Keep Calm, Win Titles

As the soccer worlds celebrates the new kings of Manchester, just remember this is not the first time that people have questions the future of Manchester United.

When Sir Alex took over in 1986, he said that the club would surpass Liverpool when it came to league titles. People laughed at him and people said it would never be done, fast forward to today and Sir Alex has seen off Liverpool.

Next up people said that Arsenal was passing Sir Alex by after the Invincibles in 2003-2004, that was not the case, Sir Alex saw off their challenge and pushed them aside.

Fast foward to 2003 and people said Fergie and United could not compete with The Special One and Roman's billions at Chelsea. After a couple of years, Sir Alex saw off that challenge and chased a number of managers out of the Premier League.

Today its Manchester City and their billions. Sure Sunday hurt, but lets be honest this United team was not classic and we came with 90 seconds of a title. Just remember Sir Alex has taken on all comers and he is usually the last one standing, which is exactly what is going to happen. 

Great football tattoos

Here is a list of footballers who love the ink. Raul Meireles joins Daniel Agger, Djibril Cisse and co in tattoo hall.

Its so bad that Bieber is going replace Torres at Chelsea

If life at Chelsea can not get any worst for Fernando Torres at Chelsea, now the blues are looking a signing a replacement him, Justin Bieber. Bieber trained at Chelsea with Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres and some people said he does not miss sitters like Torres does.

The Chelski Transfer Effect

Fifa ruling against Chelski today could have far reaching economic ramifications on the football world in the coming years.

Chelski are banned from signing any new players until 2011 after they were found guilty of illegally inducing a French youth international to sign in 2007. The ruling from Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber also banned the 18-year-old attacking midfielder Gaël Kakuta (pictured above), considered the cream of the club's academy talent, for four months and fined him €780,000 (£681,000).

The ruling will not only make it hard for the Chelski to rebuild their aging squad but it will have a negative impact on the economy of football. By banning Chelski from signing any new players until 2011, it will take one of the footballs real money team out of the equations. Teams like Lens, Blackburn, Wigan, and various other count on teams like Chelski, Real Madrid, and Inter to buy their up and coming players for inflated transfer fees to stay competitive. Since 2003, Chelski has spent approximately 600 million pound on players.

With football continuing to feel the effect of the world's struggling economy taking another one of the big transfer out of the equation might spell doom for some. If you look around the transfer market this year the only large spenders where Real, Manchester City, Barca, and Liverpool. While Chelski might not have spent a ton they are always willing to.

While I'm not saying that they do not deserve to be punished for their action, I have this feeling that FIFA did not do their full home work in looking at the effect that this ruling will have on teams that count on transfer fees from big clubs to stay competitive.

Endy in the Outfield's EPL Preditions

The Premier League Season is set to start in less then a day, so its time for OTWT resident Liverpool Fan Endy in the Outfield to gives us his thoughts the marathon that is the premier league.

1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. Manchester United
4. Arsenal
5. Manchester City
6. Fulham
7. Tottenham
8. Everton
9. Aston Villa
10. Blackburn
11. West Ham
12. Wigan
13. Sunderland
14. Stoke City
15. Bolton
16. Birmingham City
17.Wolverhampton
18. Burnley
19. Hull City
20. Portsmouth

First manager to get sacked: Phil Brown, Hull City
Best signing: Carlos Tevez, Manchester City
Golden boot: Fernando Torres, Liverpool
War of words between rafa and sir alex start: Week of Sept 19th.

Fashion Disaster

I know they are not as bad as Newcastle United yellow look, but Readings neon green road kit might rank right up there. The Royals unveiled them today when they played Chelski in a friendly. Neon green letter on a white shirt and neon green shorts, just screams classy.

Soccer Preseaon Notebook #1

Every where you turn there are preseason soccer games on the TV. From the Peace Cup to the World Football Challenge to the Emirates Cup there have been a tons of games to sample. Here are some OTWT thought about different this games.

