Wow

It finally sink in after a week.

Can't you believe it? Double Champions. It's so good to hear that. Let me say it again. Double Champions.




Who would thought it eh?

Well certainly not 3 years ago, when we were trailing in the league by a mile behind Chelsea, and finished bottom in our Champions League group, scoring only 3 goals. We've come a long way since then.

Although we came close to similar achievement last year and was probably fucked up by injuries, we're a little more than prepared this season to win both. You can see it in our play. We've become more tactical more astute in defending, especially in Europe. We can shut out team and annihilate them equally. And speaking of which, while Ronaldo gathered most of the praise this season, Rio Ferdinand stand the tallest of the red shirt. Put it this way, if we have to play a Champions league final and have to choose between those to who to miss the game, I'd take Ronaldo any day.

Rio leadership at the back spread through out the team, even when he's not wearing the armband. Notable mentions to the likes of Anderson and Nani. New comers at the club, but kept their nerves in the penalty shoot out. Anderson, I thought was the biggest revelation this season. He managed the hardest thing to do at Manchester United: Making Scholes unavailability from the football pitch almost unnoticeable, especially during the league run in. His maturity is astonishing. His strength and willingness was came as a surprised. We thought we're getting a Ronaldinho kind of player, when in reality, he's more a all-arounder than the older Brazilian.

Not that the Ginger Prince didn't have his say this season. While only scoring two goals all season, he choose the perfect time to score his second. A scorcher of a winner to the top corner in the Champions League semifinal.

Ryan Giggs also wrote his name in the history book, if he hasn't already. Let see, broke Sir Bobby Charlton records of 758 appearance for Manchester United, won a record 10th league title (the most of any player in the English league) the previous week. And between that achievement, he also scored United's second in the 2-0 win against Wigan, which ensured the Premiership title, and he also the one who scored the decisive penalty in the shoot out against Chelsea in the Champions League final. Not bad for a player who's been dismissed as 'past it'.

So let me extend my gratitude to other players:
Wes Brown, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra: Part of the best defensive unit in Europe and England. Especially pleased for Brown. A local lad, coming through the ranks, replacing the club captain, and he come out with flying colours.

Michael Carrick, passing extraordinaire and defensively underrated. Capello must be blind to overlook him in the England setup.

Owen Hargreaves, right winger, right back, central midfield, supreme penalty taker? No problemo.

Ji Sung Park: I'm sorry to see him missed the final, but he's more than worth his medal for his outstanding contribution in the quarter and semifinal.

Carlos Tevez, whose late goals was very Solskjaer-esque. Thanks for that equaliser against Spurs, Blackburn and Lyon.

Darren Fletcher, Arsenal season fucker.

John O'Shea, Mr Versitality.

And last but not least, thank you Edwin.

God bless.

I love this team.

Who Put the Ball in the German's Net ?

Tomorrow afternoon at Old Trafford, the United faithfuls have the chance to welcome back one legend, and say goodbye to another. When Roy Keane came out of the tunnel to led his Sunderland team as manager, there can be no doubt that a standing ovation for him was in order. It was under his leadership as a player that Manchester United enjoyed their most successful season to date, the 98/99 season which United won the famous treble.

But it was the leaving of another player that probably stoke up the most emotion. The player who coincidentally had as much say in that famous season as Keane, have announced his retirement from the game. After 3 years struggling with knee injury, Ole Solskjaer finally gave up any hope of playing professionally again.

The player who the press dubbed as 'The Babyfaced Assassin', due to his boyish look and his accuracy in front of goal, was probably ranked as one of the best buy Sir Alex Ferguson have ever made. When in the summer of 1996, Fergie failed to land Alan Shearer for the third time, he then settled for this then-unknown Norwegian to bolster his attacking options. Bought for a mere 1.5 million pounds, from Norway premier division side Molde FC, not many people paid much attention to this transfer. Karel Poborsky and Jordi Cruyff arrival after their impressive performance in Euro 1996 took most of it. But after the 96/97 season ended there's no doubt who people noticed most. Making the most of Andy Cole season long injury, Solskjaer ended as the club topscorer, scoring 19 goals, 18 in the league, and helped United retain their title.

