manchester City fan was banned in 1995 from bringing dead chickens into City’s Maine Road ground. He used to celebrate City goals by swinging the birds around his head.

Issue 5 | Red Army | P42

United have had a higher average attendance than City every single season since 1947.

United players have won the European Player of the Year four times (Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo). City players have never won it.

When City won the league in the 1968, they had the 6th highest attendance in the country. United had the highest average attendance of 57,552 (more than 10,000 higher than any club that season).

When United were playing in Division 2 during the 1974-1975 season, they still had the highest average attendance of any club in the country, including Division 1.

Between 1946 and 1949 United played at Maine Road whilst reconstruction work was being done on Old Trafford after the bombings in the war. In the first season, when City won the league, United had an average attendance of 4,662 more than City at their own stadium. In the second season, United had an average attendance of 12,165 more than City at their own stadium. In the third season, United had an average attendance of 10,109 more than City at their own stadium. Over the three years United were at

Maine Road, they had an average attendance of 8,979 more than City.

City were a more successful club on the pitch than United in the 1970s, yet there was a difference of over 13,000 in our average attendances, with United the best supported club of the decade David De Gea has made more saves than any other keeper in the Premier league with 32. He also has the best saves to shot ratio, saving 86% of opposition attempts on target.

According to facebook, 170, 360 Manchester United fans live in Manchester which represents 17.5% of all United fans in the UK. Only 29,620 Facebook users who live in Manchester have Manchester City in their likes and interests.

Before Ryan Giggs joined United as a youngster he was on the books at Manchester City. Since his debut Giggsy has scored in all 21 league campaigns up to this season.

Another ‘Welsh Wizard’ Billy Meredith joined United from City amid bribery and corruption charges against the Blues. His favourite position was outside right and he played every game with his trademark toothpick in his mouth.

He went on to make 335 appearances for the Reds scoring 36 goals in the process.

Issue 5 | Red Army | P43

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take me home

Danny Welbeck Born in Longsight to Ghanaian parents, Welbeck is a local boy who grew up supporting Manchester United. Much like us all, he would have had a hero, he would have celebrated and cursed depending on the weekends’ results and will be in love with a club that is so much more than the players on the pitch, the bricks of the stadium and the trophies in the cabinet. However this is a fan that is also very different from both you and I, in that he is being given the chance to do what each of us can only dream of.

Having grown up in the suburbs of , he has seemingly navigating a myriad of obstacles, to now represent the biggest club in the world and his country. More amazingly, he has done so whilst not looking out of place amongst the collection of expensively acquired Brazilians, internationals’, a Portuguese superstar and a very Little Pea. In this modern age of globalised transfer markets and poaching from different academy systems, it is rare to see a local boy appearing for their team, especially if the said team happens to be competing for the Premiership title. The constant need to achieve immediate results, coupled with the marketing agenda of the clubs, means that it is easier to go abroad, to bring in a ready made player, than to allow a home town talent flourish. So it is a ringing endorsement for Welbeck that the current Champions have allowed him an opportunity to represent the first team. And that is no mean feat, when you consider the last ‘locals’ to represent the club, from youth level up right up until Champions league, Issue 5 | Red Army | P48

www.redarmy.co.uk

Danny Welbeck is carrying a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. were Wes Brown (also of Longsight) and Paul Scholes (of Salford). This is a fact that needs to be acknowledged and celebrated. It is easy to argue that playing for your local team, in this new world of globalised following, doesn’t deserve the emphasis the press place on it, but for many of us, it is still as important as ever.

With the world of football trying to adapt – apart from the admirable but ultimately futile protest offered by Arsene Wenger – and recognise that, to keep up with the noisy neighbors, transfer fees must be spent and top salaries must be paid, suddenly we have an anomaly, in Danny Welbeck.

Here is a young man, who Manchester United trained, ready to break into the first team. It quite a testament to his ability, when you consider those standing in his way.

Welbeck is having to compete against the 4th highest all time goal scorer to have represented England, Manchester United’s all time record transfer purchase, who was also the top Premiership marksman last season and also The Gold Cup Golden Boot Winner, to have an opportunity to play for the team. Of the embarrassment of riches United have upfront, only Wayne Rooney can currently consider himself not directly under threat from Welbeck. Yet Welbeck has taken to the challenge of competing within the squad with a maturity and confidence which belies his tender age.

Loaned out, having seen other starlets such as Fraizer Cambell and Guiseppi Rossi transferred out of the club after similar loan deals, Welbeck moved to Preston and then latterly to Sunderland to prove he had the drive

to stomach such a fight. Welbeck has returned with a resolve that seems to have grown alongside his performances and is refusing to be ignored. It is something we can all admire and relate to. Faced with the task of proving himself, against the backdrop of insurmountable and unrelenting obstacles, he is pushing himself even further. This truly is a case of Welbeck needing a chance to prove himself, but being told to prove himself to be given a chance.

Are the celebrations more vocal on the terraces’ each time Welbeck scores for United, because he is a local lad? No. Do we celebrate with less verve each time Rooney, a Liverpudlian who openly courted a better contract elsewhere, finds the net for United? No. But where the difference does lye is that in Welbeck, his goals come not at a huge cost, but from someone who probably would play for free. He represents aspiration, he represents application and he represent the very little that is still good about the game. Here we have a fan, playing for our team.

