The big news today is Javier Hernandez’s impending debut in Houston tonight. Also, David Gill continues to insists funds are available, Blackpool is set to miss out on Cleverly, and Sir Alex has his sights set on the “new Schmeichel.”

I know for some people, such as myself, the match tonight is on at a fairly reasonable time. However, those of you in Europe and other parts of the world where kickoff is at an unreasonable time, I want to see how many will stay up to see United’s newest player.

Javier Hernandez set for lift-off in Houston – The Guardian

Our newest signing, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez will make his debut tonight against the MLS All-Stars in Houston. There is a large Mexican population in the Houston area, which has made Chicharito’s debut tonight big news. I’m certainly excited for Chicharito’s debut. From the glimpses we got of him at the World Cup I think he has lethal pace and a great eye for goal. I don’t think a debut goal would be out of the question for him tonight.

Gill: funds available for signings – The Daily Telegraph

It’s not like we haven’t heard this one before. Once again, David Gill is assuring fans that the club does have the financial resources to make a big-name signing should they see the need to. Sir Alex has already said he was happy with the current squad and hinted that he wouldn’t be making any signings this summer, so I don’t understand why Gill feels the need keep forcing this issue. If the club has the funds, then when they have a player in mind, they can prove it by signing him. Until then there is really no reason to discuss this.

Ferguson plans to swoop for new Schmeichel – Manchester Evening News

I suppose with Anders Lindegaard being from Denmark the comparisons to the former Manchester United great were inevitable. The Manchester Evening News is linking Sir Alex with a move for Lindegaard as a long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of “the new” or “the next” titles. That’s a lot of expectation to put on the 26-year-old shot stopper. I doubt a move will be done this summer as we already have three goalkeepers, but I suppose it’s possible in the future.

Blackpool aren’t Clever enough – The Sun

We already knew Sir Alex was looking to send Tom Cleverly out on loan to a Premier League club, but it seems new-boys Blackpool don’t meet the gaffer’s standards. The Sun believes Sunderland and Newcastle are both interested in the young midfielder and are a more likely destination than Blackpool.

Raul joins Schalke after leaving Real Madrid – The Daily Mail

This isn’t really a United story, although we were apparently linked with making a move for him. Honestly, what player aren’t we linked with nowadays? I think the biggest shock is that Real Madrid told a living legend he was now surplus. I honestly can’t imagine United ever telling Giggs, Neville, or Scholes that they were no longer wanted.

Social Networking: In today’s technology-driven world, we are no long limited to newspapers, television, and websites for getting the news. Social networks such as Twitter have aided the spread of news and rumors. Yesterday there was a whirlwind of rumors about Mesut Ozil possibly transferring to United. However, James Ducker of The Times, who is with United on the tour, posted this on Twitter last night: “To those asking, senior sources at #MUFC saying the club DO NOT want to sign mesut ozil”

Special Announcement: You can now join us on Facebook! We just launched our Facebook page today, however, it is still under a bit of construction. It should be fully up and running in a day or two. If you’re on Facebook I encourage you to join our new page.

Discuss all today’s news and rumors in the forum.

You can follow Kyle on Twitter at KDill_MUFC.

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Manchester United are heading back to the USA hoping to take advantage of some of the country’s recent heightened interest in the sport; just as Stretford-End.com works on introducing a new correspondent from that side of the pond. As United hope for a strengthened stranglehold on the commercial market in America, Yolkie took time to welcome our new features writer, Kyle, before he gets to see the club he loves in his own country (Kyle, that is, not Yolkie).

The beautiful game of football (or soccer, if you like) has never really taken off in the USA. That would be the general consensus from it’s “birthplace”, anyway. Even the late 70’s boom with Pele and George Best providing top billing never really inspired a full time serious competitive nationwide league and it wasn’t until the USA were to be given the honour of hosting the World Cup in 1994 that they considered re-structuring their domestic competitions to appeal to a wider audience. With the World Cup Final this year watched by an estimated 700m people worldwide and with sponsorship deals in sports so lucrative in the US you can see why there is a great effort to try and get the game more popular.

Manchester United, though, have never had the problem of gaining worldwide popularity. The Munich disaster drew lots of interested followers and the way Sir Matt Busby led his Babes to European glory 10 years after gained the club many admirers. The triumph over adversity that really is the best story in any sport is best displayed in football at Old Trafford. More recent generations of supporters around the globe obviously didn’t learn about United through Munich, it may have been the unlikely sight of Steve Bruce scoring a double to propel the Red Devils back into the 1993 title race. It might have been Solskjaer’s right boot in Barcelona, Roy Keane’s header in Turin, it might even be watching a player like Coppell, Whiteside, Robson, McGrath, Beckham, Cantona or Giggs.

Kyle’s own experience of discovering the club is a perfect example of the unique tale that each of us lead – visiting England during the 2002 World Cup. “You might say I found it through family in the most indirect way. My aunt lives and works in London, and my family went to visit her in the summer of 2002 (I think I was about 12 years old). We arrived just in time for the World Cup. I had never seen anything like in America; everyone was so caught up in the World Cup. I got carried away in all the excitement. I watched England’s first match, and that was that. I was officially in love with soccer.”

“My favorite player during the World Cup was David Beckham, so when it came to get interested in clubs, Manchester United was the obvious choice. Unfortunately, Beckham left at the end of that season, but by then United had already taken over my heart. I’ve been a fan ever since. Also, while my aunt knows little about soccer, she loves people who have a winning mentality. When she saw how I fell in love with soccer, she would speak highly of what a winner Sir Alex was. That had an influence as well, as I’m very close to my aunt and respect her opinions.”

Having grown up in the generation that gets accusing of “glory hunting” more often than any other, I feel a little sympathy for those younger than me who can’t explain the situation, those who were simply born in that era. It’s worse still, I suppose, when you get that attachment to the club and live overseas. Kyle explains, “A lot of Manchester United fans in America are accused of “jumping on the bandwagon” just because they win a lot of trophies, but that was honestly never a factor for me. I didn’t know much about the club when I first decided to follow them, just that it was the club Beckham played for. Of course, I’ve since learned of their rich and fantastic history. To me, their success is just an added bonus to being a Manchester United fan, not the reason I am a fan. I’ve even started to get my family involved. My parents don’t necessarily watch matches unless they sit down to watch one with me, but they still follow how the team is doing. In fact, my dad and I are taking a road trip to see United play in Kansas City for some father-son bonding.”

It certainly makes up for the last time United were in the US, in 2004, when Kyle was unable to catch his team. “I live in Illinois and none of the stops in 2004 were near me. I think the closest match was in Philadelphia, which is a 14 hour drive away. I was only 14 and couldn’t drive, and unfortunately my parents didn’t want to drive 14 hours for a soccer match. I was pretty upset to have United in country and not be able to see them, but what can you do? I’ll be making up for it this summer, watching their open practice in Chicago and the match in Kansas City. To say I’m getting excited would be an understatement.”

It’s all well and good sharing the story of how we fell in love with the club – that comes in everyone’s tale and it’s all universal. What isn’t quite as universal and probably isn’t as accepted is the lengths some people go to in other countries just to watch United in the Premier League. Those people who doubt the connection “foreigners” have with the club would have their eyes opened when watching their team in a far away country where watching a 12.45pm kick off means getting up early in the morning or staying up way past any kind of reasonable bedtime. Imagine the disruption that has on your working life, your study. Then people who do that for seasons on end who spend their life savings going to Old Trafford and get casually dismissed as “daytrippers”.

