For those looking for knee jerk reactions post Saturday then this blog isn’t for you, sure if I had wrote it straight after the match I'm sure you would have found the usual spiel that comes from the fallout of a united defeat.

If you’re looking for a write-up about how amazing Barca were, how its time we got rid of Carrick or it’s the end of the fergie era then you may as well stop reading now, for this isn’t a doom mongering blog.

 The starting XI on Saturday was the 1 id say 99% of united fans wanted, the 1 that had turned Chelsea and schalke over and the 1 that was expected to close Barca down and attack them on the break.

Apart from the absence of a Fletcher like player starting I had no complaints, my big main issue was that Ferguson couldn’t find room in the squad for Berbatov, not only our top goal scorer but the golden boot winner in the premier league.

However in Fergie we trust!

I’ve watched the match from start to finish twice and the highlights once, none of them make for any pleasant viewing, Barca were very good going forward and were worth their win. Best club side ever? I'm sure the Real Madrid team that won the European cup back to back 5 times might have something to say about that. Our team that beat more or less the same Barca team in 2008 could also be in for a shout.

It was a similar tale to the 2009 final, a bright-ish start from the reds, or white in this case, chasing and closing down.

Sadly our hearts were broken yet again when around the 20 minute mark Pedro was found unmarked after Evra got sucked inside, he wrong footed Edwin and that sense of déjà vu hit us united fans.

This time however we kept in the there just about and our 1st real attack of the game saw us get a goal, Carrick starting the move, to Rooney, to Giggs back to Rooney and a fantastic finish, it was like the scene in rocky 4 when the seemingly unhuman Ivan Drago gets cut open by balboa, this super Barca team had conceded, they are human after all.

From this point on Barca kept the ball and we were left chasing shadows, with no one in the midfield who as jack Wilshere suggested should rightly get in their faces, Barca were allowed to do pretty much what they wanted, we got to half time at 1-1 and our hopes still alive.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but this is when id have changed it, you may argue Fletcher wasn’t match fit, why he wasn’t given minutes at Gary Neville’s testimonial is a crime by the united staff. I’m sure he would have been able to give us at least 45 mins, sticking him in there alongside Carrick, and Giggs, bringing off Hernandez who didn’t get in the game at all. I'm sure we could’ve frustrated Barca then and hit them on the break. Its all ifs and buts, however I just find it bizarre that a player that was widely acknowledged we missed in 09 wasn’t given enough preparation for this or even tried out.

I had been saying all week that Barca would focus on Carrick in midfield as he likes time on the ball and that’s exactly what they did, Carrick however I didn’t think played that bad, Giggs if anyone was the 1 that was lost in midfield, chasing shadows in an attempt to get the ball for a second or so. Again in Fergie we trust.

The 2nd half was painful to watch, no attacks from us, hardly any possession just Barca playing to win the game and us hanging on, when Messi scored that goal, been given time on the ball to place a shot that again van der sar should’ve saved I knew it was game over.

We all know what happened next when David Villa scored a great goal, it was 2009 revisited only this time we had scored with our only attack.

If you can get the ball off them and get at them you will score, getting it being the hard part.

For any fans with upmost belief that we would somehow come back that was put to rest when Paul Scholes came on. Fergie before hand saying that if we needed a goal then we would turn to Owen as he could grab you a goal, we all now no the reason Scholes came on as it was his goodbye to united fans, Ferguson must have known at this point it was game over, not one for sentiment to get in the way of a result, Fergie let the united legend say goodbye.

So it’s another champion’s league season over and one that tastes of defeat, not really as bad as in 09 when I think we all thought we would win.
Winning the league for the 19th time was the best possible antidote fro any kinds of depression that may loom into our heads.

Against any other team I'm sure we would have won on Saturday or at least got a bit closer, but like I touched on earlier this Barca team is beatable, if we meet them again next season I hope its over 2 legs, I can see us beating them I really can if we change our tactics. You must also remember no team has ever won the European cup in its present format back to back, that’s not saying Barca wont do it but its extra hope for us that next season we may reach the promised land again, add to that fresh faces arriving at old Trafford this summer I'm sure next year we will be ready for them or anyone else.

So where do we go from here? Not THAT far if you ask me, ive said all season that I think united are 2 or 3 world class signings away from reaching that top level and I stick by that.

A max exodus is not what this club needs right now, remember we won the league by 9 points, yes there are some players that need to be moved on but not the 1s that some fans are suggesting, id keep Carrick, id keep Berbatov and id re-sign Owen.

The team needs slight tweaking and not wholesale changes.  I wouldn’t change the way we play grand scheme either to match Barca style, we need to forget about them and concentrate on adding some quality to our side. We are champions of England.

I'm going to do a write up on who I believe we should sign at a later date, briefly the areas that we need are

A new Keeper

2 Central midfielders, match winning & game breaking

A winger wouldn’t go a miss either but let’s not be greedy.

