More than enough has been written about the unfortunate turn-of-events when France advanced to the
2010 World Cup at Ireland's behest.
Though Thierry Henry is the culprit, he should not become a villain, nor have his reputation
tarnished by what will surely become the omnipresent fine print in his character bio forever.
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Most casual observers of Premier League football attribute Manchester United's trilogy of
consecutive championships to be largely based on an ingredient no longer present: Cristiano
Ronaldo.
But it's intellectual evasion to simply attribute anything to just one factor. The current
Galactico's emergence into the world class certainly paralleled United's resurgence against what
was Chelsea's brief dominance of the top division, but his influence was not absolute.
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When Owen Hargreaves finally returns from injury, in what may be his last chance to achieve his
prime, United manager Alex Ferguson can again field his strongest midfield.
But the Englishman, so influential in United's 2008 European double-winning season, is not the only
significant addition required to create United's most balanced side.
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As mostly everyone knows by now, Man United lost 1-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge Sunday after
John Terry scored a controversial goal in the 76th minute.
Different articles on different sites will all tell you more or less the same thing: United had
several major decisions go against them and probably didn't deserve to lose.
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t was always going to be a tense year for United and its fans.
The situation is distinctly lose-win: go trophy-less with an aging, crotchety Alex Ferguson who
failed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo's influence, or win the EPL or the Champions League led by the
wily, sagacious manager who proved doubters—fans among them—wrong again.
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Man United didn't deserve to beat Arsenal 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday.
They had no shots on goal until they were gifted a penalty. Arsenal were predictably ahead after an
equally predictable Arshavin cracker, until United predictably got a controversial penalty from, as
ever, Mike Dean.
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Prevailing media will usually cling to its most profitable darlings. They supply what is demanded:
the whats-what on Man United, the latest bickering between managers, polls about Ronaldo, anything
to breed divide between Barcelona and Real Madrid, what Rafa said, arguing if Arsenal can win with
youth, and occasionally even talking about Inter.
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To call current Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder want-away would be erroneous; he wants to
stay, it's his club that want him to leave.
With such a surfeit of attacking options, Madrid are likely to force out the classy attacker.
Rumors have the Dutch orchestrator possibly heading to Inter Milan, though he has rejected the move
as recently as today.
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I play harder on my Sunday team than United did in Rome. If any player walks off that pitch with
any energy at all, having lost the game, then they fucked up. There is no reason to have any energy
left in a losing effort in the final of the Champions League. Michael Carrick was an absolute
parody. Rooney had no guile.
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Whether or not the "6+5 rule" sweeps through Europe into England, two foreign players arrived in
January who would not be hampered much by the regulation.br /br /Andre Arshavin, the little
Russian, and Nigel De Jong, the stacked Dutchman, each brought a unique European flair—and world
class—when they were suited to England.
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Stubborn Wayne Rooney.br /br /The Englishman recently defended his truculent behavior, ever on
display this season, in what is an argument based more out of said emotion and rationalization than
footballing sense.br /br /To be sure, the passion and aggression Rooney exudes and personifies has
its benefits when marshaled and channelled.
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Never before have Man United missed Roy Keane so much.br /br /Whether berating a prawn sandwich
culture, or throwing under-performing players publicly under the bus, the man Keane never hesitated
to put the spotlights—and pressure—upon his own shoulders.br /br /More importantly,
beyond the brash outbursts was the most blue-collar of field workers.
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Cristiano Ronaldo needs to break down his current system and reset himself.br /br /His head is
nowhere near the pitch.br /br /His attacking is indirect. His tantrums are ubiquitous. His emotions
run completely unchecked.br /br /Where he once out-smarted most defenders, most now out-muscle him,
sending the winger downward again into the whining spirals which mar his ever-declining reputation.
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div id="article-body" pLiverpool humiliated Man United 4-1 Saturday at Old Trafford in a
statement victory that may sustain the Mersysiders' title ambitions: fact./p pFor United, losing
soundly to their most fierce rivals at home couldn't have been better timed or circumstanced:
thesis.
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