A tale of two men out to oust United.

Sir Alex Ferguson is among other things, a keen student of history. In Dublin recently he told a packed Trinity college audience that he always has three or four history books on his bedside locker. It helps him relax, he explained. He also likes to wonder what might have been. Shay Given could have been a United player he enlightened but his father wanted him to join Celtic. Pressed on who was the best player he had never signed, Paul Gascoigne was the reply. As he focuses his mind on reaching his third champions league final in a row this May two men who fit quite comfortably in the what was and what might have been categories stand in his way. Ronaldinho, the maddening, yet mercurial Brazilian who came so close to joining United and David Beckham, a mainstay of arguably the finest United side ever in ninety-nine now don the red and black of Milan. Ronaldinho has enjoyed a resurgence of sorts with the Rossineri, while Beckham has eased seamlessly into his favoured right flank. Both are crucial to Milan’s hopes starting on Tuesday.


Ronaldinho’s form much like his bag of tricks can leave you dizzy and confused. He seemed to be warming up nicely this season. The goals, assists and toothy grin had all made a welcome return but the old fire was brutally extinguished by Inter in last month’s derby. The Brazilian was shackled effortlessly by their ten men and rubber-stamped his meek display by missing a stoppage-time penalty. He has continued this slump in the past month and the news of Brazilian coach Dunga failing to name him in his squad to face the Republic of Ireland has only added to his woe. Indeed such is Milan’s worries about his form the perennial lady’s man and sometime Italian prime minister Slivo Berlusconi has reportedly telephoned Ronaldinho to rebuke him for his current form and to remind him of the importance of the upcoming clash with United. His name may not bring dread to the opposition like it did in his Barca heyday but one suspects the bright lights of Europe will inspire him. Manchester United have had their problems at right back this season. The youngster Rafael has demonstrated growing maturity and confidence but struggled badly against the forceful Craig Bellamy. Wes Brown has played more at centre-back while the legs of Gary Neville appear to be failing. Should Ronaldinho be presented with enough chances to face any of these then he is well capable of punishing the English champions.


On the opposite flank to Ronaldinho, David Beckham will probably stand. In many ways he is the Brazilian’s opposite, all perfect feature’s with none of the staccato brilliance, more the mundane efficiency. He is also assured of a place in South Africa should his fitness remain. His unflinching stamina has eased a little and any semblance of pace has long gone but his right foot retains all of its potency. The quicksilver Patrice Evra is more than a match for any winger but Beckham will not engage him one on one. A quick shift to his right and a customary curler will take flight. Milan have other threats but it’s the lethal former Parisian and affable Londoner that Sir Alex Ferguson will need to counter if he is to douse the Italian fire.

Its a cruel, cruel summer.

It has been the summer of so close. It has teased and tormented us weather wise, the sun peeking out from the clouds and shining upon us all only for the deluge of rain to whisk it away. The summer has not been a glorious one sports-wise especially in comparison with last year. The Olympics with Bolt laughing at the clock and Phelp's immortal flick of a finger nail in his duel with Cavic enthralled. Spain passed and moved their way to European success while Nadal and Federer played possibly the finest final ever served on centre court. That this year doesn't quite measure up has alot to do with scheduling. Caught between World cups and Olympics there wasn't much to really get excited about but despite this two very different codes manged to raise all our hopes of an unlikely victory Alas much like the sun it was only a fleeting burst.

The British and Irish lions arrived in South Africa as overwhelming underdogs. Hampered by time constraints and injuries the lions were expected to perhaps fight manfully and subside gracefully and if one looked coldly at the results you cold argue that is exactly what they did but the story of this tour was so much more than the result. It was the tour were the lions rediscovered their teeth. The emergence of young tyros like Jamie Roberts combined with legends like Brian O Driscoll to play some sumptuous rugby. Simon Shaw raged against the light while Paul O Connell proved himself a leader of men. The lions restored pride and set alongside a South African team guilty of gouging and of a farcical protest certainly won the moral contest.

The British open last year was memorable in the way Padraig Harrington closed out his second major and squashed any thoughts of an oldie resurrection in Greg Norman. This year was expected to be dominated by the tiger. Woods entered Turnberry in fine form and was expected to be in contention coming down the back nine on Sunday at the very least. That Woods missed the cut at the halfway stage was not the seismic story one would expect. Another champion with the initials T.W was leading the open and the tiger was reduced to an after-thought. Tom Watson was playing beautifully. An opening round of 65 had all the ingredients of the feel good story. That of the veteran leading a major on a course were he had won some thirty-two years ago. His challenge was expected to fizzle out and leave the winning to one of the young guns. But as Friday passed and then Saturday the old dog had refused to let go and suddenly one of the greatest sports stories ever was being told right before our eyes. Ross Fisher imploded, Lee Westwood was doing what he does in major's and heading into the eighteenth Tom Watson had to par to win the open. He hit is approach iron perfectly, but as the ball trickled into the rough the rainclouds began gathering. He still had a putt to win but his shoulders slumped and his belief washed away. Stewart Cink was methodical in the play-off and dismissed the old-timer. As has been the case this summer the light only shone briefly but my goodness it was bright.

Seize the day Brian.

It was as damning a report on the state of a countries finance's as one could imagine. The aptly named An Bord snip nua delivered a withering view on the state of our economy. The cuts proposed were devastating. Up to seventeen thousand public sector jobs to be culled. Five billion worth of savings to be procured mostly from the social services, health and education. But while the report was savage in its findings and recommendations the reality is the majority of the recommendations cannot be implemented. It has now gone beyond a annus horribus for Fianna Fail. The party is dishevelled and rudderless and implementing these findings would not only destroy the party in the short term but would sound the political knell in the long term.

Recently I began reading "Team of Rivals" a story about Abraham Lincoln's cabinet. The circumstances around this cabinet were uniquely treacherous and it took uncommon political savvy to assemble and than delegate this cabinet but Lincoln achieved this because essentially despite all his other gifts he was a leader of men. Now some would say its nearly blasphemous to compare Brian Cowen and Lincoln( Am I breaking the law Dermot) but leadership is exactly what our Taiseach has failed to demonstrate on countless occasions in the past year. He continually talks about making tough decisions and counteracts that by saying nobody is complacent. He must take this report on the chin. He must find ways to preserve the already drastically cut social service. The HSE must be rebuilt. Special needs education cannot be abandoned. Banks have to start lending again. NAMA must work. Often its the circumstances that demand the leader. Right now I would just settle for our leader grasping the circumstances.