Messi is not the best team in the world.

If Barcelona don’t win the Champions League on Saturday night this Lionel Messi bloke is going to have a lot to answer for.

    Every article I read, every interview I hear seems to discard any chance of Manchester United beating Barcelona. The reason behind the majority of these claims appears to be one man, one very skilful man, one man with 52 goals this season. But all the same, it’s just one man.

    I’m not going to argue Messi is not the best player in the world at the moment as I fully agree with everyone else that he may well be, and is certainly somewhere up at the top at the very least. It took the patience of 76 minutes but Messi eventually ripped Real Madrid apart in the two sides’ first leg semi-final clash, and then did it again before the 90 minutes was up. His success rate this year has been near immaculate with such a high tally of goals scored. However best player or not, the saying still goes “There is no ‘I’ in team”.

   Of course I acknowledge the fact Barcelona have an array of talent and other world-class players alongside Messi. I am not debating whether or not Barcelona are actually the best team in the world or not though. I am questioning the fact that many people, so called professionals and average Joes alike, are certain Barcelona will win because they have Messi.

   Leave Messi in the team and take away Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Villa and I would not see Barcelona as half the threat they are now. Having these players around him allows Messi to play his own game and still have the backing of other world beaters. Without them you would see a different Messi, struggling for space and the ball. To put a whole Champions League’s final on the man’s shoulders is ridiculous.

    In the 2009 Champions League final United had Cristiano Ronaldo in their line up to face Barcelona. Ronaldo, the one man who many would see as being able to equate to Messi. One man, who at the time was also in great form, scoring goals for fun. However that night United were trampled by Barcelona with Ronaldo making little impact.

    I am not trying to settle the matter of who is the best team in the world. Whilst Barcelona are obvious contenders for that spot I can’t help but think many are rejecting any challenge from United because of Barca’s individuals. The stance seems to be that Lionel Messi makes the world’s best team. However United don’t so much have a team of world-class individuals, more a world-class team. The names Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick may not quite match the global magnitude of Xavi and Iniesta. Nor would Park Ji-Sung fetch a transfer fee as hefty as Pedro would. But this is not the point.

     There is no denying Barcelona have a team of amazing players, many of whom would walk in to any other team on the planet. Nevertheless their opponents on Saturday night have an amazing team. A team of players who all work so well together. A team which has been called the worst United team in a long time, reflected in the fact they could only win the English Premier League by 9 points this season.

     Saturday’s monumental match is a difficult one to call but one thing is for sure. Lionel Messi will not single handedly beat a world class team and win the Champions League.                  

Fergie's men can stop Messi & Co.

With the Premier league over and won by Manchester United it’s time to look ahead to, and relish, the prospect of an exhilarating clash between Europe’s finest. I have heard doubts over whether United can do what Real Madrid could not and stop Barcelona. I do not share these doubts.

     Manchester United have arguably hit their best form of the season in the last stretch, with notable highlights being convincing wins over Schalke to reach this point and a win over Chelsea to put them on the brink of the title. Many people may make the Spanish champions their favourites to enjoy Champions League glory due to their ability to rip a defence open on a whim, because they can pass a team to death, or maybe just because of the majestic Messi. However I believe Barcelona actually have more to worry about than United and this Saturday should see a very different encounter to that of two years ago which saw Barcelona ease their way to the trophy

     One key to United’s chances will be the strength of captain Vidic at the back. As Madrid’s Pepe found out, Barcelona have a knack for being able to get players sent off. I cannot see many ways of beating Barcelona with one less man as they look to outnumber teams with a full eleven men on the pitch, never mind ten. Therefore Vidic will have to keep his cool and not allow the pace and skill of Barcelona’s attack to get the better of him. With Vidic on the pitch keeping arguably Europe’s best defence organised and whole there is no reason why they can’t stop Mr Messi.

      Throughout the season I have questioned whether young Rafael is a wise choice for big matches. His inexperience can sometimes see him losing his head and lunging in to rash challenges. He also seems to be more of an attacking wing back than a full back sometimes seeing him leave a gap at the back. However as the season has gone on the lad has matured and quashed any doubts. The Brazilian’s pace should be enough to see him help in attack and still cover his ground at the back. Therefore I think Rafael would be a solid choice for the final being able to help at both ends of the pitch.

      Two years ago United’s side seemed to be missing something like a hole in the head or rather more a consistently strong Scotsman. Winning the midfield game will be key against Barcelona. Darren Fletcher’s suspension for the 2009 final saw the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets ruling the middle of the park without too much difficulty. A mystery virus has made Fletcher unavailable recently but he played a full 90 minutes against Blackpool and will hopefully be fully fit to face Barcelona this time around. With his fantastic ability to break attacks up, win the ball and then move it forward Fletcher plays a vital part in the centre and will have a big say in who wins the battle of the midfield if fully fit on Saturday night. Michael Carrick has shown vast improvement in the recent games, compared with his very much below average overall season. In the first leg against Schalke he broke play after play down from Schalke. Carrick is also a great passer of the ball and has the vision to bring others in to play, starting attacking moves. If Carrick plays with the same tenacity he has been of late he could match up perfectly with Fletcher to break the Barcelona midfield down and move the ball in United’s favour.

