May 23, 2011 

Once.. Twice.. 19 Times The Champions

MUFC - 2011 Premier League ChampionsOkay so the title doesn’t quite fit in time with the famous song by the Commodores but it was the best title I could come up with. On what was a bitter-sweet afternoon at Old Trafford, Manchester United were presented with the Premier League trophy for the twelfth time since its inception; their 19th overall top flight league title surpassing Liverpool’s record of eighteen. In doing so United manager Sir Alex Ferguson finally made good on his promise when taking over United in 1986 which was to “knock Liverpool right off their fucking perch.”

When United won the Premier League in 2009 they equaled Liverpool’s tally of 18 top flight league titles. It looked like we would pass that tally last season but Chelsea managed to pip us to the title by a solitary point and the way things started this season it looked like we were going to have to wait another season. However, in what can be described as an odd season, United managed to come good when it counted and grab points when we probably didn’t deserve any. Sure we were helped by a faltering Arsenal side that couldn’t quite hit top gear and a, now manager-less, Chelsea losing their way after parting ways with their longtime assistant manager Ray Wilkins.

It hasn’t been the prettiest of seasons for United, especially away from home, where United only won 5 times this season. That said none of the top four managed more than eight wins away from home! Our home form however was excellent winning 18 of the nineteen games and drawing the other one. The 10 draws we mustered away from home thereby grabbing vital points when others faltered was, I think, instrumental in helping win the title. Though probably the biggest turning point towards the end of the season was beating Chelsea in the run-in meaning we only needed, and got, a draw away to Blackburn.

I think the most amazing thing about it all which when I realised it made me go ‘wow!’ is that I’ve witnessed twelve of these titles and they’ve come in the last twenty years. In the preceding 90 years United had only won the title seven times their first coming in 1907-08. It’s this stat that really makes my mind boggle and then realise that I’m watching a once in a generation experience. It is unlikely that there’ll be another manager like Sir Alex who will come along and surpass his record for success (12 League titles, 5 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 9 Community Shields, 2 Champions League Titles, 1 Cup Winners Cup, 1 Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup and 1 Club World Cup).

If anything the amount of silverware he has won for United paired against his longevity at the helm should serve as example to other clubs (like Chelsea & Man City) who seem to think sacking a world-class manager because he didn’t win anything one season is a good idea. The most recent case in point being Carlo Ancelotti who was sacked after yesterday’s 1-0 loss to Everton; I mean it’s not like he won the double last season or anything… oh hang-on…

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  • Liz Crew

    I’m not a big fan of Premiership football to be honest – having done most of my formative years watching on the touchline and of late having gone to a few Laegue 1 matches so MUFC don’t really appear on my radar.
    Nevertheless, I watched the closing season match in the pub yesterday and the first half was a bit dull and lifeless until Blackpool were 2-1 up and you could almost hear Holloway shouting “Pick ee out the stingers!”
    I was more interested whether Blackpool were going to beat the relegation odds than anything else…
    …and then Ferguson dragged Rooney and Owen off the bench and it was like the entire team suddenly decided to take the match seriously.
    I might not like the hype and salary figures…or Sir Alex and his persecution complex all that much, but you can’t help but admire a team who can just get it all together in a match where the result didn’t really matter all that much.
    Fair play to them, indeed.

  • http://www.pntaylor.net Pete

    In all honesty I wouldn’t have minded losing that match and for Blackpool to stay up. I’ve really enjoyed watching them this season and they, to be cliché, were a breath of fresh air for the league. Still they’ll be an asset to the Championship (assuming they can keep some of their players) and will tune in to watch them when they’re on TV.

    Which games have you attended in League 1, following any particular team?

  • Liz Crew

    The matches I’ve been to are a few Brighton games. I’m a follower by proxy really.  These days I seem to watch a LOT of football at all levels, whether live or on TV.  Comes from being around someone who is…well fanatical wouldn’t be too far from the mark.
    I ended watching all the league promotion playoff finals the other weekend – and the MU/Barcelona match.  Watching that many matches, so close together and encompassing all those skill levels was an education – and although I didn’t give a toss whether ManU or Barcelona won, the football was stunningly enjoyable and almost like a totally different sport than the Torquay/Stevenage game.
    Mind you it helped that the real football fan is pretty widely knowledgeable about the breadth of the sport and helps put things in context.