Interview: Manchester United fans

We managed to catch up with Paul Freeman who runs the www.unitedonfire.co.uk website, as well as United fan Stuart Parish ahead of Monday night's match at Old Trafford. Our thanks to both of them for their time.

How do you think your season has been so far?
PF: So far so good, the hiccup against Bolton last week so far. It started slowly when we had injuries and suspensions but we managed to grind out a few results to get our season going. Then we went on a spree where we couldn't stop scoring. Obviously, we'd have preferred a win over Arsenal and it was gutting when they scored in injury time, but looking back it was a good result (better than last season). I hope that the loss to Bolton is a rare mistake.

SP: I think Fergie has made some excellent buys, especially Tevez, him and Rooney are an absolute joy to watch, so much for the press saying they wont be able to play together, Fergie has also added a couple of exciting young players in Nani and Anderson, who have brought our average age down considerably, alongside Hargreaves, we know have a squad who can challenge on all fronts. We are also playing attacking football, which is what this clubs built on, we have won five out of five in the Champions League and are not too far behind Arsenal in the Premier League, so no complaints here, our dreams of the League cup will have to wait another year though.


Who have been the stars for you so far?
PF: We are a different team with Rooney and Ronaldo in the team, it almost goes without saying. Who wouldn't be? But the best, most consistent player has been Nemanja Vidic. A rock in defence, and also seems to make Ferdinand play to his best ability. Another player looking good is Anderson. With a reported price tag of £18million, he should be good, but we've been surprised quite how well he has been doing, and as a result, how little we've missed Paul Scholes.

SP: For me, personally, I think our defenders deserve a lot of credit for the start we have had, Patrice Evra has been immense since the season started, but Carlos Tevez has been unbelievable, his work rate, skill, vision, commitment, has been second to none, I can see him becoming a bit of a United legend if he carries on the way he is playing over the next few years.


Anyone you’re disappointed with?
PF: Your ex-player, Louis Saha. I think, because he has been out so much with injury he just hasn't been able to get a run of games in. With only three strikers available, we need him to come in and do well now, but in the last two games, he has been poor. When he was in a good run of form last season, he was the key player in our team.

SF: Saha doesn’t seem at his best yet, but he hasn’t played much so hopefully he can get match fit, and I would like to see Hargreaves start more with Anderson in the midfield.


What silverware will you end the season with?
PF: I'd like to think we can win the league and Champions League this season, but most likely just one of the two. We are already out of the League Cup and we'll do well in the FA Cup again, probably. I think the league will be hard to win this season, Arsenal are looking very good, and Chelsea have quietly got themselves back into the race.

SF: The title is the one most reds want, but we need to prove ourselves in Europe too, if I had to choose, I’d take the title every time, its harder to win and a true test of any team.


Is there anything about your team/its tactics you'd change?
PF: I'd like to see another striker come into the squad, but apart from that, I think it is spot on. The 4-5-1 formation is mostly long gone.

SF: I can’t understand why Fergie plays John O’Shea in so many different positions than defence, but he’s won nine Premiership titles, so who am I to judge?


Who would you like to see take over from Fergie?
PF: Hard question. I think it will probably be Queiroz and Fergie will go just as soon as we win the Champions League (so another 5 seasons then). I'd like to see an ex-Red get a go, and of the current managers I think Mark Hughes has done a great job at Blackburn, so I'd go for him.

SF: I honestly have no idea at the moment, I see Fergie being around for a few more years yet, so it would be best to make that judgement then.


How do you view the Glazers?
PF: They have plunged the club into debt and raised ticket prices so the fans are paying for their own club. I think worse is to come. I fully support MUST (Manchester United Supporters Trust) and hopefully one day the Glazers will sell up.

SF: Would you trust a family that to a man wear NHS specs? My season ticket has risen by over 40% since they took over, we are now saddled with even more debt, all season ticket holders have been forced into the Automatic Cup Scheme, so you could say there’s a lot of bad feeling amongst match going reds about the price hikes, especially the ACS.


What's your view on Fulham this year?
PF: I think you will do enough to stay up this season. You are currently top of the relegation third of the Premiership and as long as you pick up points against your rivals, you will stay up. Have to say that I prefer Chris Coleman to Lawrie Sanchez as a manager though. I did think you were relegation bound at the start of the season.

SF: Honestly, I haven’t seen you play at all, so I can’t comment, a lot of United fans tend to be very insular and only follow United or results which influence United, that’s what I am like, if United aren’t playing, I’m not really bothered.


Any of our players you're wary of?
PF: Danny Murphy because he always seems to score against us. Well, when he was at Liverpool anyway. Maybe David Healy will start to reproduce his Northern Ireland form against the bigger Premiership teams.

SF: Same as above.


Where do you think we’ll end up?
PF: There are at least 3 sides much worse than you, so to pick a place completely at random, 14th.

SF: Mid table.


Who will be relegated?
PF: Derby, Birmingham and Wigan. Although Sunderland and Middlesbrough are looking really suspect as well. It is hard to say (apart from Derby) because even a team reasonably placed in February can go on a dreadful run and go down.

SF: Hopefully Bolton, Middlesbrough and Wigan, in terms of football they don’t offer much to the premiership


What will the score be on Monday night?
PF: Ok, I'm dreadful at picking the right score, so whatever I say will be wrong. Of course, I think we'll win, and the score will be 3-1 (Rooney, Tevez and Ferdinand for us, Murphy for you). So, now I've predicted that, it will be 1-0 to Fulham

SF: United 2 – 0 Fulham