In theory Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson should be crowned Premier League Champions for the 10th time in two weeks but if they somehow fail - we’ll never forget the Stamford Bridge blunder.

When you’ve had the success that SAF has had over the last two decades it’s not easy to criticize because obviously something is working. However, who in their right mind leaves out the current best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, with the defining match of a nine-month season on the line. It is without a doubt the biggest gamble SAF has ever taken.

Can you imagine Bill Belichick saying to Tom Brady ‘take a breather today’ with the Super Bowl up for grabs or Phil Jackson asking Kobe Bryant to sit out game 6 of the NBA Finals as game 7 is a day away – its never going to happen – except on Saturday for some inexplicable reason it did.

Before I delve into possible reasons for this ‘brain ####’ lets first give credit where credit is due. Chelsea fully deserved their victory and Avram Grant can finally breathe easy for a day or two.

The Blues were better in every department even though Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba seemed ready to roll around the Bridge pitch scratching each other’s eyes out. The reaction of Michael Essien as the two of them played kindergarten snatching the ball from their hands at a free kick late in the second half was priceless.

And to think that we’d almost written them off after that horrible 1-1 tie with Wigan – now that’s all forgotten and in a rich ironic twist, United, have to go to the JJB on the last day of the season and in all likelihood win.

If the Blues do happen to #### the title it will surely be one of the most unlikely victories in the history of England’s top flight.

But back to Sir Alex and why he sat Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez who have scored a combined 56 goals on the bench…

The obvious reason is that they’re being saved for Tuesday night and the return leg with Barcelona in the Champions League but it can’t be that simple can it?

I can’t help but feel that he’s being too clever for his own good (just look at the trouble Rafa Benitez has given himself by messing around with his team) and if he’s concerned that they’re tired I’d also be very surprised. These kids are 23 and 24 respectively – they don’t get tired and I can’t imagine that they were happy sitting on the pitch for the biggest domestic game of the campaign either.

Football is a confidence game and Ronaldo and Tevez possess that quality in ####s most of the time however the Nou Camp experience may have dented that slightly. What you need in that situation is another game not an opportunity to sit and stew.

Ferguson must know that victories cannot be guaranteed in the Premiership and with the points dropped at Boro and Blackburn now looming large, West Ham, cannot be taken for granted as they’ve owned the Red Devils recently.

Sir Alex famously coined this time of the season ‘squeaky bum time’ however if anyone has a ‘squeaky bum’ right now it has to be the Old Trafford supreme. United have been the favorites for both big trophies for months and the pressure just maybe beginning to tell – decisions like Saturday’s prove that.

At the end of the day I still fully expect United to do that double but as we’ve seen football can be a cruel game. You know Arsenal have been the best team of the year and won nothing, United have been the most consistent side and could yet win nothing while Chelsea have been dogged, unattractive and stubborn yet they could end up winning everything.

I hope SAF hasn’t spent the weekend second-guessing himself however that is the curse of the man who likes to gamble.

Until then, I’ll see you at the far post.

 

When I was a teenager it almost felt like that the European Cup was part and parcel of the domestic honors scene along with the league and FA Cup. It was in essence only a trophy that English clubs seemed to contest. Liverpool triumphed four times in 1977, ’78, ’81 & 84, Nottingham Forest twice in ‘1979 & ’80 and Aston Villa in 1982 – but then came the Heysel disaster and a five-year ban on English teams competing in Europe with Liverpool serving an additional year.

Since that horrific day in Brussels, 23 finals have been contested and English clubs have won the princely total of two!

And if I was to be completely honest with hand on heart, I would have to say that both victories owe a huge amount to luck and incredible collapses by the two teams in world football who you’d bet the house on if you were offered these two scenarios – a one goal lead in injury time and a three goal lead with a half to play.

Who could possibly think that United would score two goals in injury time as its usually, Bayern Munich, that break hearts (just ask Getafe in the UEFA Cup) but fate smiled on the Red Devils on the epic night in Barcelona. As for AC Milan throwing away the Mt. Everest of leads in Istanbul, impossible, but I guess that’s why they call it the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’.

So without these freak occurrences, English clubs in all seriousness would not have won the European Cup since Liverpool beat Roma in 1984.

This year though, if the semifinals play out they way I think they will, an English teams name will be engraved on the trophy. Luck may still play a part in the final result but at least it won’t be at the expense of those ‘Johnny Foreigner’ types from Europe.

