UNITED ONE LOVE

LFC vs Arshavin - Back To The Future Style

2009-12-17T17:10:00.002Z

Mic Controller II

2009-11-20T11:36:00.001Z

Mic Controller

2009-11-09T12:00:00.000Z

LFC Dream of Premiership Trophy

2009-11-07T09:44:00.005Z

Rafa Must Stay Whoa Whoa

2009-11-05T07:54:00.000Z

Rooney Dribbles Past Attacking Tyres

2009-11-04T17:08:00.002Z

Loved Up On Fergie

2009-10-29T13:04:00.007Z

Today, there seems to be a lot of ass kissing aimed at the behind of our glorious leader. Even I'm doing it.

Martinez, the Wigan FC manager, backtracked from his earlier rant about Fergie being 'too powerful' and a 'bully' and started grovelling uncontrollably with a long drawn out series of phone calls and a public apology: "I've got the utmost respect for Sir Alex Ferguson...Sir Alex is probably the best manager in the world."

Similarly, the love bug has even spread to the evil United hating Journos

Jeff Powell writing in the Mail today went all out in praise: "And Fergie is the mightiest manager, no matter how bitterly the world outside Manchester United begrudges the dominance exerted by this craggy old Scot over the game England invented." in an article entitled: Sir Alex Ferguson lost top spot at Liverpool and is now public enemy No 1 with referees, but let's remember that he is ... STILL THE GREATEST

Meanwhile still no news on Benitez congratulating Fergie on last year historic league title.

Gotta Love our Away Support

2009-10-28T11:12:00.003Z

As the Barnsley fan ran onto the pitch and made a tit of himself, the United away end chanted 'Fergie Sign Him Up, Fergie Fergie Sign Him Up'.

Andy Goram tells Fergie to F' off

2009-10-27T13:45:00.005Z

Andy Goram recounts the story behind his brief spell at United:

Walter Smith. He was manager of Everton at the time and warned me to keep my phone on because someone was going to ring me.

"What is it, gaffer? You got a job for me?" I asked. "Just keep your f*****g phone on," he growled.

Now I was starting to wonder what was going on. I suspected I was about to get the p*** taken out of me.

Two minutes later, the phone rang again. "Goalie, it's Alex Ferguson here. We've got Bayern Munich on Wednesday and Liverpool at the weekend. Barthez is injured and Raimond van der Gouw is struggling. I need you to come down on loan until the end of the season."

I said: "Coisty, f*** off". And put the phone down. Ally could do Sir Alex perfectly. I wasn't falling for that old one.

The phone rang again and I told Miriam to answer it this time.

"Miriam, this is Alex Ferguson, and you can tell that fat b*****d he's got ten seconds to say aye or naw."

It really was him. I thought I was dreaming.

I'd been playing football for 20 years, and there had been many great moments.

But I don't think many come close to that call from Sir Alex Ferguson.

(Extract from the Sun)

2009-10-19T10:35:00.001+01:00

2009-09-29T19:28:00.000+01:00

Patrice Evra Nike Ad

2009-09-23T12:11:00.001+01:00

Carlos, What's the Score, Carlos Carlos What's The Score?

2009-09-22T09:12:00.003+01:00

Quoted in the Daily Mail, Tevez said:

"I must admit I did believe I would get a different reception from the United supporters.

"Initially everything was positive and I was greeted by my former team-mates and United staff without any problems at all.

"But as soon as I entered the field the atmosphere was very different. It was hard to take because previously I was always wanted by those people."

Similarly, Manchester City's Garrido was taken aback by the atmosphere at the ground:

"I have been in England for two seasons and this was the match with more fanaticism than any other."

"I know other derbies but this atmosphere was incredible, with insults flying as soon as we arrived at the stadium."

Heartbeat of the Team Fletcher Talking Emotion Not Tactics

2009-09-21T18:49:00.002+01:00

“It was an exhausting game to play in. It was emotional because one minute you’re ahead and the next it’s level again. It was up and down, but you have got to believe in yourself and believe in your team-mates.

