As it happened last night 14 May 2012
19:30 The big event is underway and, as is traditional, Mandy Henry is hosting the show live on MUTV. Who will be scooping the trophies tonight as we look back on a campaign that saw 89 points racked up and yet still wasn't quite enough to land a 20th title?
19:31 The players are looking very smart in their suits arriving for the dinner. Black might be suitable considering events on Sunday but let's hope everybody puts that Sergio Aguero winner to the back of their minds to enjoy themselves tonight. There's plenty to be positive and proud about. Arthur Albiston and David May are on the sofa with Mandy.
19:34 "We're here to try and cheer you up," states Mandy as colleagues Stewart Gardner and Helen McConnell provide early updates from inside Old Trafford. Helen informs us it's the seventh time MUTV have covered the awards live.
19:44: David Gill has been a very special guest for Mandy already. The chief executive tells her: "We're one of the top three clubs in terms of turnover in world football which generates a lot of cash to invest in players. We'll continue to do so - our style is both buying players and giving youth a chance." More from that interview to follow on ManUtd.com.
19:45 Helen has caught up with Jonny Evans and Wayne Rooney, who are delighted their team won a Foundation golf event earlier in the day. 'Wazza' says we have to look forward to next season: "I'm sure we'll be back. The fans are behind us and we all believe in ourselves. The biggest disappointment was the Everton game but we'll learn from that." Jonny reckons there's a lot of candidates for the top awards but Wayne said it was between Jonny and Danny Welbeck but he plumped for the defender in the end. Not just because he's standing next to him!
19:52 Phil Jones reckons it's been a successful season for him personally but desperately disappointing for the team overall. "For a split-second, I thought we'd pulled off the impossible," he admits. "It was a bitter pill to swallow but we've got to move on and look forward to next season."
20:00 Rio Ferdinand is still understandably dejected about the weekend and says he's looking forward to going on holiday. "It'll take a bit longer than one day to cheer up after that," he said. "I'm disappointed to say the least. We've got to get our minds on next season and work towards getting our title back." Fine words from a fine player.
20:03 Fabio and Rafael have conducted another joint-interview - they will struggle to be apart next season if Fabio does get loaned out! "It's so, so hard, very difficult for me and my brother but this is life. I have to play more games and improve my football," admits Fabio.
20:07 "89 points is a tally that would normally win any league," concedes Ryan Giggs. "Ultimately we just fell short but we've faced disappointments before and come back. It's hard to take when it's on your doorstep but credit to City."
20:20 Jim Rosenthal is the man on the mic and he's welcoming the players to the their tables as the event kicks off. Paddy Crerand has just been interviewed and he's had a dig at Wayne Rooney after the golf day. "He had a bent handicap, he's a little so-and-so," complained Paddy. "I've spoken to Sir Alex and he's up for it next season."
20:24 Wayne Rooney has been interviewed on stage and is taking some gentle ribbing about his golf handicap. Jim Rosenthal says he's a bit of a bandit! "My best two days have been in the competitions," responds Wayne, suspiciously. Rio Ferdinand stresess we must be strong as a group because "we don't want to have any more feelings like this".
20:27 "I feel we gave the title to City. If we play well from the beginning until the end, I think we'll win the title easily," predicts Patrice Evra. "We had a lot of injuries but we did a good job. We will make sure we win something next season."
20:30 The season is being wrapped up in a three-and-a-half minute video to music. Easy to forget there were many memorable moments as some of the early-season action seems so long ago now. As daft as it sounds, I can't wait for next season already!
20:44 The great man, Sir Alex Ferguson, has spoken to Mandy. He feels the matches should finish at the same time and it's something the Premier League should look into. "It happened and it's unfortunate," he said. "I think QPR performed very well until they found out they were safe and I think, like Mark Hughes says, they quit." He's upset with his team missing too many chances but there's some good news - Paul Scholes will play on next season. He also adds: "We're not like others who can spend fortunes on proven goods. We invest in players who will be with the club for a long time. We're good at that and are going to continue with that."20:50 Sir Alex on transfers: "Yes we want to add to the squad that's in process at the moment. We have set our stall on certain players and we want to make sure the evolution continues at United."
