Peter Anderson ⚽ Man U are back. 

After almost 10 years in the doldrums, they are officially back in contention. On Saturday they beat Man City 2-1 at Old Trafford to send their long-suffering fans into ecstasy.

They certainly didn't deserve the win. City were comfortable for most of the game and took a one-nil lead. United's equaliser should not have stood. Rashford was offside and clearly interfering with play but, at the last minute, left the ball for the onside Fernandes to score. The linesman flagged but was overruled by the ref and this was not corrected by VAR. Even Ten Hag and United cheerleaders like Gary Neville admitted that it should never have stood, but there we are. It did stand. And then with their tails up they got a second. The win puts them one point behind City in fourth place and a whopping 10 points ahead of Liverpool. More worrying for Liverpool is that there is now a gap opening between the UCL places and the rest. If Liverpool don't secure Champions League footy next season, this will impact their ability to renovate the team.

Seeing a rejuvenated United back in contention leaves me rather conflicted. Having lived in Spain and knowing La Liga so well, I have to admit that the greatest desire is that the EPL remains as competitive as always. La Liga is a league set up for two teams to dominate and two teams only. The overriding point of La Liga is that El Clasico is the biggest club game in world football. In this millennium Liverpool, City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester have all won the EPL, while Spurs came within a few points. This level of competition is missing from La Liga and indeed all the big European leagues. I have friends who are fans of teams like Osasuna and Real Betis, and they know that a serious punt at the title is never going to happen. In England, City have now won 4 of the last 5, and while it hurts to see City lose, it will be great for the league if Toon, Arsenal or even United could win it this season.

That said, it has been fantastic for City and Liverpool fans to watch United flounder over the last decade. I never in my wildest dreams thought they would fall so far for so long. At least we have great memories from these years. Singing "park the bus, park the bus Man United" during the Mourinho years as United suffered the ignominy of have to shut up shop in Old Trafford against their two biggest rivals. And singing "Ole's at the wheel" during the Ole years, taunting the enemy with their own chant was exquisite.

But alas, those days are over, for better or for worse United are back in a title race.


Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports

Red Side Of Manchester Is Back

Peter Anderson ⚽ Man U are back. 

After almost 10 years in the doldrums, they are officially back in contention. On Saturday they beat Man City 2-1 at Old Trafford to send their long-suffering fans into ecstasy.

They certainly didn't deserve the win. City were comfortable for most of the game and took a one-nil lead. United's equaliser should not have stood. Rashford was offside and clearly interfering with play but, at the last minute, left the ball for the onside Fernandes to score. The linesman flagged but was overruled by the ref and this was not corrected by VAR. Even Ten Hag and United cheerleaders like Gary Neville admitted that it should never have stood, but there we are. It did stand. And then with their tails up they got a second. The win puts them one point behind City in fourth place and a whopping 10 points ahead of Liverpool. More worrying for Liverpool is that there is now a gap opening between the UCL places and the rest. If Liverpool don't secure Champions League footy next season, this will impact their ability to renovate the team.

Seeing a rejuvenated United back in contention leaves me rather conflicted. Having lived in Spain and knowing La Liga so well, I have to admit that the greatest desire is that the EPL remains as competitive as always. La Liga is a league set up for two teams to dominate and two teams only. The overriding point of La Liga is that El Clasico is the biggest club game in world football. In this millennium Liverpool, City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester have all won the EPL, while Spurs came within a few points. This level of competition is missing from La Liga and indeed all the big European leagues. I have friends who are fans of teams like Osasuna and Real Betis, and they know that a serious punt at the title is never going to happen. In England, City have now won 4 of the last 5, and while it hurts to see City lose, it will be great for the league if Toon, Arsenal or even United could win it this season.

That said, it has been fantastic for City and Liverpool fans to watch United flounder over the last decade. I never in my wildest dreams thought they would fall so far for so long. At least we have great memories from these years. Singing "park the bus, park the bus Man United" during the Mourinho years as United suffered the ignominy of have to shut up shop in Old Trafford against their two biggest rivals. And singing "Ole's at the wheel" during the Ole years, taunting the enemy with their own chant was exquisite.

But alas, those days are over, for better or for worse United are back in a title race.


Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports

5 comments:

  1. Lots of rumours re Liverpool being sold to a Middle East bidder . It will take many therms of gas & barrels of oil to reconstruct a team that has taken 8 points from 27 on their travels this season . Bournemouth drubbing aside , their goal difference is zero ! Expect the slide to continue @ Wolves tonight . Bringing in two or three midfielders would partially turn things round , but Fenway have lost the pin for their credit card . During this window , Chelsea's net spend ( this window ) is the same as Klopp's during his six yrs @ Anfield ! How do you compete with that ?

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    Replies
    1. Dave
      It is a bizarre acquisition policy at Anfield. They have spent big in attack - Jota, Nuñez, Diaz and Gaikpo, when it is the midfield that is lacking - either too old, too young or not good enough. To be over run in midfield by Brighton is a new low

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  2. Of course it was a legitimate goal to the letter of the yet again changed laws. Rashford was canny, skillful and knowledgable that providing he did not touch the ball it could not legitimately be disallowed. You folks are cheerleaders for VAR, I'm not, but when it correctly goes our way I'll not turn it down. You can't have it all ways, by the way, if United were in the second division we'd still be the biggest club in Manchester just like 1974 when we were in div 2. We were still the biggest side and club, with higher crowds than league champions Liverpool on average. So, all you "bitter little men" who support the Blues, put a sock in it.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

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  3. Caoimhin O'Muraile
    Na na na na na my club's bigger than your club! What an absolute twat you are LOL

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  4. Are you referring to Real Madrid or Barcelona Peter? You being a La Liga fan, even then they may only be on a par regards size with Man Utd. In other words, pete, as the song goes; "who the fuck do you support, who the fuck do you support". "Joe Mercer emigrate, and leave the blue bastards to their fate"🤣🤣🤣🏐🏐😂🥳🧑‍🎄⚽️🏐. Talking of twats, that old cunt Summerbee has been very quiet these days, you should have a catch up with him LOL.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

    ReplyDelete