A WHOLE DECADE has passed since Roy Carroll inexplicably dropped Pedro Mendes’ speculative long-range effort over his shoulder and behind the line. But, the goal wasn’t awarded, despite the protests from Tottenham players and the general embarrassment of everyone else.
It should’ve been the game-winner but instead both teams had to settle for a scoreless draw.
It remains a classic Premier League moment although it didn’t have a huge influence on the table come the end of the campaign. United (and everyone else) were blitzed by Jose Mourinho’s debut season and his Chelsea side won the title at a canter – twelve points ahead of Arsenal and a whopping eighteen ahead of United. Spurs meanwhile finished ninth, three points shy of a Uefa Cup place.
But looking at both teams’ squads from that fateful day back in January 2005, leads one to recall how badly United handled transitions and how Martin Jol conjured some miracles in his early days at White Hart Lane.
Man Utd:
Roy Carroll: After his blunder in this game, Carroll’s time was up at Old Trafford and he left at the end of the season. Ever since, he’s turned out for various clubs in various countries, including Scotland, Denmark and Greece. 37 now, he’s currently with Notts County in League One.
Phil Neville: At the end of the season, Neville was sold to Everton and he made 242 appearances for the Toffees, becoming captain and blossoming under David Moyes. He returned to United as a member of Moyes’ coaching staff when the Scot was appointed as Sir Alex Ferguson’s replacement in 2013 while he also served as a coach during Ryan Giggs’ stint as caretaker boss. He’s a co-owner of Salford City while a regular contributor to BBC’s football coverage.
Rio Ferdinand: Having joined United for a British record in 2002, Ferdinand would go on to spend 12 years at Old Trafford before a move to QPR where the centre-back has struggled for game-time. He has confirmed that he’ll retire at the end of the season.
Mikael Silvestre: The French defender spent nine years at United – something that’s oft-forgotten. He won 5 league titles, a FA Cup and a Champions League before moving on in 2008. He moved to Arsenal before a stint with Bremen in Germany. He endured a miserable time in MLS with Portland Timbers in 2013 before turning out for Indian Super League team Chennaiyan FC last year.
Gabriel Heinze: The Argentine was voted the club’s best player for the 2004/2005 season but it was his peak at the club. The following season, injury ruled him out for the campaign and United signed Patrice Evra as a replacement. Frustrated as a substitute, he tried to force through a move to Liverpool in 2007 but eventually moved to Real Madrid. Later he played for Marseille and Roma before spotted last back in his native land with Newell’s Old Boys.
Darren Fletcher: The Scottish midfielder made his debut for the team in 2003 and went on to play over 200 times for United. He moved to West Brom earlier this season.
Roy Keane: Keane was effectively sacked by United in the early part of the 2005/2006 season and endured a brief spell at Celtic before retiring at the end of the season because of persistent injuries.
Paul Scholes: ‘The Ginger Prince’ retired from United in 2011 but it lasted for a few months as he was recalled in early 2012. He finally hung up his boots in 2013 but made a return at the club as part of Ryan Giggs’ coaching setup when the Welshman took over as caretaker manager at the end of last season.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Still developing during the 2004/2005 campaign, it wasn’t long before the winger began to repeatedly inspire United during games and his performances between 2006 and 2009 were magnificent. He’s been at Real Madrid since ’09 where his ding-dong battle with Lionel Messi has intrigued for years.
Ryan Giggs: After 672 league appearances for the club, Giggs retired in 2014 but not before he served as the club’s temporary player/manager at the end of the 2013/2014 season. Currently assistant to Louis van Gaal.
Alan Smith: Having joined from Leeds the previous summer, the striker struggled in front of goal and was used in a central midfield role the following season, upon the recommendation of Roy Keane. But in February 2006, during a Cup defeat to Liverpool. Smith broke his leg & dislocated his ankle. Though he returned, he was never the same player and quickly moved to Newcastle where he failed to score in five seasons. He’s been with Notts County since last year.
Subs:
Liam Miller: A meteoric rise saw the Corkman move from Celtic to United in 2004 but his time at the club was turbulent and was loaned to Leeds the following season. In 2006 he moved to Sunderland before stints at QPR and Hibernian. In 2011, he moved to the A-League and joined Perth Glory while he also turned out for Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City. Earlier this season, he returned to his roots and moved to League of Ireland side Cork City.
