The season that was

The season that was. We had high expectations even at one time we were leading the table then everything bad that could happen happened.

 Injuries struck, Van Gaal decided to make experiments with the players(What is the function of a pre-season?)..

The month of December was the worst, losing to Bournemouth, Norwich..
All this had a toll effect on the fans even sometimes I contemplated not watching any other Man United game for the rest of the season. But my love for the team stood.


We stand with the team in worse and good situation.
The emergency of the young guns, Anthony Martial, Fosu Mensah, Riley, Rashford brought a smile back to my face.

Despite all the struggles the future is bright, bright for all those suffering fans who stood by the team. We are united and we always come back stronger. The question whether it's Mourinho or Van Gaal does not matter.


What matters is we must go back to our winning ways. We have to bring back the fear factor especially at old Trafford.
The season has been disappointing but there is the positive part, not every team qualifies for an FA cup final. Success in your endeavours Man United fans. The Best club # ggmu

Happy Birthday David Beckham

Some good photos and videos of Beckham through the years.

Beckham at Manchester United

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Beckham Preparing to take a freekick for Manchester United.

Beckham last minute freekick that took England to the world cup in 2002.

Videos.
Beckham spectacular goals

Bend it like Beckham. What a goal against Madrid and Greece.

Manchester United vs Aston over the years

Aston Villa fall from grace is just baffling. Just a few years ago they were a force to reckon in English football. Under Martin O’Neal they were a fearsome team with quality players. Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner formed quite a lethal attacking unit. When O’Neal left everything started to crumble and now they are on their way to the championship.

Manchester United has had cracking games against Villa in this Premier League era.

I remember Kiko Macheda saving our backsides as Villa threatened to spoil the party at Old Trafford.

Aston Villa beating us 3-1 at Villa Park in 1995 is also a game to remember. This was the birth of the Fergie Fledglings. The time when Alan Hansen eat humble pie by claiming you can never win anything with kids.

Aston Villa has provided us with some quality players notably Dwight Yorke. Dwight Yorke transfer to Manchester United in 1998  was one of the catalyst for the Treble in 1999.

Ashley Young has also performed quite well since his transfer in 2011..

Mark Hughes also played for the two teams.

I hope they will not stay too long in the championship. 

Manchester United vs Arsenal down memory lane

                        
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Classic Matches between Manchester United and Arsenal 

Manchester United 2 Arsenal 1 1999 FA Cup semi-final (after extra time)

Ryan Giggs wonder goal settled this tie in extra time. Arsenal had the chance to win it through Denis Bergkamp penalty but Peter Schmeichel (the great Dane) saved it.

Manchester United 6 Arsenal 1 2001

A classic display from Dwight Yorke as he scored a hat trick to sink Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Manchester United 0 Arsenal 2 (2002/2003 FA Cup)

Led to the fallout between Ferguson and Beckham. A miskicked boot in the dressing by Ferguson hit Beckham just above the eye brow. He was later sold to Madrid.

Arsenal 2 Manchester United 4(2004)

John O'Shea scored the fourth goal in this unbelievable match.. Cristiano Ronaldo had two, Dennis Bergkamp scored a sublime goal but Manchester United were unstoppable.

Arsenal 1 Manchester United 3 (2009 UCL quarter finals) 

Arsenal had lost the first leg at Old Trafford with a single goal, so they were hopeful of over turning the tie. Their hopes were extinguished in the first 13 minutes by Cristiano Ronaldo and Ji Sung Park.

Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2 (2011 Premier League) 

An odd scoreline. This game was so open that even Arsenal could have scored their own six or eight goals. Every shot on target by Manchester United was a goal. Ashley Young was astounding same as Rooney. Robin Van Persie was immense for Arsenal.

Manchester United 3 Arsenal 2(2016 Premier League) 

The day Marcus Rashford announced himself to the world. Two clinical finishes and an assist to Ander Herrera condemned Arsenal to defeat. This game everybody expected Arsenal to roll over Manchester United because of the team Manchester United were fielding after the first team had been ravaged by injuries.

ANDY COLE

Andy Cole was one of the most feared strikers in world football. His strike partnership with Dwight Yorke was fearsome especially in from 1998-2001. Here are some goal highlights from Andy Cole as I wish him a quick recovery.

This combination with Dwight Yorke against Barcelona was telepathic..

Some of his best goals..

The partnership was just crazy...

All his goals for Manchester United

What about this one against Bayern Munich..

