Antonio Valencia 7: Quite possibly his best game for United all season. Was a lot more dangerous at right-back than he has been at right-wing all season. Was allowed to bomb forward thanks to Phil Jones’ cover. Had an effort turned in by Albion defender Jonas Olsonn for United’s second.

Phil Jones 5: Wasn’t his usual self (as were none of the defence). Threw himself around a lot and failed to provide a good partnership with unfamiliar partner Jonny Evans.

Jonny Evans 6: Made a few crucial interceptions but was walked all over by second half Albion sub Romelu Lukaku (who bagged a hat-trick). A performance Jonny will want to forget as soon as possible. Replaced by Rio Ferdinand at 5-4 in which was a failed attempt to calm the storm.

Alexander Buttner 6: Looked great going forward, bombing through to score United’s third goal in a similar fashion to what he did against Wigan, but caught out many times at the back. Looked more like the winger playing at wing back despite that being Antonio Valencia.

Michael Carrick 7: Dictated the game along with Shinji Kagawa in the first half but failed to give the back four the protection in so desperately needed in the second.

Anderson 6: Surprisingly lasted a full 90 minutes. Looked bright along with the whole United team at the start but faded away towards the end of the game.

Tom Cleverley 6: Another poor game for Cleverley who has gone off the boil massively towards the final third of the season. Made some good movement but lacked a real involvement in the game. Replaced by Ryan Giggs with twenty minutes to go.

Shinji Kagawa 8: Gave United an early lead, finishing a header from a Javier Hernandez cross. One of United’s stand-outs who ran the show at times with instrumental distribution and movement. Subbed off in the 69th minute to allow Paul Scholes one last appearance.

Javier Hernandez 8: Had countless chances and on his day, he’d of scored five or six. Nevertheless, he got a goal and an assist and looked dangerous every time he found himself on the ball, weaving in and out of Albion defenders with ease.

Robin van Persie 6: Not his finest display but he did chip in with United’s fifth, taking him to 30 in all competitions for United. Will finish the campaign with the Golden Boot.

Substitutions

Ryan Giggs 7: Enjoyed his cameo, providing a fantastic assist for Hernandez’s goal with a pinpoint cross.

Paul Scholes 6: Came on and provided United fans with another lesson in how to tackle the Scholesy way, booked within 30 seconds. Didn’t contribute too much in the time he was on.

Rio Ferdinand N/A: 11 minutes is too little a shift to comment on.

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“When I had bad times here, the club stood by me. All my staff stood by me, the players stood by me, you stood by me, and your job now is to stand by our new manager.” Sir Alex Ferguson

During his final farewell speech at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson asked the fans to make sure they get behind David Moyes when he arrives at Old Trafford in the summer.

But the fans let their feelings known today at The Hawthorns with a fantastic Moyes chant that is sure to put a smile on Ferguson’s face. The away fans have been superb this year with their chants, Carrick’s gets a special mention, and this new Moyes one is catchy straight away!

“Come on feel the Moyes, play like the Fergie boys, we’ll go wild wild wild, we’ll go wild wild wild.”

Video credit to @1Rebs.

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On the same day that Robin van Persie secured the Golden Boot with his 30th goal of the season at the end of a Premier League winning campaign, Arsenal celebrated securing fourth place like it was a trophy.

Van Persie has suffered abuse from Arsenal fans after making the move to United this season in a £24 million deal but if Arsenal are celebrating finishing fourth ahead of Tottenham Hotspur like it is a trophy, then they can’t argue against his choice.

And despite Arsenal fans chanting filth about Van Persie’s rape allegations at Old Trafford, he showed respect when he scored against them both at Old Trafford and the Emirates.

Arsenal aren’t title contenders any more and the likes of Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy, Song and van Persie all leaving indicate that. Although, I do miss the bitter rivalry we shared back in the days of Keane vs Viera when we both ran tit-for-tat at the top of the table.

30 goals, a Premier League title and a very happy little boy inside of him? I’d say Van Persie made the right decision.

