It's On

Three points from the top with 11 matches remaining is perfect for this United supporter. Sure it's great to sail through the entire season with a 9 point lead, but it doesn't make for high drama. Actually March doesn't
exactly begin with a bang (away to down-bound Fullham), but if the result is 3 points, we'll gladly take it.


Sir Alex still thinks Chelsea has a chance (he's alone).

Saha's pissed at his own glass legs, head, hands, and groin.

While our favorite frog-mage, Mdmsl. Arsene Wenger is worried about Arsenal's title race without Eduardo striking fear in defender's cleats. Love the injured, hate the injury.

In literary news, Wayne Rooney's autobiography "My Life" is now available in paperback. Not sure about the content, but we're confident it's very well punctuated. We'd love to read what Wayne has to write, because we don't understand a word he says. Perhaps a film is in the works. Maybe not.

Note to Fox Soccer Channel: why are there no United telecasts in March? Didn't you build your station on the backs of these champs? No one's tuning in to watch Derby, 'boro, or worse yet, Sear-ri-ah (we're sure crowds attend these matches, think riot squad, we just can't see or hear them). Send FSC programmers a shout at the bottom of their TV page.

No Trouble with Treble

Good week in Unitedville. Publicly humiliating Arsenal was the right tonic to purge the previous week's horrors and kick United into high gear for the knockout round of the Champions League.

Two special competitions in one week. As for Europe, you can't begin without mentioning Ryan Giggs, superstar-centenarian. He's in good company, being one of only eight players to have reached the century mark in Europe’s top club competition. And he went about it with the same intensity and confidence that's put him on the world football map. That and his "I will eat your young" eyes.

The game itself saw Lyon quick off the ball and United's defense shaky at best. Although van der Sar made some nice saves, the midfield seemed to lose sight of its passing and played on its heels. Then Sir Alex had the wisdom to make key substitutions in the second half. Old blood out, new blood in. Namely putting Carlos Tevez upfront and on point.

Once he put the ball in the back of the net one seemed to care about Rooney's sluggish (tired really) performance, Ronaldo's laser beam issue, and Olympic Mayonnaise altogether. So bask in the victory (& away tie) - who knows, it may even last a while. Unless of course Kevin Keegan and Newcastle try and stop it. Right.

Come Again, Reds?

La$t week's big story was the FA's announcement that Prem sides will tour internationally beginning in 2010. The rub: these will be real matches that count in the EPL standings. Interesting idea, although not entirely original.

The NFL has staged several real commercial-laden, time out-heavy, instant replay-filled games abroad, depriving sleep to countless looky-loos worldwide. So has Italy, playing the Super Cup in the U.S. — but not for the money. Not Italy.

While not every manager or supporter is pleased, almost every Prem owner is drooling. It's a chance to split a huge payday with the big boys. For instance 'Boro's take would be the same as Chelsea's. That's a problem for Abramovich and the other billionaire owners. Fact is the Top Four have been raking it in oversees for years. In the past they've just played exhibitions with other wealthy world clubs, or local sides like the MLS All Stars, whoever they are.

I've seen United twice on U.S. soil. Both times at Giant Stadium. The first match was exciting. A summer night game with most of United's starters on the pitch. While it wasn't a match at Old Trafford, it was exciting to be surrounded by United supporters from the word over.

The following tour was completely different. United v. Milan. Same venue, same sell-out crowd, two major differences: a day game in 100-degree heat, and two sides posing as starters. It was horrid. United and Milan each took home several million dollars, which they didn't have to split with the likes of Bolton or Fullham. So I can see why the big clubs are pissed.

Regardless of how anyone "feels" about it, it will happen. Because the FA stands to make a small fortune, and smaller clubs get a piece of the action (plus the chance to pick up a few MLS players while they're at it).


Until then, I'll book my flight to Manchester.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh

A moment isn't too long for people to shut their soup coolers and pay their respects to the 28 lives lost during the Munich air disaster. But apparently it's a lot to ask. A minute for 50 years. 60 seconds to behave like human beings. But then this is the City of Manchester derby. This is the day Manchester is split down the middle. While supporters thousands of miles away watch the match on TV side-by-side at the same pub. There are songs and taunting, but not much more. Victorious supporters even buy beers for the losers after the match. Well sometimes.

In Manchester it's a different story. It's never pleasant, like the Liverpool derby can be, well kind of. It's serious business that divides families, friends, and neighbors. But even during the 1958 season, when the disaster took place, Manchester was truly united. City fans were as distraught as United fans. Everyone was in shock, and the entire city mourned as one (at least that's what I've been told - I'm very young).

Today it's different. Manchester is still a city divided in many ways. But the main difference is that disrespect is an expected and accepted part of the game, whether it's the local derby or a national clash. I just hope the moss side boys remember that some of their own were also lost on that horrific day.

On a more pleasant note, both teams will wear commemorative strip for the match, without corporate sponsorship — just the numbers 1-11. And the South Stand tunnel has been renamed the Munich tunnel to honor those lost.