Roll on the Footie

Summers are so boring without Football. Two and a half months of torturous wait has finally come to an end. Barclays Premier League has kicked off. The teams have changed quite a lot in the transfer window. The "Big Four" were relatively quiet in the transfer market as compared to the top Spanish clubs. Will the balance of power shift too? Time will tell.

Here are my predictions for the new season-

1. Wolverhampton Wanderers: Wolves won the Championship last term and played attractive Football. They are a club with rich history. So, its great to have them back in the Premiership. Their key player is Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, a former Manchester United youth player. He was Championship's top scorer in the last couple of seasons. Wolves will bank on him to carry his wonderful form to the Premiership.

2. Birmingham City: Birmingham earned promotion by playing organized Football. They weren't pretty but were effective. Expect them to park the bus in front of goal to grind out results.

3. Burnley: Burnley's story has been a fairytale. They had an amazing Carling Cup run last term. They proved to be a nemesis for London's Premier League clubs. They knocked out Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal on their way to the Semi finals where they nearly knocked out Tottenham. Their performance in the League was superb as well which got them to 5th spot in the table. They knocked out Reading and Sheffield United in the Playoffs to book a Premier League berth. I expect Turf Moor to host many memorable clashes this season. This is one team I'll be following with a lot of interest.

4. Hull City: Hull had a dream start to their debut Premier League season but it ended in a nightmare. They won only one of their last 22 league games. The points accumulated at the start of the season saved them from relegation. Things don't look too bright for them this term either. Phil Brown has been unable to convince many of his transfer targets to join him at the KC Stadium. The likes of Michael Owen, Fraizer Campbell and Bobby Zamora have snubbed them. A shock deal for Real Madrid starlet Alvaro Negredo may well be in the pipeline. Even if the deal materializes, Hull City will remain a top relegation candidate.

5. Portsmouth: Those days seem decades away when Pompey were winning the FA Cup and had top quality players like Defoe, Crouch and Johnson in their ranks. Throw in, lack of transfer activity, ownership issues and lack of discipline among players, in the mix and you have a top contender for relegation. Harry Redknapp left the club last season and his successor Tony Adams was sacked. Paul Hart then guided the club to safety and the club has stuck with him. But, he faces a mammoth task to keep the club in the Premiership. They look particularly light weight up front after selling Peter Crouch. Top players like David James and Niko Kranjcar will have to play a massive role to keep the club in the Premiership.

6. Stoke City: Football purists criticized Tony Pulis' approach last season. They were physical in their approach and Rory Delap's long throws were not the prettiest route to goal. But, it has to be said that it was effective. In the end, Stoke got a respectable mid table position. They haven't done much in the transfer market but they have kept majority of their squad together. They will employ the same approach this season: physical, well organized and hard to beat. Add to that, the wonderful atmosphere at Britannia Stadium and I think they'll stay up again.

7. Wigan Athletic: Wigan have undergone a lot of changes over the last seven months. Steve Bruce, who did a magnificent job with them, left the club to join Sunderland. Wigan lost two influential players in January: Wilson Palacios and Emile Heskey. Luis Valencia left the club in July to join Manchester United. Amr Zaki's loan wasn't extended due to disciplinary issues. Now, Wigan have a new look to their line-up. Their new manager, Roberto Martinez, has no experience of managing a Premier League club although he is widely regarded as one of the brightest young managers. He had a wonderful spell at Swansea and Wigan fans will be hoping for the same when he picks up the reins at the DW Stadium.

I expect the above 7 clubs to be trapped in relegation dogfight. The likes of Hull City, Portsmouth and the newly promoted sides are looking highly vulnerable.

8. Sunderland: The English Football's yoyo club is finally enjoying an extended run in the Premier League. Sunderland have money and they have appointed a good manager, Steve Bruce. Sunderland opted not to sign Djibril Cisse after his loan spell expired. But, they have brought in Darren Bent and Fraizer Campbell. Although Bent has been criticized a lot but he scores goals. Then, Bruce may pull a rabbit out of the hat by using his contacts in South America to unearth some promising young players as he did with Wigan. Combining all factors, a mid table place seems to be a safe bet as far as Sunderland are concerned.

9. Bolton Wanderers: Bolton's decent showing last season was largely due to excellent performances by Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor. Bolton won't change their style of play. It may not be pleasing to the eye but it has served them well. The hoof ball merchants should secure a mid table berth again.

10. Fulham: When Roy Hodgson arrived at Fulham in 2007-08, they were in shambles. They were a top contender for relegation. But, Hodgson miraculously guided them to safety. His hard work reaped benefits last term when a well organised Fulham side booked a place in the UEFA Europa League. The key to their performance was their defense and in particular Brede Hangeland. If Fulham hold onto him then they have a wonderful chance of securing a respectable position in the table. A big concern for Hodgson must be the lack of goals. The likes of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora need to step up. I think it'll be very difficult for them to repeat last season's heroics simply because their squad isn't big enough to cope up with the pressure of playing in multiple competitions. It happened with Portsmouth last season and it may happen with Fulham this time.

11. Blackburn Rovers: Last season, Blackburn appointed inexperienced Paul Ince as their manager. But, he failed and Blackburn were left fighting relegation. Experienced campaigner Sam Allardyce arrived and guided the club to safety. Although Big Sam's teams play physical and dull Football but his methods have been very effective. He guided a mediocre Bolton side to UEFA Cup qualification a few years ago. I expect more of the same at Blackburn. Blackburn have lost their best striker, Roque Santa Cruz, to Man City. But, his last season was blighted by injuries. Blackburn coped well in his absence. They have brought in promising Chelsea youngster Franco Di Santo on loan and are linked with Real Madrid's Alvaro Negredo. It'll be a massive coup if Blackburn pull off the deal. I'd expect them to finish near 10th spot in the table.

