The Bitter Fruit of the Transfer Market

Ball Harambee by Bagga Wilks

Transfers at the eleventh hour can strengthen or weaken a team. It also means not good news for those already in the roster. The transfer of Fellaini from Everton to Manchester United will unquestionably strengthen the Manchester United mid-field. It will mean Anderson might never be a regular starter for Manchester United and Cleverly will see less playing time.

Arsenal is the beneficiary of the Gareth Bale trade to Real Madrid as it made Ozil available. In his first game Ozil settled in right after the referee’s whistle even though it often takes players coming into the EPL one year to adjust. Wenger’s patience paid off and as they displayed against Sunderland Arsenal, will be a contender all season.

Mourinho acquired the players he wanted to possible triumph in his return to Stamford Bridge. Samuel E’too made his debut. Willian, the Brazilian, was not included in the roster and the new Chelsea is still struggling to find the right chemistry.

Manchester City is also struggling to integrate new players and a new coach. They are far from sharp and could only manage a draw at Stoke City. The departed Tevez is rejoicing as he will get to play regularly as the point striker for Juventus in Serie A. Juventus has readily integrated Tevez into the lineup even though they could only manage a draw against the newly reconstructed Inter Milan.

A.C. Milan sent Prince Boateng to Schalke in the Bundesliga, and re-possessed Kaka who had wallowed in Real Madrid’s bench since he transferred to La Liga a couple years ago. Kaka will now play regularly and try to get back to the form of the old Kaka. He joins with Balotelli and Robinho but Robinho against Torino was not in the game. Kaka did not sparkle. A.C. Milan drew 2-2 with Torino in a game that Torino deserved to win.

Across the river in La Liga, Spain, Neymar is settling in and his combined play with Messi should produce numerous highlights. One wonders why Alex Song transferred to Barcelona as in the prime of his career when he had established himself in the EPL. He has become a bench warmer at Barcelona.

Bale scored in his debut for Real Madrid but Real Madrid’s game ended up as a draw. All eyes are on Bale to determine if he can live up to the money spent for his acquisition. Like Ozil, he might not need much time to justify the bounty on his head.

Those who have lost places as a result of eleventh hour trades will certainly seek new pastures in the January transfer market.

The Matador vs the Ball

By Bagga Wilks

There have been historic match-ups in the world of sports and the Barcelona vs Real Madrid struggle for soccer supremacy in La Liga, Spain, can rival any of the past epics.

In the world of boxing, we have had the epics between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. In baseball, there was the fierce rivalry of the New York Yankees vs the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the world of football, there is the fierce rivalry between Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots. The mushrooming rivalry between Guardiola’s Matadors and Mourinho’s Bulls will do a lot for expanding the base of world soccer on cable stations.

The return leg of the Super-Cup was played in Barcelona on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 and it will go down in history as one of the greatest club soccer games in history. The first leg played in Madrid ended in a 2-2 draw. The finale ended Barcelona edging Real Madrid 3-2 and winning the Super-Cup. They also retained their place as the best soccer club in the world of soccer.



In a Barcelona-Real Madrid match-up, there are macro plots and there are micro plots. Throughout the night, Danni Alves, the Barcelona right full back was determined to keep Real Madrid’s Ronaldo in check. Although Ronaldo scored one of the Madrid’s goals and was outstanding, Danni Alves tackles against the Portuguese winger were superb. Alves played miserably in the Copa America tournament and below par in the friendly against Germany but against Real Madrid and Ronaldo, the Brazilian full back rose to the occasion.

Guardiola vs Mourinho

By Bagga Wilks

Guardiola and Mourinho are recognized as two of the top coaches in the world of soccer. Sir Alex Ferguson is included in that exclusive club. Last year in La Liga, Guardiola’s Barcelona beat Real Madrid consistently. This season as was clear in the Super-Cup on Sunday, 14th August, 2011, the Real Madrid’s coach, Mourinho, has developed a new strategy to knock off Barcelona from occupying the pinnacle of world football.

