Manchester United vs. Barcelona - The Best Team Won

Manchester United were beaten by Barcelona on Wednesday night in the Champions League final. After the first 8-9 minutes of domination from United, the Barcelona that has played scintillating football all year long showed up and won the game in style. There are a few conclusions to draw from the game:

1) This Barcelona team is the greatest team to have played football together over a full season. There might be greater teams over one single game (think Brazil 1970 but this Barca team probably has that covered too) but none over a season. I tip my hat to the best attacking team and indeed best team in the world.

2) There is no shame to lose while trying to play your own football. United tried that for much of the game and I took pride in that regardless of it being a bastardized version of Barca's play and failing to result in any goals. I took no pride in the lashing out by Vidic and Ronaldo towards the end. If things weren't bad enough already, this didn't make things better, it just drove home the feelings of loss and anger.

3) Pique should not have been sold. It is a big mistake and United will regret it even more if Ferdinand's injury troubles persist. He is past 30 and will play fewer games every season on now. Pique was the rock that Barca's defense was built around and if one watches the game again, count how many times the commentator says, "Pique clears". He has learned his art at United and gone to practice it elsewhere. A very poor piece of business.

4) United's defense as well as the midfield will have to spend a lot of time this pre-season on organization. It has been sorely lacking since March of this year and resulted in the best defence in Europe becoming one of the leakiest. Ferdinand's return hasn't changed things that much so the issue lies in drilling it in. The two goals came from poor closing down by Carrick and Anderson for the first apart from Vidic's mistake and O'Shea not covering the shortest man on the pitch (if not the stadium).

5) Where is Hargreaves?

6) Messi is without doubt the greatest player in the world. Iniesta is the greatest player at Barcelona. The two showed Ronaldo how the game is played. While the erstwhile World Player of the Year threw hissy fits, Iniesta and Messi dribbled through rash tackles and got up every time without an issue. Most importantly they pass the ball. Ronaldo doesn't. To top it all, he attempts to deflect blame from his own performance by blaming Ferguson for tactics. Fuck off Ronaldo to Madrid.

I was strangely disconnected after the game but the loss has sunk in. It is painful and I don't think I'll be able to read any football news till August. Sucks.

Manchester United vs. Arsenal - Eleven for Number Eleven

Three-peat. Three championships in three years. Such an impossibly difficult feat that in the last 25 years United are the only team to have managed it. Mourinho got back-to-back titles but Wenger has been unable to go past one at a time. The bedrock for this fantastic performance was laid when Vidic became a starter in the autumn of 2006 and Ronaldo started scoring prolifically. Those two are the reason these three titles can be mentioned.

The game itself was rather boring. United were lethargic, not at all cutting and looking for a glass of champagne and maybe a prawn sandwich or two. Tevez was given a start, no doubt to say goodbye to the home fans once and for all. When he did come off his waves signaled just that. I tip my hat to Carlito for being a fan's footballer. I think we will miss him but if he is replaced adequately either from within our without, then he shall be remembered fondly at best.

Arsenal were a little slow too but maintained possession fabulously. I think Diaby had his first decent game in recent memory. Nasri cut in well from the right flank but Arshavin was largely invisible except for one instance where he drew 4 defenders with him. United's midfield trio of Fletcher, Carrick and Giggs tried to get stuck in but it just led to a fragmented game. Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney tended to overplay when they did get into attack mode.

Nothing of note to mention other than that. A few incidents such as targeted tackling on Evra, no doubt for his comments after the semi-final. United wanted to start celebrating and Arsenal wanted to start their summer holiday. That's the sort of game it was. A few close freekicks did fill me with tension but Carrick fulfilled his defensive duties well.

Mission accomplished well in this game. O'Shea will need to be on his game against Barcelona and not leave Vidic isolated as he did today. Were Van Persie a better header of the ball, this point would be mentioned a lot more. It does feel though that Barcelona are going from strength to strength while United are ending at an ambling pace. Doesn't bode well for the final.

Wigan vs. Manchester United - Fab Four to the Rescue

Bloody Tevez. Just when you've steeled yourself to bidding adieu to a player who runs a lot and does little else, he goes and scores a goal like that. I mean wtf, mate? Why can't you pull out sublime backheel goals every other game you play? Why leave it to your last handful?

United were absolutely pants the first half. The defenders forgot how to attack and while the attackers knew how to attack they forgot where the goal was. Rooney missed a header that you or I could have scored blindfolded. Seriously. It was that easy. Within a minute, Carrick had been set up in a beautiful flowing move that went off his shin and high over the bar. Of course Wigan weren't just sitting back. Valencia was auditioning for a move to Old Trafford and should have scored in the first 2 minutes. Thankfully he can't chip yet. But score they did with a long ball over the top. The striker (who's name is too confusing to write here) nudged Vidic, who slipped, neither knew where the ball went but the striker found it once more and slammed it in. Shame on you Van der Saar for leaving such a gap on your near post.

Credit to Wigan for always giving as good as they got. Not that they got a lot so technically they gave better than they got. Anderson was rubbish for much of his time on the pitch, unable to control the ball or figure out what he wanted to do with it once he had. Evans was being dragged all over the place when he wasn't slipping and falling. On the hour mark came on dear old Tevez. A Carrick mishit, an exquisite powered backheel later and the scores were level. There was still half an hour to play to United resorted to good old fashioned wastefulness. Rooney went invisible. Berbatov became a midfielder. Ronaldo went into striker-who-is-about-to-cry mode. Tevez ran about a lot again. How can such a wonderful player have the shittiest first touch in top flight football? The ball comes in to him, touches his foot and bounces off 10 feet away. Whatever happened to trapping the ball? The rest of the team was following that philosophy although they were trying to lay it off to an outlet player, make space and run into for a receipt pass. Except after the pass they never ran. Idiots.

By comparison the Wigan players closed down and tackled wonderfully. Fantastically motivated and full of energy throughout, they put the champions to shame.

Ronaldo took on a few shots himself all of them going sky high. He managed to incur the wrath of Fergie in the process and had the guts to put up his hands and say "What??" in a gay, Portuguese accent. Mark Hughes has been saying Ronaldo will ruin his knees with his current freekick taking style. Once he moves to Madrid I hope he does have to change the technique. It'll serve the twat right.

The goal came in the 86th minute courtesy of a run by John O'Shea, the crowding of the box for the umpteenth time and a left footed shot by Carrick from 20 yards. The ball went in, I jumped up and shouted and things were rosy once more. United now need 1 point against Arsenal at home to celebrate 3 titles in a row. No mean feat mind you, regardless of how much I bitch about their mistakes.

On the other end I must mention Barcelona. If they haven't noticed United going to pieces when attacked then they are a pub team. Even worse in fact. I'd be licking my chops if I were them right now. Smelling a famous Champions League victory.

Manchester United vs. Manchester City - You Call that a Derby??