12. West Ham United: Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke did a wonderful job at West Ham last season after starting off in a shaky manner. West Ham have a lot of good players in their side like Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Carlton Cole, Scott Parker and Dean Ashton (if fit). They have kept the core of their squad together this summer. If these players play to their potential then West Ham have a wonderful chance of qualifying for the Europa League.

13. Aston Villa: Aston Villa had a golden opportunity to break the Big Four monopoly last season but they blew it when it mattered. Martin O'Neill took a gamble to rest his big guns for a UEFA Cup clash. It backfired and Villa got knocked out of the competition. After that Villa's season got worse after each and every game. Wins became hard to come by and Villa eventually surrendered the fourth spot to Arsenal. Villa's rock in defense Martin Laursen had to retire this summer because of injury problems while Gareth Barry raised a few eyebrows by moving to Man City instead of Liverpool. Villa's attack looks great though with the likes of Carew, Agbonlahor, Young, Heskey, Milner and new signing Stewart Downing, in their ranks. Still, I feel that last season was their best chance to get to the Champions League and they may not get another chance as Man City and Tottenham are looking stronger.

14. Everton: I am amazed to see the progress Everton have made under David Moyes. He has a small budget to operate under while his competitors splash the cash around. Even under tight financial constraints, Moyes achieved 5th spot in the table and took his team to the FA Cup final last season. Those feats will be difficult to achieve this season as their rivals Man City and Tottenham are looking stronger. Everton have been badly hit by injuries as well. Key players Arteta, Jagielka and Yakubu are out. But this is not the end of Everton's problems. Their best defender Joleon Lescott is being pursued by Man City and it seems that the cash rich club will get their man in the end. So, responsibility falls on the shoulders of Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini to guide the team through this difficult period. It won't be easy for Everton to defy the odds this time but they have done it before and they can do it again.

15. Manchester City: Cash fuelled Manchester City have invested heavily in the transfer market. They, along with Real Madrid, have contributed to the inflation in the transfer market. Man City became the richest club in the World last year when Abu Dhabi United Group purchased the club. They had little time to do something in the transfer market but pulled off a stunning coup by signing Robinho from Real Madrid. This year they had full transfer window to invest and they have invested heavily. Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry and Kolo Toure have all arrived while some want-away players have left. All the new arrivals are proven Premier League players. Add Robinho and Stephen Ireland to the likes of Adebayor, Tevez and Santa Cruz and you have, perhaps, the best attacking unit in the Premier League, on paper. But, the big question is, will these players gel quickly enough to allow City to break into the top four? I don't think so. Football is a funny game. You may have 11 best players out on the pitch but they need to play as a team. I think City may break into the top four after one or two seasons but this time they'll be left fighting for a UEFA Europa League spot. A major reason is the lack of defensive options at Hughes' disposal. City leaked in goals last season and need to strengthen the back four. This is exactly why Hughes was so desperate to get Terry. He failed to lure the England captain and has turned his attentions to Everton's Joleon Lescott. Another problem that confronts Mark Hughes is that there are too many strikers at the club. He'll have to keep everyone happy which is easier said than done. There is huge pressure on Mark Hughes to succeed otherwise he may find himself searching for a new job. Having said that, it is possible that their big guns click at the right time to gatecrash the Big Four party. Manchester City will provide a totally new dimension to this season. Can money buy success? This question will be answered soon.

16. Tottenham Hotspur: No transfer window is complete without frantic transfer activity at White Hart Lane. This window has been a bit different though. Although Spurs were linked with the likes of Huntelaar and Vieira but they couldn't bring them in. Still, Spurs are a formidable team on paper. Their defense doesn't look too bad with Woodgate, King, Corluka and new boy Bassong in the squad. They have a good midfield. The pace of Lennon, the strength of Palacios and the vision of Modric complement each other perfectly. Add four top class strikers, Defoe, Keane, Pavlyuchenko and new signing Peter Crouch, to the mix and you get a squad that can go the distance in the Premier League. Spurs had a good squad on paper for many years and they spent heavily too but couldn't force their way into the top four. Defensive errors, managerial instability, inconsistency etc have been the reasons for their downfall in the past. But now they have an experienced manager, Harry Redknapp, who almost took them to Europe from bottom place in the table last season. They have a settled squad too and lack of transfers may prove to be a boon for them. I think Spurs will be the one of the main contenders for that elusive fourth spot in the table.

17. Arsenal: Arsenal is a big club but they have had four consecutive trophyless years. Their fans are getting impatient. Last year, Arsenal were out of the title race by Christmas. They reached the latter stages of cup competitions but couldn't force the issue when they came up against the top sides. Arsene Wenger's decision to sell Toure and Adebayor to rivals Man City hasn't helped the situation. It seems that all is not well in the Arsenal boardroom. It is quite clear that Wenger doesn't have the money to buy big players. I think he is doing a fantastic job with his current players. He has brought in Thomas Vermaelen to toughen up the defense which has been Arsenal's biggest weakness for the last 3-4 years. Arsenal's squad looks so thin that a couple of injuries to key players might end their title dreams but if they keep themselves injury free then they have one of the best attacking units. Van Persie, Arshavin, Fabregas, Walcott and Nasri are names that any manager would love to have in his squad. The return of Eduardo and Rosicky is like a couple of new signings. Many people have tipped Arsenal to crash out of the top four but I think that they can even challenge for the title if key players remain fit.