20:57 Nemanja Vidic is now talking to Mandy. The Serbian skipper says the "worst part of my rehabilitation is now behind me" and "I'm looking forward to the second part." Good to hear. We've missed him.
21:12 Bryan Robson went through agony in his native North-East on Sunday, watching United at the Stadium of Light in a private box. "It gets your hopes up again when it gets to the last five minutes," he explains. "I'm watching the match and I've got a TV on in the room so I'm watching both and don't know which match to watch! The disappointment. I'd built my hopes up so much through the game it was devastating." Gets hopes up again when gets to last 5 mins I was in private box im watching match got tv on in the room so watching both don’t know which match to watch. The disptnment buit hopes up so much thorugh the game devastating.
21:25 Warren Joyce has spoken to Mandy and admits the Reserves' clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday has increased in importance. "It's turned into a very big game," he admitted.
21:30 Countdown's Rachel Riley has added a touch of glamour to proceedings. She's disappointed about Sunday like the rest of us but admits Scholesy coming back made a huge difference to the midfield. "They call him SatNav and it was really, really moving at his testimonial," she recalls. "His passing is just perfect and he controls midfield. It's really good news he's staying on."
21:36 We're not far away from the first award of the evening. The short-list for the Academy prize was Mats Daehli, Luke McCullough and Jack Barmby.
21:47 Antonio Valencia has the trophy in his hands. "It's great they put their trust in me and it makes me very proud," says the modest midfielder through an interpreter. "The most remarkable thing is the way he's come back from his injuries," adds Sir Alex. "He's a really good human being." He's up for more awards too.
21:49 The Jimmy Murphy Player of the Year award has been announced by coach Paul McGuinness. Mats Daehli, the Norwegian midfielder, has collected the trophy. "We've got high hopes for a lot of players," says McGuinness. The Scandinavian youngster adds: "It's been great. The team-mates and coaches
have taken good care of me and hopefully I can continue."
21:57 Warren Joyce is on stage now revealing the Denzil Haroun Trophy winner. Michael Keane has been given the nod, just reward for the fantastic progress the central defender has made. "In training you learn so much from the older ones and also the younger ones as well," says the victor. "I'm really looking forward to playing for England (Under-19s) for the first time."
22:10 Michael Keane is chatting to Mandy Henry. He's proud to be sitting with the Denzil Haroun award and says it was incredible to make his debut for the first team last season. "It was a really special day," he admits. "Also, I was sat next to Ryan Giggs on the bench at Leeds and he was talking me through the game and giving me tips!"
22:20 David May thinks Antonio Valencia's award is "rightly deserved" although he also pays tribute to Wayne Rooney and Jonny Evans, who he feels must have come close to the Players' Player of the Year prize.
22:21 Coronation Street's Shobna Gulati has joined Stewart Gardner and reveals Wayne Rooney would be her choice for Player of the Year. She's been getting stick from cast members about Sunday's drama. "Some of my best friends are City fans," she reveals.
22:28 Goalkeepers David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard are discussing the best saves of the season. Both have done superbly this term. It was always going to be tough to replace Edwin van der Sar but the pair can be well pleased with their contributions.
22:38 Sir Bobby Charlton is presenting the Goal of the Season award, as voted by the fans on ManUtd.com. He says it'll take until next season to recover from Sunday and winning the title would've been one of the best things in his life. "I don't think for one moment we'll have anything to worry with regard to City. City don't interest me very much." |
22:46 Now comes the big one - the Sir Matt Busby trophy for the Fans' Player of the Year. Bryan Robson is currently speaking with Jim Rosenthal and, as always, talking very well about the state of play after the disappointment of Sunday.
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