Manchester United

[nev]

Apparently LVG was livid with Rooney for not passing the ball on the penalty.

[Bredbury Blue]

Apparently LVG was livid with Rooney for not passing the ball SIDEWAYS on the penalty.

[nev]

“Look at each other,” Sir Alex Ferguson said in a small meeting room at the Marriott hotel in Birmingham. “Look to your left . . . now, look to your right.” The players glanced at team-mates on either side. “Think about how good the players around you are in this team. Trust them. Trust in each other. Trust in yourselves. Trust the badge.

“We have done our preparation. You are playing for United, the biggest club in the world. You have millions of supporters behind you. We are not just a club; we are a family. Trust the fact that you have practised, run, sacrificed, more than anyone else on the field tonight. Don’t forget that. Never forget that.”

The date was April 14, 1999, and the time was 5.30pm. In less than three hours, Manchester United would take to the pitch against Arsenal in an FA Cup semi-final replay at Villa Park. But this was not the only challenge facing the group. United were also in the semi-final of the Champions League and top of the Premier League. The Treble was a possibility.

The United bus arrived at Villa Park at 6.20pm. Philip Neville, who had been named in the team alongside the surprise inclusions, Teddy Sheringham, Jesper Blomqvist and Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer, took a deep breath. Arsenal boasted some of the finest players in the league, including Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Tony Adams. This was a fierce challenge.

“It felt like I was in a trench,” Neville said later. “We had drawn with them three days before. It was two worlds colliding. I had never felt like that before. I never go into a game thinking of fighting. I always have a clear aim. I am calm. I try to have perspective. But that night I could taste the pressure, the tension, the adrenaline. I can still taste it now.”

The match unfolded at a breathless pace. Both teams had terrific organisation, and rock-solid defences, but they also played with flair. David Beckham, for long stretches of the game controlling the midfield, scored with a shot in the 18th minute that seemed to turn sideways in the air. Bergkamp equalised for Arsenal 22 minutes into the second half. The match was perfectly poised.

But when Roy Keane, the United captain, was sent off for a second bookable offence with 19 minutes remaining, it seemed like it was all over. United had played a sequence of strength-sapping games, were running on fumes, and were up against a team adept at exploiting the smallest of weaknesses.

And yet hold on they did. Peter Schmeichel saved a penalty from Bergkamp as the clock ticked into stoppage time, and then United repelled waves of Arsenal aggression. With a few minutes of extra time to go, and fans on both sides having shouted themselves hoarse, the decisive moment happened.

Ryan Giggs had been brought on for Blomqvist 16 minutes into the second half. Most people had expected a defensive change, but Ferguson decided to go for the jugular, even as his quarry were sizing up his own team for the kill. “Get on, Ryan,” he said. “Dixon is tiring. Don’t be afraid to run at him. Try to make something happen.”

For many Old Trafford loyalists, the FA Cup replay against Arsenal will remain the match that encapsulates the Ferguson era, and the instructions issued to Giggs as he danced on the touchline will for ever underscore the Scot’s instincts. This was a manager who hated losing, whose soul was wounded every time his team were defeated, and yet he was always willing to take risks in pursuit of victory.

I cannot picture Ferguson in my mind’s eye without seeing that distinctive figure standing on the touchline in the dying moments, waving his players forwards for one last push, transmitting the sense that United were about glory and daring and unforgettable memories or they were about nothing.

Neutrals thrilled to the philosophy, too, even as they yearned for the most successful of teams to falter. This is not rose-tinted nostalgia, but the sense that pervaded the Ferguson era of men in red dashing forward on the break, weaving in and out of opponents, moving the ball wide, the front men sprinting beyond the last line of defence.

Giggs went on to score, a slaloming run rightly regarded as one of the finest goals in history. A week later, United came back from 2-0 down to defeat Juventus 3-2, overcame Newcastle United in the FA Cup final, then shocked Bayern Munich to win the treble. At the Nou Camp, Ferguson waved his team forward in extra time once again, daring them to clinch a victory that would have been impossible for any group that didn’t have courage written into their hearts and minds.

And this is why, when Paul Scholes criticised the present team for being “boring” after an uninspiring FA Cup victory over Sheffield United, he was not carping from the sidelines. This is someone from the Langley area of Manchester, who grew up loving United, who cherished his Bryan Robson “gold” shinpads, who kicked balls on the street so often that neighbours complained to the council.

This is a man so loyal to United that he didn’t consider multiple offers that came his way. Scholes didn’t need a conventional agent. Why would he need someone to look out for new opportunities when he had no intention of leaving the club he adored?

This is why it is noteworthy that Scholes associates United not merely with the formal artefacts of the club’s identity. For him, United are not only about the stadium, or players, or manager, or owners. All these things could change (and at some time, probably will) and yet the club would endure. No, United for Scholes is also about a way of playing. A philosophy.

It is a philosophy that is, perhaps, best summarised in that unforgettable instruction issued to Giggs at Villa Park. “Dixon is tiring. Don’t be afraid to run at him.” The sentiment ought to represent the beating heart of United, now and in the future. Instead, they seem to be slowly, but unmistakably, losing their identity.

This is a great article and read, this is the united I know and love not the turid rubbish served up now.

[Bredbury Blue]

You forgot..."Once upon a time...and they all lived happily ever".

[rijit]

You forgot..."Once upon a time...and they all lived happily ever".

Seems not quite

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[nev]

You forgot..."Once upon a time...and they all lived happily ever".

I bet you wish you had history like that, and we are living very happily even with the turid rubbish we have to watch now.

