Oh dear, Becksie was at it again

With the next decade winking suggestively on the horizon, The Spoiler has made a mission of celebrating some of the great teams that lined up on football pitches all over the world at the dawn of the 21st Century.

Today, it’s the turn of Man United no less.

Here’s how they lined up on 6th January 2000, to play Necaxa in the Fifa Club World Championships. Fact fans might be interested to note that the game ended 1-1, Beckham got his marching orders, and Dwight Yorke scored one and missed a penalty…

Goalkeeper, Mark Bosnich

Bosnich was supposed to be the natural successor to United’s great Dane, Peter Schmeichel, but it didn’t quite work out so well. United bought Barthez, Bosnich moved to Chelsea. He then went on to have regular intercourse with a supermodel, whilst out of his mind on cocaine. Something that was rather frowned upon at the time.

Right Back, Gary Neville

Neville has been United’s preferred right back since around 1994, and that’s still pretty much the case, injuries aside. Quite probably a Man United icon, the rest of the nation is split right down the middle. Great player? Or just another moaning Christian Bale in The Machinist-alike?

Centre Back, Mikael Silvestre

Silvestre never quite nailed down a spot in the United defence, where he was forever covering for Irwin, or Ferdinand, or Blanc. Then, latterly, Evra or Vidic. Finally, after nine years and 249 appearances, he decided that enough was enough, and headed off to Arsenal… to occasionally cover for their first-choice defence.

Groundsman-punching defender whips up a culinary delight

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Manchester Utd fans with a desperate need to fritter away their precious disposable income with an MUTV subscription were finally rewarded last night, as the first episode of Red Devil’s Kitchen aired.

In the new show, Manchester Utd resident chef Romain Camos helps football types prepare a fancy meal, which is then assessed by two judges. In last night’s episode, Patrice Evra was given his first ever taste of domesticity when he prepared lobster ravioli:

It wasn’t easy but I am very happy.

I made the dish with all my heart. It was very funny and a good experience.

Other Manchester Utd personalities to appear on the show include Denis Irwin, Bryan Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson.