CELEBRATE THE DAY

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Manchester United midfielder Scholes retires

* Scholes to take up coaching role at Old Trafford

* Ferguson hoped midfielder would play another season

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes retired on Tuesday, with the 36-year-old opting to stay at the Premier League champions in a coaching role rather than extend his playing days.

"This was not a decision that I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing," Scholes said on the club website (www.manutd.com).

"To have been part of the team that helped the club reach that 19th (league) title is a great privilege."
Scholes will take up a coaching role at the club he spent his entire career and he will make one final appearance in a United shirt for a testimonial in August.

The combative midfielder made 676 appearances for United, picking up 10 Premier League winners' medals as well as helping his club to three FA Cups and two Champions League titles.

"I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do and to have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour," Scholes added.

Manager Alex Ferguson had spoken previously about hoping to persuade Scholes to follow in the footsteps of 37-year-old midfielder Ryan Giggs in signing on for another year.

Instead, Scholes follows goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar into retirement and presents Ferguson with another big hole to fill.

"We are going to miss a truly unbelievable player," Ferguson said.

"Paul has always been fully committed to this club and I am delighted he will be joining the coaching staff from next season.

"Paul has always been inspirational to players of all ages and we know that will continue in his new role."

manchesterunited 5/31/2011 09:38:00 AM

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Monday, May 30, 2011

LONDON - Bersara dalam nada kecewa. Penjaga gol Manchester United, Edwin van der Sar terpaksa merenung kesilapan pasukannya selepas kalah 1-3 kepada Barcelona, semalam.

Juara Sepanyol itu merangkul gelaran Liga Juara-Juara buat kali ketiga dalam enam musim, membenam United dua kali dalam tiga tahun, menyaksikan karier Van der Sar berkesudahan gawangnya dibolosi tiga kali.

"Kami melakukan satu atau dua kesilapan dan kami dihukum. Barcelona terlalu unggul, langsung tidak dapat digugat. Sememangnya perit untuk tewas, namun apakah daya.

"Saya tidak pasti kalau saya mampu menghalang gol Lionel Messi. Saya fikir saya telah bersedia di posisi yang tepat tetapi David Villa menghalang penglihatan saya.

"Kami bermula cemerlang pada 15 minit pertama, sama seperti 2009 di Rome dan kami sepatutnya cuba mencari gol awal tapi gagal," jelas pemain Belanda itu.

Barcelona terlebih dahulu berada di depan apabila Pedro yang tidak dikawal mudah merembat masuk ke kiri gawang United, namun Rooney menyamakan kedudukan tidak lama kemudian.

Van der Sar sekali lagi dibolosi di sebelah kiri kali ini angkara rembatan kencang Messi dari luar kotak penalti pada minit ke-54.

Biarpun dia cemerlang menyelamatkan beberapa cubaan berbahaya selepas itu, dia langsung tidak terdaya menghalang gol David Villa pada minit ke-69 menerusi rembatan lambung menarik.

Van der Sar kemudiannya terus muncul penyelamat United untuk mengekalkan kedudukan 3-1 kekal sehingga wisel penamat.

Di sebalik kekecewaan kelmarin, Van der Sar telah menikmati karier hebat bersama skuad kebangsaan Belanda, Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus dan Fulham sebelum menabur khidmat di Old Trafford sejak 2005.

Dia menjadi pemain penting dalam banyak kejayaan United termasuk menjulang kejuaraan Liga Perdana awal bulan ini.

"Bukan semua pemain dapat menamatkan karier dengan sempurna, tapi saya mahu berterima kasih kepada semua di atas segala pengalaman pahit manis yang diharungi bersama," katanya. - REUTERS

manchesterunited 5/30/2011 10:13:00 AM

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LONDON - Manchester United telah gagal sama sekali mengekang dan 'menguruskan' kelincahan pemain tengah Barcelona, Lionel Messi selepas dikecewakan 3-1 pada perlawanan akhir Liga Juara-Juara di Stadium Wembley, semalam.

Seperti sebelum ini, United tidak ada jawapan kepada corak hantaran cantik kesebelasan Barca, malah hilang cengkaman ke atas Messi yang mudah mencerai-berai benteng juara Inggeris itu.

