...and in the Red corner!

So Manchester United and manager Sir Alex Ferguson are in decline, they are going to finish 4th this season said the previews.

After three games Manchester United are back where they belong on top of the pile looking down on the rest, with their nearest rivals being O'Neill's Villains. Now I know it's only three games but United have shown their strength in depth already and their hunger for another title.


The youngsters are coming of age; Fletcher, O'Shea, Ronaldo & Rooney have played out of their skins and "old timers" like Giggs & Scholes have rolled back the years. Would you honestly trade Giggs or Scholes for any player in their position? Every Red would say a resounding "No!".

Against Fulham, United were 4-0 up within 20 minutes of breathtaking attacking football that tore the Cottagers to shreds and had silenced some of the critics who had predicted United would struggle, a prediction of 2-2 by those oh so right men at Sky Sports. United won 5-1 and Scholes and Rooney signed off before their ridiculous three match bans.

Prior to United's demolition of Fulham, Arsenal opened up the Ali Baba Airport Stadium with a 1-1 draw versus Villa and Liverpool drew 1-1 versus Warnock's Blades after Gerrard had dived to get a penalty for the equalizing goal to be scored. Chelsea also beat the big club itself, City 3-0 at the Bridge.

Next up for United were Charlton at the Valley, no Rooney & Scholes who had started their bans, many suggested United would falter. Did we fuck? We won 3-0 comfortably with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scoring his first competitive goal in 3 years.

The day was made even more cheerful when Boro beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Riverside with a last minute Viduka goal, bring on the Chelsea side who acted with more arrogant behaviour by snubbing the Boro boys' shirt swapping tradition.

Roll on Saturday, United were travelling to Vicarage Road and were expecting a tough game and Chelsea were heading up to Ewood Park where they had lost 1-0 last season.

United had taken the lead through a "Silvestre special" and when Francis equalized United fans thought it was too good to be true but unlike the previous seasons United stood up to the pressure and made sure they got what they came for. Giggs pounced on a loose pass back, rounded the keeper and comfortably blasted the ball in the net. 3 points. Job done.

Chelsea beat Blackburn 2-0, after Terry dived for a penalty and Blackburn were denied one. Arsenal lost in Manchester 1-0 after a Barton penalty meant City took all three points, Liverpool also won 2-1 but not once did they look anything special bar a one-off Agger super curler from about 30 yards.

So after three games of the season, a patched up United side are the only team with an 100% win record; ten goals scored, two conceded, nine points and top of the league meanwhile Chelsea sit 5th with 6/9 points, Liverpool 7th with 4/6 points and Arsenal 17th with 1/6 points.

Now I know it's only three games gone but United already have a points difference between the other three horses and with Tottenham & Arsenal coming up tougher times lay ahead but that 4th place predicted by many it seems a far cry from the way United have started.

With Neville, Vidic, Heinze, Scholes & Rooney to return to the fold United will improve and things will only get better at the Theatre of Dreams. Tottenham, Arsenal & Reading are between United getting another 9 points from the next three games and if no serious injuries are picked up in this international break you wouldn't bet against it.

Sir Alex Ferguson is showing hunger which he hasn't shown in the last two seasons. At Vicarage Road he was bouncing around the technical area again, pointing at his watch, shouting at the referee and lambasting his players at any sight of inconsistency. We've finally got the old man back to his usual self, he's hungry for more and with him in our side we have an advantage that others don't.

He's been around the block more than any and knows what it takes when the going gets tough, with players like Neville, Scholes & Giggs helping the youngsters along we won't be far off when the trophies are handed out next May.

May I also take this chance to wish Roy Keane good luck on his appointment as Sunderland manager, who I'm sure will be every Red's fans second team this year. GOOD LUCK, ROY!

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Is This Our Year?

As the new season approaches United fans around the World will be asking themselves, "Is this our year?"

Following pre-season there are reasons to be cheerful; Scholes, Heinzé, Giggs and Solskjaer are on form, Saha is fit, we're scoring goals, the youngsters are great, Ronaldo is thriving off the "rough treatment", positive results and apart from the departure of Van Nistelrooy we've kept our core players.

