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.

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'.

There Was Nothing "Ruud" About It

With the January transfer window beginning to wind down, there is news of the anticlimactic departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy from the hallowed stands of the Bernabeu.

The exceptional, if oft injured, winger now finds himself under the employment of FC Hamburg in a year and a half year loan deal, on which he and Madrid both mutually agreed. And unlike his prior move from Man Utd, there are no hard feelings this time, with the manager or C. Ron.

I only hope that the injury gods take mercy on Ruud's time in the Bundesliga, as it would be a shame for such a talented player not to regain at least some of his former glory in another uniform (and perhaps back in the Dutch national team kit?)

All this brings us to the end of the first Galacticos era at Madrid with Van Nistelrooy out, Guti soon to be, and Ronaldo and Beckham long gone, Los Merengues have closed the chapter of 2002. It remains to be seen, however, if Los Galacticos 2.0 are able to bring in more silverware than the original iteration.

Zidane Weighs In: Messi or Ronaldo?

The French midfield master was willing to share his insight into the current and former FIFA World Players of the Year.

On Ronaldo: "He fascinates me as a player...I feel that is a special player, because with his belief, he has infected the rest of the team. It is almost inconceivable all that Cristiano has achieved already."

On Messi: "Messi is special, there is only one. When he gets the ball, everyone knows what is sure to happen: the ball will finish in the opponents' goal."

Hmm, kind words all around, but there can be "only one" per Zidane.

In other news, after seven months on the job shadowing Florentino Perez, Zizou revealed his "dream" to someday manage Madrid, as well as his World Cup prediction: Viva Espana, y'all.

Fleet Footed Spainard > Unstoppable Argentine?

Rumor has it that Wenger is considering some permutation of a trade that would have Cesc Fabregas for Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain (plus some cash?).

And yes, you read that right.

This move is perplexing, but not so much on Arsenal's end, rather it's Real who "got some 'splaining to do." Instead of Higuain, why not try and offload Benzema? Seriously, in what world does it make sense to trade your starting (and in form) striker, in order to keep your sullen, inflexible back-up? Madrid is finally linking up through the middle, and, to my mind, that has been a direct consequence of Benzema's play up front.

If it's a financial calculation (the high fee to pry Fabregas away from the Emirates will be more difficult to swing if the player were obvi Benzie instead of Gonzalo), Perez, Pelligrini et al should look to build on what they already have (with or without Fabregas), not dismantle it, because, for Madrid, gaining Cesc, irregardless of how wonderful he is, is not enough to outweigh the loss of Higuain.

On the other side, assuming Wenger is in his right mind, some may ask how could he ever agree to sell Cesc? Not so fast; after a quick review of the facts (see below), it is not an entirely insane proposition.

Fact: Wenger has long admired Higuain from afar.

Fact: Arsenal has significant offensive frailties, from Van Persie's inability to stay healthy for an entire season to Bendtner making stupid decisions at every opportunity, all of which has been compounded by the summer sale of Adebayor.

Fact: Gonzalo could be a quick fix for said issues.

Fact: Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Wenger has never shied away from the sale of a trademark star (see: Henry, Thierry). Of all English managers, he is consistently confident in his youth ("Young Gunners," anyone?) and unafraid of a (smart) gamble.

I'm not saying it's going to happen. I'm just saying don't be surprised if it does. Whether Cesc survives the away fixture to Barca is another issue entirely....

Man Utd Pull A Madrid

The headlines could be the same: "Top-Flight Title Contender Dumped out of League Cup By Third-Tier Side."

If you're blanking a little allow me to refresh your memory. Remember way back when Madrid were dropped out of the Copa del Ray in humiliating fashion by third-tier side Alacorn? Well Man Utd successfully replicated that feat losing 0-1 at Old Trafford in the third round of the FA Cup, while their main title challengers, Chelsea, ran riot against Watford. Not only does this loss mark the first loss to a lower tier team under the tutelage of SAF, but it also came to hated rivals Leeds, an enmity which, despite the years and flights that separate the two sides, has not dissipated.

So will this embarrassment on their home ground spring United into action and compel players (particularly those in its fragile defense) to redouble their efforts a la Madrid, or does it portend the beginning of the end of United's season (either for lack of personnel or the loss of one in particular)?

At least, United's upcoming Carling Cup match against a resurgent Man City will help us get a better idea of their trajectory. It's all in how you respond, right?

UPDATE: Barca has joined the top of the table losers in league cup competitions, crashing out of the Copa del Ray. The Blaugrana lost 1-2 to Sevilla, though the referee's incompetence, as opposed to their own ineptitude, may have had more to do with the final result.