''Mereka memukau kamu dengan hantaran bola yang cukup hebat. Messi bukan puncanya tetapi ramai orang bercakap mengenainya . Kami sememangnya gagal mengekang pemain tengah itu (Messi).

''Kami cuba bermain dengan gaya kebiasaan kami. Malah, cukup janggal bagi kami untuk mengawasi setiap pemain. Kami telah cuba bermain seperti biasa, namun tidak cukup bagus dan kami akur,'' kata Ferguson pada sidang akhbar, semalam.

Semalam, United bermula dengan baik, namun selepas ini mereka mengulangi persembahan tidak konsisten, sama seperti menentang lawan yang sama pada perlawanan akhir 2009.

Pedro meletakkan kelab Sepanyol itu di depan pada minit ke-27, namun permainan kembali rancak selepas Wayne Rooney menjaringkan gol penyamaan tujuh minit kemudian.

''Semasa kami bernafas semula (penyamaan) saya mengharapkan mereka bermain dengan lebih baik lagi, namun tidak seperti yang diharapkan.

''Mereka (Barca) langsung tidak memberi muka kepada kami dan mereka berhak menang selepas mempamerkan permainan yang cukup menghiburkan,'' ujarnya.

Ferguson yang telah membimbing United untuk tiga gelaran Liga Juara-Juara dalam tempoh empat tahun berkata, halangan besar yang menantinya selepas ini ialah mencari ramuan untuk berdepan Barcelona selepas ini.

''Ini bukan mudah, namun itulah cabarannya dan kita tidak sepatutnya takut. Cabaran selalu dikaitkan untuk membaiki diri anda dan pasukan. Saya berpendapat kami memiliki pemain yang bagus dan ia perlu digilap dalam tempoh percutian ini.

''Kami sangat stabil di Eropah dan mungkin kekalahan 1-3 ini tidaklah seteruk 4-0 kepada lawan yang sama beberapa tahun lalu (1994). Ini adalah permulaan kebangkitan kami.

''Namun, jika anda bertanyakan saya tentang mereka (Barca). Ya, mereka adalah satu-satunya pasukan paling hebat pernah saya temui sepanjang menjadi pengurus pasukan,'' katanya. - Reuters

manchesterunited 5/30/2011 10:12:00 AM

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Friday, May 27, 2011

Ranking Ferguson's champions

This season, you could hardly move for pundits reminding everyone that this is not the best team Sir Alex Ferguson has ever managed.

Which rather raises the question - what is?

So, with the help of some United experts, I have ranked all 12 of Ferguson's title-winning sides based on their ability, their achievement and their entertainment value.

And with the current team a couple of days away from a Champions League final against a formidable Barcelona side, they find themselves bottom of the pile.

Of course, this is a highly subjective process and no doubt you will disagree with the order below.

Have your say in the comments section at the bottom.

- Teams are ranked based on performance in all competitions.
- Sample XIs are based on impact and significance, not the number of appearances.

12 - 2010/11 - Trophies: Premier League, Champions League finalists
Sample XI: Van der Sar, Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Hernandez
A team whose level of success was inversely proportional to the number of flair players on the pitch. Top scorer Dimitar Berbatov and leading assists provider Nani both ended the season on the bench, but Javier Hernandez's insertion at Berbatov's expense was crucial. The Mexican's pace stretched the game, allowing Wayne Rooney space to return to his best after a year in the doldrums. Defensively, United were less formidable, surrendering several two-goal leads. Despite their supreme self-belief and admirable ability to rise to the occasion, United would not have been champions if not for an extraordinary mid-season collapse by Chelsea.

11 - 2000/01 - Trophies: Premier League
Sample XI: Barthez, G Neville, Stam, Brown, Silvestre, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Sheringham, Solskjaer
Ferguson stretched his squad rotation to the limit in a season when only Gary Neville started more than 30 league games, and Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer supplanted Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole as the preferred strike duo. At 35, Sheringham won the PFA and Football Writers' player of the year awards. Yorke scored a hat-trick within 22 minutes in United's 6-1 demolition of Arsenal at Old Trafford. But United again failed to kick on in Europe, losing home and away to eventual champions Bayern Munich.

