With Manchester United taking their time in deciding who they will splash out BIG money on, I'd thought it'd be interesting to take a different approach.

So, I contacted my pals at Electronic Arts in Burnaby, BC who are putting the finishing touches on "FIFA 10".  I asked them if they could send over the updated player ratings for CR9 (that's his new number and moniker at Real Madrid) and four other potential United targets - David Villa, Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and Antonio Valencia.  Now, you have to understand, EA's 'Player Ratings' are a closely guarded secret.  The spreadsheets containing all the player info (we're talking thousands of players) is akin to a professional football team's playbook - they don't mess around when it comes to this and they don't give these out just willy-nilly.

Lucky for me (and you perhaps) they enjoy the show and were willing to fulfill my request.  So, first off a BIG thanks to Steve Frost and his guys working on FIFA 10 (which looks AMAZING by the way!).  Much appreciated.

Now onto the analysis.

Each player is rated out of 100 in 19 different categories and then handed an overall rating.

Let's start with our constant - CR9

Overall - 90
Acceleration - 95
Aggression - 54
Agility - 96
Balance - 87
Ball Control - 95
Composure - 78
Crossing - 89
Curve - 90
Dribbling - 97
Finishing - 91
Free Kick Accuracy - 93
Heading accuracy - 82
Jumping - 88
Long Passing - 71
Long Shots - 84
Marking - 22
Penalties - 88
Positioning - 73
Reactions - 84
Short Passing - 84
Shot Power - 90
Slide Tackling - 23
Sprint Speed - 94
Stamina - 89
Standing tackle - 31
Strength - 76
Tactical Awareness - 68
Vision - 86
Volleys - 87

Now, according to the updated ratings, the closest fit would be Franck Ribery.  But would Ribery be the BEST fit?  Let's break it down a little closer and look at 10 ratings that are likely KEY for the role he would play - which would be a winger like CR9:

Aggression - this is more for perhaps tracking back.
Composure - he will suffer a fair amount of tackles and fouls, but will need to maintain poise in front of goal.
Crossing - key skill for the position.
Dribbling - again, key skill for taking on defenders.
Finishing - key for any attacking player.
Positioning - is he too far forward or not forward enough?
Short Passing - bringing his MF mates into the game.
Sprint Speed - break away and maintain.
Tactical Awareness - being an attack-minded player this is a no-brainer.
Vision - seeing the big picture.

Here's how Ribery rated in those categories - and the difference (+/-) to CR9:
Agg - 66 (+12)
Comp - 84 (+6)
Crossing - 87 (-2)
Dribb - 94 (-3)
Finish - 72 (-19)
Position - 86 (+13)
Short Pass - 88 (+4)
Sprint - 93 (-1)
Tactical - 88 (+20)
Vision (+3)
OVERALL RATING: 88 (-2)

The three HUGE variations were in finishing, positioning and tactical awareness.  Here's where you see what CR9 really brought to United - and what Ribery would bring.  You'd likely get a more varied scoring distribution with him and certainly more assists (CR9 had 8, Ribery had 13).  He'd also likely bring more of his teammates into the game - he's more of a team guy.  But you'd sacrifice the goals because he's not the kind of player who could lead United's line.  They would rely more heavily on production from Rooney and Berbatov for sure - and NEED a more balanced attack.

Now how about Antonio Valencia?  I said in my earlier article that he is more of a 'Wal-Mart' buy - and the ratings would show this to be true.  They also show United would be taking a HUGE gamble by bringing him in.  The question for Ferguson being - what do you expect out of him?  Here's how he rated:

Agg - 51 (-3)
Comp - 77 (-1)
Cross - 81 (-8)
Dribb - 86 (-13)
Finish - 64 (-27)
Position - 74 (+1)
Short Pass - 70 (-14)
Sprint - 82 (-12)
Tactical - 73 (+5)
Vision - 79 (-7)
OVERALL RATING - 79 (-11)

You can see with Valencia he rates lower in 8 of the 10 categories - and is no where near the dribbler, finisher, passer or speedster that Ronaldo is.  United would sacrifice possession, goals & outside speed with Valencia - three things that are key to how they operate.  This perhaps goes to show that being a success at Wigan is one thing, but being a success at United is completely different.

