Second Best in Europe…By quite a distance

        They lined up for their third final in four years. They didn’t have the best of domestic campaigns, but they did enough to ‘knock Liverpool off their perch’ and seal their position as the most decorated side in England. Confident in their ability, they sought revenge against a side touted by many as the best ever. By the end of it all, they cut a forlorn figure, as their hopes of a fourth European Title were dashed cruelly and yet so beautifully. "Nobody's given us a hiding like that but they deserve it," admitted Sir Alex, choosing to call a spade a spade as the English Champions were outthought, outplayed, outpassed and outclassed by the “best team he has ever faced’”. The famed Barca midfield quartet were at their irresistible best creating chance after chance and cementing their spot as the best team in all of Europe.

        Despite all the unfair criticism, the current crop of players is as good as any other Manchester United side over the years. Despite not having the financial muscle of Chelsea or Manchester City, they wrapped up their 19th League Title with a game to spare. However, the Barcelona juggernaut, they ran into , exposed their frailties like none other. Evra could not cut off the angles feeding the wings and was found wanting. Valencia was expected to run circles around Abidal, but he did little more than turn up. Chicharito was offside most of the game and Giggs and Carrick were outnumbered and outclassed. Vidic and Van Der Sar were monsters in defence, but their resistance finally broke down against the relentless onslaught.

        Domestic League glory, a semi-final appearance in the domestic cup and a Final appearance Europe would count as another successful campaign for any club. They are definitely the second best side in all of Europe but they are miles behind the class of Barca. While the result of last night’s game was decided over 90 minutes, the foundation was laid a year ago when the transfer window slammed shut with United failing to make any notable additions to their midfield. If this game were to be played 10 more times, the result would have been the same on all occasions due to the absence of a solid ball winning midfielder in United’s ranks.

        While SAF’s eye for a bargain was evident yet again during the transfer of Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, the deals he missed cost them dearly during the final. Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Rafael Van Der Vaart all changed clubs at dirt cheap rates, with none of them ending up at Old Trafford. The gaping hole left in midfield since the exit of Roy Keane is yet to be filled. With the imminent departure of Scholes and Giggs looming large, Sir Alex has the unenviable task of rebuilding the team at a time when the Catalans are at their peak. It’s a period of transition for the club and the season-ending defeat should serve as a wake-up call.

        David De Gea should prove to be an ideal replacement for the retiring Van Der Sar. Ashley Young, should he make the move to Manchester, will benefit hugely under the tutelage of Giggs. The return of Danny Wellback, Federico Macheda and Tom Cleverley should add teeth to the attack. Fabio and Rafael continue to show promise and will occupy the full back positions for years to come. Anderson has shown promise this season, and with enough games he will ably fill the big boots of Paul Scholes. However, it’s the area in the centre of the park which requires urgent attention. With Owen Hargreaves finally being shown the exit door after spending more time troubling the medics than opposition playmakers, the defensive midfielder position is up for grabs. Everton’s Jack Rodwell has been linked with a move to Manchester all through the season, but Sir Alex would know he needs a seasoned player who can boss the midfield even in the presence of Messi and Iniesta.

        Sir Alex and Manchester United have probably been written off a number of times in the last couple of decades and every time they have silenced their critics. The exits of Cantona, Beckham, Van Nistelrooy, Keane, Tevez and Ronaldo were all supposed to end their era of dominance, but each time they have managed to prove their supremacy. However, the challenge they face today is tougher than any they have faced. After winning the 19th league title, people wondered what could motivate Sir Alex to continue his association with the Club. Last night’s result provided that answer. The Red Devils are not used to chasing shadows, and Sir Alex would be smarting from the humiliation from the humiliation suffered at Wembley. Barcelona ‘s ‘Invincible’ midfield have made the team to beat, much like the Australian Cricket Team of the 2000’s. They will continue to dominate teams and win multiple trophies. What remains to be seen is whether Manchester United can challenge them at the high table of European Football or whether they will be content in being the best of the rest. The Mauling of Manchester has set the stage for an intriguing few seasons which will see many a memorable battle like the one witnessed at Wembley. SAF would like to end this battle, like all others he has fought, on a winning note before leaving the ‘Special One’ to further his agenda with the Catalans.

The Mercenarization of Cricket

        “My heart and soul is with KKR, I am not a Delhi boy anymore.", declared Gautam Gambhir right after he led KKR to a 17 run victory over Delhi Daredevils at the Kotla. 2.4 Million USD was all that was required to affect this change of heart and soul. The Delhi boy was not the only one to experience this sudden change. Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds combined to bury Hyderabadi hopes at the very same ground they had called ‘home’ for the last three seasons. Yuvraj Singh led the charge as his Warriors routed his erstwhile Kings. And who can forget Chris Gayle’s mauling of the Knight Riders (on a side note I have never understood how someone can ride a knight), breaking the very same Bengali hearts which had been used to cheering each of his massive slogs.

        It all began during that glittering auction in January when cricketers were ‘bought’ and ‘sold’ to the highest bidder, with Team ‘Owners’ and their coterie deciding which players to retain and which ones to let go. The last time humans were traded in such a manner, they were called slaves. While fans were still busy figuring out whether to mourn the ouster of their stars or welcome the new ones, the players were too busy raking in the moolah to complain about the utter disregard shown for their opinion, and therein lies the failure of the IPL. While it would be preposterous to compare the handsomely paid players to slaves, the readiness with which they have switched teams is strikingly reminiscent of Medieval Mercenaries who bore allegiance to none other than currency.

        The vision behind the IPL was to create a League akin to the English Premier League which is the pinnacle of English Football. The naming of the tournament itself is farcical. While the EPL itself sits on top of a robust hierarchy of lower division leagues, hence earning the moniker of the ‘Premier League’ of the country, the IPL is a one league system making it the ‘Premier’ as well as the lowest T20 league in the country. The EPL, as well as other Leagues all across Europe, indulge in player transfers with each club being required to enter into separate negotiations with the player after agreeing a transfer fee with the parent club. The system ensures that no club can keep or sell a player against his own will as seen by numerous club-player confrontations over the years. Even the fans can play an influential role in persuading a player to stay as witnessed during the Rooney transfer saga. So while there will always be players lured by money and silverware, the crux of every team is retained across seasons allowing the fans to develop a special bond with the players and creating legends in the process.

        Teams evolve their own styles of play based on their pool of players and playing surfaces at home. Constant chopping and changing in the name of auction, makes for a wonderful televised event, but the framework of the team is altered beyond recognition. It is hard enough for fans to root for unknown local players, but it’s even more difficult to do the same for a new set of players every couple of years. If the IPL is to replicate the success of the EPL, the powers that be have to realize the importance of team stability. After all, it’s the fans and the players that make a club, not the owners.