The United Way

"At Manchester United we strive for perfection and if we fail we might just have to settle for excellence" - Sir Matt Busby

 I had never heard this quote before, I'm not sure why but I just never came across it. It's a quote which, to me atleast, sums up Utd. It sums up why I support Utd.

I was born in 1988 and so when I was starting to watch football (2nd half of the 90's) I didn't just support Man Utd because they where the best team in the premiership, I followed them because my father followed them. And he started to support United back in the Tommy doc era in the mid-70's. This unlike now was against the grain, especially in our family, Liverpool where dominating in the League and Europe. He followed them because they had a number of Irish players but also because of how they played. He does not reminisce of the league titles or European cup in the 50's and 60's under Busby as it was before his time. But even in this lull of tittles from United, there was something in the way they played and the way they carried themselves that appealed to him. 

I think the quote from Sir Matt Busby, summarises this attitude. At Man Utd we will strive to be perfect, to make sure things are always done the right way. As I have mentioned, I started to follow Man Utd in the 90's and so I have known little but glory, people attack me for this, that I am a glory hunter, which I am not. I followed Utd because of my father but I have continued to support them over the years not because of the success, but because of the way Manchester United do things.

I also think as the game has grown over the past two decades with TV,  the money, players from all-around the world playing in different leagues there is one reason and one reason only that United has kept doing things the right way....Sir Alex Ferguson!

We cannot be thankful enough that SAF came to United when he did and that he has been allowed to stay in charge and hold the club stable over this period of explosion in world football. The tradition of wearing the suits to matches still in tact is a prime example of how Utd still do things the right way and when they are representing the club the players all know what is expected. We no official statements are made by the club regarding transfers until they are confirmed and the transfer fees are never disclosed from the Man United end.

Without him at the helm we may have spiralled into a manger a season mode, not allowing anybody to make a mark and leaving the club in disarray. But Ferguson has upheld the tradition and attitude on Man Utd and implanted it into every player that has crossed his path, if they did not meet the standard, they were shown the door. Many of the mangers brought into other clubs today are shown the door by the players as the chairmen look to keep their star players rather than keep the manager. No player should ever be bigger than the club, no matter what club that may be.

This leads me to think to the future, after Ferguson retires. I hope when-ever that is that the right decision is made in appointing his successor, they will be give the time to create their own squad and more importantly they uphold the traditions of the club and play the United way!

I am proud to support Manchester United, not just because we are champions, its because;

We always go out to attack, we always go out to win, we always go out to play until the final whistle. There is no other way. We are Manchester United, Not Arrogant....Just Better.

Please subscribe, comment and share with friends, this blog is just beginning and I would love to hear your opinions on how to improve or what topics I should be looking at.

Friendly with the Enemy

What an odd situation to find ourselves in. A friendly against Barcelona, only 2months after being defeated by them in the last competitive match of the season. Although this now looks like a disastrous fixture for United, it was arranged well in advance of the Champions league final (announced on 29/03/11 to be exact) and poised to be a show case between the two greatest club sides in the world, to show America how good the game can be.....unfortunately that seems to be exactly what has happened with the two clubs meeting on the 28th of May for the crown. (even more unfortunate that United lost)

Many people have been talking about this game being a chance to get revenge, others saying that will be the cry if Manchester win but if we lose it line will be that it was only a friendly.

I view it slightly differently in that if we win, everybody will state its only a friendly and if we were to meet again (towards the end) of next season we couldn't repeat the feat. Then if we lose they will use this as a platform to once again question Uniteds credentials alongside the likes of Barca. To me it seems we cannot win in this situation, it will be played down if we win and blown up if we lose.

Fergies has stated this week that he would happily play his youngsters against Barcas youngsters as it would be very interesting. I also think it would void the result as an opportunity for the sports media to pounce on us and create pressure within the squad before the start of the new season.

I think I have come across very pessimistic in this post, I don't mean to and I am looking forward to the Barcelona friendly more than I have any of the rest. And the result will be meaningless when the season starts, regardless if we do meet Barcelona or not. I am not looking forward to the the media hype, whether we win or lose, which will more than likely follow the result. I'm just hope the tie has no negative effects on the mentality of the squad.

