Fergie vs Rooney

Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson are in a certain dilemma right now. Alex confirmed tonight that Rooney is not going to sign an extension and could potentially leave as early as the end of the season due to a FIFA loophole saying that he can buy out the last year of his contract only for 5 mil.

Am I surprised?
Not really, the current history tells you that most of the stars that leave Manchester United leave with some sort of discontent for Sir Alex during the end of the runs at Old Trafford. The exceptions to the rule are Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs (I'm not going to put Gary Neville on this list.). What is exactly happening here to have players like Ince, Stam, Keane, van Nistlerooy, Tevez, CR7, Beckham, and possibly Rooney to leave?

In every case there has been some sort of disagree between player and manager that Alex often is the one that takes offense of and it ends up being that the player leaves the club. My opinion Sir Alex wants people that listen to everything he says and don't question his authority. Think about the two players that lasted the longest. They have taken less workloads by playing every other game (if there are Champions League midweek games involved). Giggs has taken a more central role for the club. Scholes retired from the English national team to focus on club football. Do you think that Fergie didn't have any involvement in his decision?

These players feel some sort of invincibility. They think that once I leave the club will crumble. However these players have left within the 15 years and there is still one constant, the manager. He can scout for the next Jaap Stam (Vidic) or Cristiano Ronaldo (Nani) and possibly a Rooney (Hernandez, you thought I was going to say Bebe didn't you). Players will always want to play for Manchester United and if that is the case they won't falter any unless they miss the Champions League.


The Rooney Situation
Let's discuss Rooney's situation, the Red Devils will say that this has something to do with money. Rooney's discontent could be because he wasn't consulted about why he was taken out of key games. If there was any discussion between him and the managing staff about them wanting to protect their player, he still wouldn't be too happy but he would understand what is going on.

When Rooney hears from the media that he is injured especially when he wants to play every game he can, of course he is going to feel some sort of anger. "Supporters" or "fans" of Manchester United say that Rooney isn't loyal to the cause. I think he was loyal to it until about a month or two ago when he begun to miss key games in the beginning of the season. The club didn't show their faith to one of their important players. Remember he was never an early season goal-scorer, he would produce when they needed it the most. However when he isn't in the game, then how is he suppose to produce?

I am a professed Sir Alex hater plus I am a footballer myself so I will always take the players side unless they are found out that they are wrong beyond doubt. I will take Rooney's side because at least in a couple performances especially the Switzerland match for England, he played well and scored a goal. Then in his next match with Manchester United, he was left out of the line-up to be protected from the abuse he would receive at Goodison Park against Everton, his former club. A player cannot get his top form back if he is playing sporadically.

Then again, he might have had an ankle injury. If he did then why did Wayne play against Montenegro and claimed that he wasn't injured at all. Obviously we aren't being told the whole story about this saga. However it looks like it has the same end as the rest of those disgruntled superstars. He won't be wearing the Red Devils patch next year.

The difference in this situation than the others (except for CR7) is that the other players were going to the other side of their careers. Rooney is only 25 years of age and he hasn't hit the prime of his career. If Fergie allows him to leave for cheap and more than likely for another English club, it will probably be the mistake that buries his career. I don't think he wants to be the manager that let one of the best English players in this generation go to another English club.


What will happen?
Only time will tell, I think he will last the season but Ferguson is angry about another superstar thinking he is bigger than the team. So he will most likely leave and where he goes will depend on how personal the rest of this year gets. If the relationship deteriorates more, do not be surprised if he goes across town to Manchester City as a replacement for Tevez who doesn't like the way he is being used by Mancini. Rooney won't be as frustrated with the lone striker role as Tevez because he has worked that role many times at United and he is at his best when he makes something out of nothing.

This could still end well for United fans, they aren't even half-way done with the season yet and they are in all competitions right now. So Rooney will be needed in this clutch run. What they don't need is supporters whistling him because it will cutting their noses to spite their face. The season will end disastrously if they do so.

I say that Rooney is more than likely leaving but my predictions often bite me in the backside. There is a long time between now and June for him to make his final decision and he could have a change of heart. We will see soon...

All He Needs is a Father

It is official. "Super" Mario Balotelli has taken his talents to Eastlands and joined the big-spending Manchester City club. Everyone has taken their shots at the young man. He has been a thorn to almost everyone's side ever since he came into the senior side for Inter Milan. However are these shots taken at the 20 year old unwarranted? We know of his antics but let me ask you something, was he this bad while he was with his current manager Roberto Mancini at Inter? I don't know maybe you can shed some light on that.

I think that this kid needs to be loved by others. While he was with the Special One, the Special One takes an impersonal approach towards his players. If you aren't performing to his level, he will sit you immediately. You won't get many chances and he will also try to "inspire" players by calling out players in the media.

Young players usually take two approaches to this:

1) Let this humble you and realize that you need to do the work in order to get the results.

0r

2) If the young player is brass enough, he'll shut down on his manager and his team when he feels like he's been done wrong. And start spouting off to media himself.

We can guess what approach Balotelli took to this.



Mario Balotelli needs a fatherly hand on his shoulder. Jose Mourinho didn't give that to him. He berated him and berated him until Balotelli ignored him altogether like that little kid who ignores his parents for a couple of days expecting them to coddle him and say that everything is going to be alright and he's special. When Balo didn't get that from Jose and his "brothers' were ignoring Balo too, Super Mario decided to throw his toys on the ground and said that he didn't want to play with them anymore. It isn't right and he could have done everything different but you remember as a kid trying to get your parent's attention by doing bad things and when the parents ignored him, you just kept on doing bad things until either you realized you're in the wrong or you get yourself in serious trouble. Or that daughter who wants attention from their parents and then end up being a stripper.


