Premier League Preview Part I

Football's most celebrated league is back. And here's a look at how it will all shape up. So in the edited words of the legendary Richard O'Brien (presenter of the hit series, The Crystal Maze), To the Crystal BAAALLLLL!

Arsenal
Last year: 4th
Gunners In: Gervinho, Carl Jenkinson, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain
Gunners Out: Gael Clichy, Denilson (loan), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Mark Randall, Roarie Deacon, Wellington Silva (loan), Kyle Bartley (loan), Cesc Fabregas

6 - The Torah describes the creation of the universe as a six part, six day, process.
6 - The Sixth Commandment is Thou Shalt not Kill
6 - The number of years the Gunners have not won a trophy (no, the Emirates Cup doesn't count).

Ironic, when you consider that perhaps the most iconic number 6 to have graced the Premier League is Tony Adams, Arsenal Legend.

The Wenga Boys have come close to a trophy though,
1. CL final against Barcelona 2006
2. Carling Cup final against Birmingham 2010

There in lies the secret for Arsenal to prompt a return to the glory years. A fruitful cup run. And the Arsenal sides will always have a chance at the FA and Carling Cup, and if they don't face Barcelona the CL (well, if nobody faces the Catalan Giants, they will have a chance at the CL. Except maybe Stoke City :p).

Having said that, doubt Arsenal at your own risk as Premier League contenders. For the last two years, Arsenal have been in the Top 2 until February. If they get over the jinx of that month, Arsenal might just take it.

However, with Nasri and Fabregas gone, the Gunners lack a guy who can break the opposition easily or run the game. It is a huge year for both Ramsey and Wilshere. 7th trophy less year ahead? Yes. But only as far as the Premier League Trophy is concerned. (before you Gunners hate on me, remember the 6th commandment!).

Prediction: 5th.

Aston Villa
Last Year: 9th
Villains In: Shay Given, Charles N'zogbia
Villains Out: Ashley Young, Steward Downing and Brad Friedel, Nigel Reo-Corker, John Carew and Robert Pires (all free)

The Midland club probably had their strangest season in last years Premier League. Martin O'Neill quit. Gerard Houllier was instantly signed on, sparking excitement with the fans. Stephen Ireland came, saw and vanished to Newcastle. The same fans that were loving Houllier for home wins against City and Liverpool, and draws with Chelsea and United, were calling for his head as the Villains openly flirted with relegation.

Cue heart problems, and a slow rise in the absence of their French Manager, they ended up at a respectable 9th position. Having said that, they amassed only 9 points more than Birmingham City, their arch rivals, who finished 18th and were relegated. The season has finished, and you would think the confusion of Villa fans was over.

But Randy Lerner was not to let that happen. In comes Alex Mcleish, who, last year, guided Birmingham City (aka Arch Rivals) to the Championship as well as the Carling Cup. Football, as wierd as it gets!

The fans have booed consistently since Mcleish has arrived, and if pre-season results are anything to go by (2 wins, 2 losses - including one to lowly Derby - and a draw) aren't sitting well with the fans. Added to that, Ashley Young's departure and Stephen Ireland getting the famous No. 7 worn by Young, even though the tricky Charles N'Zogbia was signed and he plays more like a no. 7, the bizarre and the confusing continues at Trinity Road.

Prediction:11th

Blackburn Rovers
Last Year: 15th
Rovers In: David Goodwillie, Myles Anderson, Radosav Petrovic
Rovers Out: Phil Jones, Frank Fielding, Jake Kean, Michael Potts (free), Zurab Khizanishvili (free)

Blackburn can take comfort in the fact that as of now, they are No. 3, because that's the highest they will ever be. Under new owners for their first full season, the Rovers are a club that will do a few peek-a-boos with relegation this year. They were going to be the first Premier League outfit to grace India in the pre-season, however that got derailed, much like their season last year.

However, they couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. Ewood Park was some sort of a fortress a while back and that feel returned to the end of last year. The Lancashire outfit will be content with the fact that they face tough teams like Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham at home by the end of October and only travel to Chelsea and Manchester United later on.

If they can tackle these fixtures and win a couple and maybe draw a couple, they might save themselves from relegation by December itself. Blackburn are going to remain in the bottom half of the table. Bottom 3? Maybe not.

