Bleacher Report - Articles by Jeff Harbert

Farewell Bleacher Report: A Tribute and a Thank You

Jeff Harbert — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:01:28 -0500

“So many people and things in and out of my life; some will last, some will be just now and then. Life is a series of hellos and good-byes.” – Unknown

This is a time for good-bye.

After eight months of writing for Bleacher Report, I have decided it’s time to part ways. From the time I published my first article on Feb. 4, 2008 to a couple of days ago when I published my 99th article, I feel like I have come a long, long way.

I am indebted to this Web site for all it has done for me, and I am grateful to each and every person who has helped me along the way. Bleacher Report has served as a platform for me to practice and hone my writing skills, as I strive to improve my journalism abilities as much as possible. It has given me a link between the two things I love most—sports and writing.

But after writing 100 articles, the vast majority of which were about football, I have decided it’s time to part ways with this flourishing community. It was not a sudden or hasty decision; in fact, I have been planning my departure ever since August, when I vowed to walk away after reaching the 100-article milestone.

I was simply sacrificing too much time to this Web site, and I feel I need to focus my time and effort on other things. I have no regrets, however.

I feel proud of what I have accomplished during my time here. I have amassed over 76,300 article reads, received over 750 comments, earned 28 fans and 41 Pick of the Day votes as well as two Pick of the Day articles.

Most important of all, however, I reached my own target of writing a century of articles, a goal inspired by seeing World Football Community Leader, Andrew McNair, reach 100 articles soon after I had joined this flourishing network.

“Without goals, and plans to reach them, I am like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” - Fitzhugh Dodson

And now that my ship has sailed towards my intended destination, and I’ve achieved my goal of 100 articles, it’s time to say farewell. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at Bleacher Report, and I feel privileged to have been a part of the development and growth of this Web site, especially the World Football community.

I am extremely grateful to each and every member of this community who has helped me improve and progress as a writer. I probably wouldn’t be this far without all of you.

When I first joined Bleacher Report, an established writer by the name of Salaar Shamsi helped me slowly assert myself on the Web site. I am truly grateful for his help, and it has been a pleasure being the Manchester United co-community leader with Salaar. His 474 articles say it all.

A fellow American by the name of Joe Guarr has also been a huge help to me, and especially this Web site. He and Thomas Leemon, another phenomenal writer, have made huge contributions to the MLS community, and I personally take great delight in seeing the growth of American soccer. Good job, guys.

A dedicated Manchester United supporter, Keith Griffin, has also been a huge help to me during my time here on Bleacher Report. Before getting caught up with his studies, Keith produced some top-notch articles and has always been a great support to me here at B/R.

And there are many other great writers here on B/R as well. The World Football section would not be what it is without people like Andrew McNair, Shyam, Salomon, Alex, Mark Andrew, Yoosof, Barney, and Ricky. All the best to you guys.

And finally, I can still remember opening my e-mail one day and receiving a letter from Zander Freud, the Community Director of Bleacher Report, requesting an article about a specific Manchester United topic.

I wrote that article, which was followed by another one, and eventually by 98 more. His help while I’ve been here has made all the difference, and I am grateful for everything he’s done for me at this site.

I would also like to thank everyone who has read my articles. What good would they be if no one ever read them?

And lastly, I would like to thank anyone who has at any point criticized my work. It’s because of people you that I feel motivated to feel improve my writing.

Thanks everyone, it’s been great. Farewell and all the best.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from one of the greatest sporting legends ever.

“Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan

The EPL: Shaping Lives Everywhere

Jeff Harbert — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:27:37 -0400

Deep in the heart of poverty-stricken countries in Africa, the crest of some of England’s biggest clubs can be seen on worn, tattered and faded t-shirts and jerseys. For some, the shirt on their back is worth more to them than any amount of money they could earn by selling their shirt in the second-hand market.

Even in places where people would do almost anything to earn enough money to be able to afford one meal a day, the crest of clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea are valued as much as the food necessary for survival.

The crest of clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea represent a hope and optimism that nothing else can even come close to matching. It goes to show just how much the English Premier League has grown and the impact it has had and continues to have in our world.

In war torn countries such as the Ivory Coast, seeing their countryman Didier Drogba playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs in some of the world’s most prestigious competitions provides people with a renewed hope and inspiration needed to continue with their lives.

Thousands gather every week around a small television in a bar or house to catch a glimpse of their favorite heroes. Players like Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Obafemi Martins are what keep the dream alive in their countries. Little kids with absolutely nothing for footwear run around the dusty streets of town kicking a football ball made out of plastic bags, hoping they can one day follow in their hero’s footsteps.

And for people like this, it is their idols in the world’s biggest league that keep their dream alive. Without players like Kolo Toure, Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor, Benjani Mwaruwari, or Michael Essien flourishing in the English Premier League, some people would have nothing to cling on to in life.

It’s a sad truth, but a large portion of the continent of Africa is overwhelmed with poverty. After being born and living in Kenya for fourteen out of the first eighteen years of my life, I have witnessed such poverty first hand.

I can still recall walking through the streets of the town I lived in and hearing homeless people yell at me, “Man United!” Being one of the few white people in my town in a large town in Kenya, I was known by most people for two things: Being white and being a Manchester United supporter.

Even when I wasn’t sporting a Manchester United jersey or shirt, people who knew I was a United fan would still shout things at me about the club. Sometimes their remarks were affirmative and sometimes they were negative, but no matter what they were always said in a friendly manner.

And whenever I was seen donning a United jersey I would lose track of the vast amount of comments I received from people, most of who I didn’t even know. Even homeless kids on the side of the street without a shirt of their own chimed in with their own comments at times. My little brother, a die-hard Chelsea supporter, experienced much of the same whenever he wore his Chelsea jersey in public.

I learned that, even in the midst of despair and hopelessness, people were still able to find hope in the English Premier League. It may be hard to grasp if you haven’t actually experienced it first hand, but England’s biggest clubs have, in a sense, become a shining light in a dark world.

People’s hopes stretch far beyond their own countries’ football stars in England, but even in some of the big club’s star players in England’s top flight.

Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Fernando Torres and Cristiano Ronaldo are some of the most popular players in Africa, and they too are able to inspire anyone, from the poor man who struggles to earn enough money to be able to go to a bar and watch his favorite team to the rich business man who sits comfortably in the luxury of his home as he cheers on his beloved club.

Football and specifically the English Premier League give a lot of people something to live for. After all, when your job generates less than a dollar a day and you live in a hut made out of mud, sometimes the only happiness you get is from watching your favorite football club win.

The English Premier League is the world’s biggest and most popular league but its thriving popularity is seen in many places besides Africa. But after living in Africa for 14 years, I have discovered first hand just how big of an influence the English Premier League has across the world.

Whether it’s in the heart of big cities or the fringes of mid-size towns, the English Premier League is undoubtedly making a difference. And whether it’s in the center of small villages or the borders of the poorest of slums, England’s top flight is clearly having an influence.

The most important part of all is the fact that this influence is a positive one and one that will continue to shape and inspire our world in a beneficial way.

Manchester United: Dimitar Berbatov Inspires Wayne Rooney Into Top Form

Jeff Harbert — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:52:17 -0400

Wayne Rooney has been in fantastic form recently, finding the net seven times out of his last five outings for club and country. The Manchester United striker scored in each of United’s last three fixtures against Bolton, Aalborg, and Blackburn, before bagging a brace for England against Kazakhstan last weekend and then again on Wednesday versus Belarus.

The United front man scored 18 goals last season for the Red Devils en route to clinching both the Premiership and Champions League titles. Yet the former Everton striker was often on the receiving end of criticism over his goal scoring consistency.

England coach Fabio Capello even told Rooney last season that he needed to be more selfish last season and others have pointed at his tireless work ethic for his lack of goals.

Rooney was criticized once again at the beginning of the new season after failing to find the net in United’s first seven matches. The 22-year-old even found himself in an unusual position during Bolton’s visit to Old Trafford at the end of last month. Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez took up United’s attacking responsibilities as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men sought their first home win in the league.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial penalty gave United the lead, but it wasn’t until the introduction of Wayne Rooney that the three points were secured. Six minutes after replacing Carlos Tevez, Rooney was on the scoresheet for the first time in the new season.

It has only got better for Rooney since his substitute appearance against Bolton. Being dropped to the bench seemed to serve as a wake-up call for Rooney, as he went on to score two more goals with clinical finishes against Aalborg and Blackburn.

The international break may have interrupted United’s return to top form, but it did little in disrupting Rooney’s goal scoring streak. With the pressure on England to get a result at Wembley in their World Cup Qualifier, Rooney ensured the Three Lions earned all three points by grabbing a brace in the 5-1 win over Kazakhstan.

Rooney’s name was on the score sheet once again four days later as England overcame Belarus 3-1, courtesy of a second half brace by the man of the moment.

If there is anything that has been key to Rooney’s recent form for club and country, it is the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov at Old Trafford. The Bulgarian forward signed for United on the last day of the transfer window and has since formed a promising partnership with Rooney, with the two combining for one third of United’s goals this season as they look to haul United back up the table.

In fact, England stand-in captain Rio Ferdinand believes Berbatov is responsible for Rooney’s hot streak in front of goal.

"Wayne is confident, playing well, and being honest, one of the reasons I was happy that Berbatov signed for United was that I knew it would inspire other players in the team to step their game up another level," said Ferdinand.

"It's not just the forwards but the other players as well. When a new player comes in that's what happens.

"Everyone wants to impress that player and show them why they are playing for Manchester United. I think 'Wazza' has taken that on board and gone from strength to strength.

"I think they can be a great pairing. Berbatov's arrival will help him become a better player individually and go to another level.”

As Wayne Rooney returns to Carrington to link up with the rest of the United squad, he will be determined to continue his goal scoring run.

"Goals are going in for me and I'm really pleased. I work every day on my finishing and it's going well," Rooney said. "You can always improve, there are weaknesses there I can improve on. I've worked a lot on my finishing and it's starting to pay off on the pitch now which I'm happy about.

"I believe I'm going to score in any game anyway. I'm a confident person and I'm delighted they are going in at the moment. Hopefully I can keep it going."

Sir Alex Ferguson probably only had one thing in mind when he splashed over 30 million pounds for Berbatov and that was the amount of goals the Bulgarian would provide for his side. Little did Ferguson, or anyone for that matter, know that the former Tottenham striker would be key to Wayne Rooney’s return to top goal scoring form.

