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發表於 2005-12-2 07:42 PM
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前晚主場對西布朗之前，為佐治貝斯舉行悼別儀式，但格氏成員竟然全體缺席
No Glazers but Best show
Thursday, December 1, 2005
from the Guardian
'True to form, the Glazers sent their apologies last night, apparently
deciding this was not an occasion worthy of their presence. It is a strange
set-up that Manchester United's owners should be absent when the club bids
farewell to George Best but, then again, did anyone actually want them here?
As Old Trafford basked in nostalgia, it would have felt incongruous in the
extreme to see the Glazers fixing their most wooden smiles on a night of
such genuine emotion and warmth.
Far better for those who came to commemorate Best's life that they should do
so in the company of men who will always be guaranteed a warm reception at
this stadium. It is doubtful the Glazers could have named even three of
Best's former team-mates who had reconvened to pay tribute to the man that,
as Tina Turner reminded us, was simply the best. The old-timers played an
integral part on a night of rich memories, an occasion that will be
remembered for much more than the goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha
and John O'Shea that eased United into the Carling Cup quarter-finals.
There has been so much to divide United's supporters during this annus
horribilis, whether it be Sir Alex Ferguson's apparent decline, Roy Keane's
acrimonious exit, the breakaway FC United or that open sore, the Glazer
takeover.
But as Old Trafford stood to acclaim their old hero, as "Georgie Georgie -
Belfast Boy" was pumped out on the loudspeakers and an A-Z of former
Stretford End favourites lined the pitch this felt like a moment when the
fans could reidentify the greatness behind the club and remind themselves
why the name of Manchester United holds its lofty position in the sporting
world.
Old Trafford, once again, felt like a cathedral with something to worship.
"The entire Manchester United family is here," observed Sir Bobby Charlton.
As for the Glazer family, their love for Old Trafford is such that on this
momentous occasion, when the club paid tribute to a man who had enriched the
lives of so many people, not one of those self-styled "lifelong fans" felt
it necessary to make the transatlantic flight from Tampa. These are men
whose hearts are aligned to Wall Street stoniness rather than Mancunian
sentimentality.
Somebody should buy them The Official History of Manchester United as a
Christmas present. Or show them a picture of the kaleidoscopic floral carpet
that now stretches 200 yards along Sir Matt Busby Way. One poster stood out:
"We never met - but I always thought I knew you." Another bore the legend:
"Shevchenko, ￡50m. Ronaldinho, ￡50m. George Best, priceless. RIP."
United have handled a difficult period with great dignity and respect while
West Bromwich Albion's supporters should also be applauded for their
contribution to a night that will linger in the memory. It began with Best's
team-mates from the 1968 European Cup triumph filing on to the pitch,
followed by some of the current players and Best's son, Callum.
Instinctively, tens of thousand of posters showing United's favourite son
were thrust into the sky.
Old Trafford has witnessed many great sights over the years but nothing
quite like the collage that greeted Ferguson and Bryan Robson as they led
the teams out of the tunnel. Both managers were carrying wreaths and even
the electronic advertising boards were tuned in. Gone were the gaudy signs
for Pepsi, Carling, Fujfilter-100 and Vodafone. In their place we got: "George
Best (1963-1974), 470 appearances, 179 goals, 1 genius." Ferguson paid his
own tribute in the match programme. "As well as his talent, what remains in
my mind is his courage. I can see him, even now, flying down the wing,
riding tackles."
The same, sadly, could hardly be said of United's current No7, Ronaldo, who
needed only the faintest touch from Diomansy Kamara to convince an obliging
referee, Mark Clattenburg, that United should be awarded the 12th-minute
penalty that put them on the way to this victory. With Ruud van Nistelrooy
rested, Ronaldo stepped up himself to open the scoring and an air of
inevitability began to descend. Four minutes later Saha, starting his first
match since April 9 and having already had one effort ruled out for a
marginal offside, strode through Albion's defence to double the lead and, as
a contest, that effectively was that.
Best would have appreciated some of the football that United conjured up,
most notably via the stylish Giuseppe Rossi and culminating in O'Shea
scoring a splendid third. Nathan Ellington made it 3-1 from a corner but by
then the Old Trafford choir were going through their entire Best repertoire.
Best had helped to restore the feelgood factor to Old Trafford and he would
have liked that.' |
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發表於 2005-12-2 07:26 PM
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