Before I start, I realise how can I list all the wonderful things about Manchester United being back in just a few points on a blog. Well I can write an opus but would anyone take the time to read it? Exactly. I like most of you I’m sure, are not just excited about Manchester United being back but also the football season. Manchester United is the all consuming part of my life but football itself is a big passion of mine also.

Some of these reasons might not be totally Manchester United related but it’s my list and I can do what I want!

The Premier League is back tomorrow!

First and foremost the season starts tomorrow, our campaign starts against Everton at Goodison Park on Monday night. Hard to believe that we’ve waited so long for the new season isn’t it? Some of us impatiently…

You can look THIS good in our home shirt

Yes it’s raised a few eyebrows about what was going on in Nike Towers when they came up with our home shirt. Fans both love it and hate it. The marmite shirt.

But can you argue when you can look this good in it?

Taken from Alex Morgan’s twitter account (@alexmorgan13)

Our new away shirt

Any colour but white I shrieked when the hundreds of leaked shirts filled my twitter timeline during the Summer. Obviously they weren’t going to listen to me were they? White it was. Really like this shirt, except that it’s white. I’m a messy pup at the best of times so chances are I’ll be wearing a bib with this one

Kagawa, Powell and some RVP guy… do you know him?

I’ll admit writing this I’m still trying to compose myself into some actual readable stuff on our signings because I’ve been too excited and dance around the room happy about Van Persie coming. Yes he’s actually a United player. WOW. Big grins are permanent with me at the moment. That shouldn’t distract from our other signings that we have made. Shinji Kagawa has impressed me so far in pre-season and Nick Powell is someone who I look forward to seeing more of.

Yes I know there are signings that we can all list that we would like to see made before this transfer window closes. Sir Alex did say today there was one more signing if they became available…

Can you manage your own football team?

Fantasy football season is back. Here at TF Towers we have our own over at The Premier League one. Code is  30476-10585. JOIN UP!

Nemanja is back

Quite possibly the man who we missed most last season. Actually no, what am I talking about? He WAS the man we missed most after his injury back in December. Oh how I’ve missed those thighs

Football superstitions/rituals

Not totally Manchester United related but we do have them. Footballers have them too and you’ll notice these through the season of quirky things that they do. Particularly when you see them ready to walk out from the tunnel onto the pitch.

As fans we have our own – a lucky shirt, pair of socks, which turnstile we use to enter Old Trafford. Everyone will have their own “thing” that they do/wear or whatever as they watch United no matter where they are in the world. There might be a special bar that you go to for match days. Match days rituals are a must and yes I believe in these things. I have a pair of earrings that I HAVE to wear every time United play!

Going to Old Trafford

You might have a season ticket and go to every match or you might only be able to get to Old Trafford for one match. However many times you go, you can’t beat that feeling of unity with fellow fans. The chanting of your favourite player, the goals, those moments you’ll tell your grandchildren about.

Ah Old Trafford, how we have missed you!

Match of The Day or #MoTD is back

Another love it or loathe it. Although I actually don’t think a lot of people love MoTD but it’s part of our football watching culture and habit. The decision to have Harry Redknapp and Mick McCarthy join the team has left me puzzled. The BBC were praised over their expert analysis over the recent Olympic Games and they seem to almost want us to switch off!

This is the first season that MoTD will be available on the iPlayer but it will only be available from the Monday.

You might want to miss the opening credits.

Transfer talk stops

Well the transfer window shuts on the 31st of August so then it will stop. Sort of. Each Summer on twitter the transfer windows have got worse and I’m muting more and more rubbish rumours and “agent” and “ITK” accounts. At least when September comes it will be more about the actual football rather than Player XYZ is in talks with XYZ club.

Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs still play for Manchester United

Yes, yes I know. It’s not really a great reason.

It’s a bloody fantastic one!

I love the fact that these two are still playing for United. I have been honoured in my time to see these two play at Old Trafford and at many stadiums around the world. It might not be high up on your list of reasons but it’s right up there for me.