“The fans got right behind us, it was a great atmosphere and we kept fighting until the final whistle.”

Thats How Much It Meant

2009-09-21T16:14:00.002+01:00

A Rush Like No Other

2009-09-21T12:29:00.005+01:00

Last season, a young Italian striker from the reserves came off the bench and scored a last minute winner that sent me and 73,000 fellow reds into pure emotional delirium. That goal arguably won us the league. Just as importantly, that goal was one of the sweetest football rushes I had ever experienced in a lifetime blessed with incredible moments supporting United.

Yesterday’s 95^th minute winner against our arch rivals was a rush of similar magnitude, albeit preceded by countless moments of rollercoater highs and painful falls.

Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City.

The scoreline, the reports, the analysis only tell one side of this amazing game’s story.

It’s hard to explain to people the emotional aspect of watching football. Many people understand football support as entertainment, a day out, a match day experience. But for many of us, watching football becomes a need that comes from the emotional highs and lows we go through watching our teams play, all the more hightened in certain 'special' matches.

The Manchester derby yesterday was one of those 'special' games.

The commentary afterwards on the radio, the phone-ins and most media reports concentrated on the defensive mistakes, the goals, the added time, the pitch invaders, the goal keeping howlers, all the factual aspects of the day.

Simply, the real story about yesterday’s game lay in the emotional outpouring affecting all concerned.

I hit highs and sank to real lows, all within a few hours. Within that time I had lost my voice, hugged everyone within a 4 seat radius of me, and jumped up and down like I hadn’t done since my days as a toddler.

Arguably the greatest derby in living memory was characterized not by great play, great defences or attackers, but by the remarkable catalogue of events on the pitch and the passion in the stands surrounding these.

So here’s to experiencing last minute winners, heroes returning as villains, derby atmospheres, love for red / hatred for blue, 4-3 score lines, packed stadiums, full blooded chanting, and everything else that makes football the conduit of our passions, and the best legal high around.

Epic 4-3!

2009-09-20T23:30:00.001+01:00

An Everton forum quote:

"F 'em - the Citeh fans have become the biggest set of gobshites in the PL - they deserved fuck all today & that's what they ended up with - they'd be better served asking where their right back disappeared to when Owen was left in acres of space during the dying embers of the game. Lescott was shite today aswell - which was nice.............."

My thoughts on Peter Kenyon Leaving Chelsea FC

2009-09-16T13:36:00.001+01:00

Fred the Red or The Valladolid Bear?

2009-09-15T15:57:00.002+01:00

I Predict a Riot

2009-09-14T11:36:00.001+01:00

2009-08-27T00:03:00.001+01:00

Rossobiachi - Lets get it going!

2009-08-25T23:13:00.002+01:00

The Original River Plate Version

Ay che bostero
Vos sos ortiva
Vos sos amigo
De la policia!

En Mar del Plata
No te plantaste
Con los Borrachos
Como cobraste

Sos cagón, sos cagón! Sos cagón, sos cagón!
Sos cagón, sos cagón! Sos cagón, sos cagón!

The United Version

From the green and gold to Rossobianchi
The boys from Old Trafford mean everything to me
The pride of all Europe, the team above all teams
We are United and so we all sing

United! United!
United! United!
United! United!
United! United!

Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa

2009-08-24T22:59:00.003+01:00

Rafa before the game: "Villa last season was very good, scoring five goals and keeping a clean sheet, with a high tempo and lots of pressing. But I would like to play a little bit better. We were in a very good moment when we beat them and, while I am not saying this to be arrogant, but I think we can improve on that game."

Fergie's Wartime Consiglieri

2009-08-24T15:39:00.003+01:00

Usain Bolt before the 5-0 win at Wigan: "I made a call to Sir Alex. I told him losing is not an option, so he talked to the guys and told them to get it done".

Usain Bolt is a Red

2009-08-21T09:06:00.007+01:00

Usain Bolt demolishes the 100m and 200m world records at the World Championships this week. I put it down to the training he got at Carrington with Fergie and the boys.

