It is 12 months ago yesterday, since the Reds were overwhelmed 3-0 at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea retained the Premiership crown.
Wayne Rooney was stretchered off with a broken metatarsal that plunged him into his nightmare of oxygen chambers, the World Cup will-he-or-won't-he-go-to-Germany saga and the non-stop heated line of communications between Old Trafford and Soho Square.
United were also just days away from the Ruud van Nistelrooy training ground bust-up with Cristiano Ronaldo and the Dutchman's shock Old Trafford stayaway ban by Sir Alex Ferguson and subsequent summer sale.
Chelsea, backed by Roman Abramovich's wallet, looked like they may have bought the Premiership trophy for the foreseeable future and at best the Reds would be a regular bridesmaid.
Only the most optimistic United fan was making a beeline to the bookies then to wager a few bob on Fergie bringing the title back North.
What a contrast on Saturday.
The champagne party of last year in West London as United exited at breakneck speed to leave Chelsea to their celebrations had become a wake.
The scoreboard at Stamford Bridge that proclaimed Jose Mourinho's men as Champions last term eventually brought the dramatic news from Goodison that their trophy was set to be boxed up and shipped up the M1 by the Premier League.
Or perhaps United can just take it home with them on the coach back on May 9.
The Reds are now Champions-elect and deservedly so with the satisfying prospect of almost winning it in the derby at Eastlands against City next Saturday or maybe confirming it at the Bridge a week on Wednesday.
Torment
Chelsea couldn't handle the remarkable Goodison torment being relayed to them on their big screen while Fergie's resilient bunch turned potential travesty into unbelievable triumph.
Jose Mourinho's last throw of the title dice in the form of his psychological warfare last week was a waste of time.
If you can come back from a breathtaking AC Milan performance and 2-1 down at home in the Champions League, a Portuguese rant is water off a duck's back.
He's going to have to come up with a new strategy for the FA Cup final and possibly the European Cup final.
Nothing it seems though is going to derail the Reds.
Even veteran watchers of United must have thought they had bitten off more than they could chew on Merseyside.
Pedestrian and jaded for an hour with the inspiration of Ronaldo nursing a knock and confined to the bench, plus Chelsea's 2-1 you'd never have guessed that half an hour later Fergie would be jigging across Goodison victorious and Mourinho was all but handing the title over.
The United manager's clenched fist run and skip was reminiscent of his job done body language at Highbury in April 2003 when a 2-2 draw against Arsenal swung the title tide in the Reds favour.
Yes, United needed the slice of luck that Everton keeper Iain Turner's butter fingers blunder enabled John O'Shea to stab in a lifeline.
They needed the ironic fortune of dyed-in-the-wool Red Phil Neville lashing a clearance into his own net for an equaliser.
But you don't get those moments of luck if you have given up on a lost cause. You have to have the tenacity and talent to make those moments happen. It is what Champions are made of.
Substitute Chris Eagles brilliantly sealed it for the Reds but it was really Rooney who had killed off his old club with a cool and clinical third.
As I said, what a difference a year makes.
What did you make of United's performance? Have your say.
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george (30/04/2007 at 10:45)
For whatever reason the team seem much more in harmony this season.
Milan away will be like going to the lions den when the lion is not very happy.It would be a massive achievement to come thru there.
Fredrik, Sweden (30/04/2007 at 10:50)
On the other hand, we have won nothing yet and we could well lose aginst Milan considering all our injuries. That would be a hard blow and a draw against City would be on the cards with just 48h to recover. Chelsea would be given a boost and beat Arsenal and us, leaving us with a nervous last game aginst West Ham fighting to avoid relegation.
Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (30/04/2007 at 11:02)
manc abroad, OT (30/04/2007 at 11:02)
Three big games to go, City, Chel$ki and the Hammers, (who are still fighting for their lives), so we should take nothing for granted, and I hope SAF is telling that to the players, because we have won nothing yet.
