18 and that’s a fact!
May 18, 2009
This weekend we saw Manchester United crowned the champions of England for the 18th time and boy was this number emphasized. You see, United’s arch rivals Liverpool are also currently on 18 league titles. Now that United are level their fans saw fit to rub this in a bit, especially since Liverpool haven’t won the league since 1990.
It was even more of an issue because of Rafa’s rant earlier in the season where he strangely produced a piece of paper during a press conference which had a list of what he kept referring to as facts. This was too many people’s amusement, especially United’s fanbase, and many commented that “Rafa was cracking up” which has been chanted at a few grounds this season.
Bring on the day that United were set to face Arsenal at Old Trafford – only a point was needed – and a point is what they got. United’s fans turned out in thousands, 75,468 of them to be precise, with a variety of banners of which the majority referred to the fact that it was their 18th.
Now United can look forward to the champions’ league final in Rome, where they face Barcelona. If they win it could mean they repeat the success they had last year and then some – roll on Rome.
Giggs takes Player of the Year Award
April 29, 2009
Manchester United’s legendary midfielder Ryan Giggs has been awarded the PFA Player of the Year at the awards ceremony held in London last night.
Giggs fought off competition from team mates Nemanja Vidic, Christiano Ronaldo and goalkeeper Edwin van der Saar as well as from Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.
It is just reward for the Manchester United man after he rolled back the years to produce some inspirational performances. These have already secured the Carling Cup and with the Premier League championship and the Champions League within reach, the season may well have a successful ending for the Welshman.
Surprisingly, this is the first time which Giggs has picked up the accolade and he has moved quickly to dilute suggestions that he is set to retire at the end of the season. Speaking straight after the awards, Giggs sated that as long as he is still enjoying the game and feels as though he is offering something to the team then he will carry on playing.
Aston Villa’s Ashley Young capped a great season by securing the PFA Young Player of the Year award whilst one of the biggest surprises of the night came when the PFA Premier League Team of the Year was introduced yet did not include striker Wayne Rooney
WIE plays tribute to the Hillsborough 96
April 22, 2009
Twenty years ago, ninety six Liverpool fans died as a result of the Hillsborough tragedy.
They had travelled to the home of Sheffield Wednesday for the FA Cup Semi Final against Nottingham Forest not knowing of the carnage which would unfold.
A hold up on the motorway meant that many Liverpool fans were late arriving at the ground and as they approached the Leppings Lane End, they would have seen a frantic rush for the turnstiles developing.
This led to the exit gates being opened and people entering the ground through this method.
What then followed will live in the memory of everyone who was present for the rest of their lives.
The crowd became crushed to the point that they could not breath and this was particularly the case with those stood at the front of the terrace.
In the struggle to get out and save themselves many people saw scenes which will never be forgotten. Advertising boards where used as make shift stretchers and people tried to save the lives of those around them as well as their own.
It was truly the blackest day in English football and must never be forgotten or repeated.
WIE plays tribute to the Hillsborough 96 – may you rest in peace.
United dumped out of FA Cup
April 21, 2009
The quintuple is officially off. Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup yesterday by an Everton side who have reached their first final since 1995.
Ironically, it was United who Everton beat 14 years ago where a Paul Rideout goal ensured that the FA Cup made its way to the blue side of Liverpool.
Although yesterday’s match was by no means a classic, Everton fans will simply not care less – they are in the final and that is all that matters.
However, I for one was slightly concerned with Ferguson’s team selection which perhaps did not respect the competition. The United Manager opted to play an array of second string players and therefore can not argue with being dumped out.
Ultimately they were to fail during a penalty shoot out with Berbatov’s miss one of the most pathetic spot kicks which you will ever hope to see.
Any one of the vast crowd within the stadium could have made a better attempt at the spot kick which Tim Howard saved with ease.
United deserved to go out, if nothing more for the relaxed attitude which they seemed to have from start to finish.
Everton will meet Chelsea in the final after they overcame London rivals Arsenal in Saturday’s other semi final.
Football in the sun anyone?
March 31, 2009
Every now and again, somebody comes up with an idea which may change the face of football forever. At the moment, there are plans to introduce video technology as well as a third linesman for example. However, trawling through the masses of literature on the internet, I became interested in another concept which does seem plausible.
This surrounds moving the football season so it encapsulates the summer months rather than the cold hard winter. Now many years ago, when I was a child, I became incredibly frustrated that just as the weather warmed up, and everyone had the chance to go out and play, the goalposts were taken down everywhere you looked – how annoying is that?
In terms of generating attendances, particularly at the lower end of the football spectrum – moving the season to the summer could also have major benefit in terms of attractiving the floating fans. People are more likely to stand outside and watch football when the weather is nice rather than freezing cold aren’t they?
Saying that though – isn’t becoming freezing cold at a football match part of it’s tradition and appeal.
What do you think? Would you be in favour of a summer move ?