18. Liverpool: The way Liverpool ended their last season was simply phenomenal. Not only Gerrard and Torres but the likes of Alonso, Kuyt and Benayoun were magnificent. It has given Liverpool fans the belief that they can bring the Premier League trophy to Anfield. But, Liverpool have lost a key player, Xabi Alonso, to Real Madrid. He was the creative force in the midfield last season and allowed Gerrard the freedom to attack. The likes of Lucas and Mascherano lack Alonso's qualities. Liverpool have brought in Alberto Aquilani from Roma to compensate for Alonso's loss. Although he is a talented lad but he is unproven and has a poor fitness record. It'll be interesting to see how he performs in a more physical league. Another new signing is Glen Johnson who is a promising right back. To make way for him, Alvaro Arbeloa has been shipped to Real Madrid. I think Liverpool lack a decent backup for Torres. Voronin hasn't set the World alight with his performances and N'Gog is unproven. The fitness of Gerrard and Torres will be a key to Liverpool's chances of winning the Premier League. But, I think last season was Liverpool's best chance to win the league and they may not get another chance this time because their squad is not big enough to go the distance.

19. Chelsea: Chelsea are the only Big Four club who haven't lost key players in the transfer window which makes them people's favourite to lift the title. Zhirkov and Sturridge are welcome additions to the squad. Although, the personnel on the pitch will be the same but Abramovich's revolving door policy has meant that Carlo Ancelotti will be Chelsea's 5th manager in three years. It'll be interesting to see how quickly Ancelotti adapts to the Premier League and how quickly Chelsea adapt to his diamond formation. Pre-season signs have been positive. The usual suspects, Lampard, Terry and Drogba will be pivotal for Chelsea's chances this season. Chelsea's biggest problem is their ageing squad. Most of their key players are on the wrong side of thirty. It'll be interesting to see if these players have the legs to grind out results week in and week out. I think they'll be United's biggest challengers for the Premier League crown.

20. Manchester United: The Champions, Manchester United usually enter a competition as favorites. But, it's different this time. The best player in the World, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been transferred to Real Madrid. Another important player Carlos Tevez has switched to the blue half of Manchester. That makes United the underdogs for a change but it will be a big mistake to write United off. After all, we are talking about a club that has won three back to back Premier League titles, a club that appeared in two consecutive Champions League finals, a club that is managed by arguably the best manager of all time. Ronaldo's transfer left United with 80m to spend which Sir Alex chose not to. It is an inflated market and the wise man thought that he won't get value for money this time. He brought in young and promising players like Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan along with free agent Michael Owen. The shock capture of Owen may prove to be a masterstroke by Fergie as the England striker is a proven goal scorer. The other new boy, Antonio Valencia, is a proven Premier League player. He will be looked upon as Ronaldo's replacement. But, I think it is impossible for one player to replace Ronaldo. The whole team will have to step up to replace Ronaldo. Wayne Rooney will be the focal point of United's attacks while Dimitar Berbatov needs justify his price tag. Then, there are young strikers like Macheda and Welbeck who were wonderful last season and can only improve. It'll be interesting to see how much time youngsters like Gibson, Tosic, Obertan, Petrucci and January arrivals Ljajic and Diouf get on the pitch. These players can only benefit from the presence of Giggs, Scholes and Neville on the training ground. It is a big season for Ben Foster as well who may finally get an extended run in the first team. The strongest aspect of United's game last season was defense. If the likes of Vidic, Ferdinand, Van Der Sar and Evra remain fit at crucial times this season then United can expect more silverware. I think United have the experience and a big enough squad to finally knock Liverpool off their perch. It'll be an unbelievable achievement for the legendary manager who is, perhaps, building his last squad at Manchester United.

Predicted league table
1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham Hotspur
6. Manchester City
7. Everton
8. Aston Villa
9. West Ham
10. Blackburn Rovers
11. Fulham
12. Sunderland
13. Bolton Wanderers
14. Stoke City
15. Wigan Athletic
16. Birmingham City
17. Hull City
18. Wolverhampton Wanderers
19. Portsmouth
20. Burnley

Shades of '95

As the news of Cristiano Ronaldo's imminent departure sunk in, Carlos Tevez refused to tie his future to the Champions of England. United couldn't have had a worse start to the transfer window. Two of the most crucial players have left the Theater of Dreams creating a huge void for Sir Alex to fill. It is a situation United have been familiar with.

In the summer of 95, United let Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis leave Old Trafford much to the dismay of the fans. These were three very important members of the squad. But, Sir Alex knew that time had come to look to the future. He didn't spend big which again agitated the fans. Instead, he used this situation as an opportunity to give academy players their big break. Alan Hansen famously said, "You'll never win anything with kids". But, the players rewarded their Manager's faith by proving everyone wrong. Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and David Beckham went on to become Old Trafford legends and won everything with United.

Today Manchester United find themselves in a similar situation. Two of the most influential members of the squad have left. Fans are demanding fresh faces. Renowned superstars like David Villa, Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery, David Silva and Sergio Aguero have been linked with a move to Old Trafford. But, Manchester United haven't bought anyone. The money generated from Ronaldo's departure may be used to wipe off a significant amount of debt that United have been operating under. It seems that Luis Valencia will join the Red Devils in the next few days. He is a good winger who'll create a lot of chances for the strikers. It'll be up to Rooney and Berbatov to step up and take those chances. Then there are youngsters like Welbeck, Macheda, Tosic, Fabio, Possebon and Petrucci who have developed really well under the watchful eyes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Evans and Rafael got a lot of chances with the first team last season and they were absolutely magnificent. Another youngster Adem Ljajic will join United in January. I have heard a lot of positive things about him. So, its not as bad as it looks. Sir Alex may have lost two of his superstars but he has a whole bunch of future stars waiting in the wings. This is the beginning of a new era at Old Trafford and this time too United won't buy superstars, they'll make them.

Viva Ronaldo

In the summer of 2003, United's superstar David Beckham joined Real Madrid. Sir Alex bought an unknown 18 year old as his replacement and gave him the famous no 7 jersey. This kid had talent but sometimes frustrated his own team mates by trying win the game on his own. Passing was not on top of his priority list. Then he had a bust up with his striking partner at 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was made the scapegoat of England's demise in yet another World Cup. He feared for his safety in England but Sir Alex convinced him to continue his career at Old Trafford. The fans welcomed him back but he was targeted in the away fixtures. The booing and whistling made him stronger and more determined to prove his critics wrong. He scored 23 goals in a campaign which brought back the Premier League title to Old Trafford. He followed it up with an unbelievable return of 42 goals in his next season. United retained the Premier League crown and went on to win the Champions League. He won all the personal accolades for his majestic performances. The kid had matured now. He couldn't follow the dream season with similar success partly because of an injury and partly beacuse of the immense weight of expectations. But, he still ended up as United's top scorer with 26 goals and was instrumental in United equalling Liverpool's record of 18 League titles. United reached another Champions League Final but fell at the last hurdle. This lad looked like the only player who was trying to win the game for United. He finally decided to move to his dream club after 6 years of unbelievable success at Old Trafford.

Many fans say that he is not loyal to the club that made him what he is today. But, I believe that his contribution towards United's recent success evens everything out. United were there for him in his darkest hours and he rewarded United with a bag full of trophies. He had 6 wonderful years at the Theater of Dreams. He was one of the best players ever to have donned the Red shirt. I won't wish him luck simply because I hate the club he is moving to but I'd thank him for what he has done for Manchester United in the last six years. I say it one last time:
Viva Ronaldo,
Viva Ronaldo,
Running Down the Wing,
Hear United Sing,
Viva Ronaldo.

Quotes of the Season

Finally, Manchester United equalled Liverpool's long standing record of 18 League titles. It was an incredible campaign. Lets look back at some memorable quotes from some special people (courtesy manutd.com):

“The gaffer insists on good defending, but sometimes there's not much defending to do."
Jonny Evans shows his stargazing powers following the 3-0 win over Celtic in October. The Reds would soon embark on a British league-record 1,311-minute shutout

“It’s scary. You spend all week discussing tactics, but when a team is that good, you can’t do anything about it.”
Blackburn boss Paul Ince reflects on losing 2-0 at home to United in October

“Berbatov's play for the second goal was absolutely magnificent. You'd pay double the money to watch that."
Sir Alex marvels at the Bulgarian’s stupendous touchline wizardry against West Ham in October

“Once the prayer mats have been left in the dressing-room, it’ll be a case of defending in numbers, stubbornness, organisation, discipline and a lot of luck.”
Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller gives us the lowdown on Stoke City’s prep in November. United won 5-0

“I’ve been doodling on my pad, trying to see how I can fit all these players in. People ask me what I consider to be my best side, and the short answer is that I don’t have one.”
Sir Alex's oft-experienced selection headache ruins Christmas

“When you're in the tunnel and you hear on the speakers: ‘Please welcome the champions of England, the champions of Europe and the champions of the world...’ you believe that you're going to crush anybody that's in your way. I get goose bumps every time I walk out at Old Trafford.”
Dimitar Berbatov gets the sweetest chill in January

“He has a wonderful velvet touch; the ball goes stone dead when he gets it. In the midst of all the mayhem it's wonder to see."
Sir Alex lauds Paul Scholes on his 600th appearance for the Reds in April

“I probably wouldn’t have believed them if they’d said I’d play one game for United or score one goal. Numbers don’t really matter. I’ve just been lucky to play for a great club that happens to be my local club.”
Typical understatement from Scholes himself in April

“I don’t know about playing as well as I have done, that’s for other people to judge.”
And the jury was in favour. Ryan Giggs, shortly before being named PFA Player of the Year, for the first time, February

“Everyone thinks the money will make the job easier for Mark Hughes, but I don't."
Paddy Crerand looks into his crystal ball as the curtain opens on the new campaign

“At United, you learn from the best."
Kiko Macheda in November. His first examination at senior level was passed with flying colours five months down the line as his red arrow pierced Villa hearts.

“Scoring in front of the Stretford End is a dream for every boy from Manchester.”
Danny Welbeck reflects on his first United goal against Stoke in November

“Yes, we take terrible risks, but there's always a chance we'll win the match."
Sir Alex sums up the essence of Manchester United after the 3-2 win over Villa in April

“I did not think I would reach this level so quickly. But I always believed in my talent.”
The last word from Cristiano Ronaldo on his FIFA World Player of the Year award, November.

Believe

It was just another Saturday night. Nothing to do. But, an important Football game to look forward to. The squeaky bum time has arrived. Every game is like a cup final. Every win, every loss changes the whole picture dramatically. Manchester United were cruising towards yet another Premier League title in March with ten points advantage over Liverpool. But, I have learned over the years that Man United love to do things the hard way. This season is no different. Two consecutive losses meant that the lead was slashed to one point with a game in hand. Everyone had one question in mind: Will Manchester United make a come back?

