The Fiscal Year review- The Beautiful Game

The Ronaldo saga

Let's admit it. 2008 belonged to him, and only him. 42 goals in all competitions as Manchester United did a double in the 07/08 season, Ronaldo broke all expectations of what a winger could achieve in terms of goalscoring. A blitzing freekick that sailed straight into the top corner of David James' net against Portsmouth, a chameleon rise to head to the ball past Petr Cech in Champions League final against Chelsea, to a subtle but masterly side-footed poke between the legs of Aston Villa players inside the penalty box into the net, just proves his versatility that he can score from any range, any position, by his head or by his foot. He eventually won a deserved Ballon d'Or for his perfromances but as Ronaldo usually comes with, there was no short of controversy what-so-ever. If his goalscoring exploits and performances stole headlines for the first half of the year, the second half of the year was all about Real Madrid, his infamous transfer which never happened. Who can forget Sepp Blatter's "Ronaldo is a slave" whine during the saga. That's about the biggest comedy of the year. But as usual, Sir Alex Ferguson always gets things going his way. He'll let go only when he wishes, not when Ronaldo wishes. And so it will stay that way.

However, for all his show-boating and off-field antics, (and of course, in on field flying antics), more people wish that Ronaldo do not repeat last season's feat rather than hoping to see his magic again. So how will he provide magic this time? Time will answer.

Afterall, he's having a bit of an inconsistent season in 08/09.

Stevie G becomes Punchie G

He could have ended the year on an exteremely high note, but he didn't, as what he got for Christmas was an inspirational 5-1 away win at Newcastle that made pundits finally admit Liverpool might have what it takes to make a push for the Premiership title in 08/09, but just after that, Santa was in party mood to give Gerrard too much booze and also a sweet time spent in jail crunching over his 'good boy' and 'role model' reputation. But he came back to do what he does best right after that, a storming run from the halfway line set-up Fernando Torres for the simplest of finishes to ensure 'Pool progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup. Everything about him stole the headlines for the past few days of the year. An eventful ode to the year from Gerrard, but we all know he will be back doing what he does best in no time at all. Afterall, we all have beasts planted inside us. It's only about being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Becks' trip to the fashion capital with Don Galliani

David Beckham never ceases to make news. All the more this year for his decision to join the exclusive club which collects the so-called 'past their best' superstars and tries to prove that they still have it. Andriy Shevchenko, Ronaldinho Gaucho, now David Beckham. The jury's still out though, while Sheva's transfer is definitely a miserable piece of business, Ronnie doesn't look bad (have to admit though, he's not much of a magician that he used to be), so how Becks will fare is anybody's guess. But why did Milan acquire Becks when they have no lanky finisher in the team? They could have gone for a reliable striker instead if stretching their wage structure to bring in a superstar to a midfield already packed with Pirlo, Seedorf, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Gattuso, Flamini, Ambrosini, and now Becks. Milan already have many men in abundance to provide service into the box, but hardly any to poke it into the back of the net, and they are yet to address that problem. Probably they will continue to rely on the immature but explosive-in-spurts Pato and the aging Inzaghi. We all know Sheva will just miss them all. I'm not sure whether Becks will return from Milan with a Serie A medal or even more England call-ups, but what I'm sure of is that Victoria will come back from there with half-a-dozen new dresses to sensously address her recent 'chest-boost'. Wuuu.

Barcelona's 'cleanup-the-mess and rebuild'

Hey, it worked. Yeah, it certainly did. Probably the only team in the year to succeed in the revamp lines, Barcelona's vindications of dispersing themselves with the services of Deco, Ronaldinho and multiple title-winning manager Frank Riijkard have all been proven justified so far. Deco and Ronaldinho started their respective careers at currently stuttering Milan and Chelsea as Barca struggled when the season begun. And then all changed. Barca improved and started getting in among the goals, and Deco faded away after an injury, he was never the same again, and Ronnie was inconsistent at Milan. And their new coach Pep Guardiola has proven to be a gamble more than worth taking. And his dressing sense is something to savour as well. Exotic football on the pitch, and stud in the bench pulling the strings. Laporta can smile now, and just like how I felt he shouldn't be vetoed out from presidency earlier in the year, I feel its for the best that there weren't enough votes to dump him out. Stay on, Joan!