But as always it seems with United's pre-season injuries have struck. Carrick is out until the game versus Tottenham & Rooney, Neville and Ferdinand are all struggling to make the opening League showdown against Fulham at Old Trafford and there's also the FA decision to come on whether Scholes and Rooney will be banned for three matches after silly red cards in the Amsterdam tournament.

Last season United's hopes of challenging for the major honours were hit badly by injuries and inconsistency in selections and performances. Long term injuries occured with Heinzé, Giggs, Scholes, Saha, Keane, Neville & Solskjaer (any I've missed?) as well as Ronaldo taking time off due to the death of his father. Injuries to big players like that would cripple any side and United found themselves losing against inferior opposition at home and in Europe, falling behind in Europe and embarrasingly dropping out of the group stages of the Champions League.

As always Ferguson was told to step down by those in the media but as always he got the team playing football again. We finished second within 8 points of Chelsea, which is an achievment considering the points difference at Christmas and we won a piece of silverware, albeit the Carling Cup.

Now as we gear up for a new season the papers and pundits alike are claiming Liverpool are better than United because they've signed Bellamy, Pennant, Gonzales, Palletta & Aurelio. Players who in my opinion wouldn't make the United bench.

United have signed Michael Carrick and Tomasz Kusczak and are in the process of signing another midfielder and possibly a striker. With the high profile departures of Van Nistelrooy, Fortune, Howard (on loan), Foster (on loan) and Spector.

As it stands I think United can have a succesful season and these are the players I have earmarked as our key men:

Rio Ferdinand:
In my opinion the best defender in the World, cool, calm, elegant and makes defending look easy. If he can steer away from injury and maintain his form United's defence will be unbeatable, with Gabi and Nev on the flanks and Vidic or Wes partnering him we have one of the best defence's in the World, and he's the key component to that.

Cristiano Ronaldo:
If he can shrug off the boo boys and do his talking with his feet he'll be hard to handle. At the end of last season he found an end product and the World Cup has seen him progress as a player, it was vital United held onto him and he can lead United into a new era.

Paul Scholes:
United missed him sorely last season and his vision, goals, distribution and presence are what United need in the midfield. He has looked sharp in pre-season and if he can keep that up throughout the season we can expect a good goals return and he can have a big impact on the team.

Wayne Rooney:
With Van Nistelrooy now departed it is vital he doesn't pick up an injury or suspensions as he is now our key figure up front. Alongside Saha last season he was dangerous and if he and Saha can cover the goals Van Nistelrooy was scoring United will be taking steps closer to getting their trophy back!

Of course there are players such as Van Der Sar, Neville, Heinzé, Giggs, Carrick and Saha but if those players are on their game you can guarantee United are playing at the top of their game, exciting, flowing, beautiful football but also winning.

THE GAFFER:

If you believe the papers Sir Alex is under pressure this year and this is his "make or break" season, that's "bollocks" as the great man himself said after the Chelsea game last season. Of course he wants to knock Chelsea off their fuckin' perch but I don't think his job is under pressure.

Regardless of how many times you say it the last two seasons have been transitional and this summer it looks like United are finally becoming a unit, with top players in each position and look like a Championship winning side again.Which manager would have got United a trophy and a 2nd place position last season? Nobody but Fergie!

He's made moves into the transfer market already with the big signing of Carrick and a cover goalkeeper in young and talented Pole - Tomasz Kusczak.

He has also promised atleast one more midfielder and there is a possibility he could sign a striker with United being linked with Torres, Tevez & Adriano.He has also brought on the "reserves" and they look a promising bunch who can give United cover in case of serious injury problems, which is pleasing.

Fergie will be around for a while yet and I can't wait to see the man at his best this year!

VERDICTS:

Premier League:
United will be pushing the Russians this term all the way, an improved midfield with new boy Carrick and fit again Scholes and I can see United going all the way. It will be tight though and my verdict is... Winners/Runners Up by a couple of points.

Champions League:
I think United's focus on the Premier League may take an edge away from the Champions League although with players like Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs & Scholes you can never right us off. My verdict...Semi Finals.

