United vs. City

With four games remaining in the season the title will stay in Manchester it just depends if it will be the red of Manchester United or the blue of Manchester City.  Coming into this weekend United holds a five-point lead but the teams still have to meet one more time.  This could be the decider on who wins the title.  If United win the title is virtually theirs but if City win it brings them within two points and mounts pressure on United.  The game will be played on April 28^th at Man City’s home field.  Last time these two giants met United pounced on City to take a 3-0 lead until City crawled back into the match only to lose 3-2.  When the two teams meet United need to remain focused and the stars need to shine.  David De Gea will have to command his box and thwart off every City attack.  The defense in front of him must be strong and composed.  Evra and Rafael on the flanks must be disciplined but also join in the attack.  Both love getting forward and excel at it but cannot get out of position and leave the defense exposed on a counterattack.  Ferdinand and Evans must be dominant in the air and check the runs that City’s forwards make.  Scholes and Carrick will have to control the game and distribute the ball throughout the field.  Scholes will have to play many of his famous cross-field balls to get one on one matchups.  Nani and Valencia on the wings will have to attack with speed supplying crosses into the box.  Rooney and Welbeck must take the chances they get and be a pest to City’s defenders.  Rooney will have to dominant the game and produce another masterpiece goal like he did last year.  I expect it to be an exciting game with United winning 3-2 and taking the title. 

 

Fergie Himself

           Many great things can be said about Sir Alex Ferguson but for me he is my hero.  The success, longevity, and passion he has had in his coaching career is simply amazing.  He has been one of the greatest coaches of all time in world soccer.

            Sir Alex was born on December 31^st, 1941 in Govan, Scotland and spent his whole childhood there.  His playing career lasted from 1957-1974 playing for six different club teams and making a few international appearances for Scotland.  Once he retired from playing he began his coaching career at East Stirlingshire.  He moved on to St. Mirren where he turned a second league team into champions of the first division.  He was eventually fired but the club for several reasons and the Chairman from the team stated that Ferguson has “no managerial ability.”  He moved to Aberdeen where he enjoyed great success at the club.  Winning the Premier Division three times, the Scottish Cup four times, and even the UEFA Super Cup in 1983 beating the German Club Hamburg.  He would also coach the Scottish national team at the 1986 World Cup to a subpar performance. 

            On November 6^th, 1986 Ferguson accepted the role as Manchester United manager.  This was the beginning of his illustrious career at Manchester United.  He won his first piece of silverware in the 1989-1990 season winning the FA Cup.  Two years later he would get his hands on his first of twelve Premier League titles.  The dominance of United domestically had begun at this point and still continues today.  Later Ferguson would extend his power into Europe winning two European Championships.  The amount of talent he has coached is simply jaw dropping.  I could continue listing every other award he has won but that would be too time consuming and would take up too much space.  He is the greatest coach of all time and has made Manchester United the most recognizable club in the world.  

Looking Ahead

          With the English Title al but wrapped up in my mind I am looking forward to next season and what changes must be made in the offseason.  First and most importantly, United must improve their European form.  They were awful this year in Europe not getting out of the group stage of the Champions League and getting bullied by Bilbao.  Maybe new players are needed to improve this or just a change in attitude.  Previous years they had been in the finals of the Champions League and even won it in 2008.  To not qualify over Benfica and Basel is a true shame.

            Summer is also one of two periods where teams can engage in transfers.  Transfers are similar to trades in American sports except that transfers involve a swap in cash for a player.  Trades in American sports involve exchanging a player for a player.  Before the transfer market is even open United has already been linked with numerous players from around the world.  An overwhelming majority of those players mentioned will not end up with United.  Rumors swarm the newspapers and media during this time trying to call the right move.  United need to make a few moves in the summer to improve their squad.  The most immediate need they have is in the center midfield position.  They lack any center mid with any true creativity.  Scholes has been exceptional this year but is old and Carrick just doesn’t have that creative spark.  Giggs has been transformed into a center mid but is in the end of his career soon and Anderson has been inconsistent and hurt.  United need a Hazard or a Sneijder to give them a spark in the middle.  If they sign Pogba to a new deal I would also give him a good run in because of his raw talent and mold him into the superstar he can be.  Every other position I am happy with the players and depth United have.  Maybe bring in one or two more players just to give them more depth.  Hopefully next season United will go deeper in Europe and challenge for the European crown.