Kyle’s story isn’t new to me; having visited the US several times over the last few years mid-season I’m no stranger to having my own day re-structured around United. Still, that’s my holiday. Not my every day life. His experience and fitting that in with his daily existence really shows his desire to watch the team. “The time zones certainly don’t do me any favours, but you can bet I’m up for every match. Typical Premier League match times can be as early as six in the morning here in Illinois. This is especially brutal for me being a university student who typically goes out to the pubs on Friday and Saturday nights. I typically just watch in the comfort of my home because none of the pubs want to open at 6am for matches. I used to have to search the internet for live streams of every match, but TV coverage has gotten increasingly better here in the states. Fox Soccer Channel broadcasts a few Premier League matches every week… My best match day story has to be when United played in the Club World Cup. It just so happened to fall during the week of my final exams at university. They were playing in Japan and I know at least one match was on at 4am here. Final exams or not, I was going to watch that match. I stayed up all night studying, then at 4am watched the match, and took a final exam at 7am. One word: dedication.”

That dedication to United doesn’t end at waking up at an ungodly hour to watch his team. Kyle went to see the Red Devils during the run in to the 2007/2008 season when we battered Liverpool on Easter Weekend. It’s a memory that immediately provides a warm flashback for me; I was on a family holiday myself, on the East Coast, when we got stranded in a freak snowstorm. Like many visitors, Kyle combined his matchday experience with a trip to the museum to take in in person the feel, the history of the club.

“It was like a dream come true. Seeing the history in the museum was fantastic; seeing the history and exhibits for players like Best and Charlton were really special to me. I had only read about them and seen highlights online, but yet I had so much respect for them. I’ve always really appreciated the history of the club. And of course, I had to get a picture of me walking out of the tunnel and in the dugout. The next day; we went to see United against Liverpool. It was toward the end of the 07/08 season and United demolished Liverpool 3-0. Obviously it was a great match to see! I’m dying to get back over there; I’m hoping I may make it sometime this season.”

Compounded with the feeling of having to contend with the generalisation of “glory supporting” from hundreds, thousands of miles away, Kyle also ‘suffers’ from being American. Where casting an opinion on soccer to another nationality is mentally downgraded because American’s “don’t take it seriously” so obviously “don’t know their stuff”. An American, in Manchester, supporting United. Any problems?

“I’ve never had any problems with the locals while I’ve been there; well, the locals that are Manchester United fans at least. When we first got to Manchester, my aunt wanted to stop for a bite to eat at a pub near our hotel. I immediately realized the pub must’ve been for Manchester City supporters by looking at the decorations on the wall. I was wearing my 07/08 home shirt with Ronaldo 7 on the back and a coat over the top of it. Actually, I wasn’t going to take my coat off, but my aunt noticed I was sweating and insisted. Almost immediately a small child pointed out I had a United jersey on. I got more than a few glares for that, not to mention one man who gave me a one finger salute.”

Less of a problem, more of a nice initiation. The salute is always a nice moment; it welcomes you into the family. The connection with United and the USA intensified when the Glazer family took over in 2005. Kyle recalled the impact this had on him. “I hate the Glazers. Compatriot or not, when you jeopardize the future of the club I hold so dear to my heart, you become my enemy. As far as supporting the protest, I’m a member of MUST and the proud owner of a Green and Gold scarf. You can order the scarves online from MUST, so that’s one easy (and fairly cheap) way to support the protest from the states. Also, I’ve donated to MUST to help with the Green and Gold campaign.”

The protest is something dear to most fans’ heart. It brings out the best – and worst – of fans, though there is no real wrong or right. Just what we feel we can do. With a supporter fanbase reportedly over 300 million worldwide, you would figure the vast majority of them can’t actively get to Old Trafford to voice their displeasure. Kyle doesn’t necessarily buy into the idea of a fan ownership model; more that it would be an added benefit rather than a pre-requisite.

And though there is no wrong or right, his view does bear similiarities to mine. After the Red Knights smokescreen eventually faded and that fake optimism instilled in supporters was replaced by a defeatist pessimism, it has lead to some fans questioning their own position in any boycott. “Some have taken action by boycotting the Glazers financially, but that’s not for me. I bought into the merchandise and ticket boycott when the Red Knights were preparing a bid, but once the Knights’ bid seemingly fell apart, my boycott ended. I have a real problem with spreading propaganda and asking for donations, then not making a bid before the World Cup like they said they would. They say the bid is still alive, but I find it difficult to trust them now. Whether we like it or not, the club and the Glazers are linked financially for the time being. By starving the Glazers financially, we’re starving our own club during a time of great financial need. That’s how I see it anyways. Of course, everyone is welcome to their own opinions and methods; I still see all fans as my Manchester United family.”

More recently, Kyle has been writing on his own blog and contributing to a town publication – I was impressed with his style and the way he put his opinion across, and knew instantly it would serve as a brilliant step forward for both he and the site. Stretford-End.com is taking exciting new steps in the near future and are excited that Kyle will be a part of it with us. Like us, our new feature writer is excited by next season.

“For me, the biggest hope is winning that 19th Premier League title! For some of our legends – Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Edwin van der Sar – this may be their last season at the club. Should any or all of them retire, I’d love nothing more than to send them off with that record-breaking accomplishment.

Realistically, I think we could be looking forward to a pretty successful season. I know a lot of people are looking for a marquee signing. Hell, even I would get excited by a big signing. It certainly wouldn’t hurt. However, I agree with Sir Alex. Last year we finished one point behind first place and got knocked out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals on away goals, and that was during one of the worst injury-plagued seasons I have ever witnessed. We have the same squad with an extra year of experience, and if the players stay fit, I expect us to be competitive on all fronts. Our rivals, with the exception of City, haven’t added any big signings, so I expect we’ll be in a very strong position.”

Couldn’t have put it better myself.

You can follow Kyle on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/KDill_MUFC

You can also follow Yolkie on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/yolkie_

Incidentally, we also wish to welcome Doron to the site. Doron is an extremely knowledgable United fan with a keen interest in reporting the reserve and youth sides.

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I blogged last week about the immediate future of Manchester United and how I believe that in the short term at least the rabid incoherent demand for a “marquee signing” seemingly on the principle “it proves we have money” is unnecessary and a little short sighted. I still believe that; but the newest setback to Owen Hargreaves has highlighted the fragility of a football players career and with arguably 4 of our first team players entering what is surely likely to be their last season at the club, thoughts inevitably returned to the required long term investment, the size of it, and just how badly the Glazers are financially taking apart the club.

To start we have to begin with Hargreaves; I learned of the news shortly after a hugely promising meeting about this website. There I was, in high spirits and full of optimism about United in general and while the setback was hardly a surprise, to say it put a dampener on proceedings would be an incredible understatement. This is no slight on Hargreaves himself. I have read some fan websites and entered into discussion with those more ruthless than myself who think it’s time for Hargreaves to pack his bags and call it a day and without pausing for breath reeling off a list of potential replacements.

Manchester United doesn’t work like that; if we did there would have been no glorious swansong from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2006, while Gary Neville would already be consigned to our history books. Owen Hargreaves may be “gone” from the prominent picture but he is certainly not forgotten and you can rest assured in the two years he has basically been out of the first team picture that he has worked as hard as anyone. No, Hargreaves should not be kicked out of the club, even if the most we get out of him is another 30 seconds at the end of the season to say goodbye – just to say goodbye – then we should support that. It shows incredible heart and determination to do what he is doing and that should be supported. I’m more cynical than anyone but although he is handsomely paid he is putting his health on the line to repay the fans faith. The sad fact of it is that I agree with the opinion he should retire but for purely humane reasons; surely no-one wants him to continue to sacrifice his health when the cold hard reality of the situation is that even should he be able to compete to kick a ball it won’t be on any long term basis.

Sticking true to my opinion that we don’t need immediate investment; should Anderson return from injury firing then that will be like the clichéd new signing. I would be more than happy with a 4-3-3 set up with the personnel at our disposal, with the obvious 4-4-2 switch as and when appropriate. And why not? Michael Carrick has something to prove after being slated for much of last season; perversely, after the England World Cup shambles, he has an opportunity to stake a claim as an England regular. Speaking of having something to prove, so too does Dimitar Berbatov. United have failed to get a bidder for the Bulgarian so by default he will be the number 9.

