Post by Scott on May 30, 2007 23:45:38 GMT
United’s Player of the Season 06/07
This write up is by Keith/Vidic’s bitch.
I’m sure many will disagree with my decision to pick Paul Scholes as player of the season ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, but I feel that Scholes team play just edged it for him.
At the start of the season I’m sure a lot of people thought Scholes may have been getting past it, soon to be 32, just coming back from a career threatening eye injury and not in the best of form, few would have predicted his return to his incredible best this season, he’s been an inspirational leader for the team.
The season didn’t get of to the best of starts for Scholes with a three mach ban following a red in the Amsterdam tournament. His first game back was a tricky game against Celtic in the champions league.United won 3-2 on the night with Scholes playing an influential part in the goals,unfortuanately he couldn’t help us to win our next game against arsenal.As the season went on Scholes went from strength to strength,his passing ability and football brain never ceasing to amaze.
On the 22 October 2006, in the 2-0 Premiership victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford, twelve years after marking his Red Devils debut with a League Cup brace against Port Vale, Scholes became the ninth United player to reach the 500th appearance landmark, following the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes, Denis Irwin and current team-mates Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. Scholes opened the scoring in the 39th minute, prodding the ball home following a Ryan Giggs cross. Rio Ferdinand scored the second goal, in the 66th minute. He was voted Man of the Match and gave a rare interview after the game.
In addition to his strike against Liverpool, he also scored twice more before Christmas; one rifling drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the 18-yard box in the Champions League match against FC Copenhagen on 17 October, and an incredible 30-yard volley which struck the underside of the crossbar against Aston Villa on 23 December, which was voted Goal of the Month. Scholes now regards the latter as the best goal of his career thus far. He soon followed these strikes scoring both goals against Newcastle United in a 2-2 draw at St. James's Park.
Despite rave reviews about his play in the 2006/2007 season, Scholes was dismissed by referee Martin Atkinson, during Manchester United's 1-0 victory over Liverpool F.C. at Anfield on 3 March 2007, for swinging an arm at Xabi Alonso. It marked the first time he has been sent off in the league since Manchester United lost 1-0 against Liverpool's city rivals, Everton FC in April 2005. He missed the next three domestic games. The loss of Scholes was described by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as a disappointment. Scholes still featured in Manchester United's match against Lippi's European team, performing calmly and effectively in centre-midfield, which Manchester United won 4-3 with the help of Wayne Rooney's brace and srtikes from Ronaldo and surprisingly Wes Brown. Scholes returned to the United line-up against Blackburn on March 31. With United 1-0 down, Scholes danced his way around Blackburn's defence to slot home the equaliser. Scholes' strike opened the floodgates as United romped home 4-1. Scholes received his second red card of the season four days later against Roma in a Champions League match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, after committing two yellow card offences. Due to suspension, he missed the second leg match at Old Trafford on April 10th which United won 7-1 (8-3 on agg). On 24 April, during a Champions League game against AC Milan at Old Trafford, with United trailing 2-1, Scholes used his creativity to lob a pass over the Milan defence leaving Wayne Rooney free to slot home the equalizer. United eventually did win the game 3-2 when Wayne Rooney, again, scoring the winner in injury time. However, eight days later at the San Siro, Scholes and company produced a poor performance which saw United outplayed by Milan and were eliminated from the Champions League 5-3 on aggregate.
Scholes then went on to lift the trophy with united and play in the fa cup final against Chelsea,which they were robbed of,but Scholes still managed to put in a honourable performance.
Scholes > God
United’s Moment of the Season 06/07
This write up is by MrsRepublik.
United V Liverpool: The Tale of Ten Men
On the skirts of a late-match breakaway against Fulham, United comes to Anfield for the battle against the scouse.
We’d played better matches than that day at Anfield. Cries of disbelief had just started to quiet as we lost Scholes to the punch that was all too close not to make contact and Rooney to a gash in the leg. We were down to ten men at Anfield. Cue the entrance of one John O’Shea. I think it’s fair to say there were not many cheers heralding O’Shea’s taking the field. Sarcastic rounds of applause followed by “Nice one Ferguson, what is John fuckin O’Shea going to do?”