[petermik]

Nev

Unless you are a long time Red words are lost on the ABU,s they have got used to years of mediocrity and take great delight in our current plight,jealousy is a very bitter pill to some folks

[mrbojangles]

they have got used to years of mediocrity

And I think it's time you lot have to get used to it

[rijit]

they have got used to years of mediocrity

And I think it's time you lot have to get used to it

Yep agreed, the only quibble I've got with what you say is where's this 'lot' your talking about? Seems the supposed biggest and bested' club when it comes to a little down turn ain't quite as well supported as one would have thought ..

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[champers]

BBC 5 Live suggested that Paul Scholes's heavy criticism of LVG and the team's style is him acting as a mouthpiece for others who have to keep schtum ( SAF). Interesting.

[Bredbury Blue]

You forgot..."Once upon a time...and they all lived happily ever".

I bet you wish you had history like that, and we are living very happily even with the turid rubbish we have to watch now.

I can honestly say that there's nothing I envy about ManU.

[petermik]

they have got used to years of mediocrity

And I think it's time you lot have to get used to it

That may well be so-no club has a divine right to keep winning year after year,the league would become boring if that were to happen.

As a kid in the 60,s I watched Burnley as well as United,in those days football was a sport and Burnley built a very good side without having to spend money... they recruited a lot of there players from the north-east and gave United a panning on more than one occasion, but now small clubs like this cannot compete (sadly) against the "big boys" as money and greed have taken over football and its no longer a sport anymore.

The situation at City at the moment is disgusting (not for the first time) and I feel for Pellegrini trying to do a job with all the speculation regarding a replacement allready being lined up,but then this is the club that sacked Peter Reid when they were fourth in the table.

[nev]

You forgot..."Once upon a time...and they all lived happily ever".

I bet you wish you had history like that, and we are living very happily even with the turid rubbish we have to watch now.

I can honestly say that there's nothing I envy about ManU.

Now what has envy got to do with history?.

[Bredbury Blue]

You forgot..."Once upon a time...and they all lived happily ever".

I bet you wish you had history like that, and we are living very happily even with the turid rubbish we have to watch now.

I can honestly say that there's nothing I envy about ManU.

Now what has envy got to do with history?.

I'll rephrase my comment then. No I don't envy or wish City had ManU's history.

]

[smokie36]

Bring back SAF!!

[petermik]

Bring back SAF!!

Bloody hell smokie he got enough stick on here before from the ABU,s ..............don,t put him through that again he,s happy being with his missus now........ time to move on and give another team the chance of a bit of glory.

We will return however

[redrus]

You forgot..."Once upon a time...and they all lived happily ever".

I bet you wish you had history like that, and we are living very happily even with the turid rubbish we have to watch now.

I can honestly say that there's nothing I envy about ManU.

Good. [emoji6]

redrus

[rijit]

10 games with no goals in the last 10 first half's should influence ho i watch tonight but nah,,, it has to change yep penalty

[redrus]

Penalty all day that. Totally unnatural arm movement.

redrus

[rijit]

Good game.

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[rijit]

great entertainment and a draw about a fair enough result.

[wilai]

"We'll never go 26 years without the title" - Van Gaal.

1967 TO 1993 = 26 YEARS....Well in Dopey

[nev]

"We'll never go 26 years without the title" - Van Gaal.

1967 TO 1993 = 26 YEARS....Well in Dopey

It is nearly 100 days until you lot pass the 26 years and go past how long we had to wait between titles, it will be party time in Manchester believe me!!.

And lvg means go 26 years again numpty I am sure he is well aware about how long we had to wait and how your lot gloated about it along with the 18-7 banners.

[Bredbury Blue]

"We'll never go 26 years without the title" - Van Gaal.

1967 TO 1993 = 26 YEARS....Well in Dopey

It is nearly 100 days until you lot pass the 26 years and go past how long we had to wait between titles, it will be party time in Manchester believe me!!.

And lvg means go 26 years again numpty I am sure he is well aware about how long we had to wait and how your lot gloated about it along with the 18-7 banners.

Here you go Nev ;-)

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/15/liverpool-failure-recapture-glory-days

]

[Bredbury Blue]

Liverpool "won consecutive League championships in 1922 and 1923, but did not win another trophy until the 194647 season. .."

Football is cyclical, no team can consistently stay top/win everything, most of the big teams have lean or even bad periods; football in my life time alone illustrates this. ,

[Youaredoomed]

Well, it's a win/win day for me.

Lose and they must, must, fire Beaker; Win, and at least we've beat the vermin and hopefully they'll still fire Beaker......

[petermik]

Well, it's a win/win day for me.

Lose and they must, must, fire Beaker; Win, and at least we've beat the vermin and hopefully they'll still fire Beaker......

[JacknDanny]

they have got used to years of mediocrity

And I think it's time you lot have to get used to it

That may well be so-no club has a divine right to keep winning year after year,the league would become boring if that were to happen.

As a kid in the 60,s I watched Burnley as well as United,in those days football was a sport and Burnley built a very good side without having to spend money... they recruited a lot of there players from the north-east and gave United a panning on more than one occasion, but now small clubs like this cannot compete (sadly) against the "big boys" as money and greed have taken over football and its no longer a sport anymore.

The situation at City at the moment is disgusting (not for the first time) and I feel for Pellegrini trying to do a job with all the speculation regarding a replacement allready being lined up,but then this is the club that sacked Peter Reid when they were fourth in the table.

but then this is the club that sacked Peter Reid when they were fourth in the table.

When was that then???

Never happened!

Get your facts right in order to make your point..... its not that difficult

[oxo1947]

BBC 5 Live suggested that Paul Scholes's heavy criticism of LVG and the team's style is him acting as a mouthpiece for others who have to keep schtum ( SAF). Interesting.

Looking at that game.....I have to say I have never seen Gigs look so worried since his brother came home an hour early from work...........

[smokie36]

Man Yoo are <deleted>...bring it thee scousers...and give LVG hell today!