Bolt is a big United fan and was interviewed recently saying: " I'm not worried. We have a great side still at Manchester United and I think we'll do well this season.

'We had a solid team last season and we just lost two players. As long as our midfield is strong, I'm not worried.'

Bolt added: 'Alex Ferguson is a very good manager so I am looking forward to this season. Go, Manchester!'

Reaction: Burnley 1-0 United

2009-08-19T23:50:00.002+01:00

Match of The Day Highlights: United v Brum

2009-08-19T12:10:00.000+01:00

Stevie G Boogie

2009-08-18T21:31:00.002+01:00

Squeeky Brum Time

2009-08-17T19:08:00.009+01:00

So with a weakened attack, an injury decimated defence and no star signings, United seem to have inexplicably improved, managing something they have struggled with in recent years, winning on the opening day of the season.

Above all else, having endured two seasons where we failed to beat relatively weak opposition at home in Reading and Newcastle, winning today felt even sweeter than usual.

The performance itself was far from footballing bliss though, a mainly frustrating affair that failed to excite for the most part. The main theme was once again our profligacy in front of goal.

I would love to see the statistic on how many chances we create compared to the number of goals we score. In this game, we had 17 shots on target, 9 off target, 7 saved shots and 10 shots blocked. 1 Goal.

Rooney scored it and was his all action best. Berbatov oozed class and actually broke sweat. If he adds consistency and goals to his link up play, he will be a legend. Evra was once again the left back blueprint of defending and attacking interplay.

My Man of the Match and special shout out goes to Fletcher, someone who is already on the way to being a terrace hero. He was outstanding today, doing all the things we know he is good at from running marathon distances on the pitch to doing a job in both penalty boxes.

Today also, I saw him step us as a real on-field leader, constantly shouting orders and organising the midfield. He paid special attention to Fabio and Valencia throughout the game, encouraging them throughout, and with that both their performances improved as they game went on.

So all in all a great 3 points and flashes of an exciting team for the season ahead.

Be warned though the papers with their uninspired pundits will lazily keep repeating the line: 'How will United cope without Ronaldo and Tevez".

The ABUs (Anyone But United) will repeat this after each game for at least another 14 seasons.

All we need to do is remind them that we had one of our worst scoring seasons last year with Ronaldo and Tevez in attack.

For now I am off to bask in the happiness we all feel on at the start of the new season, with the added knowledge that we are 3 points better off at this stage than both our previous successful seasons.

WTFAMU

Images: United v Birmingham City Opener

2009-08-17T17:29:00.005+01:00

Quickies: United v Birmingham City

2009-08-17T11:24:00.008+01:00

Man of the Match: Evra

A goal line clearance, constant forages into attack, dominant defending.

Star Performers: Rooney, Fletcher and Berbatov

Rooney scored and did what he does best, lead the attack.

Fletcher was a strong leader, constantly encouraging Fabio and Valencia in particular.

Berbatov's link up play and touch was different class. Consistency and goals needed

Underperformers: Fabio

Fabio looked shaky, lunging ino tackles and getting cought out. Improved as the game wore on.

The Opposition: Dogged

Birmingham were solid, and their tackling was impressive. Joe Hart pulled off world class saves.

Moment of the Match: Evra’s goal line clearance.

Birmingham had the momentum, and a goal then would have taken the game back to the edgy play of the opening half.

Old Trafford: A bit subdued as the action on the pitch didn't get the vocal cords going.

Away Fans: Large numbers, loud, and a couple of good chants “We’re gonna win the league”.

Stretford End: “England’s Number 10, England England’s Number 10” at Joe Hart.

Fakht of the Day: 17 shots on target

Thoughts of the Day:

Where was Carrick? Rumours about a bust up with Fergie should turn out to be rubbish.

If only Fletcher could shoot.

Finally a win on opening day.

