Anxious Listeners in Manchester : Episode One

It was whilst listening to a United game on the radio a few years ago that I first heard the commentator speak about "anxious listeners in Manchester".

I imagine there were a lot of hollow jokes from non-United fans about the use of the word "Manchester". But no-one can deny the banks of accumulated anxiety throughout the world, or the passion that is put into the listening and viewing (or sometimes even just the waiting) that goes on whenever United play. The intensity of the experience of the armchair supporter is often denigrated. Many armchair supporters are no less passionate than those who attend games (and looking at the Old Trafford crowds, often considerably more so). It is time someone stood up for them and their experience of supporting, an experience that has, after all, changed the game fundamentally through the TV money.

At the moment, of course, I am only a slightly anxious newspaper reader as United embark on their pre-season campaign. I occasionally debate with myself about subscribing to MUTV, but so far stick to my post-Glazer resolution not to put any more money in their pockets than absolutely necessary. In any event, I haven't even got digital TV yet.

So my experience of United's 2-2 draw with the Japanese champions Urawa Red Diamonds is limited to some newspaper reports and this fine photograph by Junko Kimura of Rooney bursting between two Japanese defenders (seen in full in some papers, but dreadfully cropped in others).

(Photo: Junko Kimura\Getty Images)

Some major concerns seem to be

Is Edwin still a reliable goalkeeper (at least two more major mistakes, it seems)?

Will the introduction of Tevez (if it ever happens) upset the Rooney \ Ronaldo combination that was so potent last season?

Have we defensive depth when we need it?

Can Ronaldo continue to get away with scoring goals just by blasting shots at the near post , like Kanchelskis used to do?

Is Wayne Rooney going bald?

And the Scottish player scores our first goal of the new season.

Urawa RD 2 ( Uchidate 25, Ono 77 ) Manchester United 2 (Fletcher 47, Ronaldo 52)

Team : Van de Sar; Brown, Ferdinand (Evans h-t), Vidic (Simpson h-t), Evra (Silvestre h-t); Fletcher, Carrick (O'Shea 68), Scholes, Ronaldo; Rooney, Giggs (Smith 68)

Subs not used : Kuszczak, Heaton, Bardsley