MAN UTD
League Position - 1st
Current Away Form - W W L D W L
Top Scorers - Ronaldo 16 goals
Rooney 12 goals
Saha 12 goals
Recent Encounters between teams
22-10-06 LOST Man Utd 2 - 0 Liverpool (Ferdinand,Scholes)
18-02-06 WON Liverpool 1 - 0 Man Utd (Crouch)
22-01-06 LOST Man Utd 1 - 0 Liverpool (Ferdinand)
18-09-05 DRAW Liverpool 0 - 0 Man Utd
15-01-05 LOST Liverpool 0 - 1 Man Utd (Rooney)
WON 1
LOST 3
DREW 1
Interesting Facts
*Ryan Giggs will play his 700th game for Man Utd this week either against Reading or us at the weekend.
* Gary Neville was left out of the United team against Fulham as Ferguson was unhappy with the player because he went to take the players off against Lille.
*Manchester United have such a huge national and international following that a relatively small proportion of fans actually live in Manchester
Club Honours
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
1907-08, 1910-11, 1951-52, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03
CHARITY/COMMUNITY SHIELD WINNERS
1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967, 1977, 1983, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003
F.A. CUP WINNERS
1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
LEAGUE CUP WINNERS
1992, 2006
European Cup Winners:
1968, 1999
European Cup-Winners' Cup Winners:
1991
Super Cup Winners:
1991
And now thanks to the lads and lasses at redcafe and redissue:
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Well lets get this out of the way, United have looked brilliant again this season, do you think that the Premiership title is in the bag? Did you think it was possible at the start?
PANCHO123:I wouldnt go as far as 'in the bag' but i think its looking brilliant for us, especially with the chance to go 12 clear of Chelsea. Dont think we've played such consistently good football since '99. And yes i did think it was possible at the start, but was worried about the arrival of Ballack and Shevchenko to be honest. Thank God there was nothing to worry about after all, eh?!!
REDFELLOW:No, but I didn't think that we were going to end up behind arenal and liverpool like most others. I knew that we'd be the only ones who could give Chelsea a go
STICKMAN:To be honest - no. Thought we'd finish 2nd again a good way behind but at very least it looks as though we'll be in with a shout in the final 2-3 games. Wouldn't want to get my hopes up as we have some tough aways (even though we've just negotiated 2 tough ones pretty well). Well surprised at consitency
KINGY:There is still a fair way to go and i doubt it will be as straight forwards as it might look. I refuse to get excited as i would be too dissappointed if I built my hopes up. If we win it this year I think it might just be the best of the lot.
Did I believe it would happen at the start of the season? Not a chance
TITHEAD:Nope, I thought Chelsea would storm to a third Premiership especially with Shevchenko and Ballack. Liverpool also had high expectations and I thought we would be battling with you's for second place again.
Since the World Cup, Ronaldo has looked a different player, how good is he and do you think you will be able to keep hold of him in the summer?
PANCHO123:He's simply the best player form-wise in wht world at the minute. And the best thing is he doesnt show any signs of slowing down. I can see him getting World Player of the Year within the next 3 years. I am 100% confident he'll be a united player next season and beyond. Anywhere else is a step down as we're the best team in the best league.
REDFELLOW:Definitely one of the top three, probably the top player in the world this year. I really can't see him leaving if united are successful. By that I mean winning the league and putting in a good challenge for the Champions League
STICKMAN:Top 5 in the world domestically and possibly even internationally, strangely seems to try and do too much in europe however and is yet to show form in the Champions League.
If he's not off this summer he's off next. Wouldn't really hold it against him but I think he should give us one more season at least. Still, 4 seasons aint bad for a young Latin type.
KINGY:I think we will keep him this summer but i do expect him to end up in Spain at some point during his prime.
TITHEAD:He is currently one of the best players in the world in his position, if he gets his delivery and decisions, which hopefully will come with experience, then he will undoubtabley be the best player in the world at some point.
Which player(s) has stepped up and been counted this year for United? Any surprises?
PANCHO123:Vidic and Evra would be the main two. After both having shaky enough starts they've been able to secure starting places and really look the business. Scholesy has had an unbelieveable season so far which i guess you could say was a surprise because of his prior eye trouble but then again the man has been fantastic for us for over a decade so should we really be surprised. I also think Carrick has been brilliant even if some cant see the work he does for us.
