LOOK FORWARD --- LOOK BACK
MANCHESTER UNITED 21 September 2014
What a cracking game that was against Arsenal at The King Power Stadium last home game. End to end exciting football and a performance that made all of us City supporters proud. Once again we just couldn’t do enough to gain all three points but we created the chances and the signs are encouraging. If the first three league games are the sign of more things to come this season, then bring it on
And what a tremendous result at Stoke which is no easy place to go, respect to the lads for a fantastic start to the season.
Our next home game is another mouth watering encounter, with Manchester United arriving in Leicester. United are going through a transition period having what was by their standards a poor season last term and they have stuttered again so far this season, recording a home loss to Swansea on the opening day and following that up with away draws at Sunderland and Burnley. Also suffering an embarrassing 4-0 deficit at the hands of MK Dons in the league cup.
So everything is not rosy at Old Trafford at the moment.
New manager Louis Van Gaal will want to turn things around quickly and he has been busy in the transfer window bringing in some new faces and letting some players leave.
Coming in to Old Trafford is Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo to add to the star names already assembled and I’m sure need no introduction. But to see world superstars just mentioned alongside Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata and you can see that we are in for another exciting afternoon at The King Power Stadium.
Looking Back, Manchester United have always been crowd pullers and I have been fortunate enough to see some of the great United players in my time watching football. Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, George Best, Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg, Nobby Stiles the list could go on and on and who could forget the night Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1at Wembley to lift the European Cup way back in 1968.
In those days United were ambassadors for English football but now they appear to be the team everyone loves to hate!
The earliest I can remember seeing United at Filbert Street was 13th November 1965 and we were totally destroyed by United’s stars who handed us a 5-0 thrashing with goals from Herd (2) Best, Charlton and Connolly. In fact the one thing that sticks out in my mind from this game is when a black dog ran onto the pitch Gordon Banks dived to try and stop it, but the dog evaded the dive of Banks, just as United’s five goals did. United were a magical team to watch though!
United didn’t have it all their own way and I remember Saturday 23rd November 1985 standing in the spion kop at Filbert Street and we completely tore United apart in the first half with a blistering display that was fuelled by our loan signing former United player Laurie Cunningham. Cunningham was making his debut for City that day and was instrumental in the game, and we ran out convincing 3-0 winners with two goals from Alan Smith and one from Gary McAllister. A win that helped us stay up that season. I also believe that was the last time we beat United in a league game at Leicester although we did beat them 2-0 in a league cup game in 1996.
The one game that stands out in my memory probably more than any other was my first visit to Old Trafford, Saturday 17th May 1969, I was 18 years old and Leicester had just lost in the FA Cup final 1-0 to Manchester City and because of a fixture pile up this game was played after the Cup Final. It was the last game of the season and City had to win the game to avoid relegation and stay in the 1st division. It was also Matt Busby’s final game as manager and the last game in a City shirt for our then record signing Allan Clarke. It was also memorable because I must have been the only Leicester supporter standing in The Stretford end that day! Went to the game with a friend who was a regular visitor to Old Trafford and so I ended up standing with him in The Stretford end, no colours on but I was wearing a Leicester pin badge!
Needless to say when City took the lead in the opening minutes with a David Nish penalty I didn’t make too much noise!
The joy was short lived for myself and the other travelling City fans as United took control of the game and stormed into a 3-1 lead with goals from Best, Law and Morgan. We weren’t disgraced though and went down fighting as Rodney Fern made the score line 3-2.
Lots of memories from clashes with United over the years and hopefully next Sundays game will be another memorable affair
Shout out loud for the FOXES
Alan’meashamfox’Bennett
Leicester till I die
No comments:
Post a Comment