Cleverley done, United

I eagerly awaited the papers today to see what sports desks had done with the juiciest name for a headline to hit the Premier League for some time.
‘Tom debuts Cleverley’.
Or, at least: ‘Fergie Cleverley destroys City’.
Alas, the papers were restrained.
Perhaps they did not want to be too clever so early in the season, given it was only the Community Shield.
But, mark my words, headlines will come.
On some Quark page in a newsroom somewhere in England, ‘Cleverley’s dumb move’, is already written and waiting.
What the headline will be is up to Tom now.

It's the price you pay for selling out, Mr Barry

I’ve been watching Gareth Barry for some time now, the manner in which he plays for Manchester City. It’s like he is almost embarrassed by the fact that he made the switch from Aston Villa (because of money). It’s like he is not sure if he can live with that choice. It’s like a shadow that chases him down on the park when the lights are on. He just can’t shake it. It reflects most in his game. He’s not the booming, thudding, fast, give-it-all midfielder he was under Martin O’Neill. It’s the cost of selling your soul.

Buy Man U, not Liverpool

This is a sports’ streak 99 is on right now, so be kind. News of the hour demands it. Besides, everything else I have to say – from economy to Oh!Bummer - is dour.
The GMR group, which owns the Delhi Daredevils IPL side, are in talks to buy Liverpool.
This will be a mistake. I estimate one out of every three Indian football fans is a Manchester United supporter. Man U need a sponsor after AIG pulled out. Also, Man U is a global club. Liverpool is more Brit than London and Indians will never be welcome there.

EPL's player of the year

Manchester United have five players who make the shortlist (six total) for the Premier League’s player of the year. Happy? Not really. I have my own list. It does have a Man Utd player, but not from any on the official list.
My criteria, is, of course different. Ability to give 100 per cent even when team is floundering, ability to play every match like it’s a Champions League final and of course, talent.
My list is:
Aaron Lennon (Spurs)
Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool)
Tim Cahill (Everton)
Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United)
Shaun Wright-Philips (Manchester City)
Rory Delap (Stoke City)

Dynamov Chelski

It’s a measure of the nationalistic sentiment that drives the Russian psyche right now. That, and money.
Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea needed a coach, so he pulls strings to get Gus Hiddink, the national coach of Russia to come in. That too, only till the end of the season, for now.
Hiddink, all kudos to him, at the press meet says, “I did this because of the Russian connection. Anyone else had asked and I would have said no.”
Well, mate, it’s a fookin’ cloob in Loondun, with a fookin’ Blighty following, ‘innit?
Now the Russians own and coach it.