Now, in Karim Benzema, we're talking about a striker who would likely be given more of a free role with United - as Ronaldo was.  He and Rooney would likely do plenty of switching (much to Rooney's chagrin perhaps) and opposition defences would basically have to operate the same way to defend against United.

Agg - 66 (+12)
Comp - 80 (+2)
Cross - 78 (-11)
Dribb - 88 (-11)
Finish - 90 (-1)
Position - 81 (+8)
Short Pass - 81 (-3)
Sprint - 85 (-9)
Tactical - 74 (+6)
Vision - 78 (-8)
OVERALL RATING - 85 (-5)

With Benzema, United hope they wouldn't see THAT much of a drop in production (finish is good) and they'd be getting a young player (he's 21!!) who Ferguson could work with - much like he did with Ronaldo.  Much like with Ribery, initially you'd need production from other areas of the United attack.  But once Benzema got settled and became comfortable - look out!  If anyone could be 'the next Ronaldo' - it's Benzema.  The weakness originally being that Benzema could not provide the width and deep play Ronaldo can.

David Villa is an interesting prospect - and one Wayne Rooney probably has mixed feelings about.  If United DO bring in Villa, it would mean more wing play for Rooney with Villa taking a center role with Berbatov in 3-pronged attack situations.  That or Villa would replace Berbatov relegating him to more of a bench role....But that would be one expensive bench player.  However, bringing Villa in might just light that fire under Berbatov that United would like.  They would certainly be competing for the slot opposite Rooney.

For Villa, because he is more of a pure goal scorer, we have to look at some different ratings points than the other two.  For Villa we look at:

Aggression
Ball Control
Composure
Dribbling
Finishing
Free Kick Accuracy
Long Shots
Positioning
Sprint Speed
Tactical Awareness

Based on those and comparing to CR9:

Agg - 67 (+13)
Ball Cont - 87 (-8)
Composure - 86 (+8)
Dribb - 89 (-8)
Finish - 93 (+2)
FK Acc - 88 (-5)
Long Shot - 87 (+3)
Position - 88 (+15)
Sprint - 86 (-8)
Tactical - 77 (+9)
OVERALL RATING - 87

With Villa United would get as much - if not more - goal production but they would likely sacrifice some of their width at times.  Villa is similar to Ruud Van Nistelrooy in that respect - he scores a ton of goals (30G 6A last term).  But RVN is 6'2".  Villa is 5'9".  Take into account the fact that Spain is not as physically aggressive or demanding as the Premier League and there may be a significant adjustment period needed for Villa to get going.  United have shown they can recover from a slow start but with next season's title chase set to be one of the most competitive yet, they will likely need to hit the ground running with significant fixture congestion and fatigue a very REAL possibility.

When I sent this article to Bobby to 'proof', he was quick to point out that Ronaldo cannot simply be replaced like-for-like - and Ferguson would probably have to alter United's system much like he did after Beckham was shipped out.

He also wanted to remind that Ronaldo is nominally a winger and actually occupied a number of positions.  In doing that, one solution might be to go after an athletic, attack-minded RB like Maicon.

What do you think?

Who else should United target to replace Ronaldo?

As a United fan, I've been asked a few times in the past few days what I thought of the Cristiano Ronaldo deal to Real Madrid.  After getting over the initial shock of people actually CARING about what I think, I found myself saying, "You know what?  I'm not sure yet...." 

But after some thinking...and reading...and more thinking....and comparing....and more reading....I'm still not sure. 

Check that. 

I trust that manager Sir Alex Ferguson knows exactly what he's doing.