Rooney will hope to extend his goal scoring streak this weekend as he and the rest of his United teammates look to continue their charge up the standings as they take on West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday.

A Truly Remarkable Gesture: Etxeberria Signs To Play For Free

Jeff Harbert — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:27:35 -0400

In a time when money comes first, Athletico Bilbao’s Joseba Etxeberria has agreed to play out his final season for the club for free. The 31-year-old singed a one-year contract extension that will see him finish his career with the Los Cachorros.

Etxeberria joined the club at age 17 and has played for the club ever since. He is famed for his dribbling, pace and fierce shot, but will now be famed for much more than his skills on the football pitch.

While so many other footballers hold out on signing new contracts until they can force the club to pay the highest wages possible, Etxeberria has agreed to play for free.

Frank Lampard, Emmanuel Adebayor, Rio Ferdinand and many others need to take note! So many modern day footballers seem to only be concerned about making money, as I explained in my recently published article.

Yet Etxeberria, known as El Gallo (The Rooster) to Athletico Bilbao fans for his long neck, has shown the ultimate gesture to his club. The Athletico captain has been a major figure at the club since joining as a teenager and wants to thank his club for everything by playing his final season for free.

Etxeberria’s sacrifice to the club has not gone unnoticed and club president Fernando Garcia Macau was quick to praise the former Spanish international.

"From the club's standpoint, there are not words enough to thank such a gesture,” Macau said.

The Athletico Bilbao captain led the 1995 World Youth Championships in scoring and earned 53 caps for the Spanish National Team, scoring 12 goals and playing a part in the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000 and Euro 2004.

Etxeberria admits he has always wanted to end his career at Athletico Bilbao, but claims he is not trying to set an example by agreeing to play out his final season for free.

"I wanted to do this gesture but never did I want to set a precedent."

Whether or not Etxeberria wanted to make an example out of his honorable decision, it is something every footballer should learn form.

Here’s to Joseba Etxeberria, who has shown that football is not all about money!

Cheers, Joseba…

Money, Money, Money! Is It All Footballers’ Want Anymore?

Jeff Harbert — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:50:11 -0400

Money, money, money, money, money! Some people got to have it. Some people really need it…

The above is a segment from the lyrics of “For The Love Of Money” by the O’Jays. The song was made famous through The Apprentice, where it was used as the theme song for multiple seasons. For those of you who don’t know, The Apprentice is all about making money.

In modern football, money has become such a major element of the sport, and at times it seems to be the only motive for people to play the "beautiful game." Loyalties are pushed aside when money comes into the picture, and more often than not, players long to go where the money is.

Chelsea’s Frank Lampard currently earns around £140,000 a week, while teammate John Terry rakes in about £131,000 every week. Chelsea’s Michael Ballack earns £121,000 a week, while Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard earns £120,000 over the course of seven days.

Before returning to AC Milan last summer, Andriy Shevchenko earned wages in the region of £121,000 during his time at Stamford Bridge. For a player who only scored 22 goals during his time at Chelsea, it seems like a ridiculous amount of money to pay a player, and in all honesty, it is.

Other big earners in the Premier League include Cristiano Ronaldo, with £119,000 a week, and his Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney, who earns £110,000 a week. Newcastle’s Michael Owen and Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand also earn over £100,000 a week, while Chelsea’s Didier Drogba falls just outside of the ‘£100,000 wages club’ with £91,000 a week.

What would happen if each of these players’ wages were cut in half? I have my doubts as to whether or not they’d still want to play for their club.

It may be impertinent for me to undermine the loyalties of each player, but it an era when money is such an important factor, I’m convinced each of these players would feel differently about playing for their club if their wages were to suddenly be cut in half.

I have the ultimate respect for Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, and in fact, they are just a few of my heroes at Old Trafford. But I cannot help but question the motives of the modern footballer. Rooney and Ferdinand clearly love playing at United, but I doubt they would feel the same way if they earned less than half of what they make now.

Frank Lampard spent the summer mulling over a move to Inter Milan to join former coach Jose Mourinho after Chelsea failed to offer the 30-year-old enough money in his contract extension.

The England international eventually forced Chelsea’s hand and the Stamford Bridge outfit offered him an improved contract. Lampard has been the heartbeat for Chelsea since transferring from West Ham in 2001, but he was ready to throw away his loyalties because of money.

Emmanuel Adebayor was on the brink of a move to AC Milan after growing unhappy with his wages at Arsenal. The Togo striker claimed he deserved to be paid as much as Thierry Henry did during his time at Arsenal. Adebayor eventually decided to stay at Arsenal, but it only reiterated the modern day footballer’s lust for money.

I could go on forever about footballers who served as examples of the modern day footballer’s drive for money, but this article might just go on forever. Rio Ferdinand was as guilty as Lampard and Adebayor a couple of seasons ago when he refused to come to an agreement with Manchester United over his contract, even after the club had paid £30 million for his services and stuck by him through his eight-month ban from football for missing a drugs test.

The final line in the song “For The Love Of Money” is: People! Don't let money, don't let money change you, it will keep on changing, changing up your mind.

To all the footballers out there: Don’t let money, don’t let money change you, because it is clearly changing up your minds. It’s disheartening to see a footballer more concerned about money rather than playing the sport they love.

When a footballer begins playing the beautiful game for the first time as a child, he dreams of scoring a winning goal and hearing every fan in the stadium chant his name. Nowadays, however, it seems the footballer’s who once dreamt of success on the pitch, are only harboring dreams of adding more money to their bank account.

For a breath of fresh air, which I strongly suggest, check out the following article on how Athletico Bilbao’s Joseba Exteberria puts the likes of Lampard and Adebayor to shame by deciding to play for his club for FREE.

Chicago Fire-LA Galaxy: A Supporter’s Firsthand Experience

Jeff Harbert — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:23:30 -0400

We are red and white (Whoooah)

We are red and white, we’re the f***** dynamite!

The hype and excitement in Toyota Park before the match had even kicked off was incredible. Despite a crushing loss to FC Dallas last weekend, Chicago Fire supporters were in good voice as they waited for Blanco to lead out the Fire for one of their last home games of the season.

I had only been to the home of the Chicago Fire on two occasions prior to Thursday night, and on neither occasion was there an atmosphere like there was when the Fire hosted the LA Galaxy in what was a vital match for both sides.

The Galaxy, buoyed by their 5-2 romp past DC United over the weekend, were looking to continue their push for a playoff spot with just four regular season games remaining. Meanwhile, the Chicago Fire were hoping to end their recent slump and solidify their playoff spot.

The section behind the goal at the south side of the stadium is notorious for making a lot of noise during Fire games, but I was unaware of how tremendous of an atmosphere they created until I had experienced it firsthand. There wasn’t a quiet moment the entire match and by half-time I was already beginning to lose my voice. I participated in as many chants as possible, even the ones in Spanish.

VAMOS! La maquina roja...Esta noche…Tenemos que ganar...

For the Spanish illiterate, this chant translates to ‘We GO! It plots it red… This night… We have to win’… or something to that effect (after three years of learning Spanish I still struggle to understand it sometimes!).

The fans were still in good voice as the match got underway following a delayed kick-off.

With Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch standing between the posts at my end of the field, chants directed at the number one goalkeeper were inevitable.

Four more years, four more years, four more years…we want Busch, we want Busch, we want Busch!

The Fire started the match strongly and it wasn’t long before they grabbed the game’s opening goal. John Thorrington held the ball up for Chris Rolfe, who beat a couple of defenders before firing the ball into the lower left hand corner of the goal to give the Fire a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.

Fans across the stadium, especially in my section, went ballistic as soon as Rolfe’s shot hit the back of the net. After seeing our team be thrashed by FC Dallas last weekend, we were desperate to see the Fire redeem themselves tonight.

Our hopes took a major blow a few minutes before half-time, however, when Eddie Lewis got in front of his defender to flick Chris Klein’s cross inside the far post to level the scores at 1-1. Despite seeing the Fire’s lead cancelled out, nothing could dampen the atmosphere.

The second half began with the Fire searching for a goal and ten minutes after the restart Fire supporters went into ecstasy once again. Cuauhtemoc Blanco capitalized on a mix-up between Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Wicks and defender Troy Roberts, slotting the ball into an empty net from thirty yards out to give the Fire the lead for the second time in the match.

Clap, clap-clap, clap, clap-clap, clap-clap, clap…We love you Fi-re we do, we love you Fi-re, we do, we love you Fi-re, we do, Oh Fire we love you!

Every supporter in the stadium went ballistic after Blanco had given the Fire the lead, but little did they know, it was about to get even better. Two minutes later Gonzalo Segares’ through ball sent Chris Rolfe clear on goal and the Chicago Fire striker made no mistake, netting his second goal of the game.

With a two goal advantage and momentum on their side, everyone appeared confident the Fire would hold on for the win. Various chants echoed from my section, including one I couldn’t help but smile at.

Late last night while we were all in bed Miss O’Leary left a lantern in the shed…When the cow tipped it over she winked her eye and said “It will be a hot time in the old town tonight” FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!

Whoever said American soccer fans lacked passion? And the notion that MLS fans are not creative is complete nonsense in my opinion.

At random intervals during the match the entire fan section behind the goal would point to the east side of the stadium and yell, “East side, east side, east side, east side, east side,” until they had attained the east side of the stadium’s attention. The chant then went like this:

WHO’S THE BEST? -- FIRE!

WHOOO? -- FIRE!

WHOOO? -- FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!

The final whistle was met with loud cheers from all 20,156 people in the stadium, except for the Galaxy and David Beckham supporters, of course. Following the match and on the drive home I found myself reflecting on what had been a truly memorable experience. It’s not every night I get to go watch one of my favorite sports teams in action.

The experience also reminded me of how far US soccer has come in recent years. The passion and enthusiasm throughout Toyota Park was as good as any other professional sporting event I’ve ever been to, if not even better.

Watching the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on numerous outings was always an enjoyable occasion, but the atmosphere doesn’t compare with what I experienced in Toyota Park. Sitting near half court at the United Center watching the Chicago Bulls was also special, but it too didn’t compare with sitting, more like standing behind the goal at Toyota Park.

The Fire v. Galaxy match was an incredible experience and I felt inspired to share my experience with others. Seeing David Beckham wasn’t half as good as seeing the Fire stroll to a 3-1 win, but it was still special to see a player who once held a special place in my heart for his contributions for Manchester United.