Tuesday

Liverpool v Chelsea

At first glance this fixture has all the appeal of a trip to the dentists minus the anesthetic. In fact it has been described by Argentine great, Jorge Valdano in the following way ‘Put a turd hanging from a stick in the middle of this passionate, crazy stadium (Anfield) and there are people who will tell you it’s a work of art. It’s not: it’s a turd hanging from a stick.

When six previous Champions League meetings have produced a grand total of three goals, its hard to argue with Valdano’s description but this time though I believe a turd won’t be laid for the simple reason that Liverpool does not get Anfield in the 2nd leg. This will force Rafa Benitez to play a more expansive game in the 1st leg on Merseyside because the Reds must travel to Stamford Bridge with a lead. The reason is that the Blues are all but unbeatable on their home turf.

When you factor in revenge, the ‘it must be our time’ mentality and a desire to win the ‘big one’ before this Chelsea team breaks up, fireworks are a must. I also believe the players will make a contest out of this in spite of Avram Grant.

One final note is the continuing doubt over the fitness of Steven Gerrard. Who knows if Benitez is playing mind games but should the Liverpool captain be missing the odds of the Reds making their third final in four years lengthen considerably in my book. I backed Liverpool months ago to win it all – without Gerrard all bets are off!

Wednesday

Barcelona v Manchester United

Unlike the Liverpool/Chelsea saga this fixture at first glance has the purists drooling and they’ll be positively drowning in saliva if both teams recapture the magic of the 1999 Champions League. The two group games produced 12 goals and two amazing 3-3 ties. I’m not expecting that quantity this time around as defensively, United, are a far superior unit and don’t seem capable of conceding that many goals.

Offensively though they can score for fun and with Barcelona in terrible shape coming into this contest a 0-0 in Spain followed by a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford would have the Red Devils advancing.

Fans of Barcelona might think I’m disrespecting them but their current form reminds me of Arsenal. They’ve only won four times in thirteen and seem to be running out of gas at the wrong time of the season despite at times playing fantasy football. Supposedly Thierry Henry isn’t happy - Ronaldinho is busy learning Italian and eating pasta - Frank Rijkaard is flirting with Chelsea, which all results in bad form and unrest in the camp. All signs point to a spanking, which is something the English clubs used to hand out to the rest of Europe on a regular basis.

It was thirty-one years ago this year that English teams began their seven-year domination of Europe’s top cup competition. With a domestic team guaranteed to make the final in 2008 that will now be four consecutive years with English representation and with a victory, two wins in that same period.

With the Barclays Premier League now the cash cow of world football, it sure feels to me as though a new era of dominance has begun and will continue for the foreseeable future.

Until then, I’ll meet you at the far post.

 

It is widely acknowledged that if you want to be ‘the man’ and take the belt off the champion, you’ve got to knock them out - grinding out a points victory just won’t be enough to impress the judges and get you the decision.

Using that criterion, there can be no arguments that Manchester United is still ‘the man’ then after their epic clash with Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday. The Gunners though showed that they are worthy challengers. They also demonstrated that they have a granite chin as they climbed off the canvas twice to bloody the nose of the current champions in a pulsating two-two draw. 

Staying with the boxing analogy, this match was dominated by the current two best European players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo and Cesc Fabregas. There is no doubt in my mind that this rivalry has all the potential to be one of the best English or world football for that matter has ever seen - it’s Ali-Frazier, Tyson-Holyfield…and with luck we’ll witness their battles for many more seasons to come.

One doesn’t like to boil down an epic match between two players because as the LA Galaxy have found out it’s not about one player but it is hard to look beyond the current players & writer’s player of the year against his apparent heir in waiting.

Looking back at the ninety minutes from North London, Fabregas was the guv’nor when it came to running the show. If United could’ve stopped him perhaps they would’ve left with the three points but they couldn’t. Ronaldo on the other hand was largely anonymous and yet still had a massive say in the result with a goal and assist.

So just who is the best player from the Iberian Peninsula - let’s look at the tale of the tape.