Prediction: 16th

Bolton Wanderers
Last Year: 14th
Trotters in: Darren Pratley, Nigel Reo-Coker, Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears
Trotters out: Ali Al-Habsi, Matt Taylor, Danny Ward , Joey O'Brien (free), Johan Elmander (free), Tamir Cohen (free)

Bolton have been a joy to watch under manager Owen Coyle, quite unlike how they were under predecessors Gary Megson and Sam Allardyce. They are the guaranteed mid-table club, and will be happy with the fact that they were only outscored by 3 teams in the bottom half of the table. One of those teams was relegated of course (Blackpool).

While this stat is not impressive, I point this out because, 18 of Bolton's 52 goals last year were scored by Johan Elmander and Daniel Sturridge, both of whom are not with the club anymore.

And a strike force of Ivan Klasnic (31), Kevin Davies (34), Tope Obadeyi (21 and played only thrice in 2008, out on loan since) and Tom Eaves (19, uncapped) will hardly strike fear into the defenses of any of the other 19 teams in the premier league. Ivan Klasnic didn't start a single game for Bolton in the Premier League last year and all his 4 goals came from his 22 appearances as a substitute.

Added to that, Bolton will play Manchester City (home), Liverpool (away), Manchester United (home), Arsenal (away) and Chelsea (home) in the space of a month - might I add, the first month of the new season.

The lack of a strike force, the tough fixture list, coupled with the fact that outstanding Lee Chung-Yong will be out for up to 9 months means one thing - Bolton will be battling relegation this season, unless Owen Coyle can manage to pull off a stellar signing of a striker they badly need (Daniel Sturridge return anyone?)

Prediction: 17th

Chelsea
Last Year: 2nd
Blues In: Oriol Romeu, Thibaut Courtois, Lucas Piazon (Piazon will join Chelsea in January 2012), Romelu Lukaku
Blues Out: Yuri Zhirkov, Michael Mancienne, Jack Cork, Thibaut Courtois (loan), Jeffrey Bruma (loan), Fabio Borini (Free), Sam Walker (loan)

New season, same old Chelsea? Well, as far as the famous manager merry-go-round at the club is concerned, yes. This will be the 4th new manager for Chelsea (at the start of a season) for the last 5 years and 6th over all. In fact, of the teams that stayed in the Premier League last year, only Fulham and Chelsea - derby rivals - have changed their managers.

Andre Villas-Boas comes in to his post at Stamford Bridge with a lot of promise for a 33 year old manager and a growing reputation. After all, he is the youngest manager to lift a European Cup.

He also comes with the knowledge that no Chelsea manager under Abrahmovic has kept their job for 2 consecutive seasons without delivering a cup. And arguably their most famous Manager and Villas-Boas's former boss Jose Mourinho was not even afforded that luxury when he was sacked in 2007-08.

If Chelsea's transfers this season are anything to go by, Abrahmovic still has a say in the matter. Romelu Lukaku was picked up, finally, after being linked with the club since he burst onto the scene in 2009. This despite the fact that they have a fantastic young striker in Daniel Sturridge on the bench, and the quartet of Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba up front. Sure, he is one for the future, but it must have a negative effect on the young strikers at the club in Sturridge and the up and coming Gael Kakuta.

Having said that, goals will not be a problem at Stamford Bridge and going by the continuity in midfield and defense, neither will conceding them.

However the ageing legs of Chelsea's stars and the burdens of managing them on the shoulders of a man younger as old as 2 of them (Lampard and Drogba) means they will not reclaim what they lost last year to Manchester United.

Prediction: 4th

Everton
Last Year: 7th
Toffees In: Eric Dier
Transfers Out: James Vaughan

The perennial punchers above their weight. It is hard to imagine how different the trophy cabinet might have been at the blue half of Merseyside, had they had the financial luxuries afforded at City.

David Moyes is probably the best tactician the Premier League has seen bar Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho. And his reward is another season where owner Bill Kenwright is without funds to strengthen a squad that is about as deep as a baby's bottom.

Evert year, I fear the worst for Everton, but every year they surprise. The key this year will be to hang on to Phil Jagielka and keep the quartet of Marouane Fellaini, Jack Rodwell, Mikel Arteta, and Louis Saha all fit will be key to Everton's results this season. But keeping Saha injury free is about as easy as getting Kasab to hang.

They will still fight for a top half of the table finish and have a good cup run.

