With most teams having completed over a quarter of the 2009 Major League Baseball season, the temptation to pass judgement is just too strong to pass up. This has already been one of the most eventful years in Baseball history with headline-grabbing story after story on and off the field. Indeed, the events occurring beyond the diamond have often made it difficult to remember that Baseball was actually being played.
A brief review of what's taken place so far (deep breath required):
Worst Moment
3. Rick Ankiel hitting the wall - Anyone who saw the St. Louis outfielder collide with the wall in left-centre would have been scared for his safety. Fortunately, Ankiel suffered only a right shoulder contusion and should return to the field soon.
2. Empty seats in The Yankee's new ballpark - The new 'Mecca' of baseball is beautiful; full of new amenities and facilities whilst retaining the immense history of the old stadium, but high prices (up to $2,600 in the 'legends' suite) have kept fans away and to see empty seats behind home plate in the Bronx is a sore sight.
1. The steroid stories - Joint first place for two guys, Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez. J.C Romero was suspended for 50 games before the season started but his case was overshadowed, virtually forgotten when the A-bomb hit; A-Rod admitted to taking drugs while with the Rangers. A couple of months later, Manny was no longer just 'being Manny,' he had taken a substance to restart the body's natural testosterone production after a steroid cycle. His case was eerily similar to the stories we had heard in connection with Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi in the Balco scandal and despite professing his innocence, Ramirez was banned for 50 games. Baseball appeared to be beginning the long road back to absolution following the 'asterisk era' of widespread steroid use, but the sport has been rocked again by two of, if not the two, biggest stars linked to drugs. Even worse, this isn't the last we will hear about either of those cases or drugs in Baseball.
One more story that rocked the game but goes well beyond the realm of sport was the tragic death of Nick Adenhart. Adenhart, killed in a traffic accident by a drunk driver hours after pitching for the Angels, was a fine prospect and, at just 22, had a long career ahead of him. Such incidents deliver a sense of perspective, but through means that we all wish never occurred.
Best Moment
3. Jacoby Ellsbury steals home - Ellsbury is one of the quickest players in Baseball and a constant base stealing threat but he took that threat a step further against the Yankees on April 26th. With Boston 2-1 down and two outs in the fifth, Ellsbury was given a big lead on third by Angel Berroa and sped into home plate sending Red Sox nation into raptures.
2. Ian Kinsler hits for the cycle - Between April 13-17th, three players hit for the cycle but the edge goes to Ian Kinsler, going 6-6 with a HR on Jackie Robinson day. Jason Kubel and Orlando Hudson also achieved the feat, Hudson the first Dodger to do so in almost 40 years and Kubel completing the accomplishment with a Grand Slam but Kinsler's perfect night on one of Baseball's proudest days was most memorable.
1. The show goes on - Not so much a moment as a reaction. The Dodgers, Yankees and particularly the Angels have been stunned by the events of the season; the MLB itself has undergone a barrage of negative press and unfortunate incident. But the three teams in question have all responded well to tragedy and chaos, and the players on the diamond, particularly some of the young talent breaking through, are contributing to what should continue to be a very exciting season.
AL MVP
3. Kevin Youkilis - Only 97 at bats this year due to injury but the 'Youk' has fantastic numbers and has covered for the failings of David Ortiz. 6 HR, 21 RBI, a .402 BA and an OPS of, wait for it, 1.210 (which would rank 19th all time if he stayed at that level and ahead of any player still playing) while playing near perfect at first base.
2. Evan Longoria - Longoria could follow in the steps of Dustin Pedroia by winning the MVP the year after winning AL Rookie of the year. Longoria's team are slightly off the pace in the AL East, although most would expect them to turn that around, but the talented 3rd baseman has hit 11 HR and 46 RBI's already this season to go along with a .329 BA and a 1.026 OPS. Longoria has slowed a little as of late and needs to strikeout a little less but has become one of the most feared hitters in the AL.
1. Miguel Cabrera - The Detroit Tigers have surprised most people by leading the AL central with a 23-16 record and a major reason for that is the return to form of Cabrera. Miguel struggled to match the high standards he had set in Florida during his first year with the Tigers but this year he is hitting .381 with 8 HR, a 1.047 OPS and only 18 strike outs.
Victor Martinez is hitting .400, Jason Bay has 44 RBI's, Ian Kinsler seems to do everything well and all three are flying right now. At this stage in the season it is still very much guess work as to who can maintain their form until September.
NL MVP
3. Ryan Braun - The Brew crew are another surprise package but nobody has been surprised by the development of Braun. The outfielder has yet to make an error in left field, ever, and is setting career highs in OBP (.451) and BA (.326) to go along with 8 HR and 30 RBI.
2. Raul Ibanez - Easily the best pick-up of the off-season so far, Ibanez has powered the Phillies into top spot in the NL East. Ibanez has blazed 15 HR and 40 RBI already, coupled with a .349 BA and .724 SLG (1.134 OPS) and with Victorino and Rollins struggling, has helped carry the team.
1. Albert Pujols - Who else? Almost impossible to strike out and a gold glove caliber 1st baseman, Pujols has the Cards up with the leaders in the NL Central. Actually in a little 'slump' by his high standards he has 14 HR, 38 RBI, a .326 BA and a 1.105 OPS. Quite simply, he is the best hitter in the game.
Honourable mention at this stage must go to Adrian Gonzalez with 15HR, Ryan Zimmerman with a .353 BA and a 30-game hitting streak (hurt though by the Nats league worst 12-28 record) and Carlos Beltran and David Wright of the Mets, who always seems to be in the race.
AL Biggest Disappointment
David Ortiz - He hit his first HR last night but trails every other designated hitter at the moment with a .642 OPS. He is being tortured by fastballs right now, over-swinging and clearly not the man that hit 50+ HR a couple of seasons ago and a career .928 OPS. The fact that Boston are 25-16 without Ramirez and Ortiz, their two biggest bats of the last few years (and some suspect starting pitching) emphasise the form shown by the likes of Bay, Lowell, Ellsbury and Pedroia. B.J Upton should be looking over his shoulder.
NL Biggest Disappointment
Geovany Soto - The Cubs catcher, and last years NL Rookie of the Year, has regressed this year about as far as his AL award counterpart, Longoria, has flourished. The Cubs have been inconsistent so far this year and perhaps teammate Milton Bradley should shoulder as much of the blame but Soto set the barometer so high last year as a rookie that he bears a great level of responsibility already. a lowly .206 BA and just the one homer at this stage are well below par however the likes of Brian Giles (.161 BA, 2 HR) and Jimmy Rollins (.275 OBP with no power) are very, very close to surpassing Soto's futility.
AL Cy Young
Zach Greinke - Arguably the MVP of the league at this stage, Greinke has been close to unhittable this year. 9 games, 7 wins, Only 6 Earned Runs, 4 Complete Games, 2 Shutouts, a 0.82 ERA and no HR. The young man has phenomenal stats, great presence on the mound and has kept the Royals in the race for the pennant. Roy Halladay, with 8 wins and a 2.78 ERA has been excellent but there is no looking past Greinke.
NL Cy Young
Johan Santana - Already a 2-time Cy Young Award winner, Santana has quashed all the talk that he was slowing down as he reached 30. This year he has recorded a 1.38 ERA and would have had more than 5 wins in his 8 starts if the Mets could provide the level of run support they average with their other pitchers and far fewer errors. Wandy Rodriguez, Jair Jurrjens and Chad Billingsley have all started well and will be on Santana's heels if he slips.
Rarely are closers in the hunt for the Cy Young but the performances of Trevor Hoffman (11 Saves, 0 ERA), Frank Francisco (9 Saves, 0 ERA), Heath Bell (11 Saves, 0.50 ERA), K-Rod (11 Saves, 0.92 ERA) and Jonathon Papelbon (11 Saves, 0.95 ERA) have all been impressive. Not one blown Save between this group.
AL Surprise Team
Toronto Blue Jays - Nobody really saw Texas or Detroit challenging atop their divisions but the Blue Jays MLB best 27 wins at this stage have them ahead of most peoples top 3 AL teams; the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays. The most Runs, Hits, RBI's and the highest BA in the AL, to go along with the second lowest ERA, and most strikeouts. Halladay, their one bonafide superstar, aside, the team has seen big contribution by Aaron Hill (.351 BA, 11 HR) and Marco Scutaro (.406 OBP, 5 HR) and together they have formed one of the most dependable infields in the Majors (The team are third in fielding percentage also). But can they keep it up? I'm not sure they have the talent of last years Rays they just got swept by the Sox but who knows.
NL Surprise Team
Milwaukee Brewers - Everybody thought that the loss of two of the games premier pitchers at the end of last season would take this team out of playoff reckoning but they have shown that they're more than just C.C Sabathia's (and Ben Sheets') arm last year. 2nd in Home Runs (in Braun, Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks they have three young, powerful hitters) and 4th in OBP in the NL tells part of the story but this team's success has been built on pitching; the second lowest ERA in the league on the back of Dave Bush (3-0, 3.74 ERA) and Yovani Gallardo (4-2, 3.83 ERA) plus their three other starters have ERA's well under 5. The aforementioned Trevor Hoffman hasn't hurt either.
The Pennant Race to watch
Anything but the NL West it seems. The NL East and AL Central will provide another dogfight and the AL West and NL Central could spring a surprise but it has to be the AL East. Nobody saw the Blue Jays coming but add them to the mix with Boston, a resurgent New York and Tampa Bay (and a young Orioles team with two of the most exciting young players in Baseball - Nick Markakis and Adam Jones) and it will be must-see television.
Friday, 22 May 2009
No Basketball Allowed
I've long thought that Basketball was the game that translated best to TV. Short bursts of explosive drama married to just the right balance of tactics, physicality and skill. Many of the my sporting highlights of this year have involved, Kobe, Lebron, Melo, D-Wade and the Truth. Watching Big Baby sink the winning shot in Game 4 against the Magic was probably the best i've felt in months and witnessing the classic duel between Masters Bryant and Anthony in game 1 on the Western Conference Finals was enough to make me forget that the Celtics had no chance of playing the winner (and probably wont make the NBA Finals for another five or six years but thats a whole different issue).
So, question is, why in the Clippers-Hell that Blake Griffin will experience personally, is Game 2 between the Lakers and Nuggets not on English TV? Not on Sky, not on Setanta, certainly not on 5. There's NHL and no Basketball. There's NASCAR highlights and no Basketball. There's a film called MVP - Most Valuable Primate and no Basketball.
David Stern, hear my pain.
So, question is, why in the Clippers-Hell that Blake Griffin will experience personally, is Game 2 between the Lakers and Nuggets not on English TV? Not on Sky, not on Setanta, certainly not on 5. There's NHL and no Basketball. There's NASCAR highlights and no Basketball. There's a film called MVP - Most Valuable Primate and no Basketball.
David Stern, hear my pain.
