Fodder for Footy Fans

Some ramblings to discuss:

United is finally back in Prem League action this weekend as they host Burnley.  Crocked defenders, Ferdinand and Vidic, may feature this weekend.  The former has been out for weeks with a curious back injury.  Many in recent weeks have slated United saying they do not have the chutzpah to last until the end, but left-back Patrice Evra thinks otherwise:
"I am sure we will win the league this year," he said. "Tell me another team that would have nine defenders injured like that and still only be one point away from the leaders.

"Chelsea and Arsenal do have a game in hand but no-one else could do so well. We would definitely be well ahead at the top of the table without these problems."
Given the negativity of the past few days, it was probably just as well United spent the last few days in Qatar.
"It was a chance to make sure everyone understands we must not throw the league away," Evra said. "We talked a lot about tactics and what we needed to achieve until the end of the season. It is a chance to write the story.
"A lot of people talk about Manchester United's attack but if you look back at our last three titles, the real strength is the defence.
"The performance in Barcelona two years ago was the best performance of the entire team. When we are a unit like that, it is difficult to beat Manchester United.  "People say we are not going to win the title and we have dropped too many points, but I am proud and happy where we are. I fear no-one. I only fear Manchester United."  You tell them, Pat!

World-Class Left Back Patrice Evra

Que lastima!  When Florentino Perez plonked down borrowed money on his big stars this summer, Madridistas everywhere were salivating at the promise of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, and Karim Benzema.  But so far the products of United, AC Milan, and Olympique Lyon have failed to produce the fireworks necessary to fell the current La Liga champions, Barcelona.  Although they are a skant few points behind, they haven't shown any spark that would suggest Barca and their troll leader have anything to fear.
With the summer signings, the question arose: What will happen to longstanding members of RM like Raul (Tutanbaul to the Madrid faithful) and Guti?  The former, whose moniker suggests the Madridiots think he's mummified, has shown no life this season and has left a deep imprint "en banquillo."  He wears the number 7, so coveted by the King of Upper and Lower Bernabeu, Cristiano Ronaldo.  If Pharaoh CR had really pushed the matter, I think the RM powers-that-be (Beezlebub and Adolf Hitler) would have shuffled Tutanbaul off to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.  But he has a "contract for life"...who has ever heard of such an idiotic thing?  Only in Madrid.

Tutanbaul and Tutankhamun...the resemblance is scary!

Guti, who spends most of his windswept-hair-tossed days berating the press for daring to ask why he is wearing the bench this season instead of Armani, has the emotional maturity of a fireant.  Prone to fits and outbursts at players (see photo below), he finally met his match when he criticized his own manager.  Since then Guti has been warming his booty with the mummified-one on the bench.  When the Spanish prensa suggested that's why he has been watching the games instead of featuring in them, he let forth a verbal tirade questioning their brains.  But...the plot thickens.  Yesterday he was asked if he would ever leave RM, his home since his youth academy days...and this is what the fireant had to say:
"I would like to end my contract at Real Madrid but it is also true that I would love to be able to play for another team," Guti told Canal+. "To be able to enjoy another culture, to be able to enjoy another life, other team-mates, another league."

Inter Milan are interested and, when asked about the Italian giants, Guti did not hide his enthusiasm.
"I would go there with open arms," he said. "It is a great club. I have great friends there, Samuel Eto'o and Wesley Sneijder (ousted by RM this season). I think it's a team that can aspire to everything.
"The truth is that it is one of my best options, if it could be real. It is true that I've had a very nice time at Real Madrid, that Madrid is a city where I wanted to live all my life, and now I want to leave Madrid.
"It's like a contradiction, but I want to be able to get out of Madrid, to be able to be in another country, in another city and to be able to enjoy other things."
Wow...what a difference a summer makes! ;)  I suppose the honey-dripping PR soundbites issued this summer about how the old guard at RM were welcoming the new signees with open arms is now just sticky paper in the trashcan.

Speaking of RM...former Manchester United player, Gerard Pique, whose gorgeous eyes (see photo, right) spark naughty thoughts from many a fangirl (present company excluded), now spends his time with Barcelona.  His revelation yesterday that "RM are not a real team yet," sparked a standing ovation from non-Madridistas (present company included). 
"Florentino Perez has thrown away many millions and has great footballers, but they need a lot more time to be a real team," he said. "They still depend on individuals. Each game we do well in because of what the team does.

"We're never going to be tired of winning because the dressing room is a tight-knit clan. There is unity, commitment and there are no clashes or in-fighting: we all feel important."
Pique was also asked about former team-mate Ronaldo. Debate continues to rage over whether the most expensive player in the world is better than Lionel Messi, who lifted the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year awards. Pique believes the Argentina playmaker is superior and insists Ronaldo would not fit into the Barca team.
"Messi is superior in that he has a direct approach and doesn't use so much fussiness," he said. "Ronaldo uses more feints, bicycle kicks... I don't believe he would be good for Barca. I think it would be very hard for him to fit in because he is a player who needs to feel important and know that he is vital for his team.
"At Barca we are all important but no one is indispensable. We know that Messi is fundamental, the best in the world, but he doesn't need reminding of that every two minutes."
Well...he had me up until that ridiculous comment.  I can only remember two bicycle kicks in the last six years.  It's ironic that Pique never criticized Ronny's form when they were winning Prem League titles together at United.

Although this has nothing to do with any of my teams, I thought it was funny and certainly highlights the religion that is footy in England:

:)