Barca has perfected the short passing game with mid-field players becoming non-stop moving parts, possessing the ball and immediately dispossessing opponents whenever losing the ball.

Guardiola has assembled a special cluster of mid-fielders that rhythmically control mid field better than any other team in the world. Busquet, Inesta, Xavi, and Messi are some of the best mid-field players in the world. Playing this brand of soccer last year, they had teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United mesmerized.

Who had better goals? Ronaldo or Messi?

The biggest question in modern soccer is "Who is a better Player? Messi or Ronaldo?" Take a look at there goals for the season and let me know in the comment section who scored better goals?

Guess Who Is Invited To Tonight's Party?

Tonight's Champions League match up between the Iberian super-powers will be hot! The 5th El Clasico of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona FC, coming off a heated matchday 1 in the Champions League Semi-finals. Both teams have filed complaints about each other, so UEFA has called in one of the most recognized figures in world football. Pierluigi Collina the head of referees for UEFA will act as a official observer of the match. This man is a legend and hopefully will inspire a true classic between these two giants.

El Clasico Animated

Remember the animated drawing for Gareth Bale vs. Inter Milan? Well the team of A Hotspur & An Argyle has revisited the early 5-0 win by Barca over Real. We can all debate if it was a humiliation or a strategy, but the animation clearly shows the beauty of it all.

Midweek Superlatives

By Bagga Wilks

Real Madrid vs Barcelona
There is a legendary Robert Nesta Marley song “Dem a Go Tired to See Mi Face” (They will be tired to see my face). Last week, Real Madrid and Barcelona played to a 1-1 draw, both goals were scored through penalty kicks, Messi for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid. Last week’s game was spectacular and today’s (Wednesday 4/20/11) was incredibly enthralling and they are not done yet. They will meet twice in the semi-final of the Champions League to decide who will be in the final that will be played at Wembley. Schalke of Germany and Manchester United of England comprise the semi-finalist in the other bracket.

Playing in the Cup final on a neutral ground, it took more than 90 minutes of ball for the breakthrough goal. Di Maria made a superb cross in extra time and Ronaldo showed his greatness with a superior header that gave the goalkeeper no chance but to retrieve the ball from the back of the net.

Big Games, Big Players

By Bagga Wilks

What differentiated Pele and Maradona from ordinary players was that in the big games, they unmistakably stepped up to the plate. Pele won a few World Cups for Brazil and Maradona did the same for Argentina. Both Pele and Maradona were successful not only at the international level but at the club level.

This week football enthusiasts had a feast of big games which gave top flight players an opportunity to display their greatness. The Real Madrid vs Barcelona game brought together not only tow of the top teams in the world but two of the scintillating offensive players in the world, Ronaldo and Messi. Pepe did smother Messi at times but not sufficient for the fans not to see glimpses of Messi’s greatness.

Race to the Top, Race to the Bottom

By Bagga Wilks

In the long and torturous soccer season, the race is not necessarily for the swift but for those who can endure it to the end.

La Liga
In the Spanish La Liga there is Barcelona and Real Madrid and the rest. This Saturday, April 16, 2011, the two Spanish League giants will clash. In addition, there is the strong possibility that both will play each other twice in the Champion League semi-final.

This Saturday, we will not only see two of the great soccer teams in the world but on display will be two of the great players in the game, Messi of Barcelona and Ronaldo of Real Madrid.

Barcelona has a comfortable lead over Real Madrid in La Liga. To narrow the 8 point gap, Real Madrid will have to win on Saturday and hope that Barca stumbles down the stretch. Valencia is in third place with 60 points and Villareal is in fourth with 54 points, a large separation between the men and the boys. At present, Almeria, Malaga and Hercules are poised for relegation.