Gary Neville is on Monday Night Football

Ahhh Gary. The man who has brought sensible football commentary to our TV boxes (flat screens, plasma’s) and was it ever really in doubt that he would? Of course not.

We still love you GNev!

Watching other football clubs, managers and players

I love football and whilst Manchester United is my main love I will always keep an eye on not only what our rivals are doing but also some other random choices.

Currently my list is thus;

Clubs

Obviously the newly promoted trio of Reading, Southampton and West Ham will be intriguing to watch. I am more interested in the first two admittedly.

Players

My list was long but I’ve cut it down to just four;

Lukas Podolski – Interested to see how he’ll work in the Premiership and filling Van Persie’s boots.

Clint Dempsey – What a season he had last year at Fulham, but he wants a move? Hmm. Can his form be repeated for another season?

Papiss Cisse – I love this guy. Could watch this goal all day

Jan Vertonghen – From what I’ve seen he looks good and this article from an Ajax fan really made me take notice. I also really liked the phrase from that article “Some birds are simply too beautiful to be caged, they have to spread their wings”.

Managers

Just the one from me. A silly choice.

Will AVB manage to continue his crouch throughout the season? Now come on, how many of you fine athletic readers of TF as I know you all are, can crouch down like that? Be honest now. Maybe don’t read this if you can’t get up without assistance…

I have really dodgy knees and if you have any problems with your knees do not attempt it. The Faithful takes no blame over doing anything we ask you to do!

Seriously AVB how do you do that?

Goals! 

You know the ones, the ones that make you stop in disbelief at how anyone could get the ball in that angle, or the one that looks like it might go in and you wait for what seems like hours for the ball to hit the back of the net. That goal that means so much, that can bring ecstasy to one group of fans and despair to the opposing side. Goals that can ultimately decide where the trophy ends up this season and who gets relegated.

There will be goals of the season and you’ll probably try to re-enact some of these moments whilst out with your mates. You’ll be unsuccessful and probably break something so be careful. Kids will be out trying their favourite goals too and they’ll be able to do it much better than you. Leave it to the kids eh?

The Banter

Or as I call it The Monday Morning Smile or Hide.

If your team has won over the weekend then everything will be happy in your world. You’ll arrive to work with a smile as the traffic wasn’t so bad as usual, it’s the same as usual but you’re too happy to notice! You say “good morning” to everyone, even that bloke you really have no clue who he is or why he’s even in the building. You’ll also make your way to the drinks machines at every given opportunity to gloat over your team’s performance, especially to those who seem particularly fragile over their team’s loss. Monday mornings have never been so good.

If your team has lost then you call in sick.

Don’t be daft. You go into work but the traffic is mad, so mad you’ve uttered all the swear words possible in the space of five minutes and it’s only going to get worse. Someone has taken your parking space and their car has a sign in the back window with the scoreline. More swear words are shouted. You park a mile away from work and arrive hot, bothered and sweaty! Nice. You try to avoid everyone and you’ve brought enough drink with you to not need to go to the drinks machine all day and avoid the abuse. You tell your boss that your phone doesn’t work and there’s a problem with your email too. There is no way you’re going to speak to anyone or even let an opposing fan email you in the office. You avoid all football internet sites and social networks.

Dramatic? Yes.

Necessary? Yes.

Bring it on!

WE WANT OUR TROPHY BACK

We all know how close we were last season and how the Summer break has made us brood a bit but ultimately re-focus. Certainly Van Persie is a sign of our intent and you can see that broad grin of Sir Alex in many photos over the last month but especially in the capture of our new striker.

This right now is when we as a football club, fans and players alike dig in. We want that trophy back, we’ve been here before and we know what it takes to bring that trophy home. There will be ups and downs but that’s what being a Manchester United fan is about, we never do things the easy way…

Would we want it any other way?

Glory Glory!

