Bloody hell, we've won it three times and we're only one behind the Scousers in League title totals. Given they haven't won it in 18 years, they are in no position to gloat over that one extra they hold over us - and even that might be for only 12 months. Three is looking a bit better on the European hall of records and puts us ahead of Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan, Arsenal and Chelsea - wouldn't be hard for the last two. We've kicked some serious arse this season.

I'm glad I got it right as I predicted last time. United would have the magical powers of destiny and fate to beat Chelsea in the final and humiliate billionaire Abramovich on his own back door for trying to buy success. It was meant to be on the 50th and 40th anniversaries. I thought it was all over as Terry stepped up but the football Gods decided to play their joker card. Bestie, Busby and the Babes made sure the ground gave way to send Terry slipping just that extra few inches to send the ball post bound.

You have to laugh at the mad fact Avram Grant would probably still be manager if Terry had scored. One cock-up on the penalty spot and Abramovich pulls the plug, throws his expensive toys out of the pram. Were is the long term vision, the consistency to look at the big picture that has kept United (and arsenal to a lesser extent) at the top over the last decade? But that's Chelsea, all money no class. Their players were led up to collect their medals by Peter Kenyon, a wanky full of shit executive who never kicked a ball in his life. United were led up by Sir Bobby Charlton, World Cup and European Cup winner and one time most famous footballer on the planet - a legend.

To be honest their was bugger all between Chelsea and United in the match and it was all down to that Terry slip. Once Anelka stepped up he had the look of a dead man walking. Penalties is not the "United way", its the "Scouse way" but we'll take the trophy thankyouverymuch and point to our goal scoring record throughout the season as evidence of goodness. It's been one of the greatest seasons in United history but yet I feel we still have room for improvement. We've had to grind out results a lot of the time so there is definitely room for more flair and attacking excellence.

Nonetheless, we are the best team in Europe, as our record throughout the competitions speaks for itself - unbeaten in Europe and Premiership champions - the stongest league that provided three of the four semi-finalists. We have made so many big teams look distinctly below standard. Inter, Roma, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern all either did well at home but poorly in Europe or vice versa. English football is so strong now that these once all powerful foreign superpowers now seem weak by comparison.

I can remember back to 2005 when we had just been taken over by the Glazers and "you know who" had just won the big cup, they unfurled a banner saying "Mission accomplished agent Glazer" and I felt totally without hope, what with that and Chelsea's dominance into the bargain. But we're on top of the world again and if we exclude the League Cup and UEFA cup as being mickey mouse trophies (which few would disagree?) Manchester United are now more successful than Liverpool! Don't believe? Well look here:

18+7+5 = 30 = LIVERPOOL
17+11+3 = 31 = MANCHESTER UNITED = THE GREATEST



MOSCOW McMONKEY

The whole Moscow thing was a bit frigging mental. Playing at 1.30am nearly 2000 thousand miles away and costing well over a thousand quid this was the football authorities aiming a full-on kick in the bollocks of the fans.

For UEFA delegates and big nobs it was all a big hoot travelling east but for me...well apart from flying to Russia, via Prague, via Helsinki, via Riga, via transcontinental Russian railway for 8 hours hunched on the floor of shite ridden railway carriage, aye it was'nae much hassle.

Of course I had me furry Russian hat as required by all visitors and was trying out the local Vodka. Not the cheapest of cities is Moscow, I stayed in 1star Hotel Stalin on the outskirts right beside an Aluminium smelting factory. The Luzhniki stadium was impressive even if the fans were sitting in a different postcode to the players. The roof was one hell of a big high bastard and overall the place was in top condition. The Russians pulled off a decent show, it wasn't their fault UEFA chose such a ridiculous venue. But nobody will ever want to trek back there for a final given the hassle and cost.

Given the potential threat of deportation to a Gulag for a bloody good hiding if there was any trouble I was on me best behaviour. Bugger it, I was so knackered by being Phileas fuck'in Fogg and travelling across Europe I had hardly the energy to go on the lash bigtime. I did get caught short in Red Square and needed a piss very, very badly. The sort of piss that threatens long term bladder damage if not released. So I saw this odd shaped building and I nipped behind it, whoosh - a torrent to rival the Moskva River sprayed out. Then I noticed what this odd shaped building was....Christ its only frigging Lenin's Tomb!!!

Next thing I'm getting laid away by an AK47 wielding Russian state trooper and a career in Siberian Salt mining beckons. But no!!! He goes. "Ah, I remember you, the McMonkey of Manchester in footbally match against FC Spartak Moscow in 1979". "Er, aye mate, thats me" I replies but not really remembering bugger. So he laughs "I let you offski this once but urination on the tomb of our beloved leader is naughty-naughty." Thank fuck, a photo and autograph and I was off the hook.

May 21st 2008 (technically May 22nd local time) was one hell of a memorable night, one of the great nights you remember for the rest of your life. I celebrated United's triumph long into the Moscow morning with United fans and locals taking drinking to a new level of insanity. So much so that next day I was accompanied by my "new Russian wife", which is going to take some explanation to current Mrs McMonkey. Hey, maybe I'll become a Mormon!!!



