Do United Really Need Samir Nasri?

Do United Really Need Samir Nasri?

I just don't understand why United have to go after Samir Nasri when there are players like Young, Nani and Valencia in the team. These players are all very similar to Nasri in their style of play. But his colleague Fabregas is the sort of player United should be trying to sign to replace Scholes.

But we all know Fabregas has his heart set on joining Barcelona, while other 'perfect' options like Modric and Sneijder have been made extremely costly by their clubs.

If Nasri is signed, it is just a matter of saying "it's better than nothing" as there aren't many quality players available in the market, and we only need to imagine we have signed a world-class player, which he is not.

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How United played into the hands of Barcelona in their Champions League defeat

How United played into the hands of Barcelona in their Champions League defeat

When the Barcelona players and their manager Pep Guardiola took turn to praise Javier Hernandez (as if they feared him) before the game, they were plotting to land their fourth Champions League glory. They knew if Hernandez played, it will restrict United to use only two midfielders in the middle of the park and this will make it easier for them to overpower and dominate the midfield.

It's hard to believe Sir Alex Ferguson didn't hear the alarm bells ringing. He must have, but the incredible form of Hernandez must have forced him to keep him in the squad. An option would have been swapping Hernandez for Nani and moving Park Ji-sung inside; alternatively, Darren Fletcher could have come on, allowing Carrick to drop deeper, as Sergio Busquets plays for Barca.

When United fell behind to Pedro's goal, it would have been very difficult for Ferguson to take off Javier Hernandez, as he is one of his main goal threats, but, once Wayne Rooney restored parity, though, the change could have been made at half-time. But Ferguson didn't. United needed three in midfield, where they were being overrun.

United started slow in the second half, and sadly before they could get their leg in, they found themselves out of it. Once the Messi goal went in the 54th minute, the fate of United was sealed. They didn't look like they will have any chance of mounting a fight-back, because by then Xavi and Iniesta had taken complete control of the midfield. United ran after the ball like a late-night drunkard, but, like a kid’s possessiveness for his own toy, Barcelona kept the ball to themselves, and the crown. This is their third victory in six seasons.

Despair for United, having lost both their recent final appearances against Barca in such humiliating fashion. Rio Ferdinand fumed United should have stopped Barca, but I still think United would have lost in whatever formation they could have sent their team out, though the margin of the loss could have been lessened had they gone with three midfielders. Barcelona were so much superior to them. There’s no shame in losing to one of the greatest football teams of all times.

Barcelona showed the world how to play football, and when they do, you can only sit back and think what a beautiful game football is.

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The Spectacular Fall of Chelsea

The Spectacular Fall of Chelsea

They conquered what they saw. They battered their enemies. Their empire stood firm at the top of the order. But one day, like the curse on Karna, the ill-fated king of Anga, their skills deserted them. Their nerves rattled. They fell prostrate at the feet of their enemies and surrendered. Their kingdom was lost.

I'm talking about Chelsea Football Club. In the beginning of the season pundits predicted Chelsea to comfortably run away with the title this season. And a run of high-scoring victories made many to believe they were on course for an uneventful title defense. But their flying start soon came to a screeching halt. Less than eight months after winning The Double, Chelsea are a broken team and there seems no way back.

Though I personally predicted Chelsea to lose points in the middle of the season, the slump they are in now is never predicted. One victory in nine and 10 points from the last 11 games is the worst run since 1995-96. Chelsea is bottom of the form table. No one possibly could have predicted this.

One can tell many reasons for their woeful run of nightmarish defeats- aging squad, injuries, small first team etc. Along with Wigan, Chelsea’s senior squad of 19 (including three keepers) are the smallest in the Premier League.

Perhaps it’s a combination of all the above said factors with bad luck sprinkled over it, or it may be confidence that is in short supply at the moment. When your confidence is low, your concentration can never be high and you tend to leak goals, and even turn into your own goal. But having said all these, a team like Chelsea cannot become a bad team so soon. After all they are the defending champions.

Their plight remains as much of a mystery as United's unbeaten run. The Sun asked, "What on earth did they do in sacking Ray Wilkins?"

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United Turn Up The Tempo

United Turn Up The Tempo

Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The world is going gaga over United's crushing 7-1 defeat of Blackburn over the weekend. After a lackluster performance against 9 men Wigan in the previous Weekend, much of the disappointment was vented on a hapless Blackburn who had lost several key players to injury.

Nevertheless, I'm over-joyed for the first time this season. This is United's biggest win since AS Roma were beaten by the same score line in April 2007. Berbatov will obviously get all the attention for that stunning performance. I also think a couple of goals were handed to him on a plate by Allardyce's compliant Blackburn team but some were worth watching again and again.

For me, a large reason for United playing so well in this game was Anderson. He looked like a train on the go and didn't stop running. His box-to-box play was magnificent. And Rooney, though he didn't feature in the scorer's list, was world-class. He seemed to play the Scholes role and he really showed his touch which made Sir Alex to wax lyrics about his performance after the game. But for Berbatov, taking into account his inconsistency, the question that is left hanging in the air was "when next?"

This weekend also saw United marching to the top of the table, and staying two points clear off Chelsea and Arsenal thanks to the Chelsea's failure to beat Newcastle on Sunday. Earlier in the season I had predicted Chelsea to lose games in the middle of the season, but to my surprise they have started their losing streak much early on. But I would be a fool if I ever write them off.

