Tosyn’s Ten 10s: As we await Juan Mata

By Tosyn Bucknor

At the time of going to press, we still had not got the customary picture of Juan Mata holding up a Manchester United jersey (what number will he get), while he and David Moyes’ smile and people all over the world either applaud or shake their heads. Both clubs, (Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC) have officially confirmed Manchester United agreed a club record sign on fee but medicals and agreement to personal terms was pending.

*sigh*

It of course made me think about my long overdue musings on the Manchester United example, and why football rocks!

10. Wouldn’t our lives be simpler if we all approached career growth and change like footballers do? First they spot your potential when you are not even old enough to hold a license. Then they sign you. Your contract nears expiration and every other company out there knows it. Your agents and the scouts are talking to see whether you will stay or go. Either way, it is all about the money, the prospects, and what opportunities are available to you. And when you retire, you don’t really retire. You become a sports analyst, or coach, or consult. I mean, footballers are kings!

9. I think about Sir Alex Ferguson’s sudden retirement and Moyes’ appointment and the impact that has had on the psyche of the team and indeed, its’ competition, and see that change is not always a good thing. Perhaps gradual change, but clean breaks can be detrimental. Analyse before you jump ship.

8. Of course, there comes a time when with or without analysis, you have to jump ship. That expression, ‘no matter how pretty a girl is, there is always some man out there who is tired of kissing her‘ or something like that, comes to mind. No matter how great a footballer is, there is always some club ready to keep them on a bench. Take Mata for example; voted player of the year for Chelsea for two seasons, but now, can’t even find first team shirt under Jose Mourinho.

7. Which means, if you are not being appreciated where you are, or your skills are under-utilised, speak up or get out! Remember, the difference between getting regular playing time, or sitting on a bench, is a transfer.

6. Speaking of transfers, Manchester United seems to be losing a lot of its’ players. Vidic wants out, Rooney will likely not extend his contract, Zaha, etc. It is an endless list. Players are jumping ship because they either do not believe in the club any longer, or they just need a change of pace.

5. You see, the more Davids defeat you when you are a giant, the worse it looks for you, and the stronger and cheekier your opponents get. Teams used to fear and respect Manchester United. Now, they play like they are playing Enyinmba FC. Manchester United needs to get some quality wins or draws down stat or else, they will be kicked further, while they are down.

4. Conversely, for you, it is good to realise that the more giants you slay, the more confident you become.

3. And Muhammad Ali and T.I may need to revise their statement that pain is a small thing to a giant. No it isn’t. Ask any Manchester United fan, or player. The pain of being 7^th in January and the humiliating defeats that have led to that and also being kicked out of other tournaments like the F.A and Capital One cup, is not a small thing. If it was, people wouldn’t be drunk dialling 999 to speak with Sir Alex Ferguson.

2. While we are on that subject, how can one team go from winning the league with 11 points on their rivals, never slipping past fourth in seasons, being title contenders, getting trebles and doubles, to being 7th on a table,  and now desperately trying to get a championship spot at the end of the season? Can one man really make or break an organisation? Is Manchester United’s problem Sir Alex ferguson leaving? Is it David Moyes’? Or is it a combination of both or all? Are conspiracy theorists right that Moyes’ has finally succeeded in getting Everton above Manchester United on the table? Will Manchester United redeem their glory or be like Liverpool and live off past glory?

The saga continues

1. I have a theory though, one I have never repeated in public, until now…

It is called the Karma theory.

I did not like when Robin Van Persie came to Manchester United, I thought it was unfair, and I thought that was bad karma. I explained it as watching your rival date your ex. It was a great decision for him last season as he lifted a trophy and seemed like such a school boy who had won a prize for the first time. But welcome to 2014. Now, he has been nursing an injury for weeks, something he was famed for while at Arsenal, and may actually see Arsenal lift a trophy this season while he plays for a club that isn’t even sure of a spot of international football next season.

Yikes….

Karma anyone?

– Unless it is the best thing that happens to you

So can one man bring an organisation down… or up?

– Pain is(n’t) a small thing to a giant

– The more giants you defeat, the better you feel

– The more davids defeat you, the worse your perception is

– Don’t we wish o

– RVP