Post by Scott on Jan 4, 2009 20:48:53 GMT
Happy New Year! After a wonderful 2008 for the club, we can only hope for something anywhere near as good in 2009. As the new banner on the Stretford End reads: European Capital of Trophies 08. Still, I'm struggling to think of a time we actually played well this season in 2008. We've hardly set the World alight. With easier fixtures coming our way and hopefully a more gelled team, maybe we can really start to turn it on and retain our trophy. Three years in a row? Yes please.
2008 in pictures.
Now let us begin:
The RoM 2008 awards were held today, with the results showing in the Hall of Fame board. Do check them out and leave a congratulatory message for the winners. As for the winners themselves, well done, and feel free to add your button to your signature! If the winners send me their addresses, I'll pop a prize in the post too.
Interview
With StrefordEndling
Real name: Stephen Simpson
Where are you from: Hayes, West London
Who is your biggest inspiration: The thousands of unpaid carers nationwide (Cos my dad's also disabled).
What would you like to be better at: I'd like to be more confident in a social setting.
What is your all time favourite film? I've got a fair few actually: Bruce Lee's The Big Boss, The Rush Hour films, Rumble In The Bronx, Once Upon A Time In China, Chocolate...can you spot a trend going on here?
Favourite Quote? "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown in to the sea."
If you won the lottery, how would you spend it? I'd pay off my debts, pay the rest of my family's debts off (including my gf's family too
), buy a house for my parents & brother's family, Buy a house for me and my girlfriend in Manchester and continue to follow the boys!One job in the world, what would it be?: Somewhere inside OT as long as I got to see all of the games home and away.
Your dream girl/boy? I'm with her already
What’s your biggest ambition in life? I'm already living my ambition and dream. I'm a season ticket holder in the Stretford End Tier 2!! Fucking lovin' it!
What’s your greatest ever achievement? I've completed 3 London to Brighton Bike Rides as well as a Manchester to Blackpool bike ride for charity.
What’s your biggest regret? Taking the measles jab when I was 6. We think that's what triggered off my Psoriasis.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? *Fingers Crossed* settled down in Manchester with my girlfriend in a good steady job still following the boys.
Who do you hate most: City/Liverpool/Leeds/Arsenal/Other: Liverpool without question. Bunch of murdering, robbing, bind dipping, granny raping tools. YSB's!
How did you celebrate our title and cup win? I was at home watching the West Brom game when we won the league. Had the biggest grin on my face when I was next in work ;D I was up in the Bishop Blaize for the cup final. I celebrated that glorious night soaked from head to toe in beer, hugged more strangers then I ever have in my entire life and completely wrecked my throat for the rest of the week.
What's the best game you've ever been to? It has to be the Semi final against Barcelona last year at OT. I was "relocated" to the north stand tier 1 for that cos I was only a 1-year ticket holder at the time. Atmosphere was just ace!
What's your favourite ever United goal? "Who put the ball in the Germans net?..."
Which player from the past do you rate the most? Big Dunc.
Which player are you most excited about this season? I'm liking the looks of Rafael Da Silva & Johny Evans so far.
Who's your favourite member on the forum? I can't choose one person. To name some: Kokka, Marina, Mark (andoverred), Garry (StretfordEnder), united4lyf, Sil (MissUnited) & Kim.
Anything else you want to tell us? 8 hours of my time is spent travelling the 400mile round trip to and from OT each matchday.
Hope thats all ok mate
Player of the Month
Written by United4lyf
December is probably the most testing month in the Premier League season for the players with games being thrown at them left, right and centre. Particularly this December: travelling from Manchester to London to Tokyo and back, it was a good job that the team pulled themselves together and began playing like the Manchester United we know and love.
First of all, special mention has to go to practically the entire midfield who have gelled together fantastically, and their versatility has kept the team heading forward all month. With Scholes coming back to full fitness and Hargreaves yet to return, they are a force to be reckoned with.
It was a very tight decision as to who should be POTM but Edwin van der Sar and Cristiano Ronaldo narrowly missed out. Edwin has been growing in confidence over the last few games, pulling off some tremendous saves as well as keeping 4 clean sheets. Ronaldo, despite only scoring 1 goal (low by his standards), has proved that he has nearly reached his peak again, especially with scintillating displays in the World Club Cup resulting in him being voted the 2nd MVP.
However this month has also seen the “return” of the Rooney-Tevez partnership following Berbatov’s injury. And hasn’t it worked well?! With 10 goals between them in 5 games and consistent performances throughout, I thought it would be appropriate if Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez were joint players of the month.