Why Michael Vick should be reinstated into the NFL
A former college football star, a record setting NFL quarterback, a former No.1 pick, the face of the Atlanta Falcons franchise and one of the most exciting sportsmen on the planet. Michael Vick has fallen as far as anybody could; he signed a 10 year, $130 million dollar in 2004, becoming the highest paid player ever. Before leaving prison recently, to finish his 23 month sentence under home confinement, he was earning less than a dollar a day for yard work.
However, sympathy should not be an element under consideration for Vick's potential reinstatement into the NFL. Vick is bankcrupt and will be forced to sell at least one of his remaining two luxury homes, if not both, and will certainly be unable to live in the manner (or support his friends) he once did.
Here are the charges he must answer after his sentence expires in July:
Remorse - This was one of the sticking points in his trial; He was found guilty of lying about his level of involvement in the 'Bad NewZ Kennels' dog fighting ring and U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson was doubtful that Vick sufficiently accepted responsibility at the time of his sentencing. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will need to see that Vick, a first-time offender, has learnt from his almost two year prison time, immense humiliation and a forever tarnished image, millions in lost earnings and inability to play the game that took him, his family and friends from a crime-ridden ghetto to the NFL penthouse. For Vick's sake, I can only hope he has.
Precadent - What kind of message does Goodell send (and any potential suitor to sign him) if he lifts the indefinate suspension on Vick? Every animal charity will go ballistic for a start. That kind of negative publicity is not what the disciplinarian Goodell will want and PETA may not be the only interest group that offers opposition. Vick has set a desperate example to anybody who followed him previously and his crimes were, in the words of the commissioner, 'cruel and reprehensible.' From the perspective of a man who has never had a dog and last owned a pet as a child, the thought of electrocuting, hanging, drowning and beating dogs to death seems beyond the scope of my comprehension.
Leonard Little, the Rams defensive end, was convicted of killing a women after running a red-light while under the influence in 1998; he was given a suspended 90 day jail sentence and banned for 8 games by the NFL. Vick did not kill a human being, something that, in my opinion, would have been worse than anything he did, or aided done, to a canine. No doubt Vick's actions, even if they only constituted providing the setting and funds for the dog fighting ring (and thats the best case scenario), were foolish and barbarous but if Vick is truly able to accept his role, show that his anguish is genuine and be a positive member of the NFL family then I don't believe that he provides a negative paradigm to be exposed by future wrong-doers. Vick has already donated almost $1 million for the care of the 54 pit bulls seized from the dog fighting organisation (admittedly at the request of federal authorities). He made a terrible error, a deliberate and inhumane one, but shouldn't he be allowed to return to his livelyhood after paying his penance?
Attitude - The result of a prison term must surely have left an imprint on the mindset of Michael Vick and questions will be raised as to what kind of man and player returns to the league. Is this a guy who will do everything to return at 100% physical fitness, stay out of trouble off the field and be a role model to his fans? He will be booed and goaded wherever he goes for the rest of his career and will also have to deal with numerous off-field problems getting his life in order. Is he strong enough to do that and can he sever the negative associations that have plagued him to this point? To become a professional athlete at the highest level it takes dedication, discipline and determination. Vick will have to count on these traits and far more to even survive his future unscathed but while such a future is uncertain, and his leash (should he return) will be short, he could prove an awful lot to the NFL, his team mates and his fans about the potential of rehabilitation. If he could come back and perform both on and off the field, he would be an advert for strength and humility. There is no defence to his actions but no man should labeled for their mistakes forever. The penal system relies on the basis of rehabilitation and that men leave prison accepting and remorseful of their crime. Men can change.
Michael Vick must decide if he wishes to return. His bankcruptcy plans have relied on the premise that he plays in the NFL, he himself has said that he could play for the next ten years. Clearly, with his image destroyed, he can garner no interest in endorsements and needs to repay his various creditors (to which he owes millions). An NFL contract, even a lowly paid one, would provide his best potential source of income but I dearly hope that this is not his main motivation to return to the league. Approaching 30 and two years removed from any formal training, Vick may not be the athlete or player he once was and without full commitment both has little chance to return to the top. Vick will have to work even harder than ever to persuade owners, coaches and teammates to accept him into their clubhouses and even harder to win over the fans.
I think he should get the chance to prove himself once again. His suspension could remain until this time next year; firstly to give him some time to stabilise his life (and probably work construction mixed in possibly with playing in the newly formed United Football League) and secondly to allow the next NFL season to be played without his inevitable distraction. Vick would re-enter the league clear of bankcrupty proceedings and a further year removed from his crime and sentence. In addition, it would give the chance for Goodell and various team owners to really gauge how Vick has responded to his incarceration and whether he is physically and mentally able to return.
No.7 was the No.1 attraction in the league; you tuned in to watch Vick. Now, we will tune in to see if anyone gives him chance No.2.
However, sympathy should not be an element under consideration for Vick's potential reinstatement into the NFL. Vick is bankcrupt and will be forced to sell at least one of his remaining two luxury homes, if not both, and will certainly be unable to live in the manner (or support his friends) he once did.
Here are the charges he must answer after his sentence expires in July:
Remorse - This was one of the sticking points in his trial; He was found guilty of lying about his level of involvement in the 'Bad NewZ Kennels' dog fighting ring and U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson was doubtful that Vick sufficiently accepted responsibility at the time of his sentencing. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will need to see that Vick, a first-time offender, has learnt from his almost two year prison time, immense humiliation and a forever tarnished image, millions in lost earnings and inability to play the game that took him, his family and friends from a crime-ridden ghetto to the NFL penthouse. For Vick's sake, I can only hope he has.
Precadent - What kind of message does Goodell send (and any potential suitor to sign him) if he lifts the indefinate suspension on Vick? Every animal charity will go ballistic for a start. That kind of negative publicity is not what the disciplinarian Goodell will want and PETA may not be the only interest group that offers opposition. Vick has set a desperate example to anybody who followed him previously and his crimes were, in the words of the commissioner, 'cruel and reprehensible.' From the perspective of a man who has never had a dog and last owned a pet as a child, the thought of electrocuting, hanging, drowning and beating dogs to death seems beyond the scope of my comprehension.
Leonard Little, the Rams defensive end, was convicted of killing a women after running a red-light while under the influence in 1998; he was given a suspended 90 day jail sentence and banned for 8 games by the NFL. Vick did not kill a human being, something that, in my opinion, would have been worse than anything he did, or aided done, to a canine. No doubt Vick's actions, even if they only constituted providing the setting and funds for the dog fighting ring (and thats the best case scenario), were foolish and barbarous but if Vick is truly able to accept his role, show that his anguish is genuine and be a positive member of the NFL family then I don't believe that he provides a negative paradigm to be exposed by future wrong-doers. Vick has already donated almost $1 million for the care of the 54 pit bulls seized from the dog fighting organisation (admittedly at the request of federal authorities). He made a terrible error, a deliberate and inhumane one, but shouldn't he be allowed to return to his livelyhood after paying his penance?
Attitude - The result of a prison term must surely have left an imprint on the mindset of Michael Vick and questions will be raised as to what kind of man and player returns to the league. Is this a guy who will do everything to return at 100% physical fitness, stay out of trouble off the field and be a role model to his fans? He will be booed and goaded wherever he goes for the rest of his career and will also have to deal with numerous off-field problems getting his life in order. Is he strong enough to do that and can he sever the negative associations that have plagued him to this point? To become a professional athlete at the highest level it takes dedication, discipline and determination. Vick will have to count on these traits and far more to even survive his future unscathed but while such a future is uncertain, and his leash (should he return) will be short, he could prove an awful lot to the NFL, his team mates and his fans about the potential of rehabilitation. If he could come back and perform both on and off the field, he would be an advert for strength and humility. There is no defence to his actions but no man should labeled for their mistakes forever. The penal system relies on the basis of rehabilitation and that men leave prison accepting and remorseful of their crime. Men can change.
Michael Vick must decide if he wishes to return. His bankcruptcy plans have relied on the premise that he plays in the NFL, he himself has said that he could play for the next ten years. Clearly, with his image destroyed, he can garner no interest in endorsements and needs to repay his various creditors (to which he owes millions). An NFL contract, even a lowly paid one, would provide his best potential source of income but I dearly hope that this is not his main motivation to return to the league. Approaching 30 and two years removed from any formal training, Vick may not be the athlete or player he once was and without full commitment both has little chance to return to the top. Vick will have to work even harder than ever to persuade owners, coaches and teammates to accept him into their clubhouses and even harder to win over the fans.
I think he should get the chance to prove himself once again. His suspension could remain until this time next year; firstly to give him some time to stabilise his life (and probably work construction mixed in possibly with playing in the newly formed United Football League) and secondly to allow the next NFL season to be played without his inevitable distraction. Vick would re-enter the league clear of bankcrupty proceedings and a further year removed from his crime and sentence. In addition, it would give the chance for Goodell and various team owners to really gauge how Vick has responded to his incarceration and whether he is physically and mentally able to return.
No.7 was the No.1 attraction in the league; you tuned in to watch Vick. Now, we will tune in to see if anyone gives him chance No.2.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Lakers v Nuggets Game 1
Carmelo was good, Kobe was better. Bryant, one of the finest scorers of all time, and his 40 points fired the Lakers to a 105-103 victory in game 1 of the 7-game series.
Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets started strongly and lead by as many as 13 in the first half with Anthony leading the way. With every shot he sunk, the smile on his face grew. But the Lakers forced their way back into the game and Kobe showed the other two facets of his game for which he will be most remembered; his toughness and his ability to close games out. Bryant had to have the right finger on his shooting hand popped back into place and taped up after the game but this just seemed to galvanise him as he tore through the Nuggets in the 4th quarter. His 18 points in the quarter, 6 of which came from free throws in the last 30 seconds, decided a game that had seemed to edging the Nuggets way behind Melo's 39 points and the direction of Chauncey Billups.
Billups, however, missed his first three free throws and his team went only 12/21 from the line in the first half. Denver were hurt just as much by sending Kobe to the line late in the game. In addition, Anthony Carter failed to inbound to Billups, allowing Trevor Ariza to steal, with his team down 101-99 and half a minute left. The poor play cost his team 20 seconds and two points. 'Big shot' Chauncey hit a three to pull them back in touch but Kobe, as he has done so often, iced the game.
The Lakers managed to go in ahead at the break 55-54 but the momentum would continue to swing in the second half as first the home team, then the Nuggets built small leads with Denver up by two heading into the fourth. Anthony worked on the Lakers inside after threatening largely from the perimeter in the first half but the Nuggets could not contain Bryant and it was he who secured LA's 11th straight victory against Denver in the playoffs on the Nugget's first Conference Finals appearance in 24 years.
Game 2 will be at the Staples Centre on Thursday.
Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets started strongly and lead by as many as 13 in the first half with Anthony leading the way. With every shot he sunk, the smile on his face grew. But the Lakers forced their way back into the game and Kobe showed the other two facets of his game for which he will be most remembered; his toughness and his ability to close games out. Bryant had to have the right finger on his shooting hand popped back into place and taped up after the game but this just seemed to galvanise him as he tore through the Nuggets in the 4th quarter. His 18 points in the quarter, 6 of which came from free throws in the last 30 seconds, decided a game that had seemed to edging the Nuggets way behind Melo's 39 points and the direction of Chauncey Billups.
