Posted on 05/11/2008 11:45:58 PM PDT by L.A.Justice
Manchester United won the English league title for the second year in a row and the 17th time overall, defeating Wigan, 2-0, Sunday on the last day of the season, but it was Ryan Giggs who perhaps achieved the greater feat.
The former Wales winger appeared in his 758th game for Manchester United, tying the record set by Bobby Charlton four decades ago. Giggs can break the record if he plays in United's May 21 European Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow.
The 34-year-old has been a part of each of United's 10 league championships under Coach Alex Ferguson and also has seven more winner's medals from other tournaments.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored United's first goal, his 41st of the season in all competitions, and Giggs added another goal after coming in as a second-half substitute.
"He's a credit to the game," Ferguson said. "I've known him for 20 years and for him to equal the record on the day he scored the goal that wins the title for us is fantastic."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
David Beckham must be happy now that his old team won...He was quoted in news stories.
Now the question is whether Man U will beat Chelsea in Moscow next week...in the Champions League final.
Can I just interject here: SOCCER SOCCER SOCCER!!!
They must be favorites to do it. Winning the league ahead of Chelsea gives them a big psychological edge, and Chelsea had a couple of key players injured in their last game.
I’m just happy Full-America did not get relegated.
As soon as the All-Whites get a cooler sponsor than LG I will get a Dempsey or a McBride jersey.
I want Premier league logos on it;not Championship league stuff on it.
Arsenal seemed to lead most of the early season. And Chelsea was always a strong contender. But I’m glad to see the Devils take it again.
I’ve been a long time lurker, but never felt qualified to post before as I’m only just starting to wake up from the knee jerk-left wing positions of my youth.
However, football is one subject I am qualified to talk about: Fulham are “The Cottagers”, not “the all whites.” (Tottenham are closest to that nickname, as they are “The Lillywhites”)
:)
GO REDS!!!!
So, are they over the concerns about US owners (the Bucs’ Glazers)?
John Terry's injury is not as bad as expected he dislocate an elbow, not break an arm, so will be OK for Moscow. Drogba should be fit too, he has ten days to recover.
Man Utd have a poor record head to head with Chelsea. They have only beaten them twice in their last six meetings. They lost the FA Cup final to Chelsea last season.
You can also figure that Chelsea will be made to feel much more at home in Russia than Utd given that Chelsea is owned by Roman Abramovich, one the worlds wealthiest people who is Russian and make sure his team is well looked after.
Wish we had more EPL fans here at FR. This was the first year I followed it from start to finish.
United may have won it, but they still lost twice to City.
Man U had some interesting games...Like losing to West Ham at West Ham...Like losing to Portmouth at Old Trafford,in a FA cup game...
Speaking of Manchester City...Its Thai owner is very likely to fire the manager.
I am more familiar with EPL players than MLS players...I am wondering if Thierry Henry will really come to America to play when he’s about to retire...
I am also happy that Fulham didn’t get relegated. What if Fulham did get relegated? Would US Coach Bob Bradley still select McBride, Dempsey, and Bocanegra for the National Team?
Reading got relegated...It has an American goalkeeper, Marcus Hanneman(?).
By the way, Mohammed al-Fayed owns Fulham. He’s the father of late Dodi Fayed...Remember late Princess Di?
I think Arsene Wenger is a competent manager...But, his key players were injured...Bad luck...Guys like Van Persie, Rosicky, and Eduardo...Remember Eduardo broke his leg in a game against Birmingham...A Birmingham defender tackled Eduardo very hard...
I guess Man U supporters have learned to “tolerate” US owners...
It doesn’t seem like Sir Alex has difficulty working with US owners...I am sure that Sir Alex will get necessary funds during the summer transfer market.
Liverpool...That’s something else. Many Liverpool fans really seem to dislike Tom Hicks, an American, and George Gillete, a Canadian. I read one anti-Hicks column by some English guy. He mentioned that Hicks and Prez Bush were close. (To him, that’s a negative.)
Grant’s record against Man U: 1 win / 1 loss
I think Jose Mourinho, the ex-Chelsea manager, had a good record against Man U.
Chelsea might have a “home-field” advantage...
In fact, there are rumors that President Bush wants to buy back the Rangers from Hicks once he’s out of office, so that will free up Hicks to buy out Gillete and become the sole owner of Liverpool.
Arsenal just fell apart in the last third of the season after leading most of the year. Lots of serious injuries.
“Gunners til I die!”
Grant’s loss was his first game in charge (at 3 days notice) of a team that was in shock at the departure of Mourinho. Being put in charge of a team and then sent straight to Old Trafford is about as bigger baptism of fire you could conjure up.
Chelsea’s good record v Man Utd pre-dates Mourinho. Chelsea have the best record of any team visiting Old Trafford. Man Utd have a poor record at Stamford Bridge.
So considering it’s a neutral venue, taking the away form v each other, Chelsea have the edge.
Cry me a river.. Every team loses key players and you have manage around the problem. Arsenal lost fewer than most this season.
Look at West Ham (9 players injured), look at Chelsea losing 5 key players to the African Cup of Nations for 6 weeks, as well as having Ballack out for 4 months, Joe Cole out for two months, Carvalho out for 6 weeks, Cech out for 4 weeks, Lampard out for 4 weeks....
Injuries are no excuse for Arsenal's failure (again) this season.
I really doubt that Arsenal board will fire Wenger though...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.