League
Cup
This
competition has never held a special place in the heart of
Manchester United fans, the fact that the club has only won
it once (1992) and lost three finals (1983,1991,1994) hasn't
helped. Also the fact remains, none of the major European
leagues have a second cup competion and the trophy itself
is incredibly unimpressive, like some antique turd bowl with
handles. And, not forgetting the competition's numerous name
changes: The Milk Cup, The Littlewoods Cup, The Rumbleows
Cup, The Coca Cola Cup and now The Worthington Cup. With the
expanded Champions League United can't get knocked out quick
enough from this bag of pants tournament.
Leeds
United FC 
Leeds United Association Football Club seem
to think they are some sort of equal to Manchester United.
Their fans, like most rivals, despise United's wealth and
fame but Leeds fans have a extra special level of hatred for United,
which nobody is quite sure were it came from.
It is most likely
that they have adopted United as their "derby game" across the Penines because
games against the two local Sheffield teams (Wednesday and United)
are rubbish non-events. They also hate the way there is only
one "United" in Britain, when people talk about "United" they
always mean Manchester United, never Leeds United, as if only
one club matters and the rest don't (Which is true, of course).
Their team was dominant in England in the early 1970's, although they
consistently messed up and won nothing like they could have.
They were a savage nasty bunch as well, who ironically were
the most hated team in the land, just like the 90's Manchester
United. The image of thuggery both on and off the pitch continues
to haunt Leeds to this day but they have a surprisingly large
support for a team that has only won one trophy in 25 years
- mostly the result of this successful period in the 70's.
The clash of the United's of Lancashire and Yorkshire always
means more to Leeds fans than Manchester United's. It is the
first fixture they look for on the list, especially the home
game, as they can make Elland Road a right little intimidating caldron of hate for the
Reds. However United have a far better record in head to head
games (United versus the Premier
league) which embarrasses and enrages the Leeds fans even
more.
And lets not forget the Eric Cantona element. He was Leeds
best player in their 1992 League title win over United and
for a ludicrously small fee of £1.2 million was
sold to their most bitter, hated rivals and went on to become a
legend and help United to five years of unparalleled success.
Some Leeds fans have still not gotten over it, but then there
is Leeds beating Arsenal 1- 0 so handing United the title
in May 1999, Rio Ferdinand and the betrayal of "Leeds through
and through" Alan Smith to Old Trafford in May 2004 to keep
the fires of bitter bile burning.
As it stands today potless Leeds are totally and utterly f**ked,
competing with Manchester United is no more than a distant
memory. Will they ever be back? Will they even survive?
Who knows? Who cares?
| Leighton, Jim: 1988-1993
As a part of Alex Ferguson's trailblazing fine Aberdeen team, goalkeeper Jim Leighton won the Scottish Cup four times, the Scottish League Cup twice, as well as the Cup Winners' Cup in 1983 and two Scottish Premier League titles in 1984 and 1985.
A reliable solid shot stopper for club and country, in 1988, Leighton followed Fergie south to Manchester United for £750.000. After two decent season's he suffered an alarming drop in confidence in the FA Cup final 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace. Ferguson took the ruthless but correct decision to drop him in favour of reserve Les Sealey for the replay - a decision that devastated Leighton who never forgave his manager. Sealey kept the No.1 shirt for the following season and Leighton never played again for the Reds. A move to Hibernian however in 1993 saw him on the up again.
Leighton is Scotland's most capped goalkeeper and second most capped player behind Kenny Dalglish. He ended his career in 2000 retiring from after the Scottish Cup final, which unfortunately saw him taken off injured after just 3 minutes.
|
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Nationality
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Scotland
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Date
of Birth
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|
24/7/1958
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Appearances
|
|
94
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Goals
Scored
|
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0
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Liverpool
FC 
For Manchester
United fans there is no more hated team than Liverpool Football Club AKA "The Scousers", "Mickey Mousers" or as some might say "The Bin-dippers" or alternatively, "The Grannystabbers". The
team that dominated the late 70's and 80's before the success
disappeared up their arses in the 90's has a long history
of rivalry with Manchester United however the cities of Manchester and Liverpool were rivals many lifetimes before a ball was even kicked.
