Thank You Sir Alex

 Last night, I went to bed to thinking that Sir Alex would still be the manager of Manchester United when I woke up. These rumors have been around for years and you never thought that they were true. When I woke up this morning, the unthinkable had happened Sir Alex had announced that he was stepping down.

For the last two and a half decades, Sir Alex is the only leader that I have know. His passion for the club, his love of the game, and his energy where qualities that I respected. Fergie remembered the club history and held it close to his heart. He was not a here today, gone type of "Special One".

United was his home. He said he was going to do thing and he did them. Remember there was a time when the idea of United having more league titles than Liverpool, was some kind of sick joke. Now Liverpool are the joke.

On Sunday, Sir Alex will stand in the technical area at Old Trafford for the final time. At the end of the game he will pick  up his final medal and hold the Premier Trophy for the final time. I'm sure I will shed a tear watching from New Jersey and hopefully my 3-year old son will sit with to see the end of era.

Sunday will be the end of the era, but the end of the our club.

This is Gus Baby

This is not Dave O'Brien at the World Cup, but I was afraid that it would be. Gus Johnson became the voice of soccer on Fox Sports when he called the first leg of the Champions League epic clash between Real Madrid and Manchester United.

For a first outing it was not that bad. I was at work for the game, so I listened to it on Sirius and they used the Fox Sports audio featuring Johnson and Warren Barton. To be honest, I'm not the biggest Johnson fan to begin with. Never been a huge fan of his over the top style.

But to his credit he was a true professional during the game, he seemed to do a great deal of research in preparing for the game and that showed during the broadcast.

My concern about Gus was that he would not let the game breath and he allowed the game to breath, which was good to see. What makes English announcers so good is that they don't talk over everything and Gus did not. Fair play to him.

Gus said a couple of little things that annoyed me, the main one being when he called the ball a "football"

I think that Awful Announcing summed up Gus's performance perfectly.

"Gus didn't sound like a basketball announcer calling soccer, he sounded like a soccer announcer,'' Awful announcing wrote. "The rhythm of his calls and his excitement as the action reaches a crescendo is a fantastic pairing."

The Premier League Fashion Runway

From track suits to baseball caps to suits. The touchline fashion in the Barclays Premier League is something that is up for debate from Wenger's puffy coat to Sir Alex and Harry suits to Jol's track suit. Recently the NY Times took at the fashion in this great story:  Premier League Soccer Coaches Struggle With Fashion. I wish more coaches would wear suits, I understand that weather can be an issue,  but at least try to look professional.

Fergie's Babes

You know you have been a club a long time when you can make a starting 11 with players that weren't born when you took over. Sir Alex can do that and his team would probably end up finishing in the top half of the Premier League, simply amazing.

Phil Jones: United's new midfield enforcer?

It looks like its going to be a summer of rebuilding for Manchester United, but it appears they may have already addressed a huge issue, a holding midfielder. With Owen Hargreaves injury issues over the last couple of years, United has been lacking at this spot. But their first singing on the season may have addressed. On 13 June 2011, United confirmed that they had reached an agreement to sign Blackburn Rovers' Phil Jones for £16.5m ; the deal would be finalised upon his return from international duty.

While most people view him as a defender, Jones might be able to slide into United's holding midfield roll. According to Football-Lineups.com, Jones started 24 games in the Premier League last year: 6 games at CB and 18 CM.

Some people view Jones as a defender, but I'm in favor of letting him play as a holding midfielder. One of the things that is lost on people is that Sir Alex likes bigger center backs and Jones does not fit that bill, being only 5ft 11in. With that in mind, I have a feeling that Sir Alex brought him in to be the next Owen Hargreaves.

So the rebuilding has begun and it looks like Phil Jones is set to be a one of the building blocks for both the present and the future.

Will Sir Alex go 4-4-1-1

The countdown is on until Saturday epic battle between Manchester United and Barcelona in the Champions League Final. While Barcelona formation appears to be set, Manchester United's formation appears to be up for debate. Will United play two up front, will Giggs make the starting 11. So here is what I would do if I was Sir Alex

Van de Sar

Rafeal                    Vidic                             Rio         Evra

Valencia             Carrick                      Fletcher             Park

Rooney

Hernandez

By going with this formation, Carrick and Fletcher could be supported in the middle by Park Ji Sung if its need and Rooney could then move out the wing. The bench would feature: Berba, Smalling, Giggs, O'Shea, Nani, Scholes, and Kuszcak. I would go with 4-4-1-1. This would be the formation that gives United the best chance to lift Mr. Big Ears again.

