King Eric, Twelve Years On

He swaggered into Old Trafford like someone who thought he had a God given right to be loved and hero worshipped, and he was right. He was an artist, a poet, an enigma, a philosopher, a genius. He could play football on the right, on the left, down the centre. Stick him in goal and he would probably save four penalties in a shoot out.

I used to watch him as a kid with my mouth wide open, I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing from this guy. Even now, twelve years after he retired, a clip will come on TV, an advertisement might appear with him in it or I see a clip from his movie “Looking For Eric” and I can still feel the excitement in my stomach, the butterflies that used to fill me with anticipation, it’s all brought back by just hearing Cantona’s voice, just seeing him is enough for me to have a head full of memories of him playing for United. He had such a presence on the field and in so many of our hearts.

After a nomadic career in France involving six clubs in eight years,Eric Cantona made a shock move to England, ‘L’Enfant Terrible’ signed for Leeds United in 1992 – and helped the Yorkshire club to the title Fergie then announced he had signed Cantona for £1.2 million and I was dumbstruck, what a bargain, maybe the best bargain in the history of football.

In five seasons at Old Trafford, Cantona won four Premiership winners’ medals and the FA Cup twice, scoring the winner in the 1996 final against Liverpool. His only season with no medals was in 1994-95, during much of which he was suspended after his most infamous act – a karate kick at a Crystal Palace supporter who taunted him as he left the field after being sent off.

True to form, the eccentric Cantona told a press conference afterwards: ‘When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea’ After being persuaded to carry on playing by Fergie who flew over to Paris to see Cantona, he led United to yet another title in 1996-97 before retiring abruptly aged just 30. His final match for United was against West Ham on May 11, 1997.

He lived football as it is supposed to be lived. Like a game you have to play honestly. The first thing is to work hard, without losing the notion of pleasure. That is what he did. More players need to do the same. There is the ‘football’ Manchester United and the ‘merchandising’ Manchester United, these two worlds coexist, but for Cantona Manchester United is the club, it is football. A culture of the “beau jeu”, a philosophy that has been existing for years.

Manchester United always show us how to win with class, with fire in their bellies, with attacking, fast football that sweeps sides aside with ease. Eric Cantona revived all of these things in Manchester United, and then some. He was so convinced of his own abilities and talents that he would score an outrageously difficult goal, then just stand there hands on hips and wait for the crowd to explode in ecstasy at his brilliance.

Even the other players would run up to him and stop, waiting for him to allow them to mob him, but only after he had milked the applause from the supporters.Twelve years on they still sing his name loud and clear from the terraces! He was the catalyst that finally dragged United over the finishing line in first place after a long 26 year wait for the title. Down the years there have been some truly great United players…

…I could list 50 of them right here, right now. But for me the best of the best is Eric Cantona, ‘L’Enfant Terrible, Le Roi du Monde’.

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Sir Alex Set To Make Wholesale Changes For Everton

Alex Ferguson is expected to make wholesale changes to the team that beat FC Porto on Wednesday night saying "anyone believing I could play the same side that defeated FC Porto is “off their heads”. I remember last year as he sent a weakened team to Barcelona with the sole intent of coming home with a draw, and remarkably, almost coming home with a win. That was a stroke of genious as far as I am concerned, but on a certain Manchester United forum I was on at the time, they were whining and whinging about Fergie's decision to do that. These same people were there at the end though basking in the glory of another Champions League win.

Despite the enormity of their meeting with Everton, Manchester United will be virtually unrecognisable from the team that started in Portugal. Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick are all expected to stand down, with Edwin van der Sar and Dimitar Berbatov possibly joining them, although some will be on the bench in case of emergency.

The move may not sit well with traditionalists, however Ferguson insists he has no other choice.

“When I pick my team, no matter what it is there will be critics voicing a concern about me not playing my strongest team, not everyone agrees with changes. There are some supporters who want me to play my best team every game. That is impossible. If you look at Wednesday’s game you are off your head to think I could play the same team again."

The sheer energy expended in United reaching the last four of Europe’s number one club competition for the third season in a row means the men asked to do the bulk of the running will not be asked to put their bodies on the line again. It means Rooney is set to miss out on an emotional last four meeting with his former club, with Ronaldo due to sit the game out as well having toiled on his own up front for the last half hour.

“I am in a difficult position because we have got so many hard games coming up, Somewhere along the line I have to make changes. The speed of the game has changed. Look at how fast the Premier Division is. The intensity of the matches is the reason English teams have a head start in Europe.”

Yet Ferguson also denies he is devaluing the FA Cup. Replacements such as Park Ji-sung, Darren Fletcher and Carlos Tevez are all senior internationals who have been integral figures in United’s pursuit of an unprecedented quintuple this term. It is easy therefore for Ferguson to reject the theory he is playing a weakened team.

“Hand on heart, the FA Cup is important, we don’t want to have a defeat at this time of year. No matter what the defeat is, we have to answer for that.”

