2006: Another Eventful Year...

As the year draws to a close Manchester United will sit at the top of the Premier League once again. Back where they belong, but had you said that this time last year you'd have been laughed at.

We opened 2006 with a 0-0 draw in our final game at Highbury, drew with Burton in the FA Cup and lost 3-1 in the Manchester derby, hardly inspiring stuff.

We had already watched our club go out of the Champions League at the group stages and United were miles behind Chelsea in the race for the title, according to sections of the media United and Fergie's time at the top had come to an end.

At the end of January United welcomed Liverpool to Old Trafford, in a game billed as "The Battle for Second". Liverpool were on an unbeaten run stretching back to October and were one point behind United, after a generally boring game in which Liverpool spurned many a chance United grabbed an injury time winner to win 1-0, a goal described by Rio Ferdinand in his autobiography, "The ball was brilliantly delivered by Giggsy. The 'keeper had no chance, couldn't hope to keep it out, and I exploded. It doesn't get much better than to score a last minute winner against Liverpool in front of the Stretford End!". EXPLODED? Well, that's where United's season "exploded" into life.

If ever a spur was needed that was it, United went onto win the Carling Cup in March following a semi-final win over Blackburn Rovers. Wigan were turned over 4-0 in the Millenium Stadium, with Rooney and Ronaldo running the show.

This was also a turning point for one of the fans' favourites, Ruud van Nistelrooy. Richardson, Vidic and Evra were the three substitutes used in the final, Ruud left on the bench. Ruud later said he also "exploded", only this explosion ended his prolific United career, "I exploded and started swearing at Ferguson. That was the killing moment.”

So as well as losing leader Roy Keane & Paul Scholes to injury United had also lost their prolific, legendary goalscoring machine Ruud van Nistelrooy. Some were gutted to lose Keane to Celtic but when Ruud banged the final nail in his own coffin, it was hard to take - and things just seemed to go from bad to worse for Manchester United despite the Carling Cup consolation.

In the final months of the season, Giggs and Sheasy were our central midfield partnership and Ruud van Nistelrooy was sparingly used from the bench due to his attitude. Still United launched a last ditch assault at getting their title back and despite failing to do so finished second, gaining an automatic Champions League spot and going on a run of wins which would normally be associated with United winning the league. Pride was restored but what remained was a team missing players through injury or players ready to leave, a team missing Roy Keane described as "the most influential Manchester United player of all time" by some.

Then came the Summer, explosive for United as usual. The World Cup was overshadowed by England's failure again and the need for a scapegoat, step forward Mr. Ronaldo.

Wayne Rooney was sent off for England in a match versus Portugal, a match England eventually lost and it was all down to Ronaldo according to some papers. Ronaldo can be seen running up to the referee and protesting for his nation, Rooney was then shown the red card despite the referee saying this had nothing to do with Ronaldo's actions - although the sending off was harsh!

The papers wrote that Ronaldo's career in England was over, he could no longer play with Rooney and the English would make his life hell. His house was trashed and his niece attacked. Rooney said in his autobiography, "What the papers didn't know is on the coach on the way home I sent a text to Ronny. I told him to forget about what happened. I wasn't blaming him for interfering. Then I wished him and Portugal good luck in the semis and hoped they got to the final. And I meant it." Still the papers were hell bound on finding a scapegoat and Ronaldo was it.

Despite the attacks and threats of more, Ronaldo returned to Manchester United for a new season. Michael Carrick and Tomasz Kusczak were signed, Paul Scholes & Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returned "like new signings", Fergie said. Ruud van Nistelrooy was the only major departure.

Despite a good pre-season, the Sun, the Times, the BBC and SkySports all predicted Manchester United would finish fourth in the league behind Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Sir Alex Ferguson was coming up to 20 years in charge at the healm of United and many believed he should not have been here still, a "team in decline" and Fergie had to go many thought.

The season started with United thumping Fulham 5-1, Rooney and Ronaldo ran the show and buried any thoughts that they didn't get along. Saha was banging in the goals, Rooney got two in his first game (although a three match ban, an unfair one hindered his performances) and Ronaldo was also on fire. Paul Scholes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer & Ryan Giggs were the "new signings" Fergie had promised, Carrick made a quiet but effective start to his United career and Rio and Vidic formed a formidable defence.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was a name barely uttered in the Red half of Manchester, Ferguson and Giggs called for goals from all departments and we got that. Louis Saha also blossomed and at the time of writing (30th December 06) sits as United's top scorer with 12 goals, Ronaldo on 10 and Rooney on 8. Fergie proved himself right once again, Ruud van Nistelrooy had to go and it benefitted the club.

