Manchester United prove they are the best – who can stop them?

It wasn’t the best game in the world and to be honest Arsenal were the better side. Yesterday’s 0-0 draw at Old Trafford was a bit of a damp squib of a game but no Manchester United fan will care in the least about that.

Eighteenth

The point they earned in this game was enough to earn them their eighteenth top flight title, their eleventh under Sir Alex Ferguson and their third Premier League title in a row for the second time.

United will now head to Rome where they will defend their European Champions League title against Barcelona with a great deal of confidence. They still have to play at Hull next week but with the title in the bag, many of their big stars will no doubt be watching that game from the stands.

Significance

The fact that this was their eighteenth title had particular significance as it took them level with Liverpool, probably their fiercest rivals. When Sir Alex took over at United he said that he wanted to ‘knock Liverpool off their perch’. At that time, of course, Liverpool had eighteen title wins to Manchester United’s seven. Not even Fergie could possibly have dreamt that things would turn out how they have.

The current Manchester United side is arguably the best one that they have had in their history. There is little doubt that it is their strongest squad. Just look at who wasn’t playing in the game against Arsenal. Ben Foster, Rafael, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Owen Hargreaves, Paul Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Ji Sung Park and Dimitar Berbatov. Add to that some of the youngsters like Welbeck and Macheda and the squad is really quite frightening.

The team that played did a professional job yesterday and have done a wonderful job all season.

Calm

In goal, Edwin van der Sar was his usual calm and effective self. Like most games, he wasn’t over troubled, but what he had to do, he did well.

John O’Shea is a real star for United. He is not one of the big names and in truth, if the whole squad was fit and available he wouldn’t even be in the team. However, he can and does step in to the team anywhere across the back four or in midfield and he scores some important goals as well.

Scary

Nemanja Vidic is as good as any centre half in the country. He is a scary prospect for any opposition centre forward and has finally filled the shoes of Jaap Stam. Alongside him was young Irish player Jonny Evans, who has been a top class deputy for Ferdinand or Vidic when they haven’t been available.

In midfield were Michael Carrick, who has become a crucial member of the side, Darren Fletcher, who I used to think was not good enough, but now helps to make the team tick and Ryan Giggs. The player’s player of the year is a phenomenen. Eleven title wins in the number eleven shirt.

Outstanding

The forward three were Cristiano Ronaldo, maybe not as great as last season but eighteen league goals isn’t a bad return, Wayne Rooney, twenty goals and some outstanding form towards the end of the season and Carlos Tevez. The reception given to the Argentinian striker by the 76,000 at Old Trafford when he was substituted tells you all you need to know about his value to the team.

I am far from being a Manchester United fan but as a lover of football it is impossible not to admire this team. I admire them in the same way that I admire Barcelona and that is why, like millions of others, I just can’t wait for the Champions League final. The two best teams in Europe going head to head. It is a mouth watering prospect.

Claims

Despite claims coming from Anfield that Manchester United are not the best side in England, they definitely are. The league table doesn’t lie at the end of the season and for the third season in a row, United sit at the top. They are the best side in England, they could prove to be the best side in Europe if they can overcome the brilliance of Barcelona. Wouldn’t it be great to have a genuine world club championship to see if they could really be the best team in the world as well.

Liverpool have pushed United close this year and Chelsea are not too far behind. Arsenal are a young side and with a couple of decent additions, they could be there or thereabouts next season. The worrying thing for them, the rest of the Premier League and maybe the rest of Europe is that after the game, Sir Alex Ferguson said that they would be ‘giving it a real go again next year‘.

Other than possibly Barcelona, can anyone really see anyone else around that can stop them?