Rafa Spews Madness, Wenger Preaches Calm, Whilst Sir Alex Has Seen it All.

Beware Sam, your post had Defoe hoodoo akin to my Samba-Man-Mountain post: shortly after the players were injured...ponderous.

With the FA Cup heatin' up and tabloid transfer rumors on the boil one certainty is that the Red Devils are back atop the league with credit to Sir Alex's finest season yet. The blue half of Manchester have welcomed several new signings the likes of Bellamy, De Jong, Bridge. Managers seek to renew links with Big Sam signing Diof, Chimbonda and Defoe returning to Spurs. And the occasional signing of true talent for a reasonable price such as the Hammers new 19yr-old, German international, Savio mixed with the experience laden Kovac. Savio gets his debut, while I type, against the Gunners in his first London Darby: Zola is building for the future of the club. Not quite the steroid flex of monetary madness as Man. City and their failed Kaka bid.

The football world has come under the microscope, questions raised as to the sustainability of the modern game and warning signs on the blink as to the role clubs have in effecting the economy with wanton tactics similar to failed banks. Worry not worldwide polity, football will not run us aground though our love of power will.

In Spain with Ramos at the helm for Real, a move has been made and Faubert has been signed on loan with an option at the seasons close for a three year deal. Valencia was our fan favorite to make the glory move to Champions League play the footballer himself admitted to having in his goals. It is simple, Wigan have lost too many key players for Bruce to let Luis drift to the Spanish giants much to the chagrin of the Ecuadorian faithful. But Faubert isn't the answer having problems of form and consistency not to mention a ruptured Achilles tendon within the last two years. Aside from the analytical bull, Barcelona shines brighter than a dwarf-star going supernova! Who can stop momentum of this side and the class of their stars, coach and passionate backing.

Enjoy the weekend of true Footy in the pre-wake of the so-called "world championship" in the NFL. I will be at the pub with Oliver, the Everton fan, and his Welsh wife a Liverpool supporter for life...take care everyone.

Back from Hiatus

Like the Tottenham fans who welcomed Jermain Defoe back with open arms, I hope the fans (what fans?) of this blog will welcome me back with the same reception.

I've been away for a while, so there are a number of topics that I would like to touch on today as I sit here in the Miller Learning Center on the beautiful campus of the University of Georgia:

1. Way to go Kaka. Finally someone got it right. Chelsea have shown us that having the most money doesn't guarantee trophies, although it makes winning them easier. It also requires having good team chemistry and a good manager who knows how to make a team work together. Kaka saw this from a mile away. He also realised that for one half of Milan, he can do no wrong (except leave the club). He realized that he was the most well loved man by the Milan fans, and that he is happy where he is. All the money in the world cannot guarantee that. (Disclaimer: I realize that he may go to Real Madrid in the summer, but it is every South American soccer player's dream as a child to play for los Merengues, so he is excused for that.)

2. If Manchester United can come through this season with the Premiership title, it might be considered Sir Alex's best job yet as a manager. We were behind from the beginning of the season, we had the Cup Winners Cup and the Club World Cup interrupt the season, and now, multiple injuries are piling up. Rio, Rafael, Hargreaves (duh), Evra, Anderson, Rooney, and others are all injured, and yet we still keep winning and are winning the Prem on goal differential with a game in hand. Bravo and keep it up devils.

3. Rafa Benitez, just shut up already, you are embarassing yourself. You were at the top of the Prem for a little bit, but didn't know how to handle it, and then you made the biggest mistake of all. You tried to play mindgames with Sir Alex. What made you think you could succeed where all others have failed? Just hop in the back of the queue of people that have tried that in the past and ended up failing.

4. My heartstrings are being pulled by transfer gossip. My compatriot, Wigan winger Luis Antonio Valencia, is reportedly being chased by Real Madrid, Chelsea, and ... MANCHESTER UNITED. If he ended up with the Devils, it may just bring a tear to my eyes. To see an Ecuadorian playing for any of these teams would be the second greatest accomplishment in Ecuadorian history (the first being Jefferson Perez's gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta in the Speed walking competition). But to see him in a Manchester United uniform would truly be a proud moment in this Ecuadorian's life.

5. Landon Donovan has already made his mark at Bayern. He has played in two games and scored two very impressive goals. Now that Podolski is returning to FC Koln, this provides an incredible opportunity for Mr. Donovan. If he continues to impress Klinsmann, (who already had a soft spot for Donovan given his time as a scout for the LA Galaxy) he will earn a permanent contract. It would be really great for an American player to feature at that prominent of a club.

Well, that's all I have for now, but keep checking back here for all of the best non-professional soccer commentary on the web. And look out for my often imitated, never duplicated Champions League picks when the tourney resumes in late February.

This Is A Revolution of the Mind

Help a stranger for the good. Post a piece that doesn't stroke the ego. These tasks are hard to accomplish...what does this tell us. That life, akin to football, is difficult; requiring appreciation. Perspective shifts, power vacuums, unrelated phrases.
Post something relevant to the world co-contributors, not trash-talk. More later folks...

While writing the first stanza I was killing time, at the Mac like a good art student, waiting for something unexpected to happen. Believe me, this gem wasn't on any free agent roster for indoor intramurals. Yes, I was unaware even in our tech-heavy-culture that Wes Harsh, former DHHS teammate, was a fellow SCAD student and on the roster of our footy team here in Savannah. This means nothing to most of the web, but the moment was unexpected,powerful, nostalgia-laden and exciting!

Managers take their paces as club races heat up across the globe. This year's BPL season has proved to be the tightest ever points race, with a slim margin separating mid-table clubs from the relegation battle. Yet instead of previewing this weekend's action or recapping this past months games a juxtaposition must be made.