A causal chat with Abhishek Verma (who was supposed to spend his night shift working for IBM rather than chatting with me over Man u - Chelsea game) threw up this amazing number in front of me. 14 years man 14 years (i still can't take it) i have been following BPL or rather i should say Man U. It all started in knowing that the defending champions (red devils) were playing and when you see your first goal of a football match being the 52m stunner by David Bechkam you just turn out to be. A David bechkam and Man U fan for life. That season i didn't have many chance to see the matches live on TV (as BPL fever hadn't caught up that much in India and i was in Kerala (Pilicode, by nov moved to Tcr) and computer and internet were not even in my vocabulary) but do remember that Man U drew stick from all quarters after the loss to New castle (infact they were thumped by New castle). Come may even w/o kicking the ball Man U were crowed champions. It was then a big shock when the famous Eric called quits, to be frank i only knew few names in the team DB, Ole (as he was the leading scorer) and coach Alex. So Eric quitting and its consequences didn't matter to me. I, 11 year old kid was celebrating that my team had won the championship (if fact retained).
The importance of Eric resignation hit me when in 1997-98 season we ended trophy less. All pundits attributed it to the absence of the charismatic Eric and shrewdness of Arsene Wegner at Arsenal. I can still remember that Roy Keane (new club captain) was adamant that United will win the championship some where in March (my final year exams were on) and i was trying to get as much information as possible on PL (premier league) with the access to DD and The Hindu. As a budding footballer fan it was probably the point when Man U became close to my heart. When your team gets beaten and your friends go gaga on it, the anger in you makes you closer to your team even challenging them that they trophy will be back with me (read as Man U; emotional).
And back it was in 1998-99 season. There was no stopping us. We won the treble. Bring them on no matter which club what competition we went on decimating the opposition by keeping them guessing till the last seconds. It was a year of last minute victories. It was the year when we become come back kings. It was the year when we crowned our selves as Champion of Champions at Nou Camp in the final 3 minutes. That season will remain as the season to beat for times to comes. We played the final without out charsmatic captain (keane) and fox (scholes). I can still remember the pleasure of winning it catching the highlights of the match at cousins place (guntur). To get those glimpses i had to resort to emotional blackmails to my dad to get the train tickets dates moved from the final's day (we were supposed to return from tenali, my home town to trichur).In this season the golden generation (The beck's, scholsy, giggsy, keane, nevviles, ole all from the OT school) of the 1990's peaked.
We lost the best Goal Keepers of that decade Peter Schmeichel in the same season. He was one of the most imposing GK's you will find in football. Brought to Theatre of Dreams in 1991 he played for us for 8 years. The deal of 1991 was later acknowledged by the manager himself as the 'bargain of the century'. Since then we had many a GK's but PS is the special one to have played the game. 1999-00 season was more or less taking care of threatening Leeds united. But i will remember it as a season where we made the biggest mistake even though we won the league we didn't play the FA cup. My footballing knowledge was improving and not seeing Man U play in FA instead play the world club competition in Brazil. In India the coverage to PL was improving day by day and by accessibility was getting better to the live matches. 2000-01 season was a comfortable season where we retained the league easily and probably the season where in i realized the pace and strength of what Arsenal was building. Even though my heart will always say united, that Arsenal team was playing some great football. I liked them and in Arsene Wenger there was a manager who was silently plotting the downfall of Sir Alex and Man U.
Come 2001-02 and Arsenal's young brigade walked the PL. They scored in all the matches, went through the season w/o loosing a single match at home. The nail in the coffin was when Arsenal won 1-0 at Theatre of Dreams (wiltord scored the goal, I will never forgive him for that sin of his). It was probably the season where we could have done better but as every good thing has to come to an end out hatrick of league titles had to come to an end. But on reflecting i think loosing to that Arsenal side with pires, dennis, henry, sol, Inspirational and calm Tony, flying freddie it wasn't a disgrace. But the biggest flaw that season was Liverlpool (team of fools) leapfrogged us to finish second.
Probably that was the kick we needed. Roy Keane and his men bruised and hurt from previous season went to the battle field and reclaimed their right - Right to be Champions of BPL (PL was renamed to BPL that year).2002-03 we won it our right at the top step of podium and giving arsenal the taste of 1997-98 season (where they amassed and amazing run in april and may to steal our cup), who went on to nick the FA cup from us. We had Nistel roy finally living up to his potential. A potent poacher he was. The best by far compare to Coles and Yorkes we had in late 90’s. The boot kick incident can’t go w/o a mention. My link to BPL, Man U was gone. Beck’s was sold to Real Madrid. Goals of Becks in champion league quarter final at OT against real as a substitute couldn’t convince Alex to retain him. Deal was done, Beck’s had to leave.
2003-04 was a year of prolific Chelsea acquisitions, with the new signings legacy of Chelsea was getting created. But the title went into the hands of Arsenal led by Henry. Arsenal bet there own previous record and went unbeaten in the whole campaign. Take a bow Wenger and his men!!! Man U with no becks had to settle for the FA cup. It was the year where we were seeing the diving Ronaldo (carrying the Eric and Becks legacy on his back) come of age. He was breathtaking to watch and the restricting was taking place at theatre of dreams. Gold gen was aging. Roy Keane departed the in a dramatic of fashions.
In the following season big spending Chelsea landed the ‘Special One’ to BPL and he in his first season capped them with league title and the carling cup. I admire him man, I love him and still think that he will take over the reigns at OT once Sir Alex calls it a day. Man U ended trophy less, loosing to arsenal in penalties in FA cup final. Champion’s league was a disappointment yet again (as a man u fan I was confined to thought that CL is not our cup of tea). But if the previous campaigns positive was Ronaldo, this year we had Wayne stolen from Everton. 2005-06 wasn’t much different. Rebuilding was happening at theatre. Nistelroy left us for Real, which turned out to be the blessing in disguise. After two trophies less years and young squad under disposal we stopped Chelsea. Since then we have won BPL three times, reached CL’s finals twice is successive years (no other team has done that, may be Barca might do it this time) winning once and loosing to Barca. 2007-08 we won everything 4 trophies in one year. With Rooney-Ronaldo partnership ending (thanks to the big spending Madrid), 2009-10 season we are being tested. New signings have come and gone, but as Neville said in Fergie we ‘Trust’. We need a big lift from him to see us through this hectic finish (finish with none of the R’s). As I write we are on top of BPL edging Chelsea by a point, still in CL with a return fixture against Bayern Munich (who has taken the revenge for last minute final loss in 1999 with their own spl last minuter in the first leg).
It hard too believe 14 yrs have flown by and still some of the Golden genx are weaving their magic (giggs, g neville & scholsy). One final push guys trust me i won't ask again. This year we need Premier League (to show the fools we have 19 and all recent one's not barking on history as they like them) & CL (to show Barca that they were lucky the other night). Holding of Mourinhio less Blues should be easier and seeing of Bayern & then frenchies a must. At Madrid on 22nd May we have an appointment with Barca.
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