Portsmouth v/s Manchester United

The draw at home on Game week 1 will surely be hurting United. It was a game which they should have won, hands down. They now travel to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth on what could be a very important game for the Domestic and European Champions. Monday night football promises to be a mouth watering affair if United decide to turn it on in their first away game of the season.

It will not be easy for sure as Harry Redknapp is a shrewd manager and has formed a team capable of causing a few upsets. United learnt it the hard way when they were knocked out by Portsmouth in the FA Cup Quarters (Portsmouth eventually won the FA Cup). Then the 2 teams met in a friendly where United got the better of them. The Charity Shield saw Man United win on penalties. All in all expect a tough game.


The Tevez and Rooney pairing should warm the hearts of all Red Devils. Tevez was the man of the match in the Charity Shield game. His winning attitude and approach would spur on his team mates. Campbell was unlucky on day one and I’m sure he will come up with a goal to open his account.


Sir Alex knows the importance of this game and will leave no stone unturned to ensure his team leaves with 3 points in the bag and 3rd place in the league standings. There is no way they can lose and a draw will be criminal. Let’s hope they better their last seasons start by winning one of the opening 2 fixtures.

United drew their first 2 games last season and ended as Champ10ns!!! Anyone see a “good omen”….enjoy the game all you United fans…it will sure be a late night for us.

Julien Menezes

The Season has begun

Manchester United walked out of the tunnel and onto the hallowed turf - Old Trafford. Once again, as they have done on numerous, United will take on what comes their way to defend their title as “Premier League Champions”. On hand is the game with the Magpies – Newcastle United, their whipping boys, United have rammed in 11 goals in the last 2 outings against Newcastle.

The stats said it all, it was 3 points for the taking in the 90 minutes of playing time. Well no one told Newcastle, as Keegan’s boys put on a spirited performance, soaking a lot of pressure from United’s attacking force. Campbell was all over the place and Rooney was wearing out the pitch of Old Trafford. But for all their efforts and for some inspired goalkeeping from Shay Given, United were unable to trouble the score-keepers.

It was Newcastle that went into the lead, courtesy a towering header from Martins! The United defense was nowhere to be seen, one could have forgiven the Magpies for thinking there were in dreamland. Then United did what they do best ‘get them on the counter’. Reality check Mr. Keegan, a cross from Giggs and Fletcher was on hand to send the ball past Shay Given’s defenses. 1-1 and United were back in the game.

However, Newcastle were resolute in their defense, the Argentine Coloccini had a good outing in his debut game along with Taylor. Sir Alex wouldn’t be too pleased with the result but would take the point gained as it’s important to get points on the board in the start of the season. Sadly for United, Carrick will be out for a while. With Nani suspended and Owen recovering it will tough going for United. Next up are all away games to Portsmouth and potential title challengers Liverpool and Chelsea. It’s never an easy game when playing in the Premier League and The Boss very well knows it.

These will be absolutely critical games, the teams which come up trumps will have the early advantage and momentum in pursuit of the title. One hopes United succeed in signing an out and out striker no sooner than this weekend. That will go a long way in calming Fergie’s nerves (if any).

Go United!!!

Julien Menezes

Special MUFCM Screening – v/s Newcastle United (H)

The 2008-09 season was about to kick off on August 17, 2008 against Newcastle United. Only for the second time we were about to have a screening for a match involving a team, other than the Big 3 contenders (Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool), the only other such screening was against Manchester City, when we marked the 50 th Year of The Munich Tragedy.

It was a special screening as we were about to launch MUFCM's Official Membership. Over the off season we tried to get in touch with the people at Old Trafford, in order to gain Official Status, but we came to know that, they wanted at least 50 of us to spend an insane amount of money (Rs 3000) per season, for benefits which are not that beneficial to us. So we chucked the idea, instead we thought why not start our own membership, offer people a lot of benefits, build our fan base for few years, then maybe again approach the guys at OT. A lot of work & planning went into figuring out the way the Membership Structure should be.

This is what we came up with ...

After two seasons of successful operations as a fan club, it brings us great pleasure to announce the launch of MUFCM’s Official Membership Scheme! The membership scheme will help in establishing MUFCM as an independent fan club and will encourage more Manchester United supporters to join us! The scheme consists of a 2-tiered structure as follows: Premium Membership – for the uncompromising Manchester United supporter! Basic Membership – for the Manchester United supporters who are not yet able to take up the premium membership, but still want to get associated with MUFCM!

Coming back to the screening, firstly we would like to thank everyone who came (Body Count = 20) for the screening last night. It was a special screening for us, as we Officially launched our Membership System. A screening of a match against Newcastle might not be that exciting as against any of our main rivals like City, Liverpool, Chelsea & Arsenal, so we even more appreciate the people who showed up.

The pre match videos before the match were awesome to watch, specially the Ole tribute video & the Season review video (The Flag Keeps Flying). The match was a bit disappointing, as we were expecting another Newcastle hammering, specially as we heard the news of Chelsea winning 4-0 against Portsmouth. But considering all the players we are missing, the team played pretty well, although we still would have liked to have started with a win at home. Even last Season we had started slow, hopefully like last time we start grinding out results, as all the players come back in the Team.