Prediction: 8th

Fulham
Last Year: 8th
Cottagers In: John Arne Riise, Pajtim Kasami, Marcel Gecoy, Dan Burn, Csaba Somogyi (free)
Cottagers Out: Greening, David Stockdale (loan), Kagisho Dikgacoi

Fulham had a very good season despite losing manager Roy Hodgson, who guided them to the inaugural UEFA Europa League final in the summer. Mark Hughes was appointed and he went about business guiding Fulham to 8th position.

Somehow, he felt the club's ambition didn't match his, so he surprisingly left Fulham this summer and Mohammed Al-Fayed swiftly appointed former Tottenham manager, Martin Jol.

Jol was instrumental in elevating Spurs' status in the Premier League a few seasons ago, guiding them to their then highest, 5th place finish.

However, he was sacked, ya-di-ya-di-ya-da, and he is back as manager for Fulham, a move that has settled well with the fans. And why not? He broke the 27 year winless streak Tottenham had against Chelsea those many years back and the West London Derby is sure to serve up a spicy recipe when the two meet again.

He has inherited a team that has been playing together for a long time and has bought young in the transfer market.

If Fulham are to make good progress in the Europa League, which I believe they will, it will definitely have an adverse effect on their Premier League campaign. But not so much that Martin Jol can't guide them to a mid-table finish.

Prediction: 10th

Liverpool
Last Year: 6th
Reds In: Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Doni (free), Jose Enrique
Reds Out: Paul Konchesky, Milan Jovanovic, Gerardo Bruna, Martin Hansen (loan), Stephen Darby (loan), Tom Ince

It was a tale of two halves for Liverpool last season. The first half was largely forgettable. What with the flirting with relegation, being knocked out of all cup competitions and losing Fernando Torres.

But as the second half of the season would show, Liverpool came out of the dressing room a different team. Galvanised by scouse Legend Kenny Daglish, Torres was substituted by Luis Suarez with the promising Andy Carrol coming in on the bench.

Liverpool have strengthened again in the summer and along with Manchester United are a team that have used the transfer market to buy English. Jordan Henderson is one for the future, while Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing are the perfect duo to aid Suarez and Carrol.

They will be a team everyone will want to avoid in the Europa League and their form at Anfield under Daglish will guide them back to the top 4. The Glory days seem to be on their way back.

Prediction: 3rd

Manchester City

Last Year: 3rd
Citizens In: Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy, Stefan Savic, Costel Pantilimon
Citizens Out:Shay Given, Jerome Boateng, Jo, Michael Johnson, Kieran Trippier, Ben Mee, Donal, Andrew, Scott Kay (all loan)

The future looks bright at the 'Etihad' Stadium and why wouldn't it?

Endless funds from an owner who could probably buy the City of Manchester itself, Champions League football for the first time in their history, and a team that is worth over a billion pounds at their disposal.

Manchester City have made a mockery of the Financial Fair Play rule that is going to be enforced in 2 years time. They have done this by selling their stadium rights for 400 million pounds - 200 million more than what the club was worth 3 years back when they bought it, to Etihad Airways, which is owned by the Abu Dabhi Royal Family. As is City. But, by then, they will have put together a team together that can challenge in any competition they take part in.

Fergies' era at Manchester United started with the FA Cup and Mancini will be hoping that similar luck rubs off on him sooner than later.

The Sky Blue faithful ambitiously call themselves "England's Barca". Barca has made more history in the last year alone than Manchester City have in their 131 year existence. The world these fanatics live in!

That being said, City will be bettered by only one team this season.

Prediction: 2nd

Manchester United
Last Year: Champions
Mancunians In: Phil Jones, Ashley Young, David de Gea
Mancunians Out: Edwin Van Der Saar (retired), Paul Scholes (retired), Owen Hargreaves (free), Bebe (loan), John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Gabriel Obertan and Ritchie de Laet, Corry Evans, Robert Brady, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Scott Wootton, Nicky Ajose (all loan)

The Premier League will be poorer without Paul Scholes. He was the most gifted midfielder to grace the league and his absence has well and truly left the Premier League a less privileged outfit.

However, like it was when Beckham left, when van Nistelrooy quit and when Ronaldo joined Real Madrid, United just keep March on!

And this aura of invincibility is maintained by the man at the highest echelons of the Old Trafford outfit -Sir Alex Ferguson.

His busiest summer for close to a decade, Fergie has bought and built for the future. The fledgling class of 2011-12 is well and truly here for the world to see and the spending might not be over.