Footballers on Facebook

2009-08-14T18:42:00.001+01:00

*Taken from the excellent Red News Forum

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Rio Ferdinand: going to hit the Amsterdam cafes before the game, who's in?
Gareth Barry likes this
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Bobby Zamora rejected Phil Brown's friend request
Fraizer Campbell rejected Phil Brown's friend request
Marc-Antoine Fortune rejected Phil Brown's friend request
Michael Owen rejected Phil Brown's friend request
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Arsene Wenger is not worried about his lack of transfers this summer as he has internal solutions 1 hour ago

Alexander Song Billong likes this
Visakri Diaby likes this
Denilson likes this
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Joleon Lescott has to go to work tomorrow : ( 13 minutes ago

Craig Bellamy has joined the group Money is ruining football

- Benjani likes this
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Alberto Aquilani: Oh no! I've just had my new house robbed!!!
Steven Gerrard, Jerzy Dudek, John-Arne Riise, Lucas Leiva, Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch, Jose Reina and Daniel Agger like this
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Sat'day random drinks n' antics LOLZ

Ledley King has been tagged
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Ashley C can't find his fone, can some1 give it a buzz for us?

Jermaine Jenas likes this
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Roque Santa Cruz is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Craig Bellamy is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Carlos Tevez is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Emmanuel Adebayor is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Robinho is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Benjani is looking forward to starting on Saturday
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Steven Gerrard hopes his 'groin' injury clears in time for Sunday z
Yesterday at 20:03 · Comment · Like

Ben Foster Ditto z
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Joleon Lescott became a fan of money.

Gareth Barry likes this
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Marcus Bent is hoping to start at Old Trafford - 1 hour ago
Sir Alex Ferguson Likes This.
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Andy Goram became friends with Andy Goram
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Jamie Redknapp is literally on facebook
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Frank Lampard is LOLing at Stevie G - 3 hours ago 3 comments

-Steven Gerrard ****** off Lamps

-Rio Ferdinand oi oi epic banter lads

-Steven Gerrard did he dedicate the banter to his Mum
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Mike Ashley My evil plan is almost complete.
Niall Quinn & Peter Reid like this.
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Glen Johnson is looking at new toilet seats in B&Q
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Tomas Rosisky is fit and loving life! can't wait for the new season 1 week ago

Tomas Rosisky is depressed
3 days ago
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Samir Nasri is watching Top Gear on Dave. Cheers Abou
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David Moyes is skint

Mark Hughes likes this
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Didier Drogba poked Jens Lehmann 3 years ago

Jens Lehmann went down holding his face

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Rio Ferdinand feels like a prick after his mistake tonight 10 mins ago
Dirk Kuyt likes this
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mark hughes sent jolean lescott invitation to join the group 'Mancity'

invite was rejected

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Steven Gerrard has created a group, "Court, it's fucking easy!"

Eric Cantona does not like this
Joey Barton does not like this
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LFC on the ball again

2009-08-06T13:53:00.002+01:00

Someone should tell the marketing department that he's gone.

Penalty Shocker

2009-08-03T18:55:00.005+01:00

Alex Del Piero takes the baton from Berbatov as the latest high profile striker to miss spectacularly from the penalty spot

Bobby Robson - Play on in Heaven

2009-07-31T15:57:00.003+01:00

Tevez pre-season fitness regime

2009-07-28T21:13:00.003+01:00

Carlos rumbled in today's Daily Mail as he opts for a cheeky pre-season pizza fest. Nothing like extra pepperoni on cheese to help you get in shape for the coming season's relegation battle with City.

Asia Tour 2009

2009-07-27T18:29:00.003+01:00

The tour is over and the boys are back in Europe today. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this pre-season tour on MUTV and apart from the 16 goals in 4 games, I will take a few good memories with me including:

- The stat that there are an amazing 1.2 million United credit card holders in Korea

- The thousands of fans greeting the team at the hotel in China

- The packed stadiums erupting into delirium everytime Rooney or Owen appeared on the big screen

- Park's superstar status in Korea; he's bigger than Becks ever was in the UK

- The most enthousiastic United supporters I have seen yet, including the Palestinian student with a loudspeaker getting the Chinese crowd to chant 'Gory Gory Man United"

Stevie G Acquitted

2009-07-25T13:53:00.000+01:00

A mood of joy swept over the Liverpool FC squad today on the news that their captain, Steven Gerrard, has been acquitted of the charges levelled against him over an assault that took place at the Blue Oyster nightclub in Stockport in December 2008.