The answer is - Yes. A sensational win against Aston Villa was followed by victories over Sunderland and Portsmouth. Liverpool's dramatic draw against Arsenal gave United some breathing space. As United prepared to entertain a rejuvenated Tottenham side, the news of Liverpool's win over Hull City filtered through Old Trafford. The onus was on United to wrest the top spot back from Liverpool's grasp.

The match started slowly. Both teams were playing safe, trying to settle down. Pacy Aaron Lennon has always troubled Patrice Evra so it was a surprise to me that Sir Alex opted for Nani instead of Park who is better defensively. Lennon was having another great game against Evra. It was his move that drew first blood. A seemingly harmless cross fell right between Vidic and Ferdinand and Darren Bent out muscled Ferdinand to stab the ball home. Unexpectedly, the advantage was doubled when United couldn't deal with another cross from the same side and Luka Modric bundled the ball in.

Here I was, sitting at my 'lucky' seat, shell shocked. The 'lucky' seat has won me many games but it seemed that the luck finally ran out. To add salt to the wounds, everyone around me was enjoying the proceedings. I have a strange feeling. Whenever my team is in a precarious position, people around me seem to enjoy every bit of it. I had the same feeling during last year's IPL and Saturday's match further strengthened my belief.

Then, I remembered last season. A huge mosaic showing 'BELIEVE' used to appear at Old Trafford during Champions League matches. It really fired me up every time I saw it. I had only seven letters in my mind now: Believe.

The second half began. Carlos Tevez came out in place of Nani. It marked a rare occasion when United's 'Fab Four' were out on the pitch. Slowly things started to fall back in place. The passing improved. The hunger to win the game was clearly visible in United's game. But, Tottenham's defense was stubborn. It required a lucky break to get the first goal. Carrick was brought down in the box by Tottenham's goalkeeper Gomes and Howard Webb pointed straight to the spot. Replay showed that keeper got the ball too as he took out Carrick but the referee had given his verdict.

Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to take the penalty. I closed my eyes. Even Ronaldo, knowing the importance of the penalty, closed his eyes for a moment and then calmly slotted the ball past Gomes. The great escape had begun. Wayne Rooney, who had been a live wire on the pitch, beat Gomes at his near post to equalize. Then, he delivered a great cross which was duly headed home by Ronaldo. In ten freaking minutes the tables had turned. Tottenham couldn't believe what was happening. Their misery was compounded when Rooney and Berbatov added to the scoreline. I loved the look on the face of all who were enjoying 15 minutes ago. They left the room even before the match ended.

United's display reminded me again of the meaning of the word believe. You may be down and out. The World may be laughing at you. Don't bother one bit. Just believe in your abilities. You will always find a way out.

A Star is Born

It was simply magical. A seventeen year old boy, virtually unknown outside Old Trafford, roared his way into Premier League football with a sensational goal in perhaps the most important game of the season for Manchester United. Federico Macheda: If you don't know this name, make a note of it now because you'll hear a lot about him in the future.

The build up to the game wasn't ideal. Manchester United had lost the last two games in demoralizing fashion. The impregnable defense suddenly started to look vulnerable. To add to the woes Vidic, Scholes and Rooney were suspended for this game because of their recent sending offs. When I thought, it can't get worse for Manchester United, it did. Rio Ferdinand picked up an injury on International duty while Dimitar Berbatov failed to recover from his ankle injury. This left United desperately short in numbers at the back and up front. Skipper Gary Neville made a come back after a three months lay off. He was joined at the back by young Jonny Evans. Carlos Tevez was the only recognized striker left (until Kiko Macheda came on) but he had travelled from high altitude of Bolivia and was clearly fatigued. To add salt to the wounds, Liverpool scored a last gasp winner at Craven Cottage on Saturday to pull clear at the top of the table although United had two games in hand.

Aston Villa had problems of their own. After leading Arsenal for most of the season, they went through a slump which left them trailing the Gunners by three points. But, unlike United, they had all their big guns fit for this game. The likes of Carew, Agbonlahor and Young were up against a patched up defense. It looked like a mismatch on paper.

The game didn't start too well for Manchester United. Aston Villa enjoyed possession in the early stages of the match. Carew's header was cleared off the line by Fletcher. United needed some luck to break Villa's defense and they got their chance when a mix up between James Milner and Brad Freidel resulted in Freidel handling a back pass. This gave United a free kick inside the penalty area. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and blasted the free kick past a crowd of Aston Villa players into the back of the net. But, even the opening goal failed to spur United. Aston Villa kept on pressing and soon got their equalizer through John Carew who easily out-jumped Neville to head past Edwin Van Der Sar. Half time arrived with the score 1-1.

Same pattern was followed in the second half. Aston Villa were playing some impressive football. They got their reward when Agbonlahor got ahead of the defense to give Aston Villa the lead. With time running out, the hopes of rescuing something from this game started to diminish. Then, Sir Alex made an interesting move. On came Italian starlet Federico Macheda in place of unimpressive Nani. I had heard a lot about him after his goals for the Reserves but this was the first time I was watching him play live.

As United had to play catch up, Aston Villa went defensive to hold on to their lead. Wave after wave of United attack was met by a wall of Villa defenders. United badly needed some inspiration from one of the few experienced heads left on the field. Cristiano Ronaldo, the World Player of the Year, rose to the occasion. His left foot shot from just outside the penalty area found the narrowest of gaps left by the huge frame of Brad Freidel in Aston Villa's goal. United suddenly got the belief to go on and they stamped their authority over the game. Sir Alex threw another teenager Danny Welbeck on the pitch in search of a winning goal. He was denied by Freidel's heroics in dying moments of the game. Five minutes were added on for injuries and stoppages. The announcement was met by a huge roar from Old Trafford crowd. Then came the big moment for the young man. He received a pass from Ryan Giggs inside the box. He had Luke Young for company but a wonderful first touch meant that Young could only watch as Macheda curled a magnificent shot past diving Brad Freidel. It was a moment of magic from the young Italian. It doesn't happen often when Ronaldo's fantastic efforts are overshadowed by a teenager's goal but last night was something special.