We already have 14 people who have signed up for our Premium membership & many more for the Basic membership. So in that respect the Screening has been a great success, although a win for United could have made it even better.

Hoping for a even bigger turn out & a better result next time round. Next up will be Back to Back screenings on Sept 13 & Sept 21, for away matches against two of our fiercest rivals, Liverpool & Chelsea respectively.

Sunil Thakur
The MUFCM Main Team

Its about to begin

The new EPL season is about to begin. Soccer crazy fans all around the world just can’t wait for kick off! For us out here in Mumbai and at the Manchester United Fan Club of Mumbai, Sunday just couldn't come sooner. It was a dream end to last season, 2 trophies for all the hard work.



The new season had a good curtain raiser in the form of the traditional Community Shield game. United played Portsmouth, the team that knocked them out of the FA Cup, and won the game on penalties (déjà vu anyone...) A win is a win and a trophy would please a United fan on any given day, and that to coming at the start of what could be a grueling season.

Chelsea, runners up (to United) in the EPL and UEFA Champions League have bolstered their team. Avram Grant has given way to Scolari (Brazils World Cup winning Team Coach, last coached Portugal in the EURO Championship 2008).

Liverpool, hopefully will standup and be counted and not just flatter to deceive in the EPL, they somehow seem to play on a different plateau altogether when it comes to the Champions League though.

Arsenal, surprisingly have let many of their star performers leave, will Arsene Wenger go the United way and put youth to the fore??Guess we will have to wait and watch.

Tottenham, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Manchester City (with Ex-United player, Mark Hughes at the helm) will be a handful. One of these teams will surely give the top four a run for their money. Though as it has been seen over the years, it’s at the final leg – post January the many of these teams lose focus and the Top Four stay as they are. Will this season be any different…

Manchester United haven’t bought any one in yet. SAF knows his team and a swoop for an imposing striker up front should come through very soon. You will not find many Star players, but you will be sure to notice hardworking Team-players who give their sweat and blood to ensure the Color of Champions is “Manchester Red”.

The season is going to have its share of thrills and spills, of sheer ecstasy and heart-break, of ups and downs, of Red cards and Yellow Cards, of super saves and jaw-dropping goals. All in all it promises to be a joy-ride for which we wish we all had season passes!! Nonetheless MUFCM has its own special way of bringing out the vociferous you to the fore in all its screenings (come watch it in a sea of red, where all that you will hear is GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED).

United take on Newcastle in the season opener, it will not be an easy game. The record books say that it will either be a draw or win for the home team. Well for us hard core Man United fans, a win will see us all go home smiling.


Julien Menezes

Hungry Kya ?

Mancehster United did the Double last season. I had started supporting & watching Manchester United since 2000, so I never knew, how did it feel, to do the Treble. I always had that regret, of not watching the 1999 season, specially the dramatic finals. Whatever United did or won after that, never seemed to satisfy me. But last season was just like a dream. United not only won the League, but also won the Champions League, that too in the 50 th year of the Munich Tragedy. Somehow it seemed like destiny, Giggs (surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton's record 759 league appearances) scoring the goal to win us the EPL, Scholes (who missed the 1999 CL Finals) scoring to take United to the CL Finals & John Terry (The Chelsea Captain) slipping when he had a chance to win it for Chelsea.

During Pre Season, I felt this void, this emptiness, as in What now ? How could this season be ever better than last season ? I wondered how SAF keeps the players motivated to keep winning. For the first time the Pre Season dint excite me, for the first time I wasn't much bothered about when the Season is going to start. I wish time could just stop here, and United would be English & European Champions forever.

But you got to move on. And so did, most of the other Teams, specially Chelsea. They have replaced Avram Grant by Luiz Philipe Scolari, the man who took Brazil to WC Glory, few years back. They brought in Portuguese playmaker Deco & his Portuguese compatriot Jose Bosingwa. The midfield looks awesome, with three match winners & proven goal scorers - Deco, Ballack & Lampard; backed up by defensive midfielders like Essien & Mikel and wingers like J Cole & Malouda. The defense has always been their strength, even their offense looks impressive with Kalou, Drogba & Anelka. With rumors of Robinho or/and Kaka coming to Chelsea they certainly have great depth in the side & would be front runners along with United to not only win the League & Champions League, but to do it by playing attractive football, something which Roman always wanted.

Chelsea were the almost team last year, they almost won the Carling Cup, almost won the League & almost won the Champions League. They certainly will be very very hungry, this season, to change the almost tag. This is what worries me the most. Will United players be as hungry as Chelsea players ? Will they be able to defend atleast one of their titles, if not both ? Will SAF outwit Scolari ?

It certainly will be the biggest test United players have faced in the last 2-3 seasons, specially as United are so close to Liverpool's league record. If United could win the League or/and Champions League again, it certainly will be one of the greatest Manchester United teams ever.

My heart says United, but head says Chelsea. Hope I am proved wrong.

Sunil Thakur