The verdict was a clear relief to all connected with the Anfailed club, best highlighted by a source inside the Melwood training ground "Stevie is very popular amongst the boys, and the great news of his acquittal was received by an amazing outpouring of love and team bonding amongst him and his team mates."

This emotional outpouring goes to re-enforce the widely held view in football circles, and a known fakht to their manager Rafaela Benitease, that the LFC squad are indeed a very tightly knit group.

Seoul Man

2009-07-24T14:58:00.000+01:00

Ji Sun Park made his debut "home" appearance in Korea wearing the United shirt he's proudly been representing since 2005.

As Korea's most revered and high profile sportsman, and captain of their national team, he was naturally given a superstar's welcome. What shocked me, and proably anyone not from Korea, is the extent to which his fans revere him and follow his every move.

United were playing FC Seoul as part of the pre-season Asian tour. The game was played in a packed out national stadium in the capital Seoul.

It was a good game with plenty of goals and entertainment. However the highlight for me was the intensity of the adulation Park received throughout a game in which he hardly played.

Every time Park's face would be shown onto the massive stadium screen as he sat on the subs bench during the match, the whole stadium would forget about the match and erupt in Beatle-esque adulation and noise.

Everytime Evra touched the ball, Park's best friend in the team, the crowd would go mental in associative support.

When Park finally came on 16 minutes from the end, he received a full stadium standing ovation. Every time he touched the ball, the crowd went into meltdown. Had he scored, I reckon they would have gone into delirium and launched an all out war on North Korea.

I agree with the adage that "no player is bigger than the club that employs him", but here in Korea, and on this showing, Ji Sung Park is not only bigger than United, but I would even go as far as saying 'He's even bigger than Jesus".

Ji Sun Park
Superstar
We all agree with what they say you are

Paddy & Ji

2009-07-23T23:02:00.000+01:00

Team mates, best friends and more interestingly, a double act that's about as funny as it gets in the world of professional footballers' personalities. Rush Hour 4 anyone?

Slow news day - Kleberson makes an appearance

2009-06-22T11:33:00.000+01:00

Our long lost Brazilian ex player re-appeared yesterday onto our British screens as he appeared for the last 10 minutes of the Brazil v Italy game in the Confederations Cup.

Suffice to say he played a largely unmemorable performance, so nothing has changed then. Although it is amazing how Kleberson has managed to get his place back in arguably one of the best midfields in world football, the Selecao, after 4 years in the wilderness. Good for him I guess.

As a note, he was flown in when our boy Anderson was withdrawn from the squad with an injury, giving more proof if it were needed to our chant "He's much better than Kleberson".

Ronaldo speaks

2009-06-21T09:00:00.000+01:00

The News of The World have an exclusive interview with Ronaldo today, the first since we accepted the Real bid for him.

The summary is:

He wanted to leave us after the Moscow final as he had now won everything with United and wanted a fresh new challenge, at his dream club Real Madrid
However, he admits he handled things badly last summer while trying to force a move
However he believes we still love him as much as he loves us, and that he has done enough for the team to deserve our affections
He admits, although he doesn't apologise, that getting Rooney sent off at the World Cup was wrong, but that his relationship with Wayne did not suffer after that.
He believes Rooney will be a World Player of the Year soon, as he is top quality - "In training, he can volley a ball from 30 yards away and miss your head by one inch every time."It might not sound a big thing but that is how accurate he is all the time."
Giggs, Scholes and Fergie are natural born winners, always hungry for more success, never satisfied
He truly respects and even loves Fergie - "I have said many times that it is the relationship a son has with a father."
Also he says he would never come back to England and play for any other team than United

So in a brief, nothing really we didn't know about, but it was nonetheless nice to hear him say how much he appreciated playing for United.

Something along those lines would have been welcome anytime from last summer onwards, but I guess better late than never.

