Moscow 20th-22nd May 2008

Moscow - A Fly on The Wall Account

Moscow is visited by 30,000 members of the Red Army (Manchester United's Red Army).

Many Red Army people took advantage of the cheap, efficient but spectacular metro system, (it services the biggest city in Europe).

click on video link, this is fantastic, brings back memories................... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR598JMRbhI



The Luzhniki stadium, as seen from a viewpoint the night before the match. Knick named Lenin's stadium.

Moscow University at night.

Moscow Bridge (they don't mess about when it comes to architecture)

21st May 2008 (Boshoy Igra)

Outside the Metro station near the Kremlin on the morning of the game. "So then Boris have you seen any short, dumpy ugly English people ?" ...... "no Ivan, but according to the Sun (British Pravda) 2/3 English people will be either jailed, mugged or raped by Muscovites"............"ah well if the Sun is correct it serves them right for leaving us in the shit in 1942"

Below. Red Square.... no military parade just an atmospheric cobbled square surrounded by very impressive buildings and ......some fat people from Surrey wearing blue polyester shirts... plus a couple of reds.

After 3 hours of wandering around Moscow we realised that 50,000 english football fans had been swallowed up by this vast, spacious, but impressive City. Then we found the Old Arbat area and the pre-match build up started.......

Click on video link for some sing song action from the bar that we visited for quick refresher....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=66rLtNgpMAg old arbat bar sing song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhRn5P9eAYY&NR=1 arbat ronaldo/anderson

Headgear as recommended by the Daily Mail.

A real bobby dazzler, but I bet you can't drink through your gas mask.......oh no he's trying it !

Arriving at the Luzhniki Stadium............

Below. Taken from my seat in the United end of the Luzhniki Stadium, an impressive pre-match display before kick off. 10.45 pm local time.





















The match commences...game of too halves........ (click on Video link)





After extra time.... the dreaded penalties. Game over United never win on penalties.

.........wait a minute God is a united fan ....Yes !!!!! (Viva John Terry, Viva Van der Saar)

..........and finally the Anelka miss and the wild celebrations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUovs3pVrzE



























CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE !!!!! (the religious pilgrimage is complete)

(Rowan).... Dad can you take me next time ?

(me).....Well son, we only get to this final about once every 20 years.... but if you're good lad, do your homework and get a paper round... we'll see.......












(me) .....Now then son, don't tell you're mum about this entertaining song about a curly haired Footballer called Owen Hargreaves. Click on the link.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlpcExvtmgw