When it comes to football stars, there might be very few bigger than David Beckham. He may be no Zidane or Figo or Ronaldo, but world football will sorely miss the presence of a player who did so much for the game both on and off the field.
Many people still wonder what is that makes Beckham so special even though he has not really managed to win as many individual accolades as legends of yesteryears did during their playing careers. However, his passion and his commitment to the game were second to none and it has been the diminutive moments which truly define him.
1. Making an impression
The first time people saw that Beckham who would go on to become a true football phenomena was when he made his Champions League bow for Manchester United against Turkish giants, Galtasaray. The Red Devils thrashed the Turks 4-0. Although the score-line was not enough to secure progression, Becks got on the scoresheet and gave a fine account of his skills.
Miami Beach, Florida (May 18, 2013) – Everything is set for the English Premier League’s very final week of the 2012/13 season. All ten matches will kick off simultaneously at 11:00am EST/15:00GMT/16:00 local time on Sunday, May 19, 2013. The fate of many teams has already been decided but there is still much to play for and the biggest sports networks across the planet are geared up for this mammoth day!
It is time to know where to watch every single match of your choice live online or on television come May 19. Finding answers to that can be a hard and time consuming task. Today, Live Soccer TV (@LiveSoccerTV) shows you all the information you need right in one place through a combination of TV channels lined up for the following fixtures:
Team NewsZoltan Gera and George Thorne are both injured for West Brom. Marc-Antoine Fortune is suspended. Ashley Young, Chris Smalling and Darren Fletcher are all out for Manchester United. Rafael is suspended.
Whether Sir Alex has the heart to form a game plan has to be questioned. One…
All things come to an end and so did Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26-year sojourn as the manager of one of the most successful clubs in the history of English football in Manchester United. Within 24 hours of his announcement of retirement, Everton manager David Moyes was named as his compatriot’s successor.
Despite the fact that he has not managed to win any silverware in his 11 years at Everton, many people feel that the soon-to-be Man United manager will be a great replacement.
During his time at Goodison Park, Moyes proved himself to be a really great man manager and got the best out of the players he had at his disposal – something, not many managers are able to do. Moreover, the Scot just like Sir Alex Ferguson, has his way with the young players making their next step from the academy. That could have been the main reason why he was chosen to lead the club from next season. United have always been good at getting the best out of academy players and perhaps, Moyes can continue the trend my nurturing young talent into future superstars.
The Scot was bookies favourite to replace his compatriot, with his contract running out this summer.
Yesterday saw the end of an era, a man who is responsible for all the good things which have happened at Manchester United for the last 26 years finally decided to call it a day. His unexpected announcement to retire as Man United coach has obviously raised a couple of questions, some of them have been discussed below.
It all happened rather quickly. Over the past 24 hours, rumours over this matter quickly spread in the news as Fergie’s health is said to be at risk. On Wednesday morning, the two-time UEFA Champions League winner finally confirmed speculations. Parts of his statement revealed the followed:
“The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about. It is the right time.
“It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so.
“The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one.”
The duo will clash on Sunday night, when Chelsea enter Old Trafford hoping for a victory which will put them one point above Arsenal in third place. A victory will surely put the Blues in the driving seat for the Champions League spot and they will be eager to avoid the embarrassment of having to play in the Europa League next season.
Miami Beach, Florida (May 3, 2013) – Another matchday in the English Premier League will see all 20 teams engage in interesting battles. Two fixtures, in particular, stand out: Liverpool vs Everton and Manchester United vs Chelsea are scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 5, 2013. LiveSoccerTV.com (@LiveSoccerTV) gives you all the live stream and TV schedules information you could need.
Liverpool’s chances of achieving the top-four target they set at the beginning of the campaign is gone. Mathematically, there is no way the Merseyside Reds can afford a spot in next year’s UEFA Champions League competition.
With the title race already sealed and the fate of two out of three clubs to be relegated to the second tier of English football already decided, it still remains to be seen as to which clubs will occupy the third and the fourth positions in the Barclays Premier League this season and in doing so earn a Champions League spot.
Team News
Danny Welbeck and Paul Scholes are both suffering from knee problems for Manchester United. Nemanja Vidic has a calf injury while Ashley Young has an ankle injury. Darren Fletcher is out for the season due to a chronic bowel condition. John Obi Mikel could be set to return for Chelsea in the Premier League. Oriol Romeu is of course out for the season.
Analysis
United’s first half performance against Arsenal last week did not merit a point. However, they recovered in the second half and could have even won the game. United’s targets are now solely the record books. They have nothing else to play for this season. Their opponent is a team which has everything to play for.
Miami Beach, Florida (April 27, 2013) – Arsenal vs Manchester United is the penultimate game on the fixture list of Matchday 35 in the English Premier League. Kick-off time is at 11:00am EST / 15:00 GMT / 17:00 CET on Sunday, April 28, 2013. LiveSoccerTV.com offers you TV listings for this match which will represent a lot to the rivalry between both clubs.
Manchester United have promised to play competitively on Sunday despite the fact that they have already secured the English Premier League title. The pressure, meanwhile, is all on Arsenal. The Gunners are contemplating a top-four finish and possibly automatic Champions League ticket by ending the season in third position. Coach Arsene Wenger is ready for Sunday’s challenge as Spurs, Chelsea and Everton will be praying for Manchester United to prevent Arsenal from winning at the Emirates Stadium.
1. Five victims of the Munich Air Disaster played their last English league match against Arsenal:
Captain Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor all played in a memorable game against Arsenal on 1st February 1958. United won the game 5-4 with Taylor netting twice. Duncan Edwards also registered a goal. United had led the standings of the English Premier League up to that point. Following the Munich Air Disaster, United won only one game due to a makeshift squad. They sunk to ninth in the league. Arsenal meanwhile finished twelfth.
Although Manchester United already locked up their 20th title, Sunday's match will still have more than enough meaning behind it. A rivalry that for years was incredibly intense, not only between the players on the pitch, but also between the managers.
Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were far from friends, but as the years have passed and the Gunners have fallen out of title contention, the two managers appear to have put that heated relationship behind them.
For the fans, the rivalry may have become even more tense after their leading scorer last season eventually forced his way out of the club. He not only wanted to move elsewhere, but he made the move across England and signed for United. While it was a great decision in regards to increasing his title chances, he also lost a remarkable number of fans by putting pen to paper.
His reception at the Emirates is expected to be harsh, but older followers of the game are well aware of the fact that this clash is a lot more than the Dutchman.
A brilliant goal in the FA Cup against Blackburn Rovers for Arsenal set him up for a brilliant career with the Gunners. Unfortunately, his eight year career was marred by injuries and lack of trophies. Arsenal fans and management could not let go of him easily. He was after all, their talisman, their rescuer, their hero.
Since losing to Manchester City at home just a few weeks back, Manchester United are not giving the impression of a side that had been so threatening for most part of the 2012/2013 campaign, be that in England or in Europe.
Confining a star and a game-changer especially when you are facing Real Madrid in a Champions League knockout game is always going to be a debatable decision and will result in a lot of speculation regarding that player’s future.
It was a time when Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal was at the summit of its dominance in English football, winning 12 straight games before this one, and achieving several great accomplishments during the time period. This historic game saw the end of the careers of two club legends in Tony Adams and Lee Dixon, both retiring after providing a mammoth proportion of their respective careers to the club.
Team NewsChris Smalling, currently recovering from a knock, should return for this match for United. Ashley Young is still recovering from a foot injury; he could return prior to the start of May. Paul Scholes has a knee problem while Darren Fletcher is recovering from a chronic bowel condition which has ruled him out for the season of course.
Gabriel…