Wednesday 12 August 2009

Arsenal 16/05/09



The final home game of the 2008/09 season, and the final Old Trafford games for Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. A 0-0 draw was enough to secure the Premiership Trophy for the third season on the run. The trophy was presented to the team at the end of the game.

Monday 10 August 2009

City 10/05/09



The last goals at Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez came in this 2-0 derby win. They both had a sulk on it seemed, Ronaldo when substituted, Tevez when he scored. He run up to the directors box and cupped his hands behind his ears letting the directors know what the fans thought of him. Of course, none of us - the fans - knew what was in store at the end of the season for these two. Now that we do know, it all seems to fit. (Ironic that the last goal Tevez scored for West Ham was against United, and his last goal for United against City.)

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Arsenal 29/04/09



The Manchester taxi drivers decided to have a protest march through the city just before this game. A Champion's League semi-final no less. The roads around the ground were log-jammed. For a while we didn't think we were going to make it in time. Games don't come much bigger than this at Old Trafford and our stomachs were full of butterflies as we entered the stadium just before the teams walked out. We were relaxed after a short while though. John O'Shea bagged the winner in what was probably the most convincing all-round performance of the season.

Sunday 14 June 2009

Porto 07 April 2009



A full moon over Old Trafford for the the visit of Porto in the quarter final of the Champion's League. The moon drove on Wayne Rooney, more than the rest of the team. A 2-2 draw on the night.

Thursday 16 April 2009

Aston Villa 05 April 2009



The day seventeen year old Federico Macheda came off the bench for his debut appearence, 2-1 down with less than half hour to go. First off, he faced up to Gareth Barry in the box, a bit of push and shove. Ronaldo sneaked an equaliser, then in added on time, Macheda scored a stunning goal in front of the Stretford End to win the match. Pity I didn't film it!

Sunday 22 February 2009

Blackburn Rovers 21/02/09



A feast of Cristiano Ronaldo. He was inspired. A matching winning performance and a match winning goal. Rafael and Fabio Da Silva took to the pitch together during the warm up. You may get double vision.

Friday 20 February 2009

Fulham 18/02/09



Paul Scholes had one of his special games, including scoring with a trademark long distance volley. Wayne Rooney came off the bench and scored with his first touch. Berbatov scored, and both he and Tevez had a goal disallowed for off side. This was United's 13th consecutive clean sheet in the Premier League.

Sunday 8 February 2009

Everton 31/01/09



A day when Everton fans and United fans joined voices in a chorus of 'Rafa's cracking up'. The Neville brothers captained a team each. On a freezing cold night, it was a game of few chances. The three points were won with a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty. United stretched their run of consecutive clean sheets.

It was a cold night to start with but the temperature drop at half time sent us to the concourse, where we watched folk chew on pies for fifteen minutes. My hands went numb in the second half.

Monday 26 January 2009

Spurs 24/01/09



A day for tradition. Manchester United introduced three new players into this game, Fabio Da Silva, Richard Eckersley and Zoran Tosic all making their debuts.

This video includes both Fabio's and Tosic's first touches for the club.

Monday 19 January 2009

Wigan 14/01/09



The Stretford enjoyed a night full of singing ‘City’s going down with a billion in the bank, a billion in the bank…’ It was a song they sung with great joy and mischief. On the car radio on the way home we heard all the speculation about City’s attempt to lure Kaka from AC Milan. A representative of Kaka’s came on the radio saying that it was possible, but it wasn’t just about money. It was about being part of a bigger project and winning the Champion’s League. We know Kaka believes in Jesus, but we can’t be so sure that he believes City can win the Champion’s League. I drove on down the road thinking about Manni when he used to appear on Soccer AM and was serially asked when the Stone Roses would get back together. His stock comic dismissal of the idea was always, ‘The day after City win the European Cup’.

Nenamja Vidic was outstanding in this game.

Middlesbrough 29/12/08



This was the first home game since United won the World Club Cup and we were treated to a glimpse of it just before kick off. It was given a small slot between the team line up and the start of the game. You’d think it was the Pontins North West Reserve League cup that was being paraded the glamour that was attached to it. The line up broke up, Edwin Van der Sar ran down the halfway line with the trophy, to controlled and respectful applause. He tried to pass the trophy to other players, none would accept it until if was offered to Ronaldo. He took hold of it for a while, it was then handed to the young mascot who posed for a few photos before being escorted off by Fred the Red. The World Champion’s had to get on with a Monday night match against Middlesbrough.

Aalborg 10/12/08



Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law presented Cristiano Ronaldo with the Ballon d’Or by the side of the pitch before kick-off. United’s number seven was now the reigning European Footballer of the Year, FIFpro World Player of the Year, PFA Player of the year, Football Writers Player of the year and he was nominated for North West player of the year too. I never heard the outcome of that one, part of me hopes that he didn’t win it and that it went to a left back from Crewe who’d had a particularly good season. You’ve got to keep the lad on his toes and give him something to aim for.

Paul Scholes came on at half time in this game and gave a tour de force performance.