Cesc Fabregas   Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 20                       Age: 22
Fee: $0                       Fee: $24 million
Premiership Apps: 99  Premiership Apps: 103
All Competitions: 141  All Competitions: 153
Goals: 13                    Goals: 57
Goals this season: 10  Goals this season: 7
International Apps: 2  International Apps: 36

That’s the raw data but what of the intangibles…

Flair & Skill (Ronaldo)

Unless you live on Mars this category would have to go to the Portuguese flyer. Ronaldo has more tricks than David Copperfield and isn’t shy about demonstrating them.

Consistency (Fabregas)

The Spaniard brings it every single game. For sure he’s more involved in the center of the park but you hardly ever see him having an off game.

Goal Scoring (Ronaldo)

Fabregas is in the richest scoring vein of his career but he doesn’t hold a candle to Ronaldo who has the full locker.

Toughness (Ronaldo)

Both players are incredibly durable however I feel that Ronaldo takes more of a beating while Fabregas is in the habit of dealing out the pain.

Discipline (Fabregas)

Over the course of their careers, Ronaldo has seen red three times to one by Fabregas. The Arsenal player definitely picks up more yellow cards but Ronaldo is the more hot headed and has actually missed more games through suspension than his rival.

Versatility (Ronaldo)

Ronaldo can play anywhere across the front line, tuck in behind the strikers or create from midfield. Fabregas is more limited and specializes in his midfield role.

Determination (Fabregas)

A very hard category to judge as both players are warriors however the Gunner has demonstrated an unquenchable thirst over the last couple of campaigns.

Leadership (Fabregas)

Fabregas will lead Arsenal for years to come and his teammates will run through a brick wall for him. Ronaldo tends to disappear at times and you can’t have that from you focal and vocal point.

International Appeal (Ronaldo)

You only had to be in Germany and see girls swooning everywhere that the Red Devil heartthrob would have no trouble picking up a modeling career once he can’t play football anymore.

Value (Ronaldo)

In 2001 Zinedine Zidane moved from Juventus to Real Madrid for a staggering $94 million. Is Ronaldo worth that much…not yet but I’m sure Sir Alex Ferguson would want in the $60-70 million range for his superstar. Arsene Wenger would probably want the same kind of fee for his protégé however until Fabregas scores goals on a more consistent basis, Ronaldo, will command the bigger money.

It’s almost to close to call isn’t. On current form if I was going to build a team around either one, I would have to pick Fabregas. Just look at the supporting cast the Spaniard has at the Emirates compared to the riches that surround Ronaldo at Old Trafford but if I had a must win game to play then Ronaldo would get the nod. Either way this a rivalry that hasn’t even matured yet and it’s impossible to take your eyes from it.

Until then, get the beers in.

The Community Shield is not the most reliable guide as to who will win the title however as a day out it certainly looked splendid from my vantage point – and thankfully the two teams, Chelsea and Manchester United replaced the bore fest that was served up at the FA Cup Final 79 days earlier with something resembling a game of football.

Over ninety minutes there was very little to choose between the teams but I think a couple of markers were laid down for the coming campaign. In no particular order here are ten things that caught my attention, wetted my appetite or left me scratching my head.

Cristiano Ronaldo: After being anonymous during the FA Cup Final, Ronaldo showed up on the wide expanse of Wembley and showed just why he is rightly considered the world’s best player. I thought his desire, decision making and attitude were spot on especially as he took some tasty hammerings. The highlight was the pass to Patrice Evra for the goal by Ryan Giggs. Played with backspin, Evra did not have to change stride.

Wayne Rooney & Tal Ben Haim: I would love to see what would happen if these two ran into each other after a few beers on a Saturday night. The animosity is so apparent I’m surprised it didn’t kick off into something else. Watch out for this match-up when they meet at Old Trafford in September. Rooney has the temper while Ben Haim takes no prisoners.

Florent Malouda: Playing in a Lyon team that has strolled six consecutive league titles, Malouda sometimes struck me as a player who didn’t really fancy it ‘up him’. His 51 minute performance today certainly dispelled that thought. He took his goal so well but more importantly showed how brave he is. At 6’5’ Edwin van der Sar is a big lad, however Malouda never took his eye of the ball even though he knew he’d pay a price. Arjen Robben, if you were watching, you can see why Mourinho brought him!

Ryan Giggs: It’s hard to believe that this will be Giggsy’s 17th year as a Manchester United player. I remember asking him during the summer of 2003 when United were here in the US whether he could keep going for another two years at this level! I’m not surprised he gave me a dirty look as he put in another vintage performance.

