A Life Watching Manchester United by Brennan Chris

Author:Brennan, Chris [Brennan, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2015-10-17T16:00:00+00:00

Natalie on a tour of the Old Trafford dressing room

How many players have felt inspired or petrified walking down this famous tunnel, ready to take to the Old Trafford pitch?

The press clipping from my Daily Mirror competition win when United drew 2-2 with West Ham United. I have this moment to really thank for setting me firmly on my career course.

CHAPTER 7

The 1997-98 season

Life after Le Magnifique

United fans were facing a first season without their famous up-turned collared-hero Eric Cantona for the first time since 1993.

There was still a shock to the move amongst United fans and indeed a sense of what life would be like afterwards, when a man, who had been credited with such an effect on young stars coming through like Beckham, Scholes and the Neville's.

As a direct replacement for Cantona, Ferguson went to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 1997 and snapped up England international Teddy Sheringham for £3.5 million.

Cantona's exit also meant Roy Keane was promoted to captain.

United went into another Charity Shield match with FA Cup winners Chelsea.

The Old Trafford side edged the match 4 - 2 in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley to win another Shield after a 1 - 1 draw.

As fate would have it, United's first game of the new Premier League season, took them to none other than Tottenham.

Former Spurs favourite Sheringham, now in the red of United was given a raucous reception by his old fans.

In a tight match United were awarded a penalty - but Sheringham spurned it, hitting the post.

However as the match seemed destined for a draw, United rallied, scoring twice in the last 10 minutes, firstly from Nicky Butt and then a Ramon Vega own goal.

United also enjoyed wins over Southampton, Everton, Coventry and West Ham as they made a commanding start to the season.

They needed an 86th minute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goal to salvage a 2 - 2 Old Trafford draw with Chelsea, before ending September with a 1 - 0 reversal at Leeds as they sat second.

They were most definitely amongst the goals in October however.

Newly-promoted Barnsley visited Old Trafford and it turned into the Tykes' Theatre of Screams as Andy Cole scored a hat-trick, Ryan Giggs two and Paul Scholes and Czech Republic international Karol Poborsky the other in a 7 - 0 win, United's biggest of the season.

Sheffield Wednesday suffered similarly in the next game, Fergie's side routing them 6 - 1, with Sheringham this time with the treble.

Wimbledon and Blackburn were hit with similarly big defeats before Christmas saw United sitting pretty at the top with festive wins over Aston Villa, Newcastle, Everton and Coventry.

1998 got off to a wobbly start though, with Arsenal just hitting form, and United lost to Southampton and Leicester.

A crucial late show saw them defeat Aston Villa 2 - 0 on February 18th, Beckham and Giggs scoring in the final seven minutes.

But United couldn't string a run of wins together and they lost to Wednesday and Arsenal with a draw at West Ham in March.

By

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