He watched Cantona retire on him, shipped Beckham out after 'boot-gate' and then exiled Van Nistelrooy (after he got into an altercation with CR7 coincidentally) - and United have thrived.  I believe they will continue to.

How could they not with 132m US in their pockets?  That will buy exactly what they need - even if they have to over-pay for it initially (United's top targets are listed below).  And they may ALREADY have what they need if Wayne Rooney ever decides to get a little selfish and Sir Alex plops him back into the center role he excels at with the England national team.

When it comes to Ronaldo - THIS United fan (I can NEVER speak for any of the other United fans) is not happy to see him go but I fully understand why he must.  And you know when I knew he had to go?  When he tossed the tracksuit handed to him when he was subbed out of the derby match versus Manchester City on May 10th.  His annoyed head-shaking for the TV cameras showed everyone watching that it was no longer about Manchester United - it was about Cristiano Ronaldo.  Yes, his mother was in the crowd and he wanted to keep showing off for her but with the Champions League Final around the corner, Sir Alex did what he felt was best.  And the public display of petulance was when I knew he'd be gone.  I think I even said as much to whomever was listening in the department at the time.

After that - it was easy to see Ronaldo's relationship with United was at an end.  Ferguson was displeased with his play during the Wigan match and in the Champions League Final, I was among many screaming at the big screens at Brit's Pub in Minneapolis for Ronaldo to stop being so selfish and bring his teammates into the game. 

As wise as Ferguson is - the one lesson he failed to teach the World Player of the Year is that TEAMS win games - not individuals.  And so off to Real Madrid he goes - where individuals thrive...and sometimes they briefly come together to win.  It is the perfect spot for the preening peacock - and I don't think Ferguson will lose a wink of sleep over it.

So where do United go from here?  When you think about it they've essentially lost TWO players.  Ronaldo the free-kick dynamo and Ronaldo the speedy winger.  Nani has made it known he is ready to step into Ronaldo's shoes but Nani has yet to show he can even CARRY Ronaldo's shoes let alone attempt to put them on.  No, Ferguson is going to have to reinforce his team through the transfer market - a transfer market that is well aware United have plenty to spend.  Already the prices have started to skyrocket.  Here's who I think he should target - in order of preference:

Franck Ribery - Bayern Munich
-Obvious choice - and the fact he can play either wing or as a second striker makes him an almost like for like replacement to Ronaldo - and he is a team player.  Bringing him in would also help Rooney's case to be played in a central role because of the fact HE could take the open spot on the wing.  No matter what United would have to pay, Ribery would likely be worth every penny.

Antonio Valencia - Wigan
-The most likely first buy and a 'Wal-Mart' type replacement if you will.  A right-sided forward who (unlike Ribery) has experience in the Premier League and has shown he can handle it and excel.  If he's so good, why has he been at Wigan for two years right?  Well, adjusting to life in England is never easy for South Americans but with the pressure off he has been able to grow and get better at a smaller club.  If he comes to United, he'll be ready for the pressure that goes with - and not have to worry about the issues that come with moving to a new country.  He can focus on the football with one fo the best teams in the world.  But it will be a BIG gamble for United.

Karim Benzema - Lyon
-At just 21-years old, he's seen as one of the most promising young talents in the game - and Ferguson has had his eye on him for some time.  He's the perfect package of power, skill and creativity who could REALLY establish his credentials under Ferguson.  The player himself has said he would prefer a move to Spain or to stay in France but if United come in with the right offer (40m US or so) - Lyon may be forced to sell.  Yes I know he's a forward but in the United attack he had Ronaldo and company switching all the time.  Benzema is versatile enough to do the same.

The unfortunate part is - on top of trying to fill the significant void left by Ronaldo, United also look set to lose ST Carlos Tevez (to City or Liverpool) and possibly Nemanja Vidic (Barcelona).  If so - having 132m US in your pocket will come in handy there as well!