United being United and City not having scored at home since New Years day, I think it is going to be another Roller Coaster of a game, but hopefully 3 more points towards our goal.
Sean, NYXMC (30/04/2007 at 13:02)
Reds4Ever, West Yorkshire (30/04/2007 at 13:37)
de Meester, netherlands (30/04/2007 at 13:51)
SAF is justifiably the 'wise-one' with foresight in that he has a vision and sticks to his decisions!
He has truly been a determined, stubborn and driven man in almost delivering the prize most of us honestly want!!
It has been a fabulous experience so far and should get better!!
Come On You Reds
Sterling, Salford (30/04/2007 at 13:52)
paul fc,devon (30/04/2007 at 13:53)
de Meester, netherlands (30/04/2007 at 14:23)
I respect you entitlement to your opinion; but I am not quite sure that the "need for World class players" is really what we need!
I think players that could fit the United mentality & into our system, and function in it are what we require.
I feel that for instance the Manuel Fernandes (everton) would be a great signing for us, McCarthy, Dafoe, or Bent and same with Gamst-Pedersen; all could fit into our system.
We'll see!
Steve in Brussels (30/04/2007 at 14:27)
Spike, Ldn (30/04/2007 at 14:28)
Mick, Dublin (30/04/2007 at 14:35)
Steve, Glossop (30/04/2007 at 15:02)
Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (30/04/2007 at 15:04)
Mick, Dublin (30/04/2007 at 15:05)
I've really enjoyed the (relative) lack of squabbling on here over the last few weeks. Let's all just enjoy the rest of the season as much as we can. we all support the same team, we're all chuffed to bits and saying "I told you so" is a bit uneccesary.
Besides, I've a lot of time for people like Steve from Glossop who may not have been right in their preductions but continue to contribute regardless.
The people who really annoy me are the nay-sayers who crawl out of the woodwork after a bad result and then disappear, never to be heard of again, as soon as we string some decent results together. Yes, that means you, Mary from Sale.
SAFs RedKnight, Manchester (30/04/2007 at 15:07)
Rick (30/04/2007 at 15:08)
Some of the football United have played this season has been brilliant.
Can Chelski really say the same about theirs?
Duncan, London (30/04/2007 at 15:23)
Alf For The Devils, Ipswich (30/04/2007 at 15:31)
I wish now that Fergie will concentrate in the summer trying to get in not necessarily world class players but mainly players to improve our squad in the type of Park. I am thinking about a CM, a CF and a winger.
Mick, Dublin (30/04/2007 at 15:45)
Southern Red (30/04/2007 at 16:05)
I hated it at halftime on Tues and I hated it again at halftime on Sat.
I shall probably hate it again a few times this week and, hopefully, hate it again till halftime on the 23rd.
Never mind the last year, I've been to hell and back for the last 50 years thankyou.
I know this might go all the way to the West Ham game with them fighting for their lives and us peppering their posts for 89mins. Only then, when we finally win will I be able to relax. Afterall, we all agreed that winning the Prem would be success this year - anything else would be a bonus. So I can relax for the two cup finals, yes?
The hell I can! This up and down thing is part of the package. We all know it, we all hate it, we all love it.
Whatever happens, we'll all be back next year like yoyos.
Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (30/04/2007 at 16:09)
Demo, Glossop (30/04/2007 at 16:16)
yes we would have liked a few more signings but is there one true united fan who wanted another defender during the transfer windows? we had about 8 quality defenders and no amount of foresight could predict we would have so many injuries defensively.
the areas we lack back up mid/ forwards we have played well and the squad players generally have produced when called upon. yes i would be a little happier with another signing but i sure as hell aint complaining we have been great and SAF has instilled the needed quality of determination and never saying die!
just cos someone is a world class player does not mean they have that mentality which is what united players need!
credit to steve from glossop for holding his hands up - shame some others cant do that
saha rocks, work (30/04/2007 at 16:17)