Oops that was almost an opus! x

‘The Faithful’ would like to welcome one of our new writers @Caddies to our site. Here is his first article for us.

Euro 2012 starts in a week and England’s first match is a week on Monday against France. I’m looking forward to the full tournament as a football fan but I’m also looking forward to England’s campaign as an England fan. They’ve been drawn in what looks like a very difficult group but other than Group A, I wouldn’t fancy any of the other groups either. It’s a tough tournament that should serve up some great football.

Now this site isn’t really one for previewing international tournaments and that’s not what I’m here to do, I just want to challenge the view of the whole anti-England brigade. I’ve always known there is a large amount of United fans that want to see England fail but now thanks to Twitter we get to see constant tweets of almost hatred towards our own national team. Reasons given for this range from

“I don’t like the players”

“England fans chants are anti-United”

“England fans (disgustingly) hung a Beckham dummy”

“The FA treat us unfairly”.

All arguably true but the ones directed at the ‘England fans’ are aimed at those fans from our rival clubs. Most of them are jealous of United’s success so of course they will take any opportunity to mock, attack our club and our players. Are we that sensitive that we can’t take it from rival fans if they have their England hat on? Grow up!

Do our players, even the ones born and bred in Manchester refuse to play for the national team? No they don’t. Gary Neville is the most diehard red Englishman in modern time, yet he has just taken a job as England coach after having a long career playing for the national side receiving 85 caps. Why doesn’t he use these stupid excuses to hate England? Particularly after seeing the Beckham dummy hanging situation seeing as they are close friends? It’s because he knows that despite the chants and other factors it is still an honour to play for your country. It should be a part of every English person’s mind-set that they want to see the national team do well and feel some pride if/when they do.

Now do I like Steven Gerrard? No I don’t. Will I cheer if he scores the winner against France? Yes of course I will, he’s playing for England not Liverpool. So that’s all the usual explanations of the whole United > England + Anti-England stance but do I think that is the real reason for a lot of fans?

In the short time since the season ended we have seen a lot of people decry our team as a failure, people tweeting we aren’t good enough and can’t compete anymore. We lost out on goal difference after being the most injured squad in the league, most notably missing our captain and defensive rock for a large part of the season. City lost Kompany for a few games to suspension and nearly imploded, if he’d been out for the length of time Vidic was then they’d have struggled far more than us. It is a shame to finish the season trophyless especially when our rivals grab the trophies we were going for, it is in no way the catastrophe that a lot of United fans would have you believe.

Due to our own high standards and the last 20 years of constant success it’s simple that our fans are spoilt, some deal with failure like petulant children. Now when bathed in success as we have been as a lot of our younger fans are so used to, is it any surprise that a lot of our support can’t bear to hang their hopes on a national team that even when expectations are high, always seem to fall short?

Although I believe every English person should support England, unless you have other lineage too. I’m not actually bothered by those that don’t, it’s their choice. If/when England go out of a tournament I’ll still watch, if I choose to follow someone it’s usually a team that I’ve enjoyed watching. This could be either in the tournament so far or over the years i.e. France simply because of Zidane and now Portugal because of Ronaldo. That’s fine I’m not asking everyone to paint their faces with the flag of St. George but if you are English and choose not to support England. Do you really need to become anti-England? I can guarantee a lot of you would change your tune if the unthinkable happens and England win.

That’s the way I see things, too many of our fans are too spoilt to “lower themselves” to support England. Too many think that constantly telling us United > England will show they are a super fan. In all honesty I too believe if I had to choose it would always be United > England. I think that most fans of any team are club > country but that’s just it, it’s not a choice. You can, and I will, always support both. I’ll hand my #TopRed badge in on my way out…

Today’s article comes from @bricki. You can catch more of his writings at stretford-end.com

Manchester United has always been a side that pushed youth development and looked to get local or club developed players into the side where possible. The two most successful eras in the clubs history (60s and 90s/2000s) have been built around a solid number of youth players making the grade. It’s fair to say that other than the hardcore reserve and youth team followers of Manchester United, few fans will have known about these players until the manager felt they were ready to make the step up.

