Maybe he is not that bad

In early September, OTWT wrote about Manchester United signing of Portuguese forward Bebe and how everyone needed to calm down about trashing the kid.

Bebe made Bébé made his debut for Manchester United as he replaced Park Ji Sung in the 74th minute of a 5–2 away victory over Scunthorpe in the League Cup. On 2 October 2010, he made his EPL debut, replacing Anderson in the 80th minute in their 0–0 draw against Sunderland. His first start came against Wolves in the Fourth Round of the League Cup on 26 October where he scored his first goal in the process, netting United's first of a 3–2 home win.

The Daily Mail praised Bebe performance during his first career start against Wolves on Tuesday night:

""Perhaps the only player in the United dressing room who may have felt a shred of envy when Hernandez followed up his two goals at Stoke with the winner here was the Portuguese starlet Bebe.

"Starting his first game at Old Trafford since his £7.4million summer move from Guimaraes, Bebe crowned a performance of promise with a goal in the 56th minute. By full-time it had all but been forgotten.

"He doesn’t have the same advantage as Hernandez as he doesn’t speak the language,’ added Ferguson. "But he is having his lessons twice a week and he will be fine. I was pleased with him.,'' according to the Daily Mail. 

For his performance, Bebe graded out at an 8 of 10 rating and was named Man of the Match. I know its just Wolves in the Carling Cup, but you have to start somewhere and a performance like that is enough to show everyone the talent that the kids has and why he is a player to watch in the future.

So now everyone is on board, right

Around the country this morning, people watched and waited for the United States to break through against Algeria and then finally it happened and the country went crazy, for a minute there it seemed like this was England, Spain or Italy with all of the love for the beuatiful game. The win sends the Red White and Blue through to the Round of 16. Facebook had messages about the game from people that had never watched a game before and on twitter people showed their love for Landon and the crew.

This comment from the New York Times running blog on the game sums up what type of impact the game might have had.

""My window is open here in Manhattan, and when the Americans scored, you could hear the roar in the street. I’ve never heard anything quite like that here, to be honest. I’m sure that’s what it was like everywhere across the US and wherever Americans were watching this game,'' from the New York Times Goal Blog.

So will this be the moment that America becomes a true soccer nation. Will we all look back in a couple of years from now on this date, June 23, and say that it was the start of the main streaming of soccer in the country. I hope so, but as a soccer fan I will also love the game and will watch anything including a Carling Cup game. Before the World Cup started people said that a 1-0 game was not exciting now that they lived through the drama of this epic 1-0 game, it may have changed their minds and if it did, I welcome you to the beutiful game and stay as long as you want.

We are still the Kings of Manchester and Will Always Be

In April, soccer fans around the world thought that Manchester United had lost their grip on the City of the Manchester. Fast forward a couple of months and that could be father from the truth. City are not in the same class as United. Sure they have spent a ton on players like Tevez and others. But spending money does not lead to you taking control of a city.

United have old war horses like Giggs, Scholes and Neville. The trio, who all played a huge roll in United 1-0 win over City yesterday, would go to war for the red shirt. They are breed United and will die United. This is something that City miss, people who will go to the war for the shirt. The only people that are breed City and will die City are Ireland and Richards and neither at this time can make it into the squad.

So when City fans start to say that they are the new kings of the Premier League, just remember they are not even the kings of the their own city and their record against the so-called old king was 1-3 this year.

Raw vs. Smackdown Soccer Style

The two Manchester games between United and City have been epic wars. The Guardian asked people to come up with a photos for the games so far this year and this one for a take off of the WWE was the best.

.......And Counting

Manchester United did what they do best yesterday, making Manchester City suffer. United knocked City out of the Carling Cup on an injury time winner by Rooney. United fans also reminded City fans about their lack of trophies by creating this banner (pictured above from the Daily Mail). Its been 34 years since City last major honor. No wonder Ryan Giggs wanted no part of them when he was a kid.

Bye Bye Ronnie and Thank You

The hair gel, the step overs, the temper tantrums, and the goals it has been a remarkable run at Manchester United for Ronaldo and that run now appears to be over. Real Madrid have made an offer of 80 million pounds for the Portuguese winger and United have accepted so all that has to be done is personal terms between Ronnie and Real, which will happen really soon. So this is the end.

Some people will say good riddance, but I can not. All I can say is thank you Ronnie. You always said Real Madrid was your dream move now you will be able to live out that dream, and good luck.