Disappointing. This fixture used to be filled with venom when the likes of Haangeland, Keane, Butt, Wright-Phillips and Barton were in their hey-day. Crazy tackles, sending offs, baying crowds were the norm. Fixtures last year were a little better although much of the attention was on how much respect the City fans would accord the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash. More forgetful was City completing the double over United last season. At least the favour was returned this year.

The talk before the game was dominated by Tevez's interview given to News of the World. He apparently does not feel part of the Fergie family and has made up his mind to quit the club. It is also of course dependent on David Gill not offering Tevez the deal so it amounts to being let go more than quitting. Whether the interview was real or not, Tevez came out with a point to prove.

The game started off very lackadaisically. It didn't come across as a derby and the intensity was lacking throughout the game. The breakthrough came as Berbatov was fouled some 25 yards out. Ronaldo took his trademark freekick and a slight deflection off the wall wrong-footed Shay Given. One has to say that Ronaldo must be the best long shot taker in the game today. Enough people have written about his technique and that others should adopt it but the hardest thing to replicate is keeping the ball sufficiently low. Try kicking the ball through the laces and watch it launch up skywards. Its an absolute work of art everytime he whacks it on target whether from a freekick or from open play. Powerful swerving shots from distance on target have the added advantage, as today, of striking some luckless defender and making a fool of the keeper. It differentiates him crucially from Messi. Each shot comes with a large element of surprise even though they it shouldn't given how many he takes. When Ronaldo does move, this season or the next, it will be sorely missed to crack open games.

City displayed none of the fight of their manager once the goal was scored. The team virtually surrendered. Fletcher and Giggs ran the midfield competently and the defenders were rarely troubled. Tevez was running riot up front being released multiple times by Berbatov. He cut in from the left at one point and let loose a curling shot reminiscent of Pires. It struck the upright and was hailed as a sign of Tevez's quality and his fight to prove something. Goals prove more than hitting the woodwork. Tevez knows that and showed it. Fletcher kicked a ball in the rough direction of Berbatov who seduced everyone yet again with his touch. The ball hit his in-step, died at his feet, he twirled and found Tevez 20 yards out. Another pair of touches later, the ball was in courtesy of the bar. A great goal and Tevez had proved himself. Won't win him any contracts at United but good stuff. He almost got another trying for an open header. To score it he would have had to risk breaking his skull. That may have won him the contract.

The second half was a staid affair. Ronaldo was taken off after 60 minutes and acted once again like a 3 year old, throwing away the tracksuit offered to him. A player who may have had such a reaction was Rooney who was left out of the starting line up. Here was a man who knows what a derby is and came on with the vigour of the legend who's shirt he now wears, the same man who stood in the opposing dug-out, Mark Hughes. Good to know such belief translates across generations. Rooney made a couple of rough challenges and should have been booked but he's come out of it okay.

A word on Rafael. Piss poor defender. Rash tackles, missing players that run at him. The primary duty of a right back is to defend. If he cannot do that then he is in the wrong position. He could do well as a right winger but frankly I prefer Danny Simpson in terms of defensive ability. Vidic gave him a right rollicking after yet another defensive mishap. With such fabulous defensive stalwarts in the squad, the twins need to be learning more about reading the game than step-overs from Ronaldo.

All in all a quiet game but immensely satisfying. Scoring only 2 goals doesn't help the goal difference chase against Liverpool but the three points go a long way. Four more needed now from 3 games. Any bets the title won't end up at Old Trafford?

Park, Evra, Tevez - BFFs If You Ever Saw Them

Just look at these three. Park speaks Korean. Tevez speaks Spanish. Evra speaks French and some manageable English. The only thing they have in common is their club and that they're 5'5 in height. Somehow they absolutely love each other!

I particularly like Tevez and Park behaving like a familiar, old couple. How cute.

Middlesbrough vs. Manchester United - Stroll in the Park

It was one of those ho-hum games but in a good way. It didn't lack for entertainment with both sides trying constantly to take it to the other. But United dominated from the word go and the Teesiders were quite resigned to their fate once the first goal went in. They may have to be resigned to life in the Championship too and no wonder based on this performance.

United rung the changes with Scholes and Giggs handed central midfield roles. I was a little surprised that a third member was not stationed alongside them to do the running or 'carry the water'. A little too much disdain for Middlesbrough, I think. Also a cue for Tuesday night that the golden fledlings of yore will not play. Good rotation for Park to start on the right and Macheda up front partnering Berbatov and Rooney on the left. Low pressure situation for the youngster with a weak defence in front of him and experienced forwards next to him.

Good solid passing by United was an omnipresent factor in the game and rather heart-warming. The team will have to reproduce such passing against superior opposition in Arsenal. The first goal, scored by Giggs, was a product of controlled passing around Borough's box. Giggs had so much time that he put his hand in the air, asked for the ball to be played to him, Berbatov had the time to see Giggs and backed out of the way. Giggs controlled and drove it into the right corner. Very, very poor defending by Middlesbrough that such a narrative can even be written.

United attacked constantly for the rest of the half and indeed the game but there were only 2 memorable points. One was Evra hoofing the ball into Rooney's quadrant rather optimistically, only for Rooney to trap it and roll it inside the defender with one touch. A remarkable piece of skill and one reminiscent of Zidane. The follow-up shot was threatening but kept rising. The second was a rather beautiful reverse ball by Rooney splitting the defence for Park to run onto diagonally. Good finish by the Korean and one that he should manage more often.

The one poor player of the day for me was Macheda. Petulant and tried to lash out at opponents with late tackles. To his credit, he didn't play act a la Monsieur Ronaldo (who got some good rest this weekend). Yet he tried too many flicks and turns in the box over the simple turn and layoff/shot. The kid seems promising but not much more to me. Here's hoping he proves me wrong. At the end of the day though, three points won and a clean sheet kept albeit against toothless opponents. Seven more points from the next 4 games and the Premier League trophy is secured for at least one more year.

Manchester United vs. Arsenal - 1-0 to the Champions!

Hmmm, what does one say when your team beats its greatest rival of the modern day by comprehensively outplaying them on Europe's biggest stage? Take care it doesn't come back to bite you in the ass.

United won 1-0. My team prediction before the game was off a little as O'Shea was preferred to Rafael (wise, wise move), Anderson was preferred to Giggs and Tevez's work against Tottenham won him the starting spot against a major team that he has been pleading for. The team was set up to harry and chase down Arsenal's slick players and that is exactly what they did.

United started extremely positively and the rush of chances came courtesy of Arsenal losing the ball far too easily. Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez were willing to run at the defenders especially young Kieran Gibbs. He was most impressive though, showing great speed to keep up with the likes of Ronaldo and good presence of mind to make the forwards work for their bread.

The ace in the hole for United was clearly Mikael Silvestre. Selling him was one of the wisest decisions Fergie has made. No pace, no presence of mind and poor reading of the game has turned him into a liability for Arsenal on the pitch. On this night he conspired to make Arsenal all the more jittery, as if the meaning of this game wasn't enough.