Should those two fail to make their mark next year they’ll certainly be on their way out – having been used almost against Sir Alex’s will at the crunch point of last season they won’t be afforded too many more bad spells.

Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar are four players defying conventional logic but you would expect all four to retire at the end of this season. Edwin has had “the talk” with Fergie to continue for the last 2 seasons, Paul Scholes has made the noises, Gary Neville’s form probably convinced him to continue against the body language after the City game where he seemed to be savouring it up in a true “goodbye” moment leaving Ryan Giggs as the only one of the quartet that you could sensibly argue has more than a year in his legs. And even that probably depends on how he starts the season.

This is not new news but their reliability has meant most supporters have yet to really think of the long term. Fees like £30m for the 30 year old Fabiano, £20m for the unwanted van der Vaart, £30m for an admittedly brilliant midfielder but who cost £15m a year ago (Sneijder), £25m for Ozil, a player generally unproven with his contract up in just 12 months, £30m for a winger in Alexis Sanchez when the two we have do the job perfectly well, or whatever flavour of the month takes the tabloid fancy next week to illuminate the minds of a thousand bloggers. I’m the first to admit we need a creative midfielder; I’m also the first to want to see if we can fill that vacancy from within before we risk splashing an obscene amount of money – that we can ill afford, even if we do have it. It’s all in the fervent desire to win that elusive 19th league title before Giggs, Scholes, Neville and Ferguson retire and take the heart of the club with them. But why not leave it to them to see if they can do it? After all, that’s what the last 3 league titles have been about, as much as the brilliance of Ronaldo and Rooney, the key moments have generally come from the legends.

When those elder statemen do retire there is no telling the funds or time it will take to replace them. Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes are often derided by rival fans; even sometimes by our own, as old, past it. Supporters who can’t comprehend the value of playing for the crest and the club, that extra 10-15% it gives you even on the younger, more vibrant legs, and those are the supporters who miss out on that extra 50% of exhilaration you get when it is Paul Scholes scoring the goal in the 93rd minute at Eastlands or that it was Giggs running the assist masterclass at Old Trafford against City simply because it was Scholes and Giggs. If you could guarantee Scholes and Giggs would play another 5 years then what price would you put on them? Surely at least £20m. That’s admittedly speaking as a biased United fan; Giggs however created as many chances per minute as anyone last season in the Premier League. And statistics don’t have bias, or show sympathy for older legs.

That’s £20m at least each to replace what they give to the club now; their career long contribution cannot even be valued. Gary Neville’s 15 years, give or take the injury years, as United’s first choice right back, are coming to a natural end but there is no need to consider the cost of replacing him with the strength at right full back as it is. Van der Sar’s £2m fee looks like a practical joke at Fulham’s expense now but taking into account the outlays on Peter Schmeichel’s predecessors that it took to get it right you’re looking at around £15-17m. A fee that might get you an Igor Akinfeev but he doesn’t come with a rubber stamped guarantee. With Hargreaves’ retirement surely inevitable by the time this season ends you could argue that’s another £15m, and with the general bits and bobs – Evra’s back up/eventual replacement (cough, Bale, cough), another truly creative alternative to Scholes or his replacement then all in all you’re looking at something in the region of £100m, if we’re so bloodthirsty for trophies that we need replacements ready to rock and roll.

It’s spiffing when the figures recently released hinted that there was around £95m of cash there. It’s less spiffing when you remember the Glazers will take that money out of the club and before you even consider the rising interest payments.

As we watch it all patiently, or impatiently, waiting for the next tabloid line or the next time Fergie will come out and say there’s no value in the market, one thing we all forget is our own personal roles in the matter. I’m long past the place on where we as fans stand on the abandonment of club merchandise and the blanket ban on everything that will put money in the Glazers pockets – the stupid PR stunt from the Red Knights has left everyone disillusioned, me to the point where I can’t fault fans for returning to support the club. There is a natural excitement over transfer speculation, in pre-season it’s about all that gets our spirits up, aside from the relative banal experience of a fixture list being published or the true geek experience of awaiting the squad number changes. Of course there is, too. It’s fantasy, it inspires hundreds of blogs.

The debt on the club is monumental so I can’t help but feel a little guilty for even allowing myself to indulge in the speculation. Some think that a big signing will pay for itself; clearly not so, with the way the club is run. Yes, there is excitement, but I look at what we have, and that teenage ignorance quickly evaporates. There is no dream takeover on the horizon. The Glazers don’t look like going anywhere. With season tickets going on general sale to fans, next years financial results are probably going to make even grimmer reading than they have done ever before. Do we want the club to survive on a competitive level for as long as possible or do we want to send it crashing down as soon as we can?

I’m for the former, if only in the vain hope that the Glazers will eventually go. Nevertheless, the thought of us splashing out the money I estimated – even though, with Fergie’s nous, he would probably do it for quarter of that – doesn’t exactly fill me with the excitement it should. I feel guilty because even speculating makes me part of the problem. There is no telling what the likes of Smalling, Cleverley et al will achieve, but they deserve our support more than pinning our hopes on a player that publicly states he doesn’t even want to come to United or a player we clearly can’t afford. What we have, as I blogged last time around, is a team that came within a dodgy refereeing decision or a one on one at Ewood Park from winning the League. A team eliminated from the Champions League on away goals. Glory so close with a constant list of injuries long enough to make even the Arsenal physios blush. Not so bad in the grand scheme of things, but somehow so bad to make the impatient supporters who don’t understand the concept of 92 league teams ultimately competing for the same trophy as one that is something earned and not given demand some kind of symbolic yet masochistic extravagance from the club to satisfy their ill-informed desire. There will be fans reading this who will point back in time to an era when finance was required and in it came and we did well, fans who will read it to times when it was needed, it didn’t come and we did well too. History though is just that, the game is ever changing and there’s no point referring to the past because it has no connection to what will happen.

If you are a United fan reading this and take nothing else away from it, take this. Don’t pray for a £30m signing now. If you must pray for a big signing, pray for one next year. Because that is when we will need it. It’s not inconceivable that we could win the league next season playing Chelsea at home, or Blackburn at Ewood Park, the two venues and opponents we could directly refer to as scenes of our loss of the title last season, and that we could do it with the team we have.

Perhaps I’m being overly verbose, so consider these two scenarios; United sign Sneijder for say.. £34m, and he scores the goal that wins the league at home to Chelsea. Or, we don’t sign anyone. And Hargreaves comes off the bench to score a free kick at Ewood Park, the second in a 3-0 win that wins the title. Neither situation is directly relative to the other in the grand scheme of things. But the feelings of each event probably inspired a completely different emotion inside of you, and if you’re like me, the second one is clearly the one you want. Consider both events occurring and United don’t win the league. The first feeling quickly evaporates while you still harbour the emotion of the Hargreaves moment.

That’s the “£34m” question. To me, it’s not even worth asking the question. Will my answer be the same in 12 months time, with investment sorely needed? To be honest, I don’t know (even though I still feel I want the best for the club long term regardless of current owners or short term satisfaction over a transfer). Would yours?

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To write a blog trying to decide whether I thought Liverpool threw the game against Chelsea would be almost as easy as the Dippers made it for the West London club. That debate even exists asto whether Liverpool gifted 3 points or if they are actually that bad is a new low for our once proud rivals up the M62. Yesterday’s reviews of their capitulation were varied. But, in surrendering even the faint hope of short term prosperity for more probable short term schadenfreude, those Liverpool fans who were happy to see their team lose not only the game but all of its integrity in one fell swoop are also presumably looking forward to the years in the wilderness that result guaranteed.

Liverpool’s fans wished for their own club to fail yesterday. That short term failure could have long term effects. Stretford-End.com explains why those fans should be careful what they wish for.

I was accused prior to the game of making excuses in advance when I challenged Rafael Benitez’s integrity. When I blogged prior to the weekends fixtures I acknowledged this but was under the impression that the feeling of a manager who is more than likely on his bike in the summer would not be replicated by the players or their infamous “12th man.”

