Joga Bonito

We Have Moved

2009-01-29T20:55:00.001-08:00

www.jogabonito09.wordpress.com

Goals of the Week (January 20-26)

2009-01-28T18:10:00.000-08:00

Adriano goal against Sampdoria:

Adriano Vs Sampdoria - The best video clips are right here

Kaka goal against Bologna:

Messi goal against Numancia:

History Makers

2009-01-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

In the past week history was made on and off the football pitch.

Barack Obama became America's first African American president last Tuesday and ushered in a new era in U.S. politics.

Meanwhile across the pond history was made on two fronts on the pitch.

Manchester United wrote their names on the record books once again. In their 5-0 rout of West Bromwich Albion they surpassed Chelsea by having the most clean sheets in a row. Eleven in the lucky number and the way Man United are playing I don't see them letting up, even with their injuries in the back.

38 year old Van der Saar has beaten Petr Cech's record back in 2004-2005 with 925 minutes without conceding a goal.

In Spain Barcelona were not to be outdone by their English rivals. The Catalan side got their own piece of history when they reached the half-way point of the season with 50 points. This is unprecedented and Barcelona are set to end up with 100 points at season's end. In their first 19 games they scored a staggering 63 goals while only conceding 14 to their opposition.

This will all make for an intriguing second half of the season.

Player Of The Week (January 10-19)

2009-01-22T15:53:00.000-08:00

It was a relatively easy decision for us this "week". There were very few players who stood out in their repective games. Having said that, Dani Alves' performances were brilliant. He had three assists in the three games Barcelona played in the span of nine games and he was arguably their most influential player.

At first glance, Alves is the typical Brazillian right back. His rocket freekicks and rampaging runs reminding me of Roberto Carlos. What Carlos lacked in the defensive part of his game, Alves doesn't. He is just as reliable on both ends of the field, providing important tackles and seeing eye crosses like his ball to Henry in the Depor game.

Frank Ribery Worth €150 Million?

2009-01-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

In a week filled with controversy about Manchester City's offer of an obscene €107 million bid for AC Milan star Kaka, Bayern Munich has given the price that would pry Ribery away from their squad.

Munich have slapped a €150 million price tag on Ribery who is on contract with Bayern until 2011 but has stated his interest in playing with other top European clubs. Munich's manager, Uli Hoeness, said in a interview with Eurosport television that: "If Kaka is meant to be worth 120 million, then Franck Ribery is worth 150 million. We would only perhaps start to consider selling him at a sum like this."

Is the manager being facetious or is his brain truly addled? This is a ludicrous statement as it can be argued that Ribery is not even Munich's top player with Luca Toni leading the squad in goals. This seems like a slap in the face for Kaka although I'm sure he won't mind.

This comment comes in a week where Real Madrid's new boss, Vicente Boluda claimed that Robben was better than Messi. The comments by each of these bosses shows an appalling lack of respect for two of the games top stars both on and off the pitch. These could be just mind games but I believe they have no place in professional sport.

Goals Of The Week (January 13-19)

2009-01-20T10:23:00.000-08:00

Gerrard's goal against Everton:

Lampard's goal against Stoke City:

Rooney's goal against Wigan Athletic:

Henry's goal against Deportivo La Coruna:

Messi's goal against Deportivo La Coruna:

Pato's goal against Fiorentina:

Striking Dilemma At Hoffenheim

2009-01-18T18:22:00.000-08:00

The future of the awesome success story that is Hoffenheim was dealt a massive blow this week. Vedad Ibisevic, the 18 goal scorer suffered knee ligament damage in a midweek friendly against Hamburg and following surgery will miss the rest of the season. Below is a video compilation of the striker's goals this season.

This is a devastating injury to the team from the small village of Sinsheim as they bid to stay top of the Bundesliga when play starts up again in two weeks.

Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp is going to have to reach into his considerably deep pockets in order to buy a replacement. It will be difficult to find a replacement for Ibisevic who had a peerless scoring record in the first half of the campaign but there are a number of players who could do the job.

Lucas Podolski (Bayern Munich):

The out of favour striker is reportedly close to a move to former team Cologne. However Hoffenheim could jump in and lure the skilled forward to their squad as they are set to be playing Champions League football next season.

Javier Saviola (Real Madrid):

The lithe Argentine is not getting played at the Spanish giants and it is reported a fee of €5 million could see him leave the Bernabeu. With little game experience in the last few years he is a little bit of a risk but he has proved that he can still score.

Benjani (Manchester City):

The 30 year old Zimbabwean striker might be on his way out of the Eastlands with the arrival of some major names this January. €10 million might be enough to lure him to Hoffenheim. But is he worth it after less then impressive performances in the Premier League?

Ivan Klasnic (Nantes):

Croatian Klasnic is experienced in the Bundesliga with 49 goals in 150 games for Werder Bremen during his spell at the Weser Stadion. He has had a less than convincing stint at Nantes following a kidney transplant and he could be tempted to return to Germany.

Blaise N'Kufo (Twente Enschede):

The 33 year old Swiss forward has proved year after year in the Dutch Eredivisie that he is a top class scorer. He has scored 14 plus goals in each of his last six seasons and it might just be time for a change of scenery.

We welcome any opinions you may have of who Hoffenheim will sign so please feel free to comment.

2008's Top XI

2009-01-15T10:43:00.000-08:00

I am going to join the countless players, coaches, and journalists in creating the best lineup of 2008 from Europe.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)

The classy, Spanish international had an outstanding year (even by his standards). Leading Real Madrid to back-to-back titles is impressive enough but add the fact that he captained Spain to their first Euro victory in many decades is his greatest feat this past year. He was the most shot at keeper in La Liga but he also conceded the least and for these reasons there is no other keeper to consider.

Left Back: Patrice Evra (Manchester United)

Evra has cemented a starting role on United after a season of consistent performances. The French international is solid in the back and makes run after run down the flank, often playing one-twos with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Center Back: Vidic (Manchester United)

An outstanding year for the Serbian hit man. He doesn't make many mistakes and when he does, well the fans song says it best; "He comes from Serbia, he'll f**king murder yer". He was key to their Champions League final game versus Chelsea and it looks like he will have a long, successful career.

Center Back: John Terry (Chelsea)

Though the first half of 2008 ended poorly with his Champions League penalty miss, it did not do John Terry justice after a virtually flawless Champions League competition. He lead the Premier Leagues second meanest defense almost single handed.

