It's been a weird decade. The last one was one in which United dominated domestically, but failed all the time in Europe, until 99. This decade started just after the historic treble year, and there was so much promise in the side that it could continue to dominate for a long time to come. Unfortunately, like in the 90s it took too long for United to rediscover top form in Europe, we had to wait until 08 for a Final, and another victory in Moscow, in 09 unlike in 00 we were able to continue the good form in Europe, and reached another final, before been completely outclassed by Barcelona.
Domestically, we had a very long dry patch (by our own recent standards) where Arsenal were able to win the League, at Old Trafford as well, Wiltord you ba$tard. Then billionnaires attacked the Premier League, and Chelsea under Mourinho began what looked likely to be a long period of dominance, then after a measley League Cup victory, United were able to grab hold of the League again, and win it three years in a row at the end of the decade, just like at the end of the 90s.
It took us years, and many mistakes to replace Schmeichel before VDS popped along, and now at the end of the noughties we are once again looking for a replacement keeper. We signed arguably the best ever Premier League player in Ronaldo, it was an absolute privalege to watch him play, we had a superb goalscorer in van Nistelrooy arrive after many years of trying, and we signed the best young kid this country has produced for a long time, and who can forget [ithat[/i debut. Stam, Beckham, van Nistelrooy and Keane all fell out with Fergie and left the club, it took us a while to get a replacement for Keano, where noones like Djemba-Djemba and Miller had a go. Ryan Giggs became our leading appearance maker, and became the most decorated player this country has seen, now we're left with the task of trying to find his replacement before it's too late. Solskjaer was forced to retire after years of injuries. And there can't be a passage of the decade without mention to the greatest player of all time in Dong, gifting us with his excellence.
Glazer took over and plunged the club into masses of debt, hiking prices up and including the dreaded ACS, which ultimately led to me not renewing my season ticket.
Personal highlights include Real Madrid's original Ronaldo single handedly knocking us out of the Champions League at Old Trafford, although gutting, I felt I had witnessed something special, seeing Cristiano Ronaldo just about single handedly own the Premier League, Wayne Rooney's home debut, the 7-1 victory over Roma and of course [ithat night[/i in Moscow. It was magic.
Heartbreaking moments include Porto knocking us out in the last minute, and seeing Mourinho sprint down the touchline, Wiltord winning the Premier League at Old Trafford and Liverpool bending us over at home last season.
It was a decade that started with so much failed promise, it wilted in the middle, before rising to excellence at the end, leaving the noughties just like we ended the 90s: a team full of promise.
Here's to the next ten years starting with an FA Cup third round tie against a third division Leeds team.
