Last summer, we heard numerous reports that Ronaldo was to move to Madrid. A deal was in place. It was definite. It was going to happen next week. But then, there was some delay; and the deal would go through the week after that. It never did. No matter for the Spanish press, as they continued to rinse and repeat the story. This is how my summer went.

Then, somewhere in between Calderon telling Rafael Nadal the deal was done and FIFA president Sepp Blatter comparing Ronaldo’s situation to a slave (Yep, this is the guy who is in charge of everything) the only worthwhile piece of news came to my attention. Fergie went on his rant about how he would never ‘sell that mob a virus’.

That was all I needed to know, nothing else mattered. I knew from that point on, Ronaldo was staying. I hardly gave another ‘ Ronaldo to Madrid breaking news report’ my attention again, no matter how intense the rumors, or how foolish I was dubbed by others.

Fast-forward to this summer. More of the same stories. Funny how they all originated from Madrid. Again, I paid little attention to the Spanish press as they had lost all validity in my eyes. I figured it was going to be another summer of ‘will he, won’t he?’ malarkey. However, I was always waiting for either David Gill or Sir Alex to come out and deny these new claims as they had done the previous summer. This never happened. I should have known this was a sign, as the news became official yesterday morning. Goodbye Cristiano, and thanks for the memories.

Why, hello there, £80 million.

Now, we need to figure out who to spend it on. There is no player in the world who can replace Ronaldo, so there will have to be at least two signings. Frank Ribery remains the first choice of many, although he has stated he has no desire to come to England, so I don’t think that will happen. Instead I fancy United to move in for Wigan’s Antonio Valencia. Fergie is a known admirer of the Ecuadorian winger, who has proven he can keep up with the pace of the Premier League and will cost a fraction of what Ribery would have. His arrival will also almost certainly spell the end of Nani’s time with the club.

The second signing is a little bit more tricky. First, we need to wait to see what Carlos Tevez decides to do. If he stays, the club will probably go after another midfielder, but if he goes, we’ll need another striker. There are numerous candidates to fill this void, with Aguero, Villa and David Silva among those reported to be likely targets. Then again, how much can we really read into these ‘reports’? It’s impossible to tell who might be linked with the club before knowing what Tevez and his shifty agent decide to do.

However, no matter where Tevez ends up, I think Ronaldo’s departure will signal the end of Rooney playing out on the left. Next season he will come back into a more central role. This is his best/preferred position and it will make up for some of the goals we will have lost without Ronaldo.

I think this switch could have the potential to be like a new signing as United fans haven’t seen Rooney play in his preferred position for quite some time. His grit and determination down the left flank showed us what an unselfish player he is and these performances will not be forgotten by United fans.

However, we all will be glad to see him back where he belongs, in the thick of the action. He does it for England, and he’s been in devastating form recently. Look for him to recapture his goal-scoring ability for his club next season.

Now, back to Ronaldo. We all knew it was going to happen. I just didn’t think it would happen this early. I’m very disappointed, but at the same time, if a player doesn’t want to play for the team, than letting him go is the right thing to do. And if it’s any consolation, Fergie has a great record of letting players go at the right time. Beckham, Heinze, Van Nistlerooy, etc failed to match their performances after they moved on. This is not to mention the players Fergie dropped as the youth academy class of ‘94 took over (Beckham, Scholes, Butt, etc).

Ronaldo still has a long way to go in his career, but the odds are stacked against him. Although Fergie has been prone to mistakes in the transfer window, his record is flawless when it comes to letting them go.

No player is bigger than the club and as a firm supporter of Manchester United, I hope this record stays intact.

Chris also writes at The Bleacher Bums.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Sports have evolved over time. They’ve morphed from local clubs into global obsessions. Whether we like it or not, they’ve become businesses involving 20-something millionaires, multi-million dollar sponsorships, foreign investors, Middle-Eastern Consortiums and lucrative TV deals. The results of these games (among other things) now have increasingly high monetary consequences, which places more importance on the results than ever before.

In addition, players have become bigger, faster, stronger and more athletic. Most leagues realize this. To this end, officiating has evolved with their respective sports. Instant-replay technology is now used in virtually all the major sports around the world. The NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL use it to varying degrees, but with great success. Cricket, rugby and tennis have also enjoyed the benefits of using technology to verify or challenge a call.

It’s long overdue for soccer. FIFA, UEFA, Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and whoever else needs to come to terms with the fact that the sport is changing. Therefore, the officiating must change as well. The sooner, the better.

Perhaps the biggest argument, and the main fear of those against video-referees is that it will interrupt the flow of the game. Here’s something a lot of these people don’t seem to realize: we’re with you on this. Nobody wants to see Sir Alex Ferguson reach into his sock, pull out a red challenge flag and throw it onto the field after a throw-in doesn’t go his way. We don’t want Arsene Wenger to be able to call for a replay because he “did not see zee incident” (and how many times have we heard that?). It needs to be kept sensible. To this end we can’t have stoppages of play to review a throw-in, a dive, or even offsides (I have other ideas for divers). Stoppages of that sort would most certainly disrupt the ‘flow’ everybody speaks so highly of. Using technology to aid with these calls may be possible in the future, but let’s not get carried away just yet.