10- 1996/97 - Trophies: Premier League
Sample XI: Schmeichel, G Neville, May, Pallister, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Butt, Giggs, Cantona, Solskjaer
Eric Cantona's final season at Old Trafford saw a less-than-vintage side win the title. May and Johnsen both struggled to replace Steve Bruce, while big summer signings Karel Poborsky and Jordi Cruyff flopped. With Cole out for much of the season following an encounter with Neil Ruddock, it was left to the unheralded Baby-faced Assassin Solskjaer to pick up the goalscoring slack. Following a three-game autumn losing streak in which they shipped 13 goals, United went on a 16-game unbeaten run and finished seven points clear of Newcastle.

9- 1999/00 -Trophies: Premier League
Sample XI: Bosnich, G Neville, Stam, Silvestre, P Neville, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Cole, Yorke
Otherwise known as the season of unfettered hubris. Having conquered Europe, United abandoned the FA Cup to gallivant off to Brazil for the new FIFA Club World Championship. They got their just desserts, going out in the group stage following an embarrassing lesson from Vasco da Gama. And in Europe too, they got their come-uppance in the form of a 3-2 defeat at home to Real Madrid - featuring Fernando Redondo's back-heeled mockery of Henning Berg. Domestically, United were still untouchable, winning the title by 18 points. Even with Mark Bosnich in goal.

8- 2008/09 - Trophies: Premier League, League Cup
Sample XI: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov
For all Ferguson's ruthlessness in axeing big egos, his handling of Cristiano Ronaldo showed a more pragmatic side. Amid fervent speculation over the Portuguese's future, the manager coaxed one more season out of the Portuguese before giving him his move to Real Madrid. Following Berbatov's deadline-day arrival Carlos Tevez repaid extraordinary fan support by sulking his way through a season on the fringe of the first team, playing badly and whingeing constantly about his contract - then he wondered why United declined to pay £25m for him. And it is worth noting that Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes's careers appeared to be winding down, as they were used sparingly - with Darren Fletcher suspended, United were overrun by Barcelona in the Champions League final.

7- 2006/07 - Trophies: Premier League
Sample XI: Van der Sar, G Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Saha.
A hugely significant title, after three barren years that featured Arsenal's Invincibles and the apparently unstoppable emergence of Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. Key to this was the new-look defence, featuring Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra who arrived at Old Trafford in January 2006, plus the increasingly imperious Edwin van der Sar. Ronaldo and Rooney provided youthful exuberance while Ferguson pulled off the loan of Henrik Larsson, whose 13-game stint fans remember with reverence. Chelsea got revenge with an extra-time FA Cup final win, while Milan knocked United out of Europe in the semi-finals.

6- 1992/93 - Trophies: Premier League
Sample XI: Schmeichel, Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, Sharpe, Ince, McClair, Giggs, Cantona, Hughes
After 26 years without a title, it hardly mattered how United ended the drought. In the end, they did so by lifting the best player from rivals and defending champions Leeds. Cantona's arrival in December gave United the skill, imagination and above all the confidence to crack it at last. Had Ferguson succeeded in signing David Hirst instead, it could all have been so different... Although the team hardly oozed goals (67 in 42 league games) and were dumped out of the UEFA Cup in the first round, this was the start of a glorious era.

5- 1995/96 - Trophies: Premier League, FA Cup
Sample XI: Schmeichel, G Neville, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Butt, Giggs, Cantona, Cole
'You'll win nothing with kids.' Yes you will. Having lost the title to Blackburn, Fergie responded with an audacious clearout, shifting Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and Andrei Kanchelskis. While the manager deserves credit for giving his Fledglings a chance, rarely has any team had a crop of similarly-aged players as good as David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Scholes and the Nevilles. Cantona returned from his kung-fu-enforced absence and scored the only goal in vital 1-0 wins over Newcastle, Arsenal, Tottenham, Coventry and FA Cup finalists Liverpool as United clinched their second double.

4- 2002/03 - Trophies: Premier League
Sample XI: Barthez, G Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea, Solskjaer, Keane, P Neville, Scholes, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy
Adversity brings the best out of Ferguson's side, and United reclaimed the title after surrendering it to Arsenal at Old Trafford. Perhaps the best individual seasons from Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy (64 goals between them) achieved success for a side that was a couple of players light at the back and in transition further forward. Beckham caught a stray Fergie-propelled boot to the face, ended the season on the bench and was ushered off to Real Madrid. Juan Sebastian Veron played slightly more games in midfield than Phil Neville, but the latter gets the nod in our XI thanks to his supreme performance in the 2-0 win against Arsenal, which ended the Gunners 54-game scoring streak.

