Heroes. Every single last one of them. Do not for a second underestimate the significance of this result. United are in only the fourth European Cup final of the club’s history and what is more, we are there with a bit of swagger too. Welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo, with this guy and Rooney in such blistering form I shouldn’t imagine anybody wants to play us right now. Having lived so much of my life watching United not get this far, to be in a second final, in such quick succession, is simply dizzying.
Thankfully, the men on the pitch had no trouble keeping their heads. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the way Arsenal go about their football but they were embarrasingly limp. With the gritted-teeth exception of Steven Gerrard, the game seems lack real characters at the moment. Arsenal’s heads dropped as soon as the first goal went in and I couldn’t help but think this didn’t happen in the days of Tony Adams or Patrick Viera. Certainly, Ronaldo was unplayable but Arsenal’s lack of fight left United pretty much untested.
It is truly awful for Fletcher. The guy has been outstanding for the last two years and with Hargreaves still injured I would have expected him to start the final. Find a bookmaker who offers odds on Anderson being in the starting 11 in Rome and take him up on the offer. Compare Fletch’s reaction to that of the Chelsea players at their final whistle. Then look up the word dignity in a dictionary. I am sorry Chelsea fans, but if you cannot protect a lead against ten men then you don’t deserve to win. Conspiracy my pint glass.
After our month of doom I have stopped tearing my hair out and the team are striding confidently once more. I struggle to remember a time when United have been so consistently impressive across the board. When Ferguson said this was his best ever assembled squad eyebrows raised. More fool you now. We go marching on.
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Thoughts on the Ribery bid:
In recent weeks it has emerged in the press that United have held both talks with Kaka and lodged an official bid for one kersquillion pounds to buy Frank Ribery. Personally, I don’t buy it. Usually are transfer dealing have a whiff of subtlety about them and n my opinion, the Old Traffort hierarchy are trying to force the hand of one Mr. Cristiano Ronaldo. After last Saturday’s classico the boy wonder must surely know that the current Real Madrid team are rather pants. He should win more trophies with United but has made no secret of his desire to leave. I think Ferguson has had enough of last summer’s speculation and is getting his own version of it in early. The result, pleasingly, seems to be to motivate the player. Whatever you say about Ronaldo the guy can respond positively to adversity and he can sure as hell play. At the moment he is majestic. If we want to sell him to Madrid they will, I am sure, pay the sum we ask for. Now it is simply a question of who blinks first. Good luck Cristiano, it is a matter of record that Ferguson has not blinked since 1987.
“Welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo” – If you like a guy who seems to be most effective when he falls over, he is a cheat!
Having said that I agree with the rest of your views, despite looking perky for the first five mins Arsenel were wounded after the first goal. I think we are missing a little more experience on field.
The Fletcher card was nonsenese. Although the ref might have followed the letter of the law, I don’t think many would have denied him a go at the final for a challenge like that – especially given the game was over.
It’s very true about SAF, he’s truly a wiley old fox, isn’t he?
Say what you will about Ronaldo, when he’s on, he’s on!
Agree with most of this article, Ronaldo is loathsome at times but he can win you over with his brilliance and I’d argue this was his best ever performance in a red shirt.
Barca are missing Alves – a cheat but a quite sensational player, Abidal – in the same boat as Fletch, should not have been sent off, and Marquez – a real leader, Captain of Mexico and good in the air – for the final. This means Puyol will play which is great news for United as he is comfortably the most overrated defender in Europe.
We are favourites, but with Henry, Messi and Eto’o this is most certainly a team who can score against us. Here’s hoping we have a great match between the two best teams in Europe this season.
Karma, is a bitch by the way. Chelsea cheated Barca in 2005, and have Ashley Cole on their books so – what goes around comes around!
Breathtaking! Just blew the Arse away. Wonderful to watch and even better to watch it the second time! But in truth our opponents went very limp very quickly and we will find Barca a tougher bunch. And probably Hull away. Was the turning Macheda’s winner against Villa, or our pen against Spurs? Who knows but they are on fire again and I am looking to every game at the moment.
You may well be right about where the Ribery stories are coming from. Whatever the reason, Ronaldo has now decided he wants his place in history after all – how better to do than than by outshining Messi in the CL final?? Can’t wait!!!
Joke corner:
Arse: For sale, 57,000 red and white flags, nearly new, only used for 7 minutes …
Chelski: new satnav puts Chelsea two minutes from Rome, the new Chelsea sponsors are Lastminute.com, etc etc.