Today however it is a very different story and you’d be hard pressed to find a Manchester United fan that was unaware of Ravel Morrison, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and the other players that have developed in the ranks at the club. The dawn of the social media age has led to unprecedented access and vision of players yet to fully step up to first team level. This new way of being able to tap into the youth of the club and its future is changing what fans discuss and the way younger players have now developed. Having this large amount of access and ability to view players more closely would, you imagine, be a positive for fans and the game but is it all as positive as we want it to be?

Look at the Eden Hazard situation; he has basically teased the fans of several different clubs over the last 6 months via twitter. When the transfer saga was eventually ‘resolved’ in the last few days with the tweet

“I’m signing for the Champions League winner.”

It was still not clear-cut; why not actually name a club? That tweet can be interpreted as he’s joining a team that has won the Champions League (United) or the current holders (Chelsea) but it again leaves questions and the media talking about him. Why not just name the club? By suggesting he is joining the ‘Champions League winner’ he appears to be trying to justify the move not being about money. Memo to Hazard, you had no involvement in that success.

I’ve noticed ‘shout outs’ in the last few weeks for players in the academies at United from Under 13s upwards, whilst this is something you would obviously be proud of as a player/kid – is it something we really want broadcasting to nut jobs in social media?

Social media is the new terraces for fans the world over. Fans in places like America, Asia and Africa, now have the chance to engage with other fans and more importantly the players as well. This has led to great discussions and linking up of rival fans or fans of the same club from other locations. It has also given the unstable fans a voice which is loud and has direct access to players. Abuse of players is on the rise via social media and several high-profile cases have included racist abuse. Fans have also seen players reacting to taunts and abuse they cannot react to when playing. Players such as Rio Ferdinand, Rooney and Joey Barton have all received and reacted to abuse through social media.

Twitter offers a valued insight in the life and personalities of footballers in the modern time. Many now see it as an opportunity to further push brands they are sponsored by but others are actively engaging fans to create opportunities to get closer than ever to their idols. Whilst established players are using twitter in order to reach out to their fans, the bigger concern as a viewer of the phenomenon is the use of twitter by the younger players in clubs, yet to fully reach the heights of being a ‘star’

When the fabled class of 92 emerged for United how many fans other than the avid academy/reserve watchers were aware of the potential?

Now every fan going has access to games online, the stats and write ups about the youth players and also the players themselves via twitter. Every player is now deemed the new Messiah for the club, Morrison, Pogba and Cleverley have all suffered this and in cases of Cleverley and Morrison have received abuse when things haven’t gone well. Threats for not signing contracts, daily abuse for no reason other than playing for Man United, it’s never ending for players all in the name of trying to connect with fans.

That’s not to say that players never received stick on the streets or the terraces but its easy for a ‘keyboard warrior’ to set up an account and bombard players with comments that they would never say in public. The major concern in the future appears to be the younger youth players now appearing on twitter, the under 13s/14s/15s who will be told they are the future and amazing of a one youtube video, or abused for merely being a United player rather than playing for someone else.

This access to players will not go away unless the clubs deny players the opportunity to sign up. The positives in appearing in this sort of media is obvious but the way certain areas of fans are taking the opportunity to hammer players for making the effort to connect. The bigger players may have thick skins and be able to bat it away but this may not be so easy for a younger player.

Social Media is a fantastic idea and offers lots of chances and ways to interact as fans but it appears the dark clouds are closing in on certain aspects of connecting with the players fans love.

How much longer will it last? That depends how which club is first to blink and remove players from the dangers of trying to reach out to fans.

