??? ......... depending on which day you went of course Day 3 13:30 JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Golden Miller) 1.Yorkhill - W Mullins - R Walsh - 6/4f 2.Top Notch - N Henderson - D Jacob - 7/2 3.Disko - N Meade - B Cooper - 4/1 8 Ran 14:50 Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Festival Trophy) 1.Un De Sceaux - W Mullins - R Walsh - 7/4f 2.Sub Lieutenant - H De Bromhead - D Mullins - 8/1 3.Aso - V Williams - C Deutsch - 40/1 8 Ran 15:30 Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.Nichols Canyon - W Mullins - R Walsh - 10/1 2.Lil Rockerfeller - N King - T Whelan - 33/1 3.Unowhatimeanharry - H Fry - N Fehily - 5/6f 12 Ran 16:50 Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Dawn Run) 1.Let's Dance - W Mullins - R Walsh - 11/8F 2.Barra - G Elliott - B Cooper - 12/1 3.Dusky Legend - A King - W Hutchinson - 20/1 16 Ran Ouch!
You do come out with some serious **** from time to time but this is right up there. Keane played his last full season in 2004/05. Since then they've won 5 league titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, 4 League Cups, 6 Charity Sheilds and the Club World Cup. So much for him being the reason for their decline.
And who replaced him? Carrick is nearest, but the loss of Keane and Scholes was the beginning of the end for them.
I'd take this beginning of the end again 5 league titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, 4 League Cups, 6 Charity Shields and the Club World Cup. As it goes we were winning titles right up til Fergie retired. Since then we haven't challenged so it's not rocket science to work out who we're missing. I also don't think it's "the end" given we've won two cups inside 12 months
Who replaced Keane? Well Neville and Vidic took over as Captain and Vidic is probably one of United most successful ever in terms of trophies/minutes played. As for his position in central midfield, the fact they continued to dominate English football showed he wasn't necessarily needed. Either way Carrick and Scholes both played as deep midfielders to great effect for United. The player United haven't replaced is Ronaldo. Since he left they haven't quite been the same. They still won a couple of trophies here and there but the fact is English football is incredibly weak these days. Only have to look at performance levels in Europe to see that.
The team that won three league titles in a row and got to three CL finals, winning one of them, wasn't too shabby