Billups, however, missed his first three free throws and his team went only 12/21 from the line in the first half. Denver were hurt just as much by sending Kobe to the line late in the game. In addition, Anthony Carter failed to inbound to Billups, allowing Trevor Ariza to steal, with his team down 101-99 and half a minute left. The poor play cost his team 20 seconds and two points. 'Big shot' Chauncey hit a three to pull them back in touch but Kobe, as he has done so often, iced the game.
The Lakers managed to go in ahead at the break 55-54 but the momentum would continue to swing in the second half as first the home team, then the Nuggets built small leads with Denver up by two heading into the fourth. Anthony worked on the Lakers inside after threatening largely from the perimeter in the first half but the Nuggets could not contain Bryant and it was he who secured LA's 11th straight victory against Denver in the playoffs on the Nugget's first Conference Finals appearance in 24 years.
Game 2 will be at the Staples Centre on Thursday.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
The Heavyweight Championship Preview: Manchester United v Barcelona
(In a deep, powerful voice) And in the main event of the season, the match we (and UEFA....and the TV companies) have been waiting for...
In the red corner; weighing in with 18 League titles, 11 FA cups and 3 European cups, hailing from Manchester, England, The current and reigning European champions, The 'Red Devils,' Manchester United F.C.
In the blue corner, weighing in with 20 League titles, 25 Copa del Reys and 2 European cups, hailing from, Barcelona, Spain, the challengers, 'Barca,' Futbol Club Barcelona.
Will the Champions league final be a boxing match? Well, in terms of physicality, probably not, but in regards to speed, technique, endurance and tactics, the elements that determine most fights, it will be. Manchester United and Barcelona have been the two best teams in Europe this season and, over the last few years, have assembled the two strongest squads.
Both teams are recent winners of Europe's most prestigious trophy; Barcelona in 2006 (when they defeated English opposition in Arsenal) and of course Manchester Utd last year. Both have already secured their league championships and are in line to win a treble should they be victorious in Rome (arguably a quadruple for United, including the World club championship, for Barca, they would be the first Spanish side to complete the treble) and the similarities don't end there.
The pair equally rely on home-grown talent, play appealing, attacking football and share the two best players in the world right now. And while it may seem that Sir Alex Ferguson and Josep Guardiola have little in common in regards to their managerial credentials (Ferguson has won nearly every major trophy in his 22 years with United, this is Guardiola's first year in charge of Barca), both are deeply entrenched in their club's history and ethos. 'Pep' played for the Catalans for eleven years, coming through their famed youth academy (indeed it would be hard to find two better academies represented in this game) before returning last year to coach their 'b' team, which he lead to promotion. Both managers seem to foster a loyalty and a bond with their players (albeit the sample size is small for Guardiola) and ask their troops to work hard both on and off the field.
Considering that this is the Barcelona's coach first year, the results have been pretty astounding; a league championship, winning the Copa del Rey, a 22-game undefeated league streak (of which they won 19 out of 20 and virtually tied up the title with a third of the season remaining), 151 goals in all competitions, a 6-2 victory at the home of their biggest rival and a place in the Champions league final on May 27th. They ensured that place by outclassing their group opponents (losing only when they had already qualified) and routing Lyon and Bayern Munich. Chelsea fans will be still be bitter at the manner of defeat to the Catalans but cannot argue that the Barcelona controlled possession and were at least equal in the tie.
On the opposing touchline will be Sir Alex Ferguson and, for all he has achieved with the club, this could be his finest year to date. Under his guidance, Untied have become a European powerhouse and dominated the domestic game, with the crowning glory coming in the 1998/9 season when they famously won the treble. This year, Man Utd have rarely been at their incisive best, but they have continued in the tradition for what they are most renowned; finding a way to win. United won the League cup on penalties, the World club cup by a single goal and the league with a 0-0 home draw (the only major competition they failed to win came by way of a penalty defeat to Everton in the FA cup). In the Champions league, they qualified from their group comfortably but with only two victories. In the knockout stages, once again, they did just enough to fend off Inter Milan and Porto before showing their class to defeat Arsenal in the semi-finals.
It was in that game against Arsenal that the team's best player came to the fore; Cristiano Ronaldo scored two, made one, and effectively won the game in the first fifteen minutes. The current European and World player of the year scored the winner away at Porto and the second at home to Inter in the previous rounds, and while his 4 goals this season are half of what he achieved in firing United to Champions League triumph last term, he is the most potent threat to Barcelona. It has been considered somewhat of a down year for Ronaldo but he still has 26 goals at a rate of one every two games and appears to be rounding into form at the right time.
The apparent heir to the 'best player in the world' throne will play opposite Ronaldo a week from now. Lionel Messi has long been considered one of the most gifted young players in the world but it has been this season, much in the way it was for Ronaldo last year, that everything seems to have come together for the Argentinean wonderkid. 37 goals in all competitions, 8 in Europe, Messi has become the all-round menace that opposing teams must have feared he would. Numerous highlight moments have accompanied his goal tally (this is one of his best this year - which I simply had to include for the soundtrack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW3fucV4j5Y&feature=related) and the 21 year old is the key to three-man frontline employed by Barca. However, for all the superlatives written about him this season, Chelsea held him to limited opportunities in their semi-final, albeit it was he who set up Iniesta for the dramatic tie-clinching equaliser.
The supporting cast for Barcelona contain a host of lead actors. Thierry Henry and Samuel Etoo have 57 goals between them (that’s 94, yes 94, goals between the front three) and in Xavi and Iniesta, have two world-class players to support the attack. Iniesta is dynamic and direct, Xavi the dictator and the dynamo (and best player at last year's European Championship); this pair hardly ever lose the ball. Yaya Toure will likely sit in front of the back four and, like his brother Kolo, is a physical presence with good feet. The back four will be under pressure with the suspensions of Dani Alves, the excellent roaming full-back, and Eric Abidal but in Carles Puyol, have not only a tenacious and talented defender, but also an inspirational captain. He could be asked to play at right back with Martin Caceres (a summer 16.5 million Euro signing from Villareal but only in the team due to injury to Rafael Marquez) and former United player, Gerard Pique at centre back. Caceres and Puyol may be asked to swap roles or Toure could fill in at the back with Seydou Keita or Sergi Busquets coming into midfield. Sylvinho, the former Arsenal player, could well be the favourite to occupy the vacant left back slot and, even at 35, is still serviceable at this level. Victor Valdes will be the last line of the defence and, while he has been criticised previously, especially for being weak coming off his line, he was singled out by many of the club's hierarchy for his performance at Chelsea.
While Barcelona's back line could be a weakness, Puyol, who missed their second leg game with Chelsea through suspension, is the key to the unit. Caceres is quick, proficient and mature beyond his tender years and Sylvinho has the experience and ability to replace Abidal competently. However, whoever lines up, the group will not have played that often together and lack the offensive threat that they would usually bring.
Barcelona failed in its appeal to have both Dani Alves and Eric Abidal available for the final while United also failed in theirs. Darren Fletcher will miss the big night in Rome, a desperate fate for a player who has had his best season for the Reds, and they will miss his energy and understanding with Michael Carrick (Carrick's passing and industry will be key in both retaining possession and taking away from their opponents)
Who will play alongside Carrick is harder to predict. Manchester United have regularly shuffled the pack this year, both domestically and in Europe. Edwin Van der Sar will begin in goal and has had a consistent season, despite now being 38 years of age. Van der Sar, along with his defence, went 1,302 minutes without conceding earlier this year, an English league record that propelled them to the summit of the Premier League. In front of the Dutchman, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea will probably form the back four. Evra has matured into one of the world's best left backs and is ably joined by maybe the best central defensive pairing in world football currently. O'Shea, an unused substitute in last years final, has started more games in Europe than any other United player this season and scored the decisive goal in their first leg clash with Arsenal. Ferguson will likely select two of Scholes, Anderson and Giggs to partner Carrick and may well favour the combination of youth and experience with Anderson and Giggs. Anderson is full of vigour and enterprise, while Giggs, a veteran of two finals, can always be relied upon to perform on the main stage. It was Paul Scholes though who scored the winning goal in last years semi-final, the last meeting between the two sides.
Further forward, Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are certain starters. Ronaldo will be the focus of much hype in the build up but Rooney have the more important role to play. Strong and quick with fine vision and technique, Rooney has blossomed into a strong team player for United, and while his discipline can still be called into question, his passion and work rate cannot. If United are to impede Barca's ability to control the ball, it may well start with the forwards and limiting how far forward their full backs can venture. For this reason, Carlos Tevez could be the favourite to spearhead the attack. Dimi Berbatov offers style and craft but Sir Alex may favour the diligence and harassment that Tevez can bring. Another option would be to start either Rooney or Ronaldo in a central role and play Park-Ji-Sung wide. Park missed the final last year but has played a big part in their journey to the final this year and Ferguson has indicated that he may be used in Rome.
For all the problems Barcelona have defensively (and they may add to their omissions if Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry fail to recover from injury), this is a team that has built on its intelligent use of the football coupled with attacking speed and guile. United must limit the time and space afforded Xavi and Iniesta around their box. Barcelona love to play quick, one and two touch passes and with their intelligent movement and the seemingly telepathic nature of the understanding between Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Etoo, are almost impossible to defend at times. The onus will be on Carrick and Anderson (who will probably play quite deep) to pressure their opponents and for Ferdinand and Vidic to close the gaps in which the forwards can run which may mean playing a yard off Samuel Etoo. Chelsea provided a good blueprint for United as to how to defend Messi and Etoo (Henry, the third part of the triumvirate, was unavailable with injury) but still allowed Barca over 60% possession in the game. Indeed, it may have only been their futility in the final third that kept that game poised as it was.
Leo Messi's match up with Evra could be crucial; Evra will need to show him outside as much as possible while Messi will try and drift across the back four to find the ball in the gap between defence and midfield. If United try to focus on him too extensively then the gaps could open up for his attacking cohorts, particularly Henry on the other flank.
The way that Barcelona play, or perhaps due to just how good they are, forces teams to play on the counter but this won't concern Man Utd too much. They are amongst the best in Europe on the break and, in Ronaldo and Rooney, have the ideal pair to transition defence into attack quickly. Both may look for space out wide but attack Barca's potentially soft centre with the use of Berbatov or Tevez as a 'pivot' to play off. Barcelona will attempt to stay tight to the duo, frustrate them and force them to release the ball early. In reality, these are two evenly matched sides and, as we have seen in previous finals, it is the team that executes the better on the day, benefits from a moment of magic or a glaring error that wins the game; seven of the last eight previous finals have all been won by a single goal or on penalties. One point to note is that this will be United's 65th and Barca's 64th games of the season and neither will want to be chasing the ball for long periods.
