Good-bye, and Good Luck

It is time for me to stop writing in this blog after three long years. During the past 3 years, I shared my emotions, my anger, my ecstasy, and my disappointments through this blog. Now, I have reached the stage in my life where education takes center-stage, again. It will be extremely difficult, nigh impossible, to continue writing frequently as I have done over the years.

At a moment when loyalty is hard to find (see, Flamini, Hleb, Ronaldo, etc.), football is suffering due to the mercenary nature of footballers, who reckon they are slaves of football clubs, when in reality, it is the other way around. Although an arch-rival of the Gunners, I empathize with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, when he says suggests there is lack of respect among clubs. After building a good team, he finds his players leaving in search of more money this summer.

And then, there is Ronaldo, who believes he is God himself in disguise. At 23, his worst career move would be to move to Real Madrid, when he could achieve greater things at United, with the wily Old Scot to look after him. Moving to Real at his age would be a terrible dampener to his growing football career.

Although I am a bit emotional about not writing again, I will forever remain a fan of Manchester United. I am extremely happy to finish this blog on the highest note, when ManUtd are the reigning English and European Champions!

Transfer Talk - Manchester United and Chelsea

Manchester United

After an incredible season in which Manchester Unitedd completed the double of Premier League and Champions League, one wonders whether there is a need to strengthen the squad. But, there is.

Right Back

United need a right back in the mold of left back Patrice Evra - capable going forward and supplying the crosses. They were chasing Jose Bosingwa of Porto but Chelsea beat them to his signature.

Striker:

A striker is also a top priority since Saha will be sold to the highest bidder. Wanted - a tall striker with a good physical presence and excellent finishing capabilities!

Meanwhile, there is daily speculation about Ronaldo leaving and the latest rumor is that a bid for 64 million pounds along with Robinho would make Man Utd sell their most valuable asset and the likely European and World Player of the Year.

Possible Ins

In: Dani Alves (Sevilla), Micah Richards (Man City), Philip Lahm (Bayern Munich), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Miguel (Valencia), Huntelaar (Ajax), Benzema (Lyon), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Ashton (West Ham), Berbatov (Tottenham), Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff), Valencia and Palacios (Wigan)

Possible Outs: Pique (to Barca), Silvestre (to Bordeaux), Ronaldo (to Real), Fletcher, Kuszack, and Saha

Manchester United Utd have reportedly made bids for French teen sensations Jeremy Helan and Darnel Situ. It would be great to get Richards and Benzema, but the possiblity of getting Richards is extremely remote. Aaron Ramsey looks promising and could be one for the future. Ferguson must be looking at offloading two of Fletcher, Saha, and Silvestre. If Ronaldo were to leave, I would splash the cash and buy Ribery from Bayern.


Chelsea

For Chelsea, the season began and ended in disappointment. One expects Roman Abramovich to splash the cash and get some of the best but 500 million pounds in investment, it remains to be seen how much further he wants to go.

The manager:

Avram Grant is likely to be sacked and replaced by either ex-Barca manager Frank Rijkaard, Roberto Mancini (Inter Milan), or Guus Hiddink (Russia). I expect wholesale changes to the squad that failed to win a trophy this season, after losing out to Manchester United in the Premiership and the Champions League and to Tottenham in the Carling Cup.

Frank Lampard is being linked with Inter Milan but I am sure Lamps is just holding out for a huge bumper deal. Chelsea will give him that deal as it plans to build a team around Terry and Lampard.

Didier Drogba looks certain to leave after whining through the season about how much he misses Jose Mourinho. Milan should be his likely decision but whether its Inter or AC remains to be seen. Whats going to be the fate of Andrei Shevchenko? Will Shaun Wright Phillips finally leave? Its going to be an interesting summer at Stamford Bridge.

Possibe Ins

Ribery (Bayern), Ramos (Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (Barca), Van der Vaart (Hamburg), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Dos Santos (Barca), Huntelaar (Ajax), Richards (Man City)

Possibe Outs

Drogba, Malouda, Bridge, SWPhillips, Belletti, Shevchenko, Kalou, Sidwell, Pizzaro, Ben Haim, Cudicini

The Spirits of Busby Babes Make United Euro Champs

The spirits of Busby Babes who were lost in the tragic Munich crash 50 years ago, certainly helped as Chelsea's John Terry missed from the penalty spot when he could have won his team the Cup. But it was left to Van der Saar to atone for Ronaldo's missed penalty as he saved Anelka's kick, bringing home the European Cup after 9 long years.

