So, 18-all: how arsed are you?

[Paul]

Obviously it's not great that they've caught us up, but I'm surprisingly OK about it. First of all there's no arguing with their superiority over the catch-up period: they've been largely superb and we've been largely shite and you can't quibble with that. That said, the same two things would be more galling if we hadn't had such a credible campaign this season, showing that we are unequivocally serious challengers from now on. I'm not too sure whether I'll be feeling as relaxed about things if there's a similar outcome next season, but for now I feel more like the bar's been raised just as we've got a new-found spring in our step. What say y'all?

[Thants]

I'd like to force Ferguson into retirement by winning the next few years. It'll mean more now.

[Carradona]

I'm not arsed that it is 18-18, I'm just hurt from watching the same thing for most years of my life.

[James Dean]

Not the least. Honestly.

[Lefti]

I'd like to force Ferguson into retirement by winning the next few years. It'll mean more now.

 

Agreed. That would be the best scenario, win the league and CL in the next 2 seasons, send Ferguson into a retirement with us back on top :yes:

[Paul]

Sorry for the fuck up on option two - I exceeded the character limit and then everything went mental for a minute. I think the gist of it is still clear though.

[sir roger]

Don't get too wound up much by stats , and am already champing at the bit for the start of next season.

[King Emlyn]

Gutted, a very sad day.

[Baldi]

Don't get too wound up much by stats , and am already champing at the bit for the start of next season.

 

SO SAY WE ALL !!!!

[Kevin D]

More hungover than anything else but I didn't know they'd won it 'till I saw this thread. Given that football does not end tomorrow, I can say that their equalling out haul bothers me however us not winning the league for 19 years is starting to piss me off.

[lfc123]

We'll piss the league next season.Bring it on.

[Guest Ulysses Everett McGill]

Not half as much as I thought I would be, but it's still early.

 

Possibly because they went on a fantastic run to take the title as opposed to us bottling it.

 

It's also strangely comforting to see the with thier "18 times and thats a fact" banners.

 

Melancholy is possibly the correct term for it

[Section_31]

Third option for me.

 

Our history can be a millstone around our necks at times, and perhaps now we've got a purpose again. To take it back.

[Paul]

Don't get too wound up much by stats , and am already champing at the bit for the start of next season.

I don't feel massively confident about next season simply because Rafa is so unpredictable, in my opinion. However, the reason my disappointment is not as intense as I expected is because I now know we are good enough to go all the way and that has not been the case for almost twenty years. When you look at it like that, it softens the blow somewhat - it's taken them twenty years just to pull level.

[Joe Strummer]

We can't say it hasn't been coming. Amazing that at one time it was 18-7 to us. As has been said before on these pages if we win next year or the year after to go 19-18 it will be extra sweet. I don't think anyone has won 4 successive titles.

[Hyppia 4]

Too much emphasis has been placed by both us and the media on "18" each year is a new challenge and while I am extremely proud of our history I have never felt the need to shove it down everyone's throat ever 5 seconds as some people do, nor have I needed to use it to win arguements like some alamo of the ignorant.

 

Of course I want us to remain the most succesful team in England but the reason is not so I can sing about how "we won it 5 times" or tell everyone about our 18 league titles, it is so we can add to our illustrious history and enjoy each moment as it happens.

 

Bragging rights is one thing but we should never lose sight of why we really follow our team and why it means so much for us to compete every season.

[Paul]

Not half as much as I thought I would be, but it's still early.

 

Possibly because they went on a fantastic run to take the title as opposed to us bottling it.

 

It's also strangely comforting to see the with thier "18 times and thats a fact" banners.

 

Melancholy is possibly the correct term for it

Actually, that's a very good point. We've got at least a year of gloating to contend with - and not just from them either.

[lfc123]

Next season we WILL win everything! I just know it.

[Eldrich]

Knew this day was coming for a long time. God help any manc who says anything to me. This summer is soooo critical for us.

[Acid]

I think I will be more bothered if they pass us. Ive never seen us win the league so its only a record to me, its not like its something I remember us earning.

[Tossed and blown]

showing that we are unequivocally serious challengers from now on.

 

I'm worried that many are assuming that just because we got close this time, we're automatically going to do it next year. Arsenal won't be as bad again, and if the Chelsea intake of manager and players gels quickly they'll certainly be a threat. It would be a particularly dangerous assumption for the players to make.

 

That said, we've good reason to be optimistic for next year.

[Brownie]

I'm devastated and feel like crying.

 

I'm encouraged by how well we've played in the last couple of months, but that means fuck all in the grand scheme of things. You don't win anything for progress, as 2006 showed us.

 

I've just had a text off a Manc season ticket holder which said:

 

Could easily have been different if Torres and Stevie G had been fit all season

 

I think that shows how well we've done this season but I repeat, that means nothing in the grand scheme. There's no guarantees about next season other than the fact that if we don't do it, we'll actually be behind them in the grand total of titles.

 

There's nothing to cling to me for me, today.

[James H]

The European record means more to me than the league record, most likely because the last time we won the league I was too young to appreciate it, whereas I felt very much part of it in 2005.

 

But records don't last forever. Even if they won it next year we could win it the next two and vice versa.

[ratcatcher]

I blame david moores for years of stagnation.

[lostinspace1970]

Too much emphasis has been placed by both us and the media on "18" each year is a new challenge and while I am extremely proud of our history I have never felt the need to shove it down everyone's throat ever 5 seconds as some people do, nor have I needed to use it to win arguements like some alamo of the ignorant.

 

Of course I want us to remain the most succesful team in England but the reason is not so I can sing about how "we won it 5 times" or tell everyone about our 18 league titles, it is so we can add to our illustrious history and enjoy each moment as it happens.

 

Bragging rights is one thing but we should never lose sight of why we really follow our team and why it means so much for us to compete every season.

 

Totally agree.....part of the reaction of their fans is the whole 18-5 thing. It's a great history we have, and we should always remember it but now we need to move on. This season is over bar wrapping up second place and sending Sami off in style. I think we have seen huge progress this year. We can call this a serious challenge for the first time in ages while acknowledging that it could have been even better. Highlights for me are the Mancs and Real thrashings.

 

Also, huge credit to all of those who have fought and continue to fight the Justice campaign.

 

YNWA