Should Man United win, they will be making history by becoming the first team to retain the Champions League trophy in its current format. Ajax and Valencia have reached consecutive finals while both Milan and Juventus have been to three in a row but none of those teams managed to repeat (in fact these four teams combined for ten appearances and only three victories during those runs) and you have to trace back to 1990 for the last example of such a feat in its previous guise when A.C Milan defeated Benfica.
Yet history does lean towards United in regards to their previous matches with Barca; three wins to two, with four draws, featuring their only other meeting in a European final. The two teams met in Rotterdam to contest the 1991 Cup Winner's Cup final and two goals from Mark Hughes won the game 2-1. Furthermore, of the three previous finals held in Rome, two have been won by an English side; United's biggest rivals in fact, Liverpool.
At the end of a long and successful year for these two sides, the highlight of the club calendar is almost upon us. Over 72,000 fans and millions worldwide will watch the two best players and the two best teams battle for a single prize. It’s the final that just about everyone wanted and in the gladiatorial atmosphere of Rome's Stadio Olimpico, we hope to be treated by Manchester United and Barcelona to what the mob always clamoured for in the Coliseum, entertainment.
In the red corner; weighing in with 18 League titles, 11 FA cups and 3 European cups, hailing from Manchester, England, The current and reigning European champions, The 'Red Devils,' Manchester United F.C.
In the blue corner, weighing in with 20 League titles, 25 Copa del Reys and 2 European cups, hailing from, Barcelona, Spain, the challengers, 'Barca,' Futbol Club Barcelona.
Will the Champions league final be a boxing match? Well, in terms of physicality, probably not, but in regards to speed, technique, endurance and tactics, the elements that determine most fights, it will be. Manchester United and Barcelona have been the two best teams in Europe this season and, over the last few years, have assembled the two strongest squads.
Both teams are recent winners of Europe's most prestigious trophy; Barcelona in 2006 (when they defeated English opposition in Arsenal) and of course Manchester Utd last year. Both have already secured their league championships and are in line to win a treble should they be victorious in Rome (arguably a quadruple for United, including the World club championship, for Barca, they would be the first Spanish side to complete the treble) and the similarities don't end there.
The pair equally rely on home-grown talent, play appealing, attacking football and share the two best players in the world right now. And while it may seem that Sir Alex Ferguson and Josep Guardiola have little in common in regards to their managerial credentials (Ferguson has won nearly every major trophy in his 22 years with United, this is Guardiola's first year in charge of Barca), both are deeply entrenched in their club's history and ethos. 'Pep' played for the Catalans for eleven years, coming through their famed youth academy (indeed it would be hard to find two better academies represented in this game) before returning last year to coach their 'b' team, which he lead to promotion. Both managers seem to foster a loyalty and a bond with their players (albeit the sample size is small for Guardiola) and ask their troops to work hard both on and off the field.
Considering that this is the Barcelona's coach first year, the results have been pretty astounding; a league championship, winning the Copa del Rey, a 22-game undefeated league streak (of which they won 19 out of 20 and virtually tied up the title with a third of the season remaining), 151 goals in all competitions, a 6-2 victory at the home of their biggest rival and a place in the Champions league final on May 27th. They ensured that place by outclassing their group opponents (losing only when they had already qualified) and routing Lyon and Bayern Munich. Chelsea fans will be still be bitter at the manner of defeat to the Catalans but cannot argue that the Barcelona controlled possession and were at least equal in the tie.
On the opposing touchline will be Sir Alex Ferguson and, for all he has achieved with the club, this could be his finest year to date. Under his guidance, Untied have become a European powerhouse and dominated the domestic game, with the crowning glory coming in the 1998/9 season when they famously won the treble. This year, Man Utd have rarely been at their incisive best, but they have continued in the tradition for what they are most renowned; finding a way to win. United won the League cup on penalties, the World club cup by a single goal and the league with a 0-0 home draw (the only major competition they failed to win came by way of a penalty defeat to Everton in the FA cup). In the Champions league, they qualified from their group comfortably but with only two victories. In the knockout stages, once again, they did just enough to fend off Inter Milan and Porto before showing their class to defeat Arsenal in the semi-finals.
It was in that game against Arsenal that the team's best player came to the fore; Cristiano Ronaldo scored two, made one, and effectively won the game in the first fifteen minutes. The current European and World player of the year scored the winner away at Porto and the second at home to Inter in the previous rounds, and while his 4 goals this season are half of what he achieved in firing United to Champions League triumph last term, he is the most potent threat to Barcelona. It has been considered somewhat of a down year for Ronaldo but he still has 26 goals at a rate of one every two games and appears to be rounding into form at the right time.
The apparent heir to the 'best player in the world' throne will play opposite Ronaldo a week from now. Lionel Messi has long been considered one of the most gifted young players in the world but it has been this season, much in the way it was for Ronaldo last year, that everything seems to have come together for the Argentinean wonderkid. 37 goals in all competitions, 8 in Europe, Messi has become the all-round menace that opposing teams must have feared he would. Numerous highlight moments have accompanied his goal tally (this is one of his best this year - which I simply had to include for the soundtrack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW3fucV4j5Y&feature=related) and the 21 year old is the key to three-man frontline employed by Barca. However, for all the superlatives written about him this season, Chelsea held him to limited opportunities in their semi-final, albeit it was he who set up Iniesta for the dramatic tie-clinching equaliser.
The supporting cast for Barcelona contain a host of lead actors. Thierry Henry and Samuel Etoo have 57 goals between them (that’s 94, yes 94, goals between the front three) and in Xavi and Iniesta, have two world-class players to support the attack. Iniesta is dynamic and direct, Xavi the dictator and the dynamo (and best player at last year's European Championship); this pair hardly ever lose the ball. Yaya Toure will likely sit in front of the back four and, like his brother Kolo, is a physical presence with good feet. The back four will be under pressure with the suspensions of Dani Alves, the excellent roaming full-back, and Eric Abidal but in Carles Puyol, have not only a tenacious and talented defender, but also an inspirational captain. He could be asked to play at right back with Martin Caceres (a summer 16.5 million Euro signing from Villareal but only in the team due to injury to Rafael Marquez) and former United player, Gerard Pique at centre back. Caceres and Puyol may be asked to swap roles or Toure could fill in at the back with Seydou Keita or Sergi Busquets coming into midfield. Sylvinho, the former Arsenal player, could well be the favourite to occupy the vacant left back slot and, even at 35, is still serviceable at this level. Victor Valdes will be the last line of the defence and, while he has been criticised previously, especially for being weak coming off his line, he was singled out by many of the club's hierarchy for his performance at Chelsea.
While Barcelona's back line could be a weakness, Puyol, who missed their second leg game with Chelsea through suspension, is the key to the unit. Caceres is quick, proficient and mature beyond his tender years and Sylvinho has the experience and ability to replace Abidal competently. However, whoever lines up, the group will not have played that often together and lack the offensive threat that they would usually bring.
Barcelona failed in its appeal to have both Dani Alves and Eric Abidal available for the final while United also failed in theirs. Darren Fletcher will miss the big night in Rome, a desperate fate for a player who has had his best season for the Reds, and they will miss his energy and understanding with Michael Carrick (Carrick's passing and industry will be key in both retaining possession and taking away from their opponents)
Who will play alongside Carrick is harder to predict. Manchester United have regularly shuffled the pack this year, both domestically and in Europe. Edwin Van der Sar will begin in goal and has had a consistent season, despite now being 38 years of age. Van der Sar, along with his defence, went 1,302 minutes without conceding earlier this year, an English league record that propelled them to the summit of the Premier League. In front of the Dutchman, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea will probably form the back four. Evra has matured into one of the world's best left backs and is ably joined by maybe the best central defensive pairing in world football currently. O'Shea, an unused substitute in last years final, has started more games in Europe than any other United player this season and scored the decisive goal in their first leg clash with Arsenal. Ferguson will likely select two of Scholes, Anderson and Giggs to partner Carrick and may well favour the combination of youth and experience with Anderson and Giggs. Anderson is full of vigour and enterprise, while Giggs, a veteran of two finals, can always be relied upon to perform on the main stage. It was Paul Scholes though who scored the winning goal in last years semi-final, the last meeting between the two sides.
Further forward, Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are certain starters. Ronaldo will be the focus of much hype in the build up but Rooney have the more important role to play. Strong and quick with fine vision and technique, Rooney has blossomed into a strong team player for United, and while his discipline can still be called into question, his passion and work rate cannot. If United are to impede Barca's ability to control the ball, it may well start with the forwards and limiting how far forward their full backs can venture. For this reason, Carlos Tevez could be the favourite to spearhead the attack. Dimi Berbatov offers style and craft but Sir Alex may favour the diligence and harassment that Tevez can bring. Another option would be to start either Rooney or Ronaldo in a central role and play Park-Ji-Sung wide. Park missed the final last year but has played a big part in their journey to the final this year and Ferguson has indicated that he may be used in Rome.
For all the problems Barcelona have defensively (and they may add to their omissions if Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry fail to recover from injury), this is a team that has built on its intelligent use of the football coupled with attacking speed and guile. United must limit the time and space afforded Xavi and Iniesta around their box. Barcelona love to play quick, one and two touch passes and with their intelligent movement and the seemingly telepathic nature of the understanding between Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Etoo, are almost impossible to defend at times. The onus will be on Carrick and Anderson (who will probably play quite deep) to pressure their opponents and for Ferdinand and Vidic to close the gaps in which the forwards can run which may mean playing a yard off Samuel Etoo. Chelsea provided a good blueprint for United as to how to defend Messi and Etoo (Henry, the third part of the triumvirate, was unavailable with injury) but still allowed Barca over 60% possession in the game. Indeed, it may have only been their futility in the final third that kept that game poised as it was.
Leo Messi's match up with Evra could be crucial; Evra will need to show him outside as much as possible while Messi will try and drift across the back four to find the ball in the gap between defence and midfield. If United try to focus on him too extensively then the gaps could open up for his attacking cohorts, particularly Henry on the other flank.
The way that Barcelona play, or perhaps due to just how good they are, forces teams to play on the counter but this won't concern Man Utd too much. They are amongst the best in Europe on the break and, in Ronaldo and Rooney, have the ideal pair to transition defence into attack quickly. Both may look for space out wide but attack Barca's potentially soft centre with the use of Berbatov or Tevez as a 'pivot' to play off. Barcelona will attempt to stay tight to the duo, frustrate them and force them to release the ball early. In reality, these are two evenly matched sides and, as we have seen in previous finals, it is the team that executes the better on the day, benefits from a moment of magic or a glaring error that wins the game; seven of the last eight previous finals have all been won by a single goal or on penalties. One point to note is that this will be United's 65th and Barca's 64th games of the season and neither will want to be chasing the ball for long periods.
Should Man United win, they will be making history by becoming the first team to retain the Champions League trophy in its current format. Ajax and Valencia have reached consecutive finals while both Milan and Juventus have been to three in a row but none of those teams managed to repeat (in fact these four teams combined for ten appearances and only three victories during those runs) and you have to trace back to 1990 for the last example of such a feat in its previous guise when A.C Milan defeated Benfica.