Photo: Twitter/Alex_OxChambo

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When Manchester United walk out against Wigan Athletic in the season opening Community Shield, it will be under David Moyes.

It might not have been a win but it was typical Ferguson. Thrilling, exciting, nerve jangling, tense and full of goals. Would we have had it any other way? It was the first time both teams have scored five goals in a Premier League – breaking records right to the very end.

He may have taken a bow in front of the away fans at the final whistle but it should have been the other way around. It is hard to comprehend history when you are watching it in front of your eyes but in a few years time when we all look back at the Fergie era, we will begin to understand just how incredibly lucky. 1986-2013. We are not worthy.

Scholes, Giggs and Januzaj – past, present and future. The 18-year-old Belgian starlet earned himself a place on Manchester United’s bench for the first time in his career and it caps off what has been a brilliant season for the youngster after being named Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year.

Scholes came on for a swansong and got his traditional yellow card on the way. That’s the last time we’ll see the ginger prince in action which is truly sad but the time is right for him to hang up his playing boots and help the likes of Januzaj and other youngsters blossom in the academy under a new  coaching role.

As for Giggs, he’s still got it. He came on and made an instant impact as he always does, even bagging himself an assist when his pin point cross found Hernandez.

It would of been typical Ferguson to give a debut to Januzaj on his final game in charge of United but the madness of the scoreline meant he had to put Ferdinand on.

Ferguson had a youth academy graduate in the match day squad for all 1,500 of his games as manager. He promoted youth all the way up to and including his final game.

Shinji Kagawa in preferred position. Wayne Rooney didn’t travel with Manchester United after being given permission to be with his pregnant wife Coleen which allowed Kagawa to play in his preferred role behind the striker.

And he looked superb. Clearly more comfortable in his natural position, he was dangerous from the first minute. He got on the end of Chicharito’s brilliant cross in the sixth minute to put United ahead and throughout the game, he was a constant thorn in West Brom’s defence.

I can’t wait to see Kagawa next season. Rooney’s departure would mean the #10 role is completely his but even if he stays, he will get plenty of game time and after settling in for one season, he’ll no doubt start to show more of the Kagawa that tore the Bundesliga apart with Dortmund.

Valencia’s swap deal. There’s life in the Ecuadorian yet. In the past five or so matches, Valencia has had a bit of a purple patch and showed some of the form that made him the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year in 2012.

And today against West Brom, he did it all from the right-back position. He seems to thrive when allowed to play a wing-back type role because it allows him to run at defenders with more pace rather than receiving the ball in a standing position.

It isn’t as if Valencia will get to play there on a regular occasion and he was only there today thanks to Rafael’s ban and Smalling’s injury but it is good to see that Valencia has still got it in him. At points this season, we all thought that he had completely lost it but he hasn’t.  Hopefully under Moyes, Valencia can make a swift return to his full flowing best because the signs are there that he can.

Linde-gaaaaaaaard. Five goals conceded and ultimately, Lindegaard was responsible for a few of them. The Dane’s performance was poor to say the least.

Ferguson played him to give him a chance to show himself and he couldn’t of done anything more to damn his own chances really. Remember when fans were split and there was a debate about who was our number one goalkeeper? Yeah – me neither.

Although I don’t want to see Lindegaard between the sticks ahead of De Gea any time soon, Eric Steele said that the goalkeeping situation at United is the best position it has ever been in and if having Lindegaard in the team has helped De Gea blossom into the goalkeeper he has been this season, then why change it?

It seems that Lindegaard is happy to play second fiddle at United behind De Gea. If he wants to continue with that next season, then so be it.

Photo: Twitter/Mark_Froggatt

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Subs: De Gea, Rio, Vidic, Scholes, Giggs, Evra, Januzaj

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The club has given him permission to be with his wife Coleen as she is due to give birth within the next few days.

Rooney was left out of last weeks’ squad against Swansea after requesting to be and this week’s absence means he will play no part in Sir Alex Ferguson’s farewell.