The goal when it came showed Arsenal's weakness at marking in the box. The players gravitated en masse towards the ball leaving 3 United players alone on the near side. When the ball came back that way via Carrick and Silvestre, O'Shea had all day to pick his spot. A good goal and it felt there was a lot more to come. As it turns out Ronaldo squandered a golden chance and a couple of more attacks should have yielded more but United ended the half happy, feeling they were on the cusp of scoring once more.

The second half was a staid affair as Arsenal regained some composure. Fabregas dropped back into midfield but isolated Adebayor. The other forwards never tried to get into the game. Few balls were played out wide to Walcott but then he didn't do much with it when he got it. Adebayor was lazy and didn't fight enough for the ball. And may Diaby remain at Arsenal for years to come. He's a 12th man for the other team if ever there was one. Very Silvestre-esque of him to give the ball away consistently.

The second leg now holds a few lessons for Arsenal more so than for United. Conveniently, Silvestre is injured so either Song or more probably Djourou will play in defence. That will deprive United of a crucial edge. Knowing that they must score, Arsenal may opt to play 2 strikers though with Eduardo having injured himself in his cameo I wonder if he will opt for Bendtner. Bendtner won't scare the United defence too much and he drew a lot of ire from Andy Gray on Wednesday. A gaffe by Van der Saar meant that if Bendtner had guided his header goaldwards in the 85th minute, Arsenal could have equalized. For the next 5 minutes Gray harped on about the ease with which that goal should have been scored. If he does play, that is yet another boon to United. I feel though that Walcott will be switched to the left to take on O'Shea. It is the obvious move to make and it is surprising it wasn't made in the game itself. O'Shea is slow and more easily exploitable for Walcott although he will have to cut in and pass/shoot as compared to play the ball behind and cross. But then that is the Arsenal way with wingers so may work in their favour.

United need to nick a goal, hopefully early. The same formation would do just fine and given Giggs and Scholes played the entire game today against Middlesbrough, I don't foresee any role for them on Tuesday night. Closing down Arsenal's midfield is key to force them into mistakes. Also key will be Ronaldo keeping himself in control. He was petulant beyond what I thought was possible but then he produces those magical moment like his 35 yard shot that hit the crossbar. He also spent far too much time in offside positions which meant that players had to hold play up till he was in line for a ball to be played. If the ball is to be played in quickly for best use, he must make the runs in as compared to standing and waiting for it. Against Arsenal at the Emirates the team needs to show its hunger, not behave like foolish kings.

The tie is still finely poised but it sure does inspire some confidence that Rome awaits the champions.

Champions League Semi-Final Preview

First, I would like to start by saying footballers must be the dumbest breed of human being on the planet. There really can't be anything between their ears. How they managed to vote Ryan Giggs PFA Player of the Year is beyond me. Don't get me wrong, I love Giggs more than is appropriate for a man to show. He has given me more glorious moments over the year than most other players. To me he is the best winger to have played in my lifetime. The Player of the Year award though is meant for the most valuable player of THAT PARTICULAR SEASON. It may have been known as the Lifetime Achievement Award otherwise.

Giggs has barely played this year illustrated by his 12 starts in the league. He has not stamped his authority on most games save for the game against Chelsea at Old Trafford. Has he been rewarded for adapting at the age of 35 from a left winger to a central midfielder? Should it be that surprising given he was always a master passer of the ball with great vision. Giggs has not even been the best player in his own team. Steven Gerrard and Nemanja Vidic are far more deserving winners. Vidic over the first half of the season kept United in the race and was the rock that the clean sheet record was built on. Gerrard has propelled Liverpool to be arguably the best team this year.

It just goes to prove that footballers vote without thinking, accepting the orgasmic praise of a foolish fawning media. Love you Giggs but even you don't deserve this.

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My generation was brought up on the Manchester United - Arsenal rivalry. If you ask fans my age which team they hate most the answer you will definitely get is Arsenal. If you're a Manchester United fan. And vice versa if you're an Arsenal fan. I'd change my name if that weren't true.

United and Arsenal were trading trophies from 1997 to 2004. Formative years in watching and learning football they also instructed in all that was evil about the other side. Arsenal were a violent and dirty side. Their commitment to beautiful attacking football was a farce - it only began with Wenger in 1996. It was not their tradition, not in their lifeblood. They were frauds, pretenders to the throne of the great entertaining champions. That was United's claim to fame.

Of late, Arsenal haven't been challenging for the Premier League so the grand rivalry of Keane and Vieira has lost its zing. The squads have evolved a lot over the last 3-4 years and that hatred has given way to grudging respect in some sense. I can speak of the beauty of Fabregas' vision and the wondrous skill of Van Persie only because I haven't considered them much of a challenge for a while. That is about to change as the two play each other three times in the next three weeks. Good old memories of hating the rival are back.

Onto the games themselves. Giggs was rested over the weekend against Spurs so that pretty much guarantees him an 800th cap on Wednesday. The one spot in defence that is not a lock is right back and unless Brown has made shocking progress in the last fortnight that spot will go to Rafael. Both Rafael and Evra have been weak against players taking them on and going for the cross. Neither of them are able to force the winger to cut inside rather than play behind them. It means more balls being bombed in and greater uncertainty as to the end result. Ferdinand is weaker on the flighted cross and Adebayor and subsequently Bendtner could cause some trouble. I expect Walcott and Nasri to try and exploit this.

In central midfield, Carrick should be accompanied by Fletcher and being at home I think Giggs may not start as Ferguson opts for a 4-4-2. Rooney will cover the left wing and Park on the right. While both will be tasked with tracking back and helping out their fullbacks, Rooney will have the added responsibility of being United's creative force. Berbatov will be the deep lying striker setting up for diagonal runs of Rooney and Ronaldo as well as making his way into the box.

Fletcher should be made to man mark Fabregas. The little Spaniard has been in great form since his return from injury. Playing physically with him and preventing his runs into the box and closing down space for the through balls could shut down Arsenal.

United themselves should look to play physically up front as well. Sagna is good on the right and Gibbs has been most impressive on the other side but down the middle they still seem to be a little soft. Berbatov and Ronaldo can get into the middle, create a bit of panic and if the midfield runners overload the box there's a good chance of scoring. Arsenal conceded to Liverpool with some poor passing from the defence and by not tracking the extra men that floated into the box. To be sure, United are capable of making the same mistake - witness Modric's goal at Old Trafford on Saturday.

This fixture has usually held goals and I expect there to be a few over both legs. 4-3 to United over 2 legs sounds right to me but if the ramshackle defending continues it may be 4-3 Arsenal. Not really keen on watching the pretenders get to the final, so please United bring the A-game.

UPDATE - I may have been a bit cocky by guessing at United's team since it is obvious that even Ferguson doesn't know it. The other likelihood is a 4-3-3 with Giggs replacing Park. Three midfielders in the center with Fletcher either man-marking Fabregas or tracking the right wing. Rooney will still watch the left. The width would be provided by the fullbacks. It all depends on how attacking or containing Ferguson wants to be.