Yet history does lean towards United in regards to their previous matches with Barca; three wins to two, with four draws, featuring their only other meeting in a European final. The two teams met in Rotterdam to contest the 1991 Cup Winner's Cup final and two goals from Mark Hughes won the game 2-1. Furthermore, of the three previous finals held in Rome, two have been won by an English side; United's biggest rivals in fact, Liverpool.
At the end of a long and successful year for these two sides, the highlight of the club calendar is almost upon us. Over 72,000 fans and millions worldwide will watch the two best players and the two best teams battle for a single prize. It’s the final that just about everyone wanted and in the gladiatorial atmosphere of Rome's Stadio Olimpico, we hope to be treated by Manchester United and Barcelona to what the mob always clamoured for in the Coliseum, entertainment.
Monday, 18 May 2009
The First 11...Manchester United Players
The best eleven that have played for Manchester United since the birth of the Premier League.
It's not easy to compare players from different era's, even when they have appeared for the same team. United fans have seen some of the best players in the world put on the famous red jersey in the 17 seasons that the Premier League has been running and it is this depth of talent that makes selecting a best 11 particularly difficult. The following selection feature in a 4-4-2 formation and are based on longevity, performance (particularly in big games), awards and medals.
Goalkeeper - Peter Schmeichel
The great Dane was the best goalkeeper in Premiership history. Period. In his eight years with United he was a virtual ever-present and in his 398 games he won 5 league titles, 3 FA cups as well as captaining United in their finest moment when they defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final to complete their 1999 treble. The ultimate intimidating presence between the posts, he single-handedly won numerous games for the Reds and was a three-time UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year.
Right Back - Gary Neville
A very consistent performer ever since breaking into the team, Neville has accrued well over 500 games for the club and has lead them as captain since 2005. He has embodied the determination, commitment and defiance of the team over the years and has been rewarded with 8 League titles, 3 FA cups, 2 Champions League trophies and a Club World cup in addition to being voted to the PFA team of the year on 4 occasions.
Left Back - Dennis Irwin
Not a straight forward choice; Patrice Evra has developed into one of the best full backs in the league but has only been at the club since 2006 and began his United career slowly. Irwin however, has more than double Evra's appearances (368), 33 goals (including a number of important penalties) and won 15 major medals with United, including 7 League titles and the Champions League. Even into his mid-thirties, Irwin held down a first team place and was one of the key contributors during United's rise to success in the early nineties.
Centre Back - Rio Ferdinand
When United spent the best part of £30 million on the talented defender, many scoffed at the transfer fee. Seven years later and it is clear that every penny was well spent, despite missing time in his first two seasons through injury and suspension. Rio was another to start slowly in his United career but since settling, his combination of pace, intelligence, positioning and leadership have marshalled one of the best defences in Europe. Ferdinand is a 4-time Premier League winner, a Champions League winner and been voted to the PFA Team of the Year on four occasions with United (five in total).
Centre Back - Gary Pallister
The partner to Ferdinand at centre half is another position of contention; Jaap Stam was arguably the best centre back in the world in his last year at the club and as imposing a defender as United may have ever had. One man who would argue that is Nemanja Vidic, a success story ever since he arrived at the club and a key figure in the teams recent succession of League titles and Champions League victories. The man Vidic has been most compared to is also in the running; Steve Bruce became club captain after Bryan Robson's departure and played a large part in the club's accomplishments until his departure in 1996. For all the former candidates offered (and it was plenty) it was Pallister who contributed most to United. The defender made 437 appearances for the Reds and won every major domestic trophy in his nine years with the club. His pace, size and aerial ability simply outmatched the majority of opposing forwards but it was his judgement and footballing ability that set him apart. Pallister may well have been ahead of his time as a footballer and his partnership with Bruce will always be the measuring stick to which following central defensive pairings will be compared. Vidic is likely to surpass Pallister in a couple of years but at the moment of writing, it is the latter's endurance that has him pencilled in here.
Right Wing - Cristiano Ronaldo
Few clubs can match the legacy of the position and the famous No.7 shirt of Manchester United. Even in recent history, United have been spoilt with the quality and iconic status of their outside rights. Andrei Kanchelskis and David Beckham would waltz their way into most team's best Premiership XI's but one man dribbles into this. Cristiano Ronaldo, he of the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, the Ballon D'or Award and 118 goals in just 291 games, is one of the most gifted and dangerous players on the planet. Ronaldo scored 8 goals (including one in the final) in driving United to European victory last year and has scored 66 league goals in the past three seasons. As Man Utd have rediscovered their dominance in the past three years, Ronaldo has shown his best form and is as vital a player as there is in the current squad. Beckham deserves special mention; a product of the United youth system, Beckham clocked up almost 400 appearances, scored 85 goals (many amongst the most memorable of recent times, although if anyone could match his prowess at free kicks, it may be Ronaldo) and became the most famous footballer in the world during his stint at the club.
Left Wing - Ryan Giggs
An automatic selection. Giggs has played, and scored, in every Premier League season, has won 30 major trophies since breaking into the first team (including 11 League Titles, 4 FA cups and 2 Champions Leagues - Perhaps 3 pretty soon) and has featured in 8 PFA Teams of the Year. He now owns the record for most appearances for the club with 805, has scored 148 goals (including one against Arsenal in the last FA cup semi-final replay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1r3bGm9YzQ remember that?) and has been an integral member of just about everything Man Utd have achieved in the last twenty years. The current PFA player of the year, there really aren't enough words or stats to describe the importance of Ryan Giggs to the 'United Era' in English football.
Central Midfield - Roy Keane
At the time of signing, Keane became the most expensive player in British football, a move that proved to be another savvy piece of business by Sir Alex Ferguson. Keane was the fire, the heart and the conviction of the United team from almost the moment he began his career at Old Trafford. and captained the side for eight years (winning more trophies than any other captain in club history). He played 444 games for the club and it seemed that every time he scored it was on a vital occasion (Juventus away in the 99 CL was a highlight - for both Keane and the team he lead). Roy Keane was described by Ferguson as 'the best player I've ever worked with' and for all his disciplinary woes, he was probably the most important member of the squad during the late nineties, won 7 Premier League titles, the 1999 Champions League, despite being suspended for the final, and was the PFA Player's Player of the Year in 2000.
Central Midfield - Paul Scholes
Another player from the United youth academy, Scholes was one of the finest technical footballers England has produced. An accurate passer with great vision and a knack for arriving in the box to convert a chance, Scholes has never looked out of place in his 604 appearances (142 goals) and continues to be an essential part of the United machine. 23 Major trophies featuring 9 League titles and 2 Champions Leagues (along with twice making the PFA Team of the Year) have punctuated the career of a player who has never self promoted, and never needed to.
Centre Forward - Eric Cantona
'King Eric' defined the strut and swagger (and occasionally the petulance) of Man U during his five seasons with the club and, although he made only 185 appearances for the club, has as extensive a legacy as any player has had with the team. A fan's favourite, an enigmatic captain, an actor, a poet, a martial artist, Cantona enriched the game during his stay in this country and galvanised the players he played with. His iconic status was enhanced by his errors but there can be no doubting his talent and his 82 goals for the club were all laced with quality and drama. Cantona was the recipient of the PFA Player's Player of the Year in 1994 and the Football Writer's Footballer of the Year in 1996, won 4 League Titles and 2 FA cups.
Centre Forward - Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Van Nistelrooy was one of the finest goal scorers in the club's history, scoring 150 goals in just 219 games. He twice had eight-game scoring streaks for United and scored an astonishing 38 goals in merely 47 European games (three times finishing as top scorer in the Champions League) during his five seasons for the club. For all his personal achievements, including the PFA Player of the Year in 2002, United suffered some of their most disappointing seasons in this period and Van Nistelrooy only won one Premier League Title and one FA cup. Van Nistelrooy edges out the likes of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Andrew Cole, Mark Hughes, Dwight Yorke and Wayne Rooney, although Rooney is another who will be in this team in the near future if his current form persists.
And for my dear friend Eddie, the worst XI of United's Premiership years:
GK - Massimo Taibi - Even worse than Mark Bosnich. And Roy Carrol. And Raimond Van der Gouw. And Andy Goram. I miss Fabien Barthez.
RB - David May - 115 appearances in 9 years tells a story. Lets leave it at that.
LB - Ronnie Walwork - Not his natural position, left back, but im not sure it would matter. Was banned for life for assaulting a referee in Belgium during a loan spell (later reduced in fairness)
CB - William Prunier - Played twice and actually wasnt bad in his debut. Nobody remembers that.
CB - Laurent Blanc - Signed as a replacement for Jaap Stam...run that past me again?
RW - Luke Chadwick - Hung around for a while. Somehow.
LW - Jesper Blomqvist - His final appearance for United was in the Champions League Final against Bayern. He was replaced by Teddy Sheringham and we all know what happened after that. Blomqvist never played again.
CM - Eric Djemba Djemba - So good they named him twice? Once was too many.
CM - Kleberson - The boy won a World cup. And here was me thinking that there were only seven wonders in the world...
CF - Diego Forlan - Lot of money to spend on someone who was essentially a mascot for a couple of years.
CF - David Bellion - A poor man's Steve Marlet perhaps? No, he wasn't very good either.
It's not easy to compare players from different era's, even when they have appeared for the same team. United fans have seen some of the best players in the world put on the famous red jersey in the 17 seasons that the Premier League has been running and it is this depth of talent that makes selecting a best 11 particularly difficult. The following selection feature in a 4-4-2 formation and are based on longevity, performance (particularly in big games), awards and medals.
Goalkeeper - Peter Schmeichel
The great Dane was the best goalkeeper in Premiership history. Period. In his eight years with United he was a virtual ever-present and in his 398 games he won 5 league titles, 3 FA cups as well as captaining United in their finest moment when they defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final to complete their 1999 treble. The ultimate intimidating presence between the posts, he single-handedly won numerous games for the Reds and was a three-time UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year.
Right Back - Gary Neville
A very consistent performer ever since breaking into the team, Neville has accrued well over 500 games for the club and has lead them as captain since 2005. He has embodied the determination, commitment and defiance of the team over the years and has been rewarded with 8 League titles, 3 FA cups, 2 Champions League trophies and a Club World cup in addition to being voted to the PFA team of the year on 4 occasions.
Left Back - Dennis Irwin
Not a straight forward choice; Patrice Evra has developed into one of the best full backs in the league but has only been at the club since 2006 and began his United career slowly. Irwin however, has more than double Evra's appearances (368), 33 goals (including a number of important penalties) and won 15 major medals with United, including 7 League titles and the Champions League. Even into his mid-thirties, Irwin held down a first team place and was one of the key contributors during United's rise to success in the early nineties.
Centre Back - Rio Ferdinand
When United spent the best part of £30 million on the talented defender, many scoffed at the transfer fee. Seven years later and it is clear that every penny was well spent, despite missing time in his first two seasons through injury and suspension. Rio was another to start slowly in his United career but since settling, his combination of pace, intelligence, positioning and leadership have marshalled one of the best defences in Europe. Ferdinand is a 4-time Premier League winner, a Champions League winner and been voted to the PFA Team of the Year on four occasions with United (five in total).
