The Curious Case of Dimitar Berbatov

He doesn’t show enough commitment to the team… He’s lazy… He’s too slow on the pitch… He doesn’t care about the team… He’s an introvert… Every catcall in the book has been heard about Manchester United’s enigmatic no.9. For a man who’s 18 months at Old Trafford have evoked such extreme reviews, Dimitar Berbatov’s Manchester United career started off on a brilliant note. The cross from near the goal line to setup Carlos Tevez for United’s first and only goal at Anfield in their 2-1 loss to Liverpool announced his arrival louder than his $30 million price tag. The deft tricks and stunning touches that had held the World in awe during his spell at White Hart Lane were expected to take Old Trafford by storm. It was supposed to be a dream combination. Wazza with his marauding, lung-bursting runs and Berba with his classic flicks and touches. 6 months later, the knives were out and the catcalls had started. The crowd was clearly not impressed with the Bulgarian’s nonchalance. The people who mattered, to their credit, made the right moves though. Sir Alex Ferguson, in spite of the presence of Carlos Tevez, continued to persist with Berbatov and Berbatov on his part, continued to put in his best.
True, he doesn’t have Ronaldo’s bag of tricks or Rooney’s level of involvement in the game or Darren Fletcher and Ji Sung Park’s work rate and this is what the fans love to watch but Berbatov has quietly gone about doing what he does best, pulling the strings from ‘the hole’. He’s a peculiar kind of player, he drops in behind the lone man and sets up attack after attack. He’s a master at reading the opposition’s defence and picking passes through them. Now it’s easy to see a Xavi Alonso or a Francesc Fabregas in this kind of a role in central midfield but Berbatov, labelled a striker, has been doing just that. Can you call him an out and out striker? Nope. He’s too slow for that simply doesn’t score enough goals. Can you call him an attacking midfielder of the Kaka, Wesley Sneijder type? Not really. The trickery is missing. Can you call him a midfield playmaker? No way! He plays too high up for that and doesn’t really drop back to help the defence. And he’s labelled a striker.
At a club like United where 20 goals per season are a pre requisite for a first choice striker, his lack of goals was always going to be a problem. Let’s face it, the guys who donned the striker role before him had an insatiable lust for goals. There was Ruud van Nistelrooy with a goals per game ratio that won’t be beaten in a few decades. There was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, there’ll never be a man like the baby faced assassin again. There were Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke before them and more recently, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Now Berbatov will never be mentioned in the same breath as these names when it comes to pure goal scoring instinct. So it was only natural that the crowd would run out of patience with him soon. Not that they don’t like anyone other than the most absurdly talented bunch of players named above. Lesser talented men like Park Ji Sung have become Old Trafford favourites simply because of their sheer determination and work rate. Any United fan would swear by his life that Park would die trying rather than give up. And they adore him for that. Now why don’t they like Berbatov the way they like Park? It’s the man’s demeanour. He’s emotionless, he doesn’t show commitment, the whole list of catcalls start all over again. Now, the fans seeing only the visible side of Berbatov and the club seeing only his visible side are two entirely different issues. Surely, a man of Sir Alex Ferguson’s experience would’ve known what Berbatov was all about before getting on Juande Ramos’ nerves and stretching them right to the limit before landing his striker on transfer deadline day. And amidst all the calls to drop Berba and play Tevez, Sir Alex would surely have known the value of the man he was being urged to axe. True, he stuck it out with Berba and gave him enough chances though it led to the eventual transfer of Carlos Tevez.