The Full Artic le

Adios Carlito

2009-06-20T11:32:00.001+01:00

So Carlito is off, and the suits are quick to launch a statement saying they did everything they can to keep him. I doubt that really. But I am not that concerned.

This was no real surprise, even from the outset, with the bizarre structure of the 2 year loan deal. Why if we were 100% convinced in his ability not buy him from the start, and why then buy Berbatov?

The way I see it, we were never really that keen on a player that offered at best a substitute's impact role. Rooney has all Tevez' qualities and much more.

So all in all, I can't say I am too sad he is off. Grateful for him making an impact over the last few years and helping us win silverware. I did enjoy watching him, but I could clearly see his limitations, speed being the most glaring.

Ronaldo wanted to go, and Tevez wasn't good enough. None of which come as a real surprise.

So having known for a while now that those departures were likely, its all about what has been done in the background to strengthen the squad.

I believe United have been working on a number of key signings which if they happen, will make us a more powerful attacking threat. The way we spend the windfalls from both the Ronaldo sale and not buying Tevez will ultimately dictate whether these departures will hurt us or not.

In my mind, I somehow doubt they will, and I support the club in letting both these players leave.

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Club statement on Tevez

Following contact received from Carlos Tevez’s advisors last night, in advance of the deadline the Club set for concluding negotiations, Manchester United announces that Carlos will not be signing a new contract with the Club.

The Club agreed to pay the option price of £25.5m and offered Carlos a five-year contract which would have made him one of its highest paid players.

Disappointingly however, his advisors informed the Club that, despite the success he has enjoyed during one of the Club’s most successful periods, he does not wish to continue playing for Manchester United.

The Club would like to thank Carlos for his services over the last two seasons and wishes him good luck for the future.

Ronaldo < £80m

2009-06-15T12:58:00.000+01:00

Last week the news broke from United that arguably our best player, but more accurately our most high profile player, will be sold to Real Madrid for £80 million pounds.

Since then, there has been a wide range of opinion regarding the move, ranging from depression to elation.

Here are my thoughts, which are somewhere between the two extremes.

Most importantly, is the fact that Ronaldo wanted to leave. Everything has to start from this standpoint.

All the arguments on whether United should have sold or not are irrelevant; he wanted to go and hats off to the suits for getting a record amount of money for him.

Now herein lies the important point, money. If United spend the money on players then everybody (apart from the Glazers) wins.

Ronaldo gets his dream move, United get a stronger squad, the fans get new players to cheer and hopefully, a new number 7 to add a bit of magic (and less ego).

As for Ronaldo the player, well lets face it, he is a bit of a twat and not seeing him amongst the lads will be cool in my book. Richardson was by far my least favourite United player, but Ronnie was increasingly becoming so with his behaviour both on and off the pitch.

Beckham's departure hurt more because although DB was past it in footballing terms, and Ronaldo is prime time, DB loved United and played always as a team member, while Ronaldo has never once kissed the badge, nor ran to one of his team mates straight after scoring a goal. In short, Ronaldo is not the type of player we are used to having at United.

We are finding it difficult to deal with a situation that rarely happens to United fans, one that most fans around the world understand well, the fact that players do ask to be transferred to other clubs.

Ronaldo is the first player I can remember who has asked for a move away* from United.

So all the best to him, where I hope the politics and turmoil of Real will make him realise how lucky he has been at Old Trafford.

Will I miss certain things about him? For sure, the free kicks, the mazy runs, the speed, power and athleticism with which he attacked our rivals really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

One thing I will miss definetley is his chant "Viva Ronaldo", but I guess I will have to make do with the new version of "Viva Da Silva".

A great example of how our club moves onwards and upwards with every set back.