ManUtd 1 - Chelsea 1
Ronaldo '26 Lampard '45

The greatest night for Man Utd fans all over the world...Rejoice !

One Cup to Rule'em All!

CHAMP10NS

ManUtd retained their Premier League title after beating Wigan 2-0 away at the JJB Stadium. There were tears in my eyes, tears of joy, as Giggsy scored the 2nd goal in the 81st minute to make sure the Premiership trophy remained with the Red Devils. Fergie and Giggs take their Premier League titles to a record 10, and ManUtd close in on Liverpool's all-time record of 18 League titles, with just one behind. A thoroughly deserved title for the best English team! Now to conquer Europe, with the Champions League final against Chelsea to look forward to in about 10 days. Here's to the Red Devils!

Scholes Strike Sets up Moscow Date with Chelsea

Ginger Ninja takes ManUtd to the final

ManUtd overcame Barcelona 1-0 at Old Trafford to set up an intriguing all-English final against Chelsea at Moscow on 21st May. After a 0-0 first leg draw at the Nou Camp, where Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 2nd minute, ManUtd were resolute in their defending, and totally deserved their victory over the Catalans. Messi put up a one-man show for Barca but that wasn't enough. While Rio and Brown were terrific in defence, Tevez and Park were full of energy and covered as much ground as a marathon runner would.

ManUtd now have the chance to gain revenge over Chelsea, who beat them at Stamford Bridge last weekend after a controversial penalty. ManUtd and Chelsea have 81 points each with 2 games to go, but with ManUtd's superior goal difference, they just have to win the next 2 games (home to West Ham and away to Wigan) to retain the league title.

A Dream Match

Clash of the Titans

A long cherished dream has finally come true. Yes! ManUtd will play Barca in the semi-finals of the Champions League. As a fan of both clubs, I have been waiting for the day when I can get to watch the great players of these 2 great clubs play against each other. Now, the moment has finally arrived. ManUtd despatched Roma in the quarters after a 1-0 home win resulted in a 3-0 aggregate victory. Ronaldo and Rooney, the scorers in the away leg were relegated to the bench in the home leg to keep them fresh for this weekend home clash against Arsenal.

Barca, meanwhile struggled and were unconvincing in their 1-0 victories in the home and away legs over Schalke. Rijkaard is under tremendous pressure to quit after a particularly disappointing season, where they are placed 2nd in La Liga, about 7 points behind Real Madrid. Ronaldinho and Deco look to have played their last game for the Catalan club, and Henry seems to struggle on the left wing, and the supporters are voicing their displeasure at the way the team has labored to just 1 win in their last 7 La Liga games.

But the clash between the Red Devils and the mighty Catalans looks set to be an entertaining affair, with both teams intent on playing attacking football. Ronaldo and Messi will be the driving forces for their respective teams and it should be a great spectacle, watching them battle to get their team to the final in Moscow.

In the other semifinal, Chelsea meet Liverpool again for the 3rd time in 4 years. But this time, the 2nd leg will be played at Stamford Bridge and that should work out in Chelsea's favor. Grant will want to prove his worth to his doubters by achieving what Mourinho failed to do in his time at Chelsea - get Chelsea to the Champions League final.

Red Devils Go to Rome...Again!

ManUtd regained its place at the top of the EPL table after they won at struggling Derby 1-0, and Arsenal drew at home to Boro. This weekend should be yet another interesting one with ManUtd facing Liverpool at OT, while Arsenal meet Chelsea at the Bridge.

ManUtd struggled to score against Derby, wasting a host of chances, just like they did against Portsmouth when they crashed out of the FA Cup thanks to some dubious decisions by the referee Martin Atkinson. Ronaldo has reached 31 goals for the season, but we just can't depend on him all the time. Need a striker this summer! Last heard, ManUtd were linked to Valencia's David Villa.

The Champions League has thrown some really interesting matches. This is the draw for the Quarters.

Arsenal - Liverpool
Fenerbahce - Chelsea
AS Roma - ManUtd
FC Schalke - Barcelona

Chelsea remain lucky with their draws, and we can expect an all-English final if ManUtd can overcome Roma and Schalke/Barca.