Despite the impressive first season, Solskjaer never managed to hold a place as a regular starter afterwards, as Teddy Sheringham came next season, and Dwight Yorke the season after that. Not that he complained though. Despite the limited chance, he still managed to score double figures each season. Statistically, Solskjaer at that time was the most efficient striker in the league in terms of goals and minutes played.

In that fateful 1998/1999 season, Yorke and Cole partnership was firing all cylinders in domestically and in Europe, and Solskjaer saw his opportunities even more limited. So when United accepted a bid from Tottenham Hotspurs, United fans feared the worse. To their relief though, he rejected first team football with Spurs to stay with United. That decision cemented his status with the United fans, who already take him to heart when he deliberately received a red card for hacking down Rob Lee to prevent a goal in the crucial title run in the previous season.

We all know what happened that season. 4 goals against Nottingham Forest on their ground in just 10 minutes, last minute winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup. Injury time winner to seal the European Cup against Munich. If United fans adored him before that game, oh boy do they love him after that. His banner 20LEGEND was the only banner for a player in the Stretford End, which tells you something.

He helped United won another two titles after that, again being the subsitute most of the time. It was in 2002/2003 season though, he appeared to have cemented a first team place when Ferguson was toying with a 4-3-3 formation. Stationed as a right sided forward/winger, supporting Ruud van Nistelrooy as the lone striker and Ryan Giggs on the other wing, Ole helped United won their 15th league title. Therefore it was a cruel blow for him, when he started his injury problem after that, which robbed him 3 years of football. But commendably, United stood by him, by offering him contract extension even when he can't play because of the injuries.

His last contribution for United was the fourth goal in the 4-1 rout of Blackburn. It was typical Ole, receiving a left wing cross from Louis Saha, he sidefooted the ball first time into the bottom corner. One chance, one goal. Fittingly, in this last season, United won their 16th league title.

There was much praise come his way as a player. Arsene Wenger called him 'United most efficient player'. He wasn't that far off. Solskjaer could score from just about any angle and any way. Whether it's long range shot, tap ins, headers, left foot, right foot. You name it, he can do it.

But above all, what this (and most) United fan love about him is that the way he conducted himself as a person on and off the pitch. In an age where football players were worth big money and even bigger egos, it was refreshing to see a player who's committed to the cause, but so down to earth and doesn't take anything for granted.

Thanks for the memories Ole, it's been a privilege.
20LEGEND.

A Fairy Tale Season (So Far)

It's quite amazing how United players stand up and be counted so far this season. Perhaps it's the Chelsea factor that urged them on. Or perhaps it's just quality that finally came through. Whatever it is, we started to enjoy our football again

Take Ryan Giggs for example. The way he has played this season, one would think he's closer to 23 than 32. Dazzling again on the left wing, his speed and trickery complements the intelligence and decision making that comes with experience.

Paul Scholes cap his fairy tale last week, scoring his 132th goal in his 500th appearance against Liverpool, United biggest rival. Not only scoring, there he put on a Man of the Match performance as well. Teaching the 'supposedly better' Steven Gerrard of Liverpool a thing or two about midfield play. Strong in possession, flawless in distribution. It was Scholes at his best.

But it wouldn't be fair to singled out Scholes for that win. As good as he is, he didn't do it all alone. Other players worth a mention too, like one Darren Fletcher. Much maligned by many United supporters last season, he has been nothing sort of excellent this time. His endless energy and excellent work rate proved to be the perfect foil for Scholes, and Carrick to a lesser extent. He tackled, harried every Liverpool players in sight and stopped them from playing their game.

And last Saturday, it was Wayne Rooney's turn. Much being said about his goal drought, and what better way to end it with a hattrick on a ground where the opposition never conceded a single goal before this season? Bolton was left wondering what has hit them 16 minutes into the first half when Rooney scored his first two in the space of 6 minutes. While his first is owed much to the vision and passing of Michael Carrick, the second was pure Rooney. Received a loose ball just outside the D, he curled in a right foot shot to the far corner, eluding every Bolton defenders trying to block it.

