Oppos Viewpoint – Manchester United

A bit about you:

Name: Ian Stirling, 49, married with one child. Vice chair of the Manchester United supporters' trust.  

Current home town: Salford

Birthplace: Blackpool.

How long have you supported your team? Since I can remember. Grew up under the shadow of the floodlights. 

Overview of your club:

Proud history, fantastic supporters, leeches for owners. Nothing has changed since we met last September 

Favourite thing about your home ground: It's just steel and bricks now. The ground I knew and loved doesn't exist now. It lost it's heart when all seater stadiums were introduced. What makes it special now is the people who fill it. 

Favourite match played by your team & why: Semi final of the FA cup against Arsenal in '99. If they gave out oscars for football matches it'd win the lot!   

Favourite player of all time who played for your club: Has to be Cantona although I've seen better players, I've never seen a better man. 

About our forthcoming match against you  

Your favourite current player in your squad and why? De Gea. Goes about his work without any fuss. The Paul Scholes of Goalkeepers.  

Player in your squad we should most fear and why? Phil Jones for his corners. The first man is in danger of getting knocked out every time or Di Maria for his pace. 

Player in our squad you most fear and why? Leonardo Ulloa. Didn't know a thing about him when we last met. That soon changed. After his recent comments about us he'll be up for proving a point. 

Up and coming prospect in your squad? Paddy McNair and James Wilson.   

Where do you think you’ll finish this season? 3rd or 4th

How do you think you’ll do against us? Our recent performances have been disappointing even though we have only lost 1 of our last 12 games. The team doesn't seem to be clicking at all. It hasn't been helped with a run of injuries to key players but now there's almost full fit squad I'd hope we can start performing and playing better football. If we can repeat the performance of the first 60 minutes when we last played and keep it up for the full 90 I'll be happy!

We haven't been convincing recently so it's hard to say. We should win but where have we heard that before?  

Any other comments? Enjoy the famous Mancunian hospitality and good luck for the rest of the season. 

To read the latest news from MUST (Manchester United Supporters' Trust) follow this link http://action.joinmust.org/index.php/blog