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ISSUE 4, JUNE 2011
Putting the football world to rights
www.football-united-blogs.com FootballUnited Blogs
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FUB is a Manchester United themed website which offers regular articles, latest news, interviews, podcasts & competitions
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ISSUE 4, JUNE 2011
Editorials
In this month’s issue of Football United Fanzine
So that’s it then...we’ve had the ups and downs, we have smiled and cried but here we are. End of the season and end of an era. No I’m not talking about United securing a record 19th league title, or even our performance against Barcelona (it’s still raw!), instead I am referring to the sad news today that United veteran Paul Scholes has made the decision to retire from football. Just as we had been expected Scholes’ announcement was understated and with minimal fuss, just as he would have dictated. I have often spoke of my jealousy of the United fans who were fortunate enough to watch the likes of Duncan Edwards and George Best. Now I feel proud that in 20 years time I can tell the new generation of fans that I was one of the lucky fans who watched Scholesy in person. A genius. One of the best. What else can you say? Thank you for the memories Paul, it’s been an absolute pleasure. And of course a significant applause must also go to Edwin Van der Sar, six fantastic seasons with United won’t be forgotten. Steph - Editor
@stephdoehler
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Rachel - Assistant Editor
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@Rachel_jj2011
Youth Policy
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2010-11 Awards
United’s best Premier League XI
REGULAR FEATURES I don’t know about you guys but I’m starting to wish the Champions League final took place before the Premier League finished. The contrast of agony and ecstasy, always present in football has been felt greatly by all United fans over the last few weeks. One week you’re writing your name into the record books and celebrating being the greatest English team ever, the next you’re having your dreams of a spectacular double crushed by the mighty Barcelona. But that’s football and that’s why we love it. We lost to the better side, the very best team around right now and maybe ever but we move on. We can take a lot of credit from a great season. Now it’s those horrible few months where your life has a massive void and barely any purpose (or maybe that’s just me being a bit dramatic). Hopefully we shall see some key signings to add to our already strong side. I hope we can all put the Barcelona game behind us and enjoy a summer celebrating a fantastic 19th title. I have no doubt we will be back even stronger next season, fighting on all fronts with Fergie very much in the driving seat yet again. I hope you enjoy this month’s edition and our end of season awards.
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06 HOT TOPIC
SPECIAL FEATURES
United’s record league title
08 UNITED AGAINST THE WORLD PART III
07 EDITOR COMMENT
A look at Fergie’s strained relationship with the FA
Social media’s victory over courts
14 AWAY DAYS United vs Bayern, 1999
24 PLAYER RATINGS 2010-11 How have our players fared this season?
16 MICKY OWEN - PI Micky takes on the injunctions
33 DENNIS VIOLLET United legend and Munich hero
17 GREAT DEBATE Should terracing be introduced into Premier League grounds?
36 TWEETIN’ HELL The growing phenomenon of footballers on Twitter
20 OVERSEAS REDS Introducing Casper from Denmark
22 YOUTH WATCH
@FootballUB
Will Keane
31 MAY ROUND UP 40 THE FINAL WORD
Thanks to Darren (@ManUtdOT) for use of his photos on the cover of this magazine.
ISSUE 4, JUNE 2011
Contributors Liam Scott Alan Monger @almanuman Tony Park @mrmujac Stephen Jackson Brett Burgers @holdandgive
1986: Plain old Alex Ferguson emphatically is asked what his primary aim is with Manchester United after his recent appointment as manager. His answer? Quite simply, to “knock Liverpool off their fucking perch.� He was laughed at. Liverpool were on 18 league titles, whilst United lumbered on just seven. 14th May 2011: Scouser and Evertonian, Wayne Rooney, knocks Liverpool off their fucking perch.
Alex Wardrop @aquelious Suffy Kala @sufiyan_kala Tom Clare
Special thanks to Casper Heiselberg @Heiselberg Darren @ManUtdOT Daniel Burdett @Luzhniki2008
All material unless otherwise stated, is copyright to the Football United Fanzine. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editors, however you have the right to reply to the following email address: editor.fub@live.co.uk The Football United Fanzine is completely independent of Manchester United Football Club. The Football United Fanzine accepts no responsibility for services offered by advertisers.
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Design your very own Manchester United fan t-shirt! Win the chance to see your t-shirt made and receive a personal version of it. The FUB team will be opening up a t-shirt shop over the summer months and would like you guys to submit some ideas for designs. The best one will be made up and sent to the winner. Please email all entries in jpeg format to: editor.fub@live.co.uk The winner will be notified by email by the 1st August 2011. Entrants can submit as many entries as they wish. FUB reserves the right to use any designs in future. Only one winning design will be chosen. Designs cannot use any official Manchester United logos.
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Hi all, back with this month’s hot topic. As this is written pre-Champions League final, I decided that the most important thing to be discussed this month was of course #19. But before we relive the magic moment we confirmed our status as the greatest English club, I would like to pay tribute to someone very special. My cousin passed away in April, leaving behind a husband and three little children. In her mid 20's and with everything in life in front of her, an inoperable brain tumour took her away, when there are so many other more deserving of such a fate. So whilst we sit and put the footballing world to rights, never forget, there is more to life than football. Laura, your family, friends and those who you held dearest, will always hold you close to their hearts, never to be forgotten. And so, after all, this is a football mag - League Champions for a record breaking 19th time, now who's sat on the perch? And, maybe we haven't had the best of seasons, but I think SAF put it best. The league is getting more competitive than it has ever been. Investment in the middle order clubs means that, you may only finish the season with five away wins and still go on to lift the title. Over the course of the year, we amassed more points, regardless of what anyone says about the club’s strength this year, that's what matters! Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City - all of them less consistent than ourselves, so why don't we deserve it?
Liverpool FC show even a glimmer of the promise we show year on year. And that drive shows no signs of slowing down. Shortly after winning the 19th Championship, SAF was discussing his plans to bring maybe two or three players in, plus our young loan players coming back with more experience, eager to break into the team. Mike Phelan after the Blackburn game referring to this Championship winning team as a squad still in development. Not bad really. With comments like that I can only think but one thing. Bring on the League next year!!
Somehow, with talk like that, so soon after a monumental achievement, I can't see SAF suddenly winding down to retire at the end of this year. All I took from his press conferences and interviews is that he is ready to win number 20, whatever money rich club wants to challenge. Retirement is for young people, according to SAF himself. That must be why, at the age of 37 Ryan Giggs has won 12 league titles, he must also believe in that philosophy - especially as he wants to stay on next year for number 13. And will we let him stay on? I should bloody think so!! The man is still, tearing apart defences when most midfielders would be working on their tee shot...
By Liam Scott
Liverpool haven't won a league title since 1990. I was three years old then and, with the exception of a couple of titles here and there, excluding the league of course, I haven't seen the machine of
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Social media scores victory as Ryan Giggs is named the Premier League footballer at the centre of an injunction scandal over alleged affair. Like many who use the social media world it was hardly a shock when MP John Hemming used Parliamentary privilege to disclose Giggsy as the injunction wielding football banning Imogen Thomas from discussing their alleged affair. Anyone who uses forums, Twitter etc have been aware of these rumours since it was first reported in April.
enjoyed ‘extra-curricular’ activities shall we say. He certainly wont be the last player to be accused of such indiscretions.
Everyone will have their own views on what may or may not have happened between Giggs and Thomas, but in truth I really couldn't care less whether they had an affair or not. To me Giggs is nothing more than a footballer, just like the others out there who have
I watch and appreciate Ryan Giggs as a footballer, not as a man. The same goes for any other Manchester United player. So long as they perform on the pitch I am not overly fussed about what they do off it and considering Ryan’s recent form, I’m all for it!
It was uncomfortable viewing at Old Trafford when United were awarded the Premier League trophy and out walked his wife and kids onto the pitch. But such is life.
AGREE OR DISAGREE? We want to know what you think about anything you read in the magazine. You can email: editor.fub@live.co.uk or tweet us @footballUB
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Are we witnessing the best ever football player? I’ve had this discussion with my brother on a few occasions. He says Leo Messi is up there with Maradona in terms of being the best ever footballer to grace this planet. I have always said he still needs to improve his international form to be truly deemed the best. My brother argues a compelling point, when Maradona played the World Cup was the bee all and end all of football, not anymore. The Champions League is a far more important competition, and I’m inclined to agree with him. Messi is 23, he still has at least ten decent years ahead of him on the grandest stage of them all. He already has three Champions League medals to his name (not to mention the five La Liga titles). He is deemed the best player in the world at present and has embarrassed United in two European Cup finals. Make no mistake, by the time Messi retires there will no longer be a debate - he will have been the best player ever.
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Over the last two issues Alan Monger has supplied firm proof that contrary to popular belief from the ABUs, Manchester United are in fact more often than not reprimanded for their actions rather than let off. Here Alan addresses the complex issue of Sir Alex Ferguson. In the previous two issues of the FUFanzine I have sought to quash the arguments of those who seem to think that United are forever the beneficiaries of 'dodgy decisions', of 'luck' and yes, of downright 'bias' by referees particularly, but also by bodies such as the FA. However examination of events both on and off the pitch this season and in seasons past actually shows this not to be the case, with United often getting the rough end of key decisions on the field, and off the field often seen to be having punishments levied against them which are not then levied in any consistent form against other clubs and their players by the FA. Oh, and other clubs' managers too.... As detailed in the previous articles, Sir Alex Ferguson was handed a five match touchline ban by the FA for his comments after the Chelsea game earlier this season. A five match ban that included two matches from a previous 'suspended' but now enforced punishment. Straight away therefore we know that SAF has
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incurred the wrath of the FA on more than just the one occasion in the past. Far more than just the once actually. Basically the mere fact of him opening his mouth seems to infuriate that oh-soreputable body known as the Football Asso...... **** STOP PRESS **** STOP PRESS**** STOP PRESS **** STOP PRESS**** Well blow me down with a feather! Mid sentence writing about SAF's 'indiscretions', and the FA have only gone and hit him with another disrepute charge!! This time for daring to 'insult' referee Howard Webb when asked in the pre Utd v Chelsea match press conference about the choice of ref by saying "We are getting the best referee, there is no doubt about that" And those comments bring forth a charge from the FA which their website justify as "The charge relates to media comments made about match official Howard Webb."
