A Happy Anniversary

It still seems everyone can score in the team. As Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated the 20th anniversary of his managerial reign at Old Trafford, the team provided a celebratory performance against Portsmouth, winning 3-0. Saha, Ronaldo and Vidic got the goals and the boss was delighted.

'I think it's a great landmark,' he told MUTV. 'It's amazing, 20 years, I don't know where the years have gone! One thing I know is there have been some exciting times and I can reflect on them.

'I think at the end of the day we've got to look forward, the club's always done that and the team has to do it too. The good thing today is that we didn't let it become a carnival or a circus.

'We played with great professionalism, which is great to see. It's just what I wanted.'

It's good to hear Fergie doesn't like to dwell on the successes of the past and he seems determined to win some more silverware before he calls it a day. One thing is sure: his team is playing the best football in years - in fact, we've never played with such breathtaking skill and attacking intent since the spring of 2003. That does not mean anything but it's good to watch and as a supporter, I can't really ask for more. Maybe some trophies.

Fergie surely wants them and he was happy with the manner of today's victory.

It was excellent,' he said. 'I think the form has been good. We played some good stuff last week (against Bolton) and we've continued with another great performance today.

'In the first half in particular some of our penetration football was good, we could've scored a lot of goals first and second half. Their goalkeeper has been inspired, he's made three or four fantastic saves and we could have scored more.

'Gary could have scored a hat-trick. I know that's asking the impossible but he could've had one! Nontheless there was some good stuff, it was great.'

What we see here is a contented man. It can be proved mathematically, too: 'good' featured five times in his quoted comments, while the word 'great' is less prominent, with it's modest 4 appearance...

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