Ferguson has stated that he has no interest in dealing with Rooney’s future and will leave it up to David Moyes to decide what he wants to do with him when he officially takes over on July 1, although movement would likely be faster than that with the season finishing today.

The 27-year-old handed in his second transfer request in three years and struggled to even smile on United’s trophy parade around Manchester despite the throngs of fans that chanted his name.

He isn’t exactly hiding his disinterest at being a United player right now. When he collected his medal after Swansea, his dropped shoulders and sombre face didn’t paint the picture of a player who had just collected his fifth Premier League medal.

Although the reasons behind missing the West Brom game are perfectly legitimate, Rooney’s future at United is completely up in the air. Ferguson’s departure may be good for Rooney given his strained relationship with him but he is going to struggle to keep the fans on his side after handing in his second transfer request.

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“I would like to remind you this club stood by me in bad times, the players and the staff. Your job now is to stand by the new manager.” Sir Alex Ferguson

At his last home game, Ferguson made sure that the Old Trafford faithful gave Moyes their full backing in his rousing final farewell speech.

And Moyes admitted that he had no idea Ferguson was going to say that in his last speech as United manager at Old Trafford.

‘I knew nothing about what he was going to say but it was nice to hear it. Hopefully it will make my arrival a little bit easier,’ said Moyes to the Daily Mail. 

‘I’d give the same message to Everton fans about whoever follows me. It is really important that Everton, whoever their new manager is, welcome him like Sir Alex has done, to keep things strong at the club.”

Today will be the 71-year-old’s 1500th and final game in charge of United when he walks out against West Brom at The Hawthorns in what is sure to be an emotional day for everyone associated with United.

And when Moyes takes over from Ferguson as United manager in July, he has already been warned by Ferguson what differences to expect.

With a big job comes big responsibilities and the fan base, sponsors and board of directors will all be scrutinising Moyes’ every move.

Unfortunately for Moyes, his family has already suffered the bad side of publicity after a fake Twitter account was set up in his daughter’s name.

He continued: “My family know I’m ambitious and I’ve always wanted to try to get to the best level I can. I’ll be as up front and straight as I possibly can and hope that I’ll be able to answer as many questions possible that get asked.

“A lot has already been said about me and some of it has been rubbish. There was a false Twitter account for my daughter and she was distraught by it, because it wasn’t her.

“But what can you really do? I can’t answer everything that is said but I’ll do the best I can. I will try to answer the questions as straight as I can and try not to change.”

Moyes did a fantastic job at Everton for 11 years but taking the hot seat at United is a completely different kettle of fish.

He will walk into a baptism of fire at United thanks to Rooney’s transfer request and unlike most managers, there is a lot more pressure added onto the job.

Most managers take up jobs because their predecessor failed in some respect. For Moyes it is the opposite. He is walking into a management role that has become available through retirement rather than failings and that makes his position more difficult.

But Ferguson has given Moyes his personal backing as the new manager of United and that is enough for me. He does have great parallels with Ferguson and if the 71-year-old Scot feels he is the right man to follow in his job, then he is the right man for me.

Although, all eyes are firmly on today’s game against West Brom to see if United can give Ferguson the final farewell he truly deserves.

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Fellaini, 25, has been strongly linked to a move to Manchester United after David Moyes’ appointment at Old Trafford.

“I’m not a number 10. David Moyes predicts my future as a ­defensive midfielder but due to a lack of offensive power, he plays me up front.”

And speaking with the Daily Mirror, Fellaini pointed towards the influence of Moyes at Everton for how he has progressed in the past 12 months.

“If I’m leaving Everton, I say if, it will depend on lots of factors,” he said.

“I only want to go to a club where the manager ­really wants me. In 2008, Everton did everything to convince me, especially David Moyes. He made me the player I am now.

“I’m happy with my ­season, although I didn’t play in my best position.

“I’m not a number 10. David Moyes predicts my future as a ­defensive midfielder but due to a lack of offensive power, he plays me up front.

“In the future I want to play as a six or an eight. From there, I can create danger and score goals.”