In the final minutes, we took a 12 point lead over Chelsea.. and what’s more – we stuck it to the scousers, and there aren’t many things more beautiful than that. We scored the 0-1 victory that we’d been holding our breathes to see. Ronaldo drove in one of his more deadly free kicks in the box, Saha came across the keeper, and Reina fumbled the ball. Who else could be there other than the deadliest finisher in the Premiership? Mr John “4 goals from 5 attempts” O’Shea.
We turned on the heels of that match and headed out to our season with a new energy, 12 points clear at the top for that moment. We took our Chelsea lead and we pushed it. We didn’t just “have a chance at the title” anymore, we were taking it as our own. Our fans got serious. Our players got more serious. And Fergie took charge, as only the most brilliant manager can, and lead us to the top of the league.
Seeing Gary Neville celebrating, as he thoroughly enjoys against the scousers, was enough to leave me feeling full. Him and Giggsy with their arms around each other, working up the ground, celebrating the win like only true United fans could.
We have been spoilt with injury time winners against the scousers. When Rio headed in that perfect goal last season in front of the Stretford End, we thought it couldn’t get any sweeter than that. We were wrong. O’Shea’s injury time winner in front of the Kop was far sweeter. As O’Shea said after the game, Neville had come up to him and told him that was a dream of his. That’s why the goal was so sweet. It’s a dream of all of ours. There surely aren’t many things in life that could beat the sheer ecstasy of sticking the ball in the roof of the net at the Kop end, watching all those scousers hold their heads in their hands, see all the Liverpool players with hands on their hips, hearing the cheers of United fans at the other end.
We were lucky to have more than our fair share of great moments this season. Our 7-1 battering of Roma, our comeback against Everton at Goodison, Rooney’s injury time winner against Milan, Solskjaer’s injury time winner in the Cup against Villa, our 3 goals in the opening 6 minutes against Reading in the Cup, our 4-0 victory at the Reebok with a Rooney hatrick, the 5-1 win on the opening day of the season, to name a few. But there really can only be one winner.
United are the champions and our scouse bastard opponents welcomed us on our final ascent to the top on that day at Anfield. That is why O’Shea’s goal is moment of the season. Not only did we get one over on our rivals, but that was the goal that pushed us over the edge. That was the goal that made people think “United aren’t going to give this up are they”. So all hail John O’Shea, United’s man of the moment 06/07.
Season Review
Get your reading glasses on. This article is by RollinRed
As the season started Michael Carrick wore Manchester United red, as did Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney after their rather interesting summer. Ruud van Nistelrooy, however, did not. Were United going to miss him? Did Rooney and Ronnie hate each other? Both questions were answered on the opening day as it happens.
All you can do is start well and it certainly started like a train against Fulham at Old Trafford in August. Louis Saha looked like a brand new signing after he capped a fine move and gave United a deserved lead in the game. The second may have been an own goal but the play between Giggs, Rooney, Ronaldo and eventually Saha was worth a 2:0 lead and eventually the third came with just 16 minutes on the clock. Saha was once again in the thick of it as it was his shot that rebounded for Wayne Rooney to score and allow the Old Trafford crowd the chance to relax. Ronaldo himself scored late on as Fulham were well and truly put to the sword, along with any thoughts of a rift between Wayne Rooney and the Portuguese winger. I don’t know if their goal celebration was intended to show that there was no problem between them but it certainly worked and sealed an impressive opening day.
Away visits to Charlton and Watford finished the month for us and both of these games went United’s way as our impressive start to the season continued. It was 3:0 at Charlton and a hard fought 2:1 victory over Watford.