Right Back: Daniel Alves (Sevilla/Barcelona)

Danny Alves has stayed true to his Brazilian heritage and is one of the top fullbacks in the world. He scores, creates, takes scintillating free kicks, and never seems to tire. His runs down the flank rip defenses apart and his newly formed partnership with Messi gives fans of Joga Bonito something to look forward to for seasons to come. Add this to his leadership qualities (captaining Sevilla for a number of years) as well as his hard-nosed defensive play and you have a very complete player.

Center Mid: Xavi (Barcelona)

Xavi has been hard to ignore this season. The relatively unsung midfielder finally got the plaudits he deserved when he won the best player of Euro 2008. His play for Barcelona has been nothing short of spectacular and while much is made of Messi, Henry, and Eto'o it could be argued that Xavi is their most important player.

Center Mid: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Stevie G scored 21 goals for Liverpool last campaign and seemed to thrive in his partnership with Torres. The first half of this campaign has started strong as he has lead the charge for Liverpool to be top of the table before Christmas.

Right Wing: Leo Messi (Barcelona)

Barcelona's mercurial attacker cannot be overlooked. When he is healthy he gives Ronaldo a run for the best player in the world. Messi won gold with Argentina in the Summer Olympics and won player of the tournament. Still only 21 years old Messi is an integral part of Barcelona and Argentina's attack. In 15 games this season he has 11 goals and 7 assists.

Left Wing: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

You would have to be crazy to leave Ronaldo out of 2008's top team. While he has been a shadow of last season's Ronaldo he is still key to United's success and with over 20 goals between January and June in 2008 he is the undisputed best player in the world. Hopefully he can regain his form and focus more on being a footballer rather than a celebrity.

Striker: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

According to his home country's supporters, Fernando Torres is the Spanish Thierry Henry. In 2008 he showed that he was capable of living up to that claim. He was a prolific scorer in his first year in England and in Euro 2008 he and Villa had a dangerous partnership.

Striker: David Villa (Valencia)

David Villa was top scorer in Euro 2008 and has been a consistent scorer in La Liga for the past several years. His combination of speed, positioning, and unrivaled finishing makes him one of the world's most dangerous strikers.

Goals Of The Week (January 5-12)

2009-01-14T17:49:00.000-08:00

Pato goal versus AS Roma:

Messi goal versus Osasuna:

Berbatov goal versus Chelsea:

Premiership Predictions, 10th-14th January

2009-01-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

Last week I had 6 correct results, including one exact score (West Ham 2-1 Stoke)

Aston Villa 2 - 0 West Brom

Villa are on the make at the moment, and while bottom-of-the-table West Brom will be up for this local derby, I see Villa being too good, even though they will possibly miss the influencial Garath Barry through injury.

Arsenal 1 - 1 Bolton

Arsenal are missing several key players for this clash with Bolton, who have fallen back a bit after a good run. The boys from Wanderers always make life hard for Arsenal though, and I can see them getting a point at the captain-less Gooners.

Everton 1 - 0 Hull City

Everton are an odd team at the moment. Ever since all their strikers got injured, they can't stop winning. Hull had a poor end to 2008 and will be looking to start the new year in positive fashion, but Everton haven't conceded in four games, and will edge this one, I suspect.

Fulham 2 - 0 Blackburn

Fulham are the form team in the premiership at the moment, and while Blackburn have found a new lease of life under Big Sam, transfer speculation dogs the club, both in and out, and you get the feeling that they won't have their minds quite on the job, as well as doubting themselves after losing a clear two-goal lead in the last five minutes to Man City last time out in the league.

Middlesbro 1 - 1 Sunderland

Both teams have been inconsistant lately, and if this game were at sunderland were at home, I would pick them to edge it. Stewart Downing is a consumate professional, but we shall see with this game what the real situation is regarding his possible move to Tottenham. Boro might be denying anyone will leave, but player power is huge these days.

Newcastle 2 - 1 West Ham

After a wobble under Zola, West Ham have had a good run of results lately, but Newcastle are also building slowly under Joe Kinnear, and expect brawn to win out over style this time around. And of course I also expect to see streams of geordies leaving after about 65 minutes because their team isn't winning 8-0...

Portsmouth 1 - 1 Man City

Pompey haven't done well in the transfer market so far, losing Lassana Diarra and Jermaine Defoe, but Peter Crouch is their star forward at the moment, and their other targeted player, Glen Johnson, has just signed a new 4 and a half year contract committing himself to the club. Man City will be smarting from defeat against Forrest in the Cup, but they're missing Steven Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips, meaning disgruntled Elano and Petrov may play - not a great sign for the sky-blues, who have been poor away from home all season.

Stoke City 0 - 2 Liverpool

Stoke may throw up a suprise against the league leaders, but I don't really expect it. Liverpool appear to have gotten over their mental block of 0-0 draws, and have the chance to go 6 points clear of second placed Chelsea with a win at the Potters, and with a returning Fernando Torres being gifted a goal by captain Gerrard in the FA Cup, he'll be hungry for more.

Wigan 2 - 1 Tottenham

Brand-new strike partnership of Defoe and Pavlyuchenko has the potential to be excellent for Spurs, but they've only had a few days training together, and any partnership takes time to click. Expect Bentley to be nowhere to be seen this time out, but Wigan, through the occasionally magnificent Antonio Valencia may well be able to exploit Spurs' left-back weakness. Also, I never predict Spurs to win, because it tends to curse them.

Man Utd 1 - 0 Chelsea

A huge match, this. If Chelsea win, you feel United will have a very difficult job on their hands to make up ground. It's a match that can really only end with one winner though - Liverpool. Scolari's team are showing a few cracks at the moment, and ignoring his players pleas, along with the bizarre assertion that in his entire squad, only the injured Florent Malouda can play on the left wing despite including one of the best left wingers England has seen in a long time in Joe Cole, you get the feeling that United will edge this, though it could still go either way.

Man Utd 2 - 0 Wigan

United will play two matches in three days, but both at Old Trafford, and they should be able to beat a Wigan team who do admittadly have a decent record against them. Tottenham are a hard test these days though, and Wigan will be just as tired as United. Expect a moment or two of genius or mistakes to win this match, and on balance it's much more likely to go United's way.

