If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
This weekend can't possibly match the drama of the final day last season, which culminated in Martin Tyler's iconic "Aguerooooo" commentary. However, the 'north London shoot-out' for the Champions League should still be pretty dramatic.
Whatever you might think of Beckham, my fondest memories of him will be in that England shirt - not for his flashes of temper, leading to notorious dismissals, but for the massively evident pride with which he wore the Three Lions over his heart, the utter commitment and dedication with which he put himself about the pitch in the England cause.
I'm sure managerial consistency plays some part in a club's success. Players like to know who they will be playing under before they sign a new contract. However, I don't believe that the reason for United's success was club's managerial consistency
Olivier Giroud has had a very solid debut season, but he is not Robin van Persie. He is not a player to build around. Rooney, on the other hand, is not as good as van Persie - but he can be that player to build around. If the 27-year-old is craving being the man at a top club, he should seriously consider making the move south to N5.
A year ago I was extremely fortunate to commentate on the dramatic and historic moment when Manchester City grabbed the Barclays Premier League crown with virtually the last kick of the season. I was very proud to play a smaller role in the exceptional Sky Sports coverage of Sir Alex Ferguson's last home game as Manchester United's manager.
If this was a political leader being talked about then the current appraisal of Sir Alex's achievements would be nothing less than a whitewash, with dissenters seemingly shoved off to the side of any major media outlets.
Moyes is an intelligent guy, and I believe he has the strength of character, intellect and most of all, ability to command respect, to adjust to becoming the flag bearer for arguably the biggest football business on the planet.
The power and prestige which Ferguson accumulated over his years at Manchester United built all these capacities in him, leading to his team's huge success. But the more successful he became, the bigger the egos he had to deal with among his millionaire players. Success, like power, is a strong drug which inflates egos and can distort judgment and personality.
Like many, I've never been the biggest 'Fergie Fan'. However, on the pitch, his United teams have far surpassed anything we have ever seen. The man from Glasgow has taken Manchester United, and turned them into a dynasty. The like of which me won't see again.
It is going to be fascinating to see who replaces Ferguson, but this is not a story that will go away quickly. The unknown trajectory of the future of Manchester United will keep us entertained for years.
Ferguson has his place in the history of the game. He will serve as the biggest negative example of how to ruin the previously positive image of a historically-respected football club, making of them a byword for arrogance and the tendency to ride roughshod over the rules and conventions of the game.
The bottom line is that Liverpool at their peak - and it was a hell of a peak - typified all the values of football that some of us remember from a pre-Sky, pre-glitz, pre-greed age when it really was all about a ball. Now, it's all about money, and contracts, and egos, and snide bitching to the media if you don't get all your own way.
Second place and an FA Cup final (with potential win) has been deemed a bad year. We've lost the title of the champions that has led so many teams to up their game to beat us this season. Next season, with some fresh faces and the right mentality we can really take the title race back to them.
While this may have heralded the rise of Bayern - although it's worth remembering they reached the final in 2010 and 2012, so it's not exactly as though they've suddenly came from nowhere to usurp Barca's throne - it was not necessarily the 'end' of Barcelona.
Thing is, when Luis Suarez decided to bite Branislav Ivanovic, he wasn't exactly on my list of favourite footballers. Even before his impression of a petulant toddler that hasn't been allowed a biscuit, he was already a deplorable human being.
The fact is that the titles won since 1993 are devalued by the steep slope in Man U's favour of the playing field on which all have to compete. Liverpool were dominant in an even competition for the best part of two decades up to the 90s; it is now 23 years since they were champions, but their overall record remains formidable.