Well, how wrong I was. That 12th man was busy making banners that demonstrated where their loyalties lied; any doubt on that score was eradicated when the eerie silence that shouldn’t accompany any home game, let alone one where in the last game of a season where there was still a Champions League spot up for grabs, was broken only after Frank Lampard scored a goal. Anfield broke into verse. Only, “Are you watching Manchester?” wasn’t quite the ditty you would associate with fans trying to inspire their team to an unlikely comeback.

Their response to Steven Gerrard’s blunder was as nonchalant as the response of the man himself. No remorse. No drive. No sense of urgency to make things right. Conspiracy theorists were shot down because of Gerrard’s previous – two similar errors to Thierry Henry in the space of a couple of months 6 years ago, though, don’t really count as previous. Not with 6 years time and a couple of Champions League finals worth of experience to boot. I don’t need to really state whether I think Gerrard’s assist for Drogba was intentional. It’s a sign of how poor this player is at this present time that there is a huge number of people clearly stating that this is just what they expect from him these days.

The extra time 3 days prior to the game was used as an excuse. Really? That’s really the best you could come up with?

What’s done is done. Unless the man himself has enough belief in himself and his convictions to admit it, we won’t know if it was intentional, just as we won’t know for sure if Liverpool fan Mike Dean, a ref whose professional integrity was under such suspicion from the FA that he was removed from a Cup Final they were in, meant to deliver one of the worst refereeing performances in English league history when we played Chelsea at Old Trafford. It could be argued Chelsea might not even have needed the assistance they received. But they did, and the damage that has done to the integrity of the competition cannot be underestimated.

The Telegraph took an alternative look at it, saying that Liverpool’s performance brought shame on the club and aura that it inherited from Bill Shankly. And while opinion can be split on whether the players threw it or were really as bad as a team doomed to relegation, opinion cannot be split on what is commonly seen as the most integral part of any football club – the fans. Dippers made their allegiances clear with their banners and anxiousness until Chelsea scored. They made their feelings clear by their nervousness that wouldn’t settle until Lampard scored the visitors second. Only then did they find their voice.

And, fair play, the 35,000 plus that were in Anfield yesterday to a man got the result they wanted. Chelsea won a game that they seldom looked like even imposing their presence on until they were gift wrapped and presented a goal, and their odds of 33/1 on to win the title next Sunday reflect the realism of the situation. It’s probable that Manchester United won’t be winning the league this season, that we won’t win a fourth successive title, that we won’t become outright record holders with 19 wins. Liverpool can safely say they’ve played their part in that and revel in that schadenfreude.

What of next season? Liverpool’s lack of effort and passion and subsequent defeat means they won’t be playing Champions League football next season. No matter what happens in the rest of the season, it’s only Liverpool themselves that guaranteed that by losing against Chelsea. The club are going backwards. Who knows if Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres will stay there next season. If Manchester City get fourth place then you can probably safely write off the next 2 or 3 years of Champions League prospects for Liverpool in advance. Knowing that, there will likely be a mass exodus. Will they have the money or pull available to replace those players who leave with better? Who could they get better than Torres for less money and no offer of Champions League football? And where from there? The club is not secure enough to go through a period of instability and come out the other end. It’s not as stable as United were when Abramovich funded Chelsea. It’s not as strong as Arsenal, who seem as if they could probably cope if they were to go without Champions League football for a year or two.

If the fixture list pops up Liverpool against Manchester United in the death throes of next season and the Red Devils have the chance of the title again, we won’t be questioning the intention of the Liverpool players or the desire of the fans. That much is cast iron guarantee. But will their next incarnations of Kvarmes, Kennedys, Bjornbyes and Ruddocks be good enough to stop us?

The dippers can revel in the twisted logic of celebrating at best the incompetence of their own side and at worst the fraudulent nature of them. But that short term fun at our expense is a very real stepping stone on the way to fast becoming a club that will be battling for survival.

Every club has it’s share of morons who indulge in vicious and sick chants. We put that down to an unpleasant minority and hope that our shared love for the game would prevail. There are a new generation of Liverpool fans though, raised on having no notable memory of their own team have a period of success of no real memory of their last league trophy and have been conditioned to hate United more than support their own team. That hatred was at fever pitch when a large number of fans behaved inhumanly to attack the ambulance carrying Alan Smith to hospital in 2006 and was on show yesterday when to a man Anfield waited with baited breath for Chelsea to score.

Liverpool Football Club as it once was is no more – any lingering healthy respect for their accomplishments has been overshadowed by the pathetic nature of their supporters. Those fans will have to stomach the inevitable as it is now to be expected they will comfortably surpass a 26 year wait for a league trophy which they have so often been quick to jab at United fans. That will probably be the least of their worries as even the trophyless days of the last 4 years will seem like very pleasant memories in the face of what the journey they are about to embark upon.

But don’t feel sorry for them, not even a bit. After all, they quite literally asked for it.

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It is United’s first competitive visit to Bayern’s new home, the “Allianz Arena”. In pre-season, we made the visit there, and after beating Boca Juniors, were defeated by the hosts in the “Audi Cup” on penalties. The stadium is certainly an impressive site from the outside; acting as the host arena for Bayern, 1860 Munich and the national side, the ouside of the arena actually illuminates into the specific colours of the side that are playing there.

The Managers / the Line-ups

You’ll need no introduction to Sir Alex Ferguson and his methods but it’s worth noting that at the ripe old age of 68 he has yet again molded his side into a new dynamic following the exits of Ronaldo and Tevez. In the bigger games and away games in Europe, he has favoured a 4-3-3 with Rooney spearheading the attack. It is probable that this will be the line up this evening; but the personnel, Rooney aside, is anything but predictable as the manager has the most handsome complement to pick from that he has had all season. Louis van Gaal had spells at Ajax – where he was responsible for their famous mid 90′s youthful classy side featuring the likes of Davids, Kluivert, the De Boers and Overmars – and Barcelona, as well as a year in charge of the Netherlands national side and 4 years as the boss of AZ. Taking over as manager of Bayern last year, he had a terrible start, saved by an improbable win in Turin that scraped the Germans through to the knockout stages. Their form has recovered to see them currently in second place in the Bundesliga, although, with one eye on this tie perhaps, they suffered their first home defeat of the season at the weekend, having led. They usually line up 4-4-2 and have a formidable, experienced midfield.

Key Areas

First of all, that formation poser. Should Bayern stick with an adventurous 4-4-2 it would play into Ferguson’s hands. Bayern’s experienced two in the middle of the park are van Bommel and Tymoschuk – both combative players, and in van Bommel’s case, maybe a case of tired legs, with the veteran having played the full 90 minutes on Saturday. Clearly United have veterans of their own in Giggs and Scholes but with Ferguson using them wisely, particularly at this stage of the season, it is likely he will pick a central midfield that has plenty of energy.

When monitoring the wide areas it would be lazy and predictable, but also relevant, to mention the respective threats of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. Doubts persist about the fitness of both; both were subs at the weekend, though this could be just the same as our own resting of Ferdinand and Rooney. Ribery of course is probably the most sought after player in world football with most parties being aware of his probable availability in the summer, but his form earlier this season was considered so bad that he wasn’t even in the running for the Ballon D’or, finishing 28th, with United legend Ryan Giggs in 14th place. There is no doubting the Frenchman’s ability and as Sir Alex recently said, he rightfully belongs in that wide range of players behind Ronaldo, Messi and Rooney as someone who could possibly make that step. It will be a tough ask on either the veteran Neville or the inexperienced Rafael to deal with the winger, and will probably require the help of one of the midfielders or Valencia. Certainly, if Bayern start with Lahm on the left hand side, they have a solid threat down that flank and it will require all of the discipline United eventually showed in coping with Milan if the twice consecutive finalists have any hope of progressing this season.