While a bunch of old players have left, Danny Welbeck, Frederico Macheda and Tom Cleverley return from loan spells and in new signings Phil Jones and David de Gea and of course the Da Silva twins, Chris Smalling and Johnny Evans Manchester United has a B-Team that could challenge for European places if they were playing in the league.

Having won all their pre-season games, including a defeat handed out to Barcelona and lifting their first trophy of the year at the expense of arch rivals #2, Manchester City, the Red Devils look like a Juggernaut that cannot be stopped.

Prediction: Champions

Part II Coming Soon.

Until then, bring in the beers.

2011/12 - Best Season Yet

The curtains were drawn.
The frustration built up over 3 months gone.
The wait to see two feet off the ground, a steel pole ringing after a thunderous strike, the F50s, Mercurials and Tiempos, the green skid marks on the shirt, the sublime 1-2s and at the end of it all, the bulging of the net, is over. Football's back.

And if the curtain raiser was anything to go by, we are one week away from a roller coaster 2011-12 season of the Barclays Premier League - the best football league on the planet.

Read all about this helluva ride right here on The Footy Story.

Weekly Previews, Reviews and Rants. Stay Tuned.

Manchester: A United tale of a divided City Part II

Part I can be read here

Part II

Manchester City

The Citizens have hit the blues. Excuse the pun. But there is a strange lack of excitement at Eastlands in the aftermath of Mark Hughes's sacking.

Isn't the prospect of a coach that has won 3 Serie A titles on the trot and innumerable cups in a managerial career that has spanned all of just 10 years, including an 18 month hiatus, mouth-watering enough for an arrogant lot that is stealing players left, right and the middle of the park by offering them golden eggs?

Roberto Mancini's reputation precedes him. There is no doubting his managerial capabilities. The only question is can he manage in England? Here's an excerpt from "Can a Foreign Manager survive the BPL for dummies" guide book

a. He must know the language.

Roberto Mancini has had a stint as a Fox (a career as one in the box). He has been in England for weeks learning the language. He will get there in about a month's time.

b. Can he handle the pressure of the job? The constant scrutiny by the press? The insatiable demands of a lunatic owner?

He was in Italy, where the shelf life of a manager is shorter than tzatziki and the media are as ready to pounce on your inexcusable tactical switches as they are on your regrettable bow tie. And to cap it off, he worked for Massimo Morati who didn't like it that his team had romped to the Scudetto 3 years running. What a shame!

c. Can he handle overinflated egos in the dressing room?

He has worked with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Nuff said.

So, if all fingers point in the right direction, why are the Citizens not fully convinced about this appointment?

For one, they are as clueless as the owners as to where City should be come the end of the season. I think if they hang on to where they are in the league (mathematically, they could be sole claimants of the 6th place) and even go out at the semi-final stage of the Carling Cup and R3 of the FA Cup, this season would be a blooming success. Hughes was getting it flaming right! Only 2 losses this year and in the hunt for all competitions still. Theoretically, they are just 9 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea. And to top that, Manchester City was providing all the entertainment on the pitch. Their matches are great to watch. Goals and drama galore.

So who is to say that Mancini won't suffer the same fate as Hughes by the end of January? City could be
- converting those draws to losses,
- out of the Carling Cup at the hands of their town rivals
- in the bottom half of the table

the possibilities are there? Suddenly, feeling the love of the oil is something that is scaring the people in the blue half of Manchester.

For the rest of the league, they couldn't be happier. Especially Tottenham and Villa. Sure Redknapp was feeling for Sparky and all, but underneath that cover he'd be rubbing his hands in glee.

People in the league do not like Manchester City's new found wealth. There is the jealousy. There are far more prestigious teams in the league that the Arabs could have bought back then (Newcastle, Liverpool, Arsenal are just some examples) but they pinned the donkey's tail on Manchester City and so the romance began. The dart could have fallen on any team any the whole league knows it.

But the jealousy did not make most of us hate City. It's the arrogance that followed their purchases. They went and unsettled players, some that were loved by their clubs fans, some that needed a brochure to be sold. And Sparky didn't do naught to douse this feeling.

He pranced around Wenger's technical area like a show horse, allowed the Sky Blues to construct a cheeky poster of Carlos Tevez, and showed Sir Alex, the man who made Sparky a legend, no respect in trying to buy Ronaldo and eventually buying Tevez.

