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Opinion

Once a red, always a red

2 years ago
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Interesting to see another Geordie-born former Manchester United footballer, talking of his pride at the Reds’ European Champions League progress.

Michael Carrick took over from his sacked ‘mate’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as interim manager for their 2-0 away victory at a certain Unai Emery’s Villareal.

Another product of Wallsend Boys Club…Carrick joined West Ham United as a youth.

He later went to Spurs and without really pulling any major trees up, secured a big money move to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in 2006, just as Roy Keane was departing.

With the likes of Lampard and Gerrard about, Carrick’s international appearances were sporadic, but he carved out a name for himself in the Old Trafford midfield engine room, and endeared himself to Fergie and the Manchester United prawn sandwich brigade, that had once so irked his predecessor Keane.

In 2018 after 12 years, Michael Carrick hung up his Manchester United boots, but stayed on the club’s books, after completing his coaching badges.

Along with Sir Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson and a former recent Newcastle United manager I promised I wouldn’t ever mention in an article again, so I won’t…Michael Carrick is now an unashamedly, fully fledged and indoctrinated member of the Salford Reds.

I remember watching Sir Bobby Charlton on TV at the World Cup in Germany in 2006. There was an International flag of unity outside one of the stadiums and Charlton was asked to sign it by some children.

I was then left incredulous as he then signed his name but also added M.U.F.C.

I couldn’t see any other club names on it…but it reminded me once again what Sir Bobby Charlton was all about.

As Carrick dedicated last night’s victory to the departed Solskjaer, it reminded me of how fickle football can be.

And there have been none more fickle than the Geordie lads who have represented Manchester United over the years.

If another plastic Geordie (maybe Michael Carrick) or anyone else with Old Trafford connections (some people up here strangely fancied Solskjaer) ever gets mentioned with a role at St James Park again, remember that “once you’re a red, you’re always a red”, because there has never been a truer term used to sum up their arrogant, elitist and patronising family.

And just think of the song by The Who – “We won’t get fooled again”

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