I can hardly wait for the next time I have the opportunity to go watch the Chicago Fire or any MLS game for that matter. There is no feeling that can compare with knowing that you are, in a sense, a very small part of the progression of soccer in the United States.

So until the next Chicago Fire game rolls around, I will be doing whatever I can to continue to encourage the development of soccer in the United States.

The Top 10 Greatest Manchester United Quotes Ever

Jeff Harbert — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:14:22 -0400

1. “It never rains in Manchester, but it pours” — Kevin Keegan

This quote isn’t directly related to Manchester United, but any knowledgeable United supporter knows the heavens like to open up above Manchester. Now although City and United receive equal amounts of rain, United seem to have received the majority of the blessings. Right, Keegan?

2. “In all modesty, my summing up of 1955-6 and 1956-7 must be that no club in the country could live with Manchester United.” — Matt Busby

Coming from the mouth of a true United legend and one who knew the Busby Babes better than anyone, it makes the Munich Disaster even more devastating.

3. “I didn't do myself justice after joining Manchester City but, having said that, I shared a house with George Best for two years so it had its compensations!” — Mick Horswill

It seems sharing a house with a legend was as good as playing for Manchester City…maybe if Chelsea had offered Robinho the chance to share a house with one of their stars then they would’ve gotten their man?

4. “I feel close to the rebelliousness and vigour of the youth here. Perhaps time will separate us, but nobody can deny that here, behind the windows of Manchester, there is an insane love of football, of celebration and of music.” — Eric Cantona

I always knew Eric Cantona loved playing for Manchester United, but I had no idea music was one of the reasons why. You’ve got to love the King.

5. “I never comment on referees and I’m not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.” — Ron Atkinson

The former Manchester United manager sure knew how to be subtle when getting his points across.

6. “Cole should be scoring from those distances, but I’m not going to single him out.” — Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex must have learned from his predecessor about how to be subtle in order to get his points across.

7. “As long as we are successful on the pitch, then I will be here—unless Manchester United put in a call. But I don't think Sir Alex Ferguson is planning to step down just yet!” — Paul Ince

More than a decade later and I guess the current Blackburn manager was right!

8. “Fergie said I was a Manchester United player in the wrong shirt—I said he was an Arsenal manager in the wrong blazer.” — Tony Adams

This one is just downright amusing.

9. “Paul Jewell's sides are always hard to break down, although Manchester United have a habit of breaking his sides down pretty easily.” — Charlie Nicholas

Wow, what a great, insightful quote from the Sky Sports pundit…

10. "When Manchester United are at their best I am close to orgasm." — Gianluca Vialli

The former Italian striker and manager was one of only six Italian footballers to ever win the three main European club competitions (European Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup, and UEFA Cup). But I highly doubt he came as close to having an orgasm during his playing days as he did when watching Manchester United.

There you have it, my top 10 favorite Manchester United quotes ever. I'm sure there are probably plenty more out there but for now, these will remain my favorites...unless anyone else has any better ones, of course.

Manchester United Bus Attacked After Chelsea Match

Jeff Harbert — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:32:11 -0400

The bus carrying Manchester United players and staff was attacked after leaving Stamford Bridge following the league meeting between Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Premiership Champions were making their return to the north-west of England after the 1-1 draw, in which seven United players were booked. United’s seven bookings will mean they will receive a fine of 25,000 pounds by the FA. United also accumulated seven bookings the last time they played Chelsea in the league.

Following the match a bottle was hurled at the windscreen and a missile was also thrown at the bus. The windscreen cracked but fortunately no one was injured.

It is unclear whether or not the attack was initiated by a Chelsea fan or not, but police are looking into the incident.

Manchester United officials played down the incident, however, stating that it was not something they were planning on looking into.

“Yes. There was an incident but the matter is now in the hands of the police,'' a club spokesman said.

There was post-match controversy the last time Chelsea and Manchester United faced off at Stamford Bridge, with Patrice Evra and other United players involved in a fracas with Chelsea officials who reportedly attacked them in order to get them to leave the pitch. Evra and a Chelsea official were both fined for that incident.

Chelsea officials were also keen to play down the incident, admitting they heard about it but were not necessarily concerned about it.

"We are aware of reports of an altercation with the Manchester United bus as it left the Stamford Bridge area,” a Chelsea spokesman said.

"It appears to be an isolated incident but we have launched a full investigation in conjunction with local authorities.

"We do not condone violence in any shape or form. If, as a result of our investigations, we find that any Chelsea supporters were involved we will take appropriate action against those individuals.''

It remains to be seen if this incident is just being blown out of proportion, or if it is an issue that needs to be dealt with. In the meantime, however, both clubs will look to prepare for their upcoming fixtures next weekend.

‘Man United Is Just Another Game’ Says Scolari – Surely Not!

Jeff Harbert — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:04:50 -0400

Chelsea currently sit six points ahead of Manchester United in the table and have the opportunity to go nine points clear of their major title rivals this weekend. There has been a lot of hype in anticipation of what is a rematch of last year’s Champions League final.

United won that match in penalties to add to their success of already winning the Premier League a week and a half earlier.

But there’s a new man in charge of Chelsea now and there’s a new confidence oozing from every area of Chelsea’s play. Luiz Felipe Scolari has already had a big impact at Chelsea, and the former Portugal coach faces his biggest challenge yet against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

Despite all of the hype and build up to this weekend’s match, Scolari claims it is just another game.

“This is one more game, nothing different,” Scolari said. “The challenge when I came to England was to win the Premier League, not just single games. The challenge is to win all the games, not only games against Man United.

“I think for my players it is one more game also. Three points against Manchester United is the same as three points against Stoke City, against Wigan, against Portsmouth. No different.”

“It’s better for us to be nine points ahead of United but it’s only the start of the league. If it was the last three or four games, nine points would be fantastic. But, we have 33 games more so nine points is nothing.”

Yes, it may be ‘another’ game, but in some sense, it’s not just ‘another’ game. If Chelsea win tomorrow they will move nine points ahead of Manchester United. The season may still be young, but to slip that far behind your biggest title rivals is not something United can afford.

In the past two seasons Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have been the ones leading the pack but if they lose tomorrow it will be themselves who are chasing the league leaders for once.

I have no doubts that Manchester United would be able to cut the gap over the course of the season, but the psychological effect of losing to Chelsea, immediately after being beaten by Liverpool, could have a detrimental effect on the Premier League Champions.

As for Chelsea, beating their biggest title rivals and moving nine points clear would give them all the momentum they need to carry on with their pursuit of a first league title in over two years.

In my opinion, tomorrow’s crunch match is not just ‘another’ match. It’s much more than that, and we you will see why in the upcoming weeks.

Confidence in the Old Trafford camp will reach a new low if they lose at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, but if the Manchester United wins it could essentially kick start a campaign in which they’ve only won once so far.

Will Manchester United Be Getting the Blues This Weekend?

Jeff Harbert — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:57:09 -0400

The upcoming weekend is an important one for Manchester United as they take on league leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Red Devils have experienced a difficult start to the season, winning just once and only finding the net on three occasions so far.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have gotten their season off to a flyer under new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari. The Stamford Bridge outfit has already scored 13 goals this season and has won four out of their first five games.

The Champions League runners-up from last season will be confident of piling more misery on the reigning European and English Champions this weekend, especially considering they haven’t lost at home in an incredible 87 matches.

Manchester United lost at Stamford Brigde on their last visit when Michael Ballack’s brace gave Chelsea a 2-1 win. The German captain, who should be fit to play after recovering from an ankle injury, is confident his side will heap even more pressure on United on Sunday.

“It's a big chance for us to make a gap," Ballack said. "It's never easy when you are always behind and you have to close the gap from nine to six points, and you are playing a day after your rivals. We dealt with that and maybe we can reverse it this season."

Chelsea will go nine points clear if they win this weekend and Sir Alex Ferguson will certainly hope to avoid going behind by such a margin this early in the season.

"It's always a big game when the top sides meet and that's why I'm disappointed about last Saturday," Ferguson said. "I'm sure we won't be giving goals away in the way we did last Saturday. I'm sure of that."

Cristiano Ronaldo made his first appearance of the season on Wednesday night during Manchester United’s Champions League opener against Villareal. It remains to be seen if Ronaldo will be included in Ferguson’s starting 11, but the Portuguese ace will certainly play some part against his former International team coach.

United fans will be hoping to see Ronaldo start after he reminded his team of what they have been missing in recent weeks during his substitute appearance on Wednesday night. After a lengthy lay-off the Portuguese winger looked as dangerous as ever and came close to winning the match for the European Champions.

Nemanja Vidic is suspended following his dismissal at Anfield last weekend and Johny Evans looks set to fill in for the Serbian defender following a solid performance in United’s 0-0 draw against Villareal. John Terry will also be available to captain his side this weekend, following the rescinding of his red card against Manchester City last weekend.

After making his Manchester United debut last weekend against Liverpool, Dimitar Berbatov sat out of United’s opening Champions League match due to a minor knee injury. But the Bulgarian appears to have recovered in time for the trip to London, and it will be interesting to see where Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney play against Chelsea.

In truth, Manchester United are facing a massive obstacle this weekend when they travel to Stamford Bridge. Sir Alex Ferguson is without some of his key players and his team have yet to really click into gear this season.

Meanwhile their main title rivals are playing well and getting the right results and will be licking their lips at the prospect of going nine points clear of United at such an early stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo Returns: With Their Savior Back, It's Time for United to Shine

Jeff Harbert — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:12:09 -0400

Cristiano Ronaldo has finally returned to action following foot surgery done over the summer. The recovery kept him out for three months.

The Portuguese winger was initially ruled out of action until October, but has worked hard in order to return ahead of schedule. Ronaldo made his first appearance of the season tonight after coming on as a substitute in United’s Champions League match against Villareal at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo may not have been able to help United get the goal they needed to earn all three points, but he showed everyone what Manchester United has been missing in recent weeks. The United starlet made an impact as soon as he was on the pitch and looked dangerous every time he had the ball.

His surging runs towards the box ignited flashbacks of last season when he scored an outstanding 42 goals in all competition. The No. 7 starlet flashed a header just wide of the goal in the last 10 minutes and was also involved in some of United’s best plays of the afternoon.

