As a Manchester United supporter, I’m often accused of being a bandwagon rider. Their fightback against Chelsea at the weekend reminded me that I don’t love United because they win all the time. I love them because they are never beaten.
This is a team which has had a pretty rough year on a number of fronts. Punted out of the Champions League by FC Basel, and the League Cup by Crystal Palace, both in dreadful performances, United were being written off as early as November.
In fact it was earlier than that; many said they couldn’t do anything this year because they didn’t buy a new midfielder in the summer transfer window.
Their defence, so often the basis for League wins, has been riddled with injuries, not least captain and best player Nemanja Vidic, as well as a goalkeeper who would look far more comfortable on a tennis court than in the penalty area against a Rory Delap long throw.
Add into this injuries at one stage or another to Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones, Nani, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez, and Darren Fletcher, and you’ve got a recipe for ‘maybe next year.’
Remember that their primary opponents are their supremely resourced neighbours, and most would already be scouring next summer’s market for rebuilding the team.
But no. After 26 games of this Premier League season, United are two points behind Manchester City. City, whose second-string side would arguably be better than United’s first, have simply had one less draw. That gap would be a point greater had United not found three goals in half an hour at their least favourite ground against one of the best sides in the country. They just keep hanging on.
Now, I’m not saying they’re going to win the league, but the fact that we are even discussing the possibility at this stage of the season is remarkable. If they fail to win the league it will be a grave disappointment, and that too speaks volumes about the spirit of the club.
When they were whipped 6-1 at home by City in November many said it was over. Power shift, regime chance, all of that. Sir Alex Ferguson, the most prominent force behind in this spirit, said at the time that the players got carried away with the history and reputation of their club, and so were still trying to win the game from three and four goals down.
While he was right about that, I’m sure he also knew that it was that same history which has kept his side pedalling along behind City throughout the season’s toughest climbs.
They may not win the league. But it will not be for lack of trying or lack of belief. Where many crowds heckle or pressure their players if they go behind, Old Trafford lifts to the challenge.
I can feel it all these thousands of miles away in my lounge room on Australia. I usually turn the volume up on the TV, to my family’s annoyance. I sometimes enjoy watching them more when they chase the game, it brings out the best traditions of the club.
These are the same traditions which saw a cobbled-together squad beat Sheffield Wednesday in an FA Cup tie within two weeks of the Munich air disaster. The same traditions which saw a club languishing as poor cousins to Liverpool and Everton sweep past them by the end of the first decade of this century. The same traditions which found two goals in stoppage time to deny the Germans in ’99.
So, while there will plenty who say that United fans are simply glory-hunters, celebration junkies who know little about football, I can tell you that I’m a United fan because when it all looks lost they find a way. And even if they don’t, they keep trying.
Their charge to May begins when they host Liverpool this weekend. If they can find a way past them, and onwards to the Premiership, it must rank as one of the club’s greatest achievements.
Subrasub
Guest
As a diehard Chelsea supporter you can understand the hatred i would have for Man utd not just for that last league game but for the whole rivalry that has been born since Mourinho took over as manager and of course that heartbreaking night in Moscow nearly 4 years ago. I definitely do not like united and really do loathe them at times but i do respect them immensely. I suppose their fighting qualities and amazing consistency is what ticks me off as blues fan as they stand in the way of everything we want to win and achieve but i really do see them as a yardstick in which every English and continental team are measured by in terms of their outstanding consistency. There were times during the late 90s and early 2000s where Barcelona were in a poor state on and off the field and Real Madrid have failed to win the champions league for 10 yrs and are struggling even as we speak to overcome the blaugrana and a great team like Milan waited 7 yrs to win the Scudetto but over the last 20 years united have stood out and delivered a level of consistency that is unparalleled to any team in this era. While others have suffered flat patches u have to commend their qualities and SAF management in instilling constant hunger and desire and reinventing players and his team to adapt to the ever evolving landscape of european football. Now of course, all these controversies over the referee and decisions bla bla bla are obviously annoying and sometimes unacceptable some of the decisions they have received over the years but all in all you certainly have to admire their never say die attitude and penchant to find the answer to get them across the line under any circumstances. This mentality you could almost say is what gives them that great luck with decisions. I think you have to acknowledge their fighting spirit and mentality as a club is the envy of every team. Having suffered so much heartache over the years and witnessing their quality, their strength between the years and remarkable fighting spirit is something their countless trophies and memorable matches attests to. If Manchester City is now able to win the title say, under controversial circumstances, they may have been lucky or fortunate, but i doubt they will be able to get away with that in 12 league winning campaigns like some here are insinuating utd have- United obviously have more than luck or favourable decisions going their way to have won so many trophies. Also their supposed lack of spending is a myth in my opinion because if you have a close look at their transfers they have spent almost as much as any of the big spenders.