The win means that United moved back to the top of the table with a game in hand. Most importantly, United won the game from a position of no hope. The manner of victory will give the squad a massive lift for the upcoming fixtures. It was fascinating to see Macheda and Welbeck lead the line for United in such a massive game. It is heartening to see youngsters like Macheda, Welbeck, Evans, Rafael etc come through the ranks. They certainly are at the right club under the right manager who is not afraid to give them their big break. It is a tradition at Manchester United to groom young players and make them superstars. After seeing last night's performance, I am sure that the tradition will continue.

It is because of games like this, I love Football. It is because of games like this, I love Manchester United.

A Weekend to Forget

I was desperate to spill out a lot of stuff after going through Saturday's nightmare and there is no better place to do it than this blog. When Ronaldo scored that penalty, I thought Liverpool's title challenge will be buried at Old Trafford. But, then the unthinkable happened. Liverpool got back in it and eventually managed to breach the watertight defense not once or twice but four times.

After witnessing United play some uninspiring football in some of the previous games as well, I sensed a loss might be coming. Unfortunately, it came against a fierce rival who are challenging for the league title as well.

In the midweek, United defeated Mourinho's Internazionale despite a sub-standard performance but luck finally ran out on Saturday. I have never seen players like Scholes as sloppy as he was against Inter or Vidic as poor as he was against Liverpool. But, it proves one thing only that these guys are humans after all and they too can make mistakes. It is wrong to blame the players because they are the reason for Manchester United's success so far this season. You just cannot expect to win each and every game no matter how good you are. That brings us to another point. For the last few weeks, all the pundits across England were tipping United for an unprecedented Quintuple winning everything that was there to be won. Although, Sir Alex played down the speculation but I think it got into players' head. They needed to come back down to Earth and that result on Saturday will serve the purpose.

As far as the last game is concerned, Liverpool surely deserved to win but not because they were exceptional or played some free flowing football. It is because United gifted them the game with some uncharacteristic mistakes. Credit to them for accepting those gifts. It was a repeat of the previous meeting between the two sides when United threw the game away after taking the lead at Anfield.

This defeat will surely wipe off any complacency that may have been there in players' minds. I expect them to come out all guns blazing in the next fixture at Craven Cottage. The important thing is that its still United's title to lose. Four points gap and a game in hand gives United the advantage over Liverpool and Chelsea. A victory over Internazionale in the midweek meant that United joined the other three English sides in the Champions League Quarter Finals. The draw for the Quarter Finals will be made tomorrow. I am praying that United draw Liverpool and knock them out. That will be a dream come true.

The Season So Far

When I woke up on 22nd May 2008 I pinched myself to be sure that last night wasn't a dream. Manchester United were indeed crowned the Champions of Europe on a dramatic night in Moscow. I could barely watch the proceedings after Cristiano Ronaldo missed his spot kick in the penalty shoot out. Edwin Van Der Sar came close to saving two Chelsea penalties but it wasn't to be. But then John Terry slipped, I had a feeling that trophy is in touching distance. Ryan Giggs, making a record 759th appearance for United, calmly struck his penalty and then the long awaited moment followed. Nicolas Anelka, former Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City player, saw his penalty saved by the big Dutchman and ecstasy followed. I don't remember what crazy things I did to celebrate the victory but surely that night will remain etched in my memory forever. The victory took a long time to sink in but when it eventually did, I thought, what next? Winning a trophy is hard but to keep it is even harder. Also, no team has successfully defended the Champions League since the format changed in 1992.

The dream season was followed by intense speculation of Ronaldo leaving for Real Madrid but he stayed at Old Trafford to give himself a better chance of winning more silverware. United completed the high profile signing of Dimitar Berbatov to bolster the already lethal attacking line. There were departures as well in the form of Louis Saha, Mikael Silvestre and Gerard Pique but the team looked strong to start the defence of the Premier League and the Champions League.

As always, United were slow to start and their cause was not helped by injuries and a strange fixture list. United had to face all the top teams away from home in the first half of the season. A draw at Old Trafford in the first game of the season was followed by loss in the European Super Cup final and a loss at Anfield. A draw at high flying Chelsea was considered as a good result but United had a lot of catch up to do so early in the season. Then, Ronaldo returned from injury and provided momentum along with Wayne Rooney to kick start a series of good results.

In Europe, United were put in a tricky group with Villarreal, Celtic and Aalborg. Good form at Old Trafford carried United through to the knockout stages of the competition without much fuss.

Sir Alex likes to give young players a run in the first team in the Carling Cup to give them some experience. This strategy backfired in the last two seasons as United were knocked out by Championship sides. But, this time the youngsters grabbed their chance. Players like Rafael, Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, Rodrigo Possebon, Nani and Anderson improved with every game and took the team to the final of the Carling Cup.

In December, United had to travel to Japan to take part in the FIFA World Club Championship. It was expected that hectic schedule and travelling will take its toll on the players and United, who were already trailing Liverpool and Chelsea, will fall apart. The tournament in Japan brought the first piece of silverware this season for United and they earned the right to be called the World Champions. This proved to be a huge morale booster for the players and their fortunes changed after coming back to England.

