Will The Red Flag Fly Or The Blue Moon Rise?

The sun will set and the skies will turn dark over Manchester on Monday evening as the atmosphere and anticipation finally hits boiling point. Two Mancunian football teams will emerge from the Ethihad tunnel entering a cauldron of noise and hatred.

The time will have finally stopped for the talking and mind games, as Manchester City go into battle against rivals Manchester United to give us a clearer indication as to what colour ribbons will be attached to the Premier League trophy in a couple of weeks time.

 It could be reminiscent of a gladiator style bout in the Colosseum, minus the claret and fatality's.Both sets of players and supporters will know fully how huge a victory would be for their team and the statement it would represent. Will the red flag be flying high? Or will it be eclipsed by the blue moon that is evidently rising?

Its a clash of huge importance at the Etihad Stadium on Monday evening, its worthy of the title "the biggest derby ever" because quite simply, it is. Its a situation that has only become possible and made a reality,by the injection of Sheikh Mansour's billion pound war chest. Who's to know where City would be without their billionaire saviour? Certainly not challenging Manchester United for the league title.

The implications of a victory for either Manchester side are simple to understand. If City win, the title is then theirs to lose, a win for United will virtually, but not mathematically, guarantee that it will be the red side of Manchester who will be crowned Premier League champions for a record 20th time. A draw would be of more significance for the current champions rather than City as the gap would stay at three points with only two games remaining.

In the past, a fixture for City against United at this late stage of the season, would have represented nothing more than a chance for them to derail the reds title charge. Tomorrow that scenario is no different, City are still looking to put a spanner in works, but have the added incentive that for the first time in over 40 years, they have something to play for themselves, a shot at taking control of the chase for the Premier League title, and knowing that if they win their remaining fixtures they will be champions.

United reluctance to land the fatal blow and end this title race has seen a significant turn around at the top. The eight point advantage the reds had earned, has been cut to only three points following surprising results against Wigan and Everton that resulted in five points being surrendered. City have been playing with little pressure on them as Mancini claimed the race for the title was over, a comment the Italian still stands by but who is he trying to kid? If City win this fixture, the destiny of the Premier League crown will be controlled by his team. 

Its a must win game for City if they are serious about their title dream, United however will be looking to avoid defeat to strengthen their stranglehold on a trophy they are only too familiar with. What better way to win the league than to win it in your neighbours backyard, on their turf, in front of their supporters? United supporters on the other hand will certainly not want to see a certain individual from Argentina teeing off in front of them or stood with his ears cupped. Hopefully it lives up to the hype that has surrounded it for the last week.

Recent form: Man City – DDLWWW; Man Utd – WWWLWD

My Top 3 United Players For The Season

With remaining fixtures still to play in the Barclay's Premier League, I have decided to choose my top three Manchester United performers of the season regardless of what happens in the next couple of weeks. Its been a tough choice to make as I have chopped and changed my top three performers over the last few days, cutting it down from a strong five, to my top three.

In reverse order .........

Many supporters will argue that Wayne Rooney should probably be top of this

list when you consider his goal return this season for the reds, but I think Rooney's form has not been as consistent as in previous seasons by his personal extraordinary high standards.

Rooney has partnered Hernandez, Berbatov and Welbeck upfront this season and has been deverstating in front of goal showing versatility and maturity in his game.

He has scored important goals this season, his work rate and ability to showcase his talent in the big games make him one of the Premier League best players of all time, and he is still at the age where he is yet to hit his full potential and peak form. The majority of United supporters would include him in their top ten greatest United players of all time, me included.

Rooney is Uniteds talisman figure in the side since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid, a player others look too for inspiration and leadership, he will have a strong case for being Uniteds next full time club captain when the role next becomes available.

Number 3: Wayne Rooney

What can you say about Paul Scholes that has not already been said before? He is simply one of the greatest players to ever grace the Old Trafford pitch, or any football pitch for that matter, and he has the glowing catalogue of references from people within the game to back it up.

Scholes retired from United at the end of last season after helping the reds claim a historic 19th English League title. Four months into this season United stunned supporters by announcing that he had made a dramatic U-turn and returned to

the club to start on the bench in the FA Cup meeting with rivals Manchester City.

His impact on his return to the team was instant, it was almost like he had not been away from the club. At a time when United were struggling in the midfield department, Scholes quickly re-stamped his authority and ability to change the tempo of games. Add to that his extraordinary range of passing and experience, and it is no surprise that since his return Scholes has not been on the losing side of a game that he has started, that has seen United overtake neighbours City at the top of the league.

Scholes looks set to stay on another year at Old Trafford, that will only enhance his legendary status with supporters at the club.

Number 2: Paul Scholes 

The player I have chosen as my Manchester United player of the season was not a tough choice to make, and I believe he fully deserves all the credit and praise he has received this season.

Jonny Evans has been fighting for a place in the starting eleven at United since his return from a successful loan period at Sunderland. He was viewed by many supporters as a squad player, a  player that you could rely on when called upon to do a job. Evans himself admitted that he tough his chance of regular first team action at United would never become a reality.

When central defender and club captain Nemanja Vidic suffered knee ligament damage that ended his season, Evans was handed the chance by Sir Alex to step up and fill the void left by the injured Serbian international, and what a sensational impact he has had on the first team since.

Filling in for Vidic was a daunting task for the young Irish man, but he has stepped up to the plate, and its testament to Evans that United don't really seem to have missed losing Vidic.

Evans is currently one of the first names on the United team sheet, Vidic will have a fight on his hands to win back his place in the team if Evans continues his impressive, consistent, solid form.

Number 1: Jonny Evans

Love United Merchandise, Hate Glazer?