Player of the "week", 1st-9th January

2009-01-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

Technically not "week", since it's been longer than a week since the last one, but this time, player of the week goes to Tottenham's Russian striker, Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Much maligned since his move to English football in the summer after excellent performances at Euro2008, Pavlyunchenko has struggled to fit into the Premiership. But in cup competitions he's doing much better, with 7 goals in five games, and he continued his excellent cup form this week, with a man-of-the-match winning performance against Wigan in the FA Cup, including two goals, and lead the way with another goal and two assists against Giant-killing Burnley in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

Considering Jermaine Defoe was introduced back to the White Hart Lane faithful at that very same match, Pavlyuchenko's run of form couldn't have come at a better time, with Harry Redknapp hoping to form a very promising partnership between the two.

Transfer Dealings

2009-01-07T21:45:00.000-08:00

We shall try and post updates a few times a week on who is moving in the current transfer window and, as always, we will include opinions, and as much information as we can find.

Up till now there have been only a few moves along with a seemingly unlimited supply of rumors (many of which are thanks to Man City's new owners). This is nice as it gives us something to talk about.

Movers:

Wayne Bridge to Manchester City

The first of apparently 5 signings that Hughes has planned. They bought his services for an undisclosed fee but it is rumored to be around £10 million a ridiculously over priced fee for a player who has never proved that he is a top team player having disappointed Blues fans for five years. Don't get me wrong he has talent as he showed with Southampton and his loan spell at Fulham but I don't think he is good enough to play on a team with serious plans to be a top contender. With Phillip Lahm and Yuri Zhirkov possibly moving this January, Bridge seems like an even stranger signing.

Jermain Defoe to Tottenham Hotspur

Probably not the only deal manager Harry Redknapp will make this January. The English international who had an impressive start to the season has joined the Spurs after a few days where it looked like it might not happen because of the Spur's premature unveiling of Defoe at the Carling Cup tie against Burnley.

Manchester United entered the transfer market for what Sir Alex says will be the only time this January when they signed Serbian duo Adem Ljajic and Zoran Tosic of Partizan Belgrade.

"That is the end of the transfer business at Manchester United this year,'' Ferguson said. "There will definitely not be anything else this January.''

Seventeen year old Ljajic will continue to play for Partizan Belgrade for another year as Ferguson feels the stability will help the player. Twenty-one year old Tosic, however could make his first appearance for Man United this season.

The Shakers:

Carlos Tevez to ????

It is any bodies guess as to where Tevez will go (although it is rumored Real Madrid are after his services) but this contract saga leads me to believe that he will not be with Man United come February.

TSG Hoffenheim: Fluke Or The Real Thing?

2009-01-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

One of the most unexpected stories in Europe thus far this season. No one could have predicted a team from a German village with a population of just 3000 would be top of the Bundesliga near the half-way point of the season.

First, the back story. TSG Hoffenheim (1899 Hoffenheim) is a German football club based in Hoffenheim, a suburb of Sinsheim, Baden-Württemberg.Five years ago Hoffenheim were in Germany's fifth division and they have climbed the tables at a rapid pace.

They have played a lovely brand of football this campaign and have shown the football world that you do not need money to create a good team (Man City take note). They are currently top of the Bundesliga (due to their one more win than Bayern Munich) and have scored a staggering 42 goals in 17 matches.

So, is fairy tale story a fluke or do TSG belong at the top of one of Europe's most prestigious leagues? I believe they can remain top three through this season and I think they will only improve in the coming years. They also have an experienced manager in Ralph Rangnick who previously was the manager at Schalke 04 and Stuttgart and knows what it takes to stay at the top. Through a great scouting program and youth system along with great coaching, the very young squad has the potential to not only be one of the top in the Bundesliga this season but remain their for years to come.

Premiership Team of 2008

2009-01-06T08:39:00.000-08:00

Looking back on 2008, there have been some real stand-out performances by many players. But to get into a team of the year requires a consistant level of quality throughout the majority of the year, or failing that, truly brilliant play for a reasonable portion of it. Consistancy is generally the key. I also have a soft spot for players from clubs other than the "big four". With that in mind, here is my Premiership team of 2008:

Goalkeeper: Shay Given (Newcastle)
While the likes of Pepe Reina, Edwin Van der Sar and Petr Cech are probably obvious candidates for this role, the fact that Given plays behind an awful defence works strongly in his favour. His consistently outstanding performances are the only thing that keep Newcastle afloat sometimes, and he fully deserves this accolade in my opinion, although many would not consider him for the role.

Left Back: Joleon Lescott (Everton)
The premiership is not blessed with an abundance of talented left-backs. Titans of the calibur of Benoit Assou-Ecoutto, Danny Collins and Jonas Olsson hardly give the free-scoring Evertonian a run for his money. Lescott is well worth a run in the England team in my view, though this may be jeopardised by Wayne Bridge’s move to first-team football with Man City, after playing understudy to Ashley Cole for so long.

Center Back: Martin Laursen (Aston Villa)
A controversial choice probably, but Villa’s revival in 2008 has been based on a very solid defence. Laursen has been the rock of the whole team, and deserves enormous credit, especially after the departure of Olof Mellberg to Juventus in the summer.

Center Back: Nemanja Vidic (Man United)
A more regular choice, United’s Serbian colossus was overshadowed by Rio Ferdinand for the first part of the year, but this season has been a more consistant performer, and even started to score a few goals. Once he cuts the occasional catastrophic errors out of his game, Vidic could be one of the best in the world.

Right Back: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea)
Bosingwa’s arrival at Chelsea in the summer was regarded in some minds (including mine, I will admit) as just another cash-splash by Abramovic in order to get some familiar faces for Big Phil Scolari. But his consistant performances and overall skills both defensive and attacking have been extremely impressive, and he fully deserves this spot as the only summer signing in the team, with few other contenders really pushing him.

Center Midfield: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
What can be said about Stevie G that hasn’t been said countless times before. The word “talismanic” is used far too often, but it’s certainly applicable to Liverpool’s captain. Countless excellent performances and vital goals make Gerrard stand above many brilliant candidates for this role, including Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick and Jimmy Bullard.

Center Midfield: Garath Barry (Aston Villa)
Barry has been another of Villa’s key players this year, and hanging on to him is vital for Martin O’Neill’s side, despite very heavy interest from Liverpool, where he would link up with England team-mate Gerrard in a scarily good partnership. Barry has cemented his place in England’s team this year, and though he has benefitted from injuries to Carrick, Hargreaves, Lampard and Gerrard, it will take a lot to displace him from Fabio Capello’s team sheet now.

Left Wing: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
One on the best revelations of the year. Many frowned when Ashley Young was poached from Watford in January 2007 for almost £10million, and for a while it seemed like they might be right, but teaming particularly with Gabriel Agbonlahor has given the Villa winger a new lease of life, and I only see 2009 being an even better year for the youthful maestro.