Seriously, you couldn’t make it up could you? Well actually, if you're the FA it appears you CAN just make it up. Because compare SAF’s comments to Ancelotti on 6th May, again prior to the United v Chelsea match.. "I don’t want to put pressure on the referee. I think Howard Webb is a fantastic referee because he has experience. If the referee has no experience we can perhaps be a bit worried about this but with Howard Webb there is no problem". Um, has Ancelotti been charged? Has he bollocks. And nor should he be. But SAF shouldn't be either!
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For Christ’s sake FA, Fergie WAS ASKED A BLOODY QUESTION!!! As was Ancelotti. As was Tony Pulis on 30th March prior to Stoke’s FA Cup semi final against Bolton "Howard is a great ref in my book and certainly as good as there is in the world... We are pleased to have him [for the semi final]. ..we just hope .... That major decisions are decided by the players and not the officials". Oh, and one more, Harry Redknapp also extolled the virtues of Howard Webb on 13th May prior to Spurs playing Liverpool two days later. At the time of writing NONE of these latter three managers have been charged. Which obviously begs the question as to whether the FA radar is specifically and solely aimed at Old Trafford? To quote from a Carry On film (quite apt I think in that the logic of the FA at some times smacks of a right carry-on), I am of the mind that SAF could justifiably come out with the oft-repeated line 'Infamy, Infamy, you've all got it in for me'. .. And he wouldn't be wrong. Sorry, got a bit sidetracked there. Where was I? Oh yeah, so the latest charging of SAF has absolutely and totally exemplified yet again that United are being persecuted by the FA. And it brings me nicely back to what the main theme for this article was going to be, having looked at the past and present, what does the future promise in the relationship between United and officialdom?
To be honest I see nothing changing for as long as the legend that is SAF remains our manager. And judging by varying soundbites coming out of Old Trafford this could basically be one year, two years, five years, or even more hell, as long as the great man himself wants to and is able to continue. Which is great news for all us United fans, as (and I speak as someone who has lived through the bleak times having supported United since the early 70's) the stability and success his tenure at Old Trafford has brought has been unparalleled in English football, culminating of course in newly acquired title number 19. What's going to happen when he finally does relinquish the reins though? And this question is not just posed in terms of how United will do on the pitch. Yes, we'd all like to think that a seamless transition will take place with the new manager continuing where SAF leaves off, but let's not kid ourselves that he's not going to prove to be one hell of a hard act to follow. No, the question is asked more in terms of how United are going to be perceived and treated under a new manager by the likes of the FA. At present, the FA quite clearly
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delight in picking on SAF at any opportunity. They obviously resent the fact that he is perceived as being the most powerful man in English football. After all he has been at the helm of the biggest club side in the world for over a quarter of a century, a tenure which would be extraordinary at any time, but in the present day, with its £1m a month footballers, it’s almost beggars belief. He holds so much sway that the FA delight in any chance to bring him down a peg or too. It's as though they're saying 'whoa, hang on we're in control here, get back in line,' that increasingly marks them up for ridicule, particularly when it is quite clear that a lack of consistency is being applied, as with this latest charge (which incidentally as I write has just been dealt with, with SAF rightfully not being punished but merely being warned as to his future conduct). So, do the United board, when eventually sitting down to discuss SAF’s successor, make any consideration of how the new man will interact with the FA? Obviously they, and we, will want the best man for the job, someone who it is to be hoped will carry on our success. But will they want someone who brings with him baggage that maybe United don't necessarily want in the immediate aftermath
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of SAF? Someone who, whilst maybe being a guarantee of continuing success to United is also almost guaranteed from day one to raise the hackles of the FA? You may have guessed where I'm going here.... Yes, I'm talking about José Mourinho. He has long been touted as a possible successor to SAF, and it's often stated that the two men get on well, they speak to each other and text each other often, thus leading to conjecture that SAF may be grooming him as his successor. And for his part Mourinho has expressed on more than one occasion that he wishes to return to England to manage once he finishes with Real Madrid. In terms of continuing the dynasty that SAF has created, Mourinho is a proven winner and as he showed at Porto, not always purely because of blank cheques being at his disposal. He has a winning mentality yes, but, and this is important, he also a propensity to upset people, as shown by his behaviour/actions/ attitude in the recent Madrid v Barcelona clashes. Do we want this? In my eyes no I don't think so. I think that bridges have to be rebuilt between United and the FA in the wake of SAF leaving and I don't see that the appointment of Mourinho will enable this. I think a more diplomatic manager might be the order of the day, someone who neither seeks nor attracts controversy, as per Mourinho. Hell, listen, I might be completely wrong. Maybe the 'we're Man United, we'll do what we want' faction of United supporters would like nothing more than Mourinho or someone similar to come in and completely assume the mantle of SAF and disregard the consequences with regard to how United as an institution are perceived. Going the 'diplomat' route however, I could see someone like Pep Guardiola ticking all the right boxes. A loyal one club man whose
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team play great football and someone who has a great demeanor about him. Even the FA would struggle to fabricate, sorry, not fabricate, that just sounds as though they make things up as they go along....um...ok, as we were, fabricate charges against someone like Guardiola. Maybe the whole time element will never facilitate such an appointment however, with as previously mentioned SAF at present giving no indication as to when the dreaded day of his leaving will arrive and Guardiola perhaps only possibly available in the next year or so. Names such as Moyes and Bruce, amongst others, will doubtless be touted in any future SAF successor debate. If you allow me to indulge myself for a minute in a few years time I would hope that another name is added to that list. A person who is currently in his first full time managerial post abroad, who is the epitome of diplomacy, whose demeanor and football values could never be questioned and who would be welcomed by every single United fan if it came about. Having already achieved success in his spell as United reserve team manager, how great would it be if legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer translates his managerial ability on to the bigger stage and makes a success of his new career? Sure we're talking some way in the future here, but a lá Guardiola at Barcelona, does anyone think that a playing legend such as Ole couldn't successfully take the reins of the United manager? At any rate the FA would have
little choice but to be charmed by him, just like we as fans had no choice but to be charmed by him from the first day he burst into Old Trafford, leading quickly to his 'baby faced assassin' nickname. Such charm, such calmness, would in my opinion benefit the dynamics of the whole United versus the FA situation in due course. And this is something that I for one would love to see in the fullness of time. For the good of United, the good of the FA, and for the good of football in general. No-one’s best interests are served by United and the FA being almost permanently at loggerheads with each other. And I look forward to the day when it ceases, or at least eases. Something to think about for the future perhaps? For the present let's rejoice as one in the winning of title number 19, a title that makes us the most successful English side in the history of league football; a title that can be said to have been won despite the FA, certainly not because of it.
Alan has been a United fan ever since his dad took him to watch them play Spurs in 1972. He was a Stretford Ender in the days when you could turn up and pay 20 minutes before KO. He also had a ST in North Stand before work took him abroad. His best memory was the trip to Barcelona for the 1999 Champions League final. His favourite players are Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs.
@almanuman
ISSUE 4, JUNE 2011
Tweets From The Terrace Give one word to sum up Manchester United’s season. On the 2nd May United sadly lost one of its oldest stars. Eddie Lewis, one of the original Busby Babes, lost his battle with cancer aged 76. The striker joined United in 1947 and made is debut in 1952 at just 17 years old against West Brom, giving United the lead after seven minutes. He went on to make 24 appearances in total, scoring 11 goals for the club. He also featured in United’s first FA Youth Cup winning side of 1953. His appearances were limited due to the presence of the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Billy Whelan, Dennis Viollet and Tommy Taylor. Lewis therefore left United for Preston before joining West Ham in 1956 where he was playing when the Munich Air Disaster happened. Eric Mallender, a Manchester City Scout who was a team mate of Eddie’s at Manchester Boys, described him as “a bubbly character and an astute, clever forward who was destined to make it as a footballer.” After his playing career he went into coaching, mostly in South Africa where he emigrated in 1970. He coached Wits University and Kaizer Chiefs amongst others. He also worked on TV for sports stations Supersport and PA Sports. Premier Soccer League chairman Irvin Khoza says Eddie Lewis’ death is a big loss and credit’s the rise of football in South Africa to him. “He joined the old National Professional Soccer League when it was not fashionable. His presence gave the confidence to sponsors at the time to back the league and he was already there when the NPSL went multi racial in 1976. He always strove to put that English discipline into the game. He was an influence on the direction of the game in the country. We thank God for the gift of his life.”
@holdandgive: BELIEVE @aquelious: Historic @mrgreen1066: Edwin @John_Aldinho: Overachievers @JanMetcalf: Rollercoaster @WorriedTurkey: Unexpected @DazJenno: Evolution @FootieRoxMySox: Exciting @ManUtdJacko: Gritty
He may not be the best known of the Busby Babes, but we remember each and every one of them. Rest in peace Eddie Lewis.
By Rachel
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Johnny Morris while others such as Jack Crompton and Henry Cockburn had featured for the Goslings, one of United’s nursery clubs.
