A few weeks ago I decided to stop slothing around and turn my life round. Part of that plan involved retaking a blog wich I started almost two years from now. A blog that hasn't seen a new entry since april 2009. The plan is to post a weekly entry (at least).
Another step was separating the blogs actually. The other one was intended as a more serious blog, touching different topics but as it usually is with me the first thing that came to mind was football. Given that, a new football-only blog was the best idea, and now here it is. Just for you.
And what a better way to inaugurate this blog than writing about the "most important" match in English Football. Liverpool vs Manchester United.
Now I say: "most important", because, no offense to the Kop, it's no longer the most important match in English Football. It still holds a remarkable importance for both Utd and Liverpool, but it just doesn't matter that much to the general English population. Matches between Utd and Chelsea, Arsenal, and now most certainly, Manchester City are more sought after by fans.
Even for us, young Manchester United supporters, saying Liverpool is the most important match is more a matter of historical pride and rivalry, rather than truefelt Gary Neville-like emotions. Now the hatred and actual concern that slowly simmers in me towards Man City is genuine, and on le Roi's name, a few years back I would have never thought it possible.
Can't blame us though. As an outsider (Like most Man Utd supporters) I didn't have a dad who taught me from day one about the local club, as tradition commands in England. Football in my country is BS. No better word really. Ever since I watched Utd for the first time in 2006 (the day I fell in love with football) life has been a little bit sweeter and I repeat, can't blame me for not loathing Liverpool Gaz-style.
I respect Liverpool, and that's something I'm actually proud of. That's one of the positives of being and outsider. The rivalry I feel towards Liverpool is a healthy thing, and still very passionate.
The first derby I watched was just amazing. Didn't have brittish friends back then so had to inform myself about it using the media. The club's webpages, brittish online media, and that sort of things. But even if I wasn't there in the stands of loud Anfield Road, whatever I had read didn't prepare me for the amazing reception Utd has at the Kop's backyard.
It was a fight, tooth and nail. Managers screaming at the touchline (one of them at least, the other was taking notes. Facts perhaps), players taunting and hitting each other. The Kop roaring their despise and contempt for those (back then) menacing with equalling their title record.
And it had to be settled down with a goal from the most unlikely sourse. John O'shea, jumped as high as he could to meet a corner, only for the ball to come low at him, hit the side of his leg and bounce into Pepe Reyna's goal. Lucky goal. Great match.
Now I love beating the Kop, and I absolutely hated it when they won 1-4 at Old Trafford (didn't leave my house the whole weekend. Got out on monday 'cause well, had already paid for college so...) but, City are my main concern right now. However, I have this theory that goes: "The more money you spend on players the least trophies you'll get". Ask Real Madrid if you don't believe me.
There's a way to counter that particular Law of Football. You get Jose Mourinho to manage your team. Let's face it, the man's a genious. Chelsea, Internazzionale, and now, if time is given for him Real Madrid. Madrid fans pray for Florentino's patience to hang in there for one more year.
City aren't gonna get him though. And hopefully my theory will be proven right.
I have come to love football in this era where footballer's wages (and prices) are over the moon. Where billionaires are buying football clubs left and right. Where fans of a football club are more of a global comunity than a local one. And were the "one-club men" are each day harder to find.
I deeply regret not being born earlier. Didn't see Eric Cantona, RvN, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Peter Schmeichel, and many others wear a red shirt. And I didn't enjoy neither Giggsy, Scholesy or Gaz in their best years. And won't enjoy the first two for too much now. However I was lucky enough to see Solskjær, Ronnie, and some of Giggsy and Scholesy.
I don't think I'll ever see an all-brittish team for Utd. And that's what I want to see actually. I don't watch the Prem to see the best from Brazil, Portugal, Spain, or any other country. I watch the Prem for the likes of Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Charlie Adam, Robbie Keane, Gareth Bale, Adam Johson (Why aren't the latter two at Utd!!?).
Look at Chelsea, they've got 3 english players. Arsenal have got 2. Manchester City's got 6 brittish players. And those numbers are hardly gonna improve.
Tottenham, Villa, Sunderland, Bolton, Everton and most of the other Prem club's have great brittish contingents. Incluiding Utd and Liverpool now (the Kop's got 6 and some great looking youngsters coming). However, the curry that is the Prem of today is just the best league in the world. No one can argue that, that's a fact.
Now, I'm not asking for the old violence-ridden derbies filled with badass Vinnie Jones-like brittish hardmen (although one of those is always fun). But I admit I imagine everyday the day when Liverpool are coming back to fight us. The day when a visit to Anfield will be seen by me and many more, as a serious, very important match for the season rather than as a historically important feature.
Because, between the French Club based in North London, the Vodka-powered italian-driven blue engine, the Oil-pumped footballing jihad, the now Poultry-enforced title contender hopefuls and the Kop, I very much rather the old mighty Kop. Who now, with Kenny Dalglish, seem to have their sights set on bringing back the days of old.
Would also love to see Leeds back in the Prem, and have a go at them.
Maybe we rock right now, maybe Utd are now the masters of English Football. But Liverpool once were. Ask Fergie about it. And both the Kop and the Red Devils should remenber: the denizens of Anfield still have more European Cups than us.
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