REVIEW OF THE NOUGHTIES: 2004/2005

2004/05.

This was the season that the Abromovic regime really took off. If last season they simply tested the water to see how many extravagant and over-priced ‘we don’t care we can afford them whatever the cost’ signings they could get away with, then this was when it all started to scarily shape-up. Old Trafford’s favourite performer of the previous campaign, Jose Mourinho, was now their manager after just winning the Champions League with the Porto and he took the rent boys to their first title in like 1000 years. As for us? Officially our worst, most unsuccessful campaign of this otherwise extremely flourishing decade. The highlight was the inevitable yet drawn-out capture of Wayne Rooney, who made an immediate and utterly memorable impact at Old Trafford (see ‘Remembered for’ below). We DID reach the FA Cup final for the second year running; only to unfairly lose on penalties in the most undisputedly one-sided final defeat of all time.

...in other news, Alan Smith bashfully made the trip from Yorkshire to Lancs, cunningly deciding to ignore his previous badge-kissing antics and comments about never joining United. Still, he scored a couple of beauty’s early on (see ‘Goals’) before he was edged slowly out of favour when Rooney was brought in. Our other summer signing, fullback Gabriel Heinze, became an instant favourite due to his energy and die-hard attitude.




Players In.

Smith
Heinze
Rooney

Top 4:
Chelsea – 95
Arsenal – 83
United – 77
Everton – 61

Bottom 4:
West Brom – 34
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Crystal Palace – 33
Norwich City – 33
Southampton – 32





Player. Rooney purely for those beautiful goals and incredible performances. 17 goals in total, and still only 19.




Goal.
It has to be Rooney’s volley at home to Newcastle. Still his best ever goal.
I also love Smith's in the first home game of the season against Norwich. He scored another decent goal in the Charity shield defeat against Arsenal but this was the moment that effectively erased all the Leeds Scum memories. 


Remembered for?

As unsuccessful as this season was in terms of silverware, we had a couple of incredible matches that will undoubtedly live in the memory of the decade. 6-2 at home to Fenerbache on the 28th September for the arrival – and hat-trick – of a certain 18 year old debutant; 2-0 at home to Arsenal's 'INVINCIBLES' that ended their 49 game unbeaten run; 4-1 vs. Newcastle in the FA Cup semi-final...

...and United’s most epic Highbury battle of the decade, beating Arsenal in an awesome, brutal and simply brilliant 4-2 win.

Best to forget...

The FA Cup Final; not even making the quarters in Europe as we lost 2-0 on aggregate to Milan in the last 16; losing 2-0 to relegation bound Norwich City; and the worst of all, the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the final home game of the season that effectively wins them the title and cements the change in power in the Premier League.