http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/ Mark Payne also found at www.thedevilinme.co.uk en Copyright 2012 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:09:25 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss January is one of the year’s less charming months. The Christmas hilarity is long gone and the Easter break seems a million miles away. The return to work this year has been particularly painful for some of us and, despite the fact that we’ve had so much decent sport to watch, the month ends on a pretty big downer. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2012/01/never_a_dull_moment.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2012/01/never_a_dull_moment.php Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:09:25 +0000 Manchester United's capacity for drama is certainly not on the wane. Not every heavily hyped contest lives up to the billing, but this Manchester derby was quite possibly the game that had everything. Even in victory over our bitter rivals, even just three points off the top of the league, United are still yet to convince. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2012/01/etihad_goes_ballistic_chris_fo.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2012/01/etihad_goes_ballistic_chris_fo.php Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:23:55 +0000 Rarely has the rest of the league been so obliging in making up for our shortfalls. Despite our disgraceful performance at Old Trafford on New Year’s Eve it would appear that we are not the only club in the division whose players may have enjoyed a few too many mulled wines over the last week. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2012/01/investigation.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2012/01/investigation.php Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:06:41 +0000 The spirit of generosity is alive and well this Christmas time and the presents under United’s tree have been particularly lovely this holidays. If it hasn’t been our rivals dropping points, it has been a kind fixture list or a card happy ref. Truly 'tis the season to be jolly. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/12/cognac.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/12/cognac.php Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:28:55 +0000 There are many fond memories for me at Loftus Road. I was fortunate enough to be there for wonder goals from both Cantona and Giggs and once sat in front of George Best at the ground. This weekend, Michael Carrick of all people added his name to an illustrious list. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/12/handbags_at_dawn.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/12/handbags_at_dawn.php Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:22:40 +0000 We are all in the business of writing our own destinies and this last week saw Manchester United’s young team pen a mixed and rather painful chapter. Our club is not defined by the crowing of jealous opposing fans, nor by the excellence of our expensively assembled opponents, but by how we overcome hardship and turn setbacks into experience. The week has ended on a high note, and I for one choose to take that as a cue for optimism. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/12/moving_on.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/12/moving_on.php Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:33:16 +0000 Sometimes it is difficult to tell exactly what is governing our emotional responses. All I can tell you at the moment is that I am not overjoyed with what I am seeing from United. Whether this is because the current side is poor, is playing poorly or simply a wider malaise in society is at work I am not sure. Either way, things ain’t right. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/12/less_woeful_than_villa.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/12/less_woeful_than_villa.php Mon, 05 Dec 2011 07:21:44 +0000 We football fans are a notoriously fickle bunch. Either we are not happy because of the quality of the show or perhaps the fortitude of the results irk us. Either way, it’s certainly a mixed bag with United at the moment. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/11/the_man_with_the_golden_sombre.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/11/the_man_with_the_golden_sombre.php Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:25:10 +0000 In general, writers like things called ‘themes’ that they can hang their articles around. Therefore, if there is anything mildly unusual or different about a story, for example one of the teams in an English league match being Welsh, then you can expect the scribe to bang on about it for ages. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/11/red_write_and_welsh.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/11/red_write_and_welsh.php Sun, 20 Nov 2011 04:45:52 +0000 As the dust settles on the anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson’s arrival at the club we are still a quarter of the way through an active football season and in the thick of the battle. If you had offered us 26 points from that opening run of fixtures many of us would have taken it. Although we have managed to put Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham to the sword the performance against City was such an abomination that nothing can be taken for granted. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/11/long_live_the_king.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/11/long_live_the_king.php Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:30:59 +0000 It is certainly not business as usual when the best way to view a Manchester United match is via the ‘minute by minute’ report. Sadly, the club’s reputation for swashbuckling football that takes the breath away is looking misplaced at the moment. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/11/out_of_sorts.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/11/out_of_sorts.php Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:39:59 +0000 Ouch. I have barely been able to leave the house for two days. Going to work has been unavoidable and extremely unpleasant. This is not the first time United have been beaten by a large score since I have been watching, not even the first time we’ve been handsomely beaten by City, but for some reason I have been feeling this more than the others. But then again, it is entirely possible I might be oversensitive in the immediate aftermath of such a freak result. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/10/believe.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/10/believe.php Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:06:08 +0000 Perspective is important when assessing anything. Although it is hugely important to be fully involved in the business at hand, it pays to be aware of what happens elsewhere in the world. To be perfectly frank, fans of other sports look at football and laugh their arses off at the diving of our players. It is pathetic, tiresome and damaging to the game. It’s finest exponents play for Liverpool FC. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/10/sick_of_the_shtick.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/10/sick_of_the_shtick.php Match Reports Sun, 16 Oct 2011 06:20:28 +0000 The capacity that some people have for hypocrisy never ceases to amaze me. In a week when the shameful England rugby team have crashed out of a World Cup in disgrace, half of the country is up in arms about Wayne Rooney misplacing one kick in anger. The lack of perspective required to endorse these standpoints boggles the mind. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/10/great_expectation.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/10/great_expectation.php Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:42:50 +0000 Let's face it. A lot of the joy in following a sports team is found in barracking the opposition's fans. Don't ask me why, but there is a lot of fun to be had in poking fun at members of the other tribe. I like to think that United fans tend to do this with a bit of class and intelligence. This week, we concocted one of our finest coups des graces. http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/10/scarves_billboards_and_brown_t.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/archives/2011/10/scarves_billboards_and_brown_t.php Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:40:46 +0000