Right Wing: Christiano Ronaldo (Man United)
Let’s get things straight from the very beginning – I can’t stand Ronaldo. He’s arrogant, irritating and really far too good for anyone else to stomach. But you can’t deny the facts – he recently won the prestigious Ballon D’Or, and looks very likely to win Fifa’s player of the year also. 40 goals in a season for United is seriously impressive, and though he could certainly do with an attitude readjustment, no one would manage a decent argument to chose any other player here.

Striker: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Again no arguments here, I suspect. Torres would pretty much walk into any team in the world, his pace, finishing, instinct and skill are second to none on his day. Injury has crippled his season so far, but once those problems are behind him, he will be back to his deadly best, and should be the little bit extra needed for Liverpool if they are to secure their first league title in almost 20 years.

Striker: Dimitar Berbatov (Spurs/Man United)
Since moving to United, Berbatov has had a tough time settling in, and, if rumours are to be believed, was almost single-handedly responsible for Spurs’ slide into collective apathy in August, but the first half of his year was explosive enough to persuade United to pay a whopping £30million for him. Along with his former strike partner Robbie Keane, he has failed to impress so far at such a big club, but it won’t be long, I suspect, before he regains his confidence, and confidence is absolutely key to his game.

Bench: Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Mikel Arteta (Everton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Nicholas Anelka (Chelsea)
Any of these players could well have made the first team, but there are only 11 spaces, and that inevitably means excellent players have to give way to other, even better ones.

Manager: Phil Brown (Hull)
It’s been a great year for some managers, and an awful one for others. Sir Alex lead his team to Champion’s League victory, Fabio Capello has turned England from a laughable excuse for a team into a... slightly less laughable excuse for a team, but Hull’s Phil Brown has shone above the rest. 1st of January 2008 saw Hull in mid-table in the Championship, but a superb year has seen them complete a meteoric rise to 8th in the Premiership, and for quite a while they were in 3rd!

Goals Of The Week

2009-01-05T08:40:00.001-08:00

Robben's goal against Villareal:

Toure Yaya's goal against Mallorca

Henry's goal versus Mallorca

Find more videos like this on MySoccerPlace.net - The Real Football Social Network

Ten Players To Watch In 2009

2009-01-01T21:54:00.000-08:00

In 2008 there were notable performances such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Emmanuel Adebayor, and David Villa (among others). So at the beginning of 2009 I wanted to pick 10 players who I thought would be top performers in the coming year. I tried to stay away from established players like Messi, Ronaldo, Kaka etc. so here they are:

Andrei Arshavin (Zenit Saint Petersburg)

The versatile Russian lead Zenit Saint Petersburg to a Uefa Cup win and stared in Russia's Euro tournament in 2008. Look for Arshavin to join a top team early in 2009 and then showcase his skills. His favored position is as a second striker but he can play in an attacking midfield or wing role.

Abou Diaby (Arsenal)

The 22 year old french player has been compared to Patrick Viera for the better part of his career. With Fabregas out for most of the remainder of the season, it opens up a opportunity for Diaby who has undeniable skill.

Rafael (Manchester United)

Having already impressed in previous performances this season, the 18 year old Brazilian is sure to play an important role for Man United in the coming year. His attacking runs down the flanks are dangerous and he has shown a level head in his defensive game.

Robinho (Manchester City)

Moments of brilliance have given city fans goosebumps but the Brazilian ace is still getting used to the English game and I think he has much more to give. With potential signings coming to bolster his backup he is sure to impress.

Sergio Leonel Aguero (Athletico Madrid)

With three years experience in La Liga now, Aguero has improved every year and this one will be no different. The 20 year old Argentine is key to Athletico's La Liga and Champions League title hopes.

Klass Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid)

The former Ajax striker couldn't stop scoring in the Dutch league but now that he is in La Liga, he definitely has something to prove. The 25 year old has speed, strength, and dynamism and has been frequently compared to Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow)

The "Russian Ronaldinho" is what he has been called. You might remember him for his tearing runs up the wing for Russia in Euro. Zhirkov is rumored to be Scolari's target for Chelsea's next signing and I for one will look forward to seeing him in the Premier league.

Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa)

The English International has pace in abundance and has put it to use for Aston Villa. He is the striker to watch this season in the Premier League and I believe he can end the season with over twenty goals.

David Silva (Valencia)

With David Villa rumored to be leaving for a different club it falls to Silva to take up the mantel. He is just back from a long injury and has to prove that his impressive Euro performance wasn't a fluke.

Karim Benzema (Lyon)

Yet another striker rumored to be moving in January, Benzema has accomplished all he can in Ligue 1. A disappointing Euro put doubts in his supporter's minds so he will have to perform well in whatever team he ends up in.

Top-Earning Footballers of 2008

2008-12-30T19:53:00.000-08:00

The following statistics are taken from Forbes 2008 list of top-earning footballers.

1. David Beckham
US $48.9 million

Known for his signature free kicks Beckham stays atop the earning list. He made sure he benefited from LA Galaxy Jersey and Ticket sales in his contract. He also has deals with Armani and Sharpie.

2. Ronaldinho
US $32.6 million

The cheerful Brazilian is still second after a season wrought with injuries. His Nike campaign, where he introduced his first signature boot, was viewed by over 22 million people.

3. Thierry Henry
US $25.1 million

Part of the Gillette campaign along with Roger Federer and Tiger Woods, Henry is slowly regaining his form in Spain.

4. Ronaldo
US $21.2 million

The fading Brazilian star still is one of the top earners. This all-time leading World Cup scorer's contract with AC Milan ended in July and he's been practicing with Brazil's Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo
US $18.5 million

The top goal scorer in the 07/08 season. Ronaldo is about to match his Beckham-like fame off the pitch by making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League with a new contract worth over $275,000 per week. He recently figured in a Nike ad.

6. Kaka
US $ 17.7 million

Last year's World and European Player of the Year was rewarded by AC Milan with a contract extension worth $14 million a year.

7. Fabio Cannavaro
US $17.5 million

A close seventh behind Kaka, the Real Madrid star donned new Sting sunglasses as part of an 18-month deal signed in January 2007.

8. Andriy Shevchenko
US $17.5 million

He had signed a club record four-year contract of Â£30 million to join Chelsea in the 2006-07 season. He reportedly has two boutiques of Armani in his native Kiev.

9. Steven Gerrard
US $17.1 million

Liverpool's star over the last few years, Gerrard has really cemented himself in the top players in the World.

