The First Impressions Are The Most Important

The summer without football feels like an eternity, last year we had the World Cup to entertain footy fans but this year there has been nothing with such importance. That's why July the 6th was a special day, the pre-season fixtures have started and there's no turning back from here.

And so it began at Cossham Street, Mangotsfield, a squad that was largely unrecognisable from the previous season being displayed over the course of two separate teams in each half and the end result looked just as good on the pitch as it did in Thursday's local newspapers, a 5-1 win thanks to a deflected Lee Brown strike, a cool finish from Scott McGleish, a solid strike from Eliot Richards and a Ben Swallow brace.

The most impressive aspect was the way Paul Buckle had set his team out to play, knocking the ball around with a great deal of comfort, using the wide areas and going at the opposition who failed to cope with the speed of the game. Admittedly there were a few stray passes but this is the squads first game together and they have only been in pre-season training with each other for a week, some even less than that, while the pitch was a typical non-league affair, more akin to the rolling hills of the Quantock's than the bowling greens Buckle would like to see his team playing on, meaning that when they stroll out onto Football League standard pitches their game should come together rather better.

That's not to say the football was dire, it was clearly the makings of some attractive stuff and the players on display proved they are capable of performing with a style and vigour unseen at the Memorial Stadium for a number of years. The stand out performances from the first half came from 37 year old Scott McGleish and central midfielder Craig Stanley.

McGleish threw the doubters off his back as he worked tirelessly and rewarded himself with a goal. Even though he is closer to climbing over the hill than he is to his late twenties McGleish ran with a youthful exuberance and wanted to be involved in everything. What was most noticeable was the fact that the Leyton Orient legend never strayed too far away from the play, always keeping close to the ball where he could feed off of the midfield with his canny runs.

There was also passion on display, a refreshing site for those who have had to watch the likes of Mark Wright and Dominic Blizzard happily take the clubs money. McGleish is not just out for one final payday, he has a hunger for the game which was on display, most notably in the first half when, despite the game being no more than a friendly, the striker reacted to having a header cleared off the line with a brim, Cockney 'F**K OFF'. The goal he scored was a tidy finish, what you would expect from a man with as much experience leading the attack as he has, moving outside the line of the ball and bending it across the keeper with cucumber-like coolness.

The assist on that goal came from Craig Stanley, partnering the rather anonymous Chris Lines in the centre of midfield. Despite not being the tallest of central midfielders Stanley has a bulky frame, broad shoulders and a fair old set of ears to boot. He made this count as he proved to be the battler, getting stuck in with his defensive duties yet also stroking the ball around, building up the play and moving forward towards the Mangotsfield third himself, box-to-box seems a good description of the 5' 8" midfielder on this display.

As the game moved into the second half Rovers took the liberty of making nine changes to their side, goalkeeper Lance Cronin and centre back Charlie Clough the only men to keep their places. Though the attacking instincts of the side were unchanged there was a little less width, Wayne Brown, a central midfielder by trade, playing on the right hand side, a position from which he proved highly dangerous, setting up Ben Swallow's second.

From the second half kick off it looked as though Swallow would be playing on the left but after a couple of weaving runs Paul Buckle appeared to give him more of a free role, allowing him to roam across the front line, popping up on the left, right and centres of midfield and attack, a capacity that he looked to have the utmost pleasure in.

He continued to take on defenders with jinking runs, spread the play and keep his team ticking over, very different to the displays that Gasheads became accustomed too under Paul Trollope, the limiters seemingly being put on the winger under the former gaffer, and he fully deserved the two goals he put way, the first being a tasty left foot curler. Players such as Carayol and Anyinsah may have been brought in above the little Welshman but if he continues in the same vein over the course of pre-season then he will no doubt be a regular starter in the first XI.

Kudos too has to go to the trialists who provided Paul Buckle with some food for thought; Cian Hughton, son of Birmingham manager Chris, and Reggie Lambe who applied themselves to the task at hand and came out with a great deal of admiration heading their way, as did debutant Michael Smith, playing his first game since joining from Ballymena United.

So a great start to the Buckle era, though it will likely remain a forgotten footnote if all things go to plan, but it still made interesting viewing for the crowd of over 1,000, many of whom would have spent the ninety minutes playing who's who with the new faces.

Barcelona Prove Too Hot To Handle For United

Barcelona will have the tag of 'Champions of Europe' for the next year at least after taking all the glory with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley where they showed why the world calls them the greatest team ever seen.

