92 Forever: The Classiest ‘Class’ of them all..

This is going to be one of those “rarest of the rare” categories of blogs that I’ve ever written. And it’s because of the simple reason that probably for the first time in the history of the sport a die-hard, hardcore Liverpool fan is going to be praising the ideology and dogma of a club called Manchester United. I guess this is something that every football freak on this planet, irrespective of the club that he/she follows, would do unconditionally if they’ve had the phenomenal privilege to watch a group of immensely talented boys set sail on their amazing journey to battle it out with the world to attain the well-deserved glory that they achieved.

David “Becks” Beckham, Paul “Scholesy” Scholes, Ryan “Giggsy” Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicholas “Nicky” Butt. Anyone talking/writing about these fine individuals would agree with me when I say that the “Class of 92” is and perhaps will always be legendary. Not because of the reason that these footballers emitted jugs of talent that was immeasurable, but solely because of the reason that never before and never till now has a class graduated that has produced multiple gifted players all at one go. It must be noted that though these players were “6” in number, their dream was just “one” – to enjoy the game and inspire a generation.

And inspire they did. In an era when British culture ruled and people were more into music and fashion than football, Manchester United was busy producing within its academy a set of gifted individuals who were lucky enough to play with each other and most of all respected the game more than anything in the world. There was one reason that made them click the way they did, that made them closer than brothers, that completely eliminated an impetuous felling called “jealousy” between them and that made them realize they needed to have each other’s backs – Football. It was that important to them. It was their grounds of motivation.

Reuters Photo

Under the unparalleled guidance of recently retired manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the Class of 92 went on to star for the Manchester United first team during a period of unprecedented success for the northern England powerhouse. And that came as early as the 1995 season when they were “thrown” onto the field together to represent the Red Devils in all of Europe’s elite competitions. Now call it “luck”, Sir Alex’s “insight” or just sheer brilliance that the Class of 92 possessed, but it worked. Everyone from people to experienced football pundits criticized them; however, Becks, Scholsey, Giggsy, Gary, Phil and Nicky had other plans in mind.

Playing for the biggest club in the world, which at that time none of them knew, and going on a trophy binge to become one of the world's most recognized sporting  brands in history says a lot about the extraordinary character that the “Fergie's Fledglings” exuberated. That’s right. After “Busby Babes” came the era of the Fergie's Fledglings - a group of players recruited and trained by Sir Alex who went on to play for the first team and embellish their names in the history books. Not only did these players gel perfectly with each other, but it was the manner in which they did it that made them what they are today and achieve what they achieved.

Now let’s see. Gary Neville played at right back. Phil Neville played at left back. David Beckham played on the right flank. Ryan Giggs took the left flank. The midfield was completely dominated by Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt. That’s more than half the team that was brought in at the same time. And that too was total inexperience that was catapulted on the pitch. I guess keeping myself in the feet of the United fans at that time, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the whole football fraternity must have thought that the Red Devils were taking an uncalled-for risk at the time. I mean who the hell were these six blokes anyway?

I’m no expert on this, but when six out eleven players walk out to the centre of the field with the whole world thinking that it is all just a big mistake it’s kind of hard to get your game on. It’s definitely the greatest challenge that is thrown your way, especially when the positions in question here are the flanks and central midfield. The central midfield is supposed to be the “heart” of a team and the flanks its “wings”. So one can imagine the predicament a team and its manager would be in if the brand new heart and fervent wings fail to function. But that’s what the Class of 92 was ready for. Bring it on they said as their brilliant aura was inconceivable.

It was that dominating presence on field that the Red Devils had that made them the most feared team in the 1990s. People give credit to Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, who rightly and respectfully deserve all the credit. But I guess I say this for all when I say that it was the unsurpassable versatility that Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Butt and the Neville brothers had that made all the difference. To do a 1-2 between the rightmost extremity and the leftmost extremity on the field is a wondrous task and the Class of 92 did that with ridiculous ease. Not just in one game against one opponent. But in every game, irrespective the enemy.