However at the very least, disputes over whether the ball crosses the goal-line should be settled immediately. Over the past few seasons we’ve seen how referees and linesmen are not able to correctly make this call on a consistent basis. In fact, it is physically impossible for a linesman to spot the ball through a heap of players, and then correctly judge if it inches over the line. The moving players and the goalposts provide too much obstruction and the speed of play doesn’t make it any easier. If it does creep over the line, the offensive team runs to appeal to the ref, while the keeper smoothers it onto right side of the line, or the ball is cleared into row Z. This hardly helps matters.

Here’s a prime example:

It’s for these reasons that such a call is impossible to get right consistently. And in a sport like soccer, where goals don’t come as easy as points do in other sports, doesn’t it make sense to make sure the right call is made? That is, one goal is probably going to be more important than one basket in basketball, or one point in tennis. Scoring more goals than the other team is the whole point, after all. Shouldn’t we be absolutely positive about their validity, or lack thereof? Not only do goals change the outcome of the game (obviously), they change the strategies of both teams from that point on. We hear the commentators say it all the time, and it’s one of the most used soccer clichés: “Goals change games”. Well, it’s true. Something so important in a sport should not be left up to chance in this day and age, especially when it can be verified with such ease.

We don’t need computer chips in the balls, or computer sensors in the posts (like some people suggest). That’s far too complicated. We already have the cameras, and they are already in the right places more or less. We’ve seen that these cameras can provide conclusive evidence over whether or not a ball crossed the line. Perhaps someone could experiment with different angles and the number of cameras to come up with standardized specifications for leagues to use.

After the referee signals a goal, it should be verified by the fourth official (he will be happy to have something to do) while the players are returning to their positions. It is important to note that this will not result in a stoppage of play, nor will it take up extra time, as the vast majority of goals scored will quite clearly cross the line. If the evidence is inconclusive, the ruling on the pitch stands. Simple. The video must provide conclusive evidence for a call to be overruled. This is significant because it leaves the power with the referee. After all, this technology is aimed at helping, not undermining, their judgment of the game.

I have a feeling that most fans will agree with me so far, but this is where those that disagree will have a problem. If a goal is not called, but the officials are unsure, or there is a dispute on the field, it must be referred to the fourth official. This will result in a short stoppage of play. The power still lies with the referee on the field, as he must be the one to call for a review. Again, we’ve seen how conclusive these replays can be. At most, we only need 2 or 3 views to make up our minds. How long does this take? Less than a minute. You hear a lot of pundits and commentators say “We’ve looked at it 50 times in slow-motion but we still can’t make a decision, so how can we expect video-replays to work?” Again, if the footage is inconclusive than the original call stands. I won’t go as far as recommending a time limit on reviews, but I don’t believe that will be too much of an issue anyway.

If you still disagree, than maybe reliving this will help change your mind:

In my opinion, the short disruption of the game would be worth it. This is a possibility of a goal we’re talking about, not a throw-in. Goals change games, remember? The ruling on the field has the potential to change the way both teams approach the game, and the final outcome. Why would you not want to be sure of a goal’s validity? Imagine if you’re team gets robbed of a vital goal that should have stood. It could potentially affect your team’s monetary status (is your team relegated or do they stay up?) and position in the league. I bet you’d be pretty angry. However, I doubt you’d be angry for much longer if your team was awarded that goal after 30 seconds of review. The review period also has the potential to be exciting for the fans. Why not put it up on the big screen so both fans and players can understand the call? This way they can’t hurl abuse at the referee for the rest of the game, which would place doubt in his mind, and in turn, contribute to more questionable calls.

Those who advocate technology want to help the referees, not hurt them. The last thing we want is for referees to lose the players’ respect (if that hasn’t already happened). If technology is implemented in the ways I’ve described, this won’t be a problem. Although all goals will be reviewed automatically, it’s up to the referee’s discretion to call for a replay after a disputed passage of play. It is up to the officials on the field to admit they need help with the call. If they are sure of what they saw, then play will continue. However, if there is a shadow of doubt, they should call for an instant-replay. And I don’t see why they wouldn’t. Their job is to make the correct calls, and technology will only help them do that.

Although I can see instant-replay being used in other parts of the game, we must not change too much at once. I think the argument for goal-line replays provide the strongest reasoning for the introduction of technology into soccer and would appreciate comments of those who think otherwise.

For more on this section, read the archives of our Help Football section, where we’ve covered various viewpoints on this subject over the last few years.

Chris also writes at The Bleacher Bums.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

David Beckham is in contention for a starting place for England’s qualifier against Andorra on Wednesday. In doing so, he will reach 112 caps for England, cementing his spot as England’s most capped outfield player ever. Only the goaltender Peter Shilton holds more caps (125).

However, if Becks is chosen by Capello to represent England in South Africa, he will undoubtedly break that record and become England’s most capped player of all-time. This accolade will go a long way to help silence the ‘boo boys’ who continue to criticize his every move both on and off the pitch.