By Tony Park For most of us Manchester United have always been regarded as a wealthy club. Let’s put aside the Glazer argument for a moment and consider the facts. Manchester United have a history of buying big. In 1949 we broke the transfer record to bring John Downie to the club for £18,000. In 1958 we did the same thing and paid £45,000 to acquire Albert Quixall. Since then Denis Law, Bryan Robson, Gary Pallister, Roy Keane and Rio Ferdinand amongst others have been added to the list. But it wasn’t always that way. In the early 1930’s United were the poor neighbours in Manchester and Chairman James Gibson was keen to change that. A visionary, Gibson had bankrolled the Reds throughout his tenure, but times were tough in the depression years and Gibson sought a different strategy. If United couldn’t afford to buy big names of the day, then perhaps we could develop our own. With that in mind Gibson set out to find a man who could turn his dream into reality. It’s at this point that the story becomes a little vague…whether or not Louis Rocca influenced James Gibson, or the Chairman was acting on his own volition may never be confirmed. However, what is clear is that both men agreed to build a football club made up of homegrown players. Meanwhile up in Scotland, Cowdenbeath had won promotion to the Scottish First Division in 1924 and had appointed Scott Duncan as secretary/manager. With a team of predominantly local youngsters, Duncan won plaudits north of the border as Cowdenbeath finished regularly in the top half of the
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table. So in 1932, Gibson and Rocca decided that Duncan was their man and offered the Scot the opportunity of replicating his success at Manchester United. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out that way. With United struggling in the Second Division there was an enormous pressure for results and the comings and goings at the club made Tommy Docherty’s spell as manager appear one of stability! Duncan was under pressure from the start. Nevertheless, in 1934 United entered a team in the Manchester League calling themselves the Manchester United ‘A’. The ‘A’ team was a level below the Reserves and made of seventeen and eighteen year-olds. The Manchester United Youth team was born! A few years later, the club decided to take the next step and develop kids straight from school. So, in 1938, the Manchester United Junior Athletic Club (MUJAC) was formed and two teams were formed, with the MUJAC ‘A’ being entered into the local Chorlton League. During WW2 the MUJAC’s project was shelved. When Matt Busby was appointed manager of Manchester United in 1946 he faced an uphill task of rebuilding the club. With Old Trafford severely damaged by bombs during the war, Busby found himself with no ground, no money and high expectations. What he did have was blend of good prospects such as Carey, Rowley and Chilton who remained on the clubs books from before the war and a band of even more exciting juniors who had featured for the MUJAC’s in some capacity. Lads such as John Aston, Stan Pearson, John Anderson, Joe Walton, Charlie Mitten and
Fundamentally, Matt Busby inherited his first youth team. Crowds up and down the country soon saw how good this youth team was as the Reds won the FA Cup in 1948 with seven players coming through the ranks. The side also finished second in the league on four occasions before lifting the league title in 1951 with the likes of Roger Byrne, Don Gibson and Billy Redman progressing from the ‘A’ team. Meanwhile the MUJAC’s were back in action! In 1947, Jimmy Murphy had won the Central League with United’s Reserves, and after being congratulated by Busby commented that although he appreciated the recognition, not one player was good enough for the first team. Murphy’s Mission had begun! Together with Bert Whalley and scout Joe Armstrong, Murphy scoured the country watching schoolboy football and trying to entice the best lads available to join Manchester United. Wanting to ‘catch them young’, he convinced the likes of Jackie Blanchflower, Bill Foulkes, Mark Jones, Geoff Bent, Freddie Goodwin, Cliff Birkett, Brian Birch amongst others that their future was at Old Trafford. To the amazement of all and sundry, Matt Busby played them in the rough and tumble of the old First Division. This was groundbreaking. Word soon caught on and schoolboy footballers wanted to join United. Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton needed very little convincing….”if you wanted a chance at being a footballer then Old Trafford was the only place to be.” Together with local youngsters such as Eddie Colman, Wilf McGuinness, Dennis Viollet, John Doherty, Eddie Lewis and Albert Scanlon, United were developing a deep pool of talent that no other club could compete with.
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Then in 1952 the FA announced that they were launching a new competition. A mini FA Cup tournament called the FA Youth Cup. Murphy saw the opportunity of spreading the message to an even wider audience and duly entered. History has since shown that Manchester United won the FA Youth Cup for the first five seasons on the trot and but for Munich could have extended this record. Records were made and broken regularly and the youth conveyor belt had begun. The United junior teams regularly won their leagues and local cup competitions and all Busby had to do was to decide when to blood these ‘Babes’ in the first team. As a consequence, between 1952 and 1957 Matt Busby only needed to significantly enter the transfer market once, for Tommy Taylor. For many modern supporters it might be difficult to understand, but back in the 1950’s to play with a team whose average age was only 21 was ground breaking. To win two successive league championships and enter Europe was just pure fantasy. After Munich it took a little time to rebuild but the ‘conveyor belt’ was still in operation and soon the likes of Giles, Brennan, Nicholson, McMillan, Stiles, Moir, Chisnall, Lawton and others found themselves on first team duty. In 1964 the Reds won their sixth FA Youth Cup with the likes of Bobby Noble, George Best, David Sadler, John Aston, John Fitzpatrick and Jimmy Rimmer all featuring. In 1968, we won the European Cup with eight of the team progressing from the juniors, including nineteen year-old Brian Kidd. You can talk about your modern Barcelona’s and Ajax….United were pioneering home gown talent in European Cup finals 45 years ago. The 1970’s saw a bleak time for
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To the class of 1992.
From the Busby Babes... Manchester United Youth team. Four different managers did nothing for stability and although the likes of Arthur Albiston, Jimmy Nicholl, Brian Greenhoff, Sammy McIlroy and a handful of others pushed their way into first team reckoning little success was enjoyed. In 1977, Dave Sexton joined as Manchester United manager and set about to restore United’s reputation of prodigious producers of young talent. In 1980 and 1981 the youngsters reached the semi-final of the competition with the likes of Scott McGarvey, Steve Pears, Norman Whiteside, Clayton Blackmore, Mark Hughes and Graeme Hogg all showing their worth.
1987, United have won the FA Youth Cup in 1992, 1995 and 2003. They have been finalists in 1993 and 2007 and reached the semifinals twice.
Ron Atkinson continued in the same vein and although not particularly interested in the youth team he made an important decision. He appointed Eric Harrison as youth team manager. Under Harrison’s tenure the Reds reached the FA Youth Cup final in 1982 and 1986 producing first team players such as Billy Garton, Gary Walsh, Lee Martin, Russell Beardsmore and Mark Robins.
Since it all began United have given first team debuts to 194 juniors - approximately 50% of the total number of first team players in that period. 31 of the top 60 appearance makers have come through the ranks. 85 juniors have gone on to represent their country. No club in Britain has a youth system that can compare to these figures.
However, when Alex Ferguson took over in November 1986 he wanted to completely restructure the youth set-up. He wanted exactly what Murphy had achieved thirty years earlier - the best youth system in the country. The rest they say is history. Since
As I am currently writing this article, United have reached the final of the FA Youth Cup once again with a team as exciting as that of the ‘Class of 1992’. A full house at Bramall Lane saw an exhilarating 2-2 draw with Sheffield United and it is hoped that United can make it ten successes next Monday in the return. (Editor’s note: United won the second leg 4-1, securing the cup once again).
Watching the kids progress from the juniors through to the first team has been part of our pioneering history…part of Gibson’s, Rocca’s, and Murphy’s vision…part of our rich culture of young attacking football…part of what we lost on the runway at Munich…part of what attracts so many supporters…and it will always be part of our future!
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Our journey began back home in Redditch, me and my dad were members of the Redditch supporter’s club and was also season tickets holders sitting just under the old score board north east quadrant . We loved going to watch United at home and tried as much to travel to see them play away. As soon as United had reached the final of the Champions League we knew we had to make this game. The supporters club in Redditch decided that the best way to get to the match was to travel there by coach, stay over at a hotel near Barcelona watch the game and then travel back. It seemed like a long way to travel by coach but the savings outshone the extra effort of travelling. We turned up at the meeting point in Redditch on the Monday morning ready and prepared for the adventure. There was plenty of banter flying around and an air of excitement
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as we set off. We set of travelling down England towards Dover to catch the ferry over into France, the mood was good as all chatted, laughed and watched football DVDs on the coach. We caught the ferry over into France and proceeded to travel down the country going through Paris and Lyon. I recall Lyon being a particularly dull concrete looking city with the large cold looking river running through it. My dad always recalls stopping for a toilet break in the middle of nowhere having to step over people sleeping on the floor on the coach to get off for the toilet block near the roadside. Then rushing into the toilets half asleep and hearing an Elvis song playing during a much needed break, surreal! By this time the mood was a lot duller as we was all tired, uncomfortable and wanting to just get to our destination. We crossed the boarder over into Spain where we
headed to our place of rest, a hotel based in Girona, The Cosmopolita. I think everybody was glad to arrive there and get off the coach which had started to feel more like a prison than mode of transport. We went down to the hotel bar being greeted by a friendly barman who was the spitting image of Faulty Towers’ Manuel, “two beers please,” was the order. We sat down, drank some beers and then decided to venture out to the local bars to soak up the atmosphere more. As we walked down the street we could see the many United fans flooding the bars, drinking away and singing song after song. We woke the next day fully recharged and ready for the big match. United vs. Munich, Champions League final! I could hardly still believe we were there and the excitement of us playing in this match was huge. The journey this time was around two
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hours into the city where we parked up and then went to some of the bars in the surrounding areas. The weather was fantastic, very sunny and there was plenty of fans enjoying it and drinking in the local bars. This is where we stayed for some time before heading towards the stadium around two hours before kick off. We stopped around the outside of the Nou Camp to get some food and look around at the many stands selling merchandise, of which I was tempted and bought a nice scarf that still hangs on my wall at home to this day. The stadium looked fantastic, we couldn’t wait to get inside. Our tickets which had barcodes on them was scanned three times before even getting into the stadium so security was very tight. We climbed the stairs into the ground got a quick drink then found our seats to watch the players warm up an view the amazing stadium. We were seated on the 2nd tier, in the corner Beckham took the corners for our goals. The atmosphere was great and the match was fantastic. We all know what the happened in the game, but wow! I’ve never seen so many people jump, cheer and generally
go crazy when Ole’s goal went in, AMAZING! It was a moment that I will never forget in my life and still get goose bumps thinking about. It was typical of United to come back and win it like this. After all the cup celebrations and cheering we left the ground which was manic as all were trying to get back to their coaches and travelled back to hotel for some drinks an plenty of singing. The next day we woke went down for breakfast, relaxed our tender heads and then started to board the coach and travel back home, which had been long forgotten about during this great adventure. The journey back was much the same as the journey down but with a sense of satisfaction with United’s historic win. We finally got home after many miles and reflected back on our adventure, a nightmare of a journey but a dream come true, Manchester United Champions of Europe 1999 worth every little bit of it!