        Park Ji-Sung should be a definite starter for the final. Anyone who knows anything about Manchester United knows Park will give 90 minutes of running and hard work. This could be crucial on Saturday night. Park plays a pivotal role in that he can run at defences and look for an opening to play a ball, he will often be there to receive the ball, he gets himself in the box looking for the slightest chance to snap at, and with all that he is also a defender. One of the best qualities of the nifty South Korean is that he will get back and help the full back more so than any other attacker. This may be a major factor when the opposition attacking is Barcelona, and more specifically when the attacker giving the full back a handful is Lionel Messi. An attacker with the defensive capabilities, stamina and ruthless determination of Park may be what many of the teams trying to defend against the Argentinian wonder so far have been missing. As for the other flank, despite Nani’s Player’s Player of the Year award at United, I would still go with Valencia. Valencia will straight forward run at the Barcelona defence and look to get balls in to the forwards as well as look to get the ball from them in support. He also turned Ashley Cole inside out against Chelsea in a class act. This would also leave Nani on the bench as an impact substitution or the legs to bring on to help keep the ball as so often needed in Europe when United have the lead.

     Javier Hernandez. Chicharito. Saturday will be the biggest match of this cheeky chappy’s career so far. There is not much to say here that most United fans have not already said throughout the season. Saturday could be his night. I’m sorry to put the immense pressure on him but Manchester United fans will be looking to him for a goal at some point during the night, I’m sure. The beauty is he can from nowhere make a run, breaking away from the defence at the crucial and perfect moment to bury a threaded ball. There is always a chance in any game of this Little Pea popping up to provide United with what they need. Something he has already done 20 times in his first season.

     His name had to come into this somewhere. There is one very important factor in Saturday night. It is not coincidence when he plays better the team plays better. It is no coincidence when his season turned around United looked more on track for the title. Everyone will be looking to Wayne Rooney to drive United forward on Saturday. Against tough opposition, especially in Europe, especially away, Rooney has been played as a lone striker. As I’ve already stated I see Hernandez as an important piece in the United jigsaw for the final and I do not think Rooney as a lone striker will get them anywhere. However due to the fact United will need to win the battle in the midfield Rooney will have an important role to play here. He can drop back to get the ball immediately from the midfielders and look to bring the wide midfielders and Hernandez in to play or dare a driving run forward, as he does. Rooney when playing at his best has the ability to bring flair to a match from nowhere and this may be needed on Saturday if United find themselves with their backs against the wall.

    Manchester United have done brilliantly to get this far and stand proud at the end of a successful league campaign. There is one more key component I have not yet mentioned, the best manager in the world. Hopefully at the end of an eventful season he can lead United to do what they couldn’t two years ago, take the game to Barcelona and bring the trophy home.

   Good luck United!

The Nonsense Column

Steve McClaren has fuelled speculation about his appointment as new manager of Chelsea by expressing his wish to return to management in England. He has also been spotted buying an umbrella with the Chelsea FC crest on it. He did however admit he may lose the unmistakable Dutch accent he picked up whilst managing Dutch club FC Twente.

Carlos Tevez is nearing to completing his move to Blackpool with the belief he is more likely to tempt his family to move to the glitz, glamour and Pleasure Beach of Blackpool rather than Manchester.

An unnamed Premiership footballer is discussing unknown conditions with an unnamed club.

Steven Gerrard is planning to approach Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and beg him to give him the chance to follow in former teammate Michael Owen’s steps and move to the club to finally get a Premiership Winner’s medal.

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart considers retiring from International duty to ‘pro-long his club career’.

Due to laws involving super injunctions, it is believed next season commentators may not be able to say the name of certain players during match commentary. Also due to super injunctions preventing images being published of certain Premier League players, TV stations have been told they may have to blur the faces of some players out during match coverage.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is set to miss out on one of his summer transfer targets after flying out to France to personally seal the deal but had his cheque book taking in a mugging outside the training ground of the player’s club.

Wigan owner Dave Whelan and manager Roberto Martinez are setting their sights on Champions League football after deservedly escaping the relegation drop... again.

Fernando Torres said he was ‘delighted’ to be accepting the Golden Boot award for this season and said he wanted to thank his team mates from both clubs and claimed he was fortunate that the chances just fell for him this year.

Warnock’s Worries?

Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock has confirmed he will be the manager of the Championship title winners at the start of next season. But surely he should not have had any concerns over this?

