Real Madrid used to be the benchmark for any club that aspired to be acclaimed for the quality of their football. They were the first club to fully embrace the European Champions Club Cup. Their all white strip was the most recognizable in football and legendary players such as Di Stefano, Puskas, Gento, Butregueno and Laudrup graced it. Their performance against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup Final at Hampden Park, which they won 7-3, was seen as the way football could be and should be played. The club’s reputation is now being tarnished and threatened by their manager, Jose Mourinho. His antics on the sideline are bringing Real Madrid and the game itself into disrepute. He is not a worthy guardian of the club’s traditions.
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?
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?
Arsenal are in disarray and endured one of the worst weeks in manager Arsene Wenger’s tenure. They drew at Newcastle in an uninspiring performance and had a player sent off. Their captain returned home to Barcelona. They struggled to overcome Udinese in the first leg of their Champions League and qualification for the lucrative group stage is not assured. They lost at home to Liverpool, had another player sent off, while yet another limped off injured. They lost Samir Nasri, who left for Manchester City ’08. These are testing times for the Gunners.
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.
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.
Three years ago Celtic and Rangers both made the last 16 of the Champions League. Today, Scottish Football is at an all time low. Celtic drew at home against FC Sion in the Europa Cup, Rangers lost at Maribor, while Hearts were outclassed at home against Spurs. The two Glasgow clubs may yet advance, but that feat should not disguise the fact that things are wrong with the Scottish game. There is no easy solution to what ails the SPL, but something needs to be done and soon. In the week that saw Swansea City host the first EPL game outside England, what is to stop Celtic and Rangers joining England’s elite?
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?
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?
Spurs can make the top four. Spurs have no chance of making the top four. Spurs are title contenders. Spurs are not title contenders. Spurs are playing for sixth place. Spurs are playing for fifth place. Spurs are playing for fourth place. Modric is staying. Modric is going. Spurs want to win trophies. Spurs are not taking the Europa Cup seriously. Spurs have no chance of winning a trophy. These are some of the paraphrased comments; some would say contradictions made by Harry Redknapp recently. Can someone at Tottenham Hotspur PLC please tell him to shut the @#$% up?
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?
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?
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