FA Cup:
It's hard to make a verdict on the FA Cup as anyone can win it, I think United can win it and because of that I'll say they'll win it. My verdict...Winners.

Carling Cup:
Our youngsters are impressive and I can see Fergie fielding his fledglings in this tournament, maybe the latter stages for the Class of '06. My verdict...Quarter Finals.

Top Scorer:
Louis Saha - United need a big season from this man and if he can stay injury free we can expect a good return of 20 plus from him.

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SOLSKJAER - 10 YEARS ON

He put the ball in the Germans' net, he put the ball in the Scousers' net, and he even put the ball in Nottingham Forest's net four times in 11 minutes.

These three things though don't come close to half of the 20LEgend.

Solskjaer last week celebrated 10 years at Old Trafford, the only "foreign player" to reach such a feat.

As a true Red it seems disloyal to label the Baby Faced Assassin with a "foreign player" tag as he has captured mine as well as millions of other Red Mancunian's hearts around the World.

When Solskjaer was struck with seemingly continuous knee injuries it seemed as we had seen the last of the player, even Sir Alex himself thought he was finished. The only man who never doubted for one minute he'd be back was Ole himself.

He had the belief and dedication to get his dream of a return in the Red of United, knock back after knock back he maintained the heart when most would have given up and he is back.

He made it back against Burton Albion and Birmingham City to stir the emotions in United fans around the World. Even then though, it seemed as if they were the last throes of a truely remarkable career, a career diamond studded, laced with golden highlights, memories and a commitment to the cause, the United cause in a time of mercenary footballers.

And here we are on a brink of yet another season and Sir Alex has the faith in Solskjaer to bury the space left by another Red legend, Van Nistelrooy as one of five strikers this term.

The United faithful took to him from the outset on his debut in 1996 versus Blackburn Rovers when he scored, six minutes after coming on as a sub. The Baby Faced Assassin netted 5 times in 233 minutes of football, only one of those as a starter which was the birth of the "Super Sub" tag which has grown to irritate him throughout his United career.

He went onto grab 18 goals in his first season as United regained their Premier League trophy, though he couldn't nail a first team spot.

Teddy Sheringham was bought into replace Eric "The King" Cantona, the following Summer Dwight Yorke was shipped in from Aston Villa for £12.6m and it seemed Ole was destined to be frustrated at Manchester United.

He would not be denied though and he saw being sat on the substitutes bench as a challenge and an opportunity. Tottenham Hotspurs offered £5.5m for his services, he turned it down after United had paved the way for him to go grab first team football.

Yorke's arrival meant another obstacle to get over, but he had none of it. Any move from United was a step down and Solskjaer wanted to stay, something which the gaffer was encouraged by.

The field was set for Solskjaer's knee-sliding, tear jerking, heart stopping winner in the Nou Camp on the 26th May 1999. That image of Solskjaer will stay in any United's fans memory who witnessed that great night but that is not all he brought to the historic Treble campaign.

His 18 goals in 18 league games, capped off by the four goals versus Nottingham Forest in 11 minutes in an 8-1 win was sensational.

Oh yeah, he also "stuck the ball in the Scousers' net" that year in the FA Cup Fourth Round in the dying minutes of a tie Manchester United at one stage were losing.

Yet the "Norweigan Manc" couldn't hold a spot down in the first team until 2002, when David Beckham injured his infamous metatarsal and Solskjaer replaced him with ease scoring 16 goals in that season in a new role.

The following season though the troubles started, he picked up an injury versus Panathinaikos in a Champions League game which lead to extensive knee surgery. Following his comeback last Christmas the future was still dull, and Fergie had at one stage prepared to deliver the news that all in Red had dreaded.

Then Solskjaer popped up at a training session, a spring in his step, a twinkle in his eye, and United backtracked.

Even when a fractured cheekbone sustained in a reserve team game in March added to the supporters' fears, Solskjaer was not giving up the ghost.

Ferguson responded by handing him a new two-year deal and outlining his intentions to keep him at OT for as long as he could, as a coach and an ambassador.

It's not the end for Solskjaer, or even the beginning of the end. There is no end to legend.


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