    Warnock took charge of Q.P.R in March 2011, a time when the club were just 3 points off the relegation zone and fighting for their Championship safety. Now, 14 months later, Warnock has led the club to the Championship title and promotion to the top flight. This is all after surviving an investigation with the threat of a points deduction for a breach which occurred before Warnock was in charge. Still he worked through this tough time with the club and came out on top. Not much more could have been expected from the manager in a 14 month period, Warnock should have been praised. However this did not seem to be the case.  

   Following the club’s promotion speculation of a new manager clouded Warnock’s achievement. It was suggested the riches of Q.P.R may persuade a higher profile manager to move in and take the club into their Premier League campaign, Claudio Ranieri had been linked. Warnock himself had to admit he had concerns over whether he would still be the club’s manager at the start of the new season. I thought this very disappointing speculation. Whilst Warnock’s last experience of Premier League management was suffering relegation with Sheffield United, I believe any manager who has gained promotion with his club deserves the chance to take them forward. If Warnock were replaced it would have been a disgrace and a shame that a club, who have only just won promotion to the top league, believe they deserve a manager with a bigger name than one who has done all he can for the club and done it well.

   It is pleasing news that Warnock has now been able to confirm he will be taking the club into their Premier League campaign. However I still feel it is poor the Q.P.R board could not have ensured there was need cause for concern earlier and avoided the speculation dampening Warnock’s parade.

An exciting Summer for United?

For the first time in a long time Sir Alex Ferguson is not greeting a transfer window with his usual ‘I am happy with my squad’ approach. The United gaffer has already admitted he will be looking to spend this summer and so the exciting speculation has begun...

With Fergie’s squad losing the services, of which have been astounding this season, of goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar to retirement a new number 1 will be needed. United already have Thomas Kuszczak and Anders Lindegaard, signed from Norwegian side Aalesund in November of last year. However Kuszczak has only ever proven to be back up for United and is rumoured to be leaving in the summer in search of regular first team action while Lindegaard appears to have been signed for further back up. It seems then, that one of Fergie’s summer signings will be a goalkeeper. For months the club have been linked with Schalke goalie Manuel Neuer who showed, despite Schalke’s defeat, in the first leg of the Champion’s League semi-final that he is a class act. It is therefore unfortunate that he has expressed a wish to stay in Germany and appears close to signing for German giants Bayern Munich.

Another shot-stopper United have been strongly linked with is Atlético Madrid’s highly rated David de Gea who despite only being 20 years old has established himself as the team’s first choice keeper, and now appears to be emerging as Ferguson’s first choice replacement for Van Der Sar. If David de Gea is capable of taking the first team gloves straight from Van Der Sar at United then he would be a great signing as being young, especially for a goalkeeper, he should still improve and if Van Der Sar is anything to go by still has another 20 years of his career remaining.

The area of the field which has forced Sir Alex to admit his squad may need a slight revamp may well be the midfield. With poor Owen Hargreaves, whose limbs we can only now assume are falling off, looking like he will never play for United again and Giggs and Scholes reaching the ages of 37 and 36 the midfield lacks depth. This certainly shows in a team competing in all domestic competition and Europe. Ferguson has done brilliantly to manage the team through midfield casualties this season but surely will have to acquire himself at least one or two new additions for the middle of the park, after all no one wants to see the days of John O’Shea patching up the midfield again.

One name which keeps cropping up is Wesley Sneijder and this is certainly a very exciting name for United fans. I think United have lacked a player bringing flair to matches ever since the departure of Ronaldo which is why I think it is a massive shame they missed out on Mesut Özil last Summer. However the Dutch midfield maestro may be just the player who can give United that cutting edge back. I believe, presumably along with many others, for many years Paul Scholes has been the best passer of a ball in the United team and quite possibly in England. However now he does well to play every other week and when he does he is very much hit-or-miss. He may be completely absent during a game or have a very average game at best. Or he may even attempt to snap someone’s legs and just get sent off. It is even possible Scholes may be hanging his boots up this summer. Sneijder would be an excellent replacement for Scholes and would restore United’s creativity in midfield, something Anderson has not been able to establish himself as doing.

United have also been linked to Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi. Darren Fletcher may be a key component to the midfielder but Carrick has been faltering for a couple of seasons now and has not looked as strong as when he first arrived at Old Trafford. Whilst Fletcher was injured this season Darron Gibson fell short of the mark as a replacement and the team did well to scrape through with a clumsy partnership of Carrick and Gibson. Although Ferguson’s seasons of patience with Fletcher paid off he may not wait as long to find out if Gibson comes good and may be tempted to snap up De Rossi.

Alexis Sanchez and Ashley Young also seem likely to be on their way out of their clubs with United being a speculated destination for both. Either signings would add speed and creativity to the attack however may not be wholly necessary as long as Valencia, Nani and Park can stay fit.

It seems this Summer may see two or three arrivals at Old Trafford with the need for a goalkeeper and a cutting edge which the team have lacked at times this season. Speculation has been rife but no one can really guess what the boss is planning. Fortunately there is no better man to trust to bring in the needed players, especially after he acquired the bargain of the season with Hernandez last Summer.