Ryan Giggs caps another championship season
May 12, 2008
Wigan Athletic (0) 0 Manchester United (1) 2
How gloriously appropriate that Manchester United’s match-winners yesterday, the men who swept them to a deserved Premier League title, were Cristiano Ronaldo, the Footballer of the Year, and Ryan Giggs, the embodiment of all that is good about this special club.
No fear tempers the movement of Ronaldo or Giggs, such thrilling creatures of sustained invention, such magnificent ambassadors for Sir Alex Ferguson’s attacking game-plan. These heirs to the sporting tradition of George Best certainly delivered for United yesterday, Ronaldo with a ruthless penalty and Giggs with a nerveless finish.
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| Holding their nerve: Manchester United won their 10th Premier League title with victory over Wigan |
Any newcomers to footballing circles seeking guidance about United’s personality need pointing only in the direction of their goalscorers on a triumphant day in the thunder, rain and lightning. United mix the cocksure swagger of Ronaldo and the loyalty of Giggs.
Anyone questioning whether United were worthy winners of the trophy also needed pointing towards Ronaldo and Giggs. These are the individuals who quicken the pulse, who fill grounds with admirers and hearts with hope. These are the talents who make inflated ticket prices worthwhile, who turn all those long motorway journeys into reverie on wheels.
If Ronaldo acted the spoilt child at times yesterday, slamming his palms against the pitch like a Portuguese Violet Elizabeth if the referee did not agree with him, then Giggs was all grace. Coming off the bench to help United protect a lead secured by Ronaldo, Giggs celebrated equalling Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 758 appearances for United with a fine finish, sliding the ball calmly past the outstanding Chris Kirkland.
As the final whistle went, as Wayne Rooney sank to his knees and Ronaldo looked to the heavens, Rio Ferdinand led the fans’ singing. “That boy Giggsy - he won it 10 times,” chanted Ferdinand with the visiting hordes, jubilating in the winger’s astonishing number of titles.
Afterwards, Ferguson made a fascinating remark about Giggs, saying he was worried about the deluge’s effect on the pitch and that the “soft ground” might not suit Giggs, as if he were some thoroughbred racehorse.
As Ferguson and all of a red hue revelled in the moment, thoughts needed sparing for two vanquished, but admirable blue-bedecked adversaries, Wigan Athletic and first Chelsea. After Liverpool and then Arsenal fell away, Avram Grant’s side stopped a title race becoming a procession. Chelsea deserve widespread praise for giving the season’s last gleaming such an epic glow.
As well as knowing they themselves gave everything, Chelsea’s players can also take comfort from the knowledge that Wigan ran themselves into their sodden new pitch. Wigan had only pride to play for but did themselves, the town and the Premier League proud.
Of course, suggestions of collusion were always going to be wide of the mark. Anyone who genuinely believed that Steve Bruce might be tempted to tell his players to go easy on his former club clearly does not know what makes the Wigan manager tick. He did not acquire a nose sculpted like Scafell Pike without being committed, without giving everything at every occasion. Every Wigan player and fan breathed defiance against their famous visitors before, sportingly, staying on to salute the champions.
Kirkland excelled in goal. In midfield, Wilson Palacios embellished his reputation. Bruce also enhanced his standing as a man of integrity and a manager of substance.
Rocked back by the hunger of Bruce’s players, United were desperately lucky to turn around a goal clear and with a full complement. When thunder and lightning reverberated around the JJB Stadium, it could have emanated from Ferguson such was his animated mood. Marcus Bent found the side-netting, Emmerson Boyce shot over, Michael Brown shot wide.
The locals loved it, willing Wigan on as United laboured. It took a defensive mistake, Boyce’s awkward challenge on Rooney, to allow the champions through. Steve Bennett pointed immediately to the spot, and Ronaldo took control. He had missed against Barcelona. He had every Wigan fan screaming blue murder at him.
But he is not the double Player of the Year for nothing, and he calmly slotted the ball to Kirkland’s left and set off on a long celebratory run. As a roar emerged from the visitors’ end, pandemonium reigned in the main stand where pockets of United fans revealed themselves.
Wigan’s mood hardly improved when Scholes flew in on Palacios. Already booked for a foul on the Wigan midfielder, Scholes resembled a hot-headed teenager, rather than an experienced thirtysomething, as he dumped Palacios on the pitch. Amazingly, Bennett contented himself with a lengthy lecture of Scholes.
Fergie to buy a forward
May 11, 2008
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed he intends to buy a forward this summer.
Many feel United’s squad is almost flawless - although they do appear to be a striker short with Louis Saha’s future looking uncertain.
Ferguson can already boast the likes of Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney - but then there is little else in terms of an out-and-out striker with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs the next best options.
Now Ferguson is scouring the world and assessing his options before making a move.
Michael Owen is the latest name to be linked, whilst Dimitar Berbatov, Klaas- Jan Huntelaar and Luis Fabiano are also said to be under consideration.
“We will buy,” Ferguson confirmed.
“Along with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, we may need experience in one forward position, somebody to take over from Ryan Giggs eventually.”
Lehmann considering retirement
May 11, 2008
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that departing goalkeeper Jens Lehmann could hang up his gloves after the forthcoming Euro 2008 competition if he spends it on the subs’ bench.
“It could be the case that, if he gains a starting berth, he may choose to play on, but if he spends the tournament on the sidelines, he will know it is time to call it a day,” said the Frenchman.
“Jens will go, but he doesn’t even know if he continues to play,” he added.
“He has indicated to me that he will make a decision after the European Championships and he will certainly be influenced by the way it goes.”
