To many people, this article may appear a little out-dated given the fact that the new league season is upon us. Worse-still, many fans would rather get the latest news about Cristiano Ronaldo than remind themselves of a season that ranks second-best in the club's history(which is quite a shame). The season behind us is one that really taught me and (Arsene Wenger) how long a season can be. It should be synonymous to readers of this blog that I had personally written off Man United's chances of defending the title after our draw with Portsmouth.(the result after that game backed me). The good thing about being pessimistic is that you're very happy when you are wrong, when your expectations are the complete opposite. While Arsene Wenger will look at last season as a title they lost rather than one United won, I'll disagree in no more than 10 reasons.
10.SUNDERLAND-H
United got their first win of the season against Spurs(that goal!) but the pressure of winning was still well on us given that our rivals got off to flying starts. Roy Keane's Sunderland(to be fair) was battered for the best part of an hour but worryingly, the scores were still level. Louis Saha's goal was celebrated like a last minute winner because for all who counted our chances against Reading, Pompey and the Bitters City, it meant that we had finally got our luck back. Win number 2 meant a lot to me and that is why it features.
9.BOLTON-H
It seemed a rather comfortable win didn't it? United headed into this game knowing that victory would put them 3 points clear at the summit as it was a game in hand-and that was the very problem. For all i know, games in hand are never straight forward no matter how easy they appear on paper. Arsenal had a game in hand on us earlier in the season against Newcastle but were held to a draw(thank heavens). And what do you know? They lost momentum from there on, so I had my worries. Ronaldo ably captained United to victory. Advantage United.
8.LIVERPOOL-H&A.
It's always delicious to beat the Dippers(especially do a double) but this fixture was part of a so called Grand Slam Sunday whereby defeat automatically is an advantage to your opponents. Arsenal and Chelsea had to play on the same day intriguingly it was this fixture that kicked off first on both occasions. We had to play without the comfort of knowing that a draw isn't that bad and given the situation at the top, they were more or less must win fixtures. United incredibly won both-the latter comfortably. This meant that while our rivals picked 3 points from those fixtures, we picked 6! Advantage United.
7.EVERTON-H.
While the away fixture was an equally tough one, United quite simply didn't have their rivals where they wanted them and therefore dropping points was not an option. Arsenal were leaders by four points following their earlier Saturday victory. An early Cristiano Ronaldo goal seemed to point to only one result but Tim Cahill equalised before the break to restore the nerves. United have scored many late goals in their history but there are times when even the most optimistic of fans just can't imagine a goal to salvage our blushes. That is why i couldn't believe our luck when Piennar clumsily brought down Giggs in the box. The force was surely with us. We were playing catch-up with Arsenal and WE WERE CATCHING UP!
6.DERBY-A.
While non of us couldn't imagine a difficult game at Pride Park-especially when you looked at Derby's defensive record, it's exactly what United got. Somebody could easily have won the book fortune if Ben Foster had been a half a second late to get down and make 2 good saves to deny Derby something to defend(record has it that we have done poorly against teams that play defensively;Reading at home, Bolton away, Portsmouth in the Cup...). United got their only goal 15 minutes from time. What a relief! little while later later Arsenal drew with Boro at the Emirates. Advantage United!
5.ARSENAL-H
By the time the Gunners dared to visit OT, we had new rivals for the title-Chelsea. However, a victory against us would put Arsenal back in the reckoning for the title. Shamelessly, Adebayor contrived to score with his hand when using his head seemed easier. After thwarting us twice the season before and denying us a victory at the Emirates, United had to respond quick or else lose their cushion at the summit. William Gallas handled in the area and luckily for us, was spotted by the ref Howard Webb. Ronaldo had to beat Lehmann twice from the spot before the scoreboard read 1-1. One of the moments of the season was that curling Hargreaves free-kick that salvaged the points for United. We were really close now...
4.MIDDLESBROGH-A
A traditionally tough fixture for United but the form we were in had no respect for such records. Besides, Ronaldo quickly dispatched even the slightest of nerves. But somehow, United found themselves 2-1 down and could have fallen further behind if it were not for Edwin van der Sar. Wayne Rooney rescued a point for United but just when it seemed a bad result, Fergie came out to praise our performance in a way that suggested he wouldn't have minded a defeat. Another vital point collected!
3.BLACKBURN ROVERS-A
Now, there are games in a season that a club is supposed to lose simply because it's not their day.(take for instance Bolton away, Portsmouth in the Cup...). Last season however Manchester United defied that logic when they collected a point from Ewood Park when it 'was not their day'. In a game that we should have won at least 4penalties our opponents were gifted a goal by a lucky bounce and Friedel made his season debut after being AWOL earlier in the campaign. Defeat would have put the destiny of the title back in Chelsea's hands as we had to play them the following week. A late late header from Carlos Tevez ensured above all that United kept Chelsea at arms length with 3 games left. The title was still ours to lose even on the back of 3 difficult games. Advantage United.
2.TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-A
The joy of getting our first win of the season against Spurs back in August could not be compared to that we had at White Harte Lane when after playing so poorly, we salvaged a point right at the last. After losing to Citeh the week before, defeat would have put the gap between United and Arsenal to 6 points. And even if one point didn't reflect much of a difference,it did in May when we were talking about winning the title on goal difference. Vital Point!
1.WIGAN-A
Many a United fans will not admit it but I was very nervous before and during this fixture even though on any other day, it should be a straight forward one. The 1995 heart-break was bad enough but for some reason, this was going to hurt more. Now you know who jumped highest when Giggs slotted in the title-winner!
Labels: MANCHESTER UNITED
