Successful season (Manchester United F.C.)

Member Name: sifair

Product:	Manchester United F.C.
Date:	24/05/07 (418 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: won the league back

Disadvantages: lost the fa cup final, lost in the semi of the champions league

Manchester United Football Club have become one of the most successful and well known teams in world football in recent years but it hasn't always been like that. The club was first created in 1878 and was originally called Newton Heath LYR FC. The clubs success is only second to Liverpool in England. The club are based in Trafford, Greater Manchester and The Stadium is called Old Trafford. Man Utd are world famous and have over 50 million supporters from all over the world. They have won the league title 16 times, most recently in the 2006/07 season, the FA Cup a record 11 times and the League Cup 2 times. The club has also won the European Champions League 2 times and the old UEFA Cup Winners Cup 1 time as well as winning the Intercontinental Cup and the European Super Cup once each. As you can see they have won a lot of trophies, well 34 overall which makes the club very successful. As well as being successful on the pitch the team is als o successful off it as they are the fourth richest club in the world.

2006/07 Squad
1 GK Edwin van der Sar
2 DF Gary Neville (captain)
3 DF Patrice Evra
4 DF Gabriel Heinze
5 DF Rio Ferdinand
6 DF Wes Brown
7 MF Cristiano Ronaldo
8 FW Wayne Rooney
9 FW Louis Saha
11 MF Ryan Giggs (vice-captain)
13 MF Park Ji-Sung
14 FW Alan Smith
15 DF Nemanja Vidić
16 MF Michael Carrick
18 MF Paul Scholes
20 FW Ole Gunnar Solskjær
21 FW Dong Fangzhuo
22 DF John O'Shea
23 MF Kieran Richardson
24 MF Darren Fletcher
26 DF Phil Bardsley
27 DF Mikael Silvestre
29 GK Tomasz Kuszczak
32 DF Craig Cathcart
33 MF Chris Eagles
35 DF Kieran Lee
38 GK Tom Heaton

2006/07 Success

Premier League
The season has gone well for Man Utd because they had not won the won a league title for a couple of seasons due to Chelsea. But this season they excelled, the club added a few new additions to the squad, most namely Michael Carrick who has performed excellently all season and after costing £18 million from Tottenham Hotspur. The real reason for Man Utd's success of wiinning the league this season has been their great form up in the North. Their was one particularly special win away at Liverpool when John O'Shea scored an injury time goal to win the match 1-0. The club beat every side in the Northern part of the country twice, they did struggle a bit more against Southern times especially away from home but they only lost a handful of games. Chelsea played Man Utd twice and on both occasions the matches ended in draws showing that the clubs are on an equal level currently despite Chelsea spending in excess of £500 million in the last couple of years.

FA Cup
The club played well in the cup facing premiership opponents in every round and managing to beat them all. Man Utd beat Middlesborough after a replay, Reading after a replay, Watford, Portsmouth and Aston Villa on the way to the final before losing to Chelsea in extra time in the FA Cup final. The club may have been annoyed after Ryan Giggs put the ball over the line without the referee noticing. This would have put the Red Devils 1-0 up and would have left Chelsea struggling to come back.

Champions League
Ever since winning the cup in 1999 the club have been pining for this trophy, it's the one they would like to win more than any. Man Utd made it through the group stage quite easily before having a tricky tie against Lille in the last 16. They then faced Roma, a tricky Italian side who were doing well in their league. The first leg was won by Roma after Paul Scholes got sent off and Roma won it 2-1, their was major trouble in the ground as well where United and the Italian police clashed. Then the second leg was amazing, United 4-0 up at half time unbelievably, one of the best performances I have ever seen a team produce, the match ended up 7-1 and the tie was 8-3 on aggregate to Man Utd. An absolutely stunning performance that embarrassed Roma and one that left the rest of Europe shocked. This set up a tie with eventual winners AC Milan. Originally Man Utd went 1-0 up with a Dida own goal, but the brilliant Kaka scored two excellent goals for Milan to give them 2 vital away goals before half time. The teams came out after half time and United looked much better, they equalised after a stunning Paul Scholes pass and Rooney added the winner in injury time to set up a great second leg. United only needed a draw in Milan but it was always going to be tough as key defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were missing. The side went 1-0 down early on and never really recovered and ended up losing 3-0, the sides worst defeat of the season. Although dissapointing to be knocked out this was Man Utd best performance in the champions league for a few years and hopefully things are looking good for the future.

Special Mentions

Cristiano Ronaldo
This boy has turned from a good player into one of worlds best, he has won several medals and trophies for his performances on the pitch and he finished 2nd top scorer in the premier league despite playing in midfield. he also created several goals with many assists.

Paul Scholes
This player has really shown his experience this year and he still scores great long range goals and his passing is just immense.

Nemanja Vidic
Nemanja came over a couple of years ago and he has really settled into English football this year and it is good to see. He is a commanding presence at the back and knowone gets past him, he has become one of the best defenders in the premiership and has a great partnership with Rio Ferdinand.

Wayne Rooney
He has scored some unbelievable goals for United especially the one against Portsmouth and the one against Milan. His link up play is excellent and he somes to be maturing as a football player.

Sir Alex Ferguson
This guy has been the manager for 20 years, he is still doing a great job and he still has the hunger to win trophies which can only be good for the club. He has helped United to win everything in club football and he is still wanting to do so. He still has his great ability to bring young players through and he believes in the time. I hope he stays a few more years till he can't manage anymore.

The 2006/07 season has been very successful for Man Utd and the club has shown they are a force to be reckoned with again. They are after every trophy they can get there hands. The side is still young and there should be much more success to come. Of course the football is always exciting when you watch Man Utd play and I will be hoping to see some even better performances next season and a few more trophies for the side. The Glazers seem to be handling the club well, they don't interfere with team selection and they have provided money for the club when they have needed it. The new arranged signing of Owen Hargreaves should also please Man Utd fans, he will be coming in the summer for £17 million. Hopefully next season will be more successful than last year and I hope Hargreaves settles in straight away and helps to strengthen the midfield.

Summary: A good season that can be improved upon next season hopefully