The Manchester United Thread

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The men we lost at Munich
The Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958 claimed the lives of 23 passengers and crew. Here, ManUtd.com remembers the eight Manchester United players and three officials who died, through the words of those who knew them best.

Roger Byrne - aged 28, full-back. 277 appearances, 19 goals."An aristocratic footballer, majestic in his movement. Roger was so fast but at the same time he controlled his movement beautifully, like Nureyev." - Sir Matt Busby

Eddie Colman - aged 21, half-back. 107 appearances, 2 goals."Eddie was a chirpy lad and a terrific player. He pushed the ball - never kicked it - and he jinked past players. He was known for his swivel hips." - Wilf McGuinness

David Pegg - aged 22, forward. 148 appearances, 28 goals."David would have been a great asset to any team because he was a natural left-flank player. David was very, very clever. Our best left-winger by a mile." - Sir Matt Busby

Mark Jones - aged 24, half-back. 120 appearances, 1 goal. "Yorkshireman Mark was a really lovely fellow, but my word he was a tough nut, and nobody took any liberties with him on or off the field." - Bill Foulkes

Tommy Taylor - aged 26, forward. 189 appearances, 128 goals."I rate him as one of the all-time, best centre-forwards in the game, and he had yet to realise all his potential. He was a typically bluff Yorkshireman in many ways, often acting the clown, and a great team man." - Bill Foulkes

Duncan Edwards - aged 21, half-back. 175 appearances, 21 goals."When I used to hear Muhammad Ali proclaim to the world he was the greatest, I used to smile. The greatest of them all was a footballer named Duncan Edwards." - Jimmy Murphy. "The only player who ever made me feel inferior." - Sir Bobby Charlton

Geoff Bent - aged 25, full-back. 12 appearances."When Geoff matured and reached his twenties there were many clubs after him but he stayed loyal. He could look after himself and was a great tackler. Roger Byrne was a consistent player and very brave, that was the reason Geoff got so few games, but he was good enough to hold a regular place in any team." - Jimmy Murphy

Liam 'Billy' Whelan - aged 22, forward. 96 appearances, 52 goals."Billy was a magician with a ball at his feet. I really don't think he knew how good he was and how much better he could have become. A world-class forward. There is no doubt about that. His vision and passing was sheer class." - Albert Scanlon

Walter Crickmer, club secretary / Tom Curry, trainer / Bert Whalley, coach"Walter Crickmer always reminded me of a little dynamo, nothing was too much trouble. Tom Curry was someone we looked up to like a father. And Bert Whalley was certainly a tremendous help to me when I was a part-timer." - Bill Foulkes

RIP
 
All of us know this poem, it was posted many times, but it still gives me goosebumps. Rest in Peace the flowers of Manchester:

T’was the night before Christmas, Old Trafford was bare.
The staff all gone home, there was nobody there..
The lights cast a shadow, a soft glimmer which
lit up the soft green grass on the pitch.

Just as the clock gave out its twelfth chime
An old man appeared, as if frozen in time.
He gazed at the tunnel, then broke out in voice
“ITS TIME TO BEGIN.. LETS HAVE YOU MY BOYS”

Out from the tunnel appeared a lone figure
Same as in life, only infinitely bigger
The old man called out as he slowly drew near
“good evening Duncan, are the rest of you here”

The figure broke out in wide open smile
“Good Evening Sir Matt, it has been a long while
The rest are all coming, they’ll be here soon,”
As seven more shadows were cast by the moon.

Whelan and Bent, Pegg, Taylor and Byrne,
Jones , and Colman, they came out in turn.
He greeted each one, just by calling their name
then proudly announced “do you fancy a game”

They took to the pitch, and the still night was broken
By leather on leather, not one word was spoken
They played once again, like they did long before
And imagined the sound of the Old Trafford roar

Edwards called out “come on lads lets pretend
That we’ve just scored a goal at the old Stretford End”
As they ran to the edge of the pitch by the goal
There in the stands sat a solitary soul.

His eyes were all puffy, his cheeks wet with tears
As his mind wandered back to those wonderful years
“come down and join us” they cried all as one
“yes come down and join them” said Matt “go on son”

The lonely man stood and with much pain he said
“I’m afraid I can’t play with you, you are all dead.
You are all ghosts, and I am alive
That was the price that I paid to survive”

My role was to go on, inspire the team
And finally realise Matt Busby’s dream
To tell of your greatness, and as I get older
To burden the weight of your life on my shoulders.”

The ghost of Sir Matt then raised up his head
Giving out a loud groan, he finally said
“Bobby, You survived, that much is true
But we wouldn’t be here if it were not for you

For you are the one who has kept us alive
That was the reason you had to survive
If you were with us, all we have would be gone
And the game that we play could no longer go on

If you can’t understand why it happened this way
Then come here and watch when United play
They sing about us, they remember us all
We live and we breathe with each kick of the ball

The legends that live here, Robson and Best,
Cantona, Law, Giggs, Scholes and the rest
They are us, we are them, we are all here as one
And that is the reason United goes on

So come down and join us, we’re begging you do
You are still one of us, and we’re still one of you”
And then Bobby’s face rose and he gave them a smile
And he said “I would love to come play for a while”

They played and they played, as they did in the past
Only not quite as skilful, and not quite as fast
And when it was over, and when it was done
They’d defeated Benfica by four goals to one.

Then Sir Matt said “lads, its been fun you know
But It’s now Christmas day, and we really must go”
They walked to the front of the stadium and turned
And Sir Bobby said “there is something I’ve learned”

“You did not die, on that February night
You’re still here with us, as you’re with me tonight
And you’ll live on forever as long as we play”
As the ghosts disappeared down Sir Matt Busby Way.
 
DMF said:
Potential Manchester United XI vs West Ham: 442 diamond with Fellaini and Valencia. Mata dropped.

http://reddevilarmada.com/2015/02/06/potential-manchester-united-xi-vs-west-ham/

Thoughts on the team? Would personall rather see Di Maria deeper, Herrera as the 10 and Rooney up front.
Click to expand...

Would be happier with no Rooney there. Switch out Rooney for Herrera, and use Fellaini and Herrera in CM, with di Maria as 10. More dynamism and pace. Or, put Rooney in the hole and di Maria in CM. di Maria can make those pacey runs from midfield, while Rooney, as always drops deeper to cover the gap. I'm not that comfortable with Rooney at CM, his positioning makes him a sort of DLP;; I'd rather have Herrera or di MAria in different roles comparitively..
 
Sherkey said:
Would be happier with no Rooney there. Switch out Rooney for Herrera, and use Fellaini and Herrera in CM, with di Maria as 10. More dynamism and pace. Or, put Rooney in the hole and di Maria in CM. di Maria can make those pacey runs from midfield, while Rooney, as always drops deeper to cover the gap. I'm not that comfortable with Rooney at CM, his positioning makes him a sort of DLP;; I'd rather have Herrera or di MAria in different roles comparitively..
Click to expand...
I don't think it matters to much in the diamond, apart from Blind the other 3 will rotate and move around making us more fluid. I expect sometimes to see Fellaini more advanced the Di Maria and vice versa.
 
LVG "It's not about playing with or without wingers, or with three or four defenders. It's about an attractive playing style."
 
Ian Ladyman ✔ @Ian_Ladyman_DM Follow Van Gaal on his charge: "As I said before [the match] everybody favours the under dog. I have not been charged in 30 years." #MUFC
 
Manchester United ✔ @ManUtd Follow Van Gaal on potential FA Cup success: "There are still three matches to go until the final, & that's our goal. We shall see if we reach it."
 
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