United looked certain to break the deadlock after Ronaldo sent Rooney clear on goal with a beautifully played through ball. The England striker’s first touch was good, but his cross for Tevez was a little too far ahead of the Argentine, whose shot was saved by Gonzalo Rodriguez to keep the scores level.

Much had been made of what kind of reception Ronaldo would receive at Old Trafford after the reigning PFA Player of the Year was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. Ronaldo did little to dispel the rumors and at one point even looked set to leave the European Champions.

But Ferguson convinced Ronaldo to stay and the player now accepts it was the right decision. There was still concern, however, for what kind of reception Ronaldo would receive upon his return, with some wondering if United fans would ever forgive him for his part in the transfer "soap opera" this summer.

Those people received their answer before Ronaldo was even on the pitch tonight. Old Trafford erupted in applause as Ronaldo began warming up prior to replacing Park Ji-Sung on 59 minutes.

Despite the draw in their opening match of the competition, Manchester United can take heart that their star man is finally back in action. His absence has certainly been felt in recent weeks, with United managing to record just one win this season. But something tells me that things are about to get better for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, starting with their trip to Chelsea this weekend.

Cristiano Ronaldo Back in Time to Face Liverpool

Jeff Harbert — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:27:48 -0400

Cristiano Ronaldo was initially ruled out until October following his foot surgery in July, but it appears the Manchester United winger may be ready to play as early as tomorrow. United take on Liverpool at Anfield, in what is certainly their biggest game of the season so far.

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted the reigning PFA Player of the Year has "come on leaps and bounds" in his recovery and is pushing for inclusion in tomorrow’s crunch match.

“I think we mentioned a couple of weeks ago he was making rapid progress in terms of overcoming the injury problem,” Sir Alex said. “He had and the training he's been doing with the physios and Tony Strudwick the fitness coach. He's been making great strides in the direction towards first-team football."

Ronaldo’s return could not possibly come at a better time, with United facing Villarreal in their Champions League Group E opener, followed by their trip to Stamford Bridge next weekend. Ferguson’s men have struggled to find the net this season, but the purchase of Dimitar Berbatov, and now the return of Ronaldo, will certainly make United’s goal scoring problems a thing of the past.

Ronaldo’s shock return will most likely cause Rafa Benitez to do some shuffling in his squad before their lunch-time kick-off tomorrow. Fortunately for Liverpool Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have also been deemed fit to play.

But what difference will Ronaldo make if selected? The game may have come a little too soon for the Portuguese international, but if he does end up playing, will it have an effect on the result?

Ronaldo scored his first goal against Liverpool in United’s 3-0 win at Old Trafford last year, and another goal against United’s rivals would be more than welcome by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Despite not having played since the EURO’s, Ronaldo will most likely be poised to have some sort of involvement in tomorrow’s game. I have my doubts as to whether or not he’ll play, but just the news of his return will give United fans even more confidence ahead of what is bound to be a difficult week.

The majority of United supporters have forgiven Ronaldo for declaring interest in Real Madrid this summer, and most will undoubtedly be hoping to see United’s star man taking the field at Anfield tomorrow.

USA vs Trinidad & Tobago: A Supporter’s First-Hand Experience

Jeff Harbert — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:36:26 -0400

Bleacher Report's MLS Top Writer and Community Leader Joe Guarr was also in attendance at the match in Bridgeview, IL. His review, which is excellent by the way, can be read here.

The sound of drums echo from behind me as the fans in my section attempt to make their voices heard. Reading this, you might think I was somewhere in Europe or South America watching a soccer game, but if so, you are greatly mistaken.

Instead, I am sitting in the second row directly behind the goal at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, anxiously awaiting for the US Men’s National Team to walk out on to the pitch to take on Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup Qualifier.

It felt like I had waited for this night forever, and I couldn’t believe it had finally arrived. Here I was, less than twenty feet away from some of my heroes. Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley…I was seeing them live for the first time ever!

After playing each country’s respective national anthems, the match began and the crowd began to cheer even more ecstatically. I was surrounded by passionate supporters who were cheering their lungs out for the home side.

Prior to the game a massive banner had been unfolded in my section that donned the words, “Don’t Tread On This”. For those unaware, this is US Soccer’s motto,which was inspired by a rap song by Clint Dempsey in preparation for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Ohhhhhh…USAAAAAA…USA…USAAA, USAAAAAA!!! I soon find myself joining in the chants with the rest of Sam’s Army. Nine minutes after the kick-off the US scored from a free-kick and the fans, including myself, went crazy. Landon Donovan’s free-kick had been met by Michael Bradley to give the United States a 1-0 lead.

I was so excited I found myself jumping over the seats in front of me to get as close to the field and to goalscorer Michael Bradley as possible.

The atmosphere was incredible following the goal, and a series of chants flooded the airwaves in Toyota Park. “You’re not singing over there…you’re not singing, you’re not singing over there!” chanted the US fans in the direction of the Trinidad and Tobago fan section.

It only got better for the US nine minutes later as DaMarcus Beasley sent Clint Dempsey through on goal, and the Fulham FC midfielder easily slotted the ball into the back of the net. 2-0 to the USA!

Seeing my favorite American soccer player score on my end of the pitch was a fantastic experience and every single supporter in my section clearly shared my joy. The chants only increased, both in quantity and noise, as the game drew on.

At half-time the US was unlucky not to be leading by more than two goals, but I had the feeling there was more to come.

After the 15-minute break both sides returned from the locker rooms, with the US team drawing praise as they jogged back on to the pitch. Trinidad and Tobago started the second half strongly, but the US defense, led by Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra, managed to thwart the danger and regain control of the match.

The US were rewarded with a free-kick after a blatant foul on Steve Cherundolo ten minutes into the second half. DaMarcus Beasely’s free-kick was met by Oguchi Onyewu, who managed to head down to striker Brian Ching, making for an easy finish. 3-0 to the USA!

I took part in every chant sung by the US supporters and did my best to soak up every second of an incredible experience.

I had sat in a similar spot in the same stadium less than a month ago when I watched the Chicago Fire take on DC United. The game was a fantastic experience, but it was nothing compared to what I experienced watching the US Men’s National team.

Maybe it was because the pride of a football club cannot match the patriotism for a country. I’ve only seen Manchester United play live once, and that was on tour in the USA, so I can’t proclaim that watching the US was better than seeing Manchester United at Old Trafford. As a matter of fact, I have my doubts that anything could be better than sitting at Old Trafford watching the likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and Rio Ferdinand.

I do know, however, that watching the United States’ National Soccer team was like a dream come true.

It was certainly an experience I would never trade for anything.

Message for Manchester City: Money Isn’t Everything!

Jeff Harbert — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:16:51 -0400

Most people have become accustomed to hearing about clubs like Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester United being linked with big money moves for star players.

But two weeks ago, no one would’ve predicted that United’s cross-town rivals, Manchester City, would be joining them on the list of big time buyers.

Following Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment’s purchase of Manchester City Football Club, Mark Hughes’ side have been constantly linked with some of the best players in the world.

But what is shocking is not the fact that a team as unsuccessful as Manchester City is being linked with such high profile players, but instead the amount of cash ADUG is willing to spend.

Dr. Sulaiman Al Fahim, ADUG’s front man and the man mainly responsible for completing the £210 million buy-out of City, has revealed some of the players he hopes to bring to Manchester City.

Al Fahim intends on splashing as much cash as possible to complete his mission of making Manchester City the biggest club in the world.

The Arabian businessman has been linked with a bid for World Cup winning goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, but Juventus insist they won’t even sell Buffon for £65 million. And as if Buffon’s price tag isn’t baffling enough, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is reported to be a target for £135 million!

Manchester City’s "planned" bid for Ronaldo makes Real Madrid’s £70 million bid over the summer seem like small change.

Yet according to Al Fahim he will still have enough money to buy Kaka for £60 million from AC Milan, and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres for £50 million. There seems to be no end to his supply of money.

But that is not all.

Al Fahim is pressing ahead with former owner Thaksin Shinawatra’s plans to purchase the City of Manchester Stadium. The stadium is currently owned by the local council, but Al Fahim intends to buy the stadium and the surrounding land in order to build a sports and leisure complex every football team in the world will covet.

It is reported, however, that Manchester City’s new owners will have to spend more than 100 million to buy the stadium, and that doesn’t even include the costs of expanding the 48,000 capacity.

If there is one thing that’s clear, Manchester City has enough money to at least attempt to be the biggest football club in the world. But there is so much more to football than money.

Look at Manchester United and Real Madrid, the two richest clubs in the world and amongst the most successful. They clearly have a lot of money, but their money and success didn’t suddenly just appear one day in the form of an Arabian business group.

The world’s biggest clubs, such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, and AC Milan have all relied on success to gain status as some of the world’s biggest clubs. But there’s even more to it than that.

Take Manchester United for instance. The Red Devils are arguably the most popular club in the world, and can boast one of the richest histories of any football club around.

33-year-old winger Ryan Giggs, who has played his entire professional career in the red of Manchester United, believes United are the biggest club in the world.

“City have the richest owner in the world but I still see United as the biggest club in the world," Giggs said. "United have a status and history that has taken years to build up. It stretches back to the Busby Babes, to players like Bobby Charlton and George Best.”

And despite City’s abundance of resources, Giggs is adamant money can’t provide United’s local rivals with the popularity they seek in order to be the world’s biggest club.

“It will be very interesting to see what happens at City, but what we have at United is very special,” the Welsh winger added. “You see it when we go abroad in pre-season, you appreciate how popular United is. We have fans in India, China, South America. That popularity is a result of our history. Money can't necessarily get you that."

Manchester United have won England’s top division 17 times and have lifted the FA Cup a record 11 times. The Red Devils have also won the Champions League on three occasions.

Sir Alex Ferguson is far from concerned about Manchester City’s newly-acquired wealth.

"I can't be worried,” said Sir Alex. “There are always challenges in football. Some years ago it was Chelsea, before that it was Arsenal. "Wherever the challenges come you just have to accept it. We have a good set-up ourselves. We have been working for years to build the team we have got."

It clearly takes a lot more than money. Real Madrid may be one of the biggest and richest football clubs in the world, but they have won the La Liga a record 31 times to go along with their nine Champions League victories, also a record no club has matched yet.

AC Milan has won the Champions League on seven occasions and also has 17 league titles to their name.

Money isn’t everything, Manchester City. It takes decades for a football club to be recognized as the world’s best. After all, Chelsea has been trying to reach that point ever since Roman Abramovich took over and they still haven’t managed to get there yet.

