I find myself doing something for the first time in my life. No, not attempting to train for a triathlon. No, not attempting to train Komodo Dragon's to perform Hamlet. I am actually supporting Manchester United. Manchester United, a football club, an institution, that I have genuinely despised for more than a decade. The reasons for my former vitriol are hard to clarify. There was of course the general domination and success. The arrogance of many of the fans, most of whom seemed to reside in Cheshire and Ireland. The snivelling sycophancy of the commentators as they fawned over Cantona and Keane. Also, back in the day, the excessive commercialisation of the club used to offend my once uber-lefty politics. I hated them, really hated them. So, how could this bubbling hatred be transformed?
Well the rise of Chelsea has a big part to play in this. There is just something so extraordinarily crude about the sums that have been thrown about in Chelsea village. Twenty five million quid for Ricardo Carvalho? Why not. 30 million on the player who very much used to be the worlds best striker, but has lost about five yards of pace ? No problem. SWP? Lets take two. It's gut churningly noveaux riches. Like the gangster who buys a Saville Row suit, but the suit wears him and not the other way around. It is not natural, it is nauseatingly unnatural, like Championship Manager with the cheats installed come to life. It is sad to see football being used as the plaything of a bored Russian oil oligarch who made his money raping his people out of their assests. You can take Roman Abramovich out of the Russian swamp, but you cannot take the swamp out of him.
Also, as much as I quite like and respect Jose Mourinho, he can be a pain in the arse at points. Liverpool FC have outplayed them on a number of occasions, but Mourinho has never once given them credit. Instead, he has engaged in childish playground antics with Rafa Benitez. (A gentleman if ever there was one.) The Mourinho routine has become jaded and tiresome. Indeed, when he complained of United getting refereeing decisions it was the clearest act of hypocrisy since George Washington asked his slave to get him a sandwich.
Furthermore, although they have been very successful, they hardly play scintillating football. They get the job done certainly, but so do Chartered Accountants, and nobody wants them to watch them for ninety minutes. Now United on the other hand seem to be playing the game the way it should be played. I have not seen a lot of them this season, but what I have seen has been stirring stuff.
And what about Cristiano Ronaldo. He was supposed to be shit this year. He was supposed to be abused to the point of capitulation. Instead, the one trick show pony has become the best player in the world. The jeers have spurred him to greatness. Now, he still has a face a kind face, (kind I'd like to punch) and a poncy earring. But I cannot help but admire his attitude and performances against such the adversity. Also, Paul Scholes has had an incredible season. He has suffered from asthma, vision and migraine problems over the years. I mean look at those ailments, that is what is supposed to happen to computer geeks, not professional footballers. Yet he has overcome his geekitis and been superb. Moreover, he does so in a way that is genuinely respectable. No earrings, no flash cars, no gang banging prostitutes. He just comes in trains hard and performs come the ninety minutes. As does Ryan Giggs, who shed his playboy image years ago and is producing incredible form again as he approaches his mid thirties. About a year and a bit ago it looked like he might be cast off to a Bolton or Wigan, or some other club that represents the elephant graveyard of a great career. Instead, he has produced his best form yet again and has become a fixture of this team.
Finally, there is the last hurrah of Govan's finest. He may be sporting a schnozz worthy or Rudolf, as I am sure he is no stranger to a bottle of Merlot. Yet despite these setbacks he has managed to build yet another team. He's seems to have constructed, pulled apart and then built again a number of great sides. Very few managers construct even one. He has managed to consistently do this for over twenty years, an astonishing record. Indeed, this latest incarnation is even more impressive when you consider his age, the inner turmoil at the club and the fact that he is facing a clear financial disadvantage for the first time in years. Nevertheless, he has bought well, Carrick and Vidic in particular have proved superb signings and showed that you can never underestimate a drunk from Govan.