10. John Terry
US $17 million

The Chelsea and England captain is one of the best center backs in the world. In 2007 the defender back had signed a five-year, nearly $250,000-per-week contract. Terry added to his royal purse when he became the face of King of Shaves and helped launch the skin care company's first TV commercial.

Player of the Week

2008-12-30T11:37:00.000-08:00

Robinho

It was tough to chose a player of the week this week, for two gameweeks in the Premiership were played, yet none of the other major leagues had any fixtures. Robinho collected a healthy tally of 3 goals and 2 assists in games against Hull and Blackburn, including an equaliser against Rovers in the 93rd minute. Danny Sturridge may have been the catalyst for City's recovery, but most other players, in Robinho's position, would certainly have panicked, while his cool finish alone kept them out of the relegation zone - a factor which could be absolutely key going into the January transfer window, attracting new players.

Honourable mentions:

Newcastle's defence has to be one of the worst in the country nowadays, when it comes up against a quality attack... with that in mind, they may have conceded seven goals in two games, but runner up as player of the week this week is Shay Given. They could well have lost against Liverpool 10 or 11-1, without Shay.

Honourable mention for services to Joga Bonito goes to Ricardo Fuller, because if Andy Griffin was my captain, I'd want to slap him too.

Goals of the Week

2008-12-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

Robinho's goal against Hull City:

Lampard's goal against Fulham:

Gerrard's goal against Newcastle:

Keane's goal against Bolton:

Caciedo's goal against Hull:

Spoiled Children

2008-12-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

It seems that we can't go a week without a Man United player not making football headlines for the wrong reasons. In previous weeks Evra was finally suspended for four games because of a fight that broke out between him and a Chelsea ground's keeper, Rooney was almost suspended for a stomp on Aalborg's Kasper Risgard during a Champions League clash at Old Trafford, not to mention all of Ronaldo's antics so far.

The latest happenings from the Man United game on Boxing Day versus Stoke annoyed me even further and I am shocked, and disappointed that the FA haven't done anything about it yet. Rooney's blatant attempt at throwing an elbow at Stoke's Abdoulaye Fayequick, as well as Ronaldo's retaliatory kick at Stoke’s Andy Wilkinson are inexcusable. Before I jump for Ronaldo's throat again and rage at his petulance let us look at it from his side.

Remember that Andy Wilkinson ended up getting two yellow cards for two of many tackles on Cristiano Ronaldo. This has been a disturbing trend of late, with teams seeming intent on tackling star players every time they touch the ball (Messi against Real Madrid is a classic example).

Is this type of treatment an excuse for Ronaldo's actions? No, probably not, but there is something wrong with team's tactics this season.

Even with this treatment, Ronaldo and Rooney's actions are unforgivable. The FA have to discipline these actions regardless of the player, if lesser players had done the same thing the FA would not hesitate to suspend them. But they seem intent on turning a blind eye when it is league stars acting like children, spoiled children to be exact.

Best Of The Season So Far

2008-12-27T10:09:00.000-08:00

Well, during this Christmas break I will attempt to name the best performers of each of the Premier League teams so far this season.

Chelsea: Nicolas Anelka

Few players have transformed in the way Anelka has this season. He is playing some of the best football of his career and leads the Premiership in goals. Honorable mention must also go to Jose Bosingwa who has given every team Chelsea has played heart attacks with his forward runs.

Hull: Michael Turner

In a team who have had many outstanding performers this year center back Michael Turner has been part of a back line that has been solid throughout the season. You add this to his three goals this season and you have a very important part of your team.

Stoke City: Rory Delap

In a season where a throw-in has been the biggest news in Stoke City the thrower, obviously has to be their most effective performer. His huge throws, along with Stoke's multitude of giants have earned them seven goals this season and teams are now more willing to give Stoke corners rather than throw-ins.

Manchester City: Robinho

Could it be anyone else? Arguably Stephen Ireland could be but, when Robinho has been healthy this year he has been an integral part of their wins. He is second in scoring in the Premier League and has been worth every penny of the £32.5million he was bought for.

Manchester United: Darren Fletcher

In a team full of stars, Darren Fletcher has carved himself a niche on Man United. Earning a starting spot due to an injury to Owen Hargreaves, he showed Sir Alex that he should be starting by playing a series of efficient games. He was at one point their top goal scorer but now stands third behind Rooney and Ronaldo. If it weren't for his goals in the first two games of the season Man United would have dropped 5 points lower in the table.

Arsenal: Robin van Persie

While he can be temperamental (like in his needless dismissal at Stoke City), van Persie has shown that he can be one of the best in the world. His calm finishes and clutch performances (two goals versus Chelsea and one versus Liverpool) have been important to Arsenal staying in the race for the title.

West Ham United: Matthew Upson

The Hammers have had problems scoring this season, but, thanks to Upson, they have managed to keep the goals out of their own net as well which has lead to a respectable thirteenth spot on the table at this point of the season. Matthew Upson's play has drawn the interest of England boss Capello.

Liverpool: Xabi Alonso

The central midfielders passing ability has been the perfect fit to Steven Gerrard's more direct play. Alonso has shown Benitez that he should start and his deflected strike against Chelsea is one of the most important goals of the season for Liverpool.

Aston Villa: Gabriel Agbonlahor

Agbonlahor's play this year has been outstanding and has earned him a starting spot on England's squad. His partnership with Ashley Young has been scintillating and he stands at third in scoring.

Blackburn Rovers: Brett Emerton

This is not a hard decision as the Rovers have not produced many good performers this season thus far. The Australian international has thrived since being put back on the right wing after David Bentley's departure.

Bolton Wanderers: Matthew Taylor

With five goals this campaign (all of which came in victories for his side), Taylor has produced some magnificent strikes from the left wing.

Everton: Phil Jagielka

Has been an integral part of Everton's consistent performances this season, Jagielka has entered the running to be considered by Capello. With defenders like Ferdinand, Terry, and Carragher in contention as well just shows how well he is playing.

Fulham: Mark Schwarzer

A key part of one of the four top defensive records in the Premier League, Schwarzer's arrival to Fulham has been a positive move. Schwarzer's eight clean sheets so far is an impressive feat.

Middlesbrough: Gary O'Neil

Gary O'Neil has been one of the only bright spots in another inconsistent start by Boro. Since moving from right back into the center of midfield he has played with a high energy level.