• Chelski Zhirkov looks like he might be the best signing in the EPL.
• Diego and Melo might be the pieces that Juve might need to win Serie A.
• The one thing that still bothers me about Real Madrid is that they still need a creative mid-fielder.
• Its weird seeing Ronnie in the all white of Real Madrid. He will always be a United player in my eyes.
• One thing that has been good to see in the World Football Challenge is how good Club America are. Shows how good the Mexican League is.
• There was no one at the Peace Cup in Spain a real shame, cause it has quality teams.
• Is there a better name in soccer then Porto's Hulk.
• AC Milan stinks, its that simple. If it continues they might be in the Europa League in 2010/2011.

Other preseason notebooks coming in the coming weeks.

Really Super Sunday

Some sports days are better then others and Sunday was one of them. United vs. Chelski, Eagles vs. Giants in the divisional round, and then North Carolina vs. Wake Forest. With all of the games it will be a three shirt day. Here is a time line of the days events:

9:19: Church is over pregame meal time.
9:59: Pregame meal finished. Ihop country fried stake skillet. Can not beat that.
10:30: Just finished skimming the Sunday papers, its only an half an hour till the day gets rolling.
11:00: A sign at the Theatre of Dreams: Viva John Terry. Surprised by Neville seeing the field today.
11:05: Really Ian Dowie, no Robbie Earle. This is not good at all.
11:21: Ashley Cole is a bitch. Very simple
11:32: This is starting to really kick off.
11:43: Chelski seem like they are starting to get going
11:50: We got our goal, Vidic and Really Super Saturday is off to a good start.
Noon: Half time got the bathrooms trip out of the way and got the drink. Ready for the second half of United/Chelski.
12:27: The Rooney with the goal. But Park has been our best player, his work rate is amazing.
12:35: Drogba blows another chance. What a shock.
12:45: I wonder what the Special One thinks of the Gene Hakman, Big Phil.
12:55: Berba, 3-0. Change shirt, change location. Good start to the Really Super Sunday.
1:20: Second round under way and Eagels get a good hold. My hands are shaking not a good sign.
1:30: Birds have the lead. This is going well. Almost too well.
1:45: So good. Wow you could not ask for a better start for the birds.
1:50: Now the giants fans at the place I'm at, are starting to get pissed, gotta love the tag of favorites.
2:06: Wow the birds could not play worst and still have the lead.
2:45: Wow they have been terrible and still have the lead. I can not believe that. What the hell.
3:20: I really should have taken up something different for a hobby. This way to stressful. Eagles have the lead back. This is nuts. Heart rate on verge of going off the chart.
3:50: Birds up two scores and feel nervous. This is not healthy.
4:10: Wow three weeks a going to the NFC Championship Game seemed like a pipe dream. Now its a reality.
5: For some reason I have no emotional involvement in the Chargers v. Steelers game and just saw a quick kick, what an amazing day.
6:20: Third shirt of the day, North Carolina, is on and ready to go. Let's hope the Heels do what United and the Eagles have already done. Win.
8:00: Carolina vs. Wake Forest in HD. This day is getting better and better.
8:22: Wow this Wake team is better then I thought. Saw them during one of the Thanksgiving time and they were ok never, not this good. Jeff Teague is a player.
8:54: The Heels finally got the lead. Have not played well but now have the lead.
9:20: The second half of the final game is underway. Let's go Heels.
9:34: Starting to show affects of the day but trying to hang in there till the end.
9:45: Wow is Jeff Teague is reminding me of the performance of Randolph Childress put in at ACC Tournament a bunch of years ago.
10:08: So the Heels are not going with the plan today. But two out of three ain't bad.

Wow what a day, lots of yelling at the TV and text messages on the Blackberry but in the end it has been well worth it with United showing that they are not going to give up their Barclay's Premier League title and the Birds going to the NFC title game. Wow.

Large and not in charge

Sports contracts say a variety of things and St. Patrick's Athletic midfielder Michael Keane found that out. Keane contract was terminated for being too fat, yes too fat.

Keane received a letter from the club earlier this year instructing him to lose weight and was given a target to aim towards. Failing to meet that goal was the reason offered for his dismissal. In his defence, the player will argue that he hasn't missed a training session during his time with the club,'' according to story Friday in the Independent.

Maybe Chelski can include this provision in Fat Franks new contract.