19

Me waiting for the Tandoori earlier

I was planning to write an entry before the kick-off, while I was waiting for my order of tandoori earlier for fear of jinxing the result. To be honest, of all the league win we had - and all of them I was sure fully deserved - this season was the most obvious that we depended a lot of help from other teams capitulating, or even from up above. The sudden change-of-heart from Wayne Rooney. The stop-start form of Dimi Berbatov. How Nani flattered to deceive, and the flattering form of one Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez. All this added up to what looked like a jammy season for us by all accounts, and it was a title which could have easily slipped by us.

But what was always consistent was my steady supply of Tandoori on match nights. I would like to think that that had played some part, throughout the season.

We played the best games of the season when it mattered - the two-legged Champs League semi against Schalke and the league win against Chelski - mind you, winning three games against your nearest rival in the league in the space of a month made you deserved champions by all account. The revelation of the season was the combination of Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick in the middle of the park. They have been efficient if not spectacular. They kept the cog going and moving forward. Even though the goalscorers in Rooney, Nani, Hernandez and Berbatov would get the plaudits, those two in midfield were just as important. How Vidic did not win the Player of the Year remain the crime of the decade, but don’t get me started on that yet!

The game I witnessed just now summed up a few obvious points. We needed to replace the aging Giggs and Scholsey - and Scholsey still couldn’t tackle, and we need a proper goalkeeper to replace van der Sar. What I was trying to say was, we need to buy not because we do not have enough quality, but because we need replacement for those departing. Tomasz Kuszczak clearly does not have the chops to make it at United, as well as having too many Zs in his name. So he has to go. But who would it be. A lot depends on who would be coming in, and it took us six seasons to find the right replacement for Schmichael in van der Sar. We went through Taibi, Bosnich, Howard and the legend that was Barthez. Finding a top quality goalkeeper was never that easy.

Our next big game would be against Barcelona at Wembley. It would be a fascinating one, and I hope Sir Alex did not make the mistake of a couple of Finals ago, when we tried to outpass them in midfield. We should try it anywhere but the center of midfield I would have thought, at least as far away from Xavi, because he was a bit good. Oh, and man mark Messi as well, and make sure he does not outjump his marker for a header as he did against Rio back then. We shall go for number 4 then!