Fellaini is potentially a strong target for United this summer now that Moyes will take over from Ferguson in a move that would see him follow the Scot in the move from Goodison Park.

The physical 25-year-old midfielder is considered by many as the perfect man to compliment Carrick in the middle of the park at United in order to bring a bit of presence to a midfield that has been over-run in recent years by the likes of Yaya Toure and Fellaini himself.

And ahead of what is going to be a busy summer, Fellaini dropped another hint that a United move could be on the cards when he admitted that he is hungry to play Champions League football next season, something that United could offer.

“Every player wants to play in the Champions League. That is the big competition,” Fellaini told the Daily Mirror in a previous interview.

“I hope I can do it with Everton. I’m happy here. I’ve been at the club for five years. I’m happy because I know everybody.”

Fellaini has enjoyed playing in several positions for Everton under David Moyes at Goodison Park but believes that he can play his best in a defensive midfield role.

He continued: “Sometimes I look at myself and ask, ‘What is my best position?’ I think it’s a defensive midfielder, that’s the best one.

“The manager might like it sometimes when I play up front because I can cause trouble for the defenders, but for me my best position defensive midfield – stopping the opposition and then looking to impose myself on a game.”

“When I play up front, it’s hard. It’s not my position and I find it difficult. I’ve played in a few positions. Sometimes I’ve played well there. I understand why the manager might put me up there.”

Looking between the lines, Fellaini is ticking all the boxes for a move to United. We are crying out for a defensive midfielder with an ability to bring the ball forward and given how well Fellaini has progressed under Moyes, the Belgian could be the answer to United’s midfield problems that have been so apparent for years.

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The West Midlands club will also give Ferguson a guard of honour as he walks onto the pitch.

Both the memorabilia kit and the guard of honour are a great touch and show of respect from West Brom who are not obliged to do anything tomorrow, so they are doing it all off their own back.

The past two weeks have been emotional for anybody associated with United but tomorrow is set to be top it all. A wonderful tribute at Old Trafford, followed by the best ever parade will culminate on Sunday in Ferguson’s last game.

The 90 minutes is largely irrelevant although Ferguson will be desperate to go out with a victory. When the full time whistle blows, it will close the book on United’s most successful period in history and wave goodbye to the greatest manager that has ever lived. Tissues please.

Photo: Twitter/KitmanPat

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Manchester United’s 38th and final game of the season, in which they have collected 88 points from, finishes with a game at The Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion.

With the title already sealed and with four games to spare, on paper it won’t be one for the neutrals to savour but with it being Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match in charge, the spark is still there (along with some left-over tissues from last weekend’s farewell speech at Old Trafford).

What will we miss the most? The chewing gum? The squeaky bum time? The hairdryer treatment? Fergie Time? The Scotsman raving on at the fourth official on a bad call from the referee? For some of us, all of it. For others, none of it.

The last time these two sides met in December, little did any of us know what awaited us in May. A routine 2-0 victory to United thanks to an own goal from Gareth McAuley and a late goal from Robin van Persie maintained United’s seven point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table.

As confirmed in Ferguson’s last press conference, Anders Lindegaard will start in goal with a central duo of Jonny Evans and Phil Jones, a pair which ‘could be the future’ according to Sir Alex.

Antonio Valencia may well step in at right-back with the current shortage in the position thanks to Chris Smalling’s injury and Rafael’s suspension.

Uncertainty remains whether Wayne Rooney will be involved at all after he was left out in Ferguson’s last home game against Swansea after he wasn’t ‘too keen’ to play, before Ferguson confirmed that Rooney had handed in a transfer request.

A war-cry of ‘I want to win this one more than last week’s even’ from Sir Alex Ferguson on Friday morning must have sent a shiver down the back of Steve Clarke, even in these circumstances. The winning mentality created by the Scot over the years has had his team playing from the first whistle to the very last.

And this Sunday at precisely 17:45 BST (excluding Fergie time), it will be just that.

Prediction: West Brom 0-2 Manchester United

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