Which brings us nicely onto United’s wide areas – Park’s recent form means he is surely a shoo-in but exactly where is another matter. Ryan Giggs played his way back into contention with a classy showing on Saturday and suddenly the shape of the 4-3-3 is uncertain. Giggs’ minutes on Saturday may resign him to a place on the bench tonight, which would probably given Nani a huge vote of confidence wide left, leaving Park to perform the spoiling role. Given Bayern’s options come higher up the park, this may result in a much deeper role for Park than usual.

In defence, United will likely have their 2007 title winning back line of Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra, at present the most formidable defence in the domestic league despite the horrendous luck with injuries. The way Ferdinand and Vidic have returned to form since being back in the side is phenonemal and a huge boost to our chances – that being said, the solid display from Evans at the Reebok against a stern physical test was re-assuring, too. Miroslav Klose, the two wingers, and Pranjic represent the prominent concern for the centre halves but given their experience, although it shouldn’t be expected to be comfortable, the task isn’t the most daunting. More than can be said for the Bayern defence – Lahm apart, Wayne Rooney must be licking his lips at the prospect of the big occasion. In van Buyten they have a hugely experienced defender but it is precisely this task Rooney relishes, and with a support line of the two best wingers – on current form (save, perhaps, for Malouda) in the Premier League – there must be great belief that the team can secure at least one away goal. That’s not to say that Bayern’s defence is particularly creaky – but given United’s ability to score plenty away from home this season, much will depend on whether van Gaal sticks 4-4-2 or reshuffles to try and contain the visitors. Even a 4-3-3 may prove insufficient, as Arsenal found out to their cost.

Verdict

I’ll stop short of making a prediction for fear of looking a fool in 12 hours time, but one thing’s for sure, this isn’t the procession that the media will have you believe, and a score draw would by no means be a disaster. In the form United are in, however, there is no reason to expect them to settle for that – much will depend on the fitness of Bayern’s two wide men. If they fail to make it, Sir Alex should be supremely confident about his sides chances.

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Brazilian Anderson will miss the rest of the season after damaging his cruciate ligament injury early in the West Ham game on Tuesday. The midfielder was making his first start after alleged disciplinary issues and got injured after less than ten minutes, hobbling round as a passenger until the 18th, but now it seems that the damage is far worse than first anticipated.

Anderson has polarised opinion between Manchester United supporters; there are plenty that thought we should have cashed in on him last summer, those who thought the recent AWOL trip tp Brazil was the last straw, and a few of us who still want him to fulfil his undoubtedly huge potential at Old Trafford. Given the clubs traditional stance on supporting players, the injury may have an ironic twist on the career of our number 8.

Sir Alex Ferguson is a clear admirer of the player – obviously, having bought him, and as recently as December praised his recent form, but after the Brazil trip, the manager had to take his renowned disciplinarian stance. Anderson apparently left after being told he wasn’t being played in the Hull game – United were lining 4-4-2 and giving Scholes the berth alongside Fletcher. In another ironic twist it seemed Ferguson had settled on a 4-3-3 formation in the bigger games which would have probably given Anderson a solid run in the first team, but obviously after his disappearing act Fergie had to take the decision to punish him.

It’s clear, too, that we were at detriment without him in the games at Park’s Villa and Goodison. Ando came in for a bit of stick for an underwhelming performance in the Champions Legaue Final last season that seemed to be an exhibit for those who wanted to say he has failed during his time at the club, but that only masked the truth, that Anderson simply wilted under the pressure of the responsibility on his shoulders. No Fletcher and no Hargreaves meant that he was given the impossible task of marshalling both Xavi and Iniesta; it was no shame for him to have come up short on that day, and indeed could prove to be a learning curve. His form had improved again this season, notably with a terrific display against Essien at Stamford Bridge that underlined his impact in the 4-3-3 system, but although he has played well on most occasions this season, it’s no real secret at this stage that he would benefit from the confidence that a settled run in the side would bring, just as he did when he first broke into the team.

The injury will end Anderson’s season but bizarrely may just have granted him a reprieve at Old Trafford. How? It could be commonly accepted – and I am the kid’s biggest fan – that the improvements about his game are probably due in terms of maturity and composure. Sir Alex has already said that he hopes Anderson will be ready for the start of next season, which would give him from now until then, with hopefully a decent amount of pre-season training behind him to develop in the off-the-field behaviour that seems to be lacking at present.

Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy serve as gold standard precedent – both had similar injuries and both went on to be the best in the world in their positions after returning. But it is the Keane scenario Anderson should closely observe – the Irishman used his time off to re-evaluate his game and returned a more composed player who was able to run a game and use his energy in the right ways. In his autobiography Keane described how his rehabilition programme coincided with that of United reserve Terry Cooke who had suffered an identical injury at almost the same time, and how it put things into perspective. Cooke was never the most gifted (although he showed flashes) but worked really hard to recover and eventually recovered to play football at a good standard. Keane knew that he was fortunate to be in a position where, as newly installed United captain, he would have the promise of at least a run in the first team upon a return, whereas Cooke didn’t neccessarily have that. You could sense that it made Keane somewhat humble and reflect more upon the way he felt he could be less reckless with himself.

Keane and Anderson are different characters; Keane more temperamental and Anderson perhaps a little too exuberant. But both are/were dynamic and all action and it is here that our current star can take his own stock and allow himself some creative and constructive self indulgence. He doesn’t have a Terry Cooke but he does have, in Owen Hargreaves, a colleague who joined at the same time as him and is fighting his own battle to merely play again. In Ole Gunnar Solskjaer he has a mentor who can share, or at least attempt to, his feeling of scoring at the Valley in 2006, his feeling of scoring at the Stretford End in the Champions League, and scoring winning goals for club and country after all his hard work. That his return only lasted a full season is probably more poignant.

Anderson has been blessed by fate in the most ironic of scenarios to get a second chance at the biggest club in the world, a fresh start, with fans who will get fully behind him if he works hard to recover (this clubs supporters in particular identify and appreciate more profoundly the hard work someone puts into overcome personal setbacks) and a manager who said he was “the best young player in the world” after his Autumn form of 2007 and as recently as last May identified him as the natural heir to Paul Scholes. This website has long believed and argued that he has the potential to go on and be the best in the world – I have found myself in long debates trying to explain why I wouldn’t swap him for the likes of Fabregas and Gerrard.

It seems contrived by the hands of fate that the West Ham game was Anderson’s 99th for the club – making any return one of double significance. Knowing United’s history, it will probably be lining up against a major rival.

We obviously wish him, first and foremost, a healthy recovery from the injury. We shouldn’t treat it as a given that he would even return to play the game again or if he did it would be a long term thing given the heartbreaking recent stories in this country alone with the differing experiences of Hargreaves, Solskjaer and Dean Ashton. If he does return to play that 100th game, and consistently at the level of United, then that in itself will be a significant achievement; if he follows the steps of Keane and van Nistelrooy and goes on to fulfil that huge potential then he will go down in club history. It may well be more down to luck than hard work; but as long as he does put the hard yards in, then that in itself may be character building for his possible return. But rarely has the news of such an injury instilled the feeling of optimism I have for that potential return – not that I am happy that he has suffered the injury; rather that I have faith the time spent recovering will be a valuable learning experience for the youngster. That’s if he doesn’t spend all his time watching Jeremy Kyle..

Even for someone who is well known for his less than able command of the English language yet, you would think that the respective plights of messrs Keane, Cooke, van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Ashton and Hargreaves will be stories that aren’t lost in translation.

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I wrote yesterday regarding Derek McGovern of the Daily Mirror and how he is the worst journalist in the UK.

Today he cemented the position in his latest column by declaring in all seriousness that both Tottenham and Wolves have better teams than Manchester United. That’s Premier League Champions Manchester United, League Cup holders, Champions League finalists and (for the moment at least) World Champions.