Newcastle United: Fabricio Coloccini

Coloccini has been stalwart this season since coming from Villareal. He can take much of the credit for the clean sheets in three of the last six matches, including a draw with Chelsea.

Portsmouth: Peter Crouch

I never thought I would have said this but Crouch has been important to Portsmouth this year. Without his eight goals and four assists who knows where Portsmouth would be in the rankings.

Sunderland: Djibril Cisse

The Frenchman is back in England and he is scoring again. With only a handful of starts he has made the most of the time he has been given scoring eight goals in this campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur: Darren Bent

With the departure of Robbie Keane and Berbatov someone had to step up and Bent has. Scoring seven goals so far he is the Spur's top performer.

West Bromwich Albion: Jonathan Greening

West Brom's captain and the center for their passing game, Greening has been the bright spot in a disappointing season thus far.

Wigan Athletic: Amr Zaki

Amr Zaki's nine goals so far this season has him tied for third in England. The Egyptian has an impressive goal scoring record with nine in fifteen matches.

Premiership Predictions - 28th-30th December

2008-12-27T07:16:00.000-08:00

Apologies, but very little time to write up the predictions this week, so I'm just gonna post the scores I expect, with no explanation. Last week I managed 6 correct results, but no exact scores.

Newcastle 1 - 2 Liverpool

Arsenal 2 - 1 Portsmouth

Bolton 1 - 1 Wigan

Everton 1 - 2 Sunderland

Fulham 0 - 2 Chelsea

West Brom 1 - 1 Tottenham

West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke City

Blackburn 1 - 1 Man City

Man Utd 2 - 0 Middlesbro

Hull City 1 - 3 Aston Villa

Premiership Predictions - 26th December

2008-12-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

Each week, I will endeavor to post predictions for the Premiership. Sometimes these can be a bit hit and miss, so hopefully I won't be too embarassed by getting them all wrong.

Stoke City 0 - 2 Man Utd

United may be tired from their Japanese escapade, but they're still far too good for a Stoke side who gave Sam Allerdyce a dream start against a previously mis-firing Blackburn last time out. Don't necessarily expect a rout, because United will probably still be a bit jet-lagged, but they still wont have many problems.

Chelsea 3 - 0 West Brom

Another no-brainer really, 10-man Chelsea may have been held by Everton, but even without John Terry, 11-man Chelsea are far too good for the Brummies. The only question is, how much will they win by?

Portsmouth 2 - 1 West Ham

A tough game to call. Usually, this would be fairly simple, but Pompey have been inconsistant lately, and West Ham unlucky to lose to Villa, after holding Chelsea. I still believe that Fortress Fratton Park will be a deciding factor, with West Ham struggling to score lately.

Spurs 1 - 1 Fulham

Another tough match to call really. Spurs have had a massive revival under Harry Redknapp, but have lost momentum lately, and look in danger of slipping back into the relegation zone, with none of their strikers on form. They welcome back Jenas after the defeat to Newcastle however, so should be better. Fulham meanwhile are doing excellently of late, but were reliant on a Gomes blunder last time these two teams met, and this match being at White Hart Lane will tip the balance. I might have predicted a Spurs victory, but I don't want to curse my team, so a draw it is.

Liverpool 2 - 1 Bolton

Liverpool could have been well clear at the top of the table by now, if they hadn't failed to win at home in the league since they comprehensively beat West Brom at the beginning of November, one win in five (against a Blackburn side at the nadir of their form) is not champion material, and yet they are still top of the table, and they will be determined the turn their form around against a resurgent Bolton, for whom Johan Elmander has been a revelation.

Man City 2 - 1 Hull City

City are a club in crisis? Well, maybe, but in comparison to their early-season form, Hull have dropped off the pace significantly lately, and were thrashed by Sunderland last time out. This prediction is based on the belief that Robinho will be fit, since he thrives at Eastlands, where the dodgy defence is less of a problem for Hughes' side.

Middlesborough 0 - 0 Everton

Quite possibly the least-anticipated game of the day, I predict a dull draw. Everton's injury crisis is so bad that they played with a single striker - TIM CAHILL - upfront against Spurs, although they did win. Their defence is solid again after early-season wobbles, as demonstrated against Chelsea last week, and Boro only occasionally show the skill needed to break it down. Two inconsistant clubs though, so if they both play to their potential, it could be a lot different.

Sunderland 2 - 2 Blackburn

Two teams in the middle of a resurgance. Sunderland have looked a different club since the sacking of Roy Keane, and the hilariously named Ricky Sbragia seems to have got them ticking again. In Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse they have a potentially explosive forward partnership, and they really fulfilled their potential against Hull. Blackburn enjoyed an easy win over Stoke, thanks to some truly woeful defending, but that kind of confidence is what they need, and Big Sam will have but the fear of god into them, with the transfer window looming, and his eye no doubt looming over the likes of Keith Alexander and Danny Simpson, neither of whom are Premiership quality.

Wigan 1 - 2 Newcastle

With Wigan flying high and Newcastle in free-fall, no one would have betted on this result until a few weeks ago. Amr Zaki's injury really stalled Wigan's progress, and since his return he's failed to re-find his form, while Newcastle are fighting much harder under the man's manager, Joe Kinnear. Even Vinnie Jones was intimidated by Old Joe at Wimbledon. It'll probably be scrappy and uncomfortable, but I can see the Magpies sneaking it like they did against Spurs last week.

Aston Villa 2 - 1 Arsenal

Were Arsenal in crisis or weren't they? Everyone thought so, but big recent victories and a new captain may have changed minds. But they'll miss Fabregas, leaving Gael Clichy the likely captain for the next four months, and Adebayor will be suspended after his red card for a couple of stamps on Alvaro Arbeloa, leaving Arsenal bereft of almost any physicality. Villa aren't a team that will exploit that weakness as much as most, but expect Barry to boss the midfield, and with Ashley Young and Agbonlahor on great scoring form, Villa should prevail. It would be somewhat ironic to predict anything else after my first blog post, anyway.

Martin O'Neill's Christmas Miracle

2008-12-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

Arguably, the over-performers of the season so far have been Hull. But with victory on Boxing day against Arsenal, Aston Villa would open up a six point gap over the Gooners and, even if Man United win their two games in hand, Villa would still only be 4 points behind the Champions, and firmly ensconced in a Champion's League spot. Whether they can beat Arsenal is another matter, but it's entirely possible, with the Gooners missing their almost talismanic captain, Fabregas, out for four months with a knee injury.

The Good

A quick look at Villa's lineup for their most recent game, against West Ham, where they one by an admittedly lucky goal, but dominated, shows us why they're so impressive.