Petr Cech: For my money Petr Cech continues to prove that he is the best goalkeeper in the world. Sure, he didn’t come up trumps in the shoot-out but throughout the game he is such a presence. In a way he reminds of the great Peter Shilton who according to his dearly departed old manager, Brian Clough, was worth ten points a season (2 points for a win back in those days).

Rio Ferdinand: As well as Malouda took his goal I can’t help but feel Mr. Casual should’ve done better. The ball over the top by Ashley Cole was a bread and butter delivery but Ferdinand was slightly wrong footed then didn’t have the strength to keep up with the Frenchman despite wanting to swap jerseys. Rio wait until the match is over next time.

John Obi Mikel: There is no doubting the skill of the twenty-year-old but boy has he got a temper. I don’t know if I was imaging it but I’m sure that on two occasions he was on the verge of man handling referee, Mark Halsey. You can’t touch a ref son and I’m sure it has been noted by Halsey’s colleagues. In 25 appearances for the Blues he already has nine yellows and two red cards – that is too many.

It meant something: Regardless of the fact that this match carried zero points you could see by the intensity of the tackling and the reaction of the United players as Rooney finished the job that it meant something. These two teams will meet up at least another two times this season and who’d bet against them tangling in the latter stages of any of the cup competitions. Players like to win whether its tiddly-winks or on penalties and every extra edge counts.

Ricardo Carvalho: They call Mourinho the ‘Portugezzer’ but it should be his countryman. If there is a player I love to hate it is Carvalho. He just knows all the tricks, the tugs, the pushes, the trips and he does them all so subtly. In my humble estimation he is the best defender in the Premiership by a country mile – it’s so annoying!

Nothing between them: Chelsea was missing the big guns of John Terry, Michael Ballack, Andry Shevchenko and Didier Drogba. United were short of Paul Scholes, Luis Saha, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves to name a few. There is nothing between these two teams and unless the chasing pack comes out flying, it will be Mourinho and Ferguson battling for the title once again.

Enjoy the season and don’t forget to check out my predictions.

Until then, get the beers in

For the 1086 days since Arsenal became Champions on May 15th, 2004, Sir Alex Ferguson has had but one thought…regaining the Premiership crown - a crown that he rightly or wrongly thinks is his by almost royal decree.

Eight times in the EPL era, the title for being the best team in England has been bestowed on Manchester United and now after Chelsea’s end of season implosion that record will be stretched to nine. As we all love to say ‘the table doesn’t lie’ and they’ll be no untruths told as we look at the table on Monday morning.

It’s been a rough few years though for SAF. An FA Cup victory over Millwall in 2004, an empty season in 2005 and just the booby prize of the Carling Cup in 2006 had tongues wagging that the great man had slowly but surely lost the plot as he attempted to build his third great side in his twenty years at Old Trafford.

As a quick refresher the first side was surely the XI that brought home the 1993 title for the first time in twenty six years containing the likes of Peter Schmeichel, Denis Irwin, Gary Pallister, Eric Cantona, Lee Sharpe, Paul Ince, Bryan Robson and Ryan Giggs. That’s right Ryan Giggs who has just won his ninth League Championship winners medal…astonishing, record breaking and most probably never equaled!

The second great XI was of course the treble winning team of 1999 which included Schmeichel, the Neville bothers, Phil & Gary, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham and of course, Ryan Giggs.

Now before you rush to judgment and complain that this new side has yet to prove itself over an extended period of time, first take into account the competition…Chelsea. Never before in football history has their been such an insatiable beast as the Blues. A club with the ability to buy the best players on earth, it looked like nothing but the hubris of the ‘special one’, Jose Mourinho would deny them or the will of the greatest manager in EPL history. At the end of the day it ended up being a combination of the two.

I’ll have to admit, like many other pundits, I didn’t see United or SAF winning the title this year because apart from the Chelsea factor there seemed to be some chemistry problems within the squad, namely the relationship between Wayne Rooney and the Football Writers and Players Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo. Little did we know that SAF would create giants where kids once stood.

For Ronaldo to produce the season he has had not only speaks volumes for his character but is a testament to the bond of trust he has formed with his manager. With the passing of his father Denis Aveiro in 2005 there is no doubt in my mind the SAF filled a huge hole in Ronaldo’s life providing leadership and guidance. To think that Ronaldo was public enemy number one after the World Cup, it’s almost beyond comprehension isn’t it and it’s even wilder when you consider whom his run in was with?

