Becks comes home and Ronny says 'goodnight'
WARNING - This musing will be all soccer. There won't even be a first bit about something else. It's all football and footballers from this point on folks.
Wednesday was an absolutely fabulous day for soccer. Especially if you were a Manchester United fan.
The boys in red didn't just win, they completely and utterly dominated. Wayne Rooney was in fabulous form, scoring a brace, and Park and Fletch added goals to pretty much stomp A.C. Milan into the ground. In pretty clear terms, we owned their asses. It was utterly and completely fabulous. I was very nervous, to be honest. It wasn't that I didn't have faith in the boys - I mean, we did go into the second leg up 3-2 - but you never want to count out an Italian team, especially Milan. And especially when they have David Beckham waiting on the wing.
Now, over the past year or so I haven't been so much of a Becks fan. And for a Manchester United fan to say that is almost blasphemy. That's almost, almost saying that Eric Cantona wasn't the most bloody brilliant player ever...or that Roy Keane wasn't Roy freakin' Keane, the best United captain to ever pull on a Red Devil's jersey.
Yes, Becks was one of the best Man. Utd former #7, but as an American, his behavior and 'attempt' to control MLS and singlehandedly change soccer in America was a bit steep, even for Becks. And the underhanded way it was done also got under my skin. I'm sorry, Becks is amazing, but that was no reason to take the captaincy of LA from Landon Donovan, a great talent in his own right, and give it to Becks before he had even earned it by playing a game.
But, despite slight animosity that I felt toward the former Man. Utd. 7, it was really something to have him back at Old Trafford - almost like welcoming an older brother home. And to give him some credit, Becks has always maintained his love for Manchester, even when he played for Madrid and even now when he's on loan with A.C. Milan. I mean, last year to see him supporting us in the stands during the semi-finals of the Champion's League...it was pretty awesome.
So Becks is working his way back up in my list of amazing players and I applaud him on a great game. He came in during the 64th minute and tried to breath some life into A.C. Milan, but the damage had already been done. It was great to see him come out in full force on Old Traff's pitch. And I think I can honestly say I'm kinda hoping it won't be last time I see him there either.
While things were absolutely and totally brilliant in England...things in Madrid weren't as happy.
"There can’t be a single United fan who, on hearing of Real Madrid’s exit last night, didn¹t pause to think about Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction to the Reds' 7-2 aggregate thrashing of AC Milan." - Ian McLeish, manutd.com blog
Let me tell ya, Ian, considering the fact that I was flipping back and forth between two match trackers at work, keeping tabs on both games, I found myself asking that question several times.
What would Cristiano think when he heard the Reds pummeled Milan while noting that Real came so close to making a quarter final for the first time in years?
I think a lot of people, especially United fans that weren't particularly fond of Ronny and especially weren't fond of him leaving, have been completely and utterly convinced that he is crying in a corner of the Real Madrid locker room asking himself why in the hell did he leave Manchester.
Clearly, they don't know Cristiano.
Do I think he was disappointed? Well, hell yes. I'm not a Madrid fan and I was disappointed. The club spent millions and millions of dollards I believe bringing in Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema to usher in a new age at Real, to push the club back into the finals of the Champion's League, especially since the Bernabeu would host the final this year.
And from keeping tabs on the game, it seemed like Real had this one in the bag during the first half. Cristiano scored within six minutes and all Real had to do was score another or keep it 1-0 to push into penalties. In the second half, I think half the stadium, along with myself, wondered where in the hell Real Madrid went. Cristiano was shut down again and again and even legend Raul couldn't get a shot off when he was brought in for Kaka.
It was kind of heartbreaking to follow, really. A home game they lost control of quickly, European greatness dwindling from their sights and their own fans leaving after Lyon scored in the 75th minute...I can imagine that Cristiano was feeling horrid at the end of the game.
But that's football. You win some, you lose some.
Now, would I have liked to see them win? Yes. And not just for the soul purpose of seeing Cristiano advanced. I would have adored, adored a final with Manchester United and Real Madrid. Cristiano against Wayne Rooney...the possibilities would have been endless and something that you probably couldn't tear your eyes away from. But again, the nature of football again proves you can never count on anything to turn out how you think.
Do I think this has made Cristiano regret his move? Not in the least. I don't even think the thought will cross his mind.
If you compare his performance in his last season at Manchester to the current one now in Madrid, you will see a stark difference. He is loving playing in Spain, and it is clearly reflecting in the numbers. A bad game and early knock out in the Champion's League will not change that, I am fairly certain.
And I think it is safe to say that he isn't too jealous of his former club. I believe that he would be happy and proud of them, especially Rooney. And I hope that, IF, Manchester makes it to the final again, Cristiano will be wearing red in the stands, maybe even sitting next to Becks, cheering on the Red Devils before thinking about next season when Real and United might, might, meet each other on the pitch.