3- 2007/08 - Trophies: Premier League, Champions League
Sample XI: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Carrick, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez
Man for man, this might just be the most talented team Ferguson has constructed. It featured Ronaldo at the peak of his powers, scoring 42 goals, plus Rooney and a pre-strop Tevez beavering selflessly away for the team. It had Rio Ferdinand and Vidic in form and injury-free, and it had Owen Hargreaves before chronic knee trouble derailed his career. This team's defensive resilience proved the key to their Champions League triumph - they conceded just twice in seven knock-out games (and only scored seven). This was a hard-headed team built to conquer Europe - as Rooney's conversion to a wide midfielder shows - and it succeeded, but without the panache of previous sides.

2- 1993/94 - Trophies: Premier League, FA Cup
Sample XI: Schmeichel, Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, Kanchelskis, Keane, Ince, Giggs, Cantona, Hughes
Probably the most fondly-remembered United vintage by the fans, this wonderfully exuberant side won the double but miss out on top spot due to their failure in Europe - knocked out of the Champions League in a chaotic tie against Galatasaray in an era of foreign player quotas. With Giggs, Andrei Kanchelskis and Lee Sharpe flying down the wings, Cantona creating magic and Mark Hughes scoring big goals - plus a relatively short-lived Roy Keane/Paul Ince tandem snarling away in central midfield, this is arguably the quintessential Alex Ferguson team. Their comeback from two down to beat City 3-2 was a classic Fergie blend of supreme skill, bloody-minded determination and an insistence in doing things the hard way.

1- 1998/99 - Trophies: Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League
Sample XI: Schmeichel, G Neville, Stam, Johnsen, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Yorke, Cole
Only once (in 1996/97) have United won the title with fewer points than the 79 they claimed in the treble-winning season. On the upside, they did win the treble. Football is a game defined by moments, and the 98/99 supplied these in abundance. Solskjaer's four goals from the bench at Forest, Cole's final-day winner against Spurs, an FA Cup semi-final replay with that penalty save and THAT Giggs wondergoal, and of course the maddest, most thrilling Champions League campaign imaginable - capped off by the stoppage-time mugging of Bayern Munich. That United managed to produce so much dramatic entertainment and win everything makes this a once-in-a-lifetime season from a remarkable side.

manchesterunited 5/27/2011 12:31:00 PM

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Thursday, May 26, 2011

DE GEA bakal menggantikan tempat van der Sar

LONDON - Manchester United mendapat suntikan semangat menjelang aksi final Liga Juara-Juara menentang Barcelona di Stadium Wembley, Ahad ini.

Awal pagi semalam. pengurus United, Alex Ferguson mengesahkan juara Liga Perdana England itu hampir menandatangani penjaga gol Atletico Madrid, David De Gea.

De Gea, 20, dijangka akan menjadi penjaga gol utama bagi skuad The Red Devils musim depan sekiranya berjaya melengkapkan perpindahan yang dianggarkan bernilai £18.3 juta (RM91 juta).

"Kami sudah lama mengenal pasti dia (De Gea) sebagai pemain yang sepatutnya berada dalam pasukan ini.

"Dia sangat pantas dalam posisinya dan pengganti yang hebat kepada Edwin van der Sar.

"Salah satu kualiti menakjubkan yang ada dalam diri van der Sar ialah ketenangan dan De Gea juga memilikinya."

Minggu lepas, Ferguson memberitahu bahawa mereka kini sedang mencari seorang penjaga gol apabila van der Sar, 40, akan bersara selepas aksi final Liga Juara-Juara.

Ferguson dan jurulatih penjaga gol United, Eric Steele telah menonton aksi De Gea ketika kelabnya menentang Valencia, September lepas dan sejak itu mula memantau perkembangan prestasinya.

United juga telah mencari beberapa pemain lain bagi menjadi pengganti Van der Sar antaranya penjaga gol Schalke, Manuel Neuer yang beraksi menentang pasukan itu pada separuh akhir Liga Juara-Juara.

Begitupun, Neuer, 25, memilih untuk berpindah ke Bayern Munich.

