'Mo-Ron for the Gals

Alright.  Just when I thought CR had shown us everything there was to see, he now has more pics from the Armani shoot.  Buckle up.

Once again...I do like the hamhocks

Nice photo...

CR DOES like the water...

:)

Too Zoolander...Magnum...Le Tigre...Umbro...

And finally...the person who should really be the Armani model...

No makeup...no editing...this is the REAL Armani man! :)

A Little Footy Whatnot

This has been an interesting week around the footy world and the biggest news was the "big freeze' in England, which forced EPL matches to be cancelled.  Record snowfall (somewhat laughable here in Kansas) and poor snow removal led the powers-that-be to wobble on match day.  The pitches are all playable, as they are heated, but the FA feared for the fans and their inability to drive in the slick stuff.  Can you imagine people in Green Bay reading this and saying, "cancel a Packers game because of a little snow?"  But the Brits are used to a more even climate (rain, rain, rain, and a little snow) so this deluge of flakes took their knickers by surprise.

Manchester drivers braving the big 3-inch snow...If they would drive on the correct side of the road this wouldn't be so difficult for them!!!

What's the big deal...reschedule, right?  Well it's not that easy.  Teams in the EPL do not just play league matches.  They are also involved in other cup games that are sprinkled throughout the season.  If you are in the top four finishers from the previous year, then you play in the Champions League (best of Europe).  All English teams play for the FA Cup and Carling Cup (sponsored by Carling Beer).  If you are fortunate enough to win the Champions League, like United did in 2008, then you also play for the World Club Championship.  United played for all of these cups in 2008, plus the Community Shield (which they won).  38 league matches plus 22 matches for the FA, Carling, Champions League, and World Club Championship...and United's grand total of matches that year was 60.  There are only 52 weeks in a year, but the EPL season lasts from August to May...so you do the math.  Rescheduling is a nightmare.

United didn't let the snow get them down.  They flew to Qatar and trained in the sunshine to shake off the wintry blues.  Let's hope this inspires a January run so we can top the table once again.  Darren Fletcher, who was erroneously sent off in their last match, said that those who have slagged off United all year will only inspire a run that will bury the competition...let's hope he's right!

United at the Aspire Training Camp in Qatar...no snow

The other big news for the week was the unveiling of a new Armani man.  Giorgio decided to dump Beckham and feature the sleek body of one Cristiano Ronaldo...suppose you've heard of him, right?  Before I present you with the scantily-clad CR7, I must say that the reaction has been somewhat hostile.  Calls of "he's so gay," and "those biceps are computer-generated," have filtered into the Spanish press.  As I've said many times on this blog, los Espanholes haven't warmed to him as RM wanted.  With that being said, CR looks far better than Beckham ever did (I don't like the overly-tattooed look...one or two is fine, but don't get crazy!) and Beckham's poses made him look more 'mo than CR's.  I know...shut up and get to the goods, you say...but hold on.  Before that here is a funny from last year's transfer saga that highlights the British press' view of CR's "style."

And now...voila!  Computer-generated arms or not (I'm not sure if they are...CR does have some nice arms), this is one fine foto for the female footy fans...*long sigh*

hammy-licious

I've completely lost my train of thought...ummm...Oh Yeah...Chamakh!
Marouane picked up the French "Oscar" for Sport last week.  He was named the Best Player in France, and picked up his trophy along with his coach, Laurent Blanc, who was named the Best Coach.  Felicitations!  Well-deserved for both!

And the Oscar goes to...

Marouane announced last week that he is staying in Bordeaux until the end of the season, but has now said that he will decide by the end of January which team he has chosen to play for next year.  He made it sound as if Bordeaux is still in the running.  "I don't want people to think this decision is easy for me, it is not something to take lightly."  His family is near Bordeaux and he has always played for them...I'm sure he would miss his partner-in-crime, Gourcuff, as well.  Which EPL team would he choose? Well...United is not in the running, despite rumors to the contrary.  I really don't want to see my Marouane heading a ball by Edwin Van der Sar, but that may be the case next year.  Arsenal, Tottenham, and apparently Liverpool (not sure how they could afford him with their financial situ) are very interested in him.  My guess is either Arsenal or Bordeaux.  Stay tuned.

