Those with a memory longer than a goldfish will remember when the average Anyone-But-United football fan disliked Sir Alex Ferguson with a passion.
They will recall a general disgust with the actions of the groany old Scotsman, who dispensed all too readily with the services of his Irish wolfhound, Roy Keane, last year.
I predicted doom and gloom and Chelsea dominance for years to come. But, somehow, like most of those who emerged from the wreckage of the Strathclyde dockyards, Fergie has a stubborn streak that neither age nor logic can break down.
Here we sit with Chelsea’s millionaires suddenly vulnerable and United, on a run of eight wins, putting real pressure on the Blues.
Sure, Jose Mourinho’s champions, a goal and a man down against West Ham last Sunday, roared back to win 4-1 and maintain the seven-point lead over United, who went out and stuffed in-form Arsenal 2-0 three hours later.
But unlike earlier in the season, it’s the pensionable Scot who’s doing all the meaningful talking now, not the stylish Portuguese.
Both sides suffered unseemly early elimination from the Champions League. And while Arsenal’s historic progress into the last four of Europe may have stolen the headlines in recent weeks, it’s United’s incredible run that has been the towering achievement of the post-Christmas season.
Fergie, 64 in December, said after spiking the Gunners: ”If we keep going on this winning run, we have every chance now. The real decider will be at Stamford Bridge and there are a lot of things working in our favour.
”Remember, Chelsea’s last game is against Newcastle at St James’s Park, where Alan Shearer will be playing his last game for the club. That’s not going to be easy.”
United go to London for the game of the season on April 29. If, and it’s a bloody big if, they win that, Chelsea still have to drop another point on top of the presumed final-day defeat against Newcastle on the last day.
Mourinho responded with his usual succinctness: ”It doesn’t matter what United do. Win, lose or draw, we don’t depend on their results to be champions.”
Too true. Sadly, United may have left it a couple of points too late. The thing is, at an age when most are reaching for the pipe and slippers, Sir Alex has reignited English football, turning a hum-drum one-horse race into a real showdown.
And since the departure of Keane to Scottish champions Celtic, the side has settled down considerably. Perhaps the post-game roastings from Keane were too much for the young United stars. Certainly John O’Shea, one of Keano’s regular targets, appears to have entered a new, confident phase. And Rio Ferdinand, a target for most critics over the past two years, has certainly been playing out of his skin of late.
And the masterstroke of keeping Ruud van Nistelrooy eager on the bench while Louis Saha scores the goals has done the side no harm.
Ferguson’s easy shrugging off of the latest Wayne Rooney scandal — England’s great World Cup hope apparently owes one of Michael Owen’s pals £700 000 in gambling debts — proves exactly why Fergie remains a force to be reckoned with.
Another crisis overcome at United then, as they gear up for the run-in. On top of all that, Fergie appears to have sorted out the Glazer takeover — United announced a new business plan this week that makes doom-mongers like me, who feared the Americans, look a tad silly.
We go into Easter knowing, as always at this busy time, that some sides will be resurrected, some will simply be crucified. Here’s how it might pan out over the scrambled eggs:
Man U vs Sunderland
A real Good Friday gift for United this, with doomed Sunderland, two wins out of 32, at Old Trafford and unlikely to put up any real resistance against Louis Saha, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney et al. Expect the United run to stretch to nine wins for Fergie.
Verdict: United 4 or 5 Sunderland 0
Arsenal vs West Brom
Tough one for the Gunners, this, if they hope to keep the pressure on Spurs and Blackburn for fourth place. Arsène Wenger opted to rest Thierry Henry for most of the Old Trafford game on Sunday and you get the impression Arsenal are relying on conquering Europe to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Verdict: Arsenal 2 West Brom 0
Bolton vs Chelsea
Mourinho knows Bolton are on a bad trot and Sam Allardyce will remember the 5-1 drubbing his Wanderers suffered at Stamford Bridge last time they met. Bolton have lost four in a row: they’ll come out with all guns blazing.
Verdict: Bolton 2 Chelsea 2
Everton vs Spurs
David Moyes’s Everton have failed to score against marooned Sunderland and FA Cup hopefuls Charlton in recent weeks, so I can’t see the mid-table mediocrities denting Tottenham’s run to the Champions League places and a £30-million bonus. As Martin Jol says: ”It’s not just in our hands now, it’s in our heads.”