Now into his second season at Old Trafford, where does all this leave Berbatov? First choice striker alongside Wayne Rooney. But then, with Michael Owen as the backup striker and the other options being the untested Mame Biram Diouf and teenagers Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda, you would expect Berbatov to be Rooney’s undisputed strike partner. But is he really? A comparison of the number of games played by United no.9 and 10 say an entirely different story. Rooney has not just emerged from Ronaldo’s shadow, he’s grown into a talisman, he’s Mr.United. The best striker in the World at the moment (ok Blaugrana, I’m a United fan). And Berbatov, has shrunk in comparison. A look at the contributions of support strikers in the big teams across Europe show Berbatov is not Rooney’s partner but backup. Chelsea: Nicolas Anelka has played every match against the top 5-6 clubs in the EPL and in the Champion’s League. Liverpool and Arsenal: They always play the lone man up front to pack up the midfield but in Arsenal’s case, either Nicklas Bendtner or Eduardo partnered Robin Van Persie in attack on most occasions before the Dutch hitman pulled up for the season. Barcelona: La Liga, Copa Del Ray, Champions League, whatever be the tournament, Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut rumbles on without compromising on 3 men up front. It’s only a question of whether to play Thierry Henry or Pedro Rodriguez. And that’s more of a transition than anything else.Real Madrid: Apart from El Ron, they always Raul or Benzema alongside Higuain. Rarely is it Ronaldo and Higuain alone. Atletico: Aguero, Forlan and 9 others. Every match, every tournament. Inter Milan: Jose Mourinho’s carefully assembled outfit rolls with an intimidating striking line up of Samuel Eto’o, Diego Milito, Goran Pandev and Wesley Sneijder these days. It’s the same line up whether they’re playing Catania or Chelsea. AC Milan: For all the talk about Leonardo’s team being packed with pensioners, they continue to play an attacking brand of football with Pato, Ronaldinho and either Huntelaar or Boriello playing up front. And the number of strikers didn’t drop even when facing United at Old Trafford (That they got walloped is for another day).Bayern Munich: Two of Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose and Thomas Muller line up every match.And United? Rooney and Berbatov against Blackburn, Hull, Wolves, Portsmouth, Wolfsburg and Sunderland. Rooney all alone against Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona, CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, Manchester City, Everton and Aston Villa. If a player, after moving to a top club for a record transfer fee, doesn’t get to play the matches that really define a top club, was it really worth moving in the first place? Would Berbatov feel more happy sitting on the bench in all the Champions League knock out round matches, play 20 minutes a match and pick up a Champions League winners’ medal? Or would he have been better off staying at White Hart Lane as Spurs’ frontline striker, play every match of the season, compete for a top four finish, lead his team to the Champions League and line up against the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Pato? Needless to say, he would’ve been Harry Redknapp’s first name on the team list if he had stayed at Spurs. A lot of strikers have moved in and out of White Hart Lane after Berbatov but one can safely assume that he would’ve been partnering Jermain Defoe up front in every match, had he stayed there. Looking at the way things are turning out for Spurs this season, they’re primed for a top four finish, meaning Champions League football next season. Jermain Defoe will line up next to Peter Crouch or Roman Pavlyuchenko against the best of Europe while Berbatov will warm the bench and watch Rooney play all alone. With Sir Alex Ferguson repeating it often these days that the 80 million pounds received for Ronaldo’s transfer is burning a hole in his wallet, it might well be the case that a certain big name striker from Valencia might find his way to Old Trafford. And that, would effectively mean the end of Berbatov’s stay at United. But even if there is no significant addition of strikers to United’s roster next season, is the no.9 jersey and a spot on the bench in the big games, really worth it for Berbatov? It’s going to be an interesting phase from now till the end of the end of the summer transfer window for United and Berbatov. Whether it’s a window of opportunity for Berbatov or a window to splash in for United, remains to be seen.