As a Red Devil in flesh and blood, I am happy Hughes got dumped the way he did. You do not go from being an Old Trafford legend to trying to unsettle the club that made you who you are. Sir Alex has many former players and members of his backroom staff working in the premier league and outside it, managing some top clubs. And all of them show the gaffer the respect he deserves. Except Mark Hughes. Hope this teaches you a lesson in humility Sparky. United till you die.

The Sky Blue faithfuls are starting to see through the cracks that appear when a man with a hen that lays the golden 'ostrich sized' eggs by the hour, takes over the helm. And that's keeping them as disappointing and nervy as their cross town rivals are on their squad's title ambitions.

This is only going to get better for one side of Manchester come January.

Until then, bring in the beers.

Manchester: A United Tale of a divided City Part I

The feel good factor in Manchester is giving way to a dawn of gloom. The world's most popular teams (one in terms of a fan base, the other in terms of the tabloids space) are reeling from bad form and bad news. We are of course talking about Manchester United and Manchester City respectively.

Today we talk about the Red side of town.
Manchester United

The Red Devils have been poor this season. For the most part. Only Evra, Fletcher, Rooney, Giggs and Owen have been giving performances that are worthy of any mention. And these names have been listed in terms of consistency, grit and delivery on the pitch.

The defense is MIA, there is no sense off a midfield four and it's not like the goals have dried up. The last 10 games have seen United lose to Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Fulham with victories over Bolton, Blackburn, Everton, Portsmouth, West Ham and Wolves. In the defeats - all to teams from the top half - United have not scored. And the victories(all against bottom half opposition) have seen United score 18 goals and concede only 2. Spread that over 10 games, it still is slightly impressive. But sadly, the GA column over the last 10 games is 9. All teams that hadn't won against United in years have broken that record. Only Tottenham remain with an unflattering run against United.

United is turning into a Spurs this season. You just don't know which team is going to turn up on the day. Minus the game against Chelsea, where United were unlucky not to come away with anything having
a. been the better team and
b. conceded a dubious goal, United have been miserable in defeat.

The team has not been able to string any meaningful pass together, and whatever plays they have made have not resulted in a finishing touch in the final third. United got Owen in to finish their moves. But even a Micheal Owen in his prime wouldn't have been able to do naught with the kind of service that was provided at Craven Cottage.

Sir Alex's pre-season belief that his current squad is good enough to win him the title will be definitely be tested in January and there seems to be little doubt that he is going to the transfer market looking for an impact player. But what he really needs is his defense to be up and running asap. Last season's championship was all about United's miserly defense and those people saying United are missing their former talismanic winger can see the proof in the pudding. The last time United had the same back four in consecutive games was against Blackburn and Chelsea. Since then they have won 6 and lost 3 in all competitions conceding 7 goals in the process.

Going into each game this season, United haven't given their supporters the belief that they are dominating proceedings and haven't been able to produce the kind of magical football fans witnessed in their rampant 2007-2008 season when they won the Champions League. Many key members of that squad from the final are missing. Ronaldo and Tevez have gone their different ways, while Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown and Hargreaves are still with the squad, but in the treatment room. Of course Ronaldo was mesmeric that season, But Sir Alex had put together a team that produced football from the heavens.

This year there have been just glimpses of such form. Gabriel Obertan's shimmy before setting up Owen in Germany, Berbagod's sublime overhead kick to set up Valencia and another overhead strike against Blackburn. It's tough to remember many more. And it is disheartening for a fan. United need a breath of fresh air. It might be the return of Owen Hargreaves, it might be a new player in the new year.

One thing is for sure, come May, this team won't be worthy champions on current form. If the title is won on the show of football on the field, this year the Premier League should belong United's title rivals Arsenal. Or even Manchester City who have provided immense entertainment, even off the field. But that shall be discussed in Part II.

Until then, bring in the beers.

The poor sister of the FA Cup

The Carling Cup quarter finals came to an end this week in what was an all Premier League affair and a forgetful outing for London based Clubs.

Matchday 1 saw a very professional performance from United's youngsters against a Tottenham side comprising mostly of first-teamers. United won the game 2 - Zilch a week after the very same team was bashed for not fitting the grade required to be considered among the elite, after their 0 - 1 loss at home to Besiktas. More on this later.

Aston Villa and Pompey both made a few changes to their squads from their weekend PL clashes and Villa deservedly won the tie 2 - 4 at Fratton Park. Avram Grant made it clear that survival was top priority while Martin O'Neil thought this was a good opportunity for new boy Stewart Downing to be given his first outing as a villain. He duly obliged with a goal that sent Villa on their way to the semi-final.