Should I stay or should I go?

And finally...a pic of one of my favorite people in the World!!!!!!!

Friends are BEST!

Goal of the Decade

Well, he won the inaugural FIFA Puskas Award for the Goal of the Year with a rocket against Porto that secured United's advancement to the next round of the Champions League.  Beating Porto at the Estadio do Drago had never been done by an English team. 
So...Cristiano's thunderbolt at Porto was also named the Goal of the Decade by Manchester United fans.  He beat out Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, and himself (Portsmouth freekick in 08) for the top 5.

http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D}&newsid=6644723

You can view the top five goals here.

It's Been A Very Good Year...2010 Will Be Even Better!

2009 was a very noteworthy year for Manchester United.  The Red Devils won many trophies, were runners-up in the Champions League, boasted the Ballon d'Or/FIFA World Player of the Year, sold the Ballon d'Or/FIFA World Player of the Year, and in grand United tradtion...kept marching on on on.

The footy pundits predicted dire straits for United when they sold Cristiano to RM for 80m GBP.  The most expensive transfer in footy history still dominates the headlines as CR treads a new path with his new team.  There is no doubt that he was crucial to United's success for the past six years, but they were also crucial to his success.  It's not as if he were playing with mooks.  In 2008/09 the Reds broke a Premier League record for the most minutes without conceding a goal, and with lifelong Reds like Ryan Giggs (PFA Player of the Year), and Paul Scholes (a pinpoint passer), United won the premiership for the third straight time (18 times overall), the Community Shield, the FIFA World Club Championship, the Carling Cup, and made it all the way to the final of the Champions League.  Not a bad haul for a supposed one-man team!
With that said, SAF reminded everyone the other day that United are sitting in almost exactly the same position that they were last year.  They were well behind Liverpool in the Prem League standings last year and had only one more point than they do now. 
Giggsy was interviewed this week and said that although Cristiano was a huge part of their team, they haven't really missed him (his play).  It must have been difficult for the last few years when CR's name was constantly in the headlines.  I don't think the players were jealous of him because they knew they were just as responsible for the successes of the team as he was.  Yes, he had wonderful bouts of brilliance, but rarely were they feats of his own.  The freekicks were fabulous, but he didn't win all of them.  But we're marching on.
Wednesday's game against Wigan was a perfect example of moving on and setting the tone for the new year.  A thorough 5-0 drubbing of the Latics (just as they did at Wigan two months ago), the best news was that the 5 goals didn't come from one person, and they weren't spotkicks, freekicks, or corners.  The goals were good ol' fashioned goals that were pounded out by gritty play.

Rooney scored first at 28 minutes

Four minutes later Michael Carrick blasted through the crowd for number two

Rafael da Silva scores his first OT goal...

...and promptly ran to the bench to salute his brother, Fabio

Five minutes after the half, Dimitar Berbatov was on the receiving end of some slick play by Rooney...United 4-0.

With 15 minutes to play, Antonio Valencia netted his 6th goal for the year against his former club.

United 5-0 Wigan.  Three more points.

The Reds go marching on on on...

CR Says "Be More Like United"

Wow...he just keeps coming with the "I miss United" stuff.  In the second installment from a two-parter for MARCA magazine in Spain:

The Real Madrid fans do not support their team enough when they are playing badly and should try to be as initimidating to visiting teams as the Manchester United supporters, according to forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid broke the world transfer record to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for £80 million.
"We know that we have the duty to put on a show but sometimes it's not possible," the Portuguese international, who joined Real from United for a record fee this year, told Marca on Wednesday. "We always try but at times the team are not playing well and the fans could give us more support."
"The Manchester United fans, for example, were very intimidating for Liverpool or Manchester City in those matches. I think that if our supporters tried to do that it would be much better for everyone and would give the players a big boost."
Ronaldo returned to action in late November after two months out with an ankle injury and insisted his fitness is improving all the time.
He also said he intended to win back his FIFA World Player of the Year award, which was given to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi this month.
"I have the ambition to be the best," Ronaldo said. "By God's grace I have already won the trophy for the best player in the world but I hope to win it again, either this year or next, but I will win it again."