For obvious reasons, that boy doesn't need to be a stripper but he does need a fresh start and a "father" who would truly understand him and will coddle to the needs of the young prodigy.

I believe that Roberto Mancini is the right manager for him because he knows the kid and has grown up with him. So he knows the right buttons to push, he can berate him in one instance but tell him that he loves him and he's done a good job. That is what Balotelli needs, he needs a balance that he hasn't had in a long time. Of course people need constructive criticism but when they've done well, they need to be told they've done well.

It seems soft I know but you have to coddle egotistical emotions because they are humans and they need to feel the love like everyone else. Balotelli throughout all his stupid decisions is one of the most talented youngsters out there. He can reach that potential to be one of the greats but he needs that father figure that will put him in check but at the same time see his worth...

Wayne, You know what has to be done...

JT- "Hmm, this is pretty awkward..."


Chelsea and Manchester City go against each other on Saturday afternoon (early Sunday morning for me) And one wonders what will Bridge do when they go for the customary handshake. If you have been living underneath a rock for a month then I'll briefly tell you what happened. John Terry had an affair with Wayne Bridge's babymama. Now Wayne Bridge is obviously upset about the deal.

What should he do? People say that he should take the high road and shake his hand even if it doesn't mean anything.

Me? I only think of causing trouble so what I think he should do is not shake his hand. Spit on him even when they are in the tunnel and just go for his legs and risk a possible season-ending suspension. Hey, he doesn't plan on playing for England anytime soon according to reports. So why not take the Roy Keane route and try to end a players career. But that's just my thinking, I wouldn't feel sorry for JT at all.

I think Bridge should set-up a bounty on JT's head. It would be obvious if he would recklessly tackle Terry in the game but if you get a guy like Craig Bellamy to do it then, well obviously they would expect that you set it up, but you couldn't prove it unless you got it in writing or on tape. That would be the more reasonable response in my mind.

Then again, I don't like seeing anyone's career being over due to a serious injury but whatever happens to JT in just under two hours, he'll probably deserve it...

Not going to lie. I'm tired of this British Nonsense

No disrespect to the English Premier League. I love watching the Big Four and for that matter Aston Villa, Manchester City, (b/c Robinho, Stephen Ireland, and SWP) and basically a team with an American on it (meaning Everton and Fulham). However I can deal without watching games in the Premiership without the struggling teams playing each other. It may be exciting to the fans of these teams but honestly it is just not good soccer, At all. All I see teams do against the big four is lump long balls and hope for free kicks. That is how they are going to get their results but as a neutral watching most of these games I cannot stand watching these games. It begins to hurt my eyes and then my mom would yell at me for a) "WHY AREN'T YOU WATCHING THIS GAME? and b) STOP SLEEPING ON THE COUCH. Because honestly I would either be putting on the headphones and listening to music or passing out on the couch.

I know people will hate me saying it but I would rather watch mid table Spanish La Liga matches then watching mid table EPL games. At least the ball stays on the ground for the most part. You see lots of dribbling in these games but also you'll see nice passing too. I love the chance when I get to go to a house with DirecTV and the people I stay with have GolTV and I'm on the tube watching some soccer and enjoying myself. Instead of going home and all I have is Fox Soccer Channel and now the Italian Serie A is on winter break. So all that is going on is EPL action. I know the English people (the ones I know support the Big Four, hmm bandwagoners!) that I know will give me a hard time but honestly don't you cringe sometimes when an mid- to low level team comes on your schedule because you know exactly what you are going to see.

Last Week: "Yo I'm trying to cop that Robinho Chelsea Jersey"

I don't know if you know already but on Monday it was revealed that Robinho is heading to Manchester City instead of heading to Chelsea in which everyone thought last week that he was going, in fact aaron told me that they actually were selling Robinho Cheslea Jerseys. Plus the fact that Fox Soccer News was saying that Robinho could actually be in the lineup against Tottenham for Cheslea. But something must have happened between me going to sleep on sunday and me seeing that Robinho is heading to Manchester City. There are two people that I'm disappointed in.

Robinho: It is said that you still have to agree to this deal. I find you a primetime player even though you weren't able to show all your ability in Real Madrid, but still Manchester City? Is that were you want to be? Sounds like Carlos Tevez all over again. I would like to know why you would choose that. Were you that desperate to leave Madrid? Or was it for the money because this is a new EPL transfer record. Or you wanted to be in the same lineup with a fellow Brazilian Jo. I don't know if you're friends or anything which could influence your decision. This could end up two ways. You could A. be a success and lead this team to a possible top four spot by the next couple of years or you could B. be a failure and start with this journeyman tour that you don't really deserve to be in my opinion. I don't know maybe you need to think about this.

Real Madrid: The King of hypocrites. Okay you slam Chelsea for their pursuit when you have tried desperately to unsettle C. Ronaldo in Manchester United so he could move to your club. Chelsea is not the blame of your problem, you were the one trying to offload Robinho to Chelsea to begin with. I remember when the season was over, you were going to let him go to Chelsea and all summer you were trying to hard to get rid of him, so you can use the money for Ronaldo. But then when he decided to stay in Manchester, you decided to be like "oh Robinho is a key part of our team and we would like to keep him" and Robinho tired of your bullshit decided to say bump this, I want to go to Chelsea. So then you felt like you were wronged and Chelsea is to blame. You can't have it both ways buddy. (how ironic that I decide to wear this Real Madrid jersey, i need to burn it)

I don't know what to think really. Maybe he will be a big success in City, I don't want to take that away from him or just say that he can't pick them up. I just find it very strange about this type of sleazy behavior that let's be honest all big and rich clubs go through but It kinda gets me to scratch my head.