We go back to 1996/97 season champions league against FC Porto.

Quick recovery Andy Cole Legend

Manchester United vs Chelsea goal highlights

Some great goals between Manchester United and Chelsea.

Gianfranco Zola solo goal in 1998..

My favourite Cristiano Ronaldo 2008 Champions League final

Another from,  Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004...

What about this cracker of a game that ended 5-3 in favour of  United in

1998

The speed of Antonio Valencia is so devastating.

One of the finest players to grace Stamford Bridge..Didier Drogba scored this in the FA CUP final...

Come on United. The best team.  Three points against Chelsea will do me good. 

Manchester 0 Southampton 1

While I agree the buck stops with the manager, the players are much to blame for this pathetic performance.

While the manager sets a team to play in a certain way the players are not supposed to be rigged. They supposed to show some creativity and individual brilliance. This game lacked all that, there was no one to unlock the Southampton defence since nobody was willing to do so. It's true Manchester United is missing some players but the others need to stand out for the fans if not for the manager.

Watching them struggling on the pitch is too disheartening to the supporters.

Southampton were not there for the taking but the DNA of Manchester United is to fight to the end, not to look like headless chicken in front of their own fans. What happened to the scary atmosphere at Old Trafford? Why do the players seem to fear the fans? The fans keep encouraging them to attack but they seems so timid such that they can't beat a man.

The midfield was just non existant, Schneiderlin and Fellaini in the first and then with Herrera in the second didn't do justice to the red Jersey.

Jesse Lingard game today was worse, crossing the ball seamed a new experience to him.

Van Gaal part in this defeat is his substitutions, why did he not remove Lingard early? Where was Depay, he has been our saviour in recent matches?

Why does he insist on starting with Fellaini instead of Juan Mata?

This performance is just unacceptable. 

Manchester United vs Southampton Video highlights

As we await for Southampton on Saturday here are some video  highlights the two teams.

Starting us of is this 2004/2005 encounter. 

Anthony Martial struck twice as this two teams met early in the season 

The above game also involved a 45 pass move goal.. 

In January 2013 Man United won 2-1

Liverpool vs Manchester United Outlook

What we learned from the epl el clasico.

Van Gaal was able to survive  

He has been under pressure from most man united fans and the English media but from the start of January he has been given a lifeline. Guess the player who has come up to his rescue? 

                                 All of Rooney's goals against Liverpool

None other than the much maligned Wayne Rooney. When Manchester United were going through that rough patch, from November to the whole of December, the player who had the most wrath from fans was Rooney.

His form had nose dived and he looked a pale shadow of his former self. Then suddenly he has burst back to form. Four goals in as many games has been impressive. There is a smile back on his face and also on Van Gaal’s.

The win against Liverpool does not mean they played good football. In fact they had only two shots on target and the first shot resulted  in the goal. 

                   highlights of Rooney against Liverpool

The most impressive thing about the performance was the ability of the team to control possession and limit Liverpool attacking threat.

Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp have been very fast from the blocks as they did against Arsenal a week ago. In that game they scored early but poor defending let them down.

Liverpool a work in progress

The most successful British team in the Champions League has been so disappointing for the past few seasons. They last won the English league in 1990, that's almost 26 years ago. Their last champions league triumph was that memorable night in Istanbul in 2005. From that time they have promised but ended up deceiving us. They ran Man United close for the league title in 2009 but failed to win it. In 2013 led by Luis Suarez they seemed unstoppable only for Gerrard to fall during that crucial loss against Chelsea therefore handing the title to Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp seems to be getting his team working together and from their last two performance, against Man United and Arsenal, they are a work in progress.

They are good at attacking, with Roberto Firmino standing out. If they had Philipe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge then they could have got better results in those two games.

The two teams I do not expect them to challenge for the title this time but next season they could be unstoppable. The only question is whether Van Gaal will survive upto 2017..

Liverpool vs Manchester United

Liverpool vs Manchester United

The biggest game on the English calendar although some fans will disagree considering the fortunes of the two teams.

Manchester United have gone two seasons trophyless after the retirement of their coaching wizard Sir Alex Ferguson while Liverpool after the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona have become more of a mid table side.

Today's game lacks the significance of yester years. The times Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane Cristiano Ronaldo seams along time ago.

Jurgen Klopp is introducing his style of play at Anfield. So far it's been entertaining except for the results which have been mixed. They attacked well against Arsenal in midweek but their defending let them down.