There is also the little matter of Ferguson’s impeccable record in semi-finals, which dates back to 1990 and currently stands at eight. Nevertheless, United will not start quite the red-hot favourites they were expected to be, with their manager placing his trust in a defence which, with Rio Ferdinand back alongside Nemanja Vidic, kept its first clean sheet in six matches on Wednesday night.

“Defensively we did really well on Wednesday, we were back to something like our best which is what we need now. We can take encouragement from it but we can also take the understanding of what that partnership at the back means. ”

As individuals, Ferdinand and Vidic are outstanding, both on the six-man short-list for the PFA player of the year award. However, as a pair they are even better, standing alongside Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister as the best partnership of Ferguson’s time at Old Trafford.

“Experience is important at this time of year, it allows you to be composed under pressure and gives you a presence. But it is more than that. It is the partnership. I keep on about Bruce and Pallister, who were together for seven years and hardly missed a game. Through that they got a consistency and an understanding and knowledge of each other’s capabilities. Now it is the same with Ferdinand and Vidic.”

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Harry Is After Another Upset

Injury-riddled and out of form, Spurs should have no chance at Old Trafford tonight. Except that Harry Redknapp has a long history of knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup.

Currently his team Spurs are riddled with injuries and struggling at the foot of the table....

Not that Redknapp will be fazed by that. He has already beaten Manchester United with three different clubs in the FA Cup – Bournemouth, West Ham United and Portsmouth – each time against the odds.

The last victory is understood still to rankle with Sir Alex Ferguson as it denied United another treble.

"Does it?" said Redknapp with mock regret, "I'm sorry he's got upset about it but you can't win everything. I was quite pleased really, to tell you the truth."

Do Spurs have a chance of making it four for Harry or will they get a right good whooping ?

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Manchester United Missed The Chance To Ease Fixture Pile Up

It is very rare indeed that Fergie will miss a trick but he has missed a big one with regard to this weekends FA Cup tie with Tottenham. If there is a draw between the teams there will be a replay and with United crippling injury list that is just what the doctor DIDN'T order. But if they looked at the rule book a little closer they could have saved themselves a big headache.

A little-known FA law states that clubs can agree between themselves to play 30 minutes of extra time at the end of the original tie in a bid to avoid having to play the match again.

With United manager Alex Ferguson facing a crippling injury crisis as his side chase trophies on FOUR fronts at home and in Europe the last thing he needs is a replay in London squeezed into an already packed schedule, especially with the Champions League about to resume.

Likewise, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, whose side will face United in the League Cup final, has vowed to field a "mish-mash" side for a match he described as secondary to their relegation six-pointer against Stoke City next week.

A quick glance at FA Cup Rule 12b may have spared both men the inconvenience of an unwanted extra fixture but Ferguson appeared unaware on Friday when he read out a long list of players unavailable for Saturday's tie.

The rule states that extra time can be played at the end of match if both clubs agree in writing within seven days of the draw being made and the referee is notified before kickoff.

In normal circumstances there is only extra time at the end of a replay with penalties to follow if it is still level.

"Someone has informed me that I could apply to The FA to have extra time tomorrow," Ferguson told reporters. This has come out this morning, I've never heard of this in my life.

"It's in the articles of The Association that both teams can apply to have the game decided tomorrow and notify the referee before the game.

"I'm going to speak to David Gill and ask him first of all if this is actually correct. I've never heard of it. The criticism would be that we're not adhering to the principles of the FA Cup or the spirit of it -- but why have The FA got it in there?"

An FA spokesman said on Friday that the rule has not been invoked from the first round proper onwards for at least 50 years but is sometimes used in preliminary rounds to spare amateur clubs huge travel costs.....Back To Home Page...

Ryan Giggs Says Current Manchester United Squad Is The Best

RYAN GIGGS has claimed the current Manchester United team could be the best yet and that includes the 1999 team. I am of the same opinion and have been for the past 2 years as they won two league titles, became European Champions and Champions of the World.

Giggs who is now a grand old 35 years of age has had the most remarkable career with United which includes 10 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cup Medals and 2 Champions League wins. Despite his age he is still going strong as could be seen at Old Trafford recently when he ran amock among the Chelsea team as United crushed them 3-0.

But with United chasing glory on four fronts this season, in addition to their Club World Cup victory, Giggs believes this generation could be the greatest.

"Last year, we won the Champions League and the Premier League - and we won them in great style. But to talk of a great team, you need six or seven consecutive years of dominance. This side is good enough to do that, because all our young players can improve. Basically, I think this year we have the best United team ever."

Is this the pick of the bunch from Fergie's reign as United manager ?

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More Favours For Manchester United As They Trounce Southampton 3-0

FUMING Southampton boss Jan Poortvliet last night insisted: “Arsene Wenger says the 50-50 decisions always go with United — and I agree with him.” So after all the furore over this issue in the last game Manchester United played, it is being assumed another referee has gone out to watch over this game and made sure he made three big decisions which have all worked in United's favour. It makes me laugh, it really does. Perhaps referees these days are just crap, maybe.