Penjaga gol Ajax, Maarten Stekelenburg dan Sporting Lisbon, Rui Patricio turut menjadi antara calon pilihan Ferguson.

Pembelian ke atas De Gea dilihat sebagai satu perjudian oleh United kerana pemain itu baharu saja menjadi penjaga gol utama Atletico Madrid sejak 18 bulan lalu.

Begitupun, Ferguson jelas sekali nampak keistimewaan tersendiri bintang skuad bawah 21 Sepanyol itu yang sememangnya mempunyai impian untuk beraksi di Old Trafford. - Agensi

manchesterunited 5/26/2011 11:03:00 AM

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Champions League - Giggs plays as United lose to Juve

Manchester United star Ryan Giggs escaped the media storm around his private life to pay tribute to long-time friend Gary Neville in the former United captain's testimonial against Juventus at Old Trafford.

Father-of-two Giggs, 37, was named on Monday as the married footballer involved in a controversial privacy case. Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming used parliamentary privilege to name him as the Premier League player who took out an injunction over his relationship with 28-year-old reality TV star Imogen Thomas.

Amid that maelstrom, Giggs probably found the football pitch a place of peace. It certainly appeared so as he drove the low cross into Wayne Rooney's path that put United ahead in the 2-1 defeat.

Rooney had been a surprise inclusion and the striker lasted half an hour before he was replaced, along with Giggs and Paul Scholes.

The latter duo are members of the famed 'Class of 92', of which Neville was also an integral part. With Nicky Butt, Phil Neville and David Beckham also reporting for duty, the sextet boasted an impressive 3,323 United appearances between them.

For Beckham in particular, it was an emotional night as he pulled on the famous red jersey for the first time since he left for Real Madrid in 2003. The reception Beckham received was, if anything, more enthusiastic than the one afforded to Neville.

At times, it was like the years being rolled back as the pair combined down the right flank, as they did so often for the Red Devils in their prime.

Michael Owen, who played so often alongside Neville and Beckham for England, nodded one of the full-back's trademark crosses over. Owen also blazed over from a Bebe cross not long after Simone Pepe had equalised for Juve.

Anderson and Rafael were introduced after the break, when Beckham curled a trademark free-kick narrowly over from the edge of the area.

Neville's night ended after 83 minutes, the former England full-back leaving the field to a well-deserved standing ovation. By that time, Manuel Giandonato had curled home a superb winner for Juventus.

manchesterunited 5/24/2011 11:00:00 AM

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Monday, May 23, 2011

Park nadi United lawan Barca

MANCHESTER: Park Ji Sung bakal memainkan peranan penting untuk Manchester United pada aksi final Liga Juara-Juara menentang Barcelona, menurut bekas pemain di Old Trafford, Nicky Butt.

Ketika United memenangi Liga Juara-Juara 1999, Paul Scholes dan Roy Keane digantung perlawanan dengan Butt menjadi nadi jentera tengah United.

Kini dia menjangkakan Ji Sung akan menjadi nadi United untuk mengganggu gandingan Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta dan Xavi Hernandez apabila mereka berdepan kelab gergasi Sepanyol itu di Stadium Wembley, hujung minggu ini.

“Park mengharungi musim yang luar biasa,” kata Butt. “Dia mengalami kecederaan selepas kembali daripada Piala Asia namun sejak itu sudah mempamerkan persembahan hebat.

“Semangatnya menakjubkan. Dia boleh mengubah permainan dan membuat hantaran yang mudah,” kata Butt. “Namun dia juga berupaya untuk mara ke depan dan kadang kala menjaringkan gol yang penting.” - AFP

manchesterunited 5/23/2011 03:08:00 PM

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MANCHESTER: Pengurus Manchester United, Alex Ferguson mendedahkan penjaga golnya, Edwin van der Sar pernah menimbang untuk mengubah keputusannya bersara musim ini.

Penjaga gol berusia 40 tahun itu kini bersedia untuk beraksi pada perlawanan terakhir liga menyarung jersi United apabila menanti kunjungan Blackpool dalam saingan Liga Perdana Inggeris dengan pemain Belanda itu turun sebagai kapten.

Van der Sar akan membuat persediaan untuk penampilan kelimanya pada final Liga Juara-Juara menentang Barcelona di Stadium Wembley, minggu depan.

