On Being "Forever Young" & the New Shevchenko

(Celebrate Mr. Giggs - You Are One of a King)

As my readers will already know, I am a Liverpool fan, but I can't help but give respect to one of the greatest, if not the greatest ever players to ever grace the various Premier League pitches - Ryan Giggs.  He has played every single season of the Premier League and has done so with poise, grace, and a quiet ability that even the biggest haters of Manchester United have to sit back and give an applaud.

Ryan Giggs has been one of the key components to all of the best United sides that Fergie has assembled, including their treble winning season of 1999.  And while the biggest stars have always stolen the spotlight in major competition, nobody can doubt Gigg's quality.  Even at the age of 37, he was arguably the best player in both legs of the quarters against Chelsea, setting up two of the three goals Manchester United scored.  While he may huff and puff a little bit, he can be forgiven, because he never gives up unlike players ten years his junior who just don't seem to give a damn anymore.

Giggs is a true ambassador of British football, and unlike these new players he is surrounded by who think they are the greatest players on the planet (yes, I'm talking about Nani), Giggs remains a model of humility and the way all professional footballers should act.  He also has something that most players don't have - no, not a trophy cabinet that's bigger than most professional clubs in Europe, he has loyalty.  For years, we heard Italian teams come calling for the Welshman only for him to sign a new contract with the Red Devils.  Sure, he was playing with a team that challenged for every honour every single year, but sometimes players get the itch and want to uproot - not Giggs, and it has been Manchester United's gain since 1991.  I only hope he can continue to play for a few more years as the loss of Giggs ensures the loss of what is truly a major symbol of what is the Premier League and what is one of the few remaining good aspects of British football.

(I Agree Andriy - It Was a Mistake to Leave Milan)

Andriy Shevchenko is one of the greatest strikers in the history of the game.  His raw ability in his early days at his boyhood club of Dynamo Kiev earned him a big money transfer to the illustrious Italian club AC Milan where he went from strength to strength.  Then, injuries started catching up to him and he wasn't playing as much.  Then, he was bought for a (then) ridiculous fee of £30 million by Chelsea and was a major flop.

(I think this is the only time he's smiled while in Chelsea blue)

Well, 5 years later and it looks like history is repeating itself - Chelsea has signed another expensive bench-warmer.  Like Shevchenko, Torres started out big with his raw ability at his boyhood club (Atletico Madrid). This ability earned him a big money transfer to the illustrious English club Liverpool where he went from strength to strength.  Then, injuries started catching up to him and he wasn't...well, just read above, but change the 3 to a 5.

While I really liked Fernando Torres while he was at Liverpool, I can't help but smile at the fact that after 11 games and nearly 900 minutes on the pitch, he hasn't scored.  There is no question that he will go on to score and be prolific for Chelsea - Torres is too good not to, but for the time being, Fernando "Shevchenko" Torres seems very apt.

Thank God for Suarez and Carroll - 4 goals and many more set-up.  Awesome business John W. Henry - you are looking more and more like the savior of Liverpool.  (I put this last bit in because I found this awesome cartoon)  Take care everyone.

(Great Cartoon)

On Inept Defending in Champions League

First leg of the quarterfinals done - my predictions - 50%...as a teacher, no good...for footy...still not very good.  However, what was amazing was the fact that 18 goals were scored across the four matches - Seven at the Giuseppe Meazza, four at the Bernabeu, six at Camp Nou and a solitary one at Stamford Bridge - though only one game ended with both teams still firmly in the tie.  Those 18 goals represent a record - most goals ever scored in a quarter-final leg programme.


For fans, this may seem exciting and may highlight the idea of strong attacking trends - not so - the defending was simply shambolic.  Inter Milan has some of the most seasoned and experienced defenders, but they gave up goals that would even be bad if they were a pub team.  Tottenham allowed Real Madrid to run riot, letting players like Adebayor and Di Maria do whatever they felt like.  One could forgive Shakhtar as they were playing the Blaugrana, but their offside trap failed miserably.  And as for the controversial tie at Stamford Bridge, Jose "Unibrow" Bosingwa basically gave up when Ryan Giggs, a decade older, beat him with the ball - leading to Rooney's goal. 


Almost all the goals were all preventable, and it leaves me to wonder what is going on with the best competition in the world.  One must remember, however, that normally, the team who wins Ol' Big Ears is not the team with the big attacking prowess but rather the best defensive record.  That currently is Manchester United.


So if by some chance a manager is reading this blog - tighten up the defense - it may not be the most exciting football, but what would you rather...exciting and going out in the quarters, or functionally put together like an accounting firm and lifting that beautiful trophy at the end of the season.