Just hours from the new season kicking off and as always, every man and his dog are fearlessly giving their predictions of what the outcome in May will end being. The majority of them mean very little as they are only based on sheer guesswork and wishful thinking so Truly Reds has decided that rather than play that pointless game, we should simply nominate what is admittedly nothing more than a wish list.
As United fans we obviously want the Reds to win every singly trophy they play for but that’s hardly realistic so we decided that if United can only be successful in winning one, we wish that to be the Premier League which will be the 19th title we need to break the long standing record currently shared with Liverpool. Apart from that, we are prepared to watch everyone else fight for the remaining ones. That includes the Champions League but we must confess that it will be rather nice to at least reach the final.
The next will be to take a minimum four points from the matches against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City – and that does not mean two drawn matches. One win and a draw to shut their mouths will do very nicely thank you.
While Truly Reds wishes the very best of luck to every single Manchester United player, two in particular deserve a little bit more than their colleagues. Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov had what can only be described as disappointing seasons during the last campaign leading to widespread calls for both to be shown the door by Sir Alex Ferguson. They are undoubtedly valuable players who can add much quality to the team so our wish is for both to enjoy a season in which their true worth is rediscovered.
Paul Scholes may be entering his last season having never been voted the PFA Player of the Year or Footballer of the Year award that he so richly deserves for his remarkable contribution to United and to English football itself. For Scholesy to finally pick up one of them before hanging up his boots must be a wish which is carried by many fair minded football students.
Injuries cost dearly last season, arguably even the title itself, which is why one of our dearest wishes is have a change of luck and only experience a bare minimum of them. Granted, Ferguson has a squad large enough to generally cope but the horrific run experienced last year is far too big a handicap for anyone overcome.
Every United fan must remember those disgraceful refereeing decisions given to Chelsea in both our matches. You cannot help but wonder what might have been if only one of them went our way instead therefore, one of the major wishes is not to have a result and even the title race decided in such a manner again.
There’s little doubt that this will be the farewell season for one or more of our veterans so it will be amiss of us not to wish whoever it may be a successful and memorable campaign with which to end a long and brilliant career.
Finally a wish that does NOT directly concern Manchester United but one which is without doubt shared by thousands of fans at every other single club – apart from our crosstown friends of course. That wish is for Manchester City not to be rewarded by ANYTHING for the way it is ruining the game by the senseless splashing of its millions.
Like all reports, the latest one may or may not be correct but if there’s any truth in the speculation that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is being offered £500,000 a week, yes, HALF A MILLION POUNDS A WEEK, to move to Eastlands from Barcelona, it will be the absolute height of crass irresponsibility. If the Blues end up empty handed it will clearly demonstrate that throwing millions at everything that moves does not necessarily return the success that they are so desperate for, no matter how much they crave it.
What great wish do you have for United in the season ahead?