Naturally, something had to be said because presumably whoever is in charge of editing at the Mirror is either missing McGovern’s rabid scribes or is being slipped a crafty tenner. So, we emailed them.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have been following your website and newspaper for around a year and a half now ever since I was given a gift of a book containing the history of the club I support and it contained newspaper clippings from your paper reporting on the numerous big moments in the clubs history.

As a contributor to a fan-run internet resource for Manchester United fans one of my “duties”, if you like, is to take a keen interest in editorials and media opinions. A couple of months ago I came across an article written by someone called Derek McGovern.

Here is the first article.

It clearly is poorly written but that’s a side point, I presume Mr McGovern is paid for his work and refers to (I presume, anyway) Wayne Rooney as “Shrek”. It seems to be common knowledge that Mr McGovern is a Liverpool fan and in other “columns” he has gone to great lengths to state his belief that Liverpool would “win the Champions League” while continuously saying Manchester United (the only consistent target for his vitriol) are over hyped and are generally a poor team.

Of course people are entitled their opinions. But imagine my surprise to see two articles in a matter of days, the first criticising the award of BBC Sports Personality of the Year to Ryan Giggs because in his opinion Giggs has “done nothing” in 2009.

Fair enough if that’s an opinion but the player has won a record number of league titles, won a league cup, was considered the best player by his peers last season and looks like he might again this season, and made his 800th appearance for the club he has supported as a boy. All of which make him a candidate worthy of the award – certainly however there doesn’t seem to be anything in the award that would provoke such a rabid response.

I concur that there is of course a reasonable argument for why he shouldn’t have won the award however that seems to be lacking in the article.

That article can be found here.

And today, he has written (as if it needed saying) that he has made a “concious decision” to back against Manchester United around 6 weeks ago – what seems like an incredibly knee jerk style reaction to the poor form of the team he was following, and uses his column to declare that Tottenham and Wolves both have better teams than Manchester United – no matter how objective you look at it, with the greatest of respect, no member of the British public would truly agree with that, and again, McGovern’s anger seems to be down to the fact he wasted money on a bet and that Manchester United won.

In fact it is a rather worrying indicator of either the level of intelligence of Mr McGovern or the irrational mindset in which he writes his articles.

That article can be found here.

Hardly the kind of content that a national newspaper that should reporting, is it? Fortunately I haven’t paid for any of the newspapers since the one with that first article in November and I won’t be doing so again.

As a consequence of reading all of the above I do have a number of questions that I would be grateful if you could kindly answer.

1) Does Derek McGovern get paid for the columns such as the three above? I don’t want to know how much.

2) Does Derek McGovern actually have any qualifications whatsoever?

3) Do the articles he writes have to pass through any kind of editorial assessment?

4) Are his pieces actually intended to have any degree of seriousness whatsoever or am I and many other United fans who read them missing the point and is he actually performing some kind of double bluff?

5) Is the newspaper actually aiming for the lowest common denominator in terms of its demographic target?

I understand this email has probably come through to a general feedback area; I would be most grateful if you could forward this to a relevant editor or even Mr McGovern himself.

The questions above are totally serious; as an adolescent my ambition was to be a journalist and although I pursued other career paths writing has always been a passion of mine; something that in part has led to me writing for a fan-run website and I would be appalled if I ever wrote anything as ridiculous, childish and fundamentally bereft of any worthwhile “reporting” worthy of the name as Mr McGovern’s articles. However now I know how easy it is to get into sports journalism it would be handy if you would let me know if you have any jobs going!

I anticipate your response (either by email or through our website)

Wayne

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I’m no great fan of the tabloid media. Last weeks blog where I voiced dismay over the way Joe Public lapped up the woefully inaccurate judgment of players ability depending on what club they played for (perfectly illustrated by the responses we got) and that followed me emailing the Sun Chief Sports Idiot Steven Howard (to no response, must get a lot of those emails!) but step forward Derek McGovern of the Mirror, who in two fell swoops has made the once respected profession of journalism look like the career of choice for those who couldn’t even arrange the letters “GCSE” in the right order let alone sit the exams, his latest excuse for an article details how he’s been frothing at the mouth over the Ryan Giggs BBC award after he believes the United legend has done “nothing” this year.

I’ve been keeping an eye on the Mirror website ever since the first week in November when McGovern used his fantastic insight to imply Valencia among others is a flop (that’s unfolded rather well hasn’t it Delboy?) and Scholes is past it in an article that included references to Jordan, a milkman and Brigette Bardot. Um, yeah.

McGovern is a Liverpool fan who apparently also moonlights as a betting “expert” (though with suggesting Sir Alex would be sacked this season and that his beloved Dippers would win the Champions League I think we can safely say he’s as good in this field as he is as a scribe) and has described Giggs’ Sunday night award of BBC Sports Personality for 2009 as a “travesty” and his achievements in this calender year as “nothing”.

Nothing compared to.. what, exactly? He won a record 11th league title. A League Cup. Helped his team get to the Champions League Final. Has broken the 800 appearance barrier, all at one club, to cement his position as the clubs’ record appearance holder. Dominated many big games, scored brilliant and priceless goals, set up countless others. In this calender year alone he has achieved more than 99% of players will in their entire careers.

I suppose he hasn’t miraculously perverted the course of justice by clearly assaulting someone yet escaping a sentence – that was an achievement – and it goes without saying that in Jessica Ennis, Jenson Button and David Haye there were three very worthy winners there too. Perhaps Giggs won because hordes of United fans voted for him or because people were torn over the other three but at the end of the day it’s a public vote and I’m sure there were plenty of non-United supporters voting for anyone rather than Giggs to add their own gentle manipulation. It works both ways, yet the award and voting system only gets criticised when a United player wins, just as it did with the PFA award earlier this season.

Both awards have been running for many years and the system has never been challenged, yet strangely it does when a true legend of the game does. Do you think it might possibly have anything to do with the club he plays for? Of course it does.

None of this nonsense in 2003 when Thierry Henry won PFA Player of the Year despite van Nistelrooy scoring about 46 goals and winning the title. Or in 2006 when Gerrard won it for scoring an equaliser in an FA Cup Final. No uproar when Michael Owen won BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1998 for scoring a goal, a single goal, brilliant as it was, in the World Cup. No fuss when Gerrard somehow got third place in the BBC award of 2005 despite having all the personality attributes and morals of a sewer rat.

The BBC Sports Personality is apparently awarded to the sportsperson who “most captured the public’s imagination”. Well, cementing his position as his sports most successful ever player in this country, writing new records every time he steps onto the pitch as the player to play the most times ever for the club he supported as a boy – the only club he has ever played for – and still being arguably the best player in that team?

I’m no representative of Joe Public but I’m pretty sure if you handed them a list of definitions they would choose all of the above and there is no question that Ryan Giggs ticks all of those boxes.

McGovern is so blind with ABU rage he missed the glaring contradiction in his little article, firstly suggesting that a tide of United fans swayed the vote and then saying that he won with a small amount of votes. Make up your mind, moron.

It’s fair to say you disagree with the award. Of course it is. But to actually get paid for writing things like players in the PFA can only “vote for Manchester United players” is staggering.

Again, as I said in my last blog about the media, it’s not breaking new ground to suggest the tabloid media is populated by a bunch of idiots but it is depressing to see how we as a nation have declined so notably where people such as McGovern who are so overcome by bias that they cannot even write a comprehensible, objective article but yet get paid seemingly on the basis that they can (barely) structure a basic sentence.

Now, I’m no groundbreaker in the field but I’m confident that I am far more capable than our Delboy in either of the professions he seems to be paid for. I’ve read Liverpool fan blogs and debated with their writers over our difference of opinion and of course there is bias on both sides – but at least they try and construct a reasonable opinion using facts (even though they usually miss vital elements out).

Steven Howard has held the crown for a while but I appoint you, Derek McGovern, as the worlds most idiotic Journalist.

And that’s an award that is justified.