Centre Back - Gary Pallister
The partner to Ferdinand at centre half is another position of contention; Jaap Stam was arguably the best centre back in the world in his last year at the club and as imposing a defender as United may have ever had. One man who would argue that is Nemanja Vidic, a success story ever since he arrived at the club and a key figure in the teams recent succession of League titles and Champions League victories. The man Vidic has been most compared to is also in the running; Steve Bruce became club captain after Bryan Robson's departure and played a large part in the club's accomplishments until his departure in 1996. For all the former candidates offered (and it was plenty) it was Pallister who contributed most to United. The defender made 437 appearances for the Reds and won every major domestic trophy in his nine years with the club. His pace, size and aerial ability simply outmatched the majority of opposing forwards but it was his judgement and footballing ability that set him apart. Pallister may well have been ahead of his time as a footballer and his partnership with Bruce will always be the measuring stick to which following central defensive pairings will be compared. Vidic is likely to surpass Pallister in a couple of years but at the moment of writing, it is the latter's endurance that has him pencilled in here.
Right Wing - Cristiano Ronaldo
Few clubs can match the legacy of the position and the famous No.7 shirt of Manchester United. Even in recent history, United have been spoilt with the quality and iconic status of their outside rights. Andrei Kanchelskis and David Beckham would waltz their way into most team's best Premiership XI's but one man dribbles into this. Cristiano Ronaldo, he of the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, the Ballon D'or Award and 118 goals in just 291 games, is one of the most gifted and dangerous players on the planet. Ronaldo scored 8 goals (including one in the final) in driving United to European victory last year and has scored 66 league goals in the past three seasons. As Man Utd have rediscovered their dominance in the past three years, Ronaldo has shown his best form and is as vital a player as there is in the current squad. Beckham deserves special mention; a product of the United youth system, Beckham clocked up almost 400 appearances, scored 85 goals (many amongst the most memorable of recent times, although if anyone could match his prowess at free kicks, it may be Ronaldo) and became the most famous footballer in the world during his stint at the club.
Left Wing - Ryan Giggs
An automatic selection. Giggs has played, and scored, in every Premier League season, has won 30 major trophies since breaking into the first team (including 11 League Titles, 4 FA cups and 2 Champions Leagues - Perhaps 3 pretty soon) and has featured in 8 PFA Teams of the Year. He now owns the record for most appearances for the club with 805, has scored 148 goals (including one against Arsenal in the last FA cup semi-final replay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1r3bGm9YzQ remember that?) and has been an integral member of just about everything Man Utd have achieved in the last twenty years. The current PFA player of the year, there really aren't enough words or stats to describe the importance of Ryan Giggs to the 'United Era' in English football.
Central Midfield - Roy Keane
At the time of signing, Keane became the most expensive player in British football, a move that proved to be another savvy piece of business by Sir Alex Ferguson. Keane was the fire, the heart and the conviction of the United team from almost the moment he began his career at Old Trafford. and captained the side for eight years (winning more trophies than any other captain in club history). He played 444 games for the club and it seemed that every time he scored it was on a vital occasion (Juventus away in the 99 CL was a highlight - for both Keane and the team he lead). Roy Keane was described by Ferguson as 'the best player I've ever worked with' and for all his disciplinary woes, he was probably the most important member of the squad during the late nineties, won 7 Premier League titles, the 1999 Champions League, despite being suspended for the final, and was the PFA Player's Player of the Year in 2000.
Central Midfield - Paul Scholes
Another player from the United youth academy, Scholes was one of the finest technical footballers England has produced. An accurate passer with great vision and a knack for arriving in the box to convert a chance, Scholes has never looked out of place in his 604 appearances (142 goals) and continues to be an essential part of the United machine. 23 Major trophies featuring 9 League titles and 2 Champions Leagues (along with twice making the PFA Team of the Year) have punctuated the career of a player who has never self promoted, and never needed to.
Centre Forward - Eric Cantona
'King Eric' defined the strut and swagger (and occasionally the petulance) of Man U during his five seasons with the club and, although he made only 185 appearances for the club, has as extensive a legacy as any player has had with the team. A fan's favourite, an enigmatic captain, an actor, a poet, a martial artist, Cantona enriched the game during his stay in this country and galvanised the players he played with. His iconic status was enhanced by his errors but there can be no doubting his talent and his 82 goals for the club were all laced with quality and drama. Cantona was the recipient of the PFA Player's Player of the Year in 1994 and the Football Writer's Footballer of the Year in 1996, won 4 League Titles and 2 FA cups.
Centre Forward - Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Van Nistelrooy was one of the finest goal scorers in the club's history, scoring 150 goals in just 219 games. He twice had eight-game scoring streaks for United and scored an astonishing 38 goals in merely 47 European games (three times finishing as top scorer in the Champions League) during his five seasons for the club. For all his personal achievements, including the PFA Player of the Year in 2002, United suffered some of their most disappointing seasons in this period and Van Nistelrooy only won one Premier League Title and one FA cup. Van Nistelrooy edges out the likes of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Andrew Cole, Mark Hughes, Dwight Yorke and Wayne Rooney, although Rooney is another who will be in this team in the near future if his current form persists.
And for my dear friend Eddie, the worst XI of United's Premiership years:
GK - Massimo Taibi - Even worse than Mark Bosnich. And Roy Carrol. And Raimond Van der Gouw. And Andy Goram. I miss Fabien Barthez.
RB - David May - 115 appearances in 9 years tells a story. Lets leave it at that.
LB - Ronnie Walwork - Not his natural position, left back, but im not sure it would matter. Was banned for life for assaulting a referee in Belgium during a loan spell (later reduced in fairness)
CB - William Prunier - Played twice and actually wasnt bad in his debut. Nobody remembers that.
CB - Laurent Blanc - Signed as a replacement for Jaap Stam...run that past me again?
RW - Luke Chadwick - Hung around for a while. Somehow.
LW - Jesper Blomqvist - His final appearance for United was in the Champions League Final against Bayern. He was replaced by Teddy Sheringham and we all know what happened after that. Blomqvist never played again.
CM - Eric Djemba Djemba - So good they named him twice? Once was too many.
CM - Kleberson - The boy won a World cup. And here was me thinking that there were only seven wonders in the world...
CF - Diego Forlan - Lot of money to spend on someone who was essentially a mascot for a couple of years.
CF - David Bellion - A poor man's Steve Marlet perhaps? No, he wasn't very good either.
The First 11...Manchester United Matches
The 11 games that have defined Manchester United's dominance since the inception of the Premier League.
When the Premier League kicked off in 1992, a renewed sense of optimism swept across football in England. The pains of the mid-80's where starting to heal, the national team had performed well in Italia 90' and the threat of a breakaway league to compete with Europe's elite had been realised. For all the positivity, few could have imagined that within a decade, England would boast the richest, most watched and most exciting league in Europe, featuring many of the greatest talents in the world. By the end of its 17th season, the Premier League would be the envy of Serie A, the Bundesliga and La Liga with an pre-eminence in Champion's League, the jewel of European Football.For all that the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have achieved in recent times, it is Manchester United that have lead the charge. They have paved the way to profitability and were the first to fully exploit the marketability of a Premiership team. In reality, their accomplishments off the field may well have propelled them to the state they are in as much than anything they have done on the field but without the following, their dynasty would not be as strong or perhaps not have endured to this point.
11. Man Utd 1 - 1 Necaxa, World Club Championship 2000
Man Utd eschewed the 1999-00 FA Cup in favour of travelling to Brazil for the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship. The game against Necaxa itself was fairly dour, Dwight Yorke salvaged a draw with ten minutes remaining, and the event itself was somewhat of disaster for United (outplayed by Vasco da Gama and outcast by the English media for participating). But which other English side would have even left for the tournament? No other English side were close to winning the Champions League before United did so and no other had such a global face that required presenting thousands of miles away.
10. Man Utd 4 - 0 Chelsea, FA Cup 1994
United won their first ever double and became only the fourth ever club to do so. They lead the league most of the way but this result proved their ascendancy domestically. Three goals in nine second half minutes (Two from Cantona, one from Hughes plus a late addition by Brian McClair) effectively finished the tie and bought Man U their 8th FA Cup. Perhaps the goal scored by Mark Hughes in the dying minutes of their semi-final against Oldham Athletic was just as valuable.
9. Everton 2 - 4 Man Utd, Premier League 2007
The scene: Chelsea have won the last two league championships. United have not been close to league success for three seasons and have not been beyond the second round of the Champions League during this period (including an embarrassing campaign the year before when they finished bottom of their group). Many sections of support contend that Sir Alex Ferguson is no longer the man for the job and that United's time has come and gone. The 2006-07' season would offer their redemption; they made the Champions League semis (only beaten by an inspired Milan side) and were back in contention for the Premier League crown. United would go on to win the league title by six points but after dropping five points in their last three games, they fell 2-0 down to a dangerous Everton team and it seemed, just for a few minutes, that United would once again succumb and that Chelsea, who they still had to play at Stamford Bridge, could win their third straight title (a feat only accomplished by Man Utd in the Premiership). Goals from John O' Shea, Wayne Rooney, Chris Eagles and an own goal by stalwart Phil Neville won the game and, more importantly, returned the momentum not just in that title race, but in the balance of power in domestic football.
8. Newcastle 0 - 1 Man Utd, Premier League 1996
Eric Cantona's goal shortened Newcastle's lead to one point and United would go on to win the title on the final day. The champions followed up with FA Cup success and did all this with kids. The season will be best remembered for the emergence of the likes of Beckham, Scholes, Butt and the Neville brothers that would form the foundation of the treble winning team of 1999.
7. Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal, Premier League 1998
United were cruising towards another championship until Arsene Wenger's renegade Arsenal side ruined the party. Marc Overmars' goal at Old Trafford bought them within six points of United with three games in hand and would go on to win the league and cup double. United went on to spend lavishly the following summer in the wake of their failing in addition to the renewed competition and the signings of Jaap Stam and Dwight Yorke in particular reinforced the team. This, along with the maturation of the team's younger players, provided Sir Alex Ferguson with the squad to compete at the highest level.
6. Aston Villa 0 - 1 Oldham Athletic, Premier League 1993
The Premier League's opening season saw the arrival of Eric Cantona and the appointment of Steve Bruce as captain of Manchester United. United won the league as Aston Villa, who lead the league for much of the season, fell to Oldham at home and Alex Ferguson was informed of the club's first League title in 26 years. United almost certainly would have won the championship in one of their remaining three games but it was Villa's defeat that got the ball rolling on the most enduring domination of the English top flight.