The question still remains, whether this United side are capable of matching Chelsea all the way. I wouldn't think about it this time, but I love the fact that this United side played the game the right way. With flair and skill, and attacking style which left the other team on their arse. Chelsea, for all their money, managed to bored their opponents to defeat. I got goosebumps seeing the team now before every game because I know, win or lose we're gonna do it our way, the Manchester United way.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

A Tribute to The Quiet Man

If nothing go wrong in the next 4 hours, when Manchester United take on Liverpool on 7 PM tonight, Paul Scholes will be making the 500th appearance for Manchester United. Only 8 players in Manchester United history have played more games than him, and only two players in the current squad who have more appearance than him, which is Ryan Giggs, and Gary Neville.

While Giggs has been touted for greatness from the day he walked in to Old Trafford as a 14 years old, it's quite surprising to see now that there are people who are sceptics whether Scholes would make it as a professional footballer back then. Les Kershaw, United Youth Academy director still remember how the 16 years old Scholes in the youth team.

"At 16, we could play Scholesy for only 20 minutes a game. He couldn't run. He was a little one. Had asthma. No strength. No power. No athleticism. No endurance". "You've got a bleedin' dwarf!" someone mentioned to Brian Kidd, United youth team coach back then. But the United coach know better, since for all the negative qualities, Scholes vision and technique was miles above any 16 years old he'd ever seen. They stuck by him, and 499 appearance and 131 goals later, it was a worthy gamble.

Many people who has seen Scholes play goes as far that he was naturally the most gifted footballer the islands has ever produce since Paul Gascogine, but his quiet and shy demeanor meant that individual awards rarely comes his way. Not that it bothered him that much. This is the player, probably the only player in the Premiership who does not have an agent. He doesn't like all the hurly burly of publicity, he likes to keep everything simple and efficient. Just like his football.

But his peers and people in the game knows better. Thierry Henry called him the best midfielder in Britain. Juan Sebastian Veron, who came to United only heard about David Beckham, realised that Scholes is the best midfielder at United during his time in the club. Even Patrick Vieira, called him the best midfielder he ever played against. Kieron Dyer, who secretly wished that he'll replace Scholes in England midfield in the future admitted that "Paul Scholes is on a different planet". And in Laurent Blanc, he got his biggest admirer. When Blanc got interviewed for the Euro 2004 match buildup of England vs France, he swifly said, "Paul Scholes. I've said it before and I tell everyone who asks me: Scholes is the best English player. Intelligence, technique, strength . . . all the attributes are there. At Manchester United I saw what he could do on the training ground. Phew!".

Played as a deep lying forward as a youngster and early in his career at United, Paul Scholes was dubbed "The Ginger Prince" by the United faithful, because of his red hair and seen as the understudy of The King's, Eric Cantona. Described by Sir Alex Ferguson as the "most natural finisher" at United, he racked up two goals in his debut at the League Cup match against Port Vale in 1994, and scored further 5 goals in the next 17 league matches when he replaced Cantona when the Frenchmen got banned for the rest of the season due to the famous kung-fu kick incident.

But he didn't become a permanent fixture in the side until the 1997-1998 season. When Roy Keane knee ligament gave up for the remainder of the season, up came Scholes to Keane place in United midfield. Together with fellow youth-team mate Nicky Butt, he formed the central midfield pairing which enabled United to race into an eleven point lead in the league, before further injuries and fatigue see Arsenal pipped them for the title in the closing stage of the season.

But that season proved to be his baptism of fire. Scholes come out from it a much better player. His performances earned him his first England cap, in the Turnoi de France match against Italy, where he scored a goal and assist the other in the 2-0 win. He was named Man of the Match. He scored again in his first World Cup match later that month, a super curling shot from outside of the area in the 2-0 win against Tunisia. And he hasn't look back ever since.

Now, retired from England duties, and fully focused on his United career, Paul Scholes is on the best form of his life. His goal against FC Copenhagen last week was a typical Scholes goal. Received the ball from Patrice Evra, he took one touch to set himself before lashing out a right foot drive from 5 yards outside the area into the top corner. Simple, efficient and deadly. That's Scholes for you.