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It’s been quite a week – if anyone had told you back in May that in December you would be celebrating a Michael Owen hat-trick in Germany for the club and that Sir Alex Ferguson would describe the possibility of playing Michael Carrick at centre back against Villa as “good news” you would have either carted them off to the loony bin or checked their pockets for a copy of  Grays Sports Almanac.

Indeed, the worst revelation over the last week where United have had 8 defenders missing was the worrying sign that Owen Hargreaves didn’t even make the bench in Wolfsburg when it seemed assured he would be ready for at least one of the group games. The week started with one disgruntled Serb winger angry at United but the one we did sign, Tosic, will have every right to feel aggrieved – after all, it was at his cost that Hargreaves was named in the Champions League squad.

This is on the back of one of those bizarre fortnights that began with United’s kids being tore a new one by the media, a home defeat against Besiktas was tangible proof we struggled to score without Ronaldo and Chelsea as the only contender in a one horse race for the Premier League.

As things stand, United are back in the hunt for a fourth successive league championship after two consecutive four goal shows away from home – we are the only side of the “big 4″ left in the Carling Cup and topped our Champions League group winning all of our away games. On top of that, we’ve been linked with Sol Campbell. Crazy world.

Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to show that they are not quite the impenetrable, flawless outfit the media are trying to build them up to be, Arsenal’s kids get shown up as not quite good as the media build them up to be with Arsene Wenger’s continued pattern of raping his clubs history for a series of contemporary gimmicks, devaluing competitions that he has never won (yet somehow escaping a press backlash – strange how United’s youngsters can have over 20 shots against Besiktas and be labelled flops, and Arsenal’s get called “the Pride of Britain” – draw your own conclusions there boys and girls), while Liverpool..? No, that’s too easy.

Now, just to elaborate on my little bugbear with Arsenal – I quote from the Sun (I know..) who I were expecting to really rip into those underperforming little scrotes.

With five teenagers in the line-up Arsenal had an average age of just 21 years and 215 days beating the record set by Ajax six years ago against Club Brugges by 140 days

Well done, Arsene. Your team lose again but you have a shiny new “record” that will deflect any criticism. Indeed, he had his excuses ready made.

“These youngsters play exactly like the first team, and they represented Arsenal well tonight, despite the fact that they are the youngest team to have played in the Champions League.”

Yes, Arsene, when you’re picking players solely for that purpose, that’s what will happen. Before any Arsenal fans start whining about injuries, United had them, and no-one could have blamed Fergie for naming a side with an average age of under 21 years and 215 days, but he didn’t, he chose to protect the integrity of the club even if by doing that it meant playing Michael Carrick at centre half. Having said that, I’m sure they would have had a go at Fergie.

You may ask why I, a United fan, am concentrating on Arsenal. The simple fact of the matter is we all like to read about football – that’s why you’re here, probably, not because of any particular love of my blogging, but you just like reading opinions. I’m the same. You’ll also then be aware that much of what is reported in the tabloid media gets repeated verbatim by Joe Public. Somewhere between the garbage being printed and a debate over a pint, this kind of idiocy becomes gospel.

I’m running a feature in our forum that is noting all of the Sun’s “player ratings” and on Saturday, Antonio Valencia had an absolute stormer at West Ham, scoring one, making another, in probably his most assured performance yet. He got a 6 out of 10.

It’s enough to baffle the mind on any ordinary day but consider this. I had a squizz at how Arsenal “rated” last night - and I watched the game, so I believe I’m entitled to scoff a little. For those who don’t want to click the link, here are some highlights. Walcott, Wilshere, Merida, all 7/10, Song, 8/10, and Ramsey, get this, 9 out of 10. This is in a 1-0 turnover in GREECE, my friends.

I know what you’re thinking – well, you’re probably not, because you’re not as anal as I am, but just for the fun of comparison, Darron Gibson scored two stonkers against Spurs last week. How did he fare? You won’t be surprised to hear he got a majestic 8. Well done, Darron, but not quite reaching the lofty achievements set by Ramsey just yet.

In fact, going by the Sun’s opinion, the mighty Ramsey put in a shift last night that is better than any United player all season. Rooney at Wigan? Giggs at Spurs? Giggs against City? Giggs at Pompey? (Giggs anywhere this season come to that) Fletcher against City? Even Owen’s hattrick performance, getting him a 9 – think of that, he had to score a hat-trick against the German Champions to even COMPARE with the apparent masterclass put on by Ramsey last night.

“Well done, Yolkie, you’ve pointed out the Sun’s opinion on football is worthless”. Quite.

But it’s not just the Red Tops.The Independent lead the match report with “Ramsey shines while young Gunners lose with honour“. He had a good game (9 out of 10 if you believe the Sun) but the crux of the matter was he individually and the team collectively were not good enough to beat a Greek team. Lose with honour? Did I fall asleep and miss something? They had 9 shots, that’s less than their opponents, and around a third of the opportunities created by United against Besiktas when we were apparently so disgraceful.

Perhaps you’re beginning to see how annoying it is, the myth perpetuated by all corners of the media is okay to laugh at but it’s not so funny when the quality of our own players gets understated while those of rivals is overplayed, to the extent where one is hyped up because his parents chose to name him after the short bloke from Top Gun. Yeah, he’s bound to make it then..

I’m sure Darron Gibson earns enough money for the media reflection not to lose him any sleep but as a professional it should annoy him – as it does me, and should annoy you, as a supporter – that he can run a game against an experienced Spurs side and score two belting goals yet his performance still apparently pales in comparison to someone who for all the huffing and puffing scored nothing and created nothing against a Greek side who beat them. This sounds like Ramsey bashing, it’s not, I actually like the kid (but soon enough he will be lauded to high heavens to the point where I won’t be able to stand him, he’ll be spitting at or slagging off legends who have won more trophies than he could ever dream of, believing his own hype).

Look at the media perception of Anderson and Fabregas. Fabregas is now just casually mentioned as “one of the best” while Anderson is woefully underrated. I’ll get panned for saying it but as things are I would rather have Anderson. The Brazilian has played a big part in our trophy rich recent history and after some criticism last season, has really started to kick on this year. Fabregas? Well, he’s been given the captaincy to stop him leaving to sit on Barcelona’s bench. He’s had the team built around him and regularly has two other midfielders doing the donkey work to help his statistics look favourable with notable dips in form when he doesn’t have two alongside him. And he’s won a total of, well, let me see. He was a substitute in the Arsenal team that won us on pens after getting battered in the FA Cup Final 2005.

Football365.com does a weekly stat run of each team with Fabregas’ assist tally given a new hyperbole alongside it each week. No mention of Giggs who has more assists in all competitions – although he was mentioned this week, who “only has one less assist than Fabregas”. That may be Premier League only but no mention of the fact that Giggs has started three league games fewer in that competition, either.

Now, though, I’m just descending in the intricate details of it all and I could go on forever. But maybe that’s the point, the fact that I could go on forever with more than just a valid argument to deconstruct the media perception that somehow failing to win has become a better achievement than winning. Of course it’s only a couple of months ago since there was a deluded Scouser claiming he had “irrefutable proof” that Torres was better than Rooney on the back of a hat-trick against Hull. He went onto claim that Kuyt was a more effective winger than Valencia. Those articles seem to have dried up, eh la?

And, to throw a cherry on top, all I’ve heard for the last two weeks is how solid Chelsea are and how they don’t look like getting beat or throwing the title away (this is even after two defeats) and how United still haven’t played well this season, this after two brilliant away performances that have been better than any performance by any other team in the league this season (bar the Spurs battering of Wigan of course).

But it’s getting to something when an Arsenal team with 3 defeats in 4 has had more praise over the last few days than our side that are playing some brilliant football in the very pits of footballing adversity.

