It was with great excitement that I got to see the preview to “Watchmen”, a big screen adaption of Alan Moore’s critically acclaimed graphic novel of same name, when I went to see Batman. Leaving the theater as The Dark Knight credits rolled I couldn’t help but wonder if the new generation of comic book readers, especially those turned to graphic novel/comic thanks to big movie adaptations like Spider-Man, X-Men and 300, would truly understand or appreciate the movie. If Zach Snyder, the director, holds true to his words and keeps with the storyline of the graphic novel then “Watchmen” isn’t another super hero movie.

“Watchmen” tale is more about vigilantes in costumes, or tights, than it is about super heroes. The characters have no special abilities (Dr. Manhattan the only exception) nor are they void of real human flaws – I mean one of the costumed vigilantes is a psychopath. The book is also not about saving some damsel in distress or fighting some identifiable super villain or even about the ever tested right versus wrong or good versus evil debate. Instead thanks to Alan Moore’s writing we get a in-depth look into the personal lives of these costumed vigilantes, why they wear the tights and fight crime, what moral/immoral values led them down the path so few have taken and why they continue to do what they do despite being disliked by those they risk their lives to protect. The graphic novel also reads as a detective novel as we follow Rorschach’s attempts to uncover and bring to justice someone systematically eliminating members of the Watchmen.

I personally I’m excited to see this movie as I’m sure most people in my generation or older but to the youngsters these movie may not appeal to them but who honestly who cares!

So it is with quite good accuracy that Chris Toy portray Sepp Blatter’s lunacy with his latest comic strip (see below). He does a funny job of showing us how Mr. Blatter tries to validate his comments by equating Ronaldo to Jesus himself and even comes off more aloof.

Sepp Blatter_Slavery

So I’m late on this but word has it that NBC will be doing an American version of the British show Top Gear. I love Top Gear but I honestly do not want to see this show state side. Like other British shows transformed for the American audience this will be a dud, the likes of “Faulty Towers”, “Coupling” and “Wild at Heart” come to mind as recently translated shows that we utter failures. Scripted shows such as these fail in their crossover because the producers of the American version ignore the intangibles that made to original so great to watch. For instance the Top Gear UK host of Hammon, May and Clarkson are crudely frank with their reviews of cars and all share a youthful enthusiasm for the cars they drive or wreck in their weekly challenges. Also they are not gear heads, meaning they relate better to the causal viewer but at the same time do not alienate the gear heads who tune in to watch their show. They do not even bother about being politically correct, especially Jeremy Clarkson, and then as a bonus are funny without trying too hard or even trying at all.

These intangibles I’m afraid will be overlooked by the Top Gear US producers. Honestly do you believe any of the US host critically give a beating to a Ford car? Especially at this time of economic hardship experienced by American Auto manufacturers and especially since Top Gear USA might want their ad money. Upon seeing the hosts for US show I even fear for the worst as all sense of a staying true to the original have been shot to the high heavens. Already the suits at NBC are putting spin stating that they not looking to make an exact replica of the UK version and the audience they are targeting for the show aren’t those who are fans of the UK version.

I’ll tune in on the premier day on for the sake of curiosity and give them a chance, but if it sucks like CBS “Payne” (“Faulty Towers” remake) it is going to join a growing list of remake dubs.

Alex Furgerson has hinted at Manchester United not getting involved in the buying spree which the big four normally partake in during the off season. But the gaffer cannot ignore the fact that his side does need one more player added to the roster. To be more specific a centre-forward, to be even more specific Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Last year he was on my wishlist of player I’d like to see in a United shirt, but instead we got Tevez and while Tevez is a talented lad but my main issue with him is that he is essentially the same player as Rooney – both in build and in style of play. Huntelaar on the other hand will bring a different attacking mindset to the United side, a person who is predator in the 18-yard box, who handles the long ball/crosses very well and most importantly is an out-and-out goalscorer. Putting Huntelaar into the United attacking system will bring back the glory scoring days, from a forward, like those of Rudd Van Nistelrooy. Plus, there hasn’t been a season ever more evident to United’s dire need for a consistent striker as last season:

PLAYER (GOALS)
Cristiano Ronaldo (31)
Carlos Tevez (14)
Wayne Rooney (12)
Louis Saha ( 5)
Ryan Giggs ( 3)
Nani ( 3)

Quite telling when a winger was out scoring our two top strikers combined last season and even worse when our top foward was severly off pace with the gunners’ Adebayor (24)…yeah that’s piss poor. We need our own version of Torres, our own version of Yakubu, our own version of Santa Cruiz and Huntelaar is the ideal buy to fill that role. Here’s hoping!

