United We Stand editor since '89. Work: The Athletic, The National. On BBC, Sky etc. Former ed at large 442, GQ, ESPN, SCMP, MEN. Written 14 books. NUJ member
Barcelona/Manchester
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I wrote books about Manchester United in the 70s, 80s & 90s. Thought it was about time I got stuck into the noughties one. I've been meeting the players and speaking to them about a remarkable time at MUFC.
You can pre-order here.
linktr.ee/BringOnUnited
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MCFC and Liverpool. The two greatest teams ever. What a rivalry. MCFC with their 0 European Cups, Liverpool with one title since 1990. It really does mean more, this one.
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Axel Tuanzebe's life story is an inspiration to millions. Kid arrived from Congo aged 4 and didn't speak English. Grafted at school and got excellent grades. Captained MUFC at every level.
Pity the rancid, faceless, racists who abuse him and the platforms which propagate it.
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June 2028. “Manchester United are considering an approach for double World Cup and Champions League winner Paul Pogba, 35.”
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Besiktas win at 4th place Eyüpspor, managed by Arda Turan, to move above them. Now 5 wins, one draw and one defeat from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first seven games.
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In Belgrade. Met a man who reckoned he played for Red Star. Remember anything about him? He’s a tactical obsessive (done all coaching badges, now doing a masters degree for footballers) explaining different systems using Serbian beans for players.
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The €120 Barça are charging MUFC fans for Camp Nou is the most expensive ticket in MU's history outside of a final. MUFC will now increase cost of Barça's tickets at OT to €120...and use difference to subsidise ticket prices for travellers to Camp Nou down to £75.
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Just had a chat with this lad @manuugarte8 Look at that smile. He loves it. 🇺🇾
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Just saw Ayden Heaven walk out of the stadium in Leicester. Foot in a brace but walking.
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Axel Tuanzebe had captained MUFC at every age level bar the first team. Tonight he captains the first team against Rochdale, the town where he grew up in after arriving from DR Congo aged four - with no English, only French and Lingala. At 16 he got As and A stars in his GCSEs.
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Manchester United are playing like that famous old club, Manchester United.
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Watching Nemanja Matic, 37. He’s on mission to play in every country in the UEFA region before he retires at 49. Last gave the ball away in 2008.
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Does a Man Utd player have to be stretched off to hospital before a penalty will be awarded this season?
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MUFC fans singing "Jamie Vardy, your wife is a grass" then "Rooney, Rooney, Rooney."
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Bobby Charlton saw close friends die at Munich. He helped lead Manchester United's recovery to become English, then European champions. For decades the club's record goal and appearance holder, he was a World Cup winner and European player of the year too. What a life. RIP.
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Manchester United’s players go to applaud the away end. One of the best away European results in the club’s history.
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Maguire, James and Bissaka were desperate to play for MUFC. Dybala wasn't. Only excessive amounts of £ could have changed that. MU not as attractive as they were to best talents, but it's still better to have players who want to join rather repeat errors for mercenaries.
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Offer Ole and his coaches the jobs full time. He's had 17 games, won 14, drawn two and lost one. MUFC have won every away games under him. He's earned it. And send his wife some flowers for looking after their 3 kids while he works away in sunnier climes. Ole's at the wheel!
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Man Utd should just play the Champions League music before all Premier League home games and not tell the players it's a domestic match.
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Horrendous result and performance for MUFC. One of the worst.
They happen.
Seven goals. Seven points ahead of Liverpool after 25 games. One cup won, two cups to play for. Third in league.
Erik ten Hag is still in his first season. Let him build.
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I’ve been following this lad’s journey for 11 months. He’s about to watch MUFC for the first time. He’s cycled here.
From Mongolia.
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Roses are red, violets are blue; champions Liverpool won two of their last ten league games and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United.
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Raphael Varane on the pitch holding a Manchester United shirt in front of a packed stadium. That's the way to unveil a new player.
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MUFC deserved nothing there. Palace excellent and undefeated at O.T in three seasons. MU dire and lethargic after no pre-season. Stop piss balling about and get the manger the players he wants. And clearly needs. It’s Manchester United.
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Some Leicester fans boo substitute Jonny Evans. That’d be like Barcelona fans booing Messi.
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I know this season has been poor so far for MUFC, but I had a long sit down interview with Erik ten Hag recently. And I came out of the room wanting that man to continue doing the very difficult job he's got on his hands. He's knows what's needed.