See what Beckham has done POST-Manchester United that should have silenced these critics a long time ago. Also click if you want to relive some of Beckham’s (and England’s) greatest moments.

Nearing the end of his contract with the underperforming Galacticos of Real Madrid, Beckham signed a whopping 5-year contract with the L.A Galaxy for £128 million. Manager Fabio Capello questioned his desire and stated that Beckham would never again put on the shirt for Real. He was not the only one though, as the British media (gotta love them) were quick to jump on his back, accusing him of ‘selling-out’ and prioritizing his fame rather than his ability to play the sport.

Now, of course money played a big role in his decision to leave but there were a couple of other things to think about as well, such as his lack of playing time at Madrid coupled with the winding down of his career. Here is a man who spent the last 15 years of his life playing football at the highest possible level, and at the two biggest clubs in the world. Highlights of his career include winning the treble in 1999 and captaining England. He became both the best crosser, and dead-ball striker in the game. Is that not enough for people?

What if, at age 31, he had had enough of it all and wanted a change of pace? And when the Galaxy offered to pay him a ridiculous amount of money for just that, the decision became a lot easier. In addition, Steve McClaren unceremoniously dropped him from the England squad. We all know what happened to England (and Steve) after that. The bottom line is: he had done more than enough, not just for himself, but for the sport, to do whatever he wanted to do. But, this is beside the point.

The goal that took England to the World Cup:

After Capello’s statement, we had thought we had seen the last of Beckham in the famous all-white kit of Madrid. He was not one to go back on his word. However, Beckham remained enthusiastic and performed so well in training that he forced his manager’s hand.

In an astonishing U-Turn, Beckham was back in the side to face Real Sociedad, a mere two weeks after being told he would never play again. He scored in that game, Mardid won 2-1, and the rest, as they say, is history. His energy and assists kept Madrid unbeaten in the 11 games after he was reinstated. They lost only one game in 17 after he came back. His amazing form during this stretch helped Real win their first major trophy in 4 years (they snatched the La Liga title from Barcelona on the last day due to head-to-head records). Real suddenly realized their mistake, and attempted to block Beckham’s transfer to the Galaxy, but to no avail. The Galaxy wouldn’t even entertain the idea. And who could blame them?

He became the Galaxy’s captain when he arrived mid-season, but sustained a knee injury that kept him out for the rest of the campaign. He trained with Arsenal over the summer, and there were rumors stating that his effect on the team was so good that they might consider signing him. Arsene Wenger certainly wouldn’t have had Beckham there if he didn’t’ think he would help the team or would be a distraction. This hardly sounds like the David Beckham who gets trashed in the papers no matter what he does.

The Galaxy had a winning record for the first time in two years during Beckham’s first season and were first in their conference for a time, although they failed to reach the playoffs. His highlight of his time at the Galaxy had to be a 70-yard goal (seen below) after the goalie had come up for a corner.

The second time he’s scored from inside his own half…note how the ball goes right down the middle of the goal:

Many people used the team’s failure to reach the post-season as another mode of attack on Beckham’s abilities. However, these people fail to realize that Beckham was never capable of being a one-man team, even in his prime. He was never good at beating his man, not known for his pace and not known as a midfielder who could score goals from open play.

Instead, his game is centered around passing the ball to others. He needs proven goalscorers and/or a fullback who can overlap him on the wing for his game to work well. Gary Neville did this to perfection for Manchester United, while Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole took care of the rest. Madrid were full of proven scorers such as, Ruud Van Nistlerooy, whose predatory instincts in the box complimented Beckham’s passes well. Landon Donovan sucks.

His form did not go unnoticed by those whose opinions really mattered. He was recalled to the England squad by the new England manager, the very man who had told him a year earlier that he would not play for him again. That man was Fabio Capello. Beckham continued to impress his former boss and his form on the international stage rewarded him with a loan deal to Italian giants, AC Milan. The reason for this was that he needed to keep fit to stay in contention for England’s qualifiers (Andorra on Wednesday).

So, after a full year of the MLS, Beckham was back at the highest possible level, playing for the third biggest club in the world. He contested for starting spots against four World Cup winners in Ronaldinho, Kaka, Pirlo and Gattuso. He surprised us all again by proving he could still compete among the world’s best. In fact, Milan begged to keep him after his loan spell was up and he was due to report all the way back to L.A. Beckham decided this offer was too good to pass up. He took a huge pay cut, and £3 million out of his own pocket to finish the season with Milan, in the hopes he could continue to play for England. Can you say dedication?

The risk paid off, as he is now training with the national squad to face Andorra on June 10th. He is due back at the Galaxy in July and after finishing the MLS season, he will fly back to Milan in November. Then, there’s the big one – the World Cup. Oh, and after that, he goes back to the Galaxy in July. How can you not admire this guy? Can you think of any other players who would be willing to do this at 34 years old, or less even?

I think the most important thing here is that he didn’t allow what was being said about him off the pitch to affect his performance on it. He let his playing do the talking and has been justly rewarded for it. I hope he goes to the World Cup. I hope he breaks Shilton’s record. He deserves it.

His biggest moment in an England shirt…

Chris also writes at The Bleacher Bums.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News