Medi
Guest
Webb didn't rule two legitimate penalties within first 22 minutes for Manyou, which would have settled the game with a Manyoo win! I do not understand the complaint against Webb
Giggly
Guest
"chelsea should never have lost"- did Chelsea lost?or should they won? "champs league is the holy grail right now"- Where do liverpool find themselves right now? i agree that english league at the moment are not at their best but there are moment when Spanish league dont measure up with English league as well. not every season a team from spanish league won the European title. just because the spanish are the world champion at the moment doesnt make their league the best.maybe u should watch again the semi final of UCL when United beat them with scholes's screamer and we went into the final winning the trophy. my point is there are ups and down in the world of football. Dont have to win every game to be great or labelled as "prestige" club. "Man Utd only cought up with Reds in title, of late? - when is the last time the Reds won the league? and how long has liverpool, a so called PRESTIGE team- play second fiddle during Man Utd reigned in the 90s? 25 years maybe? never too late i guess to catch us up this season or maybe next season... "...not because team prestige but its good to wear a rooney on yer back" - what do you mean by prestige? not winning a title since 80s? I bought United shirt every season without any of those player name, why? because I simply love the club no matter who are they bringing in. man utd is a prestige club. otherwise it wont be on top of other english team as most valuable team in the world. you can find your own defination of prestige, please. A fightback shouldnt be included with 2 penalties but it can be 3 or 4 penalties as long as they show their determination of coming back from behind. We will do anything to get goals and yeah webb awarded us with 2 penalties simply because his own decesion. why are you so upset with the two goals? its not like we send a request letter to webb earlier of the game to simply ask 2 penalties to be awarded later. Of course You are not a united fan, so u are missing a point here that its our "tradition" and we are best known with our epic comeback(i dont have to highlight which game, too many, and nope it doesnt have to be with 2 penalties most of the time, and not with howard webb all of time... and yeah, i have started reading United's history now....
Giggly
Guest
"chelsea should never have lost"- did Chelsea lost?or should they won? "champs league is the holy grail right now"- Where do liverpool find themselves right now? i agree that english league at the moment are not at their best but there are moment when Spanish league dont measure up with English league as well. not every season a team from spanish league won the European title. just because the spanish are the world champion at the moment doesnt make their league the best.maybe u should watch again the semi final of UCL when United beat them with scholes's screamer and we went into the final winning the trophy. my point is there are ups and down in the world of football. Dont have to win every game to be great or labelled as "prestige" club. "Man Utd only cought up with Reds in title, of late? - when is the last time the Reds won the league? and how long has liverpool, a so called PRESTIGE team- play second fiddle during Man Utd reigned in the 90s? 25 years maybe? never too late i guess to catch us up this season or maybe next season... "...not because team prestige but its good to wear a rooney on yer back" - what do you mean by prestige? not winning a title since 80s? I bought United shirt every season without any of those player name, why? because I simply love the club no matter who are they bringing in. man utd is a prestige club. otherwise it wont be on top of other english team as most valuable team in the world. you can find your own defination of prestige, please. A fightback shouldnt be included with 2 penalties but it can be 3 or 4 penalties as long as they show their determination of coming back from behind. We will do anything to get goals and yeah webb awarded us with 2 penalties simply because his own decesion. why are you so upset with the two goals? its not like we send a request letter to webb earlier of the game to simply ask 2 penalties to be awarded later. Of course You are not a united fan, so u are missing a point here that its our "tradition" and we are best known with our epic comeback(i dont have to highlight which game, too many, and nope it doesnt have to be with 2 penalties most of the time, and not with howard webb all of time... and yeah, i have started reading United's history now....
mactheblack
Guest
Unfortunately Chelsea were caught in Howards' Webb. Man United are never beaten? How about the 6-1 thrashing at the hands of their closest rivals some weeks ago - that must have hurt! Surely they must have felt beaten, then. Didn't they? Man United is actually having one of their worst seasons - English football at the moment don't measure up to the Spanish league etc- Champs League is the Holy Grail right now and where does ManU find themselves? By the way we all know those penalties were as dubious as they come - Chelsea should never have lost. Does a fightback of epic proportions include the awarding of not one, but two penalties? They cannot measure up to Barca who are the yardstick and the trailblazers - their demise in the Champions League this year shows the gulf between Man United and teams like Barca. Why is that when they are supposed to be such a GREAT team - why did they play second fiddle during the long period that Liverpool reigned king in the 80s? Really, Manchester United only caught up with the Reds in terms of League titles, of late. Yeah you right, most ManUnited supporters are fans, especially in South Africa, not because of the team's prestige but because it's good to wear a shirt with Rooney on yer back - real bandwagon people I call them. Most of these people - don't even know the histroy as it regards the "Busby Babes".
sherpaang
Guest
RT Will Sinclair"Man Utd spend years using their greater economic power to buy league titles."
Nathan of Perth
Guest
"Wow, i just cant believe you said that united bought thier trophies." Ummm.
Sherpaang
Guest
Wow, i just cant believe you said that united bought thier trophies. Why cant you appreciate the fact that united are more succesaful team in the EPl. Real Madrid, Man city buy their trophies. The most expensive player united ever bought was Veron & Berbatov. Both over €35mill., one of them is our fourth choice striker and the other only spent 2 season. Sobi dont get how they bought their titles, 19 of them. I cant say anymore. utd are the best club, entertaining, successful.