During the last six years there have been so many moments of magic from the goal in the championship league final against Chelski, to the goal at Porto in this years Champions League, to the come back against Spurs and Aston Villa, and the thropies. Oh yes the thropies. Premier League Trophies, an FA Cup, League Cups, World Club Cup, Community Shields and Mr. Big Ears it has been a great six years and now we go our separate ways.

But in two decades when people list the best players to ever wear the number 7 at United you are at the top of the list. I have faith that United are not done, but rather this is just the next great team that Sir Alex is building. It was fun while it lasted and again good luck at Madrid.

Pure Class

It has been a couple of hours since Barca lifted the Champions League Trophy and as a United fan, all I can say is "Pure Class." Sure it hurts to see your team beaten on the biggest stage but when they are beaten by a five star performance, you have to tip your hat to the other team.

After starting the game slowly, the Barca midfield showed why they are the best in world. Their runs were great, their passing was five star. It was a performance for the ages by the red and blue and the trophy is well deserved.

For a United fan the last two years have been amazing. The trophy haul includes: two Community Shield, two Premier League Titles, a Carling Cup, Champions League and a Fifa World Club Cup. Seven trophies in 24 makes the pain go away a little quicker.

My United scarf is sitting on the couch knowing the season is over and ready to be put in the closet for summer. In August the scarf will again come out of the closet for the Community Shield and today in Rome will be a thing of the past.

A couple of more to go

It's not even the FA Cup but United claimed another trophy the Carling Cup yesterday in a PK Shootout. So the drive for five continues, if you count the World Club Cup. Lets see this continue.

Highlights below

Professional Tailgating: The Final Game

So the Rutgers home season is over and what a roller coaster ride it was. Starting the season by looking like a Sun Belt team and ending the season as one of the hottest teams in all of country. So it all ended on Thursday night with game against Louisville and the Tailgating Crew was there.

Every one's favorite Turk checks in to see if Galatasary won their UEFA Cup on Thursday

Endy in the Outfield is dressed for a Carling Cup Quarterfinal at Millwall, rather then a college football game.

The red shirt freshman are waiting for their chance next season, BJones.

Saying good bye to the Stadium for the final time this season.

Stairway to Heaven

Putting your hands on a major trophy is something that all athletes live for but in some sports they hand out of the trophy in a better way then most. In the United States, when a team wins a major trophy like the Super Bowl or the NBA Finals, they roll out a stage on wheels and present the trophy to the captain of the team.

But in Europe, they give out the trophy in a different way, they make the players climb up a stairway to heaven. Traditional in cup tournaments like the FA Cup, Coppa Italia, Champions League, and the Carling Cup the captain leads his team up the steps to meet the president of the association and collect the their trophy and medals.

The best thing about having players climb up the steps to get their trophy is the interaction with fans. During the walk up fans give the players flags of native country, scarfs and hats to show there appreciation for winning the trophy.

It would be great to see Tim Duncan climbing up the steps to the commissioners box to collect the trophy from David Stern.

The cruel way Arsenal went throphyless

During the Festive Period it looked like Arsenal could have their hands on all four trophy this season. But in the space of four months, the Gunners season went for joy to sorrow in the cruelest way.

Here are the teams that knocked them out of the various competitions:

• Carling Cup: semi-final loss to Spurs
• FA Cup: loss at Manchester United.
  
• Champions League: loss at Liverpool.
  
• Premier League: title aspirations ended Sunday at Manchester United.
  

Lets look at this, a semi-finals loss to a hated local rival, being knocked out of the FA Cup and Premier League title race by Wenger's sworn enemy and being knocked out of the Champions League by another EPL top four team. Being knocked out of tournaments is bad, but being knocked out by all of your rivals is worst.

Arsenal season ended the same way Blackburn Rovers did with no trophies.

Enigma begins break out

For years soccer fans have been told that Jermaine Jenas has all of the skills to be a superstar at both the club and international levels.But since Juande Ramos took over at Spurs, Jenas has started to show that his play might be living up to his potential .

During the recently completed Carling Cup semi-final against Spurs’ hated rival Arsenal, Jenas might have been the best player on the field. According to The Sun’s player rankings for the second leg of the tie, Jenas was ranked at a 9 out of 10 and the Man of the Match.

Jenas started his career Nottingham Forest during the 2001-2002, and then he moved to Newcastle United before the start of the 2002-2003 for 5 million pounds. Jenas started to show his true skills and he was named PFA Young Player of the Year during his first season in the white and black of Newcastle.

Jenas then moved to the Spurs before the close of the Aug. 2005 transfer window for 7 million pounds, where he was a stalwart for former manager Martin Jol, but under the Ramos, Jenas has shown great improvement and his performances during the Carling Cup semi-finals could only be the tip of the iceberg.