The end came for me on New Year’s Day, 2011 – and it came on a toilet at The Hawthorns. It wasn’t the way I’d have chosen to finish, but I knew for certain that this was my last game. After 18 years at Manchester United, after 602 first-team appearances, I was in the middle of playing for my team for the last time. And I couldn’t wait for it to be over. In the dressing room, the manager was barking instructions about how we were going to improve on a dire first half performance against West Brom.

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Like thousands of Manchester United fans – and possibly many City ones, I cannot decide what to make of the shock, free transfer move by Owen Hargreaves to the blue side of town. Why? By all reports, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, West Brom and a number of Championship outfits showed interest in signing him so why go to a club where his chances of even getting a seat on the bench will be highly improbable. You would think that after so long without kicking a ball, giving himself the chance of getting as much game time as possible – and an opportunity to prove his fitness, would have been his major objective.

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New Manchester United defender Phil Jones could start Monday’s first home game against Spurs following injuries to Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael, and his impressive display as a substitute at West Brom. Not the easiest of home debuts for a 19 year old against one of the anticipated title challengers. Jones and 23 year old Jonny Evans are likely to line up at the heart of the defence with Chris Smalling in at right back. Jones will be hoping for a better experience than his maiden Old Trafford appearance with former club Blackburn Rovers as the youngster recalled in this interview with manutd.com’s Nick Coppack

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Welcome to the sixth episode of the “Red Dead Podcast”, the preeminent Manchester United podcast for Truly Reds, brought to you as always by Tom “Darren Fletcher” Addison and Liam “Wrestlemania” Brown.

This week we’re taking a look at United’s performances against West Brom and Man City in recent weeks and the hysteria surrounding two mistakes made by new boy De Gea in both of those games, as well as assessing City’s chances in the league this season (thanks to their latest signing) and also those of Arsenal (thanks to their latest departure).

We’ll also be discussing the rumours regarding a potential share issue by United on the Singapore stock market, but most importantly we’ll be delving into the issue of why United fans seem to use the same song for so many players (with Ashley Young being the latest victim)

Comments, feedback and questions are greatly appreciated, you can contact us on reddeadpodcast@hotmail.co.uk (no spam please, neither of us have a desire to get “ripped” in six weeks, nor meet local slags in our area)

Remember, you can also follow us, and Truly Reds, on Twitter: @TrulyReds @TomRDPodcast and @LiamRDPodcast

Join us again soon, where we’ll hopefully be discussing a United home win against Tottenham, and anything else that tickles our fancy.

Manchester United may have picked up three points from their opening game at the Hawthorns but Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind will be full of questions. Captain Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand will need to be assessed for the calf and hamstring problems that heralded their second half departures. Ferguson will need to find some confidence for De Gea. In addition to a crash course in dealing with crosses, the Spaniard’s inexplicable error in gifting West Bromwich Albion an equaliser turned his Premier League debut into a disappointing one.

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Manchester United started their journey to win their 20th Premier League title with an away victory against West Bromwich Albion. Wayne Rooney scored United first goal of the season in the 14th minute. Shane Long pulled WBA level in the 38th minute. But with nine minutes to go, Ashley Young ran into West Brom defence and his cross was deflected in off Reid to gift United their first three points of the season.

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