By Stephen Jackson
Tweets From The Terrace Scenario: You can sign one player during the summer for United, who do you choose? @GJ_Goody: Bring back Ronaldo @deanhuggins731: Edwin Van Der Sar’s younger clone if that was possible! @Shaun_Payne_7: It's hard to give just one. Sneijder is the obvious but I think Diarra would add some tenacity! @Ram5den: I’d sign Modric. Probably not what United need but he is fantastic #mufc @ MrMujac: The Ajax keeper @himavad: I’d have to say Wesley Sneijder And finally, ever the optimist @Alan_Tonge: Messi
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Since escaping the evil clutches of Liverpool’s gang of petty criminals. Micky Owen has spent most of his investigative career ensconced in the underbelly of the horse racing fraternity. Sir Alex Ferguson recognised the potential in Micky and offered him the opportunity to fine tune his craft for long periods of time without having football as a distraction. It was just your average Thursday. I was at the stable hosing down one of the horses I had recently acquired since working for United, that I’d affectionately named Dion Dublin. I’d also just bought a donkey cross (it had a horses head) for the kids I was calling Obertan. My Step-father Alan Shearer was with me, we’d just had a big win at the last meeting so he had got to work on creosoting a fence to celebrate. Now that’s living. As I walked across to one of the barns I spotted Arsene Wenger round the back, at the entrance to the glue factory. He was trying to sell one of the poor mares we had put down last week…He was always flogging a dead horse. Further to this Fernando Torres was inside the barn taking in some extra training, he’d bought one of George Formby’s instruments off E-bay and borrowed a bovine from the a local farmer. He’d been in there for months but still hadn’t hit the cows arse with the banjo. As I headed inside for a cuppa with a copy of the racing post I spotted SAF heading up the driveway with Ruud Van Nistlerooy. As he got closer I soon realised he was actually just bringing one of his own horses with him to show me. SAF’s mouth was masticating so frantically I though his head was going to dislodge from his shoulders! Mike Phelan was with him and he had one of the red top newspapers wedged in his mouth. “Drop!” bellowed SAF, which Mike Phelan obediently did. SAF petted him on the head and gave him a treat from his pocket. I picked up the drool ridden paper up and began to read the page it was folded open on. The article was talking about the rise in Super-Injunctions issued by professional footballers and bemoaning how they were becoming above the law. I agreed with the
beyond the pale. Something would have to be done and fast. After a few months of learning morse code I finally
good name. Sir Alex had once again assured the press that there was nothing suspicious concerning my whereabouts by releasing a pre-prepared statement that I had ‘stubbed my toe in training and would need treatment from a placenta specialist in Paignton and I’d be out for 2-3 weeks”. Without my wheelchair (that Hargo had managed to park halfway up a tree last month leaving him with multiple injuries that science hadn’t yet discovered) I decided to take my trusty steed Obertan for this adventure. Yeeeehaaaa! Unfortunately, although Obertan was like shit off a shovel, he had no sense of direction and kept instinctively taking us down cul-de-sacs.
was the most amazing discovery in all my investigaunbelievable! My ability to deal with high pressure
I’m sure you will agree it was fairly conclusive. Case closed. Carro was supposed to be seeing a bloke about getting this self-destruct function sorted, but said he was going round Nani’s house for dinner cos he was always making a meal of things. I think they got on like a house on fire last time Carro apparently had Nani in stitches. As per the last issue, please dispose of this sensitive information by whichever means necessary. Thank you. I will not rest until the integrity of Manchester United is upheld. Keep ‘em peeled!
By Brett Burgers @HoldAndGive Image courtesy of www.deemointernational.com
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By Steph The subject of terraced standing areas at football grounds was revolutionised by the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, in which 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death during their FA Cup semi-final tie against Nottingham Forrest. A horrific incident, no doubt about that, but looking back it is hard to place much blame on terraces themselves, instead there were a range of logistical problems that affected events on that sad day; poor planning, poor observation by the police and human error were the main culprits, not to mention the large fences that trapped so many, which has since been abolished in this country. As a result of Hillsborough the Taylor Report was published in which Lord Justice Taylor not only sought justification for what happened, but also made recommendations for how the Football League may be able to prevent future tragedies. It was this that essentially saw the end of terraces. Lord Taylor believed at the time that there was no solution which would achieve the total safety – however seated grounds would achieve this aim more than any other single measure. However we are now in a fortunate enough position that clubs have been able to incorporate technological advance within their grounds; CCTV and digital ticketing are just two of the progressions made by clubs already. Some will argue that with seated grounds trouble makers are more easily recognisable as each seat is assigned a number which in turn will be assigned a name. However modern technological advances do not require people to be sat down to be identified. People are spotted at festivals, in the busy crowds of London and therefore surely they can be picked out of the static environment inside a football ground? There is standing in almost every other spectator sport. Furthermore standing is allowed at concerts (many of which take place inside football grounds) with far more safety concerns, anyone who attended Oasis’ 2005 gig at the City of Manchester Stadium will understand this. The football authorities in Germany have it spot on in all aspects with standing areas in many top grounds throughout the country. Whilst German fans tend to describe how improved the atmosphere is at matches, there is also a significant monetary benefit. A seated
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season ticket at Bayern Munich costs €650, whereas a Stehplatz (standing) season ticket costs just €120. The atmosphere concern is another that often comes up when discussing standing terraces. It is generally considered that football grounds don’t hold the same atmosphere they used to. I spoke to numerous fans, many of whom nostalgically talked about how they would stand on the terraces on match day and described what a fantastic experience it was. Some believed that football lost its soul since television revenue poured into clubs. Whilst this afforded the clubs a much healthier financial position it also contributed to the downfall of another part of the club. Sadly a precedent was set with the Taylor Report, one that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon. As fantastic as it would be to see the return of terraces, it took a lot of effort to get all-seater grounds and at a significant developmental cost. Each week we still see large numbers of fans standing as the attempts to remove this from stadia has largely been ignored by spectators. Regular Stretford Enders spend entire matches on their feet. Furthermore away fans all across the country often choose to spend their time stood when occupying other grounds. They are the hardcore fans, the ones that scream and shout – why would they want to be confined to a seat? After all they are there to watch a football match, not a west end show. Surely putting these fans in a safer environment, built for purpose, is far more secure than having standing fans in a seated area? The lessons have been learnt from Hillsborough. The Taylor Report sought to propose a range of measures to give football ‘a better future.’ And it did for many years. Now the report is out of date and a modern review should take place, yet the authorities appear to be hiding behind the safety excuse for the foreseeable future.
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By Alex Over the last few years, the calls for a reintroduction of terracing at Premier League grounds has grown louder, but personally I disagree with supporters of this change and will try to provide you with my reasoning for that. So, why should we bring back terracing? There are many that believe that terracing has been given a bad reputation due to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, when 98 Liverpool fans lost their lives at an FA Cup semi-final. This is due to the belief that it was the role played by the overcrowding of the terrace and the large fences holding back the supporters that contributed heavily to this terrible event. An understandable argument, especially when you take into consideration that the fencing and crowd segregation had been implemented to prevent any potential crowd trouble that had become synonymous with football in that era. The case for its return continues with the discovery that several leagues across Europe, most notably Germany, have terracing, and have had no significant issues. My argument would be that since the introduction of all seater stadiums within the Premier League, and to some extent Championship as well if you take into consideration teams that have been relegated from the top tier of English football, we have not had any repeat of those terrible scenes from April ‘89, or others like it (Heysel, Bradford). The safety aspect of all seater arenas has been well and truly established, as well as the fact that they are far easier to police and access should an issue occur.
their turnstiles? The huge increase in women and children attending matches now is testament to the safety of modern stadia and the enjoyment there is to be had whilst watching your favourite team. My favourite reason why terracing should come back is due to the atmosphere it would generate at matches. In fairness, I can understand why people would say this. When I think back to games I watched in the 80’s or bring up on Youtube, the atmosphere is incredible. The noise, the singing, that incredible 12th man spirit that the fans provide for their team. There truly is no way that an all seater stadium could come close to matching that sort of intensity and atmosphere, is there? Well, cast your minds back a few weeks to a game at Old Trafford. I choose the Theatre of Dreams for two reasons. Firstly, this is a United fanzine, but also because Old Trafford has often been criticised for lacking atmosphere due to its ‘prawn sandwich brigade’ perhaps. Imagine my surprise, and pride I might add, at the sheer volume of noise being made by the Old Trafford crowd during the game against Chelsea. Yes, if we won we had all but clinched title no 19. Yes, we scored before Petr Cech had even tied up his head protector. But that noise, that wall of sound, said everything about what a Premier League football stadium and it’s attendees now bring to a game. Stoke City fans are another great example of being able to create an incredible atmosphere. They never stop singing, ever. Win, lose or draw. And they do that without the ‘aid’ of terracing.
I also believe that foreign clubs with terracing have looked at disasters like Hillsborough and learnt from the mistakes made, to ensure that safety is paramount.
This is what football is all about. discussion and opinion. Agreement and argument.
Who would use terracing nowadays? ‘Hardcore’ supporters appear to be eying a return to terracing, but where would that leave the incredibly diverse crowds that football clubs are seeing flock through
But at the end of the day, football has to make its decision one way or the other, and my personal opinion is that if will decide to stick, rather than twist and risk seeing something half as bad as Hillsborough.
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FUB: What made you start supporting United over other English clubs? CH: Eric Cantona was the reason why I first started following United while growing up in the 90's. Obviously there was a lot of focus on United because of Schmeichel and the success, but it was really the talent of Cantona that got me started. Then I started to learn more about the club and the history. My first game was the away friendly in 1998 against Brondby, where I was so lucky to meet the squad the day before the game. I was 12 years old at that time, so it was obviously a memorable day for me. Later, my passion for the club made me start www.OldTrafford.dk in 2003. The website has grown to become a leading football website in Denmark with between 6,000 and 8,000 daily visitors.