REDFELLOW:Scholes' return has been vital to our both our results and our return to the united brand of football. Evra has been the biggest surprise this season. He's been fantastic. The other suprise, to some extent, is how well Carrick and Scholesy have gelled this season when no one thought they would.
STICKMAN:Evra and Vidic have astonished me. Vidic looks on his way to being World class, Id also be surprised if any LB in the league has been as good as Evra this season. Scholes ressurgance has been a pleasant surprise too and we wouldnt be where we are now without him and Carrick's great understanding. They seem to dominate games without tackling.
KINGY:Evra. He has come on from being a lightweight back up player to one of the best full backs in the league.
TITHEAD:Patrice Evra has been a surprise, especially because he is keeping Heinze out of the team. Having Scholes back has made a lot of difference, we don't plfay the same without him.
Ferguson sold one of the best goalscorers in the world in the summer in Ruud. Do you think it was a good idea and has Saha filled the void?
PANCHO123:Absolutely. I was really gutted at the time as were a lot of other fans but now i can see it was a masterstroke by SAF. He knew it would benefit the overall team-play and Saha fits into it perfectly now as he gets a lot more involved in our build ups. Ruud's departure has also enabled lots of different players to chip in with goals which is a lot more beneficial in the long run. Loved RVN, but his best years were up.
REDFELLOW:Yes and No. The way we were playing with Ruud was detrimental to our typical style of football. I am still one of his biggest fans but the football we now play is far more attractive and not so reliant on one player.
Saha is a great player. But he will never get the number of goals that ruud is capable of getting. But Saha has ben great this season, great movement, great assists. Just a pity he has gone off the boil a bit in relation to the beginning of the season when he was really fantastic.
STICKMAN:Ruud wanted out and the fans wanted to see the football from the 2nd half of last season. The dynamic of our team seems far greater now with Saha even though he's far inferior to Ruud. Our style this season has focused more on getting Ronaldo on the ball too and thats worked for us.
KINGY:The style of football we played with Ruud in the side was not good and im glad to see the back of that (not Ruud). Saha has not filled the void and we need another striker to play with Rooney next season.
TITHEAD:It was a good idea, as our play was predictable and easy to counter, and Saha certainly has done a good job, but I think that there are a few players who could do a better job.
Liverpool recorded a memorable win last week over the current European Champions in their own back yard. Your views on the match and how do you see both our teams fairing in the Champions League?
PANCHO123:It was a brilliant result. There was never a better time to play Barca but u still had to go out and do the job and u did it well. I cant see Barca doing enough at Anfield to go through, especially with the atmosphere u can create. I think Liverpool seem more suited to Eurpoean competition because of Rafa and can go far. We will progress past Lille and i hope we avoid English opposition so there's a better chance of an all-english final. That would be excellent!
REDFELLOW:I won an incredible amount of money off that game. Thanks scousers. TBH, the way Barca are playing, I don't think it was that much of a surprise. After watching Barca last night tho, I would be extremely cautious in writing them off at Anfield. I actually have now taken a double or quits bet with the same guy that Barca go thru... Just a feeling.
As for our chances, I think neither of us have the quality in our squad players in a sense that no one outside of our starting eleven can come on and really change the game for us. Except perhaps Saha/Larsson. Can't see any of the English teams getting past the semi's TBH.
STICKMAN:I only saw the game from 25 mins in so missed the 'Barca onslaught'. You managed to choke there tempo out of the game and I suspect that was the gameplan. Ronaldinho looked off colour and I reckon the 2nd leg will be a cracker.
We will most likely bite the dust in the next round I fear. I suppose its all draw permitting, you want to play teams that will play a style that suits your plan of attack. We'll struggle with any team who shuts up shop at home.
KINGY:Liverpool spoiled and stopped Barcelona from playing. It was a great result for Liverpool but for the neutral fan of attacking football it was not. Teams succeeding through spoiling tactics is not a good thing.
You will do better in teh champs league than we will as your negative 'pinch it and run' style is more suited than our 'we will score more than you will' style.
That competition is over rated anyway
TITHEAD:It was a good victory over Barcelona, but that does not mean that you's are guaranteed a quarter final place, although I think the quarter final's is as far both teams will make it.
Worrying times last week for football on the whole when reports where coming through of United fans being crushed in Lille, it brought back bad memories for many of our fans, (If you were there) what was it like and (if not) your thoughts on the matter?
