What’s all this guff about United having achieved their great leader’s obsession in knocking Liverpool “off their f****** perch?” They haven’t!! In achieving their 19th domestic title they have however taken an important step towards fulfilling their ultimate dream. So who can begrudge them this moment of triumph? And let’s face it, to dislodge Liverpool’s domestic supremacy is in itself a fantastic achievement. But whilst they settle into this unfamiliar position, it will take a long time to emulate the achievements of Liverpool, who have enjoyed the previous 35 years as undisputed holders of the domestic crown – so, less than a week in - still a bit of work to do yet on that particular front I'm afraid, and Ferguson certainly won’t see it!! In the meantime however they could achieve that ultimate title of – unarguably - the country’s all-time most successful football team. All they need is another two European Cups. When they’ve done that there can be (as it stands) no dispute that they have finally done it: Even I would have to concede that 19-5 is better than LFC’s 18-5 .... but 19-3? Certainly not! Until then .......
Because he exudes so much anger to everyone else?
Up until he joined Man U, he had no link to them and no reason not to like Liverpool, yet his 'knock Liverpool off their f***ing perch' comment set out his stall. And that's when I set out mine.
That the claret-nosed git then went to do what he said he wanted to do just makes me hate him even more.
Perhaps Liverpool's dominance of English football would have continued for a bit longer (and could well have won a few more league titles) had Kenny Dalglish not unexpectedly resigned as manager at Anfield in early 1991. It was after this that Graeme Souness returned to Liverpool (he resigned as manager of Glasgow Rangers in April '91 to go back to Anfield, much to my annoyance!), as as every Reds fan will recall, his tenure wasn't exactly the most successful.
Perhaps in Leeds hadn't sold a certain Monsieur Cantona to Man Utd late on in 1992, they could well have gone on to dominate football in England for a good few years; they certainly looked well capable of it after winning the league in 1991-92. Cantona was as big a factor in Leeds' success that season as he was in all Man Utd's title winning sides during the following five years or so.
David what you may not know is that Fergie was actually after Lee Chapman of Leeds... he wasnt available. Fergie was offered Eric as an alternative !!
Wasn't Cantona moved on because he was sha#ging Chapman's then missus?
Maybe.
But let's remember that Dalglish inherited a hugely experienced Liverpool side who were used to winning. When those experienced players started to retire, Dalglish had a massive rebuilding job on his hands and, IMO, largely failed. The players he brought in were too often below the standard needed to continue Liverpool's dominance, especially toward the end of his reign. Players like David Speedie, Ronny Rosenthal, Jimmy Carter, Steve Harkness, Don Hutchinson just weren't of anywhere near equal calibre to Hanson, Dalglish himself, Craig Johnston, Lawro, etc.
Of course, like you say, when Souness came in, he made an utter horlicks of the job. Dean Saunders, Neil Ruddock, Paul Stewart, Nigel Clough, Michael Thomas, Mark Walters, Julian Dicks, Stig Bjornebye, Torben Piechnik - all big money signings back then and not a one wore the Liverpool shirt with any distinction.
The story goes that, during his time at Leeds, Cantona was porking Lesley Ash, wife of Leeds striker Lee Chapman - hence why Cantona was drummed out of Elland Rd. Dunno if it's true, but it's a great rumour!
As a way of linking the two above snippets, Cantona was apparently offered to LIverpool before he joined Leeds, but Souness declined. Says it all.
Smutty minds think alike!
Could 'Fish Lips' be responsible for changing EPL history forever?
Edited by user 18 May 2011 17:10:00(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Hopefully not, because they'll then finish above the Scum who would then have to go through the qualification stage of the CL. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that they could screw that up.
Unless they do something major in the summer Arsenal to me looks to be a team in decline.
Don't we say that every year?
I'm sure that next year won't be much different to the two or three that have gone before: Written off by the pundits as a team without a chance. Go well in all competitions until February when someone breaks a leg or they get beat by some two bit side (bet gooners have their fingers firmly crossed that Birmingham get sent down) when they collapse.
Edited by user 18 May 2011 18:21:07(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Unless I'm mistaken, Real Madrid still lead the way as far as European Cup/Champions League wins are concerned with 10. AC Milan have won it 7 times; 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003 and 2007. Liverpool have win it on 5 occasions; 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984 and 2005, so they needs 2 more wins to equal AC Milan and another 5 to draw level with Real Madrid.
I see the United bashers have run out of gas at last ............it really was getting very tiresome
A very important Sunday ahead for 5 clubs, 2 of which will be joining West Ham in the Championship. Your tips for the drop??
So we've got Man City to thank for it then. Here was me thinking that the Celtic fans today were merely copying what their players have been doing before games for years!
Actually Cantona contributed very little to the title winning season. He topped the odd game off with a flourish, but that squad was a bunch of hard working players with a splash of insipration - Strachan, Speed, McAllister, Batty, our midfield from heaven.
Wilkinson had a work ethic that in all honestly was never likely to gel with Cantona's 'free spirit'. The relationship would only ever be a short one. I think Ferguson took a punt and it worked brilliantly. It could equally have fallen flat on its face. Fine margins and all that.
We were cursed because we won the last 'proper' league championship which bought next to no money in. The next season our board didn't adapt, but Ferguson had been slowly building a team and a club, and they came to fruition at the time the money came into the game. If we'd had the SKY money who knows, but hey, we DID win the league in a manner that can't now be done.
At the celebrations on the Headrow in Leeds I said to my wife - drink this in, it may never happen again. It hasn't and is unlikely to in the foreseeable future. I also pointed out that many supporters of other 'big' clubs had NEVER experienced this. Newcastle, for example. They still haven't.
It was a nice urban myth, but wasn't true. Quite simply he didn't like Wilkinon's disciplinarian approach, and our board, for reasons best known to them, sold him at a giveaway price.
Remember that before Leeds took a punt on him he was a maverick who wouldn't go on trial with Sheffield Wednesday because he felt he was above all that. He was potentially destablising, and it's to Ferguson's great credit that he managed to get the best out of him.
Monday should prove interesting if Mittal's rumoured bid for the remaining stakes in QPR pans out.
Bernie is certainly downplaying it, but if Mittal does carry through it certainly improves immeasurably the chances of QPR staying up.
ttp://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/6944736/Warnock-stays-says-Bernie
..........it's to Ferguson's great credit that he managed to get the best out of him.
What a strange season. If Blackpool win at OT they will have achieved more away wins than United this season.