In 2005 Malcolm Glazer completed his take over of Manchester United by buying out shareholders, It was a deal that give the American tycoon a controlling stake at the Old Trafford club. The move was fiercely opposed by supporters of the club because it saddled the club with a massive debt and huge annual interest payments.

Some supporters were so outraged and angered by the Glazer take over of the Manchester club, that it resulted in them refusing to renew their season tickets for the following season under the Americans ownership.

It was a big statement of intent by a certain section of supporters, who disillusioned with the way the club was being run, decided to set up and follow another club named FC United of Manchester, a club that still to this day averages attendances of 2,000.

To give up your season ticket in demonstration of the take over, was considered quite an extreme decision to make. To refuse the opportunity of renewing your season ticket, just meant that somebody on the waiting list would be happy to inherit it and pay the rising annual season ticket fees that the new owners put in place.

So the next statement to make, without giving up going to watch United, was to keep your season ticket, but boycott purchasing any products or sponsors products associated with the club. The most blatant of sins being purchasing official Manchester United merchandise.

Shortly after the take over the "green and gold" campaign was launched. This was an opportunity for supporters who had decided to keep their season tickets, the chance to publicly and visibly, vent their anger and hatred towards the Glazer take over. This was achieved by purchasing a green and gold scarf, the original colours that Manchester United played in when formally known under the name of Newton Heath.

The slogans stitched on the scarfs had the initials "LUHG" (Love United Hate Glazer), and "Green and Gold Until The Club is Sold". To purchase and wear one of these scarfs was a statement, you were basically saying that you love united, but are opposed to the owners. It was a campaign that gained much media attention and hostility towards the Glazer family. Supporters launched demonstrations before, during, and after games, that were televised and seen worldwide.

The questions I am asking myself now are, seven years on from the Glazers take over of the club, has the green and gold scarf lost its sense of statement and importance? Do the supporters buying them now realise what it symbolises? Or did David Beckham make it a fashion accessory, by draping one around his neck after a champions league clash with AC Milan at Old Trafford in 2010?

Any supporter would have noticed that over recent years the campaign has visibly deteriorated from what it was when it was at its strongest. The Stretford End would have been awash with the green and gold colours in the prime of the anti Glazer protest. Today, supporters are no nearer warming to the Americans, but supporters choose to make their statement by wearing plain clothes.

In 2010 following a Champions League clash with AC Milan, David Beckham picked up a green and gold scarf thrown from the Stretford End and wore it around his neck, sparking controversy as the media claimed he was making a statement against the owners. Beckham was quick to talk down the tabloids take on it, but it does make you wonder if he actually made it lose it's sense importance as overseas supporters suddenly viewed it as the next must have Beckham fashion accessory.

My problem with certain supporters today, are the ones who wear the green and gold scarf around their neck, with a United shirt proudly hanging off their shoulders. Or the ones that come marching out of the official megastore with bags in both hands, and a anti Glazer scarf on. Can anybody tell me exactly what point or statement these people are trying to make?

The picture above is a picture I took at Old Trafford on a match day of a supporter in a United shirt and a anti Glazer scarf. Without actually speaking to the man in question, I somehow doubt that he was an anti Glazer extremist, and entered the ground proceeding to sing about how he would cut Malcolm Glazer up from head to toe.

The scarf they wear states that they are opposed to the current owners, it could even say they "hate" the owners on it, but yet they are happy to line their pockets by purchasing official merchandise? In theory It is hypocrisy, they are wearing something that symbolises their allegiance to one cause, and at the same time, financing something that they are opposed too?

The sad thing is that the anti Glazer scarf seems to have lost its sense of importance,status and meaning. Instead of being a symbol of how strongly you feel against the Americans take over of United, it has almost become a fashion accessory for tourists and day trippers who visit Old Trafford on match days. To wear a green and gold scarf with official Mancheter United merchandise shows you have a sense of confusion and conflict of allegiance.

@KevinAshford7

One Hand On The Trophy

The red side of Manchester has one hand firmly gripped on the Premier League trophy, after a hard fought win against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood park, put the current English champions five points ahead of rivals Manchester City in the race for the title.

Its a scenario that seemed very unlikely a month ago when City were five points ahead of United. In typical fashion, Sir Alex's men have found another gear in their pursuit of the league title in the second half of the season, something that they have almost become accustomed too over the years.

United's ability to grind out results when not playing particularly well, and being able to string an impressive number of wins in a row together, shows that experience in a title run in is unfortunately for Manchester City, something that money cannot buy.

In January the return of Paul Scholes prompted rival supporters to poke fun at United and taunt them about bringing back a player who was supposedly past it. They claimed United had no money to bring in a midfielder and that the move had a hint of desperation about it. Scholes has been instrumental in Uniteds current run of form, his calming effect in the middle of the park, and his experience have seen the reds stamp their authority in midfield.

Its been a strange season so far, without being disrespectful to the current crop of players, I think this is not the strongest squad or starting eleven that Sir Alex has had at his disposal in his time at Old Trafford. It's a team critics believe have not even hit top gear and have not performed particularly impressively. This is a team with no ego's and apart from Wayne Rooney, no real superstars. Its a team that functions and knows how to get results when it matters, a team who play for each other and are willing to fight whenever the going gets tough.

It would be a little premature to suggest that the title race is over, but a win against QPR on Sunday at Old Trafford, could trigger bookmakers to start paying out on punters who put money on United retaining the trophy. A win would put United eight points ahead in the early kick off, leaving City with a tricky looking fixture at the Emirates against Arsenal, who are still fighting to wrap up a Champions League spot.

Its all "ifs" and "buts", but one thing is for sure, Antonio Valencia's exquisite finish against Blackburn with ten minutes of the match remaining, could be looked back on at the end of the season as the goal that basically clinched a record 20th League title.