The Spurs revolution with Celine Dion's Titanic feel

"Far across the distance...." thats how Celine Dion has sung unintentionally for Tottenham Hotspurs. They climbed the ladder for two years and went to fifth, and when they failed to improve on that, Martin Jol was bid a goodbye and Juande Ramos was brought in. By using the players Jol had moulded, Ramos steadied the ship. Spurs knew it then that Champions League football won't happne this season, but instead the following season. The following season came and it was de ja vu for Spurs, as Ramos' signings failed to work, and he was sacked, and once again the dream remained a dream. Now there is Harry Redknapp. Another slew of signings and CL dreams for next season maybe? Keep dreaming, Spurs, it may come true one day.

City went to Middle East to dig oil

Manchester City, that is. Robinho is the story. The 32 million pounds in the story. All of them, we know them. From nobodys to the richest club in the world, they just escalated. But not up the table. It was the same last season with Sven's boys going on a free-fall after a promising start, at least they were not in the relegation zone like Hughes' boys now. Hughes however has been honest in his assesment of the situation, so he'll get a Little more time. Just about that. A little time and a 100 million pounds. Is that the solution? Well, here we go....

My best moments for the year...

1. Tears from Moscow

The sight of John Terry and CR7 during the Champions League final in Moscow while the penalty shootout was priceless. The swing of emotion was just overwhelming, from watching Ronaldo fall down and cry in joy when Van Der Sar saved from Anelka, Terry sobbing heartbreakingly, Avram Grant walking down with a runner's up medal and a sour face as if life has beaten the hell out of him, and Ballack receiving one of his, eh, FOUR runners up medal for the year. He does have a big heart.

2. Bentley wagon parks in Arsenal's net

It was a 4-4 draw, an exciting one at that. But the highlight definitely was David Bentley and his one hell of a goal. "I feel like Superman, I could fly home now" he said after the match. He really did make the ball fly. One touch, and the shooting gauge went off. All there was left to watch was amazed and stunned faces. Oh My God! and What the Hell! must have been the only reactions at Ashburton Grove. And thats how Harry Redknapp announced his arrival at Spurs.

3. King Messiah makes poor old Cannavaro bang himself to the post and blabber.

Watching Fabio Cannavaro say that Lionel Messi goes down too easily after Real's 0-2 defeat by Barca in El Clasico at Camp Nou was nothing short of wonderful comedy. Messi was not demanding any fouls like CR7 for one, and most people realized Cannavaro was just dizzy after chasing from the halfway line only to find himself helping Messi's chip into the back of the net and well, banging his shoulder onto the post. Ouch! That hurts.

4. Robinho makes Terry and Cech shout at each other and say 'Why the fuck didn't we sign him'?

Robinho ironically made his Man City debut against the very club who were his original suitors, Chelsea. And he scored from a freekick. The view was beautiful to say the least when Terry and Cech (so often the role goalkeeper-defender combinations) throw rages at each other in fury as Robinho wheels away for putting Peter Kenyon and Roman Abramovich into embarassment for not thinking he is worth 32 million pounds. Take that, Roman and Peter, he must have said.

5. Henry's hat-trick against Valencia.

Quite simply proved that Titi Henry is pegging back to his best. Doubters silenced. And the Pep revolution continues. Breath-taking.

6. The name is Del Piero.

Del Piero became the first person since Ronaldinho to be applauded by Real Madrid fans despite belonging to the opposition team. He took one look in front, and planted a rocket into Iker Casillas' top corner. Simply riveting.

These are what I carry from 2008. Hoping for a better 2009 then. Let the excitement continue.

Joga Bonito.