I’ll end this rant/article/blog with a bit of perspective that maybe just sums up the entire piece in a nutshell. This week Paul Scholes was the latest to say that Ryan Giggs is the best player in the history of the club. By somewhat awkward reasoning, placing him ahead of the wonderful Best in the clubs ranking, this automatically creates a growing argument (one to which I subscribe and have done for well over a year) that he is the best player in the history of the game.

At 36, probably still the best and most natural dribbler of the ball in the domestic game, possibly the most intelligent player in the league, and on his day – thankfully, his day is still quite often – he is the most unplayable player in the league. All this in a career where he has avoided the media limelight and therefore his career began and will end encompassing the top level careers of the likes of Del Piero, Rivaldo, Beckham, Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo and Scholes of course, all of these at some point or other considered better than Giggs despite most of them themselves saying Giggs was the best.

It’s somewhat a reflection of the way that football and the general opinions about the game have been dominated and clouded by an agenda driven, negative media that backs the wrong horse for success time and time again and then refuses to truly appreciate the fact that right now we are still experiencing the best manager and the best player in the history of the game.

Of course it’s more important to win trophies than have people write nice things, and of course there’s always the thing of knocking down a winner, but it would be nice to think that somewhere, achievement equals respect. What kind of message are we as followers of the sport sending out when we are saying if you win you will not get any notable recognition but if you dive, spit and show disrespect in finishing as also rans you will be hyped as the best?

The financial riches in the game have never been greater; however, football was far richer back in the day when the proper greats were applauded by all and not subjected to derision because of jealousy.

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It’s rarely the case for a blog to be prompted so rapidly in the wake of a comment on another, but “The reds” raised an interesting poser ahead of tonight’s Champions League game in Germany – what kind of scenarios where some of the clubs greatest players thrown into for their debut match and is there any link between the direness of the situation and the ability of the player?

Stretford-End.com launched a mini investigation.

Firstly of course it has to be said that there can be no definitive answer because the fundamental basis for this “investigation” is regarding an introductory scenario which is not in any way related to the quality of said player. Gary Neville made his competitive bow for the club in an unremarkable UEFA Cup tie at Old Trafford against Torpedo Moscow in a goalless draw in the autumn of 1992 and didn’t play for the club again until May 1994, in another goalless home draw against Coventry as United lifted the title. He has since gone onto become the most decorated full back in the clubs history.

Nevertheless it’s a very interesting topic of debate – not least because in Manchester United’s rich history there seem to have been several cases of mass absence. As referenced in our history section (part 2 coming soon, promise) in 1909 the club were almost without a team to start the season due to an ongoing issue with the FA and the PFA in which the governing body threatened to suspend all union members – most clubs managed to get amateurs to replace their union members, United didn’t, as reflected in the “Outcasts FC” photograph being taken that heads this article.

The FA relented so the story never reached a conclusion – and then almost 50 years later, of course, tragedy struck the club when the Munich Air disaster cruelly took the lives of some of the clubs best ever players.

Yet Sir Matt Busby was able to somehow take a team of survivors, youth players and those donated from other teams in an act of sporting generosity to second place in the league the following season. UEFA had compassionately invited United to play in the European Cup alongside Wolves who were champions but the English FA inexplicably refused on the clubs behalf.

The English FA’s intervention also meant United were unable to participate in the English FA Cup to defend it in 2000, when the club would probably have been forced to field an unfamiliar team.

So there are plenty of what ifs in the clubs history too – as well as many of the players have done in unprecedented adversity, there may have been even greater achievements.

But to concentrate on the question asked by “The reds” let’s look at some individual players.

Simon Davies, a young Welsh left winger, had actually played in the infamous League Cup games against Port Vale in 1994 but was thrown into the deepend to play Galatasaray in a dead rubber Champions League game – the club were already eliminated but injuries and the foreigner rule meant Davies had to start and he struck a great drive across goal to spark a 4-0 rout. The side included Beckham, Butt and Gary Neville, all of whom went on to bigger and better things, sadly Davies steadily dropped down the leagues, eventually moving to the Welsh League and after retiring managing Chester City where he was sacked and then appointed as youth team manager last year.

Ryan Giggs made his debut against Everton on March 2nd, 1991, as substitute, and made his full debut in May of that year in the Manchester Derby and was credited with scoring the only goal even though he openly admits it should be an own goal. His introduction to the first team was not one borne out of Ferguson’s forced hand, and the same can be said for the likes of Schmeichel, Cantona, Scholes, Keane, Stam, Cole, the list goes on. In the main, unremarkable debuts for some of the clubs best ever players.

Even way back to George Best, the mercurial Northern Irishman was introduced to the first team much the same way by Sir Matt Busby the same way Ferguson does with his current crop.

Arguably only Wayne Rooney is a current day United great who made a spectacular debut – that hat-trick in the Champions League over 5 years ago now – but, again, he was introduced into the team having been injured.

Conversely then we have to look at remarkable debuts and what happened to the players since – Kevin Pilkington made his full debut in the York City battering in 1995, while that same season saw the emergency signing of Eric Cantona’s good friend William Prunier who had an average game against QPR then was absolutely shocking against Spurs. Pilkington is now still playing, on loan at Luton after spells at Mansfield and Notts County, while Prunier is probably grateful that he slipped into footballing obscurity.

Other bad debuts? Massimo Taibi gave a Jekyll and Hyde performance at Anfield where we didn’t know what to make of him – we were giving him a resounding thumbs down after shockers against Southampton and Chelsea. To be fair Taibi went on to have a successful career in Italy.

Good debuts in forced circumstances? That’s probably as close as we can get to “the reds” question.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is my earliest true recollection. Injuries to Cole, Keane and Scholes meant a re-shuffling of the side and a place on the bench against Blackburn in August 1996 for the baby faced Norweigan whose name nobody could pronounce. United had signed him for £1.5m after failing to sign Shearer from Rovers for ten times the price.

United were 2-1 down and on come Solskjaer, scoring with the rebound after Flowers had saved his first shot. It was somewhat of a blueprint as Ole become renowned for saving games from the bench, never more expertly displayed than in the treble winning season when a last minute goal at the Stretford End eliminated his boyhood club Liverpool from the FA Cup, and of course, his flick of the boot that won the European Cup that same season. Most managers had a tactic as a plan B, for the best part of ten years, Sir Alex Ferguson needed only one player.

Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck both scored amazing goals on their Premier League debuts but, again, they were hardly thrown in at the deep end. Another measured judgement call by Fergie.

The same cannot be said, however, for perhaps the best example of an answer to the question than Federico Macheda.

No Rooney, suspended. No Berbatov, injured. Scholes suspended. Ronaldo, a wide player, forced to play through the middle, and Tevez, who was not an out and out striker and was completely ineffective. Macheda and Welbeck were on the bench against Aston Villa who had taken a 2-1 lead a United side who had lost two on the bounce and saw their title hopes flagging, worst of all, Liverpool were the contenders.

Macheda came on with half an hour to go and changed the face of the game, hassling the Villa back line in a way that defied their earlier comfort. Ironically, Welbeck’s introduction for Tevez with 3 minutes left almost saw the Englishman snatch the headlines. Ronaldo had equalised and Welbeck almost got the winner, but Friedel was as usual at his imposing best.

There seemed no way through until Macheda, well, you know the story. His dramatic winner was repeated in similar circumstances at Sunderland a week later and perhaps his career has something of a Solskjaer tone about it, having only scored in those substitute appearances and not in any of his subsequent starts. There is however no doubting the young Italian’s talent – a view shared by our coaching staff who have just secured his long term future.

Tonight’s deep end introductions for whoeever of the travelling youngsters who get the nod will not have the same level of repercussions riding on their performance but nonetheless Ferguson will drum in the importance of finishing top and avoiding the possibility of playing Real Madrid or Barcelona in the next round.

If United are able to avoid defeat tonight then even though there is not the destiny of a trophy riding on the result, their character in doing so may just alert Sir Alex to their ability to step up. After all, less remarkable introductions did the same for some of the clubs most successful ever players.

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