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Manchester United reach the 38th minute having not conceded a goal for the first time in an away match since February.
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Ipswich, managed by Kieran McKenna who left MUFC last season, top of League 1.
Salford, managed by Neil Wood who left MUFC last season, top of League 2.
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A nod to the backroom staff at MUFC. Living in a bubble, they got back from Granada on Fri and more prep for Spurs. Left for London on Sat. They have families too. I know some in various roles - and it has been non-stop for them this season with 50 games since Sept.
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Man Utd have played nine of the 11 top teams in the Premier League so far. And only two of the bottom nine.
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De Gea Sanchez Pogba Mata Fred Lukaku Herrera Matic Lingard Rashford Young Martial Romero Valencia Bailly Shaw Rojo Jones Smalling Lindelof Fellaini McTominay Pereira Mourinho. Lot of talent there. Get behind them. Better to kick off if it turns to shit, not before a ball kicked.
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Best wishes to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Gave it a good shot and looked to be on the right lines, but the last two months have been horrendous under him. Sad that it came to this. Paris was incredible.
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Final game for Jonny Evans, 37, today. He’s ready to hang his boots up.
537 competitive professional club games and another 107 for Norn Ireland.
Man Utd, Royal Antwerp, Sunderland, West Brom, Leicester City.
15 trophies.
Just missed out of 6 Ballon d’Ors.
Top lad.
10/10
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Every single away end sold out. Fans singing your name. Old Trafford packed week after week. Huge games all the time under a boss you can trust. Bus journeys across Manchester capped at just £2 from Sept. You know it makes sense @DeJongFrenkie21
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Exclusive. Manchester United want Christian Pulisic on loan. Player up for it. For @TheAthleticUK theathletic.com/3515717/2022…
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Number of league defeats so far this season: MCFC 5, Chelsea 7, Arsenal 9, Liverpool 9, Leicester 10, Spurs 11, Arsenal 13, Sheff Utd 28. Man Utd 4 (3 came in first 6 games).
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Been at Carrington. Real end of term feeling with loads of staff leaving and saying goodbye. Saw Cath on reception. She’s staying. “I’ve been here 53 years. My first manager was Sir Matt Busby…”
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“Smile.”
“I always smile.”
Three away wins v Real Sociedad, Milan and Granada. Three clean sheets.
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Maguire off for Yoro after 110 minutes of football. Maguire a warrior today. De Ligt impressive in defence alongside him too.
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95,000 here. Barça came from behind and lead 4-2. My daughters, 7 & 11, are hugging each and shouting ‘Puta Real Madrid’. How on earth did my life come this?
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Ruud van Nistelrooy has the highest win rate of any Manchester United manager in history.
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MUFC sending emails to Spain-bound fans saying Sevilla refusing to drop £89 price - the most expensive in MUFC history. MU will increase price for Sevilla fans to £89 and use £35 difference to subsidise MU fans. Sevilla fans, embarrassed at their club's prices, will now be stung.
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Manchester United are the only team to beat Villarreal (and beat them home and away) in ten Champions League games this season. Carrick did a belting job in Spain as caretaker.
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A FIFTH defeat for Manchester United since Dec 22 after a home loss to Burnley. It's dreadful. Loud anti Glazer and Woodward chants ringing around Old Trafford. Fans fuming, defiant and utterly pissed off. Regardless of any excuses, this is woeful.
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Man from Paris, who played for Paris, whose father supports Paris, scores goal that stops Paris winning a first ever European Cup. Which was invented in Paris.
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Mata staying at MUFC is positive. Nobody expects him to start every week, but he’s an experienced, popular, versatile and very decent footballer. He’s an even better person - a rare gem in an industry full of bullshit.
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Jadon Sancho all confirmed for MUFC. Hugely encouraging signing. Good too that it was done quickly with the minimum of fuss and almost no speculation.
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PSG getting stronger and look like they could scrape a draw at home to Man Utd, rather than another defeat.
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Manchester United 1 Fulham 0. For all the flaws, I enjoyed that and Old Trafford felt alive.
If MUFC carry on at this rate all season, then the team will end up with 114 pts and a goal difference of +38.
