Abysmal Play? It Has to Be Serie A!

At the Christmas break, Inter pretty much have the league wrapped up. This despite only scoring one goal in each of the last four games (resulting in two wins, one loss, and one tie). So not only is the league title a forgone conclusion, but the most dominant team in that league, the defending champions of Serie A, have struggled to produce substantial offensive output. It also seems as though Samuel Eto'o is suffering from the same, predictable Serie A malaise as Kaka once did..

Need a further indictment of the level of play/players in the Italian top flight? Just look to FIFA's World XI. Soccer's governing body went with a 4-3-3 formation with Iker Casillas in goal (Real Madrid/Spain), Dani Alves (Barcelona/Brazil), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd/Serbia), John Terry (Chelsea/England), and Patrice Evra (Man Utd/France) across the back.

Headlining midfielders include Steven Gerrard (Liverpool/England) and Xavi and Iniesta (both of Barcelona/Spain).

Finally, up front Puskas Award winner Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal) is joined by Fernando Torres (Liverpool/Spain) and, of course, FIFA World Player of the Year Leo Messi (Barcelona/Argentina).

Which is a round-about way of saying that not one of the World XI is from Italy or playing for an Italian team.

P [dot] S The preponderance of English and Spanish clubs is understandable, given those players' success in competitions for club and country. Nevertheless, it does seem curious that Ligue Un's Player of the Year Yoann Gourcuff was left off this list (maybe in the place of Stevie G?).

Gourcuff was a true master of the midfield last season, producing the kind of displays that earned him a (justified) comparison to the great Zidane and earned Bordeaux their first title in a decade. Actually, come to think of it, Gourcuff's resurgence coincided with his Italian escape. And that pretty much sums up my point.

Footballers Are Just Like Normal Guys

They have problems. Some face troubles with our fairer sex compatriots. Some battle addictions, and others have money problems.

And these money probs don't stop with blowing all their cash - though they do so often enough. But, just as often, you can find these footballers bemoaning their taxation levels. Seriously, how are they supposed to lavish Ferraris and the like on their WAGs AND contribute to the social good? See, problems just like with the other guys we know.

And now these taxation troubles are about to get more acute in Spain, where a proposal circulating Parliament could reverse the "Beckham Law," and raise taxes on Spanish footballers from the current 24% to 43%, as soon as January 1st.

Naturally, the Spanish League Association has objected to this reversal, claiming that it would cause a veritable foreign flight of top talent. Problem with that argument is that even now only 35.8% of La Liga's players are foreign. So, on that measure of the law's success, it trails the Premier League (65.5% foreigners, 50% taxation rate), the Bundesliga (43.7% foreigners, 45% taxation rate), Ligue 1 (41.9% foreign players, 40% taxation rate) AND Serie A (41.7% foreigners, 43% taxation rate).

It also fails the logical test: If the taxes are raised in Spain to levels equitable to those in other countries that house top leagues, where exactly would the players go?

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Attacking Football in Serie A??

Happy once again.

We were pleasantly surprised when watching AC Milan play Parma over the weekend. Not only did the Ronaldinho-Borriello linkage up-front produce two quality goals, but those moments weren't the stellar exceptions to the usual rule of dour, defensive Italian footie.

Usually, we steer clear of Serie A, because, frankly, it depresses us. Between the empty seats in the stands and the laconic pace of action on the pitch, we prefer to devote our precious weekend footie watching hours to La Liga and the EPL, relegating Serie A to highlight viewing (which, let's be honest, doesn't take up that much time anyways).

But this game was different.

Both Milan and Parma fielded quality sides that actually showed their quality. The play was often end-to-end and real chances were created by multiple, forward thinking players, including a rejuvinated Ronaldinho (and, you should know how happy we are about that).

We ended up being even more excited than Leonardo, with his new-found job security, at having witnessed an entertaining top-flight Italian match. In fact, we might actually consider trying it again next weekend...

Update: No 'Dinho NOOOOOO!

Please do not let this be the last kit we see you in....red and black were never your colors.

Never have unsubstantiated Brazilian football rumours nearly brought us to tears (well, ok, not tears, but still made us pretty upset). We had such high hopes for you regaining your form far, far away from the old age home that is AC Milan, but word is that you are contemplating retirement, given how unlikely it is you will be a part of Dunga's 2010 squad and your general unhappiness at the San Siro (though you shoulder little blame on the latter count: Serie A manages to sap the joy from and stiffle the imagination of most attacking players).

But before we begin our journey through the 5 stages of grief, we have a simple plea for you 'Dinho....DON'T GIVE UP! The footballing world would surely be a sadder place without your buck-toothed grin in it (and we mean that in the most loving of ways...honest!), and, more than that, we're confident that you can regain your form of only a few years ago (that is, if playing actually were fun for you again). So, in our desparate bid to keep you playing professionally, we've taken it upon ourselves to complie a list of suggestions for possible your next move:

1. Tottenham - Why you ask? Really, why not? It's all in the management - look at the transformation Harry Redknapp has been able to affect with a squad that was in shambles mere months ago, after the disastrous reign of Juande Ramos. With you motivated once more and incorporated into Harry's structure, you'll surely provide Spurs with that extra irresistable bit of attacking class and tie it all together through the midfield. Plus, they already have a leader in Ledley King and won't need you to take on those responsibilities (because, if we're being honest, you've never really been suited to that role.)

2. Everton - Another solid option with a strong manager at the helm. Though David Moyes' boys have been struggling of late, they seem to have righted their ship over the weekend and could definitely use you in their bid to stay relevant in the race for the top four this season. Furthermore, the recent resurgence of Louis Saha should quell your fears about being discarded as used goods (should you put in a good faith effort), because, well, a club that stuck with Saha through all of his setbacks, would surely offer you a similar opportunity to regain your fitness.

3. Manchester City - City have shown interest in the past, but you can forgive us our skepticism as to Mark Hughes' ability to manage personalities. Still, it is a solid option: loads of money on hand and always looking for publicity.....

Onwards and upwards, we always say...in this case key word being onwards (but we're convinced, 'Dinho, that upwards will follow shortly thereafter...)