Matchday 2 saw the "Blue Thunder" lose in penalties to Rovers who will hope this win galvanises the unit and helps them elevate themselves above the relegation zone. The win was made largely possible because Chelsea were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half as striker Salomon Kalou limped off after all their substitutes had been used. Blackburn made the numerical advantage show with 2 goals, the first an equaliser within the allotted 90 minutes, the second to take the lead in extra time. However Chelsea's resilience showed when they scored with the last kick off the game only to lose on penalties and set up a Rovers vs Villains Semi-final date.

The Sky "Blues" were in action as well against Arsene Wenger's squad who again fielded a fledgling XI while City played most of their superstars, including former gunners Kolo Toure and the much hated, scratch that, overrated Emmanuel Adebayor. To further this argument, he missed 2 sitters AGAIN last night, against a very, very youthful Arsenal side. The average age of an Arsenal side in any case is in it's early 20s mostly and this squad was made up off largely the reserves. However, Carlitos Tevez, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Vladimir Weiss compounded on Arsenal's misery from last week as they lost to the same scoreline as they did to Chelsea to ensure the cup will remain somewhere in the Midlands or Lancashire.

This sets up a very intriguing two legged battle in Manchester in January. But first.

Manchester United's production line has given the world the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs. All still playing. All still massively important for their respective clubs. At the given time, when Alan Hansen led Liverpool, he made, what is now a legendary comment on United's crop. "You cannot win the title with kids" predicted Hansen. Fergie won the double that year ('twas 1996).

Once again, a reporter raised a finger at his youth team, he reacted with anger, going on to say that the very same players will be sought after by the paparazzi not too long into the future. And with players like the Da Silva twins, Darren Gibson, Kiko Macheda and Danny Welbeck giving performances like they did in midweek, it's hard not to see why Fergie chose to defend them so vehemently. While not all of the players above have been raised since they were kids by the United trainers, the way they arrived at the club, love it or hate it, is probably the future trend.

Arsenal's young sides have been lauded with praise for many years because of the style of football they play. It is a far cry from Wenger's 1-0 army that he built in his early years as gaffer, now, Wenger's footballing philosophy is echoed in the way his team plays. But, if you want to be a superstar, attain glory, then do it the United way. Most of the youngster's Sir Alex has guided have won titles at a world stage. Maybe Wenger getting all the plaudits is slightly harsh on Ferguson as the world seemed to forget the Sir Alex introduced his reserves to the deep end because these very same youngsters were already household names in the Far East even in the 1990s when the Premier League had just begun it's global branding program.

Today with billions watching football competitions from England all over the world, here is an argument FOR the United way. How many people outside of the Arsenal faithful have heard off Craig Eastmond I do not know, but the whole world has seen Frederico Macheda's winner against Aston Villa last year and now Gibson's thunderbolts against Spurs.

Having said that, Sir Alex's true test will come in January, when his squad takes on the riches of City over 2 legs. What if United are hammered in the City of Manchester Stadium in the first leg, will SAF say "It's a learning experience for a youthful squad" and play the same team at Old Trafford, or will he try and put Sparky's XI in their place and field a strong United squad made up off a few of his reserves. Let's just hope come February, the Cup is retained in Manchester. Coloured Red.

Until then, Bring in the Beers.

Et tu Henry

Henry's divine intervention a la, "le main d'un dieu" (roughly translated, hand of god), sunk the underdogs last week and still leaves a very, very bitter taste in the mouth of most purists.

For those who are oblivious to what happened, Thierry Henry making his usual run on the left flank is fed a high ball from midfield. The ball had a little too much weight on it so Thierry decided it might break his leg and used his hands instead. The three blind mice knew it was handball as did the 81,000 fans at the Stade de France in Paris but they didn't care. And why would they? Their team was going to South Africa to try and lift a cup that they had done in 1998 at the very stadium.

And there in lies how disgusting the thing the Irish did was. Everyone loves the underdog story and people were (pun unintended) Irate at the fact that the Boys in Green are not booked for a place in South Africa. Maradona's excuse for delivering a similar blow to England was that they deserved it because they colonized nearly have the world. As an Indian, I found it hard to argue with such solid logic. But Ireland have done nothing in the history of mankind to deserve this.