Serie A
Coming down the homestretch, the Serie A race is among 3 teams. A.C. Milan, who defeated Fiorentina last Sunday with 68 points, the tenacious Napoli with 65 points and the unpredictable Internazionale with 63 points.

NICE: OchoCinco Trains w/ Real Madrid?

The Cincinatti Bengals NFL player and friend of Cristiano Ronaldo Chad Johnson aka Ochocinco attended training and met Mourinho and the squad.
On Twitter Chad says"#random I've a trial with Real Madrid after my [ankle] surgery, would they really sign me with no professional experience? I'm just fast as hell." LMAO
Do You think Chad could pull it off?

Generation Adidas Squad takes over Spain

The Generation Adidas players of MLS are currently in Madrid, the 19-man squad is coached by Schellas Hyndman, playing reserve sides of Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid. It gives you a good insight on these young MLS players experience in the mighty Spain.
GENERATION ADIDAS ROSTER:
Goalkeepers (2): Stefan Frei (Toronto), Sean Johnson (Chicago)
Defenders (2): Jeremy Hall (Portland), Ike Opara (San Jose)
Midfielders (8): Corben Bone (Chicago), Danny Cruz (Houston), Dilly Duka (Columbus), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Baggio Husidic (Chicago), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia), Brek Shea (Dallas), Tony Tchani (New York)
Forwards (7): Juan Agudelo (New York), Tristan Bowen (Los Angeles), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Peri Marosevic (Dallas), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia), Danny Mwanga (Philadelphia), Andrew Wiedeman (Dallas)

Barcelona routes Real Madrid, 5-0.

In the summer, they were friends. But come winter, the seven Barcelona players who won the World Cup with Spain have dealt ruthlessly with the three Real Madrid teammates with whom they shared that triumph.
Read more at NY TIMES article on the El Clasico.

Coaches and Superstars

By
Bagga Wilks

The Brazilian, Robinho, was transferred from Real Madrid to Manchester City with a great deal of money and even greater fanfare. Robinho never found his footing under Mark Hughes or his successor, Roberto Mancini. Robinho played fairly well his first season in the English Premier League. In his second season, he got injured playing for his country and after his recovery never really got back his ‘samba” rhythm. He lost confidence in his game and the Manchester City coaches lost confidence in him.
Robinho was in a hostile work environment and went back on loan to play for his old club in Brazil, Santos. He recovered his form and confidence and played decently for his country in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa under Dunga.

Champions League Draw Last 16...Sets up Dream Reunions

Stuttgart v Barcelona

Olympiakos v Bordeaux

Inter v Chelsea

Bayern Munich v Fiorentina

CSKA Moscow v Sevilla

Lyon v Real Madrid

Porto v Arsenal

AC Milan v Manchester United

First legs to be played February 16/17, 23/24;
Second legs to be played March 9/10, 16/17

Who will be the Champions?

Ronaldo compares playing for Real Madrid to having a new Girlfriend

Ronaldo in an interview with Portuguese publication A Bola discussed his nation’s upcoming play-off clash to qualify for World Cup 2010, and also talked about his feelings four months after joining Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo has compared his summer transfer to the Real Madrid from Manchester United to ‘having a new girlfriend.’

On joining the Spanish giants, Ronaldo remarked, “When you have a new girlfriend, you have motivation to show her what you can do, and the amount that you want to please is higher.

“I feel good, and very motivated, when I am playing for Real Madrid.”

The World record signing has been out of action for the past few weeks after sustaining an ankle injury, and his participation in Portugal’s match with Bosnia next weekend has sparked a club versus country row, with national boss Carlos Quieroz desperate to include Ronaldo in his squad for the match.

The player chose not to comment on his injury, instead focusing on Portugal’s chances of participating in next summer’s tournament in South Africa, and also on the joint bid with Spain to host the 2018 tournament.

“I would not imagine a World Cup without our presence. We will be there. For Spain and Portugal to host in 2018 would be a great idea, because the two countries have good relations.”