La Liga Round-Up

While Barca were held 1-1 on Saturday by a spirited Villarreal side, Real Madrid failed to capitalize on the opportunity to get on equal terms with Barca at the La Liga summit with a sub-par performance against Osasuna, resulting in an 0-0 draw.

Elsewhere, Mallorca won 2-0 over Athletic Bilbao, moving them into CL qualifying fourth place over Sevilla, who were set back at Atleti over the weekend. Valencia (3rd), Mallorca (4th), Sevilla (5th) are now all within two points of each other, with Deportivo la Coruna, Getafe and Athletic Bilbao not far off their pace.

The title may be out of reach for most, but there's still a lot to play for in La Liga.

Hitting Their Stride

Real Madrid took full advantage 0f Barca's weekend absence from La Liga by thrashing Real Zaragoza 6-0. Both teams have now played 15 games. Both are +27 on goal difference. And now Madrid is a mere 2 points back from the league leaders.

It was always going to take time for Pellegrini's side to gel, but more than that the personnel selections were going to be difficult to figure out at first, especially with a veritable buffet of pedigreed footballers (Kaka, Ronaldo, Guti, Ramos, Benzema, Iker, Higauain, etc., etc.) from which to choose. It was bound to take a little trial and error. Though Pellegrini did seem too insistent on including Benzema in the first team, when the mercurial French striker did little to repay his faith.

But, as soon as Pellegrini followed our advice and started Higuain instead of Benzema, he and the club were handsomely rewarded. The young Argentine striker has racked up an impressive 10 goal tally over the past eight games, including two braces in the last two fixtures. Perhaps more importantly, he has worked harder for Madrid up front than Benzema ever cared to do.

And his efforts have freed up play throughout the midfield, unleashing the full potential of the likes of Van der Vaart, Diarra, and Marcelo. Ultimately, the flourishing of Los Blancos' central midfield will be particularly important to their future success, as their already faulty back line has been dealt an additional blow with Pepe's season-ending industry.

While Zaragoza were never going to be too much competition (the club hasn't won since September), one just has to look at Pompey's triumph over Liverpool to realize no opponent, no matter how downtrodden, can be counted out. Madrid's brilliance on the night, however, could not be but impressive.

Top of the Table Show-downs

La Liga: Barcelona v. Real Madrid (a.k.a. El Clasico)

Finally, an El Clasico that began to live up to its hype. In the past few years especially it has devolved into a one-sided affair, despite the considerable hoopla in the run-up. And while both sides missed chances (looking at you Ronaldo and Messi) on the night, it was actually an entertianing match that came down to the cool calm of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his 56th minute winner.

Did you know that Figo was once pelted with a pig's head after crossing the divide from Barca to Madrid? Here's some more info on El Clasico, if you just can't get enough fun facts about the rivalry.

EPL: Chelsea v. Arsenal

A competitive contest until the last three minutes of the first half. Wenger's wonder kids failed to capitalize on their early dominance, and it was left to the always dynamic Didier Drogba to take it early and finish it late, as he seized the initiative and the win from the young Gunners (with a little help from Thomas Vermaelen, of course). The win at the Emirates solidified Chelsea's hold of the top spot, while Arsenal relinquished third place to on-form Tottenham.

Madrid's Already Looking For Salvation

He can save us any day.

And it's just October.

In a press conference, after their recent Copa del Rey defeat, Cristiano Ronaldo insisted he wasn't Madrid's "savior."

But here are the facts:

Los Blancos' record with C. Ron: 7-0-0
Los Blancos' record without C. Ron: 1-3-1

And, in those seven games, CR9 scored a total of nine goals. While Madrid, as a team, could only manage a total of seven goals in their last five matches.

If that doesn't put C. Ron somewhere close to the footie god qualification, we're not quite sure what does.

Regardless, after their humiliating 4-0 loss to third division side Alcorcon in the first-leg of their fourth round Copa del Rey match, Madrid is certainly in need of an on-pitch resurrection of some sort.

About that "disastrous" match, Ronaldo went on to say:

"We lost, nobody's happy about this but we have to raise our heads - the world is not going to end because of that. We have to learn our lesson and in the next matches make sure we don't underestimate any teams. We're conscious that we need to play better."

Couldn't have said it better ourselves, Ronnie. And because Guti, Iker, Kaka, et. al only seem to have eyes for you, you're the perfect person to carry the message to the team, that is, until you can actually carry the team again.

P dot S We wonder what Johan Cruyff has to say now.

"If I only had a brain..."

Forever #1...even if only in his own mind

Ever eager to show his off-field brilliance, given its glaring absence in his on-field performances, Karim Benzema reportedly decided to confront his manager about his unhappiness with his striking role at Real.

Chief among Benzema's complaints is the fact that he has been routinely substituted, managing only three full 90-minute appearances this season. Worse, Benzie often lacks a "mobile" strike partner and has to *gasp* adjust his style of play to the Madrid elder statesman, Raul, who usually partners him up front.

In trying to get a better grasp on the situation, we've decided to try and look at things from Karim's vantage point. In the process, we have uncovered his thought process, and it goes a little something like this:

1. Why can't Raul change his game for ME! Oh that's right - it's because he's too old and slow...I need someone quicker, more agile to play with...someone more like ME!
2. Why doesn't anoyone understand this?? Why doesn't anyone care about MY needs??
3. I should play no matter what...I'm Karim freakin' Benzema for chrissakes....I'm like a Ferrari to his Peugeot...or wait, should that be I'm like an Audi? Isn't that the car we're shilling now? Damn it, Karim, stay on message! I'm like an Audi to his Peugeot....
4. Life's not fair...Pellegrini promised me I'd play...He promiseddddddddddd (begins to wail at the injustice of it all)

We would like to point out to Karim that not being able to perform under pressure is common striker problem, and no one is begrudging him an adjustment period, in which he continually shoots blanks. However, people (rightly) do take issue with the fact that he expects to retain his place in the line-up for an entire game, in which he has proven inept and a detriment to his team's chances.

Just a heads up: To even question the manager on a substitution in that context proves that Pellegrini's reluctance to sign you was more than justified.

Benzema, dear, you would do well to take note of the level of professionalism of others in the Los Merengues bunch. Van Nistelrooy, for one, has vowed to stay on and fight for his place in the line-up, no matter how many injuries stand between him and a return, darn it! And we sincerely doubt that either he or Negredo would ever demur from the opportunity to head the Galactico's front-line....even if it is next to Raul.

The Good, The Bad, and The Fugly: Champions League Edition (9/15-9/16)

You might as well stay on your knees and pray for the return of your first touch while you're at it.

Good: The surprisingly decent 1-1 Stuttgart v. Rangers tie: An entertaining battle of two halves. First there was Pavel Pogrebniak's powerful 18th minute strike to put the home team ahead, in a half in which Stuttgat dictated the pace of the game to Rangers. But after their half-time regrouping, Madjid Bougherra did the visitor's renewed efforts justice with a brilliant strike in the 77th to take a point from the tie.

We applaud the Ibrox's redoubled discipline and purpose. Instead of relinquishing initiative after a less than stellar first half, Rangers turned this game into a competitive match, deservedly drawing level, and, indeed, unlucky not to take all 3 points from their away foray, given Steven Davis' near miss at the death.



Bad: Kaka's first touch and Real Madrid's failure to seal the deal: Before you regail us with how Madrid won 5-2, after going up 3-0 by the end of the first half, just take a moment and explain how favorites to win the competition can allow their opponents to crawl back 2 goals in the space of 2 minutes and mount an unexpected, if unsuccessful, challenge for the points.

The Gallacticos have only been playing together for a few weeks now, but it definitely not a good omen when F.C. Zurich can make your 226 million pound transfers look like cheap Chinatown knock-offs of their former selves (save Cristiano). A game like this is generally not a good omen when you actually have legit competition in the group stage. More importantly, since when has Kaka's first touch been so freakin' awful? Is this what Italian football does to you? Eto'o beware!



Fugly: The disjointed Barca v. Inter Milan tie. Now we understand rain can wreak as much havoc on a footie match as on our perfectly coifed hair, but we expect better from the La Liga champs (if not Serie A's). In the words of Barca boss, Pep Guardiola,"It's always hard to play Italian teams, nor is it easy to create chances against them." We tend to agree, Pep, especially when your opposition is as cynical as Jose's Nerazurri.

Turning Tricks: "Oh, no he didn't!"

Kaka's influence already seems to be rubbing off on him.

Skill Spotlight: Cristiano Ronaldo

Click above for a little video montage just in case you need to be reminded why you hated to love/loved to hate Ronnie. And, why Moneybags Madrid shelled out a world-record 80 million pounds (circa $135 mil) for him.

P.S. Did you fully appreciate the music? It is a most appropriate homage to C. Ron's (likely) musical preferences.