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From the wide selection available (see nearly 100 videos past and present) we've chosen:         "The Road to Europe - Season Review 1996-97"  which you'll find in the "Season Reviews" category. If you want a copy, follow this link, where you can order it courtesy of the excellent Blackstar website.

NUFC.com's view: This is the season that everyone remembers for the departure of Kevin Keegan. Shame really, as this was one of the most memorable in recent years. With a front line that at times boasted Shearer, Ferdinand and Asprilla, United played some outstanding football that reached the very summit of anything seen in a black and white shirt.

There was of course the public humiliation of Man United in the 5-0 drubbing that none of us will ever forget, but the season started with the 4-0 stuffing by the same opponents at Wembley. This is exactly the sort of Jekyll and Hyde existence that became familiar throughout the season. The Charity Shield disaster was followed by a 2-0 defeat at Goodison, thanks to Speed and Ferguson - both wearing the Everton blue in those days. But United soon found their rhythm and 4-0 European victories over Halmstads and Ferencvaros were classic Tino-inspired successes. In between was the Howay-5-0 but after topping the table United nose-dived badly.

Tino once more turned it on for Europe and who can forget his shirt-on-the-flagpole celebration against Metz? League form was poor, though and only the 7-1 trouncing of Spurs, followed by the New Years' Day 3-0 stuffing of Leeds papered over the cracks. Keegan left and Kenny arrived but the mixture of exhilaration and disappointment continued. Shearer's late hat-trick against Leicester was followed by European exit and the second of the Anfield 4-3 games. Four wins and five draws ended the season in spectacular fashion culminating in the 5-0 demolition of relegated Nottm Forest. The mackems and smoggies were down and we were in the Champions League. What a day.

Most things that you'd expect are on the video and a few things that you'd hoped for are missing. The usual dubbed on crowd, nasty graphics and Roger Thames gaffes ("like a dog at a bone") are inevitable and as difficult to ignore as ever. When they finally get someone decent to do these end of season tapes we'll look back and wish that they'd done it a lot sooner. Season's like this deserved to be preserved with much more reverence than that afforded to them by the ITV clowns.

Verdict: Another must-buy, simply because it contains footage that you'll want to play over and over again. 

Highlight(s):
3rd place Just the briefest of glimpses but Tino's shirt-on-the-flagpole celebration of his crucial goal against Metz was fabulous.
2nd place Shearer's late treble that turned it round against Leicester, although Ginola's Ferencvaros stunner would have to be an equal second.
the winner Has to be Albert's chip over Schmeichel. Like Beardsley's over Corrigan, the tape will wear out before you tire of seeing it. 

Niall MacKenzie