Especially Barcelona, but not to the same social extent as United. FUB: We've obviously boasted one of the best GK's ever in the shape of Peter Schmeichel. How is he regarded in Denmark? CH: Among football fans, he's huge. Among United fans, it's a bit different. He's the host of the Champions League show and never lets an opportunity to past without telling about his love for United. Some United fans feel this is a bit over the top, I think. Especially because he played for City and he's never been that "supporter friendly." But obviously, everyone seems to be proud of what he's done for us and Denmark.
FUB: How big are United in Denmark, compared to other big European clubs? CH: It is difficult to say, but I think we have the most organized fanbase among foreign clubs in Denmark. This is first of all thanks to the Scandinavian supporter’s branch and maybe in the later years, also OldTrafford.dk. On the website, we have done a lot to promote the social aspect of following United through promoting the "United-friendly" pubs and doing events. However, I also need to say that Liverpool has a large fanbase here as well. But as far as I see it, they seem to be less organized than us. In recent years, we have also seen the fanbase of Barcelona and Real Madrid grow.
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FUB: How accessible are United matches? CH: Every game is shown on TV here. You can also watch the games with other United fans like at the Happy Pig in Copenhagen. Fans who went to Copenhagen away a few years ago may remember it. For the big games, it's totally packed with 300 singing United fans, while for the smaller games we're a group of 100 hardcore fans. FUB: Is it expensive to watch United matches in Denmark? CH: Beer is expensive in Denmark, so yes! FUB: Does supporting them have an impact upon your work and leisure life? CH: For me personally, it is a bit extreme since I run the website. So yes, it does have a great impact on my life. My fellow students in my study group at Uni have been let down a few times, especially during the 2009 CL final, where the game was during a 72hr exam. FUB: Have you ever been to Old Trafford? CH: About 25 times. First time was in 2004. Before I started studying, I worked full time for an airline which gave me some benefits of going to the games. But I prefer away games, especially in Europe. I've seen United play in Rome, Milan, Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, Glasgow, Copenhagen and Aalborg. FUB: Do you support any teams in the Danish leagues? CH: No. I actually feel I spend too much time on
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United that I can’t defend myself taking interest in other football. FUB: What has been your favourite United moment? CH: United has given me a lot of memorable moment. I remember when I met Eric Cantona personally, I went over and shook his hand and said "Thank you for what you've done for United and me." One of the greatest moments has been walking down Sir Matt Busby Way before the Milan game in 2005 protesting against the Glazers. I am very passionate about United and at that moment I felt I was not alone in my protests against the Glazers. I am still protesting and doing my best to tell Danish fans about the situation at United. Football-wise it was probably the away game against Juventus in 1999. One of the best games I’ve seen. Then I could also add John O' Shea's late winner against Liverpool, which made the Happy Pig go nuts. People had their glasses broken during the celebrations. The CL victory in 2008 was also a great memory. We had organized a street event in Copenhagen with the supporter’s branch and the Happy Pig. 2,000 United fans came and had a great time. The next year we did the same and 5,000 people showed up. This year we'll do the same. FUB: Finally, who is your favourite player and why? Of all time, Eric Cantona. He was more an artist than a football, wasn't he? Of present day, I’d say Darren Fletcher. Amazing how he has grown up to become such an important player for us.
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Name: William David Keane Born: Stockport, 11th January 1993 Position: Forward When I first watched Will Keane play for the Manchester United U-15 Academy side, I was immediately struck with his maturity on the ball. But who did he remind me of? He had excellent control, good movement off the ball when he would often drop deep, great composure and an eye for goal. Although not particularly quick, he possessed a wide range of passing skills and had superb vision. I thought that this kid had a real chance. Talking to my pals at Carrington who mostly watched the U-18’s I remember telling them to watch out for this kid, who made the game look so easy and always seem to have time on the ball.
Marveld and Nike Youth Tournaments, reinforcing his potential along the way. A pupil of St. Bede’s College in Stockport and staunch United fan, Will had already stressed that his future was in a Manchester United shirt! In the 2008-09 season, Will made his Academy debut on the 21st of October in the 0-1 home defeat to Stoke City. With Evandro Brandao playing up front, Will adopted his favoured role of playing just off the front man. By the end of the term he had been called up into the England U-16 squad and immediately won silverware as he helped the young Lions to success in the Montaigu Youth Tournament with a victory over Germany. By now a full time scholar, it had been a great jump for the young Stockport lad.
“Like Paul Scholes?” they asked. Then it came to me. “No…..like Teddy Sheringham!” The younger of the twins, Will born in Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport but grew up in Heaton Moor. Both lads played for St. Winifred’s School and also their local team South Manchester from the ages of eight to ten. They were then asked to join the United Academy at U-11 level, with Will always featuring up front. He continued to progress through the ranks, featuring in the
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Throughout the term, Will continued to feature for the England U-17’s, mainly in an advanced midfield role rather than out and out striker and appeared regularly on the scoresheet at Academy level. Will made his FA Youth Cup debut against Birmingham and poached two goals in the trip to Burnley in the following round before the Reds were knocked out at Blackburn Rovers. By the end of the season he had finished as United’s leading goalscorer in the Academy side with thirteen goals in twenty-five appearances s the Reds topped Group C. Further success was just around the corner as he was part of the England U17 team that won the European Championship with a 2-1 victory over Spain in Liechtenstein. This season has seen Will push on once again. He collected an U-19 England cap against Slovakia in September and been a regular in both the Reserve and Academy teams. At the same time his form was key in helping the United FA Youth Cup squad reach the final against Sheffield United. After finding the back of the net against Portsmouth he pounced on a keeper error to score the winner at West Ham in January.
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He suffered a deadleg which worryingly kept him sidelined throughout February and March. He returned for the away leg at Chelsea in the semi-final and although well. Happily for all United fans he looked much sharper in the return and scored a ‘perfect’ hat-trick in United’s 4-0 success over the Londoners. At Bramall Lane last Tuesday, he found the net once again and with the second leg’s result not known at this point, it is hoped that his fine form has resulted in a well deserved winners medal. A player of some talent, many United fans will be watching his progress with much interest. While clearly not in the Roy Keane mould, nor alike in playing characteristics, he has already motivated many fans to sing…‘there’s only one Keano’…. That is respect in itself. By Tony Park Tony has been a season ticket holder for 20 years. He has been following the youth side since the late 1970’s. Tony is currently co-writing a book on the history of the United youth team.
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With the season now over, Liam has given his assessment of the United players and rated their contributions. Edwin Van Der Sar- The rock at the back. Our season would have been much worse if we didn’t have him. Shame we couldn’t persuade him to stay on for more one year, while we developed our next number one. Score out of 10-10
Michael Owen- 4 games, 12 appearances as a sub, 4 goals to his name. However is another player besieged by injury. Might be given a reprieve for one more year…but I think that will be it for Michael Owen. Score out of 10-3
Gary Neville– Three league appearances this year, plagued by injury and an inability to gain any momentum to his season. Decided to retire mid-season. Score out of 10-1.
Anderson- I think he has shown glimpses of what he is capable of- could have a very good year next year. More to come from this man I think. Score out of 107
Patrice Evra- Left back, plays with the same flow and drive that Gary Neville played with when teamed up with David Beckham. Will keep getting better- future captain? Score out of 10-7.
Dimitar Berbatov- Top goalscorer, has been pushed out by the blossoming relationship between Rooney and Chicha. Has had a great year despite his rightful limelight being taken away from him. Won’t be leaving in the summer, but will slump again next year I think with less playing time and confidence knocked by being left out of the squad. Score out of 10-9
Owen Hargreaves- One of our BUPA player of the year contenders, his future doesn’t lie with United. Score out of 10-0. Rio Ferdinand- Started to get back to form this year after a temperamental summer. Played 28 games across three competitions, never as a substitute. His performances haven’t set the world on fire, but has done the job required of him well. Score out of 10-6 Wes Brown- Bit part player. Don’t think he will feature much next year, as our younger players come back off loan. Has been a diligent servant to the club, but I think his time is drawing to a close this year. Score out of 10-4
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Wayne Rooney- had highs and lows, some moments of pure brilliance and some moments of pure cringe worthy stupidity but goal of the season without a doubt. Score out of 10 for the seasontaking into account his poor start, transfer rant, and on the other hand his partnership with Chica and improving form…6 Ryan Giggs- Doesn’t know when to slow down. Still tears through players like they’re not there. Also did a very good job at left back too I recall. Last season? I also heard a rumour he’s heading for management in two years time. Score out of 10-7. Chris Smalling- For me over the course of a year the most improved individual. Grown into the role of 1st team starting centre back, created a rock solid partnership at the back with Vidic. Some small mistakes but watch out next season. Score out of 10-7 Park Ji-Sung- Player that gives so much effort to each and every game he plays- would make a great advert for Lucozade. For me, under- utilised. When Park puts in a performance he sets the United tempo high- Score out of 10-8 Javier Hernandez- Brilliance! What a first year,. Would have liked to see him partner Berba up front a bit more. See how that partnership got on - Score out of 10-10 Nemanja Vidic- Captain, heart of the defence, heart of the team. Leads by example. Score out of 10- 9 Michael Carrick- Can’t take him seriously- no rating
John O’ Shea- Mixed emotions. He does the job put in front of him, utility player able to cover everywhere. Score out of 10- 6 Johnny Evans- his report simply says must improve. Not at the right standard to break into the regular squad and with summer reinforcements on the way it could signal the end of his fight. Score out of 10- 5 Darren Fletcher- Damn virus, could have had a great season. Obviously this is written before the CL final, I hope he made it. He is a player that makes the difference- Score out of 10- 6 (should be much more) Tony Valencia- Should also have been one of the influential men on the field and when he was back from injury he made up for lost time with some great performances. Looking forward to seeing him play next year. Score for this season7
Nani- For me, player of the season, he’s growing and growing. I can’t help but think next year is his “Ronaldo” year and he’ll set the league on fire! Score out of 10- 9 Paul Scholes- as rash and as hard working as ever. Don’t need to tell you all what he is to the team. Debateable as to whether he will be there next season, or if he takes title 19 as his curtain callScore out of 10- 7 Fabio & Rafael- Can’t make my mind up who has done better. Fabio has a great forward working mind, will develop in leaps and bounds if he listens in to Evra’s guidance. Twin scores out of 10- 7
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The Perfect XI By Sufiyan Kala
So, when I was asked to choose my perfect XI for this issue of the fanzine, I knew a tricky task was at hand. Over the years, we have had a wealth of talent grace the holy turf of Old Trafford. From the days of Welsh Wizard, Billy Meredith in the early 1900’s, to Matt Busby’s pioneering Babes in the mid-1950’s, to Fergie’s Fledglings of the last 24 years. There have been players that have come and gone who have helped United win countless trophies and gone down in history as immortals. Although there might have been some unbelievable players in the past in Best, Charlton, Law, Whiteside and Robbo to name but a few, I felt it was only fair for me to choose my team based on players who I’ve seen play during my lifetime – the Fergie era, especially from the late 90’s to the present day.
