A light in the darkness?

I was alive when Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Manchester United.
I was around when the likes of Henrik Larsson and Michael Owen and Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed.
I am here now, as Bruno Fernandes has signed and, I have not seen an outpouring of celebration quite like this for any signing Manchester United have made. Ever.
The measure of happiness is to be judged as a quantum of frustration and desperation the fans are feeling right now.
The tunnel is still dark. Maguire is a faint light. The rest flicker and then go dark.
Bruno Fernandes offers us hope again.

Rebuild, rebuild, rebuild

Man Utd repeatedly tore open Man City.
Man Utd repeatedly tore open Liverpool.
We just don’t have the quality, yet, to convert that dominance into goals.
James is learning. Greenwood is learning. AWB is learning. Williams is learning.
Ole is learning. 
Every other player of note is injured.
Fred is Sir Give-a-lot.
Martial is crap - the kind of crap that you need in a team, however.
The rest? Flush ‘em. That we all know.
In terms of a rebuild, however, I am happy with where we are.
David de Gea won us the game last night. And Matic.

Stand by your man (utd)

For millions of Man Utd fans who do not live in the UK, the question, why do you support the club?, has always been a tricky one to respond to; for me at least.

Because they were the best.

Because footballers and managers can inspire fandom.

Because of a philosophy (play youth), style (attack hard and fast) and character (Cantona & Rooney, in particular).

What happens now when all is lost?

Why would I support the Red Devils now?

Because the only time support matters is when it’s all going to pieces.

Stand by your club. No matter what.

The Kobe I knew

Everybody and their aunt mourns the loss of Kobe Bryant. As do I.
I know one person who went from being a Kobe fan, to being inspired, against all odds to be part of the NBA; first as a strength and conditioning coach, and now, more of the basketball-whisperer.
The Kobe fan did not live in the US.
He is there because Kobe inspired him.
Now, get this, this guy worked for the Lakers when Kobe was there. That is the power of influence.
Somebody from nowhere is somewhere today because Kobe Bryant played basketball.
That is true inspiration.

Surrender and prayer

I flew to Manchester. In the offseason. Just to sit in the dugout.
I mentally scarred my son, when he, at the age of five, suggested that Chelsea had his attention.
I gave up the chance to watch Messi ‘live’, simply because Barcelona had beaten Utd that year in the Champion’s League final.
I don’t live in the UK, but I have lived Manchester United for the last 25 years.
The club is delinquent. And creatively bankrupt on the field.
I can only respond in the same manner by parents responded to my delinquency. Surrender and prayer (I’m sober).

AWB can now dribble... all else is misery

Joy is shortlived.
I'm unsure if it's me hitting the middle-ages as a 46-year 60-year-old; or my 19-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son flushing every value and principle their mother taught them down the toilet just to yank my chain; or my wife, in essence, looking at me and believing 20 years ago she made the biggest mistake of her life - marrying me.
Joy is a short-lived experience for me nowadays for all of the above.
But, primarily, because I am a Red Devil.
My youngest daughter, 12, holds promise and hope, as does AWB. All else is misery.