Liverpool and Chelsea failed to take advantage of United's absence as they dropped points. A resurgent United put together a string of 1-0 wins and more importantly solid defensive performances that were absent at the start of the season. There were injuries to key defenders like Ferdinand, Evra and Brown at this point but Nemanja Vidic held the defence together along with Edwin Van Der Sar. As a result, United put together an amazing string of 14 consecutive Premier League clean sheets that saw them smash plenty of records. As United blossomed, Liverpool and Chelsea faltered. Chelsea were demolished at Old Trafford and Anfield while Liverpool drew too many home games to hand the advantage to Man United. Chelsea sacked Scolari, their manager, after a series of poor results.

Yesterday's draw against Man City left Liverpool 7 points adrift of Man United while Chelsea lie third in the table trailing United by 10 points. Arsenal haven't been involved in the title race at all and they are struggling to break into the top four due to their inconsistency. Aston Villa have been superb this season and are looking set to break the Big Four monopoly.

United have progressed to the quarter final of FA Cup after beating Southampton, Tottenham and Derby County. With the Red Devils marching on all fronts, talks of improbable quintuple have surfaced in the tabloids. I think it is a bit early to speculate what will happen in the next three months and we'll get a clear picture at the end of March. The Carling Cup is only one game away and United have established an healthy lead at the top of the Premier League table. But the two other trophies are a long way away. The most difficult of the lot is the Champions League. United have a big test coming up against Internazionale, the Champions of Italy, with Mourinho factor adding spice to the intriguing tie. It is make or break time with big games coming thick and fast.

Come May, we'll know how United progressed after a dream season. The signs have been positive. The squad was pushed to the limits in January but the players came out with flying colours and are still in contention for all the trophies. The way old warhorses Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have performed in recent months goes to show that they still have the hunger and desire to win trophies even now. Ryan Giggs has been deployed in the central midfield this season which has proved to be an ace from Sir Alex. Giggs has been one of most influential players in the United side so far and his display against Chelsea, when he overshadowed Lampard and Ballack, was majestic. Scholes has been running the show single-handedly as well in recent weeks. The defense has been watertight with Vidic at his best. He certainly is in the running for Player of the Year award. Van Der Sar, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra have played their part in the amazing run of successive clean sheets. Captain Neville returned from a major injury this season and his presence in the side is inspiring. The emergence of Rafael and Johnny Evans has been wonderful to watch and it seems that United's future is secured with quality young players. Carrick and Fletcher have cemented their positions in the squad in the absence of Owen Hargreaves. It was always going to be difficult for Cristiano Ronaldo to replicate the success of last season and it certainly has been the case. But, the Portuguese winger is still United's top scorer this season. Wayne Rooney has been scoring tap ins for a change and Carlos Tevez still possesses the knack of scoring crucial goals. Dimitar Berbatov was slow to start his United career but he has gelled in really well now. He has scored and created many crucial goals for United in the last couple of months. Nani, Anderson, Park, O'Shea, Gibson, Welbeck, Fabio and Brown have done their job and this United side looks set to break a few more records before May.

There will be a lot of twists and turns before the season comes to an end. But, with the squad that United have, it is safe to say that United will add a few more trophies to their bulging trophy cabinet. It has been a wonderful experience to watch golden oldies performing at their best at one hand and youngsters not showing any sign of pressure at the other. These surely are exciting times at Old Trafford. Winning the quintuple seems next to impossible but if anyone can do it Manchester United can do it.

Money Rules

Buffon...kicks it towards Terry...aeriel ball to Kaka...great one two with Villa...Kaka is through on goal...and its a clinical finish...what a strike by Kaka after fantastic build up involving David Villa.

This is neither a piece of commentary from FIFA 09 nor a fantasy football team. This is the wish list of a small club based in Manchester who have an owner with deep pockets ready to bring every superstar in this world to The City of Manchester Stadium. Ever since Abu Dhabi United Group bought Manchester City in summer, they have been linked with some of the best players in the world with transfer figures touching astronomical heights. The take over took place on the deadline day of the summer transfer window and the new owners made their intentions clear by snatching Robinho from right under the noses of Chelsea. The transfer fees paid was £32.5, a new English record. The transfer window closed too soon for them to make a bigger impact.

As the January transfer window arrived, Manchester City were expected to be in the limelight again. They started with signing Chelsea bench warmer Wayne Bridge and were linked with the likes of Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz and Scott Parker. Everything was fine until one fine afternoon when a City delegation landed in Milan and put a massive bid of £108m for 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year, Kaka. At present, the offer is on the table and it is up to AC Milan to decide whether they accept it or not. AC Milan have shrugged off Real Madrid's approaches in previous seasons but in difficult financial times these days, will this offer prove to be too good to reject? We'll have to wait to find out.

This is not the end of the deal. An additional £25m will be paid to the player's agent who happens to be his father, for his role in the deal. Kaka has been offered £500,000 per week for kicking football which is more than the wages of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Cristiano Ronaldo put together. The ball is in Kaka's court now. The figures involved in the deal have never been heard before. So, it won't be a surprise if the deal goes through. Anyways, those days are gone when players played their heart out for a single club. If Kaka joins Man City then it will open the door for other superstars to join the Eastlands revolution.

But the point remains, are these types of deals good for football. What if the owner decides one day that enough is enough. They can't continue this madness forever. When Roman Abrahimovic took over at Chelsea, he bought some of the best players in Europe and subsequently won two English titles. He even bought players against the wishes of his manager. Now, he is not even willing to buy players who Chelsea desperately require. Same thing may happen at City and if the owner leaves, then the club may struggle to pay their superstars' wages. In that case, the squad will disintegrate.