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Manchester United win a first trophy for almost six years. Delighted players go to fans. GGMU echoes around Wembley. Newcastle played well and their fans sang to the end. But it’s about MUFC, Ten Hag and his team. He’s done a superb job. Top four and a trophy.
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Sorry to hear about Kath on reception passing away. Lovely, modest, loyal, lady. 55 years at MUFC.
I tweeted a pic of her in May ‘22 and showed her the huge reaction. She was well chuffed and showed her family. Then said: “thank you so much. I’m only doing my job.” RIP.
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Asked Fred if he was familiar with the music of Joy Division. He’s not, but he was very happy with the fans’ song about him. And he’s absolutely buzzing after that performance.
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Denis Law, RIP.
Just spoke to Brian Kidd.
"He was slight, with the heart of a lion. An unbelievable finisher, he scored every type of goal. He said to me: 'If you're ever wide, don’t look up, put the cross in early. If I’m not there it’s my fault'. He was usually there. Sir Matt loved him. We all did. He was the King of the Stretford End."
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Garnacho's mother came up to buy a UWS at Arsenal away in April. She was in the away end, curious and asked what UWS was. She said: "My son plays with this team" and pointed to the MU players. "He's called Alejandro."
I hope the family like him on the cover.
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Get behind RVN tonight. He could've gone elsewhere in the summer on more money. He could've been a number one. He chose MUFC, assisting EtH, and returning to the club and city both he and his family love.
It hasn't been easy, he needs support.
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Congratulations to Kieran McKenna and Ipswich Town. He's a fantastic young coach - Jose Mourinho, Ole Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick all thought so, even if experts on Twitter didn't. Back to back promotions, with one of the lower wage bills in the Championship, is some achievement
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Morning coffee with my fourth favourite Norwegian.
A man of impeccable taste in literature.
He was a huge help with the book.
AT THE WHEEL!
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Manchester United hold onto lead to win league match. You read that right. Big win against Spurs. Quality performance too. And O.T very noisy. Whole ground singing for Ole.
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Fred equalises for Manchester United. VAR looking as cancelling it based on the fact, written in law, that Fred doesn't score goals in football matches.
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That Man United number 18 looks like that brilliant Brazilian midfielder, Casemiro.
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Devastating news about Ian Stirling. He did so much for Manchester United fans for so long. A stalwart, he was central to safe standing returning to Old Trafford. Trusted, respected, credible, approachable, J Stand and better liked than he ever knew. Rest in peace, Ian.
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Pogba, Fernandes, Cavani. Three world class players in a squad which needs a couple more of them. Brilliant tonight.
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Martial intentionally gave Haaland a 14 goal start in the league before he sets about chasing him down his numbers. You just have to wait for gloves weather to see it.
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Bumped into my mate Kev outside the ground. He follows Manchester United everywhere. He’s going for 2-1 to his team tonight.
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Loads of inflatable 6s in the Liverpool end - to represent the number of times they’ve nearly won the league since 1990.
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Getting a lift from Milan to Turin. The driver is a happy Serbian. Happy because Red Star won last night and because he’s going to see MUFC as a fan.
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Son grabs at McTominay's shirt while he's in possession. He bats him off - that's a natural reaction from any footballer. Ref was presented with half second of footage - not enough. Didn't show the context. Atrocious decision followed. Surprised at Son going to ground like that.
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Andreas Pereira cost MUFC v little in transfer fees. Club got loan fees for him and he'll leave for £8 million, probably more. He's a good lad, an honest, hardworking player who made it at a decent level as a footballer. Good luck to him.
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MUFC end singing “we know what you are, you cheating b*******s, we know what you are” over and over.
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PL table P W D L Pts
1. Manchester Utd 17 11 3 3 36
2. Liverpool 17 9 6 2 33
3. Leicester City 17 10 2 5 32
4. Everton 17 10 2 5 31
5. Tottenham 16 8 5 3 29
6. Manchester City 15 8 5 2 29
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The Manchester United end goes up. A flag stating ‘115. 3007. 192’ is unfurled.
Charges. Crowd v Mansfield. Bus number to Stockport.
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Giggs to SAF: "Ando's good at penalties”.
Anderson's on. 125th min. Doesn't touch ball. Or speak English. His pen is sixth. Doesn't do nerves. Thanks God. Thinks of deceased dad. Of the favela. No food. Fights. Leaving home at 13. Crashes ball past Cech. Helps win European Cup.
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