The Championship strugglers threw their toys out of the pram after accusing ref Mike Riley of making THREE massive howlers which helped Manchester United to a 3-0 victory at St Mary’s, claiming Riley should not have sent off striker Matt Paterson, that Danny Welbeck was offside before he scored United’s opener and that a penalty for handball was wrongly given against David McGoldrick.

Poortvliet rapped: “The referee is always a help for the top teams. Too many decisions went against us, you need neutral people. Alex Ferguson got out of his seat once in the first half and, from that point on, every decision went their way. No one knows my players so they get no protection from referees especially when they are playing against big stars. I was disappointed during the game by the decisions and I still am after watching the replays on television. With the red card the boy made a tackle on the ball with one foot — not two as I was told. I know the boy well and it was a normal tackle. Even playing with 11 players it is very difficult playing against Manchester United. With 10 it is more difficult. It wasn’t a red card, then the first goal was offside and it was never a penalty for the second goal, either.”

United boss Alex Ferguson hit back by claiming the Saints striker deserved to be sent off for his lunge on Nemanja Vidic. But then he insisted Riley could have handled the situation better.

Unusually, Fergie admitted his side got a lucky break with the harsh penalty decision — awarded against McGoldrick as Nani blasted a 20-yard free-kick into the wall. Nani converted from the spot before sub Darron Gibson capped things off at the end.

Fergie said: “I think the ref could have booked the boy in the first minute to calm him down. He was just a bit over enthusiastic but it was a rash challenge and he didn’t give him any option. If he’d have booked him for his challenge on Jonny Evans in the first minute it would have calmed him down. But for me it was a red card, it was high and the right decision. I can't make my mind up on the penalty. I'm not too sure. It may have glanced his head."

Striker Paterson, 19, was so upset he left the field in tears and apologised to his team-mates afterwards in the dressing room.

And, despite admitting his side were well beaten, Poortvliet’s claims could still land the raging Dutchman in hot water with the FA.

He added: “United showed us how to play football today but after the red card it wasn’t a real game any more. It’s sad for the fans and also a pity for my players because I think they deserved more than that. Normally you should have a game until the end but after the first goal and the sending off it was difficult to stay in the game. The heads went down after the penalty. They tried but not with the confidence of before. Normally I never have a reaction to the referee but believe me this year they are not in favour of my team. It is part of the game to make mistakes but in a big game like this for us it had something to do with my boys being unknown. You need the decisions to be the same for both sides and that’s what I missed today.” Saints skipper Kelvin Davis said: “Matt was distraught afterwards and apologised to the guys. I feel so sorry for him because he tried to win the ball and didn’t deserve to be sent off. But he’s only a young lad and will learn from this.”

Now Ferguson is hoping his side can go all the way adding: “We’re in the fourth round and a home draw is all you can ask for. We had Spurs last year and we beat them so it’s a good draw for us.”

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Lucy Pinder Backing Saints Versus Manchester United

Celebrity Big Brother star Lucy Pinder has given Saints her backing ahead of Sunday's FA Cup match against Manchester United - even though she will miss the big match herself!

Life-long Saints fan Lucy was whisked from a secret location and into the Big Brother House during Friday night's live launch show on Channel 4 and will not find out how Southampton have done until the end of the reality show's 22 day run, or sooner if evicted.

Speaking exclusively to the Saints Official Website (www.saintsfc.co.uk) prior to her entry into the house, Lucy, who is originally from Winchester, told of her nerves about entering the house and her disappointment about missing her favourite side's biggest game in years.

"I'm gutted that I will miss the Manchester United game," Pinder said. "It's typical that I should not be able to watch, but I will be thinking about the boys when I'm in the Celebrity Big Brother house and I wish them all good luck!

"My whole family are mad about Saints and we all know that the team can play better football than a lot of teams in the Championship.

"They just need to have belief in themselves, to go out and play the best they can and make me proud. We've had some cracking cup matches down the years and they just need a bit of luck on the day.

"Even a draw would be fantastic, and would be great for the lads confidence. When I come out of the Big Brother house I would love it if my Mum and Dad were able to tell me that Saints had beaten Man United!"

Lucy will be sharing the famous house with the likes of U.S rapper Coolio, LaToya Jackson, Mini-Me from the Austin Powers movies (Verne Troyer) and Ulrika Jonsson and admitted that she was nervous about how the public would respond to her.

"I'm a bit nervous about how the crowd might react," she said, "but as long as I don't get voted out first then I won't mind."

She needn't have worried, judging by the warm reception she received from the crowd that ended with host Davina McCall telling the world that Lucy was a Saints fans just as she stepped through the house's famous double doors.

"The team should just relax, chill out and play their way and I'm sure they'll do fine", she added.

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