A solid home win against Tottenham continued their good form and September saw the team enter the European fray with a match billed as the ‘Battle of Britain’, or the apprentice versus the master, as Celtic came to Old Trafford. A see saw game followed in which United took their chances but were equally made to pay for some lackluster defending. Each time United gained an advantage Celtic constantly found enough to draw level until the original super sub Ole Solskjaer came on and scored the winner, the game ended 3:2 to United and this was not the last time the European stage was lit up by a Manchester United performance. That performance seemed to take something from the players despite their eventual victory, as the performance in the next home game against Arsenal was below par, leaving us with our first defeat of the season.
United were held to a one all draw away to Reading in the next game and as a result missed the chance to go to the top of the table. Reading had been in the lead until Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty gained a point. The European match against Benfica away ended September, a solid 1:0 victory and the first away win in Europe for Manchester United in almost three years. Louis Saha was the man on target in the crucial Group stage win.
October began with an impressive display against a poor Newcastle United side who probably would have been happy with a draw. United certainly were not, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored twice to claim a victory that should have been by a higher margin and would have been but for the displays of Newcastle ‘keeper Steve Harper. The United faithful were happy to see Ole once again on the score sheet and Sir Alex Ferguson hailed a ‘terrific performance’ that many believe showed Chelsea they were up for the battle for the league. As if to highlight that belief United were to move three points clear at the top of the league with victory in their next game against Wigan although this was another game in which the opposition scoring sparked United’s reaction. Leighton Baines scored a free kick on five minutes to give Wigan the lead. Confidence was growing soon enough and Wayne Rooney looked lively throughout this game but it was defender Nemanja Vidic that brought United level with a thunderous header. Wayne Rooney claimed an assist as United went ahead soon after, it was his cross from the left that went over the Wigan defender and fell to Saha who controlled and struck the ball in one movement. United ended the game far more dominant and Solskjaer sealed the victory. 3:1 to United in the end.
United took their good form onto the European stage once again, this time Copenhagen were the visitors to Old Trafford and were efficiently put to the sword with goals from Scholes, O’Shea and Kieran Richardson.
Then for the game that United fans look for when the fixture list first comes out. Liverpool at Old Trafford. Hopes were high given Manchester United’s good form going into the game and the team did not disappoint. The Liverpool defence was in for a busy day as United dominated and eventually made it count when Scholes, who was celebrating his 500th appearance for the club, gave United the lead. United never looked like relinquishing their lead and they hammered home their dominance of the match, Rio Ferdinand was on hand to make the points safe. And what a goal it was too, with the Liverpool defence again under pressure Carragher’s panicked clearance went high into the air and Rio was on hand to control the ball and send a left foot shot into the top right hand corner.
The defence of the Carling Cup started in shaky fashion as the team needed extra time and a lot of luck to beat Crewe at Gresty Road. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave United a first half lead before the half hour and it seemed like the result would be a foregone conclusion, however Crewe battled very well and produced some good football even before there eventual equaliser. United’s get out of jail free card came soon after when United flew into attack and Alan Smith set up Kieran Lee to break Crewe hearts and send United through. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted after the game that his side were lucky, “I think we used up a bit of our luck tonight”. This would not be the last time lady luck would be on our side this season.
A 4:0 victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium gave Wayne Rooney his first Premiership hat-trick at the end of October while November was a bitter sweet month for the team. Former Aston Villa player Marcus Allback scored the only goal of the game, and the first ever for Copenhagen in the Champions’ League as the Danes defeated United. Old Trafford witnessed a 3:0 victory over Portsmouth to maintain good progress on the league front but the Reds were then on the wrong end of a 1:0 score in the League cup against Southend. Freddy Eastwood was the man responsible for sending Manchester United out of the competition. Man United responded to this disappointment by extending their lead in the Premiership to three points with a single Louis Saha goal at Blackburn Rovers before another away day took us to Bramall Lane and newly promoted Sheffield United. On this occasion United, as with so many other occasions in the past, made life hard for themselves as they had to come from behind. It was former United starlet Keith Gillespie who stunned the crowd with the opening goal but the league leaders drew level on the half hour when Gary Neville’s cross was controlled and volleyed past Paddy Kenny by Wayne Rooney. For the second goal Evra was the provider of the cross for another classy volley from Rooney and the points were safe.
