Post by Scott on Feb 3, 2009 19:45:53 GMT
So we're back to our rightful place on top of the league. We've managed it sooner this season than last and haven't had to play particularly well to get there, but that's all by the by. Watching the Liverpool vs Chelsea game at the weekend only confirmed to me all the more that the title is ours. We'll wait and see I suppose.
There's a sale going on in the shops at the moment, whether you're in the UK or US, or several other places around the World, check out the shops to see the special voucher code needed to get your 14.2% off.
We've also got a new design which will run on a discount until the end of the season:
There are now a whole array of options for staying connected with RoM, from Facebook, to Twitter, to MySpace, so check them out.
Now let us begin:
Member of the Month
Stewart1971 is this month's winner, a member who has been here from practically the very beginning, making good posts and valid arguments. Congrats!
Interview
With Soapy
Real name: Simon Wheeler
Where are you from: Originally Southampton but moved to Newmarket 9 years ago.
Who is your biggest inspiration: Corny but my dad. He's always lived his life with integrity and honesty so that's as good an inspiration as any.
What would you like to be better at: Jesus, just about everything really. Perhaps if pinned down at gunpoint I'd say football, because every time I see the players walk out of the tunnel at OT I wish I'd been talented enough to join them.
What is your all time favourite film? Easy, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. this was the first film I ever saw at a proper cinema and I still believe it's Spielberg's tour de force.
Favourite Quote? Never argue with an idiot, they simply drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
If you won the lottery, how would you spend it? Depending on how much I won, I would make sure the family were all comfortable, buy myself a seat at OT and make sure the Vulcan to the Sky trust was financially able to keep displays of my favourite aircraft going.
One job in the world, what would it be? That guy who used to make sure J LO's nipples were erect had a pretty good gig!!
Your dream girl/boy? Well my other half ticks all my boxes but if I have to choose a celebrity then I'd go with Mila Kunis, the girl from Forgetting Sarah Marshall - there's just something about her....
What’s your biggest ambition in life? At my age simply waking up in the morning is a bonus but I'd still like to be able to act. It was a dream of mine that was ripped away from me at school by simple minded teachers but I still remain hopeful.
What’s your greatest ever achievement? My daughter was a pretty big deal, watching her take her first look at the world was something that you simply cannot describe to someone who hasn't been there before.
What’s your biggest regret? Not doing well enough at school. I was intelligent enough but lacked the required willpower to resist peer pressure.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? Hopefully I will be a regular cast member of Eastenders or something
.Who do you hate most: City/Liverpool/Leeds/Arsenal/Other: Liverpool, without a shadow of a doubt. Arsenal, Chelsea and city all have their moments toying with my hate genes but Liverpool are permanent tenants.
How did you celebrate our title and European Cup win? Quietly actually. My United supporting family all live in other parts of the country and none of my work colleagues support United so I had to make do with a lovely gloating session with my Liverpool supporting future son in law.
What's the best game you've ever been to? I've not been to many so I'd go with my first visit to OT. February 20th 1993 vs Southampton. Southampton went 1-0 up through a Nicky Banger goal but Ryan Giggs struck 2 goals in 1 minute right in front of us, it was absolute magic.
What's your favourite ever United goal? Ole's winner in Barcelona. The celebrating I did that night at that moment was unlike anything I'd ever done before. I'm not a big one for the waterworks coming on but they did then that's for sure.
Which player from the past do you rate the most? Cantona. Everything about him was absolutely world class and the best thing was that he realised that by joining United he'd allowed himself a broad enough canvas with which to paint such magic upon.
Which player are you most excited about this season? Either of the twins. Rafael has done magnificently but Fabio showed that they are indeed identical on the pitch. I predict that these 2 will be priceless in the near future.
Who's your favourite member on the forum? I wouldn't like to pin down one member. Chris83, Tatty and Mysteriousjeff all make me laugh for different reasons, Jorge is always good for a conversation about anything and all the mods do a sterling job.
Anything else you want to tell us? Putting a man into space? Hardly rocket science is it?
Player of the Month
Written by Gapi
January was generally a good month for us. The amount of injuries we’ve had at one point was crazy, but the players that came in did a fantastic job. After winning all four league games in January without conceding a goal and scoring 10, we’re now back where we belong – top of the table. And with players returning from injuries we look more capable of going all the way than anyone else.
There were a lot of players who’ve been excellent this month. Rafael and Evans showed some real promise, Berbatov and Tevez formed a good partnership towards the end of the month, Carrick was at his best again and Van der Sar equaled Cech’s record looking as assured as ever.