Had Scholes, Beckham, Butt, the Neville Brothers and Giggs all been a collection of players gathered from the four corners of the Earth, we still would have loved them for their talents and what they achieved with the club. Had United spent exorbitant transfer fees to sign them, picking them up from clubs across the globe, we still would have felt we got value for money, and they still would have attained hero status at Manchester United. But, it’s a matter of pride that we didn’t. Fergie’s fledglings were all youth team players and that gave Manchester United fans the moral

high ground to go with the trophies and victories. It gave us a sense of pride, not felt since the days of the busy babes; these were our boys, in our shirt, representing our club. In the same vain, each time that Welbeck steps onto the pitch now, unlike Hernandez, Macheda and Berbatov, I think the United faithful will him on to, not only deliver on his raw promise, but to also make us proud, knowing that he is one of our own.

In an era where the professional footballers’ only resemblance to the fans is purely a physical one - in having limbs, some eyes and a level of cognitive dissonance - we as fans clutch at the hope that, given different circumstances, a spoonful of talent, a bit of luck and maybe a chance, we could have made it. In Welbeck, the United fan, born and raised in Manchester, we might just be witnessing one of us who has; difference is, Welbeck is not only doing it for himself, or to chase his dream, or to peruse a profession and make a career for himself, but he is also doing it for his Ghanian roots, the biggest club in the world, the National Team and the hypothesis that young, locally born academy boys can still cut it at the very top. This is even before recognizing that he is also doing it to add to the magic that sees children aspire to be professionals in the first place. To play for the club that they inexplicably love.

Come to think about it, to say that Welbeck is carrying a lot of responsibility is an understatement.

Follow Kamal on Twitter @kamtona7 Issue 5 | Red Army | P49

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The 2011-12 season has already been an active one for One United USA, the Official Manchester United Membership and Supporters Club for the United States of America. The quest for a 20th Premier League title started on the shores of America, as we welcomed Manchester United to our country for the highly successful Tour 2011. Supporters from across the United States flocked to stadiums for the opportunity to see their favorite club play in their back yard.

United took on top MLS clubs, the MLS All-Stars and FC Barcelona, and came away victorious on all counts.

Given United’s impressive start to the season, it would seem the pre-season tour of the United States was a colossal success, not only for the supporters in America, but for the club and players as well.

Now, only a few months after United came to visit the United States, fans from the United States prepare to visit Old Trafford. Every year One United USA holds true to its slogan – “A vast ocean lies between the United States Issue 5 | Red Army | P52

and Old Trafford. We built the bridge.”

This year, branch tours have been planned for some of the most anticipated matches of the season – Manchester City, Liverpool and Queens Park Rangers, all at the Theatre of Dreams. As I write this, members of the branch are preparing to travel for the upcoming Manchester derby, the first of this season’s branch tours.

All of this started back in 1991, when Peter Holland founded the Manchester United Supporters Club USA (MUSCUSA). Holland, who moved from England to New York in the 1970s, took the initiative upon himself to establish an official branch, and thus assure there would be a supporters group for Manchester United fans in the United States for many years to come. The branch underwent a major revamp in 2007 with addition of David Herman as Prime Minister of Public Relations.

This was another pivotal moment in the branch’s history as Herman helped to re-brand the organization as “One United USA: Manchester United Membership and Supporters

Club of America” to mirror the club’s official membership package at the time – One United.

It is with little doubt that without the efforts of these two men the Manchester United fanbase in the United States would not be what it is today. The United States currently boasts a Red Army of over 5,000 supporters, and we have Mr. Holland and Mr. Herman to thank for that achievement.

Along with providing American fans the opportunity to see United play this past summer, One United USA also offered fans access to open training to see the players and meet their heroes. One United USA was also responsible for organizing Legends events where fans could meet United greats like Gary Neville, Andy Cole and Denis Irwin. At these Legends events fans could also see the Premier League trophy, the Holy Grail for any United fan.

www.redarmy.co.uk

USA

Holding true to the mission of building a bridge between the United States and Old Trafford, One United USA has provided fans with many opportunities to develop a more intimate relationship with the club.

The tours include many exciting experiences for supporters including a tour of Old Trafford with the club’s legends, participation in United Soccer Schools and the chance to visit Carrington.

Membership through One United USA is comprised of the club’s Official Membership package along with a package exclusive to One United USA members. This membership package includes the USA Supporters Branch

Scarf, the latest official Season Review DVD from the club, a membership card and access to members-only promotions. Members also have an advantage when applying for match tickets.

Along with promoting awareness for One United USA, the rise of social media has allowed for the branch to build an online community where United fans in the States can interact and discuss the club.

Our Red Views section has also provided a voice to United supporters in the States. On there fans can express themselves by contributing their opinions on any Unitedrelated topic.

Although it would be easy to feel separated from the club with the Atlantic Ocean in the way, One United USA has

stuck to their promise and helped to build a bridge, offering Manchester United fans across the United States with a means to stay connected to the club.

For more information about One United USA, please visit www.oneunitedusa.com. Also, ‘Like’ us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/oneunitedusa and follow us on Twitter @oneunitedusa.

Issue 5 | Red Army | P53

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