United won 16 out of their 20 Premier league games, drawing two and losing two. Qualified top of their group in Europe and despite being knocked out of the Carling Cup look forward to a home tie in the FA Cup versus Aston Villa. Four points ahead of Chelsea after twenty games and in pole position. Things are going better than we could have dreamed.

At the end of 2006 the Manchester Evening News printed, "The cracks are so wide that not even a manager with Ferguson's motivational skills can paper over them. If Fergie can arrest this shocking and alarming slump it will rank with anything he's achieved in all his years at the club."

What a difference a year makes. Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates his birthday on New Years Eve with his team top of the league, still in the Champions League and the FA Cup. We are still very much a team in transition and regardless of where the title ends up Ferguson has proven his doubters all wrong again, Rooney and Ronaldo are firing United to the top together, Saha has buried the memory of Ruud.

Altogether United have EXPLODED back onto the scene, we're in the driving seat for our trophy and it tastes sweet after the trials and tribulations of 2006.

Happy New Year!

SANTA WEARS RED, JOSÉ

Following Chelsea’s last gasp undeserved victory over Wigan Athletic on the Saturday before Christmas Jose Mourinho claimed “Santa wears blue!” in his post match conference referring to the fact Chelsea’s victory was lucky and was something of an unexpected gift!

Boxing Day arrived with Manchester United leading Chelsea by two points at the top of the league with Reading travelling to Abramovic’s Chelsea and Wigan travelling to Old Trafford many expected it to remain that way, with Chelsea taking pole position atleast for a few hours.
An own goal by Essien on the 85th-minute meant Chelsea drew the game 2-2 and had missed the opportunity to go top for a few hours, meaning a weakened United side went out against Wigan sitting top of the league by a point with one game in hand.

Ferdinand, Giggs and Neville were omitted from the sixteen with Saha and Ronaldo relegated to the bench. Rooney started up front along side Solskjaer, with O’Shea, Brown, Silvestre and Fletcher all starting too.

Wigan were without Lee McCulloch who was suspended and Heskey played up front despite suggestions he may miss the game. Camara was also out, through injury.

The game started with Manchester United playing as if they’d never made any changes to the starting line up and the football was quick and direct, Fletcher and Scholes supplied Rooney and Solskjaer with early opportunities which were not converted, with Park being back to his usual energetic self trying to probe the brave Wigan defence.

Rooney was foiled by Kirkland in the Wigan goal from six yards out, when the ex-Liverpool & Coventry keeper made a superb save. Silvestre’s shot was then again excellently saved by Kirkland and then Rooney had a shot flash wide.

As the half wore on the United faithful became restless, desperate for a goal to get the team that four point difference but “Mourinho, are you listening?” and “United, United top of the league!” kept reverberating around the Theatre of Dreams as the half drew to a close.

At the break, Ferguson introduced Cristiano Ronaldo for Scottish midfielder, Darren Fletcher and the move paid dividends with Ronaldo scoring two goals in five minutes to wrap the game up for Manchester United.

Paul Scholes flighted in a corner and the unmarked Ronaldo headed in his ninth-league goal of the campaign, his tenth came when Park Ji-Sung was brought down by Teale and the referee awarded a penalty.

Ronaldo’s penalty was initially saved by Kirkland but the rebound was scored and Ronaldo’s tenth league goal of the season sent United 2-0 up and wrapped the points up.

Songs again came from the United faithful, “That boy Ronaldo made England look shite”, “We shall not be moved” and the rest of the pack came out. And, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United legend raced through onto a Wayne Rooney flick on party time began as he put United three ahead and secured a comfortable victory.

Wigan did get a consolation goal though, when the referee gave a harsh penalty against Mikael Silvestre. Wright appeared to be brought down by Silvestre when he raced through only for replays to show Silvestre got a touch on the ball before the player. Leighton Baines banged the penalty home straight down the middle giving the diving Van Der Sar no chance. It was virtually the last kick of the game, Van Der Sar will have been upset to lose his clean sheet but Sir Alex Ferguson will be feeling that the two Christmas fixtures have gone well.

Ferguson said of Ronaldo’s introduction, “I had a feeling he’d change the game, we needed a quick response to what happened in the first half and Cristiano is in such great form, it was an obvious move. He lit up the crowd got us two goals, which is just what we were looking for!”

So, United lead the table after twenty games by four points after what can be seen as a successful festive fixture programme. Two wins from two, with Reading coming up on Saturday at Old Trafford.

See José, Santa wears Red!