FERGIE: THE GREATEST EVER MANAGER

It's quite amazing to think that when Fergie took over we only had 7 titles and Liverpool had 18, now its 17-18. Time to wheel out Fergie's famous quote? "My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their fucking perch...and you can print that"

As for the European Cup, the Gaffer has got that evil monkey off his back of having only won it once, so giving our enemies ammunition to say he can't be considered a true great. They can stick it up their bollocks as Roy Keane once said. Fergie's won it twice and is now beyond reproach.

No one has won so much over such a long period of time. Excluding the three trophies before he even won the league, 1993-2008 equals 15 years of winning League titles. Two Champions League's puts him above the likes of Capello, Lippi, Trapattoni, Van Gaal, Hiddink, Mourinho, Benitez and Wenger, who has none of course! Sir Alex is now level with Hitzfeld, Ancelotti and Vicente del Bosque but even those three can't come anywhere near Fergie's staggering domestic silverware haul.

What is so incredible is he has continued to evolve were all others have fallen by the wayside. Back in 1986 when he took over English football was in a different universe to what it is today. Here's some of the names from the late 1980's/early 90's: George Graham, Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish, Terry Venables. All younger men than Ferguson but were are they now? He has kept up the standards, the desire and the determination to prove his doubters wrong to bounce back even stronger. I'll freely admit I thought he was finished a few seasons back and hold my hands up for being totally wrong.

A few months back I speculated on Carlos taking over and I was dreading it but you know, maybe it could be worth trying. If United promote from within it will keep all the attitudes and methods that Ferguson has instilled. A new manager from Italy or Spain would come in and wipe the slate clean but if he fails you've destroyed all links to the Fergie era forever.

And after all, if a man with Avram Grant's limited experience can nearly succeed than why can't our Carlos go one better? Maybe United can avoid the Busby situation as the United players train exclusively at Carrington. As long as Fergie stays away from there Carlos will be king. And there will be plenty for Fergie to do upstairs as ambassador, he'll be well aware of upstaging Carlos and will know to keep his distance.

But how long do we have before this becomes an issue? Fergie has said he is going to quit within three years but I'll believe that one when I see it. I remember him making a similar statement three years ago!!! As I've said once before Fergie is addicted to the drug of football management, the ever changing world keeps him eager for new adventures and he'll find it incredibly hard to ever give it up. Sadly time catches up on all of us, even if you are living legend. I'm sure Sir Alex secretly wishes he could find some magical fountain of youth that would allow him to go on forever. United fans would be very happy if he could as well!


SORT IT OUT RONALDO

If United are to continue to be successful we can't afford to lose Cristiano Ronaldo. The best player in the world cannot be replaced, there is nobody out there available to fill the gap of the Portuguese wonder-boy. The only alternative is Messi and I canny see Barca selling him. If Ronaldo were to go Fergie would have to reshape his team, probably for the worse. Any replacement would have to slot in smoothly which is never guaranteed and we could well lose out on a sackload of goals in the process.

I just wish he would come out and put an end to all the speculation but there is obviously something he wants and continues to play games. It's either a new improved contract or a move to Spain. Right now, Manchester United are bigger than both Real Madrid and Barcelona. We are the biggest club in the world. Our success on the pitch, added to the global fanbase makes that beyond doubt. But Manchester and North West England can never offer the Spanish lifestyle. Manchester is a brilliant city, one of the best in Europe. Yet to a foreigner like Ronaldo, from the sweltering hot island of Madeira, there must be many wet and cold mornings were he wishes he was back in the heat.

But he would be mad to go to Real Madrid right now. If he did move United fans love would turn to hatred very quickly. And far from making him a better player it could be the end of him. It could be George Best all over again, peaked at 22 then sent downhill by distractions. Ronny seems a level headed lad but the desire to play in his own part of the world in the sun and Latin people is a big draw. Hopefully he can see that right now, Manchester is the centre of the football universe. Aye its wet sometimes but it's the place to be right now and in the end I think Ronaldo will stay and common sense will prevail.




GIGGS THE GREATEST EVER RED

What about Ryan Giggs then? The greatest ever Manchester United player? I think so. I know there is an annoying modern tendency to rate current people higher than those of the past but Giggsy stretches back across 4 great United teams and 17 years.

Nobody has won more in English football history, made as many appearances for United and most importantly he's has been an utterly fantastic player for many, many years. A model professional, decent bloke, never cheated or dived and extremely loyal to United as well. All he's ever wanted was to play for Manchester United, just like any fan only he's lived the dream.

Since he arrived he was always the player that got you up off your seat. The young Giggs was an amazing sight to behold, skills and speed that brought back memories of Bestie. He was the first superstar player of the Premiership era in the early 1990's and he kept getting better. Then there was that goal against Arsenal in 1999 but it was just one of a long list of classics. He has a career that no British football can match and it's a career that has followed hand in hand with Fergie's success. Giggs has been Fergie's lucky charm!

OK he's not flying down the wing like he once was but he has hardly been the passenger some idiots like to claim he is. And he stepped up to take the decisive penalty in the final against Chelsea, cool as fuck, bang no problem. Sir Bobby will always be a legend and he'll be the 2nd most appearance holder for many decades to come. But there's' nobody better to break his record than the great Ryan Giggs. In my opinion, Giggsy, you're the now greatest ever Red!



THE DEFENCE OF ALL DEFENCES