Manchester United vs. Tottenham - Whoohooooo!!

Almost 8 years ago, on September 29th 2001, Manchester United and Tottenham engaged in a game of football that has since become part of folklore. Spurs were up 3-0 at half-time at Old Trafford. United came out all guns blazing scoring within seconds of the restart. Andy Cole, Blanc, Nistelrooy, Veron and Beckham made up five different scorers for United that second half. It was the comeback to end all comebacks (in the league at least).

Welcome to April 2009. History does repeat itself it seems. The starting line-up for United was surprisingly strong given a massive Champions League semi-final looms on Wednesday night. It betrayed the importance of winning 3 points to Ferguson and the respect that he accorded Spurs. The seeming chink in the armour appeared to be Nani. Spurs of course played a full strength side except for Defoe who lost his half brother to an act of violence. United started off extremely well, passing the ball crisply and getting into the Spurs backline. Rooney and Ronaldo seemed possessed but for all the setting up there was no end product. For all the pressure, Spurs took a shock lead on 29 minutes. Corluka's cross was too high for Vidic and Ferdinand made the grave error of not getting in front of his target. Bent got lucky with the drop of the ball and scored. The defensive errors 3 minutes later bordered on the ridiculous. Evra didn't close Lennon down who had time to cross peacefully. Modric was standing free at the back of the box. Where was Rafael? Oh yes, that's right perfecting his dribbling rather than practicing defensive duties for another week. 2-0 and Old Trafford in the doldrums.

United didn't really press too much for the remaining 12-13 minutes and Spurs gave back as good as they got. Tevez came on for Nani at the start of the second half. To be fair, Nani put in quite a few decent crosses from the left but he was the logical choice to be substituted. Tevez set about chasing the Spurs defenders and the pressure began to tell. The 57th minute penalty given for Gomes tripping Carrick has been denounced as harsh from most quarters. Gomes got a touch on the ball but that can be determined only after watching the replay half a dozen times from different angles. Watch it in real time and it happens so fast there's no way Webb could have spotted it. Either way, Ronaldo dispatched it expertly down the middle. Scholes came on for Fletcher though I didn't think he was needed yet. Fletcher was adding a lot of hustle and may have wanted in on his prediction. On 66 minutes, Rooney got loose down the left, cut in pulled a snapshot and Gomes palmed it into his own net. 2-2 and Spurs shoulder slumped visibly. From then on it was a matter of when not if United would score again. Of course that happened just a minute later thanks to a peach of a ball from Rooney and a diving header from Ronaldo.



Spurs defenders virtually gave up post the second goal and that is really what let United in. Rooney had an outstanding game as the creative force and goalscorer twice over. His status as the No. 10 in the side is justified and his worth is proved by how much of a void is left when he is rested. Moreover, he brings out the best in Ronaldo. The two were playing backheels to each other in the opposition box at the end. When Ronaldo leaves I feel he will miss the instinctive understanding that he developed with Rooney.

Berbatov had a game to forget again. Invisible for much of the game, he almost screwed up the golden chance that Rooney provided him to score. His open header was aimed directly at Gomes. Thankfully he was able to push the rebound in. It was a goal scored very late once again against opposition that had been steam-rollered. Sharp contrast to Tevez who when he scores deals in equalizers and winners. Of course that when is too rare these days. He pressured the opposition well and set up Rooney for one. His introduction was marked as the turning point but I think the entire XI strode out with something to prove in the second half. His introduction was just a symbol of Ferguson shuffling the pack. The gamble paid off because Spurs rolled over to be tickled after 60 minutes.

Defending as they did for the two goals probably gives Wenger some ideas. I can foresee the wings being attacked. Rafael and Evra are both defending like amateurs. Rafael fouls far too many times and could be baited into a couple of yellows. Overloading the box and bombing in crosses should do the trick for Arsenal. Here's hoping that Ferguson has spotted how to plug the same gap.

Manchester United vs. Portsmouth - Relief Abounds

So it seems Ferguson's dropping of the FA Cup and thus the ephemeral quintuple has been vindicated for one week at least. United dominated Portsmouth with an expected result in a season where expectations have rarely been fulfilled. 2-0 sounds about right if one had to guess the scoreline before the game although if the team could create so many chances they should have put more away. This though is the age old story of this club. Two years ago, when they scored 83 goals in the league and scoring for fun there were still accusations of wastefulness and missing 4-5 simple chances every game. This season has been more austere, built on defence (you wouldn't seem to know it if you only started watching a month ago).

The line-up was more familiar than against Everton. Most of the kids were banished and Scholes, Giggs, Rooney and Ronaldo took up their places. Anderson retained his starting spot and 'Hallelujah' had a good game. Boy does he need a few more of these. With vision reminiscent of his partner Scholes, he rolled the ball perfectly for Giggs on the left who centered for Rooney to slot in. 1-0 after 9 minutes and that should have been game over. Of course it wasn't because United didn't score again till the 82nd minute. Nice to calm the nerves what with a giant robot dancing Crouch trying to get in between our defenders. United's passing really needs to become more consistent and finishing too. Shooting straight at the keeper should not happen as often as it does with this team. The major benefit for all to see was a clean sheet even if it was against a largely toothless team. It should inspire some confidence in the backline and the goalkeeper and make scoring one goal an efficient way to win again. Losing two right-backs in one game though does not help. The responsibility now rests on young Rafael unless Brown makes a quick comeback - he is apparently training already. Expect United to be bombarded from that side in coming games.

The real relief of course comes from the Liverpool-Arsenal 4-4 at Anfield. Liverpool's second 4-4 in a week and they have taken on the mantle of kings of entertainment (I want it back for United). I did not see the game but apparently Arsenal had 4 shots on target. All 4 fell to Arshavin. All 4 resulted in goals. Three of them were directly from mistakes by the defence and the fourth was a fast break when Liverpool were at the other end trying to score. Such piss poor defending deserves a whacking and both teams were guilty of it. Marking was thrown out the window and passing to an opponent in your penalty box seemed to pass for clearing the ball. Here's hoping both teams can manage to continue such defending for a while. If Liverpool manage it for another game and drop more points surely the title is sealed. If Arsenal can be so generous come Champions League time, then United are in with more than a shout.

The negative side of course is that both teams were scoring for fun. They do not stop attacking and have players capable enough to put the ball away with just one chance. Arshavin is cup-tied for the Champions League and many thanks to UEFA for that. The all important clean sheet from last night may do United some good. Enough good to get another against Tottenham on the weekend and 3 more points. If that dominance can be re-established then they should be more secure against Arsenal too in 3 season defining games.

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Madness from Pepe which is a must see. United came close to signing him before Madrid decided to splurge an ungodly amount of money on him.

Loco!