Like I said ill go into greater depth about targets and who I think we should sign at a later date.

Just to round things off today a united legend unsurprisingly hung up his boots, Paul Scholes!

Easily my favourite player of the fergie fledglings ( not counting Giggs) I don’t think it came as an real surprise to his him hang up his boots. He’s been a fantastic player and servant to our club, always quiet and never bringing any bad light or unwanted coverage onto our much loved club.

Due to his shy manor Scholes never received the accolades from the media as he should, if he had the looks of Beckham and love of the limelight he would, however its that shyness that makes him loved and adored by united. At least true world class players like Zidane, Xavi and iniesta know exactly how good Scholes was. Almost every Barca player making a bee line wanting to swap shirts with him on Saturday sums it up more than words ever can.

Scholesy always went about his business on and off the field quietly and is a true role model to any united youth player, which shows the sense in Ferguson putting him into a youth coaching role. Its vital to keep that Manchester United mentality in our club and drum it into the kids at a young age, no one has that mentality more than Paul Scholes.

I doubt very much Scholes will read this but due to the power of the internet there is always a chance, so id just like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you and its been a privilege to watch you play for my beloved club. Just like Edwards, Charlton, Best, Schmeichel, Cantona and keane you will never be truly replaced.

Paul Scholes – 1 of Manchester United’s greatest ever players

I think today was the 1st day reality set in that we were a few days away from the European Cup final.

Watching United lift the Premiership on Sunday was one of the best feelings in the world, 1 that can be matched if we win on Saturday.

It was great for me being back at Old Trafford I really do miss the place so much but due to financial reasons and the fight against the Glazers handed back my Stretford End season ticket a year ago.

The ticket for Sunday was a birthday present and a fantastic one at that.

Walking into Old Trafford the same buzz and excitement was there, albeit the game had nothing riding on it for us I was still overjoyed to be there.

 

When Van Der Sar did his speech at the end and said something along the lines of winning the trophy on Saturday it really got the excitement going in me for the European cup final but that was quickly put aside to soak in our record breaking league title win.

So it was a normal Monday, thoughts were still on yesterdays game and celebrations but now we could focus on Saturdays game.

It’s our 1st European cup final on a Saturday, feels a bit strange to be honest but I suppose it’s for the best.

For the last 2 finals me and my mates have gone to Manchester to watch the final, it goes without saying 2008 was an amazing night, probably the best night following united of my life. 1999 was great don’t get me wrong but I was at home for that, not old enough to enter a pub so I watched it at home with family, still a great night but nothing compared to 2008.

2009 was a bit different, same group of mates, going to the same pub in Manchester, everyone confident of beating Barcelona but as soon as we arrived it just didn’t feel “right” and as we know united just didn’t turn up for whatever reason and we lost. It wasn’t a good experience.

This year we’ve toyed with what to do, I’ve looked at tickets but they are all well out of my price range (if only I had held onto that season ticket 1 more season!) and we’ve left it too late for booking rooms in Manchester so it looks like its going to be local for us north Wales reds!

Its something I don’t mind really, as long as you’re around mates who know the club and what this game means then I think that’s the most important thing, we will make our own atmosphere and hopefully make a good day of it.

Bad news time….

Ryan Giggs was named as the footballer who has taken out a super injunction after an affair with Imogen Thomas off Big Brother. Some of the knee jerk reactions I've seen from some people (May I add none of them united fans) has been ridiculous.

Giggs has done wrong, there’s no denying this, has it tarnished his image? No not in my eyes, I'm a man united and football fan, what matters to me most is what Giggs does on the pitch and that’s something I have no complaints about, he’s still a football role model, how can he not be after what he’s achieved and the way he still plays to this very day after most players his age have retired?

It’s also an indication of the society we live in today that a footballer who has had an affair is making headline news whilst stories about wars and natural disasters are relegated to side notes.

It’s as if Giggs has murdered someone the reaction to it, I never remember this kind of hysteria when Bowyer and Woodgate attacked a youth, Ashley Cole shooting a player, Balotelli firing a dart at a kid or Steven Gerrard assaulting that DJ.

I'm not condoning Giggs in the slightest but some people need to take a step back.

I suppose the 1 big question to come out of this is will it effect his mind with Saturdays game coming up? I don’t think it will, he’s a seasoned pro and has been playing so well recently amidst all this hysteria, I'm sure Giggs will play on Saturday 100%

After much consideration today I’ve planned my starting XI for Saturday, presuming everyone is fit.

Van Der Sar

Rafael
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra

Valencia
Fletcher
Giggs
Park

Rooney
Hernandez

My sole reason for Fletcher instead of Carrick is the fact that the Barcelona midfield close down their opposition so quickly, my concern if Carrick was in there would be that he’d give the ball away, he always wants time on the ball to pick a pass etc, he doesn’t like to be hurried whilst in possession.