The Champions League runners-up were already one of the best clubs in England before Abramovich brought his money onto the scene, while Manchester City are a mid-table club who have failed to win a major honor in over 30 years.

So no matter what Manchester City’s new owners do with their money, they will not gain status as the world’s biggest club any time soon. It will be years before City can even consider themselves as one of England’s best, and decades before they can be renowned as the one of the world’s biggest clubs.

Robinho Vows To Make Chelsea Pay

Jeff Harbert — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:07:03 -0400

Manchester City’s last minute signing Robinho has claimed he hopes to punish Chelsea for failing to sign him from Real Madrid during the transfer the window.

The 24-year-old had stated his desire to leave the Spanish champions, and a move to Stamford Bridge seemed like the most likely solution. But with Madrid refusing to sell Robinho to Chelsea, Manchester City, courtesy of their new owners, were able to step in at the last minute and bring Robinho to Manchester for 32 million pounds.

The Brazilian star now admits he’s happy he moved to Manchester City, and has blamed both Chelsea and Real Madrid for his failed move to Stamford Bridge.

“It is Real's fault that I did not sign for Chelsea but it is also Chelsea's fault," Robinho said. "I don't think they managed it very well. They waited until the last minute and it turned out badly for them. My head was at Chelsea but now that is forgotten. I know Scolari is upset with me but these things happen.”

Despite being happy with his move to Manchester City, Robinho still plans on punishing Chelsea.

"When I play against them I will show that they were wrong not to raise their offer. City presented the offer five hours before the deadline and until then I had not been thinking about them at all."

Manchester City fans are delighted with the capture of Robinho, but what will really be interesting to see is if Chelsea live to regret failing to sign the Brazilian striker. Scolari may already have a strong squad, but his team could have even been stronger with the addition of Robinho.

All I know is I will be marking September 13th on my calendar—the day Chelsea travel to the City of Manchester stadium.

I will be watching closely to see if Robinho will be able to punish Chelsea.

Manchester United Sign Berbatov, Sir Alex is a True Genius

Jeff Harbert — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:28:00 -0400

After the drawn out transfer saga between Manchester United and Tottenham over Dimitar Berbatov, the Red Devils have finally got their man. Just minutes before the end of the transfer window, Manchester United announced that Berbatov is finally headed to Old Trafford.

The Bulgarian has signed a four-year contract with the English and European champions, in a deal which will see Tottenham receive £30.75 million, and the services of striker Fraizer Campbell on a year-long loan.

Hours before the deal was officially set in stone, I heard rumors United were going to offer Spurs £25 million and Campbell for Berbatov. The news deeply bothered me, mainly because of my hope and admiration for the England youngster who has finally risen through the ranks at Old Trafford.

After all, 27 days ago I wrote "Fraizer Campbell Is a Talent—Manchester United Don’t Need to Buy a Striker". In this article I gave my reasons for why I thought Sir Alex Ferguson shouldn’t attempt to buy Dimitar Berbatov.

But then the season started and I could tell something was missing in United’s play. No, it wasn’t Ronaldo, it was Berbatov.

United were seriously lacking someone to put the ball in the back of the net.

I even started questioning United’s title credentials. I felt if they didn’t sign a striker, preferably Berbatov, they would not be able to defend their Premier League crown, especially with the departure of Louis Saha to Everton.

So what has Sir Alex Ferguson done? He’s finally brought Berbatov to Old Trafford and in the proccess has managed to keep Fraizer Campbell at Old Trafford. What a genius!

If United had signed Berbatov but sold Campbell in the process, I would be happy to see a clinical and proven striker coming to Old Trafford, but I would also be greatly disappointed to see another talented youngster walk through the exit door.

I couldn’t possibly be any happier with the capture of Berbatov. United’s pursuit for trophies is well and truly on now!

Oh, and a big welcome to United’s new No. 9!

Dimitar Berbatov: A Manchester United Necessity for Everyone's Sake

Jeff Harbert — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:24:32 -0400

The end of the transfer market is nearing closer with every ticking second and Manchester United are yet to come to an agreement with Tottenham for Dimitar Berbatov.

Sir Alex Ferguson has openly expressed his interest in the player and is reported to have already tabled a bid of around £20 million, which Tottenham rejected.

Manchester United have only scored twice in its opening two games of the season, with both goals coming from an unlikely source, Darren Fletcher. United have only been able to find the net twice in the last 360 minutes of play (including preseason) and are lacking the cutting edge up front which is a trademark of the European champions.

Sir Alex is keen to bolster his squad by adding a striker to his ranks and has been eager to bring Berbatov to Old Trafford. The Bulgarian would be a great addition to Ferguson’s side. However, Tottenham are refusing to sell for less than £30 million, a fee Manchester United are indifferent in agreeing to.

If Tottenham don’t sell Berbatov before the end of the transfer market, everybody involved in this whole ordeal won’t be gaining anything. There are no winners if things stay the way they are.

Tottenham are clearly unhappy with Berbatov’s attitude and appear happy to let the former Bayer Leverkusen striker rot in the reserves. Tottenham will gain absolutely nothing if they do this, and neither will Berbatov. A player of his caliber will learn and achieve absolutely nothing from training with the reserves and playing for Tottenham’s second string.

‘Let him rot in the reserves’ seems to be the popular plea around White Hart Lane, but if you think about it, it really isn’t a very sensible thing to do. Berbatov is obviously affecting the team’s chemistry and, whether he plays or not, will continue to affect the team’s morale if he is still lurking in the background at Tottenham.

After capturing Roman Pavlyuchenko from Zenit St. Petersburg, Tottenham’s need for Berbatov will decrease even more. It would also be pointless for a club to keep a player in the reserves when instead they could be gaining over £20 million for him.

Manchester United will also wind up on the losing end of the deal if they aren’t able to meet Spurs’ asking price of £30 million. It may be a hefty cost to pay for a player, but not signing Berbatov could prove even more costly for Manchester United. An abundance of talent is clearly visible in United’s ranks, but they still lack a potent finisher, especially with the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha.

Wayne Rooney is more than capable of putting the ball in the back of the net, and more often than not, talented enough to produce something magical to turn the match in his team’s favor. His strike partner, Carlos Tevez, also has a knack for goal and is a major threat at the pinnacle of United’s attack.

Both Rooney and Tevez often drop deep to receive the ball from midfield and both players possess a similar style of play. The acquisition of Berbatov would add an entire new dimension to an already lethal attacking force, and, quite possibly, make the difference between a disappointing season and a trophy-laden season.

With less than four days left until the close of the transfer market, time is quickly running out for Manchester United, as well as Dimitar Berbatov. The English Champions face a tricky fixture list this season, with trips to Monaco and as far as Tokyo both scheduled before the turn of the year. United’s European success means they will be taking part in the UEFA Super Cup this Friday against Zenit St. Petersburg and will also be challenging for the FIFA Club World Cup in December.

Another attacking option would do United no harm, especially when it’s a player as talented and established as Berbatov. The Tottenham ace has scored 23 goals in his first season in England and matched that tally during last year’s campaign.

Manchester United could sure use 23 goals per season and with that amount of goals being guaranteed, Rooney and Tevez would have a lot of pressure lifted off their shoulders. If things remain the way they are, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Dimitar Berbatov will all regret not being able to come to an agreement.

Manchester United: Despite Winning, Sir Alex Admits Striker Concern

Jeff Harbert — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:42:34 -0400

Following Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Portsmouth, Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he hopes to bring in a striker before the transfer market closes. Darren Fletcher is currently United’s top goalscorer, and only goalscorer, following his winner at Fratton Park.

Ferguson is happy with his team but knows he needs to bolster his squad with a striker if United are to repeat their heroics from last season.

“I think we showed tonight that we've got a good quality of players here,” Ferguson said. “We'd like to add obviously, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens with that. I think we played some excellent football tonight. We really relied on Anderson's trust in himself, after such a long journey, he wanted to play and I think he showed it was a good decision by him.”

If Ferguson does add to his squad, Dimitar Berbatov still looks like the most realistic option, with Tottenham suggesting the departure of their Bulgarian striker as imminent. Ferguson will have to act quick, however, with less than a week left in the transfer market and Tottenham admitting they would also be willing to let Berbatov rot in the reserves at White Hart Lane.

Manchester United clearly have a strong squad and are capable of challenging for silverware, but another talented striker in their ranks could possibly give United the edge over their the rest of the league’s title contenders.

After all, when Darren Fletcher is a club’s top goalscorer, no matter how many games have been played, it speaks volumes of the club’s need to buy a striker. Hopefully Sir Alex Ferguson will receive this message loud and clear.

Manchester United: Darren Fletcher Gives United Their First Win

Jeff Harbert — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:20:26 -0400

Darren Fletcher came to the rescue once again for Manchester United as he scored an unconvincing goal in the first half against Portsmouth. The Scotsman scored last weekend against Newcastle to earn his side a draw and this time his goal has given United their first win of the season.

Fletcher’s effort may have deflected off both Distin and Campbell on its way to goal, but it was enough for United to earn all three points. United dominated possession for much of the match and were deserved winners at the final whistle. Sir Alex Ferguson will be relieved by the three points, especially with the trip to Liverpool and Chelsea looming.

Some of United’s possession play was excellent, but once again the Red Devils showed they are lacking someone to put the ball in the net. Tevez and Rooney were both fantastic and caused Portsmouth’s back four plenty of problems, but neither were able to beat goalkeeper David James.

An agreement with Tottenham for Dimitar Berbatov looks more and more likely as every day passes and United fans will be relieved to have someone fully capable of scoring the goals when called upon. After all, Berbatov has averaged about a goal every two games since making the move to England.

Sir Alex Ferguson will most likely be pleased with his team’s effort today as they defeated Harry Redknapp’s side for the second time in a month. Anderson showed no fatigue from the Olympics and provided an absolutely bustling performance in the center of midfield.

Some excellent individual displays and good team work will have Ferguson feeling more than confident ahead of their trip to Anfield after the international break. And the United boss will be in an even more positive mood if a deal for Berbatov is completed before the end of the transfer market.

Manchester United will be in action later this week for the UEFA Super Cup when they take on Zenit St. Petersburg in Monaco.

EPL Preview: A Double Perspective

Jeff Harbert — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:27:09 -0400

After 98 unexciting days without Premier League football, the EPL will finally resume this weekend. The new season has been met with lots of excitement and speculation, and Joe and I are here to give our own team by team predictions before the new season kicks off tomorrow.