Please subscribe, comment and share with friends, this blog is just beginning and I would love to hear your opinions on how to improve or what topics I should be looking at.

No.1 Knows!?

Sir Alex has probably already made this blog entry null and void as he said in a press conference last week that David de Gea would be starting the new season between the sticks. Maybe it is also naive to think a couple of pre-season appearances could overturn this season but Anders Lindegaard has been impressive while on the pitch in the USA.

Although it is hard to judge any player in pre-season, judging the goalkeeper may be the most difficult task. They are not facing the same quality of crosses and shots when touring other leagues such as the MLS, with the number of times they are called into action also being limited. So maybe everybody asking the question de Gea or Lindegaard is a bit hasty.

Obviously the main pro for Lindegaard is that he has had time to settle in at Utd and may have a better idea of the atmosphere and pressures of playing in the English league. A second pro for the (someday great?) Dane would have to be his sheer confidence and self-belief he has in himself. Talking in the press when he signed that he did not come to Man Utd to sit on the bench and he would be pushing for the No.1 spot at Old Trafford. He has again re-itterated these sentiments this week stating;

"It's not about making the choice [as to who plays in goal] difficult for him [Sir Alex]," Lindegaard told ManUtd.com. "For me, it's about being number one. That is what it's all about - playing. I enjoy competing and, so far, I feel very good."

Its a horrible problem, because when a keeper does establish himself as the No.1 choice, it is important to keep him in nets to help his consistency. It is not a position where the manager can decided to swap and change or let the keepers take it in turns.

In my opinion, we will see de Gea start the season in nets, he was not bought for nothing and has had much stronger experience as a first team keeper compared to Anders. I don't believe Lindegaard could change Sir Alex's mind in the few appearances pre-season, but he has certainly done himself no harm. He has done well and won himself over a number of fans I'm sure, and provided himself a great platform to start off nipping at David's feet!

Perhaps he has created a selection problem where many thought their wouldn't be one. Hopefully both have a good season in which ever matches they play as the have a massive pair of boots gloves to fill.

Please subscribe, comment and share with friends, this blog is just beginning and I would love to hear your opinions on how to improve or what topics I should be looking at.

What Would Fergie do?

Two sections of this blog, the first will be regarding the that mature, cultured and all-round complete forward of Manchester City, you know that one which we all wish we had in our team.....oh wait, its actually about Mario Balotelli. The hot-headed, petulant child that I feel will never reach his potential due to his poor attitude. If you haven't seen the following clip already, check it out before reading on (if you have seen it, watch it again anyway and laugh out loud please)

At least Mancini had the balls to substitute the arrogant Balotelli immediately after his epic fail. (although I can't help but feel if he had scored, the Americans would have loved it) Though it was so unnecessary and an embarrassing attempt at goal, compounded with the American supporters jeering the young Italian it really left Mancini with little other choice. My real point of this blog Marios reaction after being brought of and the side-line argument with his manager. What would Sir Alex do if this ever happened, i'm sure over the years there has must have been a few players who have gone straight down the tunnel in the heat of the moment (and I'm sure they also received an appropriate hair-dryer shaped punishment at the least), but if anything like the the disrespect shown to Mancini, arguing with him on the touch line was shown towards Sir Alex I wouldn't imagine a much longer career in the red shirt for that player. I cannot see the same fate befalling young Balotelli, who would want him anyway.

The second section is to do with Sir Alex's most recent press conference where he says the summer spending is over! He gave to following quote; 

"At this moment in time I can't see any other additions," he said. "The type of players we may have been looking for are not available to us. So therefore I have to be happy with the players I have and carry on."

This seems it could be a bit more mind games to me than a fact. Maybe waiting on a drop in price or for the players agents to push for the move a bit harder. Either way, I'm not saying that there is 100% still going to be more signings. I'm just saying don't rule it out. Fergie may just be slowing things down with moves for Nasri and Sneijder being massively hyped by the media, it does not help negotiations.

P.s. We cannot look at Balotelli video's without looking at bib-gate 2010... Enjoy.

Please subscribe, comment and share with friends, this blog is just beginning and I would love to hear your opinions on how to improve or what topics I should be looking at.