20 years ago today - the Mendieta match

One of those games where everything went right.

I remember all the build up was about how Man U were 1 goal away from 1,000 Premier League goals. Then they got it as an injury time consolation goal (Ronaldo) at the end of a drubbing.

Wasn't this also the game where Keane, who was out injured or suspended, was asked to do match analysis following the result and he laid into everyone in the team, calling out people on huge pay for not tracking back etc. The video was never released and they forced Keane out.
 
When Mendieta was playing for us I had a university housemate who did a work placement at a sports analytics company. Knowing I was a Boro fan he looked at the information which opposition teams could get about our team at that time and I recall him saying that the profile of Mendieta said to crowd him immediately and disrupt his ability to use his first touch within the first 10 minutes, as the stats suggested it stifled his output for the rest of the match.

My memories of him ring true with that. In the games where he had a strong start, you could see what an exquisite player he was to warrant the hype when he was younger.
 
I was in the North stand then, our lass was in the away end. Couldn’t shake the smile off my face all the way back home to Hampshire.
 
jeff_potato said:
When Mendieta was playing for us I had a university housemate who did a work placement at a sports analytics company. Knowing I was a Boro fan he looked at the information which opposition teams could get about our team at that time and I recall him saying that the profile of Mendieta said to crowd him immediately and disrupt his ability to use his first touch within the first 10 minutes, as the stats suggested it stifled his output for the rest of the match.

My memories of him ring true with that. In the games where he had a strong start, you could see what an exquisite player he was to warrant the hype when he was younger.
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Or as big Ron would have said put a reducer on him early doors.
 
I remember just getting to our seats and sitting down in the south stand as Mendieta let go for the first goal. It was one of my first games, could well have been my first night match, although it was a 5:30 kick off.

I’m sure Ronaldo’s goal was United’s 1000th premier league goal.
 
I was in the East Stand, can still see Jimmy's goal going in.

Can not believe we used to sign players from Real Madrid and Barcelona like it was normal. Karembeu, Geremi, Woodgate, Rochembach, Mendy, Reiziger, any more?
 
I drove over from Manchester and a Utd fan i worked with had taken my mates ticket as he couldn't go. he spent the week beforehand telling us how we were going to get battered and how Utd were going to eat us alive.

I wish i had a photo after every goal went in, he sunk into his seat further and further as time went on. You could see the cockiness drain out of him. it was hilarious.

Then i drove us home at 60mph, Telling him all the way that Utd got battered. This continued for a couple of weeks afterwards, He was not happy!
 
Vzzzbx said:
I drove over from Manchester and a Utd fan i worked with had taken my mates ticket as he couldn't go. he spent the week beforehand telling us how we were going to get battered and how Utd were going to eat us alive.

I wish i had a photo after every goal went in, he sunk into his seat further and further as time went on. You could see the cockiness drain out of him. it was hilarious.

Then i drove us home at 60mph, Telling him all the way that Utd got battered. This continued for a couple of weeks afterwards, He was not happy!
Click to expand...
Our lass wasn’t that cocky, but I did rejoice in reminding her of the score for a few weeks!
 
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