One thing is certain - United have work to do over the summer and as time goes by, it will get harder and harder to get who you want.  As Florentino Perez has shown us all (and in the words of John Kreese - sensai of the Cobra Kai) - strike first, strike hard, no mercy sir!

With their comprehensive beating of Manchester United this weekend, I have heard from countless Liverpool fans in recent days regarding how the title race is now back on, their team is the best in Europe, etc. etc.

While they certainly LOOKED the part versus Manchester United - let's be realistic here.  Liverpool were as much ON their game as United were OFF of theirs.  Shocking performances in defence by Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra made United look not only ordinary, but VERY beatable.  Add to that the decision by Sir Alex Ferguson to have Anderson cover Steven Gerrard and it's pretty clear the manager made some poor decisions as well....Ji-Sung Park and Carlos Tevez starting just didn't make sense given the occasion.  Then again, I don't have a million trophies sitting in my trophy case so who the hell am I to judge, right?

I think one of the reasons Liverpool fans are so giddy the past two days is that they know the same truth that the rest of us do - they will screw this up again before United will.  Sitting four points up at the top - and 7pts if you factor in the game at hand - United have to lose as many games as they've lost all season to give Liverpool ANY kind of chance.

It won't happen.

And not because United are incapable of losing three games.  No, Liverpool will not win the title because they will drop more points in their last nine games to mediocre teams - as they have done all season.  And the chances of that happening are magnified TEN FOLD when you take either Torres or Gerrard out of the line-up.  Yes, I like Manchester United more than most of the other Premier League sides - but watching Torres and Gerrard at their best was simply magical.  I firmly believe Benitez when he says they'd be in a different position were EL NINO able to stay healthy.

Looking at Liverpool's finish - their toughest games will be at home (Villa, Arsenal, Tottenham) but the away games versus Fulham, Hull & West Ham have to be cause for concern.  Villa are a wounded animal right now and while we've been waiting for them to get back on track - Liverpool could provide the motivation O'Neill requires for his team.  Hull are not BACK, but they are playing better - and you can bet Gianfranco Zola will have West Ham ready.  And it is interesting to note that all three teams have already drawn Liverpool AT Anfield this season.

United don't have it so easy either - but the only teams to beat them this season are Liverpool and Arsenal.  They play Arsenal again May 16th - and a healthy Gunners could give United some problems - but that is the only true banana-skin left I think.  Tottenham and Villa could get draws - but beating United?  Long odds to be sure.

One thing will be interesting as we head into the last 9-rounds:  How will United respond to what happened this weekend?  We'll know when they play Fulham this weekend - and that might be the indicator of what lies ahead.

In coordination with this weeks TOTW question - it's certainly worth a discussion about how Manchester City are performing as of late.  The question I really have is - is it too late for Hughes to set things right?

A number of articles int he UK are saying he is fighting against a group of three influential players who are leading a mutiny against him in the dressing room (Jo, Elano & Tal Ben Haim) and based on the way the team played versus Nottingham Forest, it's a battle Hughes appears to be losing.  He's trying to get Ben Haim shipped out in the Santa Cruz deal but Jo and Elano might be tougher - though Elano seems to think Lazio are coming in for him right away.  It's interesting to note that Ben Haim was the first player Hughes brought in when he arrived - but obviously the player is not into the manager's strict style.

This situation also begs the question - if Hughes knew the frailties of his squad when he took over in June, why has it taken him THIS long to address them?  This is essentially his 2nd transfer window (1st with an unlimited budget) - yet the squad still have the same problems as when he came in. 

I gave my answer to the TOTW question on the Monday show - I'd have walked away.  Sure you have an unlimited budget but you are under immense pressure to get results, you have a large portion of the team that essentially hates you (Dunne, Vassell, Robinho also not fans) and a frustrating set of purchases ahead that will be made under inflated pricing based on your ownership's wealth - not to mention media types like me questioning the fact he's now made Wayne Bridge the highest paid defender in England (145k US per week!!).