Manchester United vs. Everton - Serves You Right

The elusive dream of the quintuple is gone with an odd quadruple possibility left in its place. Ferguson made his priorities well and clear yesterday when he fielded 8 changes to his starting XI from the team that took on Porto. I had no problems playing Rafael and Fabio as full-backs because Ferdinand and Vidic were there in between to lend stability. No such judgment was displayed in other parts of the park as Anderson and Gibson got central midfield. At this point I felt the game was up and handing Macheda a first start wasn't a very convincing move. Wellbeck was handed a place on the wings along with Park. Wellbeck may suffer for his versatility because I feel he is better through the middle with a much better touch than Macheda, more pace and more skill. Macheda is better at being a battering ram even at his tender age and it will negatively impact Wellbeck.



The game itself was nothing to write home about. Everton played some classic long ball football. It was repeatedly knocked up with Cahill and Fellaini the target men. Osman was his usual snarling self getting on the end of some knockdowns and lashing it goalwards. United passed well but there was no end product. Passing around the box without shooting makes you no better than Arsenal and frankly that's not very good. The Everton defence was marshaled well once again by Jagielka who improves with every game. In case you forget or do not know, this man was a central midfielder who played in goal for 20 minutes against a rampant Arsenal team and kept them out before being converted to a dominating and excellent centre-half by David Moyes. He got lucky when Mike Riley didn't give a penalty for a misjudged lunge on Wellbeck. If it were given, the assumption is United would have scored.

Of course, as most reports will tell you the match seemed destined to go to penalties as soon as it had begun. United huffed and puffed but never tried to blow the house down. Tevez was awful once again. If Wellbeck and Macheda stand to get a better chance should Tevez leave then I feel it is best he is gone. He does not justify a spend of 32 million pounds, not with such play. He is an Argentinian Dirk Kuyt at best and at worst he's an Argentinian Craig Bellamy. Berbatov may indeed be another Veron. Lovely first touch and nothing else to follow. These guys need to wake up and soon. To take nothing away from Tim Howard, the two penalties he saved were taken lackadaisically. Like I said, the assumption for the penalty shout was that if given United would have scored. That is a stupid assumption and one that should not have been in the team's mindset. Everton kept their heads well about them and deserved the win. May they now beat Chelsea in the final. I always believe if you have to lose, lose to the guy who'll win it all. Feels better losing to a champion than to another loser.

The nonsense on the pitch really does not excuse the manager. Wenger complained too but then he complains about the pitch in every game that Arsenal loses. Ferguson gambled on his team selection and lost big. It is ironic that this is the week he chooses to lambast Benitez on his disrespectful gesture towards Blackburn and then turns around and disrespects THE OLDEST CUP IN ALL OF FOOTBALL by selecting a juvenile team. To be sure, he's done it before a few times but in the semi-final? Really? If the team wins the game, everyone applauds a shrewd choice and belief in the young 'uns. If you lose the game as it turned out you get accused of screwing with a football institution. I really don't want to see Benitez's reaction mainly because it means a continuation of this ridiculous blood-feud these two have on. I'm hoping Wenger is right that mind-games have no effect because at this rate I think Fergie will lose.

He may still be justified in his actions if the team beats Portsmouth on Wednesday and the league on May 24th. With one fell swoop, his mistake can be erased and order restored. Or he will carry the blame forever more of the dream season surrendered.

NBA Playoff Expectations - Western Conference

Utah Jazz - A year after losing to the Lakers in 6 games Utah was expected to fight for the 2 or 3 seed to avoid meeting the Lakers till the conference finals at least this year. Unfortunately that's not how things have played out. With several injuries to the roster, the Jazz have fallen off a cliff after the All Star break and barely made the playoffs with the 8 seed. They now meet a Lakers team that has only goal in mind, the Championship. Utah is expected to be nothing more than a speed bump for the Lakers, but the Jazz play very hard on their home floor, and taking last year's series to 6 games should give them some hope of prolonging the series this time too.

New Orleans Hornets - They have arguably the best point guard in the league and one of the most dynamic and talented players around in Chris Paul. He is to this team what D-Wade is to the Miami Heat. They were an early season dark horse to go very far in the playoffs, but they haven't been able to replicate last season's performance in the regular season and doing so in the playoffs (where they took the San Antonio Spurs to 7 games in Round 2) will be even harder. While they have not much to lose, they play a surprise number 2 seed in the Denver Nuggets who have much more to prove. Expectations are not high, but Chris Paul is known to win games all on his own.

Dallas Mavericks - A few weeks removed from fighting the Phoenix Suns for the 8th seed, the Mavs, as I write, have taken game 1 on the road from the 3rd seeded Spurs. This raises expectations for them and shows they had a lift and momentum coming in. While they still chase that elusive championship, now with a veteran point guard, they don't seem to get bogged down by a sense of expectation. Dirk Nowitzki and the talented players who surround him can just go out and play their natural games without worrying too much, because nobody knows whats to expect of them. It's worked well in their favor so far and could take them a long way. Kenny Smith believes they'll make the conference finals!

Houston Rockets - In one of the most exciting Round 1 match-ups, the Rockets take on the Portland Trailblazers. Game 1 just concluded with the Rockets shutting down Brandon Roy n co. to take it on the road. With their alleged star, Tracy McGrady out, not much was expected of the Rockets, and as with the Mavericks they seem to overachieve when nothing is expected of them. Ron Artest has been a revelation and with Yao getting far more touches inside with McGrady out, the team seems to think it's got a winning combination, even with rookie point guard, Aaron Brooks (who's had an excellent debut tonight). Nobody knew what to expect out of this series, other than close games, but people might have underestimated Houston's vastly greater playoff experience and versatility. They could even be considering a long Round 2 with the Lakers for all you know.

Portland Trailblazers - By consensus, they are the most exciting team in basketball. A popular dark horse pick to give almost every western team trouble, it's likely their playoff infancy will let them down (as we've already seen in Game 1). They have a mature beyond his years and exciting leader in Brandon Roy and have nothing to lose. They've beaten the Lakers twice this season and beaten the Spurs and Rockets on the road. Nobody underestimates them, and that could play against them, as teams bring their full effort to games. While they're just happy to make a 4th seed entry in the playoffs, this season could be capped off with a long Round 2 against the Lakers.

San Antonio Spurs - They didn't make their traditional post All Star Game push to the top of the standings, but nevertheless finished with the 3rd seed in a tough Western Conference race. Their odd years' ('99,'03,'05,'07) luck might have run out with a spate of injuries (Manu Ginobili being the obvious one) and a group of veterans who are all past their best. Tony Parker is the only young gun and he'll have to do a lot of the heavy lifting to give San Antonio a shot in the arm it sorely needs. They've won it all so many times before, nobody knows what drives this team. The hunger for a championship cannot be compared with a team like the Cavaliers or the Lakers, so one must consider them a solid, professional group of champions that would just like to do the best it can. Losing Game 1 at home to the Mavericks has not been a good start.