PANCHO123:I wasnt there but couldnt believe it was allowed to get that far, especially in this day and age and with the experience of Hillsborough. I think the policing was a shambles (hitting our fans with battons for trying to save themselves from getting crushed). It will be interesting to see what action Platini takes, with them being a french club.....
REDFELLOW:In no way, on or off the pitch, were United at fault. Lille and their security officials must be punished accordingly.
STICKMAN:I wasn't there no comment.
KINGY:Was nt there so i wont comment
TITHEAD:Disgraceful, and what made it worse was Lille trying to blame it on United
On the subject of Hillsborough, do you think something has to be done about the intense rivalry between our two clubs, the Hillsborough and Munich songs can be heard in most matchday pubs and quite frankly its sick.
PANCHO123:I personally think its completely not on and will never sing/chant about Hillsborough as it could have happened to any team's fans. But i also think there's nothing that can be done about the scum who continue to do it sadly. Its down to them at the end of the day.
REDFELLOW:Agreed, I think of some of the stuff that gets said/sang and it really makes me nauseous... It is an absolute disgrace to hear 'those' songs being bellowed out at games/pubs/forums.
STICKMAN:That wont ever go away from either side because there will always at least be the minorities starting the chants, pissing in the wind even to just suggest it may
KINGY:Both songs are sick but your supporters waved their Munich flags and banners all over Europe and sang your famous Munich song for years. Its hardly suprising that we have tired of it all and sunk to your level.
Perhaps the begining of the end of the hillsborough songs would be an apology by an LFC fans group (representing the majority) for the years of Munich shit we have had to endure.
TITHEAD:Rivalry between clubs can be healthy, I know many Liverpool fans and it is good to have bragging rights over them, and i'm sure they get the same feeling when Liverpool do well. As for the people who sing those songs, they are not fans, they just sing those songs to create trouble.
Your views on our squad this year?
PANCHO123:I think it's nearly there but there's just something missing - dont ask me what!! Theres a lack of consistency that means you wont challenge for the title until somthing changes. You always perform well against the bigger sides but slip up occasionally against the so called lesser sides. As has been the case for the last 3-4 years, i reckon your best chance is the Champions League.
REDFELLOW:Too many average players, not enough top quality players. Very weird decisions from Benitez at times. You really should be challenging for league honours with the amount of money you've spent in the last five years
STICKMAN:Too slow. Gonzalez and Bellamy are only naturally pacey players and neither are even guaranteed starters.
I rate your central midfielders and Kuyt basically. He works tirelessly and has a bit of old fashioned grit about his play leading the line. The one for us to watch Sunday anyway in my view. Agger looks a good buy but your keeper is Barthez. You'd best get rid but please don't.
KINGY:Not the worst squad youve ever had but still too reliant on players like Bellamy and Pennant who are not good enough for the other top sides yet good enough for you.
TITHEAD:Reina hasn't looked as good, Agger looks a good buy, Gerrard has been off form most of the season, Zenden's poo along with Crouch, Kuyt is a good buy. All in all too many average players.
And on the manager?
PANCHO123:Good manager, but not great. I sense he doesnt command the same level of respect that Fergie/Mourinho do off their players. I would stick with him for a while yet, but if there is still a lack of silverware after a while, id be looking for a change if it was my team.
REDFELLOW:Not suited to consistently motivate players week in, week out in the league. In europe, a different story altogether, because he knows what it takes. Winning the Spanish league, to me, would be easier than winning the Premiership IMVHO
STICKMAN:Underestimates the Premiership in the transfer market I feel, Pennant?? Never a starter in a team harbouring ambitions of winning the league.
Lucas Neill wouldn't have been good enough and Crouch certainly isnt top quality. Seems to have the knack in Europe though. Too negative for my liking however.
KINGY:Seems a nice enough bloke but i cant stand the style of negative football he employs
TITHEAD:Good in Europe, still hasn't adapted to the Premiership
And finally can you predict the score for the newkit forum?
PANCHO123:Im going for Liverpool 1 - Unied 2. Kuyt, Scholes and Rooney!
REDFELLOW:2-2 draw, United snatching an equaliser late in the game.
STICKMAN:1-1
KINGY:NO
TITHEAD:1-1
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Rafa-Dodd
Mancs are Twats
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