Update: Good, Better, Best

Fans are treated to the spectacular displays in La Liga, particularly when Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi are on form, as they were over the weekend.

So when Ronaldo scores a brilliant free kick in Madrid's bounce-back win over Valladolid, what does Messi do? Something like this, obvi.

The Man Utd and Madrid Merry-Go-Round

The Grass is Always Greener, Eh?

'Tis the stuff the tabloids thrive on: the latest round of player swaps and transfer market speculation concerning these two European titans has Real president, Ramon Calderon, professing the club's "obsession" with signing Wayne Rooney for upwards of 80 million pounds.

Meanwhile, Madrid's other 80 million pound, former Man Utd man does not seem to enjoy heading the Madristas. In what has been a subpar season so far (the recent CL exit to Lyon, coupled with the ignomious defeat fourth division Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey to name but a few low lights), the squad, which was supposed to be invincible following the 250 million pound summer outlay on new personnel (C. Ron, Kaka, Alonso, etc. quickly add up), has been dutifully cut down to size as quickly as they were built up by the Spanish media.

When contrasted with Manchester's recent successes and C. Ron's continued affection for his former colleagues, it is not hard to see why number 9's eye may rove back in the direction of the northwest.

And, not to be outdone, Fergie is playing on the seeds of discontent by asserting that the final chapter of Ronaldo's Red Devils career may not yet be written. In the end, my money's on Sir Alex. Ronaldo, Rooney, Calderon and all the others are just the bit players, where SAF is the star actor/director/producer in world football.

And he will always pull the strings.

England's World Cup Woes

Another Blow.

So much for 2010 being the Three Lions' World Cup year.

On the heels of the Terry's ill-advised tryst and the Bridge will-he-or-won't-he saga (he won't btw), Ashley Cole's many marital indiscretions and (unrelated) broken left ankle, Capello's preparations have been thrown into turmoil as the side lacks a tried and tested left back. Even in the best case scenario, which has Cole returning before the season's end to stake a bid for his WC spot, match-fitness may be beyond his reach. And that's assuming if he returns at all this year.

Now, David Beckham won't be able to aid the cause. It was confirmed today that the 34 year old ruptured his Achilles tendon in Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo, ruling him out for what would have been his final World Cup. Again, Serie A: where dreams and beautiful football go to die.

Greater Ronaldo

Real Ronaldo?

"With one Ronaldo up and the other down it will be interesting to see which one eventually leaves the greater legacy." That is who will be the greater Ronaldo: Brazil's O Fenomeno (now not-so-affectionately known as "fat") Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima; or Portugal's well-heeled and even more well-oiled Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro?

That's what Dominic Raynor ponders in his most recent Soccernet column, and with news of Ronaldo 1.0's planned retirement at the end of the 2010-2011 season, the great debate is coming into focus.

On the one hand, while C. Ron's indisputable talent looks limitless in this point in time, O Fenomeno was a once in a lifetime striker. Indeed, as Raynor reminds us, during his 2003 debut, C. Ron was taunted with chants of "you're not the real Ronaldo".

Just Sayin'

Kaka: Marca is now reporting that AC Milan sold Los Merengues a "broken" Kaka for a still astounding 68.5 million euros. Granted Madrid victimhood at the hands of jealous outsiders conspiring against them is not an unexpected theme in the Madrid-leaning daily, but I have always questioned the enormous fee paid for the Brazilian, even before the full extent of the indifference of first season at Los Blancos became known. Now while Marca may want to attribute that loss in form to an actual physical ailment, I am more inclined to think it derives from the horrendous play stylings of Serie A to which Kaka was exposed to for far too long....just sayin'.

Handball Ref: Word is that FIFA has decided to include the aptly named "Henry handball ref" in their roster of 30 referees for this summer's tournament in South Africa, because there is really no better way to say eff off to the Irish than to allow this official to continue to call games, after having already refused to step up and institute replay technology and/or extra endline officiating measures...just sayin'.

Chav-tastic Terry: In an interview with The Sun, the former England captain finally broke his silence about the controversy surrounding his recently-revealed affair with former biffle/Chelsea teammate Wayne Bridge's baby mama, Vanessa Perroncel. Terry apparently thought the time opportune to state that he and wife Toni's relationship has never "been knocked down" and that they are just "so in love." Now, normally the tawdry affairs borne from inflated footballer's egos are beyond the scope of this blog, but when the indiscretion begins to affect on pitch performances (see: Terry versus Everton) and off field preparations (see: England, World Cup 2010) then it actually becomes a footballing, as opposed to a private, matter, John. Moreover, no matter how you want to spin it, this mess isn't the media's doing, so taking responsibility in your public and sporting life, not just at home, is actually necessary...just sayin'.

Pompey: From Pitiful to Pitiable

Grim Face, Grim Times for Pompey and Peter Storrie.

Last fall, Pompey's precarious financial sitchu was sufficiently ludicrous as to be laughable, as in a football team can be managed by people without even a basic understanding of mathematical principles.

But that was then.

Now the club has been granted a "stay of execution," after it was revealed that Portsmouth are "insolvent" and owe Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (a.k.a. GB's IRS) over 11.5 million pounds. Further, the club have a mere seven days to sort out their finances before heading back to court.

According to Peter Storrie, the team's beleaguered chief executive, Pompey are currently courting two serious bids for new ownership, which, if they go through, would mark the FIFTH time the club has changed hands this season. It truly never ceases to amaze me that the true dysfunction of the last placed side in the league should be found in the boardroom rather than on the pitch.

As an aside, it is worth noting that there is something positive to be taken from this ordeal, and that has been the conduct of Pompey's players. The boys in blue have not only proven themselves to be consummate professionals, but also tremendous sportsmen, continuing to play hard for their side despite not knowing if their wages will be paid. Indeed is a refutation of the cynical analysis of the modern footballer's playing motives, for, whatever else there is, it always starts and ends with love of the game.

Tales of 'Dinho and 'Binho

National Team call-ups are dependent on first team playing time at the club level, and this rule of thumb is all the more true in World Cup years. Hence, the current predicaments of two Boys of Brazil/Femme-Football regulars: Robinho and Ronaldinho.

The talismanic 'Binho has been wont to perform up to his potential during his time in Europe. First, failing to consistently impress at Real Madrid and then bungling his way through a seventeen-month stint at Manchester City. 'Binho has moved back to the greener pastures of his boyhood club Santos in search of the form that will allow him to feature in South Africa. A triumphant winner in his debut versus Sao Paolo has gone a long way in validating that decision.

Faring somewhat better in the form department is FF fav Ronaldinho, whose resurgence at Milan has none other than the G.O.A.T. Pele calling for him to be included in Dunga's summer plans.

Yet, as the clamor for 'Dinho's inclusion in the the NT grows, quesions remain. Notably, the compatibility of Ronaldinho's style of play with that of the current Brazil squad is no longer a foregone conclusion. In the years since their disappointing 2006 performance, the Samba Kings play has been a little less samba-like, as Dunga has favored the deliberate tactical style of someone like Kaka to the free-flowing football that has characterized Brazil in years past.

So the question in 'Dinho's case now becomes whether he can complement his former Milan teammate or if this odd-couple's stylistic differences are just too much for the NT to overcome?

UPDATE: Apparently, Dunga is not to keen on our man 'Dinho, as the latter has just been left out of Brazil's final warm-up match against the Republic of Ireland. Perhaps the memory of 2006's playstation-fueled sexcapades has not been forgotten quite yet...