The debate will last forever on this topic. Some say that the Class of 1992 is overrated. It’s their opinion and they are quite rightly entitled to it. I mean if a young bunch of passionate and dedicated playmakers help a team win 6 English Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and 1 UEFA Champions League title during their tenure (one of those seasons had a prestigious treble there as well by the way) and still be called “overrated”, then there’s nothing on this planet that a footballer can do to be truly, rightfully and undoubtedly be called a Football Legend. The Class of 92 did that and they will forever be the “Classiest” of them all.

Can Gareth “Bale” Real Madrid Out?

He’s not worth it. Wales’s international winger Gareth Bale, who recently completed a high-profile move from English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur to La Liga giants Real Madrid for a staggering fee of €100m ($132m or £85m) that made him the most expensive player in the history of the game, is not worth his transfer fee at all. I know that it’s uncanny for me to begin this blog with such a pessimistic approach, but the facts are plain, simple and as clear as water. He’s just not worth his world record fee.

Let’s not get things wrong. Gareth Bale is an exceptional player. He’s one of the fastest on the circuit, he’s got that morale-boosting aura that can lift a team when all hope seems lost (Remember his hat-trick against Inter Milan at the San Siro?) and not to forget he’s got a lethal left leg that can make any goalkeeper contemplate calling in sick before an important match. In fact, Bale is undoubtedly a player who any manager would die to have on their team. But when a team shells out money just to satisfy the “ego” of an individual, that’s when I draw the line between intelligence and lunacy.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is the “individual” whom I’m talking about. In some ways one can call him the “Real-messiah” due to that colossal reputation he’s earned of giving the fans what they want. He’s been known to have a history of acquiring elite footballers by paying extremely high prices. Some might call it his undying “passion” towards the club and the beautiful game while others might call it his dire need to satisfy his inflated “ego”. The debate is open and is something that will never end.

Reuters Photo

It was Perez’s bold initiative that led to the “Galacticos” era when the football fraternity was graced by the presence of Ronaldo, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Iker Casillas, and Co. playing for the same team at the same pitch all the same time. And it was when he began his second term as club President in 2009 that he first bought Kaka from AC Milan for £58 million before breaking an eight-year world record transfer fee deadlock to sign Man United’s Cristiano Ronaldo for £80 million.

Perez’s exploits are something that are known quite well in the footballing world and therefore when rumors started floating that Real Madrid would be willing to breach the €100m mark just to get Bale to play at the Bernabeu, no one seemed surprised. It was kind of like what else is new? However, what people started doing almost immediately was drawing up career statistics comparing Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and whether or not the Welshman actually deserved his world record price tag.

Let’s look at the statistics ourselves, shall we? In his six seasons at Old Trafford, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 118 goals thereby leading the Red Devils to three Premier League titles, two Carling Cups, one FA Cup, one Community Shield and one Club World Cup. On the other hand Gareth Bale, in his six seasons at White Hart Lane, has scored just 55 goals without winning any elite championship. Not to be rude or anything, but Ronaldo scored 54 goals just last season with Madrid. That’s six seasons combined in one.

Also, during his tenure, Cristiano Ronaldo bagged one FIFA Ballon D'or, one World Player of the Year award, two PFA Player of the Year awards, one Young Player of the Year Award and two Fans Player of the Year Award (The list actually goes on but I’ve left out quite a few so that the die-hard Bale fans don’t get demoralized). However, Gareth Bale only bagged two PFA Player of the Year awards and one Young Player of the Year Award.

Another very interesting thing to note is the fact that Bale, unlike Ronaldo, is solely dependent on his left foot. Which is why his playing positions on the football field are limited. At most what he can do is do a to-and-fro between the left back and left wing positions. On the other hand Cristiano Ronaldo, who was once complimented by a commentator as being able to score with any part of his body, scored 54 goals last season with 29 goals off his right foot (excluding free-kicks and penalty-kicks), 16 with his left foot and 8 with his head.

Bale’s move has become one of the most talked about sagas in football history not just among the fans, but also among the football community. Leading coaches have openly condemned the move with new Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino going to the extent of calling it a “joke”. I don’t know what the problem with the world is. Real Madrid seem to have everything figured out. At a time when the world economy is in chaos and Spain is embroiled in a financial crisis that seems never-ending, for football club to take loans just to pay €100m for player who according to his own national coach is “injury-prone” and not “fit enough” to play a full 90-minute match makes "perfect" sense. Don’t you think so? ;)