Special 1TV: The end of the season

The Special One puts all of his chips on red for the Champions League Final.

This Banners sums it up

Move over Liverpool, the Reds are marching on to title 19.

Snoods on the Run

photo from the Daily Mail

Winter has hit the Premier League, from the yellow ball to gloves to Under Armour to snoods. Snoods? Snoods are all the rage this year and they look terrible. The term Snoods applies to a tubular neck protector or warmer, often worn by skiers or motorcyclists. The garment may be worn either pulled down around the neck like a scarf, or pulled up over the hair and lower face, like a hood.

This season, a number of high profile international players were seen to be wearing tubular neck scarves referred to as snoods, and subsequently there was a rise in popularity in the wider population as people emulated their idols. This apparent new fashion was much derided by commentators, prompting one journalist to state that 'Snoods are the new gloves' in professional football, according to wikipedia.

Around England, many old school managers like Blackpool's Ian Holloway have shot back at the fashion trend.

While stars on Manchester City and Arsenal have been sporting the neck wear, Manchester United old school Scot Sir Alex has taken a hard line view on the terrible fashion. Sir Alex has told players that they are not allowed to wear them. Rio Ferdinand tweeted recently: "A lot of hostility from other teams' fans... I don't care if your players do or don't wear snoods. I just said WE won't be, so pipe down!''

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger said he allows his players to wear the much talked about neck wear for medical reasons. "I get advice from the medical team,” said the manager told Arsenal.com. “We had some players with neck problems before the Aston Villa game, Nasri and Chamakh. That’s why we decided to let them wear them because they had some medical issues.” It really does not surprise me that he would support the practice, he has always been like that.

I'm all for people trying to stay warm while playing gloves, Under Armour that is fine, but come on these thing look terrible and makes me question their fashion. So come on tough it out, and leave the snoods for your night life.

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.

Best of Special1 TV

The gang wraps up the season with a best of episode, classic bits.

Its almost game time

The Champions League Final will kick off in less then 20 hours and for one I can not wait for the battle in Rome between United and Barca.

Here is the line up I see Sir Alex going with:
Goal: Van der Sar
Defense: Evra
Defense: Rio
Defense: Vidic
Defense: O'Shea
Central Midfield: Giggs
Central Midfield: Carrick
Central Midfield: Anderson
Wings: Rooney
Wings: Park
Forward: Ronaldo

This is similar to the lineup that Sir Alex used against Arsenal in the semifinals. Rooney and Park will track back enough to limit the wing play of Messi and Barcelona and if things go crazy Carlos and the Berba are ready to be called on.

Let's go United.

Save Carlos

A new signing for the show. The worlds most famous Hammers fan joins the crew for next season.

Show some class Rafa

Tradition has it that the second place manager in the EPL pens a letter of congratulation to the championship winning manager. Sir Alex had to send it to Wenger and Jose.

Wenger had to send it to Sir Alex. It just part of the deal.

But now based on his war of words with Sir Alex, Rafa Benitez has all but refused to send the ceremonial letter to Sir Alex. He said he does not agree with what the ole Scot has had to say during the season.

I know some people at Liverpool don't even like Rafa but this has gone far enough. I know Rafa will go on and on about how his side had the best record against the other top side. But the fact is that the Spanish manager did not get job done and now has to do what is right and write a letter to Sir Alex. So its time for Rafa to grow up and show some respect.

Abs by Ronnie

The puppet Ronnie teaches you how to get ready for the summer.

Special One TV: Wormholes

Wenger has lost his mind and thinks that hey might be in the Champions League Final despite being knocked out by Manchester United.

Sven has Swine Flu?

Managers Looking For Work

The boy looks at how the economy has affected out of work managers, good piece of journalism.

Sven is looking for a job

Fresh off getting the sack from Mexico, It is looking for a new job.

Jose on Springer

Sir Alex might be going nuts, but Jose and Sven appear on an American talk show and the sparks start flying.