Verdict: Everton 0 Spurs 2
Fulham vs Charlton
I reckon Fulham are pretty safe now, despite having their 1-0 lead at Sunderland wiped out by an unseasonal snowstorm at the Stadium of Light last Saturday. They should win that abandoned game when it’s replayed and I expect Charlton won’t mind another goalless bore in the Premiership too much if they progress in the FA Cup.
Verdict: Fulham 0 Charlton 0
Newcastle vs Wigan
Strange to see Wigan ahead of Newcastle in the Premiership, but then Paul Jewell and his minnows have enjoyed a season far better than any expected while the Toon Army ejected Graeme Souness and opted for relegation specialist Glenn Roeder. We say this every year at this time: Newcastle fans deserve better.
Verdict: Newcastle 2 Wigan 0
Portsmouth vs Boro
Harry Redknapp is a better boss than Steve McClaren will ever be, yet it’s McClaren who keeps getting interviewed for the England vacancy that looms after the World Cup. Redknapp can prove his credentials here and steer his side to a miraculous safety. Much will depend on the fate of Boro’s FA Cup run.
Verdict: Pompey 2 Middlesbrough 0
West Ham vs Man City
West Ham let things slip against 10-man Chelsea last Sunday and they’ve generally lost interest in the Premiership as their rare FA Cup run progressed. That may be a problem here, where Pearce will send his men out roaring at Upton Park.
Verdict: West Ham 0 Man City 1
Villa vs Birmingham
Cracking local derby this with both clubs still haunted by relegation. Steve Bruce’s Birmingham are far more likely to slip through the trapdoor, but David O’Leary knows another defeat will leave his side in trouble — and his job in jeopardy.
Verdict: Villa 2 Birmingham 2
Rovers vs Liverpool
Mark Hughes gets my vote for manager of the year this season. He’s turned Blackburn from lower-half mediocrities into a top-six outfit with a little help from Craig Bellamy and Robbie Savage. He’s got Emile Heskey on his shopping list now. None of that will help against Liverpool, though. They saw off Bolton last week and have the quality to get all three points at Ewood Park too, though they may have one eye on the FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea.
Verdict: Blackburn 1 Liverpool 1
Charlton vs Pompey
So much will depend on Portsmouth’s results against Arsenal and Middlesbrough here. Six points might have made Redknapp’s side a little complacent, but, against Charlton — who always tail off at this time in the season — that shouldn’t be a problem.
Verdict: Charlton 2 Portsmouth 3
Chelsea vs Everton
Let’s just hope Moyes can get his side fired up for this one.
Verdict: Chelsea 2 Everton 9 — oops, wishful thinking: 0
Boro vs West Ham
Could be an FA Cup semifinal rehearsal, and I’ve always fancied the Middlesbrough strike force of Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and assorted helpers. Up at the Riverside, I can’t see West Ham reversing their current Premiership slump. This won’t be an accurate guide to the possible FA Cup clash, though.
Verdict: Boro 2 West Ham 1
Sunderland vs Newcastle
Can you imagine the stink if Newcastle lose this one? Sunderland are down and nobody expects them to get much more than the record-breakingly poor 11 points they’ve already mustered. Even Kevin Ball, their caretaker boss, admits: ”We’ve been beaten so often it’s difficult to pick the players up.” Still, if anybody can let it slip, Newcastle can.
Verdict: Sunderland 0 Newcastle 3+
Spurs vs Man Utd
What an Easter Monday cracker to go with the old chocolate eggs. Spurs need every point they can muster, United have to produce a perfect Premiership finish. I have to go for United here, with Spurs showing end-of-season nerves.
Verdict: Spurs 1 United 2
West Brom vs Bolton
By now we’ll know if Bolton have ended their slump with a result against Chelsea. That could have a real impact on struggling West Brom. Bryan Robson’s side narrowly avoided the drop last season; I can’t see them escaping this time. They just don’t have the quality.
Verdict: West Brom 0 Bolton 0
Wigan vs Aston Villa
Defeat for Villa here and O’Leary will be squirming.
Verdict: Wigan 1 Villa 0
Brum vs Blackburn
The old United pair of Bruce and Hughes find themselves at opposite ends of the table, for good reason.
Verdict: Birmingham 0 Blackburn 2