Wayne Rooney likes to ride that Bicycle

This is not a bad way to win a game. I mean it's not as cool as that one time I scored a goal after the keeper had fallen down, but hey they can't all be magic.

Trying hard is for suckers... and champions league winners

Hey remember what it was like when we used to try?

When I play soccer I end up getting mad a lot. On the field I try and keep my huffing and swearing to a minimum, but as my wife will tell you, once I'm back in the car I usually let the swears fly. As hard as I try to remember it's just a game there are 2 or 3 things that can really get under my skin. The absolute foremost of which is when my teammates just stop trying. I don't care how good or bad you are skill-wise, if you don't hustle do everyone a favor and sub yourself out. There's nothing wrong with getting undressed by a player with crazy skills, but letting someone prance their way into the midfield because you don't want to track back is inexcusable.

Let just say that last night I'm glad I wasn't Rio Ferdinand. Manchester United fielded an odd formation that worked really well for them against Arsenel. By my count they had 4 defenders (if you count John O'Shea as a defender) 5 Midfielders and a striker that likes to track back all the time. Still with 4 defenders and 5 mids they couldn't come up with a single guy to guard Silvinho? Or Xavi? Or maybe an extra man to mark Messi? Worse, even with all those guys not getting back to help on defense they still couldn't find anyone open when they did have the ball.

The Red Devil's midfielders didn't just play a poor game, they played a disinterested, lazy game. Maybe they were more interested in seeing the Colosseum later that night than they were in hoisting the cup.

So, Congratulations to Barcelona. Not only did you capture the hearts and souls of every insufferable soccer hipster this year but you captured another trophy to rub in the face of Real Madrid. And Manchester United, next time I leave work early to catch a final it might be nice if you put in a little effort. I'm looking at you Anderson, Carrick, Giggs, Park...

Your Champions League preview (a week early, and without much insight)

If he hits the right striker by "accident" he could be starting again

Rumor has it that the 30 million dollar man, Dimitar Berbatov, won't be starting for Man U in thier champions league final matchup with Barcelona. If true, I can't say it's a big surprise. The Red Devils looked awfully good in the semi-final against arsenal when they played Ronaldo at the top of the line-up and had Wayne Rooney play behind him as a sort of withdrawn striker.

We all know that Sir Alex has serious man love for Park and Giggs. After last years final against Chelsea he said that his biggest regret going away from that game was that he left Park out of the line-up. So, If the spanish press is to believed (yes I know you can't), This year he's going to make up for sitting Park in favor of Giggs last year by playing both men. By moving Ronaldo off the wing and pushing him up to striker he can play Giggs and Park on the outside and still have midfield space for two holding mids in Carrick and Anderson. Let's face it, it might not be Ronaldo's natural position but does anyone doubt his ability to finish at the top of the box?

I guess the surprise here is that Berba has pretty much played himself off the first team. Or is this just a case of Sir Alex picking the line-up best suited for beating Barcelona? In the semis Chelsea proved that if you pack it in and play them really physical it's possible to knock Barca off their game. Personally I would love to see a battle of lazy goal poachers between Berbatov and Thierry Henry. Anything that would save us from the slow, tight possession sort of physical games most finals turn into.

Yes it's legal

it's legal, and I'm totally trying it in my next co-rec game.