I used to be of the mind that Hughes was just going to bide his time and wait for Sir Alex to retire and then take his rightful place along the touchline at Old Trafford....Now, I know that won't ever happen.  And at the rate he's going - he could be the next Sam Allardyce.....Lots of promise, but you end up managing a team like Blackburn.....Oh wait...He's done that already....

Your thoughts?

Ok - a day behind this week due to - well, being rather busy (ie: away for the weekend).
No shortage of stuff to address though so let's stop wasting time shall we?

Maybe it was the 'Topic of the Week' but right after we discuss the Arsene Wenger situation at Arsenal, the Gunners go and get blanked by Aston Villa.  I don't know about you, but I can't figure this team out.  One minute they look brilliant and the next - well, they look like shite.  Full credit to Aston Villa though - they continue to show that they DO have the talent to be a top-four side.  It's beating the little teams - the teams they SHOULD beat - that seems to hamper their progress.  Same goes for Arsenal *cough* Stoke City *cough*.

Speaking of Stoke - how about that beating they took at Old Trafford this weekend?  A good article in one of the English papers said it best - the way to beat Stoke is to score early and get them to come out and play.  Then just pick them off - which is what United did.  Cristiano Ronaldo bagging his 100th for the club.  Here's hoping he's got another 100 coming in a United uniform!  Not to take anything away from the other nominees for the Ballon D'Or - but I don't see any of them beating Ronaldo this year.

New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew will face off for the MLS Cup (Yes!  It finally IS a Cup!!) this coming Sunday in Carson, CA.  Congrats to both sides for getting there.  Having been to Columbus a few times (and NY too!), I have to say I like the Crew to win.  Last season they came this close (thumb and forefinger within a millimeter) to axing coach Sigi Schmid and thank goodness they didn't!  Schmid told me at the end of last season the team was not that far from being a challenger - and I'm glad to see he was right!  And how about Red Bulls?  One road win all regular season and they rattle off two to get to the Final!  And if they win it in LA, I'm sure some of those players will hoist that Cup nice and high for Galaxy boss (and former NY coach) Bruce Arena to see.  Should be a good match!

We'll also get to hear about Expansion soon enough.  Not that I really want to.  I'm one of the guys that believes MLS is growing way too fast.  Maybe it's the Canadian in me having watched the NHL balloon quickly and then lose me as a fan with a diluted talent pool.  Smarter guys than me though are making these decisions and while we give them the benefit of the doubt, I just hope they are taking into consideration that there IS a tipping point - and they are getting VERY close to it.

The NCAA College Soccer season is winding down - and while everyone is focused on what's going on in Division I, I want to send out some kudos to a good friend of mine in Division III.  Greg Holker is the coach of the Augsburg College Auggies and for the first time in the school's history, Holker has taken the team into the NCAA tournament!  Sure, it's not a unique story but having come to know Greg, I know it wasn't easy.  He took a program with a horrid track record and has turned them into a winner.  He's one of the most dedicated coaches I know and no matter how the season ends for the Auggies, they have every reason to be proud of themselves.  They play Loras College in Dubuque, IA this weekend - should be a good game!

And finally this week - some of you may have heard through the grapevine (and Big Soccer) that FSR is losing Mitch Peacock at the end of this month.  Mitch has decided to take a position with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation station here in Winnipeg as their supper sports anchor.  The good news for Canadian footie fans is that Mitch will continue to do sideline reporting for the CBC during Toronto FC matches next season.  I know deciding to go wasn't an easy decision for Mitch but we here at FSR wish him all the best and are genuinely happy for him and his family.  Having known Mitch since we were in college together, I can say he is a top-notch journalist and a top-notch individual.  There are very few people more knowledgeable about what's going on in the game than Mitch.  It's my belief that the best compliment a person can receive is that they've made the people around them better - and Mitch has certainly done that here at FSR.  He will be missed.

That's all for now - talk at ya next week!  And as usual, your comments are welcome and appreciated.