Sherpaang
Guest
I am a united fan and i agree that howard webbs decision are a very fishy in the games. But i am a united fan, not recently, since their win in the champions league final of '99. You can call me glory hunter at that point but i've been a loyal fan since then. Many of you only see the webb part of the story. look how many times utd. have been gutted by the wrong decision of the reff. We have got a lot against us and we have a lot for us, but thats how the game is and every team has the same experience. So, you cant bring that topic about webb favoring united. Next, the squad. Our squad isnt so weak, but we always deal with injury at crucial time. And we have always performed above average even if we have injury. Every team suffer with injury, utd. Just deals with it better. Righ now we have a young squad, so trophies is definite in the near future, if its not this year ( history says it). The fact that we talk so much abt the city squad is because they already are a big flop. They cant even hang on to one trophy for long (fa cup). They might win the league this season, but in the long run its not going to(one example is real madrid, only big players but not many silverware). Cheers, GGMU.
Giggly
Guest
Poor all those people down there who really hate us. You can write your comment based on anything that you believe, like howard webb is the the referee in every United's game, or maybe howard webb help us won all of our cups including the champion league. You can even say Man Utd buying the title league (sure we have a lot of money but we don't buy 30 million flop andy carroll, or 50 million flip flop Torres). Anyway, why don't you write something about your "historical" team? Would love to read it. Poor old...rusty rival. And my heart bleeds as well.
Will Sinclair
Guest
"Why ManU why not Nottingham Forest,Newcastle & dozens of other English clubs with great tradition. Why not Sheffield Wednesday arguably at the time of the Munich disaster as big a club as ManU." United and Ferguson had the good fortune to reap the benefits of a golden generation of young talent at exactly the same time as Murdoch and Sky were pouring billions into the sport. Success at that time created an economic superiority that carried them through generations. As they say... timing is everything.
Will Sinclair
Guest
Yep - it was good to see Webb on the score sheet for United again on the weekend. Another brace for his beloved club and Manager. When he finally retires, he will surely be remembered as one of the greatest goal scorers in the history of the club. What an achievement.
Will Sinclair
Guest
I love it! Man Utd spend years using their greater economic power to buy league titles, and now someone else has some cash to splash around they're whinging and crying poor! Honestly - you couldn't make it up. Poor old United. My heart bleeds.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
What's that? I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of your bandwagon riding!
futbanous
Guest
Its always been a puzzle to me why ManU are the World Wide phenomena that they are. Why ManU why not Nottingham Forest,Newcastle & dozens of other English clubs with great tradition. Why not Sheffield Wednesday arguably at the time of the Munich disaster as big a club as ManU. What changed the fortunes of the 2 clubs so that ManU are revered, admired, hated & generally invoke strong emotions amongst football fans,whilst the Owls languish in obscurity wallowing in indifference down in League 1. Was it the reign for long periods of time of 2 very successful Scottish Managers Matt Busby & Alex Ferguson therefore building momentum. Not only successful football but pleasing on the eye. Whilst Wednesday & others lurched from manager to manager,these two built the club in the modern era. An era after 1962(minimum football wage scrapped) where money increasingly started to talk in the game. To be honest there all just speculation. I cannot find a really solid reason that ManU separated itself from the pack after the Munich air disaster. There's more to this than this stories headline " Why Manchester United are never really beaten". A simplistic line for something much deeper about the modern era of football & why some clubs prospered from the same level playing field & why others didn't.
Kasey
Guest
ManYoo are never really beaten at OT for 2 reasons. Fergie-time and Howard Webb. How many pens have United received from Webb? quote direct from the Telegraph:(the 'real' one not the fishwrapper based in Sydney with Buzz Rothfield as sports editor:)) --- Howard Webb, Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 25 April 2009: It could have been the decision that secured United the championship, and by the man who is regarded as the best referee in the country. Two goals behind at half-time, Sir Alex Ferguson knew that his side needed just one goal to swing momentum back in their favour. Then Michael Carrick was brought down in the area when Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes came out to intercept the midfielder, who had collected Wayne Rooney's superb through pass and was bearing down on goal. Gomes made contact with Carrick, but also took the ball, in what was a fine save. But Webb, who was almost 35 yards away, and behind play, saw an infringement. He was the only one who did. Cristiano Ronaldo converted from the spot, and Spurs imploded. The momentum shifted, and United scored a further four goals in just 22 minutes. Jermaine Jenas said: 'That was a prime example of a referee crumbling under pressure at Old Trafford." Harry Redknapp agreed: "The players can't believe it," he said. "It changed the game." -------------- source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/5229854/Refereeing-blunders-Howard-Webb-under-spotlight-for-controversial-penalty.html
Dave
Guest
'City, whose second-string side would arguably be better than United’s first', are you having a laugh? United have more strength and depth than city, hence why we can cope with 10 injuries every game yet Mancini is moaning when 2 players leave for the ACN. I challenge anyone to suggest a city team without silva, kompany, toure, aguero, clichy, richards, aguero, balotelli, nasri, hart, lescott which would be better than a united team of de gea, smalling, vidic, ferdinand, evra, valencia, cleverly, carrick, nani, rooney, hernandez