The ‘Battle of Britain’ part two, boiled down to a free kick nine minutes before time for the ‘Japanese Beckham’ Nakamura, and a penalty for United in the dying moments for a handball. Louis Saha stepped up and failed to convert, giving Celtic a famous victory in a game which United were far superior for long parts of the contest. That counts for nothing if you fail to put the ball in the net however.
Those looking for answers in the title race in the home game against Chelsea were to be disappointed as it really was a game of two halves. Louis Saha showed no lack of confidence in front of goal as he edged United in front in the first half. He found himself in front of goal and had enough skill to stop the ball and move it on before curling it into the net. Chelsea had the better of the second half which may have been helped by a change of tactics from the London side at half time, either way they levelled through Carvalho’s header as United struggled to keep the reigning champions out. It was something of a relief at the final whistle and both sides went home happy with a point, but Chelsea didn’t half celebrate their point a lot! Advantage United with a three point lead in the league. The month ended with victory over Everton, always a notable affair if only to see Wayne Rooney’s reaction to the Everton fans’ booing. No goals for the former Toffee, they came from Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half and Patrice Evra’s first goal for United. John O’Shea notched a third but the score line was not really indicative of the whole game. Everton provided stiff opposition for a lot of the first half especially but the points were in the bag and the progress was maintained. Captains and brothers Phil and Gary lead their teams out, and Phil was greeted with a warm reception. It was his performance in the away fixture which we will remember him more fondly for, however.
Santa most definitely supported Manchester United in December as United delivered victories over Middlesbrough, Benfica in Europe, Man City, Villa, Wigan and Reading.
Next came West Ham. Most predicted victory for the reds’ and that is never a good sign, Alan Curbishley’s first game in charge at Upton Park spurred the Hammers on and they completed a victory despite United’s apparent dominance overall. United were left to rue missed chances in the game when Reo Coker made the breakthrough on 75 minutes.
Villa Park witnessed one of the goals of the season from Paul Scholes as United’s second half display saw them defeat Aston Villa 3:0. Scholes’ 30 yard strike came between two Cristiano Ronaldo goals and meant that Manchester United enjoyed top spot at Christmas. Ronaldo continued his sparkling form against Wigan in the next game when he came off the bench to score twice and ensure victory. Chelsea could only draw with Reading before the Old Trafford kick off and it was the same starting line up from newly promoted Reading that provided stern opposition for United as well in the last game of the year. Leroy Lita especially gave the defence, particularly Mikael Silvestre problems in the early going and at the other end Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney could not make the breakthrough. It was Ole Solskjaer who did, heading in from Ronaldo’s cross but soon after that Sonko brought Reading level. From then for large parts of the game United dominated but did not manage to convert any of their chances, Ronaldo showing good form once again eventually made the dominance tell, he was on hand to prod United back into the lead after Solskjaer’s shot was saved. Reading refused to go quietly even when they were reduced to ten men, Steve Sidwell had a chance but was off target and United confirmed victory with Ronaldo scoring his second, 13 minutes from time slotting in unmarked from close range after Giggs’ cross. Reading scored a late second to inspire brief hopes of a fight back as Sidwell capitalised on Silvestre’s poor defending but although they puffed and puffed they could not blow United’s house down and it finished 3:2.
The performance of Paul Scholes was the high point in the New Years Day game with Newcastle, as both sides entertained in a 2:2 draw. His play was worth the price of admission on its own, his first goal was a clever finish capping off a pass and move and a dummy from Scholes around a Newcastle defender. His second would seem to be the winner, a low shot from the edge of the area through the legs the Newcastle defence and leaving Shay Given helpless. Man United looked sure for victory until the 72nd minute when debutante David Edgar received the ball 25 yards from goal and struck at an angle, with a deflection from none other than Paul Scholes the ball went beyond the ‘keeper and United had to settle for 2:2.