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From the wide selection available (see nearly 100 videos past and present) we've chosen:         "United Under Robson" 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: Well, it certainly met expectations but then again those expectations are pretty low for End of Season videos. The clulessness involved in productions like these beggars belief at times. Do the producers EVER speak to fans? Surely they must bump into one during the year that tells them: 

• NEVER use inane home-made backing music; 

• NEVER overlay ludicrous graphics over match footage;

• NEVER dub on woefully inappropriate commentary and crowd noise;

• NEVER substitute goals and match action for predictable and valueless interviews;

• NEVER let Roger Tames get anywhere near a microphone

But year after year it happens. Examples of all of the above occur with irritating frequency. We have the Dumas over-the-line incident at Highbury obscured by the awful band of gold graphic. In fact, the opening and closing goals of each game are usually violated by this abomination. We are whizzed in and out of each game by a dreadful spinning 3D badge, accompanied by the opening and closing door sound used on Star Trek.

A new Tyne Tees man, Simon O'Rourke, is our narrator but unfortunately the script is the same. Some of the links are so contrived even Simon seems to squirm: "The young Robson signed as an amateur for Middlesbrough in the 50s. But for 20 minutes of this game it was both defences that looked like amateurs." I mean, that's just rubbish. The season is littered with some lovely quotes from Bobby - "cream cakes", "going for the jooglar" etc. etc. Let's have them instead.

And yet, there are some belting moments. Of course, there is the Big Dunc Bosnich bemuser, the Shearer Sheff Wed quintet and the Lee Wembley header but also a few welcome surprises. For a change we get some pre-season footage. Paul Robinson's goal at Dundee United and Franck Dumas' stunner at Stoke are fantastic inclusions but what about Robinson's at Reading?? We even have Gullit sporting the black and white at the Madejski Stadium but not young Paul's beauty. Footage of the Youth Cup win over the mackems is great - Caldwell's last minute winner being a highlight of the tape. But what about the Reserves' Northumberland Cup success or even Maric's late hat-trick in the semi? It wouldn't hurt to take a camcorder to those games would it?

Tyne Tees, the club and the sponsors have us over a barrel, although that barrel will no longer be a Scottish & Newcastle one and it will be interesting to see what input NTL will have next year, video being their business and all. However, they will also face no competition and know that inept production will never reduce sales because we buy it for the action which more or less has to be there. But it would be nice to consult with a fan before making these - some of us would do it for just a complimentary copy and a couple of beers. When will customer be king? Probably never while Roger Tames and his Tyne Tees cronies get the gig every year. Meanwhile, I'll keep on making my own compilation tapes and producing the MPEGs.

Verdict: A must for every United fan. Why? Because it's the only video record of the season we are allowed to buy. Enough golden moments to combat the irritations but the 114 minutes represents reasonable value. Hopefully you got it for the 20% pre-release price.

Highlight:
As mentioned above, Caldwell's last gasp mackem beater in the FA Youth Cup is followed by a magical celebration. Bobby's drug addiction admission is cracking (sorry). But Shearer correcting himself about Gullit's opinion of him is my personal favourite. A rare moment of humour and honesty in the bland desert.

Niall MacKenzie