Berikutan persembahan baiknya, rakan sepasukan Van der Sar memintanya untuk mengubah fikiran.

Bekas penjaga gol Fulham, Ajax and Juventus itu bagaimanapun tidak mengendahkan rayuan itu - namun kemudian dia berfikir untuk meneruskan aksi sebelum mengesahkan keputusan awalnya dengan United yang kini sukar untuk mencari penggantinya.

Ferguson dalam nota program untuk perlawanan menentang Seasiders menulis: “Edwin memutuskan untuk bersara ketika di puncak prestasi, sekalipun fikirannya tidak menentu minggu lalu.

“Dia berjumpa saya dan memaklumkan untuk mengubah semula keputusannya.

“Saya memberitahunya sudah segera membuat keputusan kerana kami dalam proses untuk menyelesaikan perjanjian mendapatkan penjaga gol baru.

“Dia kembali beberapa hari kemudian dengan berkata untuk kekal dengan keputusan asal iaitu bersara dan ia usia sesuai untuk dia melakukannya.” - Agensi

manchesterunited 5/23/2011 02:09:00 PM

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Sunday, May 22, 2011

Premier League - United relegate heroic Blackpool

Blackpool were relegated from the Premier League after losing 4-2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

After Ji-Sung Park put United in front, a magnificent Charlie Adam free-kick and a Gary Taylor-Fletcher strike turned the match on its head.

But in a season of heroism but ultimately failure, Blackpool's familiar defensive problems undid them as Anderson, an Ian Evatt own goal and a Michael Owen strike put some gloss on the scoreline for the champions, sending the Seasiders down in 19th place.

Much pre-match speculation surrounded the United teamsheet, with Alex Ferguson's side preparing for next week's Champions League final having already wrapped up the league title.

But Ferguson put a stop to the controversy by picking a surprisingly strong squad, with Edwin van der Sar made captain on his last appearance at Old Trafford.

Of the starting XI, Van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Park can expect to be named in the side against Barcelona at Wembley, while Rafael, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Nani and Dimitar Berbatov could all be involved.

Adam's role in Blackpool's season can hardly be overplayed. His sensational performances inspired them to unimagined heights, before him transfer-saga-inspired slump saw the Seasiders tumble into danger - only for an upturn in Adam's form renewed hope of safety.

Within seconds, he created a golden opportunity for Keith Southern, pulling the ball back from the left side, only for Southern to screw his shot badly wide. Minutes later, he drove a low cross in from the left that Taylor-Fletcher slid for but came up a stud's length short.

At the other end, Matt Gilks held a Rafael volley before Berbatov's sublime turn and shot forced the goalkeeper into more decisive action.

Individual defensive errors have proved Blackpool's downfall all season, and so it was on 21 minutes when Berbatov played Park through. Evatt appeared to have it covered but inexplicably overran the ball and Park chipped the ball almost apologetically over Gilks.

It might have got away from Blackpool. Adam was lucky not to concede a penalty for a rash tackle on Park, while Berbatov forced Gilks into another save following more chaos at the back.

Five minutes before half-time, Adam produced his piece of magic. Blackpool had a free-kick in a central position, 25 yards out, and the Scot swerved a low shot beyond Van der Sar's outstretched paw, and in off the base of the right-hand post.

Events at Molineux meant that goal lifted Blackpool out of the bottom three, and they went even further clear on 57 minutes when Taylor-Fletcher finished a brilliant move, guiding the ball in off the far post from David Vaughan's cross.

Could Blackpool hold on to their precious lead? As so many times this season, the answer was an emphatic 'no'.

Six minutes later, it was all too easy as Park rolled a low ball inside from the left for Anderson, who guided a first-time shot past Gilks.

Then came Evatt's moment of horror, as he slid to cut out a Chris Smalling cross but succeeded only in slicing it beyond Gilks - a moment of calamity that summed up Blackpool's season, but which the courageous Evatt did not deserve.

It was left to substitute Michael Owen to deliver the coup de grace, breaking through the offside trap and finishing coolly.

Late chances for Adam and Luke Varney came back off the woodwork, but by that stage even a draw would not have been enough.

Old Trafford gave Blackpool and their manager Holloway a rousing ovation on the final whistle - they are gone but not forgotten.

manchesterunited 5/22/2011 09:45:00 AM

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