Bolton Wanderers 2 - 3 Arsenal
March 30, 2008
Ten-man Arsenal scored three times in the last 28 minutes to resurrect their title hopes while pushing Bolton Wanderers closer to the Championship. Matt Taylor scored his first ever Bolton goals in a dramatic first half that saw Abou Diaby red carded for an horrific tackle on Gretar Steinsson.
But despite laying siege to the visitors goal in the first 15 minutes of the second half, Wanderers couldn’t get a third goal.
And a double substitution by Arsene Wenger helped turn the game, bringing on Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott.
The duo gave Arsenal a badly-needed attacking edge and within six minutes the Londoners were back in the game.
Unmarked William Gallas fired home after Ivan Campo failed to cut out Cesc Fabregas’ in-swinging corner.
Four minutes later, Steinsson felled Alex Hleb and Robin van Persie converted from the spot.
Bolton never looked likely to make their own comeback and it was no surprise when they conceded a third goal.
Fabregas’ shot initially hit Andy O’Brien which then in turn deflected off Jlloyd Samuel.
Wenger gets defensive over Arsenal’s fading soccer title challenge
March 24, 2008
Arsene Wenger fears Arsenal’s defensive shortcomings have ruined his side’s Premier League title challenge.
Arsenal’s failure to deal with a barrage of long balls in the closing stages at Stamford Bridge on Sunday allowed Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to score twice and clinch a 2-1 win that left the Gunners languishing six points behind Manchester United.
Wenger was surprised by the way his back-four failed to stand up to the battering, with William Gallas and Kolo Toure both culpable for Arsenal’s meltdown.
The French coach would love to get straight to work on the problem on the training ground, but the midweek internationals will deny him that luxury.
As if that isn’t bad enough, injuries to full-backs Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy could unsettle Wenger’s defence even further.
“It is a game we should have won but we have shown some lapses in concentration that we paid for,” Wenger said. “That is difficult to swallow because we played quite well and were in control of the game.
“I feel we have some defensive problems that we need to sort out. We gave an easy goal away against Middlesbrough and Aston Villa. Defensively we lost control of the game.
“Overall the team played well but we got caught when Nicolas Anelka came on with the long balls and the physical battle.”
Arsenal have lost their nerve with the finish line in sight, failing to win any of their last five matches and Wenger knows they have handed Sir Alex Ferguson’s side the initiative.
“Of course it is a big setback when you add the four games we drew and then losing here,” he said. “I feel we have to come back to winning games before we dream of the title.
“I believe we have the strength but at the moment we are six points behind United. We have first to win our next game before we speak about the title. We have to become stronger defensively first.
“The players will be very disappointed because they gave everything but we go home with nothing. I feel Ferguson is the biggest winner.”
There could be no more bitter way for a purist like Wenger to surrender the title to his old adversary from Old Trafford as Arsenal allowed themselves to be battered by Chelsea’s rudimentary football in the closing stages.
Wenger had been confident of three points when Sagna headed in Cesc Fabregas’s corner in the 59th minute.
When Blues boss Avram Grant replaced Michael Ballack with Juliano Belletti the Chelsea faithful groaned their disapproval, chanting for Jose Mourinho.
But it proved an inspired decision. Belletti’s long ball in the 73rd minute reached Drogba, who took advantage of a generous offside decision to slam home Frank Lampard’s pass.
There was even more to come from the Ivorian with nine minutes to go. Belletti’s cross was flicked on by Nicolas Anelka and Drogba’s shot was parried into the net by Manuel Almunia.
Grant admitted it was time Drogba started to show the kind of form that made him the Premier League’s most feared striker last season.
He had scored only twice since returning from African Nations Cup duty in February, but was too powerful for Arsenal.
“It is about time because since he is back from Africa, like the others, he was not in the shape he was before,” Grant said. “That is reasonable because they played a lot of games in humid weather. But against Tottenham he was better and here he was very good.”
Chelsea are five points off the top and United have to visit the Bridge on April 26, so the title is still within reach after Grant finally won a significant match.
“I don’t know if we will win the league but we will do our best to do it,” Grant said.
“We have won more than 80 percent of our games. Since we lost in the League Cup we scored 20 goals or more in all the competitions.
“I promised we would play attacking football. We did that and scored goals. It is important because for me the way is more important than anything else.”
Defoe denied Spurs reunion
March 21, 2008
Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe is bitterly disappointed to be missing out on a White Hart Lane reunion with Tottenham, but admits to being ‘proud of himself’ for making a success of his January transfer.
Defoe conceded defeat in his battle to nail down a first-team place under Juande Ramos by signing a loan contract at Fratton Park - a deal which soon became permanent.
Both clubs had been under the impression that the former West Ham forward would be available for duty on Saturday due to the change in terms of the deal but an alteration in Premier League rules, brought about after a similar situation with Tim Howard last season, means he will not be allowed to face his former club until next term.
Chelsea, Man Utd set to launch bids for £30M Valencia star Villa
March 21, 2008
Valencia striker David Villa says he’s open to all offers ahead of the summer market.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool have all had Villa watched in recent months and been linked with bids for the Spain striker over the last year.
With Valencia now facing a season without European football next term, Villa is considering his future and admits: “I have always been aware when offers have arrived for me and I will always make a decision on what’s best for my career.
“Though, of course, everything will be done with the consent of the club.
“I have to think about my future and what I am going to do. I will be listening to all offers.”
Tottenham Spurs interested in signing Man Utd keeper Foster
March 21, 2008
Tottenham are interested in Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Spurs boss Juande Ramos is keen to find a new long-term No1 and the Daily Star Sunday says he is turning to England international Foster.