Carrick’s tackling isn’t the best either and he’s been known to pull out of some challenges something Fletcher wouldn’t do.

The only question mark about Fletch is his fitness but with Gary Neville’s testimonial on Tuesday that should give him a good 90 mins to prove he’s ready.

It has to be ours now surely? With 1 point needed from our next 2 games, away to Blackburn and at home to Blackpool  we are very much in the driving seat.
There is that old cliché that united make it hard for themselves but even united couldn’t make this a rollercoaster of a finish now could they?

 Sunday’s game was fantastic, it had everything that you would want to see from a Manchester united team, skill, guts, that never say die attitude, literally everything.

Interestingly enough I didn’t feel nervous before the game, my only concern was a dodgy decision by the ref would cost us the game, and try as Howard Webb did by not giving us a couple of penalties and his refusal to send Ivanovic off not even he could stop us.

Javier Hernandez goal 35 seconds in was a statement of intent from united, we came blistering out of the traps with Ji Sung Park setting the tone for the rest to follow. What a player he’s been for us by the way, many fans questioning if he was just signed to improve shirt sales in Korea proved undoubtedly wrong.

There is another cliché that you can always score too soon, I don’t think 1 united fan complained when Hernandez tucked away his 20th goal of what’s been an incredible debut season. You just can’t help but love the lad.

We continued to play “the united way” for most of the match and when Vidic smashed in the 2nd you felt there was no way back for Chelsea.

It was hard to take in the match and it felt a bit dreamy, even watching the highlights now it’s incredible to think that this much maligned team battered Chelsea and are 1 point away from that record 19th title. These thoughts were soon sobered up when lampard stuck out a leg and got 1 back.

For what remained of the game was tense but the scenes at the final whistled showed what this meant to every inside the ground and all the reds around the world. Champi… no actually I'm not going to tempt fate and say it but 1 point away from getting our trophy back.

It’s incredible to think that we are in this position especially with our away form being so shocking. Football wise it hasn’t been a vintage season for us, there is no denying that earlier in the season we played some poor football.

The absence of Valencia and the whole debacle of the Wayne Rooney saga certainly didn’t help. At the time we were carried by the form of Nani & Berbatov, 2 players who arguably may not even get into our champions league final team. It’s a funny old game! The players who have been poor for most of the season have been nothing short of sensational during the run in, Rooney, Carrick, Park etc but 2 players for me have been consistently good all season, step forward Hernandez and Giggs.

2 big game players that constantly produce the good when it matters most.

Giggs creative spark from the middle or on the wing has been much needed from a  midfield that has lacked creativity, how much longer he can carry on I'm not sure but for me this has been his best season in a united shirt since his younger days, even better than when he won footballer of the year.

Hernandez arrival has been much needed, no doubt about it he’s the best finisher in our squad and arguably the league, he’s scored all sorts of goals and has been a constant thorn in the side for all opposition he’s faced. Scary thing is he’s only going to get better.

He’s certainly breathed new life into Rooney, allowing him to play the free number 10 role of dropping back and creating, it’s a system and formation that works for us so well and one id like to see against Barcelona.

When you see the likes of Torres and Carroll going for stupid money then see we got Hernandez for between £6 - £8 million you can’t help but think we’ve got the bargain of the century.

One sad factor with the emergence of the little pea is that it’s possibly signalled the end of Berbatov united career.
Regular readers will know I've always been a fan of Berba, last season I thought id lost patience during the run in but that was down to my knee jerk reactions and the horrible feeling of losing out in the title race.

Berbatov has been fantastic for us this season and I really hope he stays with us as he’s a different option to have when compared to our other strikers, however I get the feeling he may be moved on.

Fingers crossed Berbatov and Owen will get some game time in these next 2 matches, both have sat on the bench for long periods and not complained once or caused a fuss and for that I think Sir Alex owes them some minutes.

I do not wish to sound like a spoilt united fan in my next paragraph or take anything away from our squad but I still feel it needs heavy investment over the summer.

Winning the league this season is possibly papering over cracks, getting to the champions league final and winning it would certainly be doing so.

I have every faith and total trust in Sir Alex Ferguson and I'm sure he recognises the fact we need at least 3 world class players to come in over the summer. New keeper, a Scholes replacement and a Hargreaves type player. This season we’ve been the best of a slightly above average bunch, I cant see as many teams having an inconsistent season next year, Chelsea I'm sure will invest heavily, city almost certainly and of course arsenal are apparently ready to release funds at long last meaning that the challenge next season will be a great one.

Roy Keane said back in 99 some players lost their appetite because they thought they had done it all and didn’t have the threat of new players taking over their position.

This is one route we don’t want to go down, especially with the old guard like Scholes and Neville no longer there to have a quite word in the younger player’s ears.

Once the league is (fingers crossed) officially won MUFCBLOG will be taking a look at what our line-up should be for the Champions League Final.