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.

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.