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GOALKEEPER: PETER SCHMEICHEL
The Great Dane. Probably the greatest goalkeeper to ever play for United, he made 398 appearances in Red. He was between the sticks during the most successful period in the club’s history and helped us to win our first Premier League title. He was a vocal goalkeeper, constantly talking to his centre-backs, keeping them organised. If the defensive lines were breached, he’d always be there to the rescue, often making the most elaborate of saves. Who can forget the last-minute penalty save from Dennis Bergkamp in the FA Cup semi -finals and captaining United to the European Cup to complete the Treble in his very last game for the club? In total, he won 15 trophies in his eight years with the club and even though he may have defected to the bitters across the city, there’ll be no other like him, not even good old Edwin.
RIGHT-BACK: GARY NEVILLE
Winner of 19 major honours and my all-time greatest player and hero, Nev was and still is Mr Manchester United. He’s arguably the most passionate amongst us as supporters. Not only that, he was a firm favourite amongst the fans and a loyal servant to the club dedicating 20 years of his life to play for his boyhood club. He also had the small matter of playing for Ingurland 85 times. Although he wasn’t naturally gifted, there was no doubting his technical ability and desire to succeed as one of the greatest United players. He never was the fastest of players so he worked on his stamina; he was never the tallest so he worked on his leap. An exemplary role-model if ever there was one who proved that nothing but sheer hard work and determination is the key to success. He struck up a telepathic understanding with Beckham down that right hand side constantly proving to be a nightmare for opposition defences with his deceiving overlapping runs and great vision, making him for me, the greatest right-back in Red.
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CENTRE-BACKS: JAAP STAM & NEMANJA VIDIC STAM
For me, Stam comes ahead of Rio. Despite only spending three seasons at the club, he was a solid rock in the heart of our defence and struck up a good partnership with Ronny Johnsen. He was simply unbeatable. Strikers hated to play against him and everybody else loved playing with him. He was a tough-tackling, ball-winning, nonfearing, scary-looking, fearless character on the pitch and he was pretty much the same off it. He was voted the best defender in the Champions League for two consecutive seasons which also coincided with him helping us to win the Treble along the way and himself winning a total of six major honours in those three seasons. Fergie to this day regrets selling him after Stam criticised him in his autobiography. But there’s no questioning the impact he had when he played
VIDIC
When Vida first came, it looked as if it was another Djemba-Djemba/Kleberson-esque signing from Fergie. Relatively unknown and signed from Spartak Moscow, for me, he has emerged as probably the best centraldefender of our present time. After his disastrous debut performance against City, his talents were severely doubted but he’s forged a strong partnership with Rio at the heart of the defence and played an integral part in the double-winning season of 2008 where his performances in every competition were nothing short of immaculate. Further testament to this is his inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year for three consecutive seasons and being voted as Barclays Player of the Season after helping United reach a record-breaking 14 consecutive clean sheets in 2008-09. He does have an eye for goal with 17 of them, many quite crucial. In the time he has been at the club, he’s won 11 major honours and this season, been handed the captaincy ahead of Giggsy and Rio.
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CENTRAL-MIDFIELD: ROY KEANE & PAUL SCHOLES KEANE
LEFT-BACK: PATRICE EVRA
This was a tough choice as Denis Irwin was a fantastic left-back in his time but good old Paddy just edges it. Like Vidic, his debut was a complete disaster and some were questioning Fergie’s motives behind this signing but once again, he pulled out a gem of a signing for only £5.5million. Since his arrival and the departure of Gabriel Heinze, Evra’s made the left-back position his own and he’s flown up and down that wing, keeping some of the worlds best players in check, most notably, Lionel Messi in the Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford in 2008. But ever since that disastrous debut against City, he has gone from strength to strength notching up 200+ appearances for United, winning ten major trophies and being included in the PFA Team of the Year on three occasions, UEFA Team of the Year
RIGHT-MIDFIELD: DAVID BECKHAM
He was a special player from the first day he joined the club. A member of the class of ’92 and another one of my childhood heroes, his trademark free-kicks and his great vision coupled with his spectacular ability to score free-kicks from any distance possible, he again, played an integral part in ensuring United were trophyrich throughout the 90’s and it was from both of his corners that magical night in Barcelona that led to the dramatic turn-around and completed the Treble. He had the ability to change a game in a split second, be it through a free-kick or a pinpoint pass, he was a great player for the club. It was a shame that he left in the circumstances that he did but there’s no denying the service he gave to the club. In the ten years he was at the club, he won 15 major honours and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year as well as Goal of the Decade for his rather ostentatious strike against Wimbledon.
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Having Roy Keane in your team meant that you had an extra two people in the side. Captain fantastic gave life and limb for the cause of Manchester United. He grabbed the game by the balls and made sure each and every player on the pitch with him gave more than 100 per cent. His fiery character and aggressive nature combined with his hunger and competitiveness was special to witness. Tough-tackling and no-nonsense, he struck fear into his opponents. His passion and ability to win football matches on his own set him apart from other United players. The only player whose characteristics resemble that of Bryan Robson, he was indeed a special player and in my eyes, the best United captain of my generation. His desire to ‘take one for the team’ was also commendable and if ever you could rely on anybody on the pitch, Roy Keane was that man. During his 12 years with the club, he won 17 major titles. He may have left the club on controversial terms but he will always remain a special person to the fans.
SCHOLES
Paul Scholes is the most natural passer of the ball I have ever seen. Despite there being David Beckham, if you asked Paul Scholes to hit a particular crater on the moon, you could bet that he would hit it. His range of passing is unreal. He had a wide range of shots in his armoury. Left foot, right foot, volleys, tap-ins and headers; Paul Scholes could score them all. He scored countless goals to help United claim countless crucial victories and is truly one of the best players of our generation-not just for United. When he’s on the ball, he has an imaginary force field around him, no opponent can get anywhere near him. Barcelona’s Xavi said of his ability, “He's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. He's spectacular, he has it all, the last pass, goals, he's strong; he doesn't lose the ball, vision. If he'd been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him.” He is still going strong at a veteran age of 36 and this season is rumoured to be his last. He has won 23 major titles at Old Trafford and his shy personality means he hasn’t picked up many individual awards but he has been included in the PFA Team of the Year award on three occasions.
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STRIKER: CRISTIANO RONALDO
LEFT-MIDFIELD: RYAN GIGGS
The most decorated player in English football and winner of 31 major honours, he is the greatest player ever to have played for United. Having made 700+ appearances and at the grand old age of 37, he has occupied that left wing for nearly 21 years and doesn’t look like giving it up any time soon. Although he has lost some of his pace, he has been integral in United’s recent success and has been the catalyst for some of the most important victories, not just in the present but in the past. He’s had plenty of great individual moments – the most famous one being his goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final in 1999. But it’s his willingness to be the best that has got him where he is today. Using his elegant wizardry, he’s captured the hearts of each and every United fan with a shimmy here and there, a quick turn of pace to beat his man, a peach of a shot from that left foot of his and in recent seasons whilst occupying the central-midfield position, great vision to pick out his men and further go down as the greatest British player of all time. No team would be complete without Ryan
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The bargain buy from Sporting Lisbon, he was destined to go onto bigger and better things. The ominous surname, the elegant trickery, the unorthodox free-kick styles, the blistering pace and not forgetting the hatful of goals he scored in his time here. With 118 goals in 244 appearances – 42 of them in one season – he didn’t even hit his peak before departing for Real Madrid in 2009. He won nine trophies in his six years and he won both PFA Players’ Player of the Year & Fans Player of the Year twice, was voted in the FIFPro World XI and the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for four consecutive seasons.
CENTRE-FORWARD: RUUD VAN NISTELROOY
This man is the most prolific goal-scorer I’ve ever seen. He scored 150 goals in 200 games here and won four trophies in five years. He also won a hatful of individual honours; PFA Player of the Year, UEFA Club Forward of the year, Premier League Golden Boot (02/03), UEFA Champions League Top scorer for three consecutive seasons. Enough said. By Sufiyan Kala Suffy is currently studying journalism at UcLan. He has been a red all his life and a regular at Old Trafford. His favourite player is Paul Scholes.
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A selection of photos taken by Darren from United’s victory parade through Manchester on 30th May 2011.
