Ole Gunnar Solskajer is, without a doubt, my favourite player on any squad. I, quite literally, immediately move to the edge of my seat whenever he comes onto the pitch and, if you know anything about his career as “The Super Sub,” you’ll know why. So, it was genuine sadness I felt this morning when I read Ole had retired due to chronic knee injuries.

When I took up the sport as a fan, I was informed by my family that I was to be a Manchester United supporter. And, while many follow Manchester United in the same way that those who aren’t true baseball fans follow the New York Yankees, I took as a United fan because of Ole. He was immediately likable and so proficient as a substitute that it begged the question why he wasn’t more often in the starting lineup. However, being a sub was part of his magic; Sir Alex Ferguson credits Ole with being able to study the game from the bench, not taking his eye off the pitch, prior to entering and delivering the desire result. He had many career highs as a substitute, not the least of which was a 4 goal performance in the closing twelve minutes of a game against Nottingham Forrest.




Perhaps his most legendary moment as a United player came when he turned the fortunes of the Champions League Final, in 1999, with the winning goal. Ever since, his name has been sung at Old Trafford in “You Are My Solskjaer,” to the tune of You Are My Sunshine. and “Who put the ball in the Germans’ net?”

Ole came to embody a sense of hope for United fans when they were sure a game was lost. When he came on late there was almost always a renewed feeling that United could come back to earn a draw or better when defeat seemed all too possible prior. Perhaps he benefitted from his role as a sub, expectations where never unrealistically high for him, so that when he did come on hiss contribution was a thing of magic. He could enter a tense, high-stakes game and place the ball in the back of the net as though he was playing in a reserves friendly.

But beyond his role on the pitch, he has become an ambassador for Manchester United. More importantly, in a time when it is all too easy to pick the Rooneys, Beckhams, Ronaldos, or Ronaldinhos (not undeservingly, I should add) of the football world as your favourite player, there are also those players like Solskjaer that can make you a true supporter of the game by going out and performing without the hype or the high-profile.

Here’s to Ole - and his long and successful coming career as a coach - he will be missed by the Reds and their supporters alike, but hopefully by all fans of football who will recognize that today the playing career of one of the classiest and most likable guys in the game has come to an end.

And for those unfortunate enough to not know the playing career of Ole, here’s some more video for you to appreciate.




…to be a fan. Well, I suppose I should say that it’s getting tough to be a fan of my favourite teams. Toronto FC, for starters, hasn’t won in their past 7 games - what’s more they haven’t scored a goal over that period either. And, apparently, that’s some sort of record. Don’t let anyone say nothing was achieved this season!

If that wasn’t enough, the situation in England isn’t much better. The national squad suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Germany last Wednesday. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t have lost, but I am saying that their performance of late has been less that inspired. It’s tough to watch, especially when your “go-to” team, in my case Manchester United, isn’t giving you the assured performance and near guaranteed result that you’ve come to expect.

Today they managed a 1-0 win over Tottenham for the first time this season but the victory, much like their performance thus far ths season, was highly dubious. Short of the brilliantly confident strike of Nani, and the slight glance it took off Tevez, there was not much worth taking away from the game. In fact, if it weren’t for the last second clearing of the line by Ferdinand, I suspect Tottenham would have walked away with a somewhat deserved 3 points.

Perhaps it’s a sign that the winds are changing that Manchester United managed to come away with the result in the end - I can only hope so, actually.

Looks like Cunningham and Dichio are in for today’s squad. Great to have them back. Lombardo may still start, however.

Also, Brennan has the heart of a champion! An MRI, yesterday, confirmed that he has a broken wrist and that’s in addition to the broken ribs he already had. BUT, he’s going to play today and we’re better for it.

Rumour has it that Ronaldinho et al. might be dropping by BMO field for a friendly against the Canadian Mens Squad on the 8th of September.
THe 8th is a scheduled internationals day, which means that all players should be released by their club teams to compete in any international games. While we can expect that some of Brazil’s starting XI won’t be played, any team that they field will undoubtedly be one of quality. I hope this match takes place - and I very much expect to be there if it does.

Several reports are out that the MLS is looking to expand to Vancouver. This would be inline with the goal of the league to even out the conferences in 2008, with the (re)addition of a San José franchise, and a further two teams by 2009 or 2010.

Currently, Vancouver has a USL franchise playing in the 5,400 capacity stadium and are owned by Greg Kerfoot. Kerfoot also owns the land upon which a proposed soccer-specific stadium, which would be required by the MLS for an expansion team, would be built.

Would the USL franchise then be absorbed into the MLS, or is Vancouver being eyed for a second professional soccer franchise? The business behind this deal should prove interesting.

More here

What a disappointment in terms of getting three points. At four or five different points in last nights game I was sure Toronto FC were going to slip a goal by the Galaxy keeper, but each time I was shocked to see it saved, go offsides, or just wide. As heartbroken as I’m sure each and every TFC fan is with the result, I’m sure that the squad is more so. They really did deserve better.

I do like Beckham, especially for his contributions to Manchester United and England over the years, but I truly hope that his joining the LA squad does not allow them to squeak into the playoffs. They, most definitely, do not deserve it. With the likes of Xavier, Donovan, and Jazic, they should be showing much more quality than they displayed last night. Much more. They will undoubtedly get a boost from Becks, but they won’t have earned their spot if they make it. Not on the effort they have presented at this point.

Toronto FC, on the other, has for the vast majority of their games played inspired football. They have an almost comical injury situation at this point but last night, short of actually scoring, they showed great class as a unit. They deserved two, maybe even three goals from the game. But that’s soccer/footbal, and the better team sometimes emerges without a point at all, so perhaps we should be content with one….

One more small note to make: I was very impressed with Lombardo (again) in this game. Playing the lone-striker role, against a quality defender, he showed confidence and poise. He, like the teams as a whole, deserved better than a no-goal finish. But he did earn some second, and third looks from the team top brass, I’m sure.

Good on ya, TFC. Keep up the effort and hopefully the goals will come soon (in bushels, I hope.)

Toronto FC’s very own website is announcing that the club has signed Canadian international Kyriakos “Kenny” Stamatopoulos. The 27 year old keeper has earned 4 caps for our National squad and has played the past in Greece, Sweden, and Norway.

Stamatopoulos, who is in dire need or a nickname if for no other reason than to save me from typing out that last name again and again, is happy to be coming:

“I’m very excited”, said Stamatopoulos, “it’s great to play back home. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about the fans here and the club, and the city is just great. I’m very happy to be here.”

With West Ham finally receiving compensation (but only to the tune of $2 million) Carlos Tevez is free to sign with Manchester United. This will, hopefully, bring to an end the drama that has surround this deal all summer. Personally, I can’t speak to Tevez being worth the effort based on his performance last year, nor can I say I am comfortable with the terms of his service and the “ownership of his financial rights.”

So, we’ll have to wait and see how he performs this coming year and what sort of striking partner he makes with Rooney.

More on the saga can be found here.

The BBC, in their gossip section, as well as the always insightful, if not entertaining, Arsenalist have brought to my attention a young English boy, currently residing in Australia, by the name of Rhain Davis.

Manchester United have signed Rhain after his grandfather sent them a DVD of his play. The kicker is that Rhain is 9 years old. Born in 1997. Signed by Manchester United. Wow.
I’ll leave the debate open to you, as to whether it is right or even worth it for the club to sign a boy of that age, but watching the video below should help the decision making.