No doubt Wayne Rooney had a disappointing Germany 2006 however you have to consider that he wasn’t fit and only had the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders – it was a recipe for disaster. For him then to score 24 goals at a goal every other game clip and without a recognized strike partner is frightening. His on field relationship with Ronaldo is one of complete harmony and there is no faking their enjoyment playing with each other. Who made that possible…Sir Alex Ferguson.

Who knows where Fergie will eventually rate this team but I believe it will become the third great side produced by the Scotsman. Edwin Van der Sar, Scholes, OGS, Neville and Giggs won’t be around forever but Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Patrice Evra, Gabriele Heinze, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Alan Smith and Luis Saha now have the experience to not only compete at the top of the Premiership but the Champions League as well. Yes, they got a lesson by AC Milan however they’re all good for at least another five seasons and with SAF showing no signs of slowing down the champagne corks will be popping from Salford to Tampa.

With a fourth double now up for grabs if Chelsea can be vanquished at Wembley in a couple of weeks, surely the debate about who is the greatest manager in English history will now be closed permanently. Ferguson has made a career out of silencing his critics and this week we’ll all just have to put it on mute.

Until then, get the beers in.

Sent to me from heaven…76,098

It’s not often one gets to be part of the record books however last Saturday at the Theater of Dreams I was part of the largest crowd in English Premier League history as 76,098 souls crammed into the Republik of Mancunia for the match against Blackburn Rovers.

For those of you who have never had a chance to visit Old Trafford on match day let me tell you that it is an experience that you’ll never forget. From the moment you enter Sir Matt Busby Way, the sights, sounds and smells of one of the most fabled clubs in all of world of football begin to overwhelm the senses sending involuntary shivers up and down your spine.

I’m usually working my tail off on these occasions and unable to truly enjoy the festivities but thanks to the generosity of my chums at serious.com, Mark Hargreaves, the General Manager of Manchester United Interactive and Sameer Pabari, Director of Media, this time I’d be able to put my feet up, relax and be treated to football the 5-star way – rest assured, it’s amazing.

From the pre-match feast of roast lamb, fine wine and delicious deserts to hanging out and talking tactics with United legends, Lou Macari and Dennis Irwin, this is club that has taken the simple act of going to a football match and turned it into the equivalent of a invitation from Hugh Hefner to the mansion and all that that entails.

Having only been inside Old Trafford once before – and that when it was empty, I was completely unprepared for the physical impact that the full stadium presented as my now merry party were politely called to our seats a few minutes before kick-off. TV really does this epic temple no justice as the vast banks of fans surround the pitch with a wall of noise and color that threatens and frequently does wash opponents away.

From my extremely luxurious seat in the center of the North Stand, the hard core support is massed in the West Stand or as the locals call it, the Stretford End. Between the two tiers of this huge stand there is a row of banners hanging which perfectly encapsulate what United means – ‘The Flowers of Manchester’, a tribute to the Munich air disaster, ‘Republik of Mancunia’, showcasing Mancunian pride and ‘MUFC The Religion’, and that to me is the feeling that United provides – a place of worship.

You only had to look into the eyes of those around you to see the fervor building. These are fans that truly believe in the deity that is the Red Devils. Even as a neutral it was hard not to be swept up in the enthusiasm of it all and I really felt for the faithful as the team stuttered somewhat in the 1st half. In fact when Matt Derbyshire opened up the scoring for Rovers, I began to feel like a guilty driver passing a nasty crash – you didn’t want to look but you couldn’t help yourself.


Whatever Sir Alex Ferguson said to his team at the break had the desired effect though as ‘squeaky bum time’ was replaced with the special brand of football that only United can play when in full flow. As each goal hit the back of the net, the emotion of the flock really was a joy to behold as an electrifying surge flowed around the ground and all but lifted the roof of the place. Blackburn was simply swept away by a higher power.

SAF who knows a thing or two about winning titles was moved to say after the game,
“I think the fans are starting to smell it now - and the players are beginning to taste it. The second half performance was our best of the season”. After watching this swashbuckling display I think he is right and after a four-year drought, the trophy that means so much to him will soon be in his hands for a record ninth time.

