The new United?

The World Cup is over so now my attention is fully back to Manchester United. Their US pre-season tour starts with a game against LA Galaxy in a week. This will be the first sighting of the new kit, and the new manager. The new era. Most of us probably said the exact same thing last year, with the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson and the arrival of David Moyes. But it feels different this time. Even more significant, somehow. It feels like a completely new United. Although, it could feel like this just because I want to put last season behind me; forget it ever happened. Maybe I want this season to feel like a different United because I don't want last season to repeat itself. In any case, there are a lot of changes happening at the club.

2014 World Cup

Congratulations Germany! A Mario Götze winner with 7 minutes to go in extra time caps the wonderful tournament. It really had been much better than I had expected. I was never really into international football –– my usual stance of these tournaments is that I want United players to do well and come back uninjured –– but this one was special. It felt different. It was highly entertaining, even for neutrals.

From the shocking 5-1 Netherlands victory over reigning champions Spain, to the nation's heartbreak over Neymar's tournament-ending injury that lead to Brazil's collapse, the World Cup was full of shocking dramas and great football. European nations Spain, England, Italy, and Portugal had to go home early after a disappointing tournament, unable to go through the group stages. Chile and Costa Rica, on the other hand, performed above people's expectations. The home nation Brazil, in my opinion, were incredibly lucky to be able to get to the semi final (a few decisions went their way, definitely). By that stage, all three remaining teams were better than them. The 7-1 trouncing by Germany showed the difference in quality. It was without Neymar and Thiago Silva (whose absence was more significant), but Brazil's defense was in shambles and they were unable to cope with Germany's passing game. What's more surprising was the fact that Germany didn't have an unexpectedly outstanding game; they were clinical but otherwise regular by their standards. Brazil was just terrible.

The World Cup also provided us with a few records broken. Germany's win makes this the third World Cup in a row won by a European country (Italy in 2006 and Spain in 2010), which is the most times a continent has won consecutive World Cups (both the Americas and Europe had previously won 2 in a row). Germany's Miroslav Klose surpassed the goalscoring record previously held by Ronaldo, with his 16th World Cup goal (in Brazil, no less!).

It was a magnificent sporting event, but with it being over, I can't help but be excited because this means United's preseason tour is about to start!

Two signings within two days?

And one of them is a central midfielder too! Who are you and what have you done with the United I know and love? Well done, Ed! Not that we know anything about the behind-the-scene happenings over at United, but we gave you a lot of shit for the transfer failures last summer, so you deserve props when they're actually pulled off. Well, too, without the dragged out rumors.

Yesterday, United officially announced the signing of 24 year old Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera. Today, it was 18 year old English full back Luke Shaw's turn. You're spoiling us Ed!

Not that I want to get too excited and get my hopes up, but the banner/header +Manchester United is using definitely has space for more floating heads, right? ;)

Too much social media?

Since I have a bit more time these past few months being "unemployed" (ie. working from home for my dad), I decided to take a look at my "online presence," whatever that means. I'd say that this is part of my looking for a new job, but it's probably just procrastinating and not actually applying for jobs here.

The only significant thing, in my opinion, is my decision to be more active on GitHub. And, as a part of that, I decided to utilize the available GitHub Pages for my account as my personal website. It's still "under construction" as in I don't really know what I want to put on there just yet. But it's there and it has something in it. I also have the domain http://daphnesoegijono.com, which is still empty. I'm considering using that address for my GitHub Page, but I could just let it go and continue using the given domain.

Because my GitHub page is pretty empty (although I kinda like it quite sparse), I'm currently thinking about using it as a blog. Just so it has more... stuff in it. However, I think it might be too much for me. I mean, I already have 2 Blogger blogs (this one and this one), 2 Tumblr blogs, and 2 Twitter accounts (although I only really use one). If I do, the blog on my website would be more professional (projects I'm working on, etc). This one will stay as my personal one, and the other Blogger blog would stay as my TV/movie focused one. I might consolidate my Tumblr blogs into one, although I'm thinking of starting another one as a journal. I have a mobile app (Momento) that can act as a personal (unpublished) journal so maybe I'll just stick to that. Am I doing too much with social media?

Tearing You Apart: 1991-2014

Ryan Giggs announces his retirement on the club's website:

Today is a fantastic day for Manchester United. Louis van Gaal is a great appointment and let me begin by telling you how delighted I am to be working with someone of his calibre. His credentials are second to none and I’m positive the club will thrive under his leadership over the coming years.

I would also like to take this opportunity to announce my retirement from professional football and embark upon a new and exciting chapter in my life, as assistant manager of Manchester United. I am immensely proud, honoured and fortunate to have represented the biggest club in the world 963 times and Wales 64 times. My dream was always to play for Manchester United, and although it saddens me to know I won’t be pulling on a United jersey again as a player, I have been lucky enough to have fulfilled that dream playing with some of the best players in the world, working under an incredible manager in Sir Alex Ferguson, and most of all, playing for the greatest fans in world football. I have always felt and appreciated your support.

I want to also give a huge thanks to the backroom staff and support teams we have and have had at Manchester United over the years. I would not have achieved the success I have without your continuing dedication and commitment to creating the best environment to enable the players to thrive. I would not have won 34 trophies in my career without you. I would also like to say a special thanks to my friends and family for all your love and support.

For me, today is a new chapter filled with many emotions - immense pride, sadness, but most of all, excitement towards the future. United fans I hope will share and echo my belief that the club, the management and owners, are doing everything they can to return this great club to where it belongs, and I hope to be there every step of the way. To the greatest fans in world football, thank you, I have loved every minute of playing for you and representing the biggest and best club in the world.

See you next season,

Ryan

I... this is a bit too much. There will be no more "GIGGS 11" jersey next season. Someone else might wear that number. I know we're still going to see him often, with his being our assistant manager, but...still! Giggsy has finished his playing career, winning a major trophy every 27.5 games. That's just insane. It's quite a shame he didn't manage to score a league goal this past season. And it's even more of a shame that his last season as a player was arguably his worst. This also marks the end of the Class of 92 era.

I understand that a player testimonial is usually held to mark a 10 year service to a club, and that Giggs has had his back then. But he's been at the club for more than 20 years, so he deserves a second testimonial right? Just let me watch him play one more time. I really am sad that I never got to watch him play live at Old Trafford.

Thank you for all the years, Giggsy. Hope for plenty more to come with you as assistant manager and then manager. Truly is Mr. Man United.