I expect them to continue with the same mode of play against United. For United they have been strong in defence but weak in attack. They seemed to have changed their mode of play on Tuesday against Newcastle but their defence crumpled.

Van Gaal must find a balance between attack and defence but for now with most first team Midfielders injured he will have to be cautious.

Maroune Fellaini was visible early against Newcastle but then faded. He didn't help in tracking back the Newcastle players which ended up costing United a victory they deserved.

Expect the game to be cagey with few openings as United will try to control possession waiting for any openings. Liverpool on their part will be pressing high up the pitch the Klopp’s way.

A draw may be a good result for both teams but this is a derby and fans will be wanting blood. 

LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER UNITED highlights

Is fireworks still in this game? Dubbed the El Classico of English football the clash has lost a lot of its significance in recent seasons but not to the fans of the teams.

The above video one of the classic moments between the two teams in 2009. Liverpool were unplayable in this game hammering Man United 4-1 at Old Trafford.
What about this one in 2008 with Javier Mascherano receiving his marching orders

Liverpool had there on moments in Moyes Error walloping United home and away

A young man came from Monaco and what way to make his debut this season. Take a bow Anthony Martial

While the teams no longer fight for the title this game still remains important to the fans. Voices will rise with emotions for perceived injustices, songs will be sang and alcohol will be drunk. Who will take the bragging rights between the two most succesful teams n English Football? Sit and enjoy.

Manchester United vs Newcastle

Newcastle vs Manchester United

This is a tricky fixture for Man United considering there recent lack of form.

There style of play has been lethargic and it's as if nobody is willing to take the initiative.

We can blame Van Gaal for everything including the style of play, the formations but in the end the bulk stops with the players.

Manchester 4 Newcastle 3 Highlights 

They are not robots so as to follow Van Gaal's tactics to the later.

There should be moments of inspiration from the players, they know the results have been bad.

The spot has been on their manager and the entire squad. (300x250)" >

Memphis Depay provided one moment on Saturday against Sheffield, he knew how badly the team needed the win. Instead of passing sideways he tried to beat his man and he was rewarded.

As I had said the fixture is tricky for both teams. Newcastle are fighting relegation and Van Gaal is fighting for his job. A while ago you would have expected Man United to bag the three points but now the question is whether they will avoid defeat and will they  manage a shot on target (they had two against Sheffield at Old Trafford).

Rooney against Sheffield 

Man United have lost their last two away games that is at Bournemouth and at Stoke. If you consider the Champions League game against Wolfsburg then they have lost their last three games.

They have not lost against Newcastle since 2012 January when a Demba Ba inspired Newcastle hit them 3-0.

Head to Head Manchester United have lost just two of their previous 26 league clashes with the Magpies (W18, D6).

Morgan Schneiderlin and Michael Carrick are available for this fixture although Bastian Schweinsteiger is unavailable after picking an injury against Sheffield United.

This is what Paul Scholes had to say about United performance against Sheffield……

Manchester United's players and manager Louis van Gaal "look bored" and are "going through the motions",.

Which completely defines United players at this time of the season.

A draw for Man United will be a good result. A win and there fans will be over the moon. 

8-2 WHERE DID THOSE PLAYERS GO?

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The Bbc sport in its match report had said Man United had inflicted a total humiliation on Arsenal. Going ahead to say it was the worst defeat of Arsenal since 1896.

The guardian  reported that this was a relegation day for Arsenal and that Man United were gleefully unsparing as they illustrated  all the weaknesses in the ranks of the opposition who could no longer be taken as members of the elite.

The question now is what happened to that squad of players who completely demolished Arsenal at Old Trafford?

 Five players that played that day are still at Old Trafford David De Gea, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young.

I am going to look briefly at the players who started that game and have since left.

Anderson

He showed so much promise when he arrived from Porto in 2007. Confident with the ball and an eye for a killer pass he was considered the perfect replacement for Roy Keane. All of his talent was on display in the 2007-2008 season where he played a pivotal role for Manchester United helping them to win the Premier League and the Champions League against Chelsea in Moscow.

He was still an integral part of Man United in 2008-2009 season guiding them again to another Champions League final but they lost to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. He won his second Premier League title. 
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Something to note was his tendency to drift out of the game especially in the second half.

It is this tendency and weight which eventually took toll on him and he left United first for a loan stint at Fiorentina and then he was sold to International  Brazil.

