by GILES ELLIOTT, FOXSports.com

Sir Bobby Charlton, renowned for his gentlemanly conduct as a player, but now a Devils' director, suddenly turned into Gordon Gekko, pronouncing that "money is not a dirty word." As two of the most cash-rich businesses in sports got into bed with each other. How on earth could the competition cope?

Little has been heard of the Yankees/Man Utd pact since, although the money-makers are no doubt busy behind the scenes. How many NY caps do you see at Old Trafford, or new gold Man Utd shirts in the Bronx? Have no fears though -- if you market it, they will come. The two club's fortunes have, after all, been closely allied on the field/theater of dreams.

As the Yankees prepare for a run at a fourth consecutive World Series this Saturday -- and who would bet against them winning again -- Man Utd is chasing a fourth straight English Premier League crown. The New Yorkers have topped their sport for four of the last five years, the Mancunians for five of the last six. Joe Torre and Sir Alex Ferguson are widely acknowledged to be the best in their field, although the players help a bit.

But could Fergie and Co. start learning a few tips from their new buddies?

Yes, fortress Old Trafford has been breached for the first time this year. The Devils have already lost twice in just nine games. Losing a few games at "The House That Ruth Built" hasn't hurt the Yankees so much in the postseason, but Man Utd losing at home in the EPL is front-page news.

Before Saturday's defeat by Bolton (thank you for the fresh supply of eggs, by the way), only Middlesborough. Liverpool, and Derby had won league matches in the Theatre of Dreams over the last three years. That's one a year.

Of 181 home matches since the advent of the EPL, Man Utd have lost just 12. Even more incredibly, it was the first time ever that Ferguson's team had scored first in an EPL game at Old Trafford and lost. Previously, the Devils were Mariano Rivera in the top of the ninth. Now they're John Rocker.

Much has been written about Man Utd's defensive failings, so acute now that Fabien Barthez has been infected. Get Jorge Posada on the phone. He'll tell not-so-fabulous Fabien that the reason he's given an oversized glove is to catch the ball. Barthez is allowed to use his hands, not just his feet.

MLB has a 162-game regular season. The EPL stretches its participants to 38. Yes, an hour and a half of soccer involves considerable more physical effort than four hours of baseball, but can you imagine the Yankees resting players as Man Utd do? "Sorry Tino", says Torre. "Fergie called me and said he's giving van Nistelrooy the day off, you take a seat too." Would you use Ryan Giggs as a pinch-hitter? Does Dwight Yorke not even get an inning?

As for David Beckham's absence from the side that lost to Bolton, would New York play any game without Derek Jeter? An infield without Jeter is unthinkable. A midfield without Beckham is impoverished. The Spice Boy's affection for the Big Apple is well-known, and not just because his boy's named Brooklyn. Thank God the lad wasn't conceived in the south London suburb of Peckham.

Winning becomes a habit, and both NYY and MUFC will no doubt triumph in the end for their fourth consecutive crowns. Before the first pitch is thrown to start this year's World Series, Man Utd will take to the Old Trafford pitch for their own fall classic, a match that could have a major bearing on their chances of indulging in some four-play next May. Entering the Devils' den to face the EPL's best attack is the club with the best defense, Leeds, still perched proudly atop the table and now the only unbeaten team left in England.

The omens are looking good for the Whites, who have already made their best start to an EPL campaign. A 10th game without defeat would equal the Yorkshire club's achievement exactly 10 years ago. And yes, they became champions for the last time in that 1991-92 season. It was 20 years ago, however, that Leeds last tasted victory in Manchester. A first win for David O'Leary over Ferguson is overdue.

Another pretender to the EPL throne, Liverpool, drops into the Valley later on Saturday in a repeat of last season's closing match. The Reds' 4-0 win over Charlton confirmed their very first qualification for the Champions League. It won't be as easy this time, even with Mr. Owen due back in action.

Man Utd's loss to Bolton presented a golden opportunity to Arsenal, only for the Gunners yet again to fail to take advantage of their northern rivals' misfirings. This weekend's schedule takes the London club to Sunderland, scene of a controversial loss -- and Patrick Vieira red card -- on opening day last season.

Sunday's featured EPL games switch from the top clubs to the bottom-feeders. The good folk of Ipswich will be licking their chops for the visit of West Ham, with the Hammers having conceded 12 goals in their last two road trips. After eight league games without a win, the Town certainly needs some regeneration.

West Ham inflicted a first loss of the campaign on Chelsea in midweek, so the Blues must rebound at Derby. Benito Carbone, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Samuele Dalla Bona, Gianfranco Zola. Two apiece in Italians, but Dutch destroyer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink may make the difference.

The weekend ends at Ewood Park, as Blackburn battles a Leicester team that is truly, badly, deeply out of shape. Rumor has it that the bigwigs here at FOX are so embarrassed about the failings of their EPL namesakes that they will invest in Dave Bassett's ludicrous allsorts rather than the L.A. Dodgers.

Only joking. Or am I?

Catch all your EPL action on FOX Sports World and return next week for another installment of THE GILES FILES.