The Holy Grail of Soccer Rivalries In England

Kenny Dalglish

Sir Alex Ferguson

Vidic is definitely out but Ferdinand?

It doesnt get any huger! The holy grail of English football rivalry. The two most distinguished managers for each of their clubs lock horns on Sunday, Sir Alex Feguson and Kenny Dalglish. These two people have their managerial rivalry dating back to the late '80s. With Kenny winning more of the battles in the early stages with liverpool and later with the EPL winning side of Blackburn Rovers of the '90s. But with King Kenny's second coming, and Fergie trying to clinch on to the the top spot in the log, who has the upper hand in this mouth watering clash? Both teams lost their last EPL matches, with liverpool being trounced to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham and United losing Chelsea. Luiz Suarez is yet to show how much more he is worth and with fellow new signing Andy Carroll yet to debut, there has being much talk about the system the King will use. With some insisting he wont start Carroll. Both first choice United centre-backs are out of the clash with an injury and suspension, and Fergie said during the week that young Chris Smalling will pair alongside Wes Brown in defence. Shakey, isnt it? We'll have to see on sunday. Does anybody notice Steven Gerrard  in recent games? I dont, for one. Since Mereiles has been in red hot form, Stevie G's power in midfield is being lost. Why? Probably because of the inner midfield role he seems to be playing recently. But that doesnt over shadow the presence and believe he brings along when he plays. I tip Stevie G to produce some moment of magic on sunday alongside Suarez for their team. United look a solid team this season, dont they? Fluid, free flowing football and destroying teams at will. There is this aura of invincibility when you are about to meet them. They seem so strong in every area, defence, midfield, attack. All their strikers seem to be scoring goals at will this season, but with Vidic out Ferdinand, who knows. Their bench looks like they could even destroy a good team any day. My prediction? Fergie can't afford to play Wes Brown as a full back, he'll rush Ferdinand back. 1-0 is my prediction for Liverpool. The Kop faithful could score with their voices without even feilding players. That is how good the atmosphere in Anfield is.

You Win Some And Lose Some Fergie!

RANTS, RANTS AND MORE RANTS

JUST ACCEPT IT FERGIE

Was all that rant necessary after a lost game? Ferguson would have been quiet on an issue like this if his team had benefitted. We all saw last season abd this season when Manchester United went away freely when they won their games. Fergie didnt complain when Rooney clearly elbowed McCarthey in the Wigan game and should have been sent off. He never complained when his side was given many of their dubious penalties. No, he didnt. Man United always want to be that team that says "its up to the refree if he let that Rooney goal stand" and criticise a similar blunder when it goes against them. The goal against Chelsea looked like Yuri Zhirkov bought the penalty but yes, it looks like its part of the mordern game now. Players these days do far worse diving than that. Berbatov did a far worse dive against Liverpool in that Carling Cup win, and NO, Fergie didnt complain. Did he complain when Gary Neville commited a series of fouls on that player some time ago and never got sent off? NO! He just patted his back and substituted him the second half. We are only human, not all the decisions are right but you have to move on, Fergie should know that.

Drogba Wants To Leave Chelsea for Madrid?

Chelsea have been linked with a £25million summer move for Brazil international Kaka, while reports earlier this month suggested the Blues could offer Drogba as part of a part-exchange deal. The Blues spent over £70m last month on striker Fernando Torres and defender David Luiz but have already been linked with a number of top players ahead of the transfer window re-opening at the end of the season and Kaka is believed to be near the top of their list of targets. Drogba's future at Stamford Bridge has been the subject of much speculation following the arrival of Torres, with the Ivory Coast international wanted by several clubs - including Real Madrid - as the Blues look to lower the average age of their squad. Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is a huge admirer of the Kaka, having worked with him at AC Milan, prior to his £56m move to Real in June 2009, but of a potential swop deal involving Drogba, the Italian told La Repubblica: "Will I ask (owner, Roman) Abramovich for Kaka, Pato or Pirlo? We have already taken Ramires, Torres and David Luiz. "The exchange of Kaka for Drogba is fantasy football." Despite last month's big money arrivals at the club, Ancelotti added: "I don't think that Chelsea have spent a lot in the last year.

"We added five players from the youth system instead of five with expensive salaries."

Drogba has also been linked with former club Marseille and Turkish side Galatasaray but he looks set to stay at Chelsea as he has dismissed reports of leaving Stamford Bridge, prior to the game. It has been said that Drogba can play at the highest level for about three more years if he keeps being fit and scoring the goals he is known for. I for instance doubt that he'll leave soon, amybe he 'll stay a year or two more. But with Torres not finding his form, who knows?

6 years and running Arsene!

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

IN ARSENE WE BELIEVE?

Who remembers vividly the celebrations of the Arsenal players when they last won a cup? No? Nobody? Anybody? It seems everybody remembers the near misses and the cries of the players for the past six years. Who is to blame? The spear-head of the Arsenal philosophy Arsene Wenger, I presume. He is the coach, he chooses the players to buy and the players to field and everything connected to the club. It certainly looked like, no, most people thought it will be a rout at the hands of Birmingham in the league cup, I thought so. And what did we witness? The long term investment in young inexperienced players, of which he let most of the older experienced players leave to other clubs, and of course the loss to a Birmingham side who were gifted a goal by a mistake by two of the recent inexperienced players Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny. No doubt, Arsenal on a good day, play the best attractive football. But does that really matter when you dont get the needed result? Most of their major loses and draws boils down to the inexperience the players have. It makes Arsenal look like a money making business rather than a team. I might as well buy some of their shares. Forget all the near misses and what not, Arsene Wenger needs to buy good experienced players. The current crop of players are not quite cutting it for me. Tactically, Arsene Wenger is good, but he needs some experience in his ranks to help the younger ones or else Arsenal will look more like an Academy and less like a footballing club, always making players to be shipped to better teams.

THE MYSTERY PLAYER SIR ALEX FRGUSON WANTS TO BUY.

THE UNITED SQUAD

Looking at the kind of squad playing in the Manchester United team, which mystery player has Sir Alex Ferguson been talking about? With Edwin Van Der Sar hanging up his footballing boots, Paul Scholes yet to agree a new one year contract, and the recently bought $9 million prospect, Bebe yet to show Fergie his quality and redeem the price tag on him, who is the the unamed player Fergie seems to be talking about? It is no news that United are in the market for a keeper, with hands pointing to Schalke's Manuel Neuer who is also tracked by Bayern and Ajax's Sketelenburg also seemingly linked to the red devils, it seems Neuer is an proven and more easier buy after the jeers from the Bayern match. There are also reports from Italy linking Alexis Sanchez to United. He is being courted by a host of top European teams including Chelsea and Juventus and Manchester City. With the player being likened to Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, he is worth around $30 million, and Fergie wont pay that amount for a player he doesnt need too much with Antonio Valencia yet to return, unless he's ready to off-load some of the United midfielders. And with Spurs trying to price out any attempts to sign both Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, Fergie looks like he's looking  for either a player out of the top leagues in Europe like he did with Chicharito, or else he'll just dig deep in his pockets and buy any of the aforementioned players, which doesnt look like something Fergie does. My bet will be Bale or Alexis Sanchez to replace the almost retiring living legend Ryan Giggs.