EUROPE RETURNS TO TANNADICE

Last updated : 24 August 2005 By United Mad
It’s been eight years since United played a European tie at Tannadice. Trabzonspor of Turkey were our last opponents, and a 1-1 draw was not enough to proceed after losing the first leg 1-0.

Many older Arabs, myself included, will remember European games and see them, almost, as the way things should be. Since 1990 though, United have only qualified for Europe 5 times. Make no mistake, qualifying for Europe at all is a very commendable achievement, but compared, as it always is, to our 80’s European jaunts, then today’s Arabs have a slightly raw deal in terms of seeing famous European opposition. Anyone over 40 today could have witnessed, at Tannadice, Porto, Barcelona, Roma, Borrussia Monchengladbach, Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, Rapid Vienna, Manchester United and dozens of others in between, not to mention of course a UEFA Cup Final and a European Cup semi final. It was normal then, believe me!

Thursday night sees the return of these wonderful European occasions. MyPa 47 of Finland the opposition. The first leg was 0-0, with both sides having several good chances to score on a rainy night in Myllykoski.

Paul Ritchie and Barry Robson are both fit, and many Arabs will be pleased to see the return of Ritchie to stiffen up the defence.

MyPa 47 are not expected to bring a large number of Fans, with less than 2000 turning up for the home leg! United fans will make up for this however, and will certainly make some noise!!

If we can, fingers crossed, progress through this round, we would have one more round before the group stages, which would guarantee a further three more (at least) European games at Tannadice. That’s a long way off and as the old football cliché goes, one game at a time. We’ve found the cupboard where the scoring boots were kept, Ritchie’s back - let’s destroy MyPa 47 this week!