Hull

Jeff: The Tiger’s could be in for a rough season and are early favorites for an immediate return to the Championship. Phil Brown’s side are lacking in firepower, especially after Manchester United refused to let Frazier Campbell return to the KC Stadium. (20^th)

Joe: Hull City’s most well-known current players are George Boateng and 39-year-old Dean Windass. They’ll fall, but not threaten Derby’s record for futility. (19^th)

Stoke City

Jeff: Manager Tony Pulis hasn’t strengthened his squad enough in order to survive the drop. Stoke’s first season in the top flight since 1985 will most likely be a short lived one. (19^th)

Joe: Former Reading striker and current redhead Dave Kitson will not be enough to keep Stoke in the Premiership. They’ll prop up the entire table at the end of the season. (20^th)

West Brom

Jeff: The Baggies, managed by Tony Mowbray played some of the most attractive football In the Championship last season, but will find it a lot more difficult to get the right results against the big boys. West Brom will be relying on their experience from the 2006-07 season in the Premiership to avoid relegation. (17^th)

Joe: West Brom has just enough talent to stay up. Luke Moore and Craig Beattie will be key to their survival. (17^th)

Fulham

Jeff: The Cottagers waited until the last day of the season last year to save themselves from the dreaded drop, but this time around they won’t have as much to worry about when the season draws to a close. Andy Johnson is a great buy for Roy Hodgson and if Fulham can improve their awful away form from last season they’ll be in good shape. (14^th)

Joe: The Cottagers escaped relegation on the last day of the season in 2008, but have since lost some firepower with Brian McBride returning to America. Jimmy Bullard is still there, and he’ll have Andy Johnson to receive his passes. (15^th)

Bolton

Jeff: Gary Megson is in store for another difficult season at the Reebok, and this time around he won’t be so lucky when it comes to avoiding the drop. It’s going to be a long season for Bolton supporters. (18^th)

Joe: Bolton just barely escaped relegation last season, as they sorely missed Big Sam Allardyce on the sideline. They won’t be so lucky this time around. (18^th)

Sunderland

Jeff: Roy Keane has done a fantastic job in strengthening his squad to avoid "second season syndrome." Pascal Chimbonda and El Hadji Diouf are just some of Sunderland’s most recent acquisitions and with the rest of the squad accustomed to playing in the Premier League, Roy Keane’s side shouldn’t have much to worry about when it comes to relegation. (15^th)

Joe: After an absolutely abysmal run in the EPL three seasons ago, newly promoted Sunderland finished 15^thin the table last season. Roy Keane has some serious competitive fire in him, and Sunderland will surprise some people. There are some seriously talented pieces in place on this squad. (11^th)

Wigan

Jeff: Steve Bruce should expect an up-and-down season for his side, but when the season draws to a close he’ll most likely be able to look forward to another season in the Premiership. (16^th)

Joe: Wigan is a scrappy little bunch who have managed to stay afloat in the EPL for a few seasons now. I expect more of the same out of this squad. They won’t wow anybody, but their style of play will disrupt some of the flashier teams enough for them to steal a point here and there. (14^th)

Middlesbrough

Jeff: Gareth Southgate will be relying on Alfonso Alves to smash in the goals as his side push for a top ten place. A top ten finish is too much of an ask, but Middlesbrough will not be a club threatened by relegation this season. (13^th)

Joe: Mido is always an enigma of a player. If anybody can get him motivated to stay fit and play hard, he’ll produce. A big "if" though. (16^th)

Newcastle

Jeff: Toon supporters have endured a difficult past few seasons but I think this could finally be the year we see some joy down at St. James' Park. With a healthy squad, Kevin Keegan can take his Newcastle team to new heights this season. (8^th)

Joe: How much mediocrity can one fan base deal with? Kevin Keegan aims to turn things around this season. They need Michael Owen to stay healthy, and the defense to be a lot better than they have been recently. (9^th)

Tottenham

Jeff: If ever there has been a year a team has looked capable of breaking into the Top Four, it’s this year. Juande Ramos has brought in Giovani Dos Santos, Luka Modric, David Bentley and Heurelho Gomes and I expect Tottenham to really make a push for a Champions League spot. The Big Four has only gotten stronger, however, and Spurs will fall just short of their goal. (5^th)

Joe: Tottenham always seem to not quite meet expectations. Every year, they hope to break into the top four, and every year, they fall short. New coach Juande Ramos will bring more of the same this season, but perhaps more promise for the long term. (8^th)

West Ham

Jeff: Alan Curbishley is the bookie’s favorite to be the first manager to be sacked this season. I doubt Curbishley’s job will ever be in that much danger, but I expect his team to struggle and be inconsistent all season long. (12^th)

Joe: Dean Ashton looked very dangerous against a quality MLS All-Star team this summer. If he stays healthy, the Hammers might be competitive in the domestic cups. They are still a mid-table Premier League team, though. (10^th)

Manchester City

Jeff: New manager Mark Hughes will find it difficult in his first season in charge of City and I wouldn’t be surprised if a spot in Europe evades his team at the end of the season. (10^th)

Joe: Canning Sven was the dumbest move that Thaksin Shinawatra could have made. He made the club competitive in his first year in charge, but a ninth place finish coupled with a sweep of the Manchester Derby and a bright future was not enough for Thaksin. Look for a backwards slide in the standings this season. (13^th)

Portsmouth

Jeff: Harry Redknapp’s side seem to get better and better every year, and this year they’ll be bolstered by the signing of Peter Crouch. I don’t think it’ll be enough to make up for the loss of Sulley Muntari, whose departure to Inter Milan could prove detrimental. Portsmouth will all have one eye on the UEFA Cup this season and as a result I expect their league form to suffer. (9^th)

Joe: Portsmouth was the feel-good story of the season early on last year, even topping the table for a brief time. Harry Redknapp has done wonders since he pulled off a miraculous relegation escape a couple of years ago. Portsmouth will just miss out on a European spot in the final table, but may qualify through cup competitions. (6^th)

Blackburn

Jeff: The loss of David Bentley and Mark Hughes will prove costly for Blackburn and new manager Paul Ince will find it difficult to adjust to life in the Premier League. Don’t be surprised if Blackburn are full of shortcomings this season. (11^th)

Joe: Roque Santa Cruz, Blackburn’s best player, is a player coveted by many different teams. If he goes, Blackburn will suffer. I think somebody is willing to make a large enough offer. (12^th)

Aston Villa

Jeff: The expectations have grown over the last few seasons and it’s going to be a big season for Aston Villa. Martin O’Neill has brought in some good reinforcements over the summer, mainly in the defensive area. Aston Villa scored more goals than both Chelsea and Liverpool last season, but also gave up a ton. The addition of one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers in Brad Friedel will be a huge plus point. The acquisition of Luke Young, Nicky Shorey, Curtis Davies, and Steve Sidwell will all make a big difference as Aston Villa compete in the UEFA Cup and push for a spot in Europe next year. (6^th)

Joe: Villa is set in the goalkeeping department after signing a former US International (Brad Friedel) and a current one (Brad Guzan). But how long will Gareth Barry be around? Will Stilliyan Petrov and Gabriel Agbonlahor be enough to lead them into Europe? Yes. (5^th)

Everton

Jeff: At one point last season it looked like Everton might pip Liverpool for fourth spot last season, but once again they showed they need more squad depth. What have they done to improve this? Absolutely nothing.

David Moyes has lost Andy Johnson and Lee Carsley and has failed to bring in a single player this summer. Any hopes of a Champions League spot can go right out the window. Moyes is still one of the best managers in the league and he’ll be sure to get the most out of his thread-bare squad. (7^th)

Joe: Everton may have surprised some people last year as they snagged a UEFA Cup place, and even challenged for a top four finish early on. They will probably regress a little bit as they have not done enough to strengthen themselves in the offseason. (7^th)

Liverpool

Jeff: In Robbie Keane Rafael Benitez has finally brought in a top-class striker to pair up alongside Fernando Torres and with this combination the Reds could be a force to reckon with this season. But like most seasons I expect Liverpool to do well in Europe and fail to live up to expectations in the league. The wait for a first Premier League title will continue for another year, or two, or three… (3^rd)

Joe: Despite great play from Fernando Torres, the Reds looked out of sorts last season. Rafa Benitez in on the hot seat, but Liverpool has not done as much to improve as some of the other clubs battling for European places. (4^th)

Arsenal

Jeff: Arsene Wenger’s young Gunners have the makings of a great side and as always they’ll earn praise for their attractive and stylish football. But attractive football doesn’t win you trophies. The Carling Cup is Arsenal’s best chance for silverware and I wouldn’t be surprised if they win it. Success in the league will be nothing but a hopeless cause, however. (4^th)

Joe: The Gunners started out quickly last season, only to fade down the stretch thanks to some untimely injuries. Nicklas Bendtner seems to be ready to carry a bigger load this season. Samir Nasri is the real deal; pairing him with Cesc Fabregas will give Arsenal one of the best midfield combos in the world. (EPL Champions)

Chelsea

Jeff: After a disappointing campaign last season, Chelsea will be desperate to collect some silverware this season. Luis Felipe Scolari will be under pressure to get the right results, and I expect the former Portugal boss to deliver. It will all depend where his priorities lie, however. Chelsea are eager to win the Champions League for the first time in their history, especially after coming so close last season. A league title will also be high up on the priority list, but it will be one task they won’t be able to complete. (2^nd)

Joe: Chelsea grabbed what was perhaps the steal of the summer with Deco, but Manchester United ended their reign as EPL champions last season. Expect them to keep it close, but come up just short in the end with some injury problems. (3^rd)

Manchester United

Jeff: After two consecutive Premiership crowns and a European triumph last season, Manchester United will be the team to beat. Sir Alex Ferguson has done little to reinforce his squad so far, but the English and European Champions still look in good shape. A repeat of their European triumph is somewhat unlikely, but a third consecutive league title will be much more realistic.