Today at TF Towers I’ve asked Kay to write for you all, she like us all is totally and utterly obsessed by those 11 men in United’s colours. I “met” her through twitter and have had the pure delight to meet her in person and be there with her as she took her first glances and then step inside Old Trafford. Here she tells us of her love for United and her first Manchester United match.

I’m just a baby when it comes to supporting Manchester United. Discovered I’d been sucked into the void that is football in 96′. I hadn’t meant to. In fact had fought against it. Was on in the background as my Man Utd loving husband and his mates watched all the matches at ours. But it got under my skin. Hooked.

I got my first shirt at the end of 97′, a black shirt. I kissed the badge and hauled it over my head. Wore it every match thereafter, wore it with pride. I’d made my allegiance. I’ve since obtained one more shirt, in red, the black shirt tucked up safely, the badge stroked lovingly, the new shirt worn fervently. My passion for the game surprised me. I didn’t expect that overwhelming feeling you get for your team. That rollercoaster ride that is the juxtaposition of all fans, the exhilaration and the devastation as your team fights for the title. Season after season. The highs and lows, the players, the team formations, the Boss and his choices. Every cheer, sigh, tut, curse…

How can 11 men and a ball cause such an addiction???

As my passion has grown so has my group of friends who love United as I do. United is in their blood. They talk, walk, sleep, eat United. Memories are marked by matches. I listened enthralled, became the hostess with the mostest as games were held at ours. Superstitions re who could sit where, who could attend, what shirts were worn – 16 years of tradition going strong. The majority of matches watched in “the back room” our movie room on a 55″ screen. The players right there in front of me the girl comes out in me as I drool a tad at Ryan Giggs #notsorry

With Twitter from 2007, there came a constant pre, during & post match discussion and/or deconstruction of the game. That feeling that the back room is full of footy fans all equally as passionate as me, some even more so, as the feistiness rises, opinions clash and fans dispute the beloved game. Glory Glory Man Utd.

I’ve met up with some of these twitter United fans. Was immense. To meet people I’d talk to daily is an experience in itself. To meet other fans and go to Old Trafford, hear and see the history, do the tour, submerge myself; indescribably emotional. If you’ve not done the tour as a fan, why not?

My only regret? That there wasn’t a match on when I was over…. Yes I’ve been to Old Trafford BUT I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing the boys in action, that is, until May 15th when I was surprised with tickets to attend the Harry Gregg testimonial in Belfast

After an absolute rollarcoaster of a season which ended on such a climatic but devastating blow, Sir Alex gave Harry the tribute and testimonial he deserved, by sending the full squad over. For the Man-Utd fans in N.I. we were ecstatic. Windsor Park is not huge. The players were right there, just like on TV but better. So very much better and closer. Their skills so clear to see. They didn’t hesitate to entertain, the Irish Premier League Select brought them a game. ’twas not a walk in the park, but oh how wonderful were my boys in Red. 90 minutes of pure bliss. Like orchestrated observers we roared together, chanted together, shouted “shoooootttt ” as the ball fell at Scholesy’s feet. The deep ROOOONNNYYY as he came on the pitch. Yes this was a match to remember. A match to Harry Gregg, the ulster man who played goalie for Utd, a Busby Babe who survived the Munich disaster. A reluctant hero, ‘the hero of Munich’. The disaster that some say changed Man Utd from a football club to an institution.

The final score 4-1 the lads clapping around the stadium, the fans cheering and clapping back. Proud to be a fan. Proud to be part of the testimonial. Proud to see their team play. I’m determined to get to Old Trafford in the new season, there are thousands of fans like me who are passionate from home, but there’s nothing like watching your team at Old Trafford so I’ve been told. The roar, the emotion,the passion, it flows around the stadium.

I want to be part of that….. I will be part of that.

As you can see from the above photo Kay had fun on her tour of Old Trafford. Can’t wait to go to her match with her too.