Defence Conundrum

Theo Walcott zoomed across the face of goal, dragging Vidic with him and opening the floodgates for Samir Nasri to fire in anger and put his and Arsenal's second past United at The Emirates. 2-0. Game over. If that was a low moment, then li'l Rafael Da Silva's stunner of a first ever goal for United salvaged some pride. But what really set things straight was the next 14 games. United's defence, in simple terms, shut shop. Not an earthworm could swirm through. Not even the ghosts of some of the best strikers in the World could sneak past the walls. Rio Ferdinand's words in a Nike ad "Let no man pass" was a reality on the pitch. Rio and Vidic flanked by Evra, Rafael and O'Shea were a force that no team could stand up to, for 14 matches at a stretch. It was a total black out. Finally it took a great strike by Roque Santa Cruz to breach United's wall and a lucky goal by Loevenkrantz to finally put one past Van Der Sar. It was the platform on which United dared to dream of collecting 7 trophies. They pulled upshort at the last step on two occasions but last season's defence was a phenomenon rarely witnessed before. Vidic was performing in a parallel universe where strikers were persona non grata.

Fast forward to now...

Rio Ferdinand: Has stumbled from one injury to another
Vidic: Exactly what's his injury? Marginally better than Rio in terms of appearances but nothing to write home about
Yet to play in central defence along side each other since early November
O'Shea: Miserable season that reads Captaincy-injury-comeback-injury-comeback-Henry'ed in Paris - injured-Out for the season
Neville: At 35, it's hardly the time for him to get injured every month, get back on the field without full fitness and get injured again
Evans: Looks like Alice in Wonderland without Vidic or Rio to guide him. Has showed his immense talent but when faced with strong opposition, he's wilted under the pressure. Everton and AC Milan come to mind immediately
Brown: Let's face it, he's never gonna be United's first choice centre back EVER. Has been an able deputy all season but he's no Vidic
Rafael: Seems to be getting into the Marcelo mode. Great when bombing forward. Remember Wigan? But seems to lose his head when defending against World class wingers. Ronaldinho skinned him too many times though he stood upto 'Dinho bravely. But then, he's 19, he's certainly on his way to donning the no.2 jersey
Evra: Captain courageous! Has ANYbody played more minutes than him this season?? Every match, every competition, every weekend and midweek, the pint sized Frenchman's been a livewire down that wing. The rock in the defence. Counting down to the reserves, we had 9 defenders injured at a point of time and still he was up and kicking. Deserves the armband.
De Laet, Fabio: Ask me this time season after next

Within a span of one year, United's defence has gone from being the best in the World to the most chaotic unit in the team. Injuries have wreaked havoc and transfer speculations have done their bit to lower the already drooping morale. The central defensive pair that had as much a hand in last season's successes as El Ron is barely recognizable this season. Carrick, Flethcer, De Laet, Giggs, everyone and their cousins from Mars have played defenders this season. Last time Fergie could pick his first choice defenders was against Liverpool in early November or October. Since then it's been a patch up job of unseen proportions. The bench has become a field hospital. Instances of defenders breaking down right before kickoff hardly seem to surprise people these days. It's become so bloody common! Rio, at 31, and his back, at 62, seem to be past the days of playing week in week out for club and country. Even if he is to make a full recovery, it'll be hard for him to play more than 3-4 matches at a stretch. Vidic, if he can get over his personal issues and mysterious injuries, can still give 3-4 prime seasons before getting intot eh Rio-mode but there's a huge question mark hanging over that at the moment. And if reports of his family's inability to settle in England are to be believed then I don't think Barca or Real Madrid will think twice before giving United a blank cheque for the Serb.
Johnny Evans is at least a season away from playing week in week out as United's no.5. he's shown his potential but the rawness of the 22 year old is there for all to see. He needs some serious tutelage under Rio and Vidic. Wes Brown... will be Wes Brown till he retires as the man who served United whenever they were without their first choice defenders. Nothing much different can be said about John O'Shea. So where does that leave United?
Nightmare scenario: Rio continues the way he is, now. Vidic does the same as Rio or worse, leaves for Spain/Italy.
It leaves United with 20-25 million in cash, one good, young central defender on his way to greatness but not there yet, one awesome but crocked England captain, and Wes Brown. And Chris Smalling. If his performance against Chelsea for Fulham are anything to go buy, Fergie's pulled off a coup by signing the kid for 7 mil. But he'll have to be monitored for atleast 6 months before blooding him full time. And it'll be a ridiculous risk playing a 20 year old and a 22 year old in central defence. Add Rafael to that and we might as well ask Paul McGuinness to move his academy to Old Trafford.
Bottomline: If Vidic and/or Ferdidand are gonna be like this next season, we're in God almighty trouble. We need a defender.