Speaking of records, if the title does happen to be wrapped up on May 13th I’m sure we’ll see another bumper crowd when West Ham come to town and my brief stay in the books will be at an end. Regardless of the books though, if you’re ever in England during the season, do yourself a favor and pay a visit to United on match days and be prepared to experience the Republic of Mancunia, the Theater of Dreams.

Until then, get the beers in.

A million words have been written and spoken about David Beckham since I broke the story on Sky Sports News on Wednesday so I figure I’ll have the last word as the hullabaloo dies down...for now!

Football in the United States changed forever on Thursday afternoon with the announcement that David Beckham would be leaving the Galacticos in Madrid to become a Galaxian, right here in Los Angeles. The deal is worth reportedly $250 million dollars for five years…’not bad money’ said his new teammate, Cobi Jones, in the understatement of the 21st century.

To be honest though, this move didn’t exactly come as a shock. Ever since Beckham opened his DB Academy at the Home Depot Center, I just had a feeling he would come to MLS sooner rather than later and I’m so pleased it is the former because at thirty one he still has so much to offer the sport. Some critics especially in England though have been quick to slag him off for this momentous decision claiming that he’s finished as a footballer and that he’s just cashing in on his celebrity and notoriety. I say to this charge…you’re just jealous.

Who in their right mind would turn down the following opportunities…?

Earn close to a million dollars a week…
Be the biggest star in American soccer and one of the biggest stars in American sport…
Become an ambassador for the world’s most popular game in the last, great untapped market…
Change the way non-believers view the sport while raising the profile of a league still in its embryonic stages…
Live in one of the world’s most desirable cities with fantastic year round weather…
Become a hero and role model to millions of young kids who are desperate for a soccer icon that they can call their own…
And finally party with TomKat every other weekend.

Sounds pretty good eh!

Why the critics argue would ‘Golden Balls’ risk the ridicule of his peers who claim that this move to the States finishes him as a top class player and puts the final nail in any attempt to add to his 94 England caps. A legitimate question I suppose and here is my answer.

David Beckham has an ego…but guess what, we all do and you can’t tell me that there is not one of us who wouldn’t do everything in their power top feed our own respective egos. Beckham’s ego would never let him go back to England to play for anyone else but Manchester United and I completely agree with this logic. Why eat canned tuna when you’ve had caviar.

As for this massive contract, well, I believe it’s just Beckham’s way of telling the world that he’s still the man and regardless of how you feel about him, you cannot deny that the team behind him are marketing geniuses…Entertainment 19, CAA and Simon Fuller take a bow.

$250 million for an ex-international and current bench warmer does seem madness when you contrast it to the salaries current members of MLS make but when compared to stars of the NFL, NBA or MLB, it’s in line with what the top players expect to earn and I think we all know that Beckham isn’t a bench warmer in the true sense of the phrase.

His current boss at Real Madrid, Fabio Capello just doesn’t fancy him as a player and to be fair, that’s the Italians right as coach however one could honestly say that he didn’t give Beck’s a fair crack in an ageing, dysfunctional team. Let’s not forget that Beckham led La Liga in assists last season, so he’s hardly past his sell-by-date. With the announcement on Saturday that Capello will refuse to play the Englishman again this season, it’ll add fuel to the fire that he has it in for the former England captain and hopefully hasten his early departure to us in March/April instead of July/August.

So is Beckham coming to America a gamble?

For Beckham no…he has hit the mother-load and if someone is willing to pay him then surely he deserves whatever he can get however for AEG it represents a serious outlay. I can’t help but wonder who is carrying the insurance policy and just HOW much it’s costing. You can bet that employees around the HDC are not allowed to even think the word…INJURY! Thankfully Beck’s has been fairly durable during his career.

But let’s get back to AEG for a second and the owner Phil Anschutz along with President & CEO Tim Leiweke...you guys rock the house. It takes brave men with huge stones to even contemplate such a move, let alone pull it off. If there is one thing soccer needs in this country, it is visionaries and with the recent passing of Lamar Hunt, you two men represent the last realistic chance for the world’s greatest sport to succeed. I applaud you both and hope that your gamble pays off in everyway you envision.

As for Beckham and whether he will succeed here in LA, I think there is no question that he’ll take the Galaxy and the league to a new level along with paving the way for other players of his stature. You know I was talking to Galaxy GM, Alexi Lalas, recently and he told me the most important quality that he, Leiweke and coach Frank Yallop looked for in a player was a good character and that is a quality that Leiweke has constantly stated that he admires in Beckham.

