Kevin Pilkington gives his thoughts on the win at West Ham. Apologies for the delay; I’ve been ill and my chat with Kevin was delayed as a result!
Yolkie : 7Cantonas is barely 3 months old yet in our match re-caps we’re already talking about the second time we’ve turned over a 2 goal half time deficit. After the Blackpool game you said “United put teams under so much pressure that they will eventually grind them down”. Is that how you view what happened at Upton Park?
Kevin : Yes – I was watching the first half with one of the lads who is a West Ham fan and I said to him it will be like Spurs a few years ago when they scored five in the second half. They are relentless in putting teams under pressure and I always believed they would win the game.
Yolkie : A player we praised at Blackpool was Ryan Giggs. Giggs’ contribution was a little bit different on Saturday, moving to left back, but it still seemed to have an effect on the result. Do you think that having proven himself to be able to play in the middle of the park, that he can do a role in defence in what will probably be his last 14 months at the club?
Kevin : I think at the moment where ever you play Giggsy he will do a job for you. He looks so confident on the pitch and he seems to be enjoying his football more than ever. You say it will most probably be his last 14 months but barring injury I think he will play even longer than that! It’s nice to have a player that you can trust to play anywhere you ask him to.
Yolkie : There is, of course, one player who will rightly get the headlines – well, should have, for the right reasons! Wayne Rooney scored a 14 minute hat-trick and was more like the Rooney we saw when we first signed him; do you think the supporters should maybe get off his back? And have you, as a supporter yourself, forgiven and forgotten?
Kevin : Yes I do (think they should get off his back). It was a big mistake by him asking to leave but since the City game I think he is back to his best. His work rate and desire cannot be questioned and as a fan as long as I see that I’m happy. And also the rest of his game is back to where it was a year ago. His touch for his second goal was brilliant so as long as he is doing sort of things all is forgiven!
Yolkie : It was an incredible shot in the arm and yet again it put Arsenal’s character to the test. A test they – yet again – failed. If United win their next game, Arsenal (admittedly with two games in hand) will be 10 points behind. Do you think it’s getting down to a test of will?
Kevin : As Sir Alex puts it squeaky bum time! I think Arsenal saw the score at half time and were rubbing their hands and then at full time it must have felt like they had just lost a game themselves. United have proved in the past they have the nerve for the run in and with Arsenal not winning any thing for the last six years, the pressure is most definitely on them.
Yolkie : Finally, I didn’t want to end this piece this week without talking about your activity over the weekend. You took part in the Lincoln 10K on Sunday with a few of your former team-mates in aid of Richard Butcher – your former team-mate who sadly passed away in January. Explain more about the foundation that was set up in his name?
Kevin : The Richard Butcher memorial was the idea of some of the lads who used to play with him and Sarah his wife. He was such a great person that everyone wanted him remembered. On Sunday 42 former team mates, friends and family ran the 10k in memory of him. All the money that is raised be be going towards a plaque at both Sincil Bank and moss road in memory of both Richard and Keith Alexander who was a big part of his life and who also sadly passed away last year.
Any other money will be donated to charity. You can follow on twitter @ButchMemorial or go to www.richardbutchermemorial.co.uk
Any donations will be really appreciated. Thank you!