(*Ruud, David Beckham, Heinze etc...we are all pushed out)

FOR SIR MATT

2009-05-27T10:36:00.001+01:00

Sir Matt - Born 100 years ago today

2009-05-26T13:51:00.000+01:00

Cheer up Alan Shearer

2009-05-25T14:06:00.000+01:00

That Boy Ronaldo - The Fakhts

2009-05-24T20:47:00.001+01:00

Evra on hairdryer treatment

2009-05-23T22:16:00.000+01:00

"It was at Arsenal two years ago. Thierry Henry scored in the last second. We came into the dressing room. Oh my God. He was so red, I thought he was going to die. He was unbelievable, People told me about the Hairdryer but I had never seen it. When I did, it was very impressive"

Times Interview with Fergie

2009-05-22T23:39:00.000+01:00

“It was a great upbringing. All we ever did was play football and fight. That’s what you did in these areas."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6337543.ece

Photo of the Day

2009-05-21T18:33:00.001+01:00

United 2-1 Barca in 1991

2009-05-20T23:18:00.000+01:00

Mike Phelan remembers 1991 UEFA Cup Final:

"Barcelona were the favourites that night and quite rightly. Michael Laudrup was one of Barca's big stars of the time. They were talking him up and he was their big match winner. I was given the job of marking him. I just didn't want to let anyone down and thankfully I was happy with my performance. But the game went so quickly I can hardly remember it. My biggest memory was the drugs test afterwards. I was chosen to give a sjavascript:void(0)ample for testing but I was so dehydrated I couldn't do it. I was sat in this little side room on my own and I could hear the lads celebrating. I just wanted to be with them. I was sat drinking a pint of beer with the showers on full in a bid to get me to go to the toilet! Eventually the manager got so fed up waiting and irate he ordered the team bus to go back to the hotel. I was left at the stadium with all the lights going out before I eventually managed to give a sample and I could get to the hotel to enjoy the night."

Extract from "If the Reds Should Play... in Rome or Mandalay."

Quote of the day

2009-05-19T09:31:00.000+01:00

“England is about tribalism. You’ve these different countries in one big country. You’ve Geordies, Yorkshiremen — a game between Manchester United and Leeds is vicious — us and the Scousers. The atmosphere, the intensity, the rivalry — it takes your breath away. You’ve the Midlands and the London teams, all of them little pockets in their own right. That tribalism forces you to do well in the Premier League but the real excitement comes in Europe. The Wednesday night atmosphere when you, maybe, go to Madrid and Barcelona. You can smell the cigars and there’s perfume wafting down from the stands. It’s wonderful, it’s different. I love it. You go to Milan and everyone’s so stylish. Every woman who passes you by is Miss World. The whole atmosphere at these places is unreal.” Fergie

Seasonal Wishes

2009-05-18T12:56:00.001+01:00

What better way to launch our new Manchester United blog than by sharing with you an end of season email sent to our LFC supporting friends.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed sending it.

-----------------------

Dear kopite friends,

It’s that time of year again, when rivalries are put aside, and mutual hand shakes are exchanged after a long season of tough sporting competition.

It’s also the time of year when the trophies are handed out, but we needn’t go into that as it would be disingenuous of me to bring up such a sensitive subject so soon after our celebrations, and so soon after your heartbreak.

So not mentioning trophies, and the title aside, I really wanted to congratulate Liverpool FC on a really good effort this year.

In FACT, I can honestly say it was your best effort in 20 years of trying. You must be proud of having almost pushed us to the last day of the season.

In particularly, I really appreciated all the giddy enthusiasm you all showed when beating us at Old Trafford. Thank you all for your messages, a bit of banter is what it's all about after all.

So with that in mind, I hope you all have a great summer, trophy-less again, but nonetheless, one with renewed "hope in your hearts" as your famous song goes, you know the song, something about not walking alone, you know the one Celtic made famous.

Anyway I digress, simply to say, see all you plucky scousers again next season, and who knows, maybe it will be 21^st time lucky.

In the meantime, good luck in your 2nd-3rd place battle with Abramovich FC next weekend.

I wanted to send you this goodwill message now, as events surrounding our title celebrations and going to Rome for the European Cup final will undoubtedly severely limit my free time and hence any opportunity to write to you all again this season.

And we certainly wouldn't want to disappear into the summer without a few words of encouragement during what can only be a very difficult time, having just been knocked of your perch and all.

Champ18ns