The reigning Champions are strong defensively and extremely effective going forward. They also have good squad depth and the experience of winning two titles, and in the climax of the Premier League season, that may be what makes the difference. (EPL Champions)

Joe: United was in great form for the entire season. They were the only team in a good position to challenge Arsenal after their hot start, and did so with authority. Look for a slower start as Cristiano Ronaldo comes back from an injury suffered at Euro 2008 this summer. (2^nd)

Surprise Package

Jeff: Newcastle

Joe: Aston Villa

Biggest Disappointment

Jeff: Blackburn

Joe: Manchester City

Golden Boot

Jeff: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Joe: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Best Buy

Jeff: Luka Modric (Tottenham)

Joe: Samir Nasri (Arsenal)

Biggest Bargain

Jeff: Deco (Chelsea)

Joe: Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham)

Manchester United: This Is Carlos Tevez’s Season

Jeff Harbert — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:51:41 -0400

Carlos Tevez has fast become a fan favorite at Old Trafford with his passionate and potent displays. The Argentinean has displayed limitless energy and wonderful skill week in and week out for the English Champions, and never is there a game where fans won’t see Tevez giving his utmost effort on the pitch.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a fabulous first season with Manchester United, winning both the Premier League title and the Champions League. Tevez’s contribution since making the move from West Ham has not gone unnoticed, especially after chipping in with 19 goals last season.

Carlos Tevez has formed a perfect strike pairing with Wayne Rooney at the front of United’s attack and Sir Alex Ferguson is excited by what Tevez has to offer his team this season.

"His fitness now is light years ahead of where it was then (last year) and we are expecting big things from him,” Ferguson said. The great thing about Tevez is that he has a heart to play the game. He is not intimidated at all, he fights for every ball and is a real handful.”

Former Manchester United striker and legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also a huge fan of the hard working and talented Argentinean. Solskjaer was one of the most potent strikers to ever come through Old Trafford and the Norwegian claims Tevez will only get better for Manchester United.

“He’s got a winning mentality,” Solskjaer said. “He wants to be the best, he wants to win, he wants to score goals. If he’s on the bench he wants to come on and do well, he’s not one to sit down and sulk and ask, ‘Why didn’t I start’.

“He can pop up on the left wing, right wing, just behind the strikers, he can be in midfield and boss things, he was better than we probably hoped for last year. He's one of those players who brings the other players up, but he brings the crowd up as well and I think that's important for a team to have these players who can lift the whole stadium, lift the crowd, because when the crowd gets lifted it lifts the players as well. So his work rate is something which makes other players play better."

The expectations for Tevez will only increase this season after enjoying such a great start to his United career, but Solskjaer is confident the former Corinthians striker can cope with the added pressure.

"Carlos is at the right place because he can handle the pressure, he just wants to be the best, he wants to be a winner," he added. “First season two trophies, obviously next season will be a big one as well, but I'm sure he will respond to that as he has always done, he's always stood up and played well.”

Tevez also enjoyed a fabulous pre-season for United, scoring two goals and showing why United are eager to sign him on a permanent deal. Newcastle are already wary of the threat Tevez poses ahead of their opening game of the season at Old Trafford.

Jonas Gutierrez, who recently joined from Real Mallorca, has warned his new teammates they need to pay special attention to his international teammate, Carlos Tevez.

"He's a very good player and our defenders will have to pay a lot of attention because he can score a goal at any moment,” Gutierrez said. “There are many good players in the Manchester United team but Carlos is playing very well and had a great season last time."

So if I have one message for the rest of the Premier League, it’s BEWARE. Carlos Tevez looks like he’s set for what could be the best season of his entire career.

With Ronaldo out of action until October, United will heavily be relying on Tevez for goals, also known as the "Lion" for his determined displays on the football pitch.

Tevez may have big expectations weighing on his shoulders, but I fully expect him to deliver and lead Manchester United to silverware this season.

Manchester United: Can Nani Become As Good As Cristiano Ronaldo?

Jeff Harbert — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:17:18 -0400

Manchester United winger Luis Nani enjoyed an impressive debut season at Old Trafford last year, scoring four goals and adding 11 assists. But what was even more impressive was the number of appearances Nani managed to rack up over the course of the season.

Nani was expected to play a very small role in United’s pursuit of silverware last season, playing every now and then to provide veteran Ryan Giggs with a rest. But the former Sporting Lisbon winger managed to become a regular in Ferguson’s side and finished the season with 39 appearances to his name.

He made big contributions in the Premier League and the Champions League, as well as the FA Cup. Nani’s sheer pace and ability to beat defenders on the wing made him a useful member to United’s squad as they chased an unprecedented treble.

His best performance of the season was arguably the fifth round FA Cup tie against Arsenal, where he and his teammates ran riot and routed their rivals 4-0. Nani provided an assist and even managed to grab a goal and was a constant menace to Arsenal’s defense.

The world got another glimpse of Nani last Sunday, as he started for United against Portsmouth in the Community Shield. The United number 17 always looked dangerous with the ball and was a constant thorn in Harry Redknapp’s side.

The United winger, whose full name is Luis Carlos Almeida de Cunha Nani, also drew praise from his manager—who feels the Portuguese player will improve even more this season.

Sir Alex also expects Nani to show more mature performances this season. Nani saw red during United’s final home game against West Ham last season, for head butting defender Lucas Neill.

"Nani has gone through the same process as all the young players and you are looking for that jump up in performance level from the first season," said Ferguson. "His maturity should be better as well, which is important."

"He is a very young 20. That immaturity showed itself against West Ham at the end of the season. That has cost us because he is missing for the first two games. But when he develops that he will be an outstanding talent. He has courage and speed, can play with both feet and does not melt in big atmospheres."

Nani showed signs against Portsmouth of what is to come from him this season, once he returns from suspension. The winger ripped through Portsmouth’s defense at every chance—and left Glen Johnson and Sol Campbell in his dust on more than one occasion.

But exactly how good will Nani become? A lot can be expected from the 21-year-old after a promising start to his Manchester United career and some have even deemed Nani as the "New Ronaldo."

But the question is, will he ever become as good as Ronaldo?

Real Madrid Plan To Sue Cristiano Ronaldo

Jeff Harbert — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:39:35 -0400

Real Madrid is reportedly planning on suing Cristiano Ronaldo over his decision to stay in England for another season. The Portuguese star recently announced he will be playing for Manchester United for at least one more season, consequently ruling out a move to the Spanish Champions in the immediate future.

Ronaldo’s decision has clearly angered Madrid officials, who are now demanding Ronaldo pay £17 million for breaking the terms of his contract.

“But isn’t Ronaldo contracted to Manchester United?” you might ask.

Yes, he is. So how can Real Madrid even refer to a contract between themselves and the United winger? Well, apparently Ronaldo had agreed to terms with the Spanish giants and signed a contract warranting Real Madrid a large sum of money as compensation.

I earnestly doubt Ronaldo agreed to any such deal, but then again this is football and stranger things have happened.

Real Madrid is willing to offer Ronaldo a way out of paying such a large compensation fee, however. Real President Roman Calderon will cancel the fee if a deal can be struck with Manchester United allowing Ronaldo to move to the Santiago Bernabeu next season.

What I want to know though is how can Real Madrid even think they have the right to sue Ronaldo?

He may have declared a desire to join Real Madrid at one point during the summer, but Manchester United rejected all of the rumors about Ronaldo’s departure, as well as Madrid’s bids for their prized asset.

It almost seems as if Madrid is suing him out of bitterness just because after an entire summer of pursuing Ronaldo, they never ended up with their man. And suing Ronaldo is actually the worst move Madrid can make.

If Real Madrid are to sue Ronaldo all they will be doing is admitting to tapping up, which is a huge offense according to FIFA’s rules. Ronaldo is under contract with United for another four years and if Madrid did sign a contract with him, they have acted illegally and are therefore guilty of ‘tapping up.’

If a club is found guilty of tapping up a player they can be fined or even receive a points deduction and disqualification from Europe. The punishment usually varies. Ronaldo would also face punishment if any such contract was ever agreed with Madrid.

Seriously though, what is Real Madrid thinking? I can’t wait to see how this one pans out. Ferguson must be having a good laugh about this right about now!

Brett Favre Inspires Pete Sampras To Step Out Of Retirement (Humor)

Jeff Harbert — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:25:51 -0400

Following Brett Favre’s return to the NFL with the New York Jets, another retired sports hero is set to make the big move back into the spotlight.

Hall of Famer Pete Sampras has been keeping a close eye on the situation in Green Bay, and now appears ready to follow in the footsteps of Favre.

But don’t worry sports fans, we shouldn’t have to worry about dealing with another exhausting saga like we did with Favre and the Packers organization. The complications of Favre’s return to the NFL will most likely not occur for Sampras as he prepares for his comeback. The 37 year-old American won’t have to be reinstated like Favre did.

Sampras retired in 2002, soon after winning the US Open for the fifth time in his career. Despite winning 14 Grand Slam Singles Championships in his career and setting the record for most weeks as the world’s No. 1 ranked player (286), Sampras is still eager to add more trophies to his collection and extend his record even further.

The on-going dispute of whether Federer is better than Nadal, or if Nadal is better than Federer is another reason why Sampras is intent on stepping back onto the court. The seven-time Wimbledon winner is hoping to show everyone who really is the best tennis player in the world: Pete Sampras.

"Some people say Federer is the best. Some people say Nadal is the best. I’m going to try and end the debate," Sampras said.

Sampras has been training ever since the Favre saga started to take a toll on sports fans across America and is currently undergoing a personal fitness program in order to be ready for his first match in over six years.

Favre’s popularity has taken a turn in the wrong direction in recent weeks, and Sampras has revealed the negative media attention directed towards the Jets’ quarterback is another reason why he decided to step out of retirement.

"Brett was a great player and has always been one of America’s favorite sporting icons,”"Sampras said. "But it seems he’s no longer loved by the American public in the same way he was before. One player comes out of retirement and causes a big mess and a lot of hostility, and then another player, me, decides to step out of retirement too. The only difference is my comeback will be smooth and uncomplicated. American sports fans deserve better from their athletes. That’s what I’m here for."

The all-time leader in Grand Slam titles refused to set a date on his return, claiming he was taking things "one day at a time."

"There’s no rush," Sampras admitted. "The important thing is my comeback won’t be sophisticated and controversial like Favre’s. Hopefully people will appreciate that."

Sampras is already considered as one of the best tennis players to ever swing a racket, and now he might just be considered as 'the athlete who made the best, or should I say the most unsophisticated comeback.'

Please take note that all quotes above from Pete Sampras are fictional (obviously!)