Denver Nuggets - Not one person can honestly say they expected this team to be the number 2 seed in the West. After trading for Chauncey Billups they seem to have acquired a new lease of life and while they only won three games more than last year, they have a new attitude about them and that makes one helluva difference. They expect to finally end their Round 1 futility in the playoffs (they last made it to Round 2 in 1994) against the Hornets. This season will be really special if they were to make the Conference Finals and give, possibly the Lakers, a run for their money there. They have high hopes for themselves and they've played like it. Billups is a veteran leader and sees around him a cast of special players who he thinks can go far.

Los Angeles Lakers - It is not too much of a stretch to say that if the Lakers don't win the championship, their season will be considered a colossal failure. They've played with only one goal in mind (they lost the home court advantage to the Cavaliers) and that is to improve on last season's trip to the finals and go all the way this year. They have all their pieces in place, and Kobe Bryant has no more excuses. It's championship or bust, as simple as that and Bryant will be the first one to say so. No team this year even comes close to the expectations the Lakers have on their shoulders, and while that can be hard to play with, the Lakers will look to use that as added incentive, one which they far too easily ceded to the Celtics last year. There are no two ways about it and the Lakers should play with an intensity that shows as much.

NBA Playoff Expectations - Eastern Conference

Let’s take a break from all the inconsequential news stories out there (LS polls and cognizance of the Naxal threat in India, a lawyer for Kasab, a slipper at Advani, the end of the financial crisis?) and turn to something far more significant : the NBA playoffs. While it may not match what their fans expect, every team entering the playoffs has its own set of expectations. Here’s what we can guess they are for the teams in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit Pistons – in a rare personnel miscalculation, Joe Dumars traded his team’s engine (Chauncey Billups) for the volatile Allen Iverson, and oh how the Pistons have fallen. A year after finishing with the league’s second best record and making their now customary trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, they’ve had a 20 game drop to finish with the 8th seed in the East and barely make the playoffs. While expectations are low, this team still retains a lot of its weapons from years before. Nobody thinks they can dislodge the mighty Cavaliers, the NBA’s best team, but nobody would be surprised if the Pistons showed some resilience and took this series to a hard fought 6 or even 7 games.

Chicago Bulls – having with one poor effort arranged for a playoff matchup against the defending champion Celtics as opposed to the Orlando Magic, Chicago has only itself to blame. With a team that was only sometime ago being considered on par with Portland for young talent, the Bulls have no excuse for finishing the season with a .500 record. Their post-season expectations mirror their underachieving regular season as guard Kirk Hinrich beautifully captures when he says, “We’re excited to be in the postseason. We’re going to try to get ready.”

Philadelphia 76ers – their season ended the day Elton Brand was ruled out for the remainder of it. Having contrived to avoid the Celtics in the first round, it is possible that they might fancy some chance of an upset of the young, but still formidable Magic. While they are 0-3 against the Magic this year, Iguodala (led the league in averaging almost 40 mins a game) and co. should really want to prove themselves as worthy of a sixth seed, and a team better than its .500 record might suggest.

Miami Heat – D-Wade gets a chance to put some icing on his already legendary comeback and this team only goes as far as he does. If there is a one man team in the NBA, this is it, and if there is one man you don’t want to face in the post-season, that would be Wade. The comparisons to the 2006 Lakers squad on Kobe’s shoulders have been made ad nauseam, but the Heat don’t have to play the Phoenix Suns in the first round (Lakers took a 3-1 lead and then lost the next three). We can all expect some fireworks in their series against the Hawks, and anything from then on is a bonus.

Atlanta Hawks – a year after pushing the Celtics to 7 games in a first round matchup, more was expected of the Atlanta Hawks than they’ve managed to deliver. That said, they’ve secured home court for their first round series and have drawn a team (see above) that cannot do them much damage other than a certain No. 3. They should be looking to cruise through Round 1 and then repeat their Round 1 performance of last year in Round 2 this year. That would be a pretty decent post-season outing.

Orlando Magic – while they’ve lost some crucial games they could’ve won over the course of the season, third seed sounds about right for this team. They have the most dominant big man in the game today in Dwight Howard and with a near 60 win season, there will be expectations. Philadelphia shouldn’t pose much of a challenge, but Orlando aspires to more than just a second round appearance. It all hinges on how badly Dwight Howard wants it. When he’s playing at his best, this can be a very dangerous club. They should expect to give both Boston and Cleveland a run for their money. Howard needs to show he can get it done in the post-season.

Boston Celtics – for a defending champion, they’ve been a bit under the radar this year, thanks to some high profile injuries and a season for the ages in Cleveland. At the same time, this is a 62 win team and remains one of the best defensive clubs in the league. Anything short of a repeat performance will be considered a letdown considering it is apparent that their championship window was only a three year stretch. Ray Allen is 32 and KG at 31 is showing the signs of all those years of toil. They expect to have KG back for game 1 of the Chicago series and with him should expect to be in the NBA finals again, if not to win it all and repeat as champions.

Cleveland Cavaliers – That the Cavs have improved 21 games in a single season and have the best record in the league, with the most imposing home court to boot, should be enough to convince anyone of Lebron James’ candidature as MVP. This unbelievable turnaround itself should please most Cavs fans, but having made a trip to the NBA finals with a far lesser team following James’ magical and otherworldly game 5 performance against Detroit in the 2nd round in 2007, anything short of a championship will be considered a disappointment. If you keep in mind that James is a free agent at the end of next season, Cavs fans would think a championship is the only way to keep James at Cleveland. They have been the best team in the NBA for the stretch of the season and they will want to show in the post-season that their record was no illusion.

The Agonies of a Sports Fan

"It's a depressing world out there these days, nobody will deny." So it says on a site not a million miles away from here. Those words are resoundingly true and sports can make things so much worse. Being a sports fan opens you to the world of hope, wishing that the team or player you support so dearly wins the battle that they're embroiled in. Victory brings unbridled joy, a feeling of euphoria that is matched by little in life. Its a different matter that it vanishes when the next battle appears over the horizon (a fortnight in Formula 1, a week in football and 2 days in a Grand Slam). Yet the lows are crushingly depressing and one wishes the earth would open up and swallow you whole.

Making an emotional investment in a sports team is most often unintentional. One watches the team or individual play, finds some aspect to connect with whether it is nationality, locality, spirit, style of play or as is the case with the 'glory hunter', the simple art of winning. Games (or races or matches) are watched and before you can say "Zinedine Zidane", you're addicted. Posters go up on the wall, discussions turn to debates to arguments to fisticuffs. A moment of madness where one day you took more than a passing interest turns into a life-long curse, the inability to stop supporting your losing team is Death by a Thousand Cuts. Spare a thought for Boston Red Sox fans who went 86 years without winning the World Series. Worse yet, spare a thought for Chicago Cubs fans, they are still to win their first in over a 100 years.