Tom Cleverley

Loan stint at Wigan where he impressed convinced Ferguson he was now mature for the big stage and boy did he perform in this game against Arsenal. He and Anderson were the fulcrum as Manchester United dictated play against Arsenal. He never really produced another eye catching performance, maybe because his form was curtailed by frequent injuries or he was not cut out for Manchester United.

He now plies his trade at Aston Villa after Van Gaal deemed him surplus to requirement.

Nani

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He came together with Anderson from Porto in 2007. A highly talented and gifted player his only weakness was over elaborating and decision making. Just as Ronaldo had started at Man United with so many footwork, Nani started the same and most of Man United were hopeful he will become a team player. His game was not entirely that negative like this goal he scored against Tottenham (I think his first premier league goal).

As a successor for Cristiano Ronaldo he never fulfilled his potential but he had his best moments most notably against Arsenal. In this game he was in his imperious best even capping of with a goal.

He was loaned to Sporting Lisbon and later sold to Fenerbahce in Turkey.

Welbeck

I was surprised when Van Gaal sold him to Arsenal but apart from helping Arsenal win the FA cup he has been on the sidelines with an injury.

He was a good focal point of attack but sometimes he missed so many chances.

In this game he started the scoring and tormented Arsenal throughout. A Ferguson favourite, I always thought he was destined for better things at Old Trafford but I think during Moyes era his performances were a little bit below per just as most of the other players.

If he shrugs his injury problems he can fit well with the gunners.

Patrice Evra, Ji Sung Park left after having served Manchester United well. 

IN 2007 AGAINST WATFORD

The last time Watford played Manchester United in the Premier League was in 2007, precisely January 2007. The win for Manchester United that day was comprehensive. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, you guessed right a penalty. A deflected Kieran Richardson shot, remember him, made it two nil after the hour mark. Henrik Larsson got the third just after coming in as a substitute to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Eyebrows were raised when United bought Henrik Larsson on loan from Helsingborg in early january 2007.

The previous season he had won the champions League with Barcelona after coming in as a substitute late in the game. He set Eto’o for the equalising goal and also set up Juliano Beletti winning goal.

This was one of sir Alex Ferguson masterstroke’s that season. United had not won the league for three consecutive seasons and the media had already said Ferguson was past his best. He should have retired in 2003 as he had planned.

Arsenal had won the 2004 premier League on a canter even managing to go the whole season unbeaten.

Then the Russian money had arrived at Stamford Bridge and young Jose Mourinho was hired from Fc Porto. The 2005 and 2006 premier league campaigns by Manchester United were dismal. Chelsea won on both occasions, infact in 2006 they finished fifteen points ahead of United.

When the 2006-2007 season began the questions on many people's mind were how Rooney and Ronaldo will play together considering Ronaldo's role in Rooney's sending off in the 2006 world cup quarter finals.

But starting from the first game against Fulham  where they combined with deadly effect the fears were unfounded.

So against Watford it was no surprise when they combined for the fourth goal taking Manchester United six points clear and later to the first title in 4 seasons.

Here is how the main media houses in the UK reported.

 

Despite a slow start, United took the lead through a Ronaldo penalty, but it was a ten-minute second-half spell which gleaned an own goal and one apiece for Wayne Rooney and substitute Henrik Larsson to secure all three points.
Sir Alex made five changes to the team that beat Portsmouth 2-1 in the FA Cup on Sunday, most notably promoting United’s two-goal hero Rooney….. manutd.com

Gabriel Heinze
Kieran Richardson
Cristiano Ronaldo
Tomasz Kuszczak
Nemanja Vidic
Wayne Rooney
John O'Shea
Gary Neville…… sky sports.

Manchester United have the air of a team in complete control of their own destiny, so a side of Watford's limitations were always going to struggle in a contest their manager Aidy Boothroyd had likened to "Muhammad Ali against Jimmy Krankie"....... the guardian.

Manchester United produced a dominant second half display to see off Watford.
A Cristiano Ronaldo penalty midway through the first half put them ahead after Jay DeMerit had pulled back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the area.
Watford nearly equalised when Chris Powell's cross hit the post but when Lloyd Doyley deflected in Kieran Richardson's cross it was all but over.
Substitute Henrik Larsson sidefooted home his first Premiership goal and Wayne Rooney scored with a fine lob….. bbc sport.

Let's hope yesterday's win is a good sign for things to come just like in 2007.