The Brett Favre/Ted Thompson saga seems to finally be behind us, but I still feel B/R could use a bit of humor relating to the subject. I hope you enjoyed the article. Thanks for reading…

Michael Carrick Finds New Job

Jeff Harbert — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:58:47 -0400

Manchester United’s Michael Carrick has been busying himself over the summer with a new job. But don’t worry Manchester United and England fans, he’s still going to play football.

While most football players spend their summers relaxing on the beach after a grueling season, or taking it easy in their homeland, Carrick has been working hard all across the United Kingdom. The 26-year-old midfielder worked as a roadie for his brother-in-law.

Carricks’ brother-in-law is a member of a rock band, known as The Sound, and has been touring parts of the United Kingdom over the past few months. The details of Carrick’s wage are unknown, and it’s possible the former West Ham midfielder even works for free.

"You can see the similarities between a band about to go on stage and a team about to walk on the pitch,” Carrick said. "I love going to their shows, and you can get stuck in and lend a hand setting up. Their music is great so that always helps."

With the kick-off to the new Premier League season just over a week away, it’s back to business for Carrick. The England international undoubtedly enjoyed his summer job, as he revealed, but is most likely looking forward to resuming duties in the centre of United’s midfield.

Sir Alex Ferguson had recently admitted Carrick could be unavailable for Sunday’s Community Shield clash against Portsmouth, but the United boss has now given Carrick the green light to play after resuming training yesterday.

The part-time roadie picked up a virus over United’s preseason tour and has been absent from training ever since, but appears ready to play this weekend.

"Carrick trained yesterday for the first time and I'm taking him to Wembley," said Sir Alex. "Hopefully I'll give him some minutes on the pitch. If he is feeling good then we have to get some minutes on the clock for him ahead of next week against Newcastle."

It remains to be seen if Carrick will continue his role as a roadie next year, but for now, it’s time for the roadie to get back on the football pitch!

Can Olympique Lyonnais Make It Eight in a Row?

Jeff Harbert — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:27:28 -0400

Seven consecutive league titles is an incredible feat, but eight? Surely it can’t be done.

People said exactly the same thing last year when Lyon were chasing their seventh straight title. And almost a year later, we’re facing a similar prospect, this time with Lyon hoping to win their eighth-straight Ligue 1 title.

The French champions begin the new season on Sunday against Toulouse and will be hoping to kick the season off in style. Lyon’s biggest signing of the summer is Jean Makoun from Lille, and the Cameroonian midfielder could even make his league debut for Lyon this weekend.

With a wealth of attacking options, it is hard to bet against Lyon winning their eighthleague title of the decade. Karim Benzema knocked in 21 goals last season and was voted Ligue 1 Player of the Year.

The French striker has attracted interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid, but, fortunately for Lyon, he looks set to stay in France for another year.

The departure of Ben Arfa to Marseille will hardly put a dent in Lyon’s chances when the likes of Milan Baros, Fred, and Sidney Govou are all vying for a place alongside Benzema in the centre of Lyon’s attack. Manager Claude Puel will be more than confident of securing another league title.

Lyon only finished four points ahead of runners-up Bordeaux last season but are once again favorites to retain their crown.

Their main challengers this season will most likely be Marseille. Despite losing Samir Nasiri to Arsenal, they look strong after acquiring Hatem Ben Arfa from Lyon and holding on to Djibril Cisse and Boudewin Zenden. Manager Eric Gerets and his side will begin the new season against Rennes.

So, can Lyon make history once again and win an eighth-straight Ligue 1 title? Or will the incredible streak end at last year’s "seventh heaven?"

We shall see.

And don’t be shy, feel free to comment.

All A Big Lie – Rooney Not Sick From Nigeria

Jeff Harbert — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:28:44 -0400

The organizers of Manchester United’s pre-season tour in South Africa and Nigeria have hit out at the club for claiming Wayne Rooney’s recent illness was related to his stay in Africa, particularly Nigeria.

The England striker is reported to be out for at least two weeks, which automatically rules him out of United’s league opener against Newcastle. This means Rooney would also miss his side’s Community Shield clash with FA Cup Champions Portsmouth this weekend.

Manchester United and other English clubs will most likely be wary of ever traveling to Nigeria if Rooney was able to pick up such a severe illness over such a short period of time. But organizers of the trip claim Sir Alex Ferguson has it all wrong.

“It’s a lie from the pit of hell and it’s sad someone had to go to that length to degrade Nigeria. Rooney only sat in his hotel room. He was in Nigeria for less than 24 hours,” one organizer said.

The latest reports actually claim that Rooney will be ready to face Newcastle next weekend, meaning his virus, no matter where he acquired it, is not as serious as it appeared. The 22-year-old resumed training today and Ferguson hopes he’ll be ready for the kick-off of the new season.

"Rooney is starting training today, but as I said earlier in the week, we have a big job to get him ready for next week," Ferguson said. "But with seven or eight days' training we may just make it. He is much better, the medical reports are good and we think he is clear of the virus. Hopefully we will get him ready for the Newcastle game."

Ronaldinho Aims To Make Olympics History

Jeff Harbert — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:53:54 -0400

Former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho is eager for the Olympic games to get underway. The AC Milan midfielder is part of the Brazil team who hopes to win the Olympics for the first time in the country’s history.

Ronaldinho is one of only two players over 23 for Brazil, and his team will be relying on him to guide them to success. With Brazil set to play their first game of the tournament tomorrow against Belgium, Ronaldinho is as motivated as ever.

"What motivates me the most is the chance to make history in Brazilian football and win this first gold medal," Ronaldinho said. "We all know that if we win this medal we will make history. It's an unprecedented title It's a very important competition, just as important to us as the World Cup and other big tournaments."

The Olympics gold medal is actually the only significant title Brazil has yet to win, but Ronaldinho and co. are clearly intent on changing that this year.

"Very few players have an opportunity to participate in two Olympics, and I'm glad I'm having this chance to win what we let slip away in the past," Ronaldinho added. "It's a special moment in my career and I hope I'll be able to do my best here.”

Despite winning the World Cup five times, the closest Brazil has come to winning the Olympics was in 1984 and 1988 when the Brazilians went home with silver medals around their necks. Brazil has as good of a chance as ever to change that this year.

Fans of Brazil won’t be the only people keeping a close eye on Brazil during the tournament, however. AC Milan will also be closely watching their newest signing, Ronaldinho, who is yet to make his debut for the Italian giants.

In the meantime, Ronaldinho, captain for the Olympics, and his Brazil teammates will do everything it takes to finally bring back a gold medal.

Cristiano Ronaldo Finally Speaks Clearly About His Future – He's Staying!

Jeff Harbert — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:59:30 -0400

Cristiano Ronaldo has finally cleared up uncertainty surrounding his future by admitting he’ll be at Manchester United for at least one more season. Speculation about the Portuguese winger’s future has been circulating all summer long but it appears Ronaldo will end up being a Red Devil for the 2008-09 campaign.

"I will remain with Manchester United for at least another year," Ronaldo said. “Sir Alex Ferguson heard my arguments, I heard his and, in fact, it was settled that the best for both parties would be for me to stay. Therefore, I can confirm that, next season, I will play for Manchester United.”

Ronaldo went on to squash any rumors claiming that he would be playing against his own will next season after not being able to complete a move to Real Madrid.

"Before rumors emerge saying that I will play against my will, I want to make this clear—whoever says or writes that is lying. I will play for Manchester with all my heart and soul. I will fight and honor that shirt with the same commitment and dedication as always."

The 23-year-old winger also owned up to his own mistakes, taking responsibility for all of the rumors floating around in the past few months.

“I was responsible for all this controversy," he said. "I was the one who publicly expressed my desire to go to Real Madrid. I ended up being, even involuntarily, responsible for the poor relationship between the two clubs."

Sir Alex Ferguson and all Manchester United supporters will be able to breathe a heavy sigh of relief knowing the ordeal is done for, at least for now, that is.

Despite committing himself to United for another season, Ronaldo admitted he still maintains a desire to play for Real Madrid at some point during his career.

"I knew Real Madrid were interested in signing me and that they had allegedly made a very high offer to Manchester United,” Ronaldo said. “My desire was, for some time, that Manchester had accepted my transfer to Madrid. Saying otherwise would be to trick people and my own consciousness."

Ronaldo is still recovering from ankle surgery and most likely won’t be in action until October. It remains to be seen, however, if United supporters will welcome Ronaldo back to Old Trafford with open arms.

I predict he’ll get a mixed reception. I also predicted from the very beginning of the transfer season that Ronaldo would still be at United this season. We’ll see what happens though…

Raise Your Hand If You're Sick Of The Brett Favre/Ted Thompson Saga

Jeff Harbert — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:05:07 -0400

Raise your hand if you’re sick and tired of Brett Favre’s name all over the headlines every single day.

Wow, look at all those hands!

I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I’ve grown tired of hearing nothing else except for the never-ending saga involving one of the NFL’s biggest (and oldest) stars.

Whoever would’ve thought that one player could create so many headlines? And who would’ve ever thought it would take this long to sort out Favre’s future? Not me, that’s for sure. But here we are, still wondering where the 38-year-old quarterback is going to play next year.

If I had to make a wish, I’d probably wish for this whole drawn out saga to finally end. At least I’m not the only one who feels that way. Most of the Green Bay Packers feel the same way.

I’m worn out by hearing all the news about Favre, but his former teammates are worn out by all the questions from the media. Not to mention it’s probably kind of distracting hearing hundreds of fans chant “Bring Back Brett!” while you’re trying to practice and get ready for the new season.

Is Favre going to Tampa Bay? I actually wish he would just so this whole debacle could finally come to an end! Maybe you’re not like me, but I’m tired of waking up to the same news every day.

And what’s going to happen when the NFL season does get underway? Are people still going to be talking about Favre being back in the league? I hope not.

I was delighted to receive an e-mail from Zander yesterday, urging Bleacher creatures to shift their focus elsewhere for this week’s open-mic topic. So why am I here writing about Brett Favre?

Well first of all, I’ve already published my open-mic article, and secondly, I just want to know how many other people are tired of all the news surrounding the most popular player in the NFL, at least at the moment.

Who knows though, maybe it's wrong for me to accuse Favre for all this mess. Ted Thompson is probably just as responsible, if not more so, than anyone else for this. But the point is, the only thing I seem to be hearing in the news is mainly about Favre himself.

Anyways, I’m done raving about the whole saga and I am officially wiping my hands from it. From this point on I’ll be back to writing about what I know best. Thanks for reading…