Who?
Fergie's favourite Simon Klaer:
Plus: Totally in the Vidic mode. Rock solid.
Minus: He's younger than Jonny Evans. Hard to see him leading United's defensive line. Sergio Ramos, inspite of having been a teenage prodigy is struggling to do it at Real. Will be a huge ask if Kjaer is pulled up to lead the line.

Mamadou Sakho:
Plus: Has plied his trade in the French league so naturally fast and physical too. On the brink of breaking into Raymond Domenech’s squad

Minus: Same as Kjaer. Lack of experience. Haven’t seen much of him in the Champions League so whether he can perform at the top level remains to be seen.

Gary Cahill:

Plus: Proven performer. Right age to make the big move. Has earned his salt under some of the hardest task masters in the league. Has earned a national team call up as well. Covetous glances from Chelsea and Juventus mean he’s someone to be looked at seriously

My 2 cents:

Branislav Ivanovic:

Chelsea’s unsung Player of the Season. Whether at centre back or right back, the Serb has been sensational. He’s been no slouch whether it is at getting into rough tackles or bombing forward – he’s matched Ashley Cole at that, which is REALLY something. His performance in last year’s Champions League double headers against Liverpool was a joy to behold. Definitely, a wasted talent at Chelsea, as second choice to Bosingwa and Ricardo Carvalho.

Bruno Alves:

The bedrock of Portugal’s defence, Alves has risen fast to become one of the best centre backs in Europe. It’s only a matter of time before the biggies of Europe come calling on him so if United want a World class centre back and are ready to shell out $20 million or above then we better move fast on him.

Ryan Shawcross:

The one that got away. Just where was Fergie’s eye for talent when he let the gangling youngster leave for Stoke? The Potters’ captain has fast risen to being one of the best young defenders in the league and has earned a maiden call up to Capello’s squad. That he plies his trade under Tony Pulis means he’s a tough no-nonsense defender. His horrendous tackle on Aaron Ramsey –albeit unintentional- shows he’s not loathe to get into crunching tackles. Will be one hell of a buy for $12m but considering we could’ve had him for free, it’s a transfer long overdue.

Rabbit out of the hat: The Fergie-Ole way. Get someone whose name will have to be looked up by the media… till he makes an all too familiar Old Trafford debut. Vegard Forren from Ole’s old club probably….

Mancunian El Clasico? You think!!!

Now now Carlito! We know you're ticked off at Utd fans for booing you but this?? El Clasico of Manchester?? OK, United and Barcelona are great but just because you guys and Real are both money bags, you compare yourself with them?? MADNESS!! Last time you guys played in Europe, the European and North American tectonic plates must still have been stuck to each other! Do you guys even remember how to qualify for the Champions League? Let alone, win it nine times! It's friggin laughable, El Clasico! You think! Hear hear m/s Wenger and Benitez! Sparky's putting his rivalry with United on the same plane as your's!
El Clasicos take place when two of the best teams in the country with intense rivalry between them face off. Now, that can happen in England when 2 of Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal play. Or perhaps also when Arsenal play Spurs (remember the tennis scorelines??) and Liverpool play Everton.
Now for such a match to take place in Manchester we need TWO BIG teams with INTENSE rivalry between them.
Possibility one: Utd vs Citeh
Ok, the rivalry is intense but where's the second BIG team??

Personally I'd prefer to watch the second possibility. Though there's no rivalry between the two, at least the second team is reasonably big in this case. And pity it happens only once a year. That's the one that comes closest to a Mancunian 'El Clasico'
And Sparky, Carlito, I'm sure they'll let a former Utd great and a former Utd loyalist enter Carrington to watch Fergie's men face off against Ole's boys! Come one, come all!!!