Pedro broke the deadlock with a deft finish before Wayne Rooney sent the teams in level at half time but the game was won thanks to Lionel Messi, who else, and David Villa, giving Eric Abidal the chance to raise the giant trophy aloft, just ten weeks after having surgery to remove a tumour from his liver, a true footballing fairytale

The Manchester United team news was the first to come through the wire and it saw Sir Alex Ferguson employ the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation. Rooney started up front, partnering the Mexican Javier Hernandez while Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick were both preferred to Darren Fletcher in the centre of midfield, the Scotsman's comeback from illness coming perhaps too quickly for European football's biggest match. Park started on the left, his tireless work down the right being employed to tame the marauding Daniel Alves. Antonio Valencia started on the other wing and the back line was made up of Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra, Edwin Van Der Sar taking his place in goal for one final fling with the professional game.

Javier Mascherano, once sent off against United for Liverpool, began the game in the centre of defence, partnering ex-Reds defender Gerard Pique. The midfield was as expected, Sergio Busquets doing the dirty work in the central three, allowing Xavi and Iniesta the freedom to express themselves and impact the game. The front line of Barca also came as no surprise, the irrepressible world footballer of the year Lionel Messi sat in between Pedro and David Villa.

From the get go Manchester United came out and set their stall, hustling and harrying Dani Alves, dispossessing the full back in the opening minute, although as the game closed they were noticably tired, their containing plan taking it's toll after a long season. To start with Barcelona looked edgy, the loose balls weren't falling their way and the odd pass was going awry.

But as in Rome two years ago the opening dominance of United was soaked up the the Catalan's as David Villa forced a corner, taken short and leading to a shout of handball against Evra in the penalty area, though the decision would have been undoubtedly harsh. It was Barca who had the first true effort on goal, Pedro getting in behind Vidic and volleying wide of the upright from a wide ball.

Barca were starting to step up to their flowing best and the challenges from the United midfield, though biting in their nature, were finding nothing but the fresh Wembley air as the sharpness of their oppositions maestros allowed them to dodged the flying feet. The possession was mounting in favour of the Spaniards and they were beginning to create chances too, David Villa twice having time to shoot wide from the edge of the box while the passing rhythm was starting to slice through the English sides defence, last ditch challenges being the order of the day as Messi began finding himself within 15 yards of their goal, and eventually the pressure told, Barcelona made the breakthrough.

Xavi Hernandez, the string puller in the metronomic attacking unit of the Spanish champions, was afforded too much time and space to push forward and a pin-point diagonal pass with the outside of his left boot found Pedro with a clear sight of goal and he made no mistake, Van Der Sar the first man to lose his nerve as he went the wrong way, Pedro rolling the ball coolly in at the near post. Barcelona, much like their fanbase behind Valdes' goal, were bouncing.

Just minutes later, though, it was all square, United providing a quintessentially Barcelona goal. Wayne Rooney clipped a ball though to Ryan Giggs who, though suspiciously loitering on the offside line, laid the ball back to Rooney who finished in typically emphatic fashion, guiding the ball into the top corner with his instep, perfectly controlled in his technique.

As soon as you like the status quo was back, Barcelona were pushing forward and David Villa stung the hands of Van Der Sar before twice the Catalan's were the length of a stud away from retaking the lead, Pedro the first to fail to connect, that after a cleverly worked free kick, while the final chance of the half fell the way of Lionel Messi who attempted a give and go, but his go was just not quick enough.

The second half began where the first left off, more possession and short, incisive passing from Barcelona, Dani Alves having the first chance of the half, finding a way into the box only to shoot at Van Der Sar's legs, and there was no stop to it, United were not given any respite and they soon fell behind again.

Lionel Messi dropped deep and received a pass from Xavi, shooting as quick as a flash and catching the Red Devil's custodian off guard, finding the back of the net with a sweetly struck, left footed effort, right in front of the jubilant Barca faithful. It was his first goal on English soil and he couldn't have found a bigger ocassion in which to score it.

The Argentinian magician wasn't finished there, though as he weaved his way into yet another shooting position from where he made Van Der Sar drop swiftly onto his side to keep out a stinging low effort. And just a couple of minutes later he was bringing the ball forward yet again, eventually getting on the end of a Dani Alves pull back with a backheel flick that was only stopped on the line by United boot.

There were no bones about it, Messi was running the game, and after two beautiful pieces of skill he burst into the box, the ball breaking to David Villa on the edge of the area and the former Valencia striker made it 3-1 with an exquisite curling effort that swung around the arms of Van Der Sar and with that it was all over. Not that anyone had told Wayne Rooney that, the bulldog forward landing an effort onto the roof of the net.

The three minutes of added time were all but meaningless in the grand scheme of things, Ibrahim Afellay's late strike would have only rubbed United's face in the dirt had it been hit a sight more verve. But on a night when the speed and presence of mind shown by the Barcelona players was by far superior nobody could have complained about the final score, they had claimed club footballs ultimate prize with club footballs ultimate team. That's not to discredit the effort shown by England's champions, they played a massive part in the showpiece event that fans had dreamed of, Barcelona's majesty was just too much for them to handle.