It is worse still to smell victory of the ultimate goal and watch it snatched away. I went to a pub with my friend the Arsenal fan for the 2006 Champions League final where they were playing Barcelona. Arsenal had their goalkeeper sent off after just 18 minutes and at that point there seemed little they could do to stop a rampaging Barcelona. But they scored before half time and played a solid game, threatening to score more. An inspired substitution led Barcelona to score in the 76th and 80th minutes to take the lead and the biggest title in club football. The sucker punch he felt was visible as he stood rooted to the spot, unable to comprehend how life could be so cruel. Perhaps 10 minutes gives you some time for it to sink in. What of Bayern Munich fans who led for 85 minutes against Manchester United in the 1999 final only to have 2 goals scored in the final 2 minutes of injury time. Could words put into perspective the hollowness they must have felt? No words could describe the joy I felt as my team overcame impossible odds to win. 10 years later I'm trying to understand my rivals' position.

Worse still is losing at home. The last race of last season, the Brazilian Grand Prix, was perfectly set up for a duel to the finish. The leader for much of the season, Lewis Hamilton, lined up 4th on the grid with the challenger, Felipe Massea, in pole position. Hamilton's 7 point lead seemed almost unassailable. Only an Act of God could have saved Massa. Sure enough, the heavens opened as they often do during Brazilian Grands Prix. The events that followed on the last lap, will be remembered forever. Conspiracy theories on how much Timo Glock was paid to slow so dramatically on the last lap for Hamilton to sneak away with the Championship in Massa's homeland will prove difficult to counter. How many Brazilians in the stands kept control over their emotions as they actually went through the incredible highs of the first Brazilian champion since the immortal Senna to the inevitability of defeat within minutes? How many hearts broke watching Massa weep uncontrollably on the podium, his flawless victory in the race turned meaningless by the loss of the Championship?

At least India's collapse to Sri Lanka in the 1996 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final was due to our ability to snap defeat from the jaws of victory. Or in this case, crumble when a challenge was posed. Tens of millions of television sets were turned off when Jayasuriya got Sachin. All hope was surrendered well before the Eden Gardens crowd decided to add some pizzazz to the occassion. But though we lost, we didn't reserve the despair that we do when we lose to Pakistan. As in the 1st Test Match at Chennai in 1999, when Sachin brought us to the brink of victory with a glorious century. Rarely has such a collective mass plumbed such depths, as all Indian cricket fans did that fateful evening when 4 were lost for 2. Losing to the most hated neighbour, who always has that patch of greener grass, is perhaps worst feeling. Derbies become legendary for the fighting spirit with which they are imbued, but to lose them means surrendering bragging rights to friends, work-mates, in some cases even siblings, for what could be an indefinite period of time if you're particularly unlucky (or if your team is particularly poor).

Yet for all sports fans, there can still be worse to come. For a supporter of a team that wins big and wins often, a loss can be so unexpected that its jarring. As a Manchester United fan, I go through this when my club refuses to turn up and loses to Debry County or Coventry City. Clearly, it is the same for some others. Said Joe Queenan, "New York [Yankee] fans whining about their sporting disappointments to the vast American public -- poor Don Mattingly never got to play in a World Series (boohoo) -- is like Romans whining to the Gauls just because they once lost a battle to Hannibal. No, it's like Julia Roberts complaining that her teeth are too big. No, it's like a billionaire complaining about his eczema; sorry about the scales, Mr. Big Stuff, but you've still got all that money." Queenan obviously misses the point. When your team loses, all previous victories no matter how grand, are washed away (Does anyone remember the Pats were 19-0 last year or do they remember the Giants winning the Superbowl?). It ruins the day, the week, maybe the year and in some desperately sad cases, the century. In fact, it is ruinous until an opportunity for redemption is secured and the ephemerality of victory can be tasted.

The Privileges of a Sports Fan

It’s a depressing world out there these days, nobody will deny. Sports is one thing though that keeps our spirits high, gives us something to cheer about on occasion. It has all that we celebrate of life and more, allows us to live vicariously for those brief, but glorious few hours, and its highs and lows remain with us indefinitely, inspiring us and leaving us wishing for more.

That it did all this in last Sunday’s Australian Open Final is undeniable. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer gave us another classic Grand Slam final and indeed we are quite privileged to see two such amazing athletes battle for supremacy of their sport.

Not since Borg-McEnroe have tennis matches been awaited with such bated breath and been the cause of so much speculation, expectation and intrigue. This is a rivalry for the ages, a titanic struggle between two ultimate athletes. That we might yet have a long way to go in this rivalry is a mouth-watering prospect for all of us.

Few will doubt that with his win, Rafael Nadal is now the best tennis player on the planet. He has got here the hard way, and it is truly a testament to his perseverance, his hard-earned, versatile all surface game, his unbelievable physical fitness and supreme mental toughness. When he first appeared on the scene, Federer was all the rage, with talk of invincibility and GOAT (greatest of all time) status. Nadal has, over a quick three years, put paid to those notions.

Nobody should doubt Nadal’s legitimacy as the premier player in the world today. He has beaten Federer more often than not, on all surfaces, and especially in the big matches. McEnroe once said he would chase Borg to the ends of the earth; Rafa has done much the same with Federer. As one sports writer put it, “Rafael Nadal is not the No. 1 because Federer is having an off year. He is not the No. 1 because a champion is fading. He is No. 1 because he has taken on and beaten the best, time and again on the biggest stages tennis offers.”

Soon after Federer embarked on his 4 year, hell on the loose tear through men’s tennis, it was almost inconceivable that we would ever get to this stage. There was talk of him reaching Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles. It was only a matter of time before he won the French Open and then he would surely be the greatest player this sport had ever seen. For his fans, they got all they wanted. Complete annihilation of his opposition in final after final. For neutral observers, apart from the aesthetic quality of his game, it was getting tedious. Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt were mere pretenders to Federer’s crown, a real challenger was needed and the world got one. Rafael Nadal fit that role perfectly. He raised the stakes for Federer and thereby legitimized his greatness by the sheer force of his challenge. Every victory over Nadal was hard earned for Federer and as the rivalry was becoming legendary, the prism with which we began to view Federer’s greatness was unalterably shifted.

It is unusual in a sport for one supreme talent to face another in his own generation. Typically, an extraordinary talent has a lopsided career with very few challengers. We wish we had seen or could see legitimate challengers to Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods, Valentino Rossi and Sergei Bubka and now we want Michael Phelps to have one. In Federer’s case we wished for it and got one. Nobody will doubt that Nadal is Federer’s equal on the court. Perhaps not in terms of talent alone or in an aesthetic sense, but when the point is played, Nadal can match Federer every bit of the way. This is extremely rare to see in sport, and we are privileged to see it happen.

For Nadal fans, it is an amazing story that their man has come from seemingly nowhere to heroically disturb and stymie Federer’s march to immortality. In many ways it is the ultimate achievement against the odds; the quintessential example of an underdog champion (though he can no longer be considered an underdog). It is a phenomenal effort and I do not believe there is a parallel anywhere else in the sports world. We have been witness to something extremely unusual and amazingly inspiring.