Heaven Has No Rage Like United Scorned; Nor Hell A Fury Like A Red Devil Scouse’d

There was a flash of red. Then there was another. He remembered raising his hand in a last act of defiance and pointing at nothing before he lost consciousness.

He woke up to the eerie, deafening silence of death and destruction. The battle had been lost, the recriminations had begun. Not once or twice but thrice had he been slain by the Scousers. His fort that he had held against every other aggressor, had crumbled in a blaze of red.

El Nino, as they called their finest warrior, had outwitted him yet again. Three battles had gone by, with them tasting nothing but their own blood; retreating, attacking and getting slaughtered without a way into the Anfield Fortress. Thee battle... had well and truly been lost.

But the war raged on relentlessly. After 18 long years and two generations of the finest warriors in the land, they were finally on level pegging with the Scousers. Man by man, sword by sword, they had rebuilt a bruised, battered and beleaguered army. Every man had seen and taken blood. Now at the cusp of the decisive year in the war, they had lost yet another crucial battle. He who had held off the finest of English, Portuguese, Italian and German fighters had failed yet again to a solitary Spanish conquistador.

He tried shifting inside his premature coffin and felt the blows that he had taken. Unconsciously his hand traced the two scars that the Scousers had left on his heart. His hand trembled as he slowly moved to the third, fresh stab mark. He thought of the 10 other men who had stood with him shoulder to shoulder and given their soul to the cause. Each of them would be going through this very misery in their self-made prisons

As he moved his hand on the stab mark, he felt something thick and circular. He could trace a devil holding a flag. The letters above and below the red devil were all too familiar to him. Every time the Scousers’ sword slit his heart and stopped it, thee devil and the letters had kept the blood flowing through his veins. As his fingers moved across the devil, he could feel as much the devils that had fought and died before him as he felt in himself. He could feel the irrepressible force that united him with the legends of yore.

Out of nowhere, he could feel the force in him and the shackles looked weak and intimidated. He moved to break free but the force did it for him. In yet another blaze of red, this time laced with gold, he was free. And fit and ready for more.

He looked around him and saw not just the presence of Rooney, Giggs and Scholes but the aura of Edwards, Charlton, Best, Robson and Ronaldo. The Red Devils were back. They would retreat to their Old Trafford castle and mount yet another assault. If it failed, then they would launch another. And they wouldn’t stop till the heavens acknowledged their supremacy. Some felt pride in never walking alone. They, the inimitable Red Devils, would walk all alone... at the top.

Glory Glory Man United

Sunderland to Barcelona: Now that's how you shoot up!

Rio Ferdinand's words could've changed it all. Ferdinand and Vidic were as immovable to him as they were to opponent strikers. Gerard Pique had improved tremendously over the previous season and had established himself as the back up on the rare occasions when the stalwarts couldn't make it. It was pointless being the 4th best centre-back at a place when the third best was good enough to make Luis Aragones' head turn. He had had an impressive season with Sunderland but that, clearly, was not making him Fergie's flavor of the month. Life at Old Trafford simply didn't seem inviting enough to Jonny Evans.
And that's when Ferdinand's words could've changed it all. By his own admission, Rio was gonna ask Evans to take up the offer from Roy Keane's Sunderland. Thankfully, the conversation never took place and in a few short months, things would change dramatically for Evans.
Gerand Pique left for Camp Nou to join his childhood coach Pep Guardiola, now the gaffer. This put Evans on the bench as the back up to the centre backs. Then Ferdinand broke down to give Evans his first serious chance. He didn't embarrass himself at all against Chelsea. If he thought the opportunity was one off then Ferdinand (his back and groin, to be specific) had other ideas, breaking down repeatedly and giving Evans more than 20 starts this season. Vidic saw red in the Club World Cup giving Evans more chances, this time against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.
A successful Carling Cup campaign in which he was as immovable as his more illustrious defence mates and impressive returns in almost every outing saw him rise from becoming Roy Keane's prize signing to the best young defender in England (hell! In the World!).
In 12 months, Jonny Evan's asking prize has shot up to 14 million Euros! And guess who's come calling? The same guys who took Pique away to give him his first break. Barcelona!
With Caceres on his way out and Marquez still not given a return date, Guardiola's keen to add to his defensive strength and Evans seems to be a serious contender. Whether Sir Alex Ferguson can be moved to part with his best young talent and whether Evans himself can be convinced to move away from Old Trafford remains to be seen. To be fair to him, he has United written all over him and it seems highly unlikely that he'll leave for Spain.
Irrespective of what happens, his phenomenal rise over the last 12 months has turned quite a few heads. Barring a horrible turn of fortune, United have a World-class home-grown centre back for the future!