(Click on image to enlarge)

I said I supported this move earlier mainly because I am a England supporter. With Barry and Gerrard training and playing together, their understanding of each other’s play on the pitch will only improve and any fan of England, unless you are Lampard, should be excited at what this means for the Three Lions. Most importantly the debate of who should partner Gerrard in the middle would hopefully stop, especially when everyone on a regurlar basis sees how both work well together.

With World Cup qualification approaching Capello needs to start penciling down his final starting IX and formation soon. The quicker he settles on a striking partner for Ronney, a right winger (Golden Balls is not the answer, if we’ve learnt anything from the Euros it is that youth & hunger breeds a winning team) and who partner’s Gerrard in central midfield the better our chances of moving foward into a new era of football in England.

Last year when Frank Yallaop was unfairly ran out of LA by Galaxy’s management I became interested as to whom his replacement was going to be. I was intrigued because of Lalas’ comments stating that they were looking to bring in an outside-the- MLS big name coach. So I especially wanted to know who the hell was lunatic enough to take up the joke that is being called the LA Galaxy coach, where you have no say on personnel being brought in or traded, where you have argueablely a very weak roaster – talent wise, and oh yeah, the media frenzy surrounding Ol’ Golden Balls. So I wondered, which self respecting international calibre coach is Lalas capable of bull-shitting into signing the dotted lines at LA? Enter Ruud Gullit.

Appearrently Guillt was not doing much television watching or research during his two year hiatus from coaching. How else will would you explain him signing for the Galaxy and only after a few months into the season he’s whining about how he can’t play sexy football due to the lack of talent and then just recently bitching about how the team lacks leadership. All these things didn’t just manifest overnight, they’ve been part of the LA Galaxy since inception but rather than address those stiuations management were far more concerned with filling the stadium seats with soccer moms and their children who want to droll over golden balls. If Gullit thinks times are hard now, I’d love to hear him when golden balls, landy cakes and ruiz (his three most productive players) are called up for international duty. With just earning eight points out a possible twenty-one Ruud Gulliet needs to find a way to get production out of his frindge players because playing golden balls and landy cakes every minute of every game is definitely not a season long solution.

…about the game of football. This is what F.C. United of Manchester represents and their continued ascension through the English league structure is a testament to the fact that a club doesn’t need to sell its soul to succeed in today’s football. Yesterday, FCUoM beat Skelmerdale 4-1 in the playoff final to earn promotion, their third successive, to the Unibond Premier League. This recent promotion now puts them two leagues away from Conference League and who knows with the rate that these lads are going could be in the Premier League ten years from now *knock on wood*.

With their solid fan base and fantastic management/board F.C. United of Manchester success should continue and with that bring back what is lost in football today, especially in the Premier League, or the very least remind us of the days when football was just that…Football – pure in the beauty of simplicity.

Image From Andy Barker

Instead I’d imagine that Cappello was using this game a means to identify which ol’ guard to drop and what formations best utilizes the players he has on hand. Now England performance wasn’t dreadful but it wasn’t inspiring either, they managed to keep ball possession (for the first half anyway) and were a bit structured. But what was quite evident was the lack of width and creativity from the England side and this I think should let Cappello know that the reign of Golden Balls has is neigh. Becks lacked pace, it said a lot when Wes Brown was overlapping him down the flank,  as well as the ability to taken on oppossing defenders one-on-one. Sure his has great pinpoint passing but when you standing around pinging passes you and your team mates become predictable therefore very easy to defend so those passes pose no threat to the opposition. Terry’s performance was quite as forgettable, which is uncommon for the lad, his man-marking wasn’t consistent and his mental lapses occurred more than usual. Micheal Owen in my book shouldn’t be in an England squad again, plain and simple. On the formation front, Cappello needs to drop the lone striker formation business. England does not have an out-and-out center forward and should starting looking to partner Rooney with someone. And what was more telling this that most team in today’s football are more adept and defending lone-striker formations especially when you don’t have a scoring threat from midfield.

So I’m looking to see quite a few changes in terms of personnel on the pitch and formation for the friendly against USA. Speaking of the USA friendly, I was happy to see ol’ golden balls get his 100th cap against France because, to be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to the media frenzy/arse kissing ESPN would be engaged in towards golden balls had he gotten that cap against the USA.

But before I bid adieu, a quick shout about my boys at Giggs Lane as they solider on towards another consecutive league promotion. The lads of FC United of Manchester for the last eight have gone 5W-2D-1L plus are setting pretty at 5th with five games in hand. Even more impressive is the club continues breaking of attendance records for their division. The only downer in all this is that it’s nearly impossible to watch or even get live text commentary for lower division clubs from here let alone FCUM. With a solid fan support and good board members the future is bright for Reds! *banging on wood* March On!