Liverpool destroy Villa
March 22, 2009
Steven Gerrard rendered the title race wide open after his hat trick helped see off Aston Villa at Anfield this afternoon.
The Liverpool skipper helped to ensure that his side’s poor home record did not continue against a Villa side who still have very real hoped of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
The Reds have had a perfect weekend with both United and Chelsea slipping up which has raised their belief that the title race is still very much on. They are now just one point behind their deadly rivals although United do have a game in hand against struggling Portsmouth.
Realistically. Liverpool will pretty much have to win every game from now until the end of the season to see off their rivals at the final reckoning. But this afternoon will give them every confidence that they can go on and do that.
You have to say that after back to back defeats, United will come back strongly and are still the team to beat, but it is good for the neutrals if we have a genuine title race this season.
Liverpool could also go head to head with United in the Champions League final in May and realistically this could well be their only hope of securing a trophy this year.
Come on all you “United fans” – lets be ‘avin you!
March 9, 2009
I would not say that I am a Manchester United supporter by any stretch of the imagination. Pretty much anywhere you go in the country you will see people with the famous red shirts on complete with names and numbers on the back, who state that they support the Old Trafford outfit. The question which we all have to ask is how do you define “support”.
United are said to have the largest fan base in the world and there is no doubt that they are a massive global brand. However, does the fact that you have bought their latest shirt and occasionally watch them on Sky make you a “supporter”.
The reason I am bringing this up is that too many people say that they support successful teams and as a result consciously ignore their local teams as a result. If you look in the Manchester vicinity for example, you will see many teams, both league and non league who are struggling to find people to come through their turnstiles.
How many of these people are choosing to watch Soccer Saturday instead? In my mind they should take a hard look at themselves and consider the joys of live football in their local area. Watch United on the television for sure – but not at the expense of your local side who really do need you!
Fergie set for a clean sweep?
February 28, 2009
Surely it cannot happen – can it? One team winning all four major trophies in the same season? Manchester United go in to this afternoon’s Carling Cup final with Spurs knowing that a victory will set them on their way to be the most successful side in English football ever.
Although Fergie is set to rest Rooney, Vidic, Carrick and Van der Saar, the team expected to start the final is a competitive one and also an attacking one. Surprisingly, midfielder Paul Scholes has never experienced a victorious League Cup winning team and he will be going out all guns blazing to rectify this.
The league, if we are honest is wrapped up already – the most competitive competition which United are still involved in is surely the Champions League. I would say that they are favourites to beat Inter in the return leg of their last sixteen match and there are not many teams who will want a trip to the North West in the Quarter Finals.
Personally, the only team which I can see beating United is Barcelona, but even they have gone off the boil in recent weeks.
It would be a brilliant achievement if the Reds achieved a clean sweep of trophies – it will probably never happen again in our lifetimes so I for one am behind Fergie and his team.
The title race is surely over now!
February 28, 2009
The title race is now surely over. L:iverpool’s two nil defeat at Middlesborough has surely put the nail in their Championship ambitions and with Manchester United seemingly running away with the league, is it now time to say that they deserve it.
Liverpool looked to be the main threat to United’s crown a few weeks back but a series of poor results have made everyone think what is going on at Anfield. Teams who win the league do not draw so many matches against weak opposition, and Liverpool have done this time and time again. Benitez is a great big game Manager, but he looks to be hopelessly inept when it comes to facing teams like Fulham, West Ham and Manchester City.
Chelsea are also out of the race in my opinion and are paying for the appointment of Big Phil. In the summer he looked a great acquisition but things did not go his way and he paid the ultimate price for it. Anything other than a clean sweep of trophies is a failure at the Bridge, and therefore Phil’s departure was pretty obvious to predict.
Arsenal this season are awful, lets face it. Wenger must feel that his job is in the balance come the summer after a range of poor results sees the Gunners struggling to even make a Champions League place.
So there you have it – well done United although nobody really challenged you this season did they?
United looking good to progress
February 25, 2009
This was the first leg of one of the most important games of the season for both teams. Manchester United took the game to Inter from the off and dominated the first half with a number of free kicks on the edge of Inter’s 18 yard box.
Manchester United continued to push forward to try and break the deadlock, but as the first half came to an end, Man of the Match Julio Cesar stood tall in the Inter goal. The man was truly in the form of his life!
The second half saw Inter come out and try to play Manchester United at their own game, forcing the tie into a more open affair, but still no one was able to score. With Mourinho making three substitutions and Ferguson making one, neither manager could out wit the other to try and break the deadlock. It was like watching a game of chess unfold before your eyes.
Inter were still pushing for the goal, and came close to it in the closing minutes, when they were awarded a corner, but couldnt put the ball past van der Sar. The final whistle came after another free kick to Manchester United, which again, they were unable to capitalise on. At the end of the first leg, Manchester United will look back on the missed chances, and Inter will be thankful or the match saving heroics of Julio Cesar.
United must hold the upper hand now and it would take a brave man to bet against them progressing through to the quarter finals.