It is strange that the name Henry is so intertwined in the history of both these nations. King Henry the VIII that is. He was King of England, which ruled Ireland so in turn he was the Lord of Ireland, and then of course, he took over France. King Henry the present has imprinted his name in footballing folklore yet again and this time it has been for another curler from the left. As a United fan I was in awe of the stuff this guy did in the premier league, even putting him down in my Premier League Team of the Decade but this incident leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

After the game Henry didn't take much time in using the most oft said French phrase. "I surrender," he said "A replay would only be fair". A little too late son. You should have let the ball be and said "A throw-in would only be fair". Sadly, that is the way the game is played these days. I would know which current footballer to tell my son to follow. They are all just a bunch of well paid show horses. But even show horses get up when they fall.

Fifa's idea of rejecting the replay is laughable. What would have happened if the roles were reversed and Robbie Keane had fed in Liam Lawrence to send the Irish to the World Cup, deservedly ending France's dreams and hopes? A replay? A FIFA ban? Who knows! All I want to see is the USA, once occupied by France, humiliate Les Blues in Jo'burg.

Until then, Bring in the Beers.

The Best Derby Ever

Or so it was called by Sir Alex Ferguson. Strange since he had said otherwise not more than a week back. He felt United's matches against Liverpool were the "real derby" while against City it was just another match.

But we have to take his word for it. This has by far been the greatest Manchester Derby ever. The game was flooded with headlines - Tevez's return to OT, Owen celebrating as one with Stretford End, the time added on, Foster's mistakes, Given's miraculous saves, Rooney's scoring streak... it just didn't end.

Of the many talking points, here are few that really leaves one pondering.

1. City are serious title contenders.

City did on Sunday what Champions have done always. Manchester United made 3 defensive errors in all of the 100 minutes played on the weekend. City scored 3 goals. And I bet you this, Craig Bellamy will not top of the pecking order when all strikers are fit. There is quality all over the park. There is depth on the bench. They almost pulled off a result without coming within a country mile of what their capable of. And there are a hungry bunch of lads (except Tevez, Bridge, Robinho and Sylvinho) who have not won any trophy of note with any team.

The pace at which this team hits you on the counter attack is awe inspiring and the Top 4 are under serious threat by the riches being brought in by the Arabs. Now what is left to see is their ability to bounce back from a bad result. That is what Chelsea and United have done exceedingly well for the last 5 seasons, and it is here where Liverpool faltered and lost the championship to United in 2008-09.

2. Sir Alex remains one of the shrewdest managers of all time.

There are two reasons to back this argument. One, there is no stadium in the world where the match would have ended in the 97th minute after 4 minutes of allotted time. The referee's reasoning was that City took 1 and 1/2 minutes to celebrate their goal and then a further 30 seconds for a substitution. But there was no doubt that it was Fergie whispered these sweet nothings into the referee's ears so that extra time was given. Arsene Wenger calls this Old Traffordish.

Two, Sir Alex was right to have not insisted on Tevez staying. There is no doubt, if Sir Alex wanted Tevez to stay, things would have worked out a while back and there would have been no drama of the summer transfer season with Tevez going to the dark side of Manchester. Berbatov showed Tevez "how to trap a ball and keep it while your teammates get there". Tevez just couldn't do that. He was at his harassing best and produced a goal from it (City's first equaliser), but could not hold on when surrounded by the United defenders while Berbatov took kicks, shoves and a lot but kept hold of the ball even though he was surrounded by 3 defenders at a time. Also, Tevez can't dream of finishing the way Owen can. Both of them were presented with similar chances on either end. Tevez managed to find the post, Owen the back of the net. Michael Owen, welcome to Manchester.

3. Giggs can still play... for a few years.

Years fell like dead skin as Ryan Giggs showed what a masterclass he still is. He provided 3 assists and if Berbatov's finishing was slightly better, he would have provided at least 2 more. Even United's first goal was largely thanks to him picking up Evra's cunning run. Sir Alex will want to clone this man just to have a younger version who can do the same work for many years to come. There are many players that people call living legends, but Ryan Giggs is truly above everyone. His reading of the game and ability to execute is unparalleled and in Sir Alex has the perfect manager, who will save him for the big games so he can be at his very best when it matters the most.

Having taken all this in, I am very happy about the fact that my United is coming back to its haunting best. They played some appalling and boring football last year (although they won a lot, so who's complaining?). Sunday was an example of how they played in the year they won the Champions League. Hopefully this is just a sign of things to come.

Until then, bring in the beers.