A game is won or lost in the mid field. When Lampard and Essian, the twin anchors of Chelsea are not playing, there is a kind of shakiness about them that they look like a ship dangerously sailing on turbulent waters. In the first place, it is bad business from their part to have to rely on them too much. But again, having announced they are going to be back soon, probably as early as next weekend, they have a fighting chance of reclaiming the title this season because I secretly fear for United.

Despite an impressive performance this time around, I fear for their "undefeated" tag. In the past, teams who have gone undefeated for long, have gone through tough times and lost many points in a row once they lose their record. I fear the same for United. If that is to happen, and If United is to surrender the lead, I would only be lamenting about the points United lost already by drawing games, than losing games.

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New EPL Season Warm-Up

New EPL Season Warm-Up

After the gloom and doom of the World Cup exit and Manchester United surrendering the title to Chelsea last season, my antenna of hope is now beginning to pick up positive signals - from Old Trafford, at least. England, who cares? I would want to duck the issue like the way Ashley Cole stumbled away from Fabio Capello’s inviting hand in the Community Shield final.

Well, many of my fellow fans were worried about the lack of new signings made by Manchester United, but after the emphatic victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield, I believe some of you might have given your frustrations a much needed break.

I still think Manchester United are strapped for cash despite Sir Alex and Gill repeatedly claiming to have funds available, and I don’t think they will sign any big names in this transfer slot. But on the other side, I reckon we have enough resources already to mount a credible title challenge this year, and possibly win it. I would want to showcase the Community Shield victory as proof.

Though it is still early days, and it is foolhardy to bet United will win the title this year, nevertheless the victory has in fact suggested our players are much sharper than when they opened their title defense same time last year.

United were caught short in their pursuit of Chelsea towards the end of last season when Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Federico Macheda were all injured, leaving Dimitar Berbatov as our only fit striker. Lack of options up front, as well as a chronic injury list in defense midway through the season, cost United the title. But with Rooney and Berbatov looking sharp against Chelsea, Owen and Macheda fit again, United could not be in better shape.

New signing Javier Hernandez has impressed me greatly, and his partnership with Berbatov is something I'm eagerly awaiting to see. The pair has seemed to be a match made in heaven all through the pre-season, and it would be interesting to see how they fare in the real test. Chris Smalling did not have a great start, but to his defense, Evra and Vidic also took a while to hit form with United.

This pre-season so far has been pretty uneventful for Manchester United fans, except for some happy results in friendlies in the United States and Ireland. The spot light has been mostly on neighbors and rivals City thanks to their spending spree once again. Money cannot guarantee success immediately, but I see them eventually winning the title in the near future if they continue to do reckless spending. Having said that, I don’t see any close danger to United this season from City. As Sir Alex put it, they have not got a single world class player in their squad. David Silva, Yaya Toure and Boateng are good players, but not yet world class. By looking at their current squad, which is unwisely huge - I presume Manchini will have a tough time in keeping egos at bay, I don’t see them winning anything this year.

In the United States, Sir Alex also outlined how his eventual successor at Old Trafford should be like. Martin O'Neill, a candidate touted as a future replacement for the great man, has dramatically quit Aston Villa five days before the season starts. I have always been a big fan of this guy from his days at Leicester where he did a more than decent job in transforming the club from a lowly second-division team to one that regularly feature in the top ten in the EPL. I used to love the sight of him jumping up and down the sideline at Celtic and Villa, but recent news has suggested his flaws in man-management. Some members of Villa Park staff questioned O’Neill’s loyalty to certain players, and O'Neill reportedly had a huge bust-up with Nigel Reo-Coker, he allegedly grabbed Reo-Coker's throat after the player told O'Neill to "F*** off". Okay, now off from the potential successor list, I guess.

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World Cup: The Woes of England

World Cup: The Woes of England

I was an odd man out, as a England supporter, in a land of mad mad football fans (Kerala) who painted their houses and automobiles in the colors of Argentina and Brazil. I braved the booes that flew in from the opposition factions, and continued to blow the vuvuzela for Three Lions until it all ended at Bloemfontein on 26th June, so fast as it had began. The Three Lions bowed out meekly like Three Kittens.

England has always been a much hyped team ever since their victory in 1966. Over-hyped or under-achievers, they could never get anywhere close to that dizzy heights in any cup competition after 1966. Much of the malaise has been attributed to the Premier League that leaves the players physically and mentally drained for any kind of close season competitions. Arguments are rife on installing a month-long winter break as in Germany. There are also calls to reduce the number of teams in the BPL which can help in limiting fixture congestion.

But one should understand these discussions started much before England's defeat way back at Euro 2004, and with the latest loss, it has only gained momentum, and a final solution may still be decades away.

The English have a habit of talking big, and actually not doing anything. More than anything else, it's the English football system that is more culpable for their failings. Sacking Fabio Capello or booting off some of the so called "Golden Generation" of stars could only make matters worse.

Howard Wilkinson on Monday explained how he had written a report for the FA back in 1997 which said English football needed to devote more resources to youth development, spend more time on technical skills, build a national football centre and prepare for a future when 4-4-2 will be obsolete.

As a fan I can only hope for a better future....but for now, as a true lover of football in general, I need to pick another team. C'mon Spain, c'mon....

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