Indeed, the world stands to them, lauds them, and rightly so, they have claimed the glory tonight and they won't be stopping there.

Ferguson Puts Foward United's Claim To Glory

Two years is a relatively long time in the career of a professional footballer and that is how long Manchester United have waited to enact revenge on Barcelona and put to bed the memories that have haunted them since they tasted defeat in the Champions League final in May 2009.

It was a game that saw Barcelona outplay the Red Devils, their slick passing and movement making United look like comparative schoolboys in Rome's Stadio Olimpico. The English side never turned up, not aside from the opening exchanges when their former defender Gerard Pique made a crucial block from Ji-Sung Park early on. From then on it was one way football, the triangles that Barca produced baffled United who, without the tireless work of the suspended Darren Fletcher in midfield, failed to cope with the skillful beauty of their opponents game.

But that was the past and it is time for United to live in the now, when Saturday evening comes there should be no thoughts of what has been, just picture the glory and do your utmost to claim it. There is no time to listen to the never ending string of public lauding that follows Barcelona round like the sweetest of fragrances. A single set of ninety minutes is all it takes to win a one-off game that could define the careers of this squad, not only to win the Champions League but to to do it against a team of such undoubted quality would be a memory to savour.

Let's not count out United, though, as they face the might of the Catalonian's. It may not have been classic United this season, they haven't been at their flowing best, but yet there is a spirit in the camp that has seen them fight until the end and the number of goals they have put past their opposition in the dying seconds has underlined this fact. Four players have netted goals in double figures with just Dimitar Berbatov scoring over twenty, and even then he only did so by one. In Europe the Reds have been uncharitable to opposition, leaking just four goals over the course of their twelve ties thus far, all of which have come at Old Trafford, while scoring eighteen. That includes eleven in the knockout rounds, most notably in the semi-final with Schalke where they scored six over the course of two legs.

Sir Alex Ferguson described Saturday's match as possibly 'the best final of the decade'. The long serving Manchester United manager was speaking at his final press conference before the big game when he spoke about the magnitude the match could leave in it's wake.

"The attraction of two great teams with great history is obvious. It’s an appealing final in terms of what could happen in this game.

"Anything could happen. There could be a lot of goals, a lot of excitement. Hopefully it turns out that way.

"I don’t think anyone can question the attacking players that will be on view tomorrow."

 

Indeed, if United are to stop Barca they will have to cope with the competitions top scorer in Lionel Messi. The breathtaking Argentinian has scored eleven in twelve European appearances alone, his 42 in all other competitions over the course of a showcase season have gone to prove that he deserves the title of 'World Footballer of the Year'. But Ferguson is also confident that the qualities in his side can help them claim the clubs fourth European cup.

 

"We have players who will all like this stage. In terms of Rooney's progress in Europe, he is much more mature than he was in 2009, and others too. The experience of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic is [also] vital.

"Our experience, and our progress in Europe this season, gives us a good chance."

Stood just metres along the touchline from Ferguson will be one of the games hottest young managers in Pep Guardiola, and he was complimentary on the way the Spaniard has developed an already machine-like footballing outfit into the team they are today. Tinkering with Frank Rijkaard's style by progressing the defensive system, playing with a high defensive line and pressing in numbers across the pitch, Guardiola also focussed on keeping hold of the ball across the pitch, developing what is now known as 'tiki taka' football, strings of short passes mixed with sharp, incisive movement that has made them a feared force worldwide.

"I think that the most revealing thing about Pep Guardiola is that for a young coach who came to the club and in many ways [he has] changed the way they played.

"I think we all recognise that he’s brought maturity to the team from beating us in Rome to the present day. You see that maturity and also he’s changed the way that they press the ball, which has been very impressive in the last year in particular, so for a young coach who's done fantastically well, he has a good presence about him.

"He’s played for Barcelona which helps and if you look at the past history of Barcelona’s Dutch coaches, he’s made a big step forward for Spanish coaches."

 

The Scot also insisted that he wasn't out for revenge for what happened in Rome, choosing instead to talk about how his sides preparations will make the difference this time around.
 

"We are very focused this time and our preparation has been better. We maybe made one or two mistakes last time, but not this time. We were disappointed we lost the game but it isn't a matter of revenge, it is about our own personal pride.
 
"We did most of the work before the Blackpool game [last Sunday] and winning the league the previous week helped us that way.
 
"The players have to trust themselves and trust each other because I trust them. I know they'll do the job right.

"This team has unity and our record in Europe this year is good. We're used to playing in Europe, we have that experience and we're pleased with what we've achieved this year in Europe."

 
And so it is with an air of trepidation that many fans of Manchester United will walk up Wembley Way, late on Saturday afternoon, but that seems not to have affected Sir Alex Ferguson's confidence in his own sides chance to take the European crown.