5. Barcelona 4 - 0 Man Utd, Champions League 1994
In less than two weeks, these two teams will meet for the richest prize in European football. 15 years ago, they met in the group stage of the 94-95' Champions League at the Camp Nou. Barcelona, lead by the likes of Romario and Stoichkov, taught United a lesson as they played them off the pitch in Catalunya and Man Utd were eliminated in the group stage. A low point in a disappointing season for the Red Devils was a harsh but important lesson in their journey to European victory.
4. Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal, Premier League 2009
The home draw with the Gunners was far from their best performance of a long and triumphant season and the match itself will soon be forgotten by most. However, the success of English clubs has always been measured in league championships and for all the victories in cup competitions whether at home or abroad, United have trailed one team in particular ever since the Premier League began, until now. The final whistle brought with it a record-tying 18th league title, a record that had been held by United's biggest rivals, Liverpool. 11 league titles in 17 seasons, in the modern era that the Premier League ushered in, is the definition of domination.
3. Bayer Leverkusen 1 - 1 Man Utd, Champions League 2002
Sir Alex had announced his retirement for the end of the 2001-02 campaign, focusing on the 2002 Champions League Final at Hampden Park as his swansong. Unfortunately for Man Utd, they finished the season without a title after losing to Arsenal at home towards the end of the season and succumbed on away goals to Leverkusen. A 2-2 draw at Old Trafford was followed up by a 1-1 draw at the BayArena (United had lead in both legs) and the European dream was over for another year. There is no doubting that Sir Alex is the key component behind the success of this team over the last twenty-odd years and the renewed motivation taken from Manchester United's defeats and failings have been pivotal in their subsequent successes. Even if United had won the Champions League in 2002, Ferguson may well have stayed but had he left, the recent history of this club could have been greatly different.
2. Man Utd 1 - 1 Chelsea, Champions League 2008
The second Champions League victory was the materialisation of nine years trying to climb back to the mountain top. Premier League titles have come with apparent ease and regularity but the Champions League had eluded Ferguson ever since their crowning moment in Barcelona. United eased through the group stage and were only mildly troubled on their way to Moscow, where they met the team that had changed the face of the domestic game forever. Abramovic and his millions had transformed Chelsea into perennial domestic and European title contenders and presented the most threat to United's domination. Virtue of their victory 6-5 on penalties (and John Terry's unfortunate slip), Manchester United regained their European crown and once again shut the door on Chelsea, as they had done in the league that season and the one previous.
1. Man Utd 2 - 1 Bayern Munich, Champions League 1999
The proudest moment in the club's magnificent history. They went undefeated in the final 33 games of the season in all competitions, made it a habit of winning matches after going behind, became the most profitable club in the world and, oh yeah, won the league, FA cup and Champions League, being the first English side to complete such a treble. 10 days after securing the League Title with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham, they were part of probably the most amazing comeback in recent memory; one down and being outplayed by a very capable Bayern Munich team in front of 90,000 in Barcelona, United refused to lose and injury time goals from instant heroes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won the game on the birthday of Sir Matt Busby, the only other United manager to lift the trophy. They went unbeaten in the Champions League that year, facing many of Europe's best (Barcelona didn't even make it out of the group stage, Juventus seemed to have United's number in the semis only to experience first hand United's resilience as they fought back in Turin - A match that itself would make this list if not for the events of the final) and playing the kind of direct, attacking football which has become their trademark. The third part of the treble had been completed days earlier when Newcastle were beaten 2-0 at Wembley but it was Ryan Giggs' goal in the last ever semi-final replay against their biggest rivals at the time, Arsenal, that fuelled the emotion and 'destiny' that culminated in Barcelona that year.Interestingly, the top three featured on this list are all European fixtures. While this should indicate the importance of the Champions League to the fans, players and manager of Manchester United, it also highlights their level of dominance on the domestic game and the almost automatic nature of their success. United have become a European powerhouse and may well secure another trophy in the days to come but for all they have done abroad, it is in the Premier League where nobody can doubt their status, as England’s premier team.
When the Premier League kicked off in 1992, a renewed sense of optimism swept across football in England. The pains of the mid-80's where starting to heal, the national team had performed well in Italia 90' and the threat of a breakaway league to compete with Europe's elite had been realised. For all the positivity, few could have imagined that within a decade, England would boast the richest, most watched and most exciting league in Europe, featuring many of the greatest talents in the world. By the end of its 17th season, the Premier League would be the envy of Serie A, the Bundesliga and La Liga with an pre-eminence in Champion's League, the jewel of European Football.For all that the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have achieved in recent times, it is Manchester United that have lead the charge. They have paved the way to profitability and were the first to fully exploit the marketability of a Premiership team. In reality, their accomplishments off the field may well have propelled them to the state they are in as much than anything they have done on the field but without the following, their dynasty would not be as strong or perhaps not have endured to this point.
11. Man Utd 1 - 1 Necaxa, World Club Championship 2000
Man Utd eschewed the 1999-00 FA Cup in favour of travelling to Brazil for the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship. The game against Necaxa itself was fairly dour, Dwight Yorke salvaged a draw with ten minutes remaining, and the event itself was somewhat of disaster for United (outplayed by Vasco da Gama and outcast by the English media for participating). But which other English side would have even left for the tournament? No other English side were close to winning the Champions League before United did so and no other had such a global face that required presenting thousands of miles away.
10. Man Utd 4 - 0 Chelsea, FA Cup 1994
United won their first ever double and became only the fourth ever club to do so. They lead the league most of the way but this result proved their ascendancy domestically. Three goals in nine second half minutes (Two from Cantona, one from Hughes plus a late addition by Brian McClair) effectively finished the tie and bought Man U their 8th FA Cup. Perhaps the goal scored by Mark Hughes in the dying minutes of their semi-final against Oldham Athletic was just as valuable.
9. Everton 2 - 4 Man Utd, Premier League 2007
The scene: Chelsea have won the last two league championships. United have not been close to league success for three seasons and have not been beyond the second round of the Champions League during this period (including an embarrassing campaign the year before when they finished bottom of their group). Many sections of support contend that Sir Alex Ferguson is no longer the man for the job and that United's time has come and gone. The 2006-07' season would offer their redemption; they made the Champions League semis (only beaten by an inspired Milan side) and were back in contention for the Premier League crown. United would go on to win the league title by six points but after dropping five points in their last three games, they fell 2-0 down to a dangerous Everton team and it seemed, just for a few minutes, that United would once again succumb and that Chelsea, who they still had to play at Stamford Bridge, could win their third straight title (a feat only accomplished by Man Utd in the Premiership). Goals from John O' Shea, Wayne Rooney, Chris Eagles and an own goal by stalwart Phil Neville won the game and, more importantly, returned the momentum not just in that title race, but in the balance of power in domestic football.
8. Newcastle 0 - 1 Man Utd, Premier League 1996
Eric Cantona's goal shortened Newcastle's lead to one point and United would go on to win the title on the final day. The champions followed up with FA Cup success and did all this with kids. The season will be best remembered for the emergence of the likes of Beckham, Scholes, Butt and the Neville brothers that would form the foundation of the treble winning team of 1999.
7. Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal, Premier League 1998
United were cruising towards another championship until Arsene Wenger's renegade Arsenal side ruined the party. Marc Overmars' goal at Old Trafford bought them within six points of United with three games in hand and would go on to win the league and cup double. United went on to spend lavishly the following summer in the wake of their failing in addition to the renewed competition and the signings of Jaap Stam and Dwight Yorke in particular reinforced the team. This, along with the maturation of the team's younger players, provided Sir Alex Ferguson with the squad to compete at the highest level.
6. Aston Villa 0 - 1 Oldham Athletic, Premier League 1993
The Premier League's opening season saw the arrival of Eric Cantona and the appointment of Steve Bruce as captain of Manchester United. United won the league as Aston Villa, who lead the league for much of the season, fell to Oldham at home and Alex Ferguson was informed of the club's first League title in 26 years. United almost certainly would have won the championship in one of their remaining three games but it was Villa's defeat that got the ball rolling on the most enduring domination of the English top flight.
5. Barcelona 4 - 0 Man Utd, Champions League 1994
In less than two weeks, these two teams will meet for the richest prize in European football. 15 years ago, they met in the group stage of the 94-95' Champions League at the Camp Nou. Barcelona, lead by the likes of Romario and Stoichkov, taught United a lesson as they played them off the pitch in Catalunya and Man Utd were eliminated in the group stage. A low point in a disappointing season for the Red Devils was a harsh but important lesson in their journey to European victory.
4. Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal, Premier League 2009
The home draw with the Gunners was far from their best performance of a long and triumphant season and the match itself will soon be forgotten by most. However, the success of English clubs has always been measured in league championships and for all the victories in cup competitions whether at home or abroad, United have trailed one team in particular ever since the Premier League began, until now. The final whistle brought with it a record-tying 18th league title, a record that had been held by United's biggest rivals, Liverpool. 11 league titles in 17 seasons, in the modern era that the Premier League ushered in, is the definition of domination.
3. Bayer Leverkusen 1 - 1 Man Utd, Champions League 2002
Sir Alex had announced his retirement for the end of the 2001-02 campaign, focusing on the 2002 Champions League Final at Hampden Park as his swansong. Unfortunately for Man Utd, they finished the season without a title after losing to Arsenal at home towards the end of the season and succumbed on away goals to Leverkusen. A 2-2 draw at Old Trafford was followed up by a 1-1 draw at the BayArena (United had lead in both legs) and the European dream was over for another year. There is no doubting that Sir Alex is the key component behind the success of this team over the last twenty-odd years and the renewed motivation taken from Manchester United's defeats and failings have been pivotal in their subsequent successes. Even if United had won the Champions League in 2002, Ferguson may well have stayed but had he left, the recent history of this club could have been greatly different.
2. Man Utd 1 - 1 Chelsea, Champions League 2008
The second Champions League victory was the materialisation of nine years trying to climb back to the mountain top. Premier League titles have come with apparent ease and regularity but the Champions League had eluded Ferguson ever since their crowning moment in Barcelona. United eased through the group stage and were only mildly troubled on their way to Moscow, where they met the team that had changed the face of the domestic game forever. Abramovic and his millions had transformed Chelsea into perennial domestic and European title contenders and presented the most threat to United's domination. Virtue of their victory 6-5 on penalties (and John Terry's unfortunate slip), Manchester United regained their European crown and once again shut the door on Chelsea, as they had done in the league that season and the one previous.