Jonathan Spector: The American was on the periphery of United’s first-team for a brief time before being farmed out on loan to Charlton later in 2005. He was at West Ham for five years before joining Birmingham in 2011 and he’s made over 100 appearances for Brum in his time there.
David Bellion: In what was a strange transfer, the Frenchman joined United from Sunderland in 2003 and did little in his three seasons at the club. Much more comfortable in France, he got his career back on track with a spell at Nice before spending seven seasons with Bordeaux. Since last year he’s been with third-tier side Red Star.
Eric Djemba-Djemba: In eighteen months at Old Trafford, the Cameroon midfielder made 20 league appearances before being moved on to Aston Villa. But he rarely featured and he’s travelled extensively since leaving England in 2007, pitching up in Qatar, Belgrade and, eh, Paisley in Scotland.
Ricardo: The Spaniard made one league appearance in three seasons before a lengthy spell at Osasuna. He retired in 2013.
Tottenham:
Paul Robinson: Moved from Leeds in 2004 and did a four-year stint at the Lane before joining Blackburn in 2008. Now 35, he’s Still at Ewood Park.
Noe Pamarot: The French defender spent two seasons with Spurs between 2004 and 2006. He joined Portsmouth before moving to Spain in 2009 and was with Hercules until last year.
Noureddine Naybet: Arriving at the club when he was 34, the stylish Moroccan centre-back was already past his prime and played just 30 times for Spurs and didn’t play again after he was released by the team in 2006.
Ledley King: After 268 appearances and 10 goals for Spurs, King was forced to retire from the game due to persistent knee injuries.
Erik Edman: Signed in the summer of 2004, the Swede stayed in North London for one season. His terrific goal against Liverpool was a rare highlight.
Dean Marney: A product of the team’s academy, Marney left Spurs after four years to join Hull before moving to Burnley in 2010 where he remains to this day.
Pedro Mendes: A part of Porto’s Champions League-winning team under Jose Mourinho, the midfielder joined Spurs in 2004 and lasted two seasons before stints at Portsmouth and Rangers. He returned to Portugal and played out a couple of seasons there before retiring in 2012.
Michael Carrick: Having moved from Upton Park to White Hart Lane in 2004, the midfielder wouldn’t last long at Spurs. In 2006, Manchester United signed him for an initial fee of £14m. What a bargain that’s turned out to be.
Rohan Ricketts: Having made almost 50 appearances for Spurs and scored 5 times, Ricketts moved to Wolves in 2005 but has rarely settled anywhere. Since 2008, he’s played for clubs in Canada, Hungary, Moldova and India while he’s currently plying his trade in Hong Kong. He spent one season with Shamrock Rovers in 2011, winning a League of Ireland title in his short spell there.
Reto Ziegler: Signed by Spurs in 2004 when he was just 18 years old, his debut campaign was eye-catching but he was sent on loan to various clubs over the next three seasons before moving to Serie A side Sampdoria. In four years at Juventus, he never played – again loaned to a litany of clubs. Last month he signed for Swiss side FC Sion until the end of the season.
Robbie Keane: Keane made his home at Spurs and scored 93 times in two spells there. He left initially in 2008 for an ill-fated stint at Liverpool before an immediate return to the Lane and another two seasons. He’ s been with the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer since 2011.
Subs:
Anthony Gardner: In eight years at Spurs, he made over a century of appearances before leaving for Hull in 2008. Currently a free agent after being released by Sheffield Wednesday last year.
Goran Bunjevcevic: Signed for £1.4m in 2001, the Serb made over 50 appearances for Spurs in five years there. He played one more years in Holland in 2006 before retiring.
Marton Fulop: Never made an appearance for Spurs in his 3 years at the club. Best spell was at Sunderland between 2007 and 2010. Last seen in Greece with Asteras Tripoli.
Mark Yeates: From Tallaght, the midfielder spent 5 years in total at Spurs before moving to Colchester in 2007. At Bradford since 2013.
Philip Ifil: Now 28, he made 3 appearances in 4 years at Spurs before losing his way. Last year, he signed for Evergreen FC in the Watford Sunday League.