You can follow Kay on twitter @_Soapgirl_

Dimitar Berbatov, I’ve not written about you in a while. My history with Berbatov (not like that, dirty bunch!) is much like his United career I have been as much in awe as I have been in frustration. A twitter search of his name brings up a mixture of responses from the “never wanted him at my club anyway” to the hashtag BERBALOVE. His time at United has been mixed and really the only thing really that has never been mixed has been his professionalism.

I don’t think I would have coped with being dropped for that Champions League Final. It is the biggest football stage of modern times and he must have wondered then – what do I have to do to play? I remember my twitter timeline when the CL final team was announced and even Berbatov’s sceptics were surprised. But did he go off for most of the next season on a golfing holiday? No. Of course he didn’t. He stayed. He still expresses his admiration for Sir Alex and the club.

My own feelings towards Berbatov have changed over the years, I have been in awe one match and then returned to frustration the next. Much of this could be more of a personal view as I know he has bags worth of talent and I don’t dispute that at all but we all know Rooney is Sir Alex’s main man. I often feel that when Berbatov goes (whether it’s this Summer or not) we will definitely realise more what he has offered United and could do. I think my mixed reactions over Berbatov’s time at United could be summed up by this moment;

Back earlier this year in the January transfer window this picture kept appearing on my twitter timeline

First reaction -

“WHERE WAS HE GOING? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Second reaction -

I realised I was crying… seriously WTF?

He didn’t leave but it seems inevitable that he will be going. Oh Berbatov! Why do you test my emotions so?

We have seen this season so many turns, spikes, forks in the road and for a very long time I have been sat relatively ignoring the points difference between us and City and concentrating on the goal difference. The reason I screamed myself hoarse watching Wolves v United was I wanted more goals, we needed more goals.

Are we really going to look back at this season and wish we’d have played Berbatov more? What would our goal difference now possibly be? Again it’s all hearsay as we can’t change the past but I’m pretty sure my timeline would all have a BERBAGASM if he was to help bring home the title for us.

Monday night cannot come quick enough, we need to turn up on Monday night and go for revenge, the Etihad will be singing about the 6-1 (why wouldn’t they be?) and we have to ignore, move on. This is what football is all about. Our team will be squared up against City, man to man – we will go to war. We know United’s history, it just takes a moment or two to write history. That chance taken, that moment of pure joy that raises the fans from their seats in expectation. As nerve-wracking as it is I love these moments, the fact that we have got so far but we have to just get over that last hurdle. It hurts way deep down inside at the thought we might have blown our chances this season but it’s not the United way to give up. We have so much more to give, both on the pitch and in our support.

Is it Monday yet? F***. This is going to be a long week…

COME ON UNITED!

Stepping aside from the usual football writings that you normally read on this site, please also take the time to read this and forward to anyone who might be struggling with depression themselves.

Some of you might know this about me through other sites that I write for but I have battled depression. In 2009 I had a mental breakdown, my life was not my own and I was a shadow of my former and now present self. I didn’t get help for about 8 months instead I battled through and hid my depression to those who cared about me. Family and friends had no clue, I felt ashamed of what was happening to me. I  felt that this was my fault and I had to sort it out. In a way I acted my way through, forced myself to be the happy and bubbly Sarah that people knew but eventually it wore me down until there was nothing left and I literally broke.

When you break, picking up the pieces can take time and soon every part of your life is examined and blamed as to maybe being the cause. You’re pushed and pulled through every part of your life searching for answers and sometimes there won’t be an answer. For me, mine was a lot of things all at once that built up into a big crescendo of pain that I couldn’t deal with. I had pushed it away only for it to be put back into my life in devastating form.

I have never had those dark days where I thought about ending my life but I know it could have happened. I know a lot of people see depression as being weak and I was one of them before I had experienced it for myself. You cannot understand how depression takes hold of you until you have battled with it yourself or seen someone close to you go through it.

Just last year a close friend of mine died after battling with mental health issues for many years. Depression can be like a mask that we carry and sadly sometimes people can only stay strong for so long. You can’t simply snap out of depression and those that think you can have no clue how it feels to be swept away by this silent illness.