I can’t really attest for Beckham’s character having only met him briefly twice however the vibe I picked up from him was very cool. On both occasions he looked me in the eye despite being surrounded by loads of other notable journalists and gave me his complete attention. He’s obviously a great family man and loves his kids. It sounds like he’s had trouble in the past with his wife, Victoria, but then again who doesn’t go through rocky periods with the more important half. It’s how you come out the other side that shows your true character and I believe that his integrity will be the defining characteristic of his stay in America.

From Leytonstone to Red Devil, the England captaincy, Galactico and now Galaxian, ambassador for Major League Soccer, Beckham has always had something of a pied piper about him. Let’s hope he can now help lead the non-believers to the Promised Land.

Until then, get the beers in.

Getting out of the blocks fast is a term usually reserved for athletics however it applies just as well to the English Premiership. Chelsea have proven to be the undisputed masters of this technique over the past couple of campaigns exploding into action as soon as the first whistle blows leaving challengers eating their dust.

This opening weekend the Blues once again showed that they have the class and the killer instinct as Manchester City were toyed with despite Jose Mourinho fielding a below strength team. Heaven knows how they’ll look once Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and maybe even William Gallas rejoin the team.

The only sour note for the Stamford Bridge mob must be the continued loss of confidence and form of Shaun Wright-Phillips. The adopted son of Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, looked a world-beater when playing for Sunday’s opponents, Manchester City, a few seasons ago but since his $46 million dollar move to the Blues the kid’s got two left feet. It was painful watching his every attempt to make something happen explode in his face and when Mourinho changed him for Salomon Kalou, you felt it was to save him from further embarrassment. I have a feeling we’ll not be seeing too much of SWP this year and wouldn’t be surprised if he moved on to a less pressured environment.

Other than the Blues clinical dismantling of City, the other aspect of the game that interested me was Mourinho’s body language. With City’s rivals, Manchester United having played earlier in the morning you could sense that the ‘Special One’ wanted to throw down a marker of sorts. There was a hint of impatience about the Chelsea gaffer that even Didier Drogba’s wonderful goal could not dispel such are his high standards.

In a way the reaction of Mourinho reminded me of Sir Alex Ferguson when the Scotsman was riding high in the late 90’s. Ferguson’s displeasure when his side displayed anything less than the absolute killer instinct was legendary – and that is what has been missing from the Red Devils over the last four years.

With losses and ties littering their 1st ten EPL matches over the last two seasons, United have left themselves too much to do in the closing stretch, which is why I believe the performance against Fulham was of vital importance to the momentum of the team. Remember this side will be missing Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes in the coming weeks and unlike Chelsea they do not have a squad filled with as many impact players.

In a league filled with huge egos’, one-upmanship is the name of the game and SAF will be secretly pleased that in this opening weekend that United scored five while Chelsea ONLY got three.

On the other side of the ego train, Mourinho and Ferguson’s two biggest rivals were left moaning and scratching their heads.

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger laid the big egg at the opening EPL fixture at Emirates Stadium. In all honesty the smart money should’ve been all over the tie because the pressure to get the win was just too much for the Gunners youngsters – while the Villains were desperate to impress the new boss, Martin O’Neill, with a performance of character and will.

This was achieved in startling fashion with the end result being two massive points dropped by Arsenal to a side that they have not failed to beat in their last 16 Premiership encounters.

The final member of the established challenging quartet, Liverpool, also had their own problems and like United will be missing key players for a number of weeks after crucial opening day injuries. John Arne Riise and Jamie Carragher will have given Rafa Benitez gray hair as the Reds boss saw both players depart in the space of eight minutes before even a half of football had been played.

One can’t be sure if these knocks unsettled what is an experienced team but to drop points to new boys, Sheffield United is unthinkable when their stated goal is to win the title.

Top teams just do not let this sort of thing happen. Cast your minds back to the opening match of last season and Chelsea eking out a decision against Wigan in the 93rd minute. That’s what Championship teams do against the rookies.

Every game in the Premiership is precious and a fast start has become the key to success and failure at both ends of the table. Will Arsenal and Liverpool regret these dropped points – we’ll revisit this in a couple of weeks and find out.

Until then, get the beers in.