Another thing that may be affected is dressing room morale. What would the other players be thinking? If Kaka is getting £500k then why not the others. It may create a divide among the squad. Also, the role of the manager is in question. I am not sure if Mark Hughes knows who City will be pursuing next. When the manager doesn't have total control over the squad, he usually struggles. It is not easy to carry the weight of expectations when you have infinite resources to choose from and Hughes is certainly feeling the pressure. Man City position in the league table is far from flattering and the owner's patience will be tested if there is no improvement in terms of results.

In my opinion, it will be an absolute disgrace if Kaka joins Man City and is paid that much. Its not that Kaka is not good but the money involved in the deal is just disturbing and that too at a time when the World is going through a financial crisis. It is really painful to see players run after money but thats the way it is these days. To step up and sign for a bigger club is one thing but to leave one of the biggest European clubs to join a mid table side just for the sake of money is plain greedy in my opinion. If Kaka stays at Milan, he will be idolized there for life and the money he'll earn will be enough to live with all the comforts that a man can desire. So, what is the need to join City? If City were one of the top European sides then letting such on offer pass by might have been a mistake but why join them right now when they are fighting for survival in the Premier League?

Before the offer was made, Kaka told the press that he wants to become Milan's captain one day. Will he remain true to his word? Is money the only thing that a player desires? What about the emotions of the fans who travel the length of the country to cheer for their heroes? What about the trophies that Kaka may win if he remains at AC Milan? Ten years down the line, will his name be taken in same breath as that of Paolo Maldini, Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes?

These are the questions that will be answered in a fortnight's time. The world of football is changing but the change better for football or not remains to be seen.

Promised Land Revisited

Another year has passed. 2008 was memorable and will stay in the heart of every Red Devil forever. It was one of those years when nothing could stop Manchester United juggernaut.

The expectations were high when 2008 started. United and Arsenal were neck and neck in the Premier League title race. In Europe, United had drawn Olympique Lyonnais, the French Champions, in the Round of 16. New year kicked off with a nervy and controversial 1-0 win over Birmingham City but there was no looking back after that. Ronaldo enjoyed the new year with an explosive display against Newcastle claiming his first hat trick for the club. February marked the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster but United, perhaps overwhelmed by the occasion, lost against arch rivals Manchester City on the weekend following 6th of Feb. This result, coupled with a last gasp draw at White Hart Lane on the previous weekend left United 5 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal. Then came the turning point of the season. Arsenal came to Old Trafford for the FA Cup 5th Round match. They were outclassed by a young United side and it certainly dented Arsenal's spirit. In the very next game, Eduardo Da Silva suffered a horrific injury against Birmingham which ended 2-2. Arsenal's players were hurt psychologically. They desperately needed a leader to inspire them but they had no one to look upto. United took full advantage of unrest at Arsenal and put together a winning run.

In the midst of all this, Champions League resumed. Another last gasp Tevez goal gave United a precious draw in Lyon. The tie was put to bed at Old Trafford by Cristiano Ronaldo. Back in England United had won four in a row while Arsenal were struggling to get points on board. United were controversially knocked out of the FA Cup at the hands of Portsmouth. But the league form improved as the season reached it climax. Finally on Grand Slam Sunday United regained the top spot destroying Liverpool 3-0 as Arsenal lost to Chelsea. Arsenal's poor form meant that Chelsea had become United's closest competitor.

In Europe, United had drawn familier foe AS Roma. in the Quarter Final. An emphatic display in Rome was followed by a comfortable victory at Old Trafford as United wrapped up the tie 3-0 on aggregate. In England, United came from behind to beat Arsenal and ended their hopes of winning the title. Draws against Middlesbrough and Blackburn meant that United had 3 points advantage over Chelsea prior to the game at Stamford Bridge. This game was sandwiched between high profile Champions League Semi Final ties against Barcelona. Big games were certainly coming thick and fast. At Nou Camp, the scene of United's Treble win, Cristiano Ronaldo missed a crucial penalty proving that he is mortal after all. A nervy night ended in a 0-0 scoreline. United lost 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the following game but still remained at the top of the table thanks to an impressive goal difference. In the home tie against Barcelona, Paul Scholes rolled back the years as he scored a trademark screamer to hand United the victory. It was an emphatic display at the back as well to deny the likes of Messi, Eto'o, Xavi, Henry etc a glimpse of goal.

Ryan Giggs equaled Sir Bobby Charlton's record of most appearances for United in the last league game of the season at Wigan. He scored a goal as well to celebrate the occasion and most importantly hand yet another Premier league trophy to Manchester United. Then came the most awaited night: Champions League Final against Chelsea. Ronaldo scored his 42nd goal of the season but Chelsea equalized through Frank Lampard. Cech made an amazing double save to deny United while Chelsea hit the post on the other end twice. Heroic defending by John Terry in extra time took the game to penalties. It was certainly the most nervous 10 minutes of my life but the joy at the end of it just can't be described. Manchester United won the biggest prize in football to end the season as English and European Champions.

It isn't the end of it all because the challenge of defending these titles is even bigger. After an eventful summer United signed Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham and crucially persuaded Ronaldo to stay at the club when Real Madrid came calling. United haven't been at their best this season but the rivals have faltered as well. A couple of nights ago United annihilated Chelsea to spark new life into the bid for the title. Last night Cristaino Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player of the Year award. This gives United the much needed morale booster as the season approaches its business end. The success of 2008 can't be emulated easily but with the squad and belief that United have, it is certainly not impossible. I hope that the big guns start firing all cylinders when it matters most. I hope that the Promised Land is revisited again and again.