I do not suffer from depression now, I control it. I still have quiet moments in my otherwise bubbly personality and I know the right people I can talk to. They don’t have to be professionals. A simple chat over a cup of coffee with a friend can be all I need.

It is good to talk, and that is why I have written this. Awareness is ever so important and it shouldn’t take the loss of someone for us to see how fragile life can be. But it does.

Remember “You are not alone”.

If you or someone you know needs help or advice then see;

http://www.mind.org.uk

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/mentalhealth/Pages/Helplines.aspx

http://www.depressionalliance.org

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/emotional_health/mental_health/

http://www.sane.org.uk/

The Faithful would like to send our condolences to Gary Speed’s family and friends.

The next episode of the Blogging Reds podcast is now up. In Episode IV they discuss the Bolton and Benfica matches as well as preview the upcoming games versus Chelsea and Leeds.

You can follow the podcast on twitter @BloggingReds and also on facebook.

Managers across the world are making team change right now. Will they bench their top scorer as they didn’t play too well in midweek? What about midfield, will the winger be fit enough for 90 minutes? Will the goalkeeper be able to put behind the penalty that he should have saved last weekend? It’s a risky business being a manager, jobs are on the line every week and are they ready to make these cut-throat decisions to get the most points ready for glory.

Points. Yes fantasy football points. Right now people are logging into various fantasy football sites to make tweaks to their teams. It’s a game that has become incredibly addictive and if this is your first year at having your own team… You’re hooked already aren’t you? Thought so.

But who to pick! Do you pick from the club you support or do you stay away in case you might jinx them? Do you struggle with putting a player in your team that you don’t like, for example Tevez but he might get you a lot of points? Are there clubs you avoid? For me I love reading all the tweets during matches about fantasy football. You start wanting players to do well and I’ve had this conversation a few times over the years with my Mum;

Me (shouting at the TV): Oh heck! (or words to that effect ) Samba just got sent off, points down the drain again!

Mum: I didn’t know he played for United! (bless her!)

Me: He plays for Blackburn and he was in my fantasy football team

Mum: Well if it’s fantasy it’s not real then is it… have some cake

Me (slightly ranty by now): No it is very real. We’ve got midweek matches and I can’t change my team now and he’ll be suspended and my other defender got injured today!

I even turned down cake I was so angry! How do managers do it? Real managers that is. I can feel my blood pressure rise as I’m typing about it. I wish I could ring Sir Alex up right now and say “HELP ME”. I’m about to log in to my team right now and make a change. Will the change be the right choice or will I live to regret it? Seriously how do managers do this. Please send cake when I have calmed down.

The Faithful has it’s own fantasy football league if you want to join, we are using http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ and the league code is 1548-1078.

A confession – I take full responsibility over Chicharito being injured. I put him in my fantasy football team before the season even started and I never normally put United players in. Oops! But if I want to do well I need to have the best players in so really I have to have United players don’t I?

I admit I’m a bit late in putting my awards selection together for two reasons I’m trying to extend the football season to suit myself and because I haven’t yet made up my mind who I will award each thing to! I’m hoping as I sit down to write this that it will all come together… here’s hoping!

Best Player  – Had Nani kept up his early season form then this would have been his. For me two players stood out across the season and these were Van Der Sar and Vidic. I was very much on the happy side when Vidic was handed the captain’s armband and I think he showed great maturity and spirit throughout the season. Van Der Sar is a close runner up though, very close.

Best Goal this season – My favourite goal of the season was at Wembley in the Community Shield against Chelsea. Chicharito’s goal was just not technically well struck (don’t try it kids or adults you will hurt yourself!) but it went in! It’s perhaps not just the goal but how happy he was after. He went on to score a lot more, he’s still the best bit of talent we’ve ever got in the transfer market in my eyes!