For the past few months it’s fair to say that Tevez has played second-fiddle to Berbatov but when he was given his opportunity against Blackburn in the Carling Cup, he reminded all of us of his class with 1 assist and then hammering in 4 goals himself. His excellent form has continued in the following matches and despite all the speculation about his future, his performances on the pitch show that his heart is still in the right place. And where would we be without his ever important late goals?? Unbelievably he’s still only 24 years old and with his never-say-die attitude I hope there is still much to come from him for Manchester United.
Tevez’s form has rubbed off on Wayne Rooney who is thriving on their partnership and is back among the goals too, with another 4 to add to his collection. Despite his goals coming in short bursts, Rooney’s team performances are never doubted, and during the WCC he top-scored and was named MVP. Not bad eh? We absolutely love it when Wazza is on top form like this, so long may it continue.
These two players are prime examples of the spirit of the Club so hopefully they can lead the team to even more successes in 2009. They’ve conquered the World already but watch out everyone, they’re going to want to again, and this time even more, so bring it on!
Match of the Month
Written by MoxDevil
With few fixtures of a festive period to get the mouth watering and one competition available to win with the kudos of being named the best club side in the world, there was little question of which was going to be the highlight fixture of December: the World Club Cup final.
Ok I could have opted for excitement and chosen one of the 5-3’s we had against Blackburn or Gamba Osaka. And I very nearly did opt for the game that included Tevez finding his goal-scoring touch with four goals. Instead I have chosen what was admittedly a game played like a preseason friendly, against a poor team from Ecuador that would ordinarily warrant little more than a footnote. Nevertheless this was the first cup final of the calendar and you had to be the best of your respective continent the previous season to be taking part. Contrast this on the day in question: United playing in Japan to be crowned best club side in the world, and City losing in a foot of the table rivalry with West Brom. Nothing more need be said methinks.
We got an early indication that Fergie was taking winning of the competition seriously; naming the strongest squad available. Further reflected in the selection for the final with arguably the strongest line up he could put out on recent form. The game itself didn’t start well for the Reds with LDU Quito managing to miss a glaring opportunity as early as the 4th minute. A free-kick flighted in from the right by their left footed Argentinean playmaker went low towards the near post with two LDU players somehow incapable of tapping it in. However, after that early scare it was one way traffic for the rest of the half with United creating numerous openings but unable to score. With Carrick and Anderson pulling the strings in midfield and threading balls behind the Ecuadorian side’s defence it looked only a matter of when United was going to score. Rooney hitting the target with some stinging strikes, Tevez forcing a save with a header following Ronaldo’s neat play on the left, with further opportunities going just wide. Half time came with the score-line still surprisingly 0-0.
Four minutes in to the second half came the only moment of controversy of the game and the only way that the South Americans were going to make the tie a contest; Vidic needlessly retaliating with his elbow to Bieler’s attempted intimacy whilst both players were on the ground, cue the Argentinean’s moment to show his amateur dramatic skills, and the referee to show his red card. At this point a slight worry that we might not win the competition may have entered one’s head, especially when considered the number of chances we had failed to take in the first half.
Tevez was the forward player sacrificed in order that Evans could fill Vidic’s position and a reshuffle of the formation was required; with Rooney moving from the front where he had been so effective thus far, to the left with Ronaldo going up front on his own. LDU as a result had a little more of the ball with United less inclined to press for the ball from the front. In spite of having a man less, little difference was made to the flow of the game as United still looked the more likely to score; LDU resorting to testing VDS from distance. Finally the breakthrough came in the 73rd minute-Carrick playing a smart pass to Ronaldo on the edge of the box, faced up with two Ecuadorian defenders, the best player in the world pushed the ball to the left for Rooney to curl one in to the bottom right corner. Cue celebrations and a little relief at finally converting one of the numerous chances created. From this point on it was just a case of keeping possession away from the Ecuadorian side, which wasn’t difficult as they were crap, and not encouraging them the opportunity of testing their penalty taking ability. The only real scare for United came a few minutes from the end with Edwin making a great tip over of a shot heading for the top corner. The game finishing soon afterwards with United victors of the World Club Cup, a statement no other British club has been able to make with validation.
Consumption of celebratory beverages to the tune of ‘we are the champions’ beginneth.
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I hope you enjoyed the twenty eighth edition of The Paper. Any comments about it please leave in the comments thread on this board
Editor: Scott
