Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo

The way Real Madrid has conducted itself with regard to Cristiano Ronaldo is shameful in every sense.  They’ve been pursuing him for the past couple of years.  But this summer, the noise from them has been deafening.  It’s the most blatant tapping up of a player I’ve ever seen.  And now that United have rightly complained to FIFA about it, Real Madrid say that United have no evidence.

No evidence?  Everyone knows that Marca is basically the marketing arm of Real Madrid.  Everyone knows that they’d never publish what they have unless they were getting it from inside the club.  Let’s be honest here.  Real Madrid have engaged in an overt campaign to unsettle the most exciting young player in the world and bring him over to them.

They have undoubtedly tampered with him and should pay a heavy penalty, whether they get Ronaldo or not.  Tapping up happens all the time.  But to do it this openly is horrifying and FIFA needs to send a strong message: “This behavior cannot be allowed to stand.”

Manchester United Win!!

United win 6-5 on penalties!  I’m wrung out and I haven’t even watched the match yet since I’m at work.  Winning on penalties … not the way I’d prefer to win.  But I — and all United fans — will be celebrating this season.  Premiership champions two years running and now Champions League winners for the first time since 1999.  What a season for United, winning a double (and both trophies over Chelsea!).  What a season for Ronaldo, scoring 42 goals in all competitions.  An amazing total.  An amazing season.  Wow.

Champions League Final

Tomorrow is one of the biggest matches of the season.  Manchester United will face off with Chelsea for the European Cup.  Manchester United will be trying to pip Chelsea for another piece of silverware this season, having successfully defended their Premiership championship.  United will also be trying to complete a double.

I have to say that this is huge.  I want this for Paul Scholes, who deserves a Champions League medal.  I want this for Sir Alex Ferguson, who should have won more than one previous European Cup.  It would cap a glorious career for Fergie.  It would also cap a beautiful career for Scholes.

I, like many Manchester United fans, am getting pretty amped up for this final.  Butterflies already!  I’ve been wanting to call in sick for this, but I can’t.  And someone has scheduled a meeting during the match!  Sometimes it’s hell to be on the West Coast — 8 hours behind England. 

 

COME ON, YOU REDS!

Champions!

Manchester United are Champions of the English Premier League for the second year running! Congratulations to Sir Alex and the team for another fantastic season. No backing in for United — they won 0-2 at Wigan and Chelsea drew.

It’s been a fantastic season. Winning feels great, even from California. I know it does for Fergie. He’s still got the fire.

Ronaldo has been outstanding. Simply sublime. He’s scored 41 goals. That’s a huge total for a winger. He deservers all the accolades this season. He should get all the awards.

Fergie did all this with 2 similar strikers (Rooney and Tevez — both excellent, but similar), a true center forward perpetually injured (why is Saha celebrating here? He’s played maybe 5 games all season.), and an extremely stout defense. Ferdinand and Vidic may be the best center-half pairing since Bruce and Pallister. Midfield was really good as well. Scholes is brilliant as usual. Anderson will be a star. Carrick is an excellent passer. There are no Keanos here, but there doesn’t need to be. It’s a great squad and can only get better as the young players gain more experience and once Fergie adds a striker and gets rid of Saha.

All this, and there’s still one game to go, the Champions League Final in Moscow on May 21. What a season!

Edit:

I asked some people who should know (and looked it up): Saha scored 5 goals in something like 24 appearances this season. I apologize — it was obviously more than 5 matches. The fact remains that he’s a sicknote and as fragile as glass. He’s an excellent striker when healthy, but he almost never is healthy.

Wigan v Manchester United

It’s a big game for United on Sunday against Wigan. It’s the title decider — if United wins, they win the title for the second year in a row. Vidic should be back, and Rooney may start on the bench. I say 0-2 to United. Another title!

I have to complain, bitterly, against Fox Soccer Channel. They’re not showing the title-deciding match. They’re showing Chelsea v Bolton instead. Either you have to go to a pub or watch it on Setanta. Good for Setanta, but bad for Fox Soccer Channel. The Chelsea match is a potentially important one, if United end up drawing or losing. But let’s get real — soccer as a spectator sport won’t continue growing in the United States if people keep having to pay more to watch important matches.

Why I Support Manchester United

I used to play soccer — first as a child (from about 6 through the end of high school), then as an adult. I’ve always played right fullback (put there, apparently, by coaches who never noticed that I had no speed). When I played as an adult, I never had a coach. I was always part of a women’s rec team, just out there for some exercise and some fun a weeknight or two (I played indoors) a week.

I wanted to get better, so I started watching the English Premier Leage and Champions League soccer on television. I was watching the players for technique. I couldn’t improve my speed, but I could improve positioning and the way I defended. So I watched the pros. It’s difficult to watch a lot of soccer and not become a fan if you appreciate the game to begin with. So I began to compare the teams.

The choice for me became very clear. I couldn’t resist the call of Manchester United. Their heart, the way they never gave up when down drew me in. And how could I not like players like Roy Keane or Gary Neville as well as a manager like Alex Ferguson? I couldn’t. And as I started learning more about the club and its history I became quite the rabid fan. I’m not one of the “glory hunters” that so many English footie fans deplore. I came by my love of soccer and Manchester United honestly.

Manchester United Win Again!

4-1 over West Ham. Three points up on Chelsea. If Chelsea loses on Monday, or if United wins at the weekend, the title is Man Utd’s … again!