For Federer fans, while their man might well have 18 Grand Slams by now were it not for Nadal, they should welcome the Nadal challenge and accept it for what it is. It is a clarion call to Federer to raise his game even more, dig deep, stare adversity in the face, stomach the Nadal challenge and triumph, so as to assure his greatness and his name in the history books.It will make him more human, his losses more tragic, his achievements more heroic. Make no mistake, if Federer does not again beat Nadal in a Grand Slam final, several people will be reluctant to place him alongside the likes of Laver, Borg and Sampras. If he cannot consistently beat his main rival in his own time, wherefore does he become the greatest player of all time? Federer’s genius deserves this test and we are lucky to see him challenged like this. It will be the ultimate test of him as a player and champion.

This will be the next chapter in this ongoing saga that we’re all witnessing from Melbourne to London to New York: two supreme athletes and talents battling it out tooth and nail to etch their own names in history. The ending matters only to them; we are witnesses to the means alone. Heaven only knows what they have in store for us. That it remains a friendly and healthy rivalry, given what’s at stake, is only further testament to the rarefied heights these two have taken themselves and their games to. Indeed, we are very lucky.

An acclaimed sports writer had similar sentiments the morning after the Australian Open Final:
“After their effulgent Wimbledon encounter much was spoken about how these two great athletes were by themselves reviving interest in the sport, especially here in the United States. Many fans who had neglected tennis for so long had welcome home their prodigal son of sports and were once again interested in its happenings. Surely, there has never been a duo who so represent tennis - or any sport - in such a fine manner. And if that match seven months ago is indeed considered the greatest display of tennis in a century then the post-match ceremony yesterday will certainly be remembered as the ultimate graceful nod to sportsmanship. Federer's tears and Nadal's sincere embrace and words for his rival will only solidify and crystallize this brilliant period in tennis history. And it leaves us all begging for more, wondering what other gifts these two wondrous athletes will bequeath to future generations of tennis followers. “

Beckhaaaaammmmm!!

David Beckham is derided by all who watch and care about football. The man is known as a walking commercial and for most it is difficult to see beyond that. His football is rarely discussed anymore. Its sad for a player who once finished 2nd in the voting for the World Player of the Year. He was at the peak of his powers while at Manchester United. He was the least talented of the famous midfield consisting of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and himself but he carved out a niche for himself. His runs up and down the right wing were lung busting. He often clocked 13-14 km a game, about 25% more than most others. His vision was impeccable, understanding and creating flowing moves all over the park. Known mostly for his crossing, his passing along the ground was just as good but rarely acknowledged by critics. His pivoting movement was a work of art and was crucial for him to wrap his foot around the ball ekeing out that much more spin from the ball. And then there was his right foot. It would appear a wand, allowing him to place the ball at will at the feet or on the head of anyone he chose. It was good enough to be preserved in bronze for posterity.

He was vilified for being sent off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. Given the option of leaving for Italy, he stayed and faced his demons head on with United fans backing him every step of the way. He won 6 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups and a Champions League in his time at United. Things went awry on July 1st, 2003. Beckham signed for Real Madrid and my adulation turned to unbridled hate. I was angry that he would leave even though its long been clear that he was sold against his will. I hoped he would fail and be shown up as a fool on the pitch. I wished he would never score a goal, never win a game and if lucky break all his metatarsals. It was an immature fan's way of dealing with the loss of such a treasure. I couldn't accept that I would not hear the commentator screaming "Beckhaaaaammmmm!!" as he curled in yet another trademark freekick for United.

Beckham didn't win any trophies for years at Real Madrid. His travails after Manchester United though have taught me his true value. He was a consummate professional who still approached games like a child during recess. Watching him come off during the quarter final against Portugal in 2006 illustrated just how much England meant to him. The tears wouldn't stop as his injury made him redundant on the field. The responsibility that he tasked himself with led him to resign from the captaincy when he had no need to do so.

Steve McClaren dropped him from the England squad. Fabio Capello dropped him from the Real Madrid first team. What has made Beckham special over and above his physical qualities is his strength of character. He trained harder and won his spot back in the Real Madrid team. He fought for every ball, every inch becoming a crucial member of the team as they finally won the Primera Liga. He forced McClaren to recall him on the strength of his performances. He's been belittled for moving to the footballing backwaters that are Major League Soccer.

His loan move to AC Milan appeared to be a poorly disguised shopping holiday for his wife. Yet Beckham has defied the odds again. He's scored twice and set up two with his crossing in 4 games. Playing alongside such accomplished passers as Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf, he's still able to shine. He's managed to keep Ronaldinho on the bench, no mean feat. He has also set up a deserved and record equalling 108th cap for England next week. Through the last 3 years, Beckham has made me appreciate what I couldn't see when he was at United. His best quality was never his right foot. It was always his will to play at the very top no matter who criticized him, who dropped him and who was better than him. So few have been the centre of attention for peripheral reasons but he's never lost focus of the game that gave him everything. His legs and lungs have both begun to give way and he seems older than his 33 years. He hasn't given up yet and never will. When his time in professional football finally comes to an end, may we remember that above all else.

Roger and Rafa - Take VII

The greatest rivalry in all of sports is renewed on Sunday at Melbourne Park. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will do battle for the 7th time in a Grand Slam Final. There are few things in sport today, if any, that people would rather watch than a Federer-Nadal battle royale. It is the perfect rivalry, with a complete contrast of styles, temperament and demeanor. The five year age difference is not paid much heed to.
They've faced each other from Shanghai to Dubai, Miami to London, but they've never played in Melbourne. Six Slam finals across Wimbledon and the French Open, they now square off at a hardcourt slam at the Aussie. Nadal has held the edge till now, but few are betting against Federer capturing his record-tying 14th Grand Slam today.

Regardless of Nadal's physical state and well being for the final, I don't believe he is quite ready to defeat Federer on hard-court over five sets, especially with Federer being in the kind of form he has showed over his last two matches. Like he did at Wimbledon, he will get closer slowly, and perhaps eventually be able to take on Roger on all surfaces on an equal footing, for the present I don't believe that is happening.

Rafa is still very conservative on hard courts. Preferring to play 8-10 feet behind the baseline against the big hitters and concentrating solely on a defensive strategy to win him points. Hitting the ball when it is on the decline, with loads of topspin he gets caught out on hardcourts in a way he doesn't on clay or on grass, where he has become far more aggressive over the years, playing now from inside the baseline. Federer on the other hand, hits the ball while it is still on the rise, giving him automatic zing, and of course he can hit all the shots in the book with angles that defy the laws of physics and differential equations. Federer looks hungry and will be aggressive from the start. Rafa's serve might keep him in the match longer than you might expect, but not enough to seriously hurt Federer.

The rivalry is only three years old and we're sure to have several more matches between these two greats. The first one on hard-court though should be a letdown. Rafa's not quite ready. Federer in straight sets.