Wednesday was an absolutely fabulous day for soccer. Especially if you were a Manchester United fan.
The boys in red didn't just win, they completely and utterly dominated. Wayne Rooney was in fabulous form, scoring a brace, and Park and Fletch added goals to pretty much stomp A.C. Milan into the ground. In pretty clear terms, we owned their asses. It was utterly and completely fabulous. I was very nervous, to be honest. It wasn't that I didn't have faith in the boys - I mean, we did go into the second leg up 3-2 - but you never want to count out an Italian team, especially Milan. And especially when they have David Beckham waiting on the wing.
Now, over the past year or so I haven't been so much of a Becks fan. And for a Manchester United fan to say that is almost blasphemy. That's almost, almost saying that Eric Cantona wasn't the most bloody brilliant player ever...or that Roy Keane wasn't Roy freakin' Keane, the best United captain to ever pull on a Red Devil's jersey.
Yes, Becks was one of the best Man. Utd former #7, but as an American, his behavior and 'attempt' to control MLS and singlehandedly change soccer in America was a bit steep, even for Becks. And the underhanded way it was done also got under my skin. I'm sorry, Becks is amazing, but that was no reason to take the captaincy of LA from Landon Donovan, a great talent in his own right, and give it to Becks before he had even earned it by playing a game.
But, despite slight animosity that I felt toward the former Man. Utd. 7, it was really something to have him back at Old Trafford - almost like welcoming an older brother home. And to give him some credit, Becks has always maintained his love for Manchester, even when he played for Madrid and even now when he's on loan with A.C. Milan. I mean, last year to see him supporting us in the stands during the semi-finals of the Champion's League...it was pretty awesome.
So Becks is working his way back up in my list of amazing players and I applaud him on a great game. He came in during the 64th minute and tried to breath some life into A.C. Milan, but the damage had already been done. It was great to see him come out in full force on Old Traff's pitch. And I think I can honestly say I'm kinda hoping it won't be last time I see him there either.
While things were absolutely and totally brilliant in England...things in Madrid weren't as happy.
"There can’t be a single United fan who, on hearing of Real Madrid’s exit last night, didn¹t pause to think about Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction to the Reds' 7-2 aggregate thrashing of AC Milan." - Ian McLeish, manutd.com blog
Let me tell ya, Ian, considering the fact that I was flipping back and forth between two match trackers at work, keeping tabs on both games, I found myself asking that question several times.
What would Cristiano think when he heard the Reds pummeled Milan while noting that Real came so close to making a quarter final for the first time in years?
I think a lot of people, especially United fans that weren't particularly fond of Ronny and especially weren't fond of him leaving, have been completely and utterly convinced that he is crying in a corner of the Real Madrid locker room asking himself why in the hell did he leave Manchester.
Clearly, they don't know Cristiano.
Do I think he was disappointed? Well, hell yes. I'm not a Madrid fan and I was disappointed. The club spent millions and millions of dollards I believe bringing in Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema to usher in a new age at Real, to push the club back into the finals of the Champion's League, especially since the Bernabeu would host the final this year.
And from keeping tabs on the game, it seemed like Real had this one in the bag during the first half. Cristiano scored within six minutes and all Real had to do was score another or keep it 1-0 to push into penalties. In the second half, I think half the stadium, along with myself, wondered where in the hell Real Madrid went. Cristiano was shut down again and again and even legend Raul couldn't get a shot off when he was brought in for Kaka.
It was kind of heartbreaking to follow, really. A home game they lost control of quickly, European greatness dwindling from their sights and their own fans leaving after Lyon scored in the 75th minute...I can imagine that Cristiano was feeling horrid at the end of the game.
But that's football. You win some, you lose some.
Now, would I have liked to see them win? Yes. And not just for the soul purpose of seeing Cristiano advanced. I would have adored, adored a final with Manchester United and Real Madrid. Cristiano against Wayne Rooney...the possibilities would have been endless and something that you probably couldn't tear your eyes away from. But again, the nature of football again proves you can never count on anything to turn out how you think.
Do I think this has made Cristiano regret his move? Not in the least. I don't even think the thought will cross his mind.
If you compare his performance in his last season at Manchester to the current one now in Madrid, you will see a stark difference. He is loving playing in Spain, and it is clearly reflecting in the numbers. A bad game and early knock out in the Champion's League will not change that, I am fairly certain.
And I think it is safe to say that he isn't too jealous of his former club. I believe that he would be happy and proud of them, especially Rooney. And I hope that, IF, Manchester makes it to the final again, Cristiano will be wearing red in the stands, maybe even sitting next to Becks, cheering on the Red Devils before thinking about next season when Real and United might, might, meet each other on the pitch.