     Mancunia...winners of the Cristiano Ronaldo Fan Award


People have taken notice that Ronny has talked more about United lately than he has his own team.  It will be interesting to see how the "fans" at the Bernabeu react to his recent statement about their "unfanliness."  Stay tuned.

Wearing his favorite "man" shirt and sporting more lip gloss than me!

Chamakh Insists He's Going Nowhere in January

From soccernet.com

Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh insists he will stay with the Ligue 1 champions until the end of the season.

Chamakh has long been linked with a move away from the Stade Chaban Delmas and made no secret in the summer of his desire to play in the Premier League.
Arsenal were one of the many clubs reportedly interested in the 25-year-old and speculation is rife that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is set to make a renewed effort to sign him when the window opens again, with Robin van Persie likely to be absent for the rest of the season.
However, Chamakh claims he is not going anywhere in January.
"I'm going to finish my season at Bordeaux,'' he told France Football. "Honestly, in my head I don't want to relive what I lived through last summer.
"I don't want to see my name circulating during the transfer window. I've had enough of reading or hearing rumours that they are lacking a centre-forward somewhere.''
Chamakh's contract expires in the summer and the Morocco striker will then be able to leave on a free transfer.
A big-money deal is now on the table for Chamakh - last season's leading goalscorer - as Bordeaux attempt not only to keep him at the club but also avoid losing him for nothing. [end story]

Bordeaux have already admitted to not giving Chamakh a proper valuation. Now they're between a rock and a hard place. If they let him go in January, they would have money but they would be missing one of the prime reasons they finished with more points than any other team going in to the final 16 of the CL. If they keep him until summer...maybe they do well in the CL but then lose one of your stars for free in the process...

I'm sure Marouane wants to play for an EPL team for several reasons...one would be much better pay. Another would be more aggressive footy. Obertan said that he liked the EPL better than Ligue 1 because the French teams "seem to play not to lose instead of playing to win..."...that can be very frustrating for a striker. And lastly, he knows that his partner in link-ups (Gourcuff) won't be hanging around Bordeaux forever. If Chamakh signed a long-term agreement (Bordeaux told him he could sign for a year, two, whatever) then he could end up tied to a sinking ship.
Whoever is lucky enough to get him, the other teams should mark him well during set plays...he is deadly with the head!

And now a few photos of Marouane and Gourcuff... ;)

Jean-Louis Triaud (Pres. GdB) during Ligue 1 Championship presentation

Jean-Louis should have been doing this all along to one of his valued players...now he could be kissing 10m euros goodbye!

Awww...I hate to split up the Chamcuff duo

Why can't I take photos like this?

There Are More Important Things Than Footy...

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been given indefinite compassionate leave after his wife suffered a brain hemorrhage.
The 39-year-old's wife collapsed last Wednesday and he will not be expected to return to Manchester until she has made a recovery.
Van der Sar, who is currently out of action with a knee injury as Tomasz Kuszczak deputises, was back in Holland to receive treatment.
Sir Alex said: "Annemarie had a problem over in Holland a week ago and has been admitted to hospital. That is the best place for her to be. They have examined her twice and are trying to get to the root of it.
"I have told Edwin to stay over there. There is no point in him being here. The best thing is for him to be with his wife. Hopefully she will make a good recovery.'' [end story]

Annemarie and Edwin at United for Unicef Gala

Here is to a full recovery for Annemarie and Edwin...there are more important things than footy.