The Disneyland Hurrah at Wembley

Nothing might seem more impervious to the fact that the empire still stands after a scintillating Carling cup semi final. Aghast! at 2 legs for a semi final, the Carling cup which has been so closely linked to nothing more than a Mickey Mouse Cup was now seen under terrific light as a Champions League match. The contender from the blue half of Manchester - Man City against the red half of Manchester - Man United. The public announcer did his bit in introducing to a travelling 9000 fans from city “Please stand up to the current champions and holders of the Carling Cup, Manchester United"!

The first leg was all to play for and Tevez's 2 goals dug holes in Man United's ego which transcended in the British media on how the old fox Fergie missed a trick on signing up a terrier that Tevez is for 25 million pounds citing a bad first touch and a player who runs like a headless chicken. Well the 3 goals he scored, displayed everything exclusive about his touch. Red Nev has always seem to be the one that licks up to the boss's backside and Neville should really have kept his gob shut considering he is on the wane at the age of 35 who cannot keep a place for him at the Right back birth. The exchange of actions intended with big words and the silly finger jab just added up to the contest back in Old Trafford.

Man United yet again finished city with clinical play and an injury time winner. Undoubtedly, over the 2 legs they were the better side but nothing should be taken away from Man city for the industrious performance on display. They can take heart from their show, Mancini looking away after the match gave a posture much like the Oasis hit “Don’t Look back in anger now". Sir Alex wouldn't have wanted to lose base on an empire built over 2 decades by letting the vast bank balances and coffers of  Man city getting any silverware, much aligned to what the United fans displaying a banner 33 years and counting. That will certainly be 34 years till they have won any form of silverware.

The Mickey mouse cup has just got an overhaul with the derby semi final cash between one which has been the more popular and famous brand in modern sports industry and the other a poser that is vying to be the best club in the world with the riches from their Arab owners. Sadly, United is facing some anxious moments among their fans who wore the green and gold scarves indicating distrust and unhappiness at their debt and their American Owners. Till the tides change Man United will be among the great, greater and greatest clubs in footballing world.

Between I found ‘Rooney - White Pele’ moniker rather ridiculous. The only thing that is possibly right is the word white. Nonetheless a word of mention for his brilliant performances he seems to be their most improved player and still carrying the weight of his team with might and desire to win game after game, season after season..

3 Cheers for the Disneyland final between Aston Villa and Man United!!

Darel Luiz

Crippling Debts and Big Freeze

The cold wave and the big freeze in many parts of Europe and a resultant postponement of games couldn't be the best way to start the new year. But what agony when you see United losing ground in the league and getting beaten by Leeds. Shambolic and dismal performances!! There seems to be clear lack of depth in that striking department. Rooney alone won't be able to help United get goals, they are missing the link up play the pace and trickery that could leave defenses dry. They need to get a good striker upfront and thats for real.

Safe to say they are still 1 point better than last year and this years league has been rather funny. The top teams have all lost matches and I would reckon Arsene Wenger has a strong point that you could still win the title despite loosing 5-7 games. Anfield is probably witnessing their worst league in years and I surelly think they won't be able to notch up a top 4 finish. Rafa should do the decent thing of leaving the club. The mediocrity that they have on field barring a certain Stevie G and Torres I really doubt they will Champions League football the coming season.

Talking about crippling debts there is a growing concern on owners who have been buying into PL clubs, Man utd has just declared a profit largely due to the sale of C.Ronaldo for a whopping 80 Million pounds. Fact remains the Glazers has turned the biggest brand in sports industry to a high interest paying, debt ridden outfit to the extent of 760 million. The millions they have borrowed in hedge funds has crippling effects. What is interesting is the club has been milked every way possible by the owners and this could still continue. I bet the red half will be vehemently staring at City's riches and the fact that their 84 million pound loss this year was simply written off by Sheikh Mansour their billionaire owner and ruler of Abu Dhabi.

The growing debt issue and leveraged buy outs of clubs in the English premier league is a concern that needs to be sorted. Certainly over the years the money infused brought us success stories of clubs like Chelsea and off late Man City will get there, in the long run if clubs followed an organic growth pattern like Aston Villa, the fans who pay big price would have been least affected. Lets hope one of these top clubs don't loose out and lop side into the abyss like Leeds United.