Adios Ron: You were the best... When you were here

Ron: It's all about me and me alone...

He came, he became the best, he left. That sums up Ron's 6 years at the Theatre of Dreams. Perhaps, nothing else ever mattered to him. But unlike others, he wore this oft scorned attitude of his on his sleeve. And there lies the greatness of Ronaldo. There was no talk of moving to Madrid to help United out of financial trouble, no eternal love towards United and the fans, just some out-of-my-a*** stuff like emulating Giggs. And we were all saying, 'Yeah right!'.
I don't think many Red Devils fan would've expected him to stay for long (I for one, did). But blaming him for leaving is just a knee-jerk reaction. Utd gave him a chance to prove his worth and he repaid Utd with all the silverware we won over the last 5 sesons. Pro bono. Looking at his 6 seasons with United, there's very little to complain about. All the skepticism about splurging $16 million on an unknown entity was put to rest over 30 minutes on one fine August afternoon in 2003 when he ran rings around Bolton Wanderers' defence.
Though his first 3 seasons produced just 18 goals, the World was never in doubt about his talent. We caught a gllimpse of it in the next season that saw him score 22 times and all doubts about his worth were put to bed. Then came the season that saw him evolve from an outrageous talent into the best player in the World. 42 goals in 49 outings sealed it. And yeah, there was this small issue of 26 goals in an injury-curtailed 'out of sorts' season.
Long before coming to United, and a long long time before becoming the best player in the World, the white jersey of Real Madrid presented itself as a way to glory for Ronaldo, then a kid fightin for proper food. Then came Sporting Lisbon, followed by one certain Arsene Wenger unwilling to offer him a contract after trials. So when Roy Keane & Co. persuaded Sir Alex to go get him, I guess he saw United as a road to Madrid rather than a permanent home. By the time Schuster, Perez et. al came calling, he hadn't just travelled the road but had skimmed it's surface at blistering speed and come ever closer to 'home'.
After a summer of ugly negotiations between 'The Mob' and Fergie and a season when Fergie was resigned to losing him, he's finally home. Whether his home's better than the road remains to be seen. Some very devout roadies will be waiting eagerly to see his home fall apart brick by brick, bringing him back to the road but I personally don't think Fergie's ever going to let him come back, not that he'll be interested, he's crossed the Rubicon between road and home. (Disclaimer: My predictions have a habit of going hopelessly wrong. I'll be happy if this one doesn't buck the trend)
So the only thing that all Red Devils fans must be doing is thank him for his services. Let's face it, he was phenomenal during his time here and enthralled fans and enemies alike. The least that 108 goals, 3 Premier League titles, 1 Champions League and one runners up medal, 1 Carling Cup and 68 million pounds of profit deserve is a loud and resounding THANK YOU.
Instead, if you're going to hate him then I guess he'll take it as a bigger compliment than thanking him. 'Cos by his own admission, he loves to be hated, he's a self-confessed prima donna. He's one of his kind. He doesn't just control the ball like Kaka, slip past defenders like Messi, have the flair of Ronaldinho, finish like Maradona, run as fast as Usain Bolt, enthrall the crowd like Beckham, he does ALL this apart from calling himself the first, second and third best player in the World. And yeah, he passes statements like. 'I am Cristiano Ronaldo. I am the best in the World and I love it when people jeer me. I want to rewrite footballing history.'. He's like none before and will be the one of his kind for quite some time. He is Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro. According to Eusebio, He's God. And I am not going to Argue with that assessment. For me, irrespective of whether he's playing for United or Real Madrid or Liverpool, he will be my favourite player in the World. He made me believe anyone can reach for anything and he's just proved it.
I, for one, hope he conquers all that he sees ( minus United ofcourse) and continues to be the first, second and third best player in the World :D Thanks Ron. You were the best; will be the best.And you're home, so care not about what the neighbors whisper. Adios Amigo. Show 'em they're shite!