So, all in all, circumstanses have forced me to support them in the Premiership title race. I would still rather see the Champions League be won by Liverpool and Arsenal are still my favorite English outfit, but I will still be cheering them on in the last games of the season.
Well the rise of Chelsea has a big part to play in this. There is just something so extraordinarily crude about the sums that have been thrown about in Chelsea village. Twenty five million quid for Ricardo Carvalho? Why not. 30 million on the player who very much used to be the worlds best striker, but has lost about five yards of pace ? No problem. SWP? Lets take two. It's gut churningly noveaux riches. Like the gangster who buys a Saville Row suit, but the suit wears him and not the other way around. It is not natural, it is nauseatingly unnatural, like Championship Manager with the cheats installed come to life. It is sad to see football being used as the plaything of a bored Russian oil oligarch who made his money raping his people out of their assests. You can take Roman Abramovich out of the Russian swamp, but you cannot take the swamp out of him.
Also, as much as I quite like and respect Jose Mourinho, he can be a pain in the arse at points. Liverpool FC have outplayed them on a number of occasions, but Mourinho has never once given them credit. Instead, he has engaged in childish playground antics with Rafa Benitez. (A gentleman if ever there was one.) The Mourinho routine has become jaded and tiresome. Indeed, when he complained of United getting refereeing decisions it was the clearest act of hypocrisy since George Washington asked his slave to get him a sandwich.
Furthermore, although they have been very successful, they hardly play scintillating football. They get the job done certainly, but so do Chartered Accountants, and nobody wants them to watch them for ninety minutes. Now United on the other hand seem to be playing the game the way it should be played. I have not seen a lot of them this season, but what I have seen has been stirring stuff.
And what about Cristiano Ronaldo. He was supposed to be shit this year. He was supposed to be abused to the point of capitulation. Instead, the one trick show pony has become the best player in the world. The jeers have spurred him to greatness. Now, he still has a face a kind face, (kind I'd like to punch) and a poncy earring. But I cannot help but admire his attitude and performances against such the adversity. Also, Paul Scholes has had an incredible season. He has suffered from asthma, vision and migraine problems over the years. I mean look at those ailments, that is what is supposed to happen to computer geeks, not professional footballers. Yet he has overcome his geekitis and been superb. Moreover, he does so in a way that is genuinely respectable. No earrings, no flash cars, no gang banging prostitutes. He just comes in trains hard and performs come the ninety minutes. As does Ryan Giggs, who shed his playboy image years ago and is producing incredible form again as he approaches his mid thirties. About a year and a bit ago it looked like he might be cast off to a Bolton or Wigan, or some other club that represents the elephant graveyard of a great career. Instead, he has produced his best form yet again and has become a fixture of this team.
Finally, there is the last hurrah of Govan's finest. He may be sporting a schnozz worthy or Rudolf, as I am sure he is no stranger to a bottle of Merlot. Yet despite these setbacks he has managed to build yet another team. He's seems to have constructed, pulled apart and then built again a number of great sides. Very few managers construct even one. He has managed to consistently do this for over twenty years, an astonishing record. Indeed, this latest incarnation is even more impressive when you consider his age, the inner turmoil at the club and the fact that he is facing a clear financial disadvantage for the first time in years. Nevertheless, he has bought well, Carrick and Vidic in particular have proved superb signings and showed that you can never underestimate a drunk from Govan.
So, all in all, circumstanses have forced me to support them in the Premiership title race. I would still rather see the Champions League be won by Liverpool and Arsenal are still my favorite English outfit, but I will still be cheering them on in the last games of the season.
posted by Special_K at 2:12 AM
3 Comments:
I find myself similarly affilicted at present. I await the burning newspaper on the doorstep, from Marrs following this admission, and would think that due to distance, I am at rather greater risk than you...
It is funny. One of the first nights drinking with Mr Marrs, I remembering bonding over our mutual hatred of the Mancs. I do not think he like Chelsea very much either though.
You are both going to hell.
That is all.
Post a Comment
<< Home