Still Following the Trawler

As I sit here bored out of my mind after a, well, unbelievably boring first half of European football in Bucharest vs. Otelul Galati* I thought I would revisit my much forgotten and largely ignored blogging fetish. And what a treat I stumbled onto, as I came across this great feature by Football Fancast on the 'Top 15 career defining moments in football' . Yes, it isn't solely a United related story, but pleasurable reading (especially after such a dull and disheartening 45 minutes) nonetheless. *On a side note, are we really heading for our third victory-less result out of three in Europe. Well, errr, yes we are...

A fter 82 days - days spent contemplating the future of my club, as the joy of reaching the historic number 19 landmark was swiftly swept into insignificance as Europe's elite embarrassed our champions...and as, perhaps more significantly, our noisy, once disregarded neighbours were suddenly regarded as a threat - marching up the Stretford End, like a drunk climbing up some scaffolding at 3am - little idea of how he got there - and removing the '35 Years' banner. And as we prepared for the new campaign knowing City and their billions will strengthen, knowing Barcelona will undoubtedly (somehow) improve; we also knew we would be without the rock between the post who finally and convincingly replaced Schmeichel , as well as those fledglings that are finally and rather suddenly beginning to dismantle: Neville, O'Shea, Brown... and the greatest of all ... After 82 days - days spent witnessing the typical summer madness surrounding established marquee ...

My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder.  Scholes is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation. Zinedine Zidane In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more. Xavi Good enough to play for Brazil. I love to watch Scholes, to see him pass, the boy with the red hair and the red shirt. Socrates Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him. Pep Guardiola I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player. Laurent Blanc I have no hesitation in putting a name to the ...

Day’s after our Champions League defeat at the hands of Barcelona, we bid fair well to the greatest midfielder of his generation. After 675 games and 19 major honours with United, Paul Scholes departs United as a legend: one of the modern era’s few true gentleman. One of the few players in this day and age of greed and over indulgence who famously walks in and out of contract negotiations within minutes. Who keeps himself to himself, staying out of the limelight and rarely performing interviews. Who simply goes to work, plays the game, get's showered, goes home. The modern game has today lost its rugged romantic, its traditionalist, its loyalist, its perfectionist – the essence, in mind and spirit, of Sir Matt Busby's Babes. Manchester United 1994 - 2011

Edwin van der Sar Manchester United 2005-2011 265 appearances Clean Sheet Record (1,311 minutes without conceding) 4 League Titles 1 Champions League 1 Club World Cup 1 League Cup

...The players who will make history... So, the time is nearly among us. This has been probably the longest week of my life - unable to concentrate at work, encapsulating myself with every ounce of pre-match build-up I could find and reading the f**k out of every expert preview and patronising guide on 'how United can beat Barca'. But I'm not interested in that - because quite simply, we'll beat Barca if we don't allow them time on the ball and in turn minimise the impact of their attacking players. Play with assertion and confidence like we did against Chelsea in the Champions League, again against them in the title decider, or even against Schalke over both legs in the Semi's, and we will be Champions of Europe. Ultimately, if we play as a unit we can do it. And below are the chosen ones who can lead us to the promised land once again... Goal Van der Sar Age : 40 Champions League Appearances 2010/11 : 9 An absolute no brainer. One of the greatest 'keepers ...

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