Twitter @ManUtdOT 30All photos are copyright to Darren. Follow him on ISSUE 4, JUNE 2011
May form: LWWDWL 7 points taken from a possible 12 in the Premier League One Premier League trophy And another disappointing trip to Wembley Rachel takes a look at United’s performances in May 1st May 2011 Arsenal (A) - Premier League - 1v0 - defeat Attendance - 60,107 Arsenal dominated the first half although created very little. They did however have a penalty shout when Vidic was deemed to have handled the ball in the area but no penalty was given. United gave the ball away too often and only really started to settle into the game towards the end of the half. 10 minutes into the second half however Arsenal took the lead through Aaron Ramsey. United stepped up a gear in search of an equaliser, with Szczesny saving well from a Rooney free kick. Both Berbatov and Owen were then introduced to try and find a goal but United couldn’t find one. They did however have a penalty appeal of their own when Clichy caught Owen with barely a minute left on the clock. Again no penalty was given. The game finished in defeat and United could have little argument with the result after a flat performance. 4th May 2011 Schalke (H) - Champions League semi-final 2nd leg - 4v1 - win Goals - Valencia (26), Gibson (31) and Anderson (72, 76) Attendance - 74,687 Both teams started the game with an attacking intent, but it was United who took the lead half an hour into the game. Schalke gave the ball away, then Gibson played a brilliant, defence splitting pass to Valencia who finished clinically. The reds then doubled their lead on the night, making it 4v0 on aggregate through a Gibson goal which Schalke keeper Neuer should probably have saved. The away team then scored just 4 minutes later to make it 2v1. A Valencia shot was then cleared off the line but the half time score remained 2v1 United. Two second half goals from Anderson sealed United’s path to the Wembley final. Nani found Anderson in the box for
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his first which he slotted into the bottom corner of the goal and Berbatov’s pass left him with a simple tap in for his second. Next stop Barcelona. 08/05/2011 Chelsea (H) - Premier League - 2v1 - win Goals - Hernandez (1) and Vidic (23) Attendance - 75,445 Hernandez gave United the lead less than a minute into the game, after a brilliant through ball from Park left him one on one with Cech. The Mexican slotted home to send Old Trafford crazy. Rooney then hit a screamer from 30 yards out which Cech did well to save. Park later tested Cech who knocked the ball away for a corner. United doubled their lead from the corner with a determined Vidic header mid way through the first half. Chelsea almost pulled one back but Van Der Sar’s reactions kept the lead intact, stopping a close range Kalou header. The keeper then made another good stop from a Drogba free kick. Ivanovic was lucky not to get a second yellow after stepping on Rooneys foot. Both teams had penalty shouts early in the second half but both were denied. Lampard then pulled one back for the blues with 20 minutes to go. It was United however who looked the more likely for the next goal, with Alex stopping a
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Rooney shot on the line and Hernandez failing to score from a close range free header late on. The result meant that United had all but sealed their record breaking 19th title. 14/05/2011 Blackburn (A) - Premier League - 1v1- draw Goals - Rooney (pen 73) Attendance - 29,867 The first real chance of the game fell to Nani in the first 5 minutes, but unfortunately he could only head his effort onto the crossbar. Samba then had a good chance to put Blackburn ahead but ended up hitting the ball well over the bar. Kuszczak looked nervous in goal for United and was at fault when Blackburn took the lead after 20 minutes. The marking from United’s defence was also poor however when Emerton was free in the box to put the ball past Kuszczak. Blackburn defended well throughout and held onto their lead into half time, with Robinson also saving well from Hernandez. Blackburn almost doubled their lead with 25 minutes to go when Olsson’s header smacked against the post. United were level less than 10 minutes later when Robinson brought down Hernandez in the box to give the reds a penalty. Rooney coolly converted leaving United on the brink of the title. Nani should have put United ahead but failed to connect from close range onto a Rooney cross. The game finished without much incident as both teams were happy to take a point which meant United were Champions again for a record 19th time. 22/05/2011 Blackpool (H) - Premier League - 4v2 - win Goals - Park (21), Anderson (63) and Owen (81) Attendance - 75, 400 Keith Southern should have given Blackpool the lead after just 3 minutes but he dragged his free shot in the box wide. Rafael then worked the Blackpool keeper Gilks from 20 yards out as did Berbatov from close range. It was United who took the lead after 21 minutes through Park. Fletcher played a great long pass to Berbatov who controlled brilliantly before passing to Park who finished well. United should have had a penalty half an hour in when Park was fouled but no penalty was given. Charlie Adam then equalised 5 minutes from half time from a great free kick that went in off the post. Van Der Sar made a good save from another Adam free kick early in the second half but Blackpool still took the lead through Taylor Fletcher ten minutes later. Anderson brought the teams level again with just under half an hour to go after Parks cross into the box. Gilks then saved
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well from a Berbatov header. Blackpool’s hearts were however broken when Evatt put into his own net from a Smalling cross to give United the lead with 15 minutes to go. Owen then made it 4v2 after running onto a delightful through ball from Anderson. 28/05/2011 Barcelona (N) - Champions League final - 3v1 defeat Goals - Rooney (34) Attendance - 87, 695 United started the game well, seeing more of the ball than expected until Barcelona settled into the game. With the Spanish side seeing more and more of the ball, it was no shock when they look the lead just under half an hour into the game. Some wonderful link up play between Rooney and Giggs however led to an equaliser against the run of play just 7 minutes later. Rooney finished exceptionally well with a clever shot past Valdes. Messi restored Barcelona’s lead early in the second half when the United defence stood off him and Van Der Sar perhaps should have done better. The reds tried to get back in to the game but Barcelona were just too good and Villa sealed his team’s victory with a third goal 20 minutes from time. United rarely threatened and were sadly comprehensively beaten by the brilliant Barcelona.
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Some of you may have come across the fantastic work by Tom Clare before, having written extensively about Manchester United history. Tom has resubmitted some of his articles which centre around United captains. This one looks at Dennis Viollet, captain from 1959-60. To be around Old Trafford in the early to late 1950’s was an absolute joy. It was a joy shared by fans, players, directors, staff, in fact anybody who had any kind of connection to the club. Ask any of the older fans today who were around during that period who has been the greatest United team ever? and it’s my guess that the answer will come back as quick as a bullet shot from a gun – the Babes! The Busby Babes were probably the most exciting, and precocious collection of young football players ever to come together at any club in the world. For at that time, they were certainly unique. In the professional world of football at that time, players in their teens and early twenties were deemed not to have the skills or experience to survive at the top level of the professional game. Fortunately, Matt Busby and Jimmy Murphy’s visions changed that kind of blinkered thinking, and opened up a whole new outlook and era
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particularly in the British game. Sadly, after sowing the seeds and watching the flowers grow, they were to see them wither at the end of a slush filled airfield runway in Munich, Germany, on 6th February 1958. Seven Manchester United players lost their lives that sad day, and another one, the colossus that was Duncan Edwards, was
to lose his young life just fifteen days later. Because of the severity of their injuries, two others were never to play again. Of the seven surviving players, four of them would leave the club within four years, and of that four, three would disappear into relative anonymity. The other player is the subject of this article, and he is of course, Dennis Viollet.
Violett’s United Career Appearances Goals Division One
259
159
FA Cup
18
5
League Cup
2
1
European Cup
12
13
Other matches
2
1
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Mention of that wonderful team always throws up the names of Byrne, Colman, Edwards, Taylor, and of course a young teenager who had just broken into the team, a certain Bobby Charlton. Yet one of the side's key performers was widely and peculiarly underrated, though not, it should be emphasised, by Matt Busby himself. In terms of appearance, Dennis Viollet did not correspond with the popular image of a goal-scoring hero. Wan of countenance and slim to the point of scrawniness, he seemed pathetically equipped physically to mix it with strapping defenders. Yet the prolific Mancunian was a gem, both as a foil for the magnificent Tommy Taylor and as a marksman in his own right. Indeed, the fact that no one - not Law, not Best, not Cantona, not Ronaldo, not even Rooney - has netted more league goals than Dennis did in a single season, offers telling evidence of his rare calibre. After captaining Manchester schoolboys - and also playing regularly for his country at that level - he joined Manchester United as an amateur in 1949, turning professional a year later and making his first-team debut at St. James’ Park, Newcastle in 1952/53. Dennis held his own against white-hot competition as Busby's youthful revolution gathered exhilarating momentum and he won a regular place during 1953/54. He was blessed with instinctive ball control, searing acceleration, and the vision to use these attributes to full advantage. Arguably he was at his most effective when working in tandem with Tommy Taylor, the big bold Yorkshireman who lost his life on that slushy German runway. Big Tommy was majestic in the air while his less conspicuous but formidably
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lethal partner was a steel dart at ground level. During the mid1950s when the Babes were sweeping all before them, the duo struck up a seemingly telepathic understanding, creating space for each other by their imaginative movement and registering a river of goals that showed no signs of drying up. It is incredible when you look at the fact that they played in 134 games together and scored 182 goals between them, Dennis netting 84 and Taylor 98! From the inside-left position, Dennis contributed at least 20 senior goals per season, and he went on to share in a succession of heady triumphs, notably the League Championships of 1955/56 and 1956/57. As United blazed a trail into Europe, his pedigree shone through ever more vividly and his evident relish for continental opposition made his sojourn in the international wilderness increasingly perplexing. Maybe this was because at that time the England team was chosen by a selection committee made up of chairmen/directors of other First Division clubs. Dennis survived the tragedy at Munich but did suffer head injuries and was hospitalised for a month after the accident. However, he did return home to Manchester and began the journey that would see him playing again. By mid April of 1958 he was deemed fit enough to play again at first team level and after a couple of League outings he was selected to play at Wembley against Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup Final. Dennis had missed the emotional passage of United’s patched up young team winning their way to that Final, and sadly, on that May day in the
London sunshine, the emotions of the previous few months caught up with them, and their energies seemed to have been sapped. They didn’t function too well and Bolton were deserved 2 -0 winners. Any fears that Dennis would never be the player that he was quickly disappeared over the following two seasons. In season 1958/59 Manchester United confounded everybody by finishing as runners-up to Wolves in the First Division. Dennis contributed 21 goals. The following season he was on fire and set a club League goal scoring record by notching a further 32 goals. By this time he had also taken over the responsibility of Club Captain from Bill Foulkes. It was an enormous responsibility considering that the club was in the early stages of trying to rebuild the team after the accident. It was also during this same period that Dennis finally and deservedly won full international recognition. That he was only capped twice for England was a travesty of justice. In the 1960/61 season Dennis’s form dipped and he lost his place in the team. Perhaps his phenomenal contributions from the
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previous season did take its toll. However, he battled back towards the end of the season and he began the 1961/62 season as first choice striker. Again his form dipped and once more he was left out only making sporadic appearances and playing in the number seven shirt. By this time United had signed centre forward David Herd from Arsenal, and plans were well afoot to bring Denis Law back to Manchester from Torino in Italy. Dennis was still only 29 years old, and despite his herculean efforts for the club since the tragedy, Busby sold him to Stoke City who were then in the Second Division, for the sum of 25,000 pounds in January of 1962. Just four years after the tragedy, only Gregg, Foulkes, and Charlton, remained at Old Trafford from the 17 players who had left for Belgrade in 1958, and Gregg was to leave the club in 1966.