Two players, however, stood out. First, the evergreen Ryan Giggs. What can you say about the man? I’m sure everyone was a baffled as me when they read the team-sheet against Chelsea… But Giggs, 35 years old, playing in a relatively new position, completely neutralized Chelsea’s five man midfield. He didn’t stop there though, three assists in the demolition of West Brom took his overall tally to 11 for this season. Fergie promised him a new contract and I for one, think he deserves it and would love to see him gracing the pitch next season too.
Any other month, Giggs would probably end up PotM, but not this one. A few weeks back there was a poll on RoM asking who you prefer, Rio or Vida. I voted for Rio, but if there was another vote now, I would have to go for Vidic. What a month he’s had! Playing alongside virtually all our other defenders, he’s been a rock in every game he’s played and had more to do with our record than any other player, including Van der Sar. He struggled when he first came but has been a true revelation in the last two and a half years. Scoring 4 goals already this season shows that there’s even more to his game than his excellent defending. Nemanja...Whoa! Nemanja... He Comes From Serbia... He'll Fucking Murder 'Ya!
Match of the Month
Written by Supatrice
The reasons for choosing this match are threefold. Firstly, we beat Chelsea 3 nil, obviously a great result, and the first time in a long while that we made the most of our superiority. Time and again we fail to do that against the top 4 sides and are made to pay for it. Arsenal last season, the most painful, but you can look at the first half of the CL final as the perfect example. We should have buried them. Fortunately (not luckily) we had the nerve to win on penalties. Let's take a seconds to remember that....
Secondly, It gives me an excuse to remember how much I hated Chelsea. How every sports writer in the country had written off Manchester United and Sir Alex and to enjoy the fact that Fergie has seen off Mourinho, Jaba the hut and now it seems he has Big Phil Scolari's number. He's taken United to new heights and shoved those words right back down their throats.
"Next Monday, Sir Alex Ferguson will celebrate 20 years in charge of Manchester United. Fergie’s anniversary amounts to nothing more than a lazy and meaningless ballyhoo for a man who has stayed on too long. Whatever United go on to achieve this season or in seasons to come, nothing changes the fact that Ferguson should have quit in 2002 when he said he was going to quit...his legacy has been irrevocably tarnished…The European dynasty Ferguson vowed to found never materialised. The win in the Nou Camp in 1999 was a one-hit wonder"
- Some genius that Oliver Holt.
Thirdly, A fine performance from Ryan Giggs, who by my calculation must be at least 40 now but showing no signs of aging, except for a small bold patch at the back. I don't think anyone has the heart to tell him though.
What a legend. I hope the rumors of a knighthood are true, he deserves it for that goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final replay alone. Another excuse to watch that goal not that you need one ;D
Fergie had left Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick on the bench, opting instead to unleash Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher against Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and John Mikel Obi. Even as an optimist I thought that the odds were stacked against us in midfield.
Chelsea dominated briefly in the opening 20 minutes, but it was the experienced Giggs that allowed United to absorb the initial pressure and slowly regain control. With his trusty sidekick Flecther the duo out muscled, out thought, out played, out classed the Chelsea midfield. Giggs remained calm amid the chaos of a fiercely contested match, passing with fluency and dictating the tempo of our superior football.
Even when Ronaldo had a pefectly good goal struck off after that corner he remained as cool as he was when he slotted home his penalty in Moscow. He planted the ball back at the corner flag, delivered another corner and then celebrated for a second time when Berbatov flicked the ball on, enabling Nemanja Vidic to score with a diving header at the far post. 1 nil.
I barely recall a chance for Chelsea and credit has to go to Vidic and special mention to Johnny Evans who was a rock at the back in the absence of Rio Ferdinand.
Chelsea swapped Deco with Anelka after the break, but they were both as useless as each other. In fact their second half performance was even worse than their first. Two more United goals underlined the gulf in quality and condemned the visitors to their heaviest Premier League defeat in three years.
A back-heel from Ronaldo, a wonderful cross from Patrice Evra and Rooney was their to stick it in from behind Ashley Cole (so to speak) and it was 2 nil.
Chelsea looked a shadow of the team they were 3 years ago and even from last season. Heads were down as they were exposed in the 87th minute when Belletti fouled Ronaldo who then delivered a free-kick that Berbatov was only too happy to drive into the back of the net. Credit to Vidic for his block on new boy Di Santo. Ronaldo should have made it 4 if it weren't for a dubious offside decision.
United had responded brilliantly to the accusations that had come from Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez. A great Victory and the turning point pehaps in the title race. Chelsea down, Liverpool and Benitez demoroalized and UNITED Victorious!
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I hope you enjoyed the twenty ninth edition of The Paper. If you enjoyed reading this please show your appreciation for the people who took time to make it happen in the comments thread on this board
Editor: Scott