1. Man Utd 2 - 1 Bayern Munich, Champions League 1999
The proudest moment in the club's magnificent history. They went undefeated in the final 33 games of the season in all competitions, made it a habit of winning matches after going behind, became the most profitable club in the world and, oh yeah, won the league, FA cup and Champions League, being the first English side to complete such a treble. 10 days after securing the League Title with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham, they were part of probably the most amazing comeback in recent memory; one down and being outplayed by a very capable Bayern Munich team in front of 90,000 in Barcelona, United refused to lose and injury time goals from instant heroes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won the game on the birthday of Sir Matt Busby, the only other United manager to lift the trophy. They went unbeaten in the Champions League that year, facing many of Europe's best (Barcelona didn't even make it out of the group stage, Juventus seemed to have United's number in the semis only to experience first hand United's resilience as they fought back in Turin - A match that itself would make this list if not for the events of the final) and playing the kind of direct, attacking football which has become their trademark. The third part of the treble had been completed days earlier when Newcastle were beaten 2-0 at Wembley but it was Ryan Giggs' goal in the last ever semi-final replay against their biggest rivals at the time, Arsenal, that fuelled the emotion and 'destiny' that culminated in Barcelona that year.Interestingly, the top three featured on this list are all European fixtures. While this should indicate the importance of the Champions League to the fans, players and manager of Manchester United, it also highlights their level of dominance on the domestic game and the almost automatic nature of their success. United have become a European powerhouse and may well secure another trophy in the days to come but for all they have done abroad, it is in the Premier League where nobody can doubt their status, as England’s premier team.
Celtics v Magic Game 7
The Magic sunk more shots, finished in a way they failed to do in game 5 and defended well against my beloved Celtics to claim a place against the future Eastern Champion Cavaliers. Sox lost in the 9th. Bad day...
Sunday, 17 May 2009
The Look
The saying goes that a picture can tell a thousand words. A look can say very few, perhaps just one, but that is sometimes more powerful than a thousand could ever be. Slowly looking up, your eyes quizzically looking at your partner with a non-vocalised question, to be met with a yes, a no, a maybe, a never, an always, a sorry.
Most of the time, these responses don't really catch us by surprise because, deep down, we know the answer before we ask. Our subconscious tend to be that much sharper than our sentient minds. Unfortunately, should our level of hope delude us as to the answer (and it doesn't take a lot for people to persuade themselves to believe that what they want can and will happen) then such a loaded look can shake us. So much so that we are left speechless, strangled by the silent exchange. And it can do more than shake us.
It can frustrate us, pour or sap emotion from us, make us want to drink, to think and to shiver. I guess it's the realisation that what we hoped for is not reality or what we took for granted may not hold true.
So what gives us this original hope? Excluding pure phantasm, such a belief tends to be a holdover from a previous part of the relationship, however brief. What was once an acceptable aspect of a relationship, whether platonic or romantic, may no longer be but there is a lack of awareness of it. And this can happen even in the most momentary of affiliations; someone you have met and built up an accord with in a friendly social environment (a doctor in a hospital, a waitress in a restaurant, an individual you have met in a bar). These situations often involve sexual overtones and it is simple to confuse politeness for attraction. Equally, it is typical that two people would meet and quickly discover that, despite an original appeal, they have little in common and the realisation of such an error can be embarrassing and disappointing. Of course, this kind of short-term association holds limited concern for most and is quickly forgotten about.
Naturally therefore, a longer commitment with many a shared experience and additional emotion can bear a more damaging scar. But it would also be far less likely to occur as the pairing would surely be that much closer, have that much more in common (even if it were just their shared experiences) and know many of the other's idiosyncrasies. Rarely do long time friends fall out for any length of time and if they do, most occur in destructive circumstances. It is also seldom that the kind of tension and uncertainty would remain between the pair that would leave so much unsaid as to require leaning on non-verbal communication. Are there many a question left unasked between friends unless one, or both, have romantic feelings for the other? Not usually and very infrequently amongst those that truly trust each other.
It is no secret that the most complex and emotional of relationships are romantic. The feelings that are expressed in a loving affair outweigh the impact of virtually anything else humanity can experience and even the closest of friends, for all the strength of their bond, cannot match the sensory heights that the explosive nature of intimacy brings. As soon as a couple engage in sexual relations (presuming they actually like each other), the ante increases to the extent that the cornerstones of friendship are under intense scrutiny - trust, loyalty, honesty. Any level of suspicion can cause the relationship to falter and the disquiet and unease to flow.
Certainly there are those in relationships who suffer from delusions but the fact that the reality of their circumstances is overt on a (presumably) regular basis must limit the amount that their mind wanders too far from the truth. Perhaps the real discomfort and fear and hope stem from those situations where contact is limited, where the brain begins to select what it recalls and in what light it perceives the past. It is easy to be blinkered by time and to imagine another to be one thing, often far greater or worse than they really are. Indeed, why wouldn't we? Should a long time friend or former partner be removed from the immediacy of every day life (and probably replaced) then it would appear acceptable that we would condense the value of that individual to a more simple, reduced form (maybe never to the finite point of just positive or negative but to a stage where all elements tie into a 'good' or 'bad' theme).
Should two people meet a long time removed from a close relationship and both have partaken in the above practice then, even if they see each other in similar lights, the variation between the simple perception and the recondite reality can result a feeling of misunderstanding, of self-questioning and of hostility to this now 'alien' person. Have they changed? Did I really know them that well previously? This level of discomfort stunts our conversation, stiffens our body language and forces us to look for ways to rediscover the person we once cared for. As we question, they question and as we look, so do they.
Studies claim that over 70% of communication is non-verbal, produced from posture, gesturing and movement. The value of this within human interaction is undeniable and it doesn't take a statistic to convince anybody that the words we hear are not all somebody is trying to tell us. But to know what all these signals are trying to utter requires a real knowledge of that person. Unfortunately, for most people, a strong comprehension of another usually involves a care and concern for them which blinds them to some extent. Few relationships allow us to be truly altruistic, which would seem a requirement to fully receive the whole gamut of information that another can offer us. Furthermore, there are perhaps fewer that are honest about their feelings, goals, dreams and this can add to the shroud.
There are billions of people and outlets telling us seemingly so much everyday. We are spoilt by the ease at which we can find out the answer to a question we ask. Perhaps the majority of the words, probably on some days all of them, are telling us very little or nothing; either because we aren't really listening or because we never really asked the question or because the answer is not the truth. Some responses are not what we want to hear and when they truly connect with us, when they answer the questions we have asked ourselves a thousand times over, then they really can shake us. These occasions are rare and it is with a scary irregularity that we hear words that really convince us of anything. Even when we do it relies on someone explaining their argument in a manner that we can relate to (which in turn relies upon that person being trusted, an able speaker and the question being asked in the first place).
But sometimes a look, with absolutely no precursor, can answer a question we would never have asked.
For all the confusion created and the questions unanswered here one thing is clear. A look can be worth well over a thousand words. 1229 words at least
Most of the time, these responses don't really catch us by surprise because, deep down, we know the answer before we ask. Our subconscious tend to be that much sharper than our sentient minds. Unfortunately, should our level of hope delude us as to the answer (and it doesn't take a lot for people to persuade themselves to believe that what they want can and will happen) then such a loaded look can shake us. So much so that we are left speechless, strangled by the silent exchange. And it can do more than shake us.
It can frustrate us, pour or sap emotion from us, make us want to drink, to think and to shiver. I guess it's the realisation that what we hoped for is not reality or what we took for granted may not hold true.
So what gives us this original hope? Excluding pure phantasm, such a belief tends to be a holdover from a previous part of the relationship, however brief. What was once an acceptable aspect of a relationship, whether platonic or romantic, may no longer be but there is a lack of awareness of it. And this can happen even in the most momentary of affiliations; someone you have met and built up an accord with in a friendly social environment (a doctor in a hospital, a waitress in a restaurant, an individual you have met in a bar). These situations often involve sexual overtones and it is simple to confuse politeness for attraction. Equally, it is typical that two people would meet and quickly discover that, despite an original appeal, they have little in common and the realisation of such an error can be embarrassing and disappointing. Of course, this kind of short-term association holds limited concern for most and is quickly forgotten about.
Naturally therefore, a longer commitment with many a shared experience and additional emotion can bear a more damaging scar. But it would also be far less likely to occur as the pairing would surely be that much closer, have that much more in common (even if it were just their shared experiences) and know many of the other's idiosyncrasies. Rarely do long time friends fall out for any length of time and if they do, most occur in destructive circumstances. It is also seldom that the kind of tension and uncertainty would remain between the pair that would leave so much unsaid as to require leaning on non-verbal communication. Are there many a question left unasked between friends unless one, or both, have romantic feelings for the other? Not usually and very infrequently amongst those that truly trust each other.
It is no secret that the most complex and emotional of relationships are romantic. The feelings that are expressed in a loving affair outweigh the impact of virtually anything else humanity can experience and even the closest of friends, for all the strength of their bond, cannot match the sensory heights that the explosive nature of intimacy brings. As soon as a couple engage in sexual relations (presuming they actually like each other), the ante increases to the extent that the cornerstones of friendship are under intense scrutiny - trust, loyalty, honesty. Any level of suspicion can cause the relationship to falter and the disquiet and unease to flow.
Certainly there are those in relationships who suffer from delusions but the fact that the reality of their circumstances is overt on a (presumably) regular basis must limit the amount that their mind wanders too far from the truth. Perhaps the real discomfort and fear and hope stem from those situations where contact is limited, where the brain begins to select what it recalls and in what light it perceives the past. It is easy to be blinkered by time and to imagine another to be one thing, often far greater or worse than they really are. Indeed, why wouldn't we? Should a long time friend or former partner be removed from the immediacy of every day life (and probably replaced) then it would appear acceptable that we would condense the value of that individual to a more simple, reduced form (maybe never to the finite point of just positive or negative but to a stage where all elements tie into a 'good' or 'bad' theme).
Should two people meet a long time removed from a close relationship and both have partaken in the above practice then, even if they see each other in similar lights, the variation between the simple perception and the recondite reality can result a feeling of misunderstanding, of self-questioning and of hostility to this now 'alien' person. Have they changed? Did I really know them that well previously? This level of discomfort stunts our conversation, stiffens our body language and forces us to look for ways to rediscover the person we once cared for. As we question, they question and as we look, so do they.
Studies claim that over 70% of communication is non-verbal, produced from posture, gesturing and movement. The value of this within human interaction is undeniable and it doesn't take a statistic to convince anybody that the words we hear are not all somebody is trying to tell us. But to know what all these signals are trying to utter requires a real knowledge of that person. Unfortunately, for most people, a strong comprehension of another usually involves a care and concern for them which blinds them to some extent. Few relationships allow us to be truly altruistic, which would seem a requirement to fully receive the whole gamut of information that another can offer us. Furthermore, there are perhaps fewer that are honest about their feelings, goals, dreams and this can add to the shroud.
There are billions of people and outlets telling us seemingly so much everyday. We are spoilt by the ease at which we can find out the answer to a question we ask. Perhaps the majority of the words, probably on some days all of them, are telling us very little or nothing; either because we aren't really listening or because we never really asked the question or because the answer is not the truth. Some responses are not what we want to hear and when they truly connect with us, when they answer the questions we have asked ourselves a thousand times over, then they really can shake us. These occasions are rare and it is with a scary irregularity that we hear words that really convince us of anything. Even when we do it relies on someone explaining their argument in a manner that we can relate to (which in turn relies upon that person being trusted, an able speaker and the question being asked in the first place).
But sometimes a look, with absolutely no precursor, can answer a question we would never have asked.
For all the confusion created and the questions unanswered here one thing is clear. A look can be worth well over a thousand words. 1229 words at least
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