Oh that boy Ronaldo!
The ball had one place to go!
Oh that boy Ronaldo!
The ball had but one place to go!

Road to Rome: Oh that boy!

We had Van the Man till this kid turned up and turned out for us and turned 'em inside out. He is the first, second and third best player in the World. The right wing is gonna be United's most potent goal scoring area.
My (and every Utd fan's) craving/privilege etc.. Ron the Man

ROme will be the battle field to decide who between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has been teh best player of the season.They'll rarely come in contact during the course of the match but this match has already been pegged as Ron vs Messi.
Ronaldo's season started late due to a surgery during the off season. He took his time to recover and hit good form only after new year. He simply hasn't been in his element this season. He's a pale shadow of what he was last season. 'Cos of all these reasons, he's scored just 26 goals, hit just 2 40 yard stunners, scored jst about 5 scorching free kicks, has demoralised less than a dozen teams and he's a frontrunner for EPL's Golden Boot only by one solitary goal. Absolutely miserable season he's had. If the season continues to be as torturous as it has been, he'll score just 1 more goal in UCL along with a pitiful, solitary long-range free-kick ICBM.

Sylvinho'll won't have much on his plate apart from a couple dozen step overs, an equal number of trick flicks and half that number of sniper precision crosses. Ofcourse, the occasional long range missile and the run that'll leave him for dead will be there needless to say. Valdes won't have much to do cos when he hits it, it stays hit till a 'soft' landing at the back of the net.
Ron's had a fair share of criticsm comin his way for not performing aagisnt the big teams, this match presents the best opportunity to shut up the critics for good. And he'll love to do an encore of a similar night last year at the Luzhniki. Overall, United's The Man to pull out those magic moments.

Flip Side:
Theatrics! It's time he realised that the opposite team's allowed to tackle him. perhaps the term, 'Get on with the game' was coined with him in mind. Against a club of Barca's calibre, he needs to cut the crap and fight back if he's brought down. And if he's subbed out ( i hope to God he isn't) je needs to show a bit more respect to Fergie; Petulence has never been the Boss' flavour of the month.
But then, if he can deliver like he's done over the last two seasons, let him crib n cry n make faces for the cams; I'll take it any day.
Oh that boy Ronaldo!
The ball had one place to go!
Oh that boy Ronaldo!
The ball had but one place to go!

