why i chose to put SMITH 14 on my united jersey...

football... the world's game... so loved that it even has a competition not unlike the olympics held every 4 years in the form of the world cup. as if we cannot get enough of it with so much coverage of european football leagues on cable, we must have international action to sate the craving. what's the allure of football? some say it's a game for gentlemen played by ruffians... the opposite of what is said by rugby... some just say it's 22 fully grown men chasing one ball on a huge grass pitch... technically, those who say that are right. but there's so much more.

a really good football game can be comparable to the finest works of art. it's a really tough skill to cultivate when it comes to learning how to play the game. there are so many subtleties involved when it comes to kicking a ball that it is very hard to appreciate the game unless youve actually tried it yourself. for instance, david beckham's well known ability to curl a ball is actually bloody hard to pull off. likewise his pinpoint crossing is akin to a sniper hitting a moving target, no mean feat. a great game will have on display the finest skills, the most brilliant individual efforts, the shrewdest of team tactics and the best teamwork. starting from the front to the backline, the most potent strikers and forwards either have the sharpest of predatory instincts to sniff out a potential goal or have the most explosive and entertaining magic that will create goals from virtually out of nothing. wingers, who play along the flanks, usually have the quickest of feet and the finest ones are always a pleasure to watch as the overcome their markers with such immense speed and skill, either to cut in and score or provide that killer pass for someone else to tap into the goal. midfielders come in all shapes and sizes. some reknown for their attacking prowess, with the vision and intelligence to send their teammates through on goal with the most sublime and sharpest of passes and incredible sharpshooter's ability to fire in a goal from the most uninmaginable distances. others are more infamous, claiming their fame through being the hard man on the pitch, enforcing order and organisation whilst holding onto the ball. they nip opposition raid from the centre of the pitch in the bud, allowing their defenders to breathe more easily and from there, fashion the previously defensive mindset back into an attack. defenders are the last line to stop the opposition from scoring and are more than often the villains or heroes of a football game. fullbacks usually have the job of not only defending the flanks, but joining in the attack along the wing as well. centrebacks usually stay where they are and are the wall that forwards must overcome. they're usually big and strong in the air and often score whenever a setpiece is being played. the greatest goalkeepers are legendary. usually huge and towering, but deceptively agile once they're called into the game to save goalbound shots. all these skills and personalities blend into one machine on the pitch, and the potential magic within unfolds as each game is told as a story over the course of 90 minutes or more.

i'm a manchester united fan. not since that young, but when i adopted united as the club i support, i've never looked back. the sheer ability and attacking prowess from united teams is breathtaking. combined with the most colourful personalities and talented individuals with fighting spirit enough to start a fight in an empty room, i've learnt to appreciate their style and football philosophy... and while relatively new to the squad, alan smith has already made a big enough impression on me to call him my hero. while i respect the explosive skill of wayne rooney(his volley against newcastle united will forever be etched in my mind, for it was one helluva fine strike) and the blistering pace and technique of ryan giggs(arguably the best left winger in the world), smithy's sheer determination, fearlessness and fiery nature are what i look up to. industrious and committed to a fault, he never gives up on a loose ball without a chase. he never shirks from a tackle and will glady make it, a quality rare in striker. and he isn't afraid to give you a piece of his mind when you deserve it... he may not be the most skilled of players, but he has shown moments of brilliance with spectacular volleys in his early days at old trafford. even now, he is attempting to slot into a central midfielder role to replace united's ageing stalwart captain, despite his previous training as a striker. he wears his heart on his sleeve and has never thought of quitting despite not getting an extended run in the side and i believe this fighting spirit and of his will keep him a red devil for many years to come...