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Fan photo: Old Trafford celebrating Javier Hernandez’s early goal vs Chelsea. By Daniel Burdett
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from Sunderland to Villa - not a tweet to speak of!
I'm fast coming around to thinking that someone 'up there' is looking down on me favourably whenever I start picking up my iPad and start typing an article for this magazine. No sooner had I started thinking about how to approach the question of whether the combination of Twitter and footballers is good or bad than an incident involving Wayne Rooney hits the headlines, an incident that straight away has got even Arsene Wenger voicing an opinion (and in this case even a fairly sensible one) on the pros and cons of his and other clubs' players signing up to this rapidly expanding social network. So what's Wayne been up to? Well basically he saw fit to respond to the following idiotic 'threat' of a Liverpool-supporting moron "....I'll smash ya head in with a pitching wedge an bury ya with a ballast fork. etc". To which Wayne retorted "haha you know where I train every day kid come and do it, good luck". He followed up with "I will put you asleep within 10 seconds hope u turn up if you don't gonna tell everyone you scared u little nit. I'll be waiting.” More of this incident later, but suffice at the moment to say that some within the media have jumped on this 'spat' and consequently the whole question of whether it is a good idea for footballers to be tweeting has raised its ugly head again. I say again because we have had other instances of players reacting before. Danny Gabbidon for example responded to a torrent of abuse from his own West Ham fans who blamed him for a defeat against Aston Villa by tweeting “U know what, f*** the lot of you.” An FA fine of £6000 for this outburst led to Gabbidon’s account subsequently being deleted. Slightly different but again a reaction of sorts against things going on around him came from Darren Bent when trying to facilitate a move from Spurs to Sunderland. Believing Spurs' Chairman Daniel Levy to be preventing or stalling such a move, Bent went public and pleaded via Twitter for Levy to “stop f**king around”. Bent got his move not long after, but had possibly learnt the error of his ways by the time he subsequently moved
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Ryan Babel also fell foul of the FA in his Twitter dealings. His attempt at humour in mocking up a crude photoshop image of Howard Webb in a United shirt subsequent to the FA Cup tie between the two sides in January cost him a £10,000 fine. A bit steep perhaps for what could be perceived as an act of satire, but clearly the FA felt he had overstepped the mark. I daresay a United player producing something similar with Martin Atkinson and a Chelsea shirt would provoke the same reaction… quite funny though. Another attempt at humour via Twitter landed Carlton Cole of West Ham in trouble. On the day that Ghana played England in a friendly, Cole tweeted, “Immigration has surrounded Wembley premises! I knew it was a trap! Hahaha!”. Clearly a joke, but it backfired on Cole with the FA reprimanding him for improper conduct. Returning to Wayne Rooney, I have to admit that him joining Twitter came as a surprise to me. With all of the turmoil that has clouded his life over the past season, I don't think it needed an Einstein, or better still even a Clark Carlisle, to work out that some idiots would seize on the opportunity to abuse the United star. And yes, I would have possibly thought that even some non-forgiving United fans would be amongst that number. And you know what, that very fact raises Rooney's stock with me. He's put himself on a platform where anyone, and I mean literally anyone, has the ability to send him a personal one-to-one message. They might not get the chance to send a second one, thanks to the 'block' process, but hey there is that chance of engagement. Whether he actually reads your tweets to
Not exactly Babel’s smartest tweet, January 2011.
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him of course is a different matter. In the example highlighted earlier, he obviously did read it, and subsequently replied. And I for one say good for him. Why should he idly sit by and just take abuse like that? Rooney of course is only one of several United stars to have Twitter accounts, the most vocal and prolific being Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen as well as now ex-United player (and legend) Gary Neville. Of these Ferdinand is the self-proclaimed 'Boss,' addressing his million plus followers on a regular basis, and not just about football. Music, food, competitions, familial stuff, even politics, can be read about from the big man. And Rio gives the impression of being the go-to man if anyone is considering starting up on twitter. Or even leaving it. Because literally hours after he announced that Darron Gibson was joining, Rio also announced that he was leaving! Notwithstanding the fact that Gibson for the brief time he was on board received shameful abuse from both United fans and also from Irish fans angry at his perceived switching of allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic for International representation, the official reason for him leaving was given by Ferdinand as “Darron Gibson says he came on to see what the lads were up to – he came off because he couldn’t be bothered with it not any other reason.” So Twitter is not everyone’s cup of tea. It certainly appears to be Michael Owen’s though. And probably Gary Neville's. Owen's tweet to Gary Neville "you certainly need thick skin on here. I'm sure if anyone knows how to handle it it's you." gives an indication that the two of them may be on Twitter for the long haul.
Not unexpectedly for someone always considered an intelligent footballer, Owen has already shown himself to be very articulate in his tweets whether they are about football, horse racing or just general stuff. To illustrate, he engaged with journalist Oliver Holt and stated inter alia that "the relationship between players and media is poor and needs improving...if papers actually printed what is actually said then I think players would talk to you more openly. I know I would....it's the sensationalising of headlines that annoys most players". The basic content of this exchange was relayed in the following days Daily Mirror, with Holt seemingly embracing the concept of a comfort zone that Owen had found in Twitter. Holt tweeted that Owen was “giving better insight on here than a lot of footballers do". And that was because, as Michael himself implied, the words that people were reading were his and unarguably his. So, to conclude, are Twitter and footballers a good combination? As can be seen from the above examples it very much depends on the individuals themselves. Some just aren't cut out for it, some just need to take care in how they deal with it, and some, well some just seem to be completely at ease with it and have almost found a new lease of life, certainly a new way of expression through it..... Now, if only we could get rid of the idiots who try and ruin Twitter for everyone…Wayne? Wayne? Over here lad…
By Alan Monger Incidentally you can follow the United players on Twitter here: Rio Ferdinand: @rioferdy5 Michael Owen: @themichaelowen Wayne Rooney: @WayneRooney Nani: @luisnani Gary Neville: @GNev2 Ryan Tunnicliffe: @RyanTunnicliffe
Did the Gibson bashers hound him out of Twitter? Not according to Rio.
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Ravel Morrison: @RavelMorrison49
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It has been one hell of a maiden season for us and yet here we are, celebrating United’s 19th league title. Who would have thought that after Craven Cottage and Goodison Park? We would like to take the chance to now praise those stand out players for the season in the 2010-11 awards with all winners being decided by FUB’s website readers.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF 2010-11 This hotly contested category had three outstanding candidates put forth by the readers of FUB. Rafael, Dimitar Berbatov and Luis Nani. A big mention must also go to Fabio, who probably would have made the top three had the poll been conducted at the end of May as opposed to the start of it. Nevertheless Nani ran out the eventual winner, securing 59% of the final votes. Congratulations Nani!
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YOUNG PLAYER OF 2010-11 The short listed candidates for this award were Rafael, Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling, the latter two both enjoying excellent maiden seasons for the club. However it was the little Mexican who ran away with the vote, capturing an astounding 81% following his 20 goal tally for the season. We hope to see more from 22 year old Chicharito next season.
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MATCH OF THE SEASON 2010-11
GOAL OF THE SEASON 2010-11
The was arguably the most difficult category for fans to decide, with six matches to choose from: United 7 Blackburn 1 Schalke 0 United 2 Blackpool 2 United 3 United 3 Liverpool 2 West Ham 2 United 4 United 2 Chelsea 1 (Premier League) It was United’s match with champions Chelsea at Old Trafford which won with 37% of the final vote, most agreeing that this was the match when fans could finally believe the title was ours.
A vote was hardly needed for this award and as you might expect Wayne Rooney’s winner in the Manchester derby ran away with the title of FUB’s goal of the season. Notably mentioned must go to two runner’s up, Berbatov’s third against Liverpool and Javier Hernandez’s backwards header against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. Rooney said of his goal that it was the best he ever scored, which is arguable in itself. Here’s to more next season, Wayne.
PLAYER YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO HIT WITH A BLUNT OBJECT
MATCH OF THE SEASON 2010-11
Whilst fans were allowed to vote for United players in this category, it’s hardly surprising that it was three rival players who battled for this award - John Terry, Mario Balotelli and Jack Wilshere. And captain fantastic, JT, came out on top.
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In a season built on some fantastic individual performances it was hard to pick out one player. Captain, Nemanja Vidic and Hernandez fought valiantly for the title, both securing 30% of the votes, but it was retiring Edwin Van der Sar who can claim the title of FUB’s player of the season.
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Ok so Europe wasn’t meant to be but if you had told me at the start of this season we would be walking away with a record 19th league title I would have been delighted. It is with sadness that we bid farewell to the playing careers of both Edwin Van der Sar and Paul Scholes (not to mention Gary Neville earlier in the season), but it certainly won’t be the last time we see them around Old Trafford. I am sure throughout the next month United will be linked to endless amounts of players, hopefully by the next issue we can be previewing some new signings. Until then let’s try to get through the close season as best we can...as champions.
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ISSUE 4, JUNE 2011 Issue 5 is out on Friday 1st July 2011