Friedel, Cuellar (Reo-Coker 58), Davies, Laursen, Luke Young, Petrov, Milner, Sidwell, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Harewood, Delfouneso, Knight, Shorey, Gardner.

With the exception of Friedel, Guzan, Laursen, Petrov and Cuellar, they are all English, and most importantly, with the exception of Garath Barry, still young, most likely short of their prime. I have for a long time been an exponent of putting Agbonlahor and Ashley Young in the international side, and if recent signs are anything to go by, Fabio Capello may be starting to agree with me. The advantage of this combination, as opposed to, say, Joe Cole and Owen, or Lennon and Dean Ashton (when he returns from injury) is that the Villa duo play together week-in week-out and have a great understanding, along with a proven goal-scoring record. Agbonlahor has already scored 9 goals in 18 league games this season, after 11 goals in the entire campaign last time out.

The Bad

Villa's main problem is lack of strength in depth. This is what separates most clubs in the Premiership from the Big Four, and was demonstrated painfully against Hamburg in the UEFA Cup. There were extenuating circumstances, as Villa had already qualified, but they were comprehensively outplayed by Martin Jol's Germans, with few players coming out with credit, save their newest youngster, Nathan Delfouneso, who will hopefully get a run-out in the Premiership soon, maybe against West Brom on January 10th.

Beyond the first team, therefore, Villa lack the ability to keep up with the big boys, which means they cannot afford many injuries at all. The transfer window looms, but Villa are unlikely to have vast funds to splash on strengthening their squad, though offloading the ineffectual Marlon Harewood might do some good, possibly in a swap deal with his former club, West Ham, for Craig Bellamy. Bellamy is probably the most over-rated player in the Premiership at the moment, but he's certainly better than Harewood, and would fit in well with Villa's style, as well as adding a bit more experience to an undeniably young team. West Ham are likely to cash in on Bellamy while they can, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Bellamy move, as long as they can find a replacement.

The Ugly

The fixture list is piling up for Villa. They're lucky to not have suffered the same fate as Fulham and Wigan at the hands of Man United in having their match cancelled, but they've qualified for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup, which will include a long trip to Moscow to play CSKA. Neither leg of that tie will be easy games, and Villa have not proved themselves in Europe yet.

In a blog called Joga Bonito, people might be wondering why, exactly, we're talking about Aston Villa - hardly a glamorous club. On their day, however, the pace they have front creates some beautiful flowing movement, and with Carew still injured, they have little other choice - route one simply doesn't work when your only striker is 5'11" and is not renowned for his strength.

If Villa can stay consistent, and avoid injuries, once they get Carew back fit and on form, they can be a formidable proposition. All they really need is a good run of consistent form and they could well snatch a Champion's League spot. Over the new year they have a very favourable run of fixtures, after Arsenal, they face Hull, West Brom, Sunderland, Pompey, Wigan and Blackburn, six teams they could well beat, and will be looking for at least 12 points from.

Of course, if they do reach the Champion's League, it's hard to see them standing up there with teams like Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid...

Goals Of The Week

2008-12-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

Rooney's goal against LDU Quito:

Kaka's goal against Udinese:

Higuain's goal against Valencia:

Player Of The Week

2008-12-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

Ninteen year-old Brasilian, Alexandre Pato takes our first "Player of the Week" prize.

The teenager lead AC Milan in a 5-1 rout of Udinese, scoring twice and setting up compatriot, Kaka for one of his two goals.

First Goal:

Second Goal:

A Red Weekend For Football

2008-12-22T15:29:00.000-08:00

This weekend, refs all over Europe seemed intent on making sure all the marquee matches were interupted by some questionable calls that, in most cases, put a damper on the match! As a fan of beautiful football (Joga Bonito) I was infuriated at some of the poorest reffing I have seen on any one weekend in my life.

Valencia @ Real Madrid

In a game that promised some good football, even with Madrid's poor form of late, it didn't disappoint with some great end to end football where Robben and Van der Vaart proved why they are on one of the biggest teams of European football. Higuain's goal was a brilliant strike with the outside of his left foot after a cutting run by Robben. Valencia stormed back but couldn't bulge the onion bag and when Marchena was sent off for a second yellow all momentum shifted and the game lost the passion it had.

Liverpool @ Arsenal

A scintillating game of football that was cut short by one of the most questionable sending offs I have ever witnessed. When Adebayor was given a second yellow for a 50-50 challenge in the air, it was like all the air was punched from the game. Plaudits must go to Arsenal for keeping up their attacking football but Liverpool were disappointing yet again and failed to win for the fourth time in five matches.

Villareal @ Barcelona

It was the final match in the gauntlet of death for Barcelona and after going down a goal after a sub par performance in the first half they bounced back to score twice, clinching a sweep of the other top four teams in La Liga. Not before the ref, Carlos Gómez could put his stamp on the game. A second yellow card for Pique for another 50-50 challenge in the air in which nothing untoward happened but the forward, Guille Franco going down as if shot.

Chelsea @ Everton

Chelsea's hopes of continuing their incredible away record were hit hard at the 35th minute of the match when John Terry saw a straight red from ref Philip Dowd. The challenge was questionable as was the decision but that ruined what was sure to be an entertaining game. Did Phil Dowd stop there? No, he continued along his power trip to give three Chelsea players yellow cards because they questioned his decisions (something that happens in every Premier League game I have seen this season). The best one though was when, on a Ballack free-kick the wall was obviously not 10 yards away and the Chelsea players asked Phil, yet again, for 10 yards. He proceeds to walk 9 of his short steps and profess that it was 10 yards and then he carded Ballack for arguing. Chelsea held on valiantly with 10 men and it was a well-deserved draw for them, no thanks to Mr. Dowd.

So, while there was still quality football to be had in all of these games, it was significantly reduced due to the referees. I believe the ref's job is to keep control of the play and in that case none of the red cards given were desperately needed.

Beckham Bids To Get Back On The National Side

2008-12-20T19:50:00.000-08:00

Becks has joined AC Milan on a three month loan deal in hopes to show England Manager Capello that he should still be on the English national team. It seems like a last, desperate attempt to persuade Capello to take him back on his starting squad but it is unlikely that it is going to happen.

Since taking on the burden of coaching the English national team, Capello has made it clear that he wasn't going to favour England's stars, and has shown faith in many of the youth. The fact that Capello has chosen to use a 4-3-3 formation in the last number of World Cup Qualifiers means there is even less chance that Beckham can crack the starting 11. With Lampard, Gerrard, Joe Cole, and Barry all fighting for 3 places the odds are not in Beckham's favor.

