So yet again when Manchester United are crowned champions the ABU nation declares that it’s a really poor league this season. It was never poor when Liverpool all those years ago won it at a canter or when Chelsea’s boring ‘1 : 0 will do’ football won it two years running. Don’t get me wrong no red can deny the current team isn’t as breathtaking as some of the swashbuckling teams we’ve been privileged to watch in last twenty years, but winning the title is always a fantastic achievement by the best team in the land.
KNIVES OUT
I must admit I wasn’t over confident as we approached the run in, thinking back to last season, 98 and 1992. Our confidence and self-belief seemed to be ripped out by the manner of going out to Real Madrid and I felt we were severely limping towards the finishing line. Some reds were openly celebrating far too early for me but I suppose all that is immaterial now eh? When I left that bogey ground of Upton Park on the Wednesday I never imagined less than a week later and on my birthday we would be crowned champions and with a few games to spare.
PARANOID ANDROID
I knew if I watched City v Spurs they would win so I decided to do a tip run with long overdue rubbish from a recent garden makeover. I was listening and singing out loud to classic REM album ‘green’ as I turned into the tip and my brother rung me to tell me Spurs had equalised. As I unloaded second bag a father and son who clearly knew me shouted 2:1 Spurs. Before I had finished unloading the last lot my wife Helen phone to inform me Spurs had made it 3:1. I was a bit giddy but didn’t want to tempt fate so drove around the streets of Sale and perhaps for the first time observed all the correct speeds. I couldn’t go home and let City come back could I? When there was 40 seconds remaining the wife called back and I went around the block until final whistle. Finally I was going to almost say we’ll win it now, one win from last four games United won’t let me down.
JUST
The rest we know is history but I must salute the greatest football manager of all time. I shook his hand in March 1994, the week after Eric had been sent off at Arsenal and Swindon and the press were saying our season was imploding. All I ever wanted Alex was one Championship and I’ll die a happy man, anything else is a bonus. Of course I want to win it every year but after all the hopes shattered since a kid and the nightmare of 1992 I actually really meant that. Nineteen years later we are on twenty titles because of that man. Some reds have called for his head in fanzines and forums over the last 10-15 years. I don’t ever want him to leave but realise in another twenty years he may have to.
Let’s be grateful for what we have and savour the title and look forward to 21 and beyond. Enjoy last few games and the summer.
No Surprises,
Well done Pete. Spot on.