Road to Rome: Mr.United

Unted can ROO-le the World!
There is but one guy who can play the support striker role so effectively. It's been a pivotal position for United this season.
My choice, Fergie's choice, our Martian second cousins' choice: Rooney
United's no.10 has become the first name on the team sheet this season. We all know of his outrageous talent as an out and out striker. We've seen it over the last 5-6 seasons but this season, he's been a different player. He's stood up for the team's cause and has shifted to a winger/support striker role, tracking back to help the full backs regularly. He's been playing in a free role since the arrival of Berbatov as the central striker. His energy and commitment has been visible this season toteh extent that he's been pegged explicitly as a winger on some occasions. HIs impact was visible in the match against Spurs when he shifted to the wings and ran rings around the Spurs' defense with 2 goals and an assist. He's become Mr.United this season, more so than Vidic and Ronaldo. Selfless, prodigiously talented and committed, that's Rooney for u this season. Has been in good goal scoring form too.
Barca's weak defence comes to the fore again. He'll be more of a threat to the full backs rather than to the centre backs. One option might be playing Martin Cesar Cecares as a make shift full back on the right as none of the reserve full backs seem capable of stopping Rooney. He'll be tracking back relentlessly along with Park to help Evra out against Messi. His goal scoring apart, I feel it'll be exploits against Messi that'll define the night for him.
Easily, the most important player for Utd on the field. When on song, there's one Rooney in front of the goal and another marking a striker at the same time.

Flipside:
In this kinda form, I really can't see any. One issue maybe his trigger happy attitude from long distances. With a striking line up boasting Berba/Tevez, Ronaldo and himself, it would make sense to have a good build up before pulling the trigger. He's developed into a very responsible individual from his spit-in-the-ref's-face days but lets hope there's no repeat of his ball-throwing antic that cost us dear against Fulham. Go Wazza! Go!

Gascoigne... Jaap Stam... Tevez?

Carlos Tevez has given up hopes of staying at OT after this season. While Fergie's case that he's too expensive to be the 3rd striker makes sense, why does he HAVE to be the 3rd striker in the first place? He was instrumental in Utd's 2 titles last season. There was no reason to buy Berbatov n relegate Tevez to the bench this season. That Berba's done well enough to be in the starting line up is a different issue altogether.
When a guy with the talent, work rate and commitment of Tevez wants to stay, it simply doesn't make sense to let him go. Specially so considering that this would've been a major talking point before buying Berba.
Utd's formation unfortunately doesnt have space for a 3rd striker. And a striker of Tevez's calbre simply can't rot on the bench. So is Tevez Fergie's 3rd biggest mistake in the making? He's been graceful enuf to accept the other 2 mistakes in public. Will a 3rd such instance occur or will Fergie be smart enuf to see it before it strikes and save Utd the blushes? All evidence points to the former as of now.
One thing's for certain, Utd's not the place for Berbatov AND Tevez. If one of them is to move to the other half of Manchester or worse, to Merseyside, Fergie's choice is pretty obvious; but then what's YOUR choice?

My Ode to Man Utd

At the theater of dreams,
Amidst 75 and a thousand devils,
Swimming in a turbulent sea of red,
and deafening roars of 'Glory Glory Man United',
Out stroll the 11 warriors...
Who know not any barriers...
Noble Edwin behind his mates,
Holding off the enemy at the gates.
Guarded by Savvy Patrice and little Rafa on the flanks...
The two short stalwarts stronger than a column on phalanx,
Stand General Vida and rowdy Rio,
Cutting down wave after wave of a hapless foe...
They ran in, stepped over, and fell over.
They flew in, dived across, and got sent off forever.
And when they got it past the two towers,
Good Edwin was there to pull off stunners.
Sixteen good invasions they held off,
Before the Magpies' grit paid off.
Halfway from Edwin's lair lies the battlefield,
So savage of all fronts called the midfield.
With Gallant Carrick Blocking
And Scintillating Scholes probing...
The enemy shows his will,
But is fought to a stand still.
Down the Stretford End blows a storm of red,
Gracing the jersey that the King once held,
Young n old rise to the King of Con,
As unleashed now is the phenomenon Ron.
So much was the fans' glee...
So prolific his scoring spree...
That the enemy let out a hapless plea...
Oh that boy Ronaldo!
The ball had but one place to go!
In this field of legends on the mark,
Fought a man who defined work...
Not for nothing is he called Three Lung Park

[this is all I've completed till now. yet to write abt some not-so-unfamiliar names. Will finish it in a week or so - Arunaldo]