So, in what seems like a futile attempt to regain his youth, what is in it for him? Besides what is sure to be a hefty sum of money he gets to play in one of the top leagues in Europe again, on a team that is brimming with superstars. To me that is enough, even if he never plays for England again to come back to an amazing team after playing in the MLS is an amazing accomplishment. I have never been a fan of Beckham but I hope he is successful in his stint in Italy.

The Title No One Wants To Win

2008-12-19T22:16:00.000-08:00

This year's race for first place is different then many of the previous years in the English Premiership. It is wide open and there are a number of teams in the running. Unfortunately for fans of Joga Bonito this is due to poor (some would say bloody awful) form, rather than the fast, scintillating football we have come to expect from the EPL as fans!

The play of the "top four" (Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea, and Liverpool) has been shocking and they all seem intent on racing to see who can give their opponents the most chances to take the lead rather than racing for first place!

Arsenal:

The Gunners have lost an unbelievable 5 times this season already - which is as many as Manchester United lost all of last season. Wenger has been in the paper on a regular basis for the wrong reasons. However, they have beat Man U and Chelsea already this year and in a convincing fashion might I add.

What is wrong?:

They lost Hleb and Flamini during the summer and, even though Wenger played that down that is a huge loss to an extremely young squad. Their most experienced campaigner, Gallas, has been inconsistent on the field and has lead to a shaky back line.

Liverpool:

Liverpool had an impressive start to this year's campaign. They too beat Man U and Chelsea early in the season and hadn't lost until November. This has been blunted by three successive home draws to Fulham, West Ham and Hull. Even with these poor results they have moved up a place from 2nd to 1st in the Premier League.

What is wrong?:

They have lost too many points at home. Torres who was a prolific home performer last year has been out for much of the season which is a major problem. Also Keane hasn't performed the way they had hoped him to.

Manchester United:

With a draw to Newcastle at the beginning of the season it seemed to foreshadow what was to come. Since then the current Champions of Europe have paled in comparison to last year; Losing to Arsenal, dropping two points late to Chelsea and a recent, unconvincing win at lowly Sunderland (thanks to a 90th minute goal by Vidic) leave all of us scratching our chins.

What is wrong?:

Well the only difference in last year's and this year's squad is that they have no Carlos Queiroz. It is known that Carlos was responsible to a lot of Man U's defensive tactics but I could not have foreseen this effect. Ferdinand and Vidic have looked shaky at times this season though so maybe there is a correlation.

Ronaldo has been a shadow of his former self this year. I didn't expect him to top or even equal what he did last year but I expected better then what he has produced so far. Blame it on what you want, he is not playing well at all!

Chelsea:

Chelski had a bright start to their season even without their number one striker choice (Drogba). Thanks to an in-form Anelka they have won many games that maybe they shouldn't have. A poor home form is the most worrying stat to Scolari.

What is wrong?:

But you have to remember the injuries to Carvalho, Drogba, and Essien. The core of last season's team. Lampard's form has been mediocre at best and with the injuries they do not have the depth on the bench that I am sure Scolari would like!

As a fan of Joga Bonito (Beautiful Football) I am not happy with the Premier League this season. Especially the top four teams. Luckily there are other teams in the EPL stepping up (Hull, and Aston Villa are both playing brilliant football). I will continue watching in hopes that they start clicking and I am looking forward to see what they do in the January Transfer window but for now, I shall continue enjoying the brilliant football in La Liga.

Has Mark Hughes gone mad?

2008-12-18T19:07:00.000-08:00

I have been lead to wonder over this season whether Mark Hughes is fit to run a team that is going to be full of big-ego and skilled players. His treatment of record signing (before Robinho that is) Jo and Elano (who was Man City's best player under Sven last season) has been shocking and then he wonders why his team is so far down the table.

Just today he plays Robinho, who has been fighting his ankle injury the last 3 weeks, in a meaningless match in the Uefa cup. Now, I am no physiotherapist but I have enough sense to know that it is smart to rest your star player instead of playing him in a worthless game, even if he doesn't have an injury!

To me this is the last straw, he has not handled his team well at all so I say bring in one of the MANY experienced managers on the market right now (including Roberto Mancini, Frank Rijkaard, and Bernd Schuster) and let them have the team from January on.

Sack Hughes!

Cristiano Ronaldo: Hero or Villain?

2008-12-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

Some of Ronaldo's antics this year have been damn childish, even by his standards. Since coming back from injury in mid September we have only seen glimpses of the magnificant play we witnessed last year and those have been marred by his shinanigans on and off the pitch.

He has seemed downright cocky this season, even stating (albeit jokingly) that he was the first, second, and third best player in the world - a huge insult and snub to his fellow players who are closer to him then he thinks (Messi, Kaka, etc). This cockiness has shown in his lack of respect for refs, and his latest premadonna act (walking off the field before being subbed against Sunderland).

If Sir Alex doesn't watch it he is going to have another Ruud Van Nistelrooy situation on his hands. It seems like he does not even want to be there (Man U) which adds to the speculation of a potential move to Real Madrid a team, he has said, was his favorite as a boy.

So if I am a Manchester United fan (which I most certainly am not) than Cristiano Ronaldo is a villain!

FIFA World Player of the Year Shortlist Announced

2008-12-17T12:15:00.000-08:00

The FIFA World Player of the Year Shortlist has been announced and there are no surprises in the top 5.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), the heavy favorite to win this year had an outstanding season last year and has already picked up silverware this month after snatching the Ballon d'Or. He scored 42 goals to help Man U win the Premier League and Champions League last season.

Ricardo Kaka (AC Milan), a regular in the awards circuit for the past years had another superstar season but it was marred by injury a number of times.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona), the 21 year old is probably the next favorite, behind Ronaldo, to win. The little Argentine winger was top goal scorer in the Champions League last year until he got injured and was beat by Ronaldo and has had a magnificant start to the season thus far.

Fernando Torres (Liverpool), in his first season in England he scored 30 goals and was the star for a Liverpool side that made it to the Semi-finals of the Champions League.

Xavi (Barcelona), one of the unsung heros for Barcelona and Spain this year. Xavi's consistent play helped Spain win Euro 2008 and he picked up Player of the Tournament. He is also one of the biggest catalysts for Barcelona's amazing start to the season.

The FIFA World Player of the Year will be named on January 12.