While Scousers are often renowned for having a fabulously funny native wit and charm, Mancunians would strongly disagree (as would 39 Juventus fans for that matter). Despite being just 30 miles apart they have always had totally different cultures and attitudes. Liverpool was once a proud and wealthy port city built on shipping, the slave trade and seamen.
Manchester was by contrast an industrial mecca of magnificent mills and factories producing the goods that fuelled the British Empire. The rivalry became tense with the building of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894 - a cunning attempt to outdo the Liverpool docklands by bypassing them altogether!!!
As Liverpool's shipping industry collapsed in the mid 20th Century, the city became a slum-ridden, crime-infested, dole-skiving, festering boil on the arse of Britain. Meanwhile hard-working Manchester continued to thrive. It became the hub of the Northwest and today challenges Birmingham for the title of being Britain's second city, after London obviously.
Bitter jealousy grew from the devastated Scouse hoardes but in their darkest hour a Scotsman called Shankly planted the seed than would spurt forth a most foul bush. The rest was history and soon it was the turn of Mancunians to cast jealous eyes Westwards as United floundered for decades. Until another Scot called Ferguson knocked them off their perch....and so the cycle of hatred never ends!!!
In the 1990's United really rubbed the Scousers noses in it by winning relentlessly while "Pool" (as nobody calls them), sunk into mediocrity. United became the biggest club in the world, Liverpool could barely claim to be in the top 10. Scousers resorted to endlessly whining about past glories and denied any United's achievements because they "did not match what
Liverpool done in the 80's".
Their own laughable "Treble" in 2001 was hyped up to the point of claiming the additional Charity shield and Euro Super Cup amounted to an unprecedented five trophy haul!!!! They did of course stun the planet with that baffling Champions League win in 2005 to the utter disbelief of world football and themselves. But even with that success they still come nowhere near challenging Manchester United to be the biggest club in Britain.
The bitterness is based upon denial and jealousy, of course for while Liverpool had
all that success in the past who was still the biggest club
in England? Despite languishing in the old 2nd division for a season and only winning 3 trophies between 1968 and 1990, who was the most supported, most famous the world over? Manchester United!!! And why is this? Why did
Liverpool not take over from United as English football's top club despite cleaning up home and abroad for nearly two decades?
The answer is, that when you get right down to it, football
is all about entertainment. Winning isn't everything and quality counts more than quantity. Liverpool where/still are, a dull and
often cynical team to watch, whereas United have always tried
to play exciting, attacking football. It doesn't always work
or bring trophies but when it works.........well we all know
what its like to see Manchester United in full flow don't
we?
Liverpool have never had the flying wingers of United
like Best, Giggs, Kanchelskis, Coppell, Hill and Ronaldo. They have never had one player that could ever be described
as a genius like Best or Cantona, or a Wayne Rooney. Players that capture the
imagination of supporters the world over. The name "Manchester
United" conjures up images of exciting, stylish, magical football,
outrageous comebacks, drama and controversy.
The name "Liverpool"
makes you think of crushingly dull success in the 70/80's and
their passing game but there's not a lot of really inspiring
stuff. Look at the disgracefully negative attitude they had
throughout the UEFA Cup in 2001 and Champions League in 2005. They won it, but without
style or flair that will be remembered in 20 years time. In short they bored the crap out of everybody and played to the lowest common denominator, they dragged better teams down to their level.
In 1990 Liverpool where League champions and the 90's looked like another
great decade for them, yet within 3 years United were champions
and the rest is history. Success must never be taken for granted and Fergie won't be around much longer to ensure the pre-eminence
of the Old Trafford empire. Football can be a cruel, vicious monkey, it can throw its best friend out of the tree while
handing free banana's to its deadly rival. However, United's wealth and world power is such that while Liverpool
might win a trophy every so often, the dark days of total Liverpool domination
are gone for good.....aren't they?
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