Best Moment – This could be controversial and I don’t mean it to be. The whole “Rooney hissy fit” as I call it was possibly the best moment of the season… hear me out before you moan. At the time I was hurt but mostly I was disappointed that the whole saga was brought out by the club. I’m not saying it’s good for fans to be kept in the dark about things but it seemed to be doing more damage than good in those early days of the news. But look how it turned out – with everyone knowing what had happened there really was no choice for Rooney to have to fight his way back into the fans hearts and do his talking on the pitch. Although it hurts to admit now that something that at the time hurt so much could turn good!

Best Match – v West Ham at Upton Park. I think we were all feeling pretty anxious at half time being 2-0 down and Upton Park has not been a happy ground for United. Then came a terrific turnaround which said a lot about the team and and how much they wanted this record 19th title. Rooney’s hatrick and a Chicharito goal saw us come away with 3 points in the bag. United never do things the easy way.

Special Mention award – Van Der Sar narrowly missed out on my player of the season award and he will be greatly missed by all. I loved Schmeichel but I think Van Der Sar could overtake him as my favourite United keeper. Gary Neville and Paul Scholes will also obviously be greatly missed. Can’t forget Sir Alex either… can you tell I’m struggling to pick one person! Argh.

*composes oneself*

My Special mention award goes to those who have retired this season, they gave so much and they will remain in our hearts forever. (Soppy I know!) I’ll send Sir Alex some wine instead, I think he’ll appreciate it more

Thanks to all The Faithful writers and readers and here’s to the next season… 20th title? Yes please

So the news we all expected but hoped would never happen has come and Paul Scholes has retired from playing football. I found myself reading the breaking news on twitter this morning and felt tears down my face. I’m actually welling up as I write this now.

The first time I saw Scholes play I was enthralled, every touch of the ball was an orchestrated pass of genius and I wanted to play football like him. I have not had a successful playing career and once my dreams were over I turned into coaching. I have always said Scholes was my inspiration to coach, to see someone still love the game well into their 30′s for me was just amazing.

Everything you need to know about the player is in the way his retirement was announced, he left for a family holiday and then manutd.com announce the news. He always shunned the spotlight, rarely did interviews and really let his football do the talking.

Of course his tackling was never really spot on *ahem* and there have been many games when I saw him go in for a tackle and I hid behind my hands and shouted at him “Be careful”. It seems weird to say I’ll miss those mistimed tackles but more importantly I’ll miss seeing our Ginger Ninja running about our midfield like he’s still in his 20′s.

My favourite goal of his came at Old Trafford in 2008 against Barcelona when he scored the winning goal to take us to Moscow for the final against Chelsea. I still get goosebumps each time I watch it.

You got goosebumps didn’t you and maybe a few tears? I know I did.

Paul Scholes is probably best summed up by those who knew him or had played with him, here are some quotes that sum up the player that he was and how he is admired by so many;

 - Rio Ferdinand via his twitter @rioferdy5

“To me Paul is a role model. He is the best midfielder I’ve seen in the last 15 or 20 years.”

- Xavi

“No celebrity bullshit, no self promotion – an amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being.”

- Roy Keane

“Many great players have worn the shirt of Manchester United – players I worshipped, then lost with my youth in Munich. Players like Denis Law and George Best, who I enjoyed so much as team-mates and now, finally, players I have watched closely in the Ferguson era – and in so many ways Scholes is my favourite.”

- Sir Bobby Charlton

“My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder.”

- Zinedine Zidane

“When he passes the ball it stays passed. The ball goes exactly where he wants it to. I have always loved him for that. I played against him once or twice and he is an absolute genius. He is a role model for anyone who wants to play football. He is a joy to watch. In fact, I wish he was 21, then I could see his career all over again.”

- Ian Holloway

“When it’s over I just want to be able to look in the mirror and say, ‘Well, you were a half-decent player”

- Paul Scholes

Paul. You were so much more. Never forgotten and thank you for being an inspiration to me and so many others.