
Andoni Goikoetxea was an infamous defender who used to play for Athletic Bilbao. He earned the nickname “The Butcher from Bilbao” for the type of tackle that ruptured Diego Maradona’s ankle ligaments in a game against Barcelona in 1983. There are not many defenders as brutal as him in today’s game. Yet somehow, Jose Mourinho, has managed to assemble four of them - Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Marcelo and Sergio Ramos – in Real Madrid’s defense. Has a more cynical back four played together in football history?

Steve Kean is the bookies favorite to be the first EPL manager to be sacked this season. The odds on Steve Bruce beating Kean to the unwanted honor shortened after his team lost at home to bitter rivals Newcastle on Saturday morning. Bruce has got away with murder at times throughout his managerial career. He has spent big, if not wisely, to get Sunderland into the top ten and a possible assault on a Europa Cup place. If Sunderland continue to play as they did in the first half at Anfield against Liverpool and against the Geordies, then Steve Bruce deserves to be fired.

Former Tottenham forward, Robbie Keane signed for the LA Galaxy and made his MLS debut against San Jose on Saturday night. Keane scored his first goal for the Galaxy and did his trademark cartwheel/somersault celebration. The Irish media is weighing in on his signing and debut. He has come to a Mickey Mouse league, he will score a hatful of goals, he will be top scorer, he will be loved here because he is Irish, and he will make a great pundit or coach in America when his career is over. Do these people do any research before they write such rubbish?

Brazil beat Portugal 3-2 after extra time to win the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Colombia. The U20 tournament has a reputation for a care free attitude that leads to great attacking football. The final was not a classic and betrayed the history of the event. Brazil wore down Portugal and won the title with a sublime winner scored by